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Chapter 3: Not a Dream

The sun blazed its blinding light beyond the horizon as Adel trained. Sweat dripped across the white mark that streaked his upper snout, while his brown eyes glared at the target. The dummy, a ragged bag filled with a condensed bundle of straw, stood helplessly on its crooked pole. Sword raised in the air, Adel swung at it wounding the fabric skin as its flesh scattered. He followed with a few more strikes, damaging the dummy to the point there was more straw than there was bag.

Adel stood back and stared at his work. His haircoat was drenched in cold sweat while he panted tiredly. He glanced around the empty training grounds, kneeling on the great sword that he and his uncle crafted from scratch. The orner looked down from exhaustion. Vivid memories of the ashes descending on the corpses of innocents being consumed flashed before his eyes. Adel gripped his blade tensely as the orb from his dream appeared in his vision. He looked back at the dummy, panting even harder as his muscles stiffened. Adel picked his sword and swung at it more aggressively than before, but on contact the orner felt the soreness of his body from being overworked. Gasping from the pain, he gave the dummy one last glance, but he didn’t see it this time. Instead he saw the figure that pounced on him in his dream. Adel’s eyes widened as he began to stutter. The figure opened its fanged jaws as blood dripped out while its glaring eyes only said death. The orner backed off, but did not run. Instead, he scowled at the murderer and with a striking yell whipped his blade at its neck, sending its head flying with a trail of straw.

Adel squinted realizing it was a hallucination. He sighed, but grinned at the same time. Being pleased to see himself not falter, for it was a sign he thought that his training was paying off. Even though it wasn’t real, he knew someday it would be, but by then he hoped to be ready. Adel wasn’t a defenseless child anymore. He could fight, and he won’t let anyone get in his way from protecting whatever he has left in his life. Nothing.

“Fascinating! I have never seen so much rage from an orner before. A very compelling sight.” A mysterious voice said from behind while rapidly clapping its hands. Adel froze. Being thrown off guard thinking he was the only one in the field. He didn’t remember hearing anyone enter, but it was possible that the stranger came in while Adel was hallucinating. “Oh go on now, did not mean to interrupt you as you seemed to have been living in the moment. Now maybe those stabbing motions, ah yes one of those.” His voice wasn’t so deep, but had a tone giving the impression that he was much older than Adel. His accent was foreign, but strangely enough spoke fluent Duachaighn. After a brief moment of thinking to himself, the orner turned around just to see an orcescend with a light grin sitting on a stack of hay.

Adel stared back at him speechless while he rested his sword on his shoulder. They gave each other looks for a few moments, till the stranger realized the awkwardness of the situation. He then attempted to conversate, “oh it seems you have finished, might as well introduce myself. I am Batal Kin Yasal, but please call me Batal. Though try to avoid Mr. Yasal, it makes me feel elderly.”

“Oh? Alright I guess,” Adel refrained from looking at him as Batal studied his stature with his amber eyes and rectangular pupils. “It is very nice to meet you Mr. - er, I mean Batal, however I should be heading back.” He sheathed his sword and turned towards the exit.

“Ah, no worries my friend, but where may I ask?”

“Oh? To town of course. Where else would I go?”

“Ah splendid,” Batal continued with Adel as they headed towards the gate. The training grounds weren't big, containing a small stable with a table displaying different weapons, supplies and replacement dummies. There were two main locations on the field, one for practicing on targets and dummies, while the other half was an empty space for one on one combat. “May I ask what your name is, young one?”

“Adel.” He kept on walking trying to give the orcescend as little attention as possible.

“Well Adel, I will express myself so you may understand who I am and why I’m here. As you can tell I am not from these islands.” The young orner glanced at him, he noticed his clothing was a style he had never seen before. A long brown robe shrouded down his body and was open from the front exposing a beige vest underneath. His pants were a darker brown to his robe and severely baggy, with wooden sandals that strapped around his cloven hooves. Upon his back was a large bag with many pockets, all full to the rim. “I am an adventurer, a discoverer, a revealer of ancient secrets that gives us answers to our questions. Or rather more questions than answers, which can get a little irritating sometimes.”

Adel halted and faced Batal, who was around half his height. Curiosity crossed his mind, since he never met anyone from outside the Craid, at least not properly. He observed the long curved horned creature a bit more, noticing his light tanned fur that was not common for orcescends on the isles to have. If he was telling the truth Adel thought, then it wouldn’t hurt to learn more from the stranger. “So you have traveled the four corners, is that what I am getting?”

Batal chuckled, “Precisely! Well I wouldn’t necessarily say corners; but it works. I am assuming that some of my tales have reached your lands here, it is possible you have heard of them, yes?”

“Not that I can think of, I’m not much of a person to learn of the outside world. I don’t even know how to read.” Then a not so distant memory emerged, “Actually, there is one occasion. I have heard at the smithy from a few folks mentioning a non-regand passing through the empire on multiple occasions. Would this happen to be you?”

“Indeed that is me, now that may strange you how that is possible since I am not one of their kind.” He smiled with a bit of excitement.

“The only ones that I know can cross the borders are merchants. But as you said you are not from here. So where are you from?”

“Well young one. I am from the far east, a desert I may add, with rocky mountains and dunes spanning farther than the eye can see. My people are known to be merchants, since our geographical location grants us many opportunities for trade.”

“A desert dweller?” Adel was astonished, “I haven’t heard much about them, or anything at all. I myself only know little of our neighbors. The only time, at least up north here, where we get information about them is through wars. That is how it has been for most of my life. But the idea that your people are merchants, is that how you are able to cross the empire?” Adel asked.

“Not exactly. They know what I am, but I share little information with them on my journeys these recent times. It is a bit of a long story, my ability however of being able to traverse their lands involves bewildering politics that I rather not get into. Regands are really keen to stick their noses on other people's business.” Batal’s voice was less buoyant on that subject matter, “but in terms of knowledge being passed to the Duachaigh from the empire was going to become a reality at some point if you haven’t known. However, because of the rising tensions it seems to be less of a reality than hoped. Relations between nations can get really tricky. Though I myself am not a diplomat, I have gotten involved with diplomacy quite a bit. But that stuff has always been one of my least favorite things in my journeys. Par the moments where I’ve been close to brutal death, though got some adrenaline out of those at least.”

Hearing Batal’s words, Adel thought about Lain leaving the Craid isles to Ercua. Saddened on remembering he may never see his friend again, he touched his side hip where the letter and the medallion was hidden underneath his cloak. Upon touching it, a memory fragment about the note started to emerge, entailing towards the medallion. But before he could grasp it, sudden movement awoke from the orcescend’s bag, causing the memory to slip away.

Batal shook and his eyes widened. He smiled nervously as he darted his hands behind his back to prevent the bag from losing balance. “Is everything alright there?” Adel asked while curiously trying to peek behind the adventurer.

“Oh it’s fine, heh heh… it’s nothing to worry about.” Batal answered abruptly. With a large jerk the bag pushed him towards Adel, almost dropping him to the ground. “Uh, ok maybe there is something, but promise to keep it as our secret?” The orner nodded. Batal struggled on removing his bag and clumsily placed it on the ground. He opened the top flap, but whatever was moving within started shaking violently, so he stuffed one of his arms in to contain the commotion. “Just give me a moment please.”

Adel gave out a small sigh and glanced at his left hip. He uncovered the cloak from it revealing the letter and medallion that were strapped underneath the thick rope. While doing so, the sun’s reflection bounced off the golden piece and brightened a beam towards Batal’s left eye. The orcescend flinched, almost losing grip. He gazed at the blinding source trying to see past the shine. When he was finally able to see what it was, his pupils dilated from the sight of the medallion. “Where did you get that?” Batal asked in suspicion.

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Adel looked at him, realizing he was staring at the golden piece. A troublesome feeling grew on him. “It is from a friend, he sent it to me from the south of the Craid as a gift.”

“From the south you say? Does he happen to be an orceul in the military by any chance?”

Adel was shocked. “How do you know…” then the same memory that slipped from before returned, but this time as clear as day. “Wait, you’re the one that Lain mentioned. The orcescend traveling north in search of someone.”

His bag started to tremble more violently. “Ah so that’s the name of the thief.”

“He’s no thief!”

“A thief he is indeed! While I continued on my adventure I noticed that I somehow left the artifact back at the tavern. I rushed over there as quickly as I could, but when I arrived I saw the thief handing it to that bacco. However, it headed northwards and so I decided to continue on thinking I may bump into it eventually, and here we are… eh, would you stop moving you stupid ball!” The bag tumbled from Batal’s grasp and landed with a hard thud. Out of the bag, a strange white sphere rolled into the open towards the orner. Staring at it immensely, a sense of dread slowly grew upon Adel, seeming familiar to him. The ball started to judder once more as Batal got up and slowly walked towards. Strangely enough, the sphere rolled slightly closer towards Adel on its own. “Now don’t move, this is the most intense I have ever seen it be.”

“What do you mean, I don’t understand… wha… what is it?”

“It’s the reason for my journey, in fact it was guiding me. I had no knowledge of where or what it was leading me towards, but interestingly it led me to you.” Adel looked back at the ball and panicked when he noticed something outlandish on the surface facing his direction. A circle was engraved on it, with a line horizontally splitting it in half. Adel’s ears that pointed upwards like semi curled leaves were muffled by a humming sound, but heard horrific whispers of quiet voices. He was unable to understand them while they hissed and growled, haunting his very mind. The ball’s uncanniness grew, increasing by the second till he remembered the ball from his dreams. Adel’s oval pupils contracted as the engraved circle opened like eyelids, followed by a bright white light shooting towards the orner.

The quiet voices intensified into obnoxious chaos. Adel still couldn’t understand them as they blared horrendously. One after another images appeared before him in rapid motion, making it hard for the orner to make of them. The sphere from his dreams arose from nothing, staring motionlessly in the warping scenery that submerged into his nightmares. Till they suddenly appeared on a rocky pathway in between snow covered mountains. The horde of voices loudened every moment followed with crashing sounds from the ground and sky. A distorted voice overtook the others phrasing only one statement, “Return!”

Adel hollered from the madness while holding his head with both his palms as he collapsed. The horrific vision came to an end, even though it felt long, he realized it took less time than a blink of an eye. “Are you alright?” Batal rushed to his aid, “that flash of light got you there didn’t it.” Batal wasn’t aware of what Adel experienced at that very moment since he was on the other side.

The orner swiftly snatched his sword from the ground and unsheathed it from its holder. He jumped back on his hooves and stood guard against the motionless object that was lying still. “What is this thing you brought here!?” Demanded Adel in aghast while his eyes were fixed on the orb. “I have seen this cursed item in my dreams, bringing my life's horrors back to me! Magic is it?! If this is a harbinger of destruction then I’ll eradicate it before it brings ruin to this town! I won’t let it happen again!”

“No, there must be a misunder-” before Batal could finish, he was startled by Adel swinging his sword in the air to strike it. But ahead of the orner letting loose, the orcescend snatched the ball and hid it under his arms. “Lower your guard friend, there is nothing to be afraid of! As far as I am aware this thing hasn’t done anyone harm! I have had it for months now and I can assure you it is harmless!”

“Then tell me what it is!”

“Put down your weapon first then I will tell you. You have my word.” Adel kept his guard up for a few moments until he submitted to Batal’s request. The ball was small, almost the size of Batal’s hands, but to Adel it was smaller than his palms. “In truth, I do not know. This orb was the latest of my findings around a year ago. I brought it to my home abode to study it within my relics chamber. That same night while studying it, something mesmerizing occurred. It awoke as if it was in slumber and stared at me, being seemingly aware of my presence. It looked and rolled around the table while making a strange creaking noise. Then it noticed the artifacts displayed on my wall. I was astonished, for I have never seen a relic like this one. But I never thought I would be even more stunned when the ones on the wall started shaking and making the same noises as it did. I was in awe while observing the relics, as I noticed lights weaved upon their magnificent designs which they all shared.

“At that moment it appeared to me that all of these artifacts were connected. But I didn’t know how. A moment after, the orb stopped gazing upon them and looked upwards. A light, of brightness closely on par with the sun thus almost blinded me, shot from its eye illuminating the chamber. It lasted for a while till it stopped and looked north west. It proceeded in that direction, but before it rolled off the table I grabbed and contained it. I wanted to know where it was heading, so before I allowed the orb to continue I made sure all of my essentials were ready for the adventure it had in store. So there I went, with the sphere and the other artifacts. For three months I held the orb in my bag and followed where it directed me. At first I thought it was leading me to another object, but I disclosed to surrounding people who questioned where I was off that I was trying to find someone I knew. I did not want anyone else to know about the ball in order to prevent theft, as right now its value is incomprehensible. However, it is for sure a surprise that its attraction led all the way to you.”

Adel stared bitterly at the orb, despite what the orcescend explained, he didn’t trust it. Then it came to him, the medallion was one of the relics. He pulled the medallion from his hip and examined it, then back at the sphere. They had the same type of design. “So this gold piece is a relic?”

“It is indeed.”

“Take it then.” He tossed the medallion at Batal’s hooves, “if it is related to that cursed thing, then I don’t want anything to do with it.” The adventurer picked the gold piece up and gently placed it within his bag.

“Well that is a shame.” Batal replied as if nothing bad happened, “I was hoping maybe I could have taken you back with me if you were a relic.” Then an idea occurred to him, “or maybe I could.” Adel backed his head awkwardly, “no seriously, I’d like to invite you on a journey with me back to my abode-”

“Wait, you are serious about wanting to take me with you?”

“Yes of course!” Batal replied enthusiastically, giving out a smile while his hooves tapped a bit.

Adel looked at him with a straight face then turned towards the gate, “Nope, not happening.” The orcescend’s enthusiasm died as he froze and continued staring where the orner formerly stood with his jaw unhinged.

“Wait, but you’re… or we I may add, are missing an opportunity!” Batal called out as he ran after him. “Adel, that was your name right my friend? Don’t you see what we are dealing with here, a discovery of a lifetime! An artifact from the unknown, possibly one of the oldest and most valuable I have ever discovered, connected somehow to you!”

“You know what I see,” grunted Adel, “an orb of dark magic that brings disaster upon innocents. As I have said, it has appeared during nightmares reflecting the most atrocious time of my life. Coincidentally it has been going on the same amount of time as that thing has been awake, thanks to you. And quit calling me your friend!”

Batal ran in front of Adel stopping his footing, “Please reconsider, who knows what those dreams truly mean.”

“I will not!” The orner furiously exclaimed to the adventurer, “Now move aside, I have work to get to.” He proceeded on walking, unintentionally bumping into Batal who lowered his gaze in disappointment. Adel stopped again and gave out a sigh, “Have you checked the town’s inn yet? If you happen to be staying in tonight you might as well find a place to sleep.”

Batal looked up with a smile, “Oh don’t worry, I arrived there last night. But thank you friend.” Adel strolled on while the orcescend kept standing. His smile altered to a frown as he looked down at the sphere laying on his hands. The ball kept still as its eye stayed focused on the retreating orner, “I don’t know what it is you want from him. But if he does not comply on coming, then I have no choice but to leave empty handed. I guess this journey will remain a mystery.”

Adel arrived at the smithy where Calios was getting ready to work. “Now there is my nephew. I was starting to get worried that you were going to be late again,” he called out. But he noticed an aurora of stress emitting from him. “Is everything alright my boy? You seem uneased.”

“I’m fine uncle,” Adel replied softly, “just a bit tired from training.”

“Well I hope ye didn’t tire too much lad, I still need ya to work. Now get ye self ready, there be metal to mold.” Mr. Grumac, an ornar, ordered from within the smithy.

Adel entered their home and placed his sword with frailness. He took a deep breath while squeezing his eyes closed. Fragments of the unsettling voices zoomed by his ears while the memories of the recent events were recalled. The orner managed to snap himself back to the present, but his disturbances remained. Nevertheless, he picked his apron from the small chest and headed outside to the smithy.

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