Ravenous Souls

Chapter 1

Adeline The Magician

6 months ago

The 10th moon cycle on the 20th day year 7986 according to the Internia Calendar

The night was white and empty. The only thing that rampaged at this time was the wind. It blew across the land of Olec, guiding and directing the falling sleet. Adeline would occasionally look up embracing it as the cold air pierced her like needles.

She wasn't bothered by Olec's harsh weather as her mind was elsewhere. Adeline took a hard look at her cold anxious hands as her vision started to lose focus, "I'm losing my sense." She broke down onto her knees and threw up into the snow. Her chest tightened causing her to hyperventilate.

After a few moments Adeline caught her breath and composed herself while getting up, "Where are you, Teresa? You better be alive." It was always rare for Adeline and her sister, Teresa, to be separated. Adeline always hated these times. The thought of her younger sister dying had always crossed her mind, leaving her feeling overwhelmed by loneliness.

She clenched her fist shaking off the thought. She took another hard look at her hands. "Of course, Teresa was still alive," These times had always tested her. Why was she so dependent on her sister being there. Then she would feel insignificant in her younger sister's shadow. She thought, If anybody would be dead, it would be herself.

Adeline continued stumbling through the sleet, hiking up the trail that eventually led to a cave. She called out into the darkness, "Teresa, I've made it back. Are you here?"

Bats squealed and flew out of the cave slightly tickling a nerve in Adeline but not fully catching her off guard. Bats were intriguing creatures of the night, usually being reserved unless bothered by light or noise but it bothered Adeline to why they were in this cold. "Was it because they were attracted to something out in Elysium, outside the safe zone?"

Adeline then felt a hand touch her shoulder, which made her jump. "Calm down, you look like you just saw death," Adeline turned to her sister, Teresa, taking a full glance at her from head to her quiet black cotton shoes. Adeline sighed in relief but not being surprised there wasn't a scratch on Teresa. "Here let me get some light in here," Teresa cast a spell and sent a ball of light into the cave illuminating every dip and eroded rock.

Teresa took a glance at Adeline, reading the guilty expression on her face. Teresa continued, "If it makes you feel better, I had to kill 5 people." Teresa said without a care. She understood how Adeline felt but "Was it really that bad? It'll be Adeline's first of many." Teresa cast another spell lighting up a pile of branches making a campfire.

Adeline glanced back at Teresa, "So how long do we have to stay here before Adondai comes to get us?" Teresa smirked, "We have a whole 3 days to ourselves. So, you will have all the time in the world to hate yourself. I'll be headed back into town," Teresa signaled Adeline to come sit next to her. Teresa was being sarcastic trying to lighten up the mood, but it didn't seem to work. Adeline declined.

"Not after both of us were discovered. We'll have to wait here at the rendezvous point until Adondai arrives." Teresa dismisses it, "Please they didn't even see our faces. Not only that I still managed to retrieve the necklace," She pulled out a necklace from inside her shirt.

They had both retrieved many treasures and artifacts on their travels, but this was different. It was rose gold with a weird green signed pendant attached to it. "I don't even know why Adondai would even want this. But I guess if it really does hold the power of the Old Omen, we can't let that noble man have this," Teresa smiled putting the necklace back into her shirt.

Adeline walked back to the entrance of the cave, "What's even in town for you anyways?"

"Well, if I'm not stalking Adondai—," She paused then laughed, "Sex with the nobles". "Nice. Sex with the people you steal from," Adeline let out a sigh of disappointment.