The Lost Fragments

Part 2

Once more I awoke to the warrior god that I awoke to nights ago, three weeks have passed since that night, and I have been training with Ceran since. He has shown me how to properly fight, even though I was partially aware of how to before. I even thought I beat him once, until he rolled away and swept m under my feet. Ceran has taught me a lot in the last three weeks. It only seemed like it was hours ago that I was shown what a fragment was.  Fragments are pieces of blades that the gods themselves used in their time, and since the human uprising, have been broken and scattered across the realm. Once forged with the arcane words imbued on the Fragment, it merges with the blade that the speaker holds, and becomes one with it. Some Fragments are more common than others, such as elemental ones.  Others however, contain the ability to grant the owner special abilities, such as quick speed and even the power to take a lie and give to another. Fragments are difficult to find and retrieve, as they could be guarded by some of the most powerful of beings.  Some have yet to be discovered, as they have only been uncovered about a year ago. More and more findings occurred, and people have gone on ventures looking for them, and some have returned with nothing, whereas some have never returned at all.

I stepped out into the hallway, there was a sword perched up against the wall, with a note on the stand next to it. It read:

“Today is the day you will be learning how to pursue a target. You will be forced to stay outside until I am found by you, and you can use any resources you wish to find me. Note that I will be in the second ring of Ring City.  Just try not to kill me. –Ceran”

“Great” I muttered.

Ring City is where I am located. It gained the name because it has 3 Rings around the center of it all. The first ring contains nobleman and even the Lord himself. The second ring is for wealthy commoners and commoners. The third ring contains beggars and thieves, as well as the occasional brothel.  I lived just outside of Ring City, so I was familiar with it. I was well aware not to go into the third ring, as no one knows how unpredictable the citizens of ring three are. Ceran said he would be in the Second ring, which means I’d have to watch for guards as well as him. “Well, the next few days should be fun.” I thought to myself.  I sheathed my sword, put necessary items into my pouch and left. The door immediately closed behind me. That means Ceran put a ward on the door, locking everything inside. Only he can lift it, which means I was stuck outside. With a low groan I started off in a random direction hoping to find some clue as to where he went.

I took to the rooftops, scanning the marketplace and the outskirts and alleyways of the second ring. I had little to no luck. Every now and then I would catch a glance at what I think would be a figure of Ceran's description, but after I look at it, I notice it isn’t him, and I am back where I started. It has been taking me all day, it is getting dark now, and I am starting to grow restless. Suddenly, I noticed a familiar gleam. It was the pendant Ceran wears around his neck. Of course! The Obsidian lightning bolt Ceran wears around his neck! I could spot it even at great distances. The figure was cloaked, so I couldn’t tell if it was him or not. I slid down the side of the building to get a better view. The sky was dark now, and I knew I had to be quick if I wanted to stay on this figures' trail. A sharp turn into an alley caught my attention, and as I ducked in, I saw the edge of a door closing at the end of the alleyway.  I crept up close to the door and placed my ear on the door. Muffled voices came from the opposite side, though they were too faint for me to make out. With a grin on my face I pushed open the door.

“HA! I have found you old man!” I shouted as the door flung open.

Before me stood two people, and from the observation I made, neither of them were Ceran. One of them was a woman.  Her shimmering golden hair flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were a bright, emerald-green and seemed to brighten the world. A straight nose, full lips, she seemed the picture of perfection.  I couldn’t help but gaze in wonder at such a beautiful woman.

“I think you stepped into the wrong place stranger” Snorted the man next to her.

He was a taller man, with long, brown hair, and grey eyes. Loose strands of hair fell down on his scarred, chiseled face, his facial hair was neat and flawless. He was fully adorned in crimson armor from head to toe.  He had the look of someone nobody ever wanted to face in combat. He grasped a halberd in his hand that he raised toward me in a threatening manner.

“I obviously took a wrong turn, I’ll be off now I guess”

As I turned away, two shorter men in black cloaks stepped in front of me, stopping me from getting to the door. I could tell they were to act as guards for me. Both of the hooded figures were wearing Obsidian bolt pendants, like the other two. “Looks like you’ve seen a little too much young one, we will have to deal with you” exclaimed one of the hooded figures.

“Oh, well, I’m sorry but I have to be somewhere else.” I said, slowly sauntering towards the door.

“You aren’t going anywhere” stated one of the cloaked men.

With a sigh, I promptly walked up to the door and placed my hand on the doorknob. One of the cloaked figures placed his hand on my shoulder, and instinctively I grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground. The other guard reacted and my fist connected with his jaw. As both of them were distracted, I opened the door and ran out.

 I ran through the alleyway, my heart beating at a rapid pace. As I reached the end I turned so sharply that I slid on the ground, only to notice out of the corner of my eye the two cloaked men that were after me. I darted down the street, coming to a corner I turned, only to lock eyes with a brick wall staring at my face. I looked behind me to see the two guards getting closer. “Id better find a way out quick!” I thought. I searched for a way out, when I noticed some crates piled up on each other. I quickly jumped on them, and climbed up to the rooftop of the building. The night was still young but still dark enough that a well hidden person may not be seen. It was cold out, and I knew if I were to be just standing I would be shivering, but the running was what kept me warm. I ran from rooftop to rooftop, jumping, climbing, and scrambling my way up and onto rooftops. I jumped down onto balconies, jumping and swinging on the hanging pots from perches. I climbed wall plants, trying to get to the roof. After I had got up, I continued to run as fast as I could.  As I approached the end of a rooftop, I skidded to a halt, staring down to a cold, damp, stone floor. I turned around to face the two men that have been chasing me.

“Cant we just settle this like reasonable people?” I asked nervously. Both of the men chuckled, drew their swords and began slowly walking toward me.

“No? Well then…” I hastily searched for a way out. I noticed one of them was standing near the edge and would slip if he moved even a little. Seeing the opportunity, I kicked a loose panel off of the roof, sending it flying towards the guard. He stood out of the way, losing his balance and almost falling off of the edge. The other guard turned to save him, and that’s when I decided to move.

I turned and leapt from the roof, grabbing a clothing line joining the two roofs. As I grabbed it, it snapped on one end, swinging me towards the wall of the other. Before I hit the wall, I let go, falling about five feet and sliding into the ground and the wall. Shaken, I stood up and ran into another alleyway, cutting left and right, until I emerged into the central square of the city. I heard muffled voices behind me. It was probably the two guards that were looking for me. I chose to leave immediately, heading towards Ceran' s house.

By the time I had made it to the house, I could no longer hear the sound of voices, or footsteps. My energy was spent, so I decided to sleep the night in a cutoff path near Ceran' s house. I had remembered Ceran had left blankets and food in a crate outside his house, just in case of an emergency. I went around, opened the crate, and took what I needed. I went around back to the cutoff I was sleeping in. It was nearly inaccessible. Only one way in or out of it. I huddled up in the corner and began to doze off, and within minutes I was asleep in a little corner, living to fight another day.