Deadlands

Chapter 15 - Yet Another Burden

As everything else around me had finally came into perfect focus I then realized what I had, floating around my hands and the inside of me. It made sense now, the powdery, red juices from the essence, the weird visions, and the way Isabelle and Aehrith both looked at me. I have it now, it's another burden I'll have to carry; the burden of being a mage. I tried getting up but I ended up shaking the ground.

"Woah- Ferrin!" Meridale shouted. "My dear, are you alright!"

"Alright?" I asked. "I've never felt better!"

"Great, because we have to get a move on!" She shouted as she grabbed my wrist to then help me up, avoiding my hands still producing the magic. The clouds that used to be black were now an overcast grey producing a slight flurry. The walled village of Towen was now crumbling in fire and wreckage. I heard children scream out as their voices echoed into the empty, soulless village as the chaos continued. I couldn't help but to stop and stare, wondering if I could save the villagers, hoping they would all be okay. I felt something haunt over me... Not only was it the feeling of losing lives I could now save, but it was Emalia standing behind me on a higher level. She caused me to look at her as she was just looking at me, concerned. Shaking her head in a subtle manner, she spouted a few words.

"I know," she said as a tear fell from her face, "but we need to keep going.."

"I'd rather die happy.." I said quietly, turning back around.

"How can you die happy knowing you've failed your wife, your children, that spirit you talk to, and all of the creed. Not to mention the possible future of all life here- and back where you came from!" She said. I thought about that for a moment, taking it in. I knew both choices had consequences, but I could only choose one. Something clicked in my brain and suddenly I felt that everything will be okay; that the villagers here will be fine, even in their terror. I then blinked slowly, turned around again and began walking towards our destination. The group soon followed and Meridale and Aehrith soon went in front and lead the way.

"You were hard to find, Ferrin." Aehrith said. "If it weren't for the scent of magic, I don't think you would have stayed alive."

"...luckily I was there, so that Ferrin were to be found." Isabelle interrupted. I just had my head, slightly tilted forward, looking down, feeling ill in my stomach with this new power inside me. It seemed to be draining me yet keeping me awake and alive, like it's taking over me. I kept blinking more frequently than I used to. After every step It seemed to get worse. I then stopped and shut my eyes. The rest of the group stopped as well and I rubbed my eyes, forgetting that they were still glowing. I pulled them away from my face in panic and opened my eyes. I then noticed the sharp, clear image of everything all around.

'Could this be true?' I thought to myself. 'Is it possible that I healed my eyes to see perfectly?' I never knew I couldn't see properly..

I looked at the group around me and noticed they're waiting for me.

"I can see..!" I said with a little excitement. They brushed me off and we kept on walking through the forest as the sun stood high up in the sky, barely moving. The forest, although mostly bare, produced shade, causing it to be cooler than normal, much like it was in the now burning Village. As the trees started to spread out more we found we were exiting the forest boundary and heading down into a land of plains, with more hills than field. We walked down the slanted earth down towards a small river. A light blanket of fluffy snow was collected on the long dry grass of the hills around. Around us lay the world where behind us the forest and in front the vast area of large hills, leading to mountains in the further distance. Trees were scattered about the plains, some in small forests, others leading into others much large and more out of the way. We were higher up, but not that of any mountain. We walked along a lower part in the ground, creating footprints in the snow, showing a path below as we walked towards the river we found how short the distance was from one side of the river to the other. It must have only been about a man's height so we decided to jump it one person at a time. The nimble group went over first. Since I was part of them, I jumped last, just making it.

"It may be challenging for the others." I said. "I think we should help them- here grab my hand, Merrie."

"I see what you mean. Everyone else, hold me as I hold him." She suggested. I motioned Emalia to jump over but she hesitated. We all knew plunging into that freezing water would be certain death.

With Benson, Aehrith, Isabelle, Meridale, three of the Creed members, and myself over here, I had to be sure that Emalia, Colin, and the other four members of the Creed could also make it. Colin brought up a good point in his argument.

"Wait a minute! This path probably goes to the right! I can see it!" Colin exclaimed.

"There is?" I asked.

"That means there must be a bridge we can cross over, right?! Seeing as this is a popular highway!"

"Yes, but it's been broken for months." Isabelle said.

"How would you know?" Meridale genuinely asked.

"I used to come by these hills a lot, mind you a long while ago, but I know one exists." Isabelle answered. "But it's still too far out of your way to Fillton."

"Well what should we do?" I asked. "Waste our magic together to lift them over?"

"It could work but I believe we are running low on supplies as it is." Aehrith said. "For essence, at least."

"Maybe if we just get them to jump over first, and just as they reach the top of their jump, we pull them towards us."

"Now you're thinking!" Isabelle said. Aehrith grumbled at the fact, but got ready for the stunt. Everyone on the other side was then informed and we then began, starting with Colin.

"If you drop me I'll, I'll- Well, I'd have your head if I'd be still alive!" He chirped.

I took a deep breath, counted down from three, told him to go and he took his running start. As he jumped on the edge of the river we collectively used our magic to pull him over with his own momentum. We rested Colin down on the ground and he shook it off with a subtle thanks. That being a success, Emalia was then ready for us. We counted down, and she took off. We grabbed her with our magic and soon she was on the ground next to us, as with Colin.

"Now it's time for all of you." said Aehrith, pointing at the four remaining men on the other side of the river. They all took their turn and we managed to get them over here in under about a half hour. Feeling slightly tired we slowly continued on. We started to climb up and around the large hill, walking past bare trees covered in a thin layer of snow, causing the trees to become wet or moist as it sat and began to melt. I heard a slight ringing in my ear and I turned around. I couldn't help but just stare into the burning mess of Towen in the distance, still hearing their screams of terror and cries of pain for help. As I shut my eyes ferociously tears decided to jump out onto my face and roll down. I put my head down and turn around to quickly catch up and continue on.

I climb up and reach the top of the hill where the others were peering over the side. I wipe the tears from my face as I walk up behind and then beside them. Out in the far distance was a dark town or village surrounded by mountains and water that turned black around the actual place. A red glow seemed to be coming from the buildings, surrounding the town as a dark spiral of clouds was above the whole town with red lightning raging down from above.

"That's where we have to be." I said staring into the horizon. I look over to Meridale who was looking back over to me. She nodded and hopped over the short cliff in front of our feet. One by one they jumped off and moved up. I shrug, smile, and hop off with glee. 'These next few weeks or so will be challenging', I said to myself, 'but they will be a damn good ride'.