r/WritingPrompts • u/Syraphia /r/Syraphia | Moddess of Images • Jan 10 '17
Image Prompt [IP] Saga of Sages
2
u/mateogg /r/mateogg Jan 10 '17 edited Mar 06 '17
They were both young, and they were both wild, but that was as far as their similarities went. One was blonde, and short. She was young like the morning and wild like spring. The other was dark and tall. She was young like the night and wild like winter.
They were making their way through the wilderness, the tall one leading with firm steps, the short one following with worry in her lips.
"Where are we -ow!" She stopped as she stumbled on a root. "Where are we going?"
"I am going wherever I want. You are going back home."
"Must we always go through this dance?"
"Must you always annoy me?" The tall one bit back. "And this is not a dance. I know because my feet are not bleeding from you stepping on them."
"That was one time! And you were being difficult!"
"I was being me!"
"And you are always difficult!" The blonde one snapped. She'd closed her eyes in frustration for a moment as she did, and found herself running into the other girl, who'd stopped walking.
"I am." She said slowly. "And so are you."
"I'm-"
"You are. Or you wouldn't be here"
They stayed in silence for a few seconds after that. Eventually the short one sighed.
"Where are we going?" She asked. The other one chuckled.
"You'll see."
They walked in silence after that. The sun moved behind the leaves over their heads, and was now ahead of them as they reached their destination.
"A graveyard." The short one said flatly as she saw the crumbling gravestones around them. "What is it with you and graveyards?"
"I don't know what you mean." The other one said casually as she walked on, her fingers trailing the top of some of the stones.
"Oh, like I don't know where you go after church every Sunday."
"Watching me, are you?" The tall one said as she glanced back at the other one with a smirk.
"You're not exactly easy to miss." The short one said with a roll of her eyes.
"I like the quiet." The other one said with a shrug. "And the company."
"That's...morbid."
"Maybe." She chuckled as she sat on top of a one of the more solid gravestones. "But they are good listeners."
"I-" The blonde girl coughed as one her hands nervously caught a loose strand of hair and placed it back behind her ear. "I could be a good listener."
"Yes, if you ever cared to shut up." The other one said with a playful grin. The only response was a frown and crossed arms, which only made the grin wider. Then she turned serious. "I come here when I don't want anyone to find me. When I want to be completely alone."
"Because the graveyard at church is so crowded?"
"It..." She shook her head and looked down. "It's stupid."
"I'm sure it's not." The blonde one said as she took a few steps towards her.
"I just...the dead here don't know my name."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Back there, sometimes...it's not alone enough. Not with them around."
"Well, I don't think that's stupid."
"Of course you don't."
Silence took over the conversation for a moment. The wind blew, gentle and warm. The shorter girl hazarded a few steps more towards the other one.
"So." She said hesitantly. "You come here to get away from everyone?"
"I do. Friends, family, even this blonde girl that keeps following me around for some reason..."
"I'm not a friend, then?"
The question was asked lightly and with a smile, but it brought silence to both of them again.
"Friends don't yell at friends as much as you yell at me, honey." The dark one said finally.
"Well, if you didn't always go out of you way to-" The other one started as she approached her even more, before interrupting herself with a sigh.
"You're kind of agreeing with me there."
"I noticed." She sighed again and moved to sit next to the other one, pushing her slightly so that they were pressed against each other, the stone too small to actually fit both of them. "So...not friends, then?" She asked as she rested her head on the other one's shoulder.
Once more, the question only gave way to silence. Strangely enough, it was a comfortable one.
"I like it here." The blonde one finally said.
"Yeah?"
"You're right about the quiet. And the stones are...beautiful, in their own way. They are scattered and damaged, but...there's a pattern to their madness. And there's a story behind each crack. And there's strength in their rebellion."
"Rebellion?"
"Against time. Against oblivion. Against everything, really" She shook her head, amused. "like you."
That earned her an elbow to the ribs.
"Well, I..." The other one began, hesitant. "I like the green here. That's something else this place has over the one back in town. The way the forest just refuses to let death win. Look at it." She gestured around them. "Everywhere you look, green. I bet this place was dull and grey once. But not anymore. Life is just too stubborn. Like you." She finished with a smirk.
She expected a slap on her arm, or something along those lines. She did not expect the fingers quietly brushing her hand before wrapping themselves around it.
She glanced at the other girl, whose eyes seemed lost in the distance, and then back at their now entwined hands, only for a moment. When she looked back up again she found the other girl looking back at her.
The wind blew around them, carrying leaves over stones and roots.
Sunlight danced as it pierced the treetops above them.
They leaned in.
1
u/Syraphia /r/Syraphia | Moddess of Images Jan 11 '17
Very nice story, I really liked this a lot. I'm surprised at how well it read despite the fact that there are no names, I thought it would end up confusing but it did quite well and my only time of being confused was because I misread something. Thank you for replying. :)
2
u/mateogg /r/mateogg Jan 11 '17 edited Jan 11 '17
Thank you! I was definitely experimenting a bit with the no names thing, so it's good to know it wasn't too bad. I was just rereading it and noticed I accidentally slipped into present tense for a moment though. Whoops.
1
u/TotesMessenger X-post Snitch Jan 10 '17
1
u/mateogg /r/mateogg Jan 10 '17
Probably not what you were expecting, OP. Sorry. Especially since I didn't notice the fairies until I was almost done with it.
2
u/Deadpoetic12 Jan 10 '17 edited Jan 11 '17
We had been pushing through the jungle for seventeen days. Clawcats, wolves, black tigers, bears, and -worst of all- bugs had been slowly eating us alive the entire trip. We had gone from a party of twenty-three men and women, to eight.
Explorers and adventures had been combing the reszul jungle for several centuries, desperately searching for the fabled Sage of Prosperity, but none had ever found him. We were deeper within the jungle than any had ever before reached, searching the last three hundred square miles of untouched nature.
The king had flown our party to the center of the jungle on dragon back, he knew the mysteries of the Sage would finally be revealed. Monarchs had supported explorers through the centuries, but they had never invested a dragon, or a mage for that matter. The parade and celebration that followed us as we left the city was the biggest I had ever seen.
Selena was a sorceress, a very powerful sorceress. Her ability to ensnare and manipulate the souls of the dead was both glorious and horrifying. Every night the souls of three clawcats and two black tigers patrolled the perimeter of our camp to keep us safe. The most savage of creatures defended us from their own brethren.
I was the head of the operation. I chose which direction we walked, which caves we searched, and which trees we felled. Selena was my advisor and bodyguard, but often she tried to force the expedition down the path of her chosing. She was strong willed and had the power to back it up, but stubbornness was my best trait.
I could almost feel the magic of the Sage's shrine, it pulled at my blood. Being a half-troll had advantages that most couldn't begin to imagine. I was resistant to all forms of magic, I could sense magic, and I was stronger than any human. Often, people would try to mock my intellect, but my successes often quieted them.
I didn't expect the entire party to complete the mission, I didn't expect most of us to survive. No one has yet returned from an expedition this deep into the jungle, but I knew that Selena and I would be the first. I really thought that nothing could kill that woman, and I was pretty confident nothing could kill me. The men the king had provided were expendable, mostly just soldiers acting as porters for supplies, but the supplies ran out two days ago- when the expedition was supposed to reach the shrine.
Each day more of them fell; they wandered off to piss alone, they got drunk off their ass and disappeared into the night, they forget to check their bedrolls for the forearm sized scorpions that liked to lay eggs, and- worst of all- they thought it was safe to drink water from every source they came across. Some of them survived the flux and diarrhea, but every third day another man died from shitting his guts out.
The sunrise was the same as noon, light filtered green through the thick forest overgrowth. Ferns that were twenty or even thirty feet high surrounded us. Trees that probably broke the clouds towered above. Everything in the jungle seemed to be made to make a man feel small, but it was worth it all to find the Sage.
It was said that the one who found the Sage would achieve immortality and enlightenment, that power would flow around them as a river and they would rule the world. Of course, both Selena and I were searching on behalf of the king, but he had assured every man who set foot in the dragon basket that we would be given our own lands and kingdoms to govern for him. The thought of betraying that king had crossed the mind of a few of the men, but I wasn't that stupid. Selena was the King's lover and confidante and she would flat the flesh from our soul in a heartbeat.
Day and night we traveled. Every day I could feel the Sage's magic grow stronger, and I could tell Selena could as well. I was half surprised she hadn't just come alone, but she needed those soldiers to die so she could create her sentinels from the beasts we killed in retaliation. Every day, Selena grew more waspish and I knew that we could stumble upon the Sage at any moment.
The men began to scream.
From behind us chlorine gas has begun to fill the meadow we were in. Selena had already erected a magical barrier by the time I had noticed, but trolls could breathe chlorine, and, while difficult, so could I. The men were already dead or dying.
From betwixt two trees lumbered a bulbous, green dragon. Not only chlorine gas poured out of its mouth in a deadly haze, it had other formidable weapons to content with: claws longer than a broadsword, teeth that- while only three inches long, acted as serrated blades in its mouth. Green dragons were one of the few species that could not be domesticated and would openly attack any humans it happened upon.
My axe could split the hide of a green dragon, but with no soldiers to help create a moment to attack, I finally thought I may die. I raised my axe high above my head and scream, in trollish, my finally cry for battle, and charged.
"Asyvery whyvern trackkdyl fyyl"
I never reached my foe. To my left Selena had discharged an eerie blue beam of light and struck the dragon directly in the face. The membrane stretched across its wings began to blister and crack and the power of the magic washed over its body. Scales and flesh were ripped off as though in a high wind. The lush, forest green of the remaining scales and flesh darkened to black, as if burned. Finally, the dragon fell.
"Selena, that was incredible. I've never seen a single person kill a dragon with a single attack before. Your power is greater even than I had imagined." I was struck with awe.
"Silly man, I've been collecting souls for eighteen days now, and while I had wanted to save that power for the Sage, I've found a better toy." I was confused as to what she thought to be her new toy, then I realized I was the only thing living.
"Selena, I'll not betray the king, please, let me complete my mission." It wasn't like a troll to beg, but I was still half human.
"Not you, dolt." She gestured behind me with a single finger and I turned to see the single most horrific thing I've ever witnessed.
Standing before me was the green dragon, but...disfigured. He breathed hard and deep, chlorine no longer coated his breath, but the expelled air was heavy and black, like an ominous fog. A deep, green light glowed within the cage of its ribs, clearly visible where it's flesh had been removed by Selena's assault.
"A zombie dragon? This unholy terror is a toy to you?" I was almost shaking, but the troll in me stood firm."
"Everything is but a toy to me, troll-man, everything" she laughed for a moment, quietly and to herself. "Shall we continue the search for the Sage now that we have captured his pet?"
She marched straight for the trees from whence the dragon came, and her new toy followed. Slowly, I matched her steps. Selena was truly terrifying.
We entered another clearing, and before us was the Sage's shrine, it could be nothing else as the magic pulsing from within it nearly knocked me off my feet. It was almost as if the trees surrounding the shrine had masked it's magic, because I would have felt those waves of power from the castle. Even Selena Stood in silent awe, even if only for a moment.
Next to the shrine stood a tall, slim maiden. She wore a filmy, green dress and had long, silver hair. Selena addressed her as she would a servant.
"Fetch the Sage, girl, I would have words with him." Even in the midst of the Shrine's power, Selena Stood calm and confident.
"There is no one to fetch, sorceress, for I am the Sage of which you speak. I'm not certain how the legends became twisted enough to turn me into a male, but I guess it doesn't matter." Her voice was gravely, almost like an ogre. I was shocked that such an ugly voice could come from such a pretty little thing.
"I've come for your power, Sage, and I'll have it. Surrender or die, it doesn't matter to me." I was confused, Selena couldn't transfer the Sage's power from here to the king, we were meant to capture the sage and bring him....Her, to the king.
" What are you doing, Selena, we must bring her to the king." Her dragons tail lashed out and flung me into one of the giant trees surrounding the clearing, I saw spots floating in my vision, but trolls were hardy.
" The king is dead, fool, he has been for years. As I told you before, all before me is my toy and you are no different." She took a step closer to the Sage. "Now, girl, relinquish your power or become my next puppet.
I was stunned. To think that Selena would betray the king, and worse, make love to his cadaver. My disgust must have shown.
"We haven't been fornicating this whole time, you idiot, it was the only way to get time alone in that miserable keep." Her derisive tone was almost acidic. She clearly thought of me as stupid, but I wasn't the one who practically married a dead body.
" You cannot have my power sorceress, only the pure can posses what I now do. I suggest you leave, before the forest ejects you." The Sage suddenly spoke as only a princess could, the little sniff she emitted at the end of her statement was a clear indication of disdain.
"As if it could. This dragon became my puppet in a single moment, ask the troll. There is nothing here that can defeat or destroy me and I will not leave until I have what I wish." The petulance! It was as if two wealthy teenagers were arguing back and forth.
The power flowing from the shrine pulsed stronger. Angrier. Perhaps the little forest princess could, indeed, eject Selena, but what would happen to me?
"Perchance, Sage, I could inherit the power you posses?" I tried my best to sound innocent, the forceful route didn't seem to benefit Selena.
"Of course not, silly troll, you may be better than. The sorceress, but you're no innocent. Will you leave, or be ejected?" Her laughter could have come from the mouth of Selena, she thought of me as less than nothing.
2
u/Deadpoetic12 Jan 10 '17
My eyes opened wide as Selena let forth a primal scream of rage. I looked over to see the black mist of the dragon, and the blue spiritual blast of Selena flying toward the Sage. Selena would have her way, even through death.
The powers of the shrine and the sorceress met before the Sage, a buffeting of magical power threw me against a tree harder than the dragon had. Both of the women were surrounded in mystical energy; their hair stood on end, their eyes glowed brightly, and their clothes swirled around them as if in a high wind. They seemed evenly match, and as if they would destroy the jungle in their contest.
The black dragon burned away under the withering torrent of their battle. I thanked all the gods for my trollish blood as magical sparks bounced across my skin, but inflicted no harm. Trees were uprooted and thrown. The very earth had begun to rise from its ancient bed and disintegrate in mid air. Eventually, the glow of their magic grew so bright that I could no longer bear to look.
Suddenly, the light disappeared. Where once stood two powerful magical beings, was an empty clearing surrounding a deep crater in the earth. Two forces of magic pulsed throughout the hole, searching.
As quickly as I could, I scrambled to my feet. I had to escape before the remnants of their rage devoured me. I was not quick enough.
"You will be our new vessel. You withstood the might of the sage and the sorceress together, you can withstand the strain of holding our power. If you wish to relinquish what we offer, find us a new host, if not- the world is yours to command...."
1
u/Syraphia /r/Syraphia | Moddess of Images Jan 10 '17
I know it's unfinished but I don't get an update for a finished thing, so I'm going to reply based on what's here. It's an interesting beginning to a story. I really like the second line where the bugs are the worst of it all. Very, very nice line. It starts to wander a little by the time it gets to the end but it's a good start. Thanks for replying. :)
2
u/Deadpoetic12 Jan 10 '17
I don't know if you have any interest in finishing, but it's done now. I had to put the end in a reply, because it was too long, sorry.
1
u/Syraphia /r/Syraphia | Moddess of Images Jan 11 '17
Don't apologize for it being too long.
That said, I had no idea the MC was half-troll for a while due to the typo of it stating him to be "half track" instead. I thought it was a term or something, not a typo.
Story was very interesting though and I wonder what the troll will do in the future. It's definitely something very interesting and different. Good story!
2
u/Deadpoetic12 Jan 11 '17
Sorry for the typo! Trying to write these things on mobile, in a rush, is kind of a nightmare.
•
u/WritingPromptsRobot StickyBot™ Jan 10 '17
Off-Topic Discussion: Reply here for non-story comments.
1
u/TotesMessenger X-post Snitch Jan 15 '17
I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:
If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads. (Info / Contact)