Staff in hand, he ran across the land. As each stride he took, his sword in its scabbard would clatter at his side. Wondering whether he would make it in time he thought, “I must get there. I must before it’s too late!”
Just a few hours ago, his sword had awakened him. Strangely, the sword had freed itself from its worn, scarred leather scabbard. In the eerie silence of the prairie the sword hummed in a flat melancholy tone and reverberated a slightly blue smolder till it had awakened its master. Vadyokas had peered over the blade, foreseeing his mother lying on her bed dying.
How could this happen? How could she be on her deathbed? Why is she? What if this sword is cursed? No mother gave it to me; she wouldn’t give me something that was evil. Even if it’s not true, I must go to make sure.
Some unknown force led him through the forest, guiding him to dodge the multiple maples, oaks, and redwoods that seemed to materialize into his path.
He still had half a day’s journey. What would he do if he didn’t get to her in time? Who would be his mentor, his guide through the murky depths of knowledge? And what would Serenity think? What if she was so disgusted by him for not being there when his mother was on her deathbed, that she wouldn’t have the capability of looking at him? No! She’s a better girl than that! In spite of himself, the thought contorted his already twisted stomach from anxiety for his mother into an even tighter mass, as he ran through a meadow. Catching a full rush of the many scents of the wildflowers that he stampeded across, he failed to notice a shadow that hunted him at a steady fifty paces behind.
Sweat streaming down his still boyish face and panting, he opened the bark and entered into the living trunk of a great redwood that seemed to dwarf the rest of the gigantic redwood that surrounded it. The ancient tree now transformed into a secret living quarters was the perfect place to live. The entrance was so well hidden that only perhaps an experienced ranger would notice the unnatural formation the bark had taken. Even then he might overlook it because of the natural vines that grew upon it. Only by going through the entrance countless times had forced him to commemorate the intricate features to memory.
Trying to slow his rapid intake of breaths, he was blasted with the living essence of redwood as if it was freshly cut. Mixed in with this staggering smell were the aromas of pixiestine, lilyweed of goreshell, and yellow tipped black roses, and the most subtle smell of all these fragrances was the one Vadyokas feared most, death. Then this decaying smell left his sinuses all at once. Unsure of whether he smelled death or his nose was tricking him, he entered his mother’s room.
The sword was right, but maybe she’s just asleep; yeah she’s asleep. Yet, that thought didn’t present comfort, as he scrambled to her side. He grasped her hand and exclaimed, “Oh mom, I’m sorry I wasn’t here any earlier!”
She is in a dark slumber, Vady,” a soft voice called out behind him. He jumped and turned to see Serenity in her faded, light blue skirt and her golden hair cascading down upon her lightly tattered cloak. Her deep blue eyes shimmered in the candlelight as she stood by a table cluttered with those herbs he had smelled earlier in addition to others, a pestle, a bowl filled with yet many other herbs that were not known to him.
“ Hello,” he said in a small but steady voice.
“ I tried everything I could but there is not much of a chance that she’ll …live.”
“ I was going to send word to Resonor, but it seemed fruitless. He’s days away from here and by the time he got here she would’ve …been…
“ Dead?” His voice cracked as that word floated from his lips.
She shuffled her feet in distress and looked up to him to say, “ I’m sorry,” she then hugged her cloak and began to leave, but then stopped and turned towards him.
“ If you need any assistance please let me know and do tell me if something happens to her. I’ve done all I know, it’s up to her now.” With that she left, as he stood numb with despair for his mother.
He paced the room and gradually the candles sunk lower and lower. Only a few times did he take notice to the way the candles flickered and flaunted their flames, casting unimaginable dark creatures on the roughly cut walls. At last exhaustion enveloped him as he slumped into the crudely square chair and fell into a fitful sleep.
He found himself lying on a deserted dirt trail. He caught a glimpse of movement at the corner of his eye. He turned and discovered a few thick bushes attempting to cover a rather large cave entrance. With a snarl out came a ten-foot ogre, with blazing white eyes and a scar that stretched across them, lumbered towards him with a broad sword gleaming a faint red in tow. His heart banged against his insides as fear took control. What would kill him first, his heart finally collapsing from fear or the bulky ogre crushing him? The ogre huffed with each step as it turned its head from side to side. Good, the ogre hadn’t seen him. Now is the time for a surprise attack.
Not a moment longer after Vadyokas began to unsheathe his sword did the monster find its target and was charging towards him with its broad sword raised. Now you’ve done it, so much for the element of surprise. He could make a dash for it, but it was pointless. He didn’t know the lay of the land plus it would catch him in a manner of minutes so it was useless.
The ogre was almost at hand giving him no choice but to parry the blow. In a kneeling stance he lifted the sword but was too late. He heard the lightening clash of steel as he felt his whole being fill with violent vibrations. Then… nothing… he felt nothing?!
Pure blackness gathered around him, engulfing him in so deep of a chasm that it seemed he would drift aimlessly for eternity. He weaved in and out of the path of which would lead him to his destination of consciousness. Once during his travel to reality a tall and shadowy character slinked in then snuck away before Vadyokas could get a good profile of the shady person. Another time Serenity slowly approached him and said something then faded away.
At last, he stepped through the cloud and awoke. His clothes were sticky with sweat. He looked and found his mother sitting upright on her bed.
“ Mom?!”
She gave him a small smile that held some obscure meaning deep within.
“ Are you feeling any better?” He asked as he drew to her.

But she remained silent as if not wanting to relinquish this secret that beheld her. It would cause pain that would suppress her son for the rest of his life. He must be strong; otherwise this will chain him in its bounds forever. Yes, he will be strong.
Vadyokas went to hug his mother but he slipped through her as his crawled, not recognizing this unearthly thing it was touching. His stomach dropped into a bucket of ice as he began to understand this nightmare. At the same time a cry came tearing out of his throat as he was denied to be with his mother.
A thick furtive fog shrouded this fake, this ghost, this apparition, this whatever it was. It was entirely covered as this smog-like cloud began to send its tendrils of darkness forth. It seemed in the center of this abysmal brume a process began to reoccur. It bellowed, and churned, twisting slowly into sinister and tainted beings, and then diminishing into the fog again. Out of this baleful chaos came a deep guttural growl, following behind came an ogre with a broad sword coming straight for him.
Something brushed in his ear, he had to run, causing his hair on his neck to rise. He dashed backwards as the ogre did a forward thrust, again came the brush but this time it was faintly stronger. He ran through the door and down the stairs. Once again it occurred and a thought emerged, but the adrenaline rush drowned it out. Halfway down the stairs with his breath coming in short bursts, a sharp pain jolted from his back. An animal-like howl ruptured from his lungs. All his strength was wrenched away as it was all forced into this excruciating pain. He was dying; his lifeforce was rapidly being extinguished. He smelled a strong herb, which overcame everything else, the pain, the shallow intake of breath, the weak thump of his heart, and lastly his sate of mind.
Vadyokas was lying on his stomach head tilted to one side, when he heard footsteps nearing.
“ Who’s there?” He tried to get up but he couldn’t move his arms, or anything else for the matter.
“ I’m surprised you can already talk, Vady. I gave you a powerful herb that would numb everything so I could mend your wound as best as I could. You were in such a state of pain you were screaming of the likes I’ve never heard,” she gave a shudder.
“ Serenity what happened?”
“ I don’t know, one minute you were fine then your breath quickened, and all of a sudden you were screaming and a big slash just appeared on your backbone,” as her sobbing transferred to hysterics, it all stormed through his mind smashing everything else that came to thought. “Blood was spilling everywhere. I had to take away your pain. And the only thing that was strong enough was-
“ Where’s mom,” his gaze on her.
“ She’s gone, Vady.”
“ No! She can’t be.”
She sat next to him waiting. It seemed harsh not to comfort him, but what should she say. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, lie that everything was going to be all right, because it really wouldn’t be. He would continue to hurt no matter how much healing he received.
Slowly time dwindled as the herb’s affects wore off of him. At long last he was granted to look upon his mother. He tried to see his mother, but all he could perceive was a dead woman. This wasn’t his mother, she couldn’t be his mother, for her face was always radiant and full of life, but this woman was ashen and lifeless, so lifeless. Then it sunk in. This really was his mother, his caretaker, his only family, and she was whisked away from him.
As her body was so frail, he gathered her up on his left shoulder, and with the support of his staff, brought her to where she would be in death. He gently laid her down in the burrow he dug, and sprinkled a select of herbs that would help preserve her body. He brought forth his staff and placed the tip upon the earth where it had claimed his mother.
A strange word came to his mind as he bent over the grave. It was strange, yes, but it seemed the right thing to say too. His voice boomed with power, as if from another plane of existence, and uttered the strange incantation, kerras. As a wave of exhaustion flowed into him, causing him to cast his weight completely to the staff, he looked in wonder as differential crystals budded into appearance. Yes, this is indeed appropriate. Serenity came up and embraced him. Together they mourned his mother as dawn crept and cast light on their dismal gray surroundings.
All was shadowed in the forest as the sun barely penetrated the dense forest. How could Vady do that magic when he was already terribly weakened by the gash? How could he know magic at all? And how did he come to know such a spell? Questions that in time Serenity would ask Vadyokas to explain. Reluctantly he turned in with her and left. There in his tree he collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion pulling sleep over his eyes. He wandered aimlessly, emptiness seeping into his sleep that slowly drowned him.
A commotion in the outside world caused him to recoil from this unearthly draw of sleep. His senses were heightened and his eyes began to quiver with life. A sudden crash that had an endangering feel sounded. He heard a scream. Serenity! His eyes shot open.
“There you are!” A sly voice whispered.
He turned but found a blow to meet him. He began to slip away. No! He must get to Serenity! He tried feebly to escape and received another blow in retaliation. He spiraled down to the abyss.
A short burst of metal screeching pierced Vadyokas’ ears. He felt dried blood crinkle on his face as he turned in the darkness to the noise. A bad mistake, his neck and head throbbed in protest. What had happened to him, where was he?…Serenity! What happened to her? Was she all right?
“Ahh, at last he stirs.” That same voice sneered.
“Good,” a commanding voice replied, ”leave us!”
Vadyokas heard a door clunk shut behind the first person.
“Forgive my brother of his bruteness. We both knew you would never comply to accompany us. So force was a necessity, you see. Though you have my apologies for my brother’s haste to capture you,” his boots thumped closer and closer to Vadyokas,
It seems that you have come to know the way of the magi. To what extent does your knowledge expand? Have you become acquainted with all or have you yet unlock the unfathomable?”
The man mumbled something and a flash blinded Vadyokas. Once his eyes adjusted to the light he saw that the man held an orb of fire that gleamed green at the base where the fire touched his hand then turned to a violent orange as the flares shot outward. He stopped and stooped to where Vadyokas was sprawled. His cloud gray eyes shimmered in anticipation.
“We could do wonders to this world. We could throw reins on it and twist them at our whim. Nothing would be out of our reach. With you as my apprentice I could show you the power that is beheld in you. With you by my side I could help you harness your power and show the world your skills. We would be invincible Shakraa!”
“Who are you?” Vadyokas asked confused now than ever before.
“Agh!” The man jumped back in self-disgust “I truly must ask myself if I have completely abandoned the well-mannered sophistication that nurtured me. Please forgive my ill manner, I am Aderach