Land of Mirriam

So many things happened, but there were still familiar things that he could feel. The mountain in front of him was recognizable, he began climbing it. He didn’t have the memories; he just followed his instinct and some kind of nostalgic feeling.

It took him a few hours before he was back in the small hut. He opened it and lay down his things on one side of the door. Dust flew covering the whole shack with dust, he begrudgingly sighed. He immediately saw a handmade sweeper hanging on the door; made out of dry leaves. He began cleaning the shack. He lay in the bed when he was already satisfied.

For some reason, the boy felt empty... after losing the reason for his travel, it seemed that there was nothing for him to do now. Simon was not the type to dwell too much on things he had no control over. He would still need a few more years to join the adventurer’s guild... maybe he’d just stay in the mountains and train until that day came... but that was just plain boring; he had been training all his life.

“Hmm... where to go, huh…” a breath of vexation escaped from his mouth as he was cleaning.

The word echoed in his mind repeatedly... his vague memories of the shack cracked a smile on his mouth, nothing was changed... not even ransacked... the familiar scent of the herbs and oils the old man made was still lingering. The shack was on the leaning side of the mountain and was very well hidden by the forest.

‘I should have taken their hospitality, but that’s not my style,’ he thought, but interacting with people was a bane that he hadn’t got over with, especially with his strange eyes, it's annoying to talk to people with his eyes closed.

Thinking of these things he didn’t even notice that he had already finished cleaning the whole shack. He changed into new clothes and with a smile lay down on the bed of hays.

His mind continued to race. ‘Where to go?’ he was very close to the eastern frontier. A few miles east, and it would be the Sea of Mountains... it’s at the edge of the known world, and explorers are stationed there; the old man called them the true cutting edge of the humans. Exploring the unknown would be exciting.

The old man would often tell stories when he worked together with the explorers. They were really good... much better than the heroes that dived into the dungeons... they were of different classes, though they didn’t shy away from their weaknesses.

How about going around and just trying foods he hadn’t tasted? Out of all the ideas, this was the most appealing that he could think of. He imagined the tastes he could discover along the way and remembered a friend who showed him how important it is that one can cook. He ought to visit her.

“Is this freedom, old man?” the boy was talking to the ceiling of the shack.

The comfy bed and the fact that he was thinking too much began to take away Simon’s consciousness.

<--->

The shack was in total darkness. The wind blew but the shack’s foundations were enough to withstand it. The boy inside who hadn’t had any shelter for a while slept soundly.

Near his hand was his sword, tucked in the side of his bed, handle just a few inches from his hand. His hands automatically touched it. He opened his eyes upon hearing the sounds of footsteps, he sprang up into a sitting position. The hut’s door was just a normal wooden type, made to cover against the cold winds. There was no lock or reinforcement on it.

“A boy?” it was a deep voice as the door opened. It was a man in a fur cape. He had to hunch over to enter the shack.

“Who are you… how did you find this place” Simon was instantly wary but he was sure the man was alone. Although it was dark, Simon could clearly see the man. He was large, and although his body was covered in fur Simon could tell that he had a huge frame. His beard and blue eyes were the first sight for the boy. He began thinking of ways to deal with the large man. ‘Cut his throat?’ ‘Go for the lower extremities and bleed it?’

The big guy felt the blood lust from the boy, not intimidated by his sheer size “This place… only a few know this, where is the old man…?” he felt shivers on the back of his neck but remained calm. Still, he was ready for anything, he had a good amount of experience in dealing with beasts.

“He is dead... he took care of me…” The heavy air that the man instilled suddenly disappeared. “Are you his son? What???!! That old man who only loved and messed with swords?” The sentence was full of surprise and mockery, but to Simon, it was enough to dispel his bloodlust and finally lower his guard. Although Simon knew the old man's nuances, the boy didn't know any of his past.

Simon excitedly smiled and then took something from his bag to show a sword hilt; it was the broken sword of the old man. The big guy's eyes widened.

“... Who are you?”’ Percival exclaimed. For a while, he was lost in words from Simon’s smile. “Oh... sorry... I’m Percival of the Wolf tribe... we lived in the northern frontier... sorry for intimidating you... but I'm looking for the old man... if he was still alive, that is... your eyes…” Percival was taken aback... the darkness made the eyes seemingly glowing. A pair of snake eyes stared at him.

“It's normal... I was born like this... This is my first time meeting someone who knows the old man.” Well, he didn’t even know or probably remembered the old man’s name.

“Do you live here in this hut?... where is his grave?”

The boy's eyes instantly changed, he was an open book to the northerner all of a sudden “It will be a long story…” Simon said sorrowfully.

“I’m all ears,” Percival nodded with affirmation.

<--->

Percival left. He said that he would be going into the village to get some supplies before traveling as far as he could towards the central.

Simon and the old man took their sweet time, even staying for years in some towns along the way; sometimes, they would stay in a cave for years, training every day.

Percival, without stopping, might only reach the far east of the central continent... He must be back on the northern wall before the next winter moon, Simon started thinking to himself. Along the long story and talk between the two of them, he said that he actually had nowhere to go right now.

“Then come with me... an extra hand is much needed... if he really raised you, then you must know how to fight, right?” That was what Percival suggested to Simon.

“It's cold there, and everywhere is white. It's beautiful but at the same time deadly,” Percival described the north. It started fueling Simon’s curiosity.

“Plus, us northerners make the best noodles in the whole realm, and eating it hot in the north is the best feeling you will ever have,” Percival added. And the boy really loved food, he wasn’t sure if the big one knew it.

Simon really liked that idea... It seemed that the boy had already decided.

<--->

The village chief’s hut was immediately discernible, it stood on high grounds with its backside into the forest and its structure was very like a witch’s hat, it was also the only building that had four floors on it.

It was the first destination of Percival of the wolf tribe, the villagers watched him as he walked. He inspired fear and curiosity. He was a towering man, his head was leveled with the wooden houses and huts around him.

The old lady was already on the top of her wooden balcony, lay her eyes on the even. Percival noticed that sharp gaze and waved at the old lady. A few moments passed and were already inside face to face with Lady Zhisata.

The room was not that big, flowers and drawings adorned the room but it was simple enough. Seeing the two inside the room would make one think that it was a David and Goliath stare-down.

“Lady Zhisata, it has been a very long time,” Percival bows his head with his hands on his chest the old lady bends her neck in response. After the gesture Percival didn’t waste time “We require your help... the north walls are going to be sieged... would you send a message to the central to send a hero to the northeast?”

“... Too bad... we have been cut off from the central for a few years now... one of the nobles is trying to isolate us... clearly, the central has not yet changed for the better... I cannot help you... how about the old man? Alphecca, if you can find him then…”

“He is already dead... my source confirmed it…” Percival said it straight staring into the old lady’s eyes… he was not lying that’s for sure.

There was little to no change on the face of the old lady, stone cold as she reached for a fan to hide the lower part of her face… some things raced on her mind.

“But... I can offer you help,” the old lady stood up. In the next room, she entered, and after a few minutes, she came out with something in her hands. “Take this... this is an artifact of the holy beast of the snake... it can be used to borrow the power of the holy beast, but the user would expend themselves afterward…”

It was covered in some kind of cloth; the cloth is a special garment that blocks off magic and spirit.

She showed a glimpse, and the malice it produced made Percival sweat and gulp. “Use this with no ally around... the user would lose himself and all reasons then kill anything alive,” Zhisata put the cloth back on the artifact. As soon as Percival took it, Zhisata firmly held his hands. “Give me your word that you will return this no matter what... I don’t care if you find another one to sacrifice... you must bring it back to me.”

“My lady... I’m of the Wolf tribe... I will sacrifice myself and send someone to return this... you have my word,” Percival was firm. The old lady smiled and left the artifact in his hands.

The lady watched Percival’s back. The tooth of the snake had been growing anxious for a long time now. It was thirsting for blood. Like the last time, if she could quell it, then everything would be alright. “This is all for everything's good.” At least she didn’t need to sacrifice the villagers anymore.

<--->

Medicines and food— a whole sack of it. With his body, he easily lifted two sacks and started moving out of the village. He noticed a knight’s sword on one of the warriors standing as a guard in front of the village entrance. “That sword... how did you get that?”

He started with a question to one of the warriors. “We were hostilely approached by knights yesterday; one boy slew them all... I got this one from one of the knights’ possessions. It would be a waste to bury it... we also got some of the armor, but no one can wear it right now.”

“A piece of advice, my friend... you can’t wear or use those. If some knights from the central visit your village, you will be investigated... but if you melt it down and forge it into another, it would be no problem.”

Percival thought he looked intimidating, his smile and the way he greeted the warrior put them at ease. The warriors of the village knew of his kind; they were the northerners who lived on the northern wall in the far north, and they would heed his advice.

<--->

“I’m coming with you~!!” Simon said as soon as Percival arrived at the hut.

“You were the one who slew the knight... am I right?”

Simon nodded.

Percival saw the shack was already cleaned up and tidied and the boy’s things already packed up. “We don’t have to hurry...” Percival said as he grounded the sack he was carrying.

“I thought the north is under attack?” the boy pondered.

“Yes, but the next attack won't be until winter... it's only summer now... I will be going closer to the central continent to find help... as far as time allows.”

Going around and spreading the word of the siege was a total waste of time, but it was the only way because of how nobles and their politics worked. If the northerners had a surplus of gold, then it would be a different scenario.

Simon was a wanderer, he often forgot things that weren’t that important to him but the recent events were still clear for him. “I have an idea... let's pass by the Black Forest...” Simon said and he hands a shake. The two then grabbed and shook hands.

<--->

The spirit of the holy beast wailed from within the ancient artifact. Bound by the shroud that rendered it blind to the outside world, it could only sense the shift in its destiny through raw instinct. The artifact hummed with an eerie energy, vibrating subtly as the spirit's fate drew near, a palpable tension that seemed to pulse through the air around it.

The old lady who sealed it... the humans who hurt it... the humans who slayed it. They will all pay. Consuming their blood, and feasting on their souls would bring it pleasure. Its purpose still burned in his mind, but for a time it had existed outside the influence of the creator and master. It had developed sentience. Now that it was self-aware, it shrieked in joy for its moving fate... and gritted its teeth for the things it hated.

<--->

Simon felt cold slithering on his spine. There was something on the back of his head that told him something was happening, but it was of no use thinking like that. His head was now on the journey in front of him. Simon and Percival trekked down from the mountains.

As soon as they reached the bottom of the mountain, they started heading southwest, going past the Ahas village following the path Simon took. It would take half a day to arrive at the same foliage before the dark forest.

“Are you sure about this? Even my father told me to stay clear of that forest,” Percival warned Simon. The boy’s face distorted, and he stared at Percival. Is the big intimidating guy afraid of the forest?

The boy inserted his hands in one of his pockets “I’ve got my ways... If I blow on this leaf, they will come,” Simon said, assuring Percival, showing him the leaf that was in his pocket.

Although they were carrying sacks of food and provisions, the two actually enjoyed the leisurely walk.

…

Simon recognized the path as he led Percival around. As far as Simon could remember, there should be a town west of the path he took. He barely remembered how it looked, but he remembered it was called the town of ‘Pharsha.’ He had friends there. Simon wondered how they were now. His thoughts were disturbed when they found a good place to camp; they were already in the foliage near the dark forest.

Percival, after learning that Simon was the one who killed the knights, wanted to gauge the boy. The two engaged in a bit of a showdown fight, a spar. Halfway to the spar, the boy began launching water blades. The fight immediately shifted to Simon’s favor.

“You are good, kid, but that weapon is a cheat though!” Percival dodged some of the water blades from Simon’s sword. Percival could tell that Simon was not using any magic when he was swinging the water blades.

“Time to go in then!!” Simon said and entered the range of the northern man. The axe swing was deadly and powerful. Simon knew by instinct that his weapon would break if the northerner landed a clean blow on it. So he completely accepted that he could only dodge the axe swings. The big frame of the northerner surely gave a backing on his swings.

Percival had to attack and parry while the boy smoothly attacked and dodged in one motion. Even the northerner could tell that the boy was going easy on him. Because if not he would be already full of cuts… Percival gritted his teeth, it was time to go into a different approach. He was big so he had something in mind that would totally nullify the skill of the boy with his sword.

As Percival was about to launch his surprise tackle. “Humans!!!!” a voice came out. They were close to the dark forest but not yet in its territory. It was a forest folk.

Simon, who could see quite clearly in any given situation, instantly realized who it was, but he hadn’t blown the leaf yet.

“AFARA!!” waving smilingly at the acquaintance.