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Chapter 1: One Year Earlier |
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Junica stood vigilant outside the city gates, long blond hair and earthen cloak waving behind him in the cold summer breeze. His lightly tanned skin seemed to be stretched taut from the chill, but still he never wavered. He stood watching the road, eyes fixed as if hesitant about the path before him, clutching his father's dagger.
It was an old blade, hilt carved into the shape of a dragon's torso, the neck and head used as the handle. The blade was carved from a mithral metal only found in fallen meteorites, with runes etched down its edges in the "Old Tongue", an ancient language of undecipherable symbols. Most astonishing was the pommel stone, a beautiful, jade-colored gem, set in the dragon's mouth. It glowed as he held the dagger in his hands.
Twelve, he thought. Recruited at the age of twelve. I didn't think they would actually accept me. Better get going. If I don't leave now, I'll never be able to leave mom and dad and...
"Saria..."
It disgusted him that he could not muster one tear, even at the mention of her name. They had been friends since he was a toddler, always looking out for one another. And now, he was leaving. Leaving her. Leaving the life he knew so well. Most of all, leaving behind his innocent childhood.
"I'm...sorry."
"Don't be."
Junica spun around as the wind picked up, stirring the dust on the road. Saria stood there, waist-length brown hair waving fluidly, like water, in the wind. Her own tan cloak was wrapped tightly around herself to buffer the early morning chill.
Her face was fair-featured, an angel's face. Her eyes, however, were deep as the infinite abyss. She opened her mouth, seemed to hesitate, then spoke with a voice of determination and confidence that she, herself, did not feel.
"Just promise me you will return soon, okay?"
He blinked away the tears from his soft, olive-green eyes. He reached out caressing her cheek for the last time, turned, and slowly walked down the unbeaten path. Away from his future he traveled. Away from his life.
One tear for it all.
 Prometheus-of-the-Pies · Sat Apr 16, 2005 @ 05:19pm · 4 Comments |
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