Ninternia 1: The Ultimate Elemental
Chapter 3: The Start of a Story
Shadow closed the door to the dorm silently. Swinging her satchel over her shoulder, she turned around to find Soran, with a backpack of his own, standing there. To the normal, oblivious passer by he would've looked impatient, bored, and slightly snooty, but Shadow saw the shifting weight, the glancing eyes, and the fingers fidgeting with his cape that betrayed his nervousness.
"Ready to go?" she whispered to him. He nodded, and followed her as they made their way out of the school.
Two days ago, they'd found the supposed treasure map under the school. Soran had bugged her about it until she'd agreed to go with him to the place marked on the map, yet she couldn't shake a sense of unease. He'd given her the map saying she'd be a better navigator than him as soon as she'd agreed to go, which was yesterday, and while she agreed she'd also spent most of the night studying as the map, and, more specifically, the symbol Shadow couldn't shake the one that the cobra coiled around a gemstone with an "E" on it looked familiar, but no matter how hard she'd tried, she couldn't place it. That was the problem with a photographic memory, it was hard to keep track of everything. Not to mention all the stuff she'd suppressed. she quickly ended that train of thought before she remembered anything she'd regret.
You put all that behind you. Forget it already
Shaking off her thoughts, Shadow pushed a side exit open, and walking out with Soran in tow. AVA was deep in the forest, but whoever built the school had either found a really big clearing or... chopped down quite a few trees. She was betting on the latter. The school itself was a rundown, two story building covered in various forms of vandalism. Not far away was a big, dilapidated barb they used for storage.
"It's locked," Soran whispered gesturing to the side door of the barn.
"Of course it's locked" Shadow muttered, shoving him out of the way and slipping a small throwing knife out of her belt. Carefully keeping the blade hidden from sight, she inserted it into the keyhole, and, after a few turns, was rewarded with a satisfying click. Putting the knife back in it's hiding place, she opened the door to reveal storage cabinets, assorted outdoors equipment, a work table. a tool chest, and, most importantly, an ATV. With all the trails and hills around AVA, it was pretty fun to drive.
"How'd you get the door open?" Soran asked.
Shadow opened the hood of the ATV and started hotwiring it.
"Same way I know how to do this," she answered as the engine roared to life. Thankfully, they were far enough away from the school for no one to notice it. Soran hopped on and drove in a circle.
"Open the door already!" he ordered her. Holding back a sharp remark, Shadow took down the bar holding the big door closed and shoved it open. Despite its considerable weight, she managed to get it open after a few tries.
"Took you long enough," Soran told her. He drove through the barn doors. Shadow didn't bother responding as she got on the ATV behind him. Arguing with him would be pointless. Anyway, regardless of what he said, she didn't care about him and therefore she didn't care what he said to her. That was why she chose to hang out with him actually, there was no chance she'd ever care about some blond wannabe villain who was terrible at being truly evil, but ordered around everyone, was convinced he had royal blood, and cared about nothing except himself, and that was exactly how she wanted it. She refused to care about anyone ever again, not even herself.
Late that night, Shadow sat shivering on the highest branch of a tree, gazing up at the starry sky, while Soran lie sleeping, using his cape for a blanket and bag for a pillow, in the clearing below. They'd been traveling all day, and were only a few miles from their destination but it had gotten too dark to tell where they were going so they ended up finding the clearing and setting up camp, which basically meant park the ATV, and try to sleep. They'd decided against building a fire to avoid any unwanted attention, and Shadow didn't own any other clothes beside a spare gi (ner black "pjs"), so the cold night air was biting into her, yet she didn't do anything to warm up.
"I kept everything inside, and even though I tried, it all fell apart," she sang softly, "what it meant to me would eventually be of a memory of a time I tried so a hard." Her voice was low and clear, each word carrying more emotion a then her face ever showed. There was a reason she only even sang when she was alone. After awhile, she climbed down, intending to explore the forest, but when she hit the ground, despite a light, silent landing, Soran woke up
"Shadow?" he asked, blinking sleepily, "why are you still awake?"
"Sleep isn't really my thing..." she replied wondering how in Ninternia he'd heard her. He rubbed his eyes, then studied her more intently.
"You're cold," he said, more of a statement than a question.
She blinked "Um... okay?" Soran didn't respond as he opened his backpack, and pulled out a bundle of black cloth.
"Here," he said, throwing it to her, "I made this for you so we could match, the evil mastermind and his loyal henchgirl." Despite the remark, his voice had none of its usual haughtiness. Shadow slowly unfolded the bundle feeling, slightly unnerved by the whole situation, but a sense of shock came over her when she saw what he'd made.
In her hands was a soft, black cloak, similar to Soran's, but with a little something extra. Going from the hood to the end of the cape was an embroidered, twisting dragon the same verdant hue of her eyes. Shadow knew how long embroidery took, and judging from the size of the design, and skill of the stitches, he'd spent days on it.
"I... um, thanks," she said awkwardly," You, uh, didn't have to, um, do this."
Soran smiled, "It was worth it, You look great," he yawned, "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep."
Then he rolled over and did just that, leaving poor Shadow completely at a loss for what to do. Something about how he'd acted reminded her of-
Don't think about them. They're gone. They left you and don't even try with Soran, she scolded herself, With love comes loss, remember? That's why you swore never to love again, especially not some stupid boy, not even if it's just as a friend...
"Are the we there yet?" Soran asked.
"For the twenty third time, no," Shadow said tiredly from behind the map. Yes, she was counting. Despite the rough terrain, and that she wasn't holding on, she somehow managed to stay on the ATV while Soran drove it through the forest undergrowth.
They'd started traveling shortly after sunrise, since Shadow hadn't bothered sleeping at all, and Soran hadn't been able to in the light. According to the map, they were almost there. Shadow pulled her new hood lower as she continued studying the old scroll. Neither of them mentioned what had happened last night. She would've thought it had been a dream if it wasn't for the cloak resting on her shoulders. Part of her wished it had been though. She'd been in a bit of a mood since then.
"Are we there now?" Soran said in a bored voice.
"For the last time, n- oh wait. "Shadow said, looking around, "This is it."
"Finally!" he said, hitting the brakes, and jumping off. She followed him, folding up the map and slipping it into her satchel despite the fact that by doing so, she was damaging it because it was a hundred plus years old scroll that wasn't meant to be folded. Interesting thing? She knew it.
They were now standing in the most densely wooded area they'd found yet. Not far away was a rushing river which was probably why there was so much vegetation here. There was a fog in the air and the earth covered in moss, making it slippery. Combined with the tangle of roots and vines, it made footing treacherous. There was a crashing sound coming from not far away.
"What's that noise?" Soran asked heading towards it.
"That would be the sound of water hurtling over a 1,500 foot cliff," Shadow said, fighting back a smirk when he froze.
"Um... maybe I should... uh, stay away from the edge, "he muttered, walking back to where the ATV was.
"You want the treasure or not?" she asked him, feeling a sudden surge of annoyance.
"Of course I do what kind of a question is that?"
"Then come on."
Shadow led him towards the crashing sound, which steadily got louder, as the fog got so thick, she couldn't see where she was stepping. Suddenly, she grabbed his arm, preventing him from taking another step
"Hey!" Soran said.
She released him, "Fine, walk off a cliff for all I care."
"Well-wait, what!?"
"The cliff edge is right there. Another step and you're going cliff diving."
"I knew that! I was just er, testing to see if you were paying attention."
"Sure, this way," she said shortly, wondering why she'd bothered to stop him from going over. Climbing rather stepping, she stayed parallel to the edge, while Soran stayed several feet to her right. It was difficult since the trees grew even here, some hanging half off the cliffs, and she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Some part of her mind was was aware that wasn't possible for trees this big to grow in these conditions, not naturally, but she didn't stop to think about it. Nor did she listen to the sense of unease and strange familiarity of the symbol. She didn't feel like paying attention to her vague hunches. She just wanted to focus on the objective rather than having to deal with the turmoil in her mind.
"Here," she said. They'd stopped some way below the highest point of the diff where a ledge broke off, and led across the cliff wall to, presumably, behind the falls.
"You're kidding me, right?" Soran said.
"No, " Shadow replied as she readjusted her satchel and cape. At this point, she didn't care whether or not he came she just wanted to keep moving. Whatever that map was leading them to, she was going to find it. She'd figure out her next move from there, but she knew it wouldn't include Soran.
"My shadow's the only thing that walks beside me," she mouthed silently as she inched across the ledge, "My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating. Sometimes I wish someone out there would find me. Till then I walk alone..."
Gradually, the ledge continued to widen, and the noise grew louder. The sound of the rushing water pounded at her eardrums, drowning out everything except the drive to complete her goal. Maybe afterwards she could finally rest...
"Whoa..." Soran said, standing beside her behind the waterfall. She fought the urge flinch, having somewhat forgotten he was with her, even though the whole adventure was his idea in the first place. As for what he was looking at...
Before them was a huge, stone door carved into the cliff face. It was covered in twisting designs. After a second, Shadow, realized that the designs were snakes. Cobras, anacondras, vipers, you name it. Stepping closer to the door, she ran her fingers. across the carvings, but suddenly she froze as she recognized one of them.
Of course...
The symbol...
The trees...
It all makes sure now...
"I've got it!" Soran said, startling her. He stepped forward and, before she could stop him, pushed down on a carving. A deep grating sound started from inside the walls, causing the ledge to vibrate. Knowing full well she couldn't stop the doors from opening, and completely aware of the dangers that lurked inside, Shadow's hand went to the hilt of her tanto knife, which she'd hidden under her cape last night. She caught a flicker of movement in the shadows.
"Hello children," a low voice hissed "I thank you for releasing me, and the rest of my kind from our centuries of imprisonment, but must ask; what brings you all the way out here?"
A nearly silent scrape came from Shadow as she started to draw her blade.
"What's the matter?" the voice asked as it owner slithered out of the door way. His eyes glinted as he continued, "Cat got your tongue? Or should I say snake?"As soon as Soran saw the human sized, purple & white snake, he screamed and jumped backward, effectively ruining the tense moment. Shadow yelped as she saw him heading for the ledge, which was completely out of character for her, and she would forever deny doing, but she slid her tanto knife back into its sheath, and dove landing, right on top of him.
Their faces inches apart, Shadow said"I honestly don't know why I saved you."
Soran blinked
"Snakes? Why'd it have to be snakes?" he moaned.
