The Archetype Chronicles

4: Cloudstone

Through the forest and foliage walked two figures. Gabriel and Lance had been travelling for two days now, and on that second afternoon they came across an unusual and rare sight.

Since morning they travelled into increasingly forested territory. The vertical bars of the trees grew more and more common as the day wore on. The light began to fade, not because the afternoon sun was setting, but because the tree branches began to grow closer and closer to one another, creating a natural roof in places. The limbs reached out to each other, sometimes intertwining with each other like hands, and sometimes keeping to themselves. This left holes cut in the canopy here and there through which the golden-white light fell in slanted columns on the forest floor.

Presently, the two began to walk up an incline to the crest of a hill. The top was very flat, and the trees still roofed the ground. The decline of the trees on any side of the hill mimicked for Gabriel and Lance a kind of wall, which gave the entire hill the feeling of a cavernous space or cathedral. Near the middle of the space was a circular area in which the grass did not grow, but was superseded by a jagged rocky surface. Though grey at the edges, the color of stone turned milky white near the center. Floating, free of any scaffold, directly above the center was a white orb that was slightly larger than an apple, and made, it appeared, of the same material as the stone below it. To finalize the suggestion of hallowed ground on that hilltop, one particular column of light fell very nicely on the floating sphere.

"Incredible," Lance said as he began jogging toward the orb. He looked very eager to reach it and take it in his hands, but halfway there realized how tired he had become after walking for so long. He thought about his exercise routines. Where they so inadequate? Had they left him so weak? Now he was only twenty yards away and struggling noticeably. It was as if he was being pulled away from the orb by some unknown force. Suddenly, he noticed the sharp tug around his chest, and felt that he had come to a complete stop. At this realization, he cried out to Gabriel, who was still far behind,"Something has hold of me! What is happening." As he continued to strain and grunt, he looked back to see why his partner had not flown to his aid. He saw Gabriel about fifty yards away, laying his belt, which held his sheath and sword, on the ground. He continued to walk casually toward Lance. "What?" Lance said, now confused, "Help me!"

With his head turned and while he said this, he finally saw his assailant. The bow and quiver that typically hung at his back were hovering in the air behind him and pulling him backward. The strap by which they hung kept them attached and, as Lance later claimed, felt much like an arm or tentacle wrapped around his torso. He relaxed, but when he did, the force pulling him back did not. As a result, he immediately fell on his back and was drug several feet further before he came to rest. Then he saw Gabriel walking near to stand above him and laugh gently.

He pointed to the orb and asked Lance,"Do you know what that is." Lance stared back, expecting an answer. "It's called Cloudstone," Gabriel explained, "It's something like a magnet." Then he made a motion that looked like he was taking, say, a bow and quiver, off his back, and continued walking toward the orb. Lance realized that the metal in his bow and arrowheads were what caused him to be repelled. He got up and attempted to remove his weapon only to find that there was still force behind it and he fell down again. After fumbling for a moment, he scrambled to join Gabriel. He was so entranced by the floating object that he set aside all the embarrassment of his incident and knelt at the sphere, looking, but hesitating to touch.

I believe I have read about this." he said with wide eyes. "I don't know how I could have forgotten. It is so much more impressive in person. Almost immaculate."

"Yes, very," replied Gabriel." You know, I don't think anyone has found an exposed vein of cloudstone in a decades."

"I would not be surprised, friend. These woods are dark and foreign. Not a place that one wants to be caught alone. Thieves and bandits seem to thrive in these roofed forests you understand. No wise man would come here unless he was only passing through."

"Then perhaps you would like to continue passing through before dark? But --"

"Oh, but if only we could bring this with us! It is fascinating." Lance interrupted while passing his hand under the cloudstone repeatedly.

"Well, I was beginning to say something about that." said Gabriel. After saying this, he held out something to Lance. It was a piece of cloth. Lance took it in his hand. He felt that it was made of some sort of metallic fiber that he couldn't identify. It gave a dull glare when light passed over it like a kind of pseudo-metal.

"What is it?" asked Lance.

"Wrap the cloudstone in it." Came the reply," My father gave it to me when I was much younger, but I've never used it myself. It keeps the cloudstone from moving things. Neutralizes the magnetic properties I guess. Go ahead and try it." Lance looked at the cloth for a moment as if he doubted it's power, then as if it were the most magical thing he'd ever seen, and finally as if it were an ancient and fragile heirloom. With a sober expression, he turned and began wrapping the orb. Once covered, it fell and he only barely kept it from falling. "It should be solid like a rock." Said Gabriel reassuringly," No worries." Then Lance noticed how hard it was, but how light at the same time.

"Incredible stuff." said he as he handed Gabriel the bundle. Then they retrieved their things, Gabriel placed the cloudstone in his pouch, and they resumed their journey.