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Castle / Castle Organizations / Castle World / Shiri Dori / Chapters / 1 / all | |
| Chapter 1
Chapter 1, Part 1
The sun hangs low in the western sky, and a shadowy, black-clad figure awaits someone - or something. Although it was scheduled to arrive just before sunset, she had patiently been awaiting its arrival long before that. But now, it seems as if something has gone wrong. Her patience grown thin, she can’t help wondering... Next
‘Maybe he changed his mind,’ thinks the slim figure. ‘He seemed like a man of his word, but still...’ She stares at the wall in front of her, as if willing it to open. To a casual observer, the wall seems to be part of some ancient ruins... but a closer look reveals some cracks in it - a door, apparently leading to nowhere. Previous Next
Sparks and flashes emanate from the door, and the shadowy figure steps back. ‘Finally,’ she thinks. The door revolves, and a gruesome creature passes through the portal, which silently closes behind it. Though she had been expecting the creature for some time, the black-clad woman is startled by the creature’s abrupt arrival; if she hadn’t observed its passing through the doorway herself, she would’ve sworn that the creature had appeared from thin air! Previous Next
“Come with me,” she says, “I’ll show you our target.” She leads the way toward some fields and hills in the distance. The creature follows her obediently, ambling with a strange gait that only one who has four legs can manage. Previous Next
The moon has risen by the time they arrive at the top of a hill. “This is it,” she points ahead, to the foundations of the Lion’s Cove, “I’m sure your master has explained your task carefully.” “Yes,” replies the creature with an unnatural voice. “Get to it, then,” she says, “I’ll be watching you. And take this,” she hands him something, “you’ll need it.” Previous Next
The figure observes as the mechanical creature half-walks, half-trots down the hill. ‘I hope that thing knows what it’s doing,’ she thinks, ‘it sure doesn’t look like it, though. He... err, it... probably wouldn’t know the difference between a half-finished castle and a rock. I don’t see how anyone could prefer its company over that of a human-being.’ Previous Next
The creature arrived at the bottom of the hill. It looks carefully at the surroundings, approaching the building stealthily, yet with little understanding of what it is really doing. All the creature knows is that it should use that glowing thing in its hand... The creature recognizes the item as its master’s favorite weapon – Fire. Previous Next
Listening with delight to the crackling as the fire catches on the first building, the creature quickly lights up the other sides of the castle. The flames spread rapidly and in no time at all, the entire structure is ablaze. Previous Next
The figure watching from atop the hill is greatly pleased as she sees the fire dying out, leaving the Lion’s Cove in ashes. She was even more delighted to see that the few trees nearby had not caught fire - ‘after all,’ she thinks, ‘the peasants around here suffer enough because of the royalty. Why should they suffer even more?’ Previous Next
“Stop! Who are you?” Previous Next
The creature turns around to see a sentry guard. “What is it?” it asks the guard. “Who are you,” repeats the frantic guard. “Yes, that’s me.” Previous Next
“What?! Who are you, why are you here?” the guard inquires once more, “Did you do this?” he motions toward the place where the scaffoldings of a castle had stood an hour before. Previous Next
“Sorry.” The creature turns and strides quickly towards the hills he descended from. “Wait, no! Stop!” The guard sprints after the creature, but the creature has already gained on him; with four legs, he moves much faster than a human being. Previous Next
The guard breathlessly reaches the top of the hill. He looks around, but... ‘Where did that thing go?’ he thinks. The creature is nowhere in sight. All the guard sees is a brown falcon perched on a rock, and a few flowers and bushes— Previous Next
Suddenly, the guard feels a blow at the back of his neck... as he falls down, he hears a female voice saying, “That’ll keep him out for a while... now you, get back home...” Previous Next
The guard’s mind puzzles over the cryptic words as darkness envelops his consciousness. Previous Next
Chapter 1, part 2
The Bloodstone Inn isn’t very crowded in the afternoons, and today is no exception. Only a handful of people are seated at the tables – and even they aren’t buying much. Previous Next
The brown-haired lad had been sitting here since noon, deep in thought... he shot an expectant look toward the door, but looked away again when he sees that the girl who just entered is not the one he’s been waiting for. Previous Next
“Hi... you’re Kfir, right?” The boy looked up and smiled. “Well, that gives you an advantage over me,” he said, “because I don’t know your name.” “Aeniea,” was the reply. Previous Next
He rolled the name on his tongue: “Ee-nee-uh... that’s a beautiful name...” He was distracted by the door opening, but quickly looked back at Aeniea. “What does it mean?” “It doesn’t have a meaning,” she said. Previous Next
Kfir lifted his eyebrows in amazement. “Are you sure?” he inquired, “you must be from pretty far away, then; names almost always have more than one meaning in the Lion Kingdom.” Aeniea was surprised to hear this: “Really? What does your name mean?” Previous Next
Kfir opened his mouth to speak, when he noticed someone entering the inn. He looked toward the door anxiously, and he saw the girl he was waiting for. “You know what,” he said absently, “it’s a long story, and I’d love to tell you all about it... but I have to go talk with my, um... with Jewel…” Previous Next
“Sure, go ahead,” she says as Kfir rises. “Nice meeting you, Aeniea, and I’ll see you around, I hope?” “Maybe, I suppose so,” she said. Previous Next
Sitting by herself, Aeniea tried to concentrate, but soon got distracted... “Wanda! Get me another round,” bellowed the man sitting at the bar, “and while you’re at it, get one for that beauty over there,” he gestured toward an attractive woman sitting at the corner. Previous Next
Aeniea politely pushed away the mug that the innkeeper set in front of her. “Dahlin’,” Wanda lowered her voice, “you’d be better off taking it. This is Brant, the Helfire lieutenant; you don’t want to make him mad.” “No thank you,” Aeniea said slowly and clearly, “I never drink.” Previous Next
“There’s always a first time,” said Brant as he walked unsteadily over to her, “You should try Wanda’s ale, it’s very sweet... sweets for the sweet, eh?” He stood in front of her, and she sensed the strong stench of alcohol on his breath. “I said no,” she said defiantly, “Don’t make me say it again.” Previous Next
“Saucy, aren’t you?” Brant smiled broadly, “you’ll regret it soon, I suppose.” “I’ll take that chance,” Aeniea muttered, rising from her chair. Casting a last, scornful glance at Brant, she left the inn. Previous Next
Kfir looked at the brown falcon that was perched atop the arch, and listened intently. Jewel waited impatiently, and was extremely curious as she saw Kfir smile, then frown slightly, and smile again. “Well...?” she asked. Previous Next
“She did it!” Kfir said happily, “Her plan worked. I had my doubts about that Mephisto character, but I guess he’s all right.” Jewel smiled. “Oh, admit it... you’re just jealous, you think he had a thing for Scar,” she teased. “Give it a rest, Julie,” Kfir said, “You know Carlee and I are just friends.” Previous Next
“I’m – I’m sorry,” she stammered, “didn’t mean to step on your toes... I was just kidding.” “Forget it. Go tell Dare, all right?” Jewel shook her head. “Whatever,” she said. ‘What’s the matter with him? He never acts like that,’ she thought as she rounded the corner. She was so absorbed that she barely noticed where she was going... Previous Next
...and collided head-on with Aeniea, who wasn’t really paying attention either. “Sorry,” they both said in unison as they rubbed their foreheads. Jewel smiled and walked past her, leaving the other girl to ponder what she had seen and heard. Previous Credits Credits
Credits
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