One
He was falling. The ground was rushing up to meet him. He wished that he could just stay there, floating in the air without a care in the world. He was not going to get his wish.
"Ow!!!" Zyffrin cried out in pain as he landed hard onto the ground.
"He didn't have to teleport me that high! Ugh." Zyffrin muttered to himself as he brushed away the dirt off his clothes.
Finally, he looked up. He saw people of all ages, buildings, trees, gleaming armour, swords that looked like they were going to stay eternally sharp and lastly, a grand, gigantic castle that was as tall as a mountain. He was in Lumbridge.
"I'm here. I'm finally here." Zyffrin couldn't believe it for a moment.
He was here, finally, after the two years of training on Tutorial Island that seemed like eternity, he was finally here. At last.
"WOO!!!" he couldn't help it. He had to scream. "I'M FINALLY HERE!!!"
People around shot him puzzled looks and murmured among themselves.
"Has he gone mad?" a woman wondered aloud.
But Zyffrin didn't care. This joy was not worth being bottled up for the sake of his pride. He could not believe it. Time for adventure. Time for travel. No more Vanakka screaming in his ears and making him do push-ups at every opportunity. He was ready for adventure.
Slinging his pack over his shoulder with renewed vigour, he strode purposefully out of the castle grounds. He planned to explore the town for the day and begin his journey around the world of RuneScape the next day. He strolled around the town, occasionally glancing at people chopping trees or fighting goblins. By mid-day he had covered about three-quarters of the town. He decided to take a rest under a pleasant-looking oak tree and also to have his lunch. Peering into his bulky pack, he fished out his small fishing net. It took him no longer than a few seconds to recall the survival lessons he had underwent during his training in Tutorial Island and begin fishing in the river that flowed past Lumbridge.
After ten minutes or so, he had finally caught enough shrimp for a meal. Pulling out his bronze axe, he hacked some logs for himself and cooked the shrimps expertly. Cooking had been one of his strong points. He began his meal after laying his net out in the Sun to dry. Over the years on Tutorial Island, he had come to appreciate simple things like being able to sit in a quiet place with the sweet scent of flowers or having a meal. He had also developed a liking for simple meals. As he slowly nibbled the shrimps, his mind slowly drifted off to one of his many memorable experiences during his stay at Tutorial Island.
It was a survival lesson at that time. He and the other students who were also training on Tutorial Island were sent individually to different parts of an enormous jungle and had to survive in there for a month. He had numerous adventures during that time. He had found food on his own, fished and cooked his meals over fires made by him. His mind slowly drifted even deeper in his thoughts when sudden fighting noises jolted him back to reality.
It was the sound of swords slicing through flesh and clanging against other weapons.
Hefting his shrimps aside onto a plate, Zyffrin strung his bow and slung his quiver full of bronze arrows over his shoulder, ready for action. As the noises became louder, he sprinted towards the sound, heart racing. At last he found the commotion.
A girl with raven black hair was being attacked by two vicious looking goblins. She was holding a steel longsword in her left hand Zyffrin noticed that the girl had a cast around her right arm. He also guessed that the girl could fight a lot better with her right hand. Despite this, she was holding her own against the two goblins. She parried the goblins' blows swiftly, looking for an opening. At last, she found one. One of the goblins advanced and lunged forward with his spear. The girl sidestepped and struck out her blade, slicing off the goblin's head with extreme precision. Glaring at the other goblin, she bolted forward, twirling her sword and stabbed the other goblin through the heart. If she was this good with her left hand, she must be a master of the blade with her right hand, Zyffrin thought, amazed.
The girl then walked over to the dead goblins and picked up their coins. However, she left their bodies alone. Remembering his lessons on prayer, Zyffrin dug two big holes and laid the corpses into them. He then covered the holes, just as quickly as he had dug them.
"May you rest in peace." He said, already feeling the connection between him and the gods of RuneScape strengthen.
"Why'd you do that?" someone asked.
Zyffrin looked up. It was the girl who had killed the goblins.
"Why'd I do what?" Zyffrin asked, puzzled.
"Why did you bury them? They don't deserve it; they're just vicious beasts." The girl replied.
Zyffrin studied her face for the first time. Her raven black hair went all the way down to her shoulders. Her face had the shape of an oval and she had thick eyebrows. Zyffrin also noticed that she was very…he couldn't describe her in words. She was beautiful. No, she was beyond that. Zyffrin simply could not think of a word to describe her.
"I believe that all lives are equal and that even a murderous criminal that has killed thousands deserves a proper burial. Besides, we do not fully understand them, so we cannot just assume that they are evil. I'm Zyffrin, by the way." Zyffrin replied and he could tell that this girl had admired his way of thinking.
Reluctantly, she replied, "I'm Jwan."
If she was beautiful, then her voice must have been enticing, Zyffrin thought.
They shook hands and Jwan started to leave. Zyffrin could not help but feel dismayed. Quickly, he snapped out of it and headed back towards his pack. He decided to set-up a bed for himself at night after exploring the rest of the town. After that, he could practice his archery and swordsmanship before dinner.
That night, he could not help but think of Jwan. He fantasized about her until past midnight, where he slowly drifted off to sleep, still hoping to see her the next day.