The air had cooled tremendously and the once colorful trees were laid bare. Artowen continued his daily activities, helping the community out in any way he could. The villagers had grown more dependent on him since the events a few months previous. That day still haunted him, with having to return the severed head of his former friend, but the celebration afterward had lifted the spirits of the villagers.
When he had clashed with Tobain there had been no pretense, no attempt to reason or remain friends. No excuses levied. Only blade answering blade. More than anything, that ghost was what tormented him, and exorcising that fact was proving difficult.
“Still in the village are you?” An old granny called to him.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Thought you would be out pursuing your dream by now.”
The conversation eventually faded into normal pleasantries, but his thoughts stayed on the question. While he waited for the call, part of him wanted to stay in this cozy village, though it was his destiny to unite the land.
When he returned home for a meal, his thoughts were answered by an unexpected guest. Sitting across from his mother at the table was Emerii. Clad in armor she held a regal and authoritative look to her but bore a soft smile.
She could almost be his mother’s daughter, though while Emerii’s hair was blonde it was far paler than their own. She was a distant relative, so some of the same appearance was to be expected.
“Oh, perfect timing! You always have a habit of arriving right when you’re needed Arty,” Emerii said, her smile growing.
His mother chuckled. “Come on in dear and let us eat. I’m sure Emerii is tired from the journey.”
“It is only a week and some days walk, hardly anything to complain about. If it wasn’t for my duties keeping me away I’d visit more often.”
Artowen stepped inside and guffawed. “I’ll take the little amount you come, thank you very much. When you visited last year I couldn’t go to sleep with all the giggling you and mother did.”
The two women looked at each other and shrill laughter reverberated in their tiny home.
Eating was pleasant, though the three of them avoided the obvious topic, that could wait for later. For now, they enjoyed the company that had been absent for over a year and let Emerii rest her weary bones.
When the meal ended instead of going back out for more work Artowen stayed home, as they had important matters to discuss.
“Is it time?” He asked.
Emerii nodded. “Idwyn calls for you. I think she would have rather come herself, but she’s extremely busy right now trying to secure the alliance. She’s spread thin, so she decided that it’s your time to come and assist.”
His mother laughed. “It is about time. He was so disappointed when my sister sent us out here four years ago. So stubborn he didn’t leave Liofeld until Idwyn had soldiers throw him out. Even then she had to take some extra time convincing the boy.”
“Oh, I remember. He was a simple brat then, but now he’s looking like a fully grown man.”
Artowen sighed. “So Aunt Idwyn calls for me. I haven’t seen her since we left Liofeld.” He tried not to show the apprehension on his face. This was the day that called for him, the true start of his destiny, but it was also an end to his comfortable life in Haoggen.
The two women seemed to have seen through him. His mother placed a hand on his arm. “The time to leave has come Artowen. Go to Idwyn.”
The only other people that Artowen trusted as much as the two before him were Idwyn and Royce. If it was his aunt calling him, there was no reason to refuse. He had been expecting it.
“Think Arty,” Emerii said clasping him on the shoulder, then continuing, “The three of us will be reunited again. You, me, and Royce. Nothing can stop us.”
Artowen sighed satisfactorily. He just needed his friend to blow away his trepidation. The events with Tobain had affected him more than he would have admitted. “Better pack up mother, and grab Loo too.”
“I’m not coming,” His mother countered. “Neither is Loo. This is a journey you must undertake yourself. You have allies that will be more fitting and who will not hold you back.”
Emerii gave a reassuring smile. “It will be okay Arty. Idwyn said she was sending a few guards for her. She will be safe. Besides, if we don’t succeed no one will be safe.”
Artowen let the tension in his chest go. It was time to step forward back into the world once again. He would save his Drajin brethren, and purge Dradris of the invaders.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Loo would not let go of Artowen. He had to admit it was difficult for him as well. The villagers had come to see him off and he could barely hide the swell of emotion behind his smile full of pride. Haoggen had only been his home for four years, reluctant at that, but a home it had been. If Welkia was filled with fine places like this, if all of Dradris was, he would have to protect them.
His mother hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She then turned and did the same to Emerii. Patting Loo on the head his mother managed to peel the child away from him. No more words passed between them, perhaps because of the trial they had undergone together words of departure were obsolete.
In the end, it did not matter. They would all see each other again at the end of this conflict.
Walking along the rough road the villagers waved, and the children chased alongside Artowen and Emerii until they were past the outskirts of the village.
He got one final view of Haoggen. They did not accept my dream, but they did accept me.
Once the village was out of view, Emerii let out a sigh. “Finally. It’s always like that whenever you leave someplace.”
He furrowed his brow. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh please, every person in the capital had to say a prolonged goodbye when you were sent away. The very act was a weeklong festival in its own right.”
Artowen folded his arms. Do I truly cause that much of an uproar? I don’t want to pull everyone away from their work.
Emerii chuckled, then said, “Don’t worry, that just speaks to your likability. Not even Idwyn causes such a scene when she departs a village or city.”
“Well, that is because my Aunt is discreet.”
“True, but you have the true quality of a leader. I believe that’s an aspect she lacks.”
“I don’t know Emerii. The pressure sometimes gets to me. Becoming the Drawalda is a lot to handle.”
“Well, that’s what you want to do right?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he nodded his head.
“Then don’t let all this pressure about being the promised one get to you. Forget the things that Idwyn puts on you. Hell, forget being the Drawalda too if that makes it easier. I know the thing you want most Arty, and that is peace.”
“I can’t. This is what I am, what I was born with. Raised with. I’m the promised one who will unite the Dradris Kingdoms, pull the sword from the Lake of Origin, and beat back the Uxsons. Eventually, I’ll do the same to the Territories of Saint Eddgaar. All of my ideals come from that.”
“We’re with you Arty, just remember you can share the burden with us.”
Artowen smiled. “I think I’m feeling down for having to leave home, but I suppose this is a feeling I’ll have to get used to.”
As they continued down the road, the future ruler of the land let his thoughts take him, despite Emerii’s attempts at companionship. I won’t let anyone take this from me. It is everything that I am, and I will complete the task assigned to me. I will fulfill my destiny.
Emerii walked, admiring her distant relative she had not seen in some time. Boys sure do grow fast. He was a runt just last year. She stifled a chuckle. Arty had been stuck in his head a full day after leaving Haoggen, but he was finally back to his regular self. He always had the ability to return to normal. She remembered how distressed he had been when Idwyn had sent him away and he had assumed it a statement of disdain when it had in fact been a political play. Eventually, his mood lightened and all around assumed their friend realized the truth. She lightly admonished herself for the years past, as Arty had bounced back far quicker from their separation than either she or Royce.
Her heart still ached on occasion that their trio of power was not together, but that would soon be remedied. The years added onto her dear friend would only mean that she could trust him that much more, now being a full man.
A light snow had begun to fall, white flakes painting the dead land. No other travelers had been seen, nor any animals. They relied on dried meat, bread, and cheese for sustenance, enough to see them to Liofeld safely. If some issue occurred they could detour to another village and acquire more supplies, but the need was unlikely.
There was a calmness about the first snow of winter. Welkia was known for its mild winters, but because of the events during summer and channao the season this year contained an ominous quality.
They spoke of light-hearted events, Emerii seeking to not pressure Arty at the moment. That time would come, and by his own hand. He was not a man to run from responsibility. So for now she had chosen to playfully tease him.
They came to an open field, and the light snow softly coated patches of dead grass like the powdered sugar on a pastry in the capital. Looking out on the vast land, she felt a sense of pride, and a need to protect and prevent damage from occurring. She could see something similar in Arty’s face, as his features set coldly.
“Tell me everything you know Emerii,” He said, his breath visible in the cold air. “Now is the time of preparation, and I will have expectations met.”
She could not hide her smile as she responded, “Idwyn said she will inform you more once you arrive, but I would say to be prepared to leave Liofeld soon after we arrive. We will be traveling around a lot. Liofeld itself is in a frenzy trying to prepare but hopefully, we will not have to see much of that. It has worn everyone out quite a bit.”
“Still, give me every detail on the way.”
Emerii beamed at the return of her chosen friend.
There was smoke billowing in the air. One might assume that it was a hut, or someone had begun a fire to fight off the cold of the start of winter, but Emerii knew it was not.
Five days. It had been five days since their departure from Haoggen, and no other people had been spotted. True, this was not the time to be traveling, but even so, it was strange.
Arty rushed ahead without a word and without the slightest attempt to conceal his presence. He barreled forward through the slush that had been caused by the snowfalls over the last couple of days. That had impeded travel somewhat, so they were still a great distance away from Liofeld.
Emerii thought to summon her guardian deity, but the speed at which Arty ran caused her to also throw caution to the wind.
Upon seeing the scene, she grimaced. A wagon had been attacked, brutally and without precision. The work of amateur butchers turned the corpses into mangled piles of meat. The wagon had been lit on fire and other than the dead there was no one in sight.
Before investigating further, she examined her friend’s face and was not surprised at what she found there. Arty was known for resembling a golden grizzly cub at most times, and in rare instances, he held the regality and majesty of a fully grown bear. However, this was neither. This was the face of an animal that saw its children in danger and sought the ruin of the defiler.
