The story of Aldorem

Chapter Three; Part I: Going outside

It's already the first of July, and the hot summer days are coming to an end. Over the last few days the temperature dropped significantly, but still it seems like it is going to be a beautiful day again. The last two months since my birthday weren't so exciting, but they were still quite nice. I was often by my friends and played with them. Furthermore, I went often to my favourite spot outside the chasm.

It is still early in the morning as on the top most part of the chasm still wasn't any sight of light. I just had awoken from my refreshing sleep and already had my plans decided, I would venture outside.

So after breakfast, I took my pocket knife and a backpack—filled with food and other useful stuff-- and went to the only way out from here—the staircase. For my parents, who were still peaceful sleeping, unbeknownst what I am doing, I left just a piece of paper saying, that I am just by a friend, don't worry I will be back late.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened on the way. The only thing worth noting was that there were almost no people on the street. Due to being still asleep, as today was day off for most of Aldorem.

So I could the stairs up unnoticed from all, I reached the end after 1.5 hours and a little break halfway. During the break, I ate my lunch and enjoyed the view over the beautiful city and its increasingly crowded alleyways.

The stairs end in the north-east, so I have to walk south-east for a while before I reach my favourite spot. The path leads first through a dark green, scary and thick forest, then across far stretching green plains with only a few solitary trees and at last I just have to cross a stony, old bridge going over the stream coming from the east before arriving at the spot.

The bridge had properly been built from an ancient society, century's ago. I am the only person knowing it, as it is quite hidden from the eye due to being overgrown by vines and conquered by nature as well as the way that could have been here hundred years ago. The first time I found it was long ago when I journeyed along the river for a bit, back then I removed some vines, and found carved in the stone old writings and symbols. But still until today I don't know a single thing about them.

After a short rest in the shade of a tree to rest from my exhausting climb, I went towards the forest. It is actually just a few hundred meters south from the end of the stairs. Back then, when I first was up here, I felt strange chill looking at the forest and always made sure to keep my distance to it, and to this day the feeling remained. Even though I made my way trough it quite often, so I gathered again my courage and went straight up near the forest, there I searched before going into the forest, I looked a bit around and found what I was searching for. A symbols carved in a tree that I made to keep me orientate. I made every few trees another symbol so I could just follow them. Without them I would loose my way fast, because there is no chance to orientate within the forest everything looks about the same.

I made it pretty fast through the scary forest without any issue, thanks to the marks I left and my loyal pocket knife. With which I cut my way through the scrubs in the forest.

Half an hour it took me get to the beginning of the plains. I emerged too far east out of the forest, because going more south within the forest would get me into Wig'ry territory – marked with claw prints on the trees.

The position isn't much of a problem; on the plains travelling is fast, easy and finding the right way is easy, even though the grass is hip high. I crossed the plains rapidly on foot and then walked across the bridge, which stood still sturdy after all the time it had existed. As always I stayed on it for some time, enjoying the gorgeous view down the stream. But the break wasn't long until I decided, I would go further.

When I arrived at the place I love most, nothing had changed; the tree was still there, the stream was flowing normally, and the view was the same as it had been so many times before. Even though everything was the same, it felt like a huge weight lifted from me when I arrived here. I felt safe and home.

Looking around for 15 minutes and just enjoying the atmosphere, I went to the tree and walked behind it. There I reached into a hole, under a huge root. I took out an almost finished wood carving; it looks like a mighty eagle sitting upon a mountain. It is a work of mine that I started just half a week after my birthday. It will be a gift for my dad as a thank-you for the strengthening stone. Today would be the day I finally finish it, so I hoped.

I sat under the tree and carved until the sun was well past its zenith. When I finished the final details, I withdrew the blade of my pocket knife and put the carving in my rucksack.

I packed everything together and made my way back. I felt really good that I finally finished my carving, and so I went happily over the bridge and through the plains while thinking about my dad's reaction to seeing the finished carving.