3 Chapter 2

The trees swayed in a rthymical manner, dancing and flapping in the gentle morning breeze. Trees of all sizes; broad ones and the contrasting lean trees. The purple raffia, white palms, white oaks, brown cacao, and the famous blue palms are all but few to be named. The particular scent of a woman's perfume rose in the air, breathtaking and sweet, making all other scents turn next to nothing.

You have to wake up, Lydan. Rise for the time has come to fulfil your destiny. Your legend shall be made known for generations to come. Your songs shall be sung, your statue, erected. You shall be like the Alamite gods, greater than kings before your time. Rise, young warrior for there is no time to slumber nor sleep. Rise...

Lydan blinked, his eyes trying to adjust to the morning light, his body struggling to stay awake. Yes, he has been dreaming. He was being chased, but by what? He half-sleepingly rubbed his face with his palm but he was surprised when sweats poured like water from a basin. His whole body dripped water as if he's been immersed in water or as if he's been in a rain. A storm? There was a storm in his dream. Now, different thoughts of confusion began to cross his mind.

He raised his torso to a sitting position, becoming more alert than before. His eyes opened to a beautiful lady, who was face to face with him. Her smooth carved face, so beautiful that it could melt a rock. Her scent like that of the rare bushfrock flowers. A real epitome of beauty. Her eyes were closed. Soft humming sounds coming from her closed mouth. Her lips were pink- just like the wild hibiscus. Her white clothes flapping lazily in the breeze, giving her the demeanor of flying. Men would fight to be betrothed to her, kings will wage war to her her in their palace.

Lydan was still drawn in by her beauty and he was just love stricken. He wanted to ask who she was. What she wanted. Why she was here with him, but his tongue failed him. He opened his mouth but words got stuck in there. Her beauty can't be rivalled.

She should be called the goddess of beauty.

The lady opened her almond eyes and the world seem to come to a stop. Everything around Lydan seem to stop functioning, her look so pure that it seems to pierce even steel hearts. Her gaze so direct that it seems to be reading ones mind. Now, Lydan's awe has heightened. His lower jaw dropped like a lifeless hand, so entangled in this beautiful lady's aura.

"Hello Lydan"

Her voice resounding like flowing rivers. Her note pitched similar to breeze blowing across still waters. Her smile etched to the corners of her lips, so radiant that it seems to compete with the rising sun.

"You have such a great destiny ahead of you, you're destined to be a great man, a warrior... A leader."

Lydan couldn't help but notice that her golden hair swayed in perfect synchronization with the cool flowing breeze.

"Are you listening at all? " She questioned, even though she knew he wasn't. "You have been having strange visions since when you turned sixteen" she smiled, she turned Lydan into a complete fool.

Yes! He's been having these so called visions of strange people invading his settlement, killing anyone who tries to resist, taking the non resistant ones as prisoners, burning everything in sight. He had visions of monsters dying by his sword. Monsters that he didn't know what they are. Yes. They started a year ago. He's been having them but he never took it into consideration. Or did he?

He continued to smile like a lunatic. She's beautiful

"W-who are you?" He managed to blurt out.

"Questions for another time, young lad" the lady replied in a soothing manner "young people tend to ask too much questions. Why not wait till fate unravels it's mystery unto you"

"I don't grasp what you are saying...why are you here? What fate? What mystery? " His voice shaking like a leaf in the North wind. I've never seen her from around here before.

"Do you wish to stay here and die?" she asked in a more intense tone "and watch your friends die?"

Friends? Lydan never had much friends. He lived alone in a remote town at the bottom of the Neverless Mountain. The small settlement is even graced to be called a town. The more befitting title is village. Since their main means of survival includes cultivation, fishing and hunting, which is so little compared to the activities carried out in a town.

Lydan hasn't left this village before. Never. To him, this is the only place not controlled by the Empire. The Empire dominated the entire Vast lands, from the towering mountains in the North, down to the rich agricultural lands in the South, wiping out any town and village that refuse to subjugate to their rule. The Empire has killed hundreds of thousands, destroyed many families and shown examples to all that refuse to bow. What the empire was abd how the Empire was formed, Lydan is in the darkness about that but he knew they must be brutal since the villagers cower whenever the word was mentioned.

They couldn't have found out his village. It was well hidden behind the Neverless. Even if you came from the sea, you'll still have a hard time finding it if you don't know the terrain very well. A thicket keeps them from view if you're searching from the sea.

Their little village blends with the environment of Neverless, making it impossible to spot it even though you stay on top.

The word death brought a chill to his spine. He wasn't ripe for death. He doesn't wish to die, not yet. He became scared suddenly.

"What's all this sudden talk about destiny or whatever do you mean? Even though I have no friends, I have no wish for anyone to die." Words come out without him thinking.

"Those are from a pure mind. A heart for the people. That's why fate chose you"

Whatever is she talking about? What's all these talks about fate?

"I don't seem to understand you..." scratching his head, "...you're speaking in parables." He looked around, his eyes catching a glimpse of the Neverless in its majestic aura.

The size never cease to amaze him. Clothed in a thick mist, the name Neverless came from the fact that it's peak has never been seen, and the mountain has never been scaled by anyone. Every year, the community leaders organise ceremonies for the young boys to prove their worth. Anyone who scales the highest can marry the most beautiful maiden.

"Don't you?" The strange woman questioned, her look like that of a mischievous little elf. "Your village will be wiped out...today, take anything you can and flee."

"Wait...what? Flee as how? What do you mean by wiped out?" The words flew out of his mouth without caution. His breathing becoming jagged, his hands trembling like someone who's caught a cold.

"You ask too much questions lad,you heard me right" The maiden replied, still smiling, "There's no time to waste. They're already upon your shores as we speak. Take your leave."

What she's saying became totally strange and oddly familiar to Lydan but the former taking a bigger portion. Even if his village is going to be destroyed, like she said, where would he flee to. He hasn't left this settlement since he's father died at a young age. If truly they will perish in this village, won't he warn them, at least?

"The people! I will have to warn them!" He tried to believe the lady.

"Would they believe?"

Lydan thought of it. For over a century, they've been living peacefully, no threat from the Empire. Would they believe him? They would question him, and how would he explain that a strange woman told him.

"At least, it's worth the try... "

Even if they believe, they'll sluggishly respond and since the journey from the shore to the main settlement is less than few minutes, they would be upon them anytime soon...but then, he began to suspect the maiden.

"...and how did you know of this? The Empire and everything you've told me...how am I supposed to believe it's not just some made up stories"

The maiden smiled again.

"I am the one that was, but never is. " She paused,  letting the words sink into Lydan's head then she chuckled at the confused face of the lad before her. Lydan swallowed "...and moreover, you've been having doubts about the safety of this..." she searched for the right word to use "...place. Your dreams confirm your fears."

She was a somewhat right. Lydan has always been a pessimist, assuming the worst will always happen. He's always believed that because they never attacked doesn't mean they would never attack. It doesn't mean the invasion would never happen.

Something strange then began to happen... The maiden starting fading away into the air, her body blending into the environment illuminated by the purple sun.

A brilliant white shone around her, turning the surrounding stuffy.

The woman disappeared.

A voice spoke in the air.

"You're wasting time standing there. Would you wait and be captured? Dashing the hopes of the humans or would you run away, become stronger and come back for them?" Lydan pondered . "Which will it be?"

Then the light vanished, it was as if she was never there. As if Lydan was just imagining things.

Becoming  stronger made sense to Lydan. Even though the confusion was still lingering, he seemed to know exactly what to do.

"Where am I to go"

"Very sound decision. " The voice in the air replied as if she's been anticipating his reply. "Make way to the Neverless Mountain. You'll be climbing it. "

Is she insane? How will I scale the Neverless? Doesn't she know that it has never been scaled. The height alone is a discouragement.

As if reading his mind, the voice chuckled at his back. "Just go. Believe in yourself."

With that, Lydan needed no further prodding, he packed food into a small waist leather bag, wore his boots and sprinted into the bush - towards the Neverless.

The sound of a huge explosion and battlecry at his rear sent cold shivers down his spine.