A week or so later…
After riding through the day’s and resting at nights in the wilds. Iris taught him proper form with his bow. As well as beating him almost senseless every now and then with a pair of practice swords from her supplies while attempting to teach him sword techniques. Though he was a quick learner and able to spot openings fast but lacked discipline most of all.
But as for they were once more riding for the day. It had almost been another week by now. The days all seemed to roll together for Cole as he looked around at the sky and area around them.
“So how many wars have you seen?” Cole asked trying to pass the time and learn a little more without raising any eyebrow as they rode on at a slow pace
“…. One too many. I remember a time when the elves argued endlessly with Falconia for aid, only to be ignored. I remember when they finally stood up and fought the very kingdom that gave them Faydark. The last of the clans still heedlessly fought one another over petty disputes. As well as when the settlers of Kalikori found the tree.” Iris explained to him thoroughly recalling the history she had lived and witnessed
Cole listened and couldn’t believe she’d seen so much.
“I remember when Blair was a refugee point for those escaping the warring factions. Only for corruption to take root. Rich nobles who sunk too far into their greed. Thus they were wanted and no longer protected. So they flee there, and hide in the underhives.” She told him even more of the truth
The picture unfolded in Cole’s mind more. Yet he was still so unsure of what was expected of him. How was he to track down and defeat this evil that gods had called a Basilisk…
Deep inside his chest, he could feel a stirring. A fire so fierce and intense that threatened to consume him if he did not tame it. So wild and erratic, burning brightly.
But just as well, that feeling turned to pain like something stabbing through him. This kind of pain he knew well. The kind of pain that came with a long and lonely winding path, and then… darkness. Or was it something else entirely? Was this Death…?
“Death is not something to fear. It is not the end. A soul lives on, death merely frees it.” Iris said snapping him out of his haze having felt his aura radiating off him, his fear most of all “Dark magic for example is often misunderstood as only corruption and vileness.” Iris explained now expanding on the facts of Dark magic
“Then please educate me wise one.” Cole said leaning to the side of her as they hit a bump
“Careful now, don’t lose your grip with careless questions.” Iris countered smirking a little as he balanced him again “Any magic can be used for the right reasons. But everyone is different and their ideology is always shifting, so to can the nature of the magic. Even the most pure and noble of knights who use only light magic can easily become the very evil they swore to destroy, blinded by the very light that guides them.” She expanded on
He absorbed this information as it made some sense, but he still had no understanding of what other elements were or how this world’s magical arts worked.
“Didn’t the God of Darkness make the very moon?” Cole asked as this stopped Iris mid thought
“You surprise me boy. Most do not know their own history.” Iris now finally managed to say
“You don’t know everything about me.” He joked as she merely stayed silent as this thinking again
“Dark Magic has its uses. Much like fire and Light. Darkness can cleanse. My Dark magic is akin to a reaper, with every kill I cleanse the soul and absorb its darkness into my sword. Those souls beyond redemption are erased by my blade, never to know any peace.” She explained to him now not shying away from who she was
“So… you’re a mercenary. I guess I can’t judge much. A person’s gotta eat.” Cole said matter of factly
Iris merely eyed him as they rode falling silent yet again. So many questions in her mind about this boy. Common folk had a decent education, but a farm boy wouldn’t typically be this socially aware, while his accent and vocabulary were truly just as bizarre. They were unlike anything she’d heard in all of Eden. From the common folk of the guild people to the nobles the capital and even those of Blair all distinct accents and ways of speaking, yet he sounded still so foreign.
“You seem to have quite the outlook on life. A decent head on your shoulders too.” She joked making him roll his eyes “Perhaps you will live and surprise me after all.” She added
“Thanks, im grateful I havent disappointed yet.” Cole replied sarcastically as the Horse snorted
*”Oh hush you. And they say I’m the morbid one.”* she said in elvish as Cole looked confused not able to understand her “Bug never has liked strangers.” She added smirking a little
“So you prefer to talk to your horse?” He asked smirking inturn
“I have very few conversations these days. He has been a loyal traveling companion. I also find him a much better listener.” Iris answered guiding them onward
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“Well I suppose you have me beat there.” Cole retorted
His observation now on the trees around them feeling even more an ebb and flow of aura. Coming from not too far off, like a massive well of aura far richer and older. But off to the right he could start to feel a faint sense of calm and serene nature of the forest shifting to something darker.
Exiting the tree line they were back on the main road now, not too far off from another guild watchtower and accompanying village. But Cole’s attention was drawn to the wooded area that stood before them now, the leaves a deep crimson, the bark giving off the appearance blood was perpetually running down and coating it, the very grass taking on a shade red as well. He could faintly hear a multitude of shrieks emitting from these ominous woods…
“Halt! The two of you!” Another’s voice shouted came from the right now
They both saw a large armored horse decorated in banners of the Falconia Kingdom, he was fully armored, though was without a helmet while a sword rested on his hip, he bared the queendom’s standard in his free hand, while his other hand held the reigns. He had to be a guard of this area of some kind.
“State your business at once and return to the guild watchtower up the road immediately!” He stated now demanding answers from the two of them
Cole at a loss, able to feel an immense pressure, almost like he was being blinded by some unseen light.
*Warm, illuminating, enlightening, purposeful, honorable, dutiful.*
Cole could tell this man was able to use some kind of powerful light Magic as he clearly used it to serve this ruling body. Though Iris was less than impressed.
“I am Iris of Faydark, by order and decree of the then ruling Queen Melody of three centuries past, that I am allowed passage across the lands. I serve as the watcher.” Iris clarified now as Cole was completely thrown off by this information now
Now moving her horse over as she produced a scroll from one her pouches on her saddle and offered it to the man. Being rolled and held closed by a blue ribbon, the parchment indeed looked incredibly old. Carefully unrolling and reading the decree the guard was truly at a loss.
“You’ll also find all other signatures of the descending queen’s who came after her have also given their blessing to this, as has the current reigning Queen Melony.” Iris added as well clarifying further
The guard closed the scroll and handed it back to her with irritation in his eyes and a sneer on his lips.
“Very well, Lady Iris. You are free to go about your business. Just do not linger here. There’s already been too many bandits and fortune seekers coming out this way as of late, they keep coming back for the stories of an old abandoned guild hall and riches buried in a unexplored cavern dungeon.” The guard said turning his horse around and heading back for the village
Iris now climbed down, as did Cole much to his confusion.
“This forest is old… filled with memories of those slain under the Eve of the Red Moon.” Iris said not looking at him her gaze focused solely on this wooded area “But if what you truly desire is to be something better. Then you will find what you’re looking for in there.” She added looking his way now as she pointed in the direction of the red forest now
“What’s inside these woods?” Cole asked his feet slowly moving closer towards the edge of the red trees
“Only the shrieks and wails of the dead. Close your mind to their suffering. Listen for her song, and you will unearth what you seek.” She further stated her expression one of distain for this place
Cole let out a breath as he began to move forward into these red woods. Feeling an instant blast of cold hit him, but not allowing himself to be stumbled. His hand now intentionally reaching for his bow.
“Your weapons.” Iris said making his instantly look to her again “You won’t need them in there.” She assured him
Cole looked back at her for a moment longer but nodded as he put his hands back okay his sides and continued to move forward once more…
———————————————
Now on the other side of the red trees he felt completely cut off from the rest of the land as it was completely silent.
Dead silent.
As Cole continued to move further in with slow cautious steps, he could barely register them or even the sound of his own breathing for that matter. It was almost enough to make him want to collapse in fear…
The silence was replaced with something he couldn’t quite understand but just faintly began to hear. A very small whisper of wind that only seemed to grow louder as it was moving closer and fast. A culmination of screams of agony and shrieks of despair clambered around him, threatening to consume him with their dread, pain and fury. Now clasping his hands tightly over his ears trying to block out these voices and squeezing eyes shut. He knew he couldn’t let this fear consume him, but it was strenuous to try and not hear them. The pressure and noise only seem to grow even louder in the face of his defiance like it was reaching a crescendo.
That’s when he heard it…
A soft and gentle humming, as the screams and shrieks continued to drive at him they were less noticeable now. His attention drawn to this new voice he heard. One foot moving forward as he realized what he was doing, before looking forward again and truly listening for this woman’s song he could hear.
‘There is a beginning, but no true end.’
‘Death is not something to fear.’
‘Destiny is often a cruel mistress.’
The words of many swirling around his mind, leaving him hazy and almost losing his footing a couple times as he seemingly and almost aimlessly wandered onward. He couldn’t understand why he was recalling these things now, what they meant. That’s when he started to feel it piecing together in his mind, placing a hand on his chest now as he came to a stop.
‘Is this the path of the Phoenix?’ He thought to himself ‘Or… my death?’ He thought as well feeling this more strongly and felt the cold of it even more so
It was almost terrifying what he could now start to grasp and hope he wasn’t right. Closing his eyes again he drew in a breath and took another step forward, he had chosen and couldn’t turn back now.
The song he could hear being hummed by a woman seemed to grow closer now. His feet guiding him to the source. Yet the overwhelming sensation of an intense rage only grew as he reached the heart of these blood red woods.
Standing before him was the stone foundation of a very old building of some kind, nature having reclaimed most of the area where the building once stood. But this was once a hall that held and honored something. Now it was a legacy of those failures. Someone so dedicated to their cause and blinded by their desires was wiped out and all that was left was a forest forever stained with their blood.
Closing his eyes once more, Cole took a deep breath and moved further ahead and past the foundation remains and to the largest tree of all.
‘I wish for the desire of defending those that cannot defend themselves. I understand a disagreement may lead to conflict. But what I fear most is not that I will die before my task is complete, it’s what I leave behind that I fear…’ he thought to himself now as well
He now looked up at this looming and imposing tree. He hadn’t truly realized he’d come so far or that he’d stopped here. The song had also seemingly faded out and ended. Looking down at the ground he could see the dirt had been disturbed infront of this tree. Kneeling down he began to sift through the dirt, gradually clearing more and more away as he became a little desperate to find what this was, his hands caked in dirt, his nails chipped and broken, and his knuckles bled, noticing none of it as he continued to clear away more dirt until at last the buried object was revealed.
A sword rested in the ground; its long blade a sleek black. It’s guard and pommel simple polished steel with a similar band set at the middle of its black leather wrapped hilt. With a bloodied and calloused hand he carefully lifted the sword out of its resting place. Now able to see the finer detail of the blade up closer he could see the pattern in the metal. His eyes wide with disbelief how heavy it was yet not imposing him as he stood.
He couldn’t believe how well this sword was made. But there was more to it, he couldn’t describe what it was, it couldn’t be true. Yet the faint hum of something only seemed to grow in his ears, it was emitting from the sword, even holding up to his ear for a moment. His eyes only grew wider with awe of what he was feeling. This weapon had… a will of its own.
The echoes of a hammer striking metal sounded in the distance as the fires of a furnace burned and made shadows dance. Sparks lighting up the one who watched the forge master. Catching glimpses of another’s eyes and face in the flashes of sparks. Orange eyes, porcelain skin, ashen hair.
The feelings and desires of the blade were complex and very old. Having exchanged many hands over the time of its creation. Having been carried by this ashen haired woman, and others like her…
His eyes opened once more stilling holding the sword up and looking up at it. This weapon was his responsibility now. Carefully lower it he could start to understand what he must do, even if meant going off into the unknown alone. He would walk the path…
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