The Start Of Something Beautiful

Isara dashed up the snowy hills to the east in hopes of avoiding any more trouble. Freezing and chilled to the bone, she continued. ‘Hills Palace should be up ahead. My fairies, please keep me warm till then please.’

A red circle emitted inside Isara’s stomach. Single mana lines spread throughout her body starting from a bright red circle and covered her hands, feet, and head in a bright red flame of light. “Thank you, Sarz. You always do your best to protect me.”

A small tiny fairy looking figure came out of the girl’s sword. In a high pitched girly voice, the fairy spoke. “Anytime, Isara! Sorry I couldn’t help you earlier, but I fell asleep. Ine and Liz decided to not keep watch on you and fell asleep with me.”

Isara chuckled.

“That’s okay Sarz. I know you all try your best…even if there is a lapse from time to time.”

Sarz: “Hmph! What sarcasm is that? How dare you. Hmph! Besides, you won’t die anyways right away if you get killed. We have our secrets now don’t we?”

They both laughed and then Sarz continued speaking. “From the moment I met you as a young girl I knew that I wanted to be a part of your strength. You’re like no one I have ever met before. You’re strong and always make the right decisions even if it means risking your own life.”

Isara: “Sometimes it has its downsides. People don’t know it, but they want to be saved. They yearn for help, yet deny it. Why can’t people see the light at the end of the tunnel?”

She thought back on what had just happened.

Sarz: “You’re only 12 and you understand this better than anyone else. You are a beautiful human who helps anyone in need. You’re one of a kind.”

Isara: “I agree Sarz. I really do but…”

Sarz: “But what?”

Isara: “But, if nobody else is going to do it, then why can’t I shoulder that burden?”

Sarz: “I’m not saying you can’t or you shouldn’t, but certain people have a death wish. You shouldn’t waste your time and life on someone that doesn’t want to at least attempt to be stronger. I woke up the last minute of that conversation with that idiot of a man. Is that what you’re so worried about?”

Isara: “I don’t know…And what about me then? Why did you save me as a baby in Zara’s Valley? My parents didn’t want me anyways. They snuck past lots of dangerous people and creatures just to throw me in the Pit of Rebirth…Come to find out it’s not even real and…they died getting me to a fake place.”

Silence filled the outside. Only the pounding snow and wind could be heard until Sarz chimed back in, thinking about what to say, flying onto Isara’s shoulder. “Listen Isara, your past is your past. Your parents abandoned you. Okay? What are you going to do about it? Nothing, because you can't. I took you in and have been with you ever since.”

Isara: “But I took you away from your home too. I can’t be forgiven for that.”

Sarz: “Ha! My home?! Zara’s Valley is awful. Death is everywhere you look. Corrupt priests killing people on false claims. Murderers, thieves, criminals, creatures. Dark magic is used too much there. That’s why we fairies left. The humans started to kill us off. Don’t blame yourself, Isara. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did everything right…Look! Up ahead. That must be Hills Palace. I’m so excited! I haven’t been to another domain in a long time.”

The two continued walking as the snow died down and the wind stopped. They came to a large gated wall guarding a town. Light snow still fell, but melted pretty quickly. “This is a lot better to deal with…Sarz, go back inside my sword. They will be suspicious if I come in with a fairy. Your kind isn’t seen a lot these days.”

“Aye aye! Stop right there!”

A guard questioned Isara as she came up to the gate.

“Name and guild card please.”

“Isara and uhh…I don’t belong to a guild. I’m just a freely traveling adventurer.”

“We don’t get many visitors here. Lot of people don’t have the guts to climb to this place. If you do manage to make it here, you’re obviously a lot stronger than you look or you had help from chaplets.”

“I don’t mean any trouble sir. I just wore a lot of clothes and pushed through the coldness until I got here. Nothing more than that.”

The guard looked at his partners. They nodded in agreeance of something suspicious. “Listen kid, because we don’t get a lot of travelers and you seem honest, I’m going to make you a deal. You’re allowed entry in exchange for a chaplet.” Isara looked at the ground as if thinking, but she really just wanted to contact Sarz. ‘Sarz…Sarz!’

‘I’m here. I’m here. I heard the idiot. A chaplet huh? Up to you. We are storing the 7 you have in here. Most of them aren’t that good. Otherwise we can easily sneak you in, but if you get caught it might be trouble.’

‘I’d rather do the right thing. The guards are shady, but we don’t know how long we are going to be here. They definitely just want a chaplet for themselves.’

Isara looked up at the guard responding, “Okay. Deal.”

She pulled out a dark orange chaplet with blue waves covering the bottom half as if a whole ocean was residing in the bottom of the chaplet. “Here. This chaplet can summon both fire and water even if you don’t have the affinity for it. It’s for offense and defense. It’s called a Defect Chaplet.”

The guard snatched it from her hand. “Go ahead. Here.” He wrote a small star on her hand with the power from his sword. “This will allow you free roam in the city.”

“Thank you.” Isara headed inside the gates to a peaceful town lightly covered in snow and a little cold. ‘This is a lot better. This is like the sun right now compared to what I dealt with. I guess I’ll look around.’

The streets were lined with people. Little kids playing with wooden swords against each other. Soldiers also marched along the roads. ‘Seems pretty organized. Seems like a normal town.’ In the distance a large triangle shaped building sat on a hill. ‘A triangle? It’s just a large triangle. Is that the castle in this place? It must be. It’s at the center of everything. Flags are also on the top.’

As Isara approached a little more she could now see the soldiers that protected it. Average looking people in armor stood by the door not allowing access to anyone. ‘No need for me to impede on that. What else does this city offer?’

She turned around to walk and a young boy, looking the same age as him ran into her and knocked the sword out of her hand. A slight part of it chipped as it hit the ground. Some boys shouted as they ran past. “That’s what you get, Welpen!” They laughed and continued running out of distance in the alleyways.

Welpen: “Hey! Come back here!”

The boy realized what had happened and apologized to Isara.

Welpen: “Agh. Sorry. I was running from those guys and didn’t see you. I made fun of one of them and then they started chasing me. I’m Welpen by the way.”

Isara didn’t say a word and instead was now staring at the chipped sword in front of her.

Welpen: “Uhh…Are you okay?”

Sarz spoke to Isara inside her head. ‘Isara, it’s okay. We can fix it. I understand it’s your mom’s sword, but it won’t be hard to fix it. Relax. Think clearly. It’s been broken before and we got a blacksmith to fix it. Once we do that and Liz wakes up, then she can put a better barrier on it this time.’

Isara snapped back into it. ‘Sorry Sarz. Thank you.’

Isara: “Hi, I’m Isara. Sorry, I spaced out for a second. It’s just a little chip in my sword. Not a problem.”

Welpen: “Oh, okay, good. I thought you were really mad at me and I don’t like it when people are mad at me.”

Isara: “No no no. I don’t like being mad at people. Life is too short for that. Although…If you want to make it up to me, you could show me around. I just got here and don’t exactly know what I’m doing.”

Welpen: “Okay! Leave it up to me! I will give you the best tour ever! Let’s go!”

Welpen headed towards the triangle shaped building and Isara questioned where they were going. “Don’t worry. This isn’t the main city although a lot of people live here. It’s just an illusion to keep people like you who come in away from the main town. Come on.”

They arrived at the door and the guards around the large triangle stood there and just kept talking, not caring at all about the two of them entering. Isara wondered if this boy was well known amongst them, and it confirmed it when one soldier recognized the young boy and allowed the guest with him in.

Welpen: “Scan your hand at the door and it will open. You have a star, so you will have caution put on you. Almost everyone will be notified that you aren’t from here. I have a circle. It’s the main symbol here. We use simple shapes to communicate a lot of things here.”

‘This town is a lot more organized than I thought. Unbelievable. Nobody would ever know this existed,’ she thought.

The door opened to a large land. Isara was shocked by this. ‘T-This isn’t a town. T-This is a whole country.’ Sarz chimed in. ‘Isara! This place is huge!’

Buildings scattered across the land. Grassy hills, snowy hills, and red sandy hills. People ran around all over and a huge castle in the distance had the same circle symbol as Welpen did on his hand. ‘It’s like it’s separated into different domains and realms. Snow, fire, and grasslands. It’s beautiful.’

Welpen: “This is the main town of Hills Palace. We are far away because of the star mark you have. It gives the army time to get ready in case you are really dangerous, but I can tell you’re a really nice person.”

Welpen smiled when he said this. Isara questioned what was going on. “How is this place made? Is this through magic?”

Welpen: “I’m not exactly sure, but a long time ago someone saved the town I guess and teleported all of it into a separate realm. The people thought that a strange door in the middle of a hill would draw too much attention if someone encountered it, so they built a separate town and disguised it. I don’t pay much attention in school, so that’s all I remember. Sorry. I’m useless. I don’t who saved the town or what happened.”

Isara: “So this is a totally separate realm?”

Welpen: “Yep! It’s just like the world outside, but we are safer here.”

Isara: “Why is it split into three different elemental grounds?”

Welpen: “I’m not sure. Honestly, I think that’s how the ground was when it was transported here, but no big deal really. Everyone does their thing no matter what area they are in. Some people enjoy the cold, some, the hot, and others the normal plain lands of grass and sunshine.”

Isara questioned that in her mind. ‘A separate realm with three different elemental areas and on top of a snowy mountain as a separate space? Something in the story isn’t right, although I don’t think Welpen knows this. He seems too innocent even if we are the same age.’ “Welpen, you’re 12 right?” she asked.

“How did you know that? Lucky guess?”

“I guess so, but you’re basically the same height as me and look pretty young. By the way, how do you have blonde hair, but pink eyes?”

“That’s another question that I don't really know the answer to. I don’t know who my parents are or how I got to this place.”

“Sorry for asking.”

“That’s okay. It’s not that serious anymore. Not like I care as much as I used to. They must’ve had a good reason to abandon me. Maybe they were really strong! Maybe they went on a quest to defeat a demon lord! I’ll never know, so how can I blame them, you know?”

Isara only ever thought negative thoughts of her parents. She barely had memories of them, but knew that they tried to kill her as an infant. Isara looked at her sword listening to the young boy’s voice thinking about his words. ‘He’s the same as me…’

Isara looked up at Welpen again. “Okay, let’s go. I want to see more of this place while I’m here.”

THey walked through the main roads past all the stores and crowds of people. “Where are you taking me, Welpen?” He turned around and smiled at her while sticking his thumb in the air. “To my house! Why not start there, right?”

Through a small alleyway they went and eventually ended up at a smaller building on the grassy plains near the city. He opened the door. “Hi Clara!” he said to a middle aged woman.

Clara: “Hey sweetie. Oh? And who is this? Your girlfriend?”

Welpen: “No mom! BLAH! Girls are gross! This is Isara. I’m showing her around the city, but I thought maybe she could get some food first.”

Clara: “You know what, the rice is just about to be done. Perfect timing.”

Welpen: “Thanks Clara!”

He looked at Isara with eagerness in his eyes, almost as if it connected directly to his soul. “So…What other questions do you have so far? Do you want to see our blacksmith first? He’s one of the best in the world. Let’s do that after we eat…Oh wait. I’ll be right back.” Isara looked at the woman doing the dishes and wanted to confirm something. “Umm…Excuse me.”

Clara: “Yes hun?”

Isara: “You’re not his mother, right?”

Clara: “Oh no, no. I’m just someone that takes care of Welpen. I actually used to be an adventurer like you. I wasn’t very smart though. I came here because a rumor spread in my town that it was a safe place away from all the trouble in the world. That’s when I found Welpen and decided to take care of him.”

The woman started to wave and smile. “Hello there.”

Isara looked around and realized Liz was sitting on her sword. “Liz! What are you doing? Go back inside.” Clara laughed. “It’s okay Isara. I don’t mind fairies. I used to know one actually. They are very true at heart.” Liz laughed and said, “Really? What was the fairy’s name?”

Clara: “Hmm. I can’t remember right now. I’ll have to think about it later. It was many years ago.”

Liz: “I like her, Isara. Her presence is…warm. Okay, I’ll go back inside. I couldn’t help myself with all the commotion.”

The small blue fairy went back inside the sword as Welpen began to return. “Isara I found it! This was my father’s. Look!”

He handed her a small dagger encased in a small scabbard cover. “This was found in my pocket as a kid apparently. It’s the only memory I have of my father, but that’s okay. I’ll keep it forever. Maybe he is still somewhere out there and I can return this to him.” Clara chimed in. “And I will of course help you with whatever you need, Welpen. One day we will find them and our paths will reunite!”

“Yeah!” Welpen ran outside the door. “Wait! Welpen, your rice…”

The door slammed and he exited. Isara apologized for the disturbance she caused. “Sorry. Thanks for the food. I’m sure we will eat it when we come back.” She walked and opened the door and turned around to Clara. “He loves you, you know. Even if you aren’t his actual parent.”

Clara: “Thank you, Isara. Don’t worry. I know he does, but he has a right to try to find his real parents…Be careful out there with him. Welpen can be a little…energetic. Try not to get into trouble.”

Isara closed the door and ran after Welpen who was halfway to the city now. “Wait. Wait for me. I’m coming…!”

When she finally caught up, Isara and Welpen traveled to the blacksmith in the town named Lihard. A big man with an even bigger beard holding a strange looking ax in hand, stood at the backside of the town guild. “Old man Lihard!”

Lihard: “Welpen, my boy. How are you doing?”

Welpen: “Hey lihard! A little tired honestly.”

Lihard: “This is you tired? It seems no different than normal.”

They both laughed in sync before he continued. “And what brings you here today?”

Welpen: “I’m just showing my friend around. Her name is Isara.”

Lihard: “Well hello there. I’m Lihard. I am the blacksmith around here. Hopefully Welpen didn’t make me out to be a bad guy. Isn’t that right, Welpen?”

He lightly laughed and put his hand behind his head. “Say, Isara. How did you get stuck with a stupid boy like this?” He chimed in. “Hey! I’m not stupid you idiot!” They both laughed again obnoxiously. “I said I would show Isara around and came to you first. You see…I accidentally chipped her sword and was wondering if you could fix it.”

Lihard: “Let me take a look. There ain’t no sword I can’t fix…Hmm…I see.”

He continued.

Lihard: “Well…I can fix it, but I need another sword equal to this. That’s how blacksmithing works unfortunately. I can fix it with some other materials, but it would just break again anyways. This sword is old though. I can fix it for a decent while, but eventually you're going to need to find a different sword. I would recommend that you just merge two swords together and make a whole different sword, but I understand that this must have some sentimental value to you if you’re trying to fix it. I’m a good blacksmith, but I’m not a master blacksmith. There are only 3 of those in the world and trying to get to them isn’t even worth it to fix this…Do you have another sword possibly?”

Welpen answered right away. “You can take mine. It was my fault what happened.” Before Isara could decline the request, Lihard jumped in. “I think that is only right. Here Isara, I’ll take your sword and his sword and be back in a minute.”

Lihard took the standard looking sword from Welpen and Isara’s sword in the back where sparks flew in the back and he returned within 2 minutes exactly.

“See. I told you I work fast, Welpen.”

He winked at them both and smirked. He returned Isara’s sword to her in similar condition as before, but now coated in another color.

Lihard: “I didn’t want to mess with it too much, but I figured I’d fix it up a little for you. That pink color is a layer of what’s called Sulner. Sulner helps the sword crack less and prevent it from breaking easily. I thought pink matched your personality pretty well. Sorry for not asking.”

He chuckled nervously. “B-But…If you don’t like it, I can redo the color.”

“No. It’s perfect. Thank you.” Lihard spoke again. “Hey, Isara. I’m not a master blacksmith, so I couldn’t repair it completely to what it was. If it was that easy to chip that sword, then the Sulner is only going to work for a small amount of time. Welpen’s sword actually wasn’t as strong as yours, so it barely fixed anything, but I was able to mend it together enough. If you end up getting into a serious fight, then who knows what might happen. Try even crafting a few common swords together. It might help more than what you have. After all, this is a pretty common sword. There are 7,845 of them.”

Isara: “Thank you, but…I can’t part ways with this. It’s the only thing I have left of my mom. Thank you, Lihard. My sword looks just as good as before.”

Lihard: “Anytime! Now…Welpen, you better take good care of Isara here.”

Welpen smiled from cheek to cheek.

Welpen: “Yes! Now Isara can fight to her best ability! Hey, let’s spar Isara! I’ll go buy another sword right now.”

Lihard: “That’s not what I meant!”

The two walked away together, while Welpen continued to talk Isara’s ear off. Lihard smiled and waved at them. ‘God could only save that girl. She isn’t going to take my advice. She won’t part ways with that sword no matter what huh? She’ll end up trying to find the master blacksmiths when that Sulner wears off. Agh. Why did I mention the blacksmiths? I don’t know if she will even take up another sword to fight if she has to. Well…Whatever path she takes, I hope she becomes strong enough to get there.’