Chereads / Atlas Daybreak / Chapter 9 - CARAVAN

Chapter 9 - CARAVAN

Atlas woke up to the first light of dawn, the cool morning air filling his lungs as he sat up, the golden sunlight peeking into the cave, today was the day he was leaving for the capital, sitting up in a stretch Atlas noticed something.

A stench, training and sleeping in a cave for many days makes a man smell. Atlas decided to take a dip in the pound he has been reflecting in for many days.

Atlas stripped to his draws, he started walking into the pound, the cold water biting his skin in a bitter contrast to the warm air of the rising sun, but not all of his body was cold, as the water caressed his scars he felt only a pressure, Atlas looked at himself, up and down coverd in Scars some deeper then others but all a testament to his survival.

Just as Atlas was being to relax a voice pierced the brush behind the pond, "Don't move, who are you?"

Atlas instinct screamed from inside him, feeling power surge from his soul filling his legs he leapped twords the voice pushing off the mud in the pond, Summoning a rapier from his soul he armed himself.

But before Atlas even cought a glimpse of the voice he rimmed into a huge silver object and recoiled off of it in pain but still on his feet. Glancing at what he just slammed into he saw a huge silver sheild and a glorious knight helm peeking over the top, two eyes peeking out of the visor.

Behind the giant man Atlas saw a figure emerge from the brush an elf, long moonlight hair passing her waist, he held a bow drawn tight aiming at Atlas.

"Again who are you" the white haired elf said, her voice as stedy as her aim.

Atlas remaind quiet, still almost naked but holding his rapier. He stood on gaurd questioning if he should or could dart out of here.

The large man must of noticed his silence, he lowered his sheild and put a hand up next to the elf, "put down the bow, Erala. He's just a kid" he said his voice a deep rumble.

The large man opened his helm, "Boy my names,Garin. Whats yours and what are you doing out here?"

Garin's armor, a masterpiece of polished steel with gold accents and heraldic etchings, exuded nobility and strength. His massive iron shield, similarly adorned and bearing a fresh gash from Atlas's blade, was a formidable bulwark, perfectly complementing his imposing presence.

Atlas took a moment, and decided to answer "I'm Atlas, Atlas Daybreak and I'm going to the Capital"

The Elf steeped forward, "well you a long way from the capital, and what even happend to you anyway? Thoes don't look fresh" she said a large amount of sas in her voice.

The large man put his arm past her "Erala everyone has there secrets let's not pressure the boy"

"What ever you say, old man" Erala turned her back and started walking back into the brush, strangely she trusted the man even tho Atlas was a stranger.

The large man lowered his sheild further and aproched "Atlas boy Me and My group are heading to the Capital ourself, we're in the middle of an escort mission right now, but I'd love to have you join us I can't leave a kid out here" The large man said putting a hand on Atlas "I can't pay you, but I could give you food and clothes".

Atlas looked at the man, he was right power in numbers, this would be a lot safer then going alone in the unknown woods, he'll I don't even know where I'm going.

Atlas looked at the man as he giggled," I'll take up that offer, but I have a request"

Garin glanced at Altas, raising one brow "Boy I'm offering you food,shelter and clothing, what more could you possibly ask me?" More then anything curiosity was in his voice.

Smiling Atlas looked at the man, "at night, if there's nothing to do please teach me how to use a sheild, at least the basics, I'm not asking you to do it for free I'll help anyway I can"

Garins eyes lit up "BOY, YES ID LOVE TO TEACH YOU" he took a few breaths "as you know when you reach 10 years old you awaken a aspect, that aspect gives you a weapon,as well as magic most pepole awaken swords as weapons, but rarely. Pepoles aspects can grant them different weapons Like spears, bows, sheilds, and many more." Garin took a deep breath his mood a little more dim. "But just because something is rare doesn't mean is amazing Atlas, Sheild users are looked down upon most of the time do to no damage output, why do you want to learn sheild arts anyway, I know I saw you weild a sword earlier, even put a gap in my sheild." The old man lifted the sheild to reveal a large gap in his sheild carved from Atlas shadow rapier.

Atlas looked at the gargantuan man, debated how to answer his question, "my aspects allows me to use a different weapons as long I understand them, so far I only know how to use a rapier... roughly."

Garin stood silently there for a moment and then chucked,"hahaha.... almost sounded like you said you could use a weapon as long as you understand it.... hahah-yeah no way right?" His voice begging for an answer.

After Atlas's silence spoke volumes for many minutes Garin was the first to speak

He Aproched Atlas and grabbed him by the shoulder "YOUR FUCKING JOKEING.... Atlas do you even understand what that means... oh lord your potential is limitless Atlas, you can't let pepole know about this, who else knows do you have anyone you can trust?"

Atlas sighed "everyone who knew is dead, other then one person but he shouldn't be a problem" Atlas glanced down again looking at his scars.

Garin had a grim look in his eyes, "is that why you have all thoes scars?" Keeping his one hand on Atlas shoulder he dropped his sheild held by his other hand and put it on Atlas other shoulder.

Atlas tensed up, he never thought this topic would bring him so much discomfort, "yes."

Garin lessend his grip on his shoulders and hugged Atlas, after a few seconds, "Atlas my aspect revolves around mental effects, because of that I can get a grasp of what pepole are feeling, its OK now Atlas travel with me and my companions and we'll keep you safe"

Atlas was lot in thought, who knew someone, let alone him could be read so easily, "I would love to sir, thank you"

Name: Atlas Daybreak

Class:Shadow Mage

Level:2

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Attributes:

- Strength:20

- Dexterity: 25

- Intelligence:15

- Wisdom: 13

- Constitution: 16

- Charisma:18

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Health:100 / 100

Mana:70 / 70

Stamina:50 / 50

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Abilities:

1. ???

- Description: ??? shadowy versions. (The rest is unclear.)

- Mana Cost: ???

- Cooldown:None.

2. Shadow Blades

- Description:Create and wield simple weapons you understand, made of pure shadow, adaptable in form and function.

- Mana Cost: 10

- Cooldown: None

3. ???

- Description: ??? and wield ???.

- Mana Cost:???

- Cooldown:??

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Skills:

1. Swordsmanship: Advanced

2. Shadow Rapier:Intermediate

3. Stealth:Novice