The Origins Saga 1 of 6
Lunar Landing
Chapter 1
The Visitor
It was quiet as Nash drove the wagon back to Vane. He looked at the cargo in the back of his wagon. Wood for the last few repairs to the guild, special flowers and herbs for Star Lights, and a few bags of Healing Nuts. It had been a long trip, but at least he could see Mia again. He hadn't gotten the courage to tell her how he felt, but maybe . . .
His thoughts were cut short as he heard a sound. It was quiet at first, but it got louder.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" The form of a human was falling. It looked as though they were falling right out of the Blue Star. The form came crashing down only about a half mile from where Nash had stopped the wagon.
He gawked at the person that had just come crashing down. Then with a loud yell, he whipped the horse toward the victim.
----------------------------------------------
"This is amazing. I've never seen burns heal so quickly. He was completely covered in burns and now he is almost . . . " came a female voice.
"Oooh," Steve moaned.
"He's waking up," came the voice again. "Go get Nash."
Steve slowly opened his eyes, looking around the white room. A woman wearing a white hood peered into his face.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Wh . . . wh . . .wh," Steve tried to speak but his mouth was too dry.
"Water?" asked the hooded stranger. Steve nodded. A glass of rather murky water was handed to the hooded woman, which she put to Steve's lips. The water slid down his throat, and he could taste the small amount of grit. After a few swallows of the lukewarm liquid, he sputtered and reached for the glass.
"I can probably drink myself," Steve stated. "Where is my sword?"
"You didn't have a sword," came a male voice in the doorway. "But first things first. Who are you?"
"Who are you?" Steve replied.
"I asked you first."
"I asked you second."
"Hey," said the young man, stepping into Steve's line of sight. "Show me some respect. I did save your life."
"Well then, what's your name, so I know who to thank?"
"I'm Nash and . . . Oh, crap," he said as a smile crossed the boy's face.
"I'm Steve," Steve replied. "Now, maybe you can tell me where I am. Or do I have to trick that out of you too?"
Nash decided to just give in this time. "You're in the enfermery at the Magic Guild of Vane."
"Vane?!" Steve looked confused. There was a Magic Guild of Vane in the Lunar video game he had played, but it couldn't be there. "As in float in the sky Vane?" Nash nodded. "Stand against the Grindary, fall to the ground, Goddess Althena's world of Lunar Vane?!"
This time it was Nash's turn to look confused. "Yeah."
With that, Steve's eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted. Nash reached out to wake the boy back up, but his hand was stopped by the priestess.
"Best to let him sleep. He needs the rest." The mage and priestess left the boy to sleep. As the door closed behind them Steve's eyes snapped open. Still not believing that he was really in Vane, he started for the window.
Pulling off the covers, he looked at what he was wearing
"What the . . . " he said to himself, looking at the yellow robe that he was wearing. It looked similar to the one that the young man was wearing, and exactly like the one that Nash wore in the game. "This is too weird. Especially since I'm supposed to be dead."
Steve rushed to the window. Looking out, he only saw the end of a stone road, a dirt path, and nature. Noticing that the window was on the first floor, he quietly climbed out.
He looked at his surroundings. If it isn't Vane, it's a damn good replica, he thought. Steve rounded the corner taking in his surroundings when . . .
THUD
"Ouch!" Steve said at the same time as the girl he ran into.
She was wearing a pink robe and was holding, now, only one book. Her hair was black as night, and her skin, a lovely shade of alabaster.
"Oh, I'm sorry Nash. I didn't see . . . Wait you're not Nash."
Steve bent down to pick up the two fallen books. "How do you know? My name could be Nash," he said handing her the books.
"Is it?" she asked.
"Well, no," he replied. "But it could have been. I'm Steve. Steve Talaski. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Mia. I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new to the guild?"
"Not just the guild," Steve said. "But if we truly are on the world of Lunar, I'm new to this whole world." Mia looked confused. "It's a long story. Hey you're not by any chance Mia Ausa?"
"What tipped you off?" she asked.
"Pink robe, raven hair, white skin, plus the fact that I'm told we're in Vane, and you said your name was Mia."
"Clever deductions. Here is another question. Why are you wearing Nash's robe?"
"Beats me. I woke up in it."
Mia gasped, then exclaimed, "Oh! You're the boy that Nash found . . ." Mia took a step back and looked at the Steve. "I don't mean to be rude, but from Nash's description of your condition, I expected you to look a little worse than you do."
"Well Isn't that nice. I don't look as bad as you think. Don't worry, I don't truly get offended easily."
Mia smiled, "Then let me extend a hand of friendship and show you around Vane. What have you seen?"
Steve pointed to the corner where the two collided. "You see that corner? That's about it."
----------------------------------------------
The priestess walked in the door carrying a tray of food. "Okay Steve. It's time to wake up and try to . . . " she started. She stopped, looking at the empty bed. Nash, who was behind her, ran into the priestess, spilling the food on her tray.
"Nash, he's gone," said the startled woman. Exchanging worried glances, they rushed out of the room.
----------------------------------------------
" . . . And this is my garden," Mia said as she led Steve into a small enclosed area. A small stone path led to two stone benches, all inside a large hedge. Flowers of all different kinds encircled the paths and benches.
"Excuse me while I stare in amazement," Steve said. He then proceeded to drop his jaw and widen his eyes.
Mia giggled as he changed his expression. "Why don't we go sit down." The two walked over to the stone benches and sat down. "Now, tell me this long story.'"
"Well, here's the thing," Steve began. "I want to tell it as few times as possible, so I would like to wait for Nash. He should be along soon, since I didn't tell him I was leaving."
"Steve!" came a yell.
"Speak of the Devil."
"Steve, what are you doing here? . . . Oh . . . Hi Mia." Both Nash and Mia turned red. An awkward silence filled the area.
"Tell me, is it hot out here or is it just you two?" Steve joked. "Anyway, both of you sit down and I'll tell you my long story.'"
Nash sat on the second bench, rather far away from Mia. With a sigh, Steve started his story.
