“*are those two alive?*”
“*No clue*”
Maia can hear a pair of voices, seemingly talking, but she couldn't tell what they’re talking about.
“*Where did you find them again?*”
“*On the edge of that forest there, i thought they were sleeping but they looked roughed up*”
“*Well, they certainly are sleeping, hopefully not forever*”
Something about someone sleeping, she's not sure.
“*Isn't that Cass?*”
“*Cass’s wee lad? So that's what he looks like… how about her?*”
“*I think i saw her selling greens in the market, not sure*”
Then there's that feeling again, that weight, this time it came with a stinging sensation, and it shocked her awake. She woke up feeling like she was moments away from drowning, she gasped for air as she tried to grasp her surroundings.
“Bloody hell!”
"Hegh… hegh… W-where…”
“She's alive!”
She found herself surrounded by several people in logger attire, they seem very concerned about something. One of them offered her a cup of water, which she happily took, as her throat were as dry as gravel, the cool sensation helped her think straight.
“You good lassie?”
“Y-yes… hegh… where… am i?”
“fields… far away from Lightspire, that's for sure”
She recognized the place, there's even the path of stepped on grass she and Cass-
“Cass!”
“Calm down… he’s here, next to you”
“Huh- Oh God… Cass!”
He was unconscious, and looks a little hurt, she shook him around, trying to wake him up. Before the loggers around her could advise otherwise, Cass slowly opened his eyes, only to jolt awake like she did.
“Agh! What nightmare….! Uh….”
He couldn't express much, as he was immediately hugged tightly by Maia, who seems more relieved he’s alive than being not stranded anymore.
“do you two need a ride back to town? Neither of you looks in shape for a walk”
One of the loggers asked, the two looked at him at the same time and answered eagerly.
“Yes… please” x2
“Alright, hey old boy, spare a cart and a dart for these two eh?”
The man called out to another, probably a jockey.
“of course! Come on up now, we’ll be there by noon”
—-~----
Maia and Cass sat silently in the cart as it approached Lightspire, the light from the tower in the center guiding any traveler through the foggy morning. Maia busied herself by glossing over her pendant, as for Cass, a lit piece of one of those rolled up leaves that Maia sometimes see workers put on their mouth.
“Do you… remember?”
She asked, staring at the pendant, her memories of what happened in the forest burned to her mind, clearly there, yet fogged by the haze of her exhausted self. Cass huffed some strange smelling smoke out of his mouth, and sighed deeply.
“I saw something trying to break into the cave we were in… then… black… not much”
He massaged his forehead for a moment, before looking at her.
“But at least you’re still by my side”
He said with a tired smile.
“Yes…”
She decided to not tell him what she saw, fearing it would freak him out, he had enough to worry about in a day.
“My mama will be very… *very* mad…”
“Or worried, I say both… my dad though… he’s gonna be furious”
She looked away from the pendant, making eye contact with Cass.
“Why?”
He lightly chuckled.
“I’m late for breakfast… he doesn't like his cooking be ignored”
“Even now, you’re making jokes?”
She asked, with a little laugh and a smile, no intention of mockery in her tone. He waved a puff of smoke from the roll before answering.
“Can’t be so gloomy all the time…”
“Hey… are we….?”
“Hmm? Oh… obviously! I got you a ring already, i’m committed”
She responded with a smile, and leaned closer to him. Not much was said after, only an oddly comforting silence, and a calm ride back to town. With their hearts racing no more, and their worries lightened, they fell asleep, or at least Cass did, Maia still looked at the pendant from time to time, remembering what it did.
“Beautiful… and…
Not much comes to her mind that could explain what she saw, except for the riddle her mother told her, yet it remains unclear.
“...Powerful?”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
—-~----
Cass stood in front of an old but thick wooden door, of a simple house nestled on the hillside not far from town. The hill had several other houses on top of it, the town of Lightspire is expanding this way, just yesterday a few more houses were built. A single path laid in stone is carved into the hill, which goes beyond it, ending on the foot of a nearby mountain where miners toil tirelessly.
“Dad?”
He gave the door a knock, silence was what first came, but Cass knew it wasn't the only thing coming. Faint steps could be heard from inside, each step leading to a louder step, each one firm and stern, just like the man it came from. The door swung open, giving way for a very angry father.
“WHERE WERE-”
Whose temper, fortunately, died down as he saw his son, hurt, and exhausted.
“By God! What happened to you?!”
“A date went well…”
Cass answered, somewhat somberly, but still with a smile on his face.
“Were you mugged?”
“No dad… i… *Sigh…* i didn't do what you said, i took her out of town, to that cliff you used to take me to… then… it’s hard to explain”
“What?!”
His dad wanted to be angry, but seeing his son in such a state controlled his temper, somewhat.
“Cass, come inside”
“For a talk?”
“For a walk!- Of course for a talk! You almost get yourself and a girl killed! How is she?”
“She’s fine, i walked her home…”
“Thank the Gods for that! Can you imagine how it'd be if she's hurt? Or worse?!”
“Sorry…”
“Sorry’s not enough, young man! Actually… No! You need to learn how to be a proper man! Come inside!”
With a face of regret and his face facing the floor he meekly walked in, followed by his father who slammed the door shut.
“If your mother's alive she'd spank you with a pick until even your ancestors feel bad!”
—-~----
“If your father's alive he’ll never allow you to step out ever again! I would too! Understand?”
Maia nodded weakly, she's been on the receiving end of her mother's scolding for some time now, and she has a feeling Cass is no different.
“Young lady! Are you listening to me?!”
“I am! I… I'm sorry…”
“You’re lucky no one has to grief today!”
“Mama! That's too far!”
“Nothing’s too far when it comes to my daughter! And you are my only daughter! Do you even begin to understand….! Just how…”
Her mother's words start to break up, just as she breaks up in tears, and hugs Maia tightly.
“Never… ever! Do that again! And no more of that Cass boy!”
“But mama! He-”
“Listen to me! I’m your mother! I may have no control over you any more… you’re a grown lady… and i’m proud to raise such a beauty- but i beg you! Act like one!”
“Sorry…”
Maia replied weakly, as she rubs the silver ring on her finger.
“You’re grounded! You will stay *only* at home for 10 days! Understand?!”
“Y-yes… mama”
“Please, you’re my only daughter…”
“I know…”
Both mother and daughter were in tears, one out of worry and fear, one out of guilt and regret.
“I can't believe!... Go to your bedroom!”
Her mother ordered, with tears in her eyes. Maia followed without complaint, knowing full well she’s at fault.
—-~----
(5 days later)
It was a quiet day in lightspire. As expected at midnight, most men and women are asleep at such times. Except for some, a select group of miners, toiling away not at ores or stone, and upon no mountain, but under Lightspire, at old and ancient rubble. Among them is Cass, who just arrived.
“What are we doing here again?”
He asked his father, who is still upset at what he did.
“Lord Aular needed a couple of miners for… something, no clue, but the pay is good”
“Dad…. You do know where we are, no?”
“Under the town, odd, i know, but we need more money”
“I know… it’s just…”
He looked around, unlike the narrow tunnels he’s used to, the miners here seem to be trying to uncover as much as possible in one spot, creating a giant chamber.
“...this feels wrong”
“Don't tell me about what's wrong young man… remember what you did”
“We’re still talking about that?”
“Of course! Now we work! Get your pick, or your shovel, and do whatever!”
His father picked up his own pick and went to work. When they signed up for this, Cass didn't expect there to be this many miners working, thought of it as just another one of Aular's weird little projects. But this seems bigger than he thought, if the knights acting guard are any clue.
“Well… like thousand times before”
He got himself whatever tool was provided and helped around the place, either moving carts filled with rocks, shoveling up smaller debris, nailing down support beams, or shattering boulders with a swing from his pick. Miners do what miners do, until Cass hits something incredibly hard with his shovel as he was cleaning up.
“Hmm?”
For a moment he thought it was another boulder, but when he cleared the debris around it, it was no doubt something metal, it had an unusual shine to it. He signaled to one of the knights that he found something, they came looking quickly. The knight poked whatever it was he found with their sword to make sure.
“So?”
“This might be it, good find kid”
The knight suddenly shouted on top of his lungs.
“All miners! Stop whatever you're doing! And wait for further orders!”
Everyone in the chamber stopped working, most were confused as to why, some were relieved. A long time was spent waiting for whatever comes next, a few of his fellow miners used the opportunity to time out, all others were taking the time to rest, including him.
“Dad?”
“Hmm?”
“What do you think… we’re looking for?”
“I don't have the slightest clue, but i told you, we-”
“I know, I'm just asking…”
“I don't know, and that's it, more work, less asking”
“*Sigh…* alright…”
The chamber was quiet for a while, as quiet as such a place can be, before a marching of metal on stone could be heard from the only tunnel that allowed access to the chamber. Many had the same expectation about what, or who, is going to come out of it, and all of them are correct.
“Make way! Lord Aular is coming through!”
The knight captain ordered, and the group of miners made way for him just like so. Cass has never actually seen Lord Aular, too much of a working man, that day with Maia was probably the most free time he ever had. To his surprise, Lord Aular was a bit different .He’s seen other Lords before, most tend to be quite squat… and plump, but Aular is tall and fit… and armed, which is another big difference.
“Where's the thing you found?”
Aular asked, to the whole room.
“It’s over there my lord, made of solid metal”
Cass responded, Aular looked at him with impatience in his eyes.
“Good, out of my way…. Boy”
His mannerisms aren't all too different, if anything he’s a lot more brash and condescending. When he saw the thing Cass found, his eyes lit up, and barked orders to the knights.
“Prepare the black powder! Blast this thing free and let me see! I want this done… tonight!”
“Yes, my lord”
“As for the miners… back to work, chisel this thing out as far as you can”
“*Sigh…* all in a night’s work”
Cass said to no one, other than his tired self.
—-~----
“for when comes a terrible night…”
Maia mumbled to the silence, as she looked out of her room’s window, at the bright and gentle moon. It's almost full moon, by tomorrow night it should be full, signifying the time for the Lightspire festival.
“...where there shall be a noble knight… where?”
Tonight is terrible if you ask her, she's been locked in home for the last 5 days, and she’s not enjoying it one bit. It isn’t just because she can't meet Cass, she can’t meet any of her friends as well, not that there's a lot, but still.
“but he shall only wake when the true hand quakes…”
She wondered what that last part meant, obviously someone is going to wake up when something happens, but what even happens?.
“Quake…. Quake…”
She shook her own hand, nothing, she held the pendant tightly, and shook it around, nothing.
“Hmph… Ow!”
Her thinking was interrupted by a pebble hitting her head. Following it was a faint laughter coming from the nearby bushes.
“Who’s there?!”
She picked up a broom and threw it at the bushes, there was a resounding *whack*, before a familiar figure fell out of the bushes, holding her head.
“Suze? I knew it was you!”
“Heeheehee! Hi Maia!”
Suze, her tailor, and her best friend, was the only other girl in town who liked to play around the river Maia used to play in back then. She rarely goes there now, but Suze is probably still a regular. Why? Because if there is an example of a “Very unruly lady” in Lightspire, Suze is beyond that, and much worse.
“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you for days!”
“*Shh!... My Mama's home! I’m grounded!*”
“Ooh… for what?”
“Being… disobedient”
“You? Disobedient? No chance!”
“I was having a date with Cass
“WHAT?! WITH CASS?!!”
Suze exclaimed, loudly, waking up the neighbors and Maia's mom, who shouted from somewhere in the house.
“*Maia! What is that noise?*”
“*Shhh!...* Nothing mama! I just… stubbed my toe!”
“*Be careful! Those corners are sharp!*”
She let out a sigh of relief.
“*Don't be so loud!*”
“Why didn't you tell me? And with Cass? That meatcake?!”
“Because I was grounded the day after!”
“Oh… hey, wanna go out?”
“What? No! How would you even get me dow-”
A long rope made of scrap fabric with a hook tied to its end made its way over her head, and hooked itself to the floor behind her.
“Like that!”
“How?!”
“Come on! I have something to show you!”
“Wha- no! I’m still grounded!”
“I know where Cass lives-”
“Fine”
—-~----
“You took me here just for sightseeing?”
“Why not? I’ve got the lock for the tower anyway”
Maia and Suze was up high, on the tower of the town’s only holy temple, with a large bell inside, and many weird looking and hollow horns. She's seen a few temple elders use it to make a sound before, usually to sign the end of a preaching session.
“You can see the whole town from here! Except what's behind the shiny tower”
“Lightspire”
“Isn't that the name of our town?”
“This is why your father only allows you to knit when he’s watching…”
Suze waved her snarky remark away.
“He just wants to see my skill! It’s pretty though! Right?”
Maia looked down and around, she has to admit, it’s quite beautiful from up here, and the chill wind only makes it better.
“Not wrong?”
“See? It’s nice, we can even see where Cass lives from here”
“Stop it Suze… he’s not why i’m here… mostly”
“Ooh… for me then?”
“Sure…”
“YAY!”
She looked at the plains beyond the town, where the light from the spire couldn't reach. She saw the path she and Cass took that day, as terrifying as it was, she still cherished their moment together. She supposed it was a good thing, if one day made way for such memories, how much better would it be if it lasts for a lifetime?
“So, wanna go there now?”
Suze gestured at a not so far hill with a couple of houses on top of it.
“*Sigh…* no, my mama would found out of i’m too quiet”
“Aww… okay…”
Truly, this was a terrible night, despite the beautiful view.
“For when comes a terrible night…”
She started reciting the last part of the riddle unconsciously, Suze looked at her curiously, as Maia eyes the green plains.
“Where there shall be….”
She slowed down as she noticed something in the distance, two dots of light, very faint, seemingly hiding behind the few patches of trees that dot the plains. She felt it staring at her, right in the eyes, she recognized it, and with that, a feeling of dread befall her.
“A noble… knight”
“What are-”
Suddenly, the ground shook, waking up everyone in town, and rocked every building, including the temple. Maia lost her balance and fell, she had enough time to realize what happened, and thought, this is it, this is her end. But just like five days ago, on that cliff, fate says otherwise, for everything that Suze was, slow reaction time isn't one of it, the pros of a hyperactive mind, and she caught Maia by the arm, saving her.
“Suze! Pull me up!”
“Nngghh! I’m trying!”
Suze gave her all, and pulled Maia up so hard and fast she almost fell herself as she stumbled backwards, she ended up hitting the bell instead.
“Ow! Are you okay Mai?”
“I’m-i’m good… what was that?”
“A quake!”
“Maybe… we shouldn't be up here”
“Hard agree! Let's get out of here! People must’ve seen us too!”
Suze slid down the ladder that led to the tower’s top.
“Hey! Wait for me!”
Maia followed suit, but just before she descended, she noticed something in the distance once again. She stopped, and stared at it in fear. The dots, again, but closer, and in plain sight. She can barely see being so far and at night, but she can see an outline of… something, something that belonged to the eyes. It stood on two legs, and it was big, very big.
“Hey! Come on!”
“W-wait!”
The… thing, twitched, it moved, a fear nestled itself in her mind, the fear that whatever that thing is, it’s coming for her. She slid down the ladder, getting wood
splinters, she would care for the splinters making her palm bleed if she wasn't so scared.
“What is it? Maia? Did you-”
“Just go!”
“O-okay…”
The two ran away from the temple undetected, and went back to their homes. Suze came back home with a feeling of worry for Maia clinging to her, something's not right with her, Suze thought. Maia felt only dread, so much so she didn't realize how bright her pendant had glowed when she ran away from the temple.