The Land: Autumn

Missing the prince

The ball of fire is peeking to the sky with its might. I reach my bows and arrows as I pushed myself to get up. I immediately, prepare myself. Wearing a black cloak I step outside of my room and examine the guardians quarter. The place I dream to be when I was a child when my mother and father is the great chief of this place. But now, it became a prison of mine and my tomb someday. A duty I pledge to be, for him.

'remember its for him' words i keep on telling to myself whenever i felt quiting and run away.

"Thala" Rim approach me with the strong stride. "You won't be having transport, you're on your own remember no one can know this, your mission will remain as a secret. UNDERSTOOD?"

" Yes, i already briefed with that no need to repeat it." I continue on preparing some stuff on my magical bag, where you can put hundreds of things. Magical, truly is.

"You need to go now, we cant afford to let others see you"

I let out a deep breath as I scan the guardians quarters, unexpectedly I hope its not the last time. The quarters are quite, and dark alleys is empty. A usual thing after the night of autums peak. Maybe the guardians that used to be in the alleys every night died last night.

I wear a fierce face and take a step forward.

******

It was almost sunlight when I reach the first village outside the kingdom. Spring villages are beautiful, different flowers are blooming with the strong tall trees in kinds. A paradise, for all of us. But its beauty is beyond compare during spring days. The bright blue sky is not alive anymore, no rainbows that shine all day and river streams don't flow, it looks like sleeping. The colors remains but its not alive something that the autumns atmosphere gives.

Huge trees made with glasses exhibiting iridescent quality, serves as sprinians home. Its screams elagance make the whole village look refined.

Some Alvians are already outside, maybe preparing for the day ahead. Most Sprinians or spring magic users are the wealthiest in Alvia. Some holds high position in the palace, and some are educators, soldiers, healers, sorcerers, and merchants. They govern most power in the kingdom, the luckiest kinds of Alvians.

I've reach the farthest part of the vilage without being notice, in this pace I can sure reach Lysceo tribe, In no time. The place where I can retrieve one of the sacred stones scattered in Alvia. The three sacred stones is needed for the anamnisies spell. I needed to complete this mission before the inauguration of the prince. If I failed to do so, we won't be able to find the prince and it'll cause havoc for sure.

"Thief" A loud yell from a merchant halt me. Under my cloak I look upon the bearer of the voice. A tall man in silk clothing appear to have capture a little girl.

The litte girl is a thin one, her eyes are big that it looks like out from it socket. Shivering, she wore rugged clothes, and a worn out boots. She was holding a piece of bread in her right hand where the man is gripping her arm.

"Please spare me, I just need the food for my sister, she is sick. She needs to eat." The girl looks the man with pleading eyes. Something inside me chirp, its pity. Pity for the little girl.

But instead of letting the girl go, the man tighten his grip. Making the girl to wince in pain. "You imbecile you can't trick me with your lies, I know you're a wintians. Your kinds are useless."

When the man is about to spank the poor girl. I instantly grab the mans arm. "Maybe we can settle it down without using force" I said in a low tone.

"Who are you? You know this child?" The man asked with a sharp look.

"My name does not matter. I can pay the bread for her. Just let it slide for now. I promise, this wont happen again." I handed him a green ruby. He instantly loosen the grip.

"I'll keep an eye to you young girl and to you... " He pointed at me "Be careful being so kind won't save you" Then he left.

"Are you okay?" I held the childs stare, her eyes is full of fear with a glint of extreme sadness.

"Im okay, thank you Ms. Stranger" She gave me a force smile.

"Where do you live? I'll take you home if thats okay?" She just nod and said to follow her.

The young girl lead the way, she was holding my arm tagging me along as she walk in fast pace. We reach a messy tent the kid claimed to be their home.

"Glacier, Im home" The child shouted as we enter the tent.

"Snow where have you been I've..." A lady approaches us, "Snow I told you never to talk to stranger, specially a sprinians"

"Don't worry glacier she is not a sprinian, she helped me." Snow glance at me, then she motioned me to sit. I sit in front of them in a old oak wood chair.

"She help me when I was caught glacier, she even pay the bread" Snow, giggled as she tell the story.

"Did you steal again snow? I told you to never do that!" Glacier hiss, but then put on a soft smile. "Sorry, Im just worried"

"Don't worry glacier, Im fine, I'll just go get some water." Snow then leave, she disappear into a tiny room I assume to be the kitchen.

"You look like a sprinian but you help my sister, so I guess you're an autumni." Glacier said in as a matter of fact tone "Sprinians are evil they pity no one"

Evil? Why would wintians think we are evil, we fight for them, for the sake of all Alvians.

"Im an autumni" I lied "but I think not all Sprinians are evil, I knew someone who is kind as the fairies." I offer a smile.

"Maybe" Glacier just shrug "but by experience, for us they're all the same"

I gave her a short nod as a response.

Snow join us, she handed me a glass made of metal with water inside.

"Ummm, sorry I forgot to tell my name, Im glacier by the way, this is my sister Snow. And we're wintians as you already know and thank you for helping my sister." Glacier said in a calm tone.

I studied her feature for a while, she has a faded grey eyes, just like snow her eyes are big and looks out of the socket, thin but she's much taller than snow though.

"What's your name?" Snow asks

They look like good Alvians but its better not to take the risk. They can't know my real Identity.

"Call me Alia"

"So Alia, are you on journey? You look like having one" Galcier states with a smile.

A small laugh escape from me, well, my clothing tells a lot. I'm wearing a black cloak, a grey boots up to my thighs, with an oval shape bag swinging in my right arm.

"As a matter of fact, yes Im heading south to the Lysceo tribe" A sudden glint of fear became visible to their eyes, gone the sweet smiles. It made me more curious, what's in that tribe?

"That place is pure hell, why would you go there?" Snow says, she keeps her hand in glaciers arms pulling herself more close to her. The gesture, make me think she's afraid of something. The Lysceo tribe.

"Shhh. Its okay snow, Im here" Glacier pat her sisters head. Like a mother assuring her daughter not worry.

"Sorry, ummm. The name of the tribe bring back unpleasant memories." Glacier continues in calming snow.

"I see, I apologize"

"I know for mere wintians we're not suppose to mingle with your businesses, but... Please don't go there. Take that advice as a token of gratitude in helping my sister." She is serious as she speak, her eyes full of sincerity.

I offer her a smile, as I stand. "I need to go its nice meeting you two"

"Thanks for helping my sister again" She smiles at me, and Snow seems calm now.

I lead myself outside and wave at them as last bid of goodbye. They respond a wave too with wide smile.

The met up, make me think what lies ahead, Lysceo is known for powerful magicians some of the councils are born from that tribe. There's never been an issue about their reputation. I wonder why did the siblings act that way. One way to know, I have to get in there.

*****

The chipping of birds, and swaying of leaves in a slow motion is the only sounds heard inside the south spring forest. Its the largest, and the most aboundant forest in Alvia.

I secured the area before uttering a spell 'viam revelare'

The dried leaves dance in the air in swirling motion above me, in split of second it turns into a map and landed to my hands.

I examine the map carefully, 2 miles from here is the tribe almost near the boundary of autumn land. If only I could use my ability to fly, but no, Im in disguise now, no using of any special ability. In that case it'll be a long way of walking, how great is that!

I snapped and the map disappear. Im about to take a step when a sudden movement in the bushes trigger me. Instantly I hold my stance and ready myself for a possible attack.

The bushes reveals a tall man, he was wearing a brown boots, and a suit with the same color. Half of his face is covered with a mask from the tip of his nose to his jaw.

"Run!!" He yelled out.

It toke me a seconds before I could react. I saw him run towards me, he then grab my wrist, tagging me along as he run. I know I should get away from his grip but I think I've gone crazy because I just let him.

****************†***********************