Naratamoth: Finding the Guardian
I own no Beyblade
Chapter 2: Tesendee
Before we continue, yes, I would like to make a point that Makor is indeed Max. Pretty much ALL the names of the characters will be changed, but not too much, they should still be reconizeable.
As they galloped away into the night, all that was on their minds was escape. But little did they realize, they had just taken their first step into the journey of a life time.
They rode fast until dawn, weaving in and out of the trees to be sure they would not be followed. They took the time to walk through streams, go off in a few directions before taking a straight path.
As light fell upon the land of Natria, it also caused the adrenilin that had kept the two boys up all night to fall as well. Their heads would slowly sink forwards before they realized whsat they were doing and snap back up, only to repeat this a few mintues later.
They finally came to rest, the horses were wheezing and panting with sweat running down their necks, in a small hollow near a stream. The hoofed beasts drank greedily from the water and Takao made sure to have a share of water between him and Makor before they stripped down and curled into their furs.
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"Help, Dragahn warrior! Help is needed!"
"Wait? Who are you?" Takao cried again.
"Please! If you're calling us, tell us!" Makor ushered beside him. The third person was still blurred and muted, he, or she, was un recognizable.
"Come, Healer of D'ceila. Heed my call!"
"Why do you just repeat yourself? Answer us!" Takao pleaded.
Then, to their astonishment, the other Being smirked.
"My chosen ones," 'he' whispered softly, "you will learn all these things in due time. But I cannot answer you for you would not understand. Go to Forsath, the last Royal Region you will visit before going to the MainLands. Find the third… you will know him."
"How?" Makor demended, "how can you say all this, do you know everything?"
"Young, foolish apprentice. If I knew all, I would guide you to me. True, I know much, but not everything. That knolage is saved for the Beings themselves," they smiled kindly.
"Why… why can't we come to you then?" Takao asked.
"Because you have barely started your journey. In due time, you will grow closer to me. Now, my Chosen Ones, step forwards- for you have started your quest…"
Takao and Makor, hearts in their throats, slowly raised a foot and steped closer to the Guardian…
"Wa… AAA!" Takao cried as he bolted upright.
"Help, Dragahn warrior! Help is needed!" Takao shuddered as he heard the voice on the wind.
There was a startled cry from beside him as Makor awoke as well. He reached over and placed a hand of his friends shoulders and the blonde nodded quietly. They stood up and got dressed, then quickly gathered their things and packed them onto the grazing horses.
Takao took out what food he had brought along and Makor took out a few bisquits and some small tea cakes. They ate the least amount as possible, though Takao was feeling rather hungry since he had a larger appitite than most people his age.
They continued on in silence for the longest time. Heading towards Tesandee, the country directly south from Natria. In order to get to Forsath, they would have to go south through Tesendee and Wim-Quain, then it would still take a few days more to get through Forsath to the Royal City on the edge of the sea. After that… if they found the third chosen one, most likely they would have to go to the MainLands… but neither of the two could grasp the cituation fully.
Takao noticed that Makor had his hood drawn over his head, and though his face was covered, the hood was tilted forwards and Takao could tell his friend was in deep thought. After all, he had just betrayed his Ambassador… one of the highest ranking officials in Arleim… Takao didn't want to disturb his friend, but one question was nagging at him.
He let it pass for a while as they rode on with the steady clip-clop of the horses hooves. Finally, he let out a loud sigh and looked over his shoulder at the Apprentice Healer, whom was still in deep thought.
"Makor…" his voiuce was low and sounded almost foreign to the silence that had surrounded them for the longest time.
"Yes… Takao?" came the quiet reply.
"Why… why did your Ambassador call you a 'Killer Healer'?" Takao looked down as he saw Makor wince under the loose cloak.
Makor kicked his heels into the white stallion's side and rode up beside Takao, "Because," he began softly, pulling back his hood with a free hand, "because, Takao… it is what I am."
Takao saw tears forming at the edges of Makor's eyes, "B-but why? You're a Heal- Apprentice, in line to be a Healer, why would anyone accuse you of killing?"
A tear rolled down Makor's pale cheek, "Because, my friend, everyone I have treated… has died."
Takao's eyes widened.
"S-surely you can't mean that? Makor? Stop lying, death isn't a funny thing!" Takao cried suddenly. He was a warrior of Dragahn, and he had never taken a life, with or without Dragoon.
"It is true, Takao! I was never meant to be a Healer!" Makor snapped.
Both friends stopped and looked down. The horses trodded on…
"It… it was a while ago, when a terrible desiese hit Arleim. We were in grave need of Healers, basically every able boy or girl was brought into Apprenticeship… there was a sudden storm as soon as I was accewpted. The Leader of the Healers died so suddenly, he was fine and suddenly fell ill. No one took notice and thought of it as the desiese, I was taken in and every one of my patients has died since then. No matter how small the injury or problem, they always die!"
Takao felt the color draining from his face…
"So I have decided I will not be a Healer, Takao. D'ceila does not wish that of me…" Makor ended in a mutter, looking away once more.
"T-then what… what will you becom?" Takao asked nervously.
"I… Takao, what did you want to be when you got older?"
"A warrior of course, but what does this have to do with you?"
"Exactly. You wanted to be a warrior because you found it brave, and it runs in your bloodline" Makor smiled suddenly, "but alas, there are so many different occupations in the Royal City in Arleim, that I had no idea what I wanted to be."
"What have you decided to be now?" Takao asked again, slightly confused at this answer he was getting.
"I… I will be Naratamoth's next Sorcerer!" Makor cried suddenly, throwing his head back with a large grin plastered on his face.
Takao stared. That was why Makor had been in such deep thought lately… he had been thinking of this the whole time!
"B-but how? If Naratamoth has no sorcerers… who will Mentor you?" he asked hesitantly.
Makor bit his lower lip, "I… I don't know. But there are Sorcerers in the MainLands… and we are headed there, are we not? So I can learn from them, right? Besides, Takao, I believe I was meant to be a Magic-Weilder… look…"
As Takao watched, Makor held out both his hands, slightly cupped, on above the other. A faint, purple glow came from between his hands as Makor concentrated hard, and a soft amethyst color, like a mist, floated between his palms. It suddenly broke and Makor took in a deep gasp of air, sweat collected on his brow.
Makor grinned widely, "That… that, Takao, was my magic!"
Takao found a grin forming upon his face as well and he laughed gaily. The two friends laughed as the sun rose high in the sky. They finally stopped and took a rest as they came up to another stream, for the land of Natria was abundant in wildlife, forest, hills, and fresh water.
The horses drank thankfully from the water and makor and Takao split up what remained of the food yet again. They ate slowly and climbed upon their horses again, wincing at the pain in their inner thighs from the long journey already.
They went until nightfall and then they stopped in a smll patch o forest, not finding any stream this time. Takao and Makor stripped their clothes off once more and slept in their furs.
They third day from the eve they had set out on their journey, they saw a peculiar thing.
They had been riding along, a forceful breeze buffeting them from time to time, when they passed by a small pond. As they looked at it through the trees, they decided to stop and visit it because they were dreadfully tired of riding all day.
The two boys rode their horses over, still in silence, when suddenly they caught sight of something.
A small tornado, too small to do anyone damage, drifted across the pond, stirring up water, the water- for a very brief moment- seemed to take the shape of a great Turtle, and the tornado momentarily took the shape of a dragon.
The few seconds they were like that, Takao and Makor marveled at the strange, and utter beauty of the two 'creatures' then, suddenly, they turned and looked straight at the boys and then vanished.
Makor and Takao felt a chill in their souls as this happened, but the instant the beasts were gone, the breeze died and everything seemed calm once more.
"Great D'ceila…" Makor whispered quietly. (1)
They went sielently once more, looking around fearfully. Was it really the Beings who they had seen? Or had both their eyes deceived them?
The day seemed to pass without any other strange encounters. It was becoming dusk when they decided to stop, but then, just before they dismounted, Takao whirled around as best he could in the saddle.
A loud cry came up from behind them, and as Makor turned to look, his face drained of color.
It was the Company of Alreim…
The Ambassador rode at the front, flanked with two swordsmen on each side and two archers behind him.
"T-Takao…" Makor whispered fearfully, for all his strength had suddenly left him.
"Ride, Makor!" Takao cried. They kicked their heels into the horses and rode off as fast as they could. A horn sounded behind them, it was a hunting horn.
"Takao!" Makor cried through the wind rushing at him as the horses galloped, "They Mean To Kill Us! They Don't Care If We Die Or Not! They Just Want The Horses Back!"
Takao's eyes widened in shock as an arrow shot past his head.
"Then Let Them Have The Horses, We Can Continue On Foot!" he cried back.
They were coming to clear land, barren of any tree.
"Make It Through The Clearing! We Can Bail In The Forest On The Other Side!" he cried, willing he was right.
Makor nodded and let out a ry, kicking his heels into the horses side to make it run faster still. The truth was, if they didn't pull ahead enough, the archers would easily shoot them down before they could reach the other forest.
Takao repeated Makor's movement and ducked down.
It was like braking out of water, and everything seems so dreadfully slow. They burst into the clearing with the speed of Drangah- the storm Tiger- and each child had their eyes clentched tight as they prayed to their Being that they had come out ahead of the company enough to let them escape.
No such luck.
The Group of warriors broke through the trees with a war cry the archers strung their bows with an arrow, aimed, and let loose.
Takao and Makor both cried out in fright as arrows dropped on either side of them.
Makor suddenly screamed as an arrow pierced his shoulder, Takao turned to try and comfort his friend from pure instinct, but nd arrow struck him in the thigh and he cried out himself. The trees seemed to loom larger, and yet further away than ever before.
Makor, keeping one hand on the saddle-horn, turned and unlaced his things, holding them over his shoulder. Takao nodded and did the same.
The warriors grew closer, louder.
The trees, just so far away.
Makor and Takao began to feel faint, as one does with an arrow in their flesh.
Suddenly the trees hit them like an ocean wave, Makor and Takao threw themselves from their mounts as if they had just been knocked down. The rolled opposite ways, into the bushes, just as the warriors burst through after them.
Takao remained in his hiding place, peering out he could see the cerulean blue eyes of his friend, and he realized that Makor was shaking terribly as well.
His head suddenly began to swim and he curled up, cursing his injured leg, and passed into and unwanted sleep…
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Takao slowly opened his eyes…
Everything was black… there was no 'everything' only 'nothing'.
"Wh-where am I?" he cried out, expecting the Guardian to call to him again.
"Welcome, my young Warrior."
Takao whirled around to see nothing… and yet, when he screwed up his eyes, he could faintly make out the shape of something…. But what it was, he could not see.
"Are… are you the G-Guardian?"
"Be at peace, Warrior. I am not the Guardian you seek, but something else that you quest for."
"What?" Takao said.
Makor opened his eyes faintly. Why was everything so dense? Why did he feel like he ws suspended… a few bubbles escaped his mouth as he moaned in pain. His shoulder still throbbed, but now it seemed a dull ache.
Makor's eyes widened in fright. He was underwater! He would drown!
"Have peace, young one. You need not struggle, for I will not harm you."
Makor stopped as he heard the voice… it came from all around him, clear as if they weren't in water. It was the water!
"D- C'ceila?" he gasped, eyes wide.
"You have mere scratched the surface on what is to be your journey, but know this, my Sorcerer, I have given you my blessing and you are graced by my presence. Use the power I give you wisely, and remember this: Do not fear what you do not know. What you do know, is what you should caution yourself with," Makor's eyes began to blurr as he passed on again, "Farewell, and good luck, my Sorcerer of Arleim and Naratamoth, farewell!"
"I am Dragahn." Came the calm, commanding voice.
Takao fell to his knees, "Dra-Dragahn… I am honored…"
"No. It is I who is honoured to meet you. Rise, my warrior and hand me your blade."
Takao did as he was told, marvolling at the fact he was speaking with a Being!
The wind came and picked up his blade, carefully turning it over, as one would do when looking at a sword.
"It is a fine sword. What si it's name?"
"Dragoon," Takao said quietly.
"ah, a strong name for a strong weapon. Now tell me, what do you believe of magic?"
"I… I don't really believe in it," Takao admitted.
"Very well then, now, I give you a gift. Use my wind when you are in grave danger, your sword will know what to do. Take my blessing and make you journey! Find our Guardian!"
Dragoon came back to him, and Takao looked at it briefly before placing it back in its sheathe.
Suddenly, his head began to swim again… and everything went black.
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"Takao? Takao?"
Takao weakly opened his eyes, Makor was kneeling above him.
"I… I dreampt I met Dra… gahn…" he muttered quietly.
"Shush," Makor said quickly, "you've lost a lot of blood and… and you need to bandage yourself up."
Takao raised a weak eyebrow.
"I… I don't want to risk your life by tending to your wound… I'm sorry, but you know how I am, Takao," Makor said quietly.
Takao nodded and the blonde helped him into a sitting postion, Takao smiled as he saw Makor had removed the arrow and set the cloth out for him to use, and he quickly wraped up his thigh.
Once done he leaned back and closed his eyes as he fell into a dreamless sleep.
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Takao woke the next day, not a word was spoken. Makor had hidden both of them well into the foliage. The Arleim Company had left them, not bothering to search for those they didn't want.
They gathered their things in silence, slowler than usual because of the arrow wounds.
Placing their packs on their backs, they began stumbling through the woods. Exhausted.
They trecked through the woods, tripping and falling many times. And many times they got right back up. It was a struggle and soon both had sweat dripping down their faces and Makor had taken off his cloak and tied it around his waist. He had a green shirt underneath and beige, slightly orange, pants.
Takao wiped the sweat off his brow and sighed, shaking slightly as his leg bothered him.
They finally stopped for the night, going less than even half the distance they would've gone on the horses. Not much was said that night. They split up the food and ate their small portions and stripped down and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning they woke at dawn and silently packed up their things. They slung their bags over their shoulders, Makor winced at this, and stomped out the fire. Then they set out and walked some more.
South, always to the south. Towards Forsath- where they would find the last of their trio and then the three of them would be able to go to the MainLands and find the Guardian, awakin him/her and then…
Takao stopped.
"Makor… what will happen when we awaken the Guardian?" he asked quietly.
Makor was silent for quite some time, "I… I don't know Takao. All I've thought of is what I'll have to do to be a Sorcerer… and the fact that the Guardian chose us…"
"But what for?" Takao asked.
Makor merely shook his head.
They traveled on in silence, the forest was beginning to thin out rapidly. Suddenly, both of them stopped as they came to a mountain ridge and they gasped as they looked down.
There were open plains as far as the eye could see, in the distance, there were some farming fields.
Makor suddenly laughed and threw his arms open, "Takao! Welcome to Tesandee!"
Takao laughed. They had made it after all…
(1) to say "Great D'ceila/ Dragahn/ Drangah/ Drayzeer/ or any other Beings we have yet to meet" is like saying "Oh My God/ Gosh/ whatever you say. So… just incase that confused people!
HOLY CRAP! I have writers bbbbbllllloooocccckkkkkkk! Please wish me the best of luck in this story, cause I only got 1 friekin review! Come'on people!
Review please!
Demenior