NUIA part 1: Nuian (eng) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 2: Lilyut

William was galloping Utopia breathlessly along the path towards the Lilyut hills. He didn't know what this Malcolm looked like, but he was desperate to find him and make him pay for Sloane's murder. He had to bring him to justice! His golden rune flared on his wrist at the thought, and a new vision flashed before him with violence. He found himself in a crowd of people, in front of a platform. On said platform, he was astonished to see Lucius chained up, next to a young woman with brown skin, also tied up. Apparently he had written a play bordering on heresy and was being sentenced for it. Many people were calling for his head to be cut off... William felt his throat tighten as the verdict approached. His birthmark burned even more intensely, chasing the vision away. Why did it hurt so much? Why did these visions seem so real? If this continued, he felt as if he would soon not know if he was William or Eanna.

The young man soon arrived in a very small hamlet and stopped his mare. He dismounted, and a man who was there chopping wood raised his head and greeted him.

“Hi” said the stranger, “are we looking for high quality lumber?”

“Not really” William admitted. “I'm looking for Malcolm, I was told he was a local. Do you know where I can find him?”

“Malcolm! Yes, he's lived here since he was a little boy. But I haven't seen him around for a while. Maybe he knows you're looking for him? I mean, Genan should know where he is. He's been his best playmate since childhood, always playing with wooden swords pretending to be heroes from our old legends. The kid lives in Windshade. You'll get there straight down the road. But don't talk to anyone on the way, there are Dahuta cult jerks everywhere, and they regularly attack solo travellers. Hopefully Malcolm won't be one of their victims...”

William thanked the carpenter and got back in the saddle, galloping through the grass at the edge of the path. He soon saw Windshade. The town was built around a huge tree, which sheltered the houses from the weather. William found the place beautiful, but he did not have time to linger and look around. He asked passers-by if they knew a man called Genan, and finally found him after a few minutes. He found himself face to face with a boy of about his own age.

“Hello, I'm Genan” said the blond boy, “I was told you were looking for me.”

“I was told you were a close friend of Malcolm's, and that you would know where I could find him” William said.

“I do” admitted Genan. “But Malcolm knew that a stranger would come looking for him, and he asked me not to say anything.”

“So you know where he is?”

“I... I might.”

“Look, Genan... I'm not here to hurt him. The Bloodhands are looking for him, they've already killed his mentor and Malcolm's probably next on the list!” lied William.

“Wait, what? The Bloodhands, seriously? Malcolm is in Riverspan, at my older brother's house! I didn't think he was hiding from such a big danger! We must go and warn him, quickly!”

The young man ran to a public stable and came out with a horse. William then climbed back on Utopia and followed Genan at full gallop to the east. Genan kicked his horse's flanks vehemently, fearing for his friend's life. William bit his lip, not enjoying seeing the boy so anxious, having totally believed his lie. But at the same time, if he had told the truth, if he had said he thought Malcolm had killed a man, Genan certainly wouldn't have helped him find him. The end justifies the means, as they say... But William hated lying.