Eladea: A Hopeless Age

Chapter 5: Sage

Chapter 5: Sage

Have fun ;)

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For the first several minutes from entering the forest all that is heard is the rhythmic thump of our horses' hooves and the tweet of the occasional bird as it sings from its perch high above. A light breeze flows through the branches, shifting them and making the leaves brush up against each other with a light shhhhh. The morning dew still clings to the grass, crystallized but slowly melting as the nightly cold makes way for the moderate chill of the afternoon. The path before us is made of trodden dirt, packed down with the years of feet and hooves beating down upon it. The treetops curve downwards over the empty strip of land, hanging downwards and creating a viney canopy that shadows the trail. The foliage was one of the many things changing during the time. The bright greens and browns made way for vibrant oranges, reds and yellows. They tangled together in a great spectacle that looked as if it was painted by the goddesses themselves. Already dead leaves litter the ground and path, crunching under the feet of our horses as we move along. 

"This forest is quite beautiful." Ivar remarks, looking up with wonder at the various bright colors of The Harvest Season. He rode upon a dark horse, her fur and mane the exact olive of his light features. 

"Yes, The Harvest Season is one of the most beautiful times in the forest. Apart from The Blooming Season, when all the flowers are all colorful and the forest is buzzing with life." I confirm, looking up with him. I rode upon my Appaloosa, with a white body riddled with small brown spots. I saved him from a burglar we arrested a few years ago. The horse had actually helped us find the man who abused him, running right to us with the criminal on his back. Which dubbed him the name Justice, and I fell in love with him. He's gotten me out of some tricky situations and I always trust his instincts and common sense, sometimes more than my own knights. 

"I hope I can see that. I come from the farthest part of the archipelago, near the Equator. So the only temperature I've only ever known is heat and the only forest I've ever seen is jungle." He explains. 

"Wow, I can't imagine year-round heat. The Frost Season is my favorite season, it's kinda what I look forward to the whole year." I chuckle along with him. His horse is only a half a step in front of mine as we make a lazy turn in the shadowed path. 

"You get used to it after a while." He confirms. We trot along in silence for a bit more. 

"Do you ride here often?" He asks finally, breaking the silence. 

"Yes, actually. It's a great place to get away and decompress." I reply, reaching down to pat Justice. 

"Very secluded too." 

"The perfect place to jump me." I joke. He laughs along. 

"C'mon! You know I wouldn't be dumb enough to do that. I know you can use that." He gestures back towards the sword at my side. "You know you can trust me." He looks back with a wink. 

Stop, I advise my brain. Just stop that right now. 

"So you come for The Other Side right?" He asks, breaking the silence yet again. 

"Oh, uh, yes, I do. I haven't been asked about that in years." 

"What was it like?" He asks innocently, looking back with inquisitive eyes. 

"Well, this is just for the place I lived in, I remember it being bitterly cold in Winter. Summers were moderate, and the seasons in-between were nice. The people were, for the most part, pleasant but there was more than a fair share of douchebags walking around. I lived in a large town, but a huge city was a small drive away. And that was dirty, it stunk, and everyone there seemed to be angry at something. But it was strangely beautiful. Buildings rose high into the sky, glistening and reflecting the light of the sun." I finish, deciding not to go into detail about my home life.