|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:54 pm
Chapter 1. Kyoko smiled to herself as she walked into the grimy old building that was to be her new school. Her family had moved to the town of Oakdale when her father, a vet, had taken a new job there, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a farming community so so there was bound to be a lot of business, or so she'd been told. Not that she'd minded all that much. She'd never really had many friends before and she saw this as a chance to start over. The school may have looked worn down on the outside but inside was an entirely different story. It was well lit with fresh paint on the walls and lockers that had obviously never be introduced to the bottom of a boot before. As she walked in she took in all the students huddled together in their own little groups, or taking books out of lockers, ready for the new semester. It had been luck that her father had gotten the job just after Christmas, as it hadn't interrupted her classwork whatsoever. Finding her own locker she quickly piled her books inside, leaving her drawing equipment in her bag. Kyoko sighed happily. Art was her favourite class and she really couldn't think of anything better to start a Monday morning than to spend 2 hours drawing. As she was stuck in her daydream the bell rang, shaking her back to her senses. Pulling out her timetable she glanced quickly at the room number and hurried to the right room, hoping she didn't get lost along the way. She managed to make it inside before her teacher, Mr. Richards, arrived, and took a seat in the middle of the room. No-one really paid her any attention as they were all in their own cliques chatting away. Whilst she waited for class to begin she doodled in a small, leather-bound, notebook that she carried everywhere with her. It had been a Christmas present from her parents and she'd already started filling it with pictures of faraway kingdoms and fantastical creatures. Her parents often teased her about her imagination, but as long as it never interfered with her studies they didn't seem to mind too much. As she put the finishing touches to a boy in leather armor, wielding a bow, Mr. Richards walked into the class.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:08 pm
The day went by pretty smoothly. Kyoko was only late for one class but, as it was her first day, the teacher let her off with a warning. She walked home slowly, enjoying the sunlight, the way it shone on the crops, illuminating fields of gold. It wasn't a long walk from the school to her home but she took her time, basking in the countryside. Eventually though she did reach her new house. Letting herself in with the spare key she hurried upstairs to get dressed. Her father's clinic was up in the village and her mother was his assistant, so neither would be back for quite a while yet. Once changed she brought her notebook down into the kitchen and sat doodling as she made herself a light snack.She always imagined herself inside her fantasy worlds, mingling with the characters and creatures she'd created. She always wished she could escape into them but her parents wanted her to get her education out of the way, so that meant there was to be no talk of fantasy worlds whilst there was homework to be done. Her father however was a little lax on this rule when his wife wasn't around. He even helped with a few of her drawings being somewhat of an artist himself. But even to him Kyoko never expressed her wishes to journey to her dreamt up worlds. She smiled to herself half in a daydream as she turned to walk upstairs when she noticed a shadow flicker out of the corner of her eye. Whirling around she caught a glimpse of a shape moving outside the window. She rushed outside to see whoever or whatever it was make it's way into a nearby field next to an abandoned windmill. She grabbed her bag quickly, tossing her her notepad inside, and followed after it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:32 pm
Whatever it was she was following moved extremely quickly and Kyoko was hard pressed to keep up with it. She turned the corner from her driveway just in time to watch it dive inside the abandoned mill. The mill itself was a run down old building that had once been used to grind wheat into flour but now lay derelict and decaying. She walked up to the door slowly, not wanting it to fall apart around her. Peering inside she saw nothing but an old worn grindstone and what appeared to be a mirror, half covered in a white sheet that was blowing in the wind. The frame of the mirror was beautifully carved wood of a kind she'd not seen before and she reached her hand out to touch it when something pulled her away. Recoiling in shock she fell over, pulling the sheet down on top of her.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you."
Looking up Kyoko saw a boy, roughly her own age, with short silver hair and bright green eyes. He held his hand out to her and, when she took it, helped her to her feet.
"Sorry about that, just didn't want you getting fingerprints on my grandfathers mirror."
Kyoko looked at the glass and realised that it was perfectly clean, almost eerily so for where it was.
"No no i'm the one who should be sorry. I was following something and it came by here. Probably just a cat or something. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
The boy laughed to himself and smiled at her.
"You're fine, really. No harm done. Anyway it's getting dark, I better get going."
Kyoko nodded and turned to the door.
Yeah me too, nice meeting you...."
She trailed off when she turned to find he'd disappeared. Quickly leaving the mill behind she hurried home. She thought of the strange boy all night. He seemed familiar but she couldn't place why.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:55 pm
The next day was Saturday so she had the whole day to herself. She planned to spend it all out under a large oak tree in the field next to the house, drawing in the sun. However when she went to her room to collect her bag she realized it wasn't there. She searched all over the house trying to remember where she'd had it last but couldn't find it anywhere. It was then that she remembered bringing it to the mill.
"Did I leave it behind??"
Hurrying over to the old windmill she spied it on the ground where she'd fallen the day before. Stooping down to pick it up she noticed that the white sheet that had previously been covering the mirror was still lying on the floor. She picked it up and carried it over to the mirror to cover it before any dirt could mar the surface. As she leaned up to drape it over the top she tripped over something and fell forward. Time seemed to slow down and she closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable crash, and thought how angry the boy would be that she'd broken his grandfather's mirror. Several moments later she realized that she was still falling. She opened her eyes just in time to fall head-first into water. Gasping she kicked to the surface in bewilderment.
"What on earth..."
There was no lake or river anywhere near her home, and even if there had been, she had no idea how she would have fallen into it from the mill. She noticed a bank to her left and quickly swam to it, pulling herself onto dry land. Collapsing onto her back she waited for her clothes to dry off a little and tried to figure out what on earth was going on. Suddenly she heard voices. Quickly rushing to her feet she hid behind a tree and waited to see who was coming. She had no idea where she was or whether the people were friendly or not. She'd just have to wait and see for herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 5:44 pm
Chapter 2. "I'm telling you Matt leaving the mirror unguarded like that is trouble. That girl almost found her way here."
As the voices grew closer Kyoko crouched to avoid being seen. The person currently talking turned out to be a girl roughly her own age garbed in a long flowing black dress. She had short brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Accompanying her were two boys. The first was the tallest of the three with blonde hair and brown eyes. He wore a jacket and jeans but had what looked like a bow slung over his shoulder. Kyoko couldn't understand why he'd be wearing something like that but neither of the other two seemed concerned. It was only when she saw the second boy that alarm bells began to ring. Shifting her eyes over to him she saw that it was the same boy she'd met the previous evening in the mill. Gasping quietly she clapped her hands to her mouth to stop giving herself away. The other girls eyes flashed and she looked at the tree Kyoko had been hiding behind.
"What was that?!"
Kyoko lay flat against the tree, her heart pounding in her ears, not daring to so much as peek.
"Calm down Naomi, it's probably just some animal. We are in a forest remember?"
"Hmph"
Kyoko heard the swish of the girls dress as she whirled around and walked further down the path.
"Let's just go check on the portal already."
"P..portal? T..this is a dream right? I couldn't possibly be in another world...."
Peeping round the trunk of the tree Kyoko watched their backs and decided that right now the best thing would be to follow the three of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:05 pm
Kyoko shadowed the strange party as they made their way down the path, hopping from tree to tree. Eventually the three of them arrived at the strange lake she'd landed in previously. The two boys stopped a slight distance from the waters edge but the girl continued walking. Kyoko suppressed another gasp as she watched her step out onto the waters surface and stand atop it. Holding her right hand up she traced a strange symbol in the wind. The air itself seemed to shimmer and a mirror very similar to the one in the mill appeared before her.
"How's it looking?"
The blonde boy spoke up, concern in his voice.
"Right on schedule. Looks like you were right for once Sato, nothing to worry about."
"Hey what do you mean for once??!"
The second boy, Matt if she remembered correctly, sighed and turned around looking directly at her hiding place. His gaze seemed to pierce straight through her.
"You can come out now."
The other two froze in shock as Kyoko rose uncertainly and shyly walked out.
Sato reached over his shoulder for his bow but Matt placed his hand on the boys arm.
"Calm down, she's not even armed."
Looking back at Kyoko he shook his head slowly.
"I thought I asked you to stay away from the mirror?"
"I..it was an accident.."
"What's done is done. Come on let's get you back home."
"Matt she.."
The other girl, Naomi, tried to speak but he interrupted her.
"Is obviously scared half to death and doesn't belong here."
Holding his hand out to Kyoko he smiled reassuringly. Hesitantly stepping forward she reached out and took it.
"Ok all you need to do is walk through and you'll be home again."
Kyoko nodded and they proceeded into the water. To her surprise they also walked atop it. When they were within a few steps of the mirror Matt stopped.
"Just touch the mirror and you'll be back in the mill."
"Ok..."
Her hand trembling she reached out for the mirror and touched the smooth glass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:44 pm
The mirror didn't react to her touch at all. Stepping back she turned to the others and saw all three of their faces painted with shock.
"Why isn't it working???"
Matt and Naomi exchanged glances but she shook her head at him.
"Don't look at me, the portal was fine when I checked it before. She should be able to go through it without any problems."
Matt's eyes narrowed and he swung around.
"What's your name?"
"K..Kyoko..."
"Alright Kyoko just sit there for a minute."
Sato glanced over at him looking alot less relaxed than he had been previously.
"Hey Matt you don't think...."
He was interrupted as a low growl was heard from behind him. Whirling around there was a massive black wolf standing in front of the tree Kyoko had previously been hiding behind.
"Sato?"
Matt directed the name at the boy questioningly.
"Direwolf, and not a friendly one either. I don't think we're gonna get out of this one without fighting."
"Fine by me. Naomi, look after Kyoko."
The girl was about to argue but took one look at his expression and bit her tongue. Hurrying past him she stood with in front of Kyoko and drew more symbols in the air. A white light flashed and mysterious walls of crystal rose around the two of them. Kyoko stared in awe at the girl but returned to reality quickly when she heard the wolf howling.
Sato had strung his bow and waited with an arrow nocked, ready to fire. Matt walked back onto the shore and held his hand out in front of himself. A blade appeared out of thin air and he snatched it, twirling it around in his hand before pointing it at the wolf.
"Ready?"
Sato nodded at him before shifting his focus back to the wolf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 7:09 pm
The Direwolf snarled at the boys and leapt forward. Sato loosed an arrow at the beast but it dodged it swiftly.
Yukiko watched in horror as the creature evaded each of his shots and ran straight for Matt.
"Look out!!"
The wolf reared up in front of Matt and swiped directly at his head. Smiling slightly he stepped back out of reach and let the attack pass harmlessly by his face. Waiting for the animal to pass him by he slashed down at it's exposed flank. However the wolf swung it's tail around and caught his arm, throwing him to the side. Naomi sighed in exasperation, putting her hands on her hips.
"Matt would you try to take this seriously!"
The boy jumped to his feet, narrowly avoiding the beasts teeth and leapt back.
"Yeah yeah. Sato, cover me."
The archer nodded and sent a volley of three arrows at the Direwolf, drawing it's attention. Turning on it's heel it dodged the projectiles and growled loudly.
"I think i'm just making it angrier.
Whirling back to Matt it bore down on him, it's claws outstretched. Matt's expression grew serious and he crouched, letting it leap over him, before twisting around and slashing upward with his blade.
"Kieru."
Slicing the animal cleanly in two he twirled hs blade around and held it in a backhanded style, watching his opponent fall to the floor. However before it touched the ground it dissipated into a cloud of black smoke. Matt grinned up at the girls and winked at Kyoko.
"Easy!"
Naomi shook her head in irritation.
"Stop showing off. That's only one problem dealt with. What do we do with this one?"
Sato shouldered his bow and turned to Matt looking for an answer to the same question. Turning away from the 3 of them he answered simply.
"We take her to see Tensen."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:07 am
Chapter 3. "Tensen!? Matt i'm not sure that's a great idea...."
Naomi scowled at him as she spoke and turned to the other boy..
"Sato back me up here."
Sato slung his bow across his back and shrugged at her.
"Actually i'm with Matt on this one. I mean what else can we do? It's obvious she's not getting through the portal on her own."
Naomi growled in frustration but said nothing more. Kyoko on the other hand was a little overwhelmed with everything that was happening. She was trapped in some sort of fantasy realm where swords and sorcery where a common occurrence it seemed. No-one had seemed the least bit surprised about the monster attack, nor that it had evaporated into smoke when it died. The boy who'd warned her away from the mirror to begin with, Matt, glanced at her for a moment before looking up at the sky.
"Looks like it's going to rain soon. We should probably start moving."
The other two nodded and Sato held his hand out to Kyoko to help her back onto dry land. She took it and they joined the others before making their way off into the forest. Naomi stayed silent, obviously still not happy at Matt's decision and she kept throwing angry glances in Kyoko's direction.
"Nevermind her. She just doesn't like not getting her way."
Sato whispered to her and winked quickly. He walked on ahead and started talking to Matt. They were out of earshot and Kyoko found herself alone with the other girl who was trying as hard to ignore her existence as possible. The four of them continued on through the forest until they reached a large open clearing with a broken tree stump standing tall in the center. It was blackened and cracked, as if it had been struck by lightning. Matt walked up to it and knocked three times on the rough surface. To her surprise an opening formed in the wood and he motioned for them to enter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:56 pm
Once inside Kyoko was even more surprised to find a spiral staircase leading down into the ground. Sato and Naomi had gone in ahead and Matt followed behind her after closing the entrance behind himself. Torches lit with a strange green flame lined the wall as the descended into the depths below and Kyoko was suddenly a little afraid of who this Tensen really was. She still hadn't entirely gotten over the idea that she was stuck in a fantasy world yet. This was basically her dream, travelling to a world of magic and adventure, and yet she was scared. What if she was stuck here? Lost in her thoughts she didn't notice that they'd reached the bottom of the stairs until she walked into Naomi, causing them to both fall over.
"Look where you're going!"
Kyoko fell back and mumbled an apology. The girl really seemed to hate her.
"That's enough Naomi."
The other girl froze at the voice and swung around. Standing behind her was a kindly looking all man with a gnarled staff in right hand. He seemed to be leaning on it for support. The man came forward a little and looked Kyoko up and down.
"Who do we have here then? You're not of this world are you girl?"
Matt opened his mouth to say something but the man held his hand up for silence.
"I asked the girl, not you Matt."
Kyoko figured this was probably the Tensen they had mentioned before, although she'd been expecting someone more...imposing. Matt backed down and looked sideways at her, no doubt worried she'd do something foolish. Kyoko quickly relayed what had happened to her and that she seemed to be trapped here now. Tensen said nothing, but looked her over carefully.
After a few moments he turned to a bookshelf, carved into the wall, behind him and pulled out a small wooden box. It was engraved with strange glowing symbols and seemed to be alive with some sort of energy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:27 am
Tensen held the box out to Kyoko and opened the lid up. Inside was a gem that glowed green in the dimly lit room.
"Hold out your hand,"
Kyoko did as she was bade and he placed the gem inside it. Immediately the gem stopped glowing entirely. Naomi gasped behind her but the two boys seemd unaffected.
"Tensen how is it...."
He shook his head at Naomi and took the gem back, placing it carefully in the box once more. As soon as it was away from Kyoko the glow returned.
"It would seem that you are stuck here for a little while my dear girl. It is unclear as to what is preventing you from leaving, but I feel it is to do with your lack of spirit."
At the mention of this the two boys understood why Naomi had gasped and looked at Kyoko strangely. For her part she was stunned that she'd have to stay longer,
"Lack of spirit?....Am I stuck here forever??"
Tensen motioned to a table nearby, surrounded by chairs and they all took a seat whilst he himself remained standing. He coughed to clear his throat and motioned with his free hand to them all.
"Ours is a world of magic. To use magic you require spirit. The greater the spell the more spirit it requires. Everyone in this world has a certain amount of spirit. They are born with it. It is the same of your world, though you have not the knowledge to wield magic, every one of you is born with this innate well of spirit energy. So you see why it is strange that you posess none?"
Kyoko sat in silence, trying to take all this news in.
"S..so...what now??"
The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully and nodded to Matt.
"As Matt was the one tasked with guarding the portal, so too shall he guard you whilst you are here. I would not have anything befall you. Meanwhile I will contact a friend of mine who lives a little ways off. He knows more of these matters than I. For now go with Matt and rest. Night will be upon us soon."
She started at the mention of nightime.
"But it's barely past afternoon!!"
"Perhaps it is in your world, but it is already getting dark outside."
He turned to the other three.
"Make sure she gets to town safely. Matt she'll spend the night with you and you'll bring her back tomorrow morning."
The boy nodded at him and got up from the table, motioning Kyoko to follow him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
