Settle

Legend - Prologue

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Everyone knows the legend of Fortis, and how it came to fall. The prophesy which followed no one expected to come to pass. The sun was sitting peacefully just above the horizon, elongating shadows caused by buildings and people alike. I remember the colours laced throughout my home city in the form of vibrant flags, more than the features of the soldiers face which brought the lives of thousands crashing down. It was in the depths of autumn, and the guards were set to switch. The soldier rode in upon a thoroughbred, the air about him holding nothing but arrogance. No one spoke out against his presence and to this day I don't understand why. The horse trotted into the centre of town stopping in front of Misty's mask shop; the only shop within the cities walls which the Royals visited. The second he'd halted the ivory horn sounded. All citizens turned running into homes and quickly closing shops, but it was a fruitless effort. Those closest to the Eastern wall were immediately overrun by ephemeral creatures and skeletal monsters. A strange mist held the city hostage as the creatures gorged themselves on our mundane souls, reminding us of our mistakes and darkest memories. The infection, the creatures, swarmed the rest of the city mainly destroying the slums which outline the cities outer walls. Eyelessness is most definitely a terrifying trait; the monsters eyeless glare was more fierce than the flames which had by that point begun to climb towards the sky. My vision began to blur as I ran towards the Iron Gate which had protected us from all evils except this. It was lowered before I managed to slide underneath its battered iron jaws. I stopped banging a tightly clenched fist against its rusted expanse. Turning, running, stumbling I picked my way through the thickening smoke. Avoiding rapidly collapsing buildings and monster filled alleyways. Trying to locate family members, screaming each and every individuals name at the top of my lungs.

Spotting a hole in the cities western side, stuffing down my guilt, I ran for it. Snagging my leg on the jagged stone work, I continued regardless. Sprinting until I was far outside the protective boundaries of Fortis. With tears filling my eyes, a heart full of pain and lungs lacking air I stopped. Looking back at the wreck of a once great city. Never did I have as much hate for both the soldier and myself in that moment. Him because he brought those godforsaken things in and me because instead of trying to help the situation I ran like the child, the coward, I am. Climbing a shallow slope to the left of the Teldon River, trying to block the screams rising from the smoke. Reaching the top of hill, I scanned the surrounding land, hoping to find others which had fled the city. I drew a blank, nothing of human derivative sat on in the vicinity. Settling down, I directed my view once again to Fortis, its ember light illuminating everything except the void sky. I allowed my pent up tears to cascade freely down my cheeks.

To this day the sight of the inferno and the cowardly emotion which coursed through me haunt me. The sickness of guilt, I was the only one to survive. An yet the least worthy of life. My family nothing more than a distant memory, I don't know if they were spared, murdered or changed into one of the mindless monsters which helped rip everything apart. Fortis has always sat on a knife edge, trade routes not passing us anymore due to the anger between regions. The farms close by not producing nearly enough food to keep the city during the fast approaching winter. We'd have all starved to death, the city lost to poverty within a few months. Everything written in the cards spelled disaster for us, the soldier simply sped up the fall of Fortis.

Some people say that it is better not to interfere with the unknown, however if everyone thought that way nothing would be discovered. So being curious is not a crime, in my opinion it makes a person unique because there are so many different things to be curious about. Some people might think that I am mad to even attempt to get back into Fortis and find out what happened to my family, others would think I am simply curious. So as you can see without curiosity we would not know half the things we know now. My name is Baisakhi Lunar Chalawell I come from Fortis, a town in the shadow of the great castle in which a great princess would one day rule, or so everyone thought. In the confusion which followed the soldier's arrival, she had disappeared without a trace. What I've failed to mention so far is that legend also tells of an unlikely hero will return to Fortis and enter the Temple of Darkness. Once inside the hero will have to fight deadly creatures on their way to a hexagonal room holding the Master Sword.  But as I said, it's legend.