Chapter 1 - Life Begins with a Calling
Life in Tir Chonaill... Ah, the simplest of lives. This place was one of beginning. The home of mostly humans of sorts, nomads of any race seemed to find their way here to this happy little town. But not all was as it seemed to be. Things were growing hard, but also maybe a bit brighter. Here's the beginning of our story..
A young girl steps out from the General Store; a smile was set upon her face as she greeted some other townsfolk as they passed her by. "Hello! Good morning!" her voice was soft, but strong. Long almost ebony hair blew across her fair skin softly as the usual breeze started to blow. The usual attire, a Traveler's skirt and hat, were a little dirtied; mostlikely from working in the fields with little Alissa. The girl's name was Yoko Makino. She was one of the town's many townsfolk, but also something else much greater. This ,however, will be revealed later. Back to the actual story, the town Healer, Dilys, glided her way over to her aquaintence with the same old smirk, "Busy as ever I see..?" Slender hands, slightly stained from working with potions of Mana, take a basket of items from the young girl's smaller, frail ones. "Things have been bad since the rumors of Formors returning from Tir Na Nog..." Yoko comments, but soon a dark look soon formed on her visage. The times now were difficult. Many men were being sent away to become Paladins, White Knights, and Champions to fight by the order of the King in Emain Macha. Not only that, but this left families and friends left behind; worried for the ones who were damned enough to enter the realm of Tir Na Nog. Many magicians and wizards attempted to seal this world away, but to no avail. So now, many towns like this one, had to live with life and just pray to the gods, goddesses, and Lymilark for their safety.
"The men have tried to find a way to stop the Formors, Yoko. But the only thing they can do now is kill them off until they stop." the Healer walked alongside her, placing a free hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner. Dilys gave her a smile but then noticed the basket's contents. "What's this..? Why'd you purchase so much? Is Malcom becoming bankrupt?" the older woman's face brightened as she laughed heartily. Shaking her head and her hat almost blowing away, the girl laughs, "No, no. Not at all. I was merely getting supplies." "Supplies for what..? A trip some place..?" The Healer stepped up a few paces ahead, still looking back with curiousity. Yoko only smiled like nothing was wrong, or at least the bit surprising. "Only a small one actually, Dilys. I'm heading to Emain to.. visit a family. They lost a relative you see. Sent to Tir Na Nog like the rest of the men who live in Macha." the girl caught up to her swiftly. The older woman, although confused, believed her. Why wouldn't she though? It didn't seem like the girl had anything to hide. It was probably only a trip like she had said. But... then again, Yoko's usual friendly brown eyes had a gleam in them that made Dilys ponder on what she was told.
That was the troubles and also curiousities in the town of Tir Chonaill... But now we turn to the larger more productive city of Dunbarton; which we find a ways south from the smaller more poorer Tir. Here the town was filled of life. It was one of the many traveling pitstops as one would say. Travelers, Nomads, Giants, Elves, Knights, and some regular folk would come across this place in search of resuppling, resting, and maybe to live here.
"Haha!" a dash of red is seen flying by, almost blinding whoever it passed. A young teen, a boy at that, was dashing down the dirt roads towards Dunbarton. the teen's dusty hair and scraped face made it seem as if he was the 'get in a fight all the time' types. But you could tell in his bright eyes that he was just a good-time, all around fun-loving kid who just lived life as much as he wished. In his gloved hand was a bow and which was accompanied by a quiver of arrows on his back. His name was Shinji Iwakura. From top to bottom, the boy was dressed in red and black. His attire consisted of a Selina-Half Jacket Coat and a pair of leather boots; a black hat was also placed on the top of his head. Shinji had just returned from a scouting assignment in search of any Formors who had wished to disturb the peace of the town. This was one of the main reasons as to why he was so scraped up and bruised. It appeared that he was rather happy with himself this time. It was true; Shinji had slain a near by Formor red bear, a rather large one at that. It seemed to have attempted to attack some of the town's livestock. So this was actually a feat that was to be smiled upon. The livestock here was important since many people seemed to pass through this section of the Uladh. "Shinji!!" a woman clad in armor of a knight ran up to the boy from the large gates which led into the center of Dunbarton. "Good job defeating that Formor." This woman was Aranwen, one of the only knights located within Dunbarton itself. Shinji rubbed the back of his head in a flustered but proud manner, "It was nothin'. Those Formors can't stand a chance against my Magnum Shot!!" the teen's gloved fist pumps into the air, bow held up high. "Yes. Yes, we get it for the hundreth time, Shinji!" the knight shook her head. Soon her gauntleted steel fist smacks the backside of Shinji's skull. "Well- AGH!!!!!!" his feet almost gave way from under him; forcing him to buckle over. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR??!?" a pair of gloved hands rub the back of the sore spot on his head, trying to lessen the pain.
After the small dilemna of Shinji's never-stopping 'stupidity' as Aranwen would call it, and some smaller matters of claiming that there was no more assignments, the archer made his way down towards Glenis's Grocery. The eldery woman was very strong hearted, very caring to her visitors. So most likely, she would have a snack and drink for the young man who had returned from a rough day. "Shinji! Lad! Welcome back! I heard about the Formor. Ruthless beasts they are!" a jar of milk was handed his way, along with a loaf of bread. "Thanks, Glenis." Shinji took them thankfully, starving from his full day of assignments and scouting. Biting into the bread rather hungrily, the boy asks, "Any new types of people stop by...?" his friendly dark eyes blinked with curiousity. Sadly, the woman's head shook back and forth, "Sad to admit but no. The same old same old here." Glenis ran a flour-covered hand through her hair, "Seems like nothin's going to change. I mean look at Simon!" she jutted a thumb towards the Clothing Shop's window, which was only a block or two away. Simon, the owner who was quite... odd, was seen fidgiting and dancing in a crazy way. "If we ever get anything or anyone new who actually comes to this town, I bet you 1K that he'll stop dancing like that!" a strong, loud laugh followed soon after. Shaking his own head and removing his hat, the boy looked to the sunny sky and wondered if someone new would actually ever appear in Dunbarton. Or at least someone who would change the ways of things. Since the Formor problem had started, and the Prince of Emain Macha started to act peculiarly, things actually were quite boring... But things would change, but when..?
Thus far, our two protaganists, Young Yoko and Young Shinji, have been introduced to you fellow readers. Their fates will soon entertwine in a way the children did not expect. But it is for a good reason, I assure you...
Soon night came and the moons rose high in the sky. Both Yoko and Shinji were in their beds, dreaming of what the next day would bring. But without warning, the Goddess, Morrigan appeared before them in their dreams, in their souls. "I come in peace to you, child..." she told them both separately. "Time has grown short... Tir Na Nog is in peril as much as your own world is in its tragedies." the goddess's voice grew sad, almost calling out to them, pleading, "Please, come to Tir Na Nog! I am in need of your help! Dark times come upon us all! The Formors are rising!" in their eyes, Morrigan's face was becoming a blur... drawing in clearly then fading out. It seemed as if the evil ones had sensed her call; she did not have much more time to warn the children of their destinies. "Young girl, one of hiding, please answer my prayer..! Slay what has brought sorrow onto my realm! Find the one who's arrow flies without worry. They shall help you!" the goddess begged Yoko in her dreams, soon vanishing without a word. "Young man, archer but free at heart, find the one of hiding. Join with them to Tir Na Nog! Find the one in hiding!" her voice pleads but then.... they two children, miles from eachother, awake from their shocking visions. They were given a small glance into their futures... but what was it, they both wondered...
The next day soon came. The sun rising high in the sky over both Dunbarton and Tir Chonaill. The destiny of both 'the one in hiding' and the 'archer of a free heart' seemed dim, but it was still lying infront of them none the less. Now we must just sit back and see where this story leads... for now.
Waking up from a horrid dream, the young girl finds her forehead drenched with beads of sweat, her hair disarranged, her bed a mess, and her face was white as a ghost. "Wh-What... What was that...?" she placed a small, shaking hand to her head; her mind was going in every which way, desperately trying to figure out what she saw. Getting up, rather clumsily and in a daze, Yoko attempts to pack the rest of her things. Bread rolls in case she was hungry, small jars of water and milk for drinks, a blanket, a small leather sheet to make a small tent, an axe, some money, and also her small dagger-like blade for protection. Everything was in order, but looking at herself in the mirror, the girl was in a disasterish manner. Rushing, still in a daze, towards the small closet the hands grab a few pieces of clothing and Yoko soon dresses for her trip. "I wonder... if this dream was of some sort of importance. 'One who's arrow flies without worry...' I wonder who that could be." with a shake of her head, the girl sighs, grabs her things and makes her way out the door. Back in Dunbarton, Shinji was having some problems of his own. Ever since he had awakened from such a traumatic dream, he was doing almost all of his jobs wrong. Instead of delivering Simon a set of cloths that were needed, the teen had sent him a set of armor instead! Not only this, but he had mixed some of Aranwen's healing potions wrong and made a mess of the training grounds! "Shinji.. Are you sure you slept alright last night..?" Glenis asked him as the boy stumbled towards the grocery. Aranwen was there as well for a visit, but seeing one of her pupils surprised her; especially the way he looked. "I-I'm fine..." the boy mumbled, rubbing his eye. "You can have the week off, kid. Seems like you need it." the knight commented, shaking her head in pity. Shinji shook his head but knew he didn't have say in the matter. Turning around and picking up his bow, quiver, and satchel which he had left here the other day, Shinji made his way down the cobble stone pathway.
The boy soon was well out of Dunbarton but started to wake up a little. "Geez... what nightmare.." he mumbled to himself, stretching once more and rubbing his eye. "One in hiding.... huh." The words that Morrigan had stated in the vision puzzled him but either way, Shinji would merely shake it off. "Time to head...." he spun around once with a finger pointed forward. He stopped and oddly enough it pointed north, towards Dugald Aisle; this long path of logging areas and woods led to Tir Chonaill, a place he rarely ever visited. "Heh.... wierd." the boy took his first steps towards where he would find this 'One in Hiding'. Who that was or when they'd meet, was unknown to him. On her own way south, Yoko walked down the dirt roads of Tir Chonaill. She had already said goodbye to her friends here, and the girl didn't really have anything important that was left behind or to worry about. "Dunbarton first then... Emain maybe..? Maybe this "Arrow" person is there some place.." the girl shook her head as she crossed a small bridge and passed the Moon Gate. After a few more moments of walking, Yoko crossed the arch of trees and was heading into the area of Dugald Aisle. There, both lives of Shinji Iwakura and Yoko Makino would change.... for the better of good or for the evil of Tir Na Nog..?
Next- Chapter 2 : Crossing Lives at the Dugald Aisle
