Discovery Gaming Community

PART I

Mirror-flat lake stained red with spring flower petals, columns of rock shining with sunlight. An elderly woman sitting under a blossoming tree watches silently as the the girl swings a wooden sword, gracefully cutting the air. In perfect harmony with the spring, her crimson eyes are as bright as the blossoming trees.

Today she was sixteen, in her spring of youth. Could she know that after today her life would forever change.

The woman under the tree suddenly rose, clapped her hands twice, then said "it is enough for today", with a relaxing tone "you should get back and prepare for the ceremony." The girl with crimson eyes stopped as soon as she heard her mentor then lowered her head into a respectful bow. At once they took way to home.

What a home it was, more like a palace erected on the hill with the most beautiful and delicate kusarian architecture. In its garden were statues and ornaments of traditional dragons, crystal fountains spraying water and shining in sunlight, flowers of every kind and every color decorating the earth, servants were working and armed guards were standing watch on every corner. Truely it was a home worthy of a kusarian noble family.

The girl could smell the delicious cookings prepared when she reached the garden. Servants were busy preparing the courtyard for the ceremony, setting up tables and moving chairs. She once again bowed to her mentor, then moved towards the archway where her mother was.

Her mother looked young and beautiful, she wore a traditional dress and make up, which really suited her. She had bright brown eyes, her hair was raven black like her daughter, her posture was so delicate yet confident. Smiled and said "You should go prepare, I don't think the guests would expect to see you in your training robes and all sweaty."

Then a man's voice is heard behind her mother "Indeed, I did not expect her to be all sweaty, but I think she looks beautiful." There came a man wearing black leather, and breathing mask, which made a distracting noise for them who are not used to it. Alarmed by the unexpected appearance of the man, girl first stood there for a short while not knowing what to do, then she bowed. The man tried to reply with a bow of his own, equally bizarre, it was obvious he never did that before.

Mother let out a loud laughter after witnessing this funny moment "Alright! Both of you, there is no need to bow this much." She continued with a smirk on her lips "My sweety, Rinoa... Do you know who this man is?"

The girl, now with red cheeks stared at the man. First thing that striked her was a scar on his face covering most of his cheek, looking like a blade cut, then his blue eyes with piercing stare, which was charming and a little bit disturbing as it felt like he saw through her soul. He was a big man, well built and muscly, he had a tanned skin. The breathing mask, she saw it before... once... maybe twice...

With reluctance she replied... "H-Hai... My father..."

PART II

Metal bars were hot to the touch, glowing under the merciless sun. Black gates stood greedily, as if ready to swallow the desperate crowd encaged within.

Behind those rusty metal bars, there were all kinds of people... men and women, strong and weak, people who were poor, and them who used to be rich, mothers, fathers and children... They all had one thing in common today... they were scared.

A child lied on the metal floor within that crowd. Black dust covered his wounds and naked body, his long blond hair was entangled with dry blood. No one paid mind.

Suddenly, the child moved his legs about with a weak motion. Slowly raised his back, his nose no longer touching the ground. Halted there for a minute... watching the people around him, confused. Tried to get up on his legs, but they felt numb, he fell.

The child had no idea what was all this about. Within the crowd, it was only him who felt no fear, he felt empty, as if he was born a few seconds ago.

The sound of the horn heard, black gates slowly but surely opening wide looked like wings of a bat. A dusty path has been opened for the cage to move. With no time wasted the cage took way, escorted by armed guards. The crowd was alarmed, desperation and fear on their faces could be read like a book.

The cage would move silent, if it wasnt for the guards positioned on each corner outside the bars, totally ignorant to the fears surrounding the slaves, they spoke with and laughed at each other merrily.

Soon they reached a settlement, endless farms surrounded at most three floored but wide and luxurious villas... They reached to the center of the settlement, hailed by an attentance. Guards took everyone in the cage and put chains on their wrists and legs... They moved them to a raised platform, ordered them to stand on a single line, every one of them obeyed without a word. Nicely dressed, rich and important looking people, all assisted by their servants scattered around them, gathered in front of the platform, checking out the merchandise.

One of them pointed towards the slaves, at once their servants rushed to bring the fella to him. They took the man from the line, holding him from his arms and a gun pointed at him... The rich man looked down and up, from head to toe, scanning his naked body. A fat belly and a bald head appeared on the rich man's side soon, on his face a greedy look, wide grin under his curly moustache. Lowering his head, hands clasping each other, spoke something in a musical tone. The rich man shook his head with disapproval. Fat man kept the grin, not as wide as before however, spoke something again, lowering himself even more. The result was the same, rich man at once turned his back, ordered his servants to come with him... Fat man managed to smile, watched him as he left, when he is out of the earshot, he let out a curse, kicked the slave between his legs... Guards took the naked man back to the line...

After a while, slaves were ordered to go back to the frying metal bars... once again they were moving under the merciless sun.

SoF

SoF