Chapter 2: Encounter
*whoosh*
A portal covered in light appears out of the blue, a levitating baby begins to land on a spacious field circumvented by trees and plants showing that it's a forest. It was a forest filled with beautiful trees and plants. Chirping of crickets echoes in the entire forest as the fireflies glow in the effulgent moon. The cries of the baby echoes throughout the silent forest attracting the awakened animals to gather around. A Strong wind blew from the skies, birdlike animals began to land, mythical animals like Roc, Firebird, Phoenix, Alicanto, FengHuang and Ziz. Some otherworldly birds and creatures like Peryton, Pegasus,Fenrir, Hadhayosh, Serpopard, Ahuizotl, Sleipnir, Zheng and others.
[What is happening! What brought a human child here!...?] Alicanto spoke in a raucous voice staring at the crying baby.
[I wonder?..this has never happened before…] Fenrir replied while she observed the bawling baby carefully with her jade eyes.
An argument erupts willy-nilly among the creatures causing a commotion.
"Silence!!!" A silvery female voice spoke from behind which made them stop the argument.
A giant white stag of about 7 feet tall, walking majestically accompanied by a giant purple bearded Centaur of 2m approached them which made the animals pave way. She proceeded towards the baby and touched the baby's glabella with her nose. A light appeared from her forehead into the baby and he suddenly stopped crying and began to smile.
She turned back towards the crowd and began to address them.
[What hath befall today was extraordinary and so is the child, yet I see light and hope within this child so there is no cause for alarm 'tis destiny that brought this child hither so we shall decide on what to try with the child,you are all free to hie yet i warrant thou that tis shall not cause any problem], the white stag spoke in an archaic dialect.
The creatures were very surprised by what she said but their eyes filled with trust and contempt showed an absolute loyalty towards the white stag so they began to return to their various places. The white stag turn to the Centaur and said,
"Merak, what doth thou suggest regarding this issue?" She asked Merak as she awaits an answer.
"O' great Phylax , if I may suggest, the baby needs to be among his kind, we assume that the baby is human so he needs to be raised like one by a human. But you know how humans are not to be trusted because they are full of greed ,the only one we can trust among them is Xerion the Sword King, that's my suggestion O' great Phylax". Merak replied in a softly spoken voice showing his wisdom and loyalty to the great Phylax.
"So shalt t beest" the great Phylax replied, showing that she agreed with what Merak said and continues to speak
"Yet I feel some affinity towards this child as would he was moe of a spirit than a human, yet one thing certain that this child is not from this dimension so say to the martial king to bring the child back when he reaches 7 years of age. The child's name shall be abel meaning mist as he appears out of nowhere and the pendant inside his pall cloth should'st be well kept because 'tis origin is mysterious and extraordinary,It contains a dram of pure Ťak what be most like us spirit beast"
An hourglass ago, somewhere in the outskirts of the forest..
A black haired, well built man of about 6"2 who looks like he is in his early forties dressed in a black ancient hwarang robe, with his sheathed sword by his side. The scabbard was made up of Dragon's skin with a hilt made of up Mithril covered with a shagreen. The man was kneeling in front of a tombstone, his lifeless topaz blue eyes consumed by agony,hopelessness,depression, loneliness and longing as he stared at the tomb as if it was his loved one's grave.
"Happy anniversary my dear wife" he said in a low brittle voice.
A name "Cyra" crafted on the tombstone can be seen, the man took out a bracelet made from gold and red jasper, and placed it on the grave to honour his late wife.
*Boom*
A blinding light appeared in the depth of the forest, radiating throughout the forest. He was still deeply absorbed in thought but he suddenly regained his senses as he felt an unusual fluctuation of Tâk. He tilted his head up and looked up at the mysterious light and was shocked by the sight because he had never experienced such an event before as this was the first time ever for such a thing to occur.
The forest is called the mystic forest of Llyr (meaning; the sea), named because of the bright blue skies over the forest and unknown spiritual beasts that live inside the forest. It was forbidden for humans to trespass or enter without permission or invitation. The dark haired man is the only living man to be accepted by the guardian of the forest, the great Phylax, due to his achievements and feats as he was acknowledged by the deity-like spiritual beasts, that is the reason why he was allowed to buried his wife inside the forest where only him can visit.
His mind is full of questions but he decided to head to where he felt the abnormality. The man rushed towards the light at a speed of light which will make you think he is flying because of how he jumps over trees. After an hourglass he stopped at a place with an array of pillars and a door-like altar in the middle. The reason he stopped is because unauthorised entry is prohibited as no mortal born of man has ever breached through.
"Well I guess, I just have to fall back whatever it is will be taken care of by the guardian". The man murmured to himself in a nonchalant attitude.
"Hoho! how thoughtful of you". A disembodied voice spoke.
"Haiz! I still can't hide anything from you, Merak". The man replied as he turned back.
Merak suddenly materialized, with an affiliative smile on his face as he approached the man." How long has it been? Lass, how've you been?". Merak asked the man the moment he came closer.
"Oi! This old geezer, haven't I told you that I hate that name, so you haven't given up the ghost , persistent old man!". The man replied in a rebellious manner.
[Hahahaha! Sorry to disappoint you.. Mr Xerion the Sword King..hahahaha! ] Merak replied as he laughed sarcastically.
[This old geezer!...say your last words..heed my calls..whirling tempest...!] Xerion shouted as he started chanting a spell but was interrupted by Merak.
"Ok! That is that Lass, I actually came here to discuss something very important with you". Merak spoke and continued to unfold all that happened to Xerion. Xerion was stopped dead in his tracks when he heard all what transpired.
"So what are you going to do with the child?". Xerion asked curiously while observing Merak.
Merak averted his eyes the moment he noticed him observing him.
"It seems to me that you are hiding something, what is it?". He asked with his eyebrow raised as he stared at him suspiciously.
[Uhm! Actually the great Phylax and I decided that the baby will be raised by a human, but you know your kind..so..do you have anyone trustworthy?] Merak asked while trying to avoid any eye contact.
[Like hell I have someone like that! Oh! it seems that you have already chosen the babysitter, hope it's not what I'm thinking! Cuz that's not going to…!] Xerion rants.
Merak looked at him with a puppy eyes and said
"Please...can't you take care of the poor baby..are you that heartless.. you, the hero of men, the Sword King..?"
"Seriously ?..but Cyra would've loved to take care of the child". Merak said with a reminiscing look on his face
"This underhanded geezer...!"Xerion frowned his face.
Haiz! Xerion sighed and continued to speak.
"Where's the child now?!" Xerion asked while scratching his head.
Merak flipped his fingers, the baby was suddenly teleported to his arms and extended him to Xerion. He was overwhelmed by emotions the moment he saw the beautiful baby sucking his thumb smiling, his lifeless eyes suddenly starting to brimming with life again. He felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off his chest, he kept staring at the baby as if his wife gave birth to a child that they had been yearning for a long time.
Ahem! Merak interrupted him by clearing his throat which woke him up from his deep thoughts.
[Ah...Uhm..you can count on me for that, as I was saying, I will take good care of him! ] Xerion replied as he was embarrassed while averting from the baby and Merak and turned back with the intention of leaving.
"There is one more thing, the great Phylax suggested that the child will be returned when he reaches seven years of age. The child's body constitution is extraordinarily rare as he will be able to learn the *Spirits Arts* As you know, it's impossible for a human to learn as the child will be the first". Merak explained.
"Spirit arts! but I thought..well since that's how it is then there will be no problem", Xerion replied.
Xerion holds the baby preparing to depart, "see you soon Mr sword king!" Merak said sarcastically.
"Ugh! This old geezer.. I hope not!". Xerion shouted looking annoyed.
Aport! Xerion chanted and disappeared into thin air, Merak smiled and disappeared too.
*Whoosh*