Chapter Two
The Black Forest
The Black Forest, two days from the village in a clearing a small fire flickers under the canopy of dead trees. Lucerin and Frey sit around the fire staring at a map trying to discern the path they need to take, but from within the dead trees all paths look the same. Every path is dark and haunting, swathed in darkness so thick it stifles the very air making it hard to breath. They finally discover the right path, Lucerin takes a piece of the fire in his hand and two begin walking again through the forest. Keeping ever vigilant as not to be set upon by the creature who may call this place home. After hours following this path Lucerin and Frey enter a large clearing, and at its' center an old wicker house stood alone with lanterns adorning the door. Looking up the pair of wizards could finally see the sky after two and half days in complete darkness. Lucerin takes in a deep unstifled breath feeling slightly relieved that he could breathe once again. They turn their attention to the hut, with a disease they walk cautiously toward it without taking their eyes from it. An old man walks from the edge of the forest dragging a load of wood and animal meat.
The old man turns toward the interlopers, glaring he drops his makeshift cart. The old man walked slowly towards the interlopers.
"I don't normally get visitors out here. What are you kids doing this far into the Black Forest?" He asked harshly.
"Well sir, we are on our way to the Terran Kingdom and this is the only way to get there." Lucerin Responded hesitantly.
"Come inside, you won't make it there before nightfall I suggest you stay here for the night." The old man responded.
"I'm not sure we should…. How do we know that we can trust you?" Frey asked.
"I could easily ask you same the question young lady. But I will reserve my judgment of your character if you will do the same for me. Now if you don't mind, we really need to be getting inside, it's about to be dark and I saw chimera tracks nearby just this evening."
Lucerin and Frey gave in and helped the old man get his things into the hut. As night fell the surrounding forest grew loud with angry monsters hunting and eating each other.
"Thank you for granting us shelter tonight, I am Lucerin and this is my companion Frey." Lucerin said to the old man.
"It is not a problem. I have lived here so long I forgot my own name, I was traveling to the Terran Kingdom just as you were once. I got lost and wound up here in this clearing. Somehow I managed to survive and build this hut, I never got the courage to try and leave here again. And now after one hundred and thirty three years alone here I couldn't leave if I wanted to." The Old Man rambled.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. I could never imagine something like that happening to me." Frey said remorsefully. "It truly is a fate to be feared." she added.
"Any way you two get your rest you must leave at dawn or you'll be trapped here forever like I am." The Old Man said heading to his bed for the night.
The sun rising over the Black Forest shining through the top window of the hut wakes Lucerin. Upon looking around the hut he notices that the Old Man has already woken and left the hut, he looks over to Frey's sleeping spot and notices she is gone as well. Lucerin jumps from his sleeping mat and charges outside, breaching through the doorway he is blinded by the bright light of the sun that he had not seen for two days. Squinting he gazes around the clearing spotting Frey relaxing in the sunlight face towards the sky. Feeling more relaxed he looks around the clearing for the Old Man spying him on the far side chopping the wood he had gathered the previous day. Lucerin walks to Frey giving her a light kiss, they speak softly for a moment before he leaves her and goes to speak to the Old Man.
"Thank you, for the shelter over the long night." Lucerin said to the Old Man thankfully.
"Well I couldn't just leaves two young lovers to be killed by chimera, now could I?" The Old Man responded.
"We aren't defenseless, you know. We are actually mages from Lothrin." Lucerin Retorted.
"As I said then, it's a good thing I gave you shelter for the night. The crows bring me news from the outside world, they told me how three measly sorcerers razed the entire town." The Old Man said a bit harshly.
"I didn't thank you so the you could be rude to me. I was trying to be nice. And besides the matter I am sure that I could kill a Chimera no problem after all I have single handedly put down a goblin horde, and a band of at least fifty bandits!" Lucerin stated with a matter-of-fact tone to his voice.
The Old Man slung his ax into the stump he was using to chop the wood, turned towards Lucerin with anger in his eyes. The sky clouded over and lightning began strike through the skies as he spoke. "Listen here you little shit, I have been alive a lot longer than you have. So, I know a bit more about the way the world works, when I choose to speak about something you should choose to listen. A chimera cannot be killed by magic alone, the lion, part of the creature can only be killed by kiss of cold steel."
"Of course, sir, I apologize for my rudeness." Lucerin said sheepishly as Frey clutched his arm.
The Old Man's gaze lightened and the clouds parted giving way to sun again. "a hundred and thirty years ago I entered this forest with my best friends, seeking to enter the Terran Kingdom. All of us mages, three days in, no map we happen upon this clearing. At that point in time, it happened to be the chimera's nest, we cast our spells to no avail. After what felt like forever, I alone stood here, the goat head hanging dead on the lions back, and the snake dragging limp behind it. I clutched to my broken arm with blood streaming down my face, I gazed into the lion's eyes and he gazed back into mine. I was utterly defeated, and he could tell. There was a rusted long sword laying half between me and that monster, I glanced at the sword and made a desperate rush for it. The chimera lunged towards me, I used the last of my magic and strength to pull that sword to me. I slide across the ground as he comes down on me, the rusted blade plunging into the roof of the lions' mouth. Had it not been for that blade I would not be here now to have given you shelter." The Old Man explained sullenly.
"Then we owe you more than I would have believed." Lucerin responded.
"Please sir, teach us what you know. We are but students cast into chaos, and could use the guidance of a master." Frey said hurriedly.
"I cannot, your time in this forest is limited. Through the crow's knowledge I have been told that this dark forest takes a piece of your very soul. If you spend too much time here you will be trapped here just as I am." Seamus said. "I lied to you yesterday when I said I had forgotten my own name, I am Seamus of Gottleheim." He added.
"Well Seamus, it is an honor to meet you. But there must be some way you can teach us? Please you must help us!" Frey pleaded with him.
"My dear he has already said that we cannot stay lest we be trapped here forever like he is." Lucerin said to Frey trying to calm her.
"I don't care! Without his knowledge we won't make it out of this forest alive anyway." Frey said almost crying.
Lucerin looks to Seamus not knowing what to do. "There is a way, provided you have not been here very long yet. It takes six weeks before your soul becomes permanently tied here." Seamus said reluctantly.
"Oh my, thank you so much! This is only our third day here, that leaves four weeks and three days to learn and one week to make it to the other side." Frey said exuberantly.
"And what of you boy? Are you a mind with her?" Seamus asked intensely.
"Yes sir, I am. We must learn more about this forest and magic if we are to escape." Lucerin said.
"So be it. I have one cycle to train you in all I know." Seamus said ending the conversation with a finality.
Seamus set about telling his two new young disciples how the cycle was about to work out. For in the morning of the next day their training would begin and would not stop till the first day of the last week. Lucerin and Frey spend the rest of the day preparing themselves for the arduous task that would begin at dawn. They lay down to sleep early this night to get some good rest for the work ahead.
As the faint glow of sun rises into the clearing Seamus standing over his sleeping students wakes them with a gout of water. Lucerin and Frey launch upwards from their sleeping mat shocked and soaking wet in the crisp air of morning. "Let us begin." Seamus said with a smile as he began to cast a spell on Lucerin and Frey, that would heighten the speed in which their strength, stamina and speed increased. The next nine days were set with continuous hard labor and intense exercise regimen, combined with Seamus's spell their magicka wells deepen tenfold. Over the first nine days they gain an immense amount of strength and stamina, but more importantly agility. Which as mages is very important as one must always keep their distance from their enemy.
The next two weeks would be spent learning and casting new spells, to expand upon their knowledge base and broaden their range of usable magic. Frey learned new and far more powerful restoration and warding magic's, as well as gaining a solid base in the school of destruction magic. Lucerin's destructive capabilities tripled in power and size. He also began studying combat magic. Also known as mystic knights those studying these combat magic's made use of large full body shields and powerful blunt weapons, such as maces and war hammers. Lucerin and Frey spent this time sparring with each other and testing the limits of their magicka well. In this matter Frey advanced further than Lucerin, being able to cast more spells and keep them going for a longer duration of time.
As the morning light rises on the first day of the sixth week Seamus emerges from the hut carrying a large brown dust covered sack. Seamus ushers his two students over to him as he places the sack on the ground.
"Today you set out, I wish to give you some things that will help you immensely on your journey ahead." Seamus said as he pulled open the sack. "Frey take this book of spells, it belonged to an enchantress named Tumadrill, she was a very powerful orc and good friend. When you figure out how to see it correctly it will float around you and always be open to a spell for every situation. I hope you find use in its pages. Lucerin, this magic shield was carried by Galahad of Lothrin. He was a peaceful monk who used this shield to create massive magic walls that protected and healed those under it. May it shield you in the direst of circumstances. Now you must both leave immediately, as the last of my power fades the creatures will set upon this place in an instant. You will only have the one chance." Seamus finished as though he were in immense pain.
"Lucerin! Look at the sky above us!" Frey shouted stepping back from Seamus.
"The daylight and sun's warmth...was all…just a ward…I cast…to protect this clearing…from the chimera…that is hunting me…you must…run…now!" Seamus struggled to say as he gasped for air.
As the ward spell all but vanished a large chimera lunged from the trees' edge sinking it's pointed teeth into Seamus's torso, who gasped out one last time for Lucerin and Frey to run. The chimera stared at Lucerin and Frey with hate in its' eyes as it clamped its powerful jaws down on Seamus crushing his breastplate. Frey grabbed Lucerin by the arm dragging from the clearing in a mad dash to get as far away as possible. The two wizards continued running as fast as they could heading south until they came to a river, where they jumped into it to wash off their sent so the beast could not follow them beyond the river banks. Emerging from the far side of the river Lucerin and Frey collapse, whether from exhaustion or despair is unknown. For a moment what felt like ages they struggled to catch their breath. The chimera had set upon Seamus so fast it seemed unreal that a creature so large could move so fast and silent. Lucerin stands up and extends a hand to Frey to help her up as well. Looking back from where they came Frey spies the head of goat bouncing through the brush. Still holding Lucerin's hand she drags him into a low bush near a grouping of rather large trees. From within the bush, they can see the chimera come to a stop at the river's edge. The beast paces back and forth trying to discern where its' snack had run off to. However, thanks to Lucerin and Frey submerging in the river their sent had washed away, lost to the monster hunting them. Frustrated the chimera roars in a final effort to scare the wizards from their hiding place and runs off back towards the clearing.
Lucerin and Frey stand from the bushes and look towards each other, they embrace for a solemn moment. Frey pulls their map from her pack, it's wet but still readable, they study the map a moment to find their location in reference to the river and then set off south again headed for the border. As this dark day draws to an end, they can feel the very forest air change in thickness, as though an evil lurked close by. The mages knew that they must set up a camp before true night fell upon them. With no clearing in sight, they had no choice but to camp amongst the trees. Frey whispered a small quick spell and swung her staff in circle around her, as she swung her staff the trees moved back away from her as if being pushed creating a clearing to camp in. Lucerin then dropped his pack and set to creating a fire and putting up their tent to sleep in, while Frey was searching the book for a warding spell to protect them through the night. She would find no luck searching through the pages as every page said the same thing, "not worthy". Page after page the same words over and over. Frey screams in frustration as she slams the book to the ground "why would that stupid old man give me such a worthless book!". Just then as she looked down to book lying face down glowing words appeared "to use this book one must be clear on their own intentions or no spells will appear". Frey stared at the book a moment then cleared her thoughts, she then focused purely on the desire for a warding spell to protect them through the night. With her intentions now clear the book floated up from the ground, opening and fluttering through pages suddenly stopping right in front of Frey's face. Amazed Frey looked at the page of the book floating in front of her face, it listed a powerful ward spell Frey had never heard of before. Casting the spell Frey realized that it was same spell Seamus had been using to protect them for so long. The spell came to life showing the setting sun and rising moon, with the faint glow of stars distant in the sky. A single tear rolled down Frey's face as the realization of all that Seamus actually had done for them struck her. Lucerin looked up from the half-pitched tent as the light from the setting sun startled him, he stood in awe of the brilliance of the spell. Frey snapped from her moment looking to Lucerin "dear friend do you need a hand with that tent?" she asked him calmly. "Yes, I could use a hand if you have one to give." Lucerin responded. Together, Frey and Lucerin finished up the tent by the time the sun set fully and went to sleep in their clearing.
As the sun rose on the second day of the last week, Lucerin jumps from his mat startled. Looking out from the tent he hears the crackle of Frey's spell slowly coming undone it's time having been spent. Lucerin rushes to Frey's side quickly waking her, ushering her to help pack the camp as they must leave again immediately. The fading light of the spell made it harder for them to pack, but alas they managed to get everything done before the light vanished. Now back to the absolute darkness of the forest Lucerin and Frey swathed their free hands in fire so they could see their way through the dark. With three days left to reach the edge of the forest safely.
Meandering through the dark at a slower pace than then the unlucky pair had hoped for, they begin to feel despair creep in ever so forcefully yet slow. Frey's gentle mind beginning to fog under the dank darkness. Evil thoughts began to circle her mind, in these dark thoughts she craved power. Power that could only be gained through forbidden arts, and lost magic not known by the spell book. Frey's steps began to slow further and fall into rhythm with the shadows. The book flew from her hand turning viciously through the pages, coming to rest on a page entirely black except for words emblazoned in red. The page read "Dark arise, come forth and cloak me. Embrace my form and hide my soul from prying eyes, allow none to breach my shadow." Frey, enticed by the promise of power in her mind and the dark swelling inside her, began to recite the verse. As she spoke the fires in Lucerin's hand faded and was blown away by a shroud of darkness. With the verse finished Frey's entire presence vanished from the senses of all creatures in the forest, even disappearing from prying eyes outside the black forests' bounds.
Lucerin turned and began screaming for Frey in desperation, spinning in circles he cast firelight spells into his surroundings. Full on freaking out Lucerin began chanting, and in the dim light of his spells all creatures could see green energy swelling from his entire body filling the air. The green energy burst outwards from his body in all directions illuminating every living creature nearby with the green energy of their very souls. Alas, Lucerin's spell could not penetrate Frey's cloak of darkness. From within the cloak, Frey witnessed all that had just happened as if in a daze. She reached for Lucerin, but her hand passed right through him. Frey looked at her own body now specter like in appearance shrouded in the black fog of her spell. Lucerin turned to chase the largest of the creatures in the area, thinking that such a creature would be the only one that could take her from him. Seeing him about to charge off recklessly, Frey broke from her fog discharging her spell. Sensing her presence return, Lucerin turned back grabbing ahold of Frey and embracing her tightly. Relieved to have her back from the momentary loss he began to question her about what just happened, but she silenced him saying only that they would speak on it later when they had made camp for the night.
After the display of magic power, the rabid creatures fled leaving them alone, as the forest fell silent around them, they felt a moment of ease. But now they were behind and absolutely had to hurry or they would not make it out of the forest in time. Frey and Lucerin began sprinting to the south to gain as much ground as they could before it would be time to rest. Running as fast as they can they can sense creatures returning to their surroundings, and among them far off in the distance a familiar presence. Two days remain before their souls will be bound to forest.