Delmora: The Lost Quest

What Fear Could Have Saved

They walked for another day before viewing the outskirts of an old looking town. Form up the river they saw the makings of a big mill. They passed by a deserted farm but the road didn't look decollete and overgrown like where they had come from. They moved along in a faster pace, eager to see civilization once more. Yet after miles without seeing anyone their excitement waned. The mill was turning but it was slow and quiet.

"This doesn't feel right" Lance said.

"Maybe their getting ready for rain?" Tyler suggested.

"Its only cloudy, that wouldn't shut out a whole town" Morn said.

"Lets just wait until we get there, there must be some explanation" Lance said.

They continued on until they were at the mill. The outside looked prim and well kempt. Lance knocked on the door. There was no answer so Morn kicked it down.

The house was empty. Literally it was hollowed. Morn stepped inside and the mill creaked. Lance clutched his arm to hold him back. Lance pointed to a tall structural pole in the center. All others were broken like they had been completely ripped out.

"that's the only thing keeping this place up" Lance said.

"This whole place has been gutted clean" Tyler said, poking his head through a window. Not a single grain of wheat was left. There were marks here and there, they were black streaks. The color of charcoal.

"They even took out the structure, how did they manage that?" Simone asked out loud.

"An axe" Edith pointed to where the structures were hammered inwards. "Lets get out of here before we get crushed" Edith said.

They continued on the road. They were more cautious and slow.

As they neared the town the dirt road they walked blew dust and trails of grey. Lance looked down to see his boots covered in it and all of their footprints etched into the road.

"Is this ash?" Tyler asked.

Lance took out his sword and the others did the same.

The Ranger stopped before continuing to the entrance a ways down the road. The gate was small and hung slightly open, only dust floated through it. The Ranger waited for the rest of them to catch up before walking again slowly. They could make out some brick buildings next to the green hedges but that was all. With Lance leading now they slipped passed the gate and around the hedges. On the other side was the same ashy cobblestone. A tall brick watch tower and the gate they had come from was the only thing that stood what looked intact. Everything else was gone. Every house, every tree, and every plant. The only things that could identify that this was once a town at all were the structural remains of the buildings and various broken items and belongs strewn out here and there. The oddities that were discarded were anything from shovels to clothes and plates, they blended into the earth as they too were covered in the grey-brown dust. The 7 looked around in wonder, only their breathing broke the silence. No animals or insects nor the sound of wind could be heard. The only movements came from a small black cloud a little further down the road. The ash was so thick on the ground they couldn't see their feet. The sun blazed down from above, the only shade came from the watch tower that was tilting slightly.

"What's going on? I can't see" Nyam whispered. He reached out his hand to the nearest person who happened to be Lance and clung to him.

Tyler took his hand and Simone helped the boy onto Tyler's back, "Can't you see what I'm seeing?" Tyler asked.

"It's very bright" Nyam said. He faced the sun and stared while the others held their hands up to their face to shield their eyes from it.

"Maybe, we should leave" Simone said.