Elder of the Realm

Enburg, Human Realm, Year 1327

It was the fall season, and the land of Veronia, the capital of Enburg, was blanketed in layers of leaves falling from the Firewood Trees on the city's outskirts. Some leaves still rained down, while others glistened in the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing orange glow that transformed the grassland into a sea of fire—a name that aptly described Veronia.

Selvin's heart pounded rapidly in his chest, and a wave of fear washed over him. His frail hands trembled, and he felt as though he were shivering. A terrified expression consumed his face as he approached Veronia in a wagon of merchants. His eyes were constantly fixed on a rapidly and roughly wrapped box in a piece of cloth. The wood on one side of the box was still exposed and shone as though it were calling out for someone, someone particular. 

"It's quite fascinating, isn't it?" Said a middle-aged man with cropped hair and a short beard, swiftly covering the exposed area of the box. His silver eyes were fixed on Selvin, a young lad barely 18, with brown, tousled hair and blue eyes, who was gripping a sword.

"Aye," muttered Selvin, a bit hesitant to respond and take his eyes off the box. Selvin sat in the corner of the wagon, his mind filled with a sin, perhaps greed. The man was unlike anyone he had ever met. The most appealing things about him were his eyes and the box. It was giving off different emotions to Selvin—happiness, sadness, and madness.

"W-what is it?" Selvin questioned.

The man raised an eyebrow and looked directly into Selvin's eyes, almost as if evaluating him. Then, he placed a hand on the box, hiding it from Selvin's sight.

"It is something to beware of," the man said with a grim yet friendly expression.

Selvin swallowed hard and put the lid on his jar of questions.

"Don't be too curious, lad," the man warned as he rose and jumped out of the wagon. "It might not end well for you in the future."

"We've arrived, Veronia," the wagon master, Marrick, announced.

It was early morning. The sea of fire was a mesmerizing blend of red and orange as the sun rose. A faint mist covered the grassland, creating a breathtaking sight. The sweet scent of flowers filled the air, and the gentle sound of raindrops falling from the leaves was a refreshing accompaniment to the early morning. People of the city were yet to wake.

"Hey, boy, come here!" The tall and broad wagon master called out, his black hair with grey highlights gleaming in the sunlight, and his brown eyes sparkling.

"Aye," Selvin responded to the call.

"So, we're here!" Marrick exclaimed. "What will you do here?"

"I don't know," Selvin replied, his voice filled with regret, sorrow, and pain. "After what happened back at the town, I'll make up something here."

Selvin, a man from a remote town in Enburg called Uta, found himself injured and starving when he was discovered by a travelling merchant band from Estland to Enburg. Out of compassion, the merchants treated his wounds, fed him, and offered him a ride to Veronia, where he claimed to have a meeting with the king of Enburg.

As the day began, people resumed their daily routines. Women made their way to the well to fetch water, while men stretched and began with their other tasks. Selvin, feeling hungry, decided to meet with the king after having a meal. 

He stopped a girl with long red hair and mesmerizing amber eyes. She was tall and beautiful. "Excuse me," he said, momentarily startled.

"Yes," she replied with a refreshing smile, her face lit up by the sunlight.

"Where can I buy a morning meal?" the lad asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Mmm, let me think," the girl said, offering a smile. "You could go to Madam Ogins' Inn. They serve delicious food and provide comfortable accommodations for travellers. It's just a few steps away on the left side, near the bar."

"Amm, yeah, okay," Selvin said, lost in the lass's beauty.

As the girl left, her shimmering grey dress danced gracefully on the road. She couldn't help but wish a warm morning to every face she encountered. Selvin was captivated by the girls' beauty, a faint smile escaping his lips as he made his way to the Inn.

Selvin stood before the Inn, a large banner on the outside proclaiming "Ogins' Original Inn." A bell chimed as he entered.

"Welcome!" a sharp yet warm voice called out. A towering woman stood at the counter. "Good morning," she said. "I'm Bonny Ogins. What can I get you?"

"I'll have a morning meal, please," Selvin replied.

"Certainly," Bonny said. "We have Firewood Roasted Rabbit Stew. Would you like bread or coffee with it?"

The enticing aroma of the cooking food wafted through the air, captivating Selvin's senses. "I'll have both," he muttered.

"Then please have a seat," Bonny said.

Another figure caught Selvin's attention. It was a cloaked man. He pulled a chair next to the man and noticed a familiar pair of silver eyes.

"You," Selvin mumbled.

"Me?" The man chuckled.

Selvin was perplexed by the man's altered behaviour. He appeared more approachable, composed, and less intimidating than before.

"The name's Uraf," the man said.

"Selvin," Selvin replied. "W-where is that box?"

"Shut it," Uraf whispered, scanning the surroundings. "Do not speak of it, ever!"

In a sudden shift in mood, Uraf's face contorted with anger, his wrinkles deepening. He became cautious, quickly wrapping up his food and rising from his seat.

"Kid! You're getting yourself into trouble. Try to avoid me!" the muscular, silver-eyed man warned as he hastily changed to another seat away from Selvin. 

"What's wrong with him" mumbled Selvin

"Here's your food, sir," said a boy with dark hair, a slim body, and marvelous blue eyes. As he placed a pot of aromatic stew with bread half-drenched in it and a mug of coffee on the table, he added, "My name is Carter Ogins."

"He's my son," Bonny popped out of a room, her hands full of two baskets of bread. "Do you need more?" she asked.

"No, I'm good," Selvin managed to say, his mouth full of bread and stew. 

There was a minute of silence as Selvin gulped down his food without even taking a breath to swallow. The bell broke the silence as three men entered the inn. They were tall and broad-shouldered, almost identical in appearance, with their heads all pointed in the same direction.

"Welcome!" said Bonny, the innkeeper.

"We have a delicious Firewood-roasted rabbit stew for breakfast, some great coffee, and plenty of bread. What should I get you men?" she offered.

The men stood there in silence, frozen in place. The blue-eyed little boy spoke up, "Hello?"

"They won't be answering! Go back inside. They're here for me," Uraf said, standing up and unsheathing his sword.

One of the men slowly vanished into thin air, and the others did the same. A brief silence fell upon the inn, and Selvin observed the scene here and there.

"Where are they?" Bonny asked, peeking from under the counter.

"QUIET!!!" Uraf shouted.

Selvin unsheathed his sword, approaching Uraf closely. He slowly moved his footsteps, and the wooden floor started screeching as he moved forward. Uraf spun all of a sudden and pointed his sword at Selvin. "You are with them?!" he shouted. "NO!" Selvin replied. "Yes, you are! You were focused on the BOX ever since I got on that merchant wagon!"

"I…" Selvin couldn't finish. A force of air ran through him, making his chest split in half. The men appeared again out of the blue and went invisible again instantly. "Ah, Crap" Uraf grunted. Then, all of a sudden, he was swinging his sword in mid-air. His eyes were shining weirdly, just like the moon. Suddenly, he emitted a blow of a screaming force. Blood started dripping from mid-air. The men slowly became visible, dripping blood, the sound of slam came as they fell on the wooden floor. Uraf sheathed his sword and shifted his focus to Selvin. All of a sudden, the Box blasted out of the cloth wrapping and opened, revealing a terrific pair of crimson eyes that were floating and dripping blood. Uraf stood in shock. "Crim…son" he mumbled, as the eyes flew toward Selvin. The pair of eyes turned slowly into a red liquid that flew into Selvin's eyes. The wound was healing.

A woman entered the room as the bell on the door rang. She surveyed the chaos inside and fled the room, screaming in fear.