Right, then. I'd like to thank people for reading, and especially the reviewers for reviewing. Nice to know this has actually appeared on someone's radar. :) Remember, true believers, if you keep reading them, I'll keep writing them. Oh, and I know some people would like longer chapters, and possibly more action. This is a step towards that, but I thought it would be better to have a small update after 2 months of nothing, than wait until I had a longer chapter completed.
Disclaimer: (Me, in the announcer's booth) Okay, everyone, you know the drill. I have never owned Ever-- ::someone taps on my shoulder:: Er...yes? (Draylin) Um, are you sure you don't own it? Seems like you play. (Me) Well, yeah, I do play from time to time. (Draylin) Then...why do you keep saying you don't own it? (Me) ::goes back and rereads past disclaimers:: Aw, crikey! I see what you mean. Okay, everyone, let me rephrase. I do own a copy of the game Everquest, I just don't own the copyright to it. Just my original characters. And Draylin. :) ::Draylin bonks me for a critical hit! (5000 damage):: (Draylin) Ok, on with the show. Places, people! We're burning moonlight here! Hey, stop that! Shoo! ::Draylin chases off a troll that was chewing on her monk costume::
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 5, Year of the Asp, Month Firiona
She left! I can't believe she just left! I was meditating on the docks at the western edge of the Butcherblock Mountains, replaying the previous day's events in my head. I could see the scenes in my head as clearly as if they were happening again. I'd just finished defeating two orc Centurions, with Draylin at my side. Part of me hadn't really noticed how attached I was to her until then. Sure, we pretty much just met...but there was something about her that wouldn't let me forget how she moved or how she talked, even though some of it felt condescending sometimes. She was a mystery that I wanted to unravel. She seemed to exude confidence and grace. Her eyes made her seem intense. But she also had an almost undetectable sadness, hidden away. She probably figured that no one saw it...or maybe hoped. I didn't know anything about her, but it seemed like we were connected. Or so I thought. Yeah, if you two were so connected, why did she leave without a word? Just a note. A note that said, "I'm sorry I can't settle up like we said we would. I have to take care of a debt that's long overdue. Forget about me, kid. I'm nothing but trouble. Draylin." A note left on my windowsill at home. I didn't even have to ask my family if they'd seen her. She was like a ghost, or some surreal dream that became real for a moment.
Hell, when we left each other in Crushbone, I went back to my battle group energized. Like I could take on Emperor Crush himself. Thankfully, I didn't. The group that did confront Crush was nearly wiped out. Only with the help of other groups was the Emperor defeated. The ones that survived came back heroes, even though we knew the victory would be short-lived. Every so often, an orc seems to rise to the position of Emperor, and countless more lives are lost because of orc greed. Or maybe it's just to revel in destruction. Who knows the motives of an orc? At least I got what I wanted that day. It wasn't from everyone, but I won a small measure of respect from different people that went on the raid. Even that elvish brat Keeyon, who didn't seem to respect anything, gave me a grudging nod in passing. I wonder if Draylin told anyone about my private fight with 3 orcs. As far as I knew, we were the only ones there.
As happy as I was to get home safely, all I could think about was seeing Draylin again. Wondering if she'd heard of our success. Hoping to tell her that she helped me fight after all. My parents, though somewhat worried about letting me go on the raid, knew I wouldn't be alone. My parents and sister greeted me at the door with hopeful smiles. They wanted to know how my first raid went, and I was happy to relay the story...with some modest stretching of the truth. My sister had even butchered a cupcake recipe in anticipation of my success. Of course, she reminded me that I was still her little brother, and not to let one victory go to my head. I just rolled my eyes at her and went to my room to scribe some new spells I picked up at the druid guild on my way home. Even Heartwood Master seemed impressed, though he said that he knew I was a capable druid when we first met. I walked into my room, closed the door, and almost immediately saw the small scribbled words on a note, waiting for me. After reading it, I rushed out of the house so fast, no one had a chance to react. I looked on the roofs of houses, branches in the trees, and even at the river in Felwithe. She was really gone, and I didn't know how to find her.
It was in Felwithe where it happened. The fish were swimming slower than usual, the low chatter that echoed off the marble walls suddenly stopped, and my silent tears that were filling up the river paused in midair. Then, a beautiful elven face appeared in the water, looking at me. By her warm, though sad, smile and the crown made of leaves and vines resting atop her head, I knew who it was; Tunare, the Mother of All. I would have been frightened by the sudden appearance of another face in the water, if not for the gentle calm that came over me, and the melodic voice that whispered in my head.
Why do you cry, child?, the elf asked me.
"She's gone," I whispered.
The monk?, she asked.
"Yes." I closed my eyes, but I could still see the elven face in the water.
She follows her own path, as do you. Forces are at work in this world that you do not yet understand.
"I need her." As the voice spoke, I could see images of Draylin in my mind's eye.
She balances along the bank of uncertainty, between darkness and light, vengeance and love. Would you walk the same line to find her? Would you leave all that you know for a future that may not come?
I didn't need to think about the answer. "Yes," I answered with conviction. I opened my eyes when I felt a hand on my cheek, where Draylin had kissed me the day before. Tunare was floating in front of me, above the water, green robes flowing around her in a wind I couldn't feel.
She needs you, Young One. But she does not want your help. You must heal her wound before it consumes her. If you choose this path, your fates will be intertwined. Use this gift to find her, but beware the danger it brings. A past evil has risen, and it has found the both of you. My influence is weakened where you must go, but I will always be with you. I closed my eyes again as she pulled her hand away and melted into the water. Allies old and new will help, but only you can ease her pain. Open your eyes, Young One, and begin your journey.
When I opened my eyes, I was looking into the blue waters of the Ocean of Tears. I had somehow been transported to the docks just west of the dwarven city of Kaladim. If the female dwarf who was fishing a few feet away was startled, she didn't show it. She simply looked up at me, snorted, and went back to her fishing. I was surprised to find a backpack, full of supplies and new spells, sitting next to me. I'd never seen it before, but I knew it was mine. It seemed to be made of a light material I hadn't encountered before, though my experience with tailoring was limited. The pack seemed to make the items stored inside lighter as well.
I stood up at the end of the dock and waited for the ship to arrive that would take me to Freeport, the City of Men. I'd seen humans before, of course. My father was a human. I've never actually seen a human city before, however. All I've learned about humans and their cities came from tales told by my father or wandering adventurers. I'd only been standing at the docks for a few minutes when I felt something tug at my leggings. It was one of the smallest creatures I'd ever seen; a gnome in light green robes who introduced herself as Translocator Fithop. I sat down in front of her after introducing myself while waiting for the ship to arrive.
She said, "Hello there, Tain. There seem to be some strange problems with the boats in this area. The Academy of Arcane Sciences has sent a small team of us to investigate them. If you need to travel to the Ocean of Tears in the meantime, I can transport you to my companion there." As soon as I agreed to her offer, I felt a tingle throughout my body and a lurch in my stomach as the gnome's spell gave me my first real taste of long distance teleportation.