Sal's Tale: The Silver Wraith Book 1: Gelshin

The sun had set a few hours ago. Now, darkness had overtaken the edge of the forest, casting even the brush at its edge into deep shadow.
A young man sat at the base of a tree, just behind the bushes that separated him and the meadow ahead. A short meadow that he intended to cross in order to get to the mountains that separated his home and the nation he was leaving it for. His goal for the past two weeks was directly in front of him now. Maybe an hour walk at most just to reach the top of those mountains. The light from the wall signifying the border gate was a glimmer at the top and he couldn't take his eyes off it. His mind was completely focused on the goal that the light represented and he wanted to run to it. He wanted his freedom. However, the young man was cautious. He knew better. Before he ran, he needed just a moment to regain his strength as running and fighting were all he had done for the past two weeks. If he moved too soon his strength may leave him before he would make it. Lingering, however, may invite his exhaustion to fully set in and sleep would take him instead. Either result was deadly as once he was found, he would surely be dragged back and most likely executed. Fighting back was impossible as well. His state was horrendous after all. Deep circles clung below his golden eyes and his clothes were torn to shreds. Dried blood could be found in patches across his dark blue cloak and his silver hair was a muddied and mangled mess. Fair, clear skin was now rife with cuts and bruises that had not been given any time to properly heal. His right hand was wrapped in its entirety with bloodied bandages and the metal gauntlet that ran up to his elbow on his left arm weighed heavier than he could ever remember it feeling. Thankfully, his steel toed combat boots had held up during the two weeks he had been fleeing despite the numerous fights. Their protection, however, came at a cost now as it felt like he had a weight on each foot.
He exhaled as he laid back against the tree behind him and raised his right hand. It came to rest on the pommel of the large sword sheathed across his back.
"All of this for you" he muttered. "I swear, if I'd known you'd bring me this much trouble, I never would have let that old man give you to me."
The handle was cold against his fingers and its touch was reassuring. His grip tightened and for a moment the thought of wielding it again crossed his tired mind. A sigh escaped him though, and regretfully his hand retreated back to his side so it could rest. He knew there was no way to actually hold the blade at this moment. His arms wouldn't allow it. It would only encumber him more if it were in his hand as he ran no matter how much security it gave him.
Struggling, he pushed himself up and gazed across the meadow.
A few small hills but he was otherwise at the base of the mountains. The only issue was that there was no cover. It was a straight shot in plain sight. Even with it being night, anyone trained to watch for any movement would easily be able to pick him out. He had one shot and he wasn't going to get another.
"Alright. No time to waste."
He stood up and readied himself. It wasn't much, but energy swelled within him, moving into his legs as he willed whatever he could get ready to push him forward. They ached with the tightening of his muscles but responded as his sheer determination forced them to prepare. Despite his exhaustion, his golden eyes burned with conviction and he readied himself.
All fell silent for a few moments. Then, he launched himself forward into the meadow with all he had.
Not looking back, his eyes were aimed straight ahead as he pushed himself once more. Just as they had the last few weeks, his muscles screamed and threatened to cramp should he continue but he ignored the pain and kept moving. Those terrible weeks with only an hour of sleep or two a night had made him sluggish. He was unsteady on his feet. Exhaustion threatened to steal them out from under him with every step but obediently they propelled him forward knowing this would be the last time. If he made this, no more running. The mountains loomed closer and closer as he rushed over the grass in a flurry of anguish and excitement.
"Please! PLEASE!" his mind yelled along with his body. "Sal, if you're watching just let me make it! Please!"
The grounds inclined decreased and he came down to the bottom of the hill he had been on. Two more hills, a short distance then the climb up the mountain pass. The light from the border guard illuminated the top of the moutain more clearly now.
"I can do this! MOVE LEGS! GIVE ME MORE!"
His pace quickened, his senses heightened, and he reduced the distance more and more rapidly. He had made it to the top of the second to last hill and he threw himself down it, his momentum aiding him.
*BOOM*
He froze, as the world around him lit up in a dull orange light and he immediately covered his ears that had been left ringing from the sudden noise of what sounded like an explosion. It was like a giant torch had been illuminated in the sky behind him and he frantically turned around to see the cause, knowing he was now easily visible to anyone looking in his direction. His brow furrowed as he couldn't rationalize what he was seeing. A bright streak of flaming light had appeared out of nowhere and was headed east, far above the clouds.
"Is that an asteroid? Where the hell did that come from?" he thought. He marvelled for a moment at the spectacle in front of him. Then he noticed the odd movement in the forest from where he'd come. What came next seemed to happen in slow motion though in reality it only took a second or two. It was as if a great wind was blowing steadily from directly under where the asteroid had appeared. The trees were being violently blown outwards, away from the meteor appeared. Some were even being uprooted and thrown.
"What the-"
He didnt have time to finish his thought as a shockwave slammed into him in full force, throwing him the rest of the way down the hill.
"AUGHH-" The air was forced out of his lungs when he was impacted and he fell until he crashed down onto his stomach.
It took several moments before the pain subsided and he took a deep breath before coughing and sputtering. The blow had impacted him to the point that it stunned him and almost knocked him unconscious but through sheer force he managed to slowly pull himself together. Using his hands, he pushed himself up and looked back up to the sky. This time though, he smiled.
"That wasn't from any of them. Nobody in Feltari's army has energy strong enough to make a fireball like that and if it is a meteor, the ore is insanely valuable. This is my chance. They'd never pass that up."
Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet and turned toward the final hill before the mountain.
"I win."
His feet moved but the energy he had before was gone. Being thrown backwards like that had drained him once again and his muscles protested every bit of movement he made. The light was helping him as he went since it took less effort to tell what was in front of him but it was still an inconvenience. Let alone that it was so bright now that it looked like daylight.
"Wait, is it getting brighter?"
He turned around once more and stood in what can only be described as absolute shock from what he saw. Whatever it was in the sky, had left a trail clearly showing that it had been heading east. Now though, it was headed directly for him having made a hard right turn to the south.
"You've got to be kidding me. After everything I've been through, now this? What the hell?"
The despair that had momentarily grasped at him faded and was replaced with a blazing fury. It built up in him, steadily rising as his face flushed and he grimaced.
A fortnight of being hunted, restless nights where he had to forgo sleep to stay aware, mediocre meals that barely filled him, and the countless soldiers he had callously put down in order to keep his own life. All of this flashed through his mind and it infuriated him further. The border was before him and yet now, after how careful he had been, a ball of fire and light streamed towards him threatening to take it all away.
"I make it this far and this crap still happens! Can't I get one night where I actually get something to go right for me?! What do you want from me Sal?! I know you can see me! Will you just make things actually work out for once you damn waste of space!"
Silence. Silence aside from the steady roaring of flames growing closer as the mass descended through the sky. He clenched his hands and looked down.
"Fine. Give me a sword I cant use properly, I'll learn how to use it myself. Give me a dream telling me to run but not from what, I'll figure it out myself. Give me a damn fireball that, for no reason, decides to slam specifically into me when it wasn't aiming for me, I'LL HANDLE IT MYSELF!"
His yell echoed around the area and at the same time he felt a little more alive as his adrenaline pumped and battled back his weariness.
Focusing, he widened his stance and brought his arms up. It wasnt much, but energy began to flow through them and they glowed as he concentrated.
"Make me handle all of it everytime. For a guy who chose to reappear after all those years, you sure are useless when it counts!"

From his throne surrounded by clouds and light, what could only be described as the figure of a man watched on as the boy yelled his dismay. Sal sighed inwardly before raising his left hand and swinging it gently sideways. The image in front of him dissipated the moment after and he relaxed in his chair. His right hand never moved, holding it out beside him as the rest of his body relaxed into the massive throne. He paused and thought to himself for a moment before shrugging.
"Sorry Zeke but for now, you can manage this. You've got plenty of help already even though she's a little early. This will be good for you, you'll see."
Salvatore stretched a bit while his right arm remained extended outward.
"I told her to wait until he crossed the border anyway so I did try to make things easier. I suppose she's just tired of waiting too. What can you do with children?"
Pulling up another small screen out of nowhere with his left hand, Sal looked toward it and shook his head, his thoughts firmly grasping his attention.
"Now then. It would seem I need to speak with Ephraim and the others since she decided to change up our plans a little. Honestly, would a few more minutes really have been that difficult?"
As he pressed a few buttons on the screen, a door at the far end of the brillianty lit room opened.
A few moments went by before a dozen men or so, robbed completely in white, entered the room. Each was easily over 6ft tall with the largest of them possibly reaching 8ft. As they came to stand in front of the throne, they each took a knee in respect to the figure in front of them.
The last to enter the room made his way to the front of all the others and did the same.
"You called for us sir?"
Sal smiled. "I did, Ephraim. It would seem she was a little too eager and left to join up with him before he managed to cross the border. While I'm certain he'll be fine with her help, I would like you to venture out now and meet up with them at Glintwood."
Ephraim rose to his feet. His arm crossed his chest and his hand came to rest over his heart.
"As you command sir. I will depart immediately."
Sal nodded. "Very good. The rest of you, please remain on standby as you were. As the need arises I will be dispatching you as well."
"Yes sir!" they all resoundingly yelled. The men then turned to spin on their heels and exited the room one by one. Once they were gone, Sal sighed.
"Always so formal. Well Zeke, I hope you're ready. It seems you'll be getting that teacher you wanted earlier than I planned."