The Quest

Destruction

Timothy sat on the plush bed in his guest room. The room was larger than his whole house back in Miller and his bed was almost bigger than his room in his old house. There was a golden chandalier hanging from the ceiling with candles at each branch of it. A large window looked out over the castle walls into the town square where he could see lots of people shopping and talking. Timothy wasn't part of any of that. He was reading his masters will. There wasn't much to it. He was left the blacksmiths house and small house behind it. He sighed. He knew everything the master knew about creating weapons and armour but it wouldn't be the same. Rising early to light the forges would only be for his own benefit.
God, he thought, I'm only 16. How am I going to run a blacksmith's shop on my own.
He considered getting an apprentice but he was to young for that and he wasn't considered a master yet. Without realizing there were tears welling up in his eyes. He wasn't even sure if he would be able to go back there. There were to many memories.
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood up. He looked himself over in the mirror. He stood at about 5'5" with dirty blonde hair and grey stormy eyes. He was a light to medium build because he did little of the hammering when creating the weapons.
That's it, it's time I headed home and started my craft. He might not have liked it, but he would play the hand life had dealt him. He packed up his bag, with the few belongings he had including his sword and the food he was given for the journey back.

On his way out he swung by the throne room to say goodbye to the king. He passed through long halls covered in gold leal and expensive carpets. Once he reached the throne room he was stopped by the two guards. They told him the king was in a meeting and would be able to speak soon. He stood and waited, he wanted to tell him about the swordsman he met in the forest. He hadn't said anything after the way the king spoke of his brother. There had been bitterness in his voice. But he had to say something before he left.

The doors open slowly and a tall bearded man skulked out. He stood in front of Timothy and scowled down at him. His hair was snow white and his beard reached down below his belt. He wore blood red robes, the robes of a fire wizard.
"And what might you be doing here, urchin?" He asked in a high but gravely voice. Timothy stared, he was no urchin. He had a home and he didn't beg. He knew this man was more powerful than him and could most likely turn him to dust, but he was angry. He didn't take kindly to insults.
Timothy was dwarfed by the man but he stood at full height and stared into the man's eyes. He was about to say some words that would have most likely gotten him incinerated, but the king came out and interrupted.
"Timothy, my boy, I thought you were headed home today."
Timothy continued to stare into the wizard's eyes. The wizard broke contact and continued on his way down the hall. Timothy glared after him, but was quickly pulled into the throne room by the king.
"I see you met my royal advisor." he said as he walked twords his throne.
"What's his problem?" Timothy asked.
"He doesn't like the idea of commoners staying in the castle, but he advises, he doesn't rule. But that's beside the fact, what brings you back here to my throne room?"
"

My lord I forgot something yesterday when we were talking."
"Well, what?"
"It's about someone I met two days ago on my way to the castle."
"Who was it?" He asked. The king was very interested at this point.
"It was.......umm...your brother." The king leaned back in his throne. He didn't say anything for a while, he just stared into space.
"Are you sure it was him?" He asked after what felt like an eternity.
"He looked exactly as he did in the painting."
The king stood up to look at the said painting. He stared into the eyes of his painted brother and sighed, "Thank you for telling me Timothy, I will send out a search party but he will have moved on by now. I am not proud of what I said to my brother all those years ago and I wish to rectify it. If you see him again please tell him I want..or need to see him."
"I will."
"Thank you, please visit another time and I expect to see the best weapons come out of you forges."

Timothy waved goodbye and left the castle. He spent the last of his spending money on some food and some supplies for getting started back home. He was on the path home by sunrise and was halfway through the forest when he saw it. A large plume of smoke rising in the distance. He brushed it off but was unsettled and started walking faster. A few hours before sundown he was almost to the break in the trees.the smoke was closer and darker, and it looked like it was rising from over Millers. He started to run and broke out of the forest.

In front of him was what was left of his home town. Everything made of wood was burned and only stone foundations were left. He walked into the center of town and beheld what he saw. In the exact center of town was a dark purple flag with a red lightning bolt in the center.

"I'm sorry."

Timothy spun around to face the bell tower and on top of the stone was the swordsman Pendleton.

"I knew he would come back but I had no idea he would strike so far south. I showed up to late.....he had already left and there was no way to stop it."

Timothy turned away and stared at the carnage in front of him.
"Who?" He said, barely whispering.
"What?"
"I said, 'who', as in who did this?" He was shouting at this point.
"Zhen Su. He wanted the location of his defeat wiped off the face of the earth." Timothy stood with clenched fists and tears in his eyes, "I'm going to make him pay. He will pay if it is the last thing I do."