Chapter 2 - The Memory - Guardia Kingdom - 1000 AD
Chrono reached the end of the gravel road that lead to town in what felt like an instant. Though old enough in age to be considered ready to live on his own, Chrono still lived with his mom, and their cat. Their house was the only residence located on the east road from town. Some days the road to town felt like it took a light year to traverse. Today however, he felt a tangible feeling in the air, almost electric, and he found his mind wandering as he entered town.
The town of Guardia had been engineered in a circular pattern with a fountain spring at the center. The fountain had been positioned in the North, South, East, and West compass directions. Chrono walked to the fountain and took a deep breath. As he looked around he took notice that the usually busy town was empty, except for a few stragglers that hadn't yet made their way to the fair.
From the fountain, the North Road lead to the Millennium Fair Grounds; the West Road lead to Guardia Forest, and the Castle beyond. The East Road lead to Chrono's house, and the South Road lead to the fishing and ferry docks. The town was small and modest. The main attractions being the fountain, the Mayor's Manner, Truce Inn, resident housing and the Market.
Chrono spent most of his time doing odd jobs at the market to help his mother make ends meet. His free time was split between helping his mother maintain the house, and his lifelong passion, sword play. His wooden practice sword was given to him as a gift when he was a baby. And though it was made of wood, he had become proficient in the art over the years...ever since his father disappeared. He greeted the few acquaintances that still lingered in town as he made his way toward the North road.
As he traveled he felt unusally introspective. The ephemeral feeling he experienced on his journey to town was replaced with memories of his father. Chrono was only six years old when it happened. His father had taken him into Guardia forest for a fishing lesson. "I'm going to catch the biggest fish ever!", he remembered saying. His father looked at him and chuckled his reply, "A fish that big will require a big, sturdy, fallen branch to catch. Let's find you one."
They reached the end of the forest trees and entered a meadow, the river located just beyond. As they made their way through the high grass, Chrono spotted a good fishing branch. He bent down, picked up the branch, and when he stood up his father was no where to be seen. It had only been a second or two, but his father was gone. His first thought was that his father was hiding, but the meadow grass was not tall enough to conceal a person, and there were no trees located near by. Chrono called out for him but there was no answer. That is when, and the first time he heard the Voice. It cut through the silence of the forest, is dread, and his tears. "Go", it simply said.
Startled, confused, crying, and screaming, he ran as fast as he could back to his house. The route back was not very far, but Chrono felt as though he was running through molasses. When he burst though the front door he was crying; all of the blood had drained from his face. "Chrono! Chrono! What is wrong?", his mother questioned frantically, "Where is your father?!".
Chrono opened his mouth but no words came out, he just sobbed uncontrollably until he finally fell asleep from exhaustion. In fact, Chrono has not spoken a word since that day. Everyone in town had their theories regarding what happened to his father, and why Chrono was not able, or unwilling to speak, but most believed that whatever did happen that day, scared the young boy so much that he lost his ability to speak.
Chrono had become so enamored in memories of that day that he didn't notice that he had entered the Fair Grounds. Nor did he notice that he had made his way through a crowd of standing people, and was now standing in an open area. He was only roused from his stupor by the sound of loud and approaching footsteps. This was immediately followed by someone shouting at him, "Look out!".