The Hymn Of The Lost

"A wise woman once cautioned me to ask questions"

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥" He mimicked.

" That eerie, strained voice still haunts me to this day" An expression of fear cascades over him.

The clock chimed 6:00 o'clock, the sun had just began to ascend high over the horizon; the golden rays caressing his cheeks. Oliver was a tall boy with a well built figure. His round green eyes and relaxed expression often felt inviting. 6:15 o'clock. The joy of the gods beamed down onto his bright amber hair. It was a most delightful morning, the birds were up singing their morning songs, children were playing just outside of his store, though often being quite obnoxious but still, there was absolutely nothing that fate could swing his way to destroy his idyllic morning. He swiftly glided over towards a freshly planted purple hibiscus, the colour were utterly mesmerizing, shades of indigo blended with different violets and lavenders. Oliver was very paternal when it came to his beloved plants, to him,they we're his children. Water trickled down upon the flower slowly stroking the petals and falling upon the nutritious soil.

Oliver let's out a large, ear shattering cry

Oliver jolted and stood on the counter, if he could climb through the clouds to escape, he would.

"Beatrix! get in here! right now! " he whined.

Beatrix was one of Oliver's friends. one of Oliver's only friends, they had met not too long ago at the docks.

There upon the floor crawled a fairly small spider of a dark red colour.

"woah calm down, little man. what wrong? " Beatrix wondered with a calm yet concerned tone.

"hohoho, please don't tell me this is why you called me in here" She chuckled.

If there was one thing Oliver could not stand, it was spiders, he was deathly afraid of them. No reason. Just one of his many, many irrational fears.

"Yo! catch! " she tosses her belt to him from across the other side of the store.

She sat impatiently and slightly annoyed with Olivers cowardly behavior. There was a brief moment when time stood still for him. Time and time again Beatrix had tried to encourage him.

Silence.

WHACK! With a swift crack, Oliver had struck the floor and the lone spider along with it.

"Beatrixxxxx" he dragged on half crying.

"Don't worry about it, little man. I know one day you will overcome this fear of yours" she sighed as she ruffled his hair and turned to leave the room.

Oliver didn't know where this fear of his had come from. in fact, he didn't even know where he hailed from. As far as he was aware, he had no parents. All he remembered was stepping out from terras frorest, a forest that no longer exists. He took his first steps through the forest, but not as a baby. He arrived at Evergreen and was greeted with the beaming sunlight blinding him. Rays of orange infiltrated the forest illuminating the green leaves and ash brown trunks.

6:30. Oliver took one last deep breath of air, before he closed his eyes and prepared himself for the sawrn of people that were about to storm through the florists. With one last sigh and a positive mindset, he swung open the door ready to face his fate for the next 30 minutes or so. A strong breeze danced its way through the door and bombarded Oliver, lifting up his hair and shifting it to the side. He opened one eye. But nobody.

"What the" he questioned

this was most unusual for him, usually it's hectic at this time.

"Oliver! Oliver!"

Intrigued, "What ever is the matter Bea?"

Beatrix swiftly grabs Oliver by the arm with an abrupt "Come with me!" as she made a beeline for the town square.

Tall, narrow buildings with thatched roofs line the cobblestone streets leading away from the marketplace. The buildings are made of sturdy stone and wood, and many are adorned with intricate carvings and colorful paintings. Some of the buildings have balconies and overhanging eaves, while others have small, shuttered windows. Along the edges of the marketplace, you can see the entrances to various shops and businesses. There is a blacksmith's forge, a leatherworker's shop, and a herbalist's stall, among others.The bustling town square was crammed with lively people all wearing masks of excitement and awe. The crowed was shrouded amongst the murmurs and whispers of the wind, singing it's sinister song. A blinding glow of cold, white light dialsted from the eye of the human storm, beckoning him ever closer.