Nanowrimo (Nanowrite) story chapter 1 part

FALLEN
In a warm little hut, a fire blazes. A dark infinity seems to grow enveloping all but a girl. Her sooty hand reaches out to grab more ashes. They seem to fall like droplets into a pool of emptiness.

‘Lonely. That’s all I am, alone and afraid’, she thinks to herself, ‘No matter how much I want to, I can’t turn back and give up. If I do, the game is over, so even though I am surrounded by life, I’m alone. Like the flame I will grasp at any chance to escape, but it’s all in vain. I will never reach out of that brick encasing place around me by the maker of this despair.’

                 Loudly the door creaks open behind her. A young lad of 18 wanders in. He is confused, seeming to have been dragged to this place by a dream. Before him sits a girl warming herself by a lonely fire, that seems to slowly pull her in. What kind of place this is he knows not.

                ‘Who could be there,’ she wonders aloud.

                Turning but slightly she gazes upon his tall figure. Glinting in the open light, a sword hangs in his hand. Silver as the moon its handle shines, set upon the most magical steel for a blade.  This one blade, Gin, was passed down from one king to the next. Which could only mean that it was…

                No! It can’t be! Her eyes darted up to the man’s face. His hair fell down around his face, just so, golden locks of light; just like she remembered. Oh and his eyes were still sapphires, penetrating and secretive.

                “Kin,” she squealed with a smile, “You came here to see me, didn’t you!”

                “Who are you,” he replied, for never in his life had he ever meet a girl such as this. She was so fearful and mystic, and you could almost see the ghost in her frame. This girl was obviously haunted, by some horrible monster.

                “It’s me Kin! Don’t you remember?! I’m your dear friend Gen,’ the girl desperately cried.

                ‘I don’t know you,’ Kin stammered.

                Her face paled, and her eyes hid under a shadow. They had been friends since she was little. The only reason she was so burdened and alone, was because she had helped him back then. Back when the Knight of Shadow’s came, she, Gen, had been the one to come to his aid, and then had been brutally forced away.  Away to a new land, adopted into a family who soon died, and was fighting in a cold war full of violence. Yet was it all for nothing, could he not even recognize her face.

                ‘Why,’ she asked, rage enveloping her, ‘Did you care so little for me?! Can you not even remember my name!? I was there with you, through all of it! So tell me why!?’

                She advanced towards him, tears streaming down one side of her face, black shadowing the other. What was with this girl!?

                “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he voiced threateningly, thrusting his sword in her direction, “I’ve never seen you before in my life, and have no idea what you’re talking about, so stay back! Whatever type of trickery this is, I won’t stand for it!”

                She gazed at the sword and then back at him. There in her eyes a reflection of a young child gazed back at him. It was a boy. He had blonde hair, and blue eyes, a crackle of magic flared about him.

                “Go on, kill me,” Gen said defiantly, “but don’t stab me with Gin. Kill me with your magic.”

                “My what?”

                “Your magic.”

                “I have no idea what you’re talking about! I don’t have any magic.”

                “I can tell you’re lying, you were always a bad liar, and as I see, continue to be so. You know what I’m talking about. Use your magic.”

                Kin glanced downward; he did know what she was talking about. His magic was powerful, but for some reason it seemed to only be able to hurt people. No matter how much he tried, he could never seem to use it to help anyone, only to cause harm to them.

                “I can’t,” he replied looking away from her eyes, “I made a vow never to use it again.”

                “That’s a shame,” she sighed, “I was hoping, that if it came to this you would use your magic, but I guess that won’t happen.”

                “Yeah too bad for you,” he replied, “I don’t know who you are, or how I got here, but I’m not going to let this continue.”

                “Let what continue,” Gen asked grinningly, “However much truth, and however memory and tearful this is for me… This is just a dream”       

                Gen awoke with a start.

“Kin,” she screamed.

What just happened?! There was a sword blade point right at her neck, and now it was gone. Suddenly the realization of it all flooded back to her. It was only a dream, but then why did it feel so real. His face, it was so cruel. But then, why wouldn’t it have been? She herself in the dream seemed scarier in a way too.

                Maybe, it was a dual dream. No, it couldn’t have been. There was nobody to perform the spell, and most of all to know both of them. Well no matter what it was, it was surely time to get up. The sun was rising, and the sky looked pale; just the way I felt.

                The stone floor sent chills up and down her body as she stepped out of the bed. A black raven’s dress had been left on her desk chair. She picked the gown up. It was an elegant little thing, a fitting gown endowed with magic.  Glancing in the mirror she beheld herself.

                Black and colorless as the dress was, it suited her. It held a look of mystery and loyalty.

                A creaking noise turned her attention to the door. No! Was it…

                “Oh darling,” said one of the old witches, “You look wonderful! That gown I made suits you just perfectly!”

                “You made this,” Gen gasped, “Thank you!”

                “It ‘twas not trouble dearie,” the old girl said triumphantly, “You are leaving us today, and I couldn’t have you go in that tattered war outfit you came here with!”

                “Again, thank you,” Gen cried, running up and hugging her.

                “Of course,” she continued, “now you must get going, breakfast will be starting soon. Better wash up!”

                “Alright,” she said as the door closed in front of her.

                Coming nearer the bowl of water left on her side table, she saw three sakura petals floating in it. As she dipped her hand in they seemed to come to life, dancing across a pool of mirrors. Scoops of water hit her face and then fell back down. Water sloshed out of the wooden bowl, and one of the blossoms fell along with it.

                “I know the feeling little blossom,” she said as she scooped it up, “I’ve been cut off from the world I knew too. From one place to another, and then alone.”

                Carefully she slipped the petal into the little lace bag that went with the dress.

               

                Hooves slapped against the cobblestones. Two black capes fluttered behind, two tall men astride the mares.

As they passed the people of the small town looked up in fearful awe. One of the men was taller the other, and had the look of an experienced warrior. A large sheeth rested on his lap, and two maces donned his luggage with their malicious grace. On the other had a gentle face; too gentle to be a killer. Why these two odd ones were traveling together was beyond anything anyone could guess.

                “What’s with these people,” the tall one said grouchily, “they look on with shock, like they’ve never seen a blade.”

                “Oh they probably have, just not around here,” replied the other calmly.

“Well why not!? What’s so special about this place anyway,” he questioned angrily.

“It is a place full of magic. Physical weapons are pretty much useless here. Of course your sword is of a different matter,” he said gesturing to the sheath on his lap.

“Of course,” he replied, “But, why are we here?”

“Help.”

“Right.”

“Come now, we’re almost to the place of the elders,” the gentle one said with a pleasant smile.