My soft footsteps made loud resonating sounds as I wandered through a battlefield of polarizing ideals. The lush green grass fought valiantly against the onslaught of winter. But I knew in time that the sun would inevitably rise and the greenery would be victorious.
I took a breath of the early spring air. The landscape around me was beautiful with rugged mountains framing the horizon and rolling hills like children chasing after their forebears’ coattails. The landscape was dotted with rocky outcroppings and an immense variety of trees, ranging from the tall evergreens to budding cherries brilliantly shining in the spring sun, to the iconic giants that were the Partawood trees.
My bag offered me little solace as I marched down the cobblestone road. I swung my heavy bag off my back and quickly rummaged through it for my map. I picked up the thing when I arrived in Mountainheart via airship. It was not the best map I had ever seen, but it served its purpose effectively. Its Inefficiency was likely due to the fact that I picked it up in Mountainheart and not in Whitecrest. But to be fair to myself, I couldn't have known its inaccuracies when I purchased it.
As I scanned over the map I quickly paused on several villages I had stopped at. I gazed at Whitecrest, remembering the back-breaking ride from Mountainheart that constituted the first two weeks of my journey. In contrast -- although much longer and covering far shorter of a distance -- the second half was far more enjoyable.
I continued to scan the map and in particular my final destination, the Village of Rendfire. It looked to be only 2 to 3 more hours away.
I took a moment to pause as I gazed over a cliff onto a valley. The jagged mountains that were so prevalent in the region seemed more intense and real. From my higher vantage point, I could faintly make out the plumes of smoke coming from the village. I could also see a large lake and what looked to be hundreds of waterfalls that fed into the lake and rivers throughout the heavily wooded valley.
The scenery was gorgeous, as if it sprung from the mind of some romantic author or painter; however, the panoramic and pleasant feelings welling up inside my chest were shattered when a large black wolf leaped at me as if trying to push me over the cliff's edge. Now, like a perfectly normal person, I reacted. I raised my leg and slammed it down onto its head. Just as the battle began it ended.
“Well, That was unexpected.”
I hoisted the black mongrel up on my shoulder and continued my petty pace towards the village. The sun was starting to become obstructed behind the high peaks and its afternoon rays shone off the village. It was small; just over 50 buildings must have been within the town, most being one or two stories. The only notable exception was the town hall being above three stories and having a gleaming bell tower in the afternoon sun.
*Click click click*
An old cart pulled by a shining silver stag pulled up to my side. The cart was rickety, its axles warped and its once glimmering red lacquer now faded by the sands of time. In contrast, the stag that pulled the cart was young with a shimmering silver coat and antlers like the branches of an ancient mahogany tree.
As I looked at the deer I couldn't help but resist my curiosity and I gauged its cultivation. Humm that's surprising it’s near the peak of the novice Realm, likely in the 8th stage.
Turning my head, I looked at the man driving the cart. Judging from his appearance he looked to be in his late 60s or 70s. He was athletically still clinging on to what was likely once an impressive physique. His hair was silver, like my own, and his brown eyes were like rich dark chocolate.
Like his mount I investigated him. He was also at the peak of the novice Realm; he was a little bit ahead of the Stag, likely at the absolute Peak, only missing his inspiration.
“Hail stranger!”
“Hello Sir, name’s Alexander. I'm the new guy in town.”
“Drop the “sir,” kid, and the names Akira.”
“Well Akira, I couldn't help but notice that impressive stag pulling your cart!”
“Yep,” he chuffed, “Lumin is a real keeper. He’s the best stag I've had in the last three decades.”
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“Humm. Anyways nice to meet you Akira. And you too Lumin.”
Considering its cultivation it was only somewhat surprising that the deer seemed to recognize my words by nodding his head in acknowledgement.
“Well nice to meet you, but I have to get going.”
“What do you mean? ‘Nice to meet you.’ Runin’ off so soon?”
I ran my fingers through my long silvery hair. “Well, if I'm to make it to the mayor's office and then my land -- which I still have no idea where it is -- by nightfall, I best be going.”
“Ohhh, well if you're in such a hurry, just hop on good old Lumin here. He can definitely handle the weight and it's not that…” Akira paused for a long moment staring at the dead body of the black wolf hung over my shoulder.
“That pelt…no, not pelt…that body on your shoulder…it couldn't be!”
I realized I might have stepped in some seriously deep shit. Perhaps the wolf was an important local beast to the people of the village or a pet of a noble. I tried not to show any of my inner turmoil on my face but something must have slipped through.
“Well spit it out -- what is it?!”
“**cough** I'll explain when you're on. Aren't you in a hurry after all?”
Akira’s words were odd but pushing probably won't get me any answers. So I put the dead wolf and my bag into the back of the cart, already nearly fully loaded with lumber. In the end it took me several more seconds than I originally intended to stow my belongings. But finally when I was done I moved over to the side of the cart and smoothly hopped up onto the bench next to Akira.
Akira let out a low whistle and Lumin trundled forward. Once we started moving, Akira began to talk.
“You see, kiddo, that wolf ain't no normal wolf. Its name is Balckfang. I know, stupid name, but the fucker is in the Foundation Realm. No one's quite sure what stage, cuz it's been about three years since it's been spouted. It was last seen when it and its midnight pack completely obliterated Birdsmire and then vanished into the forests never to be seen again.
The destruction and carnage caused by Blackfang and its pack was severe enough that the Baroness herself went hunting for him. When she couldn't find him, she put up a hefty reward for any information or the elimination of the beast.
“Hmmm, I see.”
“So kid, I don't mean to pry but I noticed you had almost no cultivation. So how did you manage to survive, let alone kill the thing?”
I let out a deep chuckle, hopefully buying me a few seconds to come up with a believable alibi.
“Well to tell you the truth, I just found it. I'd stopped for lunch and decided to go a little bit deeper into the forest, hopefully gather some sort of forgeables for a snack later down the road. Then as I was foraging I heard a large thud and a howl of pain. So I went to check it out and found this big guy dead. I thought I'd bring him into town, maybe make a fur coat or sell its pelt.”
There was a long silence between me and Akira and as the moments ticked by, a single drop of sweat ran down the back of my neck before Akira broke the silence. I was so surprised by his sudden movements I didn't even react to the karate chop that he landed on my forehead.
“Owww! God Dammit man, what the hell is that for?!”
“Being an idiot. Kid, what the hell were you thinking? Going into the deeper parts of the forest with, one, almost no cultivation and no one with you? And then you did something even more idiotic when you heard two rather large noises and you actually went towards them?!”
“That was kind of dumb dumb in hindsight -- but in the moment I didn't really think about it.”
Under his breath Akira muttered, “Kids these days -- no common sense. Brat was lucky to get away with his life.”
I let out a sigh internally. ‘Well Alex looks like you dodged a bullet this time. But now he thinks you're an idiotic and inexperienced child. But better if he think you're an idiot than what you really are.’
After another 40 minutes of riding we arrived in the village.
“Well, I would offer you a ride to your farm but me and Lumen have to drop off our cargo and get back home before sunset.”
“It's fine; you already did enough by giving me a ride.”
“Don't mention it. And piece of advice before I go….”
Akira shifted to a far more serious tone. “Not to be dismissive of where you come from or your background, but kid, around these parts, you need to cultivate. These mountains are not forgiving. So I advise you talk to the mayor about picking up a tome on cultivation. Also if you need cultivation aids, the caravan carrying them, as well as other essential goods, comes in at the start of every month.”
“Thanks -- appreciate the ride and the advice!”
“Again, don't mention it kid.”
And with one whistle Lumin, the cart, and Akira trundled away.
This of course left me alone once again. However, this time I had a clear direction. I walked through the town square, nodding to several other villagers who passed me by.
I stopped in front of the same impressive, three story building with a bell tower at the front that I had looked down on earlier. Like the other buildings in the town, it was almost entirely constructed of Greystone with white marble streaks running through like arteries and veins. The accents, sightings, and roofing of the building were constructed of a dark timber identical to the load in Akira’s cart.
The doors were well polished sharing the same color as the wood found in the rest of the building. They depicted a stunning vista of the mountains behind and around the town. Reaching up I grabbed the polished handle of wood and opened the door.