Alya now fully clothed slots the last of her weapons into her left boot. It was a small slim blade that she had been given as a gift many years ago. It had a perfect balance to it and was part of a set of five specially crafted blades.
Along both sides of the blade was an emerald green insignia etched deep into the metal. It was the crest of a unique and secretive school where Alya had grown up and was taught the arts of the Trucidor. These blades were only given to the best students that the school had to offer.
According to the law which was set down many thousands of years ago after the 'Great War of the Houses', only five students were now allowed to graduate from the school and exist in the world at any one time; one for each of the five ruling nations that make up Aetasia today.
The Great War had seen the Trucidor almost bring an end to all life in Aetasia. Not wanting to see another war like that again, the surviving Houses had made a pact to exterminate the remaining Trucidor, as they knew they may not be so lucky the next time.
However each House had been scared that one of the others might try to take advantage of their weakened state. They had all suffered great losses during the war, but neither knew exactly how much the other Houses had lost.
So to make sure there would be balance between the houses, it was agreed each House would be allowed one Trucidor only; and any unsanctioned Trucidor (or anyone caught practicing in their arts) would be killed on sight.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Chapter 1.10 - The silence
Alya surveys the hallway before her while lowering her dagger, she finds it empty and quiet; it was however a little too silent for this hour.
There should have been the usual faint voices floating up from the bar below. Voices of drunken merchants complaining about the state of unrest in the North and how it was affecting their trade; or weary travellers complaining about the long trek up the mountain path now that the Northern border had been closed.
Something else concerned Alya, Where were the footsteps of the messenger scurrying away and why had she not heard them approach her door? While these thoughts play on her mind, she returns to her room and closes the door.
Feeling a little anxious and now fully awake, Alya decides to get dressed in case of any more surprises. Wandering around the inn wearing nothing but a dagger would definitely not help her try to blend in and find out what was going on; smirking to herself... it would however be a good distraction, even if a little on the chilly side!
There should have been the usual faint voices floating up from the bar below. Voices of drunken merchants complaining about the state of unrest in the North and how it was affecting their trade; or weary travellers complaining about the long trek up the mountain path now that the Northern border had been closed.
Something else concerned Alya, Where were the footsteps of the messenger scurrying away and why had she not heard them approach her door? While these thoughts play on her mind, she returns to her room and closes the door.
Feeling a little anxious and now fully awake, Alya decides to get dressed in case of any more surprises. Wandering around the inn wearing nothing but a dagger would definitely not help her try to blend in and find out what was going on; smirking to herself... it would however be a good distraction, even if a little on the chilly side!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Chapter 1.09 - The door
Alya finishes studying the letter and places it down on a small worn looking pedestal beside the door. The pedestal seemed to be made out of an old wood and had definitely seen better days; it had a round top with a small potted plant sitting at the centre which she placed the mysterious letter next to.
Carefully and slowly Alya then presses her ear against the door to see if she can hear anyone or anything standing behind it. Hearing nothing and seeing no shadows through the gap under the door; she readies herself before placing her hand on the key within the lock and begins to turn it slowly.
As the key completes its full turning motion within the lock, the latch clicks open and snaps into place with a loud and unexpected thud! Before Alya can compose herself and process what had just happened, she panics and freezes up leaving herself vulnerable to whomever was on the other side of the door.
For what seemed like an eternity as time stopped, Alya stood there unable to move while processing a thousand questions at once... "Why did she do something so stupid?", "Why had she not tested the lock when first getting the room?", "Would she be able to react to a well prepared and trained intruder on the other side in time?" "Why had nobody rushed the door when they had heard the lock open?"
In reality it took only a few seconds for Alya's instincts to take over and swing the door open with amazing speed. She even managed to raise her dagger into a throwing position before any light could enter the room, ready to kill whoever was standing there.
Carefully and slowly Alya then presses her ear against the door to see if she can hear anyone or anything standing behind it. Hearing nothing and seeing no shadows through the gap under the door; she readies herself before placing her hand on the key within the lock and begins to turn it slowly.
As the key completes its full turning motion within the lock, the latch clicks open and snaps into place with a loud and unexpected thud! Before Alya can compose herself and process what had just happened, she panics and freezes up leaving herself vulnerable to whomever was on the other side of the door.
For what seemed like an eternity as time stopped, Alya stood there unable to move while processing a thousand questions at once... "Why did she do something so stupid?", "Why had she not tested the lock when first getting the room?", "Would she be able to react to a well prepared and trained intruder on the other side in time?" "Why had nobody rushed the door when they had heard the lock open?"
In reality it took only a few seconds for Alya's instincts to take over and swing the door open with amazing speed. She even managed to raise her dagger into a throwing position before any light could enter the room, ready to kill whoever was standing there.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Chapter 1.08 - The note
Alya walks over to the note on the floor, carefully watching the door for any sudden movement and ready to strike at whom or whatever pushed the note into her room. She calmly crouches down to pick up the parchment of paper; to the casual observer it seemed like nothing in this world would ever phase her, although on the inside her pulse raced and her heart was beating away so loudly she thought it would wake the dead.
Touching the note Alya feels a sudden presence in the room and quickly looks around her, however all she can see was the all too familiar shadows that she had become accustomed to over the years. There was no one else in the room; yet Alya still had a feeling that someone was watching her with such intensity that their eyes might bore a hole into the back of her head.
Alya looks back at the note and picks it up studying it carefully. The edges were curled and had a brown tint to them, suggesting it had been around for a long time. It looked old...maybe a few centuries old perhaps? The note was made from a heavy parchment of paper and had been folded into the shape of an envelope, which was then sealed at the back with brittle looking wax.
The seal was black and imprinted with an insignia that she did not recognise. Turning the letter over there were some markings on the front which Alya could not understand; and presumed that this was who it was addresses to. She was unsure of what language it had been written in, but it was definitely a language and style she had never seen before; perhaps they were symbols or maybe glyphs instead?
Touching the note Alya feels a sudden presence in the room and quickly looks around her, however all she can see was the all too familiar shadows that she had become accustomed to over the years. There was no one else in the room; yet Alya still had a feeling that someone was watching her with such intensity that their eyes might bore a hole into the back of her head.
Alya looks back at the note and picks it up studying it carefully. The edges were curled and had a brown tint to them, suggesting it had been around for a long time. It looked old...maybe a few centuries old perhaps? The note was made from a heavy parchment of paper and had been folded into the shape of an envelope, which was then sealed at the back with brittle looking wax.
The seal was black and imprinted with an insignia that she did not recognise. Turning the letter over there were some markings on the front which Alya could not understand; and presumed that this was who it was addresses to. She was unsure of what language it had been written in, but it was definitely a language and style she had never seen before; perhaps they were symbols or maybe glyphs instead?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Chapter 1.07 - The blade
The dagger had a dull look to it, yet strangely it was the most vibrant colour of black Alya had ever seen! The surface of the blade was unnatural in its appearance and did not reflect any light, nor did it glisten and sparkle under the bedside lamp.
It’s as if there was a hole in reality where the blade should be, a hole that absorbed light; not letting any escape for fear of revealing itself to the world. It had all the characteristics of a black hole, yet the blade was physical and could be touched. It felt solid and was sharp enough to cut through even the toughest of metals.
Alya looks at the blade and a cold chill washes over her as it always did. Even knowing it was coming, it did not stop the hairs on the back of her neck from standing upright. The blade had always had that effect on her ever since the first time she wielded it; there was just something alien about holding the dagger and at the same time, it felt natural.
It’s as if there was a hole in reality where the blade should be, a hole that absorbed light; not letting any escape for fear of revealing itself to the world. It had all the characteristics of a black hole, yet the blade was physical and could be touched. It felt solid and was sharp enough to cut through even the toughest of metals.
Alya looks at the blade and a cold chill washes over her as it always did. Even knowing it was coming, it did not stop the hairs on the back of her neck from standing upright. The blade had always had that effect on her ever since the first time she wielded it; there was just something alien about holding the dagger and at the same time, it felt natural.
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