Intro
Arcaia is a world of magic or at least it has been for many millenniums. With the first world tree being planted by a being who even today is only known as the only inhabitant of what is now called the forest of the gods. Magic came into the world. This mysterious force swept into the land granting every creature a 7th sense commonly called the magical sense. This sense allowed humans to intricate with world in a whole new way bending the laws of natures to their will. Unfourntly for most even the most rudimentary of spells were possible. Such simple things as lighting a candle could be exhausting for a normal person. But there were exceptions to this and those with the talent were taught in many different ways. But all had the same graduation requirement. Live through two years as a caretaker in the forest of the gods. One year with a mentor and one year without. And when you emerged from this training you would power on such a level that even kings would kneel to you. Yet with power comes a price for the forest is also know by many as the mages graveyard for every thousand that enter this two year training only one survives.
Chapter 1
The First Day
I gasped in astonishment as the forest came into view. I had heard rumors of it in the academy and always laughed at them. Rumors stating things such as trees whose size and majesty are great enough to look down on all creation and leaves whose patters could rival the best painters of the kingdom. Yet now I stared at the approaching edge of the forest only to realize what I had at first mistook for a massive mountain range was merely the roots of a single tree. As I was staring up trying to see the top of the tree I noticed the sky grow dark for a second as a leaf the size of our carriage floated down almost seeming to crush are carriage before it was blown to the side and landed next to the path with a small thump. Noticing my mentor’s upraised staff I realize what had saved us from while not quite disaster at least in convince. Glancing at the leaf I noticed a series of patterns on it which seemed to be etched in such a manor as to grab you and suck you into another world. Seeing my reaction my mentor let a small smirk creep onto his face obviously not in the least surprised by the look of astonishment that had grown onto my face after merely seeing the first of the trees within the forest of the gods. As we proceeded closer and closer to the edge of the forest an eerie darkness lap against the carriage shadowing us in tune with the swaying of the branches and the rustling of the wind. This effect unnerved me only to grow worse as we officially passed the boundary of the forest and entered in its confines whereupon my sense of connection to the magical world was muffled almost as if I was being smother by the might of an ancient titan. I wasn’t the only one affected by this sensation with the steady clap clap of our two horse being interrupted as they were influenced by this mighty presence only to continue after a moment albeit slower and quieter. The most worrying sign was seeing my mentor who’s largest reaction to anything happing around him being a slight smirk or a shake of the head, grip his staff so hard I swear I could hear the crack as his staff groaned under his not to feeble might. As for myself I fell to the floor of the carriage before picking myself up and starting to mutter a start to a barrier incantation. My mentors hand fell unto my shoulder almost knocking me back onto the floor before he seemed to yell but in reality barely whispered.
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“Lad, stop your spell and look ahead before ya get the both of us killed.”
Shooked and somewhat disoriented due to the interruption of my spell I looked towards where he indicated. And there stood a creature I could barely comprehend. It towered above us practically nailing us into the with the sheer force of its presence. Causing the muffling to the sense of my magic to increase tenfold till the connection was stretched so thin it felt as though an instant it might snap leaving devoid of hard fought for powers. My consciousness was shaken barely holding onto to last drips of sanity. Allowing my to observe the mysterious being in more detail before I collapsed. Noticing the crown representing its divine heritage my reaming willpower fled leaving me to coalpse on the ground darkness merging with the shadows of the forest and plunging my into it. I awoke to my mentor grinning.
“Didn’t expect to meet the inhabitant of the forest on the first day did ya lad.”
“What was that?”
“That is what the forest got its name from lad.”
Thinking of the implication I stared mute into the distance wondering just what had I got myself into by taking a job as a caretaker of this forest.