--
CHAPTER 1 - THE CURE
--
PART 1 - THE SHRINE OF WORSHIP
--
The Shrine of Worship, that's what the legend used to call it. A small shrine within the center of the forbidden lands, safe from the colossi but not from the dark spirits that lived there. The legend also told of how within the Shrine the cure for death itself could be found.
Wander hoped this was true.
After getting his bow and wrapping the sword safely with rope on his belt, he had wrapped Mono within his warmest cloak and went to see his trusty old friend Agro. Agro was a horse owned by a drunken stablemaster, and when Wander had first found him he was on the brink of death.
After giving him food to eat and water to drink, Agro had taken a liking to Wander, and so Wander came back each day to take care of - God knows what would have happened if he didn't.
It was already night time by the time he had carried Mono to the stables, and once they were there Agro gave out a loud neigh of happiness.
"It's good to see you too boy," Wander smiled.
He opened the gate and went to the stable, where he released Agro and placed Mono on his back safely, before hopping up himself. The stablemaster seemed to have passed out behind the horses, and the riding equipment was still left on the horses.
Wander whispered into Agro's ears and away he went at top speed. People in various houses were woken by this sound and peered out of their windows to see what the commotion was all about, but by the time they'd got to their windows Wander was already at the stone bridge to the forbidden lands.
While riding across the bridge, Wander looked over the edge and saw in the distance a large moving creature. He couldn't quite see the details of what it looked like, but he knew exactly what it was - a colossus.
He concentrated ahead of him, trying to keep all fear out of his mind as he rode towards (hopefully) the shrine at the end of the bridge. Within minutes he arrived in a long room with a highceiling, and at the end of it could see stairs leadig up to an altar.
He rode Agro to thealtar, before hopping off and gently pulling down Mono. He placed her upon the altar and slowly pulled away the cloak, revealing the lifeless body of his love. If anything, she looked rather peaceful - though she didn't have that expression on her face before.
Before Wander could think over this however, a sound came from behind him, making him turn quickly. Several of the shadow creatures he had seen in the church were moving towards him. Acting on a whim, he pulled out the sword from his makeshift scabbard, and to his surprise it was no longer made of stone, nor as heavy as it used to be, but rather it was now of metal with intricate symbols covering it's blade.
He got ready in a battle stance, and waved his sword in front of him to see if they'd be frightened by it. But instead, something rather strange happened.
The light from the entrances behind the altar reflected off of the blade and into several strings of light, each hiing into the creatures and they instantly disappeared as if they were never there. Wander was shocked by this.
"You possess great power, child," came a voice that seemed to echo across the entire room and through his own mind, "Not only is that sword of yours extremely ancient - it's not your own."
"What of it?" Wander spoke into the air, looking around for the source of the voice (or voices, as it seemed to be both a male and a female speaking in unison).
"I am Dormin," said the voices, not acknowledging his question, "I was killed many centuries ago by your village because of something that I couldn't control - and now, the prophecy is being fulfilled."
"What prophecy?" Wander replied, no longer looking for the voice and checking on the condition of Mono's body.
"The prophecy that one day my soul would be free to rejoin it's brethren, of course."
"All I want is to bring Mono back to life - that's all I ask!"
"It's... possible."
"Then tell me how and I'll be on my way."
"By destroying the 16 idols that line these walls, but that can only be done by destroying the 16 colossi that inhabit this land."
Wander thought for a moment. Defeating the colossi was not only a fools errand, but it meant certain death for himself - no one had ever gone into the forbidden lands and survived before. But he had to do this - for Mono.
"I'll do it."
"Then go now - let your sword guide the way."
The voices stopped, and Wander knew what he had to do. He got onto Agro and rode out of the entrance - and into the forbidden lands.
And in the distance, the colossi sturred.