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The Town of Sherfield - Ashmir Countryside - 7 years from present

A smile swept across a young man's face as he began to see the welcoming lights of the town of Sherfield come into view. His feet thrummed in a dull ache as he traveled the path leading into town from the surrounding wilderness, moonlight guiding his steps.

The cool evening breeze blew through his loose white locks as he tucked a brown sack of emerald-colored scales into the black shawl covering his light leather armor. A bush suddenly rustled to his left, and his hand instinctively trailed along the long wooden bow staff adorning his back. The moment passed just as quickly as a few rabbits dashed past him, and he sighed as his gaze shifted to the full moon hanging in the night sky.

“I really need a day off,” He thought to himself as the smell of earthy pine began to shift to the familiar smells of the wide variety of sizzling street stalls lining the road into town aimed at enticing returning adventurers.

As he drew closer, he could hear loud voices and a commotion breaking out around what appeared to be an abandoned three-story building at the edge of town. He peered out from under his dark hood in horror as the orange flames coming from its windows screamed in a crackling inferno that light the sky ablaze. A few townspeople drew buckets from the nearby well and attempted to battle the fire, but they appeared to be doing little to quiet the flames.

“There's nothing I can do to help without revealing myself,” The young man lamented for a moment before continuing past the commotion, squeezing his scale-filled sack tightly.

“I think someone’s inside!” One of the townspeople yelled frantically as another made their way to the front door only to have it burst open in a plume of flames, sending the bulky man stumbling back as he shielded himself from the blaze.

The young man hesitated for only a moment before he found himself dashing around the side of the building as fast as his tired legs would carry him. By the time the sack of scales hit the ground, the white-haired adventurer found himself standing at the back door of the abandoned building. He could already feel the heat coming through the door as he quickly turned his shawl around, repurposing the hood to cover his nose and mouth in a makeshift mask. He took a step back and put a forceful kick into the sturdy wooden door. Its large frame groaned under the impact but it barely budged.

“I don't have time for this,” He panicked as he threw a quick glance around him to make sure he was alone before his grey eyes flickered with power and a gust of wind began to whip around him. The next kick he challenged the door with blew it straight off the hinges with a whirlwind of force.

Smoke and ash filled the air around him as he quickly scanned the large storage room for anyone trapped inside. A perpetual circular wind blew around his feet, shielding him from direct contact with the blazing flames as he crouched down and made his way to the nearest staircase.

The blaze began to rage out of control as he pushed his tired body up the steps one by one. Flames completely consumed the second floor as the young man paused at its intimidating aura.

“Your in my way,” His eyes flashed as he pushed his whirlwind to its limit, blanketing him from the smoldering flames as he dashed through the ocean of fire. Ducking under fallen beams and only allowing shallow breaths, he found himself on the third floor searching desperately for anyone trapped by the blaze.

His effort finally paid off as he came crashing through the last door on the top floor into a room untouched by the flames raging through the rest of the building. He took a deep breath of fresh air as he rested his hands on his knees and let the wind around him fade into a gentle breeze.

A young woman who appeared to be around the same age as him rested against the far wall surrounded by what appeared to be empty bottles of spirits. Her wild, shoulder-length blond hair rested over a set of fur-collared thin black leather armor.

“Save her,” he could hear being murmured over and over again by unseen entities. The enigmatic voices, he had heard them from a young age. They called to him with what he could only guess were wishes, regrets, and prayers.

“Hey, are you ok miss!” The young man called out as he shook his head to clear his mind and crossed the room. A few moments later he was at her side attempting to shake her awake. “I need you to wake up, this entire building about to collapse!” The young man yelled as he heard the flames furiously extending their reach into the third floor behind them.

As her head tilted to the side he noticed a particular scar on her neck, an unmistakable symbol to any member of the adventures guild. A brand given to those who violate the code...“The mark of the outsider”

“She’s out cold, and I’m almost at my limit,” He thought as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked to a sidewall. He peered through a nearby window as his heart began to race. “We’re too high, but the second floor is a nightmare.” He lamented as he returned to the young woman’s side.

“It's gonna get hot and I don't think I can shield both of us for long,” He confessed as he unscrewed the top of his canteen and dumped the contents over her. He could feel the temperature begin to climb as smoke began to fill the room. He stretched an arm out to the wall for balance as the building shook violently beneath his feet before eventually settling.

“Times up,” He hoisted her over his shoulder before groaning and falling to a knee. “By the gods, what are they feeding adventurers these days.”

“Come on, let's go!” He mustered all of his strength to stand before making his way back to the hallway, the glowing flames all that awaited them.

The wind at his feet sputtered to life as they charged through the flaming chaos and down into the second floor. The young man spotted a window and made his way towards it as a blazing beam came crashing down from the ceiling and he extended a hand towards it. The color drained from his face as the blast of wind he expected never came.“I can’t dodge it!”

He instinctively turned his arm sideways and shielded them from the blazing wooden beam. He howled in pain as it rolled off his left forearm and crashed straight through the floor.

The entire building shook violently as smoke and ash began to fill his vision. As they neared the second floor wall he spotted the closest window through the fire and charged towards it, their bodies blanked in a gusty shield.

“I’m going to feel this…” He felt his wind fade as his aching body crashed through the second-story window, shards of glass spraying everyhwere.

The landing was rough, and his legs barely managed to brace the fall before they buckled and crumpled beneath him. He laid the young woman down and ripped down his makeshift mask before sucking in a deep breath of fresh air. He clutched his throbbing left arm and quickly wrapped the shawl around it as a makeshift bandage before eyeing the woman as she slowly began moving. “I’m afraid you’re on your own from here,” He panted before turning his attention towards the front of the building.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Hey! I think I heard something around back!” He could hear someone yell from the other side of the building before he managed to stand and hobble a few dozen meters to hide behind a tree before villagers started to pour around to the back of the building and discover the young woman.

“It’s her again…” - “Such a troublemaker” - “Just leave her” - “Not worth the effort if you ask me,” The villagers muttered in hushed whispers as the woman stretched out a shaky hand.

“Looking for handouts, what a disgrace,” One of the townspeople murmured as he spat down at the woman and her hand fell. The small crowd of townspeople began to turn and leave until only two white cloaked figures remained. They appeared to be a young man and a woman adorned in white robes with shining golden necklaces.

“Worry not, my child, the goddess of light protects all,” One of them chanted before they gently pulled the woman to her feet.

“The Order of Radiant Light,” He sighed in relief as they took her into their care and he slumped to the ground. “I gotta get back to the inn”

-

“Slay him...Free us...Slay him…Free us...Slay him...” Dozens of voices chanted, their desperate commands echoing through his mind in an endless barrage.

“What do you want from me!” He cried into the void and the voices suddenly quieted.

“Save me” A young girl's voice whispered right beside his ear.

“AHHH!” The young man shrieked as he jolted awake and scanned his surroundings before quickly falling back to the soft bed. “Another one…” he lamented as the afternoon sun splashed into his small room at the local Inn. He raised his left hand above his head to try and block the golden rays before noticing the fresh bandage stretching around his forearm and the dull pain that radiated under it. His shimmering grey eyes slowly closed as he attempted to return to slumber...but as usual it never came.

He groaned as he rolled out of the small bed and tested his worn body with a few stretches before noticing his armor and clothes folded neatly in a bucket beside the door. “Fresh clothes and a bandage, she really is too good to me” he muttered to himself before putting his light leather armor on and tossing his black shawl over it. “I’ll need to take another quest soon,” He sighed, scooping up his small pouch of copper coins and grabbing his staff on the way out the door.

“Good morning master Near!” The elderly woman behind the main desk greeted warmly as he strolled into the downstairs lobby of the large Inn, her bright orange hair glimmering under the sunlight shining in through the main hall.

“Same to you miss Thorn,” Near returned with a smile as he rested against the counter.

“You stumbled in quite masterfully last evening,” She jeered with a teasing smirk.

“It was...a really long day. Thank you for taking care of my arm,” He said as he flashed a pair of copper coins.

“For my favorite return patron, no charge,” She insisted. “I heard about the fire...the girl. This old woman knows better than to pry though, ” She smiled slyly.

Near nodded with a knowing look and exited the inn onto the streets of the Town of Sherfield. A medium-sized, albeit somewhat remote settlement in the Ashmir countryside, its only remarkable attribute being its proximity to the famed ancient ruins along with the swirling rumors that surrounded it.

“Let’s see how Dismas is doing today,” He thought as he straightened his copper Adventurers Guild pendant before turning to his right and heading towards the edge of town.

“Cure me” He heard a young boy's voice call to him as he passed the town's only hospital.

“I’m sorry...I can’t,” he mumbled to himself as he glanced up to see an unsavory individual eyeing him with an uncomfortable amount of interest. This late in the afternoon the streets near the outskirts of town were sparsely populated. He attempted to pull down the hood of his shawl and cross the road, but it was already too late.

“Where do you think you're going copper?” Near heard him bark as a hard shove from behind sent him stumbling into the alley between the armor shop and the town’s hospital.

Near took a deep breath as he turned to face the thug blocking his path. “A bit early for a mugging, don’t you think. Besides...I barely have an-”.

“Mugging is such a strong word. Think of it like paying a tax,” The thug interrupted as he slicked back his greasy black hair and stalked closer.

“A..tax?” Near frowned as he slowly shuffled backward until he was just a few feet from the back wall of the alley. “This isn’t good, I can’t draw attention. Going to just have to take this...”

“A tax for being weak,” The thug chuckled as he slugged Near in the gut, who doubled over from the impact of the blow.

“Stop, please... I’ll give you what I h-” Near choked out as another blow struck his head and he careened into the dirt. He found himself on his knees facing away from the thugs as his eyes flared with power and his hand gripped his wooden staff so tightly he could feel the solid oak begin to indent. He could hear the door to the hospital swing open with a bang as he began to rise to his feet and turn around, his eyes returning to their dull grey complexion.

“Oh I know you will, but I think I’ll have some fun first.” The thug jeered as he wound up another blow before hearing someone behind them stumble over to the alley’s entrance.

“Gods, my head is pounding,” The blond woman lamented as she braced herself against the armor shop’s wall, resting her head against the smooth wood. She wore fur-collared thin black leather armor, and Near’s eyes grew wide as he immediately recognized her as the one from the night before.

“You got a problem?” The thug grunted as he turned to face her and rested a hand on his sword’s hilt.

She threw a lazy glance sideways before letting out an apathetic sigh. “It just never ends, does it...”

“Hey, aren't you the princess of ruin?” The thug chuckled to himself after spying the mark of the outsider adorning her neck.

The woman let out an annoyed groan before she lifted off the wall and began to pace away.

“That’s right, run away like the rest of your family did...De’Ryzle trash,” The thug scoffed coldly as he began to turn back towards the young man he was presently shaking down.

“Princess of ruin...the moniker given to the first daughter of the infamous De’Ryzle family. The former lords of Sherfield if I’m not mistaken...this won’t end well…” Near pondered as he sensed her aura darken.

The woman froze immediately and paused for a moment, her right hand balling into a tight fist as she turned her gaze skyward before taking a deep breath and letting her body relax. She turned back to face them, her eyes devoid of emotion as she began walking toward the thug.

“So you do have a spine,” The man hissed as he reached for his longsword.

“Lose the blade,” she ordered calmly as she withdrew two bronze daggers from her vest and let them fall to the ground..

Near rested back against the wall, wishing he could phase straight through it.

“I don’t usually hit ladies, but for you...I’ll be making an exception,” The man scoffed as he eyed the woman. He loosened his belt as his sword fell from his hip, clattering across the dirt.

The two began to circle each other as the afternoon sun hung high above them.

The woman slid down her thin black arm coverings and wrapped them around her knuckles as she raised her fists. “I wouldn't worry about that.”

The man struck first, a heavy overhand blow that hit nothing but air. The woman's slender frame easily dodged the blows as they came one after the other. Soon enough, a short window opened as he overextended, and she landed a deceptively powerful blow to his lower body.

As he recoiled from the pain, she quickly dashed forward at blinding speed and caught the thug across the jaw with a sharp blow.

Stunned from the strike he lost track of her movements as two more violent blows struck his head, the devastating impacts cracking teeth and bones as they rippled across his face.

The disoriented man's knees buckled as he felt her fist grab his shirt and hold him upright.

“Listen closely. I don’t give a fuck if you rob every single person in this accursed town. But if my family’s name crosses your lips again,” She began as her eyes burned holes into his. “I’ll ruin you…”

He could only gurgle incoherently as he nodded feverishly. She cast him aside and he scurried from the alley, leaving his sword behind.

“Thank you, that was a close one,” Near offered as he watched the woman take a deep breath and turn her attention to him. “It would appear this rose has thorns.”

“Who are you supposed to be?” She asked.

“N-Near” the young man responded.

“Melione...” She breathed, seemingly lost in thought as she gazed at him.

“It is her...the princess of ruin…” Near thought as he had his first opportunity to study her features. Moments that felt like hours passed, the quiet alley shielding the current occupants from the outside world. Wild golden locks reflected the afternoon sun's radiant shine. He met her eyes of swirling blue that he could sense held the convictions of one who had lived a dozen lives worth of bliss and sorrow.

“She’s looking right fucking through me,” He panicked as he watched her turn and leave without another word.

Near wiped the blood from his lip and the sweat from his brow. “Something isn't right here...with this town...with me, those voices...” He reflected as he made his way out of the alley and headed towards the forest outside of town. “Time to get some answers.”