Short Story in the Lands of World's Over

The Samurai Witch stood over the defeated Warrior who knelt at her feet. Their duel hadn't been long, it had only taken two quick flashes of the Witch's elegant katana to disarm the Warrior of his brutish double edged long sword.

Kneeling there before her, his head bowed low, chin upon chest, the warrior seemed utterly defeated and resigned to death. The Witch brought her katana to his belly and from right to left she began to open it with her blade.

When she reached the centre, she turned her blade up and began to slice open his chest cavity. With the swiftness of lightning the Warrior brought his hands to the Witch's blade and clasped it in his palms. With all his might he leaned forward and pushed the katana up into the Witches chest, nearly splitting her face in two in doing so.

Both the Witch and the Warrior would certainly die this day. Though only one would come back to wonder the lands of the living.

A dream riddle from the mind,
From Priscilla

World's Over Journal Jane's Heart

       Dear Charles, the whole world changed seemingly right before our eyes. One moment, that seems a distant memory clouded by a thick low lying for - which I have no desire to alleviate - we were stumbling on the brink of a final world war; huddled together in the Bahamut quadruped crab tank with the rest of the family members, whose names I can no longer recall. Neither Priscilla or I can remember the name of her... Well, I am her mother now, but we'll get to that.

Where the rest of our tank unit ended up, who knows, I'm sure they had their chance to survive in flight and peace or to perpetuate the battle scene we were speeding towards, a land of ruin. I don't want to remember the stone towers that lay fallen, the ash that covers the dead from our own weapons, a destruction we conceived nearly brought all the earth into eternal silent mourning.

A month we've walked this beautiful earth. My darling Charles, have you seen with your brilliant green eyes the way this majestic forest lives? From the smallest insects stammering about in the underbrush and dust to the Trolls who've fashioned a city out of the mountain side, everyone is at peace. There are several tribes of Immortal Races in the valley, from elves and angels to trolls, goblin and daemons, all attempting to fashion what the human race could not, harmony.

Where once my heart cared only of our day to day survival on our homestead of reasonable comfort and stability of life, I've discovered that my soul longs to attach itself to this majestic and mysterious this world and the peoples who live within it. No hiding or running away, Freya, Toki, Kensori they are our friends, all of whom Priscilla has taken a fast friendship with, going so far as to even learn a great majority of their language, even in such a short time as a few days. Shall we tear down our bubble, our tree house, I think not. But the prejudice of the old world, illegitimate perceptions of the unknown, we must break down and set ourselves free of. Priscilla deserves a world where harmony reigns, by choice it will exist; Lived by those who stand vigilant in virtue.

I want us to make a vow, provided you agree,  before the Troll Tribe that we will care for Priscilla as our own, that she is to be our daughter until the end of all things or time itself. I know you haven't spent much time with Priscilla, but I sense that your heart is changing as well. Though we are apart and there is no end in sight of our departure adventures, I know we shall see one another again. That you are a stronger and wiser man than ever, please don't forget our future is here and now. The past is not ours to hold onto, though we are in part responsible for the travesties, remember today and hold not onto yesterday.

I love you! Shall write again when I have time, Priscilla, Toki and I are heading with the royal court to the fountain before the gates, apparently late last night a small band of undead warriors arrived and wait patiently in the vale for the Trolls to send an envoy. Priscilla is rather excited to meet a lich for the first time. I just hope that my being creeped out doesn't show on my face and in my mannerisms around them. I must learn to give everyone of any race their own chance, for the Trolls have been lovely hosts! We shall see what types this band of undead warriors are.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
       Without you...

Charles & Ravice

I meandered slowly back through the labyrinth of shoji screens several moments later, only after pondering over the words of the young mouse. She had spoken with such a bitter passion, contempt and rage in her eyes mingled with pain and remorse.  Could it be that  Jane and I had been destined to cause some unfathomable ill fortune, bringing on a  tale of woe fated news, that we were unaware of?

I admit that when I fired the laser to fell the tree that would be our home, I had not thought for a moment of the world outside of Bahamut's Tomb. The plan was to obtain freedom and a new home in a freshly fallen tree, a stump to carve and call our own.  It had never crossed my mind that there world be thousands of sentient mouselings could have lost their lives when I pulled the trigger. I pulled the trigger...

My head swam in a torrent of doubt as awe overcame me. 'Had my actions caused the deaths of so many,' the though riddled itself over in my mind, the depths of its sorrow hit my soul hard and I staggered. Opening my eyes a moment later, I found myself leaning against the a wooden beam between two shoji screens. How long I stood there silent in the deepest sense of awe, trapped in the immense imagery of inescapable woes, I knew not.

When at long last I looked up, Ravice's eyes were upon me. Gazing down from her perch on Allyndran's shoulder, in the kitchen, as they were preparing something near the stove. A fiery rage emanated from Ravice as her eyes pierced the depths of me, as I stood there, a weak and frail man hugging the wall for fear I should falling, overcome with the grief of truth, aftermath of a caused calamity. Was it remorse for the dead or merely sympathy for my own plight in the moment I recognized a terrible mistake? Even at such a young age, the mouseling knew it was the later.

I closed my eyes to avert her gaze, desiring a moment of reprieve. It seemed but a moments blink, but when I opened them again Ravice stood before me in the door frame of the kitchen at the end of the hall, the fire still blazing in her eyes.

'Arise from the ashes of regret, shame and sorrow,' the black rodent seethed, the fur on the back of her neck, forearms and feet was standing on end, 'from a tomb you escaped but how many did you create in your first endeavour in our world? Can you tell me, man from a distant age of war, greed and pride? You made an escape without venturing forth from the beast's womb to see the world you had awoken into. An utter disregard for life, just like all the others from your era, selfish.' As she finished she turned on her heels, stomped one foot down hard and leapt in a great bounds from the kitchen. When she had made the door, Ravice stopped to gaze over her shoulders at me. After pulling her cloak's red cowl over her head she crossed her arms underneath its crimson sleeves.

Whatever I had done, Ravice's dispute with me and subsequently Allyndrans neglect to acknowledge it, had made me aware the scars I had created. For Allyndran stood silent and forlorn throughout the interaction between the mouse and I. I found it a struggle to speak, to find the words to say in the aftermath...For how can anyone reconscile the unimaginable, the horror of a holocaust.

'I can't imag...' I began though my voice was faint with weakness, but Ravice would not tolerate a response from me, she turn her gaze to the town beyond the threshold wherein she stood, as if I were a foul smelling corpse. 'I'm sorry' the words came out as a faint whisper taken in the wind towards the mouseling who had stood a valiant heroine ignoring her defeated foe. 'How many lost their lives because of me,' the question was directed at no one in particular, a riddle sent into the open air. There was no response from Ravice who took a great bounding leap down the pathway through the garden that lead into the village. There she stopped once more and stood silent. 'Ask Ally, if she can forgive you,' Ravice said with stern wisdom beyond her years, 'If she can then maybe I can as well. For her pain is greatest of all.'

With that she escaped my view beyond a bush of blue roses, venturing down the pathway and into the bustling town. With that I was left alone with Allyndran, where Edgarory was I knew not. I had many questions and had no the strength of will to beseech Allyndran of the woe I had caused her. She was silent and still as a statue, solitude clung  to the air like a low lying fog, it felt as if I were utterly alone with Death, in a room that swam before my eyes as tears unsought swam down my face... Tears of sorrow.

In all hopes of returning,
                                Charles with Edgarory

World's Over Journal XXVIII Magic Water

That evening, after Priscilla had gone to bed, Toki and I remained up late talking before the hearth. The topic which had been eating away at my mind ever since Priscilla had mentioned going to investigate the road hadn't left my thoughts. I turned to Toki and asked about magic.

'Regular magic, cannot be taught, nor is it within the blood,' Toki began in the stern stoic tone which was her way, emotion was only betrayed in glistening shimmers behind her eyes and a minute smile which might be seen dancing at the edges of her lips. 'It is discovered from small manifestations of the will and then harnessed. It takes time, discipline, a good mentor and a wand, of sorts, to make a good wizard, witch or warlock... Though even then things can go wrong as greed, fear and hatred creep in, if the wrong type of magic is mixed in with that type of magician, a necromancer is born; though they are few and rarely survive the transformation from living to undead.'

'That brings us to unliving magic,' continued Toki 'the unholy powers were born of a single entity at the dawn of time. Her will and the magic within went unchecked for an age of the earth, until she fashioned herslf a wand. It was during this time that many creatures and beings began coming back to life, as undead. There are varrying degrees of magic inside the unliving, but what we do know for certain, is that they all share a united memory. Every life that dies brings into the legion's history it's own memories, up until the point of death.

'Do you mean that Priscilla is undead,' I asked Toki my eyes starting to swell with tears as unchecked sorrow began to overcome my thoughts. 'She is just a girl... Was just a girl,' I corrected 'I know she is aging differently than other humans, and that there is something odd about her dragon tattoo, but she didn't die in her hybernation. It was but a deep sleep.'

'Jane, do not fret,' Toki said calmly, seeing my panic, 'It is common for humans to be found in the deep slumber of the final war's magic. No, one truly knows all the magic that moves about the earth, and there is new magic that has begun to stir in the past age, ever since the wand of the Vampire Queen was shattered and the Necromancer was born. What I can tell you is, that as far Kensori and I can tell, she is not one of the undead. Rest your heart and do not fret.'

My nerves calmed and I became less tense, 'well my friend,' I said to Toki in a weary voice as I stared into the fire, 'I must be off to bed as I am ever so tired.'

'Sleep well my friend,' Toki replied, 'tomorrow will be another long day.'

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

World's Over Journal XXVII Troll History

That afternoon we found ourselves on the top terrace of the Troll Stone Citadel, through out our wonderings Toki told us of how the citadel came to be. That several tribes of Troll had come together ages ago after the war had ended. Priscilla and Toki had been discussing the undead road that passed through the valley again, it was a matter of extreme importance becuase it was the legion had spread the word to all the troll villages as they made their way into the Frozen North. Unification seemed like a good plan at the time, since the Human, yet Immortal Emperor had been gathering and enslaving as many immortal beings as the politicians of the free cities of the northern rainlands would allow without another war.

The three of us stopped for lunch in one of the markets on the third tier from the top, it was only a small square with about eight shops in total. We ate roasted peppers, onions and nuts mixed with garlic and something like humus on the side with a piece of bread. Marggette the shop keeper whose table we sat at told us more about the history.

As the tribes gathered, coming out of the north and a few from the South the village in the depths of the magically protected vale became too small. Thus the need for a citadel, which grew out of a large cave at the end of the village, deep in the vale. A vast and thriving underground city; with lush crop fields in giant halls deep under the earth, guard towers upon terraces stagged in tiers in protection of the city, upon which also vast gardens and beautiful flower beds.

Toki picked up the story where Marggette left off as we continued on our way. She spoke of how the mighty hill trolls had lead the charge into the cave, digging furiously behind them were came the various trolls who had lived in the valley of a time out of mind, it was their desire to show their hearts were with the unification of the tribes. A king for each tribe there had always been, but there too was an emperor and he was from the valley tribe. There had been no squabling or political woes, they were united as they had been in the dark ages of the earth, hidden deep underneath the mountains hidden from humanity.

When Toki had neared the end of the Troll history if the valley we found ourselves back at her dwelling. It seems that we were so occupied with her story and the people we had met and what they added to the story that we had lost our bearings.

'Jane,' Priscilla began as we neared the entrance, 'the next time we are near the road, well I suppose it will be your first time,' she said with a smirk, 'there are two statues which we need to investigate. I wish to see if these memories, that haunt me in nightmares by night and speak to me in day dreams as I walk in the waking world, are really true.'

I remember making a special note at the point, to ask Toki at a later point about the unholy magic that had touched Priscilla as we lay sleeping entombed within Bahamut. In fact, I should make it a point to ask about all types of magic in this strange new world.

In earnest anticipation of,
Jane
Without Charles

Charles & Ravice Calamity Relived

The young black mouse in red and brown had fallen silent, Her head remaining lowered for several moments in the door way beside her mother after a strike of her walking stick, as if overcome by shame or fear; I knew at once it was not from pain for no tears formed in the corner of her eyes. How could a mouse, a child of Freya who was one a strong and wise warrior, who had never yet laid eyes upon me before, fear me.

'Charles,' Ravice began slowly, still staring at the floor, 'You may have never seen me before, but I have laid eyes upon you and Jane. The day you both first came out from your silent tomb.' Still her eyes would not surrender from their intense gaze upon the floor, she was concentrating all her will just to be able to speak to me. 'You remember, the day you fired the laser and the tree fell,' I nodded letting out a barely audible yes. She must not have heard me, or maybe she was lost in the memory of the calamity that errupted the forest into chaos that day.

On that particular morning as the light of dawn penetrated the skies amidst the haze, illuminating the world below in a deep shade of purple, as if twilight had come early, the gigantic steel crab which had rested dormant suddenly woke up. The Behemoth groaned as the ancient gears began to rotate every so slowly, it stopped when its right claw was open and aiming maliciously towards the tree. A beam of living liquid fire poured out from the claw and severed the giganitc Redwood from its roots. Then the menacing steel crab began to raise itself up, pushing hard against the tree, as it did so a wire shot out and a sharp hook on the end sank deep into one of the larger branches just above the Gallant farm, another shot out and sank its single tooth into the mightiest branch of a neighbouring Giant Sequoia and with one great pull of the wires the mouse kingdom began to plummet towards the earth.

The steel beast had calculated the beam and subsequent push to pull measurements perfectly. As the tree fell it collided with no other tree, that is until it hit the mighty branch it was being pulled towards, which did not crack or break under the weight for just as before the collision the crab shot another several wires out sinking deep into the boughs of the falling tree and the steel behemoth pulled hard and the branch acted as a leaver. Hundreds of branches exploded as the falling tree was pulled over the other side of its neighbours mighty branch. As the mangled tree began to roll over the other side it creaked and groaned the sound filled the valley as it began its second descent towards the forest floor, still far below. Most of the Boughs were gone, shattered in the explosion which sent pieces of branches in every direction, mingled in the fall amidst tiny wood chips, pulp and shredded green flakes, which were once leaves, were tears of red rain, blood. The leaf and splinter storm was blinding, much like a mid-winter blizzard amongst the chaos fell the terror frozen, the wounded and the dead.

The tree began its second descended, like a carrot being thrust back into the earth in reverse order, top first. With a tremendous thwomp, which resounded throughout the valley, the Redwood struck the Arbutus labyrinth upon the shallow slope and began to slide down towards the ravine. The labyrinth carried the weight of the gigantic Redwood as it slid, sparing the forest floor from the chaos. The savaged Sequoia quickly found the ravine, it went over the side and began a 3rd, albeit shorter, descent towards the lower side of the valley beyond. It smashed into the forests smoting down deep into the Arbutus labyrinth. The tree became one with the labyrinth upon the far side, and the forest fell silence once again.
Raising her gaze to meet mine, she continued, 'the tragic events of that day were only narrowly avoided, but by the dream of a dear friend. It is her, not you, that I am here to see this day,' with that she bounded off between my legs and down the hall.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles & Ravice

Charles & Ravice

The next morning we awoke to a rapping upon the solid oak frame of the front sliding door. At first I did not rise, expecting to hear Allyndran's cloven hooves upon the the floor as she passed, but she didn't and Edgarory had gone into the undercity last night after dinner. Blinking under the duress of dawn's radiant orange light, I slowly open my eyes. Putting on my pants, tunic and socks I rise, stretching before I turn to the door and walk over to open it.

The hallway is empty as is the rest of the house. There is a knock on the door frame again, though it seems quieter than the first few times and close to the ground. Looking around slowly, scratching my head I walk towards the door. Sliding the thin white screen door open slowly, I find that no one there.

A moment later the knock is there again, but this time it is beside me, on the frame near my left foot. I turn, suddenly completely awake, yet again no one is there. Then there is a rapping upon the frame to my right, I turn but no one is there, yet this time I hear a the giggling between my firmly planted feet of what can only be a mouse. Near the screen door there is another more jovial whole hearted laugh, there before me stood Freya, a wide grin upon her face.

'My friend, I know you are not as fast as once you were,' I said with a sly wink, 'then who stands giggling between my legs?' Freya's bright smiling face quickly turned to stern stone, though I her wink, which was not directed at me.

'Ah that is right,' Freya began with a smirk, 'you didn't meet any of my family during the chaotic season, the aftermath of the falling tree.' A small mouse dressed in a red, brown and orange tunic with a deep gray cloak walked out from beneath my feet to stand beside Freya. 'This is my youngest, my daughter Ravice.' As she finished Ravice gave a deep bow, though earnestly respectful, she had not finished giggling, and so took a rap upon her head from her mother's cane.

In all hopes of returning,
Charles