Fortifying one's nonessential delusion with the threads of reality would only bring harm to the love ones observing idly by.
A great tale was passed to assess the truth to the above statement that was made up on a whim. It's allowed, non?
Buried between tall luminous Oaks and Pines had a snug cozy cottage surrounded by nature's life and a soft streaming river.
There, a charming young lad was beginning to stir from the stray strand of light that found its hideous way through the wavering glass.
His crystal clear orbs awoke with a start and grew dark as he regained blurred memories.
'Argg! That swindling bastard!' A gloved fist crushed the floorboard as he groggily curled to a sitting position with an arm over his eyes.
He rested for a few until the sounds of denial chocked out of the poor boy. He was afraid of the carnage that might surround him. True yet, the small shelter he called home was in desperate need of refurbishing and dusting.
A stray mutter of intelligent curses left him as he reluctantly tried to savage whatever he could to restore his beloved house.
The young man had a slim build with distinguished white locks and a look to kill. Whichever way you'd like to interpret it.
He glared in distaste upon a cracked mirror to his ruined dress shirt and the red stains around the side of his bangs.
The bastard whom he had called his mentor had raided his home the previous night, and demanded booze and a release from his debt to the younger, much to the lad's chagrin.
His mentor was what one would call a frivolous womanizer but was more widely known as the Great Sorcerer in all the lands.( Although he is technically a mage) His long red hair and quirky half mask were his most distinct features. His name was Cross Marian or otherwise known as 'That swindling Bastard'.
Despite all that, his pupil, our protagonist, hardly ever used sorcery to avoid being found after he ran from the prick two years ago. If his mentor was to live in our time, his actions would've alerted the Child Welfare Dept countless of times with unruly upbringing and forced labour. Once, he had to get him the tooth of a dragon so that Cross could show it off to his lady friends for certain favours.
'Ah.. There you are!' The young lad exclaimed when he found the small box he was looking for in the basement. It wasn't too big and could fit into one's palm. The box was made from Mahogany and was carved expertly with the seal of a double headed dragon. The mark of a hunter. The young male had hid a precious potion in it that upon contact would heal all damage received, that includes household products and houses such as small destroyed cottages in case of encounter with a certain red head. Yes.
Slowly, he creaked open the box in anticipation for a viscous navy liquid.
Much to his horror, he was met with a sea of crushing bills that rushed out and flooded his home.
'I can't believe it! He bloody enchanted it!' He was exasperated and very very distressed, and- Wait..Holy! Those were his mentor's DEBT. He began to cruse but-
'Umph!' A small golden snitch head butted him and coughed out a note with his mentor's seal, a red lion.
[To the brat that lives here,
You better pick up the slack and finally pay off that debt. Also take care of Tim.
PS, Use some sorcery, you reek of that stuff
PPS, You should get a new place, this one's not usable. Get better booze next time.
PPPS, Get a job. ]
Nevertheless, the note was burned.
Tim, the snitch nestled itself between its new caretaker's white locks and chew on them to quell its boredom. It haven't seen the boy in a while and was thoroughly enjoying his pain. The sadistic little thing.
And so, he took a glance at his home and the debts it was buried under and sighed. Although it pained him to do so, he HAD to get a new place. The debt collectors were after him AGAIN.
After he changed and gathered his essentials in a sack, he decided to stay at the nearby village a few miles from there.
'C'mon Tim, let's get going.' To which the snitch hovered from its resting place and did a loop in mid air.
XX
By evening the pair reached the bustling village, just as orbs of light began to illuminate. It was a gorgeous ceremony. One that breathes the life of every village. It starts from individual specks from each household that gradually glow brighter and brighter as they float into the air space above that gently swirled and conjoined to a powerful disk of light. That resonated to the soul of the village. In a final burst of strength, the orbs exploded and fell gently through the darkened sky to their respective posts.
'Beautiful isn't it, Tim?' He whispered in awe. It had been a while since he saw one of those. It reminded him of the journeys he'd went with his late adoptive father, Mana D. Walker. Mana always brought him up on the hillside to watch the display. With a tight grip, the duo continued into the village.
There were small stalls that lined the streets with ornaments and decorations. Everyone seemed to be in an exceptional seemed to be a festival going on. For what occasion however?
He voiced his thoughts to the innkeeper of the Green Inn.
'It's the village's annual festival! And to thank the travelers 'ere that got rid of the pesky ghouls!'
'Ghouls?'
'Haven't heard of 'em? They're the man-eating monsters.'
'Ah, I've heard of them but Ghouls weren't supposed to be able to tread through these plains, or so I've heard.' He quirked an eyebrow in thought. That's right, the entire region is protected by the national enchantment spell. Was it an illusion perhaps?
'They used ta', but there'd been an outbreak lately. Hah! The village was so sullen just the week before! It's thanks those clergymen over 'ere!' With a great thunderous laugh the owner showed the general direction of a small group clad in black and red who were enjoying their meal.
'Oh?'
His eyes widened in slight surprise. That changes a few things. He'd expect his mentor to be the village's saviour in accordance to his unappealing arrival, but this was of higher aspects of urgency.
'They certainly do seem of a capable caliber.' The lad stated while keeping an eye on the rowdy group, or mostly on a particular individual.
'You have a good eye there, they cleaned up ta' place within a day! You're lucky, traveler! Why're ya passin through these woods anyway?'
'Travelling.'
'Sure ya are!' The innkeeper gave a knowing grin.
'I dearly apologize sir, I'm afraid I'll retire to my room.' He got up and left before the innkeeper managed to slip in another cheeky comment. The village is indeed an infamous stop for many who wanted to visit the infamous red light district a few towns over. So, the implication of him indulging in such affairs were sickening.
'Tim, scout the area.' He whispered once he entered his room. Ghouls were an uncommon sight, but for sighting of them and a dispatch of clergy from central meant that the terror the country would face is beyond fearsome.
The barrier might be weakened.
xx
'Sir Kanda?' The finder asked worriedly over his dazed companion.
'Tch.' The ravenhead stood up gruffly and walked out of the room.
'There's a little bug here.' He muttered, which left the finder confused. It was close to winter, there shouldn't be any.
XX
Alright, that's the first chapter!
I'm winging the info about mystic creatures by-the-way
Hope that this story was at least a wee bit interesting! ^^''