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~` Illusions `~

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CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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~` Chapter Four `~

“Send me a wonder or make the things alright;
Don’t tell those stories changing water into wine;
How could I believe in what they pray ?
‘If god is absent - who will pave my way?’“

As Jacob and Landon walked out of the gates, the sun had begun its eternal march across the sky. Both of the men knew their travels would best be set in the daylight, so they arranged to make their way to the forest’s edge before the horizon devoured their guide of day.

Landon’s head dripped with sweat as they set out; his mind was cluttered and it showed upon his red face. The wet beads fell from the curved edge in lines, each following the one before. In his old age, Landon had become weaker and his stamina had fallen, but he would not rest - Jacob knew this. The glistening advisor, annoyed with his bodily fluids, gripped a cloth firmly out of his pocket and dabbed his forehead, then moving to his glasses and wiping them clean.

“You have the map, right?” the younger soldier inquired.

His elder nodded and took a roll of parchment from the small sack on his back. Gazing on the outside for a few moments, he then removed the binding and opened it. “Here,” he said, “is Revenske. Our city is the center in a collection of towns that make up the fair king’s kingdom, you see. So there are several directions to move in. If you went west, which we did not, we would find ourselves at two paths. The one that bends to the north would leads us to… well…” he finished his sentence, mumbling.

“Where does it lead?”

01-Jan-2009 02:58:50

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Landon squirmed for a few seconds before replying, “The city that has rebelled against King Rezod: Atiolgo.” He stopped and waited for a reaction from Jacob, but the young man stood sternly without emotion. “The city is small, of course, but one of his kingship’s finest men comes from there. But," he laughed, “the king treated all of his generals well. He fed them; he gave them shelter; he gave them money. He provided for the good men; however, it was not to be.”

“I don’t understand,” his accomplice muttered. “What happened?”

“A few months ago, the roads fell into a state of distress; no messages could be sent there, or here. In this state of decline, somehow word got out that a new tax had formed; people were calling it the ‘Life Tax,’ for terrible reasons.”

Landon took a deep breath before continuing.

“The tax, they said, claimed the king deserved rewards for allowing his people to live; it was a disaster. People were using it for ill-gained goods from the populace, and his men there felt betrayed. As far as I know, the king never declared such a tax. But… the worst occurred. Anthoni, the general instated there, gathered a group of men to take their words to the king, before communication could be reinstated. Even now, the roads remain desolate in their damaged state.”

Jacob stared blankly at his elder before commenting. “That’s… fairly ridiculous of a tale, you know.”

“Yes, yes: but it's true.”

“Hm,” Jacob murmured. “You, though, are but the king’s assistant. How do you know the king was not using this time of distress as but a ploy to gather money from this town? Maybe they are the ones in the right.”

Landon sighed and replied, “The king has many secrets; it is possible he lied to me, to all of us. But is this in his nature? To lie to all that serve him?”

01-Jan-2009 02:59:52 - Last edited on 01-Jan-2009 03:53:10 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“If the motives call for it, I believe anyone can succumb to such temptation, even a king.” He paused and looked down the barren road. “Still, we are under service to him at the time and, ignoring this rebellion, it would be good for everyone if we continue.”

“Aye,” Landon concurred before looking back at the map. “As I was saying, the western roads lead to Atiolgo and Tusxer, another of the king’s trouble cities. But, anyway: this path here does not split, but instead will lead through the forest to Veskile. There, we would be able to travel to another three towns, but we need to concentrate on our current task.” Landon rubbed his brow with his forearm to block some more sweat before continuing, “Brexton, I believe, is an innkeeper. I remember slightly from a few years ago when he was called upon by his highness.”

“Good then,” Jacob said flatly. “I think it’ll be easy to find him, then.”

Landon shrugged and tucked the map safely away into his pouch before motioning for Jacob to go ahead of him. Jacob accepted the offer without speaking and went past him, stepping onto the dull path. A few chipped rocks sat in its graves, but no more: it was an endless sea of dust running through the middle of a blanket of green. Grass layered both sides and wildflowers sprouted up, leaning over the edge of the road; their colors were a mixture of white and yellow, sparkling in the light sun.

A good hour passed with little to no action involved: Jacob and Landon moved without speaking, thinking of only their mission and, even if but for a few moments, questioning themselves about the king's loyalty to his countrymen.

01-Jan-2009 03:00:15 - Last edited on 01-Jan-2009 03:04:08 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Not even the scenery changed during the grueling walk, making it so they did not even have the luxury of daydreaming of scrutinizing their surroundings. Overall, it was an incredibly boring journey up until they saw the path begin to narrow and focus in on a sole point deep in the distance.

“I suppose…?” Jacob murmured inquisitively.

Landon's expression stayed stern as he pointed, saying, “That… is the forest’s edge.”

A shadow fell far from the base of the wood, only multiplying the height of the trees that towered over them like giants. Each of them held a thriving bushel of leaves and branches, blocking the sun’s rays from reaching its innermost depths, as if hiding something deep within.

Jacob looked at the monumental sight and then at the dwindling sun high above. Without looking at Landon, he began to slow and said, “We camp here tonight.”

--

Night had fallen and Maxwell’s mind was in a state of confusion. Running his hand through his black hair, he felt the pressure of his bronze armor weigh heavily on his body. They had rested for a good while, waiting on a few straggling soldiers to come their way, but now it was time for them to go into the dense wood they despised; it was intimidating, but they had no choice.

“The forest is alive with motion during the night, Maxwell,” Anthoni said in a scholarly tone. “Keep your weapon close and make sure that you don’t let your guard down; it could prove fatal. I believe the worst threat to us within this hellish abode is the wolf; its devilish mind is capable of hunting, and killing, even the brightest of men. A wolf is incredibly fast, and it would be deadly if we were to find ourselves surrounded.”

01-Jan-2009 03:00:42 - Last edited on 01-Jan-2009 03:03:46 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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Maxwell listened intently and then cursed under his breath. Leaning against a tree, he felt for his sword at his waist: his only defense for what they would meet within. The shield, however, he knew was there; for its weight forced him to stay awake, else he fall backwards on top of it.

"It is time.”

Anthoni turned his head and grasped his horse’s reins. They had since loaded his attacker on board, but he still rested from the beating he had received. Then, with the reins in one hand, and a sword in the other, Anthoni stepped forth into the darkness of the forest, and moved one step closer to his destination.

--

“’Shrouded in a deep fog, the forest waited; its depths held close to it a sacred calling, a final calling, as one could tell. The canopy was held tightly by the dew that spewed forth from the fog, and only a sole light burned along the forest floor. Many adventurers came for it, but it was not long until they were claimed by nature and thrust into an eternal service alongside their fallen comrades. An eternal service: the punishment for failure. The mission failed: find the power of lore. The power of lore: capable of changing life itself….”

Korinth read from the book, her mind solely on the subject at hand. The king had given her a large amount of money for information, but she was unable to truly give it to him. Why, she did not know; but she felt as though his methods were harsh, far too undeserving of this ancient gift from the gods. She had learned much from reading in the royal library, but a specific location was not given. All she knew was that the final record dated back to First Age. Assuming the records were lost in the battles of the time, she realized that only searching every corner of the land would reveal Seilo‘s location; Seilo was the name given to the power.

01-Jan-2009 03:01:17 - Last edited on 02-Jan-2009 02:47:55 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

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“Ah.”

Slamming the book shut, the young woman turned to find the ogling eyes of several men, each in their early twenties as well. “What do you want?” she asked with a frown.

"Korinth, Korinth, Korinth,” the tallest of the group scolded. “Why couldn’t someone as beautiful as you have been born… normal?” His eyes fell down, but the boy was brought back to his senses with a slap from his attractor.

“You’re pathetic,” Korinth said, shaking her head before turning back to her studies.

The boy cradled his cheek in his hand before turning and muttering several insults and walking away; the others soon followed. Korinth had been treated the same way by everyone in her town, ever since she was of age: they would watch her every move, question her principles, and, as said, even go as far as question her sanity. She was used to it though, and now she accepted it as her fate.

“Now, where was I?” she asked herself, flipping the book back open. Then, as quickly as she had left, she began falling into a world of dreams and lore.

-- End of Chapter Four --

01-Jan-2009 03:01:45 - Last edited on 01-Jan-2009 03:03:02 by CaptChekaka

[#A5QF4FBIP]

[#A5QF4FBIP]

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Another nice add on by Capt. I liked the part in the first post of Chapter Four,
----------

so they arranged to make their way to the forest’s edge before the horizon devoured their guide of day.


---------

The part, "The horizon devoured their guide of day." was very good, my favorite part.

01-Jan-2009 03:26:59

Chuk

Chuk

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I really need to get on this, don't I?

Eh, one post done. All that's happening 'til my college applications are in.

You have a heavy level of vocabulary in the first post, and what I would consider an overabundance of semi-colons. They're all used correctly, but using that many falls in the same category as using only simple sentences or only complex ones; it makes for a boring read. As long as you don't keep it up, though, you should be fine. Same thing for the vocab.

I can't comment on much else, because I haven't read enough to know enough, so I'll leave it there. :P

01-Jan-2009 04:04:17 - Last edited on 01-Jan-2009 04:15:04 by Chuk

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