*Note: this has been updated to the revised version the old chapter can be found here. If you notice any grammar mistakes that slipped past me please dont be afraid to point them out. ^^*
_____________________
As the skyfire greets the desert. A pair of sand sparrows begin to stir within their nest. As if willed by the desert, the pair began to sing, their song could be heard far off into the distance. As it slowly enveloped the ruins of a once mighty kingdom. Unaware of the danger, that lies below their lovely abode.
South of the ruins, in the midst of the sand dunes lies a village long since forgotten, by the whimsical spirit known as time.
However, it is not void of life. It is the last remnant of the people known as the Kuh.
In this village forgotten by time our story begins.
*****
A gentle breeze slowly blew over the village, giving momentary relief from the blistering heat.
Sandstone structures made up the entirety of the village, it was split into three parts.
The inner ring, middle ring, and the outer ring.
In the morning hours in the inner ring a whole assortment of shops could be seen setting up for the day. Food stalls lined the highly traveled sections of the inner ring, prepping their ingredients, cleaning meat. The blacksmith apprentice could be seen shoveling coal into the forge in an attempt to rouse the embers from their slumber.
Tailors, putting new products on display, leatherworkers, skinning and tanning hides.
The middle ring, made up the housing and storage area of the village. The size of your home, was not determined by your rank, wealth or fame within the village. But by the size of your family, a family of 10 or more would be located in a large house, 5 or more would be in a medium sized house, and 3 or more would be in a small sized house.
This was done to encourage the villagers to have more children.
The outer ring, acted as the shield of the village and where the warriors would be stationed and trained. A wall no more than 25 feet in height and 5 feet in width could be seen encircling the entire vicinity of the village.
Within the middle ring, screams could be heard as they reverberated out onto the street. Not the screams of war, or the mourning of a loved one, but the birth of a new light.
...
The squeak of a old fashion wooden door could be heard among the screams as it slowly opened.
The voice that followed seemed nervous and unaware of what to do. "Honey are you alright?" a tall and well built man in his late thirties stood almost hiding behind the door as he stuck his head out to look at the scene transpiring before him.
Charcoal colored hair drooped down in front of his face, barely covering his purple eyes tinged with worry.
One of the birth maids, upon hearing the noise suddenly glanced over to the doorway. She looked at him directly in the eyes before sighing in frustration.
"For the last time will someone keep him out of the room!" She shouted.
Soon a hand appeared the shoulder of the man.
"Rai, you should know better than to bother them during this time." A old man with withered white hair said as he fiddled with his beard.
"I-i know but it normally doesn't take this long!" Rai said in protest, clearly unnerved by the long childbirth.
"Rai, nothing can always be the same, otherwise the world would be a very boring place." The old man said as he slowly moved Rai back into the hallway.
...
"Push harder! I can almost see the head!"
As the screaming started to intensify, the already unnerved Rai began to pace back and forth.
"Is she going to be alright?" Rai asked nervously, he might be the leader of the village and the best warrior, but before childbirth he is completely helpless to help his wife.
"Don't worry she'll be fine." The old man said as he continued to fiddle with his white beard.
"I hope you're right Rakhi I really do." Rai said, biting his lip in frustration.
...
"Your almost there keep going!" All the birth maids said in unison, this has been the longest childbirth any of them have ever experienced.
"WAAAHHH."
"It's a boy!" One of the birth maids said as she smiled. Slowly showing the mother her son before wrapping the newborn in a soft white cloth.
"WAHHH."
"And he sounds healthy." Another one commented.
A weak voice could be heard, as if it was but a mere whisper. "Let me see him."
Walking carefully to the edge of the bed, the head birth maid slowly handed the newborn child to his mother's loving embrace.
The weak voice called out again, though still weak it was filled with love.
"Hello my little Kou, you have no idea how long I've wanted to meet you for." She said as water droplets formed near the corners of her eyes.
"Go get that useless Rai of mine to come see his son."
"Right away madame Rii."
*****
Six long years have passed since Kou's birth. And with the changes of the seasons much has changed in the continent of Versa'al.
The Aseriul Empire Trading Company 'Raju Express', has attempted to make a trade route from Aseriul to Valros, going through the desert of the forgotten one.
Such a route would shave at least 8 months off the current traveling time to Valros.
Though every so often, entire trade caravans would suddenly disappear as if they had never existed.
To the east of the Wildfire Plains, lies the Forest of Valor, in the middle of the forest a grand city could be seen. Looking as if it had appeared straight out of a fairy tale one would tell to their young. The walls seemed to defy nature's grasp as the rest of the city seemed to scream it's valor and prestige towards the heavens.
This was the capital of the Aseriul Empire, Eriul.
In a bar located north of the commoner district called the 'Sleeping Fra'. The elders of the Raju Express are currently in the midst of a meeting about the trade route to Valros.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The normally jolly and loud environment of the Sleeping Fra today was dead silent as no one dared to breathe.
A man with crimson colored hair could be seen sitting at a table with 5 other men, gripping his wooden goblet so hard that it began to squeak underneath the pressure.
Suddenly the man spoke up, in his voice one could detect a hint of worry. "I still think it's unsafe for us to travel through that damnable desert!"
Another of the men spoke up.
"Mafu're I understand your worries. However if we do not establish the trade route as part of our agreement with the Empire all of our heads will be on the ground by next winter." Golden hair could be seen drooping down over the man's eyes.
A man not befitting the image of a merchant spoke up.
"Trust me Mafu're any other time I would be agreeing with you." A scowl could be seen clearly present on the man's face as he downed his pint of ale, a long scar could be seen over his left eye.
"Damn those purple eyed demons."
All the men at the table bitterly agreed.
They had lost 3 elders of the Raju Express to their so called 'adventure' in the desert as well as countless caravans.
...
In the embrace of the desert the village of the Kuh maintained their peace, for the time being.
...
In the middle ring, a loud voice could be heard as it shook the earth itself.
"Gather around!" The elder shouted, as he waited for the youths to gather.
As if satisfied by the number of youths before him he began to speak. His voice seemed to defy his small stature as if the heavens themselves would bend to his wake.
"Today we will be discussing the history of our tribe!"
The look of anticipation could be seen across the faces of the countless youths before him.
The history of the Kuh is one of the things the Kuh take great pride in.
"Eh boring!" A small boy who looked rather petite and delicate with charcoal colored hair and purple eyes said as if whispering the words to himself.
"Oh? the history of our tribe is boring to you little master Kou?"
A look of surprise then shock suddenly appeared on Kou's face as he stared at the elder in disbelief. A hint of redness slowly crept its way onto Kou's face as he attempted to hide his face in embarrassment.
'How could he had heard me! I didn't even say it that loud!' Kou thought as he tried to hide his face in his petite hands.
"Kou, you should know better than to whisper in front of Elder Ru! he can hear everything!"
"Yeah!"
Some of the other youths said as they chimed in.
Once again the earth shaking voice could be heard.
"Well then, let me enlighten you little master Kou."
"The Kuh have existed far longer than any of the so called 'kingdoms' on the continent of Versa'al. We are the guardians of this realm, protecting it from the corruption of the Elder One."
"For this very reason we have stood watch over these ruins for seven thousand years."
"Why would we the guardians of the realm, stand watch over the ruins of a kingdom long forgotten by the races and time itself?"
"Because deep beneath those ruins, the Elder One slumbers."
A look of awe appeared on the faces of the youths, Kou's face however only changed to a brighter shade of red.
"Every decade, a portion of his essence will seep out from the ruins, corrupting all life that happens to be near the ruins. Creating the creatures we know as 'Abominations' and 'Monsters'."
Pausing for a short moment to cough.
"As you all know, these creatures create havoc throughout the entire realm leaving death and destruction wherever they tread. "
"The first 'Abominations' and 'Monsters' were created by the corruption of the Elder One! As his essence seeped out from beneath the kingdom of Raefra in the midst of night!"
Looking at the reaction from the youths, Elder Ru sprouts a wicked smile.
"The children of the kingdom, turned into what we commonly refer to as 'Goblins' and the knights and pride of their kingdom turned into the monstrosity known as 'Ogres'. And the lifeblood of any kingdom the common folk were turned into the plague of this plane, the 'Orcs'."
As if satisfied by the look of fear on their faces he continues.
"This is just what happened to the kingdom! Not only did they become corrupted by the Elder One. The vast amounts of wildlife that surrounded the kingdom of Raefra at the time were much more sensitive to his essence, turned into what we refer to as 'Monsters'."
The elder takes a small pause and coughs.
"We are the protectors of this plane against the corruption of the Elder One, we have carried out this duty before this land was even a desert!"
"And this you say is boring?"
"N-no elder." Kou stutters as if unable to handle all the attention.
"You are all dismissed, however remember tomorrow Rai will be taking the eldest among you out for your first hunt!"
"Yes elder!" The rest of the children said as they stood up and bowed.
"Kou stay behind."
"Y-yes elder."
...
"You are the future leader of our tribe yet you believe our history to be boring?"
"The pain and effort of your ancestors is boring to you?"
"N-no elder i.."
Fidgeting back and forth, Kou wasn't sure of what to do in front of the furious elder.
A bitter sigh escaped from elder Ru's mouth, as the morning breeze of cold air from the north blew lightly against his hair.
"If you keep this up, I will inform Rai to not let you go on your hunt next year am I understood?"
"Y-yes elder!" Kou said almost yelping in response.
Back to Main PageNEXT CHAPTER