Category: Writers Block
Hello everyone!
I know it has been a while, I am following up my original chapter 1 of Lament, with its next installment. I am providing chapter 2. The next posts under this one will be the chapter.
I hope you enjoy it.
Comments, feedback, critiques and so fourth are welcome.
Fonzie
Chapter 2
Screams of townsfolk consumed the night sky. Their piercing screams of terror grew louder and louder with each cry of fear. Selphia twitched in her sleep, overhearing the commotion outside. She immediately awoke, hearing the tortured volumes from the townsfolk.
Selphia shook Leona from her sleep. “We need to get outside Leona, something is dreadfully wrong.”
Leona sat up, with her hair covering her face. She shook her head, letting her hair fall behind her head. “I hope it’s not too late.”
They each arose from their beddings, walking out the room. Rohand yawned, seeing the two dashing for the door.
“Elder, we need to get outside; something is going on in the town.
The elder nodded. I over heard.”
They each rushed outside, opening their eyes to what was now a battlefield of horror.
It was two hours before dawn, and the night sky erupted with flames emitting from a torch. A woman stood near the well, holding a torch in her right hand. The flames seemed hungry for blood, letting the night sky become lit up. The torch only mirrored her well put together body, while giving life to her purple armor. She swung the torch from left to right, shooting out small crackles of fire to the rough landscape. The townsfolk scurried in fear. Children cried, while adults and elderly people yelled in anger.
Selphia and her friends stood across from the armored wearing beauty. Her blonde hair only made the flames more deadly, with her sadistic smile only sharpening her contemptuous aura.
She shook her head, displeased by both Leona and Selphia’s compassionate airs.
Rohand spoke calmly, knowing that further anger would make the situation worse. He placed his hand on Leona’s strong shoulder. “Miss, would you help me in alerting the remaining civilians?”
Leona nodded. “Selphia, take care of this.”
Leona and Rohand began their search, while Selphia remained.
The armored woman laughed. “I came hear for the gems you hold. Your blood reeks of humanity, and something else that I cannot tell. All I know is, you’re not completely human, but only half human. Your physical features may be human, but your blood isn’t the same as your companion.
Selphia held her anger back. “It doesn’t concern you. Leave these people out of this. They have nothing to do with us.” Selphia reach behind her back, placing her left on top of a hilt.
The woman scowled. She tossed the torch into the air, letting its flames choose where it should land.
Selphia erupted with anger. She gripped the hilt tightly, pulling it from her sheaf. A sharp long blade was now in her right hand. Selphia rushed forwards, hoping to stop any more attempts of causing damage.
“Have it your way.” Selphia’s adversary drew a lance, holding it in both of her hands. She stood her ground biding her time for Selphia’s incoming strike.
Selphia rushed in with a head full of steam. She attacked with several strikes, one to the woman’s face, another to her left, and another to her right. The armored woman blocked every attempt, lashing out with an attack of her own.
Selphia felt a sharp pain rise in her body. Her right shoulder began to bleed. Ignoring the pain, Selphia kept on the offensive.
The townsfolk watched, letting the battle play out. Children cried, holding their guardians as close as possible. Leona and Rohand returned, bringing several more townsfolk to watch what was going on. Each began to cry, looking across where they stood.
Flames exploded from behind Selphia. One of the near by taverns went up in flames, leaving a pile of rubble and a raging fire. She continued onward, blocking another attempt from her adversary. Selphia struck back, noticing a break in the woman’s attack.
The woman sneered, letting pain course through her body. Her left leg twitched, hurt from Selphia’s previous attack. Like Selphia she ignored the pain, but smiled at the dents in her armor. She let out a flurry of attacks.
Selphia sidestepped, striking a quick blow to her opponents left arm. She withdrew from her battle, giving her some distance away from her adversary. She joined with the townsfolk, placing her sword back in her sheaf.
The woman stopped, letting her bare arm bleed. Her wound was small, and slowed her attack immensely. She spat on the earth’s ground, angered that she had to withdraw. “Have it your way. I am Lady Ashira, don’t forget that.” She jumped into the air, pointing her lance to the ground. She began chanting out something, speaking in a scornful voice. “Flames that burn within the heart, strike those who stand before you, and bring the fury of hell upon this land! Flare Impulse.” Immediately, several bursts of flames shot from her lance, aimed at the towns remaining cottages.
“Leona looked above. “She is gone…”
Selphia looked at the searing flames, engulfing each cottage one by one. She sobbed aloud.
Old Man Jellon spoke loudly, overriding the flames, and the cries of the townsfolk. “Yall, the time of crying is not now. Crying will not bring back the damage that has been done.” He took hold of a bucket, hurling the cleansing waters at the flames. His voice erupted once more “Don’t just stand their, yall help me ya hear. We built this town, so we need to preserve what is left, so that we can rebuild again.”
Children calmed the tears, older men and women mustered their strength, and began working in unison. Elder Rohand stood his ground, staying calm, and directing traffic. Leona and Selphia stood behind the elder, watching the people of Sellas work together to put out the flames.
“Elder, I apologize.”
The elder snapped at Selphia. “Listen here; remember what I told you, tears are more than just sadness. Our people will learn to accept what happened hear, and it can be rebuilt.” The elder calmed himself. “If you wish to understand more about that scroll, head north to Cellon. It is our sister town. You must pass through Sotan Forest, but afterwards, you will come to Cellon. You will know when you have arrived, just by the prosperous atmosphere it has. Just remember what I told you, and remember to seek out Millia Kayte. Beyond that, I do not have any other words to guide you.”
Both Selphia and Leona thanked the elder. They looked at the townsfolk, working in unison to put out the fires. Children laughed, throwing the water on what they perceived as monsters, while the older men and women joined their children, working together to vanquish each set of fires. The older men stood by the well, filling up the buckets as they came. The town itself radiated with individual identities from those who worked. Selphia and Leona looked on, wondering how they fit into the world, and where their identity lied. They only had the past, and the gems each of them held. Beyond that, the identity that they wish they knew was long out of reach, one that would hopefully be discovered as they traveled.
“Hey, ya young ones are going to be doing a lot of traveling. Take these jugs instead of the ones you hold.” Old Man Jellon tossed two jugs and Leona and Selphia.
Both Selphia and Leona caught the jugs being thrown at them. Selphia took the jug she originally had, replacing it with her new one. The jug was clear, holding the clean blue water inside its container. The top of the jug had a white and red thread, adding decoration to the jug. Selphia placed it on her right hip. Leona’s jug was the same, decorated with a purple and white thread. Leona took her old jug, placing her new one her left hip. They each took their jugs, presenting them to the elder.
“Elder, please take this. It’s not much, but since Jellon gave us something, in return, we are giving our jugs as a momento to you and your people.”
The elder turned, taking hold of the jugs. “You take care now. Hope your travels are safe.” The elder turned his gaze to the town, making sure everything was in order.
Selphia looked once more, glad that the people accepted her. The flames were almost completely washed away. She nodded in approval, hoping that in the future her path will be as clear as those who put out the flames. She smiled, turning to Leona.
Leona nodded. “Let’s be on our way. It’s almost dawn. If we head to the forest now, we can take a rest within the area. They both turned, starting for the forest.
Jellon’s voice bellowed out once more. “Good luck” He returned, helping the townsfolk.
Selphia and Leona started north, traversing the land on foot. The rocky landscape began to change from a rough terrain, to a more lifelike area. The land was now flushed with green, with fertile soil. It’s as if they crossed a new world. The landscape itself seemed pleasant, praising new life that visited its healthy terrain.
Selphia kneeled down, brushing her hand against the fertile soil. She smiled, acknowledging the area for it’s immense beauty.
“The land here is so full of life, and to think we have been traveling on such a barren area until now.” Leona stood up, letting the soil leave her hands. She looked behind her, calling Selphia over.
Selphia stopped, taking notice of where Leona stood. “You want me to brush my hands through the soil again?”
Leona nodded. “You will see a difference.”
Selphia followed Leona’s instructions. She kneeled down, brushing her right hand against the soil. The fertile earth softly touched her skin, lightly crumbling to the ground as her hand brushed back and forth. “This area is so vibrant, even the soil flows freely in my hands.” Selphia stood up once more, looking beyond the greenery in front of them.
“Hopefully there will be more areas like this as we travel. Its calming to know that places like this exist, even if there are more barren lands than pleasant ones.” Selphia smiled, enjoying the life around her.
Leona laughed, taking in the moment. They both continue onward, letting the path before them be their guide.
With renewed hope, and the unifying townsfolk edged in their memory, both Selphia and Leona knew that hope was far and few between. The hope that was there though was so serene that even a small glimmer of hope seemed to outshine the harshness of the world. Whatever awaited them in their travels, it mattered not. What did matter however is the now, and how they would shape that path in their own image.