Original written works

[Ghaleon]

While fanfiction has its own area, I thought to make one for any original works.

This is including, but not at all limited to, short stories, poetry, haiku's, and full featured original hand drawn mangas.

If your post here, please make sure its your own work.
So here's my entry for starting things off.

This is called the Garnet Wanderer, and its my online story. Its still ongoing, and this is just chapter one, so please do bear that in mind.

Hope you all like it!



Its a summer day in the year 1206, May 14th to be exact.
The air is Fresh, yet weighs heavy on the body.
Birds filled the skies as if they were mimicking the very clouds themselves.

Our tale unfolds in the trading town Ramsic.
The streets are bustling with life, People hurriedly dashing to and fro.
Some occasionally bumping into one another, and others simply negotiating for trade.

Among the throngs of people one person stood out quite strongly.

He was a youth clad in leather mail, a green cloak draped over his shoulders, cascading down his back.
His hair the color of a fiery inferno, and ran to the center of his back.At his side, a well worn short sword was strapped to his waist.

This young man was Alex Redsol.

"I knew Ramsic was a busy place, but there are way more people than I'd imagined here!It should be easy to find plenty to explore!" The well traveled youth said excitedly.
His eyes glancing about, as he stood taken aback by the sights, and architecture of the town.

The buildings were tall, and close together, Some had marble door frames, and were labeled cleanly, while others had simple frames of wood and signs hanging above their doors.

Mountains were strewn across the horizon, and the buildings were colored as if made of ivory.

"This is completely different from back at home!" Alex said

As he stood there in awe, a tall muscled man with brown hair bumped into him knocking him over.

"Hey, watch it!" Alex shouted, in an offended tone.

"Don't stand in the middle of the street kid, or you might hurt someone!" the man replied as he helped Alex to his feet, then walked off.

"What was that all about?" Alex said, as he dusted himself off, and kept walking.

In the stalls of the streets, goods of every shape and size were on display, many of them from faraway lands.

Among these many things to see, and do, one particular stall caught his eye.
Adorned with many trinkets and charms, it was run by a beauty with hair as black as a starless sky.

As he approached she spoke to him softly, yet confidently, not once gazing up to him.

"Come to have your fortune told, boy?"
Alex was surprised at her perceptiveness,but before he could reply she spoke once more.

"Please don't be so shocked, its natural that i knew you would come. I am a fortune teller after all."

She motioned to a seat nearby.
"Sit down."

Alex did as he was told and gazed at the woman curiously.

She rested her hands upon a crystal ball set in the center of the table, cushioned by red silk.

She was silent for but a few moments, then she spoke as if she were another person.
"You come to me travelling many miles, alone from a small town east of here. Fields litter the land, and farm animals as well. Oceans and cliffs line the border of your home. You are from... Seri correct?"

Astounded by the divination thus far, Alex swiftly replied.
"Yes, but... how on earth could you have known that? We've just met."
The woman shot him a stern glare.
"All is revealed through the crystal, boy." she replied sharply, and quickly sized him up.

"Your an adventurer are you not? Let us see where your next destination will be."
The fortune teller gazed deep into her ball, and her brown eyes glistened as she looked onward, as if reading a book.

"A land far to the west, Grizalt, is where you will head, but not alone. There is one beside you as you walk the long road. Tall like a giant, and well built this person is, though more I cannot make out.
Upon your arrival, there will be much tension. Disasters have stricken the city, its source unknown."

To these words Alex posed a question.

"Can you use your powers to find the source of the evil? he asked calmly."

Her reply came not through words but a swift glance to his eyes, then back to the ball.
But as she strained to find the answer a look of horror struck her face, as if her very life were at risk just looking onward.

Alex spoke to her again.

"Are you alright? Excuse me?" He said as a worried look began to creep onto his own face.
He reached out to touch her hand, but as he just laid his finger onto her, the ball shattered to many shards.

As the shards lay glistening in the sunlight, the ebony haired beauty could barely catch her breath.

"I...cannot tell you what exactly it is you will face, but I do caution you. Stay away from that city. There is naught but calamity to find there.

Blood will run like a river, screams of terror will be heard for miles, and the very land itself will tremble at the darkness that will awaken there!"
Alex now grew distressed, and uneasy.But he had a smile on his face nonetheless.

"I appreciate your concern, but I walk my own path. A little calamity cannot stop me so easily!" He spoke sternly.

Unsure how to reply to his bold words, she reached into a nearby basket and handed him a necklace. Made of fine silver, and adorned with a pendant of gold with an emerald set into it.
"Take this charm. it will prove invaluable to you on your travels."

Alex gazed at the amulet, while it sparkled in the sun.
He then swiftly paid her a sum of ten reks, and stood up.

"I'll take good care of this. Don't worry about me." Alex replied confidently.
The fortune teller still shocked at his seemingly reckless abandon, simply nodded.

A few hours later, the sun began to set.
Alex was growing tired, and hungry from the wandering he did around town.

A wolf's howl could be heard in the far distance, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky, and shone softly. As if illuminated thanks to the moon's light, the stars twinkled gently.

"I'd best find a place to rest for now." Alex said to himself.
And soon enough, he did find somewhere.

He came to a stop in front of a tall building. It was humble looking on the outside, and in a more rural part of the city, away from the merchants and stalls.

The street was mostly made of cobblestone and dirt, and was very quiet.

This was a normal terrain for Alex, as he loved to be off the beaten path, even camping out under the starry skies a few times before getting to town.

As he gazed around, a sign above the door caught his eye. "The Soaring Eagle eh? Sounds good to me!"He said as he happily walked inside.


As Alex stepped inside the Soaring Eagle, his gaze was met almost instantly by a man behind an oaken reception desk.He was a tall, pleasantly plump man, dressed in simple well worn clothing.

The man issued a welcome to Alex in a deep, boisterous voice.

"Hello sir and welcome to the Soaring Eagle inn."

"I don't think I've seen you round these parts. And my, look at that hair! It almost looks ablaze! Your eyes look like they have a lot to tell as well!" The man said as he walked around the counter to get a closer look at his new customer.

Alex however, wasn't paying too much attention to him.

Instead, Alex glanced about and took notice of the happy, yet noisy people in the tavern around him. Some were tall and well built, mercenaries, or miners perhaps, while others were short and slender, possibly scholars, doctors or spell weavers.

The whole inn was illuminated by merely a few lanterns and candles, yet it was plain as day that their gaze was focused on something.

Alex turned his attention to the man he had been ignoring and spoke swiftly. "Excuse me, I'll be right back!" He simply could not contain his curiosity any longer, and went to see what everyone was looking at.

As he pushed his way through the crowd, he soon heard a soft, yet enchanting voice. There at the back of the tavern, there sat a songstress.

Her hair was a bright blond, as if made from rays of sunshine. Her eyes, filled with emotion and life, resembled stars made of emeralds.
She had a slender figure, and wore a teal flowing dress, that stopped at her ankles.

Alex, and the rest of the crowd looked on in wonder, as if expecting something to happen. Soon, she took a breath, and began to sing.

"As souls wander about their separate ways, people's convictions begin to sway.
Eventually giving way, like leaves on an autumn day.

Time marches on, toward a new dawn, while people embrace hollow victories they've won.

Unknowing and unaware that what they truly desired is long gone.
Walking upon a road of gold, humanity's desires taking hold.
All had been as the prophecy foretold."

She paused for but a moment, shifted her gaze toward Alex, then continued her song.


"As the dawn that was to be now turns to dusk, nature does as it must, severing mortal greed leaving behind naught but dust.
Darkness began to grow, and slowly, yet surely, it altered time's flow.

Now trapped in an eternally cold abyss, the people realize what it is they missed.
A fleeting moment of life's refrain, replaced by sorrow's sharpened pain.
Each life weeping a rain of tears, due to humanity's wasted years.
As time remained frozen, all wondered if this was the fate they had chosen.

Yet somehow, things aren't as they would seem, as something existed that was unforeseen.
Emerging from a long forgotten place, hope wraps life in its warm embrace.
The darkness shatters, as people came to know what really matters.
Its not about standing tall, but in rising every time you fall.

What was stopped begins anew, and the land became covered by a peaceful sunlit morning dew."

As she finished her song, The tavern was unusually quiet.In fact, it seemed as if time itself had indeed stopped as she had been singing.

From behind Alex, someone cleared their throat.
"Ahem!" a voice said

Alex jumped a bit as if startled by the sound, and spun round to see who it was. Standing there was the man he had met at the entrance.

"I've always had a knack at reading people, and knew almost at once when I laid eyes on you, that you were not just some mere traveler."He said confidently.

"So, you come here seeking adventure I assume?"

Alex smiled and simply nodded in return.

"Well, you happened to come at the right time.I don't know if this counts as an "adventure" , but we're about to hold a festival tomorrow!" "No doubt you've seen the many merchants dashing hither and yon? Many of them have come to town for just that reason."

Alex's eyes glittered with curiosity, as if they were pools of glistening spring water.
"Well, I'm not sure about it being an adventure but-" Alex began to say, but before he could finish he was interrupted.

"Oh, but where are my manners? My name is Drake. Drake Raskar.I own this inn. I assume you'd like a room since your here? Its 10 Reks a night.Is that alright?"

Alex nodded and paid his fee up front. A grand total of 50 Reks.

"My my, it seems I was right. Your not just any ordinary traveler. Please make yourself at home, and if you require anything, do let me know!"

Drake motioned to someone in the corner and called them over.
"Elana, please come here!"

From beyond the wall of people a girl's voice called out to Drake in reply.
"Yes, I'll be right there!" She said with a cheerful smile.

To Alex's surprise, the person who approached him was the very same songstress he had seen earlier.

"Your voice is amazing!I don't think I have ever heard a song quite like that before!" Alex said excitedly.

She gazed at Alex, and bowed.
"Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!"

Reaching out, she grabbed Alex by the hand as if to lead him somewhere.

"Please, follow me. I'll show you to your room." She said in a soft, kind, almost angelic voice.

Alex was taken aback at her beauty, and almost thought her a noble, who lost her way.
"Y-yes. Please do!" Alex replied as he followed her upstairs.

The two walked slowly side by side down the hall of doors.
"So, your an adventurer?" Elana asked curiously.

This surprised Alex, and it took him a moment to reply.

"Well, yes, I have been on the road for the better part of a year now. But I'm still not quite used to the trade yet."
In fact, I just arrived in town today. But, never mind that, what made you suspect as much?" Alex replied as he tilted his head.

Elana giggled a bit.

"Just a guess. Its not often we get adventurers here. That, and the air around you seems so...different. Where are you from?"

"Seri. Its a small village off the Holn coast." Alex replied.

"Seri...I don't think I'm familiar with that place." Elana said, as she thought aloud.

"Not many are these days." Alex said, as he stretched a bit.

"Travelers and merchants used to pass through there on the way to Rhodst every day, but with the recent monster outbreaks most just stopped coming." Alex said as a homesick look struck him.

The two finally came to a stop at an oak door near the end of the hall.

"Here you are Mr..?" Elana stopped for a moment, realizing she had been speaking to this man, never once even asking his name. Her face was flushed slightly with embarrassment.

"Alex. Alex Redsol. Pleased to meet you Ms. Elana." Alex said as he bowed politely.

"Oh, likewise Mr. Redsol!" Elana replied politely.

"Please, just Alex will do. Mr. Redsol just doesn't sound quite right." Alex said as he laughed a bit.

Elana blushed a bit, but swiftly replied. "I couldn't possibly do that, it would be rude!"

"Don't worry about it. Really, its no bother at all!" Alex said as he took her hand and shook it.

"A-alright, if you say so...Alex.' Elana replied awkwardly.
Alex chuckled a bit and gave her a warm smile as he nodded in approval.

An odd silence filled the hall, as the two of them gazed at each other for what seemed like hours.

Neither of them knew it then, but this chance meeting would change both their lives drastically.

The two regained their senses before long, and both realized the awkwardness of the situation. Alex rubbed the back of his head, then turned to face the door to his room, opening it.

"Wow! This is nice!" Alex said as he walked into, and around the room, in a pleasantly surprised voice.

He took note of the intricate artworks hanging from the walls, some of which seemed to be paintings of the surrounding landscapes during all seasons.

The lanterns on the walls had been hammered from silver, their bases even had small metal beams bent to resemble leaves in the wind. Interestingly, the window opened outward onto a wide grassland view, with a gentle breeze caressing the draping.


"Please do let me know if I can do anything else for you...Alex." Elana replied as she bowed once more and turned to leave.

"Thanks so much Elana!I'll be sure to do just that.' Alex replied politely.

Her task now finished, Elana turned toward the hall, and prepared to leave.

"Oh! Just a moment!" Alex said as he reached into his pocket.

Elana turned back swiftly and looked Alex in the eyes. They were pure blue and reflected the moonlight. Alex seemed different than before. Almost, as if tranquil or at peace. His hair was being swept slightly by the blowing wind.



"Here, you can have this. Its a small pendant from my hometown." Alex pulled out a small silver pendant on a brass chain, and extended his arm toward Elana.

"I couldn't possibly accept such an expensive gift! Besides, we just met! Why would you be so kind to someone you hardly know?" Elana said in a flustered tone.

Alex walked to her, opened her hand, and then placed the pendant in it. It was shaped like a mermaid who had a small gold trident with her right arm wrapped round it, and her left outstretched as if reaching for something, or someone.

"Consider it as a thank you gift for the warm welcome, and for that beautiful song you sang." Alex said as he closed her hand around the pendant.

"Th-thank you very much!" Elana said as she smiled and quickly ran downstairs.

"Well..its been a long day. I'll get some rest I suppose. Alex said as he stretched his arms above his head, and laid across the bed.

The moonlight beamed in through the window gently illuminating the room.

As he lay there, Alex's mind wandered as he pondered the events earler that day in the market.

"An omen, eh? Well, come what may, I'll not waver.After all, my journey has just begun!"
Alex said as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

[Raison D'etritus]

Raison nodded approval as he read.
"You've a knack for description and metaphor," he confessed, "and it flows well enough. But, if I may be so presumptuous as to offer a single criticism--"
Ghaleon grappled with annoyance. It was indeed presumptuous.
"Your tense seems to vascillate from past to active on occasion," Raison continued, oblivious, "While a dislike of active tense is entirely subjective. . . I HATE SYNOPSES!"
Spittle flew at the abrupt burst of madness, and the man's eyes glintedly suddenly with a crazed malice.
"But the two typically do not coexist unless the active is used in mental processes," he said in a tamer tone, the terrifying fit forgotten as though it had never been. "Using both in the narrative feels temporally inconsistent."
After a moment of discomfort, the tension was blessedly broken by another.
"Why is he still naked?" MP83 repeated.
Maggot and Salamander trampled each other in the rush for the door.

[schlagwerk]

"I put on my wizard hat and robe," schlagwerk trolled.

[Ghaleon]

Woah. sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your awesome critique Raison! ^_^
yeah i noticed that as well. Its just how i chose to present it. My mindset while writing this particular part was that of an rpg. It shows that it would have served better if i could draw worth anything and made it into a manga instead xD

@ Schla I see what ya did there <.< *rolls 12 sided die for an anti troll check*

[cercia]

I enjoyed that story, it kinda reminded me of Slayers or Rune Soldier. I want to manga-fy it right away^^

[Ghaleon]

I would love that ^_^ I'm hunting for an artist to turn it into an occasional web manga. So long as there are no changes to the plot or the characters, I'll gladly allow you to do so. ^_^

Just kindly give me permission to post it up around the web. and to take a gander at it when its done. I'll credit you as the artist! ^_^

Oh and before I forget...


Chapter 2 is out!

Chapter 2: Shadow Master
[/u]
The stars glisten above, as the moon shines its pale light on the town of Ramsic. The streets are, for the most part, quiet at this time of night. Seldom can you hear anything but a gust of wind, or the squeaking of some rats.

But this night was different. Outside the Soaring eagle Inn, there was a faint rumbling in the distance.Little by little this sound drew closer, until it could clearly be made out. It was the sound of someone panting, metal clashing, and horses galloping.
This man on the run, is soon to find himself swept up by the wind of fate as well...

The tall burly man darted hither and yon attempting to avoid the faint torchlight in the hands of his pursuers.

"Halt! No matter how you try you'll not escape, thief!" A guard clad in silver mail shouted in an angry voice.

Suddenly, the burly, muscled man came to a halt, standing in between a few crates of goods that were resting in the shadows. The moon above became overcast with clouds that blacked out the streets, as he turned around to face them.

"So you've finally come to understand the situation your in. Have you decided to turn yourself in then?" The commander said in a smug tone, as he flashed a sinister smile.

All that could be heard was a slight chuckle, as the tall, shadowed figure covered his face with his hand.

"What's so funny? Your under arrest you oaf. There's nowhere to run now!" the commander said as his men surrounded the thief.

"Run? Who said anything about runnin'?" The thief said as he cracked his knuckles.

"You actually mean to challenge us with your bare hands?" the guard behind him said as he drew his blade.

"This is all I need, to make short work of morons like you!" The thief said as he flipped backwards over the guard, and punched his horse in its side with the immense force of a giant.

The horse reared backwards, and collapsed on top of the guard neighing in pain.

"Don't just stand there you idiots, attack!" the commander ordered as the remaining 4 guards dismounted and attacked. Two were using bows one short, one long, one a pike, and the commander, a broad axe.

The thief crouched down and drew his hands across his body. Grasping at a few bits of metal on his waist. Swiftly, he threw several sharp knives at the pike armed guard, each becoming illuminated by the torches alight on the wall of the building nearby, and in an instant they pierced his body. Six in the shoulders, three on each side, and one in each of his thighs. The guard was stunned at these turn of events, and winced as he looked at the man who had bested him, slowly falling over onto his left side.

The thief knew it then, that he had felled him.

"Such strength...what are you? A demon?!" The two archers said as they took two steps backward, suddenly turning and fleeing in terror.

Content with the situation, he stood there brazenly smiling at the cowardice of armed men.
However, he had let his guard down for but a moment. Allowing one swift swing. The thief lurched forward blood escaping his thigh, and hitting the street like gentle rain on a summer's eve.

The man who landed the blow was none other than the guard captain himself.

"Thieves are all the same don't you agree? No matter how young or old, they are all just arrogant fools. Give them a moment to think they've won, and you have them right where you want them. Those food stealing children learned that last week very well." this guard said with a lust for bloodshed in his eyes.

Disgusted and angered at his foe's demeanor and lack of morality, the thief drew his fist back and punched the street below him, landing on one knee as he closed his eyes. The impact from the blow caused the ground to crack, scattering fragments of cobblestone and clouds of dust into the air, as it crumbled into a pattern around him.

The guard captain stepped backward in awe of his brute force shaking slightly.
The air grew heavy with tension and emotion, as they kept a stalemate in this position that lasted for what seemed like ages.

Finally, the guard regained a bit of courage and began to boast, applauding his adversaries might.

"That was quite a display, I have to admit. I have never seen one man take down two fully armed guards with such ease, much less cause so much destruction all at once. But it seems your out of steam now!" The axe weilding captain said as he closed in.

His tarnished axe head mercilessly gleaming, thanks to the faint light of a nearby torch once belonging to his comrade.


"Such a shame too for one so talented, but this is where you die!" the captain said as he reared back the axe and prepared to swing it downward, clearly intent on cutting off this theif's head for the disgrace he has caused him.

The clouds above slowly parted from the moon, allowing the tranquil light to beam down once more. The man could be seen clearly, his hair a light brown, his chiseled body like that of a great warrior, or god. His arms are covered with scars from many close calls and battles, and the blood, trickling from his leg as it flowed down the cracks, eventually forming a small pool beside him. He was so calm for one in such a situation, so much so it was unsettling.

Finally, the captain brought down the axe swiftly. But, like a spark starts a fire, his passion for battle was rekindled.The thief's eyelids shot open, revealing a pair of stern, angered, yet somehow saddened, sparkling blue eyes.

To the captain's dismay, he had actually caught the axe mid swing by its handle.

"What the hell? Let go, you damn miserable wretch!" the captain demanded clearly enraged.

Slowly this burly thief rose to his feet, lifting the captain off the ground with him.
His grip tightening around the axe so much, that it began to splinter from the pure pressure.

"It was a nice try, but here's where it ends you arrogant ass.Killing children because they stole to eat? Now that, is a sin nobody can forgive! You'll burn in my azure flames, for the atrocity committed by that tainted, filthy axe of yours!" the thief cried out as the cracks in the ground became illuminated with bright blue flames.

"Try this on for size! Azure Phoenix!" he shouted as he jumped skyward, the flames below his body wrapping around him, quickly taking the shape of a great phoenix in flight. after a few moments airborn, the thief punched the guard toward the ground, causing him to impact it and crushing his spine. He then slammed downward, into the pavement hard enough to actually crack the surrounding buildings.

As the dust began to settle and silence took over once more, the once mighty captain lay there, thoroughly trounced by the very prey he sought to ensnare.

"Remember well what I'm about to tell you. I'm no demon. I'm just a thief. But it seems I've earned a bit of infamy over the years. People have come to call me, Gram the Sturdy." Gram said as he loomed over his defeated foe, gazing down at him coldly.

The captain, at a loss, leered up at him, his eyes blazing with powerful flames of hatred.

Try though he might, he couldn't move. Gradually, he began to pass out, until at last, he slipped unconscious.

This peace would not remain for long, as soon after that display, shouting could be heard drawing close.

It would turn out that the residents had awoken from their slumber, and were out seeking the source of their disturbance.

"What was that?" a male voice yelled.
"I don't know, but did you see those flames?" Another shouted in surprise.
"I think they came from over here!" a woman's voice cried.

Gram took a breath, then sighed deeply.

"Now's not the time to be proud of this I guess. I'd better find a place to lay low for the moment...." He said as he glanced around, his eyes finally resting on the Soaring Eagle inn.

"As good a place as any I suppose!" Gram said with a hearty smile, as he walked in quietly closing the door behind him.

Moments later, the streets outside had become flooded with people.

"Are you sure it was here?" one of the tall curious men asked.
"I was so sure this was where the source was..." The woman replied.

"Hey, come look at this!a merchant with a bushy black beard beckoned.
As one man rushed over to investigate, he stumbled upon the remains of the battle before their arrival.
"Get some help would ya?! These guys are pretty beat up!" he yelled.

"What kind of creature could cause so much destruction I wonder? The merchant said.

As the townsfolk mumbled among themselves, time marched onward. Until finally, the streets emptied, and dawn would break, signalling a new day.

[Raison D'etritus]

I usually don't write for free. . . but I couldn't sleep, so fuck it. Tired unrevised, barely edited, come-up-with-on-the-spot story time! YAY!



The bleeding wouldn't stop.

"This was a bad idea," Devram complained for the hundredth time. "This was a bad, bad idea."

Asher pressed down on the bloody rags, desperate to halt the blood gushing from his lifelong accomplice. Beld wasn't conscious to appreciate his efforts. And if Asher didn't think of something soon, those efforts would be wasted. The rags served only to absorb the blood rather than staunch it, and even if he could stop the flow, there was no way to get Beld to someone who could treat him.

"This was a bad idea," Devram was saying again in his grating tone.
"Be quiet," Asher said, trying not to sound frantic.

Gods, he'd never seen so much blood.

"This was a very, very bad idea."

"Shut up!" Asher snapped, wiping the sweat from his brow only to smear the sticky warmth of blood in its place. His brown hair was wet and sticky, plastered to his face with his best friend's life.

"Give over," the room's fourth occupant said coldly. Nardan was not a large man, but his gaunt features and hawklike unblinking brown eyes lent him a threatening presence. "You," he jabbed a finger at Devram as though it were a knife, "stop whining. And you," he pointed the same cold, sharp, double edged finger at Asher, "leave the bloody corpse and worry about the host of bloody city guards surrounding the bloody manse."

Asher bit his lip in aggravation. Nardan wasn't worth a response. Or so he told himself. Surely he just didn't want to add conflict to the catastrophe. Surely he didn't keep quiet from the chill that rippled through his body as though Nardan's finger really was a knife.

Despite the nervous tremor, he didn't heed the instruction. He pressed down harder on the blood soaked rags, telling himself Beld was going to make it. Telling himself the man who had served as distraction while he filched his first coin purse when they were boys was not going to betray him by dying here. They had done so many jobs together. This couldn't be the last.

It couldn't.

Please, Maramra, he beseeched the goddess of mercy, please, Vekad, he begged the Lord of Thieves, please don't let him die. Please don't let him die.

"Do you have any ideas?" he asked Nardan after a moment, not looking away from the crimson rags.

"Don't much see the point," Nardan replied indifferently. "They're going to come in soon or late. Far as I'm concerned, surrender just ensures you die on the noose. At least if you wait on 'em, we get to kill a few as they enter." He fingered the hilt of the shortsword at his waist idly. "Me, I'm just waiting."

The storeroom was well built for defense. Crates blocked the east door, and the north door leading to the manse's parlor entered into the room's center, leaving room for all three thieves to meet their attackers one at a time.

Devram groaned at the prospect. "This was a bad idea," he moaned.

It was a bad idea. Asher had said that from the start. He hadn't trusted Nardan, and he especially didn't like that the house they were to burgle seemed chosen practically at random.

Nardan had provided all the information. He knew when the guards patrolled and what their circuits were. He even knew when they changed shift. He had known the Acaraster family would be at the capital until moon's end, and he had known where the valuables would be hidden.

The only thing he couldn't tell them was why this manse. Plenty of other lordly places without so much information needed. So many easier targets.

Asher had disliked the smell of this burgling from the first whiff of Nardan, but Beld and Devram had thought it too good to pass up. Turns out it had been too good to be true. Nardan hadn't known about the spear trap on that ivory box Beld had tried to open, and he hadn't known about the alarm it would trigger, turning a simple job into a bloody nightmare.

He had known about the box though. He was the one who had told Beld where to find it.

"This was a bad idea," Devram mumbled, more to himself this time, as though the damn rote were some kind of mantra. Then, to the others, "can't we reason with them, somehow? Bargain or bribe, or something?"

"Sure," Nardan sneered, "give the watch some of the treasure, and they'll claim we got away. Or they'll keep all the treasure, and kill us anyway. How long have you been doing this?"

"What if we had some kind of. . . escape. . . what's it called? Escape goat?"

"Scape goat," Nardan corrected. "And that might work. You've already got one corpse. You can just say he forced you into it."

Beld didn't catch the sarcasm. Ever the opportunist, he seized on the idea.

"Yes. Yes. It was just a bad idea. I didn't want to do it. . . " he thought a bit harder then, "No. No. I wasn't even involved. I was just a hostage. I'll give them some gold, and say I was a hostage. It was you. It was you and Asher and Beld did this, I was just along. It wasn't my idea." His eyes brightened a bit as he rambled, and he seized a coin purse from their loot to stuff into his shirt. Without further ado, he grabbed the ivory box and made for the door.

He made it two steps before Nardan's sword was at his throat.

"Surrender to the watch if you want, but that box stays."

That was a mistake. Despite his agitated demeanor, Devram was no slouch in a duel. In a flash the ivory box came up to parry Nardan's blade aside, and in a forward motion Devram drove it hard into the smaller man's face.

Nardan fell back against the wall, and Devram used the opening to draw his dagger, closing in for the kill. In a motion so abrupt Asher didn't even see it happen, Nardan was back on his feet with his short sword thrust through Devram's chest.

"I already told you," he sneered as he drew the blade free, "the box stays."

Devram slumped to the ground, dead. They said there were only two ways a thief died, on a noose, or with a knife in his back. It seemed Devram just proved the adage wrong.

"What now?" Asher asked desperately, turning back to his dying friend. The blood was still coming, which meant he was alive, even if he was pale enough to look dead. There are two things a corpse doesn't do: inform, and bleed.

"Now we wait," Nardan said passively, setting the ivory box on a crate delicately.

"Wait? For them to come in? We couldn't have managed with four, how are just the two of us going to fight them all off?"

"There were never going to be four," Nardan said plainly. "That was just how you were all going to die. Now it looks like you don't even have a hope to hold onto."

"What are you talking about?"

Pain flared as Nardan punched Asher in the back.

"Wha--"

It took only a moment for him to feel the sharpness under the flesh, and the wetness to the blow. That hadn't been a punch.

[iThere are two ways for a thief to die.

Immediately he felt weak and fatigued at the realization. The world spun, and the frantic strength of staunching Beld's bleeding abandoned him. He collapsed feebly to the floor.

"Wha--" he repeated weakly.

"I'd planned for all of you to die by the city watch, but if you don't stand a chance you're as like to surrender. And I can't have you describing me."

"Wha-- Who? Why?" So very tired, it was all Asher could do to voice his confusion in the most basic of queries.

"And 'what'?" Nardan added mockingly. "I told you; wait."

And wait they did. Asher lay there bleeding, just as Beld did, but no one tried to save him. Nardan stood against the wall, as he had been, thrumming his fingers on a barrel as though he wasn't penned up in a manse soon to be raided by the city watch, with his accomplices either dead or soon to be.

Then, after some time, what seemed an eternity when the light of the world was ebbing away from your vision as the life of your body ebbed away from your back, a figure stepped slowly from the shadowed corner, as though he'd been there all along.

Was Asher's mind playing tricks on him in his final moments?

"Finally," Nardan said. "You were right about the traps, but I didn't see no wards."

"You wouldn't, " the figure said in a gravelly voice. He wore a black cowled robe, like those in the mage's guild, but no insignia of Bastioning was blazoned upon the breast or shoulders. "Whoever triggered it would take the full impact."

"Heh. Well, I guess that's a job well done, then," Nardan snickered. "This fool won't be long, but I can finish him, if you'd like." He held the ivory box out to the hooded shape.

"That won't be necessary," the figure rasped as he took the box. He waved a hand over it, murmuring, "eschevan, vaesad, delarai. eschevan, vesad, delaria," and a faint click sounded as the lid lifted gently. "Good. I couldn't have even come within ten yards of the thing with those wards in place. Now, for your reward."

For the first time Asher had seen, Nardan smiled, flashing teeth hungrily.

The hooded figure closed the lid on the box and held out his right hand. With a sharp gesture, he tapped Nardan firmly on the forehead.

And Nardan collapsed to the floor, his face paler than any corpse Asher had ever seen.

The robed figure stepped backward into the shadowed corner, and the darkness seemed to accept him, to embrace him.

And Asher was alone in the room with dead men, his blood pooling to join that of his lifelong friend and accomplice.

He did not know what in the dark plains he had just been tricked into or been a part of, but as the world dimmed, he was distinctly aware of a single fact. Devram had been right.

This was a very bad idea.

[Ghaleon]

That was awesome. I could clearly picture the small secluded store room, as it was riddled with old oaken barrels and crates. The smell in the air was very musty, and there was much tension. As Nardain's fingers struck the barrel, it resounded with a hollow rhythmic echo, almost resembling that of a metronome.

The cloak that lay draped over the mysterious mage was just long enough to cover his eyes and nose, still leaving his mouth and chin exposed. I could picture that sinister sneer when he promised reward for such a dark deed, and a reward he did give. One that was justly deserved.

As all but one lay dead, I could imagine inaudible voices from beyond the room, as the guards finally closed in. They tore the door down, and the mage is nowhere to be seen. Instead, all that remained was the stench of death, and the color...of blood.

[Raison D'etritus]

I'm glad you were able to infer all the detail I omitted!
I actually intended more at first (more building tension, and a more gradually peaking climax), but wanted to cut it short.

Even when fully cognizant, I tend to neglect embellishment (the details in which both God and the devil reside) until revision. Just like I usually find myself editing superfluous thought processes.

My first draft is usually only a hand above Feist quality, but with more (much more) inner monologue (wanna know what Darias thinks of paying more to his chirurgeons than his mercenaries? Here's 3 pages on the matter! ), then I redo with a WWJD (what would Jordan do) mentality, implementing sense perception and such.

[Ghaleon]

So I've started another story alongside my current one.

This story is quite different than my last one, in the fact that I'm trying to take it from a more direct approach.Comments are appreciated as always!

Mystical School Guardian: Sakura

Prologue

Long ago in a not so distant land, there sat a great house, in the center of a
small town called Kenmo-Sakkain. It was called Sakura estate by the townsfolk, due in part to the many cherry trees trees that were on its property, but also because of its owner's daughter, who had a fondness of the leaves when they bloomed. She loved them so much, that she would make necklaces out of the fallen leaves, and give them to her friends and loved ones every year.

This woman's name was Chihiro Misaki.

She was a kindhearted person who taught the local village children how to read and write, and was beloved by the townsfolk. But for all her happiness, Chihiro usually never smiled. It was said that the only time she ever did was during the blossoming of the cherry trees.

But there's one Legend which was never told about this woman.

She was more than just a teacher. She was descended from a long line of priests that once inhabited feudal area of Shinjuku. Her strength surpassed any other, and she kept the town safe from many demons that plagued its residents, the most fearsome of which was the lord of demons, Keiji. Brandishing his sword; Hiiro no kiba (Scarlet fang), Keji attacked the village with such intense fury that the townsfolk had begun to fear his very name.

Keiji was unrivaled in power...Until the day he met Chihiro.

With a wave of her hands, and the falling of petals, she repelled the demon. But Keiji wouldn't surrender to his new rival.

Time and time again Keiji tried to invade the village, and every time he was defeated by Chihiro, until eventually he wound up being sealed away by her. The townsfolk called her a hero, and gave her the title: Chihiro of the falling blossoms.

As time passed, fact became myth, and myth became legend.
Those times may be long gone, but as they say, old habits die hard.

In the present day, school chairwoman Kaze Kurosaki continues the traditions set forth by Chihiro, as she teaches her beloved students the values of education.

Shinji Jindou is a young student whom has recently transferred to this seemingly
normal looking school. Little did he know what secrets lay buried in its history, and
its connection to the local myth. Soon, he would find himself at the center of an adventure he couldn't even begin to imagine...


01: Moonlight
"Shinji! Come down stairs!" a mature female voice beckoned.

"Alright! I'll be right there!" an energetic young man's voice replied.

Shinji finished folding the shirt he unpacked, and he gently tucked it into its drawer, closing it with a hollow clunking sound.

Shinji is a young man about 6 foot tall, with brown hair down to his ears, which was very
unkempt, just the way he liked it. He wore a plain white sweatshirt, and baggy black jeans, and had a pair of bright green eyes.

His family just finised moving from Tokyo to Shinjuku due to his father's business, which had taken off quite well.

As he sighed, he wiped the sweat from his brow, and smiled as he looked around at his finished room.

It was decorated with a rather plain dresser, and a twin bed, with blue
sheets and a dark blue cover. Many anime wallscrolls, and posters of popular rock bands adorned the walls, and a pair of sliding glass doors led out onto his balcony, which had a nice view of the city life below.


Content with the outcome, he turned to his door, only to be greeted by a young girl.

"Shinji, haven't you finished unpacking yet?" She asked him in a polite and cheerful tone.
This upbeat girl was his younger sister, Kiki.

"Oh, heya Kiki. What do you want?" Shinji said in a rather unamused tone.

"Oh, come on big brother! You know mom's been calling for you! Hurry up and get downstairs already!"

"She's waited a bit already, a little longer can't hurt!" Shinji replied in a sarcastic way, as he waved his hand around.

Kiki was becoming a bit irratated at her brother's laid back demeanor, and stormed
into his room, stood behind him and began pushing him toward the door, much to his surprise.

"Hurry up..." Kiki began to say, and paused a bit afterward.

"H-hey! Kiki knock it off!Shinji said as he resisted her pushing, while trying to maintain his balance.

"And get... down there!" Kiki said, as she pushed him outside the door to his room.

"Argh! Alright, alright! I'm going! Geez!" Shinji snapped, as he walked downstairs,
and turned a corner emerging into a large room, with a dark green couch, a low legged
contemporary glass coffee table, and a TV.

There was a bookshelf up against the far wall. It was lined with many books, ranging from family photo albums, to fantasy novels.


"Mom! You called for me? Where are you?" Shinji asked as he glanced around.

"Oh, i'm right here dear." A mature woman's voice replied, as his mother Rika emerged from behind a few boxes.

She had shoulder length auburn hair, styled back into a bun. She was of slender build, but maintained a very strong willed presence. This was because she has raised her two children by herself, as her husband is almost never home to help her.

"Have you finished unpacking?" She inquired, as she stretched.

"Yeah, I'm all finished. Why?" Shinji replied.

"Good, I need you to run an errand for me. Miss Megumi down at the grocer has our order ready. Go on down there and pick it up for me will you?" Rika said, as she handed Shinji a piece of paper with directions, and the money to pay for the food.

"At this hour? You can't be serious! Can't it wait until tomorrow?" Shinji said as he tried to shrug off the responsability.

"Only if you don't want me to make dinner!So if you want to eat, I suggest you go on
down there and not keep Megumi waiting!" Rika replied, her voice now depicting a rather stern tone.

Shinji hung his head in despair, as he slunk toward the door, and placed his hand on the doorknob.

"I'll be back then I guess." Shinji said as he opened the door and stepped out onto
the sidewalk, as black street lights above illuminated the path beneath his feet, and
signs dotted the roadside.

Shinji stood upright once more, and looked at the note, as he began walking toward the store. In short time, and after many turns he finally arrived at the grocer.

He was greeted by the store owner, Megumi Kaede, as she smiled politely. Her bright
face always makes her customers smile. She promptly handed Shinji the food, in
exchange for the money his mother had given him, and bid him to take care on his way
home.

As Shinji lifted the groceries, he realized just how heavy they all were, and began
straining as the tall stack partially barred his view.

As he began walking home, he reached the halfway point, Fujiki park. Winded from all the heavy weight that burdened his arms, he sat the supplies down on a nearby bench, and looked toward the sky.

The stars couldn't be made out very well due to the city lights, but one thing was still visable, a beautiful crescent moon.

As he stepped backwards to try and get a better look at it, his path met with
resistance, and he and whatever had stopped him fell toward the ground together, and a
girls voice let out a startled cry.

Before he had known what was going on, Shinji had fallen on top of a young woman, and
the groceries were scattered across the park ground.

"Owww... man, that smarts!" He said as he opened his eyes, only to be met by a
pair of blue eyes, attached to a blushing and embarassed young woman's face.

Shocked to discover his situation, Shinji panicked, as he scrambled to stand up.

"I-I'm sorry! are you alright?!" He said, as he extended his hand to help the girl.

"Yeah...i'm ok I think." The girl replied, as she accepted his hand, and pulled
herself up to her feet.

"Sorry! I wasn't paying attention!" Shinji said as he bowed again and again, as if
begging for forgivness.

"No no its alright! I wasn't really paying attention either. But, what were you looking at? you seemed really distracted." The girl said.

"Oh, I was trying to look at the moon. Its really hard to see here in the city.

"The...moon?" The girl replied

"Yeah! I'm a bit obsessed with astronomy. It makes me realize just how small I am in
this world. Its kinda mesmerizing don't you think?" Shinji said as he turned to look at this girl, and noticed she had short well kept red hair, which complimented her blue eyes.

She was wearing teal shorts and a matching shirt. She had a small tan purse in her
hands, and a bwildered look on her face.

Oh! I'm sorry, I got carried away! My name's Shinji. Shinji jindou. I just moved here.
and you are?"

"Ah! I'm Yukiko. Yukiko Shimumora. But my friends just call me Yuki. Nice to meet you

Mr. Shinji!" Yuki replied, as she tilted hear head slightly, and smiled.

"M-Mr. Shinji?! Just Shinji will do! its nice to meet you too Ms. Yuki!" Shinji said nervously.

"Oh, no! Please Call me Yuki! Miss Yuki just sounds...weird!" Yuki Replied

The two of them laughed lightly, and began chatting with one another. Shinji told her
how he had come from a smaller city, and about his father's business.

As time passed, the two of them were sitting on a bench together, the groceries now back in their bags, thanks to both Shinji and Yuki working together.

"Wow. No wonder your having a hard time adjusting. Have you decided what school your
gonna attend yet?" Yuki said softly, as she thought to herself a bit.

"No, not yet. I don't really know this city very well, so I haven't had a chance to
look around yet." Shinji answered.

"Hey, I have an idea! Why not join S.B.A.?" Yuki suggested.

"S.B.A.?" Shinji replied, a bit confused, as he tilted his head and blinked.

"Sakura Bloom Acadamy! Its a really nice school! All the teachers are very, very good there!" Yuki said in a cheerful tone.

Shinji looked away from her, and leaned back on the bench, his hands behind his head,
as his gaze once again became fixed on the sky.

"It sounds like the name for an all girls school." Shinji said.

"It used to be.It just recently changed from one into a normal public school." Yuki explained as she stood up.

"Is that the school you go to?" Shinji asked, as he sat up.

"Yup! Its a lot of fun! I promise you'll make friends there!" Yuki said as she leaned
forward and smiled at Shinji.

"Hmm.. I'll think about it." Shinji replied, as he stood up,and stretched.

"I need to get back home soon, or my mom's gonna kill me." Shinji said as he picked up the bags, once again struggling to carry them.

"It was nice talking to you Yuki!"He said with a groan.

"Oh! Shinji, did you want some help? I live down that way too, you know." Yuki said as she picked up a few bags herself.

Shinji blinked a bit, and slowly replied "Sure. Thanks for your help Yuki. It means a lot!"

As the two of them walked down the street, Yuki told Shinji about Sakura bloom's
classes, and where the school was located.She talked about some of the town's
highlights, such as the shopping arcade, and the best place to eat for students.

They eventualy wound up back at Shinji's house. His sister was standing outside with a
rather angry look on her face.

She began walking over, planning on scolding her brother for being late, and about how
their mother had to order out because he took so long coming home.

"Where have you been? Don't you know what time it is?! Mom was worried about you! What
did you do, go sight seeing?! brother your such a-! Kiki stopped speaking suddenly, as
she noticed Yuki standing next to Her older brother.

"Who's that, Shinji?" Kiki asked.

"My name is Yuki! Nice to meet you!" Yuki said as she bowed politely.

"We met on my way home. She helped me learn a lot about the town, and even helped me
find a school to go to." Shinji explained.

Its no problem! But I gotta get going. My dad will really yell at me if I don't get
back soon. Hope to see you at school Shinji!" Yuki said as she set the groceries on a
nearby chair, and waved goodbye, running off down the street.

Shinji simply stared a bit, until Kiki pinched his cheek.

"You really like her don't you?" Kiki teased.

"No! Its not like that at all! Geez, why do you alweays have to be such a brat?"
Shinji retorted quickly, in a defensive tone.

The two went inside, and closed the door behind them. But as they did that, a new door
began opening in Shinji's life. One that was filled with excitment and adventure,
because the next day, after thinking it over, he had decided to enroll in Sakura
Bloom.