DARKLANDS Book 1:Contempt

Chapter 2: A Trial, A Loss and A Gain

My eyes opened as I awoke to the sun shining across my face. I sat up and looked around me. I was sitting in a field, surrounded by roses. I stood up and started to walk forward, not quite sure where I was or how I got here. "Where are you going?" said a voice from behind me. I turned around, not exactly sure what I was seeing.

It was the silhouette of a female body, but the person was a glowing snowy white, they didn't have any facial details. The only part of their body that had a skin tone was their hands, which were very very pale. She just stood there, staring at me. Something about her felt..familiar. 

"Why do you run from destiny?" I didn't know what to say. "Why do you hide from fate?" Again, I wasn't sure what to say. She held out her hand, waiting for me to take it. I slowly approached her. I reached my hand out and took hers. 

My eyes jolted open as I quickly sat up in my bed. I looked around for a second until I realised I was back in the church room. I wasn't sure if that was a dream, It felt so real but at the same time it didn't. I decided to think nothing of it for now. I left my room and went to exit the church. Just before heading out, one of the people there stopped me.

"Where are you going? you must stay until Lady Iris is ready to see you"

"I'd like to see my Grandpa before seeing her. I'll come right back."

They looked at me for a short moment and then nodded. I left the church and headed for Grandpa. The village was just starting to wake up, some shops flipping their open signs and venders of the stands leaving the Inn and getting ready for customers. 

I walked into the house, Grandpa was sitting in his chair, pipe in hand, just about to start a day of forging. He gave me a sigh of relief as I walked in. "Boy, I was worried about you. What did those church goers want from you?" 

I explained everything to him. That they thought, I of all people, could possibly be a chosen one. This wasn't completely unheard of, most of the gods had a champion of their own. A lot of them are known as legendary heroes. 

The thought that I could be one of them, I just didn't know what I was supposed to think. Grandpa took a second to process what I had just told him. "It's not everyday a goddess calls upon you. You should go to her." 

Grandpa got up and walked outside into the forging area. He came back holding a steel sword. "Here, Deities are known for giving tests. you might need this boy." I took the sword from him, he also handed me a strap to put on my back to sheath the sword.

"If I am the one she is looking for, you might not see me for a little bit." Grandpa started to tear up a bit as he tried to force a smile. "Its almost like yesterday I was just learning that I had a grandson...now your leaving."

I gave grandpa a big hug. "I'll be alright, I'll make you proud Grandpa" He nodded. "I know you will. Now get moving. You don't wanna keep a goddess waiting" I nodded and made my exit. I couldn't help but think about him. He was going to be alone for a bit if I'm the one Iris wants. I just hope he'll be fine without me there.

I made it back to the church, the members were all waiting for me outside. "There you are my son, our lady has called upon you. You must make your way to her temple. There, she will meet you. The second is also there at this point. We wish you the best"

The all gave a little bow in respect before I left for the temple of Iris. Most gods and goddesses had a church where people prayed to them, but all of them had a temple, an old place with a statue of the god or goddess. These places are considered sacred. It's not known who built them, as far as anyone knows, they have just always been here.

As I walked through the forest, I started to wonder about the second. Are they a simple village goer like myself? Or maybe they lived in one of the tech cities. The temple of Iris was on the top of a mountain that stood above my village.