This story has been running through my head for a few weeks now and I finally got most of it figured out. Thanks to Baxter54132 for beta reading, and I'm happy with how the story is turning out. I hope you enjoy it!
I now present Nexus: Part 1.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
This is the tale of Asural, a soldier in King Galbatorix's army. It takes place after the fall of the Riders but before the birth of Eragon. The story begins with the deployment of Asural's platoon to suppress an uprising in Ceunon. A city that lays 500 leagues north of Uru'Baen, the capital of the Empire.
The platoon is currently camped on the edge of Du Weldenvarden, a vast expanse of forest to the north of the Empire.
The platoon had just finished setting up camp for the night and were now talking and laughing around several fires that had been lit to keep the cold away.
Every member of the platoon wore a red tunic with the insignia of the Empire emblazoned on it, although it was hard to tell what color the tunics were because every one of them was weathered and stained from weeks of marching.
They had managed to trek through every type of weather imaginable, ranging from icy blizzards to chaotic deserts. The forest was a nice change from the barren wasteland they had traveled across, the only downside being the bitter cold that it brought to the camp.
The troop had a large variety of soldiers, most of them bore broadswords, a select few were archers or halberd carriers, and one of the men was a magician.
The magician was along to strike fear into the rebellion. He was vital in order to prevent the platoon from losing too many men.
Asural was 19 years old with brown hair, brown eyes, and stood at about 5 and a half feet tall. He had been training in the King's army ever since he was 15.
He was sitting quietly by himself warming his hands over the fire when Tial, the platoon's magician, came and sat next to him.
They were twins and this was the first mission for both. They had enlisted together and, when Tial was found to possess magical potential, he was taken into special training.
This mission was the first chance they had to see one another in 4 years.
"Looks like we're in for another cold and snowy night," said Tial.
"Why can't you just use some magic to keep the cold off of us," Asural asked grumpily.
"I've already told you why several times, it's because I was ordered by the captain not to use magic for such trivial things like comforting the men. He said that it would do wonders for the discipline required of the platoon."
"It's still stupid that we have sit out here in this cold, it has to be below zero already and the sun just set."
They both knew the real reason behind the captain's order, the captain was just cruel. He didn't care if a few of them failed to wake up the next morning, as long as he still had enough men to quell the rebellion.
Later that night, the lieutenant walked up to them and addressed the two men, "Asural, you are to join Ralph and Polon for a hunting trip tomorrow morning; you'll have 2 days to bag some food and get back here. We're still a week's march from Ceunon and our current rations will only last for 4 more days. It is imperative that we have enough food to get us to Ceunon. As for your watch tonight, it's already been taken care of."
Asural nodded and saluted the Lieutenant, which he returned, then spun on his heels and walked away.
"Well I better get to sleep then," said Asural, "I'll be waking early tomorrow."
"Good luck," said Tial.
-
Asural woke a few hours before dawn and the 3 of them had slung their bows and swords and were leaving just as the first few soldiers began to wake.
They entered a clearing a few hours after they had left the camp when Polon said, "Meet back here tomorrow afternoon with whatever you can catch, and don't be late."
And with that the 3 went their separate ways.
By the next day, Asural had bagged several squirrels and a buck.
He was entering the clearing where they would meet before heading back to camp, when he heard a deep rhythmic booming coming from the sky directly in front of him.
Suddenly a great dragon flew overhead. It was sky blue with its belly and head an even lighter shade. As it flew overhead, all that could be heard was the booming of its wings.
As quickly as it had appeared, it had vanished. No trace of the dragon was left except the booming that slowly faded into an eerie calmness that overtook the clearing.
When the sound of the dragon had faded, Asural slowly emerged from behind the tree he had taken cover behind, and sat on a stump at the edge of the clearing.
For the next hour and a half, he watched the clouds roll by and wondered about the dragon.
Why was a dragon was flying about; I thought they were all extinct. What was really strange is that the dragon seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere, or maybe fleeing from something. But what could a dragon be afraid of, he thought.
Thoughts like these raced in and out of his head until he decided that whatever it was, it probably involved magic and Tial would know more about it.
Tial seemed to know everything about magic, he was also quite talented with working magic.
After a while he became bored and began to wonder when Ralph and Polon would return when he saw a flash of light at his feet.
He looked down, and there was a small, white crystal lying there. He bent to pick it up when he heard snow crunch behind him.
He turned and was about to ask, "What took you so long," when he collapsed and everything went dark.
Cliffhangers are the devil... I hope you enjoyed Part 1.
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