Chapter 1: The Eyes of White

Within a tavern in the city of Eberia, there was the usual noise coming from within the local

week's ending. There was the sound of many chattering and conversing with each other as a local band was playing their music to fill the building with songs, and waitresses doing what they do as they deliver meals and drinks to those who ordered. It was a rather good night for those at the tavern as many were enjoying the free time off from their hard working days.

The front door brushed open as a tired man stepped within the inn and over towards the bar as he carried a small bag with him. He was a man of medium height with a lean shape to his body. His dark brown hair had the appearance of being a bit messy, with two small horns protruding out from the unkempt hair.

The bartender noticed the man trudging over and taking a seat at the stool as a small smile came to his face as he made his way over towards the man. "Abraxas! It's been ages!" called the bald headed and well built man, the beard on his face was as well kept as his body was, as if it was as important as his own health.

Abraxas glanced up after taking a seat at the bar, he didn't even notice the people working yet as he walked in. "Hey Mathur, long time." He responded.

"Come on, that's all?" Asked the innkeeper, setting down a small cup with a light beige color in front of Abraxas. "You've been gone for two whole weeks from here! Tell me how it went!"

Abraxas took the cup into his hand and took a sip from it. "Yeah, I guess you're right, the job did take quite some time to do." He gagged a little as the drinks aftertaste hit him, he still wasn't used to it, Mathur said it'll be quick, but it certainly does not feel like it. He began to tell Mathur about his recent job that he took on, Abraxas was a for-hire type of person, doing jobs of finding artifacts for people, hunting or finding information for people. It was a job that he was good at and has done for a while. His most recent job had been helping to find a missing person and his

own relaxation time within the village after doing so. Abraxas reached into his bag that he pulled off from his back and set it on the bar, opening it up and leaned it towards the Keeper with a small smile. "And I also got a pretty good payout from it too, we're gonna make it to the upper class within this place and live a good life, being the center of this city for relaxation and interaction." He said.

"Hey hey! I like the sound of that, it's an odd thought to look back at how this place started off, a lot smaller, with few people coming in here and there, started from what little coin I got from labor work and you with yours, all the way to this, we built ourselves a good reputation" The Keeper replied.

"Yup, we have nowhere to go but up from here, it's worth all the bit of struggle we went through" Abraxas replied as he closed the bag over.

"Alright, alright, enough with going down this sentimental route" Mathur replied with a laugh. "I still got people to serve up, you go to your room and settle down after your trip."

Abraxas gave a nod of his head as he picked up his bag and got down from the stool at the bar as he headed past some others to the door beside the swinging gate at the further right side of the bar, heading down a small lit hallway, entering through another door on the right that lead into his room, he never felt more happy to be at home. He locked the door behind him as the fatigue fully hit as he slid the bag off his shoulder and collapsed onto his bed, and drifted off to sleep.

A few hours had passed as Abraxas woke up again, regaining his energy again as the room

was dark. He got up from his bed and stretched out his arms. The sound of the tavern was a lot more quiet, he guessed that the people had finally started to clear out. He walked out from the hall into the main tavern room to see a few people still chatting here and there. Mathur was talking with two townsfolk sitting at the bar, laughing away. One of the waitresses that was working appeared to be cleaning up the messes left on tables that were now vacant. Over in the

corner were 2 men wearing darker clothing, talking with each other, but not loud enough for him to know what they were saying. He decided to help out the waitress with cleaning, since it seemed like the other had left early already.

"Hey, been a long time since I've seen you around here." said the Waitress walking by Abraxas as she carried multiple plates and a couple of cups. She was a rather nice person, but confident, if you tried to mess with her, she would most likely have your face slammed onto the ground. She was a bit shorter than him, but not by much, with medium length dirty blonde hair

that reached to her shoulders, it often swapped between being tied up or let loose.

"Yeah," he said as he picked up some extra plates as they clinked together. He began to tell her the story of his recent job he had, all the ups and downs that were a part of it as they cleaned up the open spots in the tavern, and she would tell him of some stuff that happened, like someone who overstayed their welcome with flirting, what she did to them seemed like they would be pretty sore when they sobered up in the morning. As they talked, the two drunken men that were at the bar talking with Mathur had finally upped and left, giving their final loud goodbyes as

they walked out. Abraxas finished what he was doing and walked over to his friend.

"So, it seems like almost everyone has left," he said, resting his arms on the wooden bar.

"Yeah , everyone except those two, I caught glimpses of the two of them looking at you, maybe some people who want to hire you or something."

"Probably, weird that they're waiting so long to do so… Everyone's pretty much gone."

The two men got up from their spots and began to walk over. One of the men stopped and asked, "You're Abraxas, correct?" He asked, lowering his hood to reveal a slightly dirty face, with a barely noticeable scar across his cheek.

"Yes, I am," he said as he looked over to the one addressing him, the two men wore black

cloaks on, but underneath, appeared to be wearing a bit of armor pieces, mostly for light

protection, but nothing like what people usually wore for plenty of combat. Abraxas didn't feel any sort of intent to harm him or anyone there, it didn't feel so.

"We have a job request for you, we've been trying to find you for a while, we're happy to have finally found you."

Abraxas glanced at Mathur, then back to them. "Sure," he said as he nodded his head to an open table as he walked over, pulling out a chair to sit on. "I've been out of town for the past couple weeks, so that would be why you weren't able to find me"

"It's no trouble, we have found you at least, so that's what matters" Replied the man.

He sat down on the wooden chair as the two men sat in the two opposing him. "So… what kind of job is it that you need me to do and not yourself?" Abraxas asked the pair.

The man with the scar on his cheek was the first to speak up about it. "We live, or, well, lived in a town a few days out on foot from here, Algrave, as I'm sure you have heard of it."

Abraxas nodded in response, "I've heard of it here and there, but as of late, it's an absolute

ghost town, apparently a few died, and the remaining citizens ran off to places unknown."

"Yes, yes, it seems you have heard of it, but not surprised given its recent events." Spoke the man again. "Algrave was a peaceful town, plenty of business, almost everyone respected each other, small community but a big bond. But then one day, some young boys were going out exploring rather far into the woods. They were gone for nearly a whole day, their parents were scared until they were found coming back, seen down the road by someone on the street, it was late in the afternoon as the sun was beginning to go down. Some men came out to see the boys

return, calling out to them, but they had no response as they walked. As they got close, the men outside knew something was off, their eyes glowed a bright white, as if a sun on a bright summer's day was in them! The men tried talking to them more as they came close to the town, remaining cautious of them, as this was no normal occurrence. The boys let out a screech that was of no human sound, everyone in town heard them and they began attacking with strength that these grown men could not handle, none of them could even remain standing after a single blow, dropped to the ground like flies, unable to stand. That's the point where everyone fled, the boys killed some people that were fleeing, but the majority got away."

"Is it the boys you want me to deal with..?" Abraxas asked after a pause from the man.

"No, there's more to the story," said the scarred man. "Some of us, I included, returned not long after, hidden from the view of these… possessed things. Their hands bloodied from the ones they got, and raw from breaking down walls and doors with a power that was given to them more than they can handle. The sun had set as the sky was becoming a dark red, nearing night time. They had immediately all turned in unison as they went back down the road, so we followed them to try and find the root cause of all this. To make sure this stays short, we followed them until we came to a heavy forest, eventually coming across an entrance underground, one that led to a temple. Abraxas, we need your help with this, that temple is where they went and this… all this happened. We're asking, begging, for you to find the cause and end this madness that took over these boys, to free them, and make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."

Abraxas absorbed the story, contemplating it all as he looked at the two men, then glanced at his friend Mathur, and the waitress, Elaine as the two talked, Abraxas looked back to the two men. "I'll take the job, give me a map to Algrave and the path to this entrance, and I'll make sure this curse doesn't get anyone else."

…

The men had done as he asked, marking the path on a map and showing the extra path which they took to make it to the temple's entrance, and departed later that night, awaiting Abraxas' return when he completed the mission. He had told his friends about the mission and they seemed pretty nervous about it when he told the two of them, but ultimately believed that they shouldn't worry so much. Abraxas had done a lot of different requests that were just as risky as this before, and came back safe, or alive enough that he wouldn't die. The following morning had come, and Abraxas' preparations were complete, his sword was with him, provisions, any tools he might need and so forth. Abraxas was waiting outside for his two friends from the tavern to say a goodbye to him before leaving, he sat on a box just outside, bag resting on the ground, and his sword sheathed on a strap across his shoulder. Mathur came out first, handing a wrapped up fresh made biscuit from the tavern that must have just been finished, and handed it to his friend. "For the road, who knows how long it'll be till ya get another one" He said with a

smile across his face.

Abraxas got up from his seat and took it, Mathur's smile was contagious as one came across his own face, the two both grabbed each other's hand and gave it a shake. "Thanks Mathur, I'll be sure to enjoy it, make sure you get some ready when I get back then."

"Ya know it! I'll have plenty ready for when ya get back, friend." He said in response, they let go of each other's hand. Hathur put two fingers to his temple and gave a small saluted wave. "Stay safe Abraxas"

"You already know I'll make it, I've been through a lot, this isn't going to be my last."

"Good" He said, as he turned to head back into the tavern. Just before getting inside, the

waitress, Elaine, came out to say goodbye to Abraxas. She came to a stop in front of him as she made her way over.

"You better stay safe, alright?" She said, glancing up towards him. "I don't want to have to deal with fixing any major wounds from you again this time."

"I don't really plan on getting hurt or stabbed, that's usually from the plans of everyone else

trying to hurt me" Abraxas said jokingly.

Elaine didn't really seem to find that too funny as she didn't laugh from it. She just waited a

moment, looking at him, then she reached behind her head and unclipped the necklace she wore that was normally not seen since it was under her clothes, holding it up. The necklace had a golden brass ring on the end with carvings along it, it was certainly an expensive type of ring. She grabbed his arm with her free hand, putting the necklace into his open palm and closed it.

"This is the ring my father gave to me long ago, he told me it was something that would bring me good luck and protect me" She said with a small chuckle. "Never believed it, but it seems to be true as of late, but I want you to have it, since this quest seems to be of a different caliber than the ones you've done before. As I said, you better stay safe, alright?"

Abraxas now felt the emotion coming from what she meant, she was serious. "Alright, I'll stay safe to the best of my abilities." He said. "But I can't take this necklace, it's yours-"

Elaine cut him off. "Then just take it with you, and when you get back, you can give it back,

okay?"

"Okay." he replied. He reached his hands behind his head and put the necklace around his neck, heading back to his previous box of a seat and grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder and grabbed his still warm biscuit from Mathur. He checked everything, and was all set, taking a step out onto the dirt road that he needed to take to head to Algrave, to put an end to this curse of sorts and find out what caused it from that temple. He turned one last time to wave to Elaine who watched him leave, as he faced back to his path.

But little did he know that from this simple quest, everything he knew would be changed.