The Ancients

Chapter 3

The next couple of days went just as well. I became more accustomed to the new city and how the school worked. Every luncheon I would eat with my new group of friends or, sometimes, I'd head to a secluded area where I could study or read in peace.

Today was one of those days. I grabbed my bag and headed outside. I didn't go into the courtyard, instead I turned the corner in order to find a more private place. That's when I smelled it. The scent of ... Basil, of all things. I frowned, why would it smell like basil here? Unless someone was eating it, but I wouldn't have smelled that in the courtyard, no one was eating here.
My curiosity sparked. I turned to follow the scent to where I guessed it was coming from. Now that I think back on it, anyone who saw me must've thought I was moonstruck, the way I stopped to sniff the air and then continued on my way.

I followed the scent just out of pure instinct and before I had even realised, I had reached the fence that marks the boundary to our school. Beyond it stretched the forest. We didn't have much forest in the city, however our school was on the edge of the little that was left of the greenery.
A part of me told me to go back. If I was found out passing the boundary during school, I'd be in big trouble. But my curiosity made me hesitate. Luncheon just began and I still had 30 minutes until class started again. If I hurried I could be back for the next lesson.
I don't know why I was so intent of finding the source of the smell- why did it matter that basil was being used in the forest, it wasn't worth getting in trouble for- but something told me that this was more than what it seemed.
So I checked if someone was looking and jumped the fence.
I followed the scent down deeper into the forest when all of a sudden the scent grew stronger, so strong that It surrounded me, making me dizzy. I suffocated on it, it was the only thing I could smell. That's when I heard it.
A brief whisper, not in any language I know. This language seemed much older, coarser, than anything I'd ever heard.
I heard it again, this time coming from my left. I spun to face the sound, the smell of basil was stronger in that direction too and it just about set my nostrils ablaze.
Behind a tree stood a little white creature about half my size. it had no eyes or nose just a small mouth and somehow it's body seemed to produce its own slight glow. The creature's lip curled up when it realised I'd seen it, it didn't move any more than that, yet the voice came again. The voice seemed to come from all of it but not from it at all. It would've been staring at me-had it had eyes- and it looked like it was calling me. challenging me.

It turned from me and started moving elegantly, deeper into the trees. I hesitated. The creature didn't seem trust worthy, I'm pretty sure it shouldn't have even been real. But my instincts told me to follow it, and you should always follow your instincts.
So I chased after it. It led me farther and farther, it's chattering got more insistent and impatient until all of a sudden it spun around to face me before darting to the left and out of sight.
"Wait!" I yelled. I crashed after it but it just vanished. I frowned, why would that strange creature lead me to this place. It seemed quite plain to me. What if that was its plan all along. My eyes widened. What if it left me here, lost and abandoned to be eaten. I remembered the stories father used to tell me before bed, of monsters and forest creatures that would lure you to your doom. No, I told myself firmly. they're just fairy tales meant to scare me from leaving my parents side. I probably just imagined the entire thing.
I shook my head and started to turn back when I heard hushed voices. About three. I turned my head and strained to hear what they were saying.

"We found it, boys!" One of them hissed. "Now if this stupid sprite would just cooperate!" He spat the word as if it disgusted him just to say it.
"I am not a sprite!" A fourth voice said. It's voice was like the tinkle of bells and the flutter of wings, smooth like milk. "And I will not help you fiends!"
Slowly, I approached the voices, stepping as lightly as possible until the people were in my vision. I stood there quietly and watched as two men stood together writing excitedly in logbooks while another one glowered down at something in his hand. I peered closer to the object in his hand and gasped, because there, clutched in the young mans hand, was a tiny pink-skinned creature.
I watched in disbelief as the man whispered and growled at the little creature as it lifted its head in defiance. "Listen here, you little-"
I gasped as one of the men clutched my arm painfully and pulled me from behind the cover of the trees. I must have been too focused on trying to hear their conversation to realise that the man had moved towards me.
"Sir!" The man grunted. He tugged my arm up forcefully, nearly pulling me off the ground. I winced at the pain that shot through my arm.
The young man-who must've been the leader of the group-snapped his head in our direction. He scowled and marched towards me. From this proximity I could tell he must've been a very rich man. He wore fine robes embroidered with a crest I didn't recognise and he wore a black hooded cloak. He stood tall and proud, looking down at me critically. He had dark skin, chocolate brown hair and a long white scar running down his cheek. He looked four or five years older than me. How did the youngest of the group become the leader?