Light Rising

Chapter 1: Where it Begins

     When he woke, he was in a tree. he always slept in a tree. He didn't trust the ground. He didn't trust many people. He really doesn't trust the Supreme Command, the national government and army. Shadow was once a soldier. And a good one at that. Then, he got discharged. Ever since then, he's hated the government. They were corrupt. Or shadow thought so. The troops in the army didn't see it. Even the towns people of the Capital didn't see it. But, behind closed doors things happened that never reach the streets.

     If he's in the capital district and he see's a patrol he'll attack them. Outside the capital district, it all depends. last night he saw a patrol of six. He killed five, the last one was no where to be found. He tracked him for a couple of miles and realized that he was headed to the Capital. That's when he climbed a tree and slept.

     Shadow grabbed his short-swords and climbed out of the tree. He decided to go to the outskirts of the Capital and watch for activity. It was his way. So, he got on his way.

     When he got there, the city looked normal. People coming and going. Merchants with their carts in and out. Shadow climbed a tree as a vantage point. He sat on a branch at a great height. As he watched the city, he noticed that not many soldiers were in sight. They were usually in fours or fives. Today they were alone. Shadow wondered why.

     Then, he realized they might have patrols looking for him. Maybe they didn't get a good look at me, because it was dark, Shadow thought. Shadow had learned that they could identify him by what he wore. His black Kefta. Although he learned to never underestimate Supreme.

He climbed out of the tree, flipped up the hood of his dark blue cloak, and made his way into the city. He figured on going to the Drunken Serpent. It was a middle class bar and inn at the capital center. It was the best and most successful of it's kind. That means the Supreme Patrols would be there, too. Shadow didn't know if he should be in the city or not. But, Shadow didn't care. If the Supreme saw him he could outrun them or fight just as well. Shadow had taken out a whole squadron of Supreme soldiers after he was discharged. He had counted at least sixteen soldiers. All that was left was the bloody ground and him standing in the dawn of the morning. As he climbed down he felt uneasy on his decision to enter the city. But he made his way in just as well. He passed the gates without even a glance. Making his way into the heart of the city he felt the stares of the soldiers standing near by. But they would never make a move towards him without a command or provocation. They knew too well the stories of how Shadow killed the squadron of soldiers. They kept watching him as he entered the town center. Making his way to the Serpent he found it where he had left it so many times. Walking in it had the same rum and bread smell he loved. But now wasn't the time to reminisce on his past. The Serpent was a classy inn with many tables and a long bar that lined one side. At the bar we're the usual drunks. Shadow recognized many of them. At the tables sat townspeople and soldiers. Though the soldiers were in very small numbers. Maybe 4 or 5. Shadow finds a table in a corner and sits down facing the door. He makes sure to keep his head down as more soldiers are coming in. Shadow realizes it's about dinner time for them. A waitress comes over to Shadow.
"What can i get for ya?" She asks.
Shadow looks up to see a young woman in a dress.
"The house special and a cup of brew." He says.
"Coming up." She says as she turns and walks away.
Shadow can't help but over hear some of the conversations around him. People talking about a wild dog in the city. Others talking of a deranged man who lives near the west wall. Then he hears a pair of soldiers talking of a person killing patrols outside the city. Now Shadow is interested. As he keeps listening he hears the plans of the Supreme. The soldiers say that they plan to start a massive man hunt. Searching for him. But as shadow knows, They'll never find him. The waitress comes back with his food and drink and he gives her the coin.
Shadow sits for a while as he listens and watches the people come in and out. Getting food and drinks. A pair of fellows laughing and talking as they drink from two big mugs. Brew no doubt. He sees two more soldiers come in. They look around and Shadow keeps his eyes down. As they are an orange of sorts. People have told him they look like a dark orange. Almost red, but he's never seen them. When he looks in a mirror his eyes look dark brown. He's never known why. Also, he's never sought an answer.
As the soldiers walk in they sit with the other two. They drop down in a seat and start babbling about the day they had. Going into a comparison of they days each has had to "win" a drink. A lot of the soldiers do this. The one who is decided to have a boring day loses and buys the others drinks. But the winner who is decided to have the best day wins a meal as well.
Shadow has heard enough as he gets up keeping his head down moves around the back of the bar towards the door. He steps out without a problem from anyone inside. He steps into the street and it's getting dark quickly. Shadow must have lost track of time. He moves towards the market district. Shadow has had his two shirt swords for a long time. He needs either new ones or a restoration for his own. He doesn't like not having them. But if it comes to it he'll have to deal with it.
The street is getting a little more crowded as people are headed home or finding their final shoppings. Shadow moves quickly through he crowd. Slicing through groups of people keeping his eyes down and his hood up. He finds the shop he's looking for. The blacksmith. He steps inside and finds the shop is empty except for the keeper, Argin. Shadow has known him since he started work as a soldier in the city.
As the keeper turns around his face goes from a smile to a bigger, real smile.
"Shadow?" He says in a heavy accent.
"Shhhh!" Shadows says as he puts his finger to his mouth.
Argin looks confused as he says, "what?"
"I'll explain later I don't have much time. Latest talk in the backroom."
Argin gestures to Shadow and he locks the front door before they move to the backroom.
"What is it Shadow?" Argin asks. Shadow can see he is genuinely concerned.
"I need new swords. What can you do for me?" Shadow asks.
"Well, lets have a look."
Shadow takes his swords and sets them on the table in the middle of the room. Argin looks them over for a few minutes.
"Looks like you've been hitting rocks." Argin says smiling.
"Comical Argin." Shadow says returning the smile and pulling down his hood.
"Well," Argin says turning over a sword in his hands. "I could sell you new ones, but you know they're not going to be as good as these. These are made of what I call diamond metal. It's as hard as diamond and looks like metal. Where do you get these?"
"During the United Wars. I was in Dopravin and I found these in a shop during the pause we had. They were at a very good price so I got them." Shadow explained.
"Well, it was a very good find. I could just fix these. Make them look brand new. And I could make them very sharp."
"How sharp?" Shadow asked.
Argin chuckled. "Sharp enough to chop a man in two with ease."
"Excellent. How long?"
"Patience, Shadow. Something you've never had." Argin looked over the swords. "Maybe, half a day. If I were to get help in the store I could work on these and have them ready by mid day."
"Excellent." Shadow says as he pulls out a coin pouch and drops on the table.
"That's a lot. I couldn't possibly..."
"Nonsense." Shadow said. "You do very good work. I've bought many things from you and I've never had a problem." Shadow says as he gives him the scabbards as well.
"Thank you very much my friend. You have no idea how much this helps." Argin says with a huge smile on his face.
"Right. Could I use a pair while you're working on these?" Shadow asks. While in the city he needs protection.
"Yes my friend. I have these." He says as he pulls out two plain short swords.
"These will have to work." Shadow says. He takes the scabbards and swords and heads out of the store.
It's dark now and shadow flips up his hood. Shadows always had a place to stay in the city. It's a small run down two story building that people in the city say it's haunted by a hostile and ghastly fiend. It only scurries about at night. Shadow doesn't believe in such things. So he sleeps there while he's in the city. As he's made his own bed on the top floor.
Taking the backstreets to avoid bringing attention to himself he finds the old building. He hurried inside and makes his way to the top floor. Taking his hood off and setting his swords to the side he lays in the bed and falls fast asleep.

In his dreams Shadow is standing in an open field. Looking around he notices all the bright colored flowers all over the field. Also he's wearing a black cloak with gold cuffs, black trousers, and black boots. He looks up and sees a woman in an eccentric gold lace dress with a crown on standing in front of him.
"My son." She says. Her voice seems to resonate through out the field. "You have shown great strength in your journeys thus far. You must stay strong as your next journey will take you to a land of  mysteries. One you have never imagined. Stay strong my son. As you will find your true power."
And just like that. She was gone. Disappeared into a white light.

When Shadow woke he felt both renewed and exhausted. He remembered the dream he had. The woman in gold. Her voice. Her words. He didn't know who she was or why she spoke to him. Shadow heard of the Gods coming to people in their dreams. Speaking the them. But it's never happened to him. Maybe it did last night. Shadow didn't know. But he couldn't lay here forever. He got out of bed and put on his swords and good he went downstairs and out into the backstreet. The town was alive with the townspeople. Going here and there. That meant guards as well. Shadow knew the routes they took on patrol. The most crowded streets and the hotspots in the alleys for teens to get in trouble. He would avoid those as he wanted no attention.
He made his way down the alley and looked up. He saw it was almost mid day. He never slept past morning light. But just as well he had. He made his way into the busy street keeping his eyes down. Making his way towards Argin's store he heard shouting in the distance. He looked up and saw soldiers on horse back. Their red armor made them stick out. Shadow moved into an alley and stood as they came closer. People started moving to the side as they passed. Shadow noticed one man in the middle of the convoy. He didn't wear armor. He wore a red cloak with white cuffs. He looked to have a high esteem in the Command. Then, as they got closer he saw who it was. The Commander himself. How Shadow wanted him gone. But not here. Not now. Shadow would wait. Till he had the chance. The right moment. As they passed Shadow stayed hidden in the shadows. Hence the name he was given. He moved out into the street as the last of the soldiers passed. Moving quickly now as there would be more soldiers to fall behind the convoy cleaning up any disturbances in the streets. He found the store not long after and walked in quickly. Argin wasn't in the store. A young woman stood behind the counter looking at him with wide eyes and a huge smile.
"You must be the man Argin's waiting on." She said.
"Yes. Is he in the back?" Shadow said taking off his hood.
The woman seemed to hesitate. Then, she said, "Yes he is. Just go on back."
"Thank you." He said in his deep voice.
He headed back to where Argin has his swords. He was standing over them looking them over.
"So how are they?" Shadow asked.
"They're good my friend. Needed a sharpening. And I have them new handles and a new symbol on the hilt."
Shadow picked one up and turned it over in his hand. It was lighter than he remembered. The blade looked sharp enough to cut a good tree in two. The handle was black with finger indentions in them. The hilt has what looked like a dragon. It was a dark blue with white eyes. Shadow was impressed. He's never seen anything like this.
"I've also made you a new cloak. That one you have now looks old. With some of the coin you gave me I had a new one made."
Shadow was intrigued by Argin. He always knew what a warrior needed. Argin moved to a wardrobe and pulled out a cloak. It was black with gold cuffs and a hood.
"As you will find your true power." Shadow remembered what he was wearing in his dream. Black cloak with gold cuffs. What the woman said to him. It sent chills down his spine.
Shadow took it and said, "This is nice Argin."
"I got it sewn in a shop down the way. Told them it was needed in a hurry for one of my well paying customers. Paid a pretty penny for it. But nothing compared to what you gave me." He said in a smile.
"Well, keep it. Use it wisely." Shadow said.
"I will. Put it on, Shadow. Let's see it."
Shadow stepped behind one of the shelves in the room. Took his cloak off and put the other one on. It fit really well. Like confirmed to his skin. He flipped his hood up and stepped out from behind the shelves.
"Oh wow." Argin said.
"It fits well." Shadow said rubbing his hands up and down the arms.
"I'm glad it does." Argin said.
Shadow heard loud footsteps from out in the store. He froze listening. Muffled voices he couldn't make out. Then loud crashes.
"Sorry, my friend. But I think it's time for you to leave."
"Just as well. Is there another way out?" Shadow asked hastily as he put his swords in their scabbards and onto his sides.
"Yes. Through there." Argin pointed to a door behind the shelves.
"Thank you. Don't get in trouble." Shadow said walking to the door.
"Let's hope not." Argin said moving towards the store.
Shadow moved out of the door slowly and saw no one in the alley. He turned and headed away from the store.
"You! Stop!"
Shadow turned to see several men down the alley. Shadow took off through the alley. Taking turns down others as he went, he could hear the men still pursuing him.
He turned a corner and felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. Then, his vision went black.