Fantasy The past is the past. The Future is for us. (Zynlix & .Phantom.)

[Zynlix]

The Battle of Adoewin

There was stories of the battle for years after it took place. It was told to the kids to keep them in line. 'The Witches will get you if you are naughty. Behave!' or 'The Witches are gonna turn you into a broomstick!' The sayings went on. It worked too. It was pretty much like the bogey man. But this? This was real. The Witches were real. And to everybody who grew up in those horrible times, they were dangerous. So dangerous that there was a massive war years ago. A bloody war between the Witches, and the Warriors of the Kingdom Of Adoewin. This war went on for years. Both sides lost thousands. Soldiers of the Kingdom being struck by lightning, fire, and several other elements used by the Witches, and the Witches being shot with arrows, burned, and run through witch spears and swords. It was horrible.​

Although, since then, the Kingdom has grown stronger, and as the fighting dwindled, it was apparent that the Kingdom was winning, and soon, it was just small bands of Witches and what some called Wizards, roaming around. The King kept up the hunts, sending out a elite group of soldiers specifically made to combat Witches and their spells. The Group was made up of a small, 200 manned force. Mostly full of experienced warriors of the olden ages during the war. But there were a few who were young and strong, and were born years after the war. One of those was a young man called Culvak Amberwood. However, this boy isn't just one of the Army, he was the Right hand man of the King. Basically, his job was to help train the heir to the throne. At first, he would think it was a fun job. He did get to train the Kings son, and get along with the girls that helped around there. Could easily pick up a few if they were not so stubborn and flirty. But as time went on, he found that training the future king is a lot more difficult that he thought. The little squirt swung his sword like it was a dragon attacking him, and he was just a tiny man with no muscle at all. The boy hadn't ever got a hit on Culvak, and it was going against him badly. The king wanted his son ready for combat by the time he was 18. The boy was 16 now. Hardly any progress since his training started over 3 years ago. "Remember Edward, right block after the under hook. You don't want your arms cut off in battle. Won't be any good leading your men while screaming in pain." He would tell the boy. Edwards best friend, Lily, always thought he was going hard on her friend, and actually attacked him a few times with a wooden sword for training recruits. But Culvak always waved her off. The king loved the way he trained. He was pretty close to the King, to the point he could speak the him like a friend. But the King always showed that he was in charge. Culvak was brought up to obey him without question, even if he didn't agree.


__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back to present, Culvak just leaving the City walls. He was packed with some supplies that was given to him by a over-protective old woman called Elnora. Culvak may be an adult now and doing his own thing, but since the deaths of his parents, Elnora had been there for him, and he considered her family. Usually he would hunt while out, but he would be getting a cane to the head if he refused. It wasn't too bad, because Elnora knew how to cook good food, and she often disappeared for a few days, probably to get ingredients. Despite his objections to her traveling. She was extremely old from what he's heard. She was still around when he wasn't even thought of. When asked how old she really was, she often just waved the person off, or tried to smack them with something hard. It is one question Culvak never expected to be answered. But if he had to guess she was around 90.


Culvak whistled to himself as he walked. You wouldn't really expect him to be in the military of his Kingdom. Unlike most other soldiers who donned the Imperial crest and colours, Culvak fashioned his own armour, going with flexible leather. He also had his own weapon custom made, going for a smaller sword than the standard two handed long sword that was issued to people of his Rank. He glanced at the sky. It would probably take him around half a day to get to where he needed to go. Sighing softly, he decided to not complain to get on with it.

 

[.Phantom.]

The decision should have been simple. She should barge out into the middle of the pathway and help the woman and her daughter, who couldn't be more than six years old. And yet she hesitated behind the bushes while her glamor clung to her body like a second skin. It would protect her from being outed as a witch, she knew that much, but that was only if neither of them had the well-trained eye of witch hunters. If she waited any longer, however, the man robbing the woman may just kill her and the child. Oh how she wished Elnora were there. The old woman had always been a beacon of reassurance and never seemed to hesitate to decide on the best course of action. This was the reason she burst out of the bushes, shouting at the man and tossing a rock in his direction. Using magic in front of the three of them had never been the intention, but the moment the only thing she could think to do was to use the nearby liana's to coil around the man, effectively tying him up and hanging him upside-down at the nearest tree.

"WITCH!" The man's cry startled her just long enough for her glamour to fall away, revealing the traits that would indeed mark her as the very creature the humans were hunting. Fear prickled up her spine, warning bells ringing in the back of her head and the reminder of just how close to the town she had traveled from her safe cottage further in the center of the woods, further away from the civilization of humanity. Despite having helped them, the moment her eyes locked with the woman's, the mother pulled her child closer to her chest. She knew she made a mistake. No matter how frightened humans were of cruel other humans, the stories they told of her kind were far worse and the terror that swirled in the woman's brown eyes was enough to convince Diane that she believed every story she had heard. Before the woman could scream, Diane yanked her hood back up over her head and rushed into the safety of the forest. Would someone hear? How long until they sent a hunting party after her? Would she have time to get away?

 

[Zynlix]

Culvak trekked through the woods. He was on high alert however. He has heard of a Witch roaming around somewhere in the woods. Nobody has been able to find her though. Whenever somebody gave chase she disappeared into thin air. It was odd. Witches always run sure, but they generally fight back when confronted. For one to run instantly, it was near enough unheard of. He was in his own head when he began hearing yells and cries. He frowned as he picked up the pace to try and get to the location. What was going on? He didn't hear any words, but they had said something to cause such a stir.

He traversed the uneven ground with ease, holding the hilt of his sword so that it wasn't swinging everywhere. He soon burst into view of the Mother and her child, and something else caught his eye. A man was tied upside down on a tree. "What on earth..." He muttered. "What happened? Who did this?" He asked, looking back down to the Mother. It was clear the woman was shook, and by how the man was restrained, it was clearly magic that had did this to him. He walked over to the man, cutting him down with his sword.
"Been hearing of Witches around these parts. Was this the doing of them?" He asked.

 

[.Phantom.]

The woman was still shaking from the experience, her little girl tucked closely against her chest. She had trouble with her words, only able to nod at the soldier to confirm that it had been a witch who had strung up the man. "Sh-she saved us." The woman finally managed, eyes sliding over to the man wrapped tightly in the vines. "That man was trying to rob us." In her arms, the little girl peeked up at the soldier with saucers for eyes, nodding in agreement. She didn't look as scared as her mother did. The stories were all the same, they were all told the same, but children were easily influenced.

"She was like a fairy!" The young girl piped up, eyes sparkling. "Mommy said witches are bad and ugly, but she was so pretty! And she beat up the bad guy! It was so cool!"

Diane was moving quickly through the bushes, only using small bursts of magic to keep from making a ruckus as she crashed through the brush. Bending branches away and having them close behind her to hide the path she took. She knew Ari must be nearby, but it would raise more alarms if anyone saw her with him right now. A witch with a magical beast? That was far too much. Her mind was elsewhere as she moved, tripping and stumbling over her own two feet, landing face-first into the soft grass of a beautiful clearing. A stream was nearby, the sound may have been peaceful and alluring any other day. Not today. She was quite on edge today. She didn't move to get up for a moment, her hands still shaking, tears threatening to fall. It was only the rustling sound of the bushes next to her that got her up onto trembling legs, hands clutched together at her chest as the sound grew louder and closer. The mother bear only just stepped foot into the clearing when the metal teeth snapped shut around her paw, a loud snarl of pain erupting from her massive body. "It's just you, Meredith." She sighed in relief, slowly making her way forward. "Do you remember me? I'll get that taken care of and melted down. But I need you to stay still. This will hurt."

 

[Zynlix]

Culvak frowned at the girl's explanation. A little bit shocked that she was so dazzled by what she saw. But the fact even the mother was saying that the Witch defended them from the man, he was in a little bit of a predicament. Witches were hunted, but that didn't mean he could ignore crimes committed by people. "I must go after the Witch in question. However, there is a patrol around a minutes' walk west. They are camped out. Please report this man to them." He said, glaring over at the man. He would have killed him, but he would rather have the man imprisoned. "Say to them Culvak sent you. They'll make it a priority and will also protect you and your daughter." He spoke. Despite being young, he had good standing with the King and therefore the Army. It gave him some pretty nifty privileges.

Speaking of which, that very patrol was spotted just a few meters away. "Oh. we were just talking about you." Culvak said.

"Sir?" One of them spoke.

"Take this woman and her daughter back to the city. Also take this runt." He said, pointing towards the man. "He tried to rob them." He specified.

"Ofcourse." A soldier added. Two of the guards took a side of the mother. Not holding onto her but stood by her side. Meanwhile the remaining 3 took a hold of the man, and Culvak gave a curt nod. "I'll be a few hours. If anybody asks." Culvak said.

"Yes, sir." The group spoke in unison.

Culvak wasted no time and headed towards the area where the Witch had gone. It was easy to follow with the disturbed group. She was definitely in a panic. But after a certain amount of time... it was like the paths just closed. He frowned in confusion. "Damn magic..." He muttered. He focused on the ground. Despite the large overgrowth, he was still able to make out a path, but it took longer than he'd like. He slashed at the branches of him, breaking them after one or two swings.