NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: The Seven-Day Celebration
Liam, as he stumbled on, he drifted before a vanishing portal-light. Small growl of Nyx and the next moment she had leapt beside him. Once his eyes adjusted, Liam found himself in a busy, lively city that seemed different in its bustling and clamoring activities from any that he had ever seen before. Grand stone buildings soared upward against the sky, their banners flowing suspended by the breath of the wind. Streets laughed and sang with the clamor of vendors and entertainment.
"Where... is this place?" Liam muttered, taking in all the festive atmosphere. A lot of dancing people, children scurrying past with ribbons, and the hyacinth-scented air was filled with food and spices.
There came to them a man with an ostentatious hat, "Welcome, stranger!" he beamed. "Just in time for the Grand Festival of the Kingdom of Eldoria! For seven days, it has been celebrating peace, prosperity, and life."
Liam blinked dazedly. "A festival?"
The man slapped him on the shoulder. "Yes, and I reckon you need some food and rest. Come, join the festivities!"
The man vanished into the crowds, leaving Liam and Nyx standing alone in the square.
Liam stared down at Nyx. "Feels... wrong. There's always a catch."
Then, very suddenly, a soft buzzing voice echoed through his head. It sounded as though the tower itself were speaking,
>"Find the harbinger of ruin before the seventh day ends, or this kingdom will perish."
Liam stiffened. "The harbinger of ruin?"
Nyx tilted his head and growled softly.
Before Liam could continue speaking, strange letters
began forming in the air before him.
>The harbinger wears crimson robes with golden threads. Below the hood lies a mark of dark powers.
"And that's it? Just the clothes?" Liam muttered, his anger rising.
Only the crowd became thicker about them, swelling the music as the dancers swirled in blindingly bright and twirling costumes. Seven days and thousands of people, and one in crimson robes.
"This is impossible," Liam said aloud.
Day 1: The Search Begins
Liam walked the streets of the kingdom, scanning carefully, looking for anyone in crimson robes. Markets sprawled across the cobbled streets, merchants shouting to attract buyers; and Liam's eye darted ever through the mass of people, though red seemed omnipresent on banners, flags, and festival clothing.
He asked guards, he talked to shop owners, he even clambered up rooftops to look for a better view; but every turn led to disappointment.
"Half the bloody kingdom is wearing red!" Liam growled by sunset, before collapsing onto a bench. Nyx sniffed the air and shook his head, feeling just as miserable.
Day 2 : Public Meetings
He planned to go to the busier parts; most probably he'd be able to find someone in the pubs or in an inn. The festival nights were when the tavern lured the crowds to drink and celebrate till dawn. Nyx sat glued beside him, growling at anyone coming close enough.
Liam heard this at the largest tavern about a curious figure that is seen at the heart of the kingdom in the moonless hours of night time. That drew hope.
He made for a table of hunters. "You guys have seen anyone in that crimson robe with the golden thread? Hooded?"
Another shared drunken laughter, saying, "Many people wear crimson."
Defeated Liam made a noise, raised a coin over the table for information, and said, "If you hear anything, find me."
Day Three: For the Guild of Hunters
Day three saw Liam's annoyance reach the bursting point, prompting him to rejoin Eldoria's Hunter's Guild in hope of finding leads to others' trackers.
The guild hall was massive, and filled with maps, weapons, and mercenaries; however, after hours of pleading and bargaining, Liam left empty-handed.
"This guy doesn't want to be found," he grumbled.At length Nyx suddenly stopped, on the guild hall's
vicinity. His ears stood erect as he growled low.
Apparently something had caught his attention-but they were back at square one.
Day Four: Dismal and Fatigue
By the fourth day, Liam was encumbered with fatigue. He walked through every street, climbed up towers, and spoke with many strangers, and it did not look hopeful to him, and doubts crawled into his mind.
"What if I fail?" he whispers to Nyx as they sit under the riverbank.
Nyx whines and nudges Liam's arm with his head. The animal spreads hope both of them have not given up.
Day Five: The Breakthrough
It was about noon when Nyx froze suddenly, his nose twitching. He barked and sprinted away, taking Liam with him into dusky, narrow alleys leading to the center of the kingdom.
"By now, Liam was sprinting, catching up to Nyx , with each heartbeat announcing thud in his ears."
They made it to a huge square where the celebration had quietened down for the night. Grounded in dull moonlight stood a cloaked figure in crimson robes, apparently cursing in some strange tongue.
Dark energy spiraled around him.
Liam's eyes widened. "That's him!"
Those hands raised, and dark magic pulsated through the air, distorting the reality itself. Liam drew his sword, and ran forward. "Stop!"
Nyx lunged at the figure, biting through the illusion. The man's cloak fluttered, revealing symbols of dark magic etched into his chest.
With one forceful swing, Liam brought the figure down. The man let out a last wail before collapsing, his body dissolving into black smoke.
Liam panted as he looked into the empty space. "We did it..."
Day Six: Shocking Realizations
At the break of dawn, Liam had waited for the portal to open, but there was none.
"What is going on?" he muttered into the air. Nyx circled him, bewildered.
For hours, Liam roamed the kingdom, lost in thought, when, late in the afternoon, he found a man in the same crimson robes entering the back of a giant church.
Liam froze. "No...there's more than one."
The truth weighed upon him like a wave. The challenge was not for a single harbinger of doom; there were many.
He gripped his sword. "Not yet."
Nyx growled an agreement and both followed the figure into the shadows of the church.
To be continued...