Exiting his farm on a sunny autumn morning, holding a wheat-woven basket of apples in his hands, James walked down the busy road of Rosepost Kingdom, headed to a market where he could sell the apples. He squeezed through all the men and women who were headed either to their jobs or homes, the chilled wind blowing his hair.
The bright green leaves on the trees were beginning to turn to warm shades of red and orange as they swayed and fell from the trees, covering the dirt path and browning grass.
“Having a good day?” James, with a smile on his face, politely asked an old man standing behind a market stand displaying all kinds of fruits and vegetables as he approached.
“Indeed I am,” the old man happily answered. “You can sit that right behind here.” He said, motioning for James to come behind his stand.
“How’s the family?” James asked as he sat the basket of apples down in front of the old man.
“Well,” the man began, picking each apple, one by one, and placing it down in the baskets in front of his stand, “my wife is now complaining that we don’t make enough money and my son finally bought his place to live.”
“If you need money, I’d be happy to help.” James offered, helping the man transfer the apples.
“No, it’s not that. She just wants a bigger house to store all of her dolls in. But that reminds me,” The old man began digging into the pockets of his trousers. “Here.” he said, holding a small sack of silver and gold coins.
“I’ll probably come back with more in a few weeks. Or days, depending on how fast they grow.” James stated, grabbing the sack and putting it in his pocket.
“Alright then. It was nice seeing you again,” the old man said, giving James his basket back.
James smiled and nodded as he took his basket and began walking back toward his farm. The closer he got, the clearer three of King Rosepost’s knights standing at his gate became.
“Can I help you?” he irritably asked, the annoyance in his voice very apparent.
“The King requires your help.” stated one of the three knights.
“Again? It’s been six months! What could he possibly want now?” Anger and frustration slowly became of James.
“WATCH YOUR TONE, PEASANT!” shouted another knight.
James let out a sigh of vexation as he sat his basket down next to the fence. “If we are going to the castle, then let’s go now. It’s not like I have a choice anyway.”
Then, one of the knights snatched James’ arm and pulled him, barely allowing him to walk normally as they all made their way to the castle.
“You don’t have to pull me.” James angrily mumbled.
As they did six months ago, the knights pushed and shoved all the peaceful men and women out of the way, knocking some to the ground.
Once inside the castle, the knights told James to go up the stairs to see the King, where he always was.
He has knights. There is literally no reason for him to ask for my help again, James thought as he walked up the creaky stairs.
Once again, he stood before the old and crumbling King Rosepost, slouching in his throne with what seemed like crumbs in his long, gray beard.
“What do you want?” James asked, straightforwardly.
“That’s no way to speak to your king” coughed the king.
“Just answer me so I can go on with my life.” James looked at the King with disgust, wishing his daughter sat in that throne and not him.
“Well then,” he began, wiggling up from his throne, “do you see that letter over there?” he asked, pointing over to a window with a pigeon perched on a thin wooden pole outside it. On the edge of the window was a paper, rolled up and tied with a violet ribbon.
“What about it?” questioned James.
“It’s a letter from the elves of Arlinbliss. They are in some sort of danger and need help,” stated King Rosepost. “You can help them, can’t you?”
James stared at the King in disbelief.
“You don’t actually expect me to go to another kingdom when you have an entire army at your command?”
“I’m not sure I see the problem. You can collect a sword from one of the knights.”
James scoffed as he turned around to walk back down the stairs. I wouldn’t be surprised if mold was growing underneath him.
After taking a sword from one of the knights, James exited the castle and headed to the kingdom’s exit. He walked past all the other people wishing he could be just like them, unbothered and hard at work.
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I don’t even know where to go.
He walked around the walls of the kingdom until he reached the east side of the wall. In the distance, he could see the Luminescent Forest, its tall trees making it apparent to the far eye. I guess I’ll go that way.
The Luminescent Forest was a beautiful sight to see. Its trees were tall, its bark brown and its leaves orange and glowing, lighting the forest with a sort of enchanting glow. The grass was a dark shade of shiny yellow and felt smooth as James walked on it. Silence was abundant as human and animal life wasn’t. It was so quiet, James could hear his own breathing combined with the sound of the trees swaying and shaking in the cool, calm wind.
But the forest’s hypnotizing sights were the last thing on James’ mind as he trekked through, hoping he was heading that right way. He longed to return to his farm. To be left alone by King Rosepost. He was deep in his thoughts of anger and desire, so much so he didn’t see the large patch stones in front of him, or the wooden cabin with a smoking stone chimney in the distance. He tripped and fell to the ground, dropping his sword next to him as he descended.
This day possibly can’t get any worse, he thought, trying to ignore the pain in his legs, arms, and chest from falling on the stones.
He grabbed his sword as he arose, thus seeing the patch of stones was larger than he thought. They were neatly arranged into the shape of a triangle. Inside the triangle was a stone depiction of an eye. At the three corners were small, but very clear depictions of the sun, the moon, and a leaf, one at each corner.
Someone must live here, James thought, staring curiously at the strange, symbolic shape.
“I saw you fall. Are you alright?” a voice, soft and deep, asked from behind James.
Startled, James gasped and whipped around. “I’m fine,” he said with relief. “You scared me.”
In front of him was a man holding a bundle of logs. His brown hair, which seemed to be turning gray, was short and wavy. His eyes were light blue, enhanced by his outfit, which was a brown tunic overlapped by a short, dark blue robe. Black trousers covered his legs and a black belt with a shiny, light blue gem in the center of it wrapped around his waist.
“Are you lost?” the man asked.
“I honestly don’t know,” answered James. “My name is James. My king sent me to help me the elves but I forgot which way Arlinbliss is.”
“I can show you a map, if you’d follow me back to my cabin.” the man stated.
“Thank you.”
As James followed him back to his cabin, he couldn’t help but be curious of the man. Does he live out here by himself?
“My name is Aviar, if you were wondering,” the man stated as they approached his cabin. “Where are you from?”
“I’m from Rosepost.” James replied.
“The King still sends random people to do his work?” questioned Aviar, shocked.
“Yes. You lived there once?” asked James.
“I did a long time ago. He was a terrible king back then. Always glued to his throne and training his knights to treat the others as animals.”
James couldn’t fathom why he was surprised. No one becomes that way overnight. Some things don’t change, he thought.
Before they entered the cabin through its wooden door, James noticed the symbol carved into it, exactly the same as the stone one he had tripped over.
“This symbol,” he began, “what does it mean?”
“It’s from an old religion,” Aviar replied, opening the door and entering. “It’s said to ward off demons and evil spirits.”
“Does it work?” curiously questioned James.
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not as religious as I used to be.”
Upon entering Aviar’s cabin, James' eyes stretched and his mouth dropped open.
It seemed like a simple, rustic home with a stone fireplace built into the wall in front of a wooden table with wooden chairs behind it, one long and the other short. A few bookshelves filled with all kinds of books stood tall against the walls and a red rug laid flat on the tiled, wooden floor in front of the fireplace. But what snatched all normality from the cabin was the books floating in front of the bookshelves, some with pages turning as though somebody was turning it. But nobody was there.
“Don’t be scared,” the man said as he walked over to the fireplace, noticing James’ clear shock. “It’s just simple magic.”
Magic?
Though James knew magic existed, he was led to believe it was something to neve be messed with. Something evil.
“I thought magic was forbidden.” James stated, closing the door behind them.
“Magic is forbidden in Rosepost because the King is too lazy to learn how it works,” responded Aviar, placing the bundle of branches down by the crackling fireplace. “Most people are afraid of what they don’t understand.”
“Is that why you left?” James curiously asked.
“Something like that.”
Aviar then walked over to a bookshelf and picked a folded sheet of paper off it, and, after looking at it himself, showed it to James. “Arlinbliss is south from here.”
“Thank you,” James said, grabbing the map. “I know we just met but would you like to come with me?” James knew the journey to Arlinbliss would be long and boring by himself.
Aviar was a little shocked by his question.
“I’m sure I would just slow you down.” he stated.
“I don’t think so,” James replied. “I’m also sure I would need help with helping the elves.”
Aviar stared at James for a moment, deciding whether or not to accept or decline his offer.
“Sure. I have nothing else to do anyway,” Aviar then walked back over to the fireplace. “I just need to put this fire out.”
James happily nodded and exited the warm cabin, rolling the map in his hand. Standing outside, he began to wonder why the elves needed help anyway. What was so important and dangerous for them to send a letter to another kingdom? His mind wandered to the Dark Kingdom and the men that were there. How lifeless their eyes were. Their belts, similar to the one wrapped around Aviar’s waist. How the men, and Lord Darkstar plotted to kill King Rosepost. Was this another attempt? What have I gotten myself into?
“Are you finished?” James asked Aviar, who was walking out the door behind him.
“Yes.” Aviar answered, closing the creaking door behind him.
“Alright then,” said James. “We should probably go now before it gets too late.”
James and Aviar then proceeded to travel south, heading to the elven city, unknowing what they would face.