Zowe Somewhere in one of the village households...Thorn wakes up from sleep, and he hears a voice, smooth and gentle, like a warm breeze on a summer day. "Good day, Thorn. I hate to intrude, I'm Miss Andy Burnham, I'm the elder of this village."
Thorn looks to his left-hand side and he sees a woman on a brown sofa sitting there, her presence radiating an aura of calm and wisdom. The woman was wearing an animal skin gown, intricately designed with patterns that seemed to tell a story of their own, and she had jewelry on her neck that sparkled in the dim light of the room.
Thorn: "No, you're not intruding, Miss Burnham, as you can see, I just woke up." His voice was still laced with the remnants of sleep, but there was a hint of curiosity beneath the surface.
Burnham: "You have gotten stronger since the last time I saw you." Her eyes seemed to bore into his soul, as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.
Thorn: "I was not strong enough then, but now I might be." There was a hint of determination in his voice, a sense of purpose that drove him forward.
Burnham: "You're talking about him?!" Her voice was laced with a mixture of surprise and concern, as if she knew that Thorn's quest for revenge was a path fraught with danger.
Thorn: "You saw him?!" His eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications of her words.
Burnham: "I have." Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if she were sharing a secret that only a select few were privy to.
Thorn: (he stands up and asks) "Where have you seen him?" His voice was low and even, but there was a sense of urgency beneath the surface, a sense of desperation that drove him to uncover the truth.
Burnham: "Thorn, you might have gotten stronger, but you're still blind. Can't you see I am evacuating people?" Her words were laced with a sense of sadness, as if she knew that Thorn's blindness was not just physical, but also emotional.
Thorn listens intently as Burnham continues to speak, her words painting a vivid picture in his mind. "As soon as I heard that your village was attacked, I looked into it. I have seen it all, the future and his past."
Thorn: "That must have taken a toll on you." His voice was laced with empathy, as if he understood the weight of Burnham's words.
Burnham: "My eyes... I can no longer see. I have lost sight of this world, it's a world full of betrayal. Those who believe in loyalty always find pain. Whoever issued the concept of trust in this world has brought nothing but pain and suffering. Thorn, your eyes only capture what light can shape. We put our trust in them too much and fail to see what's up ahead. I have seen it all, what has and what's to come." Her words were laced with a sense of resignation, as if she had given up on the world and its ways.
Thorn: "So that means you won't be telling me... What you saw it's about Theodoros." His voice was laced with a sense of frustration, as if he knew that Burnham held the key to unlocking the secrets of his past.
Burnham: "Yes." Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if she were sharing a secret that only Thorn was meant to hear.
Thorn: "All I know about him is that he's the reason Aerthys was split into four parts of itself, and he was sealed, and his family was exiled. But most of all, he initiated a war against Aerthys, and knowing that he came close to winning, I cannot let his seal break. That's why I need to defeat that beast, and also get revenge for my wife and village." His voice was laced with a sense of determination, as if he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals.
Burnham: "You seek revenge? I'm not surprised." (She smiles, a hint of sadness in her eyes)
At that moment, a glimpse of Thorn's past is revealed. He was lying down, injured and alone, but he opened his eyes and saw a shadow of a man coming closer toward him.
In the Greenlands, Mole struggles to find his breath as he stares directly at a being he has never seen before. A colossal structure of wood bends down, staring at him, its full size reaching 59 feet.
Terri charges to attack, but a deep voice speaks to her, "Fear not, my child, I mean no harm." Terri stops her attack, and Mole, still shocked, takes in the sight of Emeraldok.
Emeralok speaks to Mole, "You have grown quite a lot, but of course, it has only been a few days. But I see time differently." Mole, still trying to process what he is seeing, stammers out a greeting.
Emeralok introduces himself, "My apologies, I have yet to introduce myself. I was entitled Emeralok Vardani, and what is your name, human child?" Mole, still in awe, manages to stammer out his name, "Mole, my name is Hosi Mole, son of Thorn."
Emeralok's expression changes, and he says, "Keep my child safe. You chose her, and she chose you. Become each other's hope." Mole, still trying to process everything, thanks, Emeralok.
Emeralok notices Mole's curiosity and asks, "By the way, you look like you have questions. Do you know anything about Theodoros?" Mole's eyes light up, and he asks, "Who is he? Why does the mention of his name bring fear to people?"
Emeralok's expression becomes somber, and he says, "I do not know his story, I was not born at his time, but what I know is that I must live on and protect this land." Mole asks why Emeralok is protecting the land, and Emeralok explains that there is a prophecy.
"In the time that is to come, a man from the land of milk and honey shall stand and face the truth of this world," Emeralok explains that he was born to bring this prophecy to pass. He adds that he does not know Theodoros' story, but centuries have passed, and he still hears his cries.
In Dilyla, a neighboring continent, the town of Oupa buzzed with anticipation. The Ace Warriors, renowned champions, had summoned the populace to the town square to welcome recruits, chosen through rigorous trials and tournaments. The identity of these surprising candidates remained a mystery.
Four days remained until the King's Gathering, an event poised to usher in a new age.
Meanwhile, in Thorn Village, a clear, sunny day found Lloyd absorbed in a book while Shawn did dishes. Zephyr's arrival broke the quiet.
"Good morning," Zephyr greeted.
Shawn inquired, "Is Mole finished with his training?"
Zephyr replied, settling into a chair, "Yes, but he's off exploring the Greenlands with Terragrim as his guide, seeking an adventure."
"Sounds like him," Shawn chuckled.
Lloyd, dismissing his book, declared, "I can't believe I wasted time on this fairy tale."
Zephyr, intrigued, asked to examine it. He read the title and remarked, "Oh, one of *these*."
"What do you mean? Do you know of it?" Lloyd asked.
"I've never seen it, but I know its name. It's 'The Key in History', a book with no known author," Zephyr explained.
"But it's just a silly fairy tale! Everyone knows that. I didn't even know the title," Lloyd countered.
Zephyr opened the book to volume six. "Let's see... 'A long ago, in a land not so distant, a king ruled a nation. He had twin children, a prince and a princess. The princess, offered a choice between marriage and relinquishing the throne to her brother, chose love. She married a charming, brave thief, and they lived happily ever after." Zephyr closed the book.
"See? A fairy tale," Lloyd insisted.
Zephyr reopened it. "Hmm, the second page mentions the King of Aerthys... It seems this entire book details his decision to divide Aerthys into four nations."
"Dividing Aerthys? Aerthys was once a single nation? I didn't read that far," Lloyd exclaimed.
"Here," Zephyr offered, handing the book back.
Lloyd took it. "Thanks. Wait a minute... the entire book, except for the first page, is handwritten. That means there's only one copy of each volume. And I have volume six! Why is it in the library? And why is the first page a fairy tale?" He pondered, "I guess it's meant to deceive people..."
Shawn brought Zephyr food, saying, "Once he starts thinking like that, he won't stop. Lloyd thinks aloud, so this is the result."
Lloyd continued muttering to himself as he left the room, unheard.
Far from Thorn Village lay Zowe, a village rich in spices and larger than most. Here, a man named Thorn arrived.
Welcomed with open arms, the villagers understood the purpose of his visit and immediately began preparing for battle. How they knew of his arrival remains to be seen.
As Zowe prepared for war, in Ignisia, the castle hall was being decorated, signifying the beginning of a new chapter that would determine Aerthys' fate.
Mole and Terri ventured into the deepest, uncharted reaches of the Greenlands, a region in Earth's famed for its strange creatures and, most notably, Emelarok Verdani, the forest's sentinel. While Mole knew the forest well from his pursuits with Terri, its heart remained a mystery.
As they journeyed deeper, Mole reminisced, "Granny used to tell stories around the campfire about legendary creatures, and Emelarok Verdani was always my favorite."
They reached the heart of the Greenlands, where a dam-like river split into four life-giving streams. The serene beauty of the blooming riverbanks astounded Mole. "It's incredible, Terri, but I'm here to see the legend. Witnessing the Emeralok would be the culmination of everything. Granny said it was born from the Greenlands' primal energy, created to protect it from desecration..."
Suddenly, the trees shifted, encircling them. Terri stood guard as the trees parted, revealing a colossal creature, Emeralok Verdani. Mole remembered Granny's description: a humanoid being crafted from living wood, a fusion of ancient tree trunks with roots and branches twisting in every direction, its skin shimmering with vibrant emerald green, infused with the essence of the Greenlands.
Mole stared in disbelief.
Four days until the King's Summit.
To be continued.
Legend says the Emeralok roams the Greenlands, watching over the forests and their inhabitants, communicating with them and summoning them when needed. Witnesses speak of its awe-inspiring presence and the tranquility it brings.
*Powers and Abilities:*
1. *Wooden Fortitude*: Incredibly resilient to damage.
2. *Nature's Fury*: Can summon storms, roots, and vines to subdue enemies.
3. *Healing Touch*: Channels life force to heal wounds, restore balance, and revive plants.
4. *Camouflage*: Blends seamlessly into the forest environment.
To be continued...