Edit: This is my first fanfic. Read, Review, and Enjoy!
Bold Italics - The narrator
Italics - Thought
The village of Durmoost was the first to fall to the dreaded citadel empire. One that was prejudice against all mages. The leader of the citadel empire, the Grand Inquisitor, imprisoned all the adults and trained all the children as warriors, encouraging them to forget the ways of the mage. This was their ultimate mistake.
A man wearing a dark blue robe swiftly but silently made his way down the stairs. In the cupboard under a jar of jelly lay a book, snatching the book he tip-toed past the lounging room where a woman lay sleeping. Slowly he opened the door and went out sidling on the side of the house he looked out to see if anyone was there. Satisfied that the coast was clear, he ran to the village gate. Easily scaling it he jumped down on the other side. Landing in the nearest bush he hid there for awhile more to make sure that none were near and ran again into the cover of the trees. He ran through the forest at top speeds until finally he stopped at a clearing in the forest.
Again scanning the horizon for people he set the book down on a nearby rock. He opened it to reveal writing in an indecipherable language with images of fire, ice, water and earth. After creating a force field around the area, he took out a wooden stave with a crystal attached to the top. Then he began reading out of the book and did many great acts of wizardry, some only heard in legends. All the animals in the forest flocked to him in droves, watching the great feats of wizardry. Nothing could be heard but the gentle muttering of the cloaked man as he ignited fires, blew strong winds, levitated rock and conjured up water. Suddenly the silence was broken by a yell.
"Someone is using wizardry!".
The animals, as if snapping out of their trance, ran from the clearing, leaving their strange behavior behind.
Impossible, how could they have sensed my wizardry while this barrier is up.
Abandoning the question he quickly closed the book and let down the force field. Stowing it in his robes he ran from the clearing at lightening speeds using his mana for a burst of energy.
"I got another reading, this thing is going fast!" the soldier yelled.
They must be able to sense me by my mana.
Cutting off all mana usage he scaled a tree and hid in the top. Below he saw some of the inquisitor guards in their usual uniform, silver with golden trim with the emblem of the citadel on their chest.
"I swear the reading just disappeared right around here" one said.
"Well obviously your mana radar is busted" said the other.
So that's how they knew I was here.
"Yours wasn't even on, how would you know" he said.
The man waited for the bickering to stop and when finally they got back to their posts he jumped from the tree. Suddenly an arm shot out of the darkness and grabbed him. It was the guard who had claimed to see the mana reading.
"I knew it" he said, a grin spreading upon his face. T
he mage struggled trying to stray from his grip but he held on tight. "Oh no you're not going anywhere" he said. As he opened his mouth to shout out to his friend the mage kneed him in the stomach causing him to double over in pain. As he bent over he released his grip on the mage allowing him to chop his neck, rendering him unconscious. He applied a quick incantation making him lose his memory of the encounter. Reluctantly he grabbed hold of the mana radar and ran in the direction of the village. When he finally got back to the house the lights were on. He walked into the house to see a woman with unusually frazzled brown hair, and eyes frantic with worry.
"Ashir, I'm so glad you're safe" she said throwing her arms around him.
"What's wrong Zadra?" he said.
"We have to leave, the Citadel just put out a warrant for your arrest" she said, tears pouring out of her eyes at an alarming rate.
"On what charges" I said.
"Wizardry, they know" she said.
"I told you Zadra you can't come with me" said Ashir.
"Why can't I come!" she yelled tears pouring from her eyes.
"Because you deserve better than this!" he yelled back.
She turned away, tears falling more frequently from her eyes. Ashir walked over to her and lifted her chin up
"I love you" he said "But I can't come back until I take down the Citadel".
She threw herself into his arms, resting her head on his chest.
"I hope one day we can meet again" he said and then disappeared from her arms.
She fell to her knees put her head in her hands and let lose another torrent of tears.
Ashir appeared far from Durmoost but close enough to see the citadel of Durmoost, where the grand inquisitor resides. It was the definition of fortified, surrounded by a moat teeming with Hydra, windows where archers were perched ready to destroy any threat. Despite this Ashir still looked towards the citadel and took a solid vow that one day he would return to take down the Citadel Empire.
He sat down and allowed himself to get his bearings; from what he sensed he was in the outer reaches of the Citadel and there was a border guard so it wouldn't be easy getting out. He set down his map of Lore.
If I was able to get out I would need a good place to go, preferably someplace where I could find help he thought. He scanned the map and his eyes fell to Battleon. The newly built city was teeming with adventurers. All were anxious to do something exciting, that was something Ashir could give them. But first things first I need to find a way to get out of the Citadel Empire he thought. Looking again to the map his eyes fell to the border city of Kraven. I wonder if I could get him to help me. And so he put on his cloak and began his trek to the border city of Kraven.