She could see them so clearly, her parents...
Her father tall and strong as he chuckled as something funny she no doubt said, something she could no longer recall. Her mother a slender woman with long glowing hair, she smiled happily as she set down a tray of tea and little cakes.
It made Xylia truly happy, a time she couldn't stop talking. The image replaced by the crashing of a carriage. How they died.
Xylia snapped awake from this dream, her breathing still rapid and sharp, tears escaping her eyes as she quickly wiped them. Why was she dreaming of this now? Sighing to herself she was out of bed and getting ready.
'He said he was headed for the mountains..' she thought looking out her bedroom window
That view of those mountains that stretched high into the sky and above the clouds. That blistering unforgiving cold she herself often feel so prevalent in her own soul. Xylia herself had seen a few groups of explorers go chasing the old fables of treasure hidden in the mountains, but never gone herself.
She now a wore a simple long flowing dark green dress with long sleeves, and at least took a coat with her, as she closed the door. She couldn't find the strength to move. She could easily just go back inside and go back to her old ways. Carry on like nothing happened yesterday. Her hand started to feel cold metal, realizing she was still gripping the door knob as it was freezing. Instantly letting go she shook her hand. The Stranger's words held some truth, though still she was anything but convinced.
She finally began her trek towards the village outskirts and beyond, the forest and then the base of the mountains. She could feel eyes on her from those in town who were up this early to get their shops set up. Word would no doubt spread by the end of the day and reach George's ear she had wandered off into the mountains. Where this stranger had also gone off too. Quite an eventful day it would seem for the small village of 'Serene'.
As she walked along the path the songs of birds in the early morning sounded. She couldn't discern which birds were singing but at least knew they sounded happy.
She could feel the air growing colder as she approached the base of the mountain. She didn't mind the change in weather or temperature at all. She much preferred it. Then she could feel the warmth of a fire coming from nearby, the light casting some shadows. As she came closer she saw it was dying out from burning overnight.
Set up was some kind of improvised skewer for roasting. Set up by the small fire pit was a small but sizable boulder. Off to the right she could see the lowest hanging branches of a massive pine tree had been turned into a makeshift shelter. She could hear shuffling as she turned around, the stranger had returned only now he had a rope over his shoulder as dragged a stag behind him.
He looked up to meet her eyes as he stopped.
"I see you decided to come. You seem to have caught me at awkward time. I was just getting some breakfast." He said his tone an awkward stoic as he pulled the deer further into his camp
Xylia herself truly shocked and in awe of what she witnessed. She'd never been hunting in her life but heard about it. Never having experienced it up this close before. She could feel something stir inside her as she saw the eyes of the animal as it lay there.
"I can imagine how disturbing it is. How, barbaric I may seem." He said softly and in a knowing tone "My people... prefer the old ways." He added simply almost struggling to find the right words
All the while he struggled to string up the carcass from a tree branch and tie it to the trunk of a tree, as he now produced a knife from his ankle.
She felt a sense of guilt wash over immediately. She could tell he was much more than just some fool stumbling around in the woods and needlessly killing animals. He was genuinely a survivalist. She looked his way now and shook her head.
"It's alright. I understand many people aren't accustomed to seeing a hunter in this age. Many of our ancestors had to survive the only way they could. Bows, spears, swords, shields... and that was long before magic was discovered." He explained, his words almost like a small history lesson
Stolen story; please report.
Xylia now moved closer as he began working on cutting open the deer for its meat and to take the rest of it apart. It was quite impressive he was able to do so much with one arm. He showed an impressive ability to adapt to anything it seemed.
"My father once told me, those of his clan that walk the streets with a missing finger or missing limb, have brought great shame on themselves. They have to find their own atonement." He further elaborated for her, like he was almost able to anticipate her thoughts
She looked even more bewildered that he seem to be able to know what she was thinking. Was he...?
"I'm not that good. Only those mages born with a strong connection to light or darkness can truly see what's in someone's mind." Rin clarified as he was now pulling on the hide across the ground to begin working it to prevent it from getting brittle
He sat working the large sheet of what was once the deer's skin. She took a seat by the fire slightly annoyed by all this.
"Sometimes it's the little things we need to take care of first. Things about ourselves. Cause if we fall into disrepair, then how do you hope to keep going for someone else's sake? Take care of yourself, let the world do its thing. Things have a way working themselves out whether you're present for the disaster or not." He further explained to her
He now stood to string up the hide properly dry and not harden. Returning to his seat he used his hand and teeth to string together a piece of the deer's antler onto the beads hanging on his belt. Xylia watched this stranger's sense of ritual and attention to detail. He was quite skilled. He then tossed her a small wrapping of something. Opening it she saw it was meat.
"Jerky. Eat up, you'll need your strength if you're going to keeping up with me. I never was much the mentoring type." He said being honest tossing in a few small branches now
She could tell this was the last of his food. She looked at the other meat currently being turned to more jerky. It would take awhile no doubt. She didn't want to take the last of his food.
"I'll be alright." He assured her nodding so as she merely sighed and began nibbling on the food
Xylia's eyes now drifted to the fire. She could hear a faint whispering in it, stick figures dancing in the shadows cast by it. She couldn't tell if her mind was playing tricks on her. But it continued and only became more clear, focused. Her breathing becoming deeper and louder only to her ears. What was this? This sensation coursing through her? Was this magic..?
"You're starting to feel it. Oronia is different like that. The difference in aura lies in the territory. Each guild is unique in how they conduct themselves. Each has their own focus, their own unique style and distinctive discipline. The aura is mundane, rich, always flowing. Tends to leave newcomers lightheaded when visiting. The same for when mages travel out of their normal territory. Getting accustomed to the difference in aura is not something many train for or often outright don't think of." Rin further educated her on the fundamentals of magic
She sat and pondered, listening to his words, they were indeed confusing, she'd never really had any encounters with mages beyond rumors and old fairy tales. That's all it ever was to her, stories and fables. Not actually real. But his words at least were easy enough to understand. This sensation was something to get used to, she couldn't imagine traveling so often that you be acclimatized to different and varying levels of aura. That's when it hit her what he had said to start... Oronia was different.
The look on her face slowly shifted from curious to cautious as she looked his way with wide eyes. Her head slightly turned and tilted.
"Forgive me. I suppose I haven't taken the time to properly introduce myself. Something my mother often scolded me for." He apologized bowing his head some "I have a very long, complicated name my parents gave me to honor their clan's... but you may call me Rin Sayer." He added joking some "Whenever that time is that you have found your voice again." He said as well kindly
This made her most of all shocked beyond belief. He'd never once pressed her on the matter for her not speaking a single word since they'd met yesterday. But instead showed understanding with her, not demanding her to speak or getting upset. She almost found herself wanting to say something, only for the words to get caught in her throat once again. But to this she merely smiled out of necessity and nodded to his words.
"What I am about to tell you only a handful of the most powerful individuals know. The truth." Rin finally said as she now turned serious and confused "The truth of Oronia. I'm not from here.." he said slowly
Everything seem to hit her slowly as though her mind was having trouble processing these words. She couldn't comprehend the idea of anyone not being from Oronia. Her heart beating faster she stood rapidly as her breathing became more shallow. But Rin merely held up a hand.
"I promise to explain. Sit." He said in a calm motioning for her sit back down
She slowly sat back down, slowing her breathing down finally. He now tossed her a pouch with a cork, its rough surface made it feel like some kind of pouch. It was about three quarters full.
"Wine of my homeland. My mother's clan." He said clarifying for her but he once again held up a hand to prevent her from protesting
She truly was growing annoyed with Rin's actions and words, always seeming to know what she would think before she could react. She couldn't help but smile a little as his gestures and manners. With this she gently pulled out the cork and took a slow sip before putting it back on and coughing immediately. He accepted back as he chuckled some. But as she looked his way again, one question still persisted in her mind, why go through the trouble to specify and distinguish between his mother and father's clans. Two clan's, that's when her eyes started to grow wide as he nodded slowly.
"Made from the berries of the first harvest... though not as good high up in the mountains, better in more temperate climate. But my father always had the best garden. My mother preferred her light bow, my father favored a sword. Two different ways of thinking and living. But both warriors in a garden, never gardeners in a war. My mother taught me to hunt and farm, my father taught me to garden. Taught me it was part of something that someone he loved left behind for him to inherit, apart of a legacy, something greater than he." He explained to Xylia now
Xylia the most shocked and absolutely astounded by these revelations. She never would have taken this stranger, Rin for a gardener of all things. But she didn't mind it. So much of this land sounded so beautiful and peaceful, like a dream that one never woke from.
"Come. We have a long day ahead of us. First, we build up your stamina. If you can keep running even when you feel like you can't go another inch, you'll find the strength you never knew you had." He said standing as she looked confused and sought reassurance "I assure you, I'm serious." He added as she slowly rose
With this he began a gentle pace with her behind him, he then began to pick up the pace making her have to increase her stride. Rin then was breaking into a jog, then sprinting at even stride, heading up and into the mountains. Xylia was fighting to keep up, but she wasn't one to quit easily...
What do you think of this chapter?
