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Chapter 3-The Despair and the road to magic.


Alone! Now more than ever Alastar was alone, now more than ever Alastar was afraid. Behind him a burning city, in front of him the open road, moving as fast as his feet will carry him he runs up the hill about a quarter mile away from the town, it is a lage hill that Alastar runs up. He can’t see the top, but he did not need to. Alastar had not stopped running since he left the town, he fell twice as he ran up the hill and rolled down from the top the third time, finally though after the third attempt he made it up, but this time the adrenaline had died off, leaving him with an extraordinarily fatigued body, the climb became an exhausting living hell.

Upon reaching the top Alastar collapsed, falling upon his hands and knees, wheezing, huffing and puffing, hardly able to breathe through the pain not only in his gut, but all over his body, “are you alright Alastar?” an old man’s familiar voice came from in front of him, The old man the only other person who was kind to him was still alive, Alastar could not understand, but he did not try, he did not want to think about it, he did not want to feel anything. Finally after about an hour Alastar caught his breathe and looked up, it had been at least three years since he had actually looked at the crazy old man. The elder had recently cut his hair, and had obviously done it with a dagger, one that was not too sharp, but not too dull of a blade. The man’s beard was shorter and every hair on the main was white and thin. He wore a light iron plate that was meant for mobility more than protection unlike normal plated armor, the man’s sides and arms where uncovered, the armor was strapped together at the sides by leather. Underneath the armor was a long-sleeved green tunic, he wore brown trousers with a dagger strapped to his right leg, on his feet were leather boots, with a blood stain on his right foot, and he wore iron shin guards, that had a rough cleaning job done recently. The elder wore a belt that held a rapier type sword, and around his neck he wore a gold pendant with his name, Elias Triaster, and the name of a lost loved one whose name was dulled out from tears and time.
Standing next to him was Kristina, who had managed to find a change of apparel herself, from the multi-colored dresses she normally wore, to a more mobile battle ready outfit. She wore brown trousers, a short sleeved red with white lining tunic, covered by leather cuirass. She had leather gloves and leather boots. On the right side of her leg was a dagger like the old man had. In her right hand was a brown bo-staff. Her hair was long and flowing down to her mid-back.

Alastar noticed by their feet were three packs and a sack filled with food. After a few seconds Elder Elias spoke, “Where is Maria, I was expecting her to be able to escape also, a few bandits shouldn’t be able to take that woman down so easily.” Alastar stood and brushed himself off, “She…she did not make it…she is gone.” Alastar could not bring himself to say the word dead, it hurt enough already, and he had barely been able to choke out gone. Kristina put a hand on Alastar’s shoulder, “I am so sorry, if there is anything I…” Alastar pushed off her hand, “I don’t need your help”, Kristina frowned and backed away, “I am sorry for your loss Alastar.” She paused a few seconds and then spoke again, “I had heard that pirates were getting bad, but these were not pirates, these were an army of common bandits. I knew bandits were worse down here in the southern continent than up in the north, but I never could have imagined this. Not an army of them.” Elias frowned and shook his head, “We need move, or our escape will be in vain, our first stop will be at Eraidas, city of the sun god Aidos and the borderland between two great provinces.” After picking up one of the packs and the food bag off the ground, Elias turned to Alastar, “Alastar I am sorry for your loss, she was a great friend of mine, but we have no time to grieve here, I promise when we make Eraidas I will let you mourn all you wish, for now it is not safe, surely the bandits will be done grabbing all the precious stuff they can find soon.” Kristina picked up a pack and handed Alastar one, giving him a sympathetic glance as she did, quickly afterwards she caught up to Elias and began walking next to him. Alastar wanted to look back, but could not bring himself to do it, and he knew there was no point as he knew Maria would not be walking up to him. Alastar closed his eyes and sighed. He had never felt such pain before, and he hoped he would never feel such pain again.

Alastar trudged along behind the others exhausted from his latest expenditure. It would be a long road, he would have little rest, and Alastar was not prepared for such a journey.

As they walked the scenery eventually became flat, the mountains were to his far right, to his left was the Durian River, the same river that flowed behind Maria’s house, the same river that used to flow behind Maria’s house. The river flowed along the Kaelen Mountain’s named for a famous warrior who had fought atop a fabled red dragon, whose name was never told and died fighting what was said to be nearly ten thousand soldiers. Though hours had past, and mid day had come and nearly gone, the scenery however could not distract Alastar from the reality of what had just happened, Maria was dead. She had been the kindest person in his life. Never once had Alastar shown her any love or respect. She had been the kindest person even when he had not. She had never had a temper or raised her voice. Alastar had never before thought about his actions. Until now he never realized how bad he treated those who would care for him.

Alastar now only had one object left from Maria, the sword she had spent almost all her savings on for him. Perhaps since the elder Elias used a blade of his own he could teach Alastar how to fight, “Sir Elias Triaster, would you teach me how to wield the blade?” Alastar had stopped walking and had shouted to him. The elder stopped and turned around, “Alastar I have a friend that can teach you to wield a blade like that one, the best I can teach you is that fighting with one blade type will always be different than fighting with another blade, yours is made for balanced power, mine is for striking at the right spot at the right time. Yours is a slower more powerful sword, mine is faster and lighter. When we get there my friend can teach you, until than it is not safe to stop, not even for a second, we must get as far ahead of this horde as we can, who knows where they will attack next.” With this the elder turned around and began walking again.

It is too bad, Alastar thought, unlike a story book you don’t grab a weapon and become a hero, slaying the evil lord and having the world look up to you. Of course there were no evil dark lords around anyways; surely there were evil kings, but not ones on the verge of taking the whole of the world. As he walked Alastar continued to ponder the story book versus reality concept, unfortunately memories of Maria constantly appeared in his mind. Finally he decided it was in his best interest to avenge Maria and the village, when he was through not a single bandit would remain standing. Not if Alastar had something to do with it, and he planned to have everything to do with it.

As they walked Kristina suddenly fell over, to her right. As Elias heard the thud of her body hitting the ground, he spun around grabbed her and propped her up. Alastar noticed her wide eyes staring into space, looking at nothing in particular, “She is having a vision, we can not disturb her. If what I commonly have seen in sudden visions, it cannot be good.” How did he know? He was just a simple villager too, just like everyone else, perhaps he read it in a story book, as Alastar had read so many, or perhaps, this was all his doing, he was the evil culprit behind all this. Alastar could not help but think that the elder Elias Triaster was behind everything that had just happened, and if so he would put an end to it. Of course, thought Alastar, he would wait, follow him, get proof of it all, and eventually tell Kristina of the elders plotting and attempts at becoming rich through raiding trading villages. He would stay with him long enough to receive the free training, and then he would make sure that nobody ever lost their equivalent of Maria again, he would end this himself.

Finally after about half an hour, Kristina let out a sigh and shakily stood up, “what happened Kristina? Is everything alright?” Elias helped Kristina stand, “It was nothing, I am sorry. It was another vision, not unlike ones I have had before, of course normally they come in my sleep, and this one came as a shock…especially what I saw.” As she said this she glances at Alastar, “I will not tell you now though, perhaps…not ever.” A look of age and tenderness both crossed Elias’s face, he was worried with no doubt, but he would not question her further.


Alastar having seen this was not sure if he was accusing the right person. As the elder obviously had strong will and was a powerful opponent, he had obvious goodness, which could be seen even at a glance. Alastar decided he would be very wary of this man’s actions, as for an old guy, he was definitely tough enough to take on an average younger person.
Elias sighed, “Visions are not to be questioned, it is up to who sees them to decipher them, not others, that is something my brother never understood, and he…he suffered for it.” Elias sighed again and turned away, “I only wish I could have saved him.”

Turning to Alastar, he spoke quietly, “When we get to town I have something to tell you, I imagine it is time, and Maria would have wanted you to know, but for now we must press on.”

After gathering Kristina back to reality they continued their journey, which was long and uneventful. They walked for a good twenty grueling miles, with hardly any rest, it was worth it though, for in the distance was brown dirt instead of green grass, and the bordering city further off, Eiradas.