Chapter 2

Thalorian awoke in a caravan galloping down a road.

“Where am I?” asked Thalorian, groggily.

“On a road to Hemess,” said a woman in a cloak on the other side of the caravan. The woman gestured towards herself and said, “I’m Limiria, how old are you?”

“Thalorian, and I turned twenty three last Sunday,” replied Thalorian, still groggy.

“I’m twenty two, you wield the Eternal Balance Right?” the girl named Limiria said.

“Yeah I guess that's what this book is called,” said Thalorian.

A woman's head appeared from a little slot in the wall. “Hemess, that's where we are, Hemess, The kingdom of Camaraderie!” said the person driving the cart.

“We’re getting off now,” said Limiria, blankly. Thalorian stepped out of the cart with the strange woman.

“So this is Hemess,” muttered Thalorian, taking in the scenes of the city. Thalorian saw a strange group of people in the distance, they had armour on but some of them had staves instead of swords. That guy in front was- was that the guy I fought back at his village? Suddenly Thalorian was pulled into an alleyway, with shadows like ink, cobblestone as cracked and rotten as day old barf. Water was dripping down and hitting his head, and well he didn’t think that was water.

Wait, that’s not water. Is- Is that pee, no it can't be… Can it?

“You idiot, those are the Fifty Knights of the Crown! They’ll kill you if they see you,” said Limiria to Thalorian quietly.

“Why?” asked Thalorian.

“Because you attacked one of their five leaders, you know the Byron guy,” whispered Limiria quietly. Checking if the knights had passed, Limiria brought the two of them out of the alleyway. “I brought you here for a reason,” said Limiria as if nothing had even happened.

“Oh of course you have a reason for knocking out a guy about to kill me, then bringing him to the place he apparently lives!” exclaimed Thalorian, sarcastically.

“I need that book,” said Limiria plainly, gesturing to the book on Thalorian's side

“Wait- just wait a second, how did that book get from floating at my side to strapped to my side in some sort of I don’t know leather strap abomination?” said Thalorian, cutting Limiria off.

“I made it, and then I put it on you and put ‘that book’ in it,” said Limiria, somehow even more casually. Before Thalorian could respond, Limiria had walked away.

“You still haven't told me why you want my book,” hollered Thalorian trying to get Limiria’s attention.

“The Eternal Balance, that's what it’s called, it keeps balance in the world and has the power of all magic, I need it for something I’m doing but now that your attuned to it I need you, that's why I was at your village that's why I defended you,” said Limiria back at Thalorian dryly. “Technically I could have left you to die and just claimed the book after that but I decided to be a good person so you're welcome.” Limiria continued on her way down the street stopping at vendors on her way. Damn she's weird, but she saved me so I owe her, also I think that water was pee. How’d it get in an alleyway yet dripping from somewhere up high in that same alleyway. Looking up Thalorian realised that Limiria was already at the end of the street and had to run as fast as he could to reach her. His feet thumped on the hard stone ground like a kid who missed his bus to school. When he finally reached Limiria he was panting heavier than he ever had. Each gasp was like all the air coming out of a balloon at once.

“You sure took your time,” said Limiria, looking down at the panting mess that was Thalorian. Thalorian got up ignoring Limiria.

“So why’d you take me to Hemess?” asked Thalorian, trying to move on.

“Because this is where the Crown lives, and well I’m going to kill him,” said Limiria, reducing the amount of noise she was making with each word until Thalorian could barely hear her.

“Oh great, you're going to kill the leader of Varelion, such a good idea I applaud you,” said Thalorian, rolling his eyes and clapping his hands slowly.

“I’m serious, and you're going to help me, unless of course you want to let the man who ordered the attack on your village to not suffer any consequences and walk free. Because that’d be perfectly fine too I mean be my guess,” said Limiria. That- that man is who gave the order to destroy everything I know and love, he- he must pay. That thought, that one thought is what sent The kingdom of Varellion and everything magical in existence into a downward spiral that could only end in- well I can’t say yet.