From the creek of the closet

It was a bright sunny day, the wind was blowing gently and young TALION was lying on the grass with a grass straw in his mouth, looking up at the blue sky lost in thought. Suddenly he stood up after hearing a faint voice coming from a distant. Hearing the voice he said,

"Oh no! I think I may have relaxed too much."

Saying this he grabbed the wooden stick that was lying before him, hanged two buckets already filled with water on each end of the stick and placed the stick on his shoulders and started to walk in the direction of the noise. The more he got closer the clearer the voice became.

"TALION!! Where are you boy?" Talion who was at a distance could see her from a far, he waved his hand and shouted "OVER HERE MOTHER!!" After walking a few more steps he reached her, she was holding a long basket filled with fruits and berries and also seemed a little angry towards him.

"Where have you been young man?" she asked, "I was at the river bank filling the buckets just like you told me too." She looked at the buckets and said,

"And does it take two and a half hours to fill them up?"

"Well it's not easy carrying two buckets filled with water on your shoulders." He replied sarcastically. Her mother grinned and replied "Talion it takes less than half an hour to fill them up AND to carry them back, the village isn't that far from the river you know.....You were dozing off in the grass lands again weren't you?"

"No…. I wasn't" replied Talion. Hearing this her mother sighed and told him to put the buckets down. Hearing this he asked "But why?"

"I said put them down Talion!" she replied with an angry voice, and so Talion followed. She put her hand inside the pouch that was hanging on the right side of her waist and took a handful of what appeared to be glitter powder. She sprinkled some on the buckets and uttered the word "URAN" and slowly the buckets began to rise up from the ground and rose up to the height of his mother's waist. Seeing this Talion got confused and said "I could've easily carried them back home." And her mother grabbed his ear with two fingers and twisted it really hard saying "well then I wouldn't have been able to do THIS."

In pain he cried "AHHHH….MOTHER THAT HURTS!"

"Well that's the idea, do you really think you can make a fool out of me. I am your mother and I know all your bad habits." she replied sarcastically, then she stopped. "That really hurt mommy" said Talion holding his ear.

"Well now you will remember not relax too much when you have work to do, come now we ought to be going home the animals must be thirsty." Saying this she started walking and the floating buckets followed.

On their way home Talion asked "say mother, why isn't anyone else in the village able to use magic as good as you?" Hearing this his mother said "Well it's not like everyone is bad at it for example Lezlies daughter Unzie washes the dishes and house by casting magic on them and Blyre makes his daily deliveries by riding on his broom stick. Anyone can use magic the only thing you need to know is when to cast the right spell at the right time."

"But how come am I not able to use it that well?" he asked. "I have taught you all the basics it's your fault for relaxing all the time." Hearing this he said, "But whenever I try to use it things get blown to bits or end up breaking and the last time I tried to ride a broom I flew so hard that I ended up hitting a tree, so I didn't bothered to try it again."

"Concentration"

"What!?"

"The key is Concentration you can't just simply cast a spell and expect it to work the way you want it to. NO! A spell does not work that way. It requires focus, concentration and calm mind. In other words total control of the mind. The more control you have of your mind the better control over the spell." she said.

Talion replied "But how are you and the others are able to do it so easily and not me?"

A good question posed by Talion, "Well some are so natural at it that they don't realize that their doing it while for some it requires training and hard work we all have our differences."

On hearing his mother's advice Talion became a little too concerned as it was obvious in which category was he in. Seeing her son discouraged made her a little worried so she said "Don't worry son I am sure you'll be able to grasp it soon enough, because I believe in you." In order to raise her sons spirit. Talion looked at her and smiled "Thank you Mother."

"Ah!! Well we are already there." She says while gazing down at the village from the top of the hill. It was almost evening time and the village was still lively. Farmers are unloading their carts, butchers are chopping up the meat and hawkers are shouting trying to sell their fruits and vegetables. Both mother and son make their way from the crowd. Then a man pulling a cart who was passing by notices and stop right beside them.

"Ah! Tina and young Talion as well where are you two headed on this fine evening?" asks the man in a very enthusiastic manner,

"Oh! Mister Dunghill good evening." Tina after noticing him "I just came back from the garden collecting fruits and berries, while Talion was at the river filling the buckets for the animals." Tina answers.

"Oh! I see mother and son helping each other out HA...HA, Well it's good to see families working hard together…aye!"

"Well I wouldn't call it hard work, All Talions been doing was lying on the grass lands in the afternoon." Says Tina.

Hearing this dunghill replies "Well there's nothing to complain about that….. When I was a young lad like him sometimes I used to come late at night and me daddy used to give me a good talking to...Ahhh!!! The days of youth such wonderful times."

"Yes but you can't change the past we all just have to move along." She replies.

"Yes your absolutely right…..oh! Speaking of moving along gotta get these cabbages to the store me sons must be having his hands full with the customers. Farewell!"

"Oh I see have a nice day then." Tina giving her salutations.

Hence all of them went on their separate ways. While heading toward their house both mother and son were greeted by many people. A man holding a pair of dead geese in each hand bumped into Tina.

"Oh! Beg your pardon miss." The man apologizes. "It's alright Mister stinski." Tina immediately recognizing the man.

"Ah TINA! A didn't notice ya there."

"It's alright, you seem to be in a hurry, had a good hunt?" Tina asked.

"Oh! Ya think the geese are still fresh meaning I'll get a good price off of em." Stinski replied while catching his breath. "I see" says Tina.

"Well id love ta stand around and chat with ya both but I have ta go now, can't let these good birds go ta waste now can I."

"Oh wait Mister stinski!" Tina calls him "By any chance have you seen OZAY?"

"The big brute's at his shop choppin the lumber." Stinski replies.

"Ah! Thank you" she replies.

"Farewell and both of ya have a nice day." Saying this he runs off. While Tina and Talion head towards Ozays shop. However Talion seems a little confused because Ozay is a woodcutter and they have plenty of fire wood stocked in the house. Out of curiosity he asks,

"Mother why are we going to Ozays shop, we have enough wood to last a month so why?"

She looks at him and smile saying "You'll find out soon enough"

They make it to the shop, on entering the shop there was no one however both of them could hear the sound of wood being chopped. They followed the sound that led them towards the back door which led to the back yard of the shop. There was a very muscular and bald man with a thick orange beard. He was wearing black gloves and was chopping the wood with an axe.

"Good Evening Ozay." Tina greeted.

He looked behind him "Ah! Tina and Talion well good evening to the both of you. So what brings the two of you to my shop today, if its wood take as much as you like oh and do recommend the wood of this sour gum tree it's extremely flammable and burns much faster than the normal wood?"

"That's really nice of you Ozay thank you, however I haven't come to buy wood today"

Tina's response surprised him "Well blimey then why'd you come here for?" He asked.

"I came here for work." She replied.

Hearing this he became a little happy "OH! Then why didn't you say so I could always use a good magic user. You think you could use your magic and lift that pile of chopped wood and put it over there, it has been really exhausting for me today."

Tina a little annoyed, "Not me you big buffoon I am talking about Talion, you think you might have some sort of work for him."

Talion could not believe what her mother had just said, for a moment his mouth remains wide open, surprised he asked "But mother why?"

Tina "I think you already know the answer to that question."

"Is it because we are short on money? Because you said as long we keep selling good milk, cheese and yogurt we don't have to worry about that." Talion replying anxiously.

Tina hits him on the head and he cries out. Saying

"No you fool it's not about the money it's about you!"

Talion staring her a little confused. "Listen Talion you're sixteen years old now and all you do is relax most of the day while I have to do most of the heavy work around the house, it's time for that to stop now from now on you are going to start taking responsibilities young man." She replies.

Talion "But…!"

"No more complains Talion!" Saying this she diverts her attention to Ozay and asks him "Well! Do you have a job for him or not?"

Ozay who seemed to be a little dazzled after seeing the mother and son fight "Well let me think…..Hmm…..No I don't think that I don't have anything thing for him."

Hearing this Talion is about to jump with joy like a child jumping on a trampoline but his hopes are crushed when Ozay suddenly remembers, Shouting "OH WAIT! I think I do have a job for him."

Hearing this Tina sighs in relief "Well! What is it then?"

"Tomorrow Morning I have to deliver some fire wood at the harbor on the bank of the river there is a steam boat that needs fuel hence the owner made the order this morning. I do need an extra pair of arms..." His eyes divert towards the floating buckets levitating behind Tina "OooRrr some good magic to help me make the delivery."

"Well I you don't need to get your hopes up for that." Tina being obvious. "Because my son over here is terrible at using magic."

"Very well then I'll be needing his muscles, it will be a good work out for him nothing more better then shedding a hard sweat…..ha-ha."

Talion hearing all of this realizes that he has no say in the matter he sighs and replies "Alright fine...But I expect at least a quarter share from the payment."

"I'll give you more than you can expect." Ozay being kind and giving as always.

"Alright then I will see you tomorrow." Talion giving his Farwell.

"Yes farewell! Take all the rest you need it's not going to be an easy day tomorrow."

Both mother and son exit the shop. While walking to their house they don't talk to each other. Of course Talion is a little upset on what Tina did just now but in his heart he knows that whatever decision his mother has made until now was for his own good. Finally they reach their home Tina dispels the enchantment placed on the buckets and tells Talion to give the water to the animals. Talion does not answer, he picks up the buckets and walks away.

"I am going to make dinner now. So don't fall asleep alright." Tina addressing to Talion.

While eating dinner Talion looks at the trunk sitting on the side of the room. After quite a while of silence he finally speaks,

"Why did you have to do it Mother? You could have ask me first you know!"

Tina after swallowing the bite in her mouth "Well if I HAD told you, you would have said NO and...…"

"What you simply mean is that you don't trust me!" Talion interrupting her.

Tina "Son listen I am not trying to make your life more miserable, all I am trying to do is to help you in taking responsibilities, in order to become trustworthy one must have to prove himself for that to happen one must be reliable and should not yield from his oath."

"Is that why you don't share the secrets of the trunk which you promised because I am that untrustworthy." Talion.

"I wouldn't say it's your untrustworthiness that is to blame but it's your sense of irresponsibility, tell me something what is your oath? What exactly do you want to do with your life?"

Talion now unable to give an answer stares at her with is mouth open. Looks down saying "I…..I don't know!"

Tina smiles she looks beyond the house window staring at the night sky, "I am not surprised, if I am being honest I didn't knew my oath until I had you. An oath isn't something that will come to you in an instant it will take time for one to find it, my only wish now is that when the time comes when you find yours you will be strong enough to accept it."

She points her eyes towards the trunk and Talion follows "I do plan to honor my promise but you are not ready yet but if the time does come you will have to decide what path you must take."

After having dinner both mother and son emptied the table and washed the dishes and went to their beds. Tina went to sleep while Talion was still awake thinking on what her mother meant by her words. He felt that there is something important that her mother wants to tell him but she is unable to do it because of his own foolishness. Then he starts to wonder what could be in that trunk that his mother wants to show him. There is so much curiosity in his mind that it is making it hard for him to go to sleep. However he has to go to sleep because he has a big day tomorrow as it will be his first time working with someone other than his mother. So he brushes his worries aside and slowly goes to sleep.

After snoring for quite a while strange noises fill the air and they become louder and louder enough that Talion wakes up and as he clears his eyes he begins to notice the sounds. He hears the sound of slashing, breaking of doors and screams coming from a far. He leaves his room and sees her mother already awake looking through the window Horrified. "It cannot be after all this time all these years why now?" She mutters.

"Um…Mother!" Talion calls her.

Tina looks at him and when he looks at her it sends a chill down his spine his mother's eyes are filled with terror and fright. "What going on out there?" he asks.

Tina rushes towards him grabs his hand and takes him towards the trunk. She hits the floor with her foot and a wooden plate become lose she removes it and beneath it is a wooden staff which Talion didn't knew existed. She pointed it towards the look of the trunk and uttered the word "Taro-jua" and the lock opened. Talion surprised what his mother just did as this wasn't the time foe the trunk to open. From the trunk his mother pulled out a golden necklace embedded with a blue jewel and a scroll. She put both in Talions arms and pushed him in the closet.

Talion all confused and scared, "Mother Whats going on? What are you doing?"

"I am trying to save you!" She tells him while holding both his shoulders "Listen Talion these creatures if I believe what they are then you and the treasures of our trunk must be protected at all costs. You must not let them find you or otherwise they will kill you, do you understand!"

Talion all confused stares at her as he is unable to give an answer his mind has gone numb unable to think, unable to see, dizzy and spinning and sees tears flowing down his mother's face and asks her "Mother! What are you about to do?"

She smiles and replies "I am going to make sure that you stay hidden."

"No!"

She hugs Talion "We can hide together, please don't do this don't leave me." Talion crying as he knew that the inevitable was about to happen. Tina almost wants to cry her heart out but swallows her sorrow and takes Talion off her,

"Listen carefully son, you must survive this no matter what, you hear me! When the dust settles in this place you must Travel East to COKAF and meet with their king show him this scroll and he will understand. This gem will help you at times when you will nobody will be able to help you…..."

Suddenly someone starts to bang at their front door, Tina grabs Talions head puts her forehead with his "Remember I will always love you."

Talion "Mother I am scared."

Tina weeping "I am too son, there was so much I wanted to teach you but it seems like that I won't get the chance. Promise me something the things I told you just now make them your oath and keep on living promise me that."

Talion wiping his tears dry "I…. I will."

"That's my Boy" saying these last words she closes the closet doors. Picks up her staff and stands in front of the closet door. While Talion hiding inside the closet is able to witness everything from the creek of the closets door. The front door of their house is smashed into bits and a black hooded figure partially wearing a knight's armor with the same Axe as Ozay had in his hand steps in, however the axe was drenched with blood showing it had already claimed some victims. The figures face was not visible under the hood in the night the only thing visible were his bright red eyes. Tina with her staff pointed at him "How dare you….how dare you attack our village how dare you stepped into MY house!"

With a pale and shallow voice it spoke "Surrender...surrender yourself, your flesh and bone surrender it to the master and your death will be swift."

Tina "I don't give a dead dog to your master leave my house or taste my wrath."

The figure put one step forth and uttered "Never!" and he lunged at her. Tina quickly pointed her staff and repelled him. He stopped right in his tracks and gave a shallow screech. Tina kept her staff pointed at him and asked "Your Master. Who is he?"

The figure looked at her and spoke "Aaaaaaahhhhhh...….he is all of us, he commands the darkness, he will have you all. The darkness belongs to him." Hearing these words terrified Tina so much that her face drenched in sweat "It can't be! He was destroyed so how can….." before she could even finish her question an arrow from the back window got struck in her back, she saw another figure standing a distant away from the window with a bow. In pain she screamed, Talion who was watching everything did his best in keeping his voice to himself, but even he could not do anything all he could do was watch as her mother got brutally injured. Tina was about to cast another spell but another arrow struck her and she got on her knees. The figure came towards her "We warned you, we gave you choice to die in peace but you did not listen. Now you die!" saying this he struck her with the axe between her neck and shoulder like a butcher chopping meat, pulled it back and struck again. Talion closed his eyes as that happened no matter how much he wanted to stop him he could not break the promise he made to her.

The figure bowed down with one knee noticing that Tina was still alive slowly moving her lips. The figure "It's no use no matter which spell you use you cannot stop death, soon you will run out of blood and when that happens you die and same will be the fate of every living creature of ATLAS, the darkness is coming and there nothing you can do to stop it."

Tina laying on the ground coughed some blood smiled and looked at the closet, saying "Too bad you won't be able to see any of that." closed her eyes and uttered "AGNAM-MAR" and her whole body began to glow white followed by a flash of light. So bright that the figured covered his eyes and began to scream, and Talion watched as her mother slowly turned to dust by uttering the suicide spell for why she did that even he did not know. "AAAAHHHH...THE LIGHT…THE LIGHT IT BURNS....IT BURNS." The figure screaming, and with that the light slowly faded and the only thing left of Tinas body was ash and dust that faded away with the wind. Seeing this the figure became furious "NOOO....the flesh…the bone…its dust it's all dust, the master demands vessels…..vessels….Ahhhhhhh." His screams attracted two more like him. They asked him what happened he explained everything to them. One of them said "Ah forget the women I hope rest of the fleshlings will satisfy the master". Then they exited the house and from a distance Talion could hear their faint voices as they said "Grab every fleshling you can find, kill them and put them in the cart, leave the valuables and empty the cemeteries no stone must remain unturned and Don't burn the houses we don't want to attract any attention."

Time passed and every moment was utter hell for Talion as he heard the sound and screams of the villagers being slaughtered. Slowly, slowly the screams faded with that everything became silent the last thing he heard was the galloping of horses and the wheels of a cart. Hence Talion opened the closet door looked around and stepped outside. He saw his mother's staff picked it up and went outside it was almost dawn and with that was a dreadful sight. The entire village had been destroyed, there was blood everywhere but not a single body to be seen with. The houses and shops were all destroyed and the village now looked as if were an old ruin. Talion still trying to get in his right mind shouted "IS ANYONE THERE?? ANYONE!!" but no one responded with that it became clear to him that he was the only one who survived the massacre. He got on his knees and started to cry really hard the pain of losing so much it was like his entire body was going to be ripped apart. For hours he sat there and cried but there was no one was there to give him comfort then saw the necklace in his hand and remembered, remembered the oath he made to his mother, hence now he knew what he had to do he must travel to COKAF and meet with the king there. If he wanted to give meaning to his mother's death now was the time. Hence he grabbed a travel pack and picked up whatever food or rashins he could salvage and a green cloak which belonged to his father .So he started his journey as there was no time to lose before he left the village he looked back, back at the place he once called home and went on his way to the East to the land of COKAF.