Rain fell upon the bustling city, now quieted. The clock on a near office or tower sounded, twelve strokes. The rain beat any that braved the night, the fierce gales tortured and threatened. Lightning raced overhead, crackling with fury, thunder booming not far thereafter. Trees lashed this way and that, many falling to the wind's mercy.
Katrina Santrije leaned into the worst of the fury, one arm huddled against her body as if to protect it. Blonde hair whipped about, adding to the sting of the rain as if pelt down upon the lone 17 year old. She stumbled, the grass slicked and the mist heavy. Her eyes lowered, avoiding the brunt of the storm, but tears fell from the corners. Her light spring jacket did little to protect her frame, adding more to the frustrating situation.
Her gaze lifted as the wind died for a moment, assessing her location. Thunder boomed overhead, and a Katrina flinched, the noise adding to her misery. She bent against the wind, making for a sheltered area of trees.
She only took a few steps before a large mass blocked her path. Raising her head in annoyance, she looked into venomous eyes. The being was strangely garbed, in that of perhaps medieval attire, a cloak and boots.
Katrina's eyes traveled over the being for a moment, then flicked back at the sound of metal scrapping. She backed away from this person, only to find a blade's point at her throat. A soft wheezing came from within the hood, like a snake or some other reptile. Her heart pounding against her rib cage, painfully shallow was her breathing. Her eyes never left the greenish eyes of the other, one arm hanging almost limply at one side.
"Who are you?" Came a soft, inquiry, accompanied by a gasp of pain as the sword bit into her flesh. The reply was a hiss, which sent chills down Katrina's spine. Closing her eyes, then forcing them open once more, she gazed into the eyes.
"Who are you?" She asked again, tone stronger than the first time.
"Are you Katrina Ssantrije?" Was the hissing reply.
"Who's asking?"
"Are you or aren't you?"
"Perhaps, I do belie-" Her voice trailed off as Katrina's attention was drawn to a dark movement within the shadows. Squinting, she could make out the large mass of a person, perhaps of a male. What threw her off was the attire: black plate armor and cloak. God, what have I gotten myself into this time? Was her only thought, gaze drifting between the two figures. The armored one began to walk towards Katrina and her captor. The creature backed away, hissing and sputtering at the being. Katrina moved away from both, not trusting either. A sword caught the moons pale rays through the thick blanket of fog, held tight within black-gloved hands.
The creature turned and fled, the only remnants being the hissing utterances that echoed through the mind. Katrina cast her gaze to the dark figure, whom she know thought of as a paladin, a knight of old. Her eyes moved, studying the strangely adorned armor. The knight sheathed their sword, and turned to face the girl. Katrina backed away at the sudden scrutiny, though after only a brief hesitation, stood her ground. They stood, knight of old and child of new, studying each other shrewdly. At length, the knight took a step towards Katrina, who had come to fear this being, though not fear them.
"I have chosen wisely, so it seems." Said the knight calmly, Katrina able to pick up the bizarre accent and ancient way of speech. Her eyes narrowed, then she spoke, softly but audible enough.
"Chose me for what purpose?"
"For what purpose indeed, " Said the knight, arms crossing in front of their breastplate of obsidian. The calm in their voice began to irritate Katrina, who had always needed to know things the moment they happened. "That purpose shall be showed to you in time, my dear. For you, the journey has yet begun. You have two choices, being to accept this great burden with honor, or to decline and have its haunting memory follow you to your death."
Katrina pondered this a moment, overly curious at the deed in question. After a moments consideration, she nodded slowly. "And what might this be, of which you speak so grievously?" She said, using an older speech than normal.
"If you chose to accept it, then you shall know in time."
"And if I do not?"
"Then it shall be your downfall, my dear"
"Stop calling me that." Said Katrina, growling slightly. "And if that is the only way I shall know, then so be it! Tell me deed, and I shall accept. You have my word on that." The knight regarded Katrina through the slits in their visor, then with another swift nod, the dark stranger began to speak.
"Very well. You must travel into the dark, where Evil and Good are united against a common threat, and that which lies between strives of the first." And then the being began to speak, recite in rhymes.
"Step forth from Light, to the Shadow;
Venture from the Known, to the Mystery;
Come from the Safety, into the Peril;
Hold the hands of Time, and change a world;
Seek the others, Seek the Elementals;
The Wind that ever whispers;
The Waters that never cease;
The Lightning that races forever more;
The Earth that ever nourishes;
The Ice that never melts;
And the Fire that never falters.
The Wind, Idra child
The Water, Sea Elf's pride
The Lightning, Within the Shadows
The Earth, The Forest's keeper
The Ice, Dwelling the wall of Snow
The Fire, Rising of the Sun"
And more still the paladin thus spoke,
"Search for those like you, shy and careful. Search for those that have the aura of power, though hide it well. Search for those you are hindered in reaching. Defy the attempts of others, for they make it a point to keep you, then you will know you have found a part of a whole."
Katrina gazed at the knight throughout this speech, eyes widening in realization and confusion. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke softly, thoughtfully. "This riddle does not allow me to understand. What must I do? And where must I go?"
"That is for you to decipher." Said the knight, and they vanished into a swirl of mist, much as they had come. Katrina stared, dumbfounded, at the place where the being had been standing, then shook her head. "Imagining things again Kat." She said aloud, and began to walk again, head bent to the wind and rain.
Katrina Santrije leaned into the worst of the fury, one arm huddled against her body as if to protect it. Blonde hair whipped about, adding to the sting of the rain as if pelt down upon the lone 17 year old. She stumbled, the grass slicked and the mist heavy. Her eyes lowered, avoiding the brunt of the storm, but tears fell from the corners. Her light spring jacket did little to protect her frame, adding more to the frustrating situation.
Her gaze lifted as the wind died for a moment, assessing her location. Thunder boomed overhead, and a Katrina flinched, the noise adding to her misery. She bent against the wind, making for a sheltered area of trees.
She only took a few steps before a large mass blocked her path. Raising her head in annoyance, she looked into venomous eyes. The being was strangely garbed, in that of perhaps medieval attire, a cloak and boots.
Katrina's eyes traveled over the being for a moment, then flicked back at the sound of metal scrapping. She backed away from this person, only to find a blade's point at her throat. A soft wheezing came from within the hood, like a snake or some other reptile. Her heart pounding against her rib cage, painfully shallow was her breathing. Her eyes never left the greenish eyes of the other, one arm hanging almost limply at one side.
"Who are you?" Came a soft, inquiry, accompanied by a gasp of pain as the sword bit into her flesh. The reply was a hiss, which sent chills down Katrina's spine. Closing her eyes, then forcing them open once more, she gazed into the eyes.
"Who are you?" She asked again, tone stronger than the first time.
"Are you Katrina Ssantrije?" Was the hissing reply.
"Who's asking?"
"Are you or aren't you?"
"Perhaps, I do belie-" Her voice trailed off as Katrina's attention was drawn to a dark movement within the shadows. Squinting, she could make out the large mass of a person, perhaps of a male. What threw her off was the attire: black plate armor and cloak. God, what have I gotten myself into this time? Was her only thought, gaze drifting between the two figures. The armored one began to walk towards Katrina and her captor. The creature backed away, hissing and sputtering at the being. Katrina moved away from both, not trusting either. A sword caught the moons pale rays through the thick blanket of fog, held tight within black-gloved hands.
The creature turned and fled, the only remnants being the hissing utterances that echoed through the mind. Katrina cast her gaze to the dark figure, whom she know thought of as a paladin, a knight of old. Her eyes moved, studying the strangely adorned armor. The knight sheathed their sword, and turned to face the girl. Katrina backed away at the sudden scrutiny, though after only a brief hesitation, stood her ground. They stood, knight of old and child of new, studying each other shrewdly. At length, the knight took a step towards Katrina, who had come to fear this being, though not fear them.
"I have chosen wisely, so it seems." Said the knight calmly, Katrina able to pick up the bizarre accent and ancient way of speech. Her eyes narrowed, then she spoke, softly but audible enough.
"Chose me for what purpose?"
"For what purpose indeed, " Said the knight, arms crossing in front of their breastplate of obsidian. The calm in their voice began to irritate Katrina, who had always needed to know things the moment they happened. "That purpose shall be showed to you in time, my dear. For you, the journey has yet begun. You have two choices, being to accept this great burden with honor, or to decline and have its haunting memory follow you to your death."
Katrina pondered this a moment, overly curious at the deed in question. After a moments consideration, she nodded slowly. "And what might this be, of which you speak so grievously?" She said, using an older speech than normal.
"If you chose to accept it, then you shall know in time."
"And if I do not?"
"Then it shall be your downfall, my dear"
"Stop calling me that." Said Katrina, growling slightly. "And if that is the only way I shall know, then so be it! Tell me deed, and I shall accept. You have my word on that." The knight regarded Katrina through the slits in their visor, then with another swift nod, the dark stranger began to speak.
"Very well. You must travel into the dark, where Evil and Good are united against a common threat, and that which lies between strives of the first." And then the being began to speak, recite in rhymes.
"Step forth from Light, to the Shadow;
Venture from the Known, to the Mystery;
Come from the Safety, into the Peril;
Hold the hands of Time, and change a world;
Seek the others, Seek the Elementals;
The Wind that ever whispers;
The Waters that never cease;
The Lightning that races forever more;
The Earth that ever nourishes;
The Ice that never melts;
And the Fire that never falters.
The Wind, Idra child
The Water, Sea Elf's pride
The Lightning, Within the Shadows
The Earth, The Forest's keeper
The Ice, Dwelling the wall of Snow
The Fire, Rising of the Sun"
And more still the paladin thus spoke,
"Search for those like you, shy and careful. Search for those that have the aura of power, though hide it well. Search for those you are hindered in reaching. Defy the attempts of others, for they make it a point to keep you, then you will know you have found a part of a whole."
Katrina gazed at the knight throughout this speech, eyes widening in realization and confusion. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke softly, thoughtfully. "This riddle does not allow me to understand. What must I do? And where must I go?"
"That is for you to decipher." Said the knight, and they vanished into a swirl of mist, much as they had come. Katrina stared, dumbfounded, at the place where the being had been standing, then shook her head. "Imagining things again Kat." She said aloud, and began to walk again, head bent to the wind and rain.