Reborn

Chapter 1: Days In Guartia

The sun has risen on a new traversal world. A small town bustling as it always was since the first of its inhabitants. The houses are small, almost clustered together like weeds.

“Arlin, would you please come here?” A gruff voice calls out from the lower floor of the home.

“I’m coming, Uncle Falcon!” A sweeter voice calls back to its relative, like a dog listening to its commanding owner. Arlin’s footsteps scurry down the wooden stairs, hurrying to see what her uncle would have to task her to do. Arlin approaches her uncle in a calming manner.

“You called me uncle Falcon?” Her green leaf eyes searched for the task her uncle is about to say, always willing to help him in his time of need. Uncle Falcons eyes were brown-ish green, like a Forest was living inside of him, his hair black like the bears fur, his hair was pulled up into a tiny stump-like ponytail, letting the remaining hair hang at the side of his forest-like facade and a beard shaggy enough to feel like spiked grass was touching exposed skin. He wore a plain white apron that seemed to be covered over soot, his brown shirt detailed with green like patterns at the seams of his short sleeves, pants that are buckled with tools that seem to be of a black smiths and boots that are good for travel and lengthened at below his knees. His figure was buffed and a tattoo on his right arm was a tree circled with vines with bold lines running down both of his arms, hands that are armored with blacksmith gloves to protect from the fire of the burning metal it so rages.

“Do you mind running down to Mr. Wothernok and handing him these?” He hands Arlin takes what seems to be parts for a sword or even a shield in a wooden small crate.

“Uncle Falcon...how come you couldn’t forge this yourself? You know how Mr.Wothernok is with his work and the fact that he’s having some difficulty getting rest lately” Arlin asked concerning Mr.Wothernok's being. Uncle Falcon chuckled with amusement.

“You know full well that that ol’ coot can’t help but aid me when I’m busy with all this weaponry registrations coming left and right from the orders of the Melian '' He flashes a smile confidently. Arlin’s eyes narrowed and placed her hands on her hips.

“Well if I had a talk with the Melian I would rather tell them to decrease their demands' '. She gestured pointing to the window outside where people roam the cobbled streets.

Uncle Falcon smiles calmly, “You have a heart of gold Arlin, just like your father and mother” He places a hand gently on her shoulder.

“But you know as well as I do that things here haven’t been too good, you see all the guards roaming the town streets more often, it’s rather concerning on my part” Arlins eyes scanned his forest face, her focus onto her uncles every word.

Uncle Falcon leaned in closer and looked further into Arlins eyes, “I want you to be careful out there, who knows what danger is lurking waiting to pounce.” Arlin stretched her arms out, the small wooden crate in hand making a jingling sound with the metal parts inside and hugged her dearly relative, assuring his mind that nothing will happen to his dear niece.

“I assure you Uncle Falcon that nothing will happen to me..” Arlin’s voice was stern, making her words known of her safety.

“Be careful..Arlinda..” Every time they depart from each other her uncle would always say her full name, in hopes of her luck to return home safely. He squeezes Arlin tightly for a brief moment and lets her go gently. Arlin’s thoughts crawl back to mind whenever he calls her full name. Like as if this would be their last. Arlin shakes off the formidable thoughts she owned.

“I’ll be off now Uncle Falcon!” Arlin takes the wooden crate and fits it in her large-like satchel. She steps over to the front of the room, the door opening to a bustling town of working, conversational people and children playing among themselves.

“Before you set off, please buy him something to eat, he hasn’t eaten anything yet the whole morning” Uncle Falcon calls out to Arlin for the final task she was to do. Arlin smiles at her beloved relative.

“I will!” She calls back and shuts the raddled door behind her. The sound of people talking amongst the other, children laughing as they play. The marketers desperate persuasion for the townsfolk to buy what they sell. Arlin sways around the crowds, trying to get where she was tasked to go to. A few paces away amongst the walking townspeople, she saw the place she searched for, and walked up to the fruit pastries bar. A selection of fruits she has had and what she hadn’t laid before her.

“What is it that you may want, miss?” A elderly man croaked out his words, responding to Arlin’s approach to his stand. Arlin scans the selection of pastries and her eyes land on a small rounded cake, with powdered sugar laying on the top. The middle layer is filled with purple gleaming filling. Arlin thinks to herself and confirms Mr.Worthernok's tastes in pastries.

“I’ll take the Starberry cake please.” The elderly man takes the small rounded cake and wraps it in a papered cloth and ties it with a small but sturdy string.

“That will be 5 Oakvins' ' The elder spoke once more. Arlin reaches in her satchel.

But before she could take out her accounted currency, “H-Hey! Give me back my bag!” A pleading voice can be heard from a few distance short. Arlin’s eyes looked up and scanned for the person in distress, a circle of people can be found where the bustling was about to occur.

“Excuse me a moment sir” Arlin excuses herself in a quick bow and walks quickly to the conflict at hand.

“Did you go through the procedures as was ordered when you first entered into Guartia?” Another voice can be heard in the clearing of the crowded whispering towns folk of the current event that has begun to spread.

“Y-Yes I did! Now if you please could give me my bag back that would be most appreciated..” Arlin squeezed through the crowding and was now staring at a kneeling dwarf, begging for the bag to its owner. The person antagonizing the dwarf was a guard of the Slithia castle, a kind and chivalrous guard not in his well of personalities.

“You know anyone who crosses the Slithian borders that are not of our species are..well..could either be good as dead or welcomed” The Guard grinned, amusement flickered in his eyes.

“P-Please! I’m only here as the supervisor for King Zoren Dearvengandr, it’s business to discuss trade and the occurring conflicts we are having in the Dwarvian territory!...” The guard's grin faded slowly.

“You don’t look like any assistant of a King's supervisor...” The guard examines the dwarf carefully with narrowing eyes.

“You have to believe me! Please, I beg you!” The dwarf pleaded once more, and bowed low to the ground, trying to show its own attempt of telling the truth.

The guard's grin started to show once again, “Ha!...try again you little worthless—-“ He started to raise his sword and about to swing at the defenseless traveler. Arlin felt her anger rising inside her and without another thought she ran straight in front of the defenseless dwarf, and stretched her arms out wide in a hopeful defense for the dwarf traveler to be protected. The guard was shocked and surprised in a timely manner. The guard stopped in an instant, and lowered his slivered metaled sword.

“Well well, didn’t expect a young woman to come to the rescue of this tiny pathetic dwarf” the guard looks at what seems to be a so-called hero of a young woman in a snarky remark. Arlin took deep breaths and lowered her arms, still shielding the dwarf from the guards' attempted assault. Her eyes stared directly into his helm, seeing the eyes glaring back at her.

“The dwarf has confirmed his reason for being here, why still go to such lengths to harm this traveler?” Her voice was content and loud, wanting the guard to heed her words and speak of his defending reason.

“HA! Who do you think you are telling me to give my reason? Your not even a guard or even armed!” The guard smiled amusingly.

“You may be right of me being defenseless, but that doesn’t mean I can't step in when I know something is amiss, and look here, a guard who is supposed to protect the people of Slithia and are suppose to welcome travelers even if they do dislike a species, or even if they are not of this side of the country.” The guard's eyes widened, but soon the shock turned into anger.

“Why you—“ The guard raised his sword once again, ready to strike down Arlin with a single hit. Arlin curled up her hands into fists, and was ready to seal her fate but she would not dare to be moved away from a single sword attack. What felt like time slowing down, was broken by another new voice.

“What’s going on here?” The voice was slim and even-toned, a demand was hidden inside of it as if it could break out at any given moment. The crowd had begun to depart when a man appeared from the crowd, his hair was as black as night, medium length or so, his eyes like a deep blue sea, he wore attire of black, blue and white, armbands that reached above his elbow, his fingers allowed to feel the tense air around him. His clothing and features looked as if he was a foreigner himself.

“R-Raven Seriathorn!” The guard immediately placed his arm across his chest and went into a slight bow.

“I heard all the commotion, I heard of a problem with a dwarf?...” The man named Raven looked over at the guard with displeasure. The guard cleared his throat in an attempt to be professional.

“Sir..I was merely concerned with this dwarvin traveler and this girl approached me—.”

“This Dwarvin traveler is appointed by King Zoren Dearvengandr, and is supposed to make his trip to Slithia a quick and easy one. The events going on in the Dwarvin territory are quite in need of King Orvarks audience, you’re not trying to make his trip here an unpleasant one are you?..”

The guard's demeanor staggered, “of-of course not, Sir Raven..” he spoke with fear in his words.

“Then I suggest you’d be on your way then..you wouldn’t want to be confined with false accusations on your name would you?” His voice was concealed and calm, the faces he made didn't seem to be in amusement or in amiss, the focus stood in his mind. Straight and forward.

“No Sir Raven..I’ll be off then..” With his last words he bowed once more and settled off onto the cobbled street road, not turning another look back. As he departed from the conflict, the townspeople went along with their day, as if the event wasn’t there like it was before. Arlin felt she was holding in her breath for the remaining moment it had and exhaled the longing air she wanted to be released. Arlin looked back at the dwarf, now heaved his bag onto his back.

“I thank you miss for your bravery and you too Sir Raven for aiding me...” The dwarf bowed in appreciation. Soon the dwarf headed off to the direction of the city of Slithia, his figure disappearing among the crowd.

“You do realize what you did could have been a violation in political affairs?” Arlin looked up at the man named Raven, his eyes staring right into hers, in a moment, she had thought that his eyes seemed almost mystical as they are beautiful in more ways than one.

Arlin’s tone grew stranded, “yes..I know..” Her gaze drifted off onto the ground.

“That was rather brave but reckless of you to do '' He said in a calm but disapproving tone.

Arlin looked up at him again in surprise, “You mean you watched what happened?!” She said in a bit of shock.

“Yes but in all means of affairs this one could have ended worse then before, make sure your not nosing into other people’s affairs next time it occurs.” His gaze steadied, his tone heeding her to do as was told.

“I understand.” Arlin agreed in defeat, she wouldn’t have wanted her uncle to know of her actions, otherwise she wouldn’t hear the end of it when she would return home.

“Good..” His tone returned to his calm state and soon he turned around to return to his duties. Arlin looked at his slim-builded back as he walked away, questioning and wondering who the man called Raven could be.