Rise From The Ashes

Chapter 3 - How To Save A Life

Jason

The horses are saddled, personal belongings and supplies have been packed, all set. Ready to go home. I am currently waiting for my mentor by the town's stable, leaning against the fence of a pen.

I know he'll be taking a lot of time in taking his final effort to haggle with the Caelkirk traders. They are really skilled traders, but at least they do their business in a good manner. Caelkirk is a small town located on Kreb Cliffs in far northeast of Brighthollow. It boasts a beautiful vista facing the Ancient Sea and is famous for its well-cultured merchants. Things related to arts, knowledge, and culture can be easily found here.

I look up on the sky. The sky is clear and sun is shining brightly, giving out its warm light. All of my thoughts are focused on the people back home in Northwich. We have left them for a week to buy some books and supplies. Although it was just a week, it felt like it has been a month.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice someone is approaching me from behind. He gently pats me on my shoulder to let me know that he is behind me.

"Hey! Sorry it took so long! Those traders are very strict with their pricing policy. Anyway, I managed to get some with cheaper price." he proudly shows his sack with all the things inside. It is full with children story books and elementary text books.

"It's okay Sir. I too was enjoying myself." I accept his sack and tied it up on his horse's back. It is quite heavy by the way. I hope the horse is strong enough to support our long trip. "Let's go now. They should be waiting for us."

We proceed to mount our steeds. Mine is a chestnut brown one while he is riding a dark brown one. Holding on the horse's reins and gently kick at its belly, it gallops quickly as I leave Caelkirk, following my mentor from behind.

We aim to reach our destination before dark, so we decided to make the horses to gallop faster by slowly letting the reins while make another kick at the horse's belly to instruct it to move faster. The horse gallops so fast as the wind that it feels like I am in a horse race against him.

"Hey! No need to be so hurried! We're not in a race!" he yells amid the speed as soon as he notices my horse galloping just beside his.

"Sorry Sir! Got carried away!" I replies, yelling. I tightened the reins but not too hard so the horse will slow down a little bit.

Knowing that it is already close to Northwich, we slowed down our horses to change from their speed from running to walking. Our horses walk side by side on the road, with dense maple trees on our left and right, providing a pleasant look of the forest.

"It's a beautiful view, don't you think?" he asks me. His gaze locks at the numerous maple trees as well as fallen maple leaves that are scattered on the ground.

"Indeed it is." The surroundings gives out a relaxing aura, making anyone who walks by feel at ease.

Northwich is not exactly a town by structure. It is more like a small and isolated settlement without any mayor nor governmental authorities. It is an entirely independent village, led by a leader that acts like an advisor for all the villagers, which is the person beside me.

In the same time, my mentor is also the owner as well as a teacher of an orphanage there. Maple Ridge Orphanage. That is also where I currently stay, becoming his aide in doing the orphanage's chores as well as helping the villagers in some occasions.

"Order of the Tenth is getting more dangerous and bolder day by day. I just hope they didn't do any harm to our village." he comments as he looks at a recently dropped maple leaf on his palm.

"I suspect that their main targets are the big towns, Sir. They tend to leave small settlements alone."

"You may be right, Jason. But their latest acts have already caused significant changes on this country." His expression is grim. "Bandits, thieves, muggers, corrupted officials, even the wildlife is somewhat affected by them."