{~Sam~}I blinked quietly as I stared down at my ticket, I couldn't believe it, I was finally going to Forga. The mysterious jungle continent that sprung up in the middle of the Atlantic and pushed the entire eastern hemisphere farther into the Indian Ocean, it was connected to the continents by large bridges made of earth constructed by the Council, a group of the first beings to master their abilities given by the gods, Frugata the being of magic, Bedgar the god of fire, Hunala the goddess of earth, Gutama the god of air, and Wunaria the goddess of water. Every family had a shrine to one or more of the gods as was required when you have a magic user as part of that household, except for those that did not believe in the gods and stuck to the old ways or as we liked to call them in Greka "āmanyochi" or non-believers in Amharic, a language that came from somewhere in the eastern hemisphere.I sighed and started to pack after reading the date of the departure. Feb 15th, 2195 8:00 am sharp. Tomorrow. I shook my head before stripping down to my boxers and slipped into my bed and soon off to sleep.Today was the day, the day I would leave the archipelago most likely forever. I got up at my usual time which was before the sun rose and set about cleaning my room for the final time before I gained a new home, I finished just as the sun started to rise then hopped into the shower. I quickly showered before getting out and dressing in some sweatpants, a hoodie, and some tennis shoes.I grabbed my glasses and took one last look at my apartment before grabbing my duffel bag and locking the door then I turned towards the dock and set off, I soon arrived at the dock and looked for the boat that was to take me to Forga. I soon found it, it was a large cruise ship named The Fortuna. I walked over to the attendant and handed her my ticket. She smiled and nodded taking my ticket and handing me a key card before saying "Enjoy your trip"I nodded and smiled before adjusting my bag and walking up the plank then headed towards my suite on the second deck, I looked down at my ticket and read it 'Deck 2, Room 42' I looked at one of the doors I passed and read 'Room 30'. I continued walking before coming to my door, I read it before unlocking the door and walking in closing the door behind myself. I set my stuff down and laid on my bed and dozed off not willing to interact with anyone else on the cruise, I awoke to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I sighed and sat up before walking over to the door and opening it, a hostess smiled at me and said: "Hello sir, I am very sorry for any inconvenience but we will soon be having dinner on the other side of the ship, in the Canteen."I nodded and replied, "thank you, how long has it been since we left the archipelago?"She replied with a smile "it has been about four hours since we left Greka sir"I nodded and voiced my thanks before disappearing back into my cabin to take a quick shower before I headed to dinner, I did not want to mingle with other people as the four-hour long nap proved but my belly said otherwise, obvious by its continuous growling since the hostess mentioned dinner. I quickly took a shower then dressed in some red sweatpants, a windbreaker with a black t-shirt, my glasses, and some black converse. I looked myself over in the mirror before walking out of the room and locking it then slipping the key into my pocket and walking towards the canteen. I walked over and looked around the decently sized canteen before grabbing a plate of turkey, a roll, gravy and mashed potatoes, and a root beer. I looked around at the available tables before choosing one that was empty in a corner. I sat down and prayed to the gods before digging in, I was just about finished when I felt eyes on me. I glanced up to see four teenagers looking my way, I held their gazes before letting my eyes flair red with the power of fire magic. They quickly looked away and I internally smirked before finishing my food and getting up to throw my food away, I felt their gazes on me again as I walked over to one of the hostesses and asked: "excuse me, but is there a battle arena on the ship anywhere?"She nodded and replied, "mhmm, there is one on the first deck, you should see it fairly easy."I voiced my thanks and headed back to my room to collect my battle amulets, on Greka a tutor showed me how to put enchantments on my battle gear to transform into amulets of my choosing, I slipped into my room and grabbed my two amulets before making my way back towards the top deck. I soon found the arena more from the flashes of light than anything, I walked over to see a crowd watching the battle between two females. I walked over to a man who was counting coins, he didn't even glance up at me before saying: "if you wish to place a bet then you will have to wait for others to come and the next battle to start."I tilted my head and replied "um am I supposed to sign up for the next battle? Or do I just wait in the stands like the other bystanders"He glanced up at me with a sneer and said "Does it look like I am a referee? Go find someone else kid."I clenched my fist calming myself as I turned and walked over to the stands of bystanders, I gently tapped one on the shoulder. He turned with a smile and asked "Yes? What is it you need?"I smiled and replied, "do you know how to sign up for the next battle?"He nodded and pointed to a person who was on the opposite side of the arena to a female who was staring at a clipboard, I smiled and thanked him before walking around the arena towards the female. I got over to her just as a large explosion occurred in the arena, I didn't pay attention as I grabbed the lady's attention by saying "excuse me, ma'am, may I sign up for the next battle?"She glanced up at me with an impassive face and replied "sure but..you would have to go against four people unless you have a team."I nodded and said "that's okay I'll take it"she nodded and wrote something down after asking me my name then told me to wait until the battle was over then I am to report to the red side of the arena. I nodded before starting my walk towards the other side of the arena, I internally groaned at the amount of walking that was happening today. I walked over to the red side and sat on one of the bleachers lazily playing with my amulets. I looked up when a horn sounded to see one of the two fighters standing over the other with a victorious smile before she too collapsed upon the other, I chuckled softly and watched as the healers rushed in with stretchers before carting the two fighters off to most likely a med bay. I stood when the arena reverted back to its original state, I quietly walked to the red entrance and gently palmed my amulets mindlessly thinking of what magic I would use.I stood at the entrance of the arena waiting for the dome to open up and the battle to begin, I steadied my breathing as I held my hands up and felt the flow of magic erupt on palms. I stared at the balls of fire and earth in my hands, I smashed them together then pulled my hands apart but kept them close as I stared intently at the ball of magma in my hands. I let it float over my right hand as I reached up to grab my armor amulet and broke it in half, the piece of the amulet floated before it expanded and covered vital points of my body in a white light. The light soon faded revealing earthen colored metal greaves and gauntlets as well as shoulder guards and a flexible chest piece.I held the magma ball in one hand as I heard a countdown, it counted to zero and the doors opened allowing the battlers to enter. I walked in and spotted my four opponents, the teens from the canteen. I tossed the ball of magma from hand to hand as I slowly walked forward stopping about halfway to the middle of the arena watching and assessing my competitors for any weaknesses, finding none I turned my attention to the lay of the arena. It was made up of solid concrete at the moment but that would soon change once we started fighting, I simply sighed before starting to expand it by simply letting it hover on an earthen pedestal before feeding fire into making it the size of a basketball. I settled my gaze on my four opponents as I rested my hand on the ball of magma and had it hover over my palm, I smirked as the pedestal disappeared in the ground and spoke loud enough for them to hear. "If you were wise then I wouldn't let this ball touch the ground"I smirked more as I launched the ball into the air and watched as two of the teens rushed forward to attempt to catch it, I rushed toward the two hurling my fist into the stomach of one using the earth to push me forward. I stopped him in his tracks before I turned and muttered a spell softly as a whip of fire appeared in my hand as I lashed out at the other who was mid-air, it wrapped around his foot and I yanked sending him back toward his two awaiting teammates.
I turned my attention to the teen who was still catching his breath and simply kicked his feet from under him then sent him flying back to his friends with another kick, I smirked and watched as the magma fell and impacted the ground transforming the entire arena in a matter of minutes into a large volcano area with molten lava pools everywhere. I saw three of the teens look afraid and one smirk, I tilt my head as I split my second amulet in two causing a white light to spiral along my arms before forming into twin war picks. I muttered a spell to dull them before I turned my attention to my opponents who had summoned their weapons, a shortsword, twin knives, a short bow, and a longbow.
I smiled and dashed towards them going for the sword wielder first, we clashed blades and I swung my picks forcing him to dodge as I kick the knife wielder in the stomach and dodged two arrows. I growled before I slammed my war picks down sending an earthquake through the ground making the teens stumble, I took that as an opportunity to rush forward and disarmed the sword wielder before kicking his knee forcing him to his knees and savagely smashing my knee into his face knocking him out and sending him into the longbow user before I blocked an arrow with one pick and a knife to the chest with the other, I slammed down my left pick and forced the knife wielder back.I grinned and rushed forward bashing him in the stomach with my shoulder before slashing at him, he blocked my slash and locked our blades together. I pushed against him forcing him towards his teammate, I pulled away and sidestepped bringing my foot up as a feint, he caught it and I spun brutally smashing my other foot into his temple knocking him out cold. I dropped into a roll immediately dodging various arrows, I turned and saw the longbow user charging up a shot and dashed towards her only to be blocked by a flurry of arrows from the short bow, I am just going to call him Shorty and the longbow one Long, I turned towards Shorty and slashed another volley of arrows before I stomped my foot causing magma to erupt in blasts around him forcing him to keep moving.I grinned and sent a wave of fire towards Long forcing her to move or be torched, she wisely chose the former. I raced towards Shorty and slashed at him forcing him to block with his bow, I continued on slashing and hacking at him looking for a weak spot. I found one soon, he overextended on a lunge to force me back and I easily slipped inside his guard slashing at the bridge of the bow cutting it and forcing the string to pull releasing the tension all at once and hit him the face dazing him, I knocked him off his feet then slammed a foot into him kicking him into the barrier knocking him unconscious.
I turned in time to see Long finish charging up her shot and releasing it, I dodged to the side only for it to hit my shoulder and send me tumbling and rolling on the ground dangerously close to a pool of boiling magma.I reached out and started to absorb the magic from the magma making it darken and start to heal my gaping shoulder wound but putting a large drain on my energy reserves, I was now running on legitimately fumes at the moment. I shakily stood before I dodged a flurry of arrows and rushed towards Long, she swung her bow and I parried slashing at her. She jumped back and I pressed her with a flurry of slashes and hacking throwing in a kick here and there. She blocked each and every one of my strikes and met some with her own she batted my war picks from my hand and nocked an arrow and pointing at my face, I panted heavily exhausted as she spoke "yield, I do not wish to hurt you any more than I already have."
I grimaced and muttered "sorry to do this but."I spun knocking her bow aside and ducking then swiped her feet from under her and swiftly decking her in the face sending her into the realm of unconsciousness. I stood hearing people cheer as I hold my hand up happily before I fall next to her and slipped into unconsciousness as well.I groggily opened my eyes and looked around to see I was in a white room, like blindingly white. I groaned and moved my arm up to cover my eyes when I felt the pain of overusing my magic hit me full force, I simply groaned in pain before sitting up and leaning against the wall and looked around. I saw the four teens from the fight and a couple other mages, I shook my head before looking myself over. Besides the wound on my shoulder and the obvious magic overuse I only had a few cuts and bruises here and there. I stood shaking off the dizziness and grabbed my clothes walking into the bathroom that was near the door to the infirmary, I quickly changed and walked out only to run into a nurse. She yelped then looked at me and asked "what are you doing out of bed? You should be resting"I shrugged and replied "I get restless easily...and this room is too white"she nodded in sympathy before sighing and saying "well let me just give you one last checkup then you can go."And I did, I returned to my room after the quick check-up by the nurse. I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, apparently, I had been asleep for three days after the battle and we were more than seventy-five percent of the way to Forga. I shook my head and got up to take a shower needing one badly.I don't know what I had expected when we docked two days later, but it was completely what an unimportant return journey was supposed to be, only a few families showed up but most went without a happy tearful reunion. I was one of the most, I looked around the village with a smile.It was a simple port town, had access to a forest that led to the jungle but it was built where they could easily disappear if under attack, either to the water or the forest. The port was called Chanswick, I admired the beauty of the architecture. Many of the stores and houses were built on stilts, i could only assume if it flooded but they were built like beach houses, with a laid-back feeling that I adored.
I set out quietly with my bag over my shoulder and only the minimal directions from the guide on where the hotel was. I soon found it albeit the giant blue sign helped a lot, I walked in and looked around noting the absence of people in the lobby. I shook my head before walking over and gently tapping the desk to get the attention of the desk attendant, he looked up and asked "how may i help you?"I replied softly "I would like to rent a room for two days please."He nodded and typed away on his computer before saying "for two days...that will be $45.89"I grumbled softly as i handed my card to him and tapped my foot impatiently, i was glad that i had taken all those odd jobs because it meant that i had a stable bank account until i could get a real job here in Forga. I had about $5,000 in my account and that was for personal use, i took A LOT of odd jobs. He handed me my card back along the a key card and wished me a good day before going back to what i was doing before, i looked at the key card which said 'Room 4B' i soon found my room and had set all my stuff down and took out a map of Forga that the attendant had given me, i marked significant places on the map such as stores and bus stations then got a quick shower and slipped into the bed ready for tomorrow.I woke up early as per the usual and slipped into some sweats and a t-shirt with some Nikes and set out to find something to do.I groaned as I flopped down onto my bed after going around the small town, I found out that there was a bus that came every two days to Chanswick and today was the day it came. Apparently, it came around 5:00 pm and went to a town called Sangea where I planned to live.I looked over at the clock and read it '3:00 pm'. I groaned loudly and sat up before I grabbed my amulets and set out for the forest. I jogged towards the forest that was supposedly full of monsters, but I wanted to see them for myself. So naturally, I set off by myself. I entered the forest and continued on deeper hoping to find something to train against, now I know what you're thinking 'why not just train against other humans'. The reason behind that is humans don't fight for survival, they do it for fun. You learn more about yourself when you are in a life or death situation, plus it does get the blood pumping and I do love a good rush.I looked around the forest and let myself relax feeling the earth around me. I wasn't born with magic, I had to train for years from my fifth birthday up until about my ninth grade year. I was tutored by two mages, one of fire and one of earth. I normally studied under the earth mage as the fire mage had other duties to attend to but I learned what I could from the two.I felt multiple presences around me that seemed to be friendly such as fairies and wildlife then cautionary ones such as centaurs, elves, and dryads. I didn't feel anything that screamed danger so I continued on deeper. I soon came upon a pile of bones and stopped, from the looks of them they were monster bones and they were fairly large too. I gently traced the bones and saw that it also had wings, I narrowed my eyes in confusion thinking of what could take such a beast down. From the looks of the bone structure, I would say whatever the creature was, it was an apex predator. Maybe a griffin..or a young dragon, I hoped it was the former because dragons tend to stay together in 'families' thus they look out for each other. I shook my head then looked around noticing the absence of sound, I looked around and gulped before turning my attention back to the skeleton. I noticed that there were severe fractures in the bone indicating a fight, there was also the absence of a skull on the skeleton that kinda indicated that.I sighed and stood looking around the area, I trudged on hoping I wouldn't run into dragons. Griffins were also a problem but I could take one since they had a large weakness to fire...well the Greka variant did. I continued walking when I heard a growl, I stopped and took in my surroundings and spotted glowing eyes, multiple sets of yellow glowing eyes. I gulped and pulled on my weapon amulet and broke it into a long piece, it glowed and formed a longsword. I held it out and slowly spun in a circle watching as giant wolves stalked out of the brush and hopping off tree branches, I grimaced as I counted at least eight wolves as well as an extra large one watching from the trees. I could take two or three but even with armor, eight was gonna be a problem. I steeled myself and got into a fighting stance, one wolf jumped me from behind. I turned and smacked him with the side of my longsword, I didn't want to kill any just in case. I wanted to wait until they showed killing intent because wolves were considered Hunala's sacred animal and to kill one just because was considered a crime, I watched as two wolves jumped at me with their fangs bared and claws out. I slipped out from under them and watched as they collided only to be jumped on from behind, I felt teeth into my shoulder and yelped in pain then rolled to get the wolf off of me. I jumped up and slashed my sword across the wolf's face killing it, I growled softly and ripped my armor amulet off its chain and felt the armor start to encase my body. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply as my armor appeared on me, it was suitable armor that could withstand a few hits before it started to hurt and gave a lot of mobility.I looked around and hefted my longsword up then rushed two of the wolves, I smashed the pommel into one of the wolves head then slashed up sending the other into the air. I quickly turned and stabbed killing the stunned wolf then jumped and slammed the other wolf into the ground killing it.I heard a snarl and turned holding up my longsword to block and saw a wolf jumping at me, I fell with it on top of me and pushed it back as it snapped at my face, I tilted my head to avoid the teeth then savagely headbutted it. It yelped and I scrambled up and grabbed my longsword and quickly slashed its face killing it easily. I panted and looked around to see four wolves left and what appeared to be the alpha, I watched as the alpha growled then stalked out of the brush. I gulped and readied my sword, the alpha was a brute of a wolf with multiple scars and a mean look. I sighed and waited for it to attack, it didn't disappoint because it soon growled then lunged at me.
I sidestepped but it simply swung a paw out and slashed my chest knocking me to the ground, I groaned and attempted to get up only to have two paws on my chest and a scarred muzzle in my face. I groaned and stared up at the eyes of the alpha, I looked for a way out silently as the alpha growled and opened his jaw to rip my throat out. I closed my eyes only to feel the pressure on my chest suddenly leave my chest and the sounds of various things dying, I opened my eyes to see someone killing the rest of the small pack.
I sighed softly and felt my armor return to its amulet and simply laid my head down catching my breath, I opened my eyes when I felt something kick my side. I saw the person looking down on me than a voice "Are you simply going to lie there or be the fighter you are and get the hell up?"I groaned in response and stood then replied: "yeah, thanks for the help and all but who are you exactly?"They grinned and pulled their hood off making my eyes widen comically. As I thought 'Well crap'