The sun hung high in the sky as the radiant rays leaked though the wooden shutters. The hut was not large, but one can see that it is well managed due to the lack of dust on the furniture. A worn candle lay melted on the hard-Oak table next to a worn old bible…a middle-aged woman forces the shutters open, gazed lovingly at a young boy asleep in the corner in a large bundle of hay.
“Jacque its time to wake up”
“Just a few more seconds” Jacque groaned
“Rise and shine. It's high noon already, the cows need milking and we’re fresh out of fire wood. If only your father was still here” the woman sighs ‘when the enlistment came, I told him not to go…he promised he’d make a fortune yet after you were born your dad never came back’.
“Don’t worry ma I’ll set off right now, with the blessing from Sypher, the goddess of wind I’ll be back by dinner” Jacque beamed.
Jacque jumped up from his hay bed, eyes shifting towards the kitchen. he notices a piece of black bread and a few slices of cheese. Eyes beaming, he shoves the food into his pockets, pushes the door open and sets off with a crude axe.
“Jacque make sure to come back before dinner, you know you mustn’t stay in the wicked forest at night. Make sure not to wander to deep okay? “
The young boy stops moving, his eyebrow twitches slightly. Turning around he smiles at his mother waves his arm and hurries off.
Ma worries too much, when I grow older I must stay by her side to take care of her, with dad missing who will be the pillar of the family? Jacque thought as he ran down the road towards the wicked forest.
The little village of Escanor, located 10 miles west of port town Calabar. The humble village marks the boundary of the wicked forest. Representing the outer branches of humanity. As to why such a forest was named ‘wicked’, this was due to a myriad of ghastly rumours surrounding it, rumours so vast that even as I drink in an inn in Calabar can I savour the astonishing tales of the forest, rumours that send a chill up your spine, whist igniting the curiosity of others. From the dilapidated moans of a female wraith to the harrowing cries of ghouls, sounds of weeping children to the creaking noises of wood…but listen…always listen…everyone who speaks of the rumours have always heard it…a gentle sound…almost…impossible to catch but it is there…always there…the crying melody of a flute… HA surely you jest, why would villagers go into a forest where even the bravest of men tread carefully you may ask. Yet the answer is simple…Greed…yes, a beautiful sin, the wisperwhod (wisper-hood) of the wicked forest is renown throughout the human territories, living wood, hard as iron itself, blessed by Mal god of nature, cursed by Nagul (XD) god of death to be ashen forever. This black wood is the raw material for the sentient liveships. It is as if a pie fell from the heavens and handed on humanities doorsteps…Yet surely you aren’t here to hear me blabber about the 100 uses of wisperwhod…no no, you are here for a story, a tale. And I have one just for you an absolute true story of Jacque the Warrior of Oblivion… … hmm… this name…may need some work…
As Jaq walked towards the wicked forest he took out the black bread from his pocket and nibbled on it. The curse Nagul casted on the wisperwhod is indeed strong…even the bread baked with its wood cannot escape its curse, good thing the taste isn't affected he thought otherwise he really would go up to Nagul and slap him. Jaq was not an ignorant fool, he knew the rumours of the forest however he also knew that by selling wisperwhod even his broken family can survive, but deep-down he knew that money was not his reason of venturing the cursed woods.
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Hmm? You want to know why? Sigh…alright. Tis a sad tale really, hmm let me see:
There once was a priest,
Who prayed to the gods,
O bless these people, protect them lord.
Down came a star, falling though the skies.
Untainted blood once a year,
A dull axe one can wear.
Tragic isn’t it, a sacrifice for the greater good, it’s worth it right, don’t ya think? One child for a prospering village…she wasn’t even 5 when it was their turn… that the thing with you humans, deep down you are darker and vile than any beast, yet one thing, a sliver of light in the darkness. Hope… yes indeed…. the rumours.
“its real, the rumours are real” Jaq drones on aloud, villagers on the path gazes at Jaq sympathetically, shakes their head and walks on.
I know its real, I’ve seen her, that evening I was late for dinner, in the corner of my eye, hiding behind the trunk of wisperwhod it was her, she hasn’t aged a day. This time I must find her…Ma would be happy, the more Jaq thought the happier he became before thirty minutes he arrived at the wicked forests.
“Work hard young man, humanity needs you for you are the future, as the workhorse of industry the magic association will pay 10 coppers for one bundle of wisperwood”, Jaq recalls the red and blue poster pinned on the town bulletin.
“Todays a good day, I can probably gather 3 bundles” Jaq finished his bread prayed to the gods, and walked into the forest.
The air was humid in the forest, as Jaq tread amongst the rows and rows of black trees the damp undergrowth as if sensing a foreign existence groans quietly. Pita pata…listen…the sound of leaves shoved forcefully by a powerful set of legs, PITA PaTa the sound grows louder, heading towards Jaq. As he hears the strange footsteps he smiles and pulls out the cheese from his pockets…
“hmm…SOOO hungry…hmm” a low monotonous voice echoes though the quiet forest. Pita pata, the nearby bushes part and a human faced bird swaggers out…the bird the size of a rooster with human feet as wings and human hands as legs…if any visitors sees this “bird” they would undoubted be scared sh*tless, yet Jaq remained unusually calm. He tossed the cheese at the bird and waited for it to “him” to inspect it.
“guide of the forest, blessed by Mal, you are the most beautiful of creations, as per the contract of the star, please take me to the land of promises” Jaq flattered the bird for about ten minutes, who was circles the cheese, it gave a slight nod, using his “feet” in a fluid motion he picks up the cheese and eats it then proceeds to swaggers away beckoning Jaq to follow. This bird known to the locals as the “guides of the forest” is slightly intelligent and like a parrot can mimic human phrases, the locals of the village discovered that by giving the birds food they can show them where the best wisperwhod ripe for harvest are. However, this bird is extremely prideful, and only after severe flattering would the bird show you the way. Jaq was thankful that after many generations the guides which was influenced by the population of humans required less flattery than its predecessors. Legend has it that when the first chief discovered the bird he ass-kissed for 4 hours straight before the bird finally stopped staying “I your father knows the way” truly a fearsome opponent. As Jaq wipes the cold sweat from his forehead he follows behind the swaggering guide as he heads deeper into the forests.
As Jaq ventures into the forest on his quest to collect wisperwhod the faint sound of a flute, carried by the gentle wind spreads though the forests. In a faraway land a king holds a piece of parchment and frowns “are you sure Escanor is no more?” the eunuch stutters “ye...es your majesty”.
“Sigh… as long as Mt Qing exist we won’t run out of wood, tell the ministry to buy as much wisperwhod as they can, go quickly”
“this servant obeys” the eunuch stands up, bows, and hurries towards the door.
“WAIT”
“your majesty?”
“keep it under wraps, I don’t want the public to know…REMEMBER…he…no…they cannot know”
“I understand, this servant will excuse himself” the eunuch walks out the palace and into his room, he takes out a strip of paper and writes: “Winter has come to the continent of Europa, it is done”, he rolls the strip, ties it to a pigeon and watches as it flies away.
“if there was another way I would take it…all for the survival of mankind…liege I hope you will forgive me” the eunuch faces the palace and gives a deep bow…
End of chapter 1