Chapter Sixteen
The Heart of Eoroqu
Leaving the Dari was much harder than I had imagined. I really hadn't known how many friends I had made in the small tribe. The Dari seemed truly upset that I was leaving, but at the same time, they seemed to understand that I had to leave. Lizzy looked about ready to cry and strangle me at the same time, and she only proved to be more like Rose, making me rather homesick. Regardless, my dream stayed planted in my mind, and I knew that I had to move.
"All right," Ronde said, taking a massive map from out of his tent. "Ya say ya 'ad a dream? And that in that dream ya saw a vision?"
"Yes," I replied, and as Ronde unrolled the map, I explained my dream. Ronde nodded.
"I recognize the description. You're dreamin' o' the Thunder Mountains area," Ronde said, pointing to the lower right portion of the large map. "You've got the Aregui Plains, then a small strip of land that really doesn't 'ave much o' a name, then the actual mountains. They're a pretty small mountain range compared to the Liosa Mountains, but just as dangerous. O' course, if ya want ta avoid the dangers ya can take the Orca River, but ya probably want ta go in the mountains, right?" I nodded. "Ah, that's what I thought. Well, then you're best ta go east, cross the Orca River, then head straight ta the Mountains."
I nodded, watching Ronde point to things on the map as he talked. The route looked pretty straightforward. Simply cross a river and then the mountains...
"What is the Orca like?" I asked curiously, wondering of the river was more than it seemed.
"It's a pretty rough river," Ronde told me, seeming concerned. "Accordin' ta the records, it was used ta punish people by drownin' them. The rapids are fierce and therefore it's easy ta get thrown into a rock. When crossing I suggest ya exercise caution."
I nodded. "Yes. Thank ya for the information."
"Ya jus' be careful, all right? Ya stayed for a lot shorte' time than I imagined," Ronde said. He then sighed. "Guess I can' stop ya, though. Good luck ta ya."
I nodded again, feeling numb. I then turned around and left the building. I still had a few more good byes to administer, though I had already said good bye to most of the tribe. I saw Jason, but decided not to talk to him. I didn't want to associate with the criminal, lest I fall to his trick.
Finally, I was ready. I had gathered up all my stuff and contemplated my best actions. I decided I would try to avoid Orca River to the best of my ability, though it would take longer to cross. I recalled that by going northeast, I would reach the hunted Illiad forest that held the dryads and elves. I knew that you could pay them to help you through the forest. Once out of it, I would be in the Aregui Plains, where I could swiftly cross and get to the Thunder Mountains, all in only a week or so of travel. It was a long time, but it was a lot safer than trying to risk a dangerous river.
I took one last look around the homey tent that had been my home for over three months. I had grown to appreciate it and love it. Beds would never seem right again. Civilization seemed so frivolous when compared to the simple yet wonderful ways of the Dari. I had gotten over my homesickness, having come to appreciate the Tribe. It would be sad to leave it, but I knew I had to. Burmecia was still in danger. Beatrix was still in Alexandria. I had to move on.
I took a deep breath and let it out in a soft sigh. I then turned around and left the tent. The Dari were going about their daily business, understanding that they couldn't stop me from leaving. I shifted my pack slightly. It was heavy with food and water, making it a burden on my shoulders. I continued to walk through the Tribe, and soon was stopped by Lizzy.
"So ya are leavin'?" she asked. She then frowned slightly. "Ya seemed troubled."
Indeed, Lizzy's appearance had made me remember what had happened with Jason and I last night. I took a deep breath and looked over at Lizzy.
"You know Jason?" I asked.
"Aye," Lizzy replied. "What 'bout 'im?"
I took a deep breath once again. Should I rat on Jason? He was supposed to be a friend, yet should my friends be criminals? I gave myself a quick shake, however, and continued.
"He's trouble. Just watch out for 'im," I said.
"Okay, will do," Lizzy sat. She gave me a playful smack across the shoulder. "Don' get yeself killed, 'right?"
I laughed. "All right, but ya may kill me with your smacks."
Lizzy grinned. "Oh, shut up and get movin'. Otherwise ya will never get out."
I smiled and nodded. We shook hands one final time. I then turned around and began to slide between tents to head in a northeast direction. I received plenty of smiles and "good luck", but not a single "don't leave" or "stay a bit". The Dari were so different from Burmecians. They knew that once you had your mind made up, it was foolish to try and change it.
Soon I reached the outskirts of the Tribe, where few wandered. The distant scenery was slowly becoming noticeable as the tents thinned out. It became easier to walk since no one was around.
Finally I reached the end of the Tribe. Ahead of me was endless desert, desert that I didn't want to spend a lot of time in. I took a deep breath and looked behind me at the great tribe that had accepted me with little problems.
"Thank you," I muttered, going back to my Burmecian accent.
I then turned around and raced northeast as fast as I could, hoping to read the Illiad Forest swiftly.
Within two hours of running, the Lore Desert at last began to thin out. Precious green grasses began to dare poke their heads through the sand while the temperature began to decrease. In the distance, I could see a massive, blackish-green forest in the distance. More eastward I could see the whitish blue waters of the raging Orca River. It didn't look like proper excitement, and I felt relieved that I could avoid it. Unfortunately, tales about Illiad Forest kept me from feeling full confidence.
Whole armies were rumored to disappear within the blackish forest. It was said that the dark green color came from being black with evil. Supposedly the red flowers were red with blood. Even its name was ominous. Illiad meant "death" in the ancient Demi-human language.
I continued running even as the desert thinned out, breathing in steady gasps from my mouth. My legs were getting tired, but I wanted to find shade before I relaxed. Even though it was winter, I was hot from the entire running. I knew I would probably be hotter if I didn't wear my traveler's outfit; it was made for hard running, and therefore light. I didn't have to worry about it being bulky and hot.
Finally, after another 30 minutes of running, the desert was behind me. I was in a small strip of unnamed territory that lasted for two miles. The Illiad Forest was large even from two miles away. I could see no trees in sight. It was as if the forest had sucked them all in.
I collapsed to the ground purposely and rolled a bit in the grasses until I found myself staring at the sky, gasping for breath. The sky was grayish from winter's coming, with a few stray blackish clouds passing by. It looked like it was going to rain, but I didn't mind. It would help cool me off.
"You look like you've run a mile."
I leapt to my feet at the sound of the new voice and looked around frantically. The voice sounded female and held a melodic sound. Soon, I spotted the speaker. I blinked with surprise. The speaker was human-like. She wore brown clothes decorated with leaves on the edges of the sleeves of her shirt and the edges of her pants. She had long reddish hair that reached to the middle of her back, along with pointed ears and a pretty face. She had green eyes and pale skin. She watched me curiously.
An elf. They were as pretty as the stories told.
"Hello," I said quietly, watching her.
"Hello to you," the elf said. "You don't look like a Dari. Don't sound it either. May I ask where you are from?"
"Burmecia," I replied. "I'm Sir Fratley of Burmecia."
"Ah, a traveler. I'm Element, Elf of Illiad. Pleasure to meet you," the elf said, walking over and extending a short-nailed hand.
I was surprised at Element's height. She had to be around six feet tall. Regardless, I wouldn't let my surprise show. I took her hand and shook it.
"Same to you. Why are you not in the Forest?" I asked.
"I'm a scout. I search for people who may try to go through the Forest. I help direct them through," Element explained. "Will you need directing?"
"Yes, I'm afraid. I need to pass through it to get to the Aregui while avoiding the Orca River," I explained.
"Ah, I see. Your trip will be easy. Just follow me," Element said. She then began a swift walk toward the Illiad Forest.
Though still exhausted, I knew there would be no rest from here. I swiftly began to follow Element toward the Forest. Both of us were swift walkers, but it still took about an hour before we reached Illiad Forest. Slowly trees began to appear. These trees had dark brown, almost black, trunks with sharp, formidable bark. The leaves on the trees were thick and an extremely dark green. The ground was also beginning to turn darker, while red flowers were beginning to show up. Bats could be seen hanging in the trees, resting until nightfall, or until the full darkness of the forest came about. Haunting calls traveled through the forest as Night Stalkers, rumored to be huge bear-wolves, called to each other.
Neither Element nor I seemed frightened. Element seemed used to the forest and its haunting ways; I had trust in the elf's abilities. We walked silently, weaving our way through the trees and deeper into the forest. I began to get an odd feeling that someone was watching us. Eyes seemed to be within the trees. It seemed like a creature was constantly in the trees. Paranoia, a rare trait in my mind, suddenly seemed to become the dominant thought. I began to look around constantly.
"Don't let it get to you. Take a deep breath and relax. The Forest's spell will kill you," Element suddenly said, startling me into taking out my spear.
I decided to obey her, despite the paranoia. I took a deep breath and tried to relax. I kept repeating the process. The eyes in the trees disappeared, while the creatures vanished. The paranoia left, and I was left feeling relieved.
"Feel better?" Element asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Such is the Illiad Forest's spell. You attack something, and then you are dead," Element muttered.
I chose not to ask what she meant, being too busy trying to relax. The rest of the 45-minute walk through Illiad Forest passed in silence.
"Here you are, the end of the line," Element said.
At last the end of the Forest had come. I stepped out into the cross section of the Aregui Plains and Illiad Forest. The air was getting colder as the skies were getting darker. It was either going to rain, or it was becoming night. Either way, I shivered from the cold. I turned to think Element, only to find she was gone. I was on my own once again.
I had traveled a lot farther than I had intended in one day. Now I only had a few more days travel. As I looked to the distance, I saw a grand city, and even farther away, black mountains. I could see black clouds over these mountains, and lightning streaking from the clouds. The Thunder Mountains were within my view.
I yawned, suddenly finding myself sleepy. I took my pack aside and searched for the tent within it. I soon found it, and within moments had a small camp set up and a small fire to ward off monsters started. I ate a small meal of bread and cheese, then crawled into the tent. It didn't seem awkward to be in a tent after being with the Dari, but it did seem odd to have a tent so small. Regardless, exhaustion kept away all discomfort. Soon, I had fallen into a dreamless sleep.
The next day showed itself to be very dreary and unpleasant. Cold rain was whipped about by a fierce wind. Regardless, I was moving by dawn, hoping to cover a lot of distance. The plains seemed to be rather endless, and I wanted to move quickly.
I wasn't the only one moving, it seemed. Demi-humans were also moving along the barely paved yet somehow marked roads. Many had merchant wagons with them. None of them seemed to find me absurd. Most simply glanced briefly at me and continued on their way. I, on the other hand, watched them curiously. Each seemed to have a different animal in them. Soon it almost became a game for me to guess what each Demi-human was part.
"Enjoying yourself, Burmecian?"
I turned in the direction of the voice, to find a human staring at me. She had dark brown hair, hazel eyes, metal armor covering her body completely, and a sword over her shoulder. I could immediately see she was a warrior.
"If I am, what about it?" I asked suspiciously.
"Nothing at all. I just thought a warrior would have a little more sense and maturity to him," the woman said.
I stopped in my tracks, as did the woman. We stared at each other.
"You seem familiar," I muttered.
"Don't see why," The woman replied. "We've never seen each other before this time."
"You look like Beatrix," I spat.
"That I'm definitely not. Right hair color, wrong clothing, eyes, and warrior class. Besides, I've never even been to Alexandria," the woman said, taking her sword off her shoulder and swinging it about idly. She looked me in the eye. "I'm Violet. Who are you?"
"Fratley," I replied, relaxing slightly.
"Nice to meet you," Violet replied. "Are you heading to the capital?"
"No, I'm heading to the mountains," I replied.
"The mountains? You're a brave one," Violet said, bringing her sword to the ground and leaning against it. "Perhaps I should test you."
"Test me? Right here? Right now?" I asked, surprised. I wouldn't mind a little sparring, but the fact that she seemed ready to do it at that moment startled me.
"Why not? No one cares. People spar all the time. As long as we move from the roads, we'll be all right," Violet replied. "Well, are you up to it?"
I took a deep breath and nodded. There was no way I would refuse a sparring challenge – It simply seemed wrong in my eyes. Violet nodded, and the two of us moved away from the streets. The Demi-humans didn't seem to note our movement. They didn't even turn toward us when we drew our weapons. Violet spun her sword about with surprising speed as she steadied it. I gave my spear a single twirl before pointing its sharpened blade at Violet. We stared at each other for a minute, watching the other for sudden moves.
Then, suddenly, Violet rushed forward, sword raised above her head. I swiftly leapt into the air, dodging her attack and rising about her. I spun my spear about, aiming it for Violet's shoulder. Violet landed on the ground and looked up at me. I threw my spear downward, aiming for her shoulder.
Violet leapt out the way with agility I had never seen before in a human. My spear slammed into the ground, and its blade drove deep into the dirt. I landed beside it, but was quickly pushed to the ground by Violet, who had rushed forward with incredible speed, speed even Burmecians barely had.
It became clear to me that Violet was not a normal human. I rolled to my feet and grabbed my spear. I yanked it from the ground and just managed to block an attack from Violet. She attacked with surprising force, and she managed to push me back. I stumbled on my feet, but managed to keep my footing as I concentrated. My spear brimmed with white energy, and I rushed forward to slash Violet. Violet leapt out of the way and slammed the handle of her sword into my chest. I fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Violet put the tip of her sword at my throat.
"You have the speed," she said. "But not the skill. You are not ready for the mountains."
Before I could question her, Violet vanished in a flash of lightning. I stared at the spot where she had once been, the ground smoldering slightly from the lightning. I quickly rose to my feet, but she was no where. Violet had disappeared.
Yet the flash of lightning gave me an idea of where she would be. Putting my spear away, I once again headed toward the Thunder Mountains.
The Thunder Mountains were mysterious when far away. When up close, they were ominous, especially when combined with the Orca River.
The Orca River never even went into the mountain range; it slid right by it, meandering its way toward the ocean. Regardless, it was dangerous. Massive rocks, probably having fallen from the mountains during past mountain slides, had lodged themselves in the river. The rapids were rough, the water white with the constant churning. It rushed through its bank with a rapid fierceness, and any creature that made a single false move would surely perish, either by drowning or by meeting one of the rocks.
As for the mountains, they didn't look any more inviting. Despite being the smallest mountain range on the continent, the mountains were jagged and probably the tallest and most dangerous. They were sleek black, as if made entire of charcoal, with silver and white rocks mixed in between. The highest tips were white, but most of the range was not covered in snow. Dark storm clouds hovered above the mountains and lightning shot out of the clouds. It looked ominous, but a voice suddenly came to my head.
Come to me.
I stood rigid, hand ready to grab my spear, but the voice was quickly gone. It resembled a scary resemblance to Violet's voice. Yet at the same time, it was hauntingly tempting, as if promising me something that I truly wanted. I took a deep breath, allowing myself to relax slightly. I then headed off toward the mountain range.
The climb up the mountains soon proved itself to be tough. Most mountain ranges come slowly, the land slowly uplifting from flatness, to foothill, to high foothills, to the actual mountains. The Thunder Mountains chose to go from flat ground to sudden high foothills that were so steep you had to crane your neck to find the top. Regardless, I pushed on. By now, I was the only one around. I had long left the flat plains, and it was clear no one bothered scaling these mountains often.
It took around an hour to finally get to the top of the foothill I had chosen to scale. I was exhausted enough from endless climbing, but I couldn't help but hold my breath when I saw what was in front of me.
There they were, less than a mile away. The Thunder Mountains rose suddenly from the foothills, which rolled up and down until finally they became a plateau that held the mountains. The mountains were massive and steep, rising suddenly into the air and ending in jagged tips. There were a few mountains that appeared climbable, and they seemed to help lead to the steeper mountains. It was the oddest mountain range I had come upon.
Yet there was no way I could reach it at that moment. With a soft sigh, I sat down, trying to catch my breath to reach the next big step. A bird flew by, chirping softly. I noted that the rain had stopped, though there were still black clouds in the sky. The land was so dry it seemed to crumple at the slightest touch. Trees had become sparse, and those I did see looked dead. The land was becoming a wasteland.
"Been some time."
I leapt to my feet at hearing the voice. It was clearly masculine, with a neutral rather than hostile tone. It sounded nearby. I looked around, confused, until I saw a figure. The figure was dressed in heavy furs with dark, long boots. His hands were exposed to reveal long-nailed hands. He had black hair, and black eyes. His skin was so pale, he reminded me of the vampires I had heard about in children's tales. He had almost a spooky, ominous appearance, though he simply stayed where he was and watched me.
"No one bothers to come here anymore," the man said. "They don't want to risk the storm and the high peaks. It's an adventurer's dream, this land. It's a miner's paradise."
"Who are you?" I asked before the man could continue.
The man did not seem annoyed at my interruption, like I had expected. Instead, he snorted as he walked a foot closer.
"You don't need to know that. You just need to know this. What you seek in the mountains may not be worth the trip or the ruler that resides," the man said.
"Just answer my question. Who are you?" I asked, getting annoyed.
"You will be a legend if you live... Better think of a fancy name quick," the man said sarcastically. "As for my name, what do rivers do?"
"Flow," I replied automatically.
"No, idiot, they meander," the man replied. "Good luck, you'll need it."
Then, suddenly, the man disappeared, leaving me very confused. Meander? That was his name? And why did he seem to think I wasn't ready?
Don't worry about him... Just come...
The voice had come again, as persistent as ever. I turned toward the mountains once again, thinking over the man's, supposedly Meander, words. He had said that it may not be worth the trip, and that I would become a legend – It seemed like too much. The mountains looked dangerous, yes, but that bad? I didn't feel they were that serious. So, with a deep breath, I resumed my trip to the mysterious mountains.
I think that when Meander said it was dangerous, he was talking about the weather.
As I approached the massive mountains, the weather became increasingly worse. Lightning began to streak from the sky as the wind picked up. I expected rain to develop, but it never came. It was a lightning storm, nothing more. Regardless, it was fierce. I soon found myself dodging lightning bolts while trying to fight a maddening wind. The mountains rose higher and higher, and I was so busy trying to survive the weather that I didn't notice as I began to climb one of the less steep mountains that I was within the actual range.
I did notice, however, when a lightning bolt struck a massive rock in front of me and shattered it into pieces. I immediately slammed into the ground, curling into a tight ball in an attempt to escape the sharp rocks that flew in all directions from the force of the hit. The wind only helped the rocks to fly. Only after I had heard every rock hit the ground did I rise to my feet. I looked around, and saw myself to be directly in the Thunder Mountains. Sleek black rock that appeared to be obsidian mixed with coal, slate, and other hard, black rocks surrounded me. The clouds above me were almost completely black, with bright lightning slashing between the clouds. The wind was fierce, but it blew nothing toward me. There was no vegetation, no animals, just the rock and the storm. It was a desolate place.
I wandered on, keeping wary of the unpredictable weather and the yellow eyes that looked at me from holes in the rock. I continued on my complicated hike, looking around for a way to get to one of the steeper mountains.
Then I heard a roar, a powerful roar that seemed to be mixed with the sound of the lightning itself. It seemed to reverberate throughout the entire range, and it made the ground shake. I stopped in my tracks and took out my spear. I then looked around, trying to locate the roar's source.
It came to me on its own. Suddenly a huge form swooped overhead, massive black wings flapping to keep the form airborne. Lightning streaked over the black form's body, lighting up so it was easily seen. It swooped in a 90-degree turn before it landed on a massive rock in front of me and stared at me with black eyes that held a yellow lightning bolt within them.
It was a dragon, and a beautiful one at that. It had a small head in comparison to its body, with a short, wide snout that ended in high nostrils that were spitting out steam as the dragon breathed. No teeth showed through its snout, making me wonder if it had any. Its horns were small and not straight; instead, they curved about until they were facing opposite directions, the left one curving to the left, the right one curving to the right. It had a long body, at least ten feet long at a rough estimation without the tail, with a long, whip-like tail that probably added another six feet. It had a long neck that added to its body length, being around four feet long, allowing the body to be six feet long. It had muscular legs ending in powerful, bird-like feet equipped with a three-foot long talon on each of its four toes. Its wing span had to be at least eleven feet long, and though black, the wing membrane was close to being transparent. The end of the wing ended in a sharp spike. The dragon was completely black, and lightning circled its body, the lightning's bright yellow features lighting up the dragon and sending a charge outward from time to time.
As I stared in awe, the dragon snorted and lifted itself onto its strong-looking hind legs. It folded its wings outward, as if showing off to me, who felt petty in comparison to it.
"Welcome. I see you listened to my call, but didn't heed my advice," the dragon said, and it held a feminine voice – The same voice as Violet, yet the same as the voice I had heard in my head.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Why, simple, Burmecian. I told you to come in dream and in mind, yet I came to you myself and tested you, then concluded you were not ready," the dragon said, lowering her head and body to stare at me right in the eye.
"You – You are Violet!" I gasped.
"My human-form – a form I barely take – is Violet. This form, my true form, is not Violet. My name is Relámpago. I am the Thunder Dragon, and the ruler of these parts," the dragon announced.
"You're a pretty cruel ruler, then," I said, recovering from first seeing the dragon.
"I'm not cruel, the weather is. I love this place, personally, but you do not," Relámpago snorted, rising back onto her hind legs. "You have come, so I will announce. I am here to test you, to teach you what you must know, and to help you, believe it or not. Meander has already told you that you will be a legend if you manage to win the battle."
"It is true?" I asked.
"Of course. But if we fight, there are rules."
"Rules?" I immediately was suspicious as I readied my lance.
"Not rules. Winning conditions. If you win, you become a legend, I tell you what you need to know, and I send you in the right direction. If I win, you're dead."
"But you don't die."
"Of course not."
"That doesn't seem exactly fair."
Relámpago chuckled bitterly, lowering her front legs back onto the rock as she stared at me intently. "Life isn't fair, boy. That's one lesson I'm here to teach you. If you're going to survive, you'd best be used to not-so-fair conditions. So are you ready for it?"
I spun my spear around, aiming it for the dragon's muscular chest. "Does it matter if I am or not?"
"No, it doesn't. You learn quick."
Relámpago leapt forward and slammed into the ground, making me lose my footing and fall to the ground. She roared again, making the ground shake and the lightning stop flashing for a few moments. I rose to my feet and watched as she stared at me intently. Then, suddenly, she was moving in a blur – And her wide jaw was open, revealing black, sharp fangs.
------ Bwahahahaha! Cliffhanger! After you waited so long for me to get my act together, I give you a cliffhanger! Mwahahahaha!
I won't bother apologizing for the delay... I'm tired of making excuses... I'll try to update more quickly.
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, events, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.
The Heart of Eoroqu
Leaving the Dari was much harder than I had imagined. I really hadn't known how many friends I had made in the small tribe. The Dari seemed truly upset that I was leaving, but at the same time, they seemed to understand that I had to leave. Lizzy looked about ready to cry and strangle me at the same time, and she only proved to be more like Rose, making me rather homesick. Regardless, my dream stayed planted in my mind, and I knew that I had to move.
"All right," Ronde said, taking a massive map from out of his tent. "Ya say ya 'ad a dream? And that in that dream ya saw a vision?"
"Yes," I replied, and as Ronde unrolled the map, I explained my dream. Ronde nodded.
"I recognize the description. You're dreamin' o' the Thunder Mountains area," Ronde said, pointing to the lower right portion of the large map. "You've got the Aregui Plains, then a small strip of land that really doesn't 'ave much o' a name, then the actual mountains. They're a pretty small mountain range compared to the Liosa Mountains, but just as dangerous. O' course, if ya want ta avoid the dangers ya can take the Orca River, but ya probably want ta go in the mountains, right?" I nodded. "Ah, that's what I thought. Well, then you're best ta go east, cross the Orca River, then head straight ta the Mountains."
I nodded, watching Ronde point to things on the map as he talked. The route looked pretty straightforward. Simply cross a river and then the mountains...
"What is the Orca like?" I asked curiously, wondering of the river was more than it seemed.
"It's a pretty rough river," Ronde told me, seeming concerned. "Accordin' ta the records, it was used ta punish people by drownin' them. The rapids are fierce and therefore it's easy ta get thrown into a rock. When crossing I suggest ya exercise caution."
I nodded. "Yes. Thank ya for the information."
"Ya jus' be careful, all right? Ya stayed for a lot shorte' time than I imagined," Ronde said. He then sighed. "Guess I can' stop ya, though. Good luck ta ya."
I nodded again, feeling numb. I then turned around and left the building. I still had a few more good byes to administer, though I had already said good bye to most of the tribe. I saw Jason, but decided not to talk to him. I didn't want to associate with the criminal, lest I fall to his trick.
Finally, I was ready. I had gathered up all my stuff and contemplated my best actions. I decided I would try to avoid Orca River to the best of my ability, though it would take longer to cross. I recalled that by going northeast, I would reach the hunted Illiad forest that held the dryads and elves. I knew that you could pay them to help you through the forest. Once out of it, I would be in the Aregui Plains, where I could swiftly cross and get to the Thunder Mountains, all in only a week or so of travel. It was a long time, but it was a lot safer than trying to risk a dangerous river.
I took one last look around the homey tent that had been my home for over three months. I had grown to appreciate it and love it. Beds would never seem right again. Civilization seemed so frivolous when compared to the simple yet wonderful ways of the Dari. I had gotten over my homesickness, having come to appreciate the Tribe. It would be sad to leave it, but I knew I had to. Burmecia was still in danger. Beatrix was still in Alexandria. I had to move on.
I took a deep breath and let it out in a soft sigh. I then turned around and left the tent. The Dari were going about their daily business, understanding that they couldn't stop me from leaving. I shifted my pack slightly. It was heavy with food and water, making it a burden on my shoulders. I continued to walk through the Tribe, and soon was stopped by Lizzy.
"So ya are leavin'?" she asked. She then frowned slightly. "Ya seemed troubled."
Indeed, Lizzy's appearance had made me remember what had happened with Jason and I last night. I took a deep breath and looked over at Lizzy.
"You know Jason?" I asked.
"Aye," Lizzy replied. "What 'bout 'im?"
I took a deep breath once again. Should I rat on Jason? He was supposed to be a friend, yet should my friends be criminals? I gave myself a quick shake, however, and continued.
"He's trouble. Just watch out for 'im," I said.
"Okay, will do," Lizzy sat. She gave me a playful smack across the shoulder. "Don' get yeself killed, 'right?"
I laughed. "All right, but ya may kill me with your smacks."
Lizzy grinned. "Oh, shut up and get movin'. Otherwise ya will never get out."
I smiled and nodded. We shook hands one final time. I then turned around and began to slide between tents to head in a northeast direction. I received plenty of smiles and "good luck", but not a single "don't leave" or "stay a bit". The Dari were so different from Burmecians. They knew that once you had your mind made up, it was foolish to try and change it.
Soon I reached the outskirts of the Tribe, where few wandered. The distant scenery was slowly becoming noticeable as the tents thinned out. It became easier to walk since no one was around.
Finally I reached the end of the Tribe. Ahead of me was endless desert, desert that I didn't want to spend a lot of time in. I took a deep breath and looked behind me at the great tribe that had accepted me with little problems.
"Thank you," I muttered, going back to my Burmecian accent.
I then turned around and raced northeast as fast as I could, hoping to read the Illiad Forest swiftly.
Within two hours of running, the Lore Desert at last began to thin out. Precious green grasses began to dare poke their heads through the sand while the temperature began to decrease. In the distance, I could see a massive, blackish-green forest in the distance. More eastward I could see the whitish blue waters of the raging Orca River. It didn't look like proper excitement, and I felt relieved that I could avoid it. Unfortunately, tales about Illiad Forest kept me from feeling full confidence.
Whole armies were rumored to disappear within the blackish forest. It was said that the dark green color came from being black with evil. Supposedly the red flowers were red with blood. Even its name was ominous. Illiad meant "death" in the ancient Demi-human language.
I continued running even as the desert thinned out, breathing in steady gasps from my mouth. My legs were getting tired, but I wanted to find shade before I relaxed. Even though it was winter, I was hot from the entire running. I knew I would probably be hotter if I didn't wear my traveler's outfit; it was made for hard running, and therefore light. I didn't have to worry about it being bulky and hot.
Finally, after another 30 minutes of running, the desert was behind me. I was in a small strip of unnamed territory that lasted for two miles. The Illiad Forest was large even from two miles away. I could see no trees in sight. It was as if the forest had sucked them all in.
I collapsed to the ground purposely and rolled a bit in the grasses until I found myself staring at the sky, gasping for breath. The sky was grayish from winter's coming, with a few stray blackish clouds passing by. It looked like it was going to rain, but I didn't mind. It would help cool me off.
"You look like you've run a mile."
I leapt to my feet at the sound of the new voice and looked around frantically. The voice sounded female and held a melodic sound. Soon, I spotted the speaker. I blinked with surprise. The speaker was human-like. She wore brown clothes decorated with leaves on the edges of the sleeves of her shirt and the edges of her pants. She had long reddish hair that reached to the middle of her back, along with pointed ears and a pretty face. She had green eyes and pale skin. She watched me curiously.
An elf. They were as pretty as the stories told.
"Hello," I said quietly, watching her.
"Hello to you," the elf said. "You don't look like a Dari. Don't sound it either. May I ask where you are from?"
"Burmecia," I replied. "I'm Sir Fratley of Burmecia."
"Ah, a traveler. I'm Element, Elf of Illiad. Pleasure to meet you," the elf said, walking over and extending a short-nailed hand.
I was surprised at Element's height. She had to be around six feet tall. Regardless, I wouldn't let my surprise show. I took her hand and shook it.
"Same to you. Why are you not in the Forest?" I asked.
"I'm a scout. I search for people who may try to go through the Forest. I help direct them through," Element explained. "Will you need directing?"
"Yes, I'm afraid. I need to pass through it to get to the Aregui while avoiding the Orca River," I explained.
"Ah, I see. Your trip will be easy. Just follow me," Element said. She then began a swift walk toward the Illiad Forest.
Though still exhausted, I knew there would be no rest from here. I swiftly began to follow Element toward the Forest. Both of us were swift walkers, but it still took about an hour before we reached Illiad Forest. Slowly trees began to appear. These trees had dark brown, almost black, trunks with sharp, formidable bark. The leaves on the trees were thick and an extremely dark green. The ground was also beginning to turn darker, while red flowers were beginning to show up. Bats could be seen hanging in the trees, resting until nightfall, or until the full darkness of the forest came about. Haunting calls traveled through the forest as Night Stalkers, rumored to be huge bear-wolves, called to each other.
Neither Element nor I seemed frightened. Element seemed used to the forest and its haunting ways; I had trust in the elf's abilities. We walked silently, weaving our way through the trees and deeper into the forest. I began to get an odd feeling that someone was watching us. Eyes seemed to be within the trees. It seemed like a creature was constantly in the trees. Paranoia, a rare trait in my mind, suddenly seemed to become the dominant thought. I began to look around constantly.
"Don't let it get to you. Take a deep breath and relax. The Forest's spell will kill you," Element suddenly said, startling me into taking out my spear.
I decided to obey her, despite the paranoia. I took a deep breath and tried to relax. I kept repeating the process. The eyes in the trees disappeared, while the creatures vanished. The paranoia left, and I was left feeling relieved.
"Feel better?" Element asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Such is the Illiad Forest's spell. You attack something, and then you are dead," Element muttered.
I chose not to ask what she meant, being too busy trying to relax. The rest of the 45-minute walk through Illiad Forest passed in silence.
"Here you are, the end of the line," Element said.
At last the end of the Forest had come. I stepped out into the cross section of the Aregui Plains and Illiad Forest. The air was getting colder as the skies were getting darker. It was either going to rain, or it was becoming night. Either way, I shivered from the cold. I turned to think Element, only to find she was gone. I was on my own once again.
I had traveled a lot farther than I had intended in one day. Now I only had a few more days travel. As I looked to the distance, I saw a grand city, and even farther away, black mountains. I could see black clouds over these mountains, and lightning streaking from the clouds. The Thunder Mountains were within my view.
I yawned, suddenly finding myself sleepy. I took my pack aside and searched for the tent within it. I soon found it, and within moments had a small camp set up and a small fire to ward off monsters started. I ate a small meal of bread and cheese, then crawled into the tent. It didn't seem awkward to be in a tent after being with the Dari, but it did seem odd to have a tent so small. Regardless, exhaustion kept away all discomfort. Soon, I had fallen into a dreamless sleep.
The next day showed itself to be very dreary and unpleasant. Cold rain was whipped about by a fierce wind. Regardless, I was moving by dawn, hoping to cover a lot of distance. The plains seemed to be rather endless, and I wanted to move quickly.
I wasn't the only one moving, it seemed. Demi-humans were also moving along the barely paved yet somehow marked roads. Many had merchant wagons with them. None of them seemed to find me absurd. Most simply glanced briefly at me and continued on their way. I, on the other hand, watched them curiously. Each seemed to have a different animal in them. Soon it almost became a game for me to guess what each Demi-human was part.
"Enjoying yourself, Burmecian?"
I turned in the direction of the voice, to find a human staring at me. She had dark brown hair, hazel eyes, metal armor covering her body completely, and a sword over her shoulder. I could immediately see she was a warrior.
"If I am, what about it?" I asked suspiciously.
"Nothing at all. I just thought a warrior would have a little more sense and maturity to him," the woman said.
I stopped in my tracks, as did the woman. We stared at each other.
"You seem familiar," I muttered.
"Don't see why," The woman replied. "We've never seen each other before this time."
"You look like Beatrix," I spat.
"That I'm definitely not. Right hair color, wrong clothing, eyes, and warrior class. Besides, I've never even been to Alexandria," the woman said, taking her sword off her shoulder and swinging it about idly. She looked me in the eye. "I'm Violet. Who are you?"
"Fratley," I replied, relaxing slightly.
"Nice to meet you," Violet replied. "Are you heading to the capital?"
"No, I'm heading to the mountains," I replied.
"The mountains? You're a brave one," Violet said, bringing her sword to the ground and leaning against it. "Perhaps I should test you."
"Test me? Right here? Right now?" I asked, surprised. I wouldn't mind a little sparring, but the fact that she seemed ready to do it at that moment startled me.
"Why not? No one cares. People spar all the time. As long as we move from the roads, we'll be all right," Violet replied. "Well, are you up to it?"
I took a deep breath and nodded. There was no way I would refuse a sparring challenge – It simply seemed wrong in my eyes. Violet nodded, and the two of us moved away from the streets. The Demi-humans didn't seem to note our movement. They didn't even turn toward us when we drew our weapons. Violet spun her sword about with surprising speed as she steadied it. I gave my spear a single twirl before pointing its sharpened blade at Violet. We stared at each other for a minute, watching the other for sudden moves.
Then, suddenly, Violet rushed forward, sword raised above her head. I swiftly leapt into the air, dodging her attack and rising about her. I spun my spear about, aiming it for Violet's shoulder. Violet landed on the ground and looked up at me. I threw my spear downward, aiming for her shoulder.
Violet leapt out the way with agility I had never seen before in a human. My spear slammed into the ground, and its blade drove deep into the dirt. I landed beside it, but was quickly pushed to the ground by Violet, who had rushed forward with incredible speed, speed even Burmecians barely had.
It became clear to me that Violet was not a normal human. I rolled to my feet and grabbed my spear. I yanked it from the ground and just managed to block an attack from Violet. She attacked with surprising force, and she managed to push me back. I stumbled on my feet, but managed to keep my footing as I concentrated. My spear brimmed with white energy, and I rushed forward to slash Violet. Violet leapt out of the way and slammed the handle of her sword into my chest. I fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Violet put the tip of her sword at my throat.
"You have the speed," she said. "But not the skill. You are not ready for the mountains."
Before I could question her, Violet vanished in a flash of lightning. I stared at the spot where she had once been, the ground smoldering slightly from the lightning. I quickly rose to my feet, but she was no where. Violet had disappeared.
Yet the flash of lightning gave me an idea of where she would be. Putting my spear away, I once again headed toward the Thunder Mountains.
The Thunder Mountains were mysterious when far away. When up close, they were ominous, especially when combined with the Orca River.
The Orca River never even went into the mountain range; it slid right by it, meandering its way toward the ocean. Regardless, it was dangerous. Massive rocks, probably having fallen from the mountains during past mountain slides, had lodged themselves in the river. The rapids were rough, the water white with the constant churning. It rushed through its bank with a rapid fierceness, and any creature that made a single false move would surely perish, either by drowning or by meeting one of the rocks.
As for the mountains, they didn't look any more inviting. Despite being the smallest mountain range on the continent, the mountains were jagged and probably the tallest and most dangerous. They were sleek black, as if made entire of charcoal, with silver and white rocks mixed in between. The highest tips were white, but most of the range was not covered in snow. Dark storm clouds hovered above the mountains and lightning shot out of the clouds. It looked ominous, but a voice suddenly came to my head.
Come to me.
I stood rigid, hand ready to grab my spear, but the voice was quickly gone. It resembled a scary resemblance to Violet's voice. Yet at the same time, it was hauntingly tempting, as if promising me something that I truly wanted. I took a deep breath, allowing myself to relax slightly. I then headed off toward the mountain range.
The climb up the mountains soon proved itself to be tough. Most mountain ranges come slowly, the land slowly uplifting from flatness, to foothill, to high foothills, to the actual mountains. The Thunder Mountains chose to go from flat ground to sudden high foothills that were so steep you had to crane your neck to find the top. Regardless, I pushed on. By now, I was the only one around. I had long left the flat plains, and it was clear no one bothered scaling these mountains often.
It took around an hour to finally get to the top of the foothill I had chosen to scale. I was exhausted enough from endless climbing, but I couldn't help but hold my breath when I saw what was in front of me.
There they were, less than a mile away. The Thunder Mountains rose suddenly from the foothills, which rolled up and down until finally they became a plateau that held the mountains. The mountains were massive and steep, rising suddenly into the air and ending in jagged tips. There were a few mountains that appeared climbable, and they seemed to help lead to the steeper mountains. It was the oddest mountain range I had come upon.
Yet there was no way I could reach it at that moment. With a soft sigh, I sat down, trying to catch my breath to reach the next big step. A bird flew by, chirping softly. I noted that the rain had stopped, though there were still black clouds in the sky. The land was so dry it seemed to crumple at the slightest touch. Trees had become sparse, and those I did see looked dead. The land was becoming a wasteland.
"Been some time."
I leapt to my feet at hearing the voice. It was clearly masculine, with a neutral rather than hostile tone. It sounded nearby. I looked around, confused, until I saw a figure. The figure was dressed in heavy furs with dark, long boots. His hands were exposed to reveal long-nailed hands. He had black hair, and black eyes. His skin was so pale, he reminded me of the vampires I had heard about in children's tales. He had almost a spooky, ominous appearance, though he simply stayed where he was and watched me.
"No one bothers to come here anymore," the man said. "They don't want to risk the storm and the high peaks. It's an adventurer's dream, this land. It's a miner's paradise."
"Who are you?" I asked before the man could continue.
The man did not seem annoyed at my interruption, like I had expected. Instead, he snorted as he walked a foot closer.
"You don't need to know that. You just need to know this. What you seek in the mountains may not be worth the trip or the ruler that resides," the man said.
"Just answer my question. Who are you?" I asked, getting annoyed.
"You will be a legend if you live... Better think of a fancy name quick," the man said sarcastically. "As for my name, what do rivers do?"
"Flow," I replied automatically.
"No, idiot, they meander," the man replied. "Good luck, you'll need it."
Then, suddenly, the man disappeared, leaving me very confused. Meander? That was his name? And why did he seem to think I wasn't ready?
Don't worry about him... Just come...
The voice had come again, as persistent as ever. I turned toward the mountains once again, thinking over the man's, supposedly Meander, words. He had said that it may not be worth the trip, and that I would become a legend – It seemed like too much. The mountains looked dangerous, yes, but that bad? I didn't feel they were that serious. So, with a deep breath, I resumed my trip to the mysterious mountains.
I think that when Meander said it was dangerous, he was talking about the weather.
As I approached the massive mountains, the weather became increasingly worse. Lightning began to streak from the sky as the wind picked up. I expected rain to develop, but it never came. It was a lightning storm, nothing more. Regardless, it was fierce. I soon found myself dodging lightning bolts while trying to fight a maddening wind. The mountains rose higher and higher, and I was so busy trying to survive the weather that I didn't notice as I began to climb one of the less steep mountains that I was within the actual range.
I did notice, however, when a lightning bolt struck a massive rock in front of me and shattered it into pieces. I immediately slammed into the ground, curling into a tight ball in an attempt to escape the sharp rocks that flew in all directions from the force of the hit. The wind only helped the rocks to fly. Only after I had heard every rock hit the ground did I rise to my feet. I looked around, and saw myself to be directly in the Thunder Mountains. Sleek black rock that appeared to be obsidian mixed with coal, slate, and other hard, black rocks surrounded me. The clouds above me were almost completely black, with bright lightning slashing between the clouds. The wind was fierce, but it blew nothing toward me. There was no vegetation, no animals, just the rock and the storm. It was a desolate place.
I wandered on, keeping wary of the unpredictable weather and the yellow eyes that looked at me from holes in the rock. I continued on my complicated hike, looking around for a way to get to one of the steeper mountains.
Then I heard a roar, a powerful roar that seemed to be mixed with the sound of the lightning itself. It seemed to reverberate throughout the entire range, and it made the ground shake. I stopped in my tracks and took out my spear. I then looked around, trying to locate the roar's source.
It came to me on its own. Suddenly a huge form swooped overhead, massive black wings flapping to keep the form airborne. Lightning streaked over the black form's body, lighting up so it was easily seen. It swooped in a 90-degree turn before it landed on a massive rock in front of me and stared at me with black eyes that held a yellow lightning bolt within them.
It was a dragon, and a beautiful one at that. It had a small head in comparison to its body, with a short, wide snout that ended in high nostrils that were spitting out steam as the dragon breathed. No teeth showed through its snout, making me wonder if it had any. Its horns were small and not straight; instead, they curved about until they were facing opposite directions, the left one curving to the left, the right one curving to the right. It had a long body, at least ten feet long at a rough estimation without the tail, with a long, whip-like tail that probably added another six feet. It had a long neck that added to its body length, being around four feet long, allowing the body to be six feet long. It had muscular legs ending in powerful, bird-like feet equipped with a three-foot long talon on each of its four toes. Its wing span had to be at least eleven feet long, and though black, the wing membrane was close to being transparent. The end of the wing ended in a sharp spike. The dragon was completely black, and lightning circled its body, the lightning's bright yellow features lighting up the dragon and sending a charge outward from time to time.
As I stared in awe, the dragon snorted and lifted itself onto its strong-looking hind legs. It folded its wings outward, as if showing off to me, who felt petty in comparison to it.
"Welcome. I see you listened to my call, but didn't heed my advice," the dragon said, and it held a feminine voice – The same voice as Violet, yet the same as the voice I had heard in my head.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Why, simple, Burmecian. I told you to come in dream and in mind, yet I came to you myself and tested you, then concluded you were not ready," the dragon said, lowering her head and body to stare at me right in the eye.
"You – You are Violet!" I gasped.
"My human-form – a form I barely take – is Violet. This form, my true form, is not Violet. My name is Relámpago. I am the Thunder Dragon, and the ruler of these parts," the dragon announced.
"You're a pretty cruel ruler, then," I said, recovering from first seeing the dragon.
"I'm not cruel, the weather is. I love this place, personally, but you do not," Relámpago snorted, rising back onto her hind legs. "You have come, so I will announce. I am here to test you, to teach you what you must know, and to help you, believe it or not. Meander has already told you that you will be a legend if you manage to win the battle."
"It is true?" I asked.
"Of course. But if we fight, there are rules."
"Rules?" I immediately was suspicious as I readied my lance.
"Not rules. Winning conditions. If you win, you become a legend, I tell you what you need to know, and I send you in the right direction. If I win, you're dead."
"But you don't die."
"Of course not."
"That doesn't seem exactly fair."
Relámpago chuckled bitterly, lowering her front legs back onto the rock as she stared at me intently. "Life isn't fair, boy. That's one lesson I'm here to teach you. If you're going to survive, you'd best be used to not-so-fair conditions. So are you ready for it?"
I spun my spear around, aiming it for the dragon's muscular chest. "Does it matter if I am or not?"
"No, it doesn't. You learn quick."
Relámpago leapt forward and slammed into the ground, making me lose my footing and fall to the ground. She roared again, making the ground shake and the lightning stop flashing for a few moments. I rose to my feet and watched as she stared at me intently. Then, suddenly, she was moving in a blur – And her wide jaw was open, revealing black, sharp fangs.
------ Bwahahahaha! Cliffhanger! After you waited so long for me to get my act together, I give you a cliffhanger! Mwahahahaha!
I won't bother apologizing for the delay... I'm tired of making excuses... I'll try to update more quickly.
This story is copyright to me. Some characters, locations, events, and Gaia in general are copyright to SquareEnix.