Eye of The Wyvern

IX

The trip was excruciating on Karissa. She may have been in shape, but there was just way too much walking. Chasm looked back at her, expecting her to be closer. She, in fact, was not anywhere behind him. He stopped so she could catch up, "Hurry up, child," Chasm laughed, "my goodness you're quite enervated."

Karissa sighed, "My feet hurt. And my legs feel funny. I'm also hungry." Chasm rolled his eyes and handed her what looked like a snack bar. "We'll be there eventually." He said, "We have to go around the mountains." Karissa grimaced silently. "You complain a lot." He chuckled, "Reminds me of someone quite like you." She looked at him, "Who?"

He walked by her side, "Me." There was a clearing in the trees, and to the right of them were mountains bigger than those next to South Town. Chasm watched Karissa, her face in awe at the sight. "When I was your age," He started, "I was a lot like you. I may have not had parents, but I had Headmaster Andla. Despite her not being blood, I was still a mamma's boy. Attached to her hip like a whale to its mother. And I had a very blunt attitude, as well as complaining," he pointed at her, "which you seem to do a lot of."

She doesn't get offended. She just gave him a knowing look, he was right. Karissa wasn't used to long travel, especially on foot. Hell she hadn't been beyond her town since she was only an infant, times she couldn't recall in her memory. "Now," Chasm nodded with a small smile, "shall we continue through this lovely terrain before us?" She looked around them. It truly was a sight she'd never seen before in person, only pictures and paintings. The mountains towered over thousands of trees in the woods where they stood. While there were mountains bordering the Northeast of home, they weren't near as wonderful as the ones before her. These mountains were greener, decorated with thick layers of snow. Trees also lightly decorated the small cliffs around some of them, their roots veining into the sides. The stars speckled brightly above her, the storm that they'd left in now passed, "Yeah," she said, "Let's keep going."

As they walked, the forest grew denser, darker. Starlight peeked through small gaps in the leaves, making it look as though light danced on the ground she stepped on with her worn and torn boots. The leather had slowly aged with time, small animals occasionally using them as home or a scratching post. She could feel the breeze through her cold feet as it blew through the small holes in the front.

Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath their feet, and Chasm grabbed her upper arm tightly. "Hide." He hissed as he pulled Karissa over to a large willow tree, its large trunk enough to conceal them both as he wrapped his arms around her. Fear sunk in as Karissa realized how hard his heart was pounding. She could feel his genuine horror as they stayed pressed against the tree trunk.

Leaves crunched and rustled in the ground on the other side, out of her view. Something began to sniff loudly and rapidly as it continued to stomp around. A voice spoke, but Karissa could only make out a few words, "Hunt.....find.....where is it..." Chasm stood firm, holding her tightly. The rustling continued for a moment, and slowly began to fade into the distance. "Stay calm, child." Chasm whispered, "It's going away. Best not to ask until you get to your classes. You will learn in time about everything this world has to offer." The word everything made chills run down her spine. He let go of her and took a step back, looking around before speaking again, "We must move with purpose. There could be more. Come now." And with that, he took her by the hand and they resumed the journey.

* * *

By the time the trees started to clear, it was nearly dusk. With small stops, Chasm and Karissa made it out of the woods. They stopped again at a small lake. Karissa sighed, "Please tell me we're almost there. It can't be much farther, right?" He smiled. "Look." He said, pointing North of the lake. She turned to look where he was pointing, and in the distance stood a very tall fence, the gate's shadow towered over a quarter of the lake. Woah, Karissa thought. She looked back as Chasm, who was smiling at her. He raised a brow, "Fun, huh?" She laughed, "This is just completely insane." She looked back at the gate, "How long has this place even been here?"

"Longer than your mother and I were even thought of." He said, "Come on, let's get you where you need to be." He lead her to the gate. Right at the inside stood a tall woman with hair so blonde it was almost white. Her green eyes shimmered as she smiled at the two. "My Goddess, Chasm," She chuckled as she opened the gate, "that took a while." Chasm rolled his eyes. "South Town, dearest." He smiled, "You know how they can be. Must be careful when retrieving the young ones."

"And who is this sweet dove?" She asked and smiled at Karissa. Chasm smiled, "Juniper's daughter." The color faded from the woman's face as she looked back at him. "JJ's what?" Her eyes widened. He nodded with a sigh, "She's eighteen now, Delta. It's well overdue." Delta breathed away the shock, putting a smile back on her slim face, "Then let's get you both inside." She then flicked her wrists and the gate unlocked with an echoing click. Chasm opened the gate for Karissa to walk in.

Once they entered, Delta motioned her arm in a circular motion, and the gate locked once again. Then, she walked up to Chasm and gently rubbed his shoulder, "Welcome back home, amour." He rubbed her chin with his index finger, "Thank you." Karissa smiled in realization, "She's your wife." Delta turned to her and nodded. "Professor Delta, dear," she said, "and yes. Chasm is my mate." She held her left hand up, showing a ring with a small red ruby on it. Karissa looked at Chasm's hand to see he matched, only his ring was a green jewel. Color coordinated, she thought, their eyes.

Chasm motioned to Karissa for her to follow, so she did. He lead her down a dirt trail, small houses and appliances scattered throughout the acres. In front of them, a castle-like structure stood tall, stairs leading up to the entry. Not many stairs, just two small flights. They walked up together, and Chasm handed her the bag she'd handed him prior to leaving her town. She smiled as she took it from him. "Now," he said, "I will take you to your dormitory, and there you'll see your roommates are asleep. Don't wake them, it's rude, but you all have a space of your own, and there is already some extra clothing and other supplies provided in your space. Only con is there is one bathroom." He smiled and offered his arm.

The dormitory was on the third floor in the left of the building. The entire walk, Karissa held onto Chasm's arm and stared in awe at the sights around her. On the first floor was long halls, what looked like classroom entries, and a doorway to a room with tons of tables and chairs, assumably the dining room. The halls were decorated with photos, small cracks, windows and torch lights. The second floor was the same except there was a doorway leading to what looked to be a very large library. Finally, the third floor, which was very different. The lights on the walls were dimmer, and at each end of the halls was a tall window that the moonlight glistened in.

Chasm stopped in front of one of the doors, losing her hold on him. "This is where you'll be staying now." He handed her a small key, "This is your responsibility, as well as keeping up with your books and laundry. Which, by the way," A map appeared in his hand through burning embers, "this will help you get around. It's a map of each floor separately." She took the map and nodded. "Alright then," He turned to walk away, "blessed be, student. Get some rest!" Karissa smiled as he walked away. "Professor." She called after him. "Yes?" He turned. His red eyes almost glowed in the dim light. "Thank you for bringing me here. I'm grateful for this.." He seemed surprised at her gratitude, as if it wasn't every day a student gave thanks. He gave her a smile, "Goodnight, child."