In the steps of Eternity

Into The World: Part 3

Backing away from the doorway they slowly shut with each step I take. Shaking my head in realization, I muster up the courage to take one step forward and the doors open just a little. “What in the world is this place?” I can't help but think out loud. And what I get in return makes shivers run down my back.

“Hooooooome” I hear in a hushed whisper, as if wind was speaking gently in my ears. Prompting me to turn my back and run as far as I could from the doorway as it shuts with a earth shaking thud.

Stopping just outside of the cave entrance I turn to look once more as I see the Wood Woad Stopping on the inside of the cave before bowing in my direction before they fade away with the cave its self.

Confusion hits me and I begin to wonder why they would bow in my direction, or, well to me. Why was that door there? Why did it lead to that awful place? What was with that creepy voice? So many thoughts assail my mind before I give my head a good shake and try to make my way out of the woods.

With each step I take towards the outer parts of the woods translucent little moths shimmer up from the ground and drift around me before vanishing. If I wanted to hide from anything, I absolutely could not with the amount of shimmering wisps of light flowing around and behind me in the darkness of the night.

Hearing Rustling of leaves as I walk I pull my hood just enough to cover my face completely as I start to walk faster. The feeling of eyes on my back begin to creep me out as I continue to move before I come to the edge of the woods.

Standing before me is a giant stone wall that seems to extend all the way along the edges of the woods. Picking a direction to follow I begin to follow along the base of the wall until I finally give up and decide to go over.

With the movement of my Mana I leap up to and off of the wall, propelling me up and on top of the wall itself. Looking up and down the length of the wall there seems to be many men who seem to be beyond exhausted as they watch over the edges of the wall and onto the woods below.

“Excuse me, Miss?” I hear from behind as I turn to look at the man calling out to me. “You're not supposed to be up here. The woods below are way too dangerous for anybody to be here.” he says with a voice full of concern rather than irritation or any sense of alert like the guards I had met in the woods.

“What is going on? And what is this place?” I ask simply out of curiosity, hoping for some kind of explanation. Watching his face as it shifts from Concern, to fear back to concern I could only imagine how dangerous the woods might actually be.

From what I could understand as he told me the story. About 5 years prior, a blinding white light erupted from the woods below, and for several days it bathed the woods in an endless ocean of white where strange whispers and giggles could be heard from anybody who tried to venture into them. But one day however, the light began to recede and the woods as a whole was changed from plain old wood, to a land practically from old fairy tales.

The woods were full of mystical wonder and many men and women had desired to explore. But something changed after a few days from then as well. The woods seemed to come alive as trees began to absorb men, women, knights and mages alike, giving birth to what many refer to as 'The Crystal Woad.' which was a crystal like Wood Woad, guarding the depths of the forest. Some folks tried to fight them back, damaging small patches of the woods which inspired rage among the Wood Woad which made them attack anybody who came remotely close to the woods.

The wall was built to keep them in their forest but earlier in the day the Wood Woad became restless which made them send out scouting parties who had been able to evade the Wood Woad countless times before. But this time they heard nothing but screams before the wood woad appeared at the edges of the woods once more. Attempting to climb the wall they were pushed back until mysteriously they began to fade from vision while they turned their heads towards the depths of the woods.

Nodding my head and thanking the man, I dedicate the name they had given the woods to memory. 'The Crystal Holt' named after the crystal like trees and plants. Following the man down the 'safe' side of the wall, I am guided to the road on which I start to walk once more towards the capital of the land.

Time slips by as night turns into day and day into night, several cycles pass before I arrive at a city with high walls. Walking closer there seems to be some kind of inspection at the gates. “This could be a problem.” I think to myself, as I remember that I had lost any kind of identification or money that I had from when I left the orphanage.

Opting to avoid the guards I once again deploy my Mana to hop up and over the walls where nobody might be able to see me. Looking down upon the large city below the walls I marvel at how much larger and more well built it was compared to Iskal.

Looking along the streets I see something that Iskal definitely did not have. A Mage Tower. Remembering my previous feelings about the Mage's of the land, I decide to do my best to avoid going near the tower, since that would bring nothing but trouble. And instead I look for any kind of Library.

Hopping down from the walls I casually land in the back alley and make my way towards the center street. Upon exiting the back Alley I find myself greeted with a large bustling street full of men women and carriages. “This city should be pretty close to the capital if it is this busy...” I think to myself once more before looking for someone to ask for guidance.

Before I could find someone to ask for directions to the library a kid comes stumbling out of the back alleys behind me before falling back and wincing after crashing face first into my butt.

Turning to see what happened the kid gets up, dusts himself off and glares at me before running back into the Alley. “What was THAT about?” I wonder. Before asking a gentle looking older woman where I might find the library.

After giving me directions towards the “Great Brenna Library' I thank the wonderful old woman and make my way down the streets. Strangely enough however many seem to have their eyes glued to me which makes me tug on the hems of my hood. “Why are they staring so hard?” I wonder.

Coming up to a massive building I look up to try to see the end of it, before realizing that I in fact could not. The building its self is wrapped in magic to expand it beyond normal human means. Stepping towards the Library entrance after realizing why they called it the GREAT Brenna Library I hear a voice call out to me from behind.

Turning around I see the boy who ran into me earlier with a large group of men in tow. “Oh boy.” I could only think to myself while thinking of what these 'scary' looking men could possibly want.