Nicholas'+Gate

I gaze out the window my mind preoccupied by upcoming assignments. I was thinking about drifting off when suddenly I hear a sound like a forceful gust of wind and I snap up grabbing my sword as I stand. “Is anyone there?” I ask the shadows of my home. Nothing responds or moves but I am unsatisfied as I begin a quick sweep of my house looking for signs of an intruder. After finding none I walk back up to my bedroom. I just entered the room when I felt my eyes being pulled to my desk and sitting there was a letter with a golden seal that I’m sure was not there before. I open it and read it’s contents. When I’m finished I’m absolutely puzzled about where the “gate” could be. I re-read and re-read the letter until finally I decide to seek help from my fellow Runners.

I rush over to our main building and head to our leader’s office. I knock and wait until I hear her call out “Enter.” before I go inside. Elishia is sitting in her chair staring out the window but spins around to face me as I walk in. “So what have you come to see me about Nick?” she asks. Thinking that I better not reveal that I’m on a mission from a mysterious stranger who I suspect is the man I have been sending my reports to I reply, “I was wondering if anyone has ever run into a mystic gate of some sort. I heard about a gate in a rumor that might grant the one who unlocks it their wildest dream.” She stares at me seeming to be in deep thought before saying “Nick, I have been all over this land top to bottom and everywhere but Shadow Mountain. I can assure you that no such gate exists and that maybe you should spend some time training for your missions instead of dreaming about some fantasy gate!” Taken aback slightly about her outburst I bow my head and step out of the office. As I’m walking away I realize what my next destination and grimace as I realize that the gate is probably at the top of Shadow Mountain. No one knows if the mystic Air Walkers are still alive and at the top of that mountain but I guess the letter did mention a guardian.

II head to the market to buy enough food for 7 days and then I buy heavy winter gear and the merchant looks at me quizzically since it’s almost boiling hot but I ignore him and begin my trip to Shadow Mountain. I take to the trees and leap from tree to tree as I make my way towards my destination. I arrive at the bottom of the mountain and look up to the peak that is 40,000 feet up. I strap on my winter gear and leave the bag as I grip the rocky wall and begin to climb my way up. As I ascended the mountain I had to resort to my hook-blades often because they have a curved blade that can hook into the smallest notch and allow me to haul myself up. After several hours I come to a large opening in the mountain. I decided that it would provide shelter for me as I rested. Upon further inspection I saw there was wood in what seemed to be a makeshift campfire site. I debated on whether to start a fire or not but when I shivered a decided that I had better make one. I removed my gloves and conjured up what little fire magic I knew and lit the wood and very quickly the cave was filled with warmth. Suddenly a harsh breeze blew in and blew out my fire. I sighed and started the fire again but within moments the same kind of breeze blew my fire out. I tried a third time and realized quickly that someone or something did not want me to build a fire here. I gave up and decided that I would just rest up and continue my climb.

After several hours I crept to the edge of the cave and looked down to see the ground thousands of feet down. I decided to not look down anymore. Around what I judged to be half-way up I came upon a ledge that was very wide. Very close to me there was the stream that runs down from the top of the mountain. I stopped to fill up my bottle with water and relax for a minute as I tried to ignore the biting winds. I glanced at the stream and noticed fish leaping up out of the water and traveling up. I was perplexed by this and took a closer look to see several more fish traveling UP the stream. I figured that they were just migrating to mate or migrating back from mating. It wasn’t worth plunging into the cold water to try and catch fish when I had plenty of food left so I moved away from the stream. I noticed the sun going down and I decided to hole up in a cave for the night. Just as I was falling asleep I could have sworn the same bitter wind from before wafted over me.

I woke with the start after dreaming that I fell from the peak of Shadow Mountain only to find myself squirming on the floor of the cave. I gathered my gear fast embarrassed even though no-one was watching and was about to start climbing when I heard growling. I whipped around and only had enough time to pull my sword out when a large wolf with red eyes lunged at me only to meet the tip of my blade. I cast the creature aside as an entire pack came from the innards of the cave. The wolves were larger than any other I have ever seen and they had glowing red eyes.

The leader of the pack opened its snout and spoke in a rasping voice “You shall not meet with the Air Walkers foolish Hero. I have tried to stop you before but you would not heed and now it is too late!” With that the pack jumped towards me and I went into a whirl wind slicing, chopping, and killing anything that dared come too close. When the last wolf which was ironically the leader fell to my sword their eyes never stopped glowing. Suddenly there was a flash and the bodies were gone along with the blood spilt from the fight. I blinked and tried to grasp and what had just happened and about the mysterious message the alpha wolf spoke. Was it a warning from the Air Walkers to not disturb them and to go back where I came from? Or was it truly an attempt to stop me from meeting with them? With no answers and only a spirit of determination I decided to continue my climb.

All too soon I reached the top of the mountain as I hauled myself up. I looked around to see a pleasant green forest with a stream running through it. I became aware I was sweating and that there was no cold up here. I took off my heavy clothes and was in nothing but my normal runner’s gear when I heard rustling in the trees and I readied my sword in my right hand and my hidden-blade in my left. Several hooded figures burst from the tree-line and charged me. I barely avoided a blast of air that would have me back at the bottom of the mountain express delivery when two of the figures attacked me with swords. I held my own against them even when they outnumbered me two to one. We battled our way through the forest knocking over trees and sending woodland creatures scampering. I sunk my blade into one of their throats and with a gasp the person slowly faded away. My confusion over how that just happened instead of him simply falling over left me wide open for an air blast that sent me flying backwards into a tree. I struggled to see straight as the world tilted but forced myself to my feet to see the remaining three figures assembled in front of me. I could feel my blood ooze down my back although it was not a heavy wound it still hurt because it’s right where my scar is. The men standing in front of my took their hoods off in unison to reveal the same face staring at me from all 3 of them. “How is this possible!?” I gasped out. He gazed at me and simply said “I am but 1 Air Walker and I am here to test if you are worthy young Nicholas Thorpe. I gain the power to do this feat from this.” As he reached into his robe I noticed for the first time how old he looks. His skin is gray and ancient even though his moves are that of a healthy young man! He reaches into his coal black robes and pulls out a ruby red gem the size of a small child’s fist. It glows ominously and suddenly there is a fourth man staring at me. “You must defeat me before we judge that you are worthy.” Two of the 4 copies fade as he speaks those words. “Sounds easy enough,” I jeer at the Air Walker. I instantly regret this decision because he moves at me with such speed that I barely have time to dodge as a sword seems to materialize where my heart was moments before. I slash as him with my hidden-blade be he dodges it with ease. I fend off one of him with my sword while attack the other with my hidden blade. I kick one in the chest and bring both blades hidden blades from either side of him and even though he dodges my killing stroke I slash his left shoulder and slash across his chest. I turn my attention to the other just as he slices through my clothing and drags his blade from my upper-chest down to my hip. I drive my two hidden blades through his skull and the clone dissipates. Bleeding heavily I turn my attention to the Air Walker and ready my weapons when several similar robed figured emerge from the forest. “Lay down your weapon Nicholas, you have passed the test.” one of them shouts. I blink as I register the 3 new Walkers and stammer out “But I have not bested him yet, he still stands. A different one spoke up “That is true but not being crushed by him is astounding in and of itself. We have been living up here and honing each other skills for thousands of years.” I took this all in an asked, “Well what are your names?” The one in the middle of the three spoke this time “I am Zelcan, and this” he gestured to his right “is Malrin and this” he waved to the man on his left “is Jakys” The one I was fighting said “and I am Philip” Confused I asked “So now what?” To my surprise Malrin spoke up “As you know young hero a crisis is at hand. A dark force is at hand with no overwhelmingly good force to be seen. It will take the co-operation of many to stave him off again but I have confidence you are part of that force.” I grapple with this and then ask “When will this all happen?” Zelcan confirmed what I feared by saying “It’s already happening, have you not noticed the small fire building in your region? There is a cult that worships the wizard who is the spearhead of Darkness. They plan to overthrow your region and offer help to him.” “Well then I have to stop them! I can’t just let them overthrow the king and harm my people!” “This is where you are wrong; the king is already dedicated to their cause. It took a long time and a lot of effort but your king now serves them.” Zelcan replies. “How could they do that? They have only been active recently and the king has been around for at least 2 decades!” I shouted “Calm yourself, he is not one of them simply under a mind control effect. I fear the effect is permanent and that he must be removed for your region to be saved. This is not the time for that however, as you are needed elsewhere right now. We must show you something.” And like that they leave my thoughts to me and began walking. I hurried after them and wondered what perilous task could lie ahead. We reach this ominous looked stone altar which seems do vibrate the ground and even hum. Philip looks at me and says “This gate will bring you to a place known simply as ‘The Forum’ it is where you will meet others like you, other completely unlike you, and where you shall meet your mastermind. Before you go there is something we must do.” He hand me the gem he took out before and speaks in a distant voice “You must keep this gem safe. It is the key to the gate and will give you the power to multiply yourself. We will now grant you the power of thousands of years of training in no time at all.” I looked around and saw that the others were standing directly behind me and to my right and left. Philip took the place in front of me and turned to face me. Jakys called out “Brace yourself and whatever happens do not lose hope or give up!” I was about to give a reply when they all hit me with a green beam. At first nothing happened when suddenly it felt as if my body was tearing itself apart from the inside out. I howled in pain as the waves of power assaulted my body. I fell to my knees and curled into a ball. From my peripheral I saw Philip drop down. My bones felt like they all snapped, my muscles fought to not be torn to shreds, and my blood flowed freely from the open gashes that appeared as if someone has slashed me with a sword. Finally it all stopped and I slumped forward struggling to stay awake only to black out. I come to with a splitting headache and to find my whole body hurts. My first though was ‘How could this be? I’ve been sober for years!’ I roll over and find the trees around me and I sit up worried now. I look around and see 4 people unconscious nearby. It all comes crashing back to me and it seems as if an eternity has passed since the Air Walkers passed their powers to me. I stagger to my feet and stumble toward Philip only to fall about 3 times along the way. I reach him and turn him over and try to shake him awake. Theres no response so I check his wrist for a pulse only to not find one. Reality dawn on me as I realize that they are dead and that they gave up their life in order to pass their powers onto me. I feel the wind swirls around me in a gentle breeze and I rise to my feet and survey the area one last time. Clutching the multiplier gem and double checking that my weapons were still with me I step onto the gate and watch as the world fades away. The forum materializes in front of me and I relax and let go of the feeling I have been holding back. A warm summer breeze rolls off me and spreads through the Forum announcing my arrival.