Reverse Chronicles

The Long Road

At the border between the kingdom of Siane and the republic of Caldia lies a prosperous trading town called Raeple. The town is known as the gateway to the seven cities to the Sianese because it led to the seven cities of Caldia and had peaceful relations with each of them. As we travelled along the long road, I can see it from the horizon. Its image got bigger as we got closer. It is very exciting to see and to experience new things.

I rode on Mikah, with sleepy Keith at the back, in this early morning venture. Franz led the way for us. His face shimmered with excitement. We've had a lot of monster encounters, but they were nothing that we could not handle. I finally reached level eight. I am also learning magic. Keith teaches me magic theory, magic control, and spell casting. The spells that I can do for now is Heal, which is a staple magic spell for any magic user. I also practiced my sword skills with Franz, and I have it on level five, which is not bad for someone who just found a teacher.

The road to Raeple was a long one. We can see the town from the horizon, but it feels it is moving away from us the more we proceed on our journey.

The morning sun was warm and brilliant, the right conditions for this journey. We were travelling along a great sea of grass called the Mhyrk plains. Exotic plants and flowers, the likes of which I have never seen before, grew on the side of the road. When we would take breaks and stops, I would pick some of them to study and to examine how similar or different they are from the flowers and plants back home. There was a plant which smelled like cinnamon, but had a tulip-like flower. And another, which had a roses' thorns, but had a purple flower like that of an eggplant's.

"Are we there, yet?" Keith grew impatient as he levitated around Mikah. "How far away is Raeple?"

"We should get there tomorrow afternoon, if we hurry," Franz took out a map and estimated our position with the position of the sun.

"Hurry? How fast is hurry?" Keith grew more impatient. He took one of his tomes from his receptacle and started to look for something. It seems he was reading something in a foreign language that even I could not understand. "I get it now! Blessing of haste," he blurted out, which caused a green ray to surround us.

"What did you just do?" Franz wondered inspecting Mikah.

"You'll see, let's go!" Keith zoomed forward leaving us behind.

Franz beat the reins and Mikah was running as fast as the wind. We caught up to Keith. He was smirking as he jet through the air, flying as fast as the wind, like a peregrine falcon diving down to its prey.

"I cast the Blessing of haste, we are now as twice as fast as before. I can only cast it once a day though so let's make it count." Keith shouted through the gusts of wind that associated our travel. After some time, we can finally recognize the bell tower, the gate, and the roofs of the houses in Raeple.

Gradually, our velocity decreased, until we were going at normal velocity, again. The spell's effects wore off. Keith suddenly stopped and sat on the green grass plain. It seems he ran out of mana again. 

"We should stop here for the time being," Franz got off Mikah and I followed. The sun was at its peak and is starting to descend. The plain was warm, but not too hot. The wind incessantly blew swaying the plants. Keith fell asleep. Franz left Mikah with him.

I saw a rock not far from where we where. It was an oddly-shaped rock and it protruded from the rest of the plain. I was drawn to it. I am really interested why it was shaped so weird. As I got closer to it, I feel a strange atmosphere emanating from it. It looked like a volcanic rock from up close. It looked igneous and it was icy cold for some reason.

Suddenly, a flash of light blinded me. It came from the rock. When I opened my eyes, I was in a different place. I was in a forest of barren trees. The air was heavy and reeked of ammonia. The sky was covered in dark clouds and the entire forest was dim. I could hear the calls and cries of the monsters in the forest.

Where am I?

I unsheathed Whisperer. I felt terrified. My knees could not stop shaking.

"The strongest light makes the strongest shadow. Overcome your strength and you will be stronger." A voice suddenly said in the distance. What does that even mean? I mustered up my courage and began to explore the barren forest. There were monsters, but thanks to Franz's training they were not a problem. I can keep defeating them the whole day. I can also cast Heal, whenever I receive damage.

First, I went directly straight. The barren forest seemed endless. There was no way out nor a light at the edge. I went further, but I saw that oddly-shaped stone again. I am back from where I was!

Was I going in circles?

I left a mark on every tree that I came across, and it still led my back. The marks were there clear as day. What does that riddle mean?

The strongest light makes the strongest shadow. Overcome your strength and you will be stronger.

Do I have to be stronger, than I am now?

Think, Josh, think! How strong are you? How smart are you? How powerful are you? Are you even strong? Are you even smart? Are you even powerful?

The stench of the ammonia is weakening my focus. How do I get out of here?

"Franz! Keith! Where are you? Franz, are you there?" I called and called but there was no answer. My HP was full, but I felt completely fatigued. I sat down and leaned against the oddly-shaped rock. What do I need to do? What do I need to prove?

I looked at Whisperer.

Are you my strength?

As I was examining the blade, I noticed that it was not Whisperer. It did not 'whisper' anything when I swung it. I took another look and noticed a strange mark on the blade. It looked like it was symbolic, but I did not know what it was. Suddenly, the wind began to blow violently. A twister formed in front of me and out of it emerged...Alyssa.

I examined myself, I was still in her body! How come another Alyssa has shown up?

"Overcome your strength and you will be stronger!" the double rushed me with a blade that looked like Whisperer. Her attacks similar to mine, but faster. She was also more agile. I parried all her attacks, while switching from defense to offense when the opportunity arose. I grew tired with every bout, still she was agile and strong. "Overcome your strength and you will be stronger!"

"What do you mean?" I shouted. "How am I supposed to know the answer?" I pushed her away creating distance. I was totally exhausted. I could no longer keep this up. One more bout and she will surely finish me. I tried to catch my breath, but it was too much.

"Do you accept defeat?" she pointed her blade at me.

Is this the end?

Is this it? Is this where everything ends? Well then, I will fight until I drop. "Never!" I charged towards her in an attempt to finish the battle. However, she was able to dodge and counter my attack. My arm was bleeding. I cast Heal.

"Do you accept defeat?" she said again, which I replied with refusal. Time and time again she cut me and injured me, but she did not make critical strike, nor hit a vital point. What does she want?

"Do you accept defeat?"

Does she want me to accept defeat? Am I meant to be defeated here? Will all of this be over?

Completely demoralized, I dropped Whisperer.  I am out of mana and I am exhausted. "I surrender," I sat on the ground and closed my eyes for the strike that would end everything. I look back at all the things I have done.

"Josh, come here!" a familiar voice called out. I opened my eyes and saw Franz on the other side of a portal that opened through the oddly-shaped rock.

Is it really him?

Alyssa's double just watched with Whisperer sheathed. I gathered my remaining strength and made a final sprint towards the portal. I finally made it out. back to the green sea of grass. The portal closed behind me.

"Are you alright?" Franz helped me up. "I was so scared when you suddenly disappeared." He immediately tended to my wounds.

"I wounded up in some mysterious dark barren forests, where I fought an image of myself, who kept asking if I wished to surrender." Franz looked at me when I began to describe what happened.

"You were in Mhyrk's trial!"

"What do you mean?"

"The Mhyrk plains is named after an elementalist named Mhyrk. She taught at the most prestigious magic institute and was praised and honored by the leaders of the seven cities of Caldia and the king of Siane. However, she feared one thing and that was to be surpassed by anyone. One by one, she ordered the assassination of anyone who could potentially surpass her, even her own students. She was eventually found out and was cursed to always lose and be defeated for the rest of her life. That stone is said to be where she was buried. When travelers touch the stone, they are transported to another place and have to fight themselves only to lose and accept defeat."