/Erick
Eyes were warmly greeted with familiar sights. The changes were obvious, as many years have passed, but this city I will always recognise.
Sun warmed the air, brightening up the day even more. Typical streets of Amereq were crafted of stone. Smooth, great for travel, yet slight texture wouldn't let your carriage slip off. The great beauty of this city left me in awe every time. Walking through, towards my known destination was a challenge, due to changes, but in my gut - I knew where it still stood.
Passing by houses of stone - sand coloured, with great decorated windows, flower pots near entrances and doors with gardenias and petunias blooming. Eyes catching the sight of small bushes of yellow and green leaves. Stray cats crossing streets graciously, not even bothered by carriages or city folk.
Fine looking ladies and gentlemen - fancily dressed and acting spoiled. There's a lot of half-armour dressed "knights" with weapons at their side. Then you can see some drunks sleeping in shaded alley ways.
The sense of nostalgia still was there, as my feet took me to that old tavern, which miraculously still stood there. The doors of this establishment were always wide open. Where men and women spend their money and time on alcohol and fun. You always have a few souls sitting straight faced, then there are ones who try to scare off anyone and everyone who dares talk to them.
That's the ones I'm looking for. Actually - there's one specific person I'm seeking for.
By the luck of feather-fall, I do find this person near the window with the best view.
I came over, sitting down opposite him.
This mountain-like looking person, bearded and heavy built, one that could pull boars apart bare handed, instead of swearing and sending me off, exclaimed in joy:
"Erick! Old friend! Long time! Where did spirits take you?" – Man smacked his palm on the table.
"Good to see you, Resam! Sorry to show up so randomly. Guess I'm in need of your skills." – I said.
Resam took out cigar, lit it up, turned to look outside once more and puffed out smoke.
"You know, I've heard of you long ago. You were one to protect town from power obsessed leeches. My grandfather told me stories about you. Then one odd day we met. I was young - just had my nineteenth birthday. You came round to ask me to guide you. Now I am forty six years of age. Grew beard and grey hair, got children that made their families, I even became grandfather. And you? First you came here looking barely twenty. Now you come back again - looking not a day older than before. Just like when you met my grandfather. I know this world has magic and things not possibly explained by logic, but this is just something utterly out of this world." – Resam smoked out the whole cigar and mashed what's left of it in an ashtray. He raised his eyes to look at me. – "I know that you won't give me answers no matter how I ask, so let me just clear one thing: Where do I have to guide you this time?"
I smiled wholeheartedly:
"I need to get to Krea. To the Mother Tree. I need your skills to get through the dungeon, and keep me alive for what it's worth."
Resam slowly nodded, taking a note in his head somewhere, with some thoughts of his.
"To hell with it!" – Resam reached inside his pocket, took out a few silver coins and slammed them onto the table. – "If adventure calls - I can't deny it! Shall we?" – He looked at me as he got up and started walking towards the exit.
I gave a slight nod, as I got up and followed.
"We need horses. Hope you remember how to use one, ha-ha!" – Resam laughed.
I picked my brain for a second there:
"I'd say I do? Perhaps I need some, ehm, bit to remember perhaps. But at some point I was pretty good at it."
We walked down the alley to a more run down part of town.
Meanwhile Resam took the moment to explain the latest changes in the Empire of Ancile.
"Remember that old fart who was ruling over the Kingdom of Sopdar?" - Resam breathed out.
"King Alland, was it?" - I replied.
"Yeah, yeah! That one! Well, now that he's gone well to rest in the ground, his grandson Neith is a pain in the butt of the Emperor Elleney Drieth. Apparently that kid has no understanding of what he's doing. Being a greedy dumb brat with short fuse and no brains left in that head of his." - Resam pointed out to the new shop on the left side. - "This place has some good magical items, well, if you know how to ask. Ha-ha!"
"So what's going on with Drieth now?" - I asked, after I checked the windows of that shop. It had some magical staff, potions and some books on display.
"Pfff, Emperor is not well. His patience is running low, due to that punk over the mountain. The whole thing is due to Neith being a descendant of Nellaidas witches bloodline that was mixed with royal blood. That's why that brat is turning the place into the den of dark and eerie monsters." - Resam shooed the dog that bared fangs at them. - "On a different note, the Forbidden City of Lights is up to some shady business."
Resam pulled another cigar and lit it, smoking the tobacco.
"They dump out more waste in the labyrinth. I had scouts out there to get the info, sadly most of them got consumed by whatever evil is there. Ones who returned said there's the land of darkest doom with monsters unparalleled in gore. The missionaries keep dying there like bugs. Although I'm not sure if Drieth shall purge clean that horrid place. He was the one to authorise it into existence, to begin with."
I felt the sort of pain, the sort that's very nostalgic, very close to heart. Labyrinth is not what it seems, even though I don't know where that's from, but I feel like I know it.
"I've begun the jobs that are odd, yet as long as they pay - I don't mind whatever. My family joined in, although in different ways. Some went into scouting for information, some into weapon crafting, all within the same vicinity. Guess that's the blood calling in the family. Aha-ha!" - Resam smacked me on the shoulder, making me smile and give a slight shake of head.
"Some things seem to be brewing more - the official notices keep coming more and more often, so much so that every week there's new changes to policies or work. Like they are preparing for the war, or the dawn of a new age. This is as creepy as they make it." - Resam shrugged.
"The time has changed. Many cities and towns became different. There's technologies that City of Light authorised and pushed, then the new items Emperor made people to adapt to, thank spirits Amereq was left to be as steady with traditions and charms, as it were." - Resam pat his pockets to check if he still has his items.
We arrived at a stable near the edge of the city.
"Malavind!" - Resam exclaimed, as he saw an old man with a beard adorned with silver beads, chubby and short.
"Resam! My man!" - Malavind replied and they smacked each other on the shoulder.
"I need two fine horses for a long trip, my friend." - Resam pulled a pouch with money.
Malavind looked at the pouch, at Resam, then turned and pointed to the stable.
"If only I had them." - Malavind shrugged. - "I've only got left with stags from the Blue Aracha hand region. They are finer than horses, but have tempers. And that's all I can give. The unrest in the region got me customers swarming and getting all the horses in a few nights."
Resam turned to me with a smirk.
"Hey, you think you can handle a stag? E-he-he."
That made me feel like he'll enjoy his best out of this situation.
"What can we do, if that's what we've left with." - I sighed.
"That's my man! Malavind! We're taking them stags!" - Resam laughed and gave a full pouch of money to Malavind.
Just a few minutes later, Malavind took out two magnificent stags, equipped and with bags of provision on their sides. The stags had a night-blue hue to their fur. Stunning creatures.
Resam helped me mount one, as he laughed. Then we began our journey south.
It took a day to reach the next village, although all places were closed, they managed to find a barn to sleep in. Next day was a long sunny day.
As we passed by other villages, somehow the air seemed different. Even if the looks were similar, something felt awkward and strange. Like changes unseen to the eye had taken place.
On the third day - seeing the mountain of Three Sain Sages on the horizon was a bliss. It meant we were getting closer to our destination. I felt a slight relief.
There still was the second hand of the Aracha river to cross. As we were on the bridge, heading over, I noticed a lot of ships with large cargoes mounted. It was not usual, back when I was here.
"Do you know what this is about?" - I called out to Resam.
He replied without turning to see me.
"It's what I feared most."
I felt that I knew where this was going. It usually meant that war was closing in.
The river itself was beautiful, it gleamed in sunlight. The flowers growing in the riverbed were of old magic, the sort that is viewed as one you should not mess with.
Ah, right. It made me recall a very old memory.
I can't remember the time or how come I was in Amereq, but I have been listening to this old lady that sold the potions for health and recovery. A wise old lady.
I was stunned by the beauty of a painting she had above her trinket carriage - with four colours merging into one and I asked what it was.
"Oh that old thing." - She turned, her messy braided hair falling down her shoulders, head scarf glistening in the sun. Adjusting her glasses and smiling, she explained.
"It's the hands of the Aracha river. First is the "Green Hand", it's green due to moss growing in the riverbed and on the sides of the river. It's used a lot in medicine, that moss. And it's well believed that swimming in these waters can cure you.
Second hand is the Yellow river, it has yellow flowers of old magic growing on the riverbed. But many do not dare to swim in these waters. Old magic is not to be messed with.
Third hand is called Blood hand. That has the rust and metals thrown out by the Forbidden City of Lights. They say it's very contaminated. Ones who went in the water there, got cuts and these cuts bled endlessly. There's no way to stop that. And that always leads to one's death.
Fourth hand is called the Sky hand. The purest of waters, the cleanest of waters. You can drink from it, swim in it, it's magical. Water always reflects the sky, no matter day or night.
And there is the Body of Aracha river - the most colorful river to be ever seen.
Due to waters mixing in - water is drinkable, clean, pure, but the riverbed rainbow coloured plants are filled with acids and toxins. Very poisonous, very deadly. But some wise creatures found a way to use those in medicine. Careful, meticulous, cautious ways to extract the best medical properties of those deadly plants.
And I have some of those finest medicines with me." - The old lady smiled like the sun. Warm, tender.
Whilst my head was reminiscing about the memories of the past, I didn't notice that we approached a road leading straight into the dungeon under the Three Saint Sages mountain.
A little more, we saw the road blocked off.
Full force war machinery, firepower mechanisms, robotics and guns that were not used anywhere besides the Forbidden City of Lights - it was all here like a toy fare. Military personnel buzzing around, like they were preparing to go into a dungeon.
"My apologies Miss", - I got off my stag and walked towards a lady with a mini machine gun. She turned around, her dog tags clinging, having a deadly serious expression on her face. - "May I ask what is going on here?" - I smiled at her, as cutely as I could muster, yet with that concern on my face. - "It's just that my friend and I are trying to reach my wife in Krea… And I see that it seems quite busy up there."
Lady, although looking strict and cold hearted, gave warm smile at the word "wife", then looked around to make sure there are less eavesdropping folk:
"I'm sorry, guess she'll have to wait. Right now we're having a clean-up crew in there. The Forbidden Lights City made some very dangerous waste dropouts in there - causing high risk of death by chemical suffocation. So we'll need to keep it sealed until all is cleared out. My apologies, but you'll need to let your wife know you'll take some more time until you reach Krea. That's all I can say."
Lady gave a nod, as I thanked her, then she went off for duty, for what could be understood.
"So, a clean-up…" - I heard Resam behind my back. - "Well screw the squirrel on the top. Guess we're heading to Gregor."
"Gregor?" - I asked as I mounted a stag.
"Yeah, there's no other place nearby. And even if there is - that won't be safe at all." - Resam remarked.
We traveled towards Gregor and half way in I understood - the roads were made of concrete, the kind you see in the advanced cities. What on earth did take place here, while I was gone…
"Stags are tired, we have to find a place to get them sorted." - Resam let out and went off-road towards the village to the north.
A few minutes down the road we found an old farm.
"That'll do." - Resam nodded and got off his stag. - "You alright, my beauty?"
He patted the stag, who was obviously tired from the long trip.
"Are we staying here or?" - I followed Resams' example of getting off and walking along.
"Na-ah. We'll scout for the other type of ride and we'll be in Gregor in no time. But these stags need rest."
We left the stags in a large barn, taking off all the saddles and items they've carried throughout all these days. One that was off - both stags relaxed and went to sleep.
Resam and I scouted the place - abandoned.
"What happened here?" - I openly asked, as we paced the premises.
"My guess - they ran the heck away since the unease in dungeons and don't plan to get back any time soon." - Resam looked at the fruit trees and gardens with food. - "Shall have to send notice to Malavind, so that he can retrieve his stags."
"And how do we do that?" - I stretched out.
"Magic, my friend. Malavind is still an old git of fine magic." - Resam pulled out a paper, scribbled something on it, then set it on fire.
The paper burned blue, then a magical circle appeared under and the paper along with fire disappeared.
"So that's sorted." - Resam gave a nod.
After a bit we found an old car. I checked the tires and engine - seemed to be alright. No keys were no problem, Resam fiddled with the wires and got it back from the dead.
"With the gas in the tank - enough to last until Gregor. Come on, we gotta go." - Resam sat in the driver's seat.
"How about stags?" - I felt confused.
"In an hour or so, Malavind will come with his magic and pick them up. Don't worry." - He replied.
On the way to Gregor, even though Resam was driving, he kept pouting and complaining how these technologies do not survive long and break often.
"All these machines, warfare shit and teleportation buzz from Forbidden city are so unreliable, so shabby and lifeless. Oh how the old mages fell into the trap of improvement…" - Resam went in length.
But even with all that protest and unease, we reached Gregor in half an hour. We had plenty of time until evening, so I had enough time to go look around.
Gregor is a town that was always known for diversity. It's an outcast of a place in the Empire, a place that attracts outcasts. It was a supposid "dumpster" for all that's left behind or thrown out. Experiments, old and new tech, magic, alchemy, crafts… All which was thrown out, but wanted to live - it all ended up here.
The place, long ago, was just at the beginning, when I first saw it. But now…
Now it was filled with skyscrapers, humanoids, car buzz, magic fizz, anthropomorphic species, like girls with horns, or animal features, some with bionic body parts, some pure android cyber robot creations. It all coexists here - in a town with the same name as one of three saint sages – Gregor.
Houses - some fancy and modern, some - old-like, some barely hold together. This is a clustered town.
Yet one thing stands out the most – the pond with water so clean that you can see the bottom of it. It's quite deep - some said. Somewhere around 12 metres down. But the fascinating thing about it are the swans who swim at the bottom - having all the fish above them. The mossy greenery on the sides of the pond, on man-made pillars inside the pond - make it look like the most beautiful underwater oasis that eyes set upon.
The whole cluster and buster of things made me feel sadly at a loss.
As another street was under my feet, I felt like coffee. And as I turned my head - there it was "Cafe Noir".
"Resam!" - I called out to him, as he wanted to go on with own plans. Though he turns around and comes back. - "Care to join me for a coffee?" - I smile at him.
"'Care to join'? Like you gave me a chance to decide. Ehh." - Resam waved his hand, as if shooing off some flies, but as he did, he still followed me inside.
Maybe he felt that I space out a bit too much, although I had to recollect some thoughts, gather the things I lost. So I did feel bad that he had to be a bit of a nanny to me.
Once down at the table, with coffee brought by a fancy girl with cat ears, we enjoyed the view from the rooftop of the cafe. The view of skyscrapers, flying tech and mages on brooms, odd animals of features unknown and more - just a typical day in Gregor.
"So care to share why you seem like you've been here before?" - Resam lit his cigar to smoke.
"I feel like I was here with a friend of mine. The one I seek to find in Krea. Hopefully." - I say with a strange tinge of sadness.
Resam rolls eyes, drinks a bit of that coffee, then takes a deep breath.
"You know Erick, I'd like to remind you once more - perhaps I sound like an old record but… I am here, with you. Right now. If you need to get something off your chest - I'm your best shot. You show up rarely anyway. Depending on how long you take elsewhere. I might die by the time you come back again. So right now is the best time to spit out all the crap that eats up your innards."
I took a cigarette out of the Resams pack and lit it up, inhaling smoke deeply. As I took a toke and breathed smoke out, I nodded.
"I am something that does not belong here. Usually I am here to acquire information." - I feel like these are my words, yet I don't piece together with them. - "But right now, I am here to notify my friend of things that are happening in our reality. So that measures and precautions are taken. Although right here right now, at this time - I had to do something entirely different. And yet here I am - ditching my assignment for coffee, in search of a friend. But if I don't do this - all might crumble to dust."
I finished smoking in silence, Resam looking like I'm insane, one eyebrow raised. Then he downed his coffee.
"If the world is falling and that one person can help - get that help. But if what you say, that you ditched your original job for this - is true… Must mean one of two things. You either were meant to kill that person, or create a more destructive issue." - Resam poked the table with a finger. - "So what is it?"
"Was asked to kill and gather information. Instead I want to save one I'm meant to kill and go for a different play." - I replied.
Resam laughed.
"Atta boy! You better not shit your pants and make it worthwhile! Say what, I'll do you a favour. You go get your rest."
I finished my drink and gave a nod, leaving Resam in the cafe. The road to the hotel seemed like I was in a daze. The lights and the smoke, the mist and the cold. It felt eerie.
As I was leaving I saw Resam make calls from a pay phone. Surely that's something I'll know of later.
In the dark of the room, in the hotel, with some sounds still dripping from the windows, I felt that I couldn't sleep for the life of me.
Head was filled with this thought - 'I have to tell her, the sooner - the better.' And the thought would not leave my head. Buzzing like an electrical line under pressure, making my head feel like it will split in a half. Then out of the blue - sudden halt, sudden silence.
I felt this one before, long-long ago, nervous, I knew what it was. Heart was pounding restlessly.
"You seeking for me?" - Nikos surprised voice resonated in my head.
"Where are you?" - I asked back.
"Close by, from the feel of it. I assume that something is up, if you're here. What's wrong?" - She sounded busy, like she herself was up to something.
"It's Adrian, he's planning on…" - I began to explain, but she cut me off.
"Shit" - She hissed through her teeth. - "You better stay out of trouble. See you soon."
And then it came back - the pain in the head after the silence. Hitting like a mountain of bricks.
Shit! I couldn't manage to tell her! Fuck! Where was she rushing? What is she up to? Dammit… She sounded like she was borderline in trouble. Like a thief that is about to get caught.
Through my dread and pain, I heard my room door open, Resam walking in with some girl by his side. They did their best to be quiet.
"Hey, you awake?" - Resam whispered, as they got closer.
I let out a deep breath.
"Of course you are." - Resam smiled. - "This here is my daughter. She's got a message for you."
"Message?" - I got up in my bed, sitting.
"Yes." - Girl spoke. - "So you're Erick. What a surprise." - She seemed to smile. - "I was told by Oracle Verin that a woman by the name Niko is on her way to the shrine by the Mother Tree. She is safe and expects you."
From the conversation moments ago - it did not feel like it. But I couldn't say it.
"Oracle wants to help," - Girl continued, - "Therefore tomorrow at 6 in the morning you shall have a guide waiting outside Cafe Noir. He'll lead you through the shortcut to Krea. There you'll meet Oracle himself to help you to the Mother Tree shrine. That's all."
"Thank you." - I said back.
"Well, my friend, that's all. From here on out I'm no longer needed. So do me a favour and get some shut eye. You'll have a hell of a day tomorrow." - Resam gave me a pat on the shoulder, before they both left.
It somehow feels like I got them in trouble. So now they'll have to flee to see another day. Maybe that war sure is to come, so they need to prepare. Well, not sure I can process it all, having such a lack of information…
Shut eyes he says, huh?...
/David
I paced around the small office meeting room, in hopes that he's not too late.
Pretty looking lady came in, smiling and gesturing to sit. Then she seated herself opposite me.
"My name is Orin and I am going to be advising you on the matter you proposed."
"To be honest there is sensitive data I'd like to discuss. So would you mind turning all devices off due to privacy and confidentiality?" – I pushed a smile.
She seemed slightly confused, but she knew that details can be sensitive at times. Understandingly she turned off all devices and pushed the button on the desk that shut the entire room offline,drew special shutters and locks on doors. It was a sort of EMP that blocked all devices inside. Making room device-proof. Nothing worked - nothing could work. All was shut down. Like a bunker. This business company dealt with things at times that required these sorts of measures.
"All done." – Smiled Orin. -"Nothing will be able to even walk in, unless we allow it. Room is locked tight. All information said will stay between us."
I took a deep breath, finally a bit of relief. It was good to know about the company policies regarding privacy. Once I looked in her eyes, my smile faded. I was short on time, after all.
"I am aware that you've started a relationship with Elyon and that you shared intimacy with someone by the name Niko."
Orin looked speechless, by the obvious shiver she was shocked. Understandable, but not really enough time to explain it all.
So I continued with the time I had on my hands:
"Right now, I need to know if you had exhibited strange symptoms or occurrences within your body that you never had before and if any such changes happened to Elyon?"
Her mouth went agape, I could tell that her thoughts were running hundred miles per hour and she was trying to understand how and what. I saw her hand slowly move towards the "privacy cancellation" button, as her gaze was plastered to the table.
"Look at me! Don't be stupid. You don't want to push that button for your own safety. Believe me things can mess you up more than me. So please, I need you to focus right now. Be as honest as never before.Your and Elyons life are at risk. The course of what happens next depends on your honest answers. Please," - I got up, walked up to her, - "I don't wish you any harm. On the contrary."
I paused, looking at Orin - she does not take the bait. Though I had a feeling it'd go this way, I knew how to balance it out.
I stepped back.
"I'm sent by Niko. I really am here to help. So please, tell me the truth. It really might just save lives."
Upon mentioning Niko - the girl looked up at me.
Huh. Jackpot.