Hey guys, welcome back again! Sorry that this chapter was so late, I've been writing so much more lately that I've forgotten to upload. Also, I decided to make this story a once-a-week thing. Meaning, I will upload a new chapter once a week. The day I had planned for was Monday, but as you can clearly tell, today is Tuesday. So I'll try to be on time in the future, and if not, it should be up by Tuesday (I'm not busy on either of these days, so that's why these work the best). This will allow me to stay way ahead of schedule in terms of writing. I've almost finished the next color already, so I'm about three weeks ahead.
So this is the last chapter of White I by the way, and after this I will be taking a break, as usual. Now let's get straight to it, presenting White I chapter 3!
The next morning I awoke, an open book splayed across my chest. I sat up, blinking sleepily and looking around. For a brief second I wondered where I was, but quickly realized. Picking the book off my chest and closing it, I set it back on its shelf and stood up.
I went to the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. Sitting down on my bed to eat, I turned to look at the time. It was eight twenty-three in the morning. I froze, then remembered that it was Saturday. Letting out a sigh of relief, I continued to methodically eat my sandwich.
Looking down at myself, I realized that I was still wearing my long-sleeved white collared shirt from yesterday. Shrugging it off, I finished off my sandwich and fell back onto my bed. There was a crumpling noise underneath me. Sitting up, I turned to look.
On my bed were the plans for how I'd reach the Nalakian village. Picking them up and straightening them as best I could, I looked them over. When I'd determined that they were good, I stood up and got ready for the day.
Going to my closet, I picked out another long-sleeved white shirt. I don't know why, but I prefer to wear a suit over anything else. They're comfortable, easy to move in (for me at least), and I felt like everything I did looked cool. Everything's cooler when you wear a suit right?
However, I thought more about the situation and instead went for something else. In the forest my suit would likely tear on tree branches and get dirty.
Replacing the white shirt in my closet, I pulled out my only casual attire; a white undershirt, pocket-coated cargo pants, and a warm, black jacket. The undershirt was pretty much spotless, due to the fact that I've only worn it about two times in my life.
Stuffing the Nalakian village route guide into my pocket, I started towards my door. Stopping in the small hallway leading to it, I turned back around. I had forgotten something. Quickly I made my way to the bathroom, shutting the door out of habit. I knew that no one would see me, as I lived alone. Still, I lifted the seat and undid my belt. Pulling my belt completely off, I sat down on the toilet and took care of business.
Standing and pulling my pants up, I opened the mirror cabinet above the sink. The cabinet was mostly inaccessible to others, as it lacked a handle and an easy way to tell whether or not it even opened up. But I had my ways of opening it.
Once the mirror was opened, I reached in and gripped the handle of my masterpiece, as I called it. The memories flooded back suddenly, as they often did when I held the weapon again.
"Wintanweorth!" Father called.
"Coming!" I called back.
I raced out from the small stone structure. My father stood just outside, watching me.
"What've you been making?" He asked.
"A weapon!" I replied. "I believe that the city folk call it a 'sword'"
"How interesting." Father said, "May I see it?"
Turning around, I rushed back into the small stone building. This was the blacksmith's shop, and I was the village blacksmith. I'd inherited the position from my father, who was now too old to weld and forge properly. He'd lost a couple fingers recently because of that.
Picking the cooled blade up from its spot in the water barrel, I brought it out, showing father.
"Here it is" I said.
"Wow." Father said, taking it in his hand. "Who is this for?"
"Myself" I replied.
"Must have been hard work" Father said.
"Several hours work." I replied, "Not including the time it took to gather the materials"
Father smiled, "I'm proud of you son" He said, handing the blade back.
"Thank you," I said, "I'm proud of me too"
Father snickered. "If it's for you," He said, "What'd you call it?"
It was tradition to name everything, including our weapons and tools. We believed that naming a weapon embodied it with a soul, which would create a special bond between man and tool.
I paused for a moment, trying to remember what I had decided on, "It's called Reitō no Fukushū" I replied.
Returning to reality, I drew the sword from its place hidden behind the mirror. Most people would have their weapons on display, but Reitō no Fukushū was special. It was my masterpiece. People could steal it, and I couldn't risk that.
The blade was a long katana. The guard was an octagon shaped snowflake. Out of each corner of the eight-sided shape was a short spike, about an inch long. The two spikes sticking out of the right and left sides were about double the length of the others. The two spikes on the top and bottom of the guard reached along the blade, almost reaching the very top, and along the handle, reaching down about halfway. The handle itself was black, wrapped up in leather. The very end of the handle was topped off by a silver cap with a small hole in the center.
I held the blade in my hand, with it still in its sheath. Taking it by the sheath, I reached back into the cabinet and pulled out a belt of shurikens (in this case, they are not throwing stars, but the short spear-like throwing knives) and attached them to my own belt. Taking one out, I fitted it into the hole at the bottom of Reitō no Fukushū. Once it clicked in I slung the katana around my shoulder, so that the blade rested against my back.
Finally ready, I did up my belt and left the bathroom.
Outside I took the bus to the nearest place to the village. Unfortunately, that was still very far away from it.
I was dropped off in the outskirts of the kingdom of Atlas before I set out. Several hours later I reached the forests where the Nalakian village would be located.
The forest was different than I remembered. The trees were much thicker and closer together. When I lived in the village the trees were thinner and more spaced out. Time changes all, right? I thought, squeezing between two great tree trunks. I sure am glad that I didn't wear my suit today. The branches scraped my jacket, but luckily didn't tear it.
However, as I made my way through the thick foliage it began to thin out. Suddenly I heard a crackling in the distance, and a light flashed ahead.
Yanking my pants from a prickly bush, I charged forward, suspecting the worst possible scenario.
I reached two crossed trees and leapt, turning my body sideways, and slipping between both trunks before continuing to run.
The crackling grew louder until I saw it; fire licking up the trunk of a tall tree. Panicking now, I ran faster, only to be stopped by a blast of fire flaring up before me. And then I saw it.
My village was in flames.
The buildings were charred severely, most were unrecognizable. A tree burned to a crisp in the distance and collapsed. In the center of the village I saw something, or someone.
Quickly dashing through the fire, I was able to better tell who stood in the fire. It was a woman, silhouetted against the great flames behind her.
"Excuse me miss!" I called, waving my arms around above my head, not forgetting my city manners, "Come here! The fire is dangerous!"
Her head turned, revealing glowing yellow eyes. I staggered slightly, surprised by how evil she looked. But I couldn't judge her based on that.
"Miss!" I called, "Come quickly! The fire is dangerous!"
All of a sudden a sinister, crescent-shaped smile spread across her face, and she raised her hand. A gust of fire shot from her palm, charging towards me.
I gasped and ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack.
She fired another blast, which I side-stepped to avoid. It broke against a tree, setting it ablaze. Turning to her, I saw her fire another blast. I side-stepped again, avoiding the attack. She fired another blast right away, hitting me and throwing me to the ground.
I stood, focusing my aura to heal the burns. They couldn't heal my clothes, unfortunately, which were also burned badly. Casting the jacket aside, I realized who this woman was.
"Did you do this?!" I demanded, gesturing to the burning forest around me.
Her smile glistened in the darkness, further showing her insanity and answering my question.
Reaching to my belt for a shuriken, I readied myself to throw. Almost immediately I threw. The shuriken flew as if it were a bullet. The woman staggered backwards as it hit her.
I drew two more and threw both. This time she held out her hand, and each one burst at her palm. The small explosion lit up her face slightly, but it wasn't enough to find any clear details. All it did was further reveal her evil smile.
"Why the hell would you do this?!" I screamed, throwing another shuriken, which she easily destroyed. I reached to my belt for another shuriken, then rethought my strategy and faked grabbing one. Reaching up to Reitō no Fukushū's handle, I pretended to throw another shuriken, then charged.
The woman held out her hand, but when she didn't receive the shuriken she took a step back and fired a blast of fire. Drawing Reitō no Fukushū and slashing out, I cut through the fire and stabbed forward. For a second I saw her full body, but once again, it was too brief to completely be able to tell. I was quite certain that she wore something red.
Swinging Reitō no Fukushū down upon her, I cut through her silhouetted head. Her body broke up into shadows.
And then, just like that, she vanished.
I know that typically each color has a more epic or violent climax, so this was probably pretty disappointing. It was for me too, though.
So what did you guys think of Wintanweorth's weapon? Actually, his weapon was initially called 'Frozen Vengeance', but I didn't think that it sounded very Nalakian (whatever that sounds like, it isn't English), so I called it Reitō no Fukushū, which translates from Japanese into 'Revenge of the Frozen' (according to Google Translate), so I guess that's close enough.
Also, who do you all think the fire woman was? I think that it's fairly obvious, but maybe it isn't. It'll be revealed later on anyway.
At this point you should all know the first team's name. If you can believe it, there have been four colors, meaning four characters and a team (Gazini, Nicole, Azure, Wintanweorth). If you haven't figured it out already the team name is GNAW. I know it doesn't follow Monty's rule of team names being a color/resembling a color, but I didn't know about the rule until I'd already long made this team.
Lastly, since the first team has been formed, I'll be taking a longer break than usual, probably. Unless I get bored or something. The next chapter should be up in a week to a month (hopefully not a month though).
And that's it I think. As usual, favorite, follow, review, tell you friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to. And hopefully I will see you all in Violet I!