Nonlethal Force
First Post
Nonlethal Force proudly presents ...
Bitterness Overcome
A Story of Rhema, Ischarus, Charis, and Semeion
[Sblock=Fictional World Information and Character Background]
FICTIONAL WORLD INFORMATION:
This tale takes place in my Homebrew World called Enigmatica. Rough outlines of the maps and other information can be found by following the link. Any additional information can be found by following the links in my sig.
A SMIDGEN OF BACKGROUND:
The significant characters involved in this story are as follows. Each character has been given a unique coloration for speech. I know this may be annoying to a few, so let me apologize beforehand. I also know there are many out there who appreciate it because reading off of a screen is not the same as reading off of a typed page. That is the reason I have opted to color the speeches. I am not including a biography of the characters here because I hope that the readers will get to know the characters through the reading. So, without further delay, here are the main characters in order of appearance:
Semeion - Plum
Ischarus - Light Blue
Rhema - Pale Green
Charis - Orange
Additionally, speech from minor characters will be in Lime. Speech of the antagonist to the party will be in Red. I hope the use of color makes your reading pleasurable!
A greater detail of the background of the character can now befound at Bitterness Overcome Personna
[/Sblock]
[Sblock=Table of Contents]
Chapter 01: A Grim Tale of Friendship ........................... post 1
Chapter 02: Into The Depths Between Here And There .... post 7
Chapter 03: Finding Grace .......................................... post 10
Chapter 04: Finding The Way ...................................... post 17
Chapter 05: A Little Revenge ...................................... post 21
Chapter 06: Heritage Reincarnated ............................... post 31
Chapter 07: Exigency ................................................ post 38
Chapter 08: The Path of the Unseeing .......................... post 45
Chapter 09: A Novel Route ......................................... post 51
Chapter 10: Metanoia ................................................ post 61
Chapter 11: Party Dubiety .......................................... post 67
Chapter 12: The Long Shot ........................................ post 74
Chapter 13: Under the Dragon's Claw............................ post 81
Chapter 14: Metallic Closure ....................................... post 90
Chapter 15: Epilogue ................................................. post 96
[/Sblock]
And now, on to the story:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter One: A GRIM TALE OF FRIENDSHIP
The view was absolutely perfect from atop the hillside. This was one of the few treeless mounds that rose up above the forest canopy to the southeast of Reignsburg. The two figures that stood and looked out over the forest knew that they were looking upon Earl Sniblett’s land. The sunlight glinted off of the treetops and as the wind blew across the canopy of the forest it made the whole forest seem as if it was in a motion like the waves blowing across a great lake.
The elder of the two figures called out loudly to the one coming behind him. “Isn’t it beautiful, Semeion?” It was fairly clear from the sound of his voice that the one who spoke was hoping to catch an echo on the cloudless day.
Semeion, whose name quite literally means miracle, turned to face the one who spoke to him. “It is indeed beautiful, master. I am glad we decided to come up here to view it together. Do you come here often?”
Semeion’s short black hair moved little in the prevailing gusts of winds. His sky blue eyes squinted as he looked into the brightness of the rays of light that the sun sent down from above. He smiled as he beheld the beauty of the land at his feet from atop the treeless hill.
The elder of the two figures replied, “I used to come here often when I desired time to myself, Semeion. The gentle swaying of the treetops below has always had a calming effect on me. The gentle motion of the green leaves has always made it easier for me to focus on my talents. Talents that you must learn to focus on without having me to hound you, good sir.”
Semeion raised his hand to shade his eyes from the light as he turned to look at his master. A small smirk touched the corners of his lips as he was called sir by his master. Semeion’s master excelled at humbling himself in everyone’s company. He did not fear to take the lower position if it meant an opportunity to lift someone else up in their own eyes. “Master Sathwright,” Semeion began before he was cut off by his master.
“As I told you at the beginning of this journey, Semeion, you are to call me Richard now. If you are truly going to graduate from my tutelage then you shall have no need to call me Master Sathwright any more. You have earned enough respect by this point for you to call me Richard. If it is to be the last command that I give you as your master, then it will be a fitting one to ensure the closing out that relational dynamic.”
The smirk on Semeion’s lips disappeared as quickly as his master’s earlier comment had put it there. “Master Sathwright, I protest greatly at your belief that I am ready to leave your service! I have no desire to leave your side, ever. I am far from eclipsing the things that you can teach me about the powers that you wield.”
Master Sathwright chuckled and turned away from Semeion. He planned to ascend the hill even further, distancing himself from his pupil. The distance would be a symbolic act that would be a demonstration to Semeion that they would need to separate. Of course it was to be expected that Semeion would close the gap once he noticed that his master moved away.
The master wizard waited until Semeion was enraptured by the moving of the leaves and he began his climb to the top of the hill. Just as a particularly strong gust of wind rolled across the forest canopy Master Sathwright began his journey to higher ground. The wind blew for nearly a minute and Semeion’s face grew in exaltation as he watched the magnificent power of the wind push the topmost branches from one side to another in a wave of movement. It was the greatest display of an invisible force he had ever seen.
The wind simply amazed Semeion. In truth, it was the wind that was to blame for his interest in all matters arcane. He longed to understand how something that was simply not there could move and push objects that clearly had a discernable weight. If the weightless and the invisible wind could inflict its will upon the physical realm then he reasoned that there had to be something greater in the universe that could bring force out of nothing. As he trained, Semeion longed to be able to accomplish even the simplest task that the wind could accomplish without effort.
As the wind began to die, Semeion turned to speak to his master only to find that Master Sathwright had already moved off a fair distance. Semeion grabbed his gray cloak in one hand and pulled it several inches off of the ground so that he could run towards his master. As the first footstep toward his master hit the ground the earth below him shook violently. Semeion ignored this physical warning. “Master, wait for me!” Semeion cried out.
Semeion assumed it was his voice that caused Master Sathwright to turn and look at his pupil. In truth, Master Sathwright knew better than to turn to the voice of Semeion, especially today. If Master Sathwright turned every time Semeion called for him Semeion would never develop the necessary skills to be out on his own.
Yet, Master Sathwright did indeed turn this time to face his pupil. He did not turn at the beckon of his pupil, however. He turned because he feared the vibration that he felt in the land. As his master turned, Semeion saw the smile upon his master’s face turn into a look of pure horror and panic.
“Run hard, Semeion!” cried Master Sathwright. “Run like the wind!”
Semeion looked over his should as he ran, only to see a glimpse of what his master had already seen in full view. An enormous green dragon had lurched out of the forest below once it realized that its prey was no longer looking in the direction from which it planned its assault. The frill atop the dragon’s head rose up on end as its own adrenaline prepared the massive body for its first deadly strike. As the tips of the frill elevated off of the dragon’s head the rest of the frill along the dragon’s neck and back also leapt up into motion. Even the beast’s emerald scales glistened in the sunlight as the undulating of the dragon’s muscles shifted the angle of reflection from the sun almost constantly.
Master Sathwright instinctively charged the position of Semeion knowing that Semeion had neither the magical ability nor the force of will to withstand a single attack from the beast. As he ran, he saw Semeion turn to look over his shoulder. He also saw his pupil’s left toes catch on a simple rock. He helpless looked on as Semeion’s body hurtled itself down onto the rocky hillside as the green dragon strode towards him.
The green dragon couldn’t help but to observe this simple tactical error on behalf of the young Semeion. The dragon reared back on its massive back haunches and prepared for a simple pounce. What had seemed like a decent adventure for the dragon had turned into one of the easiest catches of the year.
Master Sathwright searched his mind for the words that he knew were buried deep within. A split second later his mind retrieved them and he instinctively yelled, “Semeion, get up and run!” He paused for just enough time to watch Semeion scramble to his feet and take a single step.
Master Sathwright could see in the dragon’s eyes that the beast was already calculating where it would have to pounce to trap the young boy under one of its massive claws. Before it was too late, Master Sathwright yelled out a command that harnessed the magical essence around him, “Para Doithican Fael-tru!” He knew the spell was a long shot but it was the best he could do unprepared. Dragons were excellent hunters regardless of their ability to see their prey. Inside he cursed himself for not calculating this possibility and preparing an appropriate spell for this situation. He knew that any large forest could potentially hold a green dragon.
At his master’s words, Semeion’s eyesight took on a faded blue tint. From past experience he knew that this indicated that he had been relegated to an invisible status. He took one step more in the direction that he was heading and then he veered ninety degrees to his right. This course adjustment would lead him into the forest in as straight a line as possible.
The dragon leapt skyward and with a single thrust of its wings it surged up into the air. In mid-flight the beast saw its prey vanish into thin air but it had already begun its attack. The dragon altered its tactics. Rather than attempt to land in a manner that would trap the boy under a claw, the beast landed on the ground solidly in a posture obviously designed to crush anything caught underneath its entire massive body. The dragon knew that this attack posture would kill his prey outright and deprive it of the pleasure of killing it in a much more personal means; but the dragon also knew that invisible prey were much more of a challenge to catch. With the prospect of two humans to dine upon the dragon wanted to end the fight with as much possibility of catching both for dinner.
Master Sathwright could only pray that his spell had given Semeion enough time to evade the dragon. He stopped his charge immediately, realizing that with the dragon’s pounce he was now within range of a serious strike from the dragon’s powerful jaws. He had hoped to avoid getting this close to the razor sharp teeth of the dragon unless Semeion was in dire danger. It was a tactical error he made in his own panic to save the life of his apprentice.
Through the blue haze of the invisibility spell Semeion saw the dragon lurch into the air and soar over his own head. The beast had crashed quite solidly into the ground, but with the alteration in his retreat Semeion was able to easily duck under the creature’s tail and make a bee-line for the trees without the dragon knowing which direction to look.
The green dragon knew at once that his jump had been wrong. It didn’t feel the squish of human flesh underneath that it expected. The beast jerked its body upward and turned to face the approaching mage that had caused the young appetizer to vanish into thin air. “It matters not, spell caster. I shall simply start my meal with your aged flesh instead.” With a simple blink of its eyes, the air around the dragon thickened like a dense fog making visibility downright impossible. In fact, the fog was so thick and black that light could not penetrate into the area at all. Master Sathwright was caught in the area of darkness without knowing precisely which way to run to escape the draconic foe.
As the dragon turned its attention to Master Sathwright, Semeion reached the forest and dove behind a fallen and rotting tree. After resting for only a few seconds on his back he turned around and peered over the fallen tree back out into the treeless hilltop. Semeion realized that where he had known his master to be now there was only a cloud of inky blackness. His sky blue eyes darted right and left in an attempt to find any sign of his master. His soul urged him to cry out, but he also knew that any noise would defeat the advantage that his master had given to him. Dragons could hunt by sound as well as by sight. Yelling in anger would only guarantee his own destruction.
Only seconds passed before an electric ray shot out of the cloud and nearly singed Semeion as it sailed over his head. Instinctively he ducked his head back behind the tree, convinced that spell was a part of his master’s repertoire. As Semeion picked his head up once more to view the inky cloud his fears were confirmed. The green dragon sailed straight into the air, rising out of the black cloud. The beast crushed his master’s body in its mouth, the sharp protruding teeth penetrating through Master Sathwright’s body from both above and below. The mage’s limp body hung from the beast’s mouth. Master Sathwright’s arms and legs flapped in the wind in response to the heavy beat of the dragon’s wings. The sudden surges which resulted in several quick changes in altitude only caused the body to jerk even more.
Every fiber in Semeion’s body called upon him to cry out in pain and horror. Every fiber desired to lash out in anger against the beast. His hand trembled as he tried to recall any one of his arcane powers, but the agony inside was too much for his mind to wade through. Unable to call upon even a single power, he slumped back against the ground. He knew this self preservation mechanism was for his own good. If he were to use any magic the casting of the spell would reveal his location to the dragon just as much as a shout would.
The green dragon circled overhead long enough for the inky cloud to dissipate. Semeion was unsure if the effect deteriorated on its own as the magical energies dispersed or if the wind helped end its power prematurely. Either way, Semeion watched as the large dragon made wide sweeping circles overhead.
The dragon banked sharply out of anger one last time, frustrated in its inability to find the younger morsel. In anger the beast bit down firmly into the dead body of Master Sathwright. The dragon’s teeth tore into the flesh and with a quick shake of its head the dragon severed the body in half. The two severed pieces fell limply to the ground in roughly the same location as the dragon must have snatched Master Sathwright off of the earth to begin with.
Semeion could only bury his head in his arms and shield his eyes from the gruesome sight. His teeth bit into his lower lip until it bled; the taste of iron sickened his already weak stomach. He could no longer watch the proceedings of the dragon though he knew his master was beyond any help now. He heard the dragon land onto the hillside and pick up half of the dead body. The dragon chewed loudly and slurped the body down into its throat. Several hard swallows later and the dragon felt the urge to speak its arrogant proclamation.
“I will find you, child. Your tender meat will taste better to me than this grizzled old man. You cannot hide from Gharixilox. This is my forest and I will find you. Your master’s protective spell cannot prevent me from finding you eventually.”
As Semeion listened, he heard the dragon bend its neck down and the creature’s jaws grasped onto the remaining half of his master’s body. Semeion burned the dragon’s name into his mind. One day he would return and slay this foul beast. With luck he would even eat the meat off of the bones of this creature. He would take the hide and present it as an offering to his master’s widow and children. He would even grind up one of the beast’s teeth and add it to wine in a pact of vengeance come full circle. He vowed that before he died he would exact revenge upon Gharixilox. He also vowed to be prepared. He would not let his master die in vain and would not return until he was ready. Semeion would take his time, plotting the day in which this forest would be free from this draconic presence.
As he struggled with the mental anguish coursing through his mind, Semeion quickly learned that the stress had frozen his muscles into a single position. The shock of the encounter had left him temporarily paralyzed. For hours Semeion lay behind the fallen tree. Even after his master’s protective spell faded he could not bring himself to move. Gharixilox had called out a few more taunts and then promptly left the area in search of another easy meal to fill its belly. Even then he could not bring himself to move from the spot in which he lay. His mind forced him into an uneasy, unmoving, and silent sleep.
He awoke many hours later as the sun’s rays once more wrested the land free of the darkness that held it fast during the night. As he woke then next morning he stretched, glad to finally be free of the mental paralysis. He was stiff from being in the same position for so long, but he would manage. Once the sun drew higher into the sky Semeion brought himself to the point where he could stand. His muscles complained bitterly with every movement, with every step that Semeion took.
With each fall of his foot he removed himself from the pain that for him would permanently rest on the face of that hillside. Several hours later he returned to his home city. He had made it back to Reignsburg alive in spite of the draconic promises that Gharixilox had made about finding him. As he passed through the city gates he remembered just how prophetic his master’s words had been.
Semeion lightly repeated some of the last words that his master had spoken. “If you are truly going to graduate from my tutelage then you shall have no need to call me Master Sathwright any more. You have earned enough respect by this point for you to call me Richard. If it is to be the last command that I give you as your master, then it will be a fitting one to ensure the closing out that relational dynamic.”
Semeion was now alone. His master had gotten his wish. Semeion had no choice but to step boldly into his own life and step out of the shadow of his beloved master.
“I will make you proud, Richard.” A single tear dropped from his cheek onto the beaten ground beneath him as he entered the city of Reignsburg alone.
[Sblock=Color Free Speech Section]
Chapter One: A GRIM TALE OF FRIENDSHIP
The view was absolutely perfect from atop the hillside. This was one of the few treeless mounds that rose up above the forest canopy to the southeast of Reignsburg. The two figures that stood and looked out over the forest knew that they were looking upon Earl Sniblett’s land. The sunlight glinted off of the treetops and as the wind blew across the canopy of the forest it made the whole forest seem as if it was in a motion like the waves blowing across a great lake.
The elder of the two figures called out loudly to the one coming behind him. “Isn’t it beautiful, Semeion?” It was fairly clear from the sound of his voice that the one who spoke was hoping to catch an echo on the cloudless day.
Semeion, whose name quite literally means miracle, turned to face the one who spoke to him. “It is indeed beautiful, master. I am glad we decided to come up here to view it together. Do you come here often?”
Semeion’s short black hair moved little in the prevailing gusts of winds. His sky blue eyes squinted as he looked into the brightness of the rays of light that the sun sent down from above. He smiled as he beheld the beauty of the land at his feet from atop the treeless hill.
The elder of the two figures replied, “I used to come here often when I desired time to myself, Semeion. The gentle swaying of the treetops below has always had a calming effect on me. The gentle motion of the green leaves has always made it easier for me to focus on my talents. Talents that you must learn to focus on without having me to hound you, good sir.”
Semeion raised his hand to shade his eyes from the light as he turned to look at his master. A small smirk touched the corners of his lips as he was called sir by his master. Semeion’s master excelled at humbling himself in everyone’s company. He did not fear to take the lower position if it meant an opportunity to lift someone else up in their own eyes. “Master Sathwright,” Semeion began before he was cut off by his master.
“As I told you at the beginning of this journey, Semeion, you are to call me Richard now. If you are truly going to graduate from my tutelage then you shall have no need to call me Master Sathwright any more. You have earned enough respect by this point for you to call me Richard. If it is to be the last command that I give you as your master, then it will be a fitting one to ensure the closing out that relational dynamic.”
The smirk on Semeion’s lips disappeared as quickly and his master’s earlier comment had put it there. “Master Sathwright, I protest greatly at your belief that I am ready to leave your service! I have no desire to leave your side, ever. I am far from eclipsing the things that you can teach me about the powers that you wield.”
Master Sathwright chuckled and turned away from Semeion. He planned to ascend the hill even further, distancing himself from his pupil. The distance would be a symbolic act that would be a demonstration to Semeion that they would need to separate. Of course it was to be expected that Semeion would close the gap once he noticed that his master moved away.
The master wizard waited until Semeion was enraptured by the moving of the leaves and he began his climb to the top of the hill. Just as a particularly strong gust of wind rolled across the forest canopy Master Sathwright began his journey to higher ground. The wind blew for nearly a minute and Semeion’s face grew in exaltation as he watched the magnificent power of the wind push the topmost branches from one side to another in a wave of movement. It was the greatest display of an invisible force he had ever seen.
The wind simply amazed Semeion. In truth, it was the wind that was to blame for his interest in all matters arcane. He longed to understand how something that was simply not there could move and push objects that clearly had a discernable weight. If the weightless and the invisible wind could inflict its will upon the physical realm then he reasoned that there had to be something greater in the universe that could bring force out of nothing. As he trained, Semeion longed to be able to accomplish even the simplest task that the wind could accomplish without effort.
As the wind began to die, Semeion turned to speak to his master only to find that Master Sathwright had already moved off a fair distance. Semeion grabbed his gray cloak in one hand and pulled it several inches off of the ground so that he could run towards his master. As the first footstep toward his master hit the ground the earth below him shook violently. Semeion ignored this physical warning. “Master, wait for me!” Semeion cried out.
Semeion assumed it was his voice that caused Master Sathwright to turn and look at his pupil. In truth, Master Sathwright knew better than to turn to the voice of Semeion, especially today. If Master Sathwright turned every time Semeion called for him Semeion would never develop the necessary skills to be out on his own.
Yet, Master Sathwright did indeed turn this time to face his pupil. He did not turn at the beckon of his pupil, however. He turned because he feared the vibration that he felt in the land. As his master turned, Semeion saw the smile upon his master’s face turn into a look of pure horror and panic.
“Run hard, Semeion!” cried Master Sathwright. “Run like the wind!”
Semeion looked over his should as he ran, only to see a glimpse of what his master had already seen in full view. An enormous green dragon had lurched out of the forest below once it realized that its prey was no longer looking in the direction from which it planned its assault. The frill atop the dragon’s head rose up on end as its own adrenaline prepared the massive body for its first deadly strike. As the tips of the frill elevated off of the dragon’s head the rest of the frill along the dragon’s neck and back also leapt up into motion. Even the beast’s emerald scales glistened in the sunlight as the undulating of the dragon’s muscles shifted the angle of reflection from the sun almost constantly.
Master Sathwright instinctively charged the position of Semeion knowing that Semeion had neither the magical ability nor the force of will to withstand a single attack from the beast. As he ran, he saw Semeion turn to look over his shoulder. He also saw his pupil’s left toes catch on a simple rock. He helpless looked on as Semeion’s body hurtled itself down onto the rocky hillside as the green dragon strode towards him.
The green dragon couldn’t help but to observe this simple tactical error on behalf of the young Semeion. The dragon reared back on its massive back haunches and prepared for a simple pounce. What had seemed like a decent adventure for the dragon had turned into one of the easiest catches of the year.
Master Sathwright searched his mind for the words that he knew were buried deep within. A split second later his mind retrieved them and he instinctively yelled, “Semeion, get up and run!” He paused for just enough time to watch Semeion scramble to his feet and take a single step.
Master Sathwright could see in the dragon’s eyes that the beast was already calculating where it would have to pounce to trap the young boy under one of its massive claws. Before it was too late, Master Sathwright yelled out a command that harnessed the magical essence around him, “Para Doithican Fael-tru!” He knew the spell was a long shot but it was the best he could do unprepared. Dragons were excellent hunters regardless of their ability to see their prey. Inside he cursed himself for not calculating this possibility and preparing an appropriate spell for this situation. He knew that any large forest could potentially hold a green dragon.
At his master’s words, Semeion’s eyesight took on a faded blue tint. From past experience he knew that this indicated that he had been relegated to an invisible status. He took one step more in the direction that he was heading and then he veered ninety degrees to his right. This course adjustment would lead him into the forest in as straight a line as possible.
The dragon leapt skyward and with a single thrust of its wings it surged up into the air. In mid-flight the beast saw its prey vanish into thin air but it had already begun its attack. The dragon altered its tactics. Rather than attempt to land in a manner that would trap the boy under a claw, the beast landed on the ground solidly in a posture obviously designed to crush anything caught underneath its entire massive body. The dragon knew that this attack posture would kill his prey outright and deprive it of the pleasure of killing it in a much more personal means; but the dragon also knew that invisible prey were much more of a challenge to catch. With the prospect of two humans to dine upon the dragon wanted to end the fight with as much possibility of catching both for dinner.
Master Sathwright could only pray that his spell had given Semeion enough time to evade the dragon. He stopped his charge immediately, realizing that with the dragon’s pounce he was now within range of a serious strike from the dragon’s powerful jaws. He had hoped to avoid getting this close to the razor sharp teeth of the dragon unless Semeion was in dire danger. It was a tactical error he made in his own panic to save the life of his apprentice.
Through the blue haze of the invisibility spell Semeion saw the dragon lurch into the air and soar over his own head. The beast had crashed quite solidly into the ground, but with the alteration in his retreat Semeion was able to easily duck under the creature’s tail and make a bee-line for the trees without the dragon knowing which direction to look.
The green dragon knew at once that his jump had been wrong. It didn’t feel the squish of human flesh underneath that it expected. The beast jerked its body upward and turned to face the approaching mage that had caused the young appetizer to vanish into thin air. “It matters not, spell caster. I shall simply start my meal with your aged flesh instead.” With a simple blink of its eyes, the air around the dragon thickened like a dense fog making visibility downright impossible. In fact, the fog was so thick and black that light could not penetrate into the area at all. Master Sathwright was caught in the area of darkness without knowing precisely which way to run to escape the draconic foe.
As the dragon turned its attention to Master Sathwright, Semeion reached the forest and dove behind a fallen and rotting tree. After resting for only a few seconds on his back he turned around and peered over the fallen tree back out into the treeless hilltop. Semeion realized that where he had known his master to be now there was only a cloud of inky blackness. His sky blue eyes darted right and left in an attempt to find any sign of his master. His soul urged him to cry out, but he also knew that any noise would defeat the advantage that his master had given to him. Dragons could hunt by sound as well as by sight. Yelling in anger would only guarantee his own destruction.
Only seconds passed before an electric ray shot out of the cloud and nearly singed Semeion as it sailed over his head. Instinctively he ducked his head back behind the tree, convinced that spell was a part of his master’s repertoire. As Semeion picked his head up once more to view the inky cloud his fears were confirmed. The green dragon sailed straight into the air, rising out of the black cloud. The beast crushed his master’s body in its mouth, the sharp protruding teeth penetrating through Master Sathwright’s body from both above and below. The mage’s limp body hung from the beast’s mouth. Master Sathwright’s arms and legs flapped in the wind in response to the heavy beat of the dragon’s wings. The sudden surges which resulted in several quick changes in altitude only caused the body to jerk even more.
Every fiber in Semeion’s body called upon him to cry out in pain and horror. Every fiber desired to lash out in anger against the beast. His hand trembled as he tried to recall any one of his arcane powers, but the agony inside was too much for his mind to wade through. Unable to call upon even a single power, he slumped back against the ground. He knew this self preservation mechanism was for his own good. If he were to use any magic the casting of the spell would reveal his location to the dragon just as much as a shout would.
The green dragon circled overhead long enough for the inky cloud to dissipate. Semeion was unsure if the effect deteriorated on its own as the magical energies dispersed or if the wind helped end its power prematurely. Either way, Semeion watched as the large dragon made wide sweeping circles overhead.
The dragon banked sharply out of anger one last time, frustrated in its inability to find the younger morsel. In anger the beast bit down firmly into the dead body of Master Sathwright. The dragon’s teeth tore into the flesh and with a quick shake of its head the dragon severed the body in half. The two severed pieces fell limply to the ground in roughly the same location as the dragon must have snatched Master Sathwright off of the earth to begin with.
Semeion could only bury his head in his arms and shield his eyes from the gruesome sight. His teeth bit into his lower lip until it bled; the taste of iron sickened his already weak stomach. He could no longer watch the proceedings of the dragon though he knew his master was beyond any help now. He heard the dragon land onto the hillside and pick up half of the dead body. The dragon chewed loudly and slurped the body down into its throat. Several hard swallows later and the dragon felt the urge to speak its arrogant proclamation.
“I will find you, child. Your tender meat will taste better to me than this grizzled old man. You cannot hide from Gharixilox. This is my forest and I will find you. Your master’s protective spell cannot prevent me from finding you eventually.”
As Semeion listened, he heard the dragon bend its neck down and the creature’s jaws grasped onto the remaining half of his master’s body. Semeion burned the dragon’s name into his mind. One day he would return and slay this foul beast. With luck he would even eat the meat off of the bones of this creature. He would take the hide and present it as an offering to his master’s widow and children. He would even grind up one of the beast’s teeth and add it to wine in a pact of vengeance come full circle. He vowed that before he died he would exact revenge upon Gharixilox. He also vowed to be prepared. He would not let his master die in vain and would not return until he was ready. Semeion would take his time, plotting the day in which this forest would be free from this draconic presence.
As he struggled with the mental anguish coursing through his mind, Semeion quickly learned that the stress had frozen his muscles into a single position. The shock of the encounter had left him temporarily paralyzed. For hours Semeion lay behind the fallen tree. Even after his master’s protective spell faded he could not bring himself to move. Gharixilox had called out a few more taunts and then promptly left the area in search of another easy meal to fill its belly. Even then he could not bring himself to move from the spot in which he lay. His mind forced him into an uneasy, unmoving, and silent sleep.
He awoke many hours later as the sun’s rays once more wrested the land free of the darkness that held it fast during the night. As he woke then next morning he stretched, glad to finally be free of the mental paralysis. He was stiff from being in the same position for so long, but he would manage. Once the sun drew higher into the sky Semeion brought himself to the point where he could stand. His muscles complained bitterly with every movement, with every step that Semeion took.
With each fall of his foot he removed himself from the pain that for him would permanently rest on the face of that hillside. Several hours later he returned to his home city. He had made it back to Reignsburg alive in spite of the draconic promises that Gharixilox had made about finding him. As he passed through the city gates he remembered just how prophetic his master’s words had been.
Semeion lightly repeated some of the last words that his master had spoken. “If you are truly going to graduate from my tutelage then you shall have no need to call me Master Sathwright any more. You have earned enough respect by this point for you to call me Richard. If it is to be the last command that I give you as your master, then it will be a fitting one to ensure the closing out that relational dynamic.”
Semeion was now alone. His master had gotten his wish. Semeion had no choice but to step boldly into his own life and step out of the shadow of his beloved master.
“I will make you proud, Richard.” A single tear dropped from his cheek onto the beaten ground beneath him as he entered the city of Reignsburg alone.[/Sblock]
Last edited: