"Darkness creeps to make it's mark...unwary of the light that guides us all."
~Tasmiya Shaik
REALM OF MYTHGAR
The Blood Woods
Time: unknown
Callix' durein beast wandered aimlessly without the guidance of it's master. The creature's eyes swelled with restlessness as the weight on it's back had become difficult to accommodate. A mere few moments ago, the young warrior had fought valiantly alongside Erazeal and repelled a barrage of Dread walker forces with their combined strength. However, the memory of how he had arrived in his current whereabouts remained an unsolved mystery. When had he separated from the older warrior?
~Callix, the woods toy with us.~ The Warcan beast inside informed warningly; nevertheless Callix was overtaken by a haze that physically drained him and mentally barricaded his ability to think rationally and act sensibly. The words of the beast were far too beyond his current understanding.
'Son of Reinhardt...' A hoarse voice of a male whispered.
Callix' hand spontaneously brushed over the hilt of his katana, but his fingers slid off after multiple attempts.
~Callix, get yourself together!~ The Warcan beast demanded, however, the young Asharren warrior's comprehensibility was unapproachable.
'Son of Reinhardt...turn away...follow the path out of the Blood woods...turn away or remain and lead us to salvation...'
~Salvation? What does he speak of Callix?~ The Warcan beast had begun to feel ensnared within the magical orb that hosted his spirit, confined within a space that should have been his inner connection with Callix.
The silver of Callix' eyes morphed into a sinister black; darkness invaded his heart and soul. It overpowered the essence of light that the Asharra were born with and sought to corrupt his warrior's will.
~Callix...~ A nostalgic voice of a young female uttered his name.
The wood's malicious workings of arcane magics deadened Callix' strength and suppressed his resolve to quell the bounds of the woods.
~Callix...~ The young female said softly for a second time, seemingly an angelic chant. ~Awaken...~
Callix' consciousness faded as he was possessed by the pull of slumber. He slumped forward on his durein beast and submitted to the forces that dragged him into the depths of no return.
His eyes listlessly revealed itself upon his awakening, and discovered himself laid supine in the midst of an empty void of darkness. He urged himself up and strained his blurry vision to identify a visible figure of light that stood before him. Was this the inner realm where the warcan and warrior connected?
'Callix, take my hand...' The voice from earlier requested. The figure's hand outstretched to him, a faint remnant smile on their expression. In the void of darkness that encaged him, they were his only salvation and light. A nostalgic presence that was recognised by his heart. Of course. He had always shared a very sacred bond with them since the very day his Warcan spirit had chosen him for it's wielder.
Callix gently grasped the tiny hand that offered it's a warmth to him and the figure exuded several bands of light energy that weaved around Callix' arm and traversed throughout his entire body. The dark miasma that began to blight his Warcan spirit retainer orb was eradicated by the light energy that encased the orb and shattered the dark forces.
'Thank you, my Lady,' He expressed his gratitude to the young Asharren female with hair that resembled wildfire and was almost as dark as blood. Her visible eye of a lilac hue softened with relief as she smiled in return.
'A week has passed in Alvgard since your departure,' Her hand lightly brushed over the side of his face. 'The durein beast knows the path...leave only when it has bellowed for a fourth time in this place, not a moment sooner or later. Rest and meet with allies soon...'
Callix regained consciousness and his motive had suddenly been well defined. He pulled back on the reins of his durein beast and dismounted the creature. During his short period of unconsciousness, the durein beast had guided him out of the Blood Woods.
The scenery appeared all too surreal and suspicious to exist within the realm of Mythgar. His durein beast kneeled on it's limbs and grazed on the luscious green grass that was complemented by flowers of various hues and designs along a clear flowing stream. The sky was an azure blue that signified freedom, it resembled the memorable one of his homeland in Alvgard.
'Xenos, is this another art of trickery?' Callix scrutinized the environment.
~No it is not, my friend. This land I recognise...it is a distant memory of the Mizrandaér plains that belonged to the Warcans.~ Xenos related.
'The Mizrandaér plains? Were it not a part of Alvgard?'
~It once was. When Gaia created Mythgar and used the Narrak to wage war on the Warcans, the Mizrandaér plains were destroyed from a fraction of the Varsaléiz continent and was absorbed into Mythgar through a void. It is the only sacred land that exists within Mythgar, untainted and preserved by the heart of the Warcan's enchantress...~ Xenos quietened at the memories of fire and death that claimed hundreds of his Warcan brethren.
'You despair, Xenos. Have I not told you before that your place of belonging lies where I reside?' Callix clutched onto the region of his chest where the insignia of the Warcan beast had appeared when it chose him.
~You are still young and naive, friend.~ The beast retreated to it's slumber.
Callix' nerves ached with an unknown enervation, he was not a warrior that succumbed to exhaustion easily, so what had inflicted such fatigue upon him? He laid down beside his durein beast that fed on the abundant availability of grass and hearkened to the sound of the free-flowing stream. A peaceful melody orchestrated by nature that allowed tranquility to comfort his mind and heart. Perhaps it was the very serene atmosphere of the Mizrandaér plains that he felt undisturbed.
He detached the katana from the belt around his waist and lifted it up with his right hand. He unsheathed the blade from it's scabbard and admired the engravings on the blade.
'Why have you discarded this father...'
REALM OF MYTHGAR
The Goblin Caves
Time: unknown
René felt a frigid sensation around both her wrists and awoke at a leisurely pace to establish that her arms were suspended with shackles above her head. There was a sharp spear of pain that assailed through her head upon awakening and her memory appeared to be in disarray.
~René, have you awoken?~ Kilia inquired.
The healer observed her surroundings and discovered that she was confined within a damp and humid cave that effused a putrid stench that could be considered incomparable to anything within existence of Archalia's three realms. She was uncertain if the stench originated from the cave itself or it's unknown inhabitants.
It appeared that her weapons and quiver of arrows had been confiscated along with her elven boots, judging from her bare feet.
'Goblins...' She whispered under her breath. 'Crafty little things...'
~We should focus on getting out of here, René.~
'My memory appears to be in a haze...how did I get captured by the goblins?'
~I believe we were attempting to find a way out of the Blood woods however...you suddenly halted and fell unconscious. The next thing I remember is that the goblins had found us and bound you here.~
'And what of Caligula?' René questioned with anticipation.
~I am sorry René...the durein beast was brutally mauled and I suspect they salvaged her remains for...~
René maintained her composure and withdrew her grief for a later period. Her prime objective was to break her bounds and retrieve the Elsarion fruit for which she had journeyed to Mythgar.
With sheer strength alone, she ripped the shackles free from the metal plate that was bolted onto the rocky cave wall.
'It would seem that the goblins have not taken an Asharra's strength into account,' René roused and dusted off the remnants of dirt from her attire. 'Though I must admit I am intrigued as to why they would take my boots?'
~Should that really matter at this point? Asharra are creatures of nature, I doubt walking barefooted should bother you at all?~
René pouted in disappointment. 'Those boots were a gift from my brother,' She sighed.
~The problem is...how do we get out of here? Shortly after you succumbed to unconsciousness, I was forced back into the orb. I did not have the chance to follow our path.~ Kilia said regrettably.
'Do not worry Kilia...I feel his Lordship. His heartbeat so strong I can almost hear it...his thoughts so clear and tangled...I wish to unravel the threads...his heart yearns for something but he is clouded by a sleepless malice within...' René smiled softly.
~You are his light and salvation René...you must guide his heart where it truly lies.~
René cleared her mind and focused her attention to navigating her way out of the cave. 'I feel his presence...it is far but I will follow it.'
The damp ground felt cool against her feet as she trod lightly. She hearkened to the goblin grunts in the distance and was careful to avoid any of the creatures that passed by. Stubby and dark green they were, with ragged teeth and pointed ears, reddish eyes and scaly skin. Her scent was masked in with the humidity of the cave therefore it seemed almost impossible they would discover her unless she had alarmed them herself.
An open cave chamber lit by fire torches came into view and was occupied by a group of seven goblins that congregated around a stone structure that was meant to act as a table. They appeared to have been caught up in a debate about the spoils laid on the stone they salvaged from their victims.
René scoured the chamber and discovered her bow strapped to the opposite wall with the quiver laying below. She outstretched her hand but halted when she acknowledged the goblin's conversation had deviated from the original topic.
'I reckon she's one er dem sprites,' One of the goblins cackled
'Sprite? Yer ol green heads gotten blind, Fercus!' His fellow companion whacked him on the head with a wooden stick.
'Den wot do you suppose dat lass is? A dwarf? Dose greedy buggers r ugly as mi ma's wrinkly arse,' A third goblin beckoned with a snorty tone.
René grew agitated by the second and utilized her telekinesis technique which commanded her bow and quiver to heed her call and return. Her weapon and ammunition were drawn to her by a magical force and went unnoticed as the goblins continued their debate about her origins. She strapped the bow on her shoulder and quiver to her back. She outstretched her left hand, commanded seven arrows lit with fire at the tip with her technique, and directed them to the seven goblins.
The arrows impaled the goblins at the center of their foreheads and the conversation soon waned into silence as a yellowish liquid oozed from the dead grubby green creatures.
~Was that absolutely necessary?~ Kilia sighed.
'Do not blame me, I was merely incited by the rage from his Lordship. Besides I would have tolerated them calling me a half-breed at least,' René pouted innocently.
~Is that so? As the healer who is a liaison between the enchantress and the Aldari, his rage should have little effect on you.~
René paid no heed to Kilia's words as she recognised her boots amidst the goblin spoils.
'Ah, my boots. I do hope they are in legible condition. Now then, I believe we should get out of here.'