Gaiagon

Chapter 3: A Grave Tale

For the next five years, Seth split his schedule between four things: helping his mother, training with his father, hanging out with Jeffry, and reading Legends and novels. By Seth's sixteenth birthday, he knew more legends than his father had stories. After having read so many legends, however, Seth's favorite and most read legend was still "The Legend of Adesse". Seth felt like he had the most in common with Adesse. He also respected certain personal qualities that Adesse showed, such as humility, leadership, bravery, courage, and kindness. Seth used him as his role model (secondary, however, to his father).

Seth had become quite versatile in over the past few years. Along with becoming well versed in Legends, he had become quite agile with a sword and shield. When he was thirteen, Seth's father said he was old enough to begin training, if he wanted to. Seth jumped for joy when he found out he was going to finally learn from his father. He trained long and hard, but still made time for his mother, friend, and reading. After only three years of training, Seth actually beat his father in a duel.

Being eighteen, Seth felt like his big adventure should have been getting really close by then. His dreams of that adventure never died, but he was starting to wonder how long he would have to wait. His biggest question was normally involving how the adventure would begin. He remembered that some great legendary heroes began their journey when they heard of evil only they could vanquish. Others began when they happened upon great power. Some started because they were captured by the enemy and when they escaped, they returned to defeat the evil once and for all. He also wondered if his beginning would be different than all other heroes. 

As he pondered that, another thought entered his head. Most heroes had a point where they were greatly injured, and some ended their journeys in a state of weakness. Some heroes ended up giving their lives for the good of others. What if he died at the end of his journey? He later told himself that those heroes are the most respected, because the greatest gift a man can give to his fellow man is his own life. He decided that should it come to that, Seth would be completely fine with it.

 Over the years, Seth and Jeffry had developed a routine for days they didn't want to go to the old tree house. They found that they were old enough to go to the town tavern, even if they were not old enough by the town's standards to have alcohol. They would normally sit at one of the booths and talk about whatever was happening. Sometimes they would talk to the bartender when business was slow. The primary reason they liked the tavern was because travelers normally went there, and some of them would tell stories. Recently, not many travelers had been coming, and those who did didn't tell stories. On one of the slower days, an unusually dressed elf walked in while the two were in their usual spot. He wasn't dressed like a warrior to any degree (due to his lack of armor or leather padding), yet he looked like he could skillfully use the rapier he had at his left side. His hair and clothes were clean, but his shoes showed signs of long travel and old age, most likely meaning he not only came from far away, but he had traveled far many times. He was obviously not from their town, but he looked like a man who was used to people seeing him as a stranger. Seth and Jeffry continued talking, hoping he would suddenly tell a story, like most of the others were known to do. This time, however, he acted like most of the more recent travelers who just got a drink and left. Curious to why a man who most likely traveled a lot would wear so little protection, the two followed the strange man outside to ask him a question or two.

 When the man finished, Seth motioned to Jeffry to follow him outside. The man walked to his horse that he tied up near the hay the tavern owner didn't need and put out for traveler's horses. Right as Seth was outside the man walked to the town square and got up on the base of the town statue of their town founder, where most people made speeches and announcements. He cleared his throat and clapped his hands once to attract some attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, humble townsfolk, men and women of all ages. My name is Malcolm. I am a traveling storyteller who has come to your town to tell you all a tale you need to hear. My tale is not one to be found yet in any books, for it has happened just recently. Our fair King Virtus has requested that the kingdom's traveling storytellers, such as me, spread the news of a grave occurrence that has plagued a kingdom far away, yet may soon affect us. Not long ago, demons were spotted in the forest. These demons were never found to be alone, and were commonly seen in large groups. Seeing them once would be concerning, but not frightening. However, in a far kingdom, a large group of demons terrorized a town and were later destroying a village not many people knew existed. These same demons began to spread farther and farther throughout that kingdom, attacking random towns and villages. The last bit of news we received was that the castle itself has now been invaded and taken over. Most of the people that were not killed either became slaves or ran away. The strangest news is that the demons seem to be most populated in the villages and that the villagers, of whom we know nothing about, seem to have all been spared and are all in slavery to the demons."