My heartbeat pounded wildly, the echo of galloping of horses accompanied our path, the sound of men shouting could be heard behind us.
We had left our dukedom 2 days ago, we were traveling to the capital by carriage for my debutante, we had been planning it for the past few months. Tomorrow was supposed to be the day I entered noble society, and met my fellow young earls and dukes
We had already exited the forest that stretched across our dukedom, and we were well into the Grotto Plains. That's when they ambushed us, leaping out of a few nearby hidden grottos on horseback, and swiftly ending our guard contingent, the swift metallic scream of metal through air accompanying their pained screams.
Disoriented and discombobulated I heard the sharp screech of metal on metal, before the carriage door swung open, I only saw the brief flicker of my father's figure before he grabbed me, without even a second to think we were already galloping away on horseback.
I felt tears well in my eyes as I looked back, I saw the corpses of our guards, guilt started to well up inside me. But then I shook violently, I could see mother still sitting in the carriage, she always wore her patented confident look, but now though, now a slight uncertainty adorned her face.
'Mother… she'll probably escape? No, she'll definitely be able to escape, she's a lightbearer!… Father wouldn't have abandoned her… right!?'
The horse we were riding had been sprinting for what seemed like hours. The occasional whistle of arrows hitting nothing but air could be heard through the gusts of the plain.
My only comfort was the arm my father draped around me as he covered my body with his, yet, I was afraid. I couldn't stop the shivering that emanated from my small 10 year old body.
I began to notice the whitening of the ground nearby, quickly looking up, I noticed the appearance of gray trees in the distance as they became denser. The gray trees meant that we were about to enter the grayscale woods, they act as a natural barrier between the purified land and the ashlands.
It seemed the men behind us we're gaining, their voices grew louder, the sound of galloping increased, their previously indecipherable shouts were now becoming clear.
"HEEEYY, BASTARD, GGIVVEE UPP THE GIIRL! STOP TRYIN' TO RUN, THERE BE NO NEED TO SACRIFICE YOURSELF' FOR THE BRAT, ALL WES' WANTIN IS DA' CHILD. THEYS' AIN'T NO NEED TO END YOUR LIFE LIKE EM GUARDS. HHEEEYYYY HOWS ABOUT WE NEGOTIATE ALL WES BE PAID TO DO WAS CAPTURE DA' PURE CHILD, DERE AIN"T NO NEED FOR MORE BLOOD… BLOOODDYYY HEEELLLL ANSSWWEERRR GODDDAMMMITTT! FINE BASTARD YYEEE WAANNAA BEEE PLAYIN THIISS GAMMEE. MEN READY DA BOWS AGAIN WE BOUT TO START FIRIN SOME MORE!"
Hearing their words my eyes widen in surprise and I gaze up at father
'Father seems to be completely ignoring him, why doesn't he seem surprised? Did he know someone was paying to capture me…? Hmm, pure child… different from a normal child?!?'
Suddenly I hear the sound of dozens of arrows whistling through the air. Father puts his arms around me and I hear the cry of our horse, suddenly we're sent flying through the air, hitting the ground with a solid impact and tumbling across the forest floor. Looking up I see the dead eyes of our horse. 7 arrows are stuck in it's torso.
I feel father separate from me, I towards him, I feel the terror rushing through my blood, hear the rapid pace of my heart, and practically taste the adrenaline pumping in me. Father kneels on the ground in front of me, various scratches and cuts adorn his body as blood flows down his skin, 9 arrows penetrate through various parts of his body.
His hands move to mine, as he covers them he slips a ring on my finger, I look up at his face, pain, sadness, despair, all kinds of emotion run wild in my gut. I feel my eyes reddening.
Blood runs down his forehead, his normally bright silver eyes seem to have lost their luster. His skin is turning gray, and his auburn hair is fading to white, with tears falling from his eyes, he speaks with his humble voice, gentle, stern, caring, afraid… so afraid… his breathing is uneven as he gasps between every breath
"Elysia, my *gasp* dear, dear, Elysia… I'm sorry, we should've *gasp* told you everything *gasp* … when we could. *cough* *cough* Now it's too late *gasp* to tell you everything, *gasp* you are a special child Elysia *cough* *cough* you hold a special power, and because of it *cough* *cough* others will try to take *gasp* you as theirs… Elysia… the ring… *cough*… will unlock your gift *cough*… teach you *gasp* everything … all *cough* *cough* of our *gasp* knowledge, our *cough* heritage *cough* *cough* *shudder* will... be... yours… your... mother *gasp* and… I… love... you"
His hands separate from mine moving to the pouch on his side, tears fall like a river from my eyes, as I look at his now frail and shuddering body. His skin and hair begins to flake off and float away as if he was slowly disintegrating. Having grabbed a bottle from his pouch he moves his slowly dissipating arm over my head, dumping the liquid contents over my head, my body becomes transparent and he collapses to the ground. His lifeless eyes face me as large parts of his body disintegrates. His hoarse whisper calls out to me as he speaks his last word.
"... invisibility … … become … … powerful … ... live … … … we .... … … love … … … … you … … … … Elysia … … … … … run… … …"
The tears run like a waterfall down my face as at last he turns to dust, carried away by the wind.
I stand up tears decorating my face, my heart full of disorder, RAGE, GRIEF, SADNESS, DESPAIR, my mind is is disoriented, no longer do I understand what to do, ultimately I run, I run as far as I can, deeper and deeper into the woods, I run from my fears, I run from my emotions, yet, I still run forwards. My eyes gain steel, my resolution grows, every step taken is filled with even more determination.
'This ring father gave me… it should have answers… it should be able to tell me what to do… no matter what, I'll find answers, I'll become powerful, I'll live, I'll fulfil father's last wishes no matter what!'
In far off distance I hear the angered echo of our chaser.
"COME ON YE MORONS IT AIN'T THAT WAY, WHAT DA HELL KINDA FAULTY SIGHT DO YOU IDIOTS HAVE, CAN'T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF DA HORSE YE ALL SHOT, YE'ALL BE GETTIN A PAYCUT NO WAY AM I PAYING FOR A BUNCH INADEQUATE BUMS LIKE… ohh… oohhh… ohhhh... WHAT.... WAS…. THAT….!?!?!? I DON'T CARE EVEN IF YE BE A GOD, SO WHAT.... YOUR PRO ASSISSINS… MY GRANNY COULD SHOOT BETTAR THAAN ALLL YEEE ASSSHOOLEESS! NOW GET A MOVE OOOOONNNNN! WE GOT A CHILD TA BE TAKIN AND MAN WHO NEEDS TO BE DEAD BY ME HAND, HAHAHAHA, AAHHH I KNOEE WHATLL MAKE EVRYTHIN BETTER, PHAHAHA, ILL HAVE THE LIL' CHILD WATCH AS I PLUCK HIS EYEBALLS, THE CHILD WILL BE SCREAMING AND CRYIN BY THE TIME IM DON WIT HIS CORPSE."
Undeterred I continue on my path… forwards… forwards… forever forwards.
Towards the Unknown Future.