As I rode to the forest, I had a sense of isolation. I was riding alone, who knows how far from Bladenon, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. I rode faster in the north. My horse was getting tired. I needed to stop. I hitched my horse near a river. I saw the forest up ahead. If I were to survive tonight, how was I supposed to find out where the village was? I have never visited a Elven area in all my weeks of travelling. I was tempted into the water as well, so both of us was drinking like no tomorrow. As we finished, the clouds were starting to darken. How could that be? It was sunny a moment ago. I took out my sword and examined it. Elven made. Bronze. Half-decent. I swung the sword. This was a light sword. Not really my type. I put it in my case and looked at the sky. What could be doing this? It mus- Wait! A sign! From the elven village. They use magic, I assume. My horse collapsed. I had to leave it behind. I begun to walk. It seemed so far. An illusion, a way to mess my head? No... For Bladenon. For Kaelus. I must continue. I must save this man. The Chosen One. As I reached the outskirts of the forest, I heard a voice:"Only one with pure intentions may enter the village of the innocent."
Did I have pure intentions? Was my morals pure? I believed so. I needed to meet the King. I needed to discuss important matters and my intentions were to help a man escape. I walked into the entrance of the forest and noticed the normal wildlife. Birds, insects. It was soothing. Calming. It was the first time during this journey that I felt relaxed. I continued to walk. Where was I going?.. Who cares- No! Gotta remain focused! I blocked out the sounds. I blocked out the calm. I needed my instincts. The same voice echoed but this time in my head:
"Only the one who is calm, may enter the village of Truth"
The village of Truth? The village of Innocence? What is this? My intentions are pure. I am calm. I calmed myself. If I am to continue my journey, I must follow all this voice says.
"You have completed the tests. Now you must follow your instincts to find the village".
I kept walking, the soothing sounds and feelings were distracting me. I blocked out (by closing my eyes) them and remained calm. I kept walking and I felt the ground shaking. I opened my eyes. The entrance to the Elven Village.
I walked in. Elves were looking at me. Staring. Glaring. I felt uncomfortable. I looked at one in the eyes. He turned away.
"Harsh reception" I said.
"Speak again" said one of the elves. "When have you been permitted to speak?"
"I need permission to speak?" I said, smart-alec like. He grabbed his sword but I was too fast. I countered by taking his sword.
"Do not dare try to att-" I was stopped. Nearly everyone who had been watching had drawn out a weapon and was about to attack. I was screwed. A guard hit me across the face. I remember nothing from then.
I regained my senses and realized I couldn't move.
"Help me!" I yelled. Where was I? Was I still in the village? I saw an elf with an old face. Elder. Must be in the village.
"Let me out!" I realized by looking at the side. I wasn't the only prisoner.
"So, Aureaus is it?" The elder said with a sly grin.
"How do you know my name. What do you want with me?"
"How do you know we want something from you, Aureaus?"
"Because, knowing you elves, you would have kicked me out and left me for dead!" I yelled.
"Really, because I think that it would be nice to...test you on some of our...magic" he had an aggressive tone now. I wasn't scared. They wouldn't have the guts to do that magic on me. No way in hell! I looked to the side. The Chosen One! He was knocked out. Third person to the left. Suddenly, I heard a shake in the ground. A elf came in
"Sir, humans at the gate! I don't know how they got in!" The elder looked worried and stared at me.
"Alright, let's do this" The elder walked out and that's all I saw of him. After a while, I heard a familiar voice.
"Under King Sigurd's act 1783 of Year 1016. All citizens of this kingdom will have to follow the law of the King himself, or the Duchy of Keppen" It was the Duchy. "If you do not comply with the following terms, this village will be liquidated and citizens murdered"
The population went in a outrage. The Duchy spoke once more.
"You have 5 seconds to comply" If the elves did not comply, these people would be killed. Slaughtered. Like...
I remembered the dream yesterday. King Sigurd had frozen me mid air and said
"This is not your fight, Aureaus" A bright light awoke me...
What was happening. The hut I was in was on fire. Elves were around me, lying motionless. Death. Death in the village of innocence and truth. I saw the Duchy walk into the hut.
"Aureaus! I am your saving grace, aren't I, me boy? The Chosen One, my best knight! My mages, please unfreeze them" The mages performed a spell and I was able to move.
"Thank you, good mages. Thank you, good sir" I bowed to the mages and the Duchy respectively.
"Now, due to my good will, I will personally transport you to the King himself. Please give me that sword (he took the sword off me) but you will be participating in the tournament. There will be many participants. If you lose, you will be returned to Keppen and executed. If you win, you will have a chance at meeting the King himself. Deal? Good. Let's get you to Centrum"
I walked out of the burning Elven village, the bodies of innocents around me.