A cold breeze of early winter wind blew in from the window from which Riyon stared out at the kingdom in boredom causing him to yawn. In the distance he could just barely see the church over the gates of the palace, the sun barely rising above its rooftop this early in the morning. "Riyon, will you pay attention, or are you above your duties now?" Riyon sighed as he tore his eyes from the view, turning to his father.
"Of course not Father, I was just looking at the sunrise." Riyon turned back to the window, shutting it, before returning back to the council meeting.
"Interruption aside, what's the state of our food storage's for the winter?"
Berwick, a pudgy man with a nose like a snout, stood up from his position at the right tip of the giant U shaped table used for council meetings. "My King, food storage's are in dangerous supply. It might make us through the winter but that's on a ration supply! That's why I must implore you to reconsider my proposition! Without the runes of-" Berwick choked on his words as the King's face darkened.
"There will be NO more discussion on that matter! There is always a way without war," Riyon looked up from his sulking, confused, "and if that means rations then that is what we will do."
Riyon stood up abruptly out of his chair as his father finished; "What's this about war? Why would that even be brought up during this era of peace?!" Riyon couldn't believe that anyone would dare bring up war in front of his father, the most anti-war person he knew. He was raised on the belief that war should only be waged if it was for the better of the people of the kingdom. Riyon glared at Berwick.
"Riyon, sit down! It's moments like this that reveal your incompetence as a prince. We went over this matter at last weeks council meeting." Riyon sat down at once, casting another dirty look Berwicks way. " That being said, its good that you have at least have one priority in place." Riyon looked at his father again surprised to see him smiling, "You should know Berwick's plan, or rather what WAS Berwick's plan." The king mirrored his son, glaring over at Berwick to ensure his silence. "In short he wants us to attack Rylan for their runes."
Riyon raised a brow, "But the Kingdom of Rylan has a peace streak longer than us, why attack them for runes? If food is the issue why wouldn't we just take theirs? What's to gain?" Riyon questioned casting a dirty look at Berwick after each one.
"Berwick was thinking of the 'people' of Rylan." The king shook his head in disbelief and continued, "he thinks that with enough fire runes the kingdom could keep the fields open all year. He believes this to be the best course for our people without taking the food from Rylan leaving them in a worse state than our own. But that does not excuse the lives that would be lost on both fronts, especially if it can be avoided. Do you understand what's happening now?"
Riyon bowed his head to his father, "Yes, father. Thank you." The council went on as if that altercation never happened. Riyon did his best to pay attention but since that topic was done they started discussing the kingdom's budgeting. Riyon's eyes glazed over again the moment they brought out the numbers. But at the corner of his eye Riyon noticed something that caught his interest. Berwick wasn't listening to the discussion either, but rather he seemed to be looking out the window, mouthing words as though he was talking to himself. Riyon found it strange but he brushed it off by thinking he was just mad he was made a fool of in front of the entire council. Although it lingered in the back of his mind, just what was he mouthing, it definitely wasn't a language he knew. But soon after Riyon's mind was preoccupied, dreaming of the cool breeze coming from the ocean, and the girl with bright blue eyes and silver hair that smelled like a warm breezy day.
Riyon was awoken from his daze with the sound of everyone getting up. I stood up at once, excited now that the meeting was over. That means he could do anything he wanted and he knew a certain someone was coming back today. Practically skipping toward the door he got there before everyone else and flung it open. Rather than the neatly ordained walls, there was a woman standing outside of the room with her hand about to knock. Groaning from the interruption he turned back to the table and sat down, knowing he would have to be present for whatever this was if it was important enough she was guided here.
The woman stepped through the doorway, turning to the king and she immediately bowed in respect. "Diana! This is a surprise, what can I do for you?" Asked the King. The woman stood up from her bow and looked the King in the eyes.
"I wish for my daughter to be allowed to stay home from this day forth!" She announced so even Riyon could hear it perfectly despite him hardly paying attention. She continued "She is eighteen years old so I feel it should be her choice whether to remain here or not." Riyon started to wonder just who this woman was and what she was talking about. Surely his father isn't forcing her kid to stay here. That's when it dawned on him. The night from a couple of months ago rushed to his head, his mind focused on the same girl he was daydreaming but instead of the happy face of his fantasy, she was crying, telling him her story. Riyon's vision started turning black as the memory got more vivid.
Riyon found himself sitting on the landing overlooking the church, the moon lighting up the clearing with a silver glow. He found himself looking at the girl of his memory walking away from the church throwing on the hood of her cloak to hide her shining silver hair, frequently looking around her as if she didn't want to be caught out in the middle of the night. Riyon felt his mouth open as he said to himself "Now I wonder why that is." So this must be a dream then Riyon thought as he wasn't really the one that said those words. But he did, just 5 months ago, not a very original dream he thought trying to move his hand, but it didn't budge. Rather his body started heading toward the girl whom he knew he would catch up with at the entrance of the city. As he followed the girl he felt himself wondering why she would leave the city so late. Images of monsters flashed up in his head jumping at the girl in the night since it was when they were most active.
Riyon started speeding up both consciousness wanting to stop her, and with that the consciousness merged as Riyon began reliving the memory. He saw her turn down an alleyway, confused because he had been sure she was heading toward the gate; he followed her, pushing down his feelings of creepiness. He was just making sure that she wasn't going to get herself killed outside. With that thought Riyon pushed on realizing that she was no longer in front of him, speeding up hoping that he hadn't lost her. As he was just about to leave the alley to check why she had gone, a sharp pain erupted from his throat as he was propelled onto his back, making him struggle for a second trying to get air before a voice rang out as a dagger was pulled against his neck. "Why are you following me? Are you with them?" She inquired, prodding his neck with the tip of the knife.
"I-I don't…" he gulped, terrified of the knife at his throat knowing one slip would be his demise. "I was making sure you didn't go out of the city this late at night." He managed to choke out, still not fully recovered from the wind getting knocked out of him.
"HA! So it's the typical spineless hero trying to save the girl trope huh?" She put her knife away chuckling, readjusting her cloak allowing him to collect himself. "Well hero if you want my advice I'd recommend getting a bit smarter" she paused and looked at him for a moment her bright blue eyes shining even in darkness, "and a lot stronger." She began to walk away back toward the gate waving him a goodbye, "That or you'll die an ignorant fool." And she headed back toward the gate.
Riyon glared after her but after a moment he slumped down, knowing what she had said to be true. Riyon clenched his fists, he couldn't just let her die could he? Even if she was smarter or even stronger than him, alone at night in the fields was suicide, no matter how you looked at it. She might have bruised his ego but he had to brush that aside for the moment. He couldn't just let someone die for a grudge even if his throat still hurt from her attack. He got up to follow but as he looked around he realized she was already out of sight. Riyon sprinted to the end of the street and sure enough he could barely make her out but he was sure it was her that just went out the front gate. Without a second thought he sprinted after her, the lack of guards failing to catch his attention.
When Riyon got to the gate it was impossible not to notice that it was open and unmanned. Where is everyone? Riyon thought for a moment but shook it off. It didn't matter to him, he was just going out then right back in, no biggie. He started to doubt his pep talk the moment he was outside the gate. Riyon had never been outside the gates at night, or ever really, but whatever he thought it was going to be like he was sorely mistaken. The calm silent plains that normally blew silently in the wind during the day now seemed full of life seeming to ruffle at the slightest breeze giving off a feeling of being watched. But the beauty of the endless sea of grass, an infinite amount of stars filled the night sky, and a moon that seemed to take up a tenth of the night sky, was something no amount of reading could prepare him for. Riyon was dumbfounded by the sight, to think that such a sight was right out his front door, thoughts of what the rest of the outside world must look like filled his head.
Movement in the corner of his eye pulled his attention of thoughts of grand sights as he looked at toward the movement. It was the cloak of the girl that caught his attention, it must have fluttered in the sudden gust of wind, luckily it did because before that he could have sworn that she wasn't there before. It looked like she was deliberating on whether or not to actually go but it seemed she had just found her resolve because she was about to go into the grass. Riyon was about to go stop her when he was stopped in his tracks as he noticed that the grass about twenty meters away from where the girl was, began to rustle as if it had come to life. Then it slowly started to move toward the girl, as though it was sensing something in its territory, Riyon could barely make out a low growl as it moved causing all the hairs on his arm to instantly stand on end. Prairie Hounds.
Riyon cursed, he would not forgive himself if he died for this hypocrite. But he couldn't deny that he's stupid one, he thought as he took off toward her. She had just stood up and had barely put one hand through the grass before suddenly she was pulled toward the ground away from the grass, just as a giant head of the most rugged looking mutt bit where her hand had been a split second before. But there wasn't a moment of respite for it wasn't alone, a loud growl to the left announced the arrival of another before it charged out of the grass. It was at least a meter tall with a length of a grown man, it had a dark brown coat that was barely visible in the dark, precisely why it preferred to hunt at night. But Riyon had no time to think about any of these things because suddenly it was on top of them with an almost unnatural speed. Thinking fast he reached down, grabbing the hilt of the dagger from the women where he saw her sheathe it earlier. He rose the dagger just in time to meet the jaws of a surprised hound stabbing it right through the back of its throat.
But the Wolf wasn't going to die easily for it clamped down on Riyon's arm as it drowned in its own blood. Agony flooded Riyon as he tried to force the hound free his arm, it's blood and his own spraying in his face as he felt the bone get crushed before the hound finally slackened. Riyon struggled to pull his arm out of its jaws, pain flooding into his core just at the sight of his mangled arm. Upon getting it out he immediately vomited on the corpse hoping his arm was out of reach of the filth.
Suddenly Riyon felt a hand touch his good shoulder. "Let me help you." He looked over and it was none other than the girl he had just rescued staring at him with a determined resolve. She moved before he could even respond, toward the grass he had just stopped her from going into.
"Gahhh! Hey you'd better-" Riyon had started to turn toward where she'd gone but stopped since the pain that coursed through him when he tried to move was too great, causing him to inhale and stop what he was saying. Before the pain had subsided he saw the girl move back toward him out of his peripheral vision. And before he could ask so much as a question his arm erupted in pain as she lunged forward leaping on his arm, pulling Riyon to the ground struggling in agony. After a few moments of immense pain and suffering, on Riyon's part, the girl pulled away. Riyon immediately pulled himself as far away from this crazy woman whom he'd almost died for regretting all of his life decisions leading up to that moment. But as Riyon went to shield his arm from further harm he noticed that not only did the pain slightly lessen, now his arm was wrapped in a large collection of grass protecting his mangled arm from the elements.
"Damn it I'm starting to think it would have been easier if you were crazy" Riyon grumbled as he slowly moved back toward the girl trying to be as easy on his arm as possible without making noise. He had no idea where the other wolf went and was still mildly confused as to why it ran away. Riyon was actually able to start thinking thanks to the dulled pain allowing him to pull himself together. Having finally reached the girl he was about to immediately go off but she held one of her fingers against my mouth and her own signaling me to be quiet. Riyon was about to go off anyway when he heard quiet whispers coming from the grass. Riyon slowly lowered himself to the girls position, listening, wondering who could be out conversing so casually in the plains at night?
"So you're telling me the girl left of her own accord?" A deeper voice than Riyon had ever heard before cut through the grass to were sitting, louder, almost as if they were getting closer. But Riyon wanted to know what connection this guy had with this chick. She definitely didn't seem normal that's for sure he thought. Looking over he could see that the girl was scared but she had a look in her eye, curiosity burned in her blue eyes as she stared ahead wanting to know more, like Riyon. "This might be the perfect opportunity to get her before the plan. Hell's, the plan would get a whole lot simpler if we got her now." The sound of rustling followed the deep voice now close enough that Riyon and the girl could hear their movements before the rustling suddenly stopped as did the voice as though he had stopped to think. "But that would also mean a lot less human death. Hmm."
Riyon looked over this time to check and make sure he didn't have a martyr on his hands and sure enough she was getting ready to stand up, almost for sure to turn herself over. Riyon reached out and grabbed her shoulder, causing her to look over at him before he slowly shook his head. Riyon had a bad feeling about this, especially since people who liked to kill generally did so anyway despite getting what they want. The girl stared at him for a moment and slowly lowered herself back toward the ground. Ringing out in almost response the voice yelled "Of course that's if the plan doesn't go on anyway" he chuckled in what Riyon could only describe as the most frightening laugh he had ever heard, and it sound like it was right next to his ear.
A deep grey hand that looked like it belonged to one of the castles gargoyles plunged out of the grass, reaching around the girls entire waist pulling her within its grasp. A dark grey scaly monster, at least a full head taller than Riyon, pulled itself out of the grass holding the girl with its giant arm with what looked like bones raising out of its shoulders reaching halfway up his neck. His armor seemed to absorb the moonlight making it look blurry in the night, Riyon had never seen anything like it before. Raising the girl up to his demonic looking face its black eyes looking her up and down before ripping the hood off her head revealing her silver hair, as though confirming it was whom he was looking for. Riyon didn't stop and think before he jumped, knowing he couldn't just leave her to this monster!
The monstrosity looked down annoyed as he felt a thump on his arm. But immediately recognizing who had just tried to tackle his arm at once, seemingly freezing the monster in place. But Riyon didn't notice this for he was too focused on saving the girl that was currently in the clutches from his walking nightmare. The girl looked down having felt the hit realized that despite his injury the boy was still trying to help her. Taking a deep breath the girl closed her eyes and began to think. Think about every torture, every bad memory that she had, focusing that anger inward as she felt a swirling heat getting hotter within her. Until she could hold it in no longer and it flooded outward releasing a massive flash of light, erasing darkness for leagues in all directions. The girl immediately felt the crushing force release her causing her to fall toward the ground, slowly beginning to lose her radiance as she caught her breath.
Riyon looked around, still seeing bright spots, trying to find the hulking mass that was now missing as though erased by the light. He looked back and noticed the girl was back on her knees breathing hard and with burns where her skin was visible. Rushing to her side he sat down not knowing how to help. "Are you okay, that thing looked like it got you good?" He asked hoping she'd have more insight on her body than he.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't expect that to scare him off though, I just thought I could give you a distraction to escape. Haha-" wincing as she tried to laugh, "Ouch, that's gonna hurt in the morning." She forced herself to sit up despite the burn scabs that tore when she moved. "At least you're alive." She sighed.
Riyon felt his eye twitch. "You're glad I'm alive?! What about yourself, and don't think I didn't notice you thinking about giving yourself up just because a random voice said it would save lives? I warned you earlier about the dangers, and literally within minutes you almost died. Are you suicidal because you're sure as hell not stupid!" Riyon ranted not caring about monsters anymore having just seen the biggest one of all.
The girl just stared for a moment without replying before raising her hand to point at his arm before whispering "But your arm was destroyed..." Looking down Riyon saw his arm fully healthy if not a little bit more muscular than before. Riyon had a habit of speaking with his arms but he hadn't realized the pain was completely gone.
All Riyon could do was shrug, "I'm just as confused as you are." He paused for a moment as he remembered something, "Well perhaps not huh, Miss Shinebright?" Riyon turned slightly red at his simple call out but it was too late and hoped she didn't notice.
"The names Laila." Laila looked around and kicked the ground in frustration. "Come with me since I'm obviously not going anywhere tonight." She turned around and began to march back toward the city not looking back to make sure Riyon was following.
After reentering the city Riyon still noticed the guards were still missing but he had a suspicion that giant monster had something to do with it. Riyon followed Laila down a series of alleys eventually leading to the bridge that connected the east side of the city with the rest over the sole river in the vast plans that seemed to originate from the giant mountain the Kingdom was built around. Hardly anyone traversed in the east side at night due it being the part of the city poverty. But due to the curfew the city put in place a few months before its night life died down but the guards had to keep a tight hold so they wouldn't care about the bridge since they had to check every alleyway for deals and such. Grabbing the sides of the bridge Laila threw herself over onto a small ledge made from a protruding rock a couple of meters down, a good medium point between the bridge and the bank.
Riyon started to sweat, if he could take on a giant monster and prairie hounds he could definitely take a few meter drop right? At least that's what he told himself as he threw himself over the bridge, overshooting the ledge, falling straight onto the riverbank. Riyon felt the wind get knocked out of him as he landed straight on his back. At least nothing's broken he thought after he had finally collected his breath, a few moments before Laila climbed down next to him. "Are you alright?" Laila asked, holding her hand out to help him up seeing that no major damage had been done.
"Yeah I'm fine, just didn't expect to go that far is all haha. Ouch!" He had begun to laugh but a sharp pain in his brain interrupted him.
"Are you sure?" Laila pressed seeing how he was holding his head in obvious pain.
"Yeah, I just get migraines a lot, it's no big deal." Riyon lied through his teeth. Whereas he got the occasional headache, this was different. But fortunately it passed as quickly as it started, so Riyon accepted Laila's hand, standing up. "So is this the spot?" He asked looking around noting the lack of people around.
"Almost just under here." Laila pointed back toward the bridge. "Just to make sure no one sees us and decides to listen in." Stumbling on the rocks and almost falling in the river a few times, the two of them ducked under one of the beams into the security of the bridge. Sitting down on a rock Laila removed her hood revealing her silver hair once more. "I promised you answers so here you go." She took a few deep settling breaths while Riyon found a spot to sit in front of her getting ready to hear her story, fascinated by how she could shine like that, it was like the stories of the angels he had read in some of the books back at the palace.
"I'll start at the beginning. My beginning." Riyon looked at her as she prepped herself, her blue eyes resembled lakes of sadness in this moment, her hair a curtain of storm clouds. "I was born glowing." She smiled sadly at the shocked look on Riyon's face. "Yeah my parents were pretty shocked too. My father had just recently joined the military but was allowed to station at home until I was born. So when their daughter came out of the womb shining like the sun he immediately ran to his superiors for help not knowing if this was an ailment or a curse. Word spread quickly of my unusual birth and people from all around would come and stare at the wondrous baby even willing to pay money just to hold me. That was until, of course, I was kidnapped by a man pretending to be a nearby lord disappearing into the night with me."
Riyon stared completely drawn into the tale was taken aback when Laila suddenly stopped her story. "What happened?" Riyon blurted out, despite himself, wanting to know what happened. "I'm sorry." Riyon looked down, red from his embarrassment
Laila smiled "No need, I know that curiosity too well. You see, I don't really know what happened after that time, neither do my parents. All we know is a few hours after my kidnapping the King appeared on their doorstep with me in his arms, without a scratch."
Riyon jumped up from where he sat, "My fa- I mean the K-King..." Riyon scrambled, he had not wanted to give away he was the prince before he had gotten to know her better. If his face had been red before he was now the one shining like the sun.
"Yes, you're father." Laila smiled before standing and bowing, "your reputation proceeds you my prince. Unfortunately prairie hounds don't care who you are, neither do most the criminals you try to stop using status alone. Its really naïve and dangerous... but of course you already know that." Riyon had started to smirk thinking about how his best friend ragged on him in this same manner almost daily but Laila took that as arrogance stopping her nagging thinking she wasn't getting through to him. "Of course I wouldn't just tell my story to just anyone you know. Besides, you've proven yourself after today, and you seem to have your own secrets." She said glancing down at his healthy forearm.
Riyon sat back down and began to whistle, looking the other way. If he told her he had no clue what was up with him before he heard the full story and she walked away Riyon was gonna be pissed. So he decided to keep his mouth closed until after he heard the tale. Laila sighed before sitting back down herself. "Anyway as I said your father showed up on my doorstep with me in his arms totally fine. After that my parents and the king decided it would be best if I stayed in the capital, at the church, during most of the year so that I could be better protected since I was 'blessed'. From what I remember during the early years it was actually pretty fun and I made friends with the other kids in the church."
Laila's face darkened as she continued, "But when I was five years old I had another incident. I got angry when another kid took an apple off my tray. It was something so simple and nothing to get angry over but the rage just erupted in me before I exploded in light. I filled the room with a blinding light causing everyone unfortunate enough to be in the room with me to lose their sight. And just like that my life turned for the worst. From what I have heard over the years is apparently the head of the church during the time was one of the unfortunate few, turning over the church to the second in command. Muriel."
Riyon watched rage fill Laila's eyes as she said that name. "Apparently she was the sister of the old head and she held a grudge. But she still had to protect me, a direct order from the king requiring her vow upon her promotion. So to learn from that incident it was revealed to me I was something that is called a Sun Maiden. There has been recordings of them predating human civilization, into the times of the fairies. It's a blessing that is only given by the Sun Goddess Alzyr during times of great need. So I began training, learning how to use my powers to help in the coming conflict. But Muriel saw in the legend a way to enact her revenge. In short she believed I was an omen of destruction. Using that reasoning as her catalyst, Muriel turned the church against me overnight."
"So my training became hell pushing me harder than I thought they would, but it was still manageable at first. I pushed away the times I got hit too hard or the times I got burns and just put them off as accidents. But it slowly got worse over the years as my tolerance for their tortures raised so did their methods. Three years ago they installed a rune empowered sun room under the guise that it was to be used for worship. But in reality its a torture device that witch concocted in a fit of brilliant irony. What better to torture the Maiden than with her own weapon. To use the power of the Goddess to gag me and rob me of my senses."
Riyon stared, appalled at the atrocities that were just revealed to him. "Why didn't you get help? My father surely..." He stopped as Laila began to shake her head.
"I wasn't able to leave naturally. When I was at the church I was always locked in some room or other. The only time I tasted freedom were the summers I was allowed to go home. Of course I tried to tell my parents but of course they thought it was just the whining of a child whom wanted to stay home. That was back when things were still small though. If I told them what was going on in recent times they would definitely have my back."
"Why haven't you? If they'd believe you then why not, it has to be better than living in that hell? Don't tell me you're a masochist who'd be willing to die than watch even their own torturers suffer."
Laila laughed harder than she had all night, gasping for air, hysterical. "THE royal masochist is telling me off! That's hilarious!" She managed to get out after wiping away the last of her tears. Riyon held his tongue and looked down in embarrassment yet again. "But no they made an example out of someone I loved." Riyon looked up to see her eyes filled with sadness again. Riyon was fairly sure this girl was bipolar but she had every right to be he thought. Laila sat in her sadness for a moment, not elaborating further on the subject, leaving them sitting in silence for minutes before she suddenly stood up.
"Shit! I should get going, I was only able to sneak out tonight because Muriel was gone getting ready for my departure home tomorrow. She normally gets back around two which could be any minute now. I wasn't planning on going home tonight so I don't have so much as a pillow under my blanket to buying me time."
"Wait you're leaving tomorrow?" Riyon asked, put out seeing how he had finally gotten the opportunity to talk to Laila despite trying to work up the nerve since he saw her in the church for the first time three years ago when his father checked the renovation she had just brought up.
"Yeah, I finally get to see my brothers again." She said smiling for the first time in minutes.
Riyon shifted uncomfortably where he sat before failing to act nonchalant while asking "So, brothers huh? How many you got?"
Laila laughed raising her eyebrows incredulously, before responding, "Three, two are twins so they would probably gang up to take you down." Laughing, having effectively used her kid brothers to scare the prince she began heading up the hill. Riyon shrugged it off, telling himself it didn't matter he'd waited to long for this.
Gathering up the last of his courage that had been badly bruised tonight, he called after her. "I'll have my dad look into the church while you're gone. Maybe he can stop whatever is happening there." Laila stopped and looked back at the prince with wide eyes.
"No you can't do that, not now not ever okay?" Laila pressed running down the hill, grabbing onto his arms holding him staring him in the eyes. "Promise me you won't go to your father with this. If you do they'll kill you or they could go after my family. Just please don't." She said bawling her eyes out onto Riyon's shirt.
"Yeah of course, if that's what you want I'll keep my mouth shut. But I won't just leave you trapped there either. How about when you get back I set up a situation so you can sneak out again and we can plan for your escape." Riyon grabbed her by the shoulders looking into her eyes, smiling, "This time without the murder hounds and the devil stopping us." Laila hugged him again, laughing before running up the hill, waving before climbing over the wall that separated the road and the river, disappearing from view.
Damn that's one crazy girl, he thought still smiling watching where she had just dropped before sighing looking down at his right arm. "What is up with me?" Before his vision started to turn black waking up to the orange light filtering in from the window, alone in the council room. Riyon yawned. "That was quiet the experience wasn't it Laila?" He said staring out the window toward the church once again. Riyon watched the sunset as the sun shone the last of its light before sinking below the horizon. Suddenly as though the sun had taken every ray of light with it the world was plunged into complete darkness. Riyon could only watch as the darkness converged toward the church, compacting into a ball before blasting the entire area with a wave of darkness, breaking all the castles windows sending Riyon sliding over the table, falling to the floor completely disoriented.
The world seemed grey as Riyon forced himself to stand up, falling to his knees still dizzy from the blast. Sound seemed to reawaken after what seemed like eternity, filling the once silent grey with screams, the world suddenly turning a switch, turning red. Riyon stared up at the blood red moon out the balcony window, the screams burning their way into his mind. "So this is what hell is like?" He whispered, feeling as though all hope had been extinguished from his soul.
A single thought entered his mind as he stared up at the moon reigniting his dead soul, Laila was at the church, ground point for the explosion. Slowly pulling himself to his feet feeling the dots connect in his head, his father had been talking to Laila's mother about going there. But that was this morning, there was no way he was still there he told himself. That's when Riyon's butler barged into the room. "Faylen what are you doing here?" Riyon asked surprised to see the normally uptight butler with only half his mustache and his hair was full of debris even singed in some places.
"My lord it would seem that your father had yet to return from the church, and when the explosion happened I came to check to see if he was with you. I have a most terrible feeling sir." Feylen said holding Riyon steady, checking him for any injuries. Riyon pushed him aside as he headed for the door. "Where are you going sir?! The city is in ruin, monsters have broken through the gate! Our guard is having quite the trouble protecting you here."
Riyon turned to Feylen, "I have to go check on my father and a girl who I know from the church. I can't just wait here when they could need my help right now." With that Riyon the butler alone in the room, defeated.
Feylen sighed "He really is just like you my lady." Halfway down the hall Riyon heard footsteps gaining on him. Turning around he was surprised to see the old butler, red faced and out of breath having looked like he was running a marathon clutching onto something as he ran. "Young lord if you would please wait." He huffed having finally caught up, kneeling over clutching his side as he tried catching his breath. "You can't leave undefended and knowing you my boy there will be no talking you out of leaving. Your mother wanted you to have this when I felt it was time, now is that time." Feylen said standing up straight as he pulled out the most elegant bow Riyon had ever seen out of the cloth he had been carrying. It was made of the most beautiful wood as it shone even in the red moonlight. The carvings in the wood was so intricate and precise but Riyon couldn't find any meaning in the pictures and the symbols that were etched on but it didn't take away from the beauty if anything it added the mysteriousness factor any good weapon needed.
Taking hold of the bow it felt as though Riyon had been rejoined with a half of himself that he didn't know existed until that moment. The quiver was small but it too had the same strange carvings and just like the bow it felt as though he was connected with it. Riyon expertly threw it over his shoulder as though he had done it so many times before despite this being the first time he had wielded a bow. "Thanks Feylen. I'll make sure to bring my father back." And with a nod he left the butler in the hall as he watched him leave.
"I hope you stay safe in your travels, I hope I will see you again... Farewell Riyon." Feylen said knowingly as Riyon left his view. Turning he walked back down the halls to begin searching for more survivors.