• The Sorceress and the Ranger


    The wind howled in the dark night, and the silence beyond that was painful. Only few noises made by a few small animals were made. A figure appeared, half-way hidden behind a tree, tall, and the only things visible were two glowing sapphire eyes and a shadow. The figure quickly sprinted from the tree, leaping over bushes and avoiding every obsitcle that it crossed, shown only by a shadow in the dim moonlight. The figure reached the end of the forest, revealing a large cliff, and the sea that bordered the cliff. The figure was in the moonlight, a tall, fair skinned woman, with hair waving in the ocean breeze, light as her skin. Her skirt, which was fashioned so it was possible to run in and to look elegant at the same time, flew in the breeze. When her hair decided to reveal them, there were noticeable long pointed ears, those of a Va'rin. Her face was barely noticeable besides her bright eyes though.
    The Va'rin woman looked out to the sea for a long while. During that time, she did nothing but stare. A voice sounded behind her," Seraphina?"
    Seraphina looked quickly behind her. A Va'rin man, about the same height as her and the same sapphire eyes was standing with a lantern. He was well built, with a fair face, blonder hair that covered some of his face, a robe, and a stubble, barely noticable in the dark. Seraphina sighed in relief at the man," Darrick, what are you doing here?"
    Darrick shrugged," Thought I would come find you."
    Seraphina raised an eyebrow," Uh, why?"
    " Because, its lonely back at the city without you blowing stuff up. My cat's not in flames yet you know." Darrick said.
    " That was an accident when I was about... Oh, how old was I? Eight? Maybe nine?" Seraphina said.
    Darrick let out a laugh," It was still pretty funny."
    "Yeah you didn't have to put the thing out." Seraphina shook her head as she spoke.
    " Well anyway, you should get some rest, you need to save your magic."
    " That's why I'm here. I need to find the altar so I will have enough energy."
    " You mean that altar our parents told us if we found our heads would explode?"
    " Yes... That altar."
    " Why not just go to the Lightwell? Or kill a few mana-beats? Its better then being overloaded with energy."
    " Because its the middle of the night, the Well is off-limits during the night and all the beasts are asleep."
    " Well, good luck finding this altar."Darrick looked behind Seraphina to the horizon," You better hurry, the sun will come up soon." Darrick went back through the forest as the sun began to come up. Seraphina threw her head back and sighed.
    Seraphina walked through the forest, which, as the sun lit the trees, the birds began to sing, and the animals came from their burrows and their nests. Seraphina was truely in love with the forest. Untainted by a new group of people to the land, humans. Seraphina was becoming more and more visible. Her clothing was blue and purple, outlined with golden decorative patterns, her chest piece was certainly unique, even from other Va'rin clothing. It seemed as though it was a V-neck that went up to her shoulders, but stopped right before it went to her arms. It went down completely on the back side and stopped at her ankles, and the front revealed a portion of her belly. The sleeves were tied on and started at her biceps and triceps and went down, almost covering her hands. The skirt was a belt with a long cloth attached to it in the front, and the back was her shirt. Her hair went down all the way across her back and almost met her upper legs. Her hair was a light blond which waved and shined. Her shoes were boots that went to her knee and were high heels, a specialty of Va'rin, being able to make high heeled shoes you can run and fight in, as they said, "Fighter fashion."
    Seraphina continues to walk through the forest until she came to a strange collection of trees, that seemed to make a doorway. Seraphina sighed and put her hands in front of her, together, with her palms facing the trees. She spoke clearly and loudly, Si'karu dalina!" The trees began to move. A voice, in a very elderly tone said," Greetings Seraphina. A pleasure to see you again." Seraphina nodded and stepped through the archway made from trees. She disappeared through the archway, and the forest became still once again.
    After a moment, Seraphina came out through the doorway on another side, onto a pathway made from white stone. Around was a large feild where there were rivers and lakes. She began to walk down the pathway, looking at small, yet extreamly decorative houses. White and decorated in gold. It was calm and peaceful in the feild, and in the distance she could hear children playing. After walking for ten minutes, she saw ahead of her a tall, towering spire, from such a distance made her seem insignificant and meaningless. The tower had a purple pointed roof, and below the tower was thick and white, with windows. It sparkled in the bright light of day.
    Seraphina walked for about ten minutes, admiring the beautiful feilds surrounded by the lake and hidden from others by trees. A sight worth seeing any day. She passed by more homes, a few with Va'rin working outside on fields, or lakes for fishing, or even tailors doing their work outside. Each waved to Seraphina as she passed. After a moment, she started to pass by a miniature forest on the field, where the druids and rangers lived, or at the least trained. Darrick pooped from the passageway to the grove, in blue leather pants, boots, and short sleeved shirt. He had a cape and a hood behind his head, both matched his outfit. He held a long bow. And on his back was also a gold and blue quiver filled with arrows.
    Seraphina looked at him," So, I suppose you passed your test then?"
    "Yes I did. I'm now a Ranger of Allerenda." Darrick moved his eyebrows up, with an obvious sense of pride," Shouldn't you be getting the the spire for your own test?"
    "I'm working on it! Besides, it's not for a while, I still have time."
    " No luck on the altar?"
    Seraphina shook her head.
    Darrick buried his hand is his pocket. After a minute, he pulled ot a glowing blue ball. Seraphina widened her eyes," An energy crystal? Where did you find it?"
    " It's a reward to all the new rangers. I don't really needed, and you have your test soon. So I figured, why not give it to Sera?" Sera was Darricks name for Seraphina, while Seraphina just called him Darrick.
    " Darrick, I can't take this, its your reward."
    " I don't need it, you do. Please, take it?" Seraphina hesitated for a moment and sighed, finally taking the crystal. Darrick smiled at Seraphina.
    " Darrick? Are you blushing?" Seraphina said, with a chuckle.
    " Am I what? No! No... Just..." Darrick pulled his hood over his head to hide his face," Good luck on your test." Darrick ran off to the direction of Allerenda.
    Seraphina smiled at Darrick as he ran off, holding the crystal she was given. Seraphina knew that Darrick had always had feelings for her. They've been friends since they were small children, and grew up together. Seraphina wasn't quite sure on her feelings though. Seraphina put the crystal in a small bag and made her way to the city, which was only a few minutes away.
    The city grew, and so did the noise from it. Eventually, the large gates came in to full view. She could see a ranger, dressed in the same blue garb, but it was decorated with gold and black patterns. The ranger was speaking to another ranger, who was dressed in the plain blue version of the uniform. Seraphina walked closer, and noticed it was Darrick, speaking with a well aged Va'rin, probably the captain or somebody of an important status, as Darrick seemed tense and he listened intently. Seraphina decided not to interfere, and walked straight to the large decorated gates, and called a guard," I need to get in the city, please."
    One guard in plate armor nodded," Go right in ma'am." The guard signaled to a Va'rin on top and the doors began to open, just enough for a small group of people. The noise was already louder as soon as the gates opened. Once they were open enough for her to get in, the city became instantly alive and crowded. People were polite and calm though. Seraphina rushed in to avoid any contact so she didn't ruin the peace. Soon she started to get to the end of the city, where the spire was. The home of the Queen and the Grand Sorceress, Seraphina's master.
    Seraphina walked up a long bridge up, which was over a large, seemingly bottomless pit, which protected the spire greatly in the few wars the Va'rin had ever had. As she walked to the end of the bridge, there was a platform, where a line of guards stood on either end of a purple carpet on a white stone floor. The doors were smaller then the gate doors, but still large enough for a full grown horse to enter with an ogre on its back. There was a large, straight hallway, and at the end was a large, decorative, and most likely, extremely comfortable throne, which was thick enough so you could lay down on it. The throne was also concealed by a thin drape held up at the roof of the building. The room was empty, however, neither the Queen nor the Grand Sorceress were there. A woman in a long plain dress came down a flight of stairs bowed to Seraphina," Come please, the Queen and Grand Sorceress are waiting for you at the top of the spire."
    Seraphina was confused, the top of the spire? I didn't even know there was that. It must be where the test is held. Seraphina nodded and followed the maid up the stairs in a doorway to the side of the throne room. They climbed for about ten minutes before they reached the top. The room they came to was large, and it seemed the roof was not even there. There was a platform in the middle, and above, she could hear explosions and see flame, ice, lightning, and many other things fly off the platform and hit the wall. Seraphina gulped and looked to a woman with long black hair in a pony tail look up at the platform. It was Verende, her trainer and Grand Sorceress. Verende's outfit was a long black robe, simple for somebody with such a title," Ah, Seraphina, good. You're next. You'll be fighting Terra." Verende pointed to a girl dressed in a simple red robe with her hair tied in a bun.
    The spells above stopped, and the platform began to come back to the floor. By the time it was down, the two who were fighting, two men, were on the floor, face down. Two others dragged them off. Seraphina stared at them, now terrified.
    Terra looked to Seraphina and nodded. Verende spoke," Alright you two, get on the platform, one on each side, prepare yourselves well. This is going to be a hard fight."
    Seraphina pulled the crystal out of her pocket and absorbed it, instantly feeling full of energy and refreshed. She warmed herself up, making a few small fireballs, some lightning, and pure arcane energy. She was ready. Terra seemed to be doing the same. Verende finally spoke after a few minutes," I will examine your battle and determine who is ready to become a Sorceress. Be sure any weapons you have to equip are equipped."
    Seraphina had nothing but her hands. Terra seemed to have a sword, a fine looking sword. Both went on the platform, now on the ground, and stood on either end, facing eachother. Their chests could be seen moving, their hearts were beating faster, they were breathing faster. Terra's grip on her sword tightend.
    Verende moved up to a different platform with a seat on it," Lets start this. Are you both prepared?" Both nodded," Then, let's begin!" Both platforms went up into the air, and Verende sat in the seat on the separate platform. Seraphina heard footsteps come into the room, and another platform rose into the air, Darrick was standing on the platform with his hood down. He watched the two combatants with a smile on his face. He remained silent. Verende acknowledged his presence but did not make an objection to him watching.
    Verende stood, and shot a fireball in the air, making it explode and the sparks dance," Begin!"