A start to a high fantasy, focusing on three people and their roles in a destiny. Follow three heroes on their journey to saving their kingdom.
“Isn’t this the forest of the dead guardians?” Brooke asked as her furry companion Sly slipped around her neck.
“Yes, it is said to host the skeletons of those that were claimed in the war,” Derek said as he holstered his weapon.
“Well unfortunately this is where we have to go,” Serj said as he pulled out the map, “if we go around then it will be another days time until we get to the village.”
“We can’t afford that with the Red Wings running rampant with their powerful airships. We need to alert the king. Brooke can you use your sight?”
“I can try, but with the power these guardians possessed I doubt I would be able to see anything, but everything is worth a try at least once.”
“If not, we can send Sly ahead as a scout. He’s nimble and quick on his feet he won’t be captured.”
“Here goes nothing!”
Brooke raised her staff into the air and began chanting quietly to herself suddenly a bright light burst out of the crystal on top and began to scan the forrest. Brooke’s eyes came glazed over in white as what was visible took over her sight. The light dissipated and her eyes returned to normal she looked at the guys with a shake of her head.
“Well it was worth a try, lets get Sly in the front and tread lightly!”
“Okay Sly, are you ready to scout!” She pulled a monocle from her pocket. It was a beautiful gold with a thick clear crystal inside the frame. She attached it to her head and suddenly a light like sting attached itself to Sly and disappeared.
“I can now see what he sees, lets do this! Derek, you will need to draw your weapon I don’t know what we are walking into here!”
“I’ve got it Brooke, I am prepared for whatever we have to face. Serj stay close we need your navigation to get through this.”
Sly leapt from her shoulders into the grass which suddenly glowed a pungent green and walked through the arches of vines. Although whisked away into nothing the monocle failed.
“Oh no, this must be a magic free location. Which makes me utterly powerless. I’m so upset,” she pouted.
“It’s okay we don’t always need to rely on magic to get by, its just a nice luxury. From my knowledge you are quite incredible with your staff so I’m not worried. We can defend ourselves from whatever we might see inside here” Derek said raising her spirits.
“Okay this is the map passed down from generations of the Navigational, however it is a rare copy and therefore potentially outdated but hopefully it will help a bit. Once we get through these arches there will be three paths to follow. I usually never suggest this but we might have to separate to navigate them all and find out where they lead. However I will take the middle as according to this map its the best route. Is that okay?” Serj asked.
“Okay so no magic so we will need to rely on our spirits for communication. Although vague they are better than going in blind. Alright everyone, this may be magic free but soul burns brighter than any spell,” Derek announced.
They all gathered into a circle and chanted together a phrase passed down from many decades of exploring. With a great chant they yelled Soul Resonance! Suddenly their souls were bound together with strings of light that disappeared into the air. An aura appeared around them each a different color. They walked through the gates and noticed the three paths.
Serj as he said took the middle one. Derek took the right and Brooke the left. They each waved goodbye as they vanished into the thicket.
Serj drew his sword from his holster and conjured up all the skills he was ever taught. As a Navigational he was taught the ways of the old blade. Gifted with one of the three legendary blades of Artesia, he wielded the infamous Claiborne. The twin to Excalibur. Each sword possessed an ability that would benefit the Navigational on their way to discovering all of the secrets of the world. Claiborne possessed the ability to disarm any foe. It’s blade was forged from a metal that made it impossible to block. The groves in the sword would disarm them immediately. With this by his side he felt more comfortable and with all the training he received he knew it was okay for him to travel alone, as many others do. The Navigational are not well known to travel in groups but these two just presented him with something he could not overlook.
Derek’s shoes crunched beneath him with a might roar he wished would just quite down. If he could wield magic, then he could make his steps softer but this, this is far too loud. He pulled his weapon from its holster in panic as a twig broke near him. Derek wielded a gun, a rarity among this time. However a necessity for his line of work. They were crafted from only the skills of man. Unreliable and lethal they were loud and unpredictable. However, Derek took this risk as a challenge making things much more interesting in his travels. With limited knowledge in sword play his only other weapon was a dagger in his boot. His gun was named Empirical, which meant experimental. This was a weapon crafted by a man by the name of Omnibus. Who promises 99% accuracy and a slim chance of backfiring. It was a six shot shotgun with all metal housing and strikers. He said this made the difference. However, the tradeoff was it was very heavy. Making it a difficult weapon to wield, but again Derek liked to be challenged. However, without his enchanted holster he felt the weight significantly on his belt.
Brooke tiptoed through the glowing grass looking around frantically. Clutching her staff desperately in her hands. Sly pounced around her playfully but also carefully maintaining vigilance. Brooke wouldn’t be able to make it on her own if it wasn’t for Sly. She was always so scared, and with a past like hers she should be. Hunted and desired by witch-hunters for money. Only because she posses significant magical ability. Her staff was crafted from the Tree of Life and handed down to her from her grandmother before her burning. She had to teach herself the basics of magic and with the help of an alchemist she managed to grasp the basics. She found a mentor and training under her heavily while running from all the bad in the world. This helped her significantly as she got a hold of her power. She mastered spells afterwards with only the possibility of her being a direct ancestor of Morgan Le Fay. She helped her little team out a lot with her magic. Healing and defending. On the forefront she wasn’t as successful because her fear got in her way. However with the help of Derek and Sly she was slowly getting over being scared all the time.
Brooke looked over and saw the bushes rustling. She clutched her staff in fear as Sly went to investigate. Suddenly Sly was tossed aside a flow of blood following. He laid next to her panting as she looked over at his body and tears began to flow from her eyes. Out beyond the bushes, a black creature came out blood oozing from its mouth. It snarled at her in bloodlust as she prepared her staff, forgetting that this area doesn’t allow magic! “You filthy beast!” She cried, as miraculously a blast of magic energy exploded from her staff.
The beast was strewn out on the glowing grass as it panted in pain. It managed to stumbles itself up and came after Brooke. She attacked him with her staff, knocking the creature aside but not harming it. She tried to do magic, but it wouldn’t work. She stared at it in fear as it came after her.
Suddenly a glint of a blade sparkled in her eyes as the creature was cut into two. There before her appeared a man, wearing a black trench coat and sheathing a sword, she recognized him immediately.
“Zabara!” She screeched in excitement.
“Hello Brooke, looks like you can’t stay out of harms way huh?” He chuckled.
“What are you doing here?” Brooke asked, suddenly realizing her companion was hurt, “Sly!”
She hurried over to her furry friend looking at his wounds tears welling up.
“I can’t use magic,” she said defeated.
“Don’t worry, let’s see what I can do!” Zabara said reaching into his coat pockets rummaging from something to stop the bleeding. He furnished a small jar inside was some moss. He pulled some out of the jar and placed it favorably in his wound. Suddenly it began to absorb the moss, replacing it with flesh sealing the wound. Sly leapt up and licked Zabara’s face. He laughed as he toppled over into the grass.
“Thank you so much!” Brooke smiled as she wiped tears from her face.
“Anytime princess, so why am I here? Well honestly I’m searching for a rare flower that is said to grow here in the Deep Haven’s. It is said to grant more powerful alchemy, but I haven’t had the luxury of finding it. How about you? Why all on your own traveling the woods of the Guardian?” Zabara asked suspiciously.
“I’m traveling with two people, but we had to break apart to travel these three paths.”
A twig cracked behind them and Zabara ripped his blade out in defense. There before him was Derek, a gun in his hand aimed at him, a piece of grass in his teeth, clenching them angrily. On the other side, a blade could be heard coming from its scabbard. Zabara turned around and struck the approacher, his sword immediately tossed from his hand as Serj took a step forward.
“Stop it guys, he’s a friend!” Brooke cried out in shock.
“Who is this? Why is he following us?” Derek asked, never once lowering his weapon.
“How did you know I was following you?” Zabara said clenching his fists.
“I’m a mercenary, it’s my job to protect high disciples. I’ve been trained to recognize noises most would not hear. You tried to soften your steps with magic, and I couldn’t hear you after we entered so I figured you gave up and fled from this magic free haven,” Derek explained.
“You’ve been following me?” Brooke said betrayed.
“Sorry Brooke, I was worried about you and didn’t want you to get hurt. I was worried who you might meet up with and of all people a mercenary and a navigational. I was very concerned. Hoping they weren’t planning to double team you as thieves,” Zabara said shamefully.
“I can’t take care of myself,” Brooke said sheepishly.
“Now, how did you find me?” Zabara asked.
“Soul Resonance, we felt her heartbeat quicken, then felt fear and sadness. We both rushed here as fast as we could,” Serj explained.
“Now the question of the day, why are you three traveling together?” Zabara asked calmly.
“We need to warn the king,” Derek said, lowering his weapon.
Seth Kaileen Writing 