Chapter #1: The First Steps
My name is Salvador. I was born on 30th Skyelong, 1162 years after the divine war. I don't remember my birth of course (my memory is not that good though it would ironically be lauded years down the line as pedantic and particular with details), nor do I remember my mother who died in what I understand were 'mysterious circumstances' apparently mere hours after I entered the world. My father, I am told, was a prominent member of the Thakrian Military - a colonel of the front lines during an invasion by northern Springdale a decade or so before my birth. Thakria had made great progress in rebuilding from this invasion and had begun counter-attacks in the mid continent.
'Dad'- if he can even be called that - had signed up the moment he found out my mother was pregnant. He was captured in battle by a Springdalian scouting party and never seen again. Unrescuable they said. Presumed dead, they said. By the time I was old enough to learn this information I was indifferent. What care did I have for a man I had never known? Never even seen? A man who clearly had no interest in a son he had never even wanted? Thakria was all I had ever lived. Harsh teachers and brutal taskmasters raised me through my earliest years, drilling into me the tenets of the City of Miracles. I had no need for love, compassion or comfort for I had the triplicate of excellence, ambition and passion to cling to. I wanted to go places. I wanted to be somebody. I wanted to be respected. I wanted to be feared, and I didn't care what it cost, or how long it would take to get there. My greatest fear was being forgotten, or worse, never known in the first place.
I always knew I wanted to fight but I knew that swinging swords or slitting throats was not for me. Too messy, too...primitive. I spent my teenage years devouring the books in the city library, gorging myself on tales of Shaitan, of Isildur, of Galahad and Blodwyn; the legends of history and masters of their respective fields. I wanted to be them, nay, I wanted to be better than them, better than these paradigms of magic in all its guises. I felt some misplaced sense of kinship with these giants of the past; their magics entranced me and mesmerized me. Little did I know how this affinity would manifest in me, centuries later.
Blodwyn's tales sang loudest to me; a song of blood and battle, yes, but also subtlety, manipulation and undisputed brilliance. I spent the next half-dozen years learning everything there was to know about seers, about the Stars and the seeing stones, the fatalist curses and mystic voodoo. I was addicted beyond what words could describe. I dreamt of being a Master Seer; manipulating the future of the world from my darkened tower and my glowing palantir. By the time I was of age to join the city academy, I had spent some five years concocting plans and schemes and plots. I was about to go out into the world - to leave the safety of Thakria for the first time. I thought I was ready.
I was not.
Chapter #2: Into the World
I still remember the day I joined the institute; racing through the park and moonstone crescent into what must certainly be the gateway to my freedom - to my (in my mind) inevitable success and glory. I bristled with confidence - this is where it would begin!
I practically strode into the meeting chamber and faced down Pandion, who returned my stare with a glare of his own. The man was unimpressed and clearly did not share the same inflated opinion I had of myself. Grudgingly admitting me into his academy (the old sod would see, I'd show him), I set upon the accolades with hungry enthusiasm. Into the world, at last!
It was at this point I began to learn that I did not know everything. If anything, I was startled as realisation finally dawned that I in fact knew very little. Jogging through the Greenwood with an adventurer, I could scarcely believe what I was seeing - lush, expansive forests full of massive trees. Thakria barely tolerated the presence of greenery and only then to keep its few Animists from becoming hysterical when they were cut down. I was impressed and continued merrily on my quest; eyes agape, determined to see everything I could while completing my mission.
The adventurer took me to a herb shop deep within the forests, on the edges of a ruined civilisation. A profound sense of loss washed over me as I looked upon the ruins, a wave of inexplicable mourning. I had read of this place Ilmarael, with the greatest library in the land and where the Stars shone brightest. Barely a remnant of a remnant of its former glory - lost to Time. Engrossed in my thoughts, I pictured how it must have been to live there; great marble halls and arcane magics so palpable one must surely have been able to see the Gods at work.
My companion drew me out of the daydream and insisted we move along. I managed to catch a glimpse of that Great Library and yearned to explore within. It would not be long before I would discover the Room of the Stars and the seeing stone that lived within.
The rest of the accolades breezed along without much incident save a beached boat within the marshes that my companion seemed to think would mean the ending of the world. Graduating was uneventful. Pandion I suspect was happy to see me leave and join the school since he was virtually falling over himself to hurry me out the door.
The school was far different from the institute. My adventurer companion had informed me he would be 'leaving me to it' the moment I signed up and frankly I was glad to see the back of him. Pride returned to me as I set about my first course - the hunter gatherer - and once more stepped out into the world, bubbling with confidence and sickeningly sure of myself.
Six hours later, pride was a faint memory. My quest demanded I slay and skin an animal - surely a simple task for one of my stature - yet every damn boar I found ran before I could come near. My eye caught a red fox stalking slowly through the woods and I locked it within my sights. Inching painfully slowly toward the creature, my arms brushed some nearby foliage and instantly the fox turned to peer at me. I leapt towards it and it ran with a speed I could barely believe real. I gave chase in vain. Everywhere I looked there was nothing but trees. It had begun to get dark and I had literally no idea where I was. Within the Greenwood, to be sure, but where?
From nowhere, a vicious cry flooded my ears. I turned but it was too late. The fox had scurried into the branches of a massive willow tree and flew through the air toward me, sinking its teeth into my neck. Disbelief filled me as I clutched at my throat, feeling the blood pouring out while my vision blurred. I fell to the ground and closed my eyes.
Consciousness swiftly faded.
