Cursed

In Full Bloom

The world was set to early morning. The skies and land started to glow as the sun peeked over the edge. For most of this world, people and creatures were waking up to the new day and sun; but, in the dark marshes of Nu' Alear the sun would never reach its people. The trees grew tall, thick and black. They touched the skies and let their dark red leaves act like a shield from the sun.

If light ever did break through, it would not be enough to light up the land of the dead. Cut off from all and any other forms of civilization, Nu' Alear held its secrets from even the simplest source of light. Here lived the creatures known as the Gravens.

Their features mostly took on a human form, the difference was their pale skin, red and blue eyes, and jet black and pure white hair. With horns growing from their heads in all shapes, sizes, texture and numbers, this was the key feature to their race.

It not only defines them, but also holds great power and magic beyond one's imagination. Very few have seen the Gravens true powers and lived to tell the tale. For those that have, they cannot find the words to describe its majesty.

A fade of crimson falls between the trees and dances on the wet soggy floors of Nu' Alear. Leaves gently float from the tips of the trees with stale winds that rarely grace this dead land. A pair of crimson eyes looked brightly upon the few leaves as they twirled for him. His small frail frame looked of a child lost in this city of darkness. His pale soft skin had a faint red glow from the sun trying to break through the tall trees. His short black hair fell over his blood stained eyes, but were casually brushed aside.

His name was Coda and with his young childish looks you would never guess this Graven's true age. Gravens lived such long lives and their bodies grew well with their life span. His eyes followed softly with the leaves till they touched the ground before him. A small smile graced his pale, soft lips as his heart felt curious about the beauty of nature around him. He ran a small hand through his hair revealing two small black horns. Each one grew right above his temples and before his hair line. When removing his hand from his nightly locks, the horns were once more hidden.

His attention sharply left the leaves when his eyes captured a soft red light floating in the air near him. The light moved up and down quickly while taking the form of a butterfly. The smile on his face grew with the elegant flutter of its wings. A small giggle slipped past his lips, a child's laugh he did not dare to hide. Coda's eyes softened as he tilted his head to study the small form of magic.

He blinked as the butterfly started to flutter off into the dark marshes. His bare feet were quick to follow the light as it took distance in the dark. "Wait up!" he called out to the light in a sweet innocent voice. To him his language was common, but to foreign ears his joyful words would be lost. His small feet trailed through the marsh as he tried to keep up with the flickering light still pulling ahead. He moved around the large roots sticking out of the ground and the tall huge trees that only seemed to get bigger the deeper he went in. His mind and thoughts were focused on the light, not letting him realize how far he had gone.

Coda suddenly stopped when his feet started to tread through water. He looked down to find himself at the banks of a deep river now crossing his path. He looked back to the butterfly as it now stopped over the river and still danced through the air. Coda frowned softly to himself as his attention moved from the red light to the area surrounding him. His eyes showered with fear and his breath fell soft. Why would the light bring him here of all places?

This was not just some river, this river stood as a sign to Gravens. It was a sign telling them to turn back and find shelter within the shadows. Coda's heart started to grow strong within his chest. It started to beat so fast that he could hear it. Chills traveled up his spin and tingled his horns. He slowly took a few steps back, returning his feet to land. Coda felt as if something was terribly wrong. The butterfly flickered into flames that soon went out; he knew to trust his gut feelings.