Cheese blinked awake, his senses slowly stirring to life. For the first time in years, he didn’t feel the need stare at the ceiling as he did so. The aches in his shoulders had simply disappeared. He swung his feet off the bed, and his gaze fell upon a woman sitting across from him. He hadn’t noticed her at first, but now her presence seemed to fill the room.
She looked young, maybe nineteen or twenty, her hair as black as midnight—a black so deep, it seemed to drink in the light around her. The darkness in her hair reminded him of his brother Char’s namesake, yet this was a shade beyond, a darkness that held mystery and beauty. When he met her eyes, a quiet chill ran through him. They were green, but not just any green; they held the hue of winter moss, a green that whispered of unbridled life, and her face was still and smooth, like the surface of an undisturbed pond. She was stunning, so much so that for a moment he forgot himself, caught up in the scent of bread and warmth that surrounded her.
She leaned closer, her voice soft and ethereal, almost like the brush of wind. “Prepare for what is to come, star of my eye, brother of my heart. We will be waiting at the end, for those of you who come, for those of you who defend.”
Then, without another word, she turned and stepped forward. He blinked, trying to keep her in sight, but it was as if she simply dissolved into nothingness, fading into the air itself. It was only as she vanished that his eyes drifted down, and he noticed what he hadn’t seen before: beneath that hauntingly serene face, she wore a robe of pure white—absolutely drenched in blood. The cloth on her back was missing in two long streaks, obviously streaks of a blade. He opened his mouth, a question ready, but before he could speak, she was gone. His eyes tried to follow, but there was no longer anything there.
Slowly the young man surveyed the room. In the far corner his father rested in a chair, he was in a deep sleep, a cigar still it in his mouth. Cheese sat back on the cot and pulled up his skill menu, yet he was surprised that when he summoned it a message appeared.
[Welcome]
A planetary level System announcement will commence in 1 day 1 hour 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Until then all status pages are locked. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Cheese frowned at the message. the message contained many words he didn't understand. As he read it again and again his confusion didn't change. After a moment he looked at his father and went to reach out for him, then he smelled it. It was divine. Was that a hint of mint? Cheeses eyes darted at the steaming cup by his father's hand. He snatched it up and sniffed. Where had the old bat gotten this? The aroma was so rich. Cheese thought for a moment and then sipped at the drink tentatively. It tasted even better than he had expected. The young man sighed and sat across from his father as he sipped down the sweet sweet nectar.
By the time Rook woke cheese had nearly finished the drink. The old man sat up, and in a panic looked at the bed. Seeing no one there he glanced twords the door and then stood quickly, quicker than Cheese had ever seen a man move.
Cheese surprised his father with a shout. "I`m here" Rook turned quickly, and bellowed a laugh.
"Why are you out of bed boy?" he asked with a smile.
Cheese shrugged and said "I feel better is all. Have you been here waiting for me to gather myself?"
Rook laughed again, and a guard ran in from outside. "Yes, you could say that" he responded as he drew up a chair. Then he saw that Cheese had been drinking his tea and Rook felt his smile fade.
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"Well, I see you found that. your brother brought it. Its made from mountain herbs, it is believed to enhance skills. We thought we could use it to enhance your resistance skills."
Cheese looked down and felt his mouth open with apology, but rook cut him off. "I had it made for you. You're no longer sick, so we will see what comes of it. Once this damned system announcement happens. As far as I know it could do nothing so there is no loss."
Cheese was grateful to his father, and their conversation turned to the process cheese had undergone as he broke through the wall. His father frowned at Cheese` words but eventually he began to nod.
"You grasped something son" he said with a smile. Now comes the hard part. You must press forward. Tomorrow we will have to deal with this, but for now relax. I will call for your mother, and we will talk about what has happened, but until then you must eat.
The older man left, and Cheese was brought a broth and some bread by one of the younger women who served with the priesthood. He wanted to complain but he held in his words.
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Cheese` family were there within a half hour. His mother Villa kissed him and hugged him while complaining about his riskiness for that same span of time, yet when he finally stood and explained he was fine, she was silent. Her only show of concern was a thin frown.
As they spoke Cheese snuck a glance at Char and thought on the woman who had appeared before him. Had that been his god? She had said "Brother of my heart" Surely that could only be his goddess or an angel of hers, yet her form, the blood. For now, Cheese said nothing as he waited for more info, he would speak to the elders about it later, best to wait for whatever this announcement was.
Soon his family left, and Cheese was forced to relax by the priests' nurses. In time he drifted to sleep and was unconscious until the next night.
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Cheese was woken by the nurse who was shaking him.
"Master Switzler" she said as she roused him. "The other masters have called for you. Your presence is requested at the Ampitheater.
Master.... Cheese shook himself and stood. It was true, he was a master now. Cheese rose, and the nurse let herself out of the room. The young man changed into a set of new clothes and walked out the door towards the Ampitheater.
The structure was a meeting place for all peoples in the village. The concentric circles of stone benches were built into the side of a large cliff that sat to the east of Timberbrook in the direction of Fairhaven. All settlements had one such construct large enough to house most of the population, or a number of them for the same purpose.
It filled as the counter marched down, and Cheese was shocked at how few people were there. Maybe there were 400 people total, had the damage truly been that large? To think three monsters could kill so many. He followed his brothers to the second most inner ring of seats closest to the stage, directly behind the two councilors who sat spaced apart, each with a space to his left and right as was their right. It was the ring of masters. Cheese sat there confidently yet none questioned it. He was surprised when both his brothers sat alongside him, and more so when Ibron joined his father and Elder Tompson, the frail man standing at the fore with the two others behind him. As the last child filtered in and sat at the top of the rings Elder Tompson spoke out. The timer had a paltry five minutes remaining as the small man spoke out, yet his voice carried so every child at the topmost row could hear it just as clearly as if they stood beside him.
"It is rough times in which we live." The elder began. "Yet rough times make rougher men, and I am unashamed to see that the men and women who stand before me are rough indeed." A roll of giggling came from the top floor at the elders choice of words, and it descended all the way to the masters bench. There it stopped, yet even Rook allowed a smile to touch his lips. "I may jest" continued the elder. But I know you feel the seriousness in my words and see the steel in my heart. We are a family, a true family. We are Timberbrook, but more than that we are men and women of the axe. And I beseech you all to remember that as we push forward." there was a stamping of feet that sounded as men threw their ascent into the elders' words. After a time, a woman stood in the row of elders, she was Hardien, sister of Rook. As she stood, she raised a hand and cast a glance at the rings, silence quickly fell. She then sat quietly and waited for the elder to continue, but he did not simply stepping back as the timer counted down to zero. The old master had said all there was to say. They would face whatever was to come together as a family.