Chapter 2

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A vortex of energy, ever spinning in the darkness of the universe.

A scattered few motes of light, fading into the void sea.

Branches of time and space wrapped into reality, changing form and shape as they stretch from infinity to infinity.

A crossing of these two eternal strings occurs… a converging of destinies.

A new beginning for those willing to accept it.

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A scout dressed in the leathers of his order rode quickly to the front of the caravan, ignoring the glares of foot soldiers as they were splattered with mud from his mount’s claws.

“Sir! Lord Vilden! I have news from the scouting force!”

A large grouping of high ranking individuals on personal mounts and one elaborate coach began to slow as the shout was heard. At the very head of the procession, a tall auburn-haired man made a motion towards his lieutenants.

“Continue forward with the Caravan. Oldar, Wu Daoji, stay with me.”

Most of the surrounding men and women nodded in accession, and the slow progress of the gathered forces continued without pause. After a moment, Lord Vilden and his two adjuncts made their way to the outside edge and paused before the scout.

“Report. Have you found the cause of the essence disturbance felt earlier today?”

“Yes, sir. At least, we believe so. Our force traced the disturbance about two days ride to the south, and…” here the scout paused, an odd look appearing on his face. “Well sir, we found two children at the apex.”

“Children?” Lord Vilden repeated with surprise.

“Yes, sir. A young boy and little girl. Not sure their exact ages yet.”

“Has Captain Karehn apprehended them?”

“In a way sir. He thought it would be best to bring them close to the caravan before notifying you.”

“Very well, lead us to the captain. I’m interested in seeing the nature of these… children.”

The scout nodded quickly, and turned his mount into the forest, allowing the three men behind him to follow in his path. A few minutes of light riding later, the scout led them into a natural clearing where a small force of soldiers was gathered. One of these men stood, his armor dictating his rank, and bowed briskly towards Lord Vilden.

“My Lord. I apologize for the inconvenience, but this was something I believed you would like to handle personally.”

Lord Vilden raised his hand in recognition before observing the group before him. “Very well Captain. Where are these children you found?”

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Captain Karehn motioned and several of the men separated from where they stood, allowing Lord Vilden to see the unconscious form of a young boy no more than 14 years old lying on the ground. Near him, a little girl more than half his age sat crying with large red eyes staring at all around her.

“Have they said anything?”

“No, sir. Or rather, the little girl has spoken, but it’s in a language myself nor none of my force understands. The boy hasn’t woken up yet.”

“I see. What traces of essence could you detect when you first found them?”

“That’s just it sir, I couldn’t achieve a bearing on it.”

The captain looked worried as he spoke this statement and quickly motioned forward a female scout. Standing slightly hunched, her eyes contained a faint wisp of azure light which seemed to occasionally bleed blue tears before quickly disappearing into mist. Perching on her shoulder sat a grotesque metal creature with claws digging into her skin, similar colored energy circling its form.

“This is Scout Yujin. She specializes in essence tracking. Way of the Wu-jou Clan. Frankly, sir, she’s one of our best.” He nodded at the woman. “Go ahead Yujin, report what you found to Lord Vilden.”

Her eyes bled once again before she spoke, her voice containing an odd resonance that dipped and twisted. It changed what was once undoubtedly a beautiful voice and warped it into something that left shivers on the skin to hear.

“Of course Captain.” She half-bowed to Lord Vilden. “I was among the first to arrive at the location, and immediately recognized the last remnants of an essence storm. I of course quickly tried to ascertain what manner of thanam could cause such an event.”

Here she took on a slightly fearful look. “My lord, whoever left these children did so after using a movement technique so powerful…” Her voice dropped an octave. “I could only register it as being above Destination level. Spirit realm my lord… or higher.”

The gasps from the various soldiers standing close enough to listen could almost be felt, shock and disbelief on many of the faces present.

Lord Vilden seemed to pause for a moment, his features a mask of indifference, before softly dismounting his kamora. Holding the reins up for his servant to take, he barely slowed before walking up and kneeling in front of the little girl huddled near the boy’s unconscious form.

“Hello. My name is Adriensi. A-drien-si.” He carefully put a hand on his chest, before holding it out towards the small child. “What is your name?”

Shying back at first, she peered up at his larger form. After a few repeated attempts, she quietly repeated the name, though less successfully, and stared wide-eyed at him. He nodded and smiled gently.

“Your name?”

She seemed to understand this time and softly murmured a word. “Julia.”

Lord Vilden carefully repeated it aloud, and receiving a small smile in return, spoke it with confidence. “Very well Julia, you’re going to come with me for now. I have food for you to eat and a place for you to rest.” He gently took her hand and motioned for Oldar to pick up the boy.

The little girl resisted at first, but after seeing the boy being carried towards the mounts, allowed Lord Vilden to bring her up and settle her in a shoulder carry. Once remounted, he held her in front of his seat, carefully between the saddle's dual riding horns. She continued to hug his waist tightly but seemed excited at the furry creature she now found herself on top of.

Looking up, Lord Vilden met the eyes of Captain Karehn and Scout Yujin. “I assume you tested both children’s Luthanam potential?”

They nodded in ascension, with the Captain responding quickly. “The boy is average at best; quartz, possibly even a false quartz, but the girl… she’s something special. I’d put her core at the very least in amber, possibly even gold! Her potential… well, it just doesn’t make much sense for her to be abandoned in the middle of the forest like this.”

Lord Vilden’s eyes sharpened, and with a quick twist of his hand, a heavy atmosphere appeared over the entire group of soldiers.

“I will have all your oaths that not a word of this event will be spoken under pain of death. By my authority as Vice-commander of the city of Rabien, I decree this as so.”

The look that fell on the men and women surrounding him invited no argument, and none dared to speak except to kneel and swear the requisite oath. Nodding in satisfaction once the act was completed, Lord Vilden turned to the unconscious boy draped across Oldar’s saddle.

“Take him to a slave cage. He was likely just a servant boy in this girl’s house before some event caused the leaders of the family to evacuate and try to save any remaining heirs. I will speak to him once he awakes, but better that he has no means of communicating with the girl. She will ride with my wife in the carriage.”

His servant nodded quickly. “It shall be done, my lord. I will notify you as soon as he regains consciousness.”