"About time... There's the cave's exit. Let's go." Tiberius lead the party out of the caves and into a new valley outside of Tjedon.
"The cave was just the least of our problems... I assume we want to get to North Point, correct?" Valiko stepped infront of Tiberius.
"What are you getting at?"
"Well, the fact that North Point is in the Dark Continent... And seeing as how we're in Tjed, we'll need some sort of method of transportation."
"Damn... should've thought about that... what about that port?"
"I'd rather not go back... best just press forward and hope for a boat."
"Best damn idea I've heard all day. Let's go."
"Hmm... It just so happens that we're greatly in luck. Look."
"Wow a boat! Uh... that's a pirate ship..."
"You have any better ideas?"
"Guess not. Let's go." Tiberius lead the way down to the coast. After about a mile or so of walking, they found a great ship. However, the company on board, or one might say the current tenants, weren't taking a fancy to new passengers.
"I swear, if da cap'n doesn't give us our fair share of da haul..."
"What're you gonna do 'bout it? Da cap'n's a mage! He'd burst your very bones into dust!"
"I'm just sayin', if we don't get our fair share, we'd probably be better off on a'nover ship... Hey, who be dem people?"
"I don't know... prob'y lookin fer a ride... Great. More bleedin people on dis bleedin ship means less food. Why don't we jus gut 'em now? Entertainment might pull my mind off the sicha'machin..."
"You talk funny, mate, but yeah, I'm game. Let's gut the blighters!"
"Gentlemen." The two pirates sitting on the railing of the ship were both stunned, not by magic, but of fear.
"Cap'n...... Viskis?"
"What are you just sitting around here for!? Get your ass in gear and swap the deck, or I'll have your head on a platter!"
"Yes, cap'n!"
"......"
"And you too, Joel! Get back to work!"
"No."
"What!?"
"You 'erd me! I sai-gguughh...... cap...n...?" Captain Viskis stabbed his magical sabre straight through the pirate's stomache, then pushed him overboard. The pirate puked blood as he fell from the great ship into the shore water.
"Hmm... Seems we've got company. Keep the anchor down for another few moments, and throw down a board!"
"Yes cap'n!" Two other pirates grabbed a large board and hooked it to the railing of the ship. Captain Viskis walked down the board and stepped on shore.
"Many greetings! My name is Jorran Viskis. What may we humble sailors do for you this most fine of days?"
"We're seeking passage to the Dark Continent. Could you help us?" Tiberius grabbed his coin pouch and threw it to the mage. He caught the pouch and opened it. There were more than a few glimmering silver and gold pieces.
"Hmm... Decent quality... I think I might abide to your request. Welcome aboard the Black Haven!" The mage captain took a bow and turned around, walking up the ramp back aboard his ship.
"That was a bit easier than I had expected... after you."
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"Hmm... let's see... Do you guys know how to cast fire yet?" Jacobie wasn't as overwhelmed by these two lizardmen as was Justin. He found out that they were only mere trainees, and that this was supposed to be their first mission. Surprizing that the Dark Empire would let soldiers this young join the Empire. They were mere teenagers, both about seventeen.
"Me first! Me first!" The first apprentice was jumping around slightly, quite excited. However, so was the second.
"No way! You go already! I go now!" Both the lizardmen stared at eachother.
"Calm down! A true mage does not care about petty squabbles such as this." After Jacobie had said this, both the lizardmen looked immediately at Jacobie. This had seemed to calm them down a bit.
"Okay... You go first then."
"Thank you! I go now." The young lizardman held his hand up in the air. It began to let off a small trickle of smoke, then it slowly started to spark around, soon casting fire around his hand.
"Very good! You guys learn fast. Now, can you put it out?" The lizardman widened his hand, and the fire slowly died down into a small puff of smoke. Then, nothing remained.
"Excellent work! Alright, your turn. Actually, before we continue, I'd like to know your guys' names." The first lizardman jumped forward.
"Me's Borom! He's Gogron!"
"Borom... Gogron... Hang on a second..."
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*FLASHBACK*
"Come on, Thommas! If you swing like that, you wont hit anything!"
"I'm trying! Father, I'm exhausted! Can I take a break?"
"Alright... We've been out here for ten or so hours... Go ask your mother for supper. I'm heading off to bed. Oh, and don't bother Drake... He's sleeping."
"Thank you, father!"
"I'm your dad, Thommas. Just call me dad."
"But mother said that's rude."
"Did she? Heh, those Drow sure have weird customs..."
"Drow...?"
"We'll talk later, Thommas. I need some sleep now..." The old lizardman walked back into a large home, trying not to get snow in the home. Jacobie walked back along side him. As they both walked to the house, a beautiful Drow woman opened the door.
"Come on you two! Dinner's ready!"
"Not so loud, Rei! Draconis is still sleeping, right?"
"No, he's up. He's in his room, playing with those toys you made him." The two lizardmen entered the house. It was a greatly wealthy home, with a lush red carpet, oak walls and ceiling, all painted a dark brown. There was much open space, and a stairway on the left of the home. Two grand windows let the sun light the room, behind two white couches.
"I'm heading off to bed. Please watch Thommas... He'll make a fine soldier yet." The old lizardman walked up the staircase and down a hall, past which Jacobie never tred before. The Drow walked with Jacobie into another room. The walls in there were the same, but the flooring was tile, hand crafted, with a strange insignia on each tile. They looked silver, but were just colored that way.
"Come on, Thommas! Let's get you something to eat." In this room were two smaller windows above a counter and a strange looking counter. It had symbols drawn on it, which look similar to the insignias on the floor. The Drow opened a drawer from under the oak counter and pulled out two small, silver bowls. She then placed them both on the counter with the symbol. The bowls filled with water.
"Wait here, Thommas." The Drow left to room and entered another. Soon, she returned with a few ingredients that would fit a nice stew; beef, carrots, peas, cellery, and something else... It was a strange, blue plant. She placed all of the ingredients on the other counter top and pulled out a knife from the drawer under the counter, cutting the food into smaller slices, grinding the plant into dust.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Could you get that, hon?"
"I'll get it, mother." Jacobie walked out of the room and into the other, opening the front door of the grand home. In the doorway stood two odd-looking men, hooded in white robes. Their hoods stretched over their heads, and all that could be seen of their faces was shadow.
"Hello, little one. Is your father home, by any chance?" The voice of the first robed man was quite low. It sounded quite dark; quite evil.
"Father... He's asleep. What do you need him for?"
"We're here to give him... a present of sorts. He need only sign a few forms, and it's his."
"I'll tell him you were here when he gets up. What are your names?"
"Just tell him that Borom and Gogron stopped by... He'll know who we are."
"And just who are you?"
"I gues you could say we are... parents of a sort. Masters of an academy, full of students. I believe he wished to enroll you... are you Thommas?" The second man's voice was as fierce as the first, if not even more terrifying.
"Yes..." Jacobie was stricken with fear, his heart racing. Something about these people made his blood feel... cold... dead... even merely being in their presence.
"Then we will be seeing you shortly, I assure you. We will be taking our leave. Oh, and give your father this package whne he gets up. Good day, Thommas." The two men in white robes left the house. Jacobie felt a sence of relief as they walked out and shut the door. He then turned his attention to a package... He slit the tape holding the box together with a stroke of a claw, and opened the box. Inside lay a set of Crimson armor, along with a red katana, and a blue katana...
*END FLASHBACK*
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