The Forgotten Legacy

Chapter 1

1

Running through the narrow spaces that populated the woods around, I heard the howls and pattering of a multitude of monsters seeking to subdue me. Sensing that they were about to catch up to me, I darted into a small cave covered by ice. Holding my breath, two large varganels appeared chasing after me. The creatures had stopped outside of the grotto I had dove into, sniffing around as if they had lost my scent. I stared out at the wolf-like mystical creatures as they lifted onto their back legs and howled as if to let someone know where I was. I turned around to run down the dark cave pulling out a small pack to find what I had left. Finding only a small bit of cloth, my dagger, and some goggles, I ran down the small cave with my dagger out. After running a small way I came face to face with two paths.

One ran down a little ways and veered off to the right, and the other led to an underground lake bed. Deciding it was better to trick anyone who came after me, I led a fake trail down the path to the right before doubling back and going down to the lake bed. When I got into the larger space with the lake, I heard some shouts from people tracking down the cave. I quickly put on my goggles, took a deep breath and jumped into the water. Sensing a current, I found a small hole in the lake's bottom and went through it. A couple seconds later I saw light poking in through an opening.

Surfacing from this submerged grotto, I found myself in a cozy little spring illuminated by a small opening where a waterfall was quietly flowing down into the depths. Looking around, I found a small shore to my right and hoisted myself up onto dry land. Panting for air, I could see a small tree to my side hanging its roots down into the water and extending its branches towards the mouth of the cave. The Full Moon was just about visible through the opening. Feeling exhausted, I collapsed on the ground. Realizing that the way I came here masked my scent and tracks, I spent the night by the tree.

I awoke the next morning shivering, to find the cave was no longer dark. Poking in through the opening of the cave was sunlight shining down on the tree I lay at. Washing my face in the water below, I was surprised to see my long black hair had turned white, and my usually near black eyes were now burning with a bright golden hue. Only then noticing the strange burning feeling in my arms and legs. I shrugged it off as muscle soreness and finished washing my face.

I got up and started surveying the surrounding room. The waterfall and tree I saw the night before were now almost glowing in front of me. I looked to the left to find a small circle of rocks laid out almost like a gravesite. On my right I saw what looked like a campfire long abandoned. Heading over to the old campsite I saw an old dilapidated shelter. Within I saw a pile of bones belonging to a humanoid creature with a single broken horn, clutching what looked like an ancient book. As I grabbed the book, the skeleton disintegrated. I opened the book to find most of the pages ripped out or disintegrating. Within the book I could only make out a few pages,

Day 1 "I am Kenneth Bishari who was....found ourselves trapped inside a small cave with no way out. We hope....survive long enough....to summon a monster to burrow through the walls. Tonight we will wait for....mana to rejuvenate"

Day 13 ".....has yet to gather enough energy to dig us out of here yet.....has been getting worse. I fear he does not have much longer...hope to find a way out soon."

Day 36 "....passed on. I have little longer...Buried...r along with my summoning book."

Day 39 "I am going to die today...hope...finds this....to help find...peaceful resting place for... I will not survive another day down here. Farewell to all."

Putting down the torn book, I walked over to where the small circle of rocks were and saw sticking out of the pile illuminated by a ray of sun, was a large tome. Saying a prayer to Stella, Goddess of the Moon and Sulos, God of the Sun, I carefully began taking the tome out of the pile. As soon as I touched the book it came alive with balls of blue light and began the coalesce. Settling into a bluish shadow of a human male, in his late forties, a trimmed beard, and fancy blue robes stained with blood, I heard a warm and gentle voice in my mind,