Cracked dirt in tandem with an arid sandscape, made for a hardened path that wove itself around lush thick greens that could go ages without water. Many of which spiked their way along the edges of the trail. Tall natural structures of pale stone rose from the ground, erected on either side. While every so often, a stone arch would reach out over them, giving a temporary reprieve from the season’s heat.
The further along Lár Terram they had traveled, the stronger the hues tinged the rock formations. From golden yellows to flame-stroked reds, the landscape would be quite the captivating palette under less dire circumstances.
Julius pulled at the collar of his neck; the rising heat will be something to get used to. Most of the path from the high elevations of Novus Terros had been a descent, with each passing kilometer, the days grew hotter. The high altitude of the mountains would not be offering a reprieve, at least at this part of the realm.
Melacalya itself was loosely charted by the Enclave, save for any major cities and formations they could manage to document. No thanks to the ominous disappearances of our scouts. It would be upon the reliance of a stranger that Garrett had made contact with, that this whole mission relied upon. That notion alone is every reason for Axus to mark us for treason.
Today marked the solidification of what they had set out to do. After today, there will be no turning back. Lár Terram was a land of neutrality between the two realms - often crossed by ‘merchants’ that dared the lawless lands in-between. Exchanged goods that rarely ended up on a main street plaza. It would not be much longer before Garrett’s makeshift militia would cross into the realm of Melacalya. An unwelcome visit in eyes of both neighboring realms.
Julius gazed around his surroundings, from Lodan at the front of the party, to Gaius bringing up the rear with their supplies, in heaven’s name we are armed to the teeth. In front of Julius, Alesia rode alongside Garrett and Zandra. Even Alesia must wear a sword should the worst come upon us.
The child’s voice broke his cloud of thoughts. “What kind of animals will we find, Garrett?” Alesia had been more exuberant than ever, her curiosity enough to forestall the impending uncertainty that lay before them.
Garrett dramatically exhaled in contemplation, searching the skies for an answer to amuse her. “Well, their creatures will be a lot like ours, only with more feathers.”
Zandra rolled her eyes while he went on. Garrett rested his reins on the pommel of his saddle while he used both hands to add gravity to his words. “Think of a snowbound lynx from the Opalline Drifts, just dressed like a chicken.”
Alesia snickered at Garrett’s impressions of the supposed creature. Before he could continue his farce, Zandra cut in, “Tell us, Garrett, are the fish feathered like furry little balls swimming through the rivers?”
Without missing a beat, Garrett pointed to Alesia, “They certainly are, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
By now Alesia was caught in a fit of laughter. To the point where Garrett turned over his shoulder to Julius, “I don’t think she believes me.”
Amused, Julius kept his gaze ahead, “It could have something to do with her actual teachings.”
Gaius shouted out from the back, “Feathered or not, they dare not trouble you all the same, Miss Alesia!”
Zandra hit Garrett in the shoulder, “Now you’ve got everyone on feathers.”
Alesia made a face at Garrett, “I know some of them are touched by what they call eneryia. The people and the animals in fact.”
Garrett gave a gracious nod, “Why yes they are.” While continuing in vaguely chosen words, “They say the Melacalyan are all monsters, what do you think, Alesia?”
She pondered before giving reply. “I think all realms have their monsters, but we need monsters.”
Zandra, Garrett, both eyed her curiously while she contemplated her answer. “If we had no monsters, how would we know who is good, from who is not?” She smiled, satisfied with her response, “We just need to find the good ones.”
Zandra shot an impressed glance back to Julius, “Well said, Alesia. Well said.” She will make a fine leader indeed.
~~~
It had been quite some time since Lodan made his rounds to rally back to the rest of the party, but just when question entered his mind, he saw Lodan reined up along the trail ahead.
When the rest of the group approached, he brought the party to a halt, nodding to the trail ahead. “Another two kilometers, we will be stepping on Melacalyan soil.”
A lull fell over the group, until Julius nodded in reply, dismounting. “From here we take nothing that ties us to our home. Sigils, cloaks, anything that can tie you back to the Terros Enclave or Novus Terros itself.”
Garrett hopped off his horse, “You heard the captain, let’s go.” Garrett unfastened his cloak, wrapping it up in his hands. He placed his sigil within the improvised basket.
One by one they removed their sigils, while Garrett made his rounds collecting them in his folded cloak. Julius unfastened the metal clasp that bound his allegiance to the Enclave, rubbing it between his thumb and finger. You leave me no alternative, brother.
Garrett approached Julius with his cloak basket, carrying the allegiance they’ve known for every cycle in memory. Julius tossed the sigil in the pile with the others, starting to unwrap the cloak itself from his shoulders.
Alesia caught his eye, staring off into the path leading to the unknown realm from her palfrey. She sat discreetly opening and clenching her fists, resting them upon the pommel.
Julius slowly approached Alesia with the cloak in his hand. Her face beamed when he approached, she quickly tucked her hands tighter to her body. With little more than a glance of acknowledgement he tucked the folded cloak into a pack on her saddle. “For when the nights grow cold.”
She leaned out, wrapping her arms around him, grasping tightly. “I shall wear it with honor, father.” Subtle the motion was, the blood of her hands, pulses from the inflammation.
Smiling back, “I know you will.”
When Julius returned to his own horse, Garrett whispered, “Are you sure?”
Julius gazed upon Alesia graciously, before he turned to his horse. “Yes.” She will wear it for all of us.
“As you say.” Turning from Julius to Lodan, “Lodan can you take care of this?”
“Will do, captain. They’ll be buried for our return.”
Julius spoke to Lodan, but made sure all could hear, “From this point onwards, our vows carry more weight than ever.” Nodding to Garrett, “Until we set foot again on Novus Terros soil, we are no longer to be referred to be your captains. Our accents alone may be enough to give us away, we don’t want our verbiage to expose us either. To hell with formalities.” Better to get them used to that now versus later, with how long they have served in our squadrons, old habits die hard.
Lodan gave the slightest of a bow, “So be it.” He paused before turning off the trail to conceal the sigils and cloak. Finally, free of formalities, but the instinctual nature will certainly linger.
Once Lodan returned, the group had fully remounted. Their party continued the path.
~~~
Melacalya came for them in rich fields of grass that swept over the vast pale atmosphere of Lár Terram like a wave. There was no distinct line per say marking the beginning of the realm, but the change of scenery was all the proof needed.
The foreseeable grasslands ahead were void of any trees or shrub life, certainly not of natural cause. Looking closer over the ground as they drew closer to the land itself, stumps peaked their cut heads from the high points of the grass. Gazing out further, this may have even been a part of the forest once.
In the northern horizon there was a line of mountains on the outskirts of three distinct peaks at the center that made the outer ‘hills’ dwarf in comparison. Though quite distant, the three distinct peaks at the center grasped past the cloud lines, into the heavens themselves.
To the west and south, there was a growing line of slab rock in the hue of pale amethyst. It peaked out from the rich dark soil that blanketed the edge of the forest. Not quite dense, but enough for coverage.
Julius called for a halt when the party approached the realm’s divide. Riding up next to Lodan, he spoke while the two dismounted examining the dirt trail ahead. “To see any who enter no doubt.” He kicked one of the nearby stumps.
Lodan nodded, “Anyone within a few kilometers could see us on these flatlands.” He crouched, plucking a blade of grass, holding it before them. “They maintain these grasses short for good reason.”
The trail itself wound itself slightly north, westward towards Pitchstone. Julius’ attention however, drew south off the trail. A gust of wind forced him to squint from its approaching direction. “We head south off the trail. It is towards the shore we will find our escort.” Should void us of any scouting parties along the trail.
Lodan nodded in agreement, adding in with curiosity, “They weren’t willing to meet in Lár Terram? Would have put me more at ease than treading these parts blind.”
Remounting his horse, “Our escort made it clear they would not step foot outside of Melacalya. For whatever reason that may be, we must continue with the cards we’ve been dealt.”
Lodan followed suit, “I’ll ride ahead, if there’s a trap, I’ll find it.”
The two turned their horses from each other, Lodan sprinting off the trail, down the grasses, southbound. Julius took lead of the rest, leading after Lodan’s path at half the pace.
The group fell into silence while they turned from the trail. The pace was quick enough to move across the open fields efficiently, while slow enough to scan for possible observers. The only sound came from the hooves brushing against blades of grass with each step.
The further they trekked, the closer the tree line began to approach from the south, if it can even be called that. Even at a distance the trees were sparse, the denser forest was much further off. The stumps however, grew densely far closer. We need to get out of this open field.
Slowly it became a balancing act of scouting, with navigating the horse’s feet around the stumps of the fallen forest that attempted to pull the trespassers down to the same fate.
In between glances of the obstacle path of stumps, with the direction Lodan had taken, tall spires came into view behind the forest line. Off in the distance; Pitchstone. Which means the river should be close.
Julius brought the group at a tighter angle westward, bringing them under the ‘cover’ of the sparse trees. Better than nothing for the time being.
Within a kilometer’s distance, the rush of a river filled their ears. Garrett had pulled up beside him. “I believe that is the Permian, we are close.”
Not long after, the river revealed itself, offering the rest of the path needed. Following the Permian River to the shoreline, the ground little by little unwound to loosened moist dirt. Eventually the ground gave way to the mouth of the river, opening wide, leading to a shore of caramel colored sand.
Up ahead, Lodan waited patiently, eying a figure further off in the distance.
One by one the party dismounted, leading their steeds by the reins upon the sand. The shoreline was void of activity; no fishermen, nor boats in the waters. Off on the western front of the horizon a harbor could scarcely be scene, but out here the scene was void of life, save for one, strangely tranquil with a warm rolling breeze sweeping over them.
Further along the shore, the lone figure stood gazing out into Hadean’s Estuary. The long hair of a woman gently swayed with the rhythm of the wind.
Garrett drew close to Julius, “That must be her.”
Julius cautiously resisted, “Can you know for certain?”
Garrett rubbed his chin with his freehand, “The description fits thus far, we will have to get closer to know for certain.”
Julius scouted the shore from one end of his line of sight to the other, “Too far out in the open for an ambush.”
Garrett had the same inclination, “The sands will slow movement on either end if this turns south.”
Nodding, Julius turned to the others, “Remain here, mounted. Should anything seem out of the ordinary, take solid ground and head east to regroup near Lár Terram. Garrett, myself shall see if this is indeed the meeting we were promised.”
Quietly the others remounted, Alesia kept a wavering gaze while Julius and Garrett handed their reins to Zandra and Lodan respectively. When Julius passed Alesia, he left her with a confident wink before turning with Garrett towards the stranger on the shore.
Each step was laden with tension while Julius balanced keeping eyes on the woman, with the peripherals of his vision. Julius whispered closely with each step taken closer, neither Julius nor Garrett taking their gaze from the inmoving figure. “If this is indeed our contact, to what extent can we trust her?”
Without turning his head, Garrett for once, was void of a sarcastic response, “I trust she’ll bring us to where we need to go.” Without hesitation, “These are powers outside our control. I’ll trust her more once I see she can bleed.” Pray it never comes to that, for her sake.
Despite the approach of the two men, the woman did not stir. Nearly three quarters of the distance to her. Julius glanced back over his shoulder where the rest of the party waited with anticipation.
Within a few meters of the woman, they came to a halt. Garrett took an extra step forward slowed with outreached hesitance, seemingly about to introduce their presence, when she finally turned to face them. In a thick rich accent that flowed warmly with every word, unknown to anything I have ever heard before, she spoke, “Good day, Captain Leidich.” She scanned them each in turn. “And good day, Captain Ryker.”
She stood nearly equally tall to both Garrett, Julius, with the confidence composure of any seasoned soldier. Though slender, dark browned skin smooth like silk, her toned muscle showed through lines in her leather fashioned attire. There was a curious aura about her, something men of our realm are not meant to understand. I can’t quite place it, but there is an essence of agelessness, along with something suspiciously devious about her gaze.
The wind moved through the three, the woman’s hair swaying behind her; straight black-bean that shimmered in the light, falling well down her back held in place by metallic trinkets and various jewelry.
An intricate emblazoned leather cuirass hugged tightly around her sides up to her bosom. Various trinkets, odd tools were strapped over her shoulder. In addition, some dagger hilts meant to seen, certainly meant to distract from other hidden weapons.
Julius watched the woman intently while Garrett spoke, “I take it you are the tracker I’ve heard about.”
Seemingly unintimidated by the two men, the woman spoke casually, “I am Ressilla. I assist those that seek the guidance of the wisps.”
Curiously, Julius addressed the supposed tracker. “You know our names.”
Ressilla confidently, “I know many things. I know your kind has turned a blind eye to the eneryia that courses through the veins of this realm. So, there must be something dire that would have you seek me out.” With a calculated smile, “All while risking the consequences of your leaders.”
Julius sternly, “We have risked all coming here,” Bringing the attention to where Alesia waited with the others, “my daughter, is terminally ill. Our people have no means to assist her. We have heard that there may be a way to cure what ails her by… other means than our medicinal capabilities.”
Ressilla studied the rest of Julius’ party silently for a long moment before replying. “You would risk all your lives for a chance at her future?”
Garrett cut in, “We are prepared to take this path, or die in its pursuit.” In heaven’s name, should it not come to that.
Intrigued, the tracker responded with assertion. “Eneryia alone will not be able to save her. The path as you already have been told, lies in Oblivion. Not a realm of the living. It is there, that salvation lies for her.”
In an attempt to ignore the ominous nature of such a feat, Julius pressed on. “Why would you help outsiders to your realm?”
The casual nature of her tone returned. “It is my duty to assist anyone that seeks entry to the gates of Oblivion.” Looking them both up and down again. “Even if those that seek entry are not born of this realm.”
Garrett continued his interrogation. “The man who told me of you, spoke of a price to be paid.”
The tracker nodded slowly, “There is, indeed.”
Reaching in one of his chest pockets, Garrett continued, “We brought coin – “
With a quick shake of her head, the tracker cut him off this time. “That is not how it works.”
Frustrated, Julius’ tone darkened, “What do you mean?”
Absent of the two men’s change of tone, “The price to enter the realm of the wisps is not paid with coin. The wisp of rebirth has an instrument that can cure her, but there will be an equal price to be paid.” An equal price?!
Before either of the two captains could cut in again, she silenced them. Speaking with equal brusque to haste. “Arias, the wisp you seek, can give your daughter rebirth anew. However, it will come at the price of her fertility. She will bear no children.” Turning to Julius, “And your lineage will end with her. A life, for a life.”
Both Julius and Garrett stood before the tracker with their tongues frozen in their mouths. Neither was quick to give reply. A cruel balance of life and death.
The harshness left Julius’ voice, “Is there any other price that can be paid? Blood of kin?”
The tracker shook her head, “Arias is a bringer of life, she has no desire to take it. The price is that of balance, for a life that was not meant to extend its weave in the loom.”
She continued, “You should know, this is what Arias asks of you. There are trials, tribulations the realm itself will have to offer along the way. If you agree to the price this journey will take, I will take you to retrieve what we need.”
Julius’s gaze wandered back to Alesia, we’ve come this far. There is no turning back. Catching Garrett in the corner of his eye, him and the tracker watched intently for Julius’ verdict.
After a deep breath, Julius nodded. “Let us press onwards. Come, we will introduce you to our companions.”
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Julius walked beside Garrett while the tracker trailed behind them. At a steady pace they headed towards the onlooking party, still mounted, ready to ride.
Just before they approached the rest of the group, Julius spoke between Garrett, the tracker in a soft yet stern tone, “No one is to know of the wisp’s price on Alesia. I will tell her when the time is right.” Garrett nodded immediately. Glancing back towards the tracker; good.
The rest of the party was swept with curiosity, anticipation, upon their approach. Naturally, Garrett led the tracker’s introduction. “My good sirs,” adding a sarcastic pause towards Alesia and Zandra, “and ladies,” extending a hand towards the tracker, “I give you our tracker and guide for this realm; Ressilla.”
Julius scanned them one by one, the lack of trust is palpable. Jaecar did not shift in his saddle, but spoke openly, “Do we know what she is capable of?”
Lodan nodded silently in agreement. The tracker’s retort was more commanding than it had been when she spoke with just Julius and Garrett. “That is not a concern of yours to worry about. You are more than welcome to turn back to whence you came.”
Garrett jumped in before other voices had a chance to rise. “There is much in this realm we will not understand,” shooting a quick glance to the tracker, “Ressilla has agreed to teach us along the way.”
Gaius nodded, walking his steed up to Garrett, patting him on the shoulder, “If she is good enough for the cap – for Garrett, Julius, then she is good enough for me. Aye, let’s get a move on.”
Julius motioned to Lodan, Zandra handed him his reins back. “Keep at the front with the tracker.” With a quick nod, Lodan made his way to the front of the line. Julius settled himself in his saddle, to find the tracker standing beside him versus making way with Lodan. After searching the immediate area around them, “Where is your mount?”
“In the tree line, I will retrieve him shortly.” Turning towards Alesia, “Would I be able to take a closer look at the child? I wish to personally see what ails her.”
Julius hesitated, but kept his face unchanged by the request. “You may.” He watched the tracker stride to Alesia’s position. She glanced curiously towards Julius before dismounting. After his nod of approval, she hopped down from her palfrey.
Zandra pulled in closer to Julius. “Are you certain of this?”
Without taking an eye off his daughter, “I am certain of nothing in this, other than this is the path laid before us.” Both Julius, Zandra watched closely.
Once Alesia dismounted, Ressilla crouched to meet her eye level. “May I see your hands, child?”
With dignity and grace, Alesia calmly kept her hands at her side. “My name is Alesia, and I am not a child.” Zandra chuckled quietly. That’s my girl.
Ressilla conceded, “As you wish, Alesia. I am Ressilla, and if I am to help you, I need to see what it is exactly that ails you.” Ressilla slowly lay open hands out in front of her.
Nodding her head slowly, Alesia lifted her palms into Ressilla’s open hands. Ressilla closed her eyes, the two were stonelike, save for the slow rise and fall of breathing that began to flow in sync with each other.
When her eyes opened, the two remained with locked gazes, then in an eye’s blink, it was over. Slowly releasing Alesia’s hands, the tracker rose. For an instant, it seemed her face was swept in curiosity, before returning to her normal stance of indifference. What was that?
Gradually opening, closing her fists, “Thank you, Ressilla.” The tracker nodded, making her way past the front of the party, off towards the tree lines without so much a glance at anyone else.
Julius walked his horse over towards Alesia, who seemed equally bewildered. “Are you alright?”
Alesia hopped back into her saddle, taking the time to fix her hair behind her head before replying. “Yes, father.” That hesitation could speak volumes.
Without turning away, Julius sat silently.
Sighing, Alesia continued, “I felt something inside, some strange tingling feeling – but my hands, they don’t hurt right now.”
A mix of emotion flushed over Julius’ face, but he examined one of Alesia’s hands. The swelling is much less than before. Perhaps there is more to this woman than we thought. Julius resolved with a soft smile for Alesia, though Ressilla was scarcely out of sight in the tree line when he turned in search of her. Time shall reveal her true intentions, soon enough.
Julius rode back to Zandra, “She is fine, but keep a close eye on her, especially if the tracker comes near her.”
Zandra strode in front of Julius’ horse before making off to Alesia’s position. With a smirk, “When have I not?”
It wasn’t long after, that the tracker emerged from the tree line with her own mount. Taking her place at the front of the party alongside Lodan, the two led out the procession northward, parallel to the Permian. One by one the group followed suit in pairs; from the two trackers at the front, to Gaius leading the packhorse at the rear. Garrett sat confidently in his saddle alongside Julius, “I’d say that went rather well.”
Still scouting about the approaching tree lines, “The journey has scarcely begun, my friend.”
Instinctually, Garrett was scouting himself, but the lightness of his tone was hard to ignore. “Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to thank me upon our return. I’m thinking a feast, paid for by your brother after he signs the peace between the realms.”
Julius snorted, bringing his attention back to the procession. “If we’re lucky, Axus may sign our pardons.” A coexistence between the realms… one day. His gaze fell upon the tracker at the forefront of the party. The lightness in the air fell from grasp.
~~~
The farther north they traveled, the thicker the Permian became. Stones protruded from the river’s surface adding a unique reverberance while the water rushed over, around them. The carob bark of the trees stood guard on the dense side of the forest on the other side of the river, while the canopies offered abundant shade, and excellent coverage from sight.
From the westward front past the canopies, Julius could see the tips of spires emerging from behind the trees. Not soon after, a pale stone bridge built in a wide grasping arc from one end of the Permian River to the other. With still, not a soul to be seen.
The bridge came upon them, but the tracker did not slow. Lodan glanced back and forth between the tracker to the bridge, bringing the party to a slowed pace. “Are we not taking the path through Pitchstone?
The tracker continued forward with barely a glance to Lodan, “We are.” Suspiciously, Lodan searched the forest on the western side of the river. She went on, “You will not see them coming.”
His eyes narrowed, but she failed to pay him any heed, “What searches for your presence, is not hidden in the trees of the west, nor the grasses of the east. What searches for you, lurks in the shadows.”
Lodan cut his horse in front of hers, forcing the party to a halt. “And how would the ‘shadows’ know we are here.”
Impassively, “There are forces that knew your presence before you stepped your first foot in the realm. Forces beyond even my grasp.”
Eyes were intent on the tracker now. An even mix of suspicion, dipped with curiosity. She reined up to face them all. “If we are to survive this, you must do as I say, without question.” She turned to Lodan, “All of you.”
Bringing her attention back to the party overall, “While it is my duty to assist you, it is not the duty of the realm to do the same. There are those that will hunt you, there are those that wish to ensnare you. There are those that will fear you, and there are those that will speak of you, just out of curiosity.”
With attention towards Alesia, “You are not the only ones that seek the power of the wisps. There are plenty that would slay the lot of you for a chance to gaze upon one.”
After a few eternal seconds of silence within the party, “We enter Pitchstone ‘after’ I have deemed to safe to enter.”
There was an uproar within the group. Jaecar snapped, “After you deem it safe? What’s to stop you from handing us over to those that would gladly spike our heads on a pike?”
Anger flared from her tone, “It would not serve my best interest to trade the company of yours, with the murderous intentions of another.”
Lodan fired back, “What exactly is, your best interest, tracker?”
Julius rose a hand bringing a quiet over the rising voices. “She is right. Though she has yet to earn our trust, let us not be so quick to reverse the card just yet.” Pray to your wisp, you do not prove me wrong.
Turning to Lodan, “Lodan is one of the best trackers in Novus Terros. I have no doubt his expertise will be of use. Our guidance falls into both your hands.”
Lodan glared the tracker down, but remains quiet. For that, I’ll take it.
With a heavy breath, Julius went on, “If we are not to enter Pitchstone, what is your plan then.”
Ignoring the glares, she rested her gaze upon Julius, “We make camp half a day’s north of here. This side of the river, far to the north, no one will come looking.”
With tensions all but visible in the air, Julius took command. “Then north we ride.”
The tracker took lead, ignoring the accusatory glances when the procession lined up once more. Lodan silently rode at her side, sternly facing the path ahead.
Eventually, the group advanced off the trail, into the grasslands alongside the Permian. Julius took the opportunity to ride up alongside the tracker. Keeping his voice low, but enough for Lodan to hear, “It would be in everyone’s best interest for the stages of this journey to be void of any ‘surprises’ within our control.”
She met his eyes with a mirror of authority. “There are details to our destination that even the Melacalyan cannot fathom. It would be in everyone’s best interest if you were ready for anything.”
Without backing down, Julius pressed her. “While we cannot be prepared for everything, we will know the route by which you take us, and the significant reasoning behind each checkpoint.”
She turned forward again, and her tone grew impassive. “For you to map out a way in again? Under less dire circumstances?”
“The more you teach us, the more we can teach those back in Novus Terros. People fear that which they do not understand, right? Help us to understand.”
The tracker rode in silence for a minute. Lodan kept his attention to himself, but was waiting for her answer as well. Finally, she replied, “Fine. But should your intentions rise to anything past ‘educational purposes’, you will rue crossing your border.” A start at least.
Julius nodded, and dropped his pace to fall farther back in the group. When he pulled in alongside Garrett again, he answered before Garrett could ask. “She should be more accommodating in the future.”
With a confident grin Garrett immediately answered back, “I had no doubt of it whatsoever.”
Minutes turned to hours rather quickly despite the silence. Slowly conversations picked up again and the tangible tensions began to lift. Giving more attention to the horizon again, over in the north Julius spotted the line of hills with the mountainous peaks at their center again. Curious formation.
In the faintest depths of his perception, a near silent wail brushed through his ears. Like a shrill inhaled breath of a creature burned alive. It was enough to make the skin crawl. There was nothing around them, but Julius’ attention was drawn to the three peaks off in the distance.
The tracker called over her shoulder, “Obsidius’ Crown, is the ring of hills that surround the three mountains that make up the Seraphim’s Fortress.” All eyes fell upon her. “We would do well to not to tread anywhere near there.” A start indeed.
~~~
The further north they traveled, the more trees began to take hold of the grasslands. Not quite dense, but not quite sparse either. As the hours pressed on, the star of day grew red in fire, outstretching tendrils that held on to the final moments of day before giving way to the darkness to come.
By the time night fell upon them, the tracker had chosen the site to stop for the evening. A good pocket of trees to conceal themselves in, should any creature or being, be out and about. Gaius would take the first evening shift to watch out over the rest of the party, followed by Jaecar early in the morning.
The Enclave set up a small circle of tents surrounding the fire they dug into the ground. Both Julius and the tracker were tying off hammocks between the nearby trees, an excellent evening for a dialogue with the stars.
Alesia walked up to the tracker while she roped one end around the trunk of a pine. Curiously, Alesia stared while the tracker tied off the rope. “Why don’t our realms mix?”
Julius’ head shot to her direction, but neither Alesia or the tracker turned to face him.
The tracker moved to the other tree to adjust the tightness on the other end of her makeshift hammock. “Well, to some extent they do, we have the gathering of the Invictus Trials each cycle at The Antherope Sanctum. Where guilds of all three realms come together.”
Alesia pressed on, “Ok, what about our two realms in particular?”
The tracker gave a tug on her knot and flicked at the suspension between the trees. “Why do you think so, Alesia?”
Without hesitation, Alesia replied, “Well, from what I know many cycles ago, God gave us this land as a chance to start anew, after our ancestors fell from grace. Some of which however, idolized other gods and took the Eden he gave us, for granted. Some chose to embrace dark powers we were not meant to embrace…” She paused before continuing. “It is said, they lost their humanity.”
Ressilla smirked, “That we are savages, no?”
Alesia stood flabbergasted, but not frozen, “Not quite, more that they lost their way.”
The tracker smiled, watching Alesia intently now. “Well Alesia, there is more than one side to a story, and what the Melacalyan are taught growing up differs slightly. Many cycles ago, mankind took their first steps upon the land. They came lost, broken, so overcome in their downfall that they believed they were on the cusp of their inevitable demise.
“The wisps that watch over these realms aided them, taught them how to survive anew, and not repeat their mistakes of old. In return for embracing the new way of life, the wisps bestowed gifts onto them, to bring the likeness of mankind more to the wisps. They were taught the ways of eneryia, and how to harness the flow of their own potential.
“Even more so, the wisps bestowed gifts onto the first leaders; instruments to guide their paths into the future. Once the gifts were received, and the populations spread across the realms, the wisps returned to Oblivion, where they watch over the realms.
“Even Novus Terros?”
With a glance to Julius’ watchful eye, the tracker laid down in her hammock. “Ah, that is a story for another evening.”
“I guess there are two sides of every story.”
Laying in her hammock, hands folded, the tracker receded into the restful arch of the hammock’s tension. “There are an infinite multitude of perspectives to any story, but now you know more than you knew before.”
Nodding, Alesia headed back to the tents. “Goodnight, Ressilla.” The tracker watched silently as she turned.
Julius lay in his own hammock, the rest of the camp in slumber. The only sound came from the soft cackle of a dying flame, leaving a warm glow to illuminate Alesia as she strode towards their tent. The stars themselves painted a soft white radiance on the grasslands around them, but under the cover of the trees we are mere shadows in the night.
Gaius stood with his back against a nearby trunk watching out over the empty grasses. May they remain that way. One day closer to our goal.
Emerging from their tent with his cloak wrapped under her arm, Alesia whispered ‘goodnight’ as she approached Julius’ hammock. Rather than turn back to the tent, Alesia climbed into the hammock startling Julius for a moment while the hammock rocked as she settled under his arm. The rope creaked from the swaying movement, till it settled in a slow rock. “Have you finished interrogating our tracker for the evening?”
Eyes caught in the light of the stars, she gazed back at them. “For tonight, yes.” Making herself comfortable, Alesia spread the cloak out over the both of them.
The atmospheric lullaby of the insect’s cadence began to take its toll, and with enough passing minutes of silence, Julius’ eyes began to grow heavy. Despite his gaze drawing darkness, his hand autonomously ran through Alesia’s hair.
“Father?” Julius peered down at his chest to meet Alesia’s gaze, not scarcely as tired as she should be.
With her head resting on his breathing chest, “Can you tell me a story before we sleep?”
Grinning back, “Did you not already have your fair share from the tracker?”
Nestling deeper under his arm, she persisted with a whisper, “Tell me a story of Cassandreya.”
Julius raised his head slightly to catch a glimpse of Gaius; who found his way of spending the eve by whittling under the outmost tree overlooking their camp.
“One telling of Cassandreya, then to sleep with you.” Alesia beamed, patiently waiting. Without any ounce of tiredness.
“Before there was a separation of the realms, before the Terros Enclave, before Novus Terros itself, there was indeed a time where our peoples were one. There are many who are attributed to guiding us to where we are now, and one of which was; Foundress Cassandreya, of Basaixe.
In fact, she lived not too far from where we are now. The city resides just north of here, past the mountain ring, right on the cusp of the Tethys Sea; on the western shore that sits between the realms.
It is said the beach’s shores are crystalline black, each grain of sand dipped in ink. Painting a rare sight indeed. When the day’s light falls upon it, the radiant heat absorbed is enough to warm one who would walk the sands later that night. The waters that lead to the Tethys Sea are clear as glass, making the rise and fall of the tides appear waves of obsidian washing over the shores.
Alesia tugged on Julius’ shirt. “What about Cassandreya?”
Gently moving her hand aside, “I was getting to that.”
“Cassandreya. She was the form of absolute beauty. Many painters would not even attempt to capture her portrait for fear of failure to embody her essence. The portrait you’ve seen that hangs in Kyan is the only one known to exist. Her skin was said to be smooth as silk, her hair radiant like the light of day. But do not let the mask of her beauty betray you, she was as sharp in wit as she was soft in beauty.
Her ties with the people were unparalleled. As a foundress, the people trusted, respected, and embraced her judgment without question as Basaixe rose from village to city. She was one of the selected to guide the people into the new dawn.”
Alesia lay patiently quiet beside Julius.
“Our story brings us on the cusp of midsummer; the mark of the summer solstice. It would be this time of cycle where the fish in the Tethys Sea were the most bountiful. The harvest brought in during midsummer was enough to feed the growing populace alone, allowing for the city to use other supplies as monetary exports to the other…”
Julius glanced down at his yawning daughter, “Am I boring you with trade and markets?”
Alesia jabbed him playfully in the ribs this time, “I will force myself awake if we continue to talk of trade and markets.”
Julius chuckled, “So be it. Well on the cusp of midsummer, a particular day Cassandreya stood out over her pearl marble balcony, overlooking the Tethys Sea. Vibrant vines cascaded the pillars around her, and as she looked out across the Tethys Sea, her hair flowing softly in the warm breeze.
“Wherever she went, she wore a bronzed chain with a unique stone hung low on her chest. A stone with a naturally occurring circular hole, an extremely rare find. – But that is a story for another eve. For you see this midsummer was quite the trial for our Cassandreya. And despite her leadership and knowledge the people would turn on her.”
Alesia spoke softly and curiously, “Oh? Why would they do that?”
“Every Midsummer a plague would fall upon the shores of the city, and every cycle, the villagers would storm the castle to complain that something needed to be done. The situation grew worse each cycle, as the population grew, and the city expanded, more mouths needed to be fed.
“During the midsummer months the creatures would rise from the depths of the ocean and feed from the fisherman’s nets themselves. The people of Basaixe called them water basilisks. Wretched looking creatures were about a meter in length, and double that with their long thin tail that would whip behind them as they hunted their prey.
“The water basilisks weren’t particularly well armored reptiles, their scales were light, often golden brown, but their bodies were long and agile. They were so quick on their legs that they could swim from under the water and sprint across the surface in a snap of a finger. Their tail wading behind them like the crack of a whip.
“One moment you’d be pulling your nets over the side of your boat, and in the next instant a water basilisk’s tail would crack the net open, spilling the day’s catch back into the sea for them to dive under and take.
“Even if one managed to get a decent haul onboard, the beasts would use their elongated toes and fingers to leap from the moving waters, snatch a fish in its mouth, and dive back under water before the fisherman had a chance to react.
“Thousands of these water basilisks would emerge every cycle, strip the waters clean, and if a fisherman wasn’t quick enough, the basilisks would pull them down with them. Into the abysmal chasm that lay below the Tethys Sea.”
Alesia’s attention was unwavering, dial it back Julius, she’ll be more awake than ever at this rate.
“The people prayed for an end to the plague, but to no avail. Each cycle the basilisks grew in number, and all attempts to thwart or hunt the creatures went all in vain. Thus, they turned their anger towards something tangible, their leader.”
With a careful glance to Alesia, “After all, change what you can control, not that which you cannot.
“This particular cycle, the city faced a mass starvation that would hinder the growth of the city significantly. The city’s people stood before Cassandreya’s balcony with an ultimatum. She would have to put an end to the water basilisks that plagued them or give up her position over the city.”
Alesia jumped in, “That’s quite a task to be handed when no one else seems to offer a solution.”
Julius nodded, “Well, the city people had their plan, it wasn’t necessarily a good one, but it was their plan. To wage war with the sea and wait the approaching cycle for the water basilisks to emerge once more. But instead of being met with fishing boats they would be met with sword and spear.
“She warned the people that their actions were foolish and an attempt to fight the creatures would only make matters worse. Her plan was to offer the basilisks food of the land. That a sacrifice was in order. She proposed taking yew berries that grew in abundance inland and north of the city. Taking these yew berries, which the people did not use for food anyway, she meant to fill the bellies of the beasts with the yew berries, thus leaving the fish for the fisherman.
“Needless to say, the people were far more intrigued with spearing a basilisk and eating it. Riled up from cycles of lost harvests, Cassandreya’s words went unheeded.”
Julius meticulously snapped his finger. “Just like that, the people lost faith.
“When midsummer came the people went out to the waters as they always did. But instead of fishing boats they brought quadriremes, long ships, and other vessels of war to fight back against the plague that would soon fall upon them.
“When day broke, a deepening fog rolled in with the rise of daylight. Wispy tendrils of haze outstretched fingers at the sides of the boats, obscuring the water’s depths. The first of the water basilisks emerged from the depths of the Tethys as darkened shadows, and the city folk met the beasts head on sending waves of spears at the ones that dared near the surface.
“It did not take long for the masses to arrive, and arise they did out from the waters, and the creatures stormed the boats in chaotic rage. Their tails which before were an instrument of their stability across the waters, became a whip of fate for anyone that got in their path. Scarcely hours in and many of the ships were overtaken and swarming with the water basilisks.
“And just when all was seemed to be lost, in the midst of the chaos, a fishing vessel sailed to the forefront of the siege. At its bow, Cassandreya stood with a basket on her hip while she searched out into the waters.
“All around her the confrontation loomed, bodies of the city people and water basilisk alike riddled the waters. Some of the ship’s captains tried to make way to her once they caught eye of her in the middle of it all. None could break past the wall of basilisks overwhelming the people. Then, the unthinkable happened.”
Alesia’s eyes were finally beginning to draw heavy. “What happened?” She whispered softly.
“A water basilisk came to the bow of Cassandreya’s vessel, and scurried its way on top of the surface to meet her eye to eye. As the creature approached, it dug its grip into the wood and stared Cassandreya down while she stood precariously before the beast.
“The creature hissed violently sending a shrill through the air. It is said that at that moment all of the city folk snapped their attention towards the sound, to find their leader face to face with the water basilisk.
“Cassandreya held steadfast, she did not falter. In fact, she drew closer, holding the basket of yew berries out before the beast. With large grease black eyes staring down at her, with jaws capable of snapping her head off at the very moment – instead the creature dipped its jaw into the basket and threw its head back while it ate a fistful of berries.
“The sight was enough to still the scene around them. A seemingly carnivorous creature, a plague upon the city of Basaixe, calmed by a yew berry to which the people themselves couldn’t even eat. As it reached its neck to take more from Cassandreya’s basket, she tossed the basket upside down and spilled the berries into the sea beside the bow. The berries penetrated the surface and began to plunge immediately, and with that, the basilisk turned from the bow and dove in after the berries. One by one the others nearby followed suit. Separating from the wooden planks of the surrounding ships and diving in with their brethren.
“Cassandreya and the few she brought with her, began dumping baskets of berries over the sides of the vessel, and more and more of the creatures submerged from the surface in pursuit of the berries. The battle subsided as the people watched in a mix of confusion and awe, and the water basilisks swarmed the submerging berries in their full masses.
“From that day forward, every cycle at the start of midsummer, it is tradition to bring baskets of yew berries to the Tethys Sea and cast them down into the chasm as tribute, keeping the water basilisks at bay.”
Julius gazed upwards at the heavens, “She recognized the necessity for tribute, for sacrifice. She was one of the great leaders of old, a true foundress for our people…” Taken from us before her time.
After many moments of silence Julius peered down at Alesia’s motionless body, save for the soft hint of her breathing. Slowly he adjusted his position to kiss her gently on the forehead, and sank back into the hammock to drift off himself.
From the corner of his eye, he scouted Gaius still whittling away on what appeared to be a winged creature of some sort. He scouted the silence of the camp, the now dead flames of the fire left only the outlines of red embers in its wake. He scouted the tracker staring him down in kind. She lay as if she were ready to pass out at a moment’s notice, but her eyes said she was just as alert, if not more than Gaius will be.