7th Justar 1116, Râday.
I leave the prison with a gleeful smile on my face, I try to stop myself from smiling, but I can't wipe it off. Is this how it feels? It's like a million explosions are happening in my stomach. Is this how mom and dad felt back in the day? Can't imagine how much dad suffered then, to have stopped being a knight. All he does now is just sit quietly in his room, like a husk. Maybe me becoming a Sigil will cheer him up. I quickly hurry back up to Rito, as he sits grunting on the wide staircase.
"Hey you doing good?" I ask.
"Ugh, the shit stain got me in the back. I feel my wound opening over and over." Rito adjusts himself over and over.
"Is there any doctor around here?"
"There is, but he charges a ton. And we don't have any silver left."
"Tch, hmm," I smack my tongue. "Oh! When we were walking to Sentinel, you said something about a bard that could heal!" I burst out.
"You mean Vinifera?"
"Yes, her!" I answer.
"I guess we could go there, might as well give it a shot. But you gotta carry me some of the way." Rito smirks.
"Fine. Let's just get going." I lift Rito up and begin walking out of Sentinel with him. Most shops had closed down, leaving the only noise the laughter and clinks heard from the upper areas. I enter out into the open area at the start of Sentinel, the sun's light was starting to disappear, as the sky turned a bright pink and purple.
The fresh grass seemed more dull at this time, yet more calm. I walk out through the giant arch with Rito on my back. As the bells hanging from all the wooden ships, from big to small swing around chiming their tune.
I look back to Rito, his eyes are closed and he's… Drooling on me. Tch, he already fell asleep. I guess I can just walk in peace then. Even the water seems calmer. Guessing the winds calmed down. Though the sun feels nearly all the warmer as hours ago, maybe just slightly cooler.
How beautiful the sunset is. I wonder what's beyond the horizon, all I can see is just a black sea of nothingness. I look up to peer into the glittering stars, how pretty they are. Now that I have time for myself to look around, I can really peer into every corner.
Like those three islands in the distance, way beyond the mountain ranges of the forest and desert, one is a flatter island long out at sea, with a bunch of wooden shacks. Another is placed in this large canyon of the ocean, looks like a whole fortress of wood was placed on this sort of rock formation, a small hut is at the top of the whole base, and a small cove sits at the bottom. And then to the left of all of these smaller islands, a massive cliffside hangs.
A whole pathway leads up to a sort of dark tower at the top. And behind it is a lavish city farther away on the cliffs. I wish I still read books like I used to, but it's just not that enjoyable anymore, good Rito still tries to keep himself informed. I look ahead of me as the forest's mountains come closer and closer.
I step onto the soft grass, smelling its fresh aroma. Hm, I look to my left to see the path up to Flunkleberg, of our last experiences there, they fully shut down at night, so getting any sort of help from there would be a lost cause. Instead I peer to the right, a long path ahead but at least I can hope for help. Rito is still snoring and drooling on me, I'll just wake him up when we get there. And finally I begin the walk towards the Wayside Inn.
I finally step foot on the small gravel path connecting Cardinal Crossing to the right side of the shore. The mountains shadow me as they arch over the whole area. The sun has already set as well. No more pretty pink sky, just dark blueness across the night.
The large rock formations that hang over the inn also block out the last bits of light from the sun. Small chitters from the wooden houses begin sounding in my ears, as I come closer and closer. The main inn or bar is a large house, this whole place is sort of the same building style as in Alana, wooden frameworks and this coarse wall material. I walk over to the door.
"Excuse me, is the bard Vinifera still here, my friend is in desperate need of healing." I ask the bartender who's currently wiping off glasses.
"Sorry pal, she went home thirty minutes ago, but you're in luck, a traveling healer is here right now, and she doesn't charge, isn't that wild." The bartender says.
"Thank you sir, where is the healer?" I ask.
"Right outside, she set up a small tent for 'customers', be careful though, she sees auras, or whatever she called it." The bartender jokingly says. I go outside the inn, and I try to look for a tent. All I see are the houses and small lanterns hanging from the rims of the roofs. Suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"Greetings, my good filura." I turn around to see a petite albino Kasparan with a small crown of multicolored flowers atop of her head.
"Oh hi?" I say with a confused expression.
"It seems your friend is in need of help." She says.
"Yeah he does, and I'm looking for a traveling healer of some sorts. Do you know where this person is?" I ask the Kasparan.
"Yes, I do know where it is, follow me sir." She answers. I comply, and I go with her.
She takes me over to a small glowing tent placed behind some of the houses. She opens the curtains for me to go inside. Small opals and gems hang from all around, plants are sprouting from every corner as well. And a wooden table is set in the middle of the room.
"So where is the healer?"
"Oh my mistake, I sometimes get lost in my own thoughts. My name is Lady Morva Lilium, but of course just call me Morva. I am the healer you are seeking." Morva explains.
"Oh my bad."
"It's quite alright, not everyday you see someone like me. But could you please lay your friend on the table, it seems like he's in a lot of pain. Never good to hold that in."
"Yes of course lad- Yes Morva." I stumble through my words as I lay Rito on the table.
"Very good, now could you please leave the tent so I can heal your friend in peace."
I nod and just as I push the cloth away. I hear Morva whisper
"Maybe I should give that Vind a check up. Something doesn't sit right within him."
I quickly step out into the ink night sky. I look around for things to do, but everything seems so, still. I go back to the main inn, beside it is another path leading up the mountain. It seems a whole city is up there, maybe I'll ask Rito about it.
Back at the tent, I see even more light from inside, and a weird sound. Like a windhorn and every sort of instrument is playing at the same time in perfect harmony.
Suddenly the light stops along with the weird tune. As the shadow of someone Raises themselves and gets up from the table.
"Judari!" I hear as Rito jumps out the tent all giddy.
"You're already healed?" I ask.
"Yeah, that kind Kasparan did something to my wound, I feel more energetic than ever. Also where are we?"
"Wayside Inn, but I'm sorry to say, Vinifera took home a good while ago." I explain.
"Aw, it's fine. But anyway, what now. Oh and yes, I said thank you to the Kasparan."
"Very good. And Rito, it's time."
"Time for what?" He looks at me puzzled.
"The bounty officer said that the bounty we completed was important enough for The Order to accept us fully!"
"Are you serious!" Rito asks, with his gaping jaw,
"Yes!" I say.
"No reason to be that loud, people are sleeping. But yes, finally! Do we just go to Palelink now or something?" Rito says, I wasn't that loud, was I?
"The officer said they close exams in a couple of days, so how about we get some rest. Don't want to meet up at the Sigill Sanctuary with eye bags on us do we, Ritose?" I tease.
"Oh shut up with that nickname, but sure, we have some silver now so we could rent a nice room here."
"It's a deal, let's go and sign in."
We strolled into the inn where the bartender was cautiously cleaning up his fine foggy pints and glasses. And quickly we booked a room with the silver we had left. Finally a piece of rest for such a day.
"Ooooo, as the seas start closing in, upon thy ship and crew. You captain are, you will befall. To the horrors of the sea." A voice strings these words together in what should be an assumed musical tone, but instead carries a tone of pretentiousness.
A bard had joined our walk from Wayside and past the mountain side covering the forest. He told us his name is Cador, and just came from the upper parts of Saint. Castielons.
"If you two are wonderin', this song has been passed down for well over a thousand years. My personal belief is that it's been changed quite a bit, but otherwise I think it provides quite a lot of info." Cador explains, even though he seems so extravagant, he's beyond boring, Rito seems a little more interested in what he's spewing though.
"When you say it provides info, what do you mean?" Rito asks.
"Well, on the outside, I know a lot of people think it's 'taboo' to talk about outside that weird black sea, but I personally believe there is something outside. Can you imagine?"
"Sounds kind of dumb, why would there be anything outside of Gaia, what'chu think Rito."
"I think it's interesting, but I don't really know."
"Suit yourselves, great hanging around you two but I must get going, even when the sun is down, my frown and tune cant. See you anywhere in life!" He screams and yaddles away onto Cardinal Bridge.
"He was a real piece of work, huh, it's not even night..?"
"I think he was interesting. I mean, it's not everyday that someone just randomly comes up to you and sings," Rito snickers.
"I guess so."
I look up towards the massive gate again. As the sides of the two mountains level with the height of the gate, I notice a small bridge going through it, like a passageway. Guessing people from each mountain range use it to get around.
In this large alleyway into the Royal Woods, as the bricks building up the Cardinal gate get more outlined, we get closer and closer to coming back into the Royal Wood. The canopies of the trees peek their way over the cliff, and, getting closer, I realize there is a small wooden bridge from the edge of the cliff over to the trees, as they travel inside the leaves like a system.
I hear some sounds of mumbling next to me, as I look to the trees.
"Judari!"
"Yes, yeah?" I answer.
"Were you even listening?" Rito looks irritated. I keep quiet as Rito rolls his eyes in exasperation.
"Anyway, I was explaining how we are getting down, last time we did the inefficient thing of climbing down the cliff."
"What's the other way down?" I ask, confused.
"Vines." Rito says in a flat tone, as if that makes it any clearer.
"Vines?"
"Yes, there are some long vines hanging from the trees, I noticed them while we were climbing up last time."
"And what do we do with these vines?"
"You have your sword, right?"
"I do, why?" I ask. A wide smirk spreads on Rito's face. As he bolts towards the edge. I watch as he runs at lightning speed, and suddenly jumps off.
"RITO!" Seemingly of their own volition, my legs carry me over to the edge at lightning speed, my heart thundering in my chest. Terrified, I peer over the cliff, to see him railing down the thick vines, his sword stuck inside the elongated plant, slowly gliding him down to safety. He lands, and looks up towards me and waves me down.
I look forward to the nearest vine, it seems intact enough. Though I can't see it too well with no light. I back myself up, readying to leap. Tearing the dirt apart, as my legs sprint towards the edge. The air beneath my legs, it's so freeing, not bound by any chains of the world.
I try to focus back to the task at hand, a piece of cold vine touches my hand, and immediately I grab ahold of it, and plunge my sword into it to stop my momentum.
My legs spiral around the vine, hitting all the small bumps and leaves sticking out of it as I speed to the bottom of the forest. As Rito readies himself to catch me, I hold tight until-
THUMP.
I look around to see I landed safely, and looking down I see Rito's blue legs under me.
"Ah shit, sorry Rito." I quickly move myself over to the grass, as Rito lays with a dead-pan expression.
"You alright?"
"Just... You just knocked the air out of my lungs." He says as his voice sounds helds back.
"Sorry. Let me help you up." I quickly raise myself and give Rito my hand. I pull him up and brush the grass off my bottom. Rito takes in a breath of air and quickly expels it.
"Sooo. Where to now?" I ask.
"Judari, you really gotta pick up a map or something. Palelink is right over there." Rito points towards the large rows of buildings blocking the view to the ocean.
"We have to get you checked for something Judari, like dear Gods."
"Checked for what? You saying there's something wrong with me?"
"No, just… Never mind."
"Let's get going." Rito begins staltering away, under the light sky.
As the sun sets beyond the horizon, the stars show their glittering selves, littering the sky with small pinpoints of light reminding me of the day that had already passed, walking hours on end through a shaded forest does that to one, I suppose. Though slowly as the forest's smells of wet grass and flowers exits my nose, the fresh cool air of salt, fish and hard alcohol hits my nostrils. The wide city ahead of us, spreads across my whole vision.
The small and big lights gleam across, the ashened white buildings, the roofs of the town differentiates between dull and grays, to vibrant reds and greens.
A tower sticks out in the middle of the crowded brick houses, peering between the arches a large golden bell hangs from the inside of the roof. Most of the buildings carry a sense of old and traditional, with bleached white bricks building up the constructs forming the city, with few dark oak pillars and dividers placed in the buildings.
Along with the upper parts of the houses have an exaggerated feature where they stick out in front of the bottom, forming a sort of architectural shield against intruders. And even so far away from the large populis, sounds of chatter travel towards me. We pick up pace and hurry our way to the small hillway, up the large opening street into the town.
Two silver guards stand ready with their swords as soon as we enter their line of sight. We come closer and closer till the smells of the town infiltrate my nose, and the cozy lanterns scattered around to warm my very skin.
"Halt!" One of the guards slam their sword's sheathe against the arch breaking off the town.
"State your business!" The other one yells.
"We are here to enlist into The Order." Rito quickly states.
"Hmpf, your names?" The guard to the right speaks through his helmet. I hesitate slightly.
"My name is Judari Onyx."
"And I'm Rito."
The guards seem taken aback, nearly shocked. Taking a glance at each other for reassurance.
"Onyx huh?" The guard takes a pause.
"Welcome to Palelink, and good luck with enlisting in The Order." They both sternly express, as they both grab the sword to their chests, posing a sort of stature. We step past them and into the glowing bleached city.
Chapter 5 - Link to a Pale Memory8th Justar 1116, Eleday.
The sounds of stepping on the hard stones beneath us give an unsatisfactory feeling to my whole body, their near round or oval shapes make me shiver as I step lightly over them, as if stepping on them on a cold morning in bare feet.
The tall pale constructions enclose us in the middle of the town, sort of cut off from the world. And even this late at night, yells and cheers can be heard from different bars and inns. A board stands out in the middle of the town square, right next to a sort of statue of a figure, it's eyes are covered up by a blindfold, and it looks to have a long cape, or coat of sorts. It's completely made of stone and seems quite ancient. We walk over to the board to see, it's a map of the town.
"Of what I can see here, we need to take a left, and follow the path up to that giant tree over there." Rito points to one of the titan trees in the forest, though separated from the others, may even be in the ocean itself. A large rim-like pathway travels across the midpoint of the trunk, mimicking a walkway.
On the side of the tree facing out towards the town, a small entryway was visible, but was covered up by a sort of white mist, or barrier. I quickly set foot even as Rito is still staring at the map of the town. As I skip my steps over to not touch the large stones on the path. Feeling any wrong movement could potentially slip me or knock me to the ground.
"Judari, hey?!" Rito yells after me looking frustrated. He quickly runs after me as I speed up towards the shore of Palelink. The potent smells of the sea-salt enters through every creaves of my body. And away from all the noises of the bars and parties, the waves of the sea crashing against the hard stone shore flood my ears. As I come closer and closer to the tree, I finally catch up.
"Judari.." He takes a deep breath in and out with a raspy voice.
"We are going that way." He points towards a slight off-path branch towards a small wooden hut, a sort of platform connected with long metallic wires connecting it to the rim of the massive tree, sits comfortably next to the hut. But as we slowly get closer, a sort of gray figure becomes more clear. As made of metal and iron, with white shining eyes. In front of me is a Gaian.
Back at the Southern Sanctuary, dad used to tell me stories of these living robots, and how they are just as much as us, as we are as them. The only difference of course being they are made of metal. Though they still inhabit a soul of sorts, making them able to choose what life to live. The cranky Gaian was happily churning and churning on a sort of mechanism connected to the platform.
"Ah, two last passengers for the ride?" The Gaian speaks clearly, but still with an echo building up inside of it. Rito and I are now right next to the platform.
"So young ones, get onto the elevator, an old piece of alloy like me needs to rest my limbs hehe." His laugh feels aged, like blowing away dust from something ancient. We quickly step onto the wide platform, feeling it give slightly into our weight.
"Oh and for next time, the name's Walter, what would your names be?" Walter asks. Incredible how many times today I've had to say my name.
"The name's Rito." He reaches out his hand to shake Walter's.
"And I'm… My name is Judari."
"Ah, Rito and Judari, not common to see you sky people down here. I've met some of you before but you always speak some fancy language. I tried to learn it, but I simply can't wrap my head around it hehe." Walter chuckles slightly to himself.
"Anyway, enough chit chat from me, let me send you two up. Luckily you made it just in time before I closed up for the day." Walter steadily makes his way over to a sort of pulling contraption. He begins turning it around and around. Rustling and cranking the platform slowly lifts up from the ground. It raises slowly over the hut as the metal wires grind against the cogs below.
All of Palelink suddenly becomes much more wide, the long docks spreading across the shore line. The various ships parked and anchored to the sea. Though at this late, everything outside the city is but a dark shadow.
The platform finally stops at the edge of the tree. We follow the wide pathway carved into the trunk, as we make our way over to the entrance. The mist blocking it flows back and forth, folding itself like a towel, over and over.
"Just beyond here, starts a new life. We've been so patient, and we're finally here." Rito tries to wipe off his smile, but he keeps having it on.
"You were right Rito, all the hard work paid off."
"I know." He winks and grins at me, as I slowly lift my foot into the mist.
Back at Southern Sanctuary, we also had this sort of pale mist at the entrance as well. My dad used to tell me what use it gives, and how they were even made. The mist itself judges one soul and actions, being able to deem one worthy of entering past it.
It was originally made as a defense against a great evil, in a long ago war. The mist was set into the very stone or bark around them by powerful Illusionists and mages. But nowadays it is used to ward off the chaotic type of people.
And even if I've gone through the one back at the Sanctuary multiple times. I still feel like this one is more of a hurdle, like it could reject me at any moment. Flinging me towards certain death into the spiraling sea. I stepped through the mist going through every possible way this could end badly, as the feeling of bliss washes over my body.
And even if there was no real water in it, this feeling of dampness and sprinkles of water still consumes my body. As the mist comes to an end, I am greeted by a warm tall hallway, two sets of staircases lead up to a desk embedded into the wall.
A pale wrinkly man with thin blonde hair sits quietly at the desk peering into an open leather book. The room itself separates itself with a large pillar upholding the barked roof. Small inscriptions and metal plating is hammered into the rims of the walls, casting a slight glint of light into my eye.
Rito yanks in my arm, signaling me to move. We quickly bolt up the rugged flight of stairs and over to the wrinkled man. He unlocks his eyes from his pages and onto us.
"So, what are you youngin's doing here so late, the sun's already set way beyond the horizon." He takes out a new larger book, featuring rows and rows of names and dates inside it.
"I hope we aren't too late, we are here to enlist in The Order." I quickly say.
"Thought so, alright what's ya names, I gotta note you down." The man holds his pencil above the paper with an anxious vibrancy radiating from his hand.
"Rito."
"Judari Onyx, oh also, I've heard something about an exam, when is that?"
"Wait a second, let me check." He takes a long pause, throwing his body and head back to the shelf of letters. He yanks out one called 'Sentinel Bounty Reports', the text engraved in a plate of gold.
"Hm, seems like you two have done quite a lot during this past year. And hmm." He pauses again.
"Oh? You two measly knights took down an assassin huh? Well considering that sort of achievement, I suppose we can just let you enlist right now. The exam isn't needed." He scribbles on, noting us down in the large tome.
"Alright, considering you've already joined, I would like to welcome you, into The Order." The man raises himself and shakes our hand.
"Very very good, I'll have Frey woken up so he can show you around, and get you a room, guessing you would want a room together?" He stands himself next to a button.
"Yes please, separate beds if possible." We both quickly say in sync.
"Good, now please be on your way, I have some more work to do." He flicks his hand down on the button, and sits back down to look at his book yet again. We walk off to the right, into a narrow staircase ascending upwards.
Small rims follow the stairs steps as we go up. I try to listen to the sounds around us, small bits of chatter penetrate through the thick tree's bark very roughly, no words can be heard, just noise. The creaky steps bellow out their satisfying noise, like stepping foot in fresh glossy snowflakes. As we reach the peak of the stairs, we turn a corner to the left into another hallway, it connects with the secondary staircase below us. We walk further ahead to the middle, which opens into another hallway.
"Tch, how many hallways does this tree have, it's like a maze." I complain.
"No idea, but there should be a map or something on this whole place. Judari, are you ready to become Sigil Knights?" Rito asks with stars in his round eyes.
"SO!" A loud deep voice behind us yells. "You two's wanna become Sigils eh?" We turn around to see a large bald man wearing dull silver armor, his gray beard blending in with his fair skin. His imposing figure shadowing us.
"Yes sir we do!" Rito suddenly blurts out, I see his arm jolting up to salute but he quickly takes it down again.
"Well well, that's good to hearh! And from what I can see with me eyes, you're Inari's kid right?" He points to my forehead with his dry fingers.
"Yes I am, how'd you know?"
"Rahaha, I can always'a tell who Inari has his lil' influence over, you look just like 'ihm when he was a youngin', just how I still am, at hart at least!" He yells.
"Any how, name's Frey, or as the poshy would call me, Knight Captain Frey, but Frey's fine. and seems you two are gonna be mah newest cruits in this year's batch. I betta' show you yer rooms, it's getting late, and even if ya got the pass to skip the exam, you still need rest for tomorrow." He does a large belly laugh, as he walks past us, and magnetizes us with him, even with no hands used, he still makes us follow right in his footsteps with his very presence.
"He's an eccentric fellow huh?" I whisper through my lips to Rito.
"It's kinda fun though, imagine him as our teacher." He smiles back at me.
He takes the lead as he shows us through the many hallways of the tree. A lot of rooms seem embedded into the walls with an open arch inside. We finally reach a section of the hallways with actual doors, he brings us to a room with the number fourteen carved into it.
"So, this is yer bedroom, it's also where me and Inari used to bunk, with two separate beds, they were originally a bunk!" He begins another long roar of a laugh. He turns the knob on the door to the inside.
"Now goodnight you two, I betta get to bed now, see ya in the mornin'!" Frey walks off in a large strut. Rito walks inside first, a slight glow between the small specks of dust flying about the room, slowly hovering down to the floors.
"So, this is really it, I just hope we can sleep in tomorrow." I say as I give a slight chuckle.
"Sure Judari. Do you want to join me for a prayer?"
"To Solan, no thanks, I want to sleep right now."
"Fine, just don't snore too loudly tonight ok?" Rito asks as he sets himself down to the floors with his legs crossed over.
"I'll try my best, and just don't pray too loud then." I comment back.
"Alright alright, just go to sleep." I rush over to the mirror to quickly splash some water in my face from the wooden bucket beside it. Scrubbing over my lavender skin, and onto my curly gray hair. What are these weird star shaped bits of darker gray hair even? I've had them since forever, but I've never found out what they mean.
I know dad doesn't have stars. And mom seemed to know but never told me. I push the main piece of hair along my right eye, and leave my left eye a bit more open. I get done at the mirror and go over to the bed, on it lays a green blanket. It's sort of stiff and itchy, but still brings me a sense of comfort with its weirdly nostalgic smell. I look over to Rito as I cover my mouth with the green blanket.
"Solan, bound by thy chains of Order, restrict thy self in any sort, in an endless wander across a blank beach, I am chained to you my god, a world of hurt I neigh hath to see. Visyn." Rito finishes his quiet whisper as he lifts himself up and lays to bed. My eyes feel so heavy, the small lantern flickering in the corner being the only thing keeping me from falling into the abyss of slumber, just one more thought.
As my eyes peel open slowly, I feel the small bits of crum and dust that's taken rest in my eyes. I quickly wipe it off to raise myself up from my soft pillow, I throw aside my red blanket to the sandstone floor.
I look around the dimly orange hued room, and find myself faced with a familiar tall slender hairless man, dressed in white fine robes, and standing at a neatly constructed wooden desk to my left. He suddenly turns around with a warm smile.
"Ah, Judari. How was your nap?"
"It was alright Master Isaac." I say apologetically.
"Don't go dozing off like that next lesson, okay?" He says as if stepping on clouds.
"Yes." I look to the floor.
"Oh and for your information, your parents are out on a mission currently, they should be back either today or tomorrow." His face glows up as he slowly steps towards me.
"What do you think their mission is this time, maybe hunting assassins, or uh… Abyss Walkers?" I say with an enthusiastic tone.
"I have no clue Judari, and for now it does not matter, take my hand, and we will go to the library." He reaches his hands towards me. I quickly grab them and raise myself out of the rustic bed.
"What sort of subject would you like to read upon today?" Isaac asks while he tugs in the barked door. We enter out into a wide hallway, the ceiling doesn't reach much farther than most adults' heads.
"Maybe, hmm. a book about dragons?" I ask with my head turned up towards Isaac.
"Any sort of dragon you are taking an interest in? Perhaps the Amphithere's just below in the Desert Catacombs?"
"There are dragons below us!" My voice raises quickly, as I try to lower it.
"Of course, but they rarely come above from their narrow tunnel bores." Isaac explains as we walk through the hallway, slender pillars of sandstone stand out between each door present on the walls, dividing the hall into neat sections.
A wide gate of plywood stands as an entrance, Isaac reaches for a lanky lever on the side of the door, and suddenly the wood comes to life, and lifts itself from the ground and into a small intersection between the walls. A barrage of warm light floods into the hallway behind us, as my eyes are met with a large open hall, rims run across the ceiling, with wine dyed banners and tables filled with jewelries and gold.
Isaac pulls me forward onto the dark crimson carpets, following along the path of the rug, we pass the large wall blocking the entrance to the Sanctuary. It's an entry accessed by two doorways. As we walk further along in the tall hall towards the library's plywood gate, a large crash of metal bangs out from the entrance, shocked panics and chatter form around the hall. As crowds begin to hurriedly walk to see what has transpired, I let go of Isaacs hand and rush beyond the closest of the two gates.
As chatter turns to shock from the rows of people blocking the entrance, I slither my way through to see what has happened, I finally make it out beyond the wall of folk. A plated bloodied man lays at the doorstep of death, his face and long soiled hair is covered in crimson. A browned cape lays over his left arm, with a child underneath, the child's eyes scream of trauma, their roundness contrast with the shivering mouth and teeth.
The man's violet skin get outshined by the scars and wounds covering him. His left arm is all but there. Not chopped off or any of the sort. But ripped from the very bones and nerves.
"D-dad?" My voice trembles over my words. I stand unmovable as I lay watch to a scarred man, my father. Being kneeled over completely broken.
"I'm… I'm sorry Judari, your mother, she didn't... She didn't make it." His voice seems to not even believe itself, as his shallowed eyes empty of light.
"What do you mean? She just isn't here yet right, right!" I yell as the monks of the sanctuary enter the hall. He looks to the ground, a sadness in his eyes, one I'd never seen. He collapses, his burnt armor smelling sour as it crashes its thunder of defeat.. His face dotted around with vicious dark pinpoints, seeming to emulate that of voluptuous pimples. His long greasy hair flows over his face. The boy under his cape, was named Rito.