Chereads / TRA: A Scarlett Tale / Chapter 16 - Chapter 9

Chapter 16 - Chapter 9

Grall

Grall stood in the middle of what once was the elven resting place, the circle that once held the souls of all elves who have passed from the mortal world. He expected to be surrounded by hundreds of pointy eared elves but only found a single soul.

A human stood out in the open, his body covered by a thin fabric, his long brown hair tied neatly behind his back. "Grall." The stranger said, his voice causing alarms to blare in Gralls head. His hand slowly reached for the hilt of his sword, readying himself to draw it and attack if necessary.

"There's no need for that." As the stranger spoke he turned his body. "I wouldn't hurt one of my dear friends."

Grall found himself sharply sucking in air, surprise evident on his face. "Jarada?" He said perplexed, when he last saw Jarada, he was alive and well, he couldn't have made it to the seventh floor before him, even if he was killed seconds after Grall.

"Yes and no." Jarada spoke with a slight twinge of a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "I am known as Jarada when I step foot onto the mortal realm, but when in the spirit realm, I am known as the Source."

Without missing a beat, Grall voiced his disbelief. "So YOU are the creator of all existence? The one who broke through the veil that separated mortals and Gods just to test your might against them-"

"Yes, yes, yes." The Source intentionally interrupted Grall, his annoyance evident only by the tone of his voice. "The one who destroyed countless realities, the one who judges from his chair on high. I have heard it all countless times."

Grall opened his mouth to retort but was stopped when The Source held up his hand in a stopping motion. "There is much to discuss and little time to do so."

With a wave of his hand the empty field they once stood in vanished, replaced by what appeared to be one of Imps towers. "Do you know what this tower is?" The source asked, his eyes sparkled with the mischievous light Grall came to expect from Jarada.

"How would I-" Grall began to say but was interrupted once more by The Source.

"It is not one of Impartis towers of magic." The Source quickly clarified, as he turned back to the tower. "It is a tower filled with your memories. All of the joy, laughter, and warmth you ever felt lays just past those doors, but be warned, it also holds-"

"My pain, hardship, and heartbreak?" Grall said, interrupting the source. "Yeah, I figured, but why did you bring me here?"

The source chuckled for a moment before apologizing. "I have met many versions of you, yet this version is the first to talk… disrespectfully towards me. I am rather amused by such acts and it reminds me of who you once were."

Grall was taken aback at the mention of other versions of him and even more by the mention of who he once was. "Explain." Grall said through gritted teeth.

"All in good time, brother." The source said as he approached the door. "First you must enter the tower and make your way to the top floor, there you will learn of the truth that has been hidden from you for several lifetimes."

"And if I refuse?" Grall asked, his hand slowly reaching for his sword, ready to draw it if the Source attacked. He wasn't confident he could kill the source, but possibly weaken him enough to escape.

The source, feigning ignorance at Gralls intent, just mumbled under his breath. "I wonder, would you really refuse when she is still out there?"

"She who?" Grall snapped, his anger flared up as he began to release his sword from its scabbard.

"She is not Leah," the Source spoke with a hint of exhaustion, as if he had this conversation hundreds of times and has grown wary of it. "The one I refer to has been manipulating everything behind the scenes, from your banishment to your supposed death."

Grall paused as he pondered the words spoken by The Source. "Who is it then?" He asked, his mind wondering to all the females he had met in his life.

"You wouldn't remember her, at least not yet." The Source trailed off as he appeared to be pondering something. "When you reach the top of the tower, I will tell you all you need to know."

With those words, The Source seemed to just vanish. Grall sighed, his already tense nerves had stiffened more in the presence of The Source, though he tried to hide it, he felt like he might have noticed, though now, with his plans to reunite with his son dashed away and The Source gone, all Grall could feel was exhaustion.

Allowing his sword to fall back into its sheath, Grall started forward, his eyes on the door. When he opened it, memories, both his and not, flooded his mind. Battlefields he fought in but didn't, losing those he loved yet never knew, and death, so much death.

The images passed by in the blink of an eye and suddenly, he found himself at the top of the tower facing a door that was slightly ajar. As Grall approached the door, he heard a distinct voice coming from the other side. The voice sounded neither male or female, it was an unnatural voice that spoke of a great many things.

"... he will fail." The mysterious voice said as Grall grew near to the door. "He always has and always will. Do you really expect him to succeed where your other chosen have failed, Jarada?"

The Sources voice spoke up, a slight quiver could be heard for a moment, perhaps out of fear or annoyance, Grall could not tell. "He will succeed. He will kill you, my beloved, and finally release you from this tragedy."

The mysterious voice seemed to be amused by the word beloved and even repeated the word a few times, each time she spoke the word a mix of different emotions before bursting into laughter. "Like I would be the beloved of an old fool."

The laughter continued, slowly fading away into silence. Grall peered through the crack in the door, trying to see what was happening when he heard the source's voice behind him.

"Grall." The Source said in his overly friendly voice. Grall spun around, cursing himself, and drew his sword. The source only smiled a sad smile before motioning for Grall to enter the room.

When Grall didn't move, he pushed past him and entered. Inside the room lay a large dias filled with what Grall could only assume was water, and placed his hands on either side.

"I know you overheard my conversation with… Her." The source clenched his fists into tight balls, he squeezed his hand so hard blood began to trickle out. "Ask what you will, I will answer honestly."

"What chosen did… 'She' mean?" Grall asked, his mind seemed distant as he pondered the memories he had just seen.

"She was referring to your brother, Grodak, and your friends, Impartis, Adrian, Cassandra, etc." He seemed to be holding his breath in anticipation for the next question.

"You once loved her?" Grall asked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from the source.

"We do not have the time for me to explain my relationship with her, but yes. She and I were once married, even had children who later played a major part in not just their timeline, but many others." His expression seemed to tense up as he spoke of his past, there was something he wished to hide and yet Grall didn't care.

"Where do I fall into your plans to kill her?" Grall asked, his voice trembling with a primal fear of the unknown.

"You are perhaps the only one who can." The source said simply as he waved Grall forward to peer into the dias. After a moment and a few more words, the source looked up from the dias and peered into Gralls eyes. "You will only get one chance at this. I have already intervened in her plans long enough and cannot hold sway over your mind any longer."

With a flick of his fingers, the world seemed to start spinning, only The Source stayed in place. "When you wake up next, you will find yourself in an unfamiliar land. The land will be in the middle of a war of races, take this opportunity to grow stronger."

With his parting words also came the mysterious voice. "Oh I am sure you would love to do as he has asked, but I am afraid, I must take what does not belong to you."

As the voices fade Grall finds himself laying on a grass covered ground, not knowing where he was or who he is.

Gralls story will be continued in "Journal of Grall"