image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53959022055_126b5448e1_m.jpg] Map Of Savarix

Resto stares at the now crinkled map, the bookshelf, and back at the map. He was currently looking for a copy of the map or maybe even a map of the world of Hyria. As he explores the empty library, he sees a strange, black, and purple colored book shaped almost like a square rather than a rectangle. As he stares at it, the door behind him suddenly opens, and Heaim stands at the library entrance.

“There you are! I was looking all over for you.” Resto would look back, swinging his arm down with the map still in his hand. ‘Were you now? I’m charmed.’ She shakes her head. ‘Just- come back to the back of the town, near the church. I need your help for some errands.’ She would leave as she said that. Resto sighs, walking out of the library and heading towards the back exit of the village.

The following night, Heaim got Resto in her tavern for free. He bathed, scrubbed off whatever goo and blood he had left on him, and slept very well that night. He still couldn’t stop thinking about Archen. The man had an aura to him like no other man he’s ever come across. Well… It's not like he remembers the people he’s encountered too well. After all, his memories have allowed him to live for only about a week. The morning sun shines down as people play in the road, taverns jump with happy green-eyed folk, and goods get transported through carriage and other means. Resto avoids all the people swiftly, and eventually makes it to the church. He saw Heaim and Del both standing next to the bench that Resto and Heaim shared yesterday. He waved as he approached the two.

“What’s this about? Another formal introduction?” ‘Not this time.’ Said Heaim quickly, pointing to the village exit doors. ‘I need you and Del to go and collect some herbs. Specifically, prokkelda. It’s a herb that creates a hypnosis potion when mixed with Cotleaf. I will combine it with another and create an elixir that undoes hypnosis immediately.’ Resto would cross his arms. ‘Why would you need that?’ She smiled deviously. ‘Well, the sorcery is still in effect here. I think an elixir as powerful as that could counter the spell, and we can finally leave this place.’ Resto nodded. ‘Now you two wait here, I must prepare for our little trip.’ She would say, leaving and heading back to her home.

Resto sighed, leaning on the bench and looking at Del, who was standing there awkwardly. He didn’t know whether he wanted to talk to the girl. She looked miserable. ‘So, uh… What have you been up to?’ Del wouldn’t look at him but would respond. ‘Why do you care?’ ‘Well, I was just… Wondering. Shouldn’t we get along? If we want to get those herbs for your mother, I think that’s a good idea.’ Del knew the man had a point. She would turn to him, finally looking him in the eyes. ‘Fine. I’ll get along but with some rules.

You don’t flirt or do anything with my mom while we’re out. You won’t disregard or go easy on me because I'm a kid. And lastly… You stay out of my way.’ Resto was shocked. This kid had some nerves. Though he didn’t mind, having someone talk to him like this was refreshing. ‘Alright, alright, I got it… But how old are you anyway?’ ‘Fifty-seven.’ If Resto had a drink, he’d have spit it out by now. He stares at the girl with a gobsmacked expression. ‘Is something wrong- oh right, you probably don’t know. Elf years are different. Fifty means I'm fifteen in human years.’ Resto would sigh in relief for a moment. He thought this more petite girl was older than him… That was quite a shock. ‘How old are you? You look like your One hundred and s-…Ah, right. Human. So that’d be…’ He saves her time as she begins to count on her fingers. ‘I’m in my late twenties or early thirties. I… Can’t remember.’

She would put her fingers down, looking at him with casual intent. ‘Don’t remember? A spell? Hit your head?’ ‘Maybe one of those. Maybe something else. Couldn’t tell you.’ Del nods and gets a slight smirk. ‘So you lose your memories, wake up, and the first thing you do is bang my mom?’ Resto almost laughed. The kid had some jokes to her- ones that were funny. Before he can answer, footsteps are heard coming closer. Heaim would approach a cute flower in her long white hair, tied up in a but. She wore a white dress, showing her slender figure and beautiful face. Resto, again, stared for longer than he should’ve. Del rolls her eyes, turns her body towards the village exit, and begins to walk. ‘Come on, soul lovers, off we go.’ The two, staring at each other, would snap out of it, quickly following Del out of the village.

Outside the village were roads that led to other towns, including the first city, Cilla. Directly in front of the village was a large forest, sprawling with all kinds of monsters. They all stop as Heaim looks at the large fields next to Eatoruun. Flowers would sprawl through each grass piece, making the outside of Eatoruun look like a haven full of beautiful surprises. Resto would see these many flowers and begin to ponder. ‘How are we going to find the stuff you're looking for? I mean, everywhere we step, there's a new flower.’ Heaim doesn’t answer. She continues to look, her head moving in all kinds of directions. ‘Look for a purple flower. The stem, bud, peddles- everything is purple. If you find multiple ones that are purple, pick them up as well.’ The two nod and split up to look for the flowers.

There was too much- Resto thought as he tried to maneuver his body, so he didn’t step on the flowers. I'm looking for a purple one. Apparently, it's all purple and very rare. As he walks, he begins to doubt his peers as the two elves come up short. The day dwindles- the sun slowly falls as it becomes a little over half midday. Resto would sit down, relaxing his breath from all the walking. He darts his eyes left to see an entirely purple flower shining in what was left of the sun. He smiles, standing to pick it up. It puts up quite a fight as he yanks it from the ground, but just as he does-

It's gone. A large, more significant than anything he’s ever seen before, bird swoops down, grabbing the flower with its large mouth as it would fly up. Resto would stare at it, the other two seeing the large, golden-brown bird fly up with the flower. Its large wings flapping in the wind. ‘A Craven!?’ Heaim would yell, Resto running over. ‘What’s that?’ ‘A Craven! These species of birds don’t ever come out to Savarix… What is…’ Del would yank the bow and arrows from her back, aiming directly at the giant bird. ‘No time, Ma! This bastard’s got the Prokkelda!’ She would yell, shooting an arrow at the bird, in which it swiftly missed the enormous creature. The Craven circled the sky above the three as if mocking them. Resto would pull his axe and shield out, banging his axe on it as it made a loud noise. The craven’s large eyes dart towards the man as it swoops at an unbelievable speed and attacks. Resto barely puts up his shield to block, but even then, a talon scratches his hip, Resto wincing in the process.

It flies back up again, circling and getting ready to pounce. Del would squint, not shooting it. She looks at Resto. ‘Bang that shield again. And when it attacks, get on it’s back.’ ‘What!? Why-‘ ‘Just do it!’ She yells at him, Resto hesitantly banging on his shield once more as the bird swoops. This time, Resto blocks with the shield, the creature peck banging loudly as it deflects off it. In one smooth motion, Resto hops on the birds back, and takes flight with it. The bird still dazed from hitting the shield, swaying a little in the air. Resto looks down at the other two, gulping- He wasn't too fond of heights, and being this high up wasn't on his bucket list. He would read his axe as he slams it down on the back of the creature's neck. It cries out, shaking violently as if to shake the man off its back. Resto would lose his footing, sliding off, grabbing on a loose part of the skin on its back as he dangles.

‘GRAHHH—FUCK!” He yells as he flies rapidly in the air, barely holding on. ‘DO SOMETHING KID!!’ He yells down as Del shakes slightly. She closes her eyes, concentrating as he prepares her bow and arrow. ‘I TOLD YOU…’ She would let go, the arrow traveling through the air. ‘NOT TO CALL ME KID!!’ She screams at him, the arrow spiraling mid-air as it pierces the creature right in the left eye. He smirked, climbing back up as it stopped flying for a moment. It begins to lose its balance, flying downwards as it can’t see. Resto grabbed his axe, walking multiple times at the creature's neck; it was crying out louder as the two crashed down hard. Resto gets flung off its back, crashing into a nearby flower den as he grunts, holding his back. The creature twitches, still barely alive, as it tries to fly.

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It fails, its wings being too damaged by the crash landing. Resto gets up, walking over as he swings the axe down one last time on the creature's skull, hearing a crack as it would perish. The two walk over, seeing the dead Craven and Resto, who had dirt all over his face and a bloody axe. “You sure are reckless.” Said Del, pulling the arrow out of the craven’s eye. ‘Me? What if you missed it? I’d be a pile of goop on the ground If I fell.’ Del smiles as Heaim picks up the all-purple flower. It was damaged- but still intact. ‘This should be good enough.’ She turns back to the village, as she begins to walk back. Resto followed and walking next to her. Del followed the two from behind.

‘What are you going to do now?’ Heaim asks Resto, who looks at her in return. “Gonna hit the library before night. There’s a book there I want to read.’ Heaim would giggle. ‘Didn’t take you for the type to read. Are you going to church tonight? Archen said something about Starlight… And how-‘ “No.” Said resto quickly as the three entered the village. ‘I don’t trust him. Anything he says is a load of mutant shit- I’ll be doing my own thing. What about you?’ Heaim ponders for a moment. ‘I don’t think I’ll be going either. I don’t find interest in that stuff.’ Resto nods, and after the two leave and head back home, Resto turns around and heads to the library. The moon begins to come out, showing its blue hue to the village.

Resto immediately walked over to the bookshelf that contained the square book. Oddly enough, nobody else was in the library except him. Seeing this as a plus, he picked the book up and sat at an empty wooden table, opening the book to the first page. It was titled “Night of the Almighty—Sorcery and Purpose.” Resto knew that phrase was familiar and only remembered it as what Archen said yesterday. That was today. Resto flips the book open, flipping through the pages with a bored expression, as it just talks about the moon and its phases for the most part. That was until he came across a page- titled “Sorcery explained” Resto would stop to read it.

“Sorcery is the act of giving and taking. There are two types of sorcery. ‘’Tow sorcery’, and ‘Drive sorcery’. Tow sorcery is the act of taking- Taking one’s essence and using it as your own to bend your will as you please. This is usually possible through obtaining another’s blood, spit, semen, or life energy entirely. Drive sorcery is the act of using your life energy to convert it into a spell and using your blood, spit, semen, or another part to conjure something up. The most potent sorcery users can take others' life energy and their own at will, mastering the arts of both levels of sorcery.”

Resto would think this is good information, as he would eventually need to understand how sorcery works. He flips again, seeing a page titled “Night of the Almighty.” He begins to read.

“The night of the almighty was when the mortal creator made the world of Hyria. For hundreds of years, people around the world have celebrated it. Five hundred years ago, it was outlawed in every kingdom for the use of evil acts around the globe. People began to mix Nightmare Fern and other deadly plants to create even more deadly potions. Many believed drinking this would send your body to a better land where the creator made himself. They ended up dying, and the day was outlawed. Many powerful sorceresses and sorcerers used powerful spells to lure large crowds and manipulate them to drink the potions. This was usually done by collecting those people's blood or other parts, so that they could put them under the spell.”

Resto stopped in his tracks reading that. Nightmare Fern… Heaim said that it was used In deadly poisons. And… Powerful spells to lure people to drink the poison? Resto dropped the book- he knew everything now. He ran over, swinging the door open and running towards Heaim’s home- but just as he was about to open the door… He blacks out.

“Let us go to starlight, my dear followers.’ Archen would say, standing in front of his stained glass. The church was filled- people sitting in pews, others sitting on the floor, some standing- it seemed everyone in the village was staring blankly at the reverend as if they were under some spell. Cloaked men poured black juice into everyone’s gobble, and once everyone had theirs filled, the priest would place his hand on his chest. ‘This world… Is too weak. It is becoming unstable… We must relieve ourselves from it and pass it on. Onto Starlight!!!’ He shouts, an echoed voice as he raises his fist. Nobody cheers- in fact, they stand as if awaiting orders. ‘Now… Let us drink.’

Resto couldn’t see. Couldn’t hear… Everything was black. His vision was murky, his senses were all over the place, and with every step he took, his entire body shook. He could think but couldn’t move himself. His whole body was on autopilot, and he was forced to watch as it sauntered toward an unknown destination. He felt someone grab his mouth, pouring something inside. As it traveled down, his mind cleared up, and his brain worked again. His vision was still blurry- but he could see, move, feel again. He looked up to see Del holding an elixir in her hand; her face was distressed. He would slowly stand, holding his knees as he did.

“What… Just…-“He looked around to see an empty village. It looked like a barren wasteland; not even a single sour remained. Del would stare at Resto. ‘I don’t know! Everyone left for the church, and I mean everyone… Even mom-‘ ‘We got to go.’ Resto interrupted and, with one quick step, began to run towards the church. Del would follow behind, confused and scared.

Once Resto reached the church, he busted the doors open, two loud clangs smacking the walls. Nobody looked back. Everyone was holding a large gobble- each had remnants of a black juice-like substance trickling down them. Archen looked to resto, confused. ‘How are you not… Ah, it’s fine by me. You are too late, Resto.’ Said the sorcerer, his face becoming corrupted with a smile that could be seen from a thousand miles away. ‘You know… I can see it on your face. You know the true secret of the night of the almighty…’ Resto would stop moving.

It started with a cough. Then another. Then one more… Then hurdles. Many throw up blood and guts as they clench their stomachs, falling to their knees as tears flow past their faces. Little children, even baby’s cry as they feel a sharp pain piercing them. Multipe people- know, many people began to fall over, blood and spit boasting out of them. One by one… The entire church would echo with the crys of human sacrifices of all ages. Resto stares, his heart beating and face discomforting… Seeing the church become a slaughterhouse.

“Elves resist it more than any other race. But they soon will die as well…” He raises his hands, his body contrasting perfectly with the man kneeling in front of the sea. His green eyes glow above the pile of dead bodies and bloody men, women, and children. The Reverand began to laugh. ‘I’VE DONE IT… I’VE ASCENDED INTO GODHOOD! OH, MIGHTY CREATOR, BLESS ME WITH YOUR HEART! YOUR INEVITIBLE LIGHT! LET ME ACCEND TO STARIGHT!!!” His voice echoes loud as a large, orange and black portal opens behind him. Resto would run, staring at Archen, who backed up into the portal. ‘You fucking bastard!!’ He yells, but he is too late. Archen locks eyes with him again, backing away into the portal as it closes with a loud wisp. Resto would stop, staring at it, then around the church.

It was… Horrible. Guts were everywhere; blood was spilling out as people pleaded and cried. Babies wept as the poison passed through them. Resto’s stomach hurt as he threw up right there in the church. The smell was unbearable. Out of his eyes, he saw a woman with long white hair. He would wince, walking over… It was Heaim. She sat next to a dying mother and her baby. ‘No-‘ Resto would mutter, touching Heims face. She was still alive. He picked her up bridal style, walked out of the church, and set her down in front of It, leaning over her. She was getting cold- He had no time. He looked around- for something, anything until she spoke.

“Res…To…?-“ She would mumble, Resto’s face darting back and looking down at hers; his hand touched her face. ‘Heaim!... Don’t worry. I’ll save you, and I’ll find-‘ ‘No.’ Said the elven woman, her face becoming paler by the second. She looked up at him, meeting his blue eyes. ‘It’s too late… I’m scared.’ She gulps; Resto pants heavily, his mind racing as his eyes begin to water. ‘I'm so cold… Resto… Please…’ He stares more. Holding her tightly below the shade of the blue moon.

“Damnit… DAMNIT ALL!!!” He screams out as he holds Heaim tightly. ‘I could have saved you… I could have saved you… If I didn’t give him my blood, then…’ He would wince as he spoke, tears falling on the ground below. ‘I don’t want to die…’ she muttered again, Resto breaking into an ugly cry, his hand grabbing the back of her head as he held her tight. ‘Please… Take care of her. Resto…Please…’ Resto would nod, moving his face to look at her again. ‘...I will. You can believe that… I’ll keep Del safe. I’ll…’

He couldn’t finish. More tears came out as he looked down. Heaim’s hand caressed his face. Her voice was fading. Her entire being was… It seemed like everything was for Resto. Nothing else mattered. It was him and Heaim, under the moonlight… Nothing else mattered. ‘I’m glad I met you…’ She said, managing to smile despite the pain of death taking her. Resto would hold her more, the two bodies one with each other. She smiled more, her arms wrapping around his… It was quiet for a moment. She couldn't see.

“Resto… Are you still there?” He closed his eyes. ‘Yes… I’m here.’ She would hang her head low.

“I wouldn’t mind staying like this… For just a little while longer.”