1st, Autumn, 515 A.V.
A magnificent mix of shades of red, orange and gold coloured themselves across the evening sky, piercing through clouds and outlining their phantasmal forms in a golden radiance. The sun was more than half set under the western horizon, burning violently through the last bit of bloom that remained in it for the day. Towering mountains cast the contour of their peaks and ridges into the green valley below, their shadows stretched longer with every moment of passing time.
Vequil had no mind to marvel at the spectacular scene of nature. If anything, the setting sun only fanned the flames of his worries. Night was to fall soon, and with it the dangers of the wilderness. Stories were told of the wilderness in Sunberth, and none of them gave Vequil the idea that it was a nice place to be in after dark. If night should fall before anything short of a miracle, he would be utterly alone and without help.
More importantly, he was completely oblivious to his whereabouts. The terrain was unmapable, the vegetation foreign, and even the breaths of air felt unfamiliar. It made him wonder if he was even still east of the Suvan at all. All he knew for fact was that the wind eagle took him west from Sunberth. The initial thrill of the ride only lasted for a bell or two before a certain lightheadedness took over and sleep overcame him. Upon waking he found, magically, a few day’s worth of stubble on his face that was clean shaven just before the ride. In addition, he had also lost all sense of time and direction until the giant bird decided to drop him off in the middle of nowhere with all his belongings.. Luckily, Vequil thought he saw the signs of a city sitting in a valley in the distance shortly before he parted with the bird. He wasn’t really sure if it was there, but he was heading toward the direction anyway. That was just past noon.
Surely, he reassured himself, it was better than every other direction he could have aimlessly wandered in. And so for half a day Vequil hiked with his armour and luggage in the general direction of something he wasn’t even sure was there. He had been climbing uphill nearly the entire time and by now his waterskin was nearly drained. His garments had been completely drenched since a good few bells ago and a fine mist of his own perspiration would rise whenever he tugged at the gorget of his leather to let in a bit of air.
In hindsight, Vequil realised it really was a bad decision to have decided to get on that damned bird. Why did I have to take that damned job and land myself in this situation now? He ignored the ache of his muscles and kept walking, swaying with each step. Higher terrain kept blocking his view of surveying the valley basin, and he had to keep climbing even higher. One more ridge, just one more, and I’ll be able to see where that city is. Vequil ignored the possibility of the city having never been there. The thought of his eyes having played a cruel joke on him wasn’t one he could afford. For just a few moments, he lay down and let his body rest.
The sky was noticeably darker than before, with the edge of the sun’s halo just barely still lighting up the sky. Soon, it would even darker than it is. He picked up his bags and scaled the final ridge onto the high ground, gazing into the feint presence of the moon.
The doubt was cleared by the time the man finally made his way up. Cradled in the basin of the valley there was without mistake a settlement encircled by walls. It was still some distance away, but it was definitely there.
“YES!” Vequil roared into the empty landscape. With certainty he knew he could make it to the walls within another two bell. The sun had set, its halo completely submerged under the horizon. I have to get there quick. Only the gods know what dwells here after dark. He turned around to admire the terrain he had overcome. It was an incredible climb he had made to stand here and look down into the valley.
He viewed the landscape only for a brief moment before realising how dark it became. Night was falling fast. Vequil hurried on.
Vequil had no mind to marvel at the spectacular scene of nature. If anything, the setting sun only fanned the flames of his worries. Night was to fall soon, and with it the dangers of the wilderness. Stories were told of the wilderness in Sunberth, and none of them gave Vequil the idea that it was a nice place to be in after dark. If night should fall before anything short of a miracle, he would be utterly alone and without help.
More importantly, he was completely oblivious to his whereabouts. The terrain was unmapable, the vegetation foreign, and even the breaths of air felt unfamiliar. It made him wonder if he was even still east of the Suvan at all. All he knew for fact was that the wind eagle took him west from Sunberth. The initial thrill of the ride only lasted for a bell or two before a certain lightheadedness took over and sleep overcame him. Upon waking he found, magically, a few day’s worth of stubble on his face that was clean shaven just before the ride. In addition, he had also lost all sense of time and direction until the giant bird decided to drop him off in the middle of nowhere with all his belongings.. Luckily, Vequil thought he saw the signs of a city sitting in a valley in the distance shortly before he parted with the bird. He wasn’t really sure if it was there, but he was heading toward the direction anyway. That was just past noon.
Surely, he reassured himself, it was better than every other direction he could have aimlessly wandered in. And so for half a day Vequil hiked with his armour and luggage in the general direction of something he wasn’t even sure was there. He had been climbing uphill nearly the entire time and by now his waterskin was nearly drained. His garments had been completely drenched since a good few bells ago and a fine mist of his own perspiration would rise whenever he tugged at the gorget of his leather to let in a bit of air.
In hindsight, Vequil realised it really was a bad decision to have decided to get on that damned bird. Why did I have to take that damned job and land myself in this situation now? He ignored the ache of his muscles and kept walking, swaying with each step. Higher terrain kept blocking his view of surveying the valley basin, and he had to keep climbing even higher. One more ridge, just one more, and I’ll be able to see where that city is. Vequil ignored the possibility of the city having never been there. The thought of his eyes having played a cruel joke on him wasn’t one he could afford. For just a few moments, he lay down and let his body rest.
The sky was noticeably darker than before, with the edge of the sun’s halo just barely still lighting up the sky. Soon, it would even darker than it is. He picked up his bags and scaled the final ridge onto the high ground, gazing into the feint presence of the moon.
The doubt was cleared by the time the man finally made his way up. Cradled in the basin of the valley there was without mistake a settlement encircled by walls. It was still some distance away, but it was definitely there.
“YES!” Vequil roared into the empty landscape. With certainty he knew he could make it to the walls within another two bell. The sun had set, its halo completely submerged under the horizon. I have to get there quick. Only the gods know what dwells here after dark. He turned around to admire the terrain he had overcome. It was an incredible climb he had made to stand here and look down into the valley.
He viewed the landscape only for a brief moment before realising how dark it became. Night was falling fast. Vequil hurried on.
