Southern-Realm Saga - Origins of the Prodigy

Chapter 3 - The Narrow Way

Reaching Scandia, I approached the entrance to the marshal's barracks and requested access. Upon entering the marshal's quarters, I asked him if the wizard was still in town, to which he answered that he was at the local tavern playing cards. From there I entered the local tavern and walked toward a long table in the far back corner of the room where again I saw Asadagi, as if by magic, destroying his opponents in a game of Matchup. Upon laying down his cards and gathering his winnings, he looked over toward me and grunted, "I was expecting you." Awkwardly getting out of his seat, he stumbled toward me and leaned up against my shoulder. Holding his glass up he stated plain as day, "Could you top me off waiter?" Realizing he was tipsy, I helped him out of the bar, used some of his winnings to rent a room in one of the inns, and simply watched him as he fell asleep.

The next morning, he woke up angry and confused to me poking him incessantly. "Wha, what happened last night?" The wizard asked, "The last thing I remember is talking with the marshal and him warning me not to get too drunk in this town since total strangers would take me back to their place at night and steal all my possessions. It turns out you ended up being the total stranger. "You have issues my friend, but there are more important things we need to focus on right now than having an intervention for you. When I got to my parent's home I found that it had been destroyed by the Mongrels. I killed several of them and even got one to confess the location of a hidden base they have just North of here in Mystic Forest. Our only chance is to reach the hidden location of the Phi council and establish an army of our own to defend the Southern realm," I explained.

Agreeing with me, the wizard emerged from his bed, purchased a horse of his own with some of his winnings, and told me that in order to get through the pass Zefrun they would need a guide who knew the way through. Before I could ask him where they would find their guide, he walked out of the room and into the tavern where he had been playing Matchup the night before. Walking up to the barkeep, the sly wizard sneaked him two shekels of silver and politely asked, "Do you know of anyone around these parts who could navigate myself and this boy through the pass of Zefrun?" "I do," he responded, "She goes by the name of Tatiana, and she's the best guide in the Southern realm." "Where can I find this Tatiana?" The wizard asked inquisitively. "I think Mr. Two Shekels would know." "You're killing me," the wizard retorted. Handing the barkeep another two shekels, he eventually figured out that she usually hung out in a cave near the entrance of the pass of Zefrun.

Mounting my horse once again, I road with Asadagi toward the cave. Following a three-day ride Southeast toward Zefrun, we reached the mouth of Tatiana's cave. Staring into the mouth of the cave, I was afraid to go in, for I was claustrophobic and often felt squeamish in caves. Insisting that I stay back and watch our stuff to ensure it did not get stolen, the supernatural being trudged through the cave without me. Clapping his hands together, he made one of them glow like the moon in the mid-night sky. From there I simply sat back and watched with anticipation while the wizard walked into the cave. For a while things were silent, and soon I became concerned that he would never reappear, and I would not see him again. Soon enough, however, I heard the shaking of rocks and moments after that the clashing of swords.

Fearful for my compatriot, I lit my torch, rushed in the direction of the noise, and arrived in time to find the two in the midst of a great skirmish. Fiercely taking jabs at the wizard with her spear, Tatiana pierced him in his side and was about to stab him in the heart when he pushed her back further into the cave with the wave of his hand. Tatiana quickly recovered from being pushed back like a cat doing a perfect landing after jumping from a high elevation. Rushing toward him once again, Tatiana prepared to strike once more when I came in from behind and attempted to slice her through with the short-sword I had taken from the soldier I had killed back at my parent's farm. Sensing my presence, she turned around and blocked my blow. As she did, my eyes met hers and I was entranced momentarily, for her eyes sparkled like diamonds.