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Location: Phantasma Plains, 12th District, Western Province, the Core
All alone, am I going to die here all alone? The voice faded as Uriah went back to consciousness; instead it was replaced with a very loud shouting voice. “Wake Up! Wake Up, Uriah!” The voice banged in his eardrums. He opened his eyes, seemingly glued together, and saw his brother waking him up. “Huh?” he said. “You were having nightmares again.” His brother said. His brother had a bulky body, the kind of body used for lifting heavy weights. His hair was long and braided, his eyes dark brown, he had a beard and he was tall for his age. His brother was wearing his work clothes: a simple top with a ragged bottom. Uriah climbed out of his bed. “Oh yeah, mother told me to give this to you.” His brother grabbed a paper from his pocket and handed it to Uriah. “What is this?” he asked. “I don’t know, mother just asked me to give this to you.” He put the letter on top of his wooden desk, near the window. His mother was tall and beautiful for her age; she had green eyes and long hair. Many people say that his brother got his height from mother. “Oh yeah, Happy twelfth birthday Uriah,” Uriah’s brother said, smiling. “Thanks, Jeff,” said Uriah. “Hey Uriah, I’m off to Skyarc today, there is a big job waiting for me there.” “But Skyarc is more than ten miles away.” Uriah said.
Skyarc is the main city of the Western Province, it is named Skyarc because it held one of the first sky roads built. Sky roads were aerial roads supported by magic which connected all the towns and cities to the Viero and to each other. In the Western Province there are thirteen districts, with Skyarc on the first district which was nearest to the Viero: a giant mountain located between the Western Province, the Border, and the Unknown Regions. The Border is a tall rock face which surrounded the four provinces, namely the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western provinces. It was so high that when you are beside it you can’t see the sun before noon, it was also steep. Many studies were done below the rock face, and researchers discovered that on the other side of the border there was an enormous ocean, and that the Border protected everyone from being enveloped by the water. The Viero was a giant mountain that was formed during the time of the Landdians: ancient beings that lived on young worlds. There were three kingdoms on the mountain: the Low, Middle and the High Kingdoms. In each of those kingdoms there is an academy, which looked like a tall and massive tower. The mountain was said to be so tall that it broke the barrier between land and space. Below the Viero was the Adamantine forest, its trees were stronger than metal. It housed many dangerous creatures, many of their names not known.
“I know, but I’m taking my horse there, it will take me about three to four hours to get there.” Jeff said. “All right, but where is mother and father.” Uriah asked. “They're just in town I think.” His brother said. “Ok.” Uriah replied. “I have to go now or I’ll be running late in schedule,” Jeff said. “Wish me luck out there.” He added. “Good luck and be careful out there.” Uriah said. His brother gave him a nod then went out of Uriah’s room, closing his room. Uriah can still hear the footsteps of his brother walking away from his room.
Uriah, Mae – his mother, Jod – his father and Jeff lived in a small but tranquil wooden house in Phantasma Plains, a vast plain in the twelfth district. His parents’ business is a restaurant in Twelfthsky.
Twelfthsky is the only town in the twelfth district mainly because most of the twelfth district is home to the most fertile soil in the Western province. Far more to the west lie the Adamantine forest at the foot of the Viero.
Uriah looked at the window, admiring the fresh air that welcomed him. It was just dawn. Looking forward he saw the almost endless plain of green grass, near the horizon he saw the Adamantine forest just a speck of dark green in the horizon. Looking up, he saw the Viero, it was so high that it pierced the clouds overhead. Looking around at the horizon, he saw the border, the giant rock face that extended from left to right to as far as he can see. Two days from now he is going to study at the Lower Academy in the Viero. The great rest is almost finished for me, Uriah thought. Last year he has just completed the Primary Arts at a school in Twelfthsky. After nine years of studying, Uriah thought, I am going to study again. He sighed. Uriah is now thirteen years old. He was the shortest in the family. But my height has its own advantages he thought; he is the most agile in the family. Uriah grabbed some clothes and a towel, and entered the bathroom. He took off his clothes and turned the shower handle. How refreshing he thought as the warm water flowed from his skin.
After taking a bath he dressed in his normal clothes, he grabbed the letter that his mother gave him, and put it into his pocket. He noticed that there was another letter on top of his desk; the paper seemingly was very expensive and fragrant. He looked to the patch that was used as a seal. The patch was colored red and engraved there was a picture of a burning tower. Uriah carefully slipped his fingernails under the seal, to remove it. It came out flawlessly, not leaving a mark or scratch on the paper as Uriah removed it, unlike the seals on the usual letters that family and friends send them. He opened the folded paper carefully, and then he read what was written there. “Uriah,” he read his name which was written beautifully. Who can this be? He thought. How does he know my name? Confused he read more in the letter. “I will guide you to your destiny.” What? Uriah thought, confused. Who is this? Uriah thought. He read further, “Keep this letter with you at all times, it will guide you in all your trials.”
“All right.” Uriah said, putting the paper down. “What trick is this?” He shouted, but nobody answered. Then the paper vibrated in the desk violently. Uriah took out the paper and read, “I am an elder and you are the seven hundred and seventy-seventh offspring of Agni, warrior of fire.” Uriah cannot believe what he was reading. “Valefor, The sealed one.” He read the final parts of the letter. Shocked of what he had read he put the paper on his pocket and headed outside of his house. Outside of his house, he saw his childhood friend Zera. Zera had long blonde straight hair which reached her back. Her eyes were blue and she was one of the most beautiful girls in the school at Twelfthsky. She liked wearing big shirts, about one or two sizes bigger than her, and she liked tucking her shirt really high inside her pants or skirt. She said that she felt comfortable when she tucked in her shirt. Uriah saw Zera looking upwards to the sky. “Hey Uriah,” she said gazing upwards. “Did you receive a weird letter today? One that said that you were a chosen one or something like that,” she asked inquisitively. “Yes I did receive a letter like that, its paper was very nice and it said that I am the seven hundred and seventy-seventh of Agni. I don’t even know what an Agni is. It only said that Agni is a fire warrior.” Uriah said. “Oh? Mine didn’t say that. Mine said that I was the five hundred fifty-fifth offspring. And it did not say anything about an Agni at all. It only said that I am the five hundred fifty-fifth offspring of Rudra, warrior of water.” Said Zera. “Can you let me see the letter?” Asked Uriah. “Sure sure,” said Zera as she put a hand inside the pocket of her high waisted pants and pulled out a letter, and then she gave it to Uriah who opened it. “There is nothing here.” Uriah said. Then the paper inside his pocket rumbled violently again and so as the letter he was holding, he quickly gave it to Zera who was now shocked. He opened his letter as Zera also did. Together they read in unison, “You are the only one who can see what is written in here. The sky burns red with…” as they read the words, the sky suddenly became dark. “…my sorrow.”
Uriah and Zera looked up the sky and they gasped at what they saw. There was a picture made from red auroras and clouds. The picture looked like a man, his face in deep sorrow. He had a two wings outstretched and he was holding a long sword. So this you Valefor, Uriah thought. The name was familiar to his dreams somehow as in his dreams he saw a man surrounded by flames, his name was also Valefor. Then the sky became clear again, the dark clouds and the face of the man formed by the auroras vanished. “That was Valefor, right?” asked Zera. “I think so, I’ve seen him in my dreams.” Uriah answered. He took out the ornate paper again. Then he noticed that the writing there was not written in any ordinary ink. So that’s why the letters constantly appear out of nowhere, he thought. Even though Uriah only knows little things about how magic works, he had enough sense that this was not an ordinary letter. He examined the letters closely, and he discovered that there was no ink used in making that letter. It was as if the letters were burned into the paper, so that’s why it gave a fragrant smell, he thought.
After the event that shook their lives, Uriah and Zera took a walk to a nearby tree. “So let’s forget about this for a while.” Zera said to Uriah who was seemingly in deep thoughts. “All right, But who can this Valefor be? Look at the paper; clearly you can see that the letters were burned there.” Uriah replied. “Yes I can see that it is magical in origin, but can you please relax for a while and admire your surroundings. Uriah we haven’t ascended yet, you cannot expect yourself to understand this.” Zera protested. “You’re right, I’m sorry Zera, I just can’t help thinking about it.”
“It’s all right, Uriah.” Zera said.
They sat under the tree expressing their thoughts, talking about past experiences. But one thing will remain in their memories forever: the fateful day that they found mysterious letters sitting on their desks in front of an open window………
Notes:
As this story goes on, everything will be revealed
Primary Arts is everything you learn in schools, it is like pre-school, grade school and high school together
Ascend means graduating from the high academy in the Viero
Great Rest is like a very long vacation that lasts a year, it is done after completing the primary arts
Viero and Zera: the names suggested to me by my new friend, her drawings will be always as beautiful as her…….
 mysteryguy012 · Sun Jun 14, 2009 @ 12:38pm · 0 Comments |
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