Chapter 40: The True Beginning

?????: Ahhh, so bored.”

As the sun move across the sky, a carriage carrying five, slowly moves along. The five each passing the time in their individual way. The carraige wasn't necessarily small, but the long trip was starting to take its toll on the occupants.

?????: “Elise how much longer until we reach the next town?”

Elise: “Um let me check, let see, about three days after you stop asking me that, Shane.”

Shane: “I can’t help it; this route takes so long and I really need a drink.”

???????: “And your complaining makes it go by so much faster.”

Shane: “Huuuh~, you say something “Tin Man”, I couldn’t hear you over your knitting needles.

Tin Man: “Saying the one wearing the clothes I made.”

??????: “Enough.”

At her word, both of them settled down turning back to their own devices. Beatrice could qualm any in fight amongst her party members, all of them knowing how powerful she was and refraining from getting on her bad side.

Beatrice: “You all know why we took this route and how long it would take, deal with it, I’m talking to you Shane.”

Shane: “Yeah, yeah, I know we’re trying to avoid any suspicious eyes, but this route is way too far out the way, Rinka Plains, we might as well be on the edge of the world.”

Though he was annoying, no one refute his claims. The Rinka plains was basically how far south you could go on the Central continent. With its wide open fields, that stretch for miles, it was almost always completely abandoned. The last time they saw anyone, was two days ago and they were only passing by.

Elise: “With the cargo we have, we can’t risk wondering eyes or any of the checkpoints of the Northern route.”

To be honest, the Northern route wasn’t any faster, but it did have a lot more life traveling its path. More towns, more roadside inns and more places to drink. With no such places to rest, many would rather take the northern path, then risk camping in the dark fields. If not for the cargo currently, the northern path would have been chosen.

Shane: “Damn cargo, if it wasn’t for you, I could be drinking fright now.”

Shane kicked at the cage closes to him, causing the occupants to stir and bang the cage right back.

Beatrice: “Cut it out you idiot, if something happens to that-”

Shane: “I know, I know.”

Shane leaned his over the side of the cart, looking at the scenery go by upside down. It was another slow day and he had at least three more days to go. Not far from the them a forest could be seen, “Dyrek Woods”, a forest said to be home to a variety of powerful regrest. Though from where they were, Regrest were never known to appear, still everyone who traveled this road would always be on the lookout.

Elise: “Stop.”

Beatrice poured on the reins and the carriage came to a stop.

Beatrice: “What’s wrong?”

Elise close her eyes and held up her staff, a small glow coming from the orb on the end.

Elise: “Someone’s coming, straight toward us.”

Everyone grabbed their weapons and ready themselves.

Tin Man: “I don’t see anyone.”

Shane: “False alarm?”

Elise: “No, I’m sure someone’s getting close, there, there coming from that direction.”

Elise pointed towards the forest they were passing by. This sent everyone into a quiet panic. They never heard of anything coming out onto the plains, from the forest. They weren’t very close, but they weren’t far enough away to escape anything that came out of there.

Elise: “It’s almost here, be on guard.”

Everything went quiet and then rustling could be heard, it got closer and closer, until it burst out from within the forest.

Nathan: “Finally, we’re out, hurray to forestless field.”

The occupants of th carriage, watch as the person threw their arms up in rejoice. They were all stunned, first that someone emerge from that forest and second that it was such a beautiful woman. Brown skin, long black hair, a figure the gods would envy, she was gorgeous. On her shoulder their set a little brown furred mouse, trying to keep itself from falling from the woman shoulder.

Shane: “I think the lack of alcohol is getting to me.”

Tin Man: “That’s not how alcohol works.”

Shane: “Then tell me why, I am seeing a Lycanian?”

Nathan: “Ah so good to be out of that damn forest, hmm and to top that, people.”

Tin Man: “She’s coming over.”

Beatrice: “Be on guard.”

As Nathan approached alarms in his head started to go off, he slowed his pace and kept calm. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was attacked.

Nathan: “Excuse me, could you tell me where I am?”

Elise: “What did she say?”

Nathan: “I said. could you tell me where I am?”

Elise: “Oh, well, um-”

Beatrice: “You’re on Rinka Plains.”

Nathan: “Rinka Plains.”

Nathan took a look around, wide open fields as far as the eyes could see. It was really open compared to the forest he spent the last week, trying to navigate. As Nathen gazed around, the five-people occupying the carriage had eyes solely on him.

Shane: “(Whisper) A Lycanian, a real Lycanian, I can’t believe it.”

Elise: “(Whisper) A dark- skinned Lycanian at that. What do we do, it doesn’t seem like she wishes to fight?”

TinMan: “She looks more confused than anything, do you think he’s-.”

*Squeak**Squeak*

All eyes went to the mouse currently sitting on Nathans shoulder, cause a fuss and nipping at Nathan’s cheek.

Nathan: “Hmm, what is it?”

*Squeak*

Nathan: “Oh right, yes could you tell where I could find the nearest settlement?”

Beatrice: “………….If you head straight down this path, you can’t miss it.”

Nathan: “Thanks.”

With that Nathan started to walk away, headed in the direction she pointed.

Shane: “H-Hey, you’re not planning on walking there?”

Nathan: “Yeah, is it far?”

Shane: “Well, it’s three-day travel by carriage, if you travel on foot, I don’t know how long it will take.”

Nathan: “Seriously, well I guess I get there eventually, the paths a hundred times better, then trudging through the forest.

With that Nathan turned and walked away once again.

Shane: “We can’t just let you walk there, ho about this?”

Nathan: “Hmm?”

_

_

The carriage continued down the road, now with its sixth occupant. The band had offered to give Nathan a ride, he could have said no, but couldn’t think of a reason, plus they were headed in the same direction, apparently. As they travel along, they were all eerily quiet, all eyes squared solely on Nathan.

Nathan was currently staring too, his eyes solely on the large bird pulling the cart. Like a giant baby chick, with black and white feathers, it strolled along, pulling a cart with six occupants and to large cages. It must be pretty strong to be able to handle such weight and trot along so easily. Though, he was amazed by the bird he was more worried about Iris, she had kept herself invisible since she exited the forest. She was now happily buzzing around the giant bird, since she only ever read about them. Like a kid in a candy store, she happily played around, it was actually pretty funny, but he held his laugh, didn’t want to look crazy.

She and Anais, who was currently in her mouse form, decided to stay incognito and only to act when needed. Plus, the fact that Iris was a fairy, he didn’t want anyone to know she was there.

Beatrice: “Your staring like you never seen a Aveon before.”

Nathan: “Aveon?”

Beatrice: “The one pulling the carriage, his name is Quincy, say hi Quincy.”

Quincy: “Kweeeh”

Nathan: “Nice to meet you, Quincy.”

Beatrice: “Anyway, we should introduce ourselves, I’m Beatrice, the leader of this group. That my sister Elise.

Elise: “Pleasure.”

Beatrice: “Over there’s Tin Man.’

Tin Man: “Hello.”

Beatrice: “The one driving the carriage is Cerin.”

Cerin: “*Nod*”

Beatrice: “He doesn’t talk much, but great in a fight.

Nathan looked around as each was introduce, he tried to be subtle, but the hulking metal frame of Tin Man was drawing his attention from everything else. He was huge guy, armor keeping any distinguishable characteristic hidden. But, what was more shocking was the sewing needles in his hand.

Nathan: “Well nice to meet you all, I’m Nathan and this here is Anais.

Anais: “*Squeak**Squeak*

Elise: “Aw, she so cute, can I hold her?”

Nathan: “Uhhhhh-”

Anais looked up at Nathan, with an expression that “I will kill you if you say yes”.

Nathan: “Sorry she doesn’t really like strange people holding her.”

Elise: “Awww, that’s too bad.

Shane: “So, you were coming out of DyRek Woods, how the hell did you do that?”

Beatrice: “Shane.”

Shane: “What, we were all dying to ask.”

Nathan: “Sorry, I don’t really know how to answer, I been running through theses woods for a week. I just ran wherever my feet took me.”

Shane: “And they took you through Dyrek Woods, you must be pretty lucky.”

Nathan: “Why, was it because of all those giant deer?”

Shane: “WHAT, YOU SAW THEM!?”

Nathan: “Yeah, but their deer, as long as you leave them be they won’t bother you.”

Everyone stared at Nathan in shocked, as if they had just seen a ghost.

Nathan: “Did I say something wrong?”

Elise: “……………Can I ask you a question?”

Nathan: “Sure?”

Elise: “You’re a Lycanian right?”

Nathan: “Well, I guess.”

Shane: “You guess?”

Nathan: “Well, sorry my memories are a bit fuzzy, I haven’t seen my appearance since I woke up.”

Shane: “Well, you sure look like a Lycanian.”

Nathan: “Is that strange?”

Shane: “Hell yeah, you and your entire race was said to be exticnct.”

Nathan: “What, that’s news to me.”

Beatrice: “…………Hey you said you don’t remember anything, since you woke up, how long were you sleep?”

Nathan: “Again, I don’t know, I woke not too long ago and don’t remember anything before that.”

Nathan was half lying, but he needed information and he can’t very well say he was living with Fae for months.

Elise: “Could it be, a curse.”

Nathan: “Curse?”

Elise: “A sleeping curse, if he was place under a sleeping curse, then it could very well have given you amnesia.”

Nathan: “That might have been the case.”

Nathan was happy such a convenient excuse was given, now there was no way he could messed up what he was going to say. They would also let down their guards. He noticed that even though they invited him to travel, not one of them had their weapons out of arm’s length. They must not have a danger sensing ability. All he had to do was play his cards right and he could get some information.

Shane: “A curse huh, sheesh who the hell did you piss off?”

Nathan: “Huh, what do you mean?”

Elise: A curse is a very personal type of magic, it need a strong type of emotion towards another. Hatred, sorrow, jealousy, envy, these are usually the emotions that designates a curse. Basically, if someone were to curse you it would probably some sort of grudge.”

Nathan: “I don’t think I pissed anyone off.”

Elise: “Hmm, well, there is one other option.”

Nathan: “Oh.”

Elise: Recuperation, if you for some reason were mortally wounded, then placing you under a sleeping curse, while simultaneously healing you, it should by enough time to save your life, however that’s highly unlikely.

Nathan: “Why?”

Elise: “It requires a lot of mana, more mana then anyone person has, a curse is one thing, but healing someone constantly would need a lot of mana and time to pull off.”

Nathan: “I see, you’re really smart, Elise.”

Elise: “*Blush* I-i-i-i-it’s nothing, I just like to read.”

Elise put the book to her face, trying to hide the red in her cheeks. She pretty much got it right, it’s a good thing she dismissed it though, if they knew he was hurt and slept to recuperate, the next question would be who had enough mana to do so?

Beatrice: “And you sure you can’t remember anything?”

Nathan: “Hmmmm, oh I know.”

Shane: “You thought of something?”

Nathan: “I remember, something like a battlefield.”

Beatrice: “Battlefield, there been some recent skirmishes between the humans and the Pristyne, maybe you were fighting in one.”

Nathan: “I don’t know, oh wait, I remember a name, E-Elphina?”

The carriage suddenly stopped and Nathan had to hold on to the side to keep from tipping over. When he looked up everyone was staring at him, different than before. Did he make a mistake, He doesn’t know how long he was sleeping, but if he could figure out how long ago the war with Elphina was, then he could get an idea. However, there reactions were way to distinct, each of them at a loss for words.

Beatrice: “Are you sure, the last thing you remember is the war with Demon Lord Elphina?”

Nathan: “Uh, maybe?”

Shane: “Not maybe, its either yes or no.”

Nathan: “I’m sorry maybe I said something I shouldn’t have, I’ll go.”

Elise: “No, you miss understand, I don’t know how to say this, but if what you say is true, then you been sleep for millenniums.”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Beatrice: “Well……..the war with Elphina, was at least Five thousand years ago.”

Nathan: “What?”