The Halcyon Chronicles, Chapter 2: Livin' Eyes-Only
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Traveling can make a traveler weary. Traveling can make one feel the coldness of being alone. And Sora has started to feel such coldness. Traveling can do that.
(How much longer . . . ? )
Our traveler, Sora, is young boy with spiky brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a toothy grin you just might see every once in a while. More importantly though, was his courage; the courage he kept in his heart and also the courage Sora held in the palm of his hands. This certain valor has a name, the Key Blade. Feeling the weight of the Key Blade on his shoulder as he walked lifted his spirits a little. But even being chosen by the Key itself, and renamed the Key Blade Master, couldn't shake Sora's feeling of longing. He longed for familiarity . . . but found none. Wandering away from the King's castle down simple roads, made of nothing more than dirt, Sora thought of the friends that he longed for – and even more so of the destination of he longed to reach.
"I thought that man said the next town was only a few hours away.." Sora muttered to himself.
( And here I am walking at least half a day. )
Besides feeling his journey was aimless, as he had not come across any evidence indicating there was any sort of civilization for miles, Sora began to feel almost frightful. He saw no signs relating to towns. In actuality, Sora had seen no signs at all! Not even referring to East and West. So how was he to know that he was traveling in the right direction!? Sora quickly realized there were no friends around to hear his angst, and seeing no point in losing control over nothing, he stifled his thoughts and continued walking.
At least another hour passed until, finally, Sora came across another voyager. Crowned by a ragged top hat, he sported a pair of odd-shaped glasses, and kept a well-polished pocket watch he glanced at from time to time before slipping it back it his coat pocket. He was a relatively elder man who curiously went by the name "Fastball Jonah Livin' Eyes-Only." With obviously more just just eyes Sora was sort of taken back by this. But after a rich talk with the fellow, he understood how this unbalanced man could pass with such an odd name.
"Well ya sheee near, right near.." Fastball Jonah started.
"Near here?" Sora asked, confused, looking at a pile of rocks the man was pointing to.
"Nay. Over . . . over y'ere!" Jonah exclaimed, changing his point of aim instantly. "Y'at hill. Yer sheee it?"
Sora thought Jonah seemed a tad too excited over a mound of grass, but went along with him as he had provided such a nice and amusing conversation so far.
"Yes, I see it." Sora replied. "What about the hill?"
Fastball Johan Livin' Eyes-Only did not respond. Rather he just stood there, goggle-eyed.
"Jonah?" Sora asked, sort of concerned for the old man. There was no response though. A cold iniquity swept over Sora as thousands of meanings surged through his head. Sora took a few quick glimpses over his shoulder as he put his hand on the Key Blade.
( No . . . They've been defeated. )
"No worries," Sora quietly reassured himself. Yet not fully believing his own words, Sora intended to stay positive in this tense and eerie situation. "No worries," he said again, ". . . there are no worries." The way he spoke, it was as if the words were obviously simple – yet Sora maintained a tight grip on the one thing familiar. The soundlessness of the dirt road was killing him. Breathlessly, he looked around and around, but saw nothing.
( What's going on? )
( Why is Jonah all frozen? )
Thoughts and images gushed in and out of Sora's mind so rapidly he barely caught half of them.
( Why isn't anything happening? )
( Remember, defense. Good. And magic! )
( Well what do I want to happen? )
( There must be a reason . . . but what? )
( What do I want. What - do - I - want? )
"Over y'ere!" was yelled.
Sora was startled so badly he almost swung at Fastball's head.
"Past y'e hill, y'at's what yer lookin' fer Shora."
Sora – still traumatized by a seemingly dead man jumping to life so randomly – didn't respond.
"Shurely yer sheee it?" Jonah asked, looking as crazily at Sora as Sora was at him. "Off in y'e distance."
"Yes . . . yes. I see the hill." Sora responded, slowly regaining his voice.
"Y'at's y'e town yer been lookin fer" he answered so calmly Sora thought Jonah had no idea he was dead still for what seemed eternity.
Then it clicked in Sora's mind.
"Town? . . . town." Sora repeated under his breath not even concentrating on the words themself. "Huh? Town! Halcyon! It's down this road? Finally!"
"Yerp," the man said cleaning his glasses on his shirt, which probably wasn't really cleaning them at all. Sora would have suggested so, but at the time, all he could think of was that he would soon be in the town he had been walking towards all day. "Just over y'at hill." Sora was so happy he dropped all cares and shut out any unearthly thoughts he had but two seconds ago.
"Thank you!" Sora said, almost yelling at his newfound friend.
"It's just y'er. No problem." Jonah replied merrily. "Wheer in town ya headed?"
"Well, I was told of a small inn – supposed to be very relaxing."
"The Wakeless Inn," the two said together.
"So you've heard of it?" Sora asked.
"Ay, only one inn around heer wit' a title as shuch. Just left y'e Da'shingol Tavern right next da'r to Y'e Wakeless Inn. Quant place it is. You'll enjoy it, as well as y'e town and y'e townspeople." replied Fastball Jonah.
"Great!" Sora answered quickly with true enthusiasm. "So I just follow this road, right?"
"Yerp. Ya can't mish it," said a smiling Jonah. "Sho, until our next meet – farewell! And Fastball bid's you fair passin'." He took off his hat, dusted it a bit, and gave a small bow. "Sho get goin' Shora. Ya do lookin' a small, tad, bit tired after a long day's adventure!" Jonah chuckled as he shooed Sora off to meet his bed.
"Thanks again!" Sora yelled back a few times, yet Fastball Jonah Livin' Eyes-Only was already far off into the distance. As Sora neared the top of the hill, he wasn't expecting too much. But when his tired eyes laid hold on the small town of Halcyon, it left Sora in awe of the strange glow emanating off all within the town's reach. Surely this is the reason why a man of Jonah's age could be so refreshed and carefree. Sora stood in awed silence, gazing at the quaintness of Halcyon. The homes weren't too big, the grass was a dark, healthy green, and the few people outside so late seemed to be out just to enjoy the night's sky – which was almost purplish under the town's aura.
And so Sora took on this aura as he set foot in Halcyon.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Traveling can make a traveler weary. Traveling can make one feel the coldness of being alone. And Sora has started to feel such coldness. Traveling can do that.
(How much longer . . . ? )
Our traveler, Sora, is young boy with spiky brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a toothy grin you just might see every once in a while. More importantly though, was his courage; the courage he kept in his heart and also the courage Sora held in the palm of his hands. This certain valor has a name, the Key Blade. Feeling the weight of the Key Blade on his shoulder as he walked lifted his spirits a little. But even being chosen by the Key itself, and renamed the Key Blade Master, couldn't shake Sora's feeling of longing. He longed for familiarity . . . but found none. Wandering away from the King's castle down simple roads, made of nothing more than dirt, Sora thought of the friends that he longed for – and even more so of the destination of he longed to reach.
"I thought that man said the next town was only a few hours away.." Sora muttered to himself.
( And here I am walking at least half a day. )
Besides feeling his journey was aimless, as he had not come across any evidence indicating there was any sort of civilization for miles, Sora began to feel almost frightful. He saw no signs relating to towns. In actuality, Sora had seen no signs at all! Not even referring to East and West. So how was he to know that he was traveling in the right direction!? Sora quickly realized there were no friends around to hear his angst, and seeing no point in losing control over nothing, he stifled his thoughts and continued walking.
At least another hour passed until, finally, Sora came across another voyager. Crowned by a ragged top hat, he sported a pair of odd-shaped glasses, and kept a well-polished pocket watch he glanced at from time to time before slipping it back it his coat pocket. He was a relatively elder man who curiously went by the name "Fastball Jonah Livin' Eyes-Only." With obviously more just just eyes Sora was sort of taken back by this. But after a rich talk with the fellow, he understood how this unbalanced man could pass with such an odd name.
"Well ya sheee near, right near.." Fastball Jonah started.
"Near here?" Sora asked, confused, looking at a pile of rocks the man was pointing to.
"Nay. Over . . . over y'ere!" Jonah exclaimed, changing his point of aim instantly. "Y'at hill. Yer sheee it?"
Sora thought Jonah seemed a tad too excited over a mound of grass, but went along with him as he had provided such a nice and amusing conversation so far.
"Yes, I see it." Sora replied. "What about the hill?"
Fastball Johan Livin' Eyes-Only did not respond. Rather he just stood there, goggle-eyed.
"Jonah?" Sora asked, sort of concerned for the old man. There was no response though. A cold iniquity swept over Sora as thousands of meanings surged through his head. Sora took a few quick glimpses over his shoulder as he put his hand on the Key Blade.
( No . . . They've been defeated. )
"No worries," Sora quietly reassured himself. Yet not fully believing his own words, Sora intended to stay positive in this tense and eerie situation. "No worries," he said again, ". . . there are no worries." The way he spoke, it was as if the words were obviously simple – yet Sora maintained a tight grip on the one thing familiar. The soundlessness of the dirt road was killing him. Breathlessly, he looked around and around, but saw nothing.
( What's going on? )
( Why is Jonah all frozen? )
Thoughts and images gushed in and out of Sora's mind so rapidly he barely caught half of them.
( Why isn't anything happening? )
( Remember, defense. Good. And magic! )
( Well what do I want to happen? )
( There must be a reason . . . but what? )
( What do I want. What - do - I - want? )
"Over y'ere!" was yelled.
Sora was startled so badly he almost swung at Fastball's head.
"Past y'e hill, y'at's what yer lookin' fer Shora."
Sora – still traumatized by a seemingly dead man jumping to life so randomly – didn't respond.
"Shurely yer sheee it?" Jonah asked, looking as crazily at Sora as Sora was at him. "Off in y'e distance."
"Yes . . . yes. I see the hill." Sora responded, slowly regaining his voice.
"Y'at's y'e town yer been lookin fer" he answered so calmly Sora thought Jonah had no idea he was dead still for what seemed eternity.
Then it clicked in Sora's mind.
"Town? . . . town." Sora repeated under his breath not even concentrating on the words themself. "Huh? Town! Halcyon! It's down this road? Finally!"
"Yerp," the man said cleaning his glasses on his shirt, which probably wasn't really cleaning them at all. Sora would have suggested so, but at the time, all he could think of was that he would soon be in the town he had been walking towards all day. "Just over y'at hill." Sora was so happy he dropped all cares and shut out any unearthly thoughts he had but two seconds ago.
"Thank you!" Sora said, almost yelling at his newfound friend.
"It's just y'er. No problem." Jonah replied merrily. "Wheer in town ya headed?"
"Well, I was told of a small inn – supposed to be very relaxing."
"The Wakeless Inn," the two said together.
"So you've heard of it?" Sora asked.
"Ay, only one inn around heer wit' a title as shuch. Just left y'e Da'shingol Tavern right next da'r to Y'e Wakeless Inn. Quant place it is. You'll enjoy it, as well as y'e town and y'e townspeople." replied Fastball Jonah.
"Great!" Sora answered quickly with true enthusiasm. "So I just follow this road, right?"
"Yerp. Ya can't mish it," said a smiling Jonah. "Sho, until our next meet – farewell! And Fastball bid's you fair passin'." He took off his hat, dusted it a bit, and gave a small bow. "Sho get goin' Shora. Ya do lookin' a small, tad, bit tired after a long day's adventure!" Jonah chuckled as he shooed Sora off to meet his bed.
"Thanks again!" Sora yelled back a few times, yet Fastball Jonah Livin' Eyes-Only was already far off into the distance. As Sora neared the top of the hill, he wasn't expecting too much. But when his tired eyes laid hold on the small town of Halcyon, it left Sora in awe of the strange glow emanating off all within the town's reach. Surely this is the reason why a man of Jonah's age could be so refreshed and carefree. Sora stood in awed silence, gazing at the quaintness of Halcyon. The homes weren't too big, the grass was a dark, healthy green, and the few people outside so late seemed to be out just to enjoy the night's sky – which was almost purplish under the town's aura.
And so Sora took on this aura as he set foot in Halcyon.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~