CHAPTER TWO
Grove of Rest
The years passed, and Dison was about to turn nineteen. His brown hair fell to his shoulders, and he wore an old, faded blue shirt, brown pants, and worn-out boots. Peace reigned in Danestria, a town in southwestern Aardocia.
The fields and surrounding forest were so quiet that Dison often felt bored. The only excitement in his life came from his training that came less every year. Quinn, was a harsh teacher, that kept Dison on his toes with lessons in sword fighting and survival skills. On some evenings, he found solace in fishing at a quiet pond in the nearby forest, seeking an escape from Quinn and his sisters. As the evenings grew cooler, Dison dreaded the coming winter.
He often thought of his mother, but the memory of her only brought the visions of the ones who took her from him. Causing him frustration. He inhaled slowly to calm down.
The rustling leaves on the ground made him aware he was not alone. "Come on out, Tina!" Dison sighed with a smirk.
A ten-year-old girl emerged from behind a nearby tree, her long brown hair cascading down her back in a playful ponytail. With bright, curious eyes sparkling with mischief, she approached Dison, her footsteps light and full of energy as she moved through the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. The air buzzed with anticipation as she drew nearer, a playful smile spreading across her face. "You know it's getting too chilly for fishing, Dison. Kaida has made dinner if you want some."
"Let me guess, potatoes and beans again."
"Well, it's better than nothing."
"I would have loved some fish to go with it." Dison stood up, pulled his fishing line from the water, and frowned at the empty hook. He tucked the rod into a crevice of a nearby tree to conceal it. "Let's go eat. Nothing biting anyway."
Dison and Tina stepped out of the dense forest, the cool shade giving way to the warm sunlight of a winding road that invited them toward the town. Dison thought back to his old village and his mother walking with him through the fields. As they approached, the city's sheer size became clear. It loomed large, sprawling beyond its ancient walls like a giant tree eager to grow. This was Danestria, the hometown of Quinn.
They soon found themselves in front of an old, two-story shop at the edge of the bustling town. Its weathered facade told stories of better days, with several broken windows gaping like missing teeth and a shingled roof that sagged under the weight of time. The building seemed almost out of place among the newer structures surrounding it, its aging contrasting with the vibrant, modern architecture nearby.
Once a considerable distance from the heart of the town, this shop had become engulfed by the city's rapid expansion, a relic of the past now overshadowed by the relentless march of progress.
The front of the store showcased old armor and weapons. The back included a kitchen and a bedroom, with a staircase leading to additional bedrooms. Dison walked into the downstairs bedroom while Tina hurried to the kitchen.
In the bedroom, Quinn sat in his wheelchair, looking out the window at the fields surrounding the town. The years following his departure from the military had not been kind to him. He was fighting a chronic illness that he had developed six years after leaving service. This illness was lessening his quality of life, taking a considerable toll on him.
Dison approached him. "Hey, old man. Time for dinner."
"You enjoy your fishing trip?"
"I wish I could've caught something for dinner."
Quinn struggled to speak into his sleeve as he went into a coughing fit. "Off again, as usual. You should go join a guild or something. Go on adventures. Not sit around here."
Dison grabbed his wheelchair and pushed him toward the kitchen. "I have to take care of you, old-timer."
"You should just worry about yourself. I'm done for, anyway." Quinn coughed up blood this time as he tried to hide it. Hoping Dison didn't notice. "You, Kaida, and Tina would be better off without me holding you down." He said.
Dison continued as if he didn't notice, but he had known for some time that Quinn's condition was worsening. He pushed Quinn to the table where Tina was sitting. Their other sister, Kaida, placed food on the table. She was eighteen, with long brown hair that she styled to conceal her pointed ears. Her striking crystal blue eyes caught the attention of anyone who looked at her. As a half-elf, she was of mixed human and Elven heritage and faced prejudice from both races but found peace in this part of the kingdom.
"You need to stop talking like that, papa," Kaida spoke in a caring tone.
Quinn lowered his eyes. "You all will have each other. I know you can take care of each other." Giving Dison a stern look, he smirked, picked up his fork, and took a bite.
"We can handle ourselves." Tina declared as she tossed a bean at Dison, hitting him on the head. "I'll take care of Dison. He's always so serious."
Dison shot her a stern look before retaliating with one of his beans, and they began throwing beans at each other. Quinn looked at them with a serious expression before joining in, chuckling.
Kaida grew furious. "Come on now. I just cooked this!" she sighed with frustration. "It's a good thing I made extra, I guess." She joined the fight, and they all laughed and enjoyed hurling food at each other as laughter filled the kitchen.
Later that night, Dison lay on the roof of the house, rubbing the necklace he wore, and gazing at the starry sky while contemplating Quinn's request. Ever since Quinn had brought him to Danestria, Dison had wanted to join the military and hunt down the ones in the hoods. However, the weight of Quinn's illness made him realize that being there for his family was more important. He and Kaida were trying to run the shop, but needed more customers. Armor and weapons did not sell well during times of peace. They also had a small farm in the back that provided enough food for most days. Dison wanted more for them.
Dison heard someone climbing the little ladder he had made to get on and off the roof. When he saw Kaida making her way to him, Dison laid his head back down. "Tina finally asleep?"
"Yes." Kaida lay beside Dison as close as she could get. "It's chilly. How are you not frozen?"
Dison smirked as she cuddled up to him for warmth. An intense silence hung between them, as if they were thinking the same thing. "So."
"So?"
"Rosan sent me a letter."
"I know. You're thinking of joining the military?"
"Money will help us live a better life. So yes, I am."
"Papa doesn't want you to."
"I'm doing this for all of us. I have to take care of you and Tina."
Kaida looked away, knowing she could not persuade Dison away from his determination. "Tina will miss her big brother."
"I know, but you'll be there for her, and one day she'll understand. Also, I'll always come visit."
"Promise me you won't forget us."
"How could I forget my two favorite sisters?"
Kaida turned her gaze to the side, her eyes filled with a deep sense of desperation. "Sister," she whispered, her voice barely audible. They reclined side by side, gazing at the vast, star-lit sky, the chilly night air wrapping around them. The temperature brought a subtle tension that clung to the atmosphere, a stark contrast to the warmth of their bond.
The next day at dawn, three men—a middle-aged man and his two young sons—walked through the woods near Danestria. They were hunters armed with bows, looking for a new hunting area. The vibrant colors of fall illuminated the surrounding forest. They discovered an old cobblestone road that had been unused for decades.
"Dad, have you ever seen this place before?" One of the young men asked.
"No. I've never seen this place before, Kale." Jerim, the father, said.
They followed the road's remnants until they reached an old carriage beside it. The elements had worn down the structure, and moss had overtaken much of its surface. The men looked around to see what they could find.
Kale looked inside the carriage and found old dresses and a few toys scattered on the floor. He started seeing his breath as a chill swept over him. He heard his little brother, Jamus, yell for them.
"Dad! Kale! You need to see this!"
Kale hurried over to join his brother and father. He gazed upon the remains of two bodies draped in tattered dresses, their once-vibrant fabrics now dulled and faded. Decades of abandonment had left the bones withered. The surrounding air was heavy with a sense of stillness, adding to the eerie atmosphere that enveloped the scene. Kale felt as though someone was watching him as he scanned the area.
"I feel sorry for these women." Jerim said.
"What's that between them?" Jamus gestured toward a striking rock formation, its rugged surface adorned with fresh carvings. The inscriptions etched into the stones hinted at a story or message from a long-forgotten time.
"Witchcraft. Do you think they were witches?" Kale assumed.
"I don't think so. I've felt like someone has been watching us since we got here." Jerim said.
"You feel that too," Kale said to his dad as he looked over the woods. He heard whispering coming from the corpses. He noticed pollen around them and heard women's laughter coming from afar. "What is this?"
"Don't breath it in." Jerim yelled. "Let's get away from here!"
"Come on Jamus!" Kale followed his father, running as far as they could down the road. He turned to see that Jamus was nowhere to be seen as a blanket of mist swallowed the forest. "JAMUS! Dad, what's going on?" He turned back to his father, who was coughing uncontrollably. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Where's your brother?"
"I don't know. I thought Jamus was behind us, but this mist came from nowhere." He patted his father on the back. "Let's go, Dad. We have to find Jamus." His dad turned to him with hollow eyes and rotten skin. Kale panicked and backed away.
"What is it, Kale?"
"You're not my dad." Kale tried running, but the monster grabbed him and kept saying in a raspy voice. "Son, it's me. Stop, it's me." Kale drew a dagger and sliced the monster's arm. The creature backed off in pain, gripping its arm as it disappeared into the mist. Kale ran as fast as possible to escape the forest. But the fog was so thick he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him.
"Kale!" a voice called to him. He looked around in disbelief. "Mom." He said as he wandered around, trying to hear her again. "Mom, is that you? Where are you?!" He tripped and fell over something. He saw Jamus's body, he fell over. "Little brother."
"You left me." Jamus's voice came from the forest.
"No. I thought you were behind me." Kale said.
"You left me to die. Just like you left mom to die."
"No. I didn't. I." Kale watched in horror as his brother's body came back to life, its eyes pale white and emitting a piercing shriek. The reanimated figure crawled toward him with alarming speed. Heart racing, Kale got up and ran as fast as he could. After a moment, he stopped to look behind him, trying to determine if the creature was still in pursuit. He backed up against a tree, desperately trying to catch his breath.
"Kale." A whisper came from above.
Kale looked up slowly and saw a woman crawling down the tree toward him. She appeared made of wood, with hollow eyes and mouth. He ran before she could grab him, and the creature shrieked as it gave chase on all fours, crawling on the ground like an animal. Kale kept running, hearing its raspy voice scream behind him, but he never looked back. Eventually, he reached a road and realized he could no longer hear the creature. To his relief, Kale found himself back on the main road to Danestria. However, the fog made it difficult to determine precisely where he was.
Hearing horses nearby, Kale looked down the road both ways. "Help! Anyone there?! I need your help!" Horses emerged from the mist with red eyes and flesh hanging off their bones. The corpses riding on them got off and walked toward him. "No, stay away!" Kale ran as the soldiers chased after him, shrieking and wailing as they grabbed him and pinned him down. One soldier in black armor knelt beside him and looked into his eyes, appearing to communicate with the others. "Am I going to die?" Kale thought to himself.
A few minutes earlier that day, Rosan and a small contingent of soldiers made their way toward Danestria on horseback. The sun illuminated the vibrant tapestry of colorful leaves. Highlighting the beauty of the autumn day. Beside Rosan, a towering figure rode up, his presence imposing. He wielded a massive sword strapped securely across his back, and his bald head shone in the sunlight. Unlike the other soldiers, who were fully armored, he wore only partial armor that clung to his muscled frame.
"What is it, Major Talbis?" Rosan asked in an annoyed manner.
"I was wondering what your old mentor has anything to do with us?"
"What do you mean? I enjoy your company."
"I mean, what is this even about? A child you saved ten years ago from some people in cloaks that mysteriously vanished?"
Urision rode up to them. "I told you, it was a spell of teleportation."
"That doesn't even exist. If it did, I wouldn't be walking my happy ass to this village now, would I?" Talbis said.
"You're not walking. We took an airship to the port, and it was just a few days' ride on horseback." Urision said sarcastically.
Talbis rolled his eyes. "Don't you have anything else to do? All I'm saying is that we have higher duties that take priority."
"Like drinking it up in a pub." Rosan snickered. "I heard Danestria has some of the best ale in all the kingdom of Aardocia. Made with the freshest and finest hops."
Excitement came across Talbis' face. "Well, what are you waiting for? You should have told me that sooner. Onward then." As he took the lead.
"Calm down up there!" A woman yelled from a little way back into the group. Her hair was silver and braided, and her skin was dark. She was wearing leather armor and wielding a bow on her back.
"Rivera. We drink tonight!" Talbis announced.
"I'm ready! You big dummy!" Rivera yelled."
"How has he not died of alcohol poisoning yet?" A young woman rode beside Rivera, playfully asking questions. She had short, dull blue hair, matching Urision and her armor was thinner and more revealing for better flexibility. Her gauntlets and boots were for a brawler-type fighter. Her name was Rosetta Greystone, a spirited twenty-year-old passionate about combat. "We don't need alcohol. We need a good fight to pump up the blood. Right, Silvara?!" She turned to an elf riding a little behind her.
Silvara Daldron was an elf with silvery, purplish hair. Appeared to be in her twenties. She was the group's oldest member, over a hundred years old, but young for an elf. Although she often had an icy demeanor toward most people, she opened up to Rosetta as if she were a little sister. "Not really," she said, watching Rosetta sigh in disappointment and chuckling.
"What about you, brother? Ready for a fight?" Rosetta yelled.
Urision rolled his eyes. "Not really! A little peace is pleasant."
Rosan saw a young man running from the forest onto the road. The man seemed confused and frightened, as if he didn't know where he was. "Whoa," Rosan exclaimed, halting the group and dismounting his horse and a few soldiers. "Are you alright?!" he yelled, but the man did not hear him. Cautiously, they approached the young man, but he darted away, shouting, "No, stay away!" They quickly chased him down and grabbed him.
The soldiers restrained the young man as Rosan knelt and looked into his eyes. Rosan then turned to his men. "Get Elayne! It's alright, kid. We'll help you," Rosan spoke to the frightened young man, Kale.
Elayne came to them and examined the man. "Hello. Can you tell me your name?"
Kale struggled and yelled, "Get away from me! Dad! Jamus! HELP ME! Please, help me." Breathing heavily, he trembled in fear.
"It's like he can't see us or hear us," Rosan stated.
"No. This young man's seeing something else entirely. Looks to be a hunter." Elayne said. "We need to get him to town."
"Understood. Put him in the carriage. Bound his hands and feet. He's not in his right mind." Rosan looked toward the forest, feeling an icy chill run down his spine. "Urision, Silvara. You and a few men come with me. The rest of you escort Elayne to the town and see what we are dealing with."
"Is that wise? We don't know what we're up against." Elayne stated.
"From what the young man said. There are two more out there. We can't just leave them. Dead or alive, we bring them back." Rosan stepped into the dense woods, where the canopy of leaves rustled gently in the breeze.
Meanwhile, a few men worked diligently to tie the horses securely to nearby trees, their hands moving with purpose. They glanced over their shoulders occasionally, watching Elayne and her group as they made their way toward town. Elayne led the way, her expression resolute. In contrast, the others followed closely behind, casting furtive glances back at the carriage that held Kale. He had been bound and placed inside, his fate uncertain as they journeyed onward, the sounds of the forest enveloping them in a quiet tension.