Prophecy

The prophet, Nagumi Nakasawa, told of there one day being a child; a child born of mother elf and father cleric, with vampiric abilities and awesome power. A child with skill and ability that would surpass even that of Nagumi herself. Power, which could threaten existing life.

At this news the Elvin and Clerical clans, who were once great friends became mortal enemies. Neither family would stand to see their race in peril. Drastic measures were taken. Treaties broken, histories rewritten, lineages destroyed, laws and religions re-forged. Before long the elves and clerics were at war. Each race believing that if they could eliminate the probability of ever there being such a child, they would be saved. A mass bloodshed occurred. Rebels were slain or imprisoned. Innocent children destroyed as the war become more outrageous, until; finally, Nagumi put it to rest. She simply …vanished!

Slowly, the families realized the feud had chased away their only hope of survival. Stopping the war almost instantly. A new treaty was forged between the two clans and they separated territories. The clerics moved into the Nirea valley and Elves stayed behind in the Laphir forests, taking their prejudices with them and dividing Iniria forever. Although Nagumi had stopped the war, she hadn’t stopped the fact that her prophecies are inevitable. Thus their bickering never stopped. For each race knew that Nagumi had never predicted an occurrence that didn’t come to pass. No matter how much anyone tried to delay it. The two races fought endlessly. The feud transcended many generations. The friendship between the clans had long since been buried and hatred grew between them. For hundreds of years there was constant bickering, endless fighting.

Any trace that either clan had ever been friendly to one another had been lost. There was no longer any hope of truth to the stories they once knew of them being great friends. So much had been lost in Nagumi’s words. An entire civilization slandered slain and divided. A land in constant fear of its inhabitants; And all this over an unfinished prophecy…

The Child

It pained Raven to see her mother helplessly lying across the bed. Her pain only grew worse daily. She did her best to finish any chore before her quickly so that she could tend to her mother and comfort her. Her mother looked at her with glazed eyes and said nothing as she sat beside her. “He hasn’t come back has he?” her mother question with a forced gasp. “No he hasn’t mother.” Raven replied solemnly. “I knew it.” Raven’s mother replied attempting to smile jokingly. Raven knew she was asking about her father. She had asked that question everyday for months and every time she always laughed. Raven never understood what was so amusing about her father’s disappearance but she never thought to disrupt the subject.

A dark time had fallen on Raven’s home. She hoped it would cease but as the condition of her mother worsened her hopes were frayed. Now her mother was dying. But she didn’t realize today would change her forever.

Almost instantly the mood had changed. Her mother began to slow in breathing her hands began jerking violently and her eyes became vacant. Her convulsions quickened and her whole body jerked. Raven tried to pin her down but just then her mother began to speak. “Kari fimura…shurinitano manada camphedano.” Instantly the sky filled with rage. Howls and strikes appeared from everywhere and at once the body of ravens mother lay in front of her no more. Stunned the only impulse Raven had was to search around for where her mother had gone. She’s gone. She thought. My mother… is dead. She slunk to the floor. A lump developed in her throat and a feeling of self pity swept over her. She began to feel sorrow and slight disbelief. Soon without warning tears streamed down her face and her stomach churned. She sat silently alone gathering her mind until a voice broke the silence. A cool voice that issued from behind her “ Now then…shall we go?”

Raven threw a startled look across the room. There standing behind her next to a stout table was a large figure covered in a beautiful black cloak. She turned to her mother’s bed, which now lay empty and strained her voice “If you are death where have you taken her? Why couldn’t you have taken the pair of us?” she sobbed a little more then said “ If you are death take me with you. Let me be with her again.”

“You will do no such thing as die today.” Replied the figure, “ I have merely come to retrieve you. This is not a place meant for little girls. Especially one such as you. Now come I haven’t all day to wait up for you, you know.” Oddly the person sounded sincere and sweet.

“Where will we go?” she questioned.

“I haven’t time to answer that just come along. Questions shall be answered in good time.” The figure started for the door. She stopped and said serenely, “You haven’t anything left for you here.” Then it walked off.

“WAIT” Raven protested, “Who are you and where are you taking me?”

All in good time my dear was the reply she heard The reply was unspoken but she heard it. It pried into her thoughts and spoke to her. A sudden chill greeted her as she sat and pondered what to do. Before long she found herself moving or rather being moved. Her mind still askew what with all the recent happenings but something was moving her something had decided she was to remain with this hooded figure. But it wasn’t her.

Her mind was in a giant haze. She couldn’t understand anything and found herself slipping in thought. Things made no sense until so she gave up and surrendered to the pressing laziness poking at her mind. A deafening silence had settled upon them as they walked out through the forested area around her house and then onto a path traveled many times by Raven and her mother. Then a new path was taken, one Raven was not sure even existed until now. The trees began to disappear revealing a darkening sky, swirling in shades of purple and blue then faded into black. It looked as though she could reach up and touch it. The sky was soon smoothed over with the velvety blanket that was night. Raven became so entranced an eerie sickening ease spread over her. She felt happily dizzy and warm. The ground felt soft and pillowy under her bare feet and the night air had filled with a calming fragrance.

The next morning Raven awoke with a start accompanied by a sudden chill emanating through her body. Where am I? She thought trying to make sense of the hours after her mother’s death. She looked around frantically searching for answers. A large round wooden door stood imbedded in the wall across from her. Its grain ran richly throughout the door painting soft vivid pictures of the trees life. The chocolate grain streamed along paths that danced and mingled with many others forming its own little tale, only off set by the deep red wine rich wood of the door. The door was larger and more intimidating than anything she’s ever seen. The red velvet wood engulfed the entire wall and gave her a strange calm warm feeling. Slightly dazed she turned back to her bedding, which was nothing more than a few bundled sheets and a rough blanket. More like a pile of laundry than a bed. Amused she started for other things around the room. Everything was so exotic. There were mixtures and instruments Raven had never heard of and labeled in a language she couldn’t read. Then she saw a black cloak lain across an empty redwood chair. She eyed it suspiciously. She hadn’t noticed how beautifully crafted the cloak really was. There was such intricate embroidery that her eyes began to pound as she tried to follow the design. As she admired the garment her mind crept back into the night before when she first encountered the cloak. The voiced that had been so calm and ridged died into a whisper. The sweet smelling wood and pine clouded her thoughts and all she could do was recall the words he mother prayed over her.

Bewildered she gave up and sat on the floor trying once again to recall the hours after her mother’s death but was unsuccessful. Raven’s head pounded mercilessly as she tried to sift through the ever-fading memories. Why is it that so much has happened so fast yet none of it makes sense? Why am I here? What is the meaning of all this?

“Those are very good questions.” Raven turned startled to find a tall woman standing in front of the imposing door.

“Who…who are you?” raven struggled.

“That’s not important now,” answered the woman dismissively, “Please sit.” She said pointing to two very peculiar chair set in front of a rather plan deck that did not seem befitting of such an extravagant room. Raven watched as the woman took the cloak from one of the chairs and laid it absently over the desk. She then began to search around desperately in a way that made Raven almost believe she’s forgotten about her. Then from one of the drawers the woman produce a small compass, a lightly crumple bit of parchment, and several objects Raven had never seen before. One was ball shaped and made of brass it had several markings on it that gave it such an illustrious look. Another was an enchanting wooden box no larger than a quill carved lovingly from a root. “Will you sit then?” the woman asked intently. It was clear to Raven she was not one to waste time in matters. The woman had the stern ready face of a warrior, complete with the just and matter-of-fact composure of a high-ranking officer. “Now child you will listen closely to what I am about to tell you. I very much dislike repeating myself and would advise you not to make me have to.” The woman said curtly. Her tongue was as sharp as a butcher’s block blunt and rigid, a definite reliable source from such a smug woman. Though beauty did not escape her. Neatly settled in her tired leather boots, a worn leather corset hugged tightly around her frail waist, erecting her figure to a most imposing form, covered modestly in a male blouse, a rope of soft auburn hair dangling behind her. She seemed carelessly put together and yet still acquired a demanding air.

She stood commandingly over the desk shooting a cynical eye across the room. Raven had yet to move. She had never been in the presence of someone who demanded so much respect before, however, for a split second, she could swear the woman was almost humble toward her. As commanding as she appeared she almost cowered before Raven. “There is no time for meaningless introductions,” She began, “ what I must tell you is of dire importance and I do not take kindly to repeating myself so it is in your best interest to listen carefully.” Her eyes flickered for a moment as she carefully anticipated her next words. “ Raven you are to return to the Center City, from there I cannot tell you what is in store but I do know that with your mother gone you can no longer stay in Laphir. The city is leagues away and we have almost no time to assert your safe return.” Then she threw a glance at Raven’s worrisome face and added, “almost as much time as I have for questions. Once there I will take you to the guild, and then I must leave you. Understand that my job is only to take you to the center city and nothing more. I have no answers for you now and I doubt you would really want to know them anyway.” She gathered up the remnants from the desk and headed away. “We ride within the hour, all that you will need has already been prepared.” And she was gone. Raven was too entranced to even notice that the door never opened or shut. I’ve never been to the center city before she thought. So how can I return to somewhere I've never been? What is the \Center City anyway, and this guild? This is all happening to fast for me. My mother… my name… she knows everything about me. The center city… Her thoughts began to tail around the woman’s words. The more she searched for answers the fainter everything became.

All at once Raven awoke. Everything was startlingly different. They were outside