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Clash of the Incarnations

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[#5AGSIZET9]

[#5AGSIZET9]

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Green leaves fluttered in the trees with the passing gales of wind. As the wind of fate cast its mighty hand, nature trembled in its wake. For fate was blowing that day, bringing in a fresh new wave of chaos behind it.

Serena sat beneath the tree, thinking about the burning city from her vision and her strange benefactor, when suddenly she heard something down the path. It was the sound of heavy, broken breathing. Serena leaped to her feet, startled by the sound. Then, she silently eased down the path toward the source of these strained sounds.

Serena hurried as she began to hear thick coughing alongside the panting. Finally, she reached a small tree beside the path. At the base of the tree sat a man, his back leaned against the trunk. The man had long black hair tied back in a ponytail, and he had a pale face with gray eyes. He was thin, and he wore a black traveling cloak. He was breathing heavily, and his hand was pressed against his chest, where his cloak was being stained red.

Serena, moved by the pitiful sight before her, crept toward the tree to help. As she approached, from behind, for the man was sitting on the side of the path away from the road, he suddenly pulled a sword and thrust it out toward her. Serena jumped back, too afraid to scream. The man's eyes softened, and he put the sword away. "My apologies," he gasped, returning his attention to his bleeding chest. "You startled me."

"I'm sorry," Serena said, moving closer, but very slowly. "I saw you were hurt, so I wanted to help."

The man glanced down at the wound. "It's nothing," he said. "It will heal in no time."

Serena knelt beside him. "May... may I examine it?" she asked timidly.

28-Jul-2010 20:41:26

[#5AGSIZET9]

[#5AGSIZET9]

Posts: 3,564 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The man looked at her intently, studying her with his gray eyes. Then, he nodded, removing his hand from his chest, leaning back to the tree. Serena pulled his cloak aside, revealing his bloodstained chest. The blood poured from a long **** that cut from the base of his neck to his down across to the left side of his torso. "This is horrible!" Serena said, blown away by the wound the man had called 'nothing.' "How did this happen?"

The stranger groaned, raising his head to look up into the canopy of leaves above them. "I was set upon by a group of goblins. They were brutal, and about six of them jumped on me before I knew it." He nodded down to the sword he kept close at hand. "That's why I lashed out at you earlier, I was afraid that more were appearing."

"How did you fight them all off?" Serena asked, pulling a cloth from her pack to mop up the blood.

"I fought," he replied. "I travel a lot, so I must be able to defend myself."

Serena, as she cleaned the wound, noticed that his arms lacked obvious muscle, but they subtly masked more strength beneath. His body looked more attuned to using magic, but he certainly had the strength to wield that sword well. It was a curious thing, but Serena could almost feel his power radiating from him.

The Seer retrieved a small vial from the pack she carried, and dabbed a small amount of the green liquid inside on the wound. The man grimaced as it stung, but suddenly he felt more at ease.

"What was that?" the man asked.

"It's an herb potion I made," Serena replied. "It acts like an antiseptic, so the wound won't be infected later. I mixed in a little touch of my own to the recipe, too, so it also numbs the wound to reduce pain."

The man looked up at her, his dark, enigmatic eyes studying her intently, not hiding his admiration. "You made that yourself? You must be quite gifted as a herbalist."

28-Jul-2010 20:42:00

[#5AGSIZET9]

[#5AGSIZET9]

Posts: 3,564 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Serena smiled as she went back to her pack, pulling out a strand of cloth bandage. "You're very lucky I found you," Serena said, wrapping the bandage around his chest to cover the ****. "I'm always prepared to treat wounds. I wish I was as good a Seer as I am a healer."

The man chuckled. "So you're a Seer? Don't worry about it, the gift is very rare."

Serena lowered her head. "My father is probably the best of his generation," she whispered. "I have to carry on his legacy."

The man's eyes narrowed, as if he was deep in thought, but it lasted only a moment. Then, he smiled back at Serena. "You could follow his legacy, or you could create your own. The choice is up to you."

Serena smiled, still wrapping the bandage around his chest. "Thank you," she said with a smile. "I'm sure you've made quite a legacy for yourself, too, by traveling the world!"

The man's head dropped, and Serena was quick to notice the strange, somber look on his face. "I'm sorry," Serena said, hurrying to continue mending the wound.

The man nodded, still looking off into nothingness. Serena knew she had hit something deep, so she silently continued wrapping. In her haste, her hand slipped a little too far, nudging the man's cloak on his opposite shoulder. The man reacted quickly, slapping it with his left hand, keeping the cloak in place.

Serena, puzzled, shied away from the shoulder. "Is your shoulder hurt too?" she asked, quietly.

"I apologize," the man replied. "But please, do not make me show you my shoulder. It is my shame and mine alone to bear."

The girl frowned, but she nodded. "I understand." Serena settled in beside him again, finishing up the bandage. When she finished, she rose to her feet. "I'm done," she said. "It should heal nicely now."

28-Jul-2010 20:49:22

[#5AGSIZET9]

[#5AGSIZET9]

Posts: 3,564 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
"Thank you," the stranger replied. With a grunt and a grimace, he clawed his way up the tree and back to his feet. He stood alone for only a moment, and then he stumbled back into the trunk.

"Let me help you," Serena said, running over beside him. He leaned against her shoulder, and the two began walking up the path. "You'll have to rest a while," Serena continued. "You can stay in Seers' Village until you heal."

The man did not answer right away, as if contemplating the situation. Then, he mumbled, "Yes, I will stay."

"Good!" Serena replied, smiling. "We'll keep you safe from the goblins!"

The man chuckled. "You didn't fight them. They struck me down with a ferocity and strength like they have never displayed before. Their aura was menacing, and I fear that the worst is yet to come. I hope that what you say is true, but you must not underestimate these creatures. Not anymore."

Serena was taken aback by his speech, but she saw that he believed it all. And there was something about what he described, and how he described it, that frightened her. "Well, you fought them off once," she said uneasily, "so you can do it again, if you heal!"

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Perhaps I will be the one to keep you safe."

Then, the full weight of her vision came flying back to Serena. She once again saw the city, burning and dying in the evil night, and her mysterious savior. He too wore a long black cloak, just like this stranger. As she looked up at his face, more and more she could envision him under that cloak. He was the one, she thought. He had to be.

"I don't think I caught your name. Mine is Serena; what's yours?"

The stranger once again thought carefully before answering, his unreadable gray eyes clouded from the wound and his own thoughts. "I am Karzith," he replied, and they continued walking back to the village.

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28-Jul-2010 20:49:44

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