Faraway Home

  A knight in armor charged against the storm on a long dreary night. The rain hit his face like a thousand needles. His tattered armor was worn and rusted from years past. His steed was skin and bones from a great famine that swept over the midlands.
  The galliant knight is in hunger, for he hasn't had a bite to eat in 4 days.
  You see he was out in battle for 3 long days. He had gotten drawn away from his comrades. He was in hiding for 2 days until he set off for home.
  The townspeople have long and forgotten about the young, but brave knight, for he hasn't been home in what seemed like ages but only 5 days.
The young knight was weak and tired from his trek across the midlands, hunger had taken his body 3 days ago.
  The only thing that keeps him going is his thoughts of home, his thoughts of his wife and kids. His mind was locked on his wifes wonderful spice soup that tasted good enough to make a man die just to have a small spoonful.
  His toughts of his family and his wife's wonderful biscuits and gravy, her spice soup, and her corn bread keeps him alive.
  He can imagine that when he arrives at the doorstep of his small riverside cottage, that his wife and 2 kids will greet him with warm hugs, and his wife will present him with her best food even though food was skimpy those days.
  Those thoughts, those memories, keep the young knight moving.
  As the rain continued to drown the knight, and the ground beneath him, the knight kept those faraway thoughts locked in his head, for that is the only posession he has at that time and place.
  The knight was only able to tread the midlands for 2 more hours until he gave in to pain and hunger. Before he blacked out he mumbled a few words, "I...I..I am sorry....my dear....fa...fam..family...I..I have failed.....y..o....u."
  He then fell and hit the soft wet dirt beneath his feet.
 
  When he awoke he was stunned to see that he wasn't in the rain anymore, as a matter of fact it was bright and sunny out.
  He looked up and knew he wasn't home because the ceiling wasn't thatched.
  He looked at all the beautiful tapestries hung on the walls that surround him.
  He smelt a fresh aroma coming from the kitchen. He got up out of bed, looked around, and followed the scent. As he arrived at the kitchen he heard a sweet soft humming from the kitchen. He walked into the kitchin and saw a very beautiful young lady working at the stove.
  The lady turned around and gasped then let out a sigh "Oh, its you, your awake, and if I may imply, you are looking great today. Tell me, what is your name?" She asked
  "Joeseph," He simply replied.
  "Hello Joespeh, I am Guinevere, and welcome to the wonderful city of Kingsford."
  "Tell me this," Joeseph said "Tell me how I got here?"
  "A merchant from Centra found you and brought you here, To tell you the truth we thought you weren't gonna make it." Guinivere replied.
  "I'm lucky I did."
  "Tell me, where is it your from?" Guinivere asked.
  "I am from Adel City." Joeseph replied.
  "Wow, that is all the way on the other side of the Midlands." Guinivere said.
  "Yes it is."
  "Let me ask you something."
  "Go ahead."
  "Are you familiar with magic?"
  "My grandmother told me how it was used in the war of he magi. Why do you ask such a question?"
  "Kingsford is the home of all Mages and Wizards. We teach people of the art of magic."
  "oh really."
  "Yes, and a few very succesful wizards have been from Kingsford. The capital of all sorcery is a city far north of hear. It is called. Skyro City."
  "Why do you tell me of such things? I do not have the slightest idea about magic."
  "Well we could teach you the art."
  "Why do you ask me?"
  "50 years before the war of the magi a famous wizard discovered the book of prophecies. He read the book and it contained the sentence "Magic's true terror shall be discovered twice 50 years after another." another sentence contained "The discoverer of the lost words shall die during this discovery." No one could make sense of these words printed in the book. This wizard knew not to take prophecies as the truth, but also to not forget about them. He made a secret keep for this book. He read this book everday for 49 years. After he gave up all hope of deciphering these articles he placed a wizard's seal on the keep, to keep the book safe."
  "What is a wizard's seal?" Joeseph asked curiously.
  "A wizard's seal is a seal a wizard places on something to keep everyone including himself from entering a place of importance." Guinivere replied.
  "Oh, Ok."
  "Anyway, The wizard never told anyone of this book he had found. 1 year after making the seal he thought the words over and over again. He soon began making sense of them. He put his life force into breaking his seal. He then grabbed the book and read the words in the book. The first senetence told about the War of the Magi, and the second sentence told of his very death. Five minutes after reading this he had died. 1 month later a conflict broke out between Kingsford and Skyro City, this was the beginning of the first discovery of Magic's true terror. One year into the war another wizard found this keep of the book. He read the whole book through. He discovered of the second war taking place 50 years after the current war. The book said that the next war would be fought against a terror far more powerful than Kingsford and Skyro City combined. It told of your being found near Centra and how you must help win the war, and if you do not the world shall end as we know it." Guinivere finished her story.
  "That is why you shall learn the ways of magic, and aid us in this upcoming war." Guinivere pleaded.
  "I will not agree to anything until I may inform my family that I am alive and well." Joeseph said
  "Very well, I shall get your horse and you may head off after picking up your armor."
  "Thank you for your hospitalities." Joeseph said
"We will leave to get your armor as soon as your ready." Gunivere replied.
  "You go rest and we will go to the blacksmith when you are ready."
  Joeseph returns to his small cot and lays down. He falls asleep within minutes.

  Several hours later Joespeh wakes, and sees Guinivere looming over him.
  "Hello, you were out for a while." Guinivere said.
  "Yes, well I was very tired." Joeseph replied.
  "Let's go get your armor, it should be done by now." Gunivere said.
  "Yes, it will be a good chance for me to see the city." Joeseph said.
  Joeseph heaved himself up out of his small cot. He shoved his feet into the leather boots he had in his pack. They then left the house and walked down the street.
  Joeseph was fascinated by the big stone buildings in the downtown area.
  He saw sidewalk markets, armor shops, bizarres, potion shops, magic shops, magic schools, and many other things.
  Nothing caught his eyes more than the giant castle looming over the city of Kingsford.
  They walked down the main street of city and stopped in front of an old tattered looking building.
  When Joeseph walked in the smell of burning coal and metal filled his nose. He saw a big heavy set man working on a sword.
  The man stopped and turned around. He had a bald head and a small red beard. He had a jolly look on his face. He said in a loud scottish accent. "Hello, who might you be? I am Griswald, the blacksmith."
  "I am Joeseph and I am here to get my armor." Joeseph replied.
  "Your armor is finished, and I must say it is the best one of the best pieces of work I have done." Griswald said happily.
  Griswald then walked to the back room and came back with a set of armor plated with gold and silver that shined so brightly and beautifly that it almost hurt to look at it.
  As soon as Joeseph saw the armor he got the same look that a child gets in a candy store.
  Griswald held the armor proudly.
  "Are you gonna charge me for this?" Joeseph asked.
  "Nah, Just think of it as a favor." Griswald replied.
  Griswald handed Joeseph the armor. Joeseph removed his boots and put them in his pack. He then slipped the armor on over his clothes.
  The armor fits him like a second set of skin.
  Joeseph starts towards the door. Before he makes it there Griswald calls his name.
  "Joeseph, I almost forgot to give you this."
  Griswald handed Joeseph the sword he had been working on. Joesephs eyes got that same glow in them as when he saw the armor.
  The hilt was gold and silver pated with very elaborate detail in the sword. His name was engraved on the hilt also.
How did Griswald know Joesephs name before he got to the armor shop?
  Before Joeseph could ask he was out of the store and ready to head home.
  Once he got outside Guinivere had his horse waiting for him. He asked her "How do I get to Adel City from here?"
  "Head west down windward trail." She replied.
  "Thank you for your hospitalities. I shal return to help your people."
  Joeseph then strapped the sword case along with the sword inside of it to him. He then jumped onto the horse and strode off down the city .
  Guinivere gave him one last wave good bye.
  Joeseph left the city and looked once more back at the wonderful city of Kingsford.
  Joeseph came to a complete stop on his horse. Jumped off and gave his horse a pat.
  "They fed you well while I was out, now you truly look like the horse of a Great Knight." Joeseph said to his horse.
  He then pulled the sword from the casing. The sound of metal against metal rang throughout the fields. The beautiful ring it had was a sign of great craftsmenship.
  Just then he heard something in the bushes. He looked around, but whatever it was could not be seen at that moment. 
  A second later something jumped out of the bushes and right over Joeseph's head. It landed right in front of him.
  "Oh dinner," the thing said ferociously.
  He then lunged at Joeseph and Joeseph swooped around out of the way and took a swing at the demon-like creature. His aim was true, but it didn't seem to harm the creature.
  After that Joeseph felt a strange power coming from the sword, an erie glow emitted from the blade. He felt some strange power that he has never felt before, then he noticed it was his power. He had never felt this strong in his life. What was this felling. It was a feeling of anger and rage.
  Joeseph then shrugged it off and took a swing at the creature. The thing dodged and swiped at Joeseph. Joeseph jumped back then foward at brought the sword in an upper swing motion. It was a direct hit. The creature then fell to the ground.
  With his last breath he mumbled "Th...e d...d..a.y of d....d...do..o..m is up...o..n us."
  After that he died and vanished into complete air.
This arose some questions.
  How did they know of his arrival?
  How had he gotten to Centra?
  How did Griswald know his name?
  Why did Guinivere ask him to help over anyone else?
  What did he mean by "the day of doom is upon us"
  Joeseph then jumped down upon his steed and continued down the trail, day and night, no sleep, no rest. Three days later he arrived at his cottage, he was skinny as a toothpick.
  He stood about fifty feet away from his home not believing he was finally there. Something wasn't right there he felt a strange presence. He slowly walked towards the front gate. The gate was open, but why? it was never left open. He continued on clutching the hilt of his sword. He arrived at the front door. That was left open to. He slowly pushed it open wide enough so he can walk in. He slowly started into the house.
  An erie silence filled the house. Something didn't feel right. He continued to his bedroom slowly pulling his sword out. When he arrived he looked around then down and saw the most terrible thing he has ever seen in his life. His wife and 2 kid's bodies were laying lifeless on the floor, each had one smoothe slit in there neck.
  Joeseph's eyes filled with tears and rage looked around the room. He noticed a strange man in the corner looking at him.
  The man had long hair and a long gray beard. He also had a long silky robe on.
  "Ah, Joespeh you have finally arrived." The old man said politely.
  "IT WAS YOU, YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!!!" Joeseph exclaimed.
  "You are quite right, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news.......but your next," The man said.
  "Don't Count On It!" Joeseph said  with rage in his voice. "I also have one question before you TRY to kill me." Joeseph said.
  "Yes, go on" the man said
  "How could you kill poor defenseless people?" Joeseph asked.
  "Well, It was quite easy, all I had to do was run my knife across there throats." The man said calmly.
  "Sorry to say, but I won't fall as easily as they did." Joeseph warned.
  "We'll see," the man said.
  Just then Joeseph put the sword in front of him, the same erie glow was emited from the sword. The same rage filled Joeseph.
  The man lifted both hands, then a strange aura surrounded him. When he brought his hands foward a bolt of energy came from his hands at Joeseph.
  Joeseph lifted the sword in front of him for protection, strangely enough it absorbed the magic.
  The wizard's eyes filled with fear. Joeseph smiled and then lunged at the wizard. It was a hit. It also seemed the magic released from the sword when he hit the man. The unleashed magic proved to be effective.
  The wizard fell to the ground gasping for air. His dying words were. "there are many stronger than I"
he then fell and disappeared.
Joeseph whipered softly "I have avenged my family."
  He then put each of the family members in bed for there eternal sleep.
Joeseph decides it is to dangerous to stay. He packs up his food and feeds his horse and heads back to kingsford.
  He arrived in Kingsford three days later. He knows there is a long road before him, but hopes to make it across alive.
 
  TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!!!