The Book Of Fate

Prologue - The Map

The man's footsteps echoed in the empty streets of a port town hidden below massive trees. He tugged his fedora lower as his coat and skin were bathed in the street's gas lamps. Sweat ran down his forehead, but he didn't care, couldn't care. Footsteps could be heard behind him as he broke into a loud sprint through the dark and eerie night.

But he wasn't fast enough; they were catching up to him like hungry wolves hunting down their prey and there was nothing he could do. Once they got to him... he didn't care what happened to his body; what worried him the most was what they were going to do with the tightly folded piece of paper he carried right next to his heart. He wondered, if not for the first time, how such a seemingly simple object could be the cause of so much suffering and so much death. Well, not the little leathery sheet but what was written in heavy ancient ink there, that was the reason they were tailing him.

The small object got heavier and heavier as he passed between dark alleys, staying away from light as much as he could. Only some more meters and he would be at the port. The fog was getting heavier, providing more cover from the prying eyes of his hunters, although little did it actually help.

He felt it come before it happened and swayed to the right before the needles could pierce through his vitals. His hand unconsciously moved to the leather map stuck to his chest and he deliberately increased his pace. Footsteps were now all around him, on his sides and behind.

He wouldn't let these people, these Treasure Hunters have their way, he thought as his hand swatted at an empty liquor bottle that rested on top of an apple barrel. The glass of the bottle was of the ideal weight for its task.

He took a sharp and unexpected turn in order to gain some time, just enough. And the smell of fish and salt hit him; he was already at the port. Fog hung in the air so heavily the man thought he could cut it with a finger and the sea was as angry as ever, throwing thunderous waves against the stone and tossing and even turning boats back and forth. His hands shook terribly as he took the bottle's cork and slid the old map inside it alongside one of the Order's crystals – with that they would be able to find it wherever the tides decided to take the bottle. Then he shut the bottle as tightly as he could and ran to the slippery stony edge of the harbor, the docks had already been consumed by the hungry waves.

A sound made him stop on his heels; the click of a gun. His blood froze as he turned around and faced the masked men and women that stood threateningly five meters around him.

"Now you've got nowhere to run." Somebody said loudly from within the fog. "Give the map to us and we'll let you go."

Instantly, without any trace of hesitation, the man threw the corked bottle far inside the angry waters.

There was a loud wail and instantly his body hit the floor, needles stuck out from every articulation and soft points; numbness spreading throughout him.

Somebody was on his knees and grabbing the old man by his collar, fury and greed cloaked his eyes as he asked over and over again about the map. He threatened the old man, but he wasn't scared anymore, he had done well and had accomplished the sacred yet laborious task he had been given. He knew he had bought, hopefully, a couple of more years of peace for the world and with that, he was left in peace.

"Tell me where The Book of Fate is!" The man yelled over the rumbling waves as he hit the old man over and over again, infuriated by his peaceful smile. For the old man had never known, never dared to even glimpse at the old map that had accompanied him for so many years and that now was deep inside the sea.

His eyes lost focus and before darkness swallowed him eternally he prayed: May these secrets that I take to my grave remain buried for many, many, years.

But the world had other plans for the little map that was sinking and swirling around the strong tides deeper within the earth and buried below the sand.

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Alrighty, here we go! 

This is kind of my baby, I'm really really nervous. Bear also in mind that English is not my first language hence the mistakes you're probably going to be seeing ahead. I promise I'll do my best!!

I'm really excited to embark on this adventure with you guys, let's go!