Sekhmet

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
New beginnings and new faces
Sebastian

Sebastian trudged through the snow, the final storm over the season past through the night before leaving thick patches of snow. His heavy boots crunched in the quiet of the forest, it'll be a while before any animals return from hiding. Kershel was always a quiet place, animals or no animals. But now with the war and the city surrounded by the maze's walls, the entire human population is quiet, moving from the outside to behind the cold stone walls.

Kershel announced neutrality, it no longer considered itself involved in the war. It shut off its trade routes, commanded the maze to move its walls allowing any scattered civilians in, now it never opens, not for anyone. Sebastian walked to a familiar area; the snow was thicker here as it struggled to melt under the shade of trees.

He placed a thick leather bag on the ground and pulled his sword off jamming it into the snow. Sebastian's hair was much longer now, down to his shoulders in dark strands. It's colour and length has change at least three times since a year ago, when he first set off with the group it was almost bronze and shaven down. Then it grew out and became darker, then it was gold and is gold whenever he uses his power, but when inactivated it's a dark blue almost black in colour.

Unloading the bag, he pulled free a chisel and cloth, Sebastian knelt in front of a stone, smooth and sanded down to dull the sharp edges. Clark's name was carved in the Kershel language, bellow it were messages carved in by loved ones. Sebastian chipped away ice and snow, cleaned the stone and the surrounding dirt.

Spring would soon come, and the forest will bloom brightly, it's a secluded area, high up the mountain with a golden view. Sebastian traced the writing with his thumb and the brushed his thumb in the centre of his forehead. He began to pray, as a child he'd pray to Janara, the leading god of his country.

When he grew older, he barely prayed at all, but now Sebastian prayed to his father and to Clark. He never thought of things to say but just pictured them, a let the warm feeling in his chest grow. A bird call echoed in the forest and Sebastian sighed, he stood up brushing the snow off his knees and pulled the scarf up over his nose.

Clark's grave was well kept, most of that was done by Thomas who regularly visited the stone. Though today Thomas will be down at the beach receiving mail and news from across the water. Sebastian made monthly visits to Clark, it was harder as he lived further up the mountain, so in spring and summer he'd pay visits and only see Clark in winter and autumn if he made trips to gather food.

Sebastian started his journey back up the mountain, it takes him an hour max during the warmer seasons and a whole day in the colder seasons. Because of the new territory and new problems that come with living in Kershel Sebastian found himself to be changing, mostly physically.

He was much more muscular than before; he lost his awkward teen lanky build and grew into his skin. He didn't have a body of a god, with perfect muscles and slim figure, he ate more and gain weight, he worked out and but his energy to good use building the house he now lives in.

The house is carved from a large tree that stood there, it was long since dead, so he and Thomas chopped it down to use its wood. It was two stories with an attic, both upper stories were for bedrooms and a study, the first floor was dining and kitchen. Below Thomas and Sebastian dug out a wide basement for storage like foods and weapons, it's also where Sebastian spent most of his time craving.