Faye continued traveling through the Divian forest much longer than she expected. If it were for her ability to track the sun and tell which direction she was heading, she'd have thought she was wandering in circles....
Finally, after traveling for just over a week, Faye found herself once again at the edge of the Divian forest. Faye knew that just beyond these rolling hills, she should be able to find Jolis. From there, she could turn in her few trophies and get enough coin to buy a room at a low cost inn. She felt her spirit lift as her pace picked up just a bit as she came to the familiar hills that she had to cross to get to Jolis.
During the week that she'd spent in the forest, Faye had come across a number of beasts. After fighting against that lone ankheg, however, she was much more aware of her surroundings. She came across an area of more ankhegs, but was able to outrun the swarm that pursued her, though just barely. Truthfully, a lone ankheg wasn't as difficult to defeat, it's acid spray was a pain, but it wasn't difficult to kill once you got past it's hard exterior. Faye rubbed at her exposed thigh. There was an ugly scar marring the surface of her skin, though it was fading more and more each day. The acid that hit her burned through her flesh and she still found herself wincing at the thought of having to go through that again.
Regardless, Faye was relieved to finally have the option of a bed to sleep in, even if the bed was from one of the cheaper inns in town.
She was also looking forward to finding o it for sure if she had a class or not. She was almost certain she gained a class, as her healing ability increased exponentially after reviving, and her fighting capacity had increased as well. She found that if she even just sat and concentrated on resting, sitting and taking deep breaths, trying to sooth herself and rest her tired body, she would also heal. Of course, it didn't happen quickly, but Faye found herself able to heal mildly from resting for about an hour. She also found herself able to push past her limits just a bit. During that fight/ run from the group of ankhegs, Faye found herself with renewed energy, able to push forward harder than before for a short period of time.
These instances sounded like the fabled skills that Faye had heard of. If she could get to Jolis, she might be able to better understand her class and skills!
Faye continued forward with a new pep in her step. She found herself almost humming as she made her way over the final hill. Once she created that hill, she'd be able to see the city walls in the distance. She'd then pass through the farmland and pass a few homes to reach the gate. There was no toll to enter Jolis, so Faye didn't need to worry about being turned away, so long as she didn't seem too suspicious.
Faye looks down at her tattered armor that was very clearly not of a human design. She gave a wry smile.
....hopefully they didn't hold her up at the gates for too long....
Faye practically skipped up to the top of the hill. Her smile grew with each step as she made her way slowly home.
That smile froze and slowly dropped, however, as she reached the top of the hill.
"...what the hell..." she said in almost a whisper.
There before her were fields of uncultivated tall grass, the wind blew through the grass causing a soothing sound to reach the ears.
Beyond the gorgeous tall grass fields, however, were man made walls. They stood in stark difference against the unspoiled landscape.
The walls were slowly being consumed by the weeds and elements, however. They appeared to have been left behind and forgotten for a number of decades. They stood tall in some places, but were broken and crumbling in others. It was very clear that these walls did not protect a thriving city. Instead, they seemed to belong to ruins of a city long forgotten.
"That's....not possible." Faye said as her legs grew weak.
She fell to her knees, her eyes wide and taking in the ruined city walls before her.
"No...how much time has passed? How long was I dead!?" Faye's voice did not come soft, instead growing in volume and force as she cried out in disbelief. As if to give an answer, the wind picked up once again, blowing her hair across her face.
Faye's eyes, already full of disbelief, began to over flow with tears.
Faces slipped through her mind. Old man Bran, the butcher that she sold her first kill to after leaving the orphanage. He'd given her a fair deal despite the fact that she was little more than a gullible kid at the time. Lady Valeria, the one that had cared for her at the orphanage. She was always so strict, but Faye knew after she grew older that that was only due to the stress of caring for so many children with so little funds. The other children that had lived with her, grown with her. Sally, Gregory. They were like her adoptive siblings. They'd promised to grow up together and always look out for each other.... The younger generation of children that she'd used to play with when she visited the orphanage. Their faces slowly shifted through Faye's mind.
Faye continued to sit there, her tears streamed down her face as her worst fears became reality. She always knew there was a possibility, but she'd hoped....she'd hoped it wasn't true.
Faye mourned the loss of everyone she'd ever known. She mourned the loss of her past life. Her friends were gone. Her city was left in ruins and she felt, more than anything, loneliness. She felt it like an eclipse over taking the sun in the sky. It covered everything within her and left her tattered and broken.