Chapter 2 – The Ravine

Darkness engulfed him as the light from the sky slowly faded away. He couldn’t remember how long he had been falling for, everywhere around him darkness followed. Strangely, he felt at peace. As he closed his eyes and accepted death to come, a sudden wind flushed past his face. He immediately looked around but realized he could not see. Suddenly something hit him from the side and he was dragged side to side mid-air, his sense of direction lost until finally he hit something, hard.

He groaned as he tried to adjust, and realized he was no longer falling. He had arrived at the bottom of the ravine. He sat up after great effort. His entire body sore and bruised. He felt a little wet, but didn’t know if he was bleeding or what.

Something rustled a little distance away from him. He sat rock still. The lack of vision made his fear worse. The rustling came closer and closer towards him. He swallowed hard, fear gripped him as he felt a slight pressure on his thigh. He closed his eyes and waited for the beast to finish him. But it didn’t.

It sniffed him and slowly made it’s way sniffing his head. Redius feeling the pressure became confused. The weight of the paw and the pressure on him, the creature was small. It made its way onto his shoulders and Redius could roughly guess the size of this thing. It was like a dog, but lighter.

Just as he was thinking what it could be, his thoughts was broken when it jumped off his shoulder.

“ji ji”

He turned towards the direction of the noise.

“ji ji” this time the noise got further away. Redius sat as he tried to figure out what was going on. Then again,

“ji ji” the voice returned but it was closer this time. “ji ji… ji ji…” Redius knew that if he could see right now, this creature 

was only a few feet away from him. Suddenly his sleeve was pulled and he lost his balance and collapsed onto his side.

“ji ji” Redius got back up and thought to himself ‘it can’t be…’

“You… want me to follow you?” he asked hesitantly.

“ji ji! Ji ji!” the voice called upbeat. As if understanding Redius’ question. Slowly Redius sat up and then stood up, slightly limping, followed the voice of the creature.

He made his way slowly, limping and fondling in the dark. After a while he saw a small sparkle of light in the distance and slowly began to pick his speed up. And soon he saw the origin of the light, a cave. He shielded his eyes as he waited to adjust to the light, just as he was about to enter,

“ji ji” Redius stopped in his tracks. ‘Oh right, the dog.’ As he looked around for it, finally he found it perching itself next to the entrance of the cave. A white furred, long slender body, flat, resembling a ferret.

“You’re not a dog.” Redius said off the top of his head, a little shocked.

“ji ji!!” it replied bearing it’s claws at him showing it’s dissatisfaction.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Should I go in?” He asked after a little moment of silence.

“Ji ji.” It said as it landed on the ground and led the way into the cave.

After heading into the cave, a long tunnel transpired and after a while it opened up to a large space inside it. As Redius looked around, there wasn’t much. Most of the space was empty, a pool of water lay at the left of the cave. On the right, a few shelfs of books and in the middle, nothing.

“ji ji” Redius looked at the little guy across the inner cave, and saw what he had missed. A skeleton sat on the wall at the end. He made his way over to the skeleton hoping to find a way out.

He sat opposite the skeleton, and examined it. Its position was strange. It was sat upright, as if its body was still supporting itself. He then noticed a ring on the finger and reached out to it.

“Is it you again little fellow?” a humongous deep voice shook the cave. If Redius wasn’t in a cave, he would’ve guessed there was a giant with him. The pressure and power forced Redius flying across the cave.

That power, not even his so called grandfather could’ve done it and he was initiate knight. Is this person even stronger?

He spited out blood from his mouth and looked around for the person. But no one was there.

“What did I tell you? I don’t have much time left… you can’t keep waking me…” The voice spoke once more. More blood came from Redius’ mouth.

“ji ji! Ji ji ji” ji!” The ferret, or whatever it was, stood on its legs and looked towards the skeleton speaking whilst pointing towards Redius.

“Oh? How long has it been since a human came here.”

“ji ji!”

“Him?”

‘Dude… do you mind?’ Redius thought to himself as he spat out more blood. Every time the voice spoke, the pressure it exerted crushes him. Suddenly a wave came across him and he felt like he couldn’t control himself anymore. Just as it had come in a flash, it was gone.

“He isn’t even a magician or a knight.” The voice spoke again but this time with less force, sounding as if it was fading.

“ji ji!!” it replied in a hurry knowing that the voice was going back to where it came from.

“Oh?” Then once again Redius was engulfed in a powerful wave. Only this time, it felt gentle.

“It… it can’t be. Natural affinity?” The voice shook again, but this time from excitement. Not knowing if it was on purpose or not, the voice once again made Redius spat out blood.

“ji ji!!” it spoke with a tone as if to say ‘aren’t I smart!’

“Ho ho. Young one, what is your name?”

“R… Redius.” Not sure how but Redius had the feeling the voice was directed at him. Then a warm wave covered him and he could feel his cracked bones and injuries fading and healing. His entire body swept into the air slowly and sat him opposite the skeleton.

“Redius. Would you like to become my disciple?”