Alea
"Hey!" I hear someone yell out behind me. I pick up my pace farther into the thick bush and vines to get away from my assailant. I crouch down to hide among the greenery, the thorns, and thick branches scraping against my face and tugging at my cloak. I wouldn't let it slow me down. It did stop the one chasing me, as I didn't want to deal with the hassle. The wind picking up and the thunder rolling in also sent him back to the comfort of the inside of the wall.
Bringing a speck of light to help me see in the darkness, I jog to where I knew a small river ran nearby to fill up my water flask. Small droplets began to fall from the storm clouds rolling in. I continued my jog up the river, trying to stay under the trees for some shelter as the rain began to pick up.
I eventually found part of a tall iron fence wrapped with thick vines and other plants, so I decided to follow it, breaking off from the river. As the storm intensified, I was losing hope of finding shelter. I was sure I would find something soon, even an old shed would be nice at this point.
I finally found a way over the tall fence, and a new tree had started to grow right next to it. Small enough for me to climb and jump over to the other side.
Landing on the other side of the muddy ground, splashing up my legs.
"That is just wonderful," I say aloud to myself. I conjure back my small light to look around to find mostly an open field with grass almost as tall as the trees. I moved through the tall grass slowly, hoping to find shelter soon. I was now drenched from the rain.
There was soon a break in the grass that led up to a small manor. Vines covered most of the stone building, wrapping through broken windows. As I neared, I saw the front door had been broken down, so I quickly stepped inside to get out of the rain. Luckily, the roof wasn't too destroyed and only saw a few spots where the rain was dripping in.
I listen out for anything that might be using the manor as shelter as well, but only hear the wind whipping in through the broken windows, and rain hitting the roof. I breathe a sigh of relief and begin to venture farther into the manor.
From the entrance of the door, there was a long hallway, along with the beginning of a staircase to the second level. I decided to look around the first level for a nice resting spot. On the left of the foyer was an open room with overturned chairs and a stained couch, its cushions pulled apart by animals. I spot spiderwebs, old and new, in every corner of the room. Thick dust coated everything, only disturbed by animal tracks.
I notice some old candles on the wooden floor and pick them up to take with me. I continue my search to the room across from the living room with a large shut door. I open it to find a study, a large desk with shelves lining the wall. Old books lined the shelves, and some were scattered on the ground.
I walk to the desk and find the doors have already been scavenged through. There hadn't been much in value left picked by scavengers before I had my chance. My curiosity still couldn't wait to see the rest of the manor. Before I leave the room, I see that the lounge chair has been barely touched by animals. This, so far, was the best place to sleep, even the vines were thick enough to hold back the wind from the broken part of the side window.
I leave the room, making sure to shut it tight behind me, not wanting anything to sneak in while I continue to wander around. I decided to walk down the hall and open the next door, which led me to a small bedroom with an attached washroom. Nothing but the bed-frame and a pile of old sheets lay on the floor. I opened the small dresser, but there was nothing in it.
When I exit the room, I notice a door under the steps, and I feel what feels like a pulsing coming from it. It felt like it was daring me in close; I didn't even realize my hand was on the doorknob. I suddenly tear my hand away, not wanting whatever was drawing me in. So I backed away; if I was to explore wherever the door led, it would be in the daylight.
I shake off the weird feeling and continue my walk down the hall. A huge kitchen sat in the back, connecting to a dining room. Just like with the other rooms, things were toppled over and covered in thick dust. Nothing of use, and with the kitchen having more broken windows wasn't a place to camp in.
Exhaustion started to hit, and cold started to get into my bones. I grabbed a stone pot from the kitchen and headed back to the bedroom to grab the sheets from the floor. I was in luck when the worst of the sheets were eaten by moths. I shook it out as best I could and took everything to the study room. I cleaned the books off the floor and the lounge chair. I placed the pot on the ground and grabbed a few books and pages and placed them inside it to start a small fire.
Once I got the fire going, I started to peel off my layers one by one. Taking my cloak and jacket off, I unbuckle my daggers from my wrists. I remove my headband and free my light brown hair from the tight braid I kept it in. I sit on the ground by my small fire, flexing my wrists. I open my bag and pull out some of the apple I had saved and one of the gems.
I twist it around in my hand, and the green glows under the firelight. It almost seemed to pulse in my hand. I needed to send word out to Hendrik's once I got some rest and the storm had passed. The spell for sending out a message also took a moment to prepare. He knows I will keep the crystals safe until I can make a drop off.
Once I finish my small meal, I do a few arm stretches and put out the fire. As I settle down on the lounge, exhaustion fully hits my body. My eyes instantly shut, and suddenly, I feel a pulsing in the air, which pulls me into a slumber.