The Dragon Chronicles: In Twisted Time

Chapter 4: The Destroyer Part 1 - The Plague

(Author's Note: This part was created by Patrick Cajili (ZeroArc and CherryCode in game), one of my former classmates and guildmate in DN)

<King Cassius III Reign>

On the land far away known as Prairie Town, where the legendary swordsmen and archers were trained, there lives a humble farmer named Jed. Abandoned at the gates of the town, he was found and raised by Mayor Harold, who treated him like his son.

After several years, he decided to live alone. He build his own house in the forest a few meters outside of town and to earn money, he worked as a farmer. One day, he saw a beautiful maiden in the forest. Based on her clothing, she is from the Boundary of Darkness, which makes her a goddess.

Since it is forbidden for a goddess to be in love with a mortal, he became very sad. But love has no boundaries and the forbidden love grew like a rose full of thorns. Three young boys were the fruit of their love for each other. Since the goddess is bounded to stay in the boundary, Jed raised the three boys alone.

But something unexpected occurred. The town was struck with an unknown famine. Crops destroyed, deadly diseases everywhere, and things that is too harsh to tell in detail. Jed and his children were also affected.

With nothing to eat, and the children were hungry, Jed told them, "wait for a while, i will look for food". Because of this famine, the economy went down, and it's hard to hunt for any animals roaming in the forest. Jed tried everything just to bring back home something for his children to eat. He went to every stores, and he tried to hunt, but due to the unfortunate events that happened, he didn't find anything. Even a piece of bread costs a thousandfold of its original price.

He came back with a piece of meat, just enough for the children. He told them to cook it and eat everything up, so that they will grow up very strong.

"I'll just take a nap," said the father. The eldest cooked the flesh, and the brothers were so happy.

"Let's eat. The meal is ready", the eldest called his brothers. After eating, the three went to the room of their father. To their shock, they saw a trail of blood in the room.

They saw a big butcher knife full of blood. Beside it, they saw their father covered in blood. "I am alright," This are the words softly spoken by their father, who was gasping his breath.

"You must live, I wouldn't allow you all to die from hunger."

"Father, why did you cut your entire left leg !", asked the eldest son, who is crying very hard.

"Help! Help!", shouted the youngest son while running to the town.

Luckily, the sorceress and clerics from Mana Ridge just arrived on Prairie Town. The sorceress was casting a powerful spell that started to drive away the dark spirits that caused famine to the town, while the clerics were starting to cure each and everyone of the villagers.

One of the cleric heard the young man's cry. He went together with the youngest son to cure Jed, who was in a near-death situation due to blood loss. The cleric started to heal the farmer. Successfully, Jed was saved from the brink of death, but his lost leg was not recovered anymore. The three boys, with tears running down their eyes, thanked the cleric who went back to the village to continue his unfinished business of healing everyone.

After a week, everything is now back to normal in the vicinity, except for the left leg of Jed. The mages now started to pack things up since their job is done. A disabled man, together with his three sons, approached who seems to be the Master Cleric, the one who leads the group of the mages in their quest to assist Prairie Town against the plague.

"How may I help you?" asked the Master Cleric.

"Sir," Jed said with a low voice.

Before he could speak another word, the master cleric said, "Don't worry about them, I will take good care of them."

The mages helped Prairie Town in fighting against the plague, and in return, they recruited young boys in order to train them to serve Goddess Altea. Jed decided that it was a good opportunity for the boys. Hesitant at first, the young boys didn't like the idea of leaving their disabled father alone. But after their father said to them that one day, they may have a chance to meet their mother if they will join.

With tears rolling down their eyes, the siblings and their father bid farewell to each other.