Escaping the End of the World

341 Days Remaining

          From the falls, I traveled north toward Aelkus, and beyond the northern capitol of Saeressia, Naldorami, leaving my past behind me and the life I used to know.  I followed the Naldoryss River skirting the forest's edge not a far distance from the road.  Most of the main roads in Saeressia, laid out by cobblestone and lamp light every ten or twenty meters, were set in close to the rivers, making a path of travel that felt more natural opposed to how I heard they did it in North Nuveria on the other side of the World Sea.   

         North Nuveria was more of a calculating place where the humans live along side the dwarves.  I heard they were a cold people, the humans, a people with a focus on technology and arithmetic, relying on logic rather than the divine.   Of course, every now and again, we would see the human kind over in Saeressia.  Diplomats visiting, or tourists going to see the great grandeur that Eltharonn was known for was quite common, but it was uncommon to see a dwarf in these parts. 

         Saeressia, in contrast to North Nuveria, was filled with a complex people.  Saeressia was divided into two parts, Eltharonn, translated to the Elf Lands in the common tongue, and Dal'gaashi, which, if I had to guess, probably meant something vulgar for it was the land of the orcish people.  Eltharonn was then split into two other parts, Nordaeronn and Saldaeronn, the lands of the northern elves and the southern elves.  Both of our lands was ruled by the Lord Magistrate, but our cultures were far different.  Saldaeronn favored luxury and beauties while Nordaeronn favored equality and a fulfilling life.  Quite different indeed, and was why it was a good thing  Dal'gaashi was east of Nordaeronn for they were a ravenous people, I am told, thirsting for the blood of any man, woman, or child they could get their hands on. 

          The history books told of a one-thousand-year war between the elves of Saeressia and the orcs of Dal'gaashi.  A simple look at a map would point out their War-Capitol City Grod sitting atop the border line between Eltharonn and that savage wasteland.  Even the river detailed on the map was bending at harsh angles.  Good thing we were in a time of peace.  Though, I wouldn't find it surprising if the orcs stirred up an end-of-the-world war.

          Speaking of maps, it would do me good to grab one the next town I ran into.  I'm not too sure how far out Aelkus was from the falls, but I figure it must be some distance. 

           I continued walking along the shallow parts of the riverside, enjoying the warm breeze blowing through the trees while I still could.  The farther north I went, the colder the air was going to get.  Spring in the north was only luke-warm around this time and I'm afraid my current wardrobe would do quite poorly in that weather.

          You see, in Saldaeronn, beauty was capitalized on, and since it was so warm in the south,  it was scarce you'll find anyone in a cowl, or wearing anything less than revealing.  Men walked around all day shirtless and in flowing shorts, while the women walked around with gold-bedazzled, or rich-fabric tops and bottoms, revealing their stomach and legs.  The heat in the south was so intense in the late spring and early summer that you would be risking the danger of death by heat otherwise.  Even the poor and the slaves wore things similar since the market in Saldaeronn was just so rich.  Lelthaaris Port imports and exports only the most luxurious goods from all over the world.   

          But with no gold, I would just have to make due with what I have.

          Clip clop, clip clop.  I heard the sound of a horse's hooves pounding on the cobblestone from behind me.

           Oh Goddess, no.  Could it be that the magistrate's guard was looking for me?  What was I going do?  I could not go back!  I would not allow myself to work as a slave for the remaining days of my life on this planet.  The sound of the horse's galloping grew closer and closer.  I looked over my shoulder casually and spot a male rider on a white horse, approaching quickly.   The horse slowed to a stop.  "Ah, good lady.  What is it you are doing out in the country so early in the day!"  The man said.