Chereads / Hardfall and the Hero / Chapter 3 - The lost and the dead

Chapter 3 - The lost and the dead

'Am I dead' was the first thought that crossed his mind. As visions oh last night set his hair on end. As he opened his eyes he realized the sun was full in the sky about mid-day. The more he surveyed his surroundings the more he realized how lucky he was to be alive. The sheer cliff dropped a hundred feet ending in a raging river. Every thing about last night should of killed him. Hi whole body hurt from bouncing off the cliff then being thrashed back and forth by the river. His standard issued clothes were rages, torn n damp barely clinging to his body. Mud, dry blood and small rocks adorned his face and hair. Shakily he rose to his feet trying to find his baring." How far was I carried." He said to himself, looking up river." Fire and food first." Try to recall his basic survival course.

After gathering enough wood for the fire and a few failed attempts at getting it lit he finally got it going. "God's I wish I knew magic. Just a quick Blam from my finger and fire. But no rub them sticks, smack them stones." Berry had a bad habit of speaking to himself, to much time alone tends to make you odd. In his village he wasn't a outcast but nor was he popular. People just liked to not think about him, out of sight out of mind. Fire set n his reggs dry he waddled back into the water. He had seen fish. At least fishing wasn't too difficult for him many of his summer days had been spent fishing with just a sharp stick. Calmly he stood waiting for the perfect opportunity. It didn't take long the river was swarming with fish swimming upstream to lay their eggs.

Dry, feed and feeling better he began making his way south following the river away from where he fell. He knew that Frostharrow set high upon the cliffs and there wasn't a way up. I had been built there specifically for that reason. The only road to the magnificent city with its tall buildings and high walls passed the fort. The fort was built in the around the road with a wall reaching ether way ending in cliffs. This is what made last night's attack so strange. The area between the city and fort should of been the safest woods in the kingdom. That's why it was used for training new recruits. Unlike the area he found himself in now. Luckily monsters were not very active during the day, but night would be apon him before to long. He needed to find a safe place to hide before then.

Some times it's hard to tell if you were lucky or unlucky. Was his falling bad luck or his surviving good luck. Was the monster attack bad luck or the wounds on his back only being superficial good luck. This thoughts about luck flooded his mind as he stared at the cave opening on the other side of the river. "Damn" he said looking up to the setting sun. "Please don't be full of monsters" he pleaded with the universe hoping it would be safe.

Causuesly he peeked his head in stooping dead in his tracks. He thought he had prepared himself for anything but what he saw was to far outside his expectations. There was a girl there not just a girl but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Short brown hair fluttered as she turned her head facing him. She dark brown leather armor and held a metal shield. Drawing a long sword from her hip and raising he shield she approached him. "Come out were I can see you" he voice echoed of the walls. Hurriedly he stepped out into full sight with his hands raised."I'm not a threat" he said doing his best to sound genuine. He looked pathetic standing there pants torn looking more like shorts he hadn't even tried putting the shirt back on there wasn't much left of it anyway. He had very little meat on his body and his ribs still showed despite eating good over his time in the army. Still surprised they even excepted in the first place. After realizing this pathetic look boy infount of her posed no treat to her even on his best day she relaxed. Lowering her sword she asked "who are you and what are you doing here." "I'm lost." He stammered out trying his best not to like sound self-conscious but failing. "Well Mr Lost I'm Luna" she said with a chuckle."no no my name is Berry" he said not immediately realizing it was a joke. "I was looking for a safe place to hide for the night when I saw this cave. What about you?" "This is not a cave its a dungeon. More specifically the entrance to one." "So you like a adventurer!" His excitement very clear on his face. He had heard many stories about adventurers they were strong and free traveling the world fighting monsters. "It's not as glamorous as you think." She said knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Anyway I'm going in u can stay out here or fall doesn't matter. This is a low rank dungeon that won't be anything I can't handle on my own. As long as you don't do anything foolish you will be fine." Berry's face was easy to read excitement gleaming in his eyes.

After a short walk through the cave they came apon a large thick door made of wood and iron. Strange symbols adorned it slightly glowing with a blue tint. "They are wards" she said anticipating his question. "Go ahead touch it" she gestured towards the the door. Hand extended he reached out touching it. As soon as he made contact the gliffs flashed, lite filling the small room they stood in. The door opened and air hissed out like an escaped prisoner. "It's dark in there do you have a torch?" He asked looking over his shoulder. " why you scared of the dark?" She asked a hint of playfulness in her voice. Before he could respond she raised her hand. "Light" she said as a small glowing orb appeared just above her hand. " You can do magic!" He exclaimed. "This is nothing " she cuckeled at his amazement. "It's just a low level light spell. Any one can do this much once they learn to control mana. We can't stand here all day let's go in dungeon doors shouldn't be kept open for to long it corrupts the land."

Berry took a few steps in instantly noticing a change in pressure once the door sealed behind them. The inside of the dungeon didn't seem much different from the cave they just left. It just opened up into a larger room with another path on the other side. " can you fight" she ask. "I've had some basic training. I may not look like it but I'm with the army." Berry said a slight hint of pride on his face. " good look over there, brab those." She pointed to the ground near the wall. That's when Berry noticed a skeptical figure laying on the ground. It had been there for some time. Who ever they were nothing was left to identify them. A wooden shield and a broken sword lay next to the corpse. Lifting the sword dejected he exlamed "its broken." Luna laughed " good now it short enough for you to use." Despite being old and broken it was still sharp. It was still long enough to be used like a dagger. "Better than being unarmed." He srugged picking up old skull cap and placing in on his head. Nothing else was usable on this poor dead person he just looted. He looked ridiculous but having hit his head already he wasn't going to worry about any fashion sins he may be committing.

As they made there way down the first corridor Luna spoke almost given Berry a heart attack. "I want you to take point once we reach the next room. Don't worry I'll jump in if we see anything I think you can't handle." He nodded not wanting to speak and have his voice betray the confidence he was pretending to show. As they approached the next room Berry's heart began to race as he saw a little creature not to far away. It was about 3 feet tall and had a large head half the size of its bony little body. Despite being so thin it had a little potbelly, that with its over sized eye, hands and feet almost made it look cute. That thought quickly disappeared as I noticed Berry and the light. It's mouth opened reveling two rows of little sharp teeth. It's mouth seemed to extend the entire weith of its round head. Screaming with a voice that could of come from a human child. It charged swinging its large hands clawing at the air. "Shield up its not strong." She said giving him encouragement. It slammed into his shield with less force than he had expected. Grabbing at the shield trying to pull it down, the little thing hollered. Gripping his sword handle tight he stabbed down as hard as he could. Metal cutting trough flesh with ease. He struck again and again repeating till he couldn't raise his arms anymore. "A little overkill perhaps but good job." She smiled. "Let's head back to the last room. You can rest a bit before we head deeper in. And bring that." Berry looked down where she was pointing. The body of the little man was starting to dissolve and crumble into ash. In the little pile of ash a small crystal could be seen peeking out. Hold it in his had it was clear with a sliver of black and brown essence swirling in the middle.