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~` Illusions `~

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CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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~` Chapter Nine `~

The sun rose in silence over the horizon, breaking the darkness with its rays of pure light. The blackness had brought an eerie feel to the land of Heldora, causing mistrust and violence to break out all though the land; never before had such a thing been witnessed in such a large amount, and certainly not at one time.

Jacob’s eyes flickered and he shuffled in his bed, stretching his legs as he began to drift in and out of consciousness. Blankets fell off of him and dropped onto the ground, forcing Jacob to grasp out in a futile attempt to cover himself once more. Realizing his efforts were in vain, he leaned forward and rubbed his eyes with his forearm.

“Argh,” he moaned as he massaged his legs softly; his eyes were still closed.

Hearing someone enter the room, his eyes began to slowly open. The black covering faded, revealing the figure of Landon standing before him, carrying a small tray that was filled to the brim with food. “Good morning,” he said casually, setting his friend’s breakfast on the stand beside him.

Jacob looked around and tried to think of what happened the night before. He was in a fairly empty room: a few posters were hung on the walls, each presenting images of heroes of lore, a small dresser stood in the corner, and, aside from the bed he laid in, there was but a bedstand that held an unlit candle and the food that Landon had brought him. Still dreary, he asked, “Where are we?”

His elderly companion replied quickly. “Veskile, of course. I knew you were exhausted, so I paid a few men from this inn to drag you up here into bed. It was quite a chore, and you didn't really expect me to do it, did you?”

05-Jan-2009 23:49:05 - Last edited on 05-Jan-2009 23:56:09 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“No, I guess not." The young knight switched positions swiftly and swung his legs over the side of the bed, allowing them to touch the floor. His bed was soft, so he had slept continuously throughout the night without any interruptions. After taking a few moments to feel the bed and fully wake up, he asked, “Have you looked for Brexton yet?”

Landon hesitated and clasped his hands together in front of him. “No," he finally replied. “I waited for you.” He walked closer to Landon and his eyes fell to the food beside him. “Eat up,” he suggested. “Tonight we’ll be heading back to Revenske and I think you should be fully rejuvenated. We won’t have much food along with us. I had to use the last of my money on the men to assist me, so we’ll have to deal with what we’ve got.” Chuckling slightly, he excused himself and smiled at Jacob before turning and walking out of the door, closing it behind him.

‘Wow,’ Jacob thought to himself, falling onto his back and looking up at the wooden ceiling. ‘I’m still tired; that was one hell of a task, pushing through that river…’ he trailed off and just sat there for a few moments. Minutes passed, and he sat up. ‘I really hope I don’t have to do that again.’

The knight ate swiftly and left nothing behind before he grabbed his things and left the room. In the hall, he could see a few other men stepping out to leave, but none looked as though they were tougher than the citizens of Revenske. Each of them had a soft appearance, and he decided it would be much easier to stay than he had thought.

Portraits of the land were hung along the walls, some looking to be worth hundreds of gold alone. ‘It still doesn’t compare to what Rezod has,’ Jacob thought, ‘but, then again, he is a king.’

05-Jan-2009 23:49:26 - Last edited on 05-Jan-2009 23:56:45 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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He ran down the stairway and met Landon standing near the counter, making excuses as to why he couldn’t pay and even telling the man he was on a mission for the king himself. Not buying it, the innkeeper decided to make him pay for it the next time he came to Veskile, as it was the least troublesome way to deal with the situation.

“Thank you kindly, sir,” Landon said with a smile.

The old advisor turned and looked at Jacob, motioning for him to follow. Both men had had a long day, but they couldn’t stop and rest for any longer; they needed to find Brexton. Pushing open the doors to the inn, each of them finally saw the town of Veskile for the first time.

--

Even during the day, the wood was clad in shadow. Darkness filled every crevice, hiding it from the predators that lurked around the base of the trees, but also providing a way for those predators themselves to take advantage of a lost deer, or a different animal, that would linger into its territory.

Anthoni’s blade slashed through another bush and he pressed onwards, unconcerned about the path laid out for them near where they had awoken. His mind was cluttered with an incredible amount of information, some he even withheld from Maxwell. Under the burden of knowledge, given to him by Tiulo, he was unable to concentrate solely on the path and, instead, he cut a direct line towards the city.

“Anthoni! Hold on! Slow down!”

The former general turned and looked back at his comrade; Maxwell was busy fighting past an unruly vine that blocked his path. Sighing slightly, Anthoni drove the edge of his blade through the thick barrier and then proceeded to move.

“Are you alright?” his partner asked, laying a hand on Anthoni’s shoulder. His mentor stopped suddenly and held his sword down near his waist, contemplating what he should do in response.

Shrugging off Maxwell’s hand, he replied, “We have to do what Tiulo suggested.”

“But why?”

05-Jan-2009 23:49:52

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Anthoni glared at Maxwell before striking down another bush and moving past it, using nearby trees for support as he fought through the dense place. Without looking back, he finally spoke: “Tiulo obviously knows much, and he did not kill us; this must be taken into account. However, the story he gave is so... extraordinary. Magic? Power? Life or death? Who is he to know of such things? And who am I to take on the task of vanquishing evil forces and fighting for what is right?”

Maxwell opened his mouth to speak, but Anthoni disregarded him and continued.

“All my life I had done what the king said for me to do. Was that right? I am no better than any other man who serves under his lord, taking order mindlessly and charging into battle for what? The king’s grace?” He paused and struck down another series of plants that blocked his way. “Who decides what is right… and what is wrong? God? An entity that does not even assist us? If God was such an incredible force, then why would He not strike down the evils of the land and send this power to those who do His will? Is He afraid?”

Suddenly, he stopped and his sword fell limp beside him.

“No… there must be a plan. There is always a plan.” Befuddled by his own emotions, Anthoni could not continue. His mind tried to grasp hold of a theory; his heart beat with an intensity unbeknownst to any other man, for it loathed the choice Anthoni had to make. “I must choose now, Maxwell,” he finally said. “I shall either follow the wizard’s advice, or go out and return to Atiolgo a man free of all his burdens.”

05-Jan-2009 23:50:12 - Last edited on 05-Jan-2009 23:56:59 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Neither Anthoni nor Maxwell spoke for moments on end, for what seemed like an eternity, until the younger man stepped forward but a few feet behind Anthoni. “I think we should heed the man’s words,” he suggested, compassion and loyalty burning in his eyes. “Tiulo seems to firmly believe in your abilities, Anthoni, and I can easily say that I do as well. Who are we to deny the world its savior? If this is but a lie, then so be it; we at least tried to help. But, if this is something else… something greater… then it is the path we must choose, even if we believe ourselves incapable of handling it.”

“Ah, Maxwell,” his companion began. “If only life were so easy. A thick line: black and white, with no grey seeping between the framework. There are more than but two choices here, my friend; even if we do not know it, they are there. Our time is limited, and Tiulo has given us full responsibility on how to handle our future. We can choose black; we can choose white. Then… there is a point where the two sides intertwine, a compromise, if you will. Should we choose this, it would mean that we gave in to our own temptations, our own fears, but we would have a safer journey.” He stopped and lifted his edge of his blade in front of his face, studying it intensely. “The choice is mine, though. White… and black… and grey: one must be chosen… and I, Anthoni of Atiolgo, have made my choice.”

--

Korinth sprinted down the path and towards the light that guided her forth. Behind her, howls bled from the forest’s depths, and they followed her every move. Crying out, she turned and saw those yellow eyes, piercing the darkness in all directions, bob up and down at a quickening pace.

“I can’t do it,” she conceded, but not stopped her speed. The end of the path was near now, but she could feel those eyes… those insatiable, yellow eyes… gaining on her, and she gave one last burst of effort.

05-Jan-2009 23:50:47

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Sunlight cascaded from above as she broke from the brush and stumbled out into the clearing, but she did not easing her pace. Sweat drifted from her brow and had long since soaked her shirt, causing her to strain even harder to see through the salty mixture.

Turning, she saw the white figures of wolves crash through the forest’s edge, their eyes raging and chests beating; it was the end unless she could find a way. ‘The river’s too wide,’ she thought to herself as fear overcame her. The water, rushing by her feet, spewed white foam as it smashed into rock after rock. Jumping, she decided, would also be suicide.

The young woman stumbled a bit before spinning around and staring death in the face. Six wolves crowded around her in a semi-circle, beginning at one side of the riverbank and then creating an arc as they watched her begin to panic. Each of them revealed sharp teeth, dripping with spit and drool as they imagined their next meal: tearing the human’s flesh from its bones and then satisfying themselves with its meat; it was unbearable, and they pounced.

Suddenly, a man from the opposite bank bounded over it completely, not missing a beat, and landing right beside Korinth. Stepping in front of the frightened woman, he drew a dagger and raised it menacingly. The wolves, although hesitating in shock at their new foe, did not retreat; they stood there, challenging the man to attack with open mouths.

“Drake…” Korinth whispered.

Her brother’s darkened hair was longer than she remembered and flowed down his back, a little past his shoulders, in waves, complementing his muscular frame. It had been a good two months since she had laid eyes on him, but she remembered him almost immediately.

“Stay back,” he warned.

05-Jan-2009 23:51:24

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Each of his foe’s possessed multiple weapons at their disposal: teeth, claws, and speed. Drake had battled with wolves before, though, and had been trained to deal with packs at a time. ‘Find the leader,’ he thought to himself. ‘Once he is down, the rest will disperse and flee for a time. No one dares to strike without their leader’s word,’ he concluded.

Examining each of the animals, he finally laid his eyes upon one of larger size. It wasn’t a large difference, but it was enough to differentiate him from the others; Drake’s hand twitched in anticipation, and he clenched it into a fist. Raising his right hand, the one with the dagger, he placed his right foot forward and darted out towards the wolves that stood, encircling them, a good ten yards away. Drake’s attack was focused solely on the leader of the beasts, so he paid little attention to the others.

Flashes of white crossed the gap that had been there, but Drake avoided most of the attack with expertise. Only one strike had landed, and it was from one of the lower wolves; the claws had dug into his arm and deeply scratched it. The pain soared through his body, but he continued towards the largest animal.

It, though, did not stray from the fight. Charging, it raised its head and open its massive jaws, snapping at the air as it tasted the smell of the man. The head shot forth from a good distance and almost struck Drake in the chest, but he parried the blow and lifted a knee into the wolf’s jaw, sending its head crashing backwards. Drake twirled his small weapon in his hand and attempted to slash the top of its head, but it, too, moved quickly and avoided the strike.

The wolf landed on its front legs and used the momentum to push off the ground and fly back into Drake, who was unbalanced, and send him crashing to the ground. His attacker jumped at his fallen body, but Drake rolled and climbed to his feet, his dagger resting in a defensive position in front of him.

05-Jan-2009 23:51:43

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Around the battle, the other wolves stood without motion. ‘What are they doing?’ Korinth asked herself. ‘Why don’t they fight, too? Is this something only their pack does? A fight of the Alpha Male’s is just that… his fight?”

Her thoughts went unanswered as the beast plunged forward again, snapping at Drake’s damaged arm; his stern, brown eyes watched every movement with the utmost precision. The dagger switches hands quickly in the air as Drake made his move, twisting his body so that he pushed the top of the wolf’s head down past him. The dagger then rotated and the man’s arm caught the throat of the beast, sliding the serrated edge along it and allowing the blood to flow freely from the wound.

The wolf’s eagerness continued to move its body past him. Then, it stumbled for a few moments; its legs wobbled as the red blood stained the white coat on its neck, and it fell into a heap on the ground.

Growls emitted from the rest of the pack’s mouths, but none dared to step forth and challenge such a fighter that had taken down their leader, the strongest of them all. Deciding it was best to leave this one be, they turned in a flash and swiftly darted back into the forest.

Korinth watched her brother place his dagger back on his waist and then turn to her. Stepping lightly, he came up in front of her and his hands fell onto her shoulders; their eyes met and held a strong connection. “What are you doing here?” he finally asked.

05-Jan-2009 23:52:26 - Last edited on 05-Jan-2009 23:53:19 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
His sister looked him over: his clothes were ripped, blood stained his entire body, and it looked like he had been cut across the face multiple times. Moments passed on end, and, being unable to reply, she fell into his arms, crying softly. ‘He’s hurt,’ she thought amidst her tears, ‘but at least he’s still alive.’

-- End of Chapter Nine --

05-Jan-2009 23:53:03

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