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~` Illusions `~

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CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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~` Chapter Eight `~

Light filtered in from above in a larger amount now, draining the darkness of its impressive power. The pitch soon turned to gray, and then the gray began to fade to a discolored white; it all went in the natural order and, as they were traveling, a fog had set in. Judging by its depth and force, Landon assumed it to be nearing dusk.

The forest surrounding them had thinned, too, by an incredible amount; the brush began to fall lighter, trees held themselves a little higher, and the leaves also shook with anticipation, allowing longer and longer streaks of the sun’s rays to fall upon them.

“It comes soon,” Landon exclaimed, his eyes brightening. “The river should not be far from here now, so I think we can remove the extra effort from our pace; it isn’t needed and we should save some of our strength for when we reach the city.”

Jacob agreed. “Sounds like a plan.”

Pushing aside another branch, Jacob felt the sun’s rays hit him full force now; even in their weakened state, they provided a sign of relief for the young knight. Breathing in the fresh air, he swiftly lifted his leg and smashed the rest of the shrub with his foot in a single kick. The natural air flooded the hole he had opened up, and he was suddenly hit with a refreshing gust of wind.

“Ah, finally,” the old man sighed behind him. Landon stepped out and looked up: the sun had begun to fall from its zenith, but it still remained a good distance from the horizon. “We made good time,” he chuckled.

However, his companion’s mind was not on the time; his attention fixated on what lay ahead of them. Sighing, he pointed out and directed Landon’s attention to the flowing river that passed by them at an incredible speed. The sun’s light shimmered in the running water before reflecting itself back into the air, creating a dazzling spectacle of nature’s grace; it was perfect, except for one thing.

04-Jan-2009 07:20:52

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“The bridge,” Jacob noted, a grimace forming upon his face.

Landon’s eyes moved from the blue expanse to the structure that lead across it, or, at least, was supposed to lead across it. The two men, to their dismay, found the bridge to be cracked in two down the center, flooding the middle portion with a rushing wave after rushing wave. Though, a small fragment of hope remained: the two sides, untouched by the raging waters, were held up by the flattened rocks below, only angling themselves downwards to compensate for the stress put upon them.

“Well,” Landon began, “I suppose we have to find another way.”

“No," Jacob sternly replied. “We still have the rope, right? I think, if we gave enough effort, we could pass this obstacle with little harm. All we would have to do is catch the rope on a broken edge of wood.” The young knight paused and gave an example: the guardrail had split and left only two poles standing - each alone, but on both sides. “Then, once we did that, we could use the rope as a brace and hold onto it as we slid across. What do you think?”

Landon thought for a moment before nodding. “It could work. We’d have to be extremely careful though,” he cautioned, pointing down the riverbank. “Sharp rocks cover the floor of the river, and being caught by one wouldn’t be pretty.”

Muttering an incoherent reply, Jacob held out his hand for the rope; Landon quickly removed it from the sack and handed it to him. Both men crossed the short distance between them and the river and found themselves at the edge of the bridge’s collapse, staring down into the gushing blue beneath them.

“So, how do we do it?”

04-Jan-2009 07:21:17 - Last edited on 04-Jan-2009 07:25:08 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Jacob took both ends of the rope and made his way to the side closest to the pole that jutted from the damaged crossing. Motioning for Landon to hold him, he began to swing the rope back and forth from his waist outwards, allowing a little more out each time until it was long enough to reach its destination. A final, shaking effort was made and the rope flew through the air, landing a short ways behind the soaked railing. Jacob immediately pulled back on the remaining rope to tighten it before it could fall into the water and then moved backwards slowly.

“Landon,” Jacob began, straining himself to hold the rope as tight as possible and speak at the same time. “Tie these ends together. Hurry.”

His elder maneuvered himself behind Jacob and took the ends, successfully tying them to one another in mere seconds. Jacob backed up further so that his back was holding the ropes tight, and he shrugged Landon’s help away.

“Now... for the tricky part. Landon, where’s the second post?”

“Over here, Jacob.”

“I can’t see you, Landon. Direct me.”

“Oh, right. Move a little to the left.” Jacob’s body surged with a burning sensation as he moved with the rope so firmly attached to his body. “A little more… there. Turn around and push it forward.” Jacob did as the old advisor suggested, and found the rope neatly around the rounded pole. He glanced back in the opposite direction and saw that that pole, too, had held firm.

‘The path's width should be good enough,’ Jacob thought to himself with a frown. ‘Landon may have a bit of trouble, but we can work through it; I know we can.’

04-Jan-2009 07:21:34 - Last edited on 04-Jan-2009 07:25:24 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Satisfied with his calculations, both Jacob and Landon moved into the center of the rope’s loop, finding it much harder to move than they had thought it would be. Still, they pressed on, ignoring the slight pain that would sometimes call out from their sides as they brushed against the tough boundary.

Jacob, being in front, was the first to feel the cool sensation of water trickle across his feet, but he made sure that both of his hands remained on the rope as he toed around in the water, searching for a rock to stand on. After a few moments of silence, he smiled and moved forward; Landon followed suit.

They reached the middle of the passage with ease, but then the problems arose. Water began to jet forth in faster, stronger motions as they went, and they found it absolutely necessary to use their full strength on the ropes. Jacob’s emotions were mixed and he, too, was sent spiraling into confusion.

“I need a break…” he finally gasped, hanging onto but one side of the rope and allowing his back to lean on the other. “It’s too much.”

Landon blinked his eyes and felt the sun'* heat begin to take full hold of him, causing glistening sweat to rain down his face and fall into the pool of water below. “We can’t stop, Jacob,” he said in a stern tone. “If we do, we’ll certainly fall victim to the waves. No man’s legs can hold for too long against such pressure. I know you’re tired - I am too - but we have to keep moving at any and all costs.”

A sudden surge of energy overtook Jacob as he heard the words. ‘I need to do this,’ he ordered himself mentally. ‘The king needs me to succeed; the town needs me to succeed; I need myself to succeed.’ His eyes raised and then he shut them with force, pushing against the rocks below the water’s surface and moving farther down the ropes. It was not long before they reached the end, and Jacob felt the strain of the running water leave his legs.

04-Jan-2009 07:21:56 - Last edited on 04-Jan-2009 07:26:31 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Landon stumbled out first and fell to his knees, hanging onto the remaining railing for dear life. He gasped for air and stuttered, “We… need to hurry now. An inn… should be a good place… to rest tonight. No need… to find Brexton… immediately.”

Jacob did not even groan in reply. After leading Landon for so long, he felt all his strength pour from him and darkness begin to overtake his vision. The light began to fade in his eyes, and he blinked once, twice, before tumbling out of the ropes, onto the wooden floor, and into a solitary state of unconsciousness.

--

Anthoni’s blade fell as its wielder was in complete and utter shock. After being sealed away in an unknown place of pure darkness, both he and Maxwell now found themselves in a room of nothing; nothing but white surrounded them.

“Where are we?” Maxwell asked, turning to his mentor.

The aged general moved a few paces forward before spinning around completely; he had no idea what curse had befallen them, but, no matter what it was, it could not be a good thing, he reasoned. White, totally pure and without blemish, looked on in every direction for a seemingly endless time.

Anthoni’s mind rambled on countless ideas, but he could not find an answer. “I have no idea, Maxwell,” he finally replied. “Though… this is incredible.” He attempted to pierce the everlasting void with his eyes by fixating them in but one direction, but it was to no avail. He found himself cursing softly as his hands came to his hips and he bent his head downwards.

“Are you afraid?”

Maxwell’s sword came flying to his hand and he pointed it at the darkened silhouette that stood before both of them. In its hand lay a long staff, complemented by an orb that stood high above. The figure seemed to be dressed in a long cloak, while a hood covered its head, and nothing more.

04-Jan-2009 07:22:16 - Last edited on 06-Jan-2009 22:43:08 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Whispers then came in an instant, vanquishing the silence of the room and flooding it with the casual mutterings of a maniac, but Anthoni stood his ground. Leaning backwards, he found his sword and lifted it to his side while raising his right hand, asking, “Who are you? Reveal yourself.”

“My name, as I have said, is Tiulo Grendage. I am the last of the higher mages, loyal to no god, and your kind has destroyed mine; it has banished us all to lives of total seclusion, and for nothing but a few harmless spells.” Tiulo waved his hand in front of his body, removing the silhouette from covering him.

Anthoni and Maxwell both were left speechless as they examined the wizard’s appearance. Long, flowing robes, colored white with a running streak of light blue down the center that converged in a circle, covered his body, and his hood remained erect throughout it all. Tilting his staff forward, he whispered a few words, a spell of some sort.

Tiulo’s eyes turned a shade of red, contrasting with the darkness that surrounded his face and revealing them to the two men, and the orb, which was tinted blue, shined with an unnatural glow. “I wish to show you something, Anthoni, but it is not yet time for you. Instead, let me tell you a story.”

“Alright,” the general replied. “Speak.”

“Long ago in the lands of Heldora, thousands of wizards roamed the lands, practicing the art of magic and showing it to any who inquired about it. They were a tranquil kind, using their skills only in the most desperate of times, but we were still… different… than others. We were outcasts, you see, even if we did not realize it at first.

04-Jan-2009 07:22:42

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“It soon came to be that people were bored of us, bored of our endless showers of sparks or transfiguring of creatures, and they did not welcome us with open arms any longer. Tyrants, like your king, began to hate us solely for what we were, and not how we lived. Have you ever felt something like this? A burning desire to destroy something… merely for its existence?

“Still, they found it in their best interest to try and eradicate us. Surely, they began in their schools, refusing to teach children the arts of magic and the mysteries it encompassed. We were written out of the history books, and our teachings became but myths in such a world. No one would remember us; no one wanted to remember us. And do you know why? They did so because we lived. Eventually, we grew tired of the charade and fought back against the tyrannical powers, cursing the lands and killing those who angered us. Of course, it was not the smartest option, but it was the one that seemed right, at the time.

“King Rezod was the one who discovered me, but… I was not like the others. I generalize myself with them because I cannot turn against them; but I did so in secret, helping those who fell victim to our magic, but only those that were innocent. I gave them cures, and they, in turn, gave me a lifetime of solitude. Do you think this is fair? To be banished, done away with?”

“I…” Anthoni began.

“Hush," Tiulo commanded, raising his staff. “I brought you here not to kill you, not to fight you, but to warn you. I have seen it coming for a long time now, but it is still shrouded in darkness.”

“What do you mean?”

04-Jan-2009 07:23:14 - Last edited on 06-Jan-2009 22:43:31 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“A source of power unlike any other has gripped the land, but, in my rush to flee Revenske before being killed, I was never able to finish my research. Someone, though, is bound by legend to retrieve this power, and, you see, they can use it however they see fit. It is a force that can destroy anything and everything; it is a force that can create anything and everything; it is a force… that is now free.”

Anthoni shuffled uneasily and asked, “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because,” the wizard replied, “you are capable of great things; I can sense it. I believe you may be the one to take hold of this power and fight for what is right in the land. You, Anthoni, are the one who must restore the balance of light and dark in this world of sin and deceit.”

He started to speak, but was cut off by the wizard once more.

“Go to Veskile and find those that also search for the power; they will be your friends in this time of utmost importance. Your journey shall be long and dangerous, but I wish you the best of luck. Who knows?” he asked with a short chuckle. “Maybe you and I will meet again… someday.

Before either Anthoni or Maxwell could reply, Tiulo vanished in an instant. An irrational sense of drowsiness then began to overcome the two, and soon they both dropped onto the ground, falling into a deep sleep. Still, neither of them knew of what the true reason for the power'* revelation, nor what most would do if they acquired it.

--

As dusk fell onto the land, Korinth Hidal made her way into a small camp. A fire softly burned in the center, and a single tent rested alongside it; she needed help, and this would be her best opportunity.

“Hello?” she called out.

She heard a moan emit from the shelter of the tent, and then a head popped out from the flap, shaking mildly. Long, brown hair, filled with the dirt and grime of a long adventure away from civilization, drooped over the newcomer’s eyes, and a hand came to brush it away before the man asked, “What do you want?”

04-Jan-2009 07:23:36 - Last edited on 04-Jan-2009 07:27:21 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“I need some help. Could you direct me to the forest’s edge?”

“Aye,” the man replied, not leaving the safety of his small abode. “You see that large tree over there?” He pointed out into the distance, noting the shape of a large oak. “Go there and then look to the north, you should see the path and it’ll take you straight into Veskile. From there you can go wherever you like… just be careful in there, alright?”

“I will. Thank you.” Korinth tipped her head and smiled at the man, who drifted back into his tent and fell asleep almost instantly. Korinth smiled as she took a deep breath and looked out on the countryside. In doing so, she thought of times long past, but then she realized what she was really looking at. She had looked out towards the future, a time that she would treasure forever.

-- End of Chapter Eight --

04-Jan-2009 07:23:55

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