Chronicles of Noa Genesis: The Winged Tale
Our seven-part story begins with the movement to unite the seven countries under one kingdom. But for now, let's start at the very beginning...
Chronicles of Noa Genisis: The Winged Tale
Chapter 1 - Shelter from the Storm
It was the third decade of the 11th king's reign. Noa Genesis, under the rule of one main kingdom, prospered with enough peace and happiness to go around. And although there were still places corrupted by the touch of the demon king centuries before, the current King, Desta, had no problem of solving the matter in a peaceful, and in a way that expressed no aggression at all.
The good had finally triumphed over the evil. The demons were banished, and the people were happy.
But that is not the case in a story like this one. That was just the setting of it.
The third decade of the 11th king's reign.
The real story begins here along the roads from the Jielvideu Country to the Ba'aguiou Region, where a caravan carrying its circus performers struggled against the cold, Spring storms.
"It's no use...!" the snake charmer, Hidel, whined. His clothes were caked with mud and his body was feeling the aches and pains of trying to haul a terribly stuck carriage from a ditch. "Let's just set up the camping tents already..."
"I hate to say this, but I think Hidel is right. We're stuck in this storm." The Ringmaster sounded disappointed. He expected his troupe to get to the next town by now. But it was all thanks to Jojo, the Animal Trainer, that they had to stop the whole precession in order to search for his missing ferret friend.
The old Ringmaster shot a glance Jojo's way. He caught the eye of Limdo, the ferret and twitched one eyebrow.
"Although I will not give out any blames..." he began slowly, taking his glower away from the frightened little animal. "We really should find shelter. The tents in this storm will be too dangerous to sleep in these winds." And the proof showed itself in another powerful gale of wind. The Ringmaster shielded himself from the chilly blast. "...Kohbold, Hidel, Jojo…and Mason, please spread out to see if there are places for us to take coverage under tonight."
"Yes, sir."
The five men, Khobold the Strong Man and Mason the Caretaker among them, began their explorations into the foliage. The Ringmaster watched them go until a new incident demanded his attention.
"Ringmaster, there's something wrong with Frilla...!"
That brought the old man running to the open wagons to where the three women that accompanied their traveling group were hiding within. Marie the Cook was on the floor, cradling a collapsed woman in her arms. It was Safrilla, the Gypsy.
"She was fine just a second ago..." said the youngest of the women, Lorelai. She was Mason's daughter. "And then she let out this horrible scream...Ringmaster, she just collapsed."
Lorelai was only twelve, so it was obvious that she was frightened by Safrilla's sudden faint. But Frilla was a Gypsy after all; a special young woman and also one of the Ringmaster's most trusted, best friends. He knew what was wrong with her. And it wasn't much of a surprise to him.
"Relax, child. She's just fainted." The Ringmaster knelt by Frilla's side and looked carefully into her darkly tanned face. She looked peaceful now. Marie seemed, in no way, alarmed by the reaction either.
"F...Fainted?" Lorelai came closer, her nervousness edging away. "Are, are you sure, sir?"
"Aye, she's fine." The old circus leader suppressed a grin at the child's fright. "Based on my past experiences with her, I'll bet she's having a dream vision."
"Ooh..." Lorelai looked relaxed now, watching the old Gypsy with curious green eyes. "What's she dreaming about?"
The Ringmaster shrugged. "I don't know, lass. But I'm sure she'll tell us after she wakes. For now, let's let her sleep."
"Okay."
Lorelai followed the Ringmaster back outside while Marie tucked Safrilla to bed. "Did my father come back yet?" she asked as they stood, shivering, in the rain. The girl's reddish brown hair was already sopping wet and sticking to her face.
"Hrm, that depends on what they can find in a time like this one." the Ringmaster replied wisely, searching the brush for sight of Mason.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and edged away at the Ringmaster's particular calmness.
But it just took a couple minutes longer. And soon enough, Kohbold returned with Mason and Hidel following close behind.
"We're in luck, Ringmaster." Kohbold reported with relief. "There's a cave up north from here. It's big enough to fit some of our wagons inside. And it's protected well enough from the storm. We'll be able to stay dry in there overnight if we get there now."
"Excellent." the Ringmaster was pleased. "Let's hurry to the cave, then." Then paused. "Where's Jojo?"
"…He's waiting there right now. He's been complaining about his ferret catching an unwanted cold, sir." Hidel hissed a laugh, but stopped with a look from his boss.
"I hope you can put some muscle into pulling one of the wagons, Hidel," said the Ringmaster with a raised eyebrow from under his large top hat. "Instead up making silly jokes about your fellow troup members."
"Aye. Sorry, sir." Hidel replied sheepishly, hurrying to take the wagon he had been driving earlier...