Etherium...

A world with magic, beasts, and royal kingdoms. A land that has been forgotten throughout the ages of man. A land lost in time... We have heard stories of dragons, elves and mermaids since we were nothing but babes. Stories of knights protecting damsels to show their honor in protecting their kingdoms.. We know many of the victorious battles and adventures but little did many tell the truth of the sorrows that came with each tale. Etherium, though a beautiful land, was enveloped with chaos. A land filled with magic and yet there were those who sought more. Casualties were not uncommon for the creatures and people who lived there. A dragon's wrath alone could devastate even the kindest of souls and man's greed not only robbed money and power but even of loved ones no matter how old.. Our story begins with two individuals. However, even though they were two worlds apart and so different, you would never think that two souls would be so perfect, almost as if looking at the moon and the stars dancing around in joy. Aspen and Morwen.. For a young boy, Aspen craved a life of knowledge and adventure to follow in his fathers legacy. His determination was noticeable by even the royals as he would train in the barracks from sunrise to sundown. His hands would bleed, his body was tired, yet nothing hindered his training. His father would take him on quests to the woods to hunt with him and teach him all the skills he would need to know if he were to survive on his travels far from home. From identifying plants to killing the smaller beasts of the forests so that he may provide nourishment to himself. Always asking and thanking nature for what it would provide to him. Such is the way for the elven race. Aspen's mother not only taught him the knowledge of turning flora into medicine but to the geopolitics of neighboring kingdoms due to her being a scholar and an envoy to the king of Thilamel a shining kingdom . Both his parents in high standing to their kingdom, he did not want to dishonor them and revered them for all the work they have done. Aspen did have a little sister, named after the brightest star in the night sky, Yvaine was a playful and a troublesome prankster. She would admire her brother's hard work and would encourage him to take breaks and play so that he could just enjoy life. He took comfort in her caring personality and cherished her optimistic innocence. He loved his family, their life, their legacy… Over the next few years, he would be one of the youngest skilled swordsmen and elite hunters. His smile brought forth a warmth that rivaled a lit hearth on a cold winter's night. His eyes shone brighter than the clearest of emeralds, his hair cascading down his shoulder blades would shine like starlight under the sun rays peeking through the tree leaves. One cool spring morning, Aspen wandered the dew-covered forest in search of fresh herbs and flowers near the river banks so that he would be able to make medicine for his family's reserves. While strolling down the mossy forest path, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sparkling blue light fluttering by. He believed it was a wisp, thus his curiosity was intrigued, he began to follow the light to see if it truly was the little spirit. He passed bushes and juvenile trees getting close to an edge of a small clearing, where the grass was long and lush, glistening from the dew as the sunrays peered through the tree canopy. The little blue light that he followed had disappeared but the closer he got to the clearing, more lights would appear, not only blue but lit up the clearing like a rainbow. Blue butterflies would fly around drinking from the blooming flowers from the wisteria trees all the way to the wild flowers growing from the ground. At the center of the clearing near an elder wisteria tree on the bank of a small creek stood a woman. Her skin was pale with rosy cheeks, her eyes like sapphires, her hair brighter than moonrays. The flowers bloomed beneath her feet where she stepped and the butterflies surrounded her, even landing on her twisted branch staff. He had never seen someone so beautiful and fair. She was unaware of his presence till he broke a twig beneath his feet. The lights dissipated and the butterflies fluttered into the trees. She stood there frozen looking at this stranger. He would take a step closer to go speak with her but easily frightened she would rush behind the tree. He asked for her to wait and rushed to the bank's edge. Looking around, and even behind wisteria, there was no trace of her.. As an experienced tracker and hunter, he was baffled by her escape. Magic. That was the only thing he could think of as an explanation. He thought to himself that his mother might know who or even what she was. Before leaving the grove He looked down and saw one of the flowers that surrounded her. A lily.. He paused for a moment and plucked it, bringing the bloom to his face to smell the flower and a slight smile crept as his eyes softened, imagining her beauty once again. He carefully put the flower in his pouch he used for his herbs and would travel back home to tell his parents what he encountered to see if they had any knowledge on the fair maiden. In the distance near his home Aspen noticed a dark cloud smoke rising to the sky. His body tensed as he rushed down the mountainside to get home as quickly as he could, nearly tripping over the roots of trees and stones along the way. The flames were bright as the embers danced in the wind ashening his skin. Frantically crossing the bridge into the city where he heard men, women and children screaming. The race of Man were riding colossal horses with weapons and torches in hand. He knew that the race of man were greedy, but he never would have thought that they would reach this far into the woods. He would attempt to sneak by the raiders, trying to avoid the burning buildings and houses, passing the fallen familiar faces and friends just trying to get home to see if his family was safe. Though, he would already know his answer.. Across one of the bridge's banks in the city, he saw his home. Burning. His father lay bleeding out on the ground with a man pulling a sword out of his back. His mother and sister hold onto each other begging for mercy as one of the men smack them across the face and yell at them to be quiet describing them as filthy beasts. His anger swelled as he froze a moment, grinding his teeth, his anger turning into seething rage as they lay hands on his beloved family. As he stood to rush to their aid, his mother saw him in the distance and shook her head pleading him to stay away. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying as well as from the ash staining her skin. She did not want him to get caught by anyone for if she could save anyone at least it could be her son. She held her daughter and whispered to look over in his direction but not to draw attention to the raiders so that they would not find Aspen. Yvaine glanced her bloodshot eyes over and smiled to try and show her bravery for him, though she was crying. Two of the men stood behind them as they were not taking prisoners and did not want anything to do with the elves. As the men raised their swords into the air, Aspen's mother and sister glanced at him with their bravest faces. “We love you, We will see in the starlit forest of the morn.” they whispered quietly both shedding their last tears. Down the swords came, and before his very eyes, his family was gone. Everything he had was gone. Falling to his knees, clutching his sides, he sobbed and screamed, cursing the men, these raiders. His mind would spiral till he heard a deep voice command the company to return to their home front, that their job was done.. Once the kingdom was left barren and the flames had diminished, he was only able to walk with a staggering gait over the debris and remnants of his fallen home. He stood over his lifeless family and would lay over them sobbing and screaming for them to come back. He woke a few hours later to the sounds of crows flying above the kingdom, scavenging off the dead. He struggled to stand, sick to his stomach and would start to dig graves for at least his family before fleeing to find safety and refuge in one of the kingdoms his mother had spoken of. As the seasons pass, Aspen would become cold and isolated from society as a rogue nomad. He would take mercenary jobs to earn money for travel and sometimes food. Majorilly he would use his parents teachings to survive off the forests and creatures that resided within them. Over his journeys he would try to gather information about the men who raided his home and most of the information he would get led to dead ends. It was like they were ghosts, or that they never even existed. Some said they were just speculations or phantoms to scare people into following the rules of the different lands, but Aspen knew they were very real. Though his travels led him on futile quests, he would occasionally come across other refugees in aid from similar raids. Sometimes he would even escort people in trade for money to safer kingdoms across the continent. Some travelers knew him for his medicine and others knew for his hunting beasts. Word traveled far from his exploits with fighting so much that greedy kingdoms would try to hire him for their selfish needs of conquests. If the money was good, he would consider it and if they tried to double cross him, he would swiftly take their lives. During the vast years he would gather many scars all over his body as a result of his survival. His warmth and kindness had gone. His voice had deepened and became gruff as he spoke. Cloaked in black wearing a mask to hide his appearance so no one would truly recognize who he was or where he was from.. While in a tavern, Aspen heard a rumor that no one had succeeded in the quest to slay a magical beast and all warriors who attempted had met nothing but peril. Curious to learn more he traveled to the city of Whiteridge where this quest resided by the baron. When Aspen spoke to the man, he offered to pay a sizable amount of money that would have him set for quite some time if he were to kill this beast and bring its head as proof that he had succeeded. Aspen had encountered many creatures since he was a young lad and each had their own challenges but his scars have proven that he is resilient to many. He took the offer and went to the edge of the city, asking around if farmers have seen or heard this beast. A wail as it wanders through the woods, it calls to the trees. We dare not tread near the forest's edge especially at night to upset the creature. The Baron threatens us to work the fields but we are all too scared as those who have tried have been found strangled and impaled to the ground by the roots of the trees. No one has seen this beast, nor do we want to. It brings devastation, bad luck and death. Some people even think it is an omen of the raids! We dare not risk our own lives. Stories all fell similar to Aspen and all aligned with another. He wanted to be sure there were not multiple creatures and just one. Gathering his weapons and bags from the last person he spoke to at their homestead he returns to the tavern to go over the information. He prepares different poisons to coat his sword, as well as dipping daggers in them and arrows too. He did not want to risk his own life for gold but he was more interested in this beast that no one has seen and the fact that some even think that this beast and the raiders have some sort of correlation is enough for him. Aspen would lay in bed after all his preparations were complete, he gazed out the window to the sunset still behind the mountain side. The orange and pink hues colored the clouds drifting by bringing back memories of his father taking him for hunts. It had been some time since he thought about his family. Taking a deep breath and reaching his arms above him to stretch he fell back into his bed and smiled excitedly for the morrow, especially since he might get closer to his family's killers. He closed his eyes for a moment thinking of that dreadful day, he drifted to sleep, his nightmares were constant, almost every night he would dream of the day. It was mostly the only thing he would think of. This night was different. Instead of his terrorizing nightmare he was back in the forest. He had almost forgotten about the forest path. As he looked around enjoying the peace he would see the little blue light in the distance. His eyes widened and he would run after it. It felt so familiar but he couldn't remember why. Pushing past the bushes and branches of the trees he would raise his arm above his head to block the sunlight in his eyes.. He was at the grove, filled with lights and butterflies and yet in the distance there was someone but they were shining like a star. He could not make out what they looked like. Everything felt like time slowed as he pushed past the tall grass reaching out for this starlight. Don’t leave again! I just want to talk please tell me your name! He tried voicing to the being. As he reached for their arm he awoke in a sweat sitting up abruptly with his hand still reaching out as if to grab someone or something in front of him. He looked at his hand and sighed. Why was he thinking of that now? Out of all this time? Aspen had fully gotten ready and out the door a few hours after the summer's sunrise. Weapons, Medicine, poisons, he had them all and he was prepared for all that he had faced before.. He went to the folks that he had spoken to a day prior asking where he should start his journey. They told him to travel into the northern side of the mountains and wished him well and a safe return and if he were to make it back they would celebrate by drinking together in celebration. He obliged and went on his way up the northern path. As he walked, Aspen would record in a journal of the wildlife and plants in the area. Such knowledge was vital if he ever needed to survive in the woods for a long period of time. He at this point in his life has become an expert of the majority of the woods across the continent that he never would have to live a day in town if he needed to. Sunlight peered through the pine and oak trees. Deer galloped off in the distance when he would get too close and even squirrels and small rodent like creatures would scatter around the forest floor looking for nuts and berries to snack on. Beetles were buzzing and chirping along with the birds, woodpeckers off in the distance trying to find their next meal. He felt oddly at home. Wandering the woods always made him relaxed and felt more like he was back home in Thilamel. Though he never had seen so many rocks and boulders with weird symbols and carvings along the paths. He swore at some points he almost thought the symbols would glow in the more shaded areas of the woods. He would pull out his journal and look at some of the notes he had taken down from what the townsman had said the area was most active. As he closed into the area he had heard rumor of, the forest had completely become dense with trees. Not much sunlight came through the treetops. Still walking along the path he comes to two trees entwined around each other and at the base almost looked like a doorway. He noticed more stones were all around and this time he was sure they were glowing in the shade. Fireflies flew around and would light up the dark woods and as the wind blew through the two trees, he could have sworn that he was hearing whispers calling to him to walk through. Slowly taking steps toward what felt like he could not control his own body he stopped abruptly as he heard a woman's voice call to him. He was unable to understand what she was saying because she was speaking in a language he had never heard of before. As he turned he would see the blue butterflies dancing along rainbow lights. He would now see that this woman had not feet but hooves and at the base of her hooves white lilies would rapidly sprout where she walked. His gaze would trace up her body to her face. It was her.. The woman he saw years ago as a child. He was in disbelief, her appearance had not changed since he last saw her. The beautiful maiden would sternly speak again in her tongue. He told her that he did not understand. As she glared at him her staff would glow and roots would break from the earth beneath him and wrap around his body, strangling him as many of the ends were slowly pressing against his body as to pierce him. Though he was staring at death's door he couldn't help but smile and admire her. Even if you kill me now.. I will never forget the beautiful woman I saw under the wisteria tree by the creek.. I would happen to die by your hand if you so wish to.. His words shocked and confused her, though he may not have understood her, she understood him. She remembered the boy at the edge of the clearing and would not believe this was the same child from back then. The roots loosened and dropped him to the ground. When he was released she spoke in his own native language and asked him what he was doing in her home. His relief was brief while coughing and gasping for air. He had told her why he was in her woods and she laughed at his quest. She told him to quit now before he too would lose his own life along with the rumors of the others. She sneered and rolled her eyes as she spoke of the humans coming to the woods only to make a folly of themselves trying to destroy her home and that she was just trying to protect it. He realized from the stories of the dead encased in roots that she was the one to blame but he could understand her reasoning as well as he did not side with either where both had their own faults. Instead told her as well and even though she was on the defense of him intruding on her home she knew that he meant well...

To Be Continued.