The recurring Light at the End!

Consciousness drifted down into the void. A consciousness that felt alone as it was beset upon by the great nothing. A consciousness that started to feel fear in the unrelenting loneliness. So it started to defend itself, to think, to gather upon itself to keep it safe. Name, it needed a name. Perhaps... Ryu. Yes, Ryu felt familiar. It felt good, used by people who cared. So Ryu kept thinking, flashes of images all speeding by, gaining cohesion by the second. Happy images, of the light that was present in the void. But they came laced with a vivid melancholy. Images of a life that seems already gone, of a past seemingly so long ago. Of friends and family. Of brotherhood. Of a beloved sister swept away, by the dark. A home that no longer felt like home. A place he needed to get away from. A place of dark feelings and darker deeds. Of rampant emotions and bleak consequences. Suddenly it was as if the dark felt it could win, to subvert and take over this intruder. Ryu...the consciousness felt itself being surrounded and locked in.

So again Ryu fell in a dark room. A room from years past. A place normal people would call home, now corrupted and twisted into the cage, locking away all thought, sapping at the captive within. But the consciousness that was Ryu was not without it's final defences. A place like home would allow an inhabitant like himself. So he weaved himself a form. Legs, a torso, arms and a head coalescing like a gibbering mass from it's mind.
So control was possible. Ryu looked around in the room. It looked like a modern living room, comfortable leather couches around a small table. A television and sound installation against the opposite wall, a clear view for all who enjoyed their seats. Little flowers on the table, a bleak mirror of the usual brighting effect they had on the room. A fireplace next to the TV, with empty photos on a support beam above the cosy stove. Windows closed by curtains with a soft square pattern, and next to them a cabinet filled with books, their shapes and sizes as numerous as the colours were few... Actually, non-existant. The black and white veil was everywhere, marring what would be a warm and welcome room, altering and turning it's purpose from one of safety to one of bleakness.
In this room, exactly in the middle, there was Ryu. Just like last time. Everything was clearer though, more tangible to the mind as Ryu turned his new formed body and scanned around. He felt his face contort in disgust as details sprung to his eye and were discarded. It was all fake. Curtains did not hide windows, but just bare wall. The fireplace was as empty and the chimney as walled off as the void he was in. The flowers shined like plastic in the eerie all-present light as the couches felt cold and hard. Ryu shook his head and turned around, bare wall looking down upon him as their captive stared back. Stared for a way out.
Just like last time, when the need to leave grew strong, a door appeared. And just like last time a shadow stepped through, undulating and growing, it's voice dark and grating as it drilled itself in the mind. The feeling of Death arriving. "You are here... Once more. You seek to leave, but I shall keep you. Pain will not allow you an exit this time. You. Are. Mine!" It moved closer...

"Why" Ryu spoke. The shadow halted, puzzled by the sound as it's movement felt still. "What would you have with me? What purpose for keeping me?"
The shadow shook, a silent laughter in the face of verbal opposition. It moved closer again and wrapped an end around Ryu. "Because... we are one. We cannot be seperated. It is what we are." It placed a tendril on Ryu's shoulder and turned him towards the fireplace. Dark picture frames lighted up and showed their contents. A family. Four people, two adults and 2 kids, one teenaged, one still child, standing together in harmony. Only a smile recognisable on the emptiness of their faces. Around those ,the same children again but older, surrounded by numerous other persons, probably friends. Standing in a park, and in front of a house. Playing at a party, the adults drinking and the children chasing eachother. Ryu shuddered. He knew he was one of them. The little child, with as big a smile as the rest of this dark family. The grown up young man, with friendship ties that would last a lifetime. It's different from what actually happened. Reality was...a lot darker. All the time fights when he was little. The constant yelling and verbal abuse. The leaving of his useless father, left behind with his bitter mother. The only person he cared about his sister... Her becoming incurably ill later, and dying after 2 months of suffering. Him all alone, starting college with an empty heart and dulled mind, barely hanging on, getting a run-down apartment in the suburbs. A life of potential almost nipped in the bud, with only reason why it sprouted the sheer determination and elimination of all doubt through the elimination of most emotions. Just biting down and going. Just keep going, feeding on the dark.

Ryu understood. The darkness is what kept him alive. Coming home to a run down empty apartment. No one to love him, or care about him. The days at school stressing to good keep grades, only to come home to *that*. The neighborhood full of thugs and scum with him trying to make a living in the middle. The darkness urging him to take several self defense classes, him carving an existence within the garbage of society. Keeping him alive. The darkness was him. He was The Dark!
Ryu nodded and looked at the dark creature that was him... The tendrils reached out to surround him, almost as a lover that caressed his body. They touched him... inside of him, and began to feed. Ryu felt his mind glaze over and closed his eyes...

"NO!! Wake yourself Ryu!!" The voice came out of nowhere as a ray of light piercing through the clouds. Kaz's voice woke Ryu back up from the daze, a stab of white in the darkened mind. Kaz! How could Ryu forget Kazimir. The one good thing to come from all of it. Ryu met him a few months in his freshman year, an open minded and good-laughs kid with red curly hair and a warm aura. He befriended the silent and dark Ryu by the sheer power of being able to relate to Ryu in an unique empathic way. Whatever Ryu was thinking at a time, Kaz would know it and start talking about it, making it accessible, making Ryu look up from his inner thoughts and reach out to the world. When he was around, Ryu could feel like smiling again. Because of him Ryu started hanging out with people he liked, and although most found Ryu's company a bit unnerving they accepted him. Kaz was a real friend, the truest of them all. And now he was dead. Dead but not forgotten. Ryu would always honor his friend in whatever way was possible. Kaz would not allow him to succumb to his own dark self. Once Ryu had a really depressing day, punks had bashed down his door, trashing half his place before Ryu could hurt them enough to leave him alone. A lot of items with good memories were damaged in the process. So Ryu turned inward, and pushed everyone away, including Kaz. But Kaz wouldn't allow it. He slapped Ryu full in the face and proceeded with talking about carrying on and honoring memories having friends to lighten the load. Ryu was so dumbfounded about the effort that Kaz put into it that he forgot all about the accident for the rest of the day. Kaz even helped straighten up the apartment and mended a picture frame of Ryu and his sister. It meant the world to Ryu. So even with Kaz gone, Ryu could not and would not betray his best friend's memory.

The creature felt something change and pulled back it's tendrils with a jerk. It shuddered and undulated, whipping it's extremities up and down on Ryu. Ryu's answer was to grimace, pull back his arm and let out a scream of defyance, his punching with his palm outwards, pushing back inside of the creature, pushing it's core away, locking it into itself. The creature vanished with a wail like a banshee and Ryu screamed again at the room. Panting deeply, he looked around the room again and found the door. He approached and turned the handle. The voice sounded again. "Ryu, keep going! I'll stay here for now!" Kaz! I'll return for you, buddy. Honor to your soul!

The door opened and light flooded in. It surrounded and swallowed Ryu... Just like Kaz's friendship scooped up Ryu in the days he needed a friend the most.

Falling in home

Ryven led Ryu around what can only be described as a warren of different platforms, stairs and walkways, ascending over huge branches carrying houses, huts and storage rooms, descending under and around them, disappearing between the big leaves once you got past them. Ryu's sense of direction had given up and fled the first five minutes of walking and he hasn't tried to recover it since. The turns and twists were just too...unforgiving for that. On the other hand, nausea had left as well, and Ryu had actually been able to divert some of his attention of putting one foot steadily in front of the other to listening to Ryven and looking around at the exotic sight. It seems Ryven was trying to hear him out about where he came from and why his clothes were so strange. He felt slightly irritated at his persistence so he made up some quick answers. Of course explaining about technology seemed to be as much as a pain in the backside as one would expect, he simplified his excuses very much. The clothes he couldn't explain at all, so he just said some stuff. Confusion seemed plain on Ryven's face, so Ryu stopped saying anything quickly enough. When one question about magic came up Ryu answered he liked made up stories from books, of course there being no "magic", but Ryven shook his head gravely. Ryu tried returning some questions, but Ryven also answered shallowly. He did seem to have a light sense of humor however, the occasional comment seemed aimed to make Ryu chuckle, and he forgot his worries for a bit. Ryu found it strange that such a bear of a man had such a light way about him. The worries and nerves returned however when Ryven mounted the steps to what seemed a quite and well-faring wooden house built on several of the huge branches. Ryu had no idea where exactly in the Tree City he was now, but as he looked around it seemed as this place was pretty isolated. Only a few houses were visible, and those some branches away. Which probably meant walking around for half an hour just to find the stairs that would give access to the house. Ryven waited for Ryu at the door as Ryu hesitantly made his way up to the front porch.
"Ready?" Ryven looked Ryu up and down as Ryu slowly shook his head and squared his shoulders. "Not really...but I guess I'll never be." Ryven heaved a small sigh as he nodded and turned to the door. He knocked the door gently as few times and waited, looking at Ryu hiding himself against the wall next to the door. Ryven shook his head and grabbed Ryu by his collar trying to drag him in front of the door.
"Oy, let go! Gahh!! Stop pulling you, dammit!". As Ryu got pulled backward, he felt his balance slipping and threw out his hand, which landed in Ryven face, earning him a muffled grunt.
Right at that moment the door opened and a smiling Sylvan woman looked upon the scene with warm eyes.
"Ryven, what are you doing here? Oh, this must be our guest then, Ryu right?". Ryu felt Ryven push him off and quickly regained his balance as he took his hand from the other's face, and apparently his fingers out of his mouth. Wiping the salivated hand on his leg Ryu tried to compose himself and failing miserably as he stammered an answer. "Ye-yes, ma'am. I-I'm Ryu." He coughed shyly and even managed a slight bow, but feeling quite foolish, he ducked his head and felt his face growing hot.
Ryven watched him with a doubtful look on his face and addressed the woman. "Yes, Leyra, this is the human that was found in the Eastern Desert." The woman - Leyra - turned towards Ryven with a slight frown on his face. "Don't talk about him like that. We're all children of the Mother, Ryven. If I remember what the Oracle said, his name is Ryu." Ryven seemed slightly abashed and nodded. "Sure, I'll use his name, as long as he refrains from further sticking his fingers down my throat." Ryu just grunted sourly and seemed unaware that he was still wiping his fingers on his leg. Suddenly the woman smiled broadly. "Don't just stand there, come in, come in!". She placed a hand on Ryu's arm and urged him in, Ryven following as Ryu let himself be guided. They quickly passed a small income hall where Ryu was instructed to remove his boots. Inside they entered what seemed the living room. It was an open and brightly decorated room. The lightly colored wood of the floor and walls was accented by light green plants and crystal objects ranging from purple to yellow through green -of course-. The room was neatly furnished to appear both cosy and open. On one end there was a large table elaborately carved with curved vines and leaves, with six matching chairs, two on each side and one on the ends. two peculiar leather sofas took up most of the other side, one large enough for thee persons, the other for two. Also some chairs designed for lounging were placed opposite the sofa's with a small table in the middle that looked like it was made out of hardened tree sap, only the color was all wrong. On the table was a crystal carving like the ones Ryu saw on the wall of the halls back at the Oracle's place only smaller and not casting light. Next to it was a stick of incense letting off tendril of scented smoke that seemed to cast slow eerie shadows on the walls of the living room. Behind the living place was a rail less staircase that seemed to go up to a second floor, part of which seemed like an open platform looking down on the living room. Ryu could also make up some doors up there, so he guessed those must be the sleeping rooms. Leyra put Ryu down in the smaller of the two couches, while Ryven sat in one of the lounge chairs. Ryu tried not to shy back as Leyra took a seat next to him and placed a cup of sweet smelling thee in front of him. Ryu felt uncertainty settle in for the long run.
"So then Ryu, tell me something about yourself". Ryu sighed momentarily and thought about the advice the Oracle had given him. And if this is where he was to stay, he shouldn't start by making the people here uncomfortable, so he shied away from the question while trying to keep the uncertainty from his voice. He failed miserably at that. "Hehe... I don't know. What's there to tell? I'm... not really that special." Leyra let out a giggle and continued smiling at Ryu. "Nonsense dear. You're the first human here in Tyranna in a few hundred years, you're special al right." Ryu felt himself falter and sighed again. "Right, ehh.... I don't know, I'm, 20 years old, I'm a kind of...eh student prog-- euh technical... stuff... magic, I live - lived - alone in a small studio... apartment, kind of a small house inside a house. I like music, I do some ...sports, and I try stuff out, like playing intruments and martial arts in my free time...aaaaand thats it?" Ryu finished with a half smile, feeling like he's been wrung out and hung to dry. Leyra picked up the half smile and nodded "I see, very well then. Well my name is Ley'ranah Ni'daliath, but everyone calls me Leyra. I live here with my two children, Dalhon and Vi'jona, eight and nineteen. I'm still quite young myself for seventy two years old." Her smile became a little brighter as Ryu's eyebrow shot up in surpise.
"Ehh, what, seventy two?? Young?... wait, Ryven how old are you?"
"one hundred and eighty six" Ryven casually answered.
Another shock entered Ryu as the pieces in his head came together. "You...live longer than us... I mean, hell, I wish I'd look like that when I'm your age... I mean I would have said a healthy 25...perhaps 30 in the extremes..but..." Ryu fell without words as everything flashed home. Why didn't he notice sooner? Magic healing, medieval swords and armour, elf-like people, rasicm against humans, huge lifespans. This was the stuff of fantasy. There are the kind of things that you read about in books, see in videogames, or see on TV. Not in front of you. Not sitting next to you. Not inside and around you...!! He took a slight sip of the thee, it tasted quite exotic, but sweet, he didn't know what it could have been made of. As he put the cup down Ryu noticed a sparkle dance in the thee. Suddenly he felt the pain in his chest he felt before in the infirmary and the blood suddenly pumping at an increased rate to his brain made Ryu feel very dizzy. He looked around the room as colours blended and sounds started to fade. He swayed once, as suddenly he felt several hands supporting him. He coughed once... twice and tried to sit up supported by the hands. He thought he recognised Ryven's voice through the haze.
"What thee is this Leyra? It made him sick fast!"
"It's Melve'eh leaf. It comes from the brushes near the mages' compound. Why is it having this effect, we drink this all the time. Perhaps humans are allergic to it?"
"Lay him down quick."
The voice haze got thicker soon, and Ryu closed his eyes as once again he felt himself slip away.

Oblivion beckons again, a call undeniable by all...

Invitations

From behind a nearby corner a rather large Sylvan male hurried towards Ryu and Tayana, a stern look on his face. Upon seeing the sylvan, Tayana relaxed and dropped what she was holding behind her back. Ryu noticed the knife from Dhokas' goon buddy as it clattered upon the floor.
The Sylvan looked at Ryu and then at Tayana and started talking with an hurried look on his face.
"Tayana, what was all that ruckus here, I just saw Kaven's brother and his punk buddies hurrying towards the Mages' guild and..." He fell silent as he looked behind Tanaya's back at the unconscious Dhokas and his goons. "Oh...right, well you handled that nicely. I'd have them punished but they already look pretty roughed up." He nodded and added "To be expected from you."
Tayana nodded back with a smile. "It's not all my work though, this hu'man here took care of one the boys nicely. I only needed to step in when they started playing dirty."
This seemed to surprise the Sylvan and he turned towards Ryu with a respectful smile on his face.
"So you're the human who was found outside. Good job, if it's true what Tanaya said."
Ryu nodded sullenly, rubbing the bump on his head "Yeahwell, thanks I guess. I have a name though, it's Ryu, if you'd be so kind to use it..."
The Sylvan barked a laugh "Hah!! Of course Ryu. I'm Ryven, nice to meet you. I'm the current leader of the Warrior's Guild."
Hearing the word leader, Ryu suddenly felt a bit intimidated in the presence of this Sylvan. That, and his size, they guy was big, and *broad*. He bowed ever so slightly. "Yeah..."
Ryven smirked and turned to Tayana "Moh'r Kahs'den seems to have some congregation again, go and sort things out will ya, I'll take over from you. I also have an errand from the Oracle again, it seems we've solved one problem for Ryu here."
Tanaya nodded quickly "Thanks friend" and nodded at Ryu "Human." before running off.
Ryu sighed heavily and grumbled under his breath. Ryven caught the hint and placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder "Don't mind her, she's just grumpy since she took you back here. Not really sure why, but it'll get better. Girls..."
Ryu let out a chuckle and nodded gravely "Yeah...girls", a small grin appearing on his face, but quickly disappearing again. "So, you said you solved a problem for me?"
Ryven started walking "Yeah, I'll explain later, but walk with me. I'll take you back to the Oracle, she'll explain it to you." Ryven slightly smirked "Heh, two audiences with the Oracle on one day, you sure must be quite important. Some people here don't even get to see her face to face once a year."
Ryu arched an eyebrow , while keeping up with Ryven's quick pace. "I have no idea why though. Most people look at me as if they see a ghost, and if they do seem to believe the sight of me they avoid me like trash."
"You can't blame the people, Ryu. Humans have fought against us in skirmishes close to war for decades. The hate is deep. Even though you seem unlike most humans, no-one will care. Well, almost no-one..." For a moment Ryu thought Ryven's lips quirked in a smile, but he quickly dismissed it.
Ryu sighed heavily and followed Ryven to the doors of the Oracle's audience room. As one of the guards saw Ryu he pushed the door open for him and bashed the shaft of his spear on the floor bellowing Ryu's name without asking for it. Ryu shrugged and Ryven gave Ryu a slight push on his shoulder. "In you go, I'm not coming with you." Ryu looked back at Ryven and sighed. Great, he thought as he stepped uncertainly into the darkness.
As the doors closed behind him the scenery became visible for him, again the single beam of light on the bird, the majestic symbol of these strange proud people, and again Ryu felt tense as he stepped forward.
The kind voice seemed to come from the back. "Still haven't learned to relax? Well I have to admit, this place was built to intimidate. But lets keep this loose and void of ceremony shall we? Come over here."
Ryu hesitantly nodded and walked over the bird symbol towards the back of the room. The room seemed lighter as Ryu moved forward and seemed bright enough at the back of the room. There the Oracle sat in front of a desk with 3 more chairs around it. She motioned to chair closest to her. "Come sit, we have things to discuss." Ryu bowed slightly in a formal show of respect and quietly sat down on the chair next to her. He tried to lean back and relax, but his muscles didn't allow for much leaning as they started to ache. Swallowing once he looked at the Oracle as she smiled and slightly shook her head at Ryu's obvious unease. She opened a drawer in her desk and took out three items, covered in dust and sand, laying them before Ryu on the desk. Ryu recognized them immediately. They were his personal items he had with him the moment that truck crashed on him: his wallet, his MP3-player/recorder and his cellphone. At least, what remained of the last. The Oracle must have watched Ryu's face. She commented dryly "So these do belong to you." Pushing the MP3 and the cellphone bits around a bit she looked up at Ryu. "I hope you could tell me some about these...artifacts. Our best scholars have come up with nothing about these two, but they were able to gather some information about you from the first." She stroked the wallet and proceeded to pick it up and give it to Ryu. Eyeing her sideways, he took the wallet and put it in his side pocket. Poking the broken cellphone he softly shook his head. "This is broken... It's called a cellular telephone, or cellphone for short. It's an...ah... communications device." He studied the two parts and smiled slightly as he recovered the miraculously undamaged battery and Sim card from them, holding them up for the oracle to see. "This is the power unit. Supplies portable electricity for the device to work." At the sound of the word electricity the Oracle slowly waved her hand about the power unit. "I sense...lightning. Lightning in a tiny box?" Ryu nodded slightly before lowering the battery and raising the tiny card in his other hand. "And the other is the memory. Device can't function without it. Keeps numbers, network information, and the works." The Oracle shook her head slightly and pushed Ryu's hands away from her. "For all the knowledge we have..." The items vanished into Ryu's pockets as he shrugged slightly, a noncommital look on his face. As last he scooped up the MP3 player and earphones and turned them over in his hands for examination. The small MP3 player seemed to have nearly no damage aside from scratches and dust on the black plastic, although there seemed to be some sand under the display cover. Shaking it irritably, some grains fell from between the few buttons and the earphone slot. The earphones themselves looked to be in an okay shape, just a few kinks in the cables, and Ryu tried to smoothen those out easy enough. As he plugged the earphones in the black unit and pressed the power button the display lighted up and suprise flashed across the Oracle's face, but she seemed to recompose herself quickly. Ryu raised the earphones to his ears and nodded appreciatively at the music. "A connection to home..." Murmuring softly, he motioned for the Oracle to come closer and pressed the other earphone in her long pointed ears. The suprise stayed on her ageless face this time as Ryu scrolled through his music library for an instrumental melodic song. He explained the brief concept of an MP3 player, demonstrated the recording function with his own voice, and cautioned her that is was nothing dangerous, only sound plucked from the air and converted to electricity, or better, lightning. He almost felt like explaining to a little child. After a few more moments of music Ryu turned the player off, rolled the earphone cables up and grinned with a broad self indulgent self satisfying smile on his face as he thrust the MP3 in his pockets along with the rest.
The look on the Oracle's face changed from surprise to silent commanding disapproval at Ryu's arrogance, and her voice dropped slightly in temperature. "A box that traps music, and a communication's device. Both using lightning? And one smaller than the other. This is dangerous if word should get out. I will allow you to keep them, since they are yours, but it is best not to go bragging about it to everyone. There is enough superstition already without people thinking their voices and sounds can be trapped and reproduced in a tiny box." Ryu felt his enthusiasm short-lived as the previous feelings of uncertainty and nervousness resurfaced. The Oracle seemed to view him in a different light now, like a new kind of animal that is being appraised if it could be tamed or if it was dangerous. Ryu tried not to show his uneasiness as those calculating eyes penetrated into his soul. Foolish thoughts, get over it, Ryu thought. It couldn't be that bad. Ryu gave a start as the Oracle spoke again.
"In any case, that's not all for which I called you here. We have found a family that is willing to take you in." Ryu blinked wildly at the idea of some of these people taking him in. A human, known enemies who shed Sylvan blood in border skirmishes. Or so he has been told. And a *family* is going to take him in? Light, don't let them hate me... He'd sooner take his chances in the forest. Trying not to fidget nervously in his chair he looked up at the Oracle. "Yes, Ryven has been asking around using his influence. He says he found a family where you can live. I've spoken to them and they are very friendly and welcoming. I'm sure they will help you fit in quite decently. Ryven will escort you as you go out." Ryu nodded half-heartedly and started to rise as the Oracle gave him a sheet of yellow paper with some days and times on. Strange names for them. "Before you go, this is a schedule when I'll be expecting you in my classroom 2 doors from here. I'll be teaching you our language and customs, and this way I can also keep my eye on you." She smiled motherly before quickly assuming that calculating calmness again. "Don't be late"
Ryu eyed the paper before folding it and tucking it away and walking to the big door. Thoughts and scenarios played in his mind, of cruel sylvans making his life miserable day by day, of him living in nothing more than a storage room, with barely any daylight and spoiled meals, of sylvans looking down on him every second of his life. Only a quiet sense of fatalism and resignation made him not run for the nearest escape door that moment. Wherever he would find an escape...
As Ryu opened the door, Ryven straightened from the wall and approached him. "So, how did it go?" Ryu felt in his pockets for his items and shrugged slightly. No need to tell him about technology, as the Oracle suggested. "I got my things back. Nothing special, just some personal items. And my wallet. Not that the money or identification papers would be any use here, so... Connections to home." Ryu sighed deeply at the thought of home. The unspoken wish that this is all just a dream, and waking up would return everything to the way it was before. Just a wish of course. But wishful thinking was part of his life it seemed. Ryven nodded slightly before going on. "Anything more perhaps?" Ryu slightly arched an eyebrow. "You are to escort me to my...new family..." Ryven grin couldn't be broader. He seemed to be very proud of himself. He gave Ryu a gentle start towards the Nexus, and Ryu let himself be led, his feet dragging as they stepped on one of the central lift-platforms. It took him several levels lower before Ryven led Ryu around towards the other side of the nexus and in to a wide, more cheerful hallway. Looking around Ryu saw light emitting veins and leaves all over the ceiling and walls in an intricate pattern, lighting the hallway as if it would have been in broad daylight on a sunny spring day. Soon the hallway gave way to an exit and Ryu found himself escorted on big wooden platforms, built between giant trees. Ryu gaped at the sight and even forgot to sulk as the scenery unfolded before him. Giant trees took up the horizon and held wooden houses in their gigantic branches. Platforms ran from each of those houses to a bigger center one that seemed to be built towards every tree and even *around* some of the trees. Ryu imagined him having to run for a couple of minutes to complete a circle around one of them. Looking behind him at the tree that housed the Nexus of Tyrana, he felt like an ant looking up at an old oak tree. The thing was even bigger than the others! The boards that made up the platform were also huge things in itself. The railings on the platforms seemed like they were grown from the boards, and no matter how much he squinted, Ryu could not find a single nail used in the construction. Everything was connected in a natural and esthetically pleasing way, grown rather than attached, bound instead of nailed down, more like glued than latched together. Supressing a sudden wobbly feeling in his knees, Ryu clutched a railing as the immense scale of it all hit home. Now he could understand how Tyrana could hold so many inhabitants. A single tree could give shelter to hundreds, and with skillfully built and planned houses, perhaps even thousands. Smaller platforms turned off the main walkway and even turned into stairs at some point as they ran up to groups of houses on branches, towards hallways in one tree or even down towards other walkways and platform paths. The idea of getting lost here came very easily, and Ryu imagined that finding your way back should be near impossible. Ryven looked back at him with a bemused smile on his face as Ryu straightened himself and kept his gaze strictly forward as he walked over to the sylvan. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale there." Ryu grunted sourly and muttered under his breath before swallowing deeply and nodding. "Lead on..." Ryu thought he heard the sylvan chuckle to himself as he lead him towards one of the trees a bit farther away. "Better get used to it. You'll be seeing this sight a lot more from now on." Ryu grumbled even more under his breath as he followed with careful steps, trying not to let his eyes wander and hoping dearly the man didn't see his feet falter every few steps.

A taste of the future

As Ryu and Tayana walked back together towards the entrance of the Nexus, Ryu tried talking to his companion a bit more. He was particularly curious about how a society could survive in this place, and how the sylvan society was made up. He didn't always get a willing answer, but he did find out quite a bit. Tyrana was one of 5 Sylvan society groups still left on this continent, apparently called Gha's Im'dar by the Sylvan people. Being neither the biggest nor the smallest society, Tyrana had a population of about 35.000, from which the most part (27.000) lived up in the huge branches of the Nexus. Well...that's what she said, Ryu had a hard time believing it. Furthermore a whopping 10.000 the population were soldiers, either part-time or full-time, called elites. This particular Sylvan Society was one of mainly warrior caste. Tyrana's crest was a golden bird on top of a dark green tree, presumably the Sey'in Tree. Because of the categorization of Tyrana's layout (Magic, Mundane and public services) there were 4 rulers at all times. The 3 smallest, each corresponding to one group, had to answer to the last one being the Oracle, the political and religious leader of Tyrana.
Ryu felt a good bit of interest for the sylvan people but he still had a hard time focusing his thoughts. Whatever effects of the healing broth, he still felt quite woozy in the head and he had to constantly think about Kaz, dark feelings that seemed to infest and fester in his mind. It seemed to be written on his face as Tayana suddenly yelled out. "Ryu watch o--"
But it was too late, Ryu saw a flash of a person in front of him before being harshly bumped into and losing his balance. As he looked up from lying on his back a male voice sneered at him "Watch out where ya walk, fool." Ryu didn't feel like kindly taking the insult and prepared a retort as he scrambled up "Look here you, I'm sorry bu--" His sentence was cut short as he received a violent shove, pushing him out of balance and into Tayana. Luckily she was alert enough to keep him on his feet. "Look who we have here, the hu'man that was collected from his early grave. And the mysterious little punk girl under protection from the Oracle. It's fun time boys... " Menacingly, 3 elven youths stood besides each other, barring the way. "Look, we don't want any trouble, just-" Ryu began, but was cut short by laughter. The apparent leader stepped forward and raised his fist towards Ryu. "Just nothing, you filthy k'hran, we don't know how you got here in our lands, but we have no need for the likes of you. And we'll be making that very clear now..."
As Ryu tried to confront them, Tayana held him back by his arm. Drawing him close for a moment she whispered. "Stupid, don't underestimate them. Those are warrior's clan members. The one in the middle is Dho'kas, brother of the leader's best pupil. They're lots of trouble. Don't take them lightly..." But after looking into Ryu's eyes she nodded slightly and whispered "...too much."
Ryu suppressed as smile and nodded back, turning towards the three punks. He stepped up to Dho'kas , faces closed together. Ryu began "What's your problem dickhead? trying to mark your territory here? I've seen enough punk-ass weaklings like you where I come from, and I'm pretty sure they were worth more than you. So just piss off and let us pass." Dho'kas' face turned bright red at the insults and his scowl deepened as he felt his favourable position being threatened. Ryu sensed movement to his right as Dho'kas glanced at his cronies. Instinct made him trip backwards, a fall that was barely controlled, making Ryu hit his elbow harshly on the stone tiles. As he gazed up he saw a closed fist where his head was a moment before.
"Son of a bitch."
Suddenly he noticed Tayana running towards him. He rolled back and crouched low as Dhokas' buddies lunged forward. Quickly dodging the first adversary he punched the other one neatly in the stomach, making him double up. The following swift knee to the chin quickly fell him. Ryu spun around as the remaining punk scrambled up and started towards him. All the time Dhokas quietly hung back, observing the unveiling fight. Ryu quickly established his balance and dropped into a street fighter's stance waiting for the punk to come to him. Adrenaline was high in his blood, and despite last night's "recovery" he felt no ill effects.
"Come on you bastards!"
As soon as his enemy got closer, Ryu darted to the side and launched a low side kick at his knees, making him drop down with an agonized shout. A sharp pain suddenly hit Ryu on the back of his head. As he glanced he saw Dhokas standing behind him with what seemed to be a wooden practice blade in his hand and a very broad grin on his face. The blade rose and Ryu prepared for the pain as descended towards his skull. But instead of a numbing pain he saw a dark purple figure block Dhokas' blow and pull him back. Ryu tried to focus and saw that it was Tanaya who had interrupted his offender. Dhokas wrenched free and called for the first punk that Ryu felled, who had regained his posure and was limping towards Tanaya, knife in hand. Spinning easily, she back-handed the guy harshly in his face, making blood splutter everywhere from his mouth. Dhokas took a swipe at her head, but she ducked neatly and arched her back as she slammed her heel in Dhokas' face with a sublime forward bend. Dhokas staggered back and Tanaya ducked low, sweeping Dhokas of his feet, landing him on his back with a bash. Standing up in a fluid motion she brushed her hair out of her face as she quickly grinned and winked at Ryu. He nodded and grinned back. "Nice!" He also hoped that she wouldn't notice the blush he suddenly felt on his cheeks, he was unsure himself why he was blushing now.
The sudden sound of rushed footsteps made them both spin around in alarm. Ryu dropped back low in his stance, fearing for more goon buddies. A sudden Tayana seemed to relax, but Ryu noticed that her hands were crossed behind her back, which seemed an unlikely pose for her. Probably hiding something...
A heavy voice seemed to come with the footsteps. "What in the hells is going here?"

Come what may...

Ryu and Tayana walked back through the hall in utter silence. Ryu was too down to really feel like talking and somehow he didn't think his guide would want to talk anyway. His first impression of her made him think she didn't really want to show him around, and he couldn't shake the thought that she also regretted hauling him from his sandy grave in the desert. Well, what should have been his grave. So he walked, keeping up with the grumpy sylvan female, his eyes still looking around the unnaturally smooth wooden hallway. As he stepped in the waiting "elevator" the sylvan girl - Ryu *thought* it was just a girl, not a fullgrown woman - started talking.
"Well since I bloody well seem to be stuck with you, I'll just show you around and get this kor'vach over with."
Ryu only arched his eyebrow and didn't even mention the exotic, and probably foul, word that was used. She seemed to slightly nod before continuing.
"Maybe you already know this tiny bit much, but the Nexus is the very center of Tyrana. It is sculped in a nearly thousand year old Holy Sey'in Tree and is doing service as the center of the local community. Around it is built our city, a large part of it like you hu'mans on the earth, but another is crafted higher up in the branches that sprout from this tree and the bigger ones next to it. That part is mostly homes and living quarters, but also lookout posts and light workshops. Downstairs is the majority of the productivity: the hospital, the various warrior and mage clans' training grounds, the library, the smithies, the main community hall and bar, the warehouses, the forest hot springs, several heavy workshops and finally the Sa'araath pens. Deeper in the forest is also a small altar and the graveyard. "
By the time she finished explaining about the main walkways inside the nexus (which were ordered according to the 4 cardinal directions) they reached the ground-level and walked towards a set of ornated open doors. "As any child here knows, Tyrana's buildings, not including the Nexus, are divided in 3 groups all situated around the Nexus: Xih, the magical group, on the west, consists of the mage clans' training grounds, the library and the hot springs. Moh'r is the mundane group, located on the east, and it contains the warrior clans' training grounds, the smithies and the workshops. All the rest is located to the north and south, at equal distance from the 2 main groups. North is the main hall and bar, and the warehouses. The pens and the hospital are located to the south."
Suddenly she turned around and pointed towards another set of doors. "In case you didn't notice, you came from there, south." Then she turned on her toes and strode of through the opens doors, leaving Ryu to looks around in astonishment before catching up quickly.
They walked through even more corridors before reaching a serene courtyard with a magically eerie but beautiful fountain in the middle. The area was rife with blue and pruple orchids and large tulip-like flowers, and the style and colour of the surrounding woodwork has changed from a more earthen green and brown to a more mystical deep blue and shining dark purple. It all added to the magical feeling this area breathed. Following a silver-grey stone walkway they soon came upon a large flat building in the distance with walls made of purple wood and green creeper vines. The door seemed to be made almost entirely of darker green vines and odd-shaped leaves. There was even a tiny dust layer on the top of the doorway.
"That's the library, where the mages keep their knowlegde and where Tyrana's history is being kept. It's a nice enough place...if you like the silence and the dust around you." Ryu saw several persons dressed in robes or baggy shirts and pants go in and out the dust-covered building. Some were carrying books, others had their heads down in reading, and one was hurrying his way between them, but still Ryu couldn't seem to shake the feeling of calm and serenity from those people. Shaking his head softly and turning to Tayana he asked "Hmm, can't we go take a look over there? It seems interesting enough really..." As soon as the question left Ryu's mouth, Tayana whirled around furiously to face Ryu with a sneer on her face. "Look here hu'man. I just want to get this bloody over with, so you can just go look by your worthless self after i'm done leading you around like a puppy, y'understand me?" Arching a frowned eyebrow Ryu looked her squarely in the face and barely suppressed the need to raise his voice and his right middle finger at her. Gritting his teeth, he still let fly a snide comment "Oh right, miss bitchy, I'm sure you still have a lot of other toddlers to terrorize for a living after you're done with me." Ryu thought she might pop a vein by the way her face contorted at the pun. Well it wasn't a very succesful, nor powerful taunt - normally - but it surely seemed to have effect this time. If looks could kill he'd been have annihilated into utter destruction a hundred times over now. Instead of the suspected outburst, Tayana furiously turned around again and strode onward, her fists tightly balled and arms crossed, probably for keeping herself from hitting him, Ryu thought. He sighed softly and started follwing her again, careful to leave some space this time, you might never know... After having walked for a while - Ryu suspected in a circle, because some of the bushes started to look familiar - they took a different styled road and came upon what happened to be an enclosure made of green and purplish bamboo. With still a lot of sting in her voice, Tayana continued her explanations.
"These, *human*, are the hot springs. Good place for relaxation and soaking out the stress. I might consider going here later, so don't be there when I am."
Ryu sniggered softly. "What, shared spaces for both sexes? Afraid I might see you naked?". Tanaya's face quickly coloured a bright red, before looking away. "E-exactly, so *don't*". Giving a short shrug, Ryu nonetheless saw a flash of a bathing elf girl in his mind before shaking his head vigorously to get the thought out. "Yeah, lets just...Next!"
They both walked on past the enclosure, following a path lined with the same kind of lamps that he has seen in the Nexus' hallways. He also started noticing an increase in glow in the air, increasing the feel of mystery in the surroundings. Ryu couldn't contain his curiousity and tried to ask some questions, with the hope that his guide wasn't all to angry or agressive anymore.
"Say, this...ehm, glow... What is it actually? It feels almost tingly to the skin. Is this magic or so?" Looking over her shoulder Tanaya nodded curtly. "Well yes, the mages' training and studying grounds emant a lot of energies due to the activities there. If you ask me, it just gives me the creeps..."
"I agree..." Ryu grabbed at the air, trying to see if he could scoop up something, but logically to no avail. Tanaya threw her head back and gave a barking laugh. "That's the first time we agree, human. Lets hope it happens more."
As the path grew broader and darker, Ryu and Tanaya started walking closer beside, uncomfortable with the proximity to eachother, but more so with the surroundings, although both unwilling to admit it. When not talking they avoided looking at eachother, scanning the trees and plants around, and Ryu even started to whistle a silly tune to lighten the mood.
Suddenly Tanaya pointed ahead at what appeared to be a small arena-like building, decorated with lots of symbols and multi-coloured lamps. The doors around the building seemed to be sturdily constructed and were lined with an elegant flowing script. Ryu could here all kinds of noise coming from the inside, from chanting and speach, to dull explosions and even the guttural growl of some probably weird creature. He decided to wisely ignore them and started to inspect some of the script.
"It's sylvan writing, mostly wordings of wards and chants of power, all symbolic in this case really." As Ryu reached out to open the nearest door Tanaya called out to stop him. "That's the entrance to the holding pens, you idiot. Follow me".
"Hey, how was I supposed to know?" Walking around the building they entered a door on the north - Ryu thought is was north - and came upon a large room with tapestries on the walls, showing all kinds of banners and symbols, each one next to a door. "These are the mage clans symbols. They represent one clan each whose main quarters can be reached by going through the doors. Except the center one, the one with the purple and green tree symbol next to it. That's the main hall. But we're going back for now. Your "appointment" with the mages is not for today. The Oracle wouldn't like it, they're famous for studying their subjects, and I guess you are quite the interesting one for them. Humans here are rare."
Ryu felt a knot form in his stomache and tried to supress it by turning away "Right, thanks I guess, lets go then..."

The Oracle

Ryu followed the doctor as he started walking towards the huge pillar in the hall's middle.
"The Nexus is, as it's name suggests, the center of Tyrana's activity. Think of it like a city hall, but that is too much like what humans call it, therefore the rather exotic name" the doctor explained. "This 'construction' here is actually used to go to higher levels."
Ryu was suprised at the notion "Like an elevator?"
"An elevator?" The doctor's puzzled question came.
"Right...no - eh...no modern...yeah..." The aspect made Ryu sigh deeply.
From the ground up there were openings in the pillar at regular intervals, where people could exit and enter the shafts. All the 4 shafts of the pillar had a bright round oval covering the whole opening, which, to Ryu's unease and the doctor's smugness, floated from floor to floor with merely a thought from one of the guiding occupants. The sides never scraped and the ovals made barely a sound, adding to Ryu's unease at the potential failure of the seemingly magical contraption. All the while about the flight up there were seemingly small natural openings in the pillar's wooden wall, allowing for a rather spectacular view of the hall's vastness. It wasn't long before the magical "elevator" deposited them to a narrow walkway about 50 meters above ground floor. Ryu let out a shallow grunt as he exited the elevator and followed the doctor on the narrow and unprotected walkway. He tried not to look down as the knot in his stomache grew bigger. The doctor noticed his unease and put his hand on Ryu's shoulder as they arrived in the (luckily) normal walkway.
"You ok there?"
Ryu made a snorting sound and nodded ahead for the doctor to continue.
"Very well then."
As they progressed Ryu felt the eyes of other passersby fall on him. Soft murmurs came from all around him, clumps of people whispering softly as they looked at him accusingly. Also, every 10 or so meters 2 guards were posted on the side, wearing what seemed to be beautifully crafted and gilded light metal armour plates covering their chests, arms and legs, eyeing Ryu like a predator would a lost little puppy in it's lair. Or a cutpurse caught red-handed on a market, Ryu thought. After a short walk the doctor halted in front of another set of big ornate wooden doors, and turned towards Ryu with a warning expression on his face.
"Before I send you in, a few pointers. You give your name to the guard, your full name, and you shall be announced to the Oracle. She is our spiritual and mundane leader, our judge and our mother. She's very old and wise, so any advice or warning she gives you, you will be wise to heed. Don't try to tell anything different from the truth, because she will see." Coughing softly he added "I know from...previous experience. She's warm and friendly until angered or lied to."
Ryu nodded and uttered a shallow thanks, before swallowing and looking at the tall, heavily armed guard. The doctor stepped by his side and adressed the guard "This one has been summoned for an audience with the Oracle."
The guard looked down at Ryu (actually himself not a small person at all) and arched a puzzled eyebrow before nodding gruffly. "State your name!"
Ryu swallowed a lump down and spoke clearly "My name is Ryu Alvein."
The guard pushed the door open, bashing the shaft of his spear on the wooden floor and bellowed loudly "RYU ALVEIN, YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED BEFORE THE ORACLE. BE HUMBLE, BE TRUTHFUL, FOR HERE YOUR SOUL LAYS BARE."
Ryu tried not to flinch away from the guard as he stepped inside in the room, the doors banging shut loudly behind him. There was little light in the room with the doors closed and Ryu's eyes had to adapt to the view. In the middle of the room a faint, but broad, beam of light shone down in a petal-like pattern, to show a symbol on the floor showing a golden bird with it's rich plumeage wide open. A voice came from farther in.
"Ryu Alvein, welcome. Don't stand there all tensed up, come forward."
Ryu hesitated briefly before moving forward to the middle of the room, stepping in to the light, trying mentally to lose his muscles and calm his nerves.
As his eyes got used to the low light he saw a woman standing at the other side of the symbol, wearing a big green and blue coloured robe with rich golden embroidery. She had the poise and aura of a queen, stepping lightly over to Ryu to stand in front of him with her hands crossed in her sleeves in front of her. Ryu looked at her face, and tried as he could, but couldn't place an age on her. She seemed...ageless.
"So you're the one who was brought here." Her voice sounded like one might think of a stern but caring mother, or a particular forgiving judge for that matter. Ryu straightened himself at her tone and tried not to sound too intimidated.
"Eh, yes ma'am"
The lady smiled lightly as she eyed Ryu up and down. "Well, polite aren't, we. That's good. Tell me, Ryu, how did you come to get here."
Ryu tried not to look down too much, refusing to let his uneasiness show. "I...I don't know ma'am. I woke up in the infirmary, all beaten and bandaged."
"So you were wounded then. How did that happen, do you remember?"
Ryu shook his head slightly, really not wanting to think about it, but anwsered anyway. "I, we, me and my friend Kazimir...we got into a traffic accident. There was this big vehicle slipping and... Why I am still alive, and how, I don't know, but..." Ryu's voice cropped up at the thought of his best friend's body broken and bleeding heavily on the pavement, and tried to supress the sudden feeling of desperation welling up in his mind. He managed a faint "I'm sorry..." before he cast his eyes down and balled his fists, trying his very best not to cry like a little child.
The look on the Oracle's face changed to one of sad sympathy as she heard Ryu's terribly inadequate explanation and softly placed a warm hand on Ryu's arm.
"It's okay...let us see what happened, okay?"
Before Ryu could pull back she had placed her hand on his forehead and thoughts came streaming forward like an onstoppable torrent.

The slow, tired morning on the train...
...the feelings of frustration at the canceled classes...
...the sight of his friend's laughing face and the sympathy at Ryu's feelings...
...the cozy and welcome walk through his city...
...the sound and sight of the truck slipping...
...and the last scream of fear as first his friend's, and then his own body was crushed by the uncontrollable weight of the tilting truck.

...blackness...

Ryu gasped loudly as he staggered backwards, his hands covering his face and forehead, tears streaming from his eyes. The oracle just stood there with her eyes slightly widened, her hand still held out at Ryu's forehead.
"So you really come from a different...world."
Ryu tried to wipe the stream of tears from his face as he regained his balance, feelings of deepest grief, loss and confusion at what just happened roiling freely in his mind. He tried not to shy back as the Oracle moved forward again to look up to his face. "In this memory...you were not alone, and the sadness and fear I felt emanting from you... Who was this person?"
Ryu fought back the waves of sadness as remembered his friend's demise "Kaz...Kazimir. My best friend. Hehh, well... My only friend, like a brother to me..." Uttering something like a spluttering grunt he cast his eyes down, not wanting to be seen in such a vulnerable state.
"I see...Yes, the loss of a brother is hard. If it's any comfort to you, he shall be remembered."
Ryu looked up indignantly, seaking hotly but with a hint of gratitude showing in his voice "How could you say that!...you don't know him...or me."
For a moment, a gentle smiled showed on her face "It's our way." Then she became serious again "Now, anyway, on to more current matters. Seeing as you seemingly have no idea how you came here there is the problem that you probably also don't know the way to go back."
Ryu nodded and mutteringly added "...and since the last known means of transportation did include me getting brutally killed, I think I shall pass on the more obvious 'solutions'..."
The oracle continued without any visible sign of noticing the sarcasm. "So, you'll have to stay here...Which, in itself, is also a problem." She sighed softly and started walking a slow circle around Ryu "As you may or may not have already noticed by the looks everybody you crossed gave you, our people here don't really like...humans. The reason to this, is quite simple and understandable. We, Us, The Sylvan people, we're at war with humans. The reasons for that is, to put it bluntly, that the humans have supressed and hunted us, and think we are a threat to their...ways." She pauzed in her circle to wait for a reaction, any reaction, from her subject.
Ryu felt the cliché coming from miles away and had to hold back not to slap his hand to his forehead. He couldn't resist muttering some comment though. "Just effing great. Even here, in this...world. Leave it up to humanity to screw it all up. So damn typical."
He felt disgusted by the apparant state of things and, seeing the recent emotional overflow, had trouble containing that particular emotion, too.
Eyeing him intently, the Oracle finished her circle of Ryu to stand close in front of him. "You're saying you don't approve of your race's course of action?"
Ryu felt a pang of anger at the question "What?? Of course not! Hell, i'm not one of those 'world-peace' protestants, but I am one of those that generally dislike politicians for their self-righteous bickering and power-hungry war-mongering. Shit, it's like a human thing, I guess." The look he saw in the Oracle's eyes told him she didn't understand a word of what he just said so he decided to reword that. "Okay...let me put it like this: No, I don't like them trying to squeeze power out of everything and abuse others for their own good. It makes me sick."
Resuming a second appraisal round around Ryu, the Oracle nodded to herself and muttered a curt "good." Ryu thought that with the wrong anwser he wouldn't be standing here any longer, but instead probably being bodily dragged to whatever dungeons this place harbours. He felt the heat in his blood die down again and depression settle in its place. He tried not to let his shoulders slump, but he felt weighed down by worry after worry. Suddenly the Oracle spoke up.
"Very well then. It's decided. You shall be a guest in our community for as long as you desire. You will obey by our laws and shall be punished by our means if you don't. As a guest you shall be given a home, and the means to sustain yourself. Should you be able to find a suitable occupation here..." she arched an eyebrow at that "...then you shall be compensated for accordingly." After a short moment of eyeing him over again she added "I hope you agree to this."
Ryu found himself to be quite dombfounded by her words, and the cold state-of-matters way she brought them. He was able to stammer out a well-meant, but shallow sounding thank you and added a straight-backed bow for good measure. Nodding at him in approval the Oracle tured to adress the door.
"You may now enter!"
Ryu turned to peer at the door as it opened slowly to admit a short sylvan female dressed in a dark purple leather jacket and matching pattern brown-green breeches who seemed to be snug to against her legs and waist. Very snug indeed, Ryu thought as his gaze fell on her.
"This is Tayana Va'Sa'Gren. She and her party rescued you from the desert and brought you here. You should be very thankful to her indeed."
"Y'know I wouldn't have if it turned out to be just a stange, boring, weak willed hu'man like that example."
The other woman's (girl's?) voice sounded young, but her eyes seemed full of fire as she sneered at Ryu, trying to bait him into anwsering. He did feel like snapping "Then don't!" at her, but somehow he held back, trying to keep his wits to him, however shaked he felt.
She hmphed and muttered something under her breath - somehow Ryu didn't think he was being complimented for his restrain - before being forcefully cut off by the Oracle.
"That's *enough* Tiya. Since you did bring him here, you shall show him around our settlement, and make sure no harm *whatsoever* befalls him, or you shall anwser to me. Now take him and go." Taking a step towards the back of the room she turned around one last time to Ryu "Oh, and do be careful. My words my reign absolute for some, for others it is but a nuisance. My people will help you, but do not get into trouble of your own accord."
Ryu watched as she walked back to her throne - he thought it was a throne - and felt a harsh nudge against his arm. "Well then lets go then, and keep up, I don't want to have to look all over the place if you get yourself lost."
Holding back a particulary heavy sigh Ryu followed his new found and ill tempered 'companion' as she stepped back through the huge ornated double doors, closing with a slam behind him.

The Search Ends (preview)

As Tayana and Ryas passed the gates and entered the town, they felt the dark and unfriendly mood that held the streets in its grasp. Everywhere people huddled past, mostly their faces downcast or hidden by cowls or whatever scraps of clothing could pass for that. Streets and lanes that should be bustling with evening activity now were silent and gloomy, shops long since closed and the artists normally always trying to make a coin now nowhere to be seen. It had its uses though, as no-one eyed 2 wandering Sylvans, usually an extremely rare sight in human civilised placed. "Lets get to an inn Ryas, I don't like this feeling. Feels like blood about to be spilled, or worse..." The thought of the 'worse' made Tayana shiver for a moment before going back to warily eyeing the streets. "We can't Tayana, and you know it. Kiren specifically told us the contact would be waiting for us after dark." Although it was not in his voice, Tayana knew her companion wasn't at ease. Ryas held his left hand on the pommel of the sword on his belt and his right hand kept flutting towards the one one on his back before going back down, his eyes darting about for a threat, any threat. "Lets just go to where he should be waiting, Kiren's map shows it's the fifth alley on out right. Lets keep our eyes open." "Heh, don't be too over-eager to draw your sword, blade teacher, you seem to think that every passerby will jump on us just because we occupy the same space he's walking in." Ryas beamed a grin down on his female friend and gave a low chuckle "Somehow I might not be too far off you know..."

Meanwhile, back at the Thieves' Den, the underground prince counted todays revenues. A whole bag of golden Azen for a map and some info, those Sylvans must be crazy, dumb or desperate to offer such a prize. Grinning to himself while feeling the money slip through his fingers onto the table, he started thinking about all the stuff he could buy from the Guild for that. Maybe he even would have enough for a woman or 2. Yesss, and enough to bribe those 2 dumb guards, so he could check out the "VIP warehouse". He could already feel his prestige and popularity grow. A sudden knock on the door woke him from his daydreams as he hurredly scooped up the weird golden coins and dropped them back in the pouch. A second pair of knocks made him call out in irritation. "If that's you Lig I hope you have some fucking good reason to disturb me while working in my personal quarters." As Kiren opened the door he felt a rush of wind glide past his cheek and the door banged close. Looking over his shoulder he saw a dark cladded figure step out of the shadows, a long oddly curved blade gleaming in the faint light of the candle. "Hello Kiren. I trust you're faring well..." Kiren felt the blood drain from his face as he heard that voice. "YOU!! HOW DID YOU GET IN!??" Stepping forward again, the figure tsk-ed softly "Now now Kiren, there no reason to be shouting to me. I thought we had a deal here... you gave us the heads-up on and below the streets, and you kept me and my partner a secret from prying ears. Why...have you forgotten?" Bumping into the table and falling on the floor Kiren tried to scramble ever backwards, his eyes unable to leave that prying gaze under the dark cowl. "H-hey there Xeryn... N-now don't be hasty, l-l-lets share the profit huh, We both know they'll never find you if you don't want them. L-look! They payed a whole pouch of Azen...g-golden Azen!" "Azen...Aww Kiren, I thought our friendship was worth so much more then mere golden trinkets. You disappoint me..." "Cmon, w-work with me here. It's the biggest scam ever here. Do you know what Azen are worth on the market...? We are rich...rich and set for years!" Taking another step forward the dark figure now stood almost over Kiren, the blade in his hand still unmoving but drawing closer to Kiren's face. "I like being a secret. I don't care that much about money, but more about the job...the secret kill. I thought you knew me Kiren... It almost makes me sad." "B-b-but Xyren...WAIT! Here...you can have it, take it! Please take it a--" Kiren's pleading was cut short as his head was cleanly split in 2, the upper half smootly sliding down to the ground and landing there with a dull splat. His body just sagged and dropped to the floor, jolting the table and dropping the punch on the floor, spilling the golden coins on the floor. "I'm sorry Kiren... I really am, but this ends our relationship..." Swishing his blade with a flick of his wrist to rid it from blood, the figure called Xeryn reached down to pick up a coin. Rolling it around in his black gloved hand he eyed the peculair markings and dropped the coin. "The mark of Tyrana. Hmmm, it seems our 2 visitors aren't the most normal of warriors looking for a quick way to die... Oh well, if they interfere, they're dead, and he shall never know who they were..."

The Nexus

Morning came too quickly and sleep never left. The first rays of light started to shine through the window when the doctor came for Ryu. "Ah? still in bed? Why didn't you get ready? I told you today was an important day." Letting out a low rumble from his throath, not quite unlike a tiger, Ryu narrowed his eyes at him. "What, do you expect me to go nekkid? I don't know if you *remember*, but all my clothes are gone, the only thing I have left here are my boxers..." and adding in a low mutter not meant to be heard "prolly for decency's sake...pheh." The doctor blinked in (hopefully) mock suprise. "Ah yes, your clothes... Pretty strange those. Well about them..." Ryu locked his eyes on him like a hawk on a prey and growled "I bloodywell hope you still have em...eh??" Suddenly a soft knock came from the door and an elf - sylph? - girl appeared with a bundle in hand with what appeared to be his clothes. Looking from the doctor to Ryu and back she entered the room hesitantly. The doctor motioned to the chair next to Ryu's bed with a wiseman's smile on his face and nodded to the girl. "Thank you." The girl walked over to the chair and carefully put the clothes over the chair, while all the time eyeing Ryu hesitantly. Ryu looked back with a half raised eyebrow and nodded thanks to the girl, which earned him a startled look. The girl then bowed deeply to the doctor with meek eyes and nearly ran off, clearly wanting to get out of the room as quickly as possible. Ryu paid it no immediate heed as he checked his clothes one by one: a light black t-shirt showing a dragon symbol on the right shoulder and a deeper black and blue curved sword on the bottom left side, wide and loose fitting gray-dark green pants with several extra pockets on the sides - his favourite - and a casual, modern style light coat, dark blue and white in colour, a small coiled snake symbol showing on the chest. He noted the stitches on the left knee of the pants, and on his t-shirt and coat from left shoulder to the right side of his middle. He shivered thinking of the accident that caused those, running his fingers over where cut would have been on his chest. After pulling his shirt and pants on, and leaving his coat - it seemed to be warm enough - he looked around for the 'finishing touch'. "Hmmm...? Where are my shoes?" Giving a hesitant nod, the doctor anwsered "Those are still being repaired. They were in more terrible state than the rest...you were pretty beat up when they brought you in. I had the local footwear brought for you as replacement." Ryu grunted as he saw a pair of kahki brown light boots. Pushing his feet into them, they reached a small way up to his shin. The soles felt soft and flexible but seemed to offer still considerable protection for his feet. They were bound by thick shoelaces, that reached from the middle of the foot, up the top, where they were fastened. They reminded Ryu of some greek/roman battle footwear he once saw in a movie back home, only closed and differently coloured, and appearantly not made of coarse leather. Standing up, he paced around a few times, trying them out, wiggling his toes in them for comfort. "Hmm...not bad..." He walked up to the doctor, intoning that he was ready. The doctor eyed Ryu up and down once and shrugged "Well, it'll have to do...Follow me now." Snorting inwardly at the comment Ryu followed him through the door and for the first time since being brought here, outside his small room. The hallway had about the same colour as his room, with a bit more leaf green worked in it. On the walls, strange crystals appeared to be floating in silver-gold holders, emitting a tranquil yellow light. The ceiling was arched, and now and then studded with a lower arch that seemed to have been grown out of the wall. While walking, Ryu gaves his eyes al freedom to quench his curiosity. Passersby seemed to be rare, and those few gaped at Ryu like they would gape at an alien. Well thinking about that, he actually would be quite alien in their view, him being human and all. Ryu gave a low sarcastic chuckle to himself and continued walking, still trying to absorb everything, from colour and architecture to people and items. Lots of teints of green and purple, the walls decorated with intricate patterns of leaves and flowers mixed depictations from what seemed to be deities working their mythes and miracles. Although interesting as it was, after the initial curiosity Ryu had difficulty thinking about anything else then his dead friend. The image that was Kaz's crushed body was etched deep in his mind, and Ryu had to bite down despair and numbing sadness several times to keep him from screaming. With his mind turned inwards Ryu barely noticed the doctor suddenly stopping in front of a big - actually quite huge - intricatly carved door which appeared to be the end of the hallway. Looking over his shoulder at Ryu, the doctor placed his hands on the door "This place is normally never seen by outsiders. It's the heart of where we live and what we are. Follow me closely... and try not to draw too much attention to yourself." The slight pause in the doctor's word make Ryu frown but he tried and to shrug it off for the moment. He did feel quite nervous, though, indeed hating to be the one standing out in a group of people. As the door opened without the stereotypical creak Ryu caught the sight of his life. Grandness spread before his eyes as what the doctor called the 'heart' appeared to be like a medieval elvish shopping centre/city bustling with activity. "Welcome to the Nexus." grinned the doctor. "As you can see this is where all the activities of daily life here take place." Ryu gaped like a 5-year old seeing the grandness of a metropolis for the first time. Everywhere he looked people were going about their business, occasionally stopping to speak and greet eachother. The centre appeared to be a huge pillar with walkways everywhere from the border to the centre. Peering upwards he could barely make out the ceiling where the yellow rays of the sun shone through a cover of leaves and vines. Ryu was shocked out of his trance when the doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. "Heh... This sight never ceases to amaze me. So how do you like it?" gaping from the hall to the doctor with his jaw still halfway to the floor, Ryu uttered a groan of amazement. "H-holy fu...."

Of dreams and nightmares

Standing in a dark, shrouded room, Ryu looked around at the lifeless, colorless scenery. There were tables, chairs, even plants, but everything was the same grey and black, like a permanent filth covering everything. This place looked a lot like his home, but...wrong...threatening. Not only the room felt threatening. There was an ominous feel, almost like a sound in the room. Like what a rabbit feels when driven...hunted. Yes, that was indeed the feel of this. A sudden shift in the shadows made Ryu spin around in alertness. His heart felt like beating a way out of him through his throat. The room starting blurring and shifting slightly, almost as if being a living thing. Thoughts raced through Ryu's head. Thoughts of loneliness...thoughts of loss...thoughts of despair...and mostly, thoughts of fear. He needed to get out of here before it overwhelmed him...but where? He started scanning around frantically, trying to find something, anything to get out of here. He ran towards the walls, trying to feel the wall for an exit, for a window, a crack, a weak spot to bash down, ANYTHING. But as he ran, so did the room move. No matter how hard he tried, he always ended up standing in the middle of the room. Stopping the attempt he scanned around again, panting heavily, for something to grab onto, perhaps he could drag his way around the room. But as he tried to grab hold of a nearby table, another shift in the shadows made him stop. Behind him there was a door! Finally a way out! But as he tried to make a run for the door a person stepped through. Well, person... Walking shadow was more like it. The shadow spoke, a voice that sounded like death, or maybe something worse, an emotionless, cold sound, like the soft grinding of two gravestones "You cannot leave like this...You will not leave like this..." Ryu felt like screaming as the words were driven like inch long nails in his skull. Putting up resistance was useless. The shadow approached him, a dark tendril held out like a fisted claw. Turning around to flee, Ryu felt a pressure on his chest. It hardened...tightened...increased to crunching levels. Ryu watched in horror as the clas ripped through his chest with a sickening crunch, spilling out life fluids and guts. The pain shot right through to his skull and he screamed... He never heard the sound as the shadow overtook him, swallowed him and conquered him.

With a start and a scream that could have pierced steel Ryu awoke in his nursing room. His head felt like he ran the olympics and his body felt like he swam them, he was soaked in sweat. The fear was gone...the darkness was gone, but the pain stayed...the pain in his chest. Oh god that red hot pain! Supressing another scream into a long, hard groan like some wild animal, Ryu wanted to rub his chest, soothe it, caress it, claw it open, anything to stop the pain. His face contorted into a grimace of horror and pain. He thought about the dream. He was almost sure that figure was his death, trying to bind him to it. He arched his back and screamed in utter pain and terror as he felt ribs shredding themselves out of his chest, the fleshy crunches like a appetizer to the fear.
Then suddenly...all was gone... With a slam the door to his room opened and the doctor ran inside. "What in the name of Kath'ar is happing!?" Ryu fluttered his eyes and forced himself to look at the remains of what once was his chest, only to find the bandages neatly wrapped around him, not even blood staining any of them. "Ghhh...wha-ggghhh-t...". The doctor opened each of Ryu's eyes wide in turn, checking light sensivity. Ryu just watched without moving, not caring if he ever moved again. The doctor checked his pulse, felt his forehead, noted the sweat, then checked the bandages, his face going from worry to confusion to understanding, back to worry. "It seems like magic healing has an adverse affect on you, but I have no idea why". Collecting his strength Ryu spoke throatily "Whhhat do you mhhhean, magic?". Looking at him seriously the doctor anwsered "Those haiki leaves in your dinner? They have immense healing properties, being able to mend any broken bone and clear up the heaviest of concussions in no more then a day. But it somehow seems like the healing process went haywire inside of you." He held out a hand to be placed on Ryu's chest. Ryu drew back at first, but then let him. The doctor placed the hand on his chest and pushed. Drawing in brearth through his teeth, Ryu prepared for the stab of pain, but he felt nothing...not a thing, just the gentle pressure of the doctor's hand. Amazement took over the exhaustion in Ryu's head as his eyes went wide. "See, you're healed, but you shouldn't have been more aware of it then of a fly crawling over your skin. Somehow your body altered how the magic works...?" Ryu grimaced and let out his good old fashioned sarcasm accompanied with a low grunt "Yay for magic healing. Now I know how a fish being gutted must feel, for fu-...for light's sake it hurt like hell...Goddamn it." He wrapped an arm around his chest, feeling if everything was really in it's place like a normal human's anatomy. Everything did feel okay, and even the old fashioned ache between the ribs he had was gone. Grunting again he settled back in his back and sighed deeply. The doctor nodded in sympathy "Yes I understand...better to let you sleep a bit more for now. But seeing as I'm here now, I might as well tell you." Ryu arched an eyebrow at that. More miraculously happy healing techniques? "The Oracle has requested you to come to her in an official audience, tomorrow first thing in the morning." Oracle? Ryu felt like bashing his head against the bedpost for all the good it would do him. All the fantasy cliché and ceremony they were going to put him through... He was already sick of it. He wondered how in the nine hells he could have ever have dreamed of living this...

The First Awakening (aka A New Beginning)

With a throaty groan Ryu tried to open his eyes, but was met with bright piercing light. Lifting his hand in front of his eyes he tried to get up but fell back as suddenly a sharp numbing pain shot through his chest. He tried leaning on his left arm as a second try, but had to lay back again as the pain struck again, shooting from his ribs through his whole body, numbing muscles and hampering breath. "Whoa easy there, you're still far from recovered" a voice spoke. It sounded... learned, but not at all old. "Try to lay still. Your wounds were, and are, very serious." Letting out a short labored sigh, Ryu lay back, still holding his right hand in front of his face to block the light. Taking a deep breath (not too deep, the pain was still present) Ryu tried to speak, but only a weak sound came out "W-where...?". "Easy now...don't strain yourself", the anwser came, "You're in good hands, don't worry" Starting to feel the edges of irritation at not getting a straight anwser, Ryu tried again "Where...is this place? Wh...who are you?" He had to take his breath after talking, his chest started to hurt pretty bad...breathing hurt. "I'm a doctor, and as a doctor, and you a badly injured patient, you should follow my advice and stop talking, and sleep some more. You can ask your questions after you rested." Letting out something that was between a sigh and a grumble Ryu gave up his efforts. Eyelids started to droop...But...Don't want to sleep...don't...want...to.......Where.........Kaz.........Whhh---.......

Waking up from a sleep that felt was going on for days, Ryu carefully peeked one eye open, then opened the other one when seeing that the light was out. Feeling a lot more awake than last time, he moved his head from his position to try and look around some. He wasn't going to try to sit up again, for his chest still felt pretty pain-ridden. The room was empty, to Ryu's disappointment, and sighing again he tried looking around for thing to recognise. The walls were painted (was it paint?) in a warm purple and green that seemed to soothe the nerves, and there was a ornately carved framed window to his left, with the shutters closed. Beneath the window was a pot with a strange kind of plant in it. The plant was made of all leaves, but at the end of the leaves were moderatly big yellow bulbs that seemed to be the only noticeable source of dim light in the room. Arching an eyebrow and blinking several times Ryu tried to think if such a plant was really possible...maybe he was just dreaming and...Drawing a deep breath he gasped as the pain once more attacked his ribs, and slumped back on the bed. Pain...means no dream...means...what is this place??? Taking another good look around the room, Ryu saw several more pieces of furniture: a chest with drawers, a table, 3 chairs... all worked in the same intricate ornate pattern as the windowframe. It nearly seemed like some exotic medieval work. What - the - HELL - is - this - place....??? This started to get weirder and weirder by the minute... When that doctor comes back, he'll have a *lot* of explaining to do...

But waiting was an entirely different thing altogether. Getting up was out of the question really, the pain in his chest would kill him by only getting up, and there was nothing to do once you got past looking at the weird furniture and plant and gave up trying to figure out where the source of light in this room really came from. The only thing really seeming to emitting light was the plant, but if that was the case (how could such a thing be possible anyway? a lighting plant?), there should be shadows on the other side of the bed, but no such thing. The entire room bathed in the low dim light. The whole place seemed to be made to appear cozy and welcoming, the color also adding to the aura of tranquility. This was sure as hell no hospital room...or it would be a chamber where the dead were shown to family...but Ryu wasn't dead...he didn't feel dead...he just felt...mangled...and...extremely tired...and........--NO! Must keep eyes open...can't fall asleep now, I need to stay awake for when that doctor comes back...must... Just when Ryu's eyes started to drift close and he had given up on keeping them open he noticed the door opening slowly. A narrow stream of light cast into the room and grew a bit wider, but was suddenly blocked by a narrow figure, not likely to be the doctor. Squinting his eyes against the piercing light, Ryu tried to take a good look. Fairly tall, just a bit under his own length, long strands of hair to the waist -hmmm...female?- nice curvy hips -hmmm...female...- long pointy...ears??? He must be very tired if he's seeing that. Thinking it might be better if he had some more rest he laid his head back with a sigh and closed his eyes, waiting for the doctor to come again.

The feeling of a warm hand on his forehead woke Ryu and a smiling face looked down on him. "Your fever seems better" the face said. Ryu recognised it as the doctor from before. "You must have quite a few questions, yes?" Hesitating visibly, Ryu frowned at which question to ask first. "Well...yeah...ehm...Where...eh" Before Ryu could come up with a decent question the doctor anwsered "You're in the Sylvan tree city Tyranna. You were found in the eastern desert, half dead and brought here by the Sylvan people". Arching an eyebrow quizically, Ryu looked straight at the doctor. Sarcasm and contempt were heavy in Ryu's voice "Really 'doctor'...You think it's fun getting hit by a truck, hearing your best friend die just before you see darkness all around you, and then hearing some lame joke when you first wake up from being near dead??!!" The shock on the doctor's face was almost enough to make Ryu laugh, if he wasn't so dead serious. "What's a...'truck'?" the doctor asked. The word 'truck' came out so hesitant and wrong that Ryu had no choice but the believe that the man really didn't know what a truck was. "Truck...car...motorized vehicle...?" The doctor shook his head in confusion. Ryu still had trouble believing the man's ignorance. "Okay then...What kinds of transportation you do have here?" Scratching his head the doctor anwsered "Ehmm...carts, weelbarrels, boats, but those not here... Ehm, for the rest there's the horses and the Sa'araath" Ryu goggled at that last. It came out so natural "What the f--...eh... what the hell's a Sa'araath?" At that question the doctor flashed a small smile "Ah, that're those weird lizards the Sylvan ride into battle, but they're also used for long distance travel over rugged areas. I know, they take some getting used to, hehe." Thoughts ran through Ryu's head. This guy sounds so damn serious, yet he's talking complete nonsense and bullcrap. Ah were did he get into now... A knock came at the door and what appeared as a servant girl came entering with in her hands a platter with a bowl filled with some sort weird mushy looking meal. The first thing Ryu noted where to clothes: a lush green robe embroided with leaves and forest patterns, darker green in the middle, and at the edges the patterns turned a sparkly gold. Aiming his gaze higher he saw a young, pretty face with very light asian features, eyes coloured deepest emerald, and long pointy ears sprouting horizonally from under long golden blond hair. It took a moment for Ryu to notice that he was staring openmouthedly at the servant girl. Those ears! Those......eyes! That.........face! That's a freaking ELF!! A freaking bloody living real life ELF!! WHAT THE FUCK???!!! Gulping down a lump in his throath, he hoped he didn't say that last out loud, he was already being rude enough as it is, staring so...extensively. But still... An ELF? C'mon man, what is this, freaking carnival? halloween?? out of time dress up party??? Ryu very much wanted to scurry over and pull those ears to see if they were real. But he could barely move as it was and he didn't want the girl to think him rude *and* loose-fingered. Tearing his gaze away from the ELF-girl servant he instead stared at the doctor. He had to work his mouth several time for moisture before Ryu could produce anything more intelligent then 'Duuuuhhh'. "You...you...were for real, weren't you...?" Nodding slowly the doctor motioned for the girl to put the platter on the table nex to his bed. She made a small bow before taking one last look at Ryu and leaving as swiftly and soundlessly as she came. Shock still had Ryu's mind in a jumble when he tried to take it in and think about it rationally. So that doctor-guy wasn't pulling my strings after all... What name did he use? Sylvan? Hmm, it did sound kind of fantasy-like. Agh... Lifting a hand to his head he tried to supress the ache between his eyes. It was when he closed his eyes that he noticed the scent wafting from the food. That smelled good and Ryu reached for the platter...or tried to... The doctor noted the attempt and helped Ryu by putting the platter on his lap on the bed. "It's deer-meat broth with haiki leaves, had it made for you to help you recover." "Ah...thanks" Trying a spoonful of the pappy broth, Ryu nodded and smiled at the taste "This is good!" The taste brought back Ryu's forgotten hunger, and soon he was attacking his meal like a starving predator. The doctor gave a small nod and moved for the door "Well i'll let you eat then. Be sure to get some more sleep after you ate, in case you didn't notice, it's late evening here now." Ryu nodded and mouthed a quick 'thanks' and 'sure, will do' between spoons of tasty, meaty, warm heavenly food.
After he finished, Ryu pushed the platter on the table and tried to lay comfortable. The filled, warm feeling made Ryu sigh with a content smile, and he tried to straighten out his thoughts. What a weird awakening... A human doctor telling me I'm in some god-knows-how-it-was-called Sylvan city, after being found in some bloody eastern desert after getting hit by a freakin' modern technology truck in mid-city. Whatever became of Kaz? damn bro...where are you? What happened? Did that guy say I was alone when I was found? No, he didn't say anything about that...Shi--- aarrggg...I hate not knowing...Please don't be dead...please...you can't be...you were my best friend, my brother...my brother...curse it...curse...luck...damn........this........
The fatigue from the shock and Ryu's wounds finally caught up to him, as together with the satiated feeling from the food it started to work it's wonders on Ryu. Sleep came...

But it would not come peaceful, this night...

Oblivion's embrace

...

It was nearing the evening of a warm summer day. At the city's play garden children enjoyed the last rays of daylight as they ran after eachother playing games like tag and hide-and-seek. The noise they created was a warm and welcome sound, the sound of happiness, youth and simple bliss. Parents and elders were monitoring their kids from a distance, smiling at the innocent scene unfolded before their eyes. Soon though, the last light of day died down and so childeren and parents went home. One such kid, a little boy nearing the age of 5 ran towards his big sister as she called him over. "Aww do we have to go already, big sis?" the boy asked. Chuckling lightly she anwsered "It's almost dark Ryu, mom and dad are going to be worried." Pouting he reluctantly took her hand, looking back over his shoulder at the play garden. "You can come again tomorrow okay? Now if we hurry and get home on time I'll read you a bed story". Ryu looked up as his sister with a big smile on his face and nodded "Promise okay?" he said excitingly. His big sister returned the smile and winked at him "Of course! Now come on! Last one home is a rotten egg!" and started running ahead. With a whoop he raced after his sister, laughing all the way...

...

Coming from downstairs the sound of plates and vases crashing against walls echoed through the house. A hoarse male voice yelled menacingly "You're so stupid bitch!", then another crash followed. "Don't you talk to me like that! Get out of my house!!" came the anwser. Upstairs Ryu huddled close to his sister with every loud sound. Tears were streaming down his face and his whole body shuddered continuously. The soft strokes through his hair given by his sister didn't help much as Ryu could feel she was also fear and worry striken. Slowly he raised his head and looked at his sister, asking "Why are mommy and daddy fighting so much? ... Will they ever stop?". She heaved a trembling sigh and took him even tighter in her arms, still stroking his short blonde hair. "I don't know Ryu...". Feeling the tears welling up in his eyes again, he buried his face in his sister's chest, clenching her blouse... trying so hard to be strong...

...

The room was a typical hospital bedroom, monitoring machines abuzz with activity, the monotonic beep of the cardiac monitor a constant factor in the depressing mood that circled the room. Ryu looked at the person in the bed, a pale face with dark-circled eyes, hair in a chaotic mess, oxygen mask over her mouth. Sitting beside the bed he took her hand and gently squeezed it, hoping he could send her a message. He still wondered why she had to be sick...Why did she have to go through this suffering... She's done nothing wrong...she's always been there for me...Why...WHY DAMMIT! Ryu gave a start as she opened her eyes, flashing a faint smile at him. "Sis!...Hello big sis...how are you? I hope I didn't wake you". Smiling still she weakly shook her head at him. Feeling amazed at how strong she was he squeezed her hand again for reassurance, hers or mine?, and smiled back, a sad smile. "Ryu..." she whispered hoarsly. "Don't talk sis...you should rest, so you can get better". "Ryu...be strong Ryu...don't be sad..." She swallowed once and continued. "I know you can be strong...I believe in you...". Trying to make his smile less sad, Ryu gave her a kiss on her forehead. "The doctor said I can stay here for the night." She nodded..."I'd like that..."
As the lights in the hall died down, so did Ryu's conscience drift away into oblivion...
It was morning... The doctor's voice sounded far away "Wake up...!"

...

"Wake up...!"

.........uuuuggghh...

"Wake up Ryu..."

...huh...what? who's....?

"Wake up Ryu Alvein... It's time..."

...Time?



The light was bright!

Prelude

It's was an early morning. A calm morning, just like every other one...preferably. The pale orange light from street lanterns shone through the windows of the train carriage at regular intervals. With it came the low sound of iron wheels running smoothly on iron tracks, a sound ebbing and flowing like a barely audible hypnotizing chant. Outside, the first few rays of light started appearing from behind the horizon. It would be morning soon... But for now it was still night for all he cared. And night is not a pleasant time to wake up. Ah well... Just grin and bear it.
The first high corporate buildings started appearing just when the train started slowing down. Groaning slowly and blinking several times Ryu started to wake up. A hatefull feeling really. "Are we there already?" he muttered to himself, then took his brown school backpack and stood up, slinging it over his right shoulder. The few other passengers who were in the same carriage copied Ryu's behaviour, resentfully waking up from their shallow slumber with longstretched yawns and half closed eyes then gathering their belongings and heading for the train's doors. Ryu blinked a few times again to get the sleep out of his eyes, then fumbled with his sleeve to look at his watch. 7:30 . With tired steps he headed behind the other passengers, waiting for the train to arrive at the final stop, ready for whatever life was going to throw at him today...but not really.
With a screeching sound the train came to a full stop. As he stepped outside the frustrating noise from heavy construction met him head on. Along with it came the simply irritating sound of morning people going from and to work, with too much to tell eachother at this time. Why, oh why does everything sound so *loud* and *annoying* in the morning? putting both straps over his shoulder now Ryu shrugged once to realign his backpack well on his shoulders, then set of on his usual path: through the morning masses on his way to school. Above him the train station's roof was supported by old and ugly dark red metal girders and not so sturdy looking but equally old glass window walls. Beneath the roof, the new platforms radiated a wholly different aura. One of a modern, newly designed style, with smooth light gray marble blocks and "high-tech" announcement signs, complete with esotherically placed garbage cans. Construction of this new part was still going on but the contrast was already quite painfull. It didn't interest Ryu. It was a sight he had to watch on a daily level. Everyday on and off...
He didn't really like this current life style, getting up early, listening to some old fart in his midlife crisis quoting from some boring book, getting bitched at for not paying attention, and after that different class, same ritual. Then when all that was over packing your books and heading the opposite direction again, back to home.
Muttering, still, to himself about the cold weather Ryu just strode on, knowing very well that escape from life is impossible. Not that he didn't dream of it. Looking at that aspect of himself he knew he was a full fledged romantic dreamer. Someone with a hate for common day boring life with a taste for sci-fi or fantasy adventure. Pathetic really... But he didn't care. At least he wasn't weird, it all checked out according to the clichés. Hehh...
Arriving at his class fifteen minutes of walking later he sat down and got poked by his best friend Kaz. "What's with the grumpy face?". Arching an eyebrow at his classmate Ryu grumbled softly "You tell me why I should be smiling when I got out of my bed for another day of nonsense." Kaz chuckled lightly and leaned back on his chair, running a hand through his short, blond curly hair "You didn't have to... You know classes aren't obligatory here in college". With a sigh Ryu placed his head on the bench and closed his eyes "Really now... I'd like to graduate in the end yknow. I don't want to spend any more time here then absolutely neccesary." Kaz simply nodded and patted his friend on the shoulder getting a grin for anwser. As Ryu almost drifted back into a sweet peaceful slumber again a staff member entered the room and addressed everyone present. "Prof Cole is absent today, that means your current class is cancelled. Good day all". Suddenly wide awake and with a seething fury directed at all the universe Ryu violently grabbed his bag to sling it over his back, nearly knocking Kaz over in the process and headed for the door with wide strides. "For freaking bloody fuck's SAKE! THIS is why I got out of bed!? I cannot be-fucking-lieve this horseSHIT!!" Kaz quickly caught up to Ryu laughing heartedly with the whole situation. "This is hilarious...3 hours of free time for nothing. No, 4! with recess!" Shooting a angry look at his amused friend Ryu hit the elevator door with his fist, having to hold back not to do it several times, just to work off his morning mood and frustration. When the elevator arrived, Ryu and Kaz got inside and pushed the ground floor button. "So what do you want to do now?" Kaz inquired. Shrugging slightly Ryu grunted an anwser. "I guess we can't do anything but hang out in the city I guess. We have to get back for the afternoon classes still... dammit". "Yeah" Kaz nodded and both stepped outside when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. "How about we go to the pub and get ourselves a drink? My treat." A smile appeared on Ryu's face and his foul mood got a bit brighter because of his friend's suggestion. Maybe this day wasn't going to be bad after all?
Stepping outside, they headed along the street, taking turns here and there towards their favourite place. The city was already bustling with pedestrians and traffic, cars zigzagging between the big container trucks, bikers pedalling onward towards their destination, trying to stay clear of the other dangerous motorised traffic, and occasionally the odd motor cycle zooming in between the slower cars. Ryu and Kaz nearly reached the pub when suddenly some screeching came from behing the street's corner as several people started screaming and came running in the opposite direction. "What the hell?"Kaz barely had the time to utter a curse before a small truck came speeding on the wrong lane towards the sidewalk where he and Ryu were walking. Ryu's eyes widened as he saw the oncoming vehicle and yelled "It's out of control!", but all effort for warning and escape came too late. Desperately trying to brake, the truck hopped on the edge of the sidewalk, taking Kaz down sidewards with a sickening crunch and hitting Ryu frontally tumbling him over the hood. The last thing Ryu was aware of was the sound his friend's breaking body... Then everything went dark. So dark... so... very.................. dar...-