Echoes -The Lost Souls

Riesa paced along the rooms of the burnt mansion sitting in the outskirts of Vilhard. It had simply daunted her mind ever since she discovered it several years ago. She stirred through its rooms of charred furniture’s and dispersed valuables all in ruins now. She had gotten worked up suddenly drifting into a depressive mood. Ever since she was young her father had kept her close in his reach, keeping her away from harm’s way. Although she verily was a brave figure or so she thought. The strangeness of this house was appalling but still she was drawn to it. It flashed in her mind visions of a wealthy family dazzled in fame; they must have been part of a grand noble family if these hallucinations were real. Riesa had seen herself as a girl with no talents hiding her insecurities with overconfidence and mistaken bravery. She moved further in the mansion, breathing hysterically as it got dark and then darker. The overly burnt walls had stained her white woven dress and ash filled floors clotted her sandals fixed to her foot with long thin spiral ropes. She entered another ravaged room a bit smaller than the rest. A feeling of skulked eyes staring at a poor soul was all that coarse her skin. She peered through the small room with a sense of somewhat odd nostalgia. In a moment she would have said she went a bit crazy, she could hear a faint melody that grew intense by the second. The terribly damaged room was now fully decorated in exotic colours and a blueish carpet layers the ground. A nursery bed was in the centre of the room. She moved closely to the bed and in a brief second a blurry vision of a baby speck on the bed. Riesa was surprised she was this curious, she should be running scared but a force had numb the fear she felt, it was now an overwhelming joy. She just noticed the several pictures on the walls of eloquent figures of different men, women and children all seemly related. She stared in particular interest at an old photo frame sitting on a side table next to the bed; it was that of a woman with a yellowish hue and a dazzling black kinky hair that was tied to a bun. She was holding a baby with a radiant smile that could warm any soul. She almost resembles Riesa. Slowly the room reverted back to its damaged state and all Riesa did was stare up in empty space. Riesa had been lost in thoughts at the mansion; she had forgotten her father’s errand. She was supposed to be in Highrock by now searching through it's mine for her father’s friend. She loved any chance she’d get to explore places outside of Vilhard. She was brought back to reality by the humming birds in the woods, she had spent too much time in the mansion. Luckily for her the mansion stood not at a far distance from Highrock. The melodies she heard now slowly fade away as she leaves the house; she climbed down the archaic stairs carefully as it creaks beneath her feet. The strange occurrences in the house were still far from over. A wisp of air generated from nowhere and had begun spirally around the house in a hollow-like ghoul. Doors open and closed, windows frames broken from its harsh beaten. She hurriedly moved to the house exit hearing not the wind blow but her own thudding heartbeat. Leaving the house she fell on the harsh grass that stained her smooth face. Riesa never really cared for her looks but it was still a fact she was a beauty, light skinned, piercing big eyes and slightly full lips. She fancied herself an elegantly short pixie haircut. It was late afternoon and a few minutes towards reaching Highrock, she was grateful for the sun been holed up in that hollow place. She had vowed to never go back again, a cowardice decision but a wise one. Highrock a mountanious ravine connected to Vilhard by a river. it was a small settlement developed solely for the purpose of mining Echstone a rare mineral scattered over Milland. Highrock was the only mine settlement in the western region to have Echstone. She gave a sigh of relief. she had finally arrived. the earthy stench of Highrock was a welcomed change she enjoyed it's small cottages and disorganised patterns. The night woke and the mine seemed like a lone encroachment Reisa thought. it was work end and numerous men came out the mine with bags. "Sir Gory" Reisa called "Reisa" Gory waved. "you took your time getting here" Gory pinched her Cheeks. "yea I did she said brushing his hands off"am not a kid anymore" "you went exploring again" "yea" Reisa chuckled handing him a sealed parchment "a message from my father". he gave a worried glimpse then slipped the paper into his pocket. "its too late to go home now you will stay with me, my wife cooked up a beautiful meal" "Who are those guards at the entrance" Reisa turned her sight towards the two men in mail. "The order of iron" Gory smirked "they regulate labour in Milland, keen selfish bastards abusing their authority to loot" "Hope Ur father is alright" "he's been complaining about the labour Federation upping task amount" "yea it's the same over here miners are getting paid less" Reisa waited as Gory gave a paper to the knight with a bag of rocks. Gory had seem tensed ever since I gave him the paper she thought what was written she regretted not reading it. The night lore Reisa read staring at a stone building the biggest building in Highrock. "we going in"Gory whispered "no talking to strangers" The Night lore was a bar filled with miners about to drink away a hard work day,exquisite furnitures spread all over the room. Reisa was surprised as Highrock was not a wealthy town. They walk towards the counter "madame Tussauds a drink would be nice" Gory said sitting on a stool "milk for the girl" Reisa grunted much to Gory amusement. "a beer for you and Milk for the young girl" The fat madame served. Reisa looked at each person in the inn studying how they drank so savagely and loud. she just noticed the dark hair man sipping red drink. he looked lost, isolating his self. "mind if I join you"Reisa stared towards the man. he kept silent, rude man she thought. "he's a new lad in this part" Tussauds smiled "he comes here every night since he arrived at Highrock five days ago, he doesn't talk much". "The highbane of Highrock should be coming here" Tussaud whispers to Gory. "i plan on leaving soon" The inn doors opened as ten people came in, dressed in armour and a purple coloured cape, aside them a man stood looking rich and famous. "Who are they"Reisa whispered "The big shot of the order of iron and the highbane son,s Locke Illvant" answers Gory "what are they doing here so far from the capital" Toussaed baffled. 'All out" shouted Locke. "we need the inn" The crowd cursing as they run out. "we should start going Gory whispered holding Reisa by the hands "who are you beauty" Locke said stopping Reisa as she tried to exit. "who's that old man holding your arms ,your daddy"? Reisa stared at him looking confused and angry. he's already drunk she thought "we want to leave in peace Lordbane" Gory said 'that's too late" my eyes are set on her already" Reisa yelled as one of the Knights punch Gory to the fall "stupid old man Locke said stay where you belong the ground" Reisa watched in despair as the Knights kept kicking Gory. "i think that's enough"the brooding boy spoke "who are you" yelled Locke I asked everyone to leave" "yea I would when I finish up my drink I paid for" "insolent fool " Commander Sevus spoke leader of the western Branch order of iron. Reisa had been strapped to a chair by Locke and couldn't get out. "I am going to untie you"Locke said removing the tape from her hands. He then signal the madam"take her to the basement lock it tight" Reisa was disturb , going in the basement she could see a bruised Gory and the boy lifting him up,let's get in madam Tussauds whispered gently dragging Reisa down the stairs "Will have to wait them out,those fools always trying to repress people" Toussaed said smoking a quick cigar. "care for one" the madam said hanging her a cigar Reisa rejected "I don't smoke" Reisa could hear the noise coming from above the sound of steel clashing. She had no skill for combat, the only job she was good at was picking herbs for her mom. she had a tough spirit but she still felt locked in a shell. "The order of iron are quiet strong"Toussaed said not as strong as the order of sage guards or the remaining faction of Millard forces,they acquired echoe a sort of force emanating from an island north of Millard. i don't know but any recruit joining the Millard Forces must finish ten test in the island to obtain echeo" "That sounds hard " Reisa spoke "yes and commander servus is the only order of iron to complete all ten test" Reisa coundnt help worrying about Gory. The roof of the basement gave a serious tremor shake what's going on up there Tuassard yelled don't break my shop. Reisa could hear the door creaking "someone is coming" she whispered "I locked it" the madam replied The door was pushed with such force flying towards the ladies. A beast descended towards them growling with teeths and an eye to kill. "what's that Reisa yelled" "s**t we gotta to go " Toussaed said . Reisa had become numb she tried to move but the view of the beast scared her,it came towards her growling as it's spit touches her. it gave a great roar pushing Reisa aside passing through the madam. it slammed the walls breaking it to escape. Reisa could hear a strange ring and the madams voice asking if she was alright."i am fine" she answered "just a bruise on my head" "what was that it scared the hell out of me" Reisa"yelled gory we have to leave "what happened" "will explain it all later" Gory looked beaten up . "Thank you" Tuassard Gory said. "it my pleasure to help sorry I couldn't help Locke's a spoilt powerful man" Reisa couldn't believe the level of destruction she saw most of the town had been wrecked what happened she thought. The town was dark lighten by only small touches they seem to be some commotion. She felt relieved but still scared. "lets go home Gory said the situation will soon be worse"