"The Trial: Part 1"Segment of my book "Planes"
Over at Jardeona, the entire city was being evacuated. The peoples of the Fort moved in a huge mass of flesh and armor from the guards controlling traffic in and out of the Fort. Swords, shields, and suits of armor were distributed to every person as they walked to the front gate. And, for the first time in hundreds of Turns, spellstones were being given out to everyone.
Every Maldoran had been trained in the usage of magic during their time at basic education. On its own, their magic energies amounted to next to nothing. But when channeled through a spellstone, it could turn even the weakest man into an adversary worth taking seriously. Made from every element and forged with a mix of dragon's fire and magic with valuable gemstones to shape them, they were the grand achievement of spell casters everywhere.
No two spellstones were the same for, due to their complex compositions, each had a unique shape, color, and size. Most took on the color of the gems used to channel energy into the stones. Therefore, some were amber colored, some emerald colored, some amethyst colored, but the most common color was that of blood rubies.
They were being handed out left and right, with each person given one being told to move along and not hold up the crowd. Armed action was threatened when things didn't get a move on. Shadows fell over the crowd as the Skyrider Scouts took to the air in a magnificent display of beauty and admiration that was impossible to miss.
Gerald hurried his way through the growing throng of people but was pushed away as order began to collapse. When the spellstone given to him touched his fingertips he felt a surge of energy flow through him. He shuddered and shook as his body absorbed the energy released into him. His face became pale and his body shook with every step he took.
Gerald, having been the first person ever to become both a Shifter AND a Skyrider, both in record times, wasn't taught the finer points on how to control magic, and soon, his feet no longer touched the ground. His first reaction was panic, but his training very quickly came into effect and calmed his mind as he slowly lowered himself back on the ground.
He once again stood on the ground, but felt a lot lighter. He wasn't tireder; at least, he didn't think he was. Slowly, during a haze of vision, the spellstone slipped from his fingers. Rather than stumbling down to retrieve it, Gerald simply continued walking as though he had no clue he lost it, even with the weight being removed from his hands.
Norwald, Gerald's older brother and a high ranking guardsman as well, quickly pushed his way through the crowd of people to his brother's side and picked up the spellstone. Gerald either ignored him or simply didn't see him only chose to continue walking forward; unaware that anything else was happening.
"Gerald, wait up!" His brother said, sprinting further and further to catch him.
Gerald simply kept to the forward walk and his reaction (When he finally did react) was delayed.
"Hm? What is it, big bro?" Gerald asked as his legs came to a stop and he turned around to face him.
"You dropped this." Norwald repeated and slowly opened his clenched hand to reveal the spellstone Gerald unknowingly dropped.
"Oh, sorry." Gerald said absently as he reached out and took back the spellstone.
"Gerald, are you feeling alright?" Norwald asked with worry.
"I feel fine. Why?" Gerald asked and rubbed at his face unknowingly.
"Your color is a bit..." Norwald said, searching for the right word. "off." he finished.
"Off? What do you mean?" Gerald asked his brother, now worried himself.
"You're pale. You should sit down." Norwald asked, gently pushing him downwards.
"I'm fine. Really." Gerald told him sternly as he got back up.
Norwald sighed a bit and covered his face with his hand when he realized that even his most insistent efforts would not persuade his brother.
"All right." Norwald said and let him go.
It was just like Gerald too; never stopping or even slowing down even when he clearly needed to. It was admirable, Norwald knew, to keep going like that, but also a bit unsettling. He always wondered if it was determination or just plain stubbornness that compelled him to continue. He had yet to find an answer to that question.
Norwald could very clearly see his brother was not well; there were signs all over his face. But Gerald would not accept help unless he was unable to keep up with everyone else, and even then, he'd be very reluctant. He still seemed unaware that he was carrying a very valuable stone in his hands, so Norwald wasted no time and quickly snatched it out of his brother's hands.
Again, Gerald slowly came to a stop and stumbled, but Norwald noticed an almost immediate improvement in his appearance. Could the spellstone be making him sick? There had been no reports of anything like it ever happening before. He would have to seek council to learn the cause of his brother's vanishing illness.
Just to be safe, Norwald quickly stuffed the spellstone into an undersized pocket on his leggings to ensure he would not be noticed. It was only then that any sign of anyone else vanished. The Fort of Jardeona was abandoned-no, not abandoned, emptied, Norwald thought, for they would return sometime after the war had ended.
But that didn't make him feel any better. If they fell behind the rest of the citizens, they would be forced to find their own way. Neither of them had ever set foot outside of Jardeona. Sure, they wanted to many times, but they knew the dangers that existed outside. Slavers preyed on anyone foolish enough to step outside a Fort without armed escort. Wild animals were also a common problem outside the protective walls, due to leaving their territory from desperation.
Norwald glanced at his brother, who showed no signs of recognition in the environment. He had to appear strong; he couldn't afford to let his brother see him panic. He hunched his shoulders and relaxed his posture to hide any signs of stress. But Gerald knew his brother better than that.
"Norwald? What's wrong?" Gerald asked in concern as he went to his brother's side.
"Gerald...you're not well. Please, let me help." Norwald said.
"Norwald, will you stop? I'm fine! I feel better than ever!" Gerald said angrily.
"You feel fine, do you?" Norwald asked and got the expected nod. "Very well, then. Turn into your other form."
"My what?" Gerald asked him.
"Your other form. You're a Shifter, aren't you? Come on. Show me!" Norwald said with just the right amount of emphasis to get the desired response from his brother as he handed back his spellstone.
"Fine." Gerald said angrily as he loosed his sword and shield followed by his shirt as his eyes closed.
The twitching under his eyes suggested that he was calling upon his other form...but something wasn't right. His eyes clenched shut then burst open, bearing the slit shaped pupils many of the bonding animals possessed. His skin went from mostly pale to completely white and appeared to grow much thicker than normal in an instant.
His body took on a drastically different appearance before vanishing with the same speed it appeared with. Gerald strained his mind and body to comply and assume its other form, but only sweat appeared on him. Labored breathing came from his lungs as the effort took its toll on him. Norwald stared at him in shock.
He knew his brother wasn't feeling well, but he had no idea it was bad enough to make even the most basic spell impossible. He was forced into action when Gerald fell to the grassy ground and collapsed. For the first time that night, Norwald panicked.
"Brother!" He yelled as his back muscles rippled and he hoisted his brother onto his back.
Terror hit him. Here he was, forced to hold his brother over his shoulders and carry him where there wasn't a trace of anyone around to help him with his task. He had worked alone before, but it was always along the pretenses that help would not be far away if they were needed. His back strained as he lifted and carried him, but Norwald couldn't afford to let it slow him down, much less stops him.
Norwald carried his younger brother as far as he could, which just so happened to be at the edge of a forest where something happened not too long ago. There was blood on some of the branches. It was brown, dry, and, therefore, old. People had been killed here, but there weren't signs of anyone else staying behind or being left behind.
The battle and all of its casualties had been meticulously cleaned up, so only trace amounts of blood were left, dried or otherwise. Then he stepped on something he didn't recognize. He gently set his brother down against a tree, and after making sure he would be alright, he went back to find whatever it was he stepped on.
His hands felt around on the grassy soil below him but found nothing but foliage. He then went down onto all fours and used both hands to search. All he could find that was unusual was the grass ending in seemingly random patches while it continued uninterrupted in other spots.
Then, in a slight depression in the grass, he found a metal object with a wooden handle. A long circular piece extended out the front with a small piece at the tip. Several chambers existed between the handle and the circular piece. His hands rose and he gently tapped the empty chambers only to see them spin.
Norwald was familiar with all types of machinery in Maldora, but never before had he seen anything like this. Then, he remembered hearing about the threat of invasion. And even more, he remembered reading that several cities suddenly lost contact and were believed to have been attacked.
He knew that the strange device might actually be an unknown weapon, so he tore a large piece off his cloak and wrapped it up in the soft fabric. Then he slid one loose strand through a belt-loop and tied it in a way where it would stay at his side without him needing to use his hands.
Soon, he was forced to notice the dying daylight and the growing darkness. Norwald actually felt strangely calm at the sight of the oncoming night. Could it be because the feverishly hot daytime was being replaced by something comfortably cool? It must have been.
Without further hesitation, Norwald pulled his brother's cloak over him in a way befitting a blanket, then did the same thing with his own cloak, laid down, and went to sleep.