(WIP)
“Welcome. How may I serve you?"
The question pulled me back from my raging chain of thoughts. I had just arrived at the train station, yet a line starts to grow behind me, it was the high hours, people are commuting back to their lives after their well-deserved lunch break.
I shuffle around, nervously checking my notes to figure out my next destination.
“Erm… I’m trying to get to Saralis. When’s the next train arriving at?” I double check the name before my attention goes back to the attendant.
“Oh… I apologize, the line to Saralis is temporarily closed. Due to a massive sandstorm, it’s currently unfeasible for the trainlines to operate near the area.”
“Really? So there’s no way to get there?”
“I’m afraid not, we’ll have to wait for the situation to sort itself out.”
[picture of Nat]That’s no good… I can’t just sit and wait. I say thanks and start to ponder by myself, but I quickly get distracted by some people muttering rumors in the background.
“…And another village suffered the effects of the Hayame devil and their minions. Its inhabitants were allegedly murdered, even though none of the bodies had fatal injuries to justify their deaths. This is the third similar incident in the same month…”
Hayame devil huh? That’s how they’re calling them…
The Hayame were once a wealthy, powerful and influential cult of magicians, individuals capable of harnessing the power of the sun, converting it into magic spells. Their reign ended when their last successor decided to free a demon from its seal, wreaking havoc and nearly eliminating all members of their own family.
Their reputation decreased a lot and the world fell into chaos for a decade, with the demon destroying and conquering all it could see. Creatures called Husks emerged from the demon, monsters that are mainly active at night. A war erupted and the demon was eventually vanquished, providing some moments of peace to the world of Eifron, however…
It seems a new demon is trying to keep up with the previous one’s legacy.
How do I know that? I should know… my name is Nattia Hayame, or just Nat. To be fair, I’ve only heard these stories, as I was brought away from the Hayame family when the massacre happened. I was supposed to become the next successor of their magic, but things never came to be.
Oh! Sorry about that. Name’s Nat… short for Nattia…Hayame. Yeah, I was one of them. Or at least I heard so. To be honest my memory is not very clear, and I was not there when the massacre happened. I was raised far from the family’s duties and ended up never becoming the true next successor they wanted me to be.
The only thing I inherited from the Hayame is this book.
[picture of book]It’s no mere book I bet. I hear it’s a powerful grimoire, but as I am right now I’m unable to uncover its true potential. And that’s the reason I’m traveling right now. That and a whim.
Before I realize the day turns to night, and the once busy station becomes quiet, as people leave for their destination. Turns out my waiting was in vain, and there will be no trains for Saralis, as the attendant said previously, and that sure is a problem.
The nighttime paints another world to the inhabitants of Eifron. One that is eerie, silent and threatening. Most people wouldn’t dare walk on their own under dim lighted lands, not if they fear for their lives. Keywords here, I don’t have a lot to lose...
[picture]Leaving the station, I make my way through a jagged path, despite the concerns of an old lady who saw me going in this direction. I reassured her that I knew what I was doing and moved on. Perhaps the next city or village might give me more options for transportation.
Far from the hectic Central City, the western region stands in stark contrast. The area is largely underdeveloped, consisting mostly of small villages scattered across the landscape. These villages rely heavily on self-sustainment, making do with what they have. Though occasional trades do occur, they are rare and the region remains isolated. The paths linking these villages remain rough and seldom maintained. As a result, the people of the area have grown accustomed to a more secluded way of life.
The lack of light was getting to me, perhaps I’ve underestimated these lands. I could make a source of light with magic, but that would be the same as putting an arrow above me, potentially drawing attention from any nearby creatures. After what felt like an hour of walking, I find a dense forest on the way. It clearly was a bad idea to venture through it during the night, which makes me ponder my options. That’s when I heard a noise, something was approaching me!
It was too dark to make it clear, but it had a humanoid silhouette. How come I didn’t notice their presence? I try to dodge expecting an attack, but the individual had a clear goal: in a swift move, they take my book from my hand, quickly running towards the forest. I take a few seconds to react, but as soon as I do, I begin running after them.
It was a terrible idea, I knew it. But that book is special, I can’t simply lose it. The thief was fast, like someone who was used to the intricacies of these woods… but it can’t be, right?
Stamina has never been my strong suit, so not surprisingly the thief eventually outran me. As I pushed myself to keep up, the fatigue quickly set in. The thick foliage of the forest blocked all traces of moonlight, making the forest into near-total darkness. Our magic draws energy from the sun, so the deeper is the darkness, the less effective our spells become. Now, this is a rather dire situation, isn’t it? I have lost sight of the thief, and I have no idea how to go back to where I was before. Surrounded by shadows and silence, I realize I’m completely lost. Glancing around, an unsettling thought occurs to me: I may not be alone here.
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