“The journey doesn’t start at the beginning; it begins at the end.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXqjzjoqG0
Kyron really didn’t want to get out of bed. Like, if he were to move his toes even a fraction of an inch would cost him too much energy and really in the end wasn’t worth the fuss. He contemplated it for a little while, weighing up the options of staying in his warm bed, or facing the freezing morning ahead. He had decided to remain in bed this particular morning when a sharp knocking on the door woke him fully.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡykuSnT1xo7
“Kyron?” Came his mother’s shrill cry through the door. “Kyron Rillian, are you awake in there?”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PU9jiNehA
The boy groaned and rolled over, shoving his face into his pillow. He replied, voice muffled by the fabric, “Yesh mourm.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0xNk77IxO
There was a pause at the door, then the creaking of wood as his mother let herself in. She crossed his room, stumbling over the mess of clothes and assorted woodworking pieces. She sat on the end of the bed and scowled at him. “I thought I told you to get this cleaned up before you went to bed.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡI68dZw614v
“I don’t know what you’re talking about it ish clean.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ak3jEl7SD
His mother reached over and roughly pulled the pillow out from underneath him, causing him to head-butt the mattress. “I can’t hear you when you mumble Kyron.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfEf3YmaGU
“Ah!” He rubbed his nose, and awkwardly sat up. “You could hear me just fine!” He retorted, shoving his black hair out of his eyes, refusing to look her in the eye.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp07C0DJ1H
His mother smiled at him, her pale blue eyes creasing at their edges. “But I need you to help around the house today, we’re setting up the room for Sage.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9Szcbeyi6
Kyron glanced at his mother’s stomach. It almost scared him how large her stomach was, the doctors said that she could give birth at any time now. If that were the case, they’d have to rush her to the Capital, as they didn’t have the right medicines and equipment here in their small town of Arizor. They didn’t actually know if the baby was a girl, but his mother had been in high hopes of calling the child Sage after her grandmother.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0mPfpNCAt
He sighed and looked down at the floor. “I was hoping to get a day off of helping. I mean, I have been working extra shifts at the apothecary and then coming home to have to dust every nook and cranny of the house is never fun. Not to mention that paper that Master Julian wants me write about the history of Artirre.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzSwGvwkey
His mother held up a hand. “I understand, take the morning off, but make sure you’re back by noon.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sHU2U5gso
Excitedly Kyron made a dash for the door, eager to be out of the house.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDoJsE9fgJ
“You might want to change out of your bedclothes first though son.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMjCj07Qkl
The boy looked down at his clothes, then flushed with embarrassment. “Thanks mum!” He cried, shoving her gently out the room and rapidly dressing himself after he had closed the door firmly. Pulling on his boots, he staggered out the door and down the stairs into the common room and grabbed a piece of buttered bread off the table. “Okay, thanks, bye!” He called over his shoulder as he raced out the front door.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡomO5hR0n7t
His father looked up from the kitchen bench and watched in amusement as the door slammed shut behind his son. Leopold Rillian’s smiled as his wife emerged from their room. Greeting her with a hug, and a gentle hand on her stomach he spoke. “I worry for our boy sometimes Aralynn. I can only hope he doesn’t accidentally trip over his own feet as he rushes around like that.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu6aezOnP4
Aralynn smiled and placed a gentle hand over his. “Whatever happens, I’m sure he’ll flourish into a strong young man.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zRqbaqi0K
…copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo7tuokuMs
To be finally free of any duties and expectations was truly a glorious thing. To be alone is another thing not to be taken for granted in a small town Arizor. Situated in a verdant valley and surrounded by desert on one side, and the mysterious wall on the other, there was not very far one could go to get peace.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxX4IbEwzt
He glanced at the horizon to the east where the sky seemed to shimmer a constant purple. The wall. No one in Arizor knew what it was for, but it had been rapidly fading in the past few weeks, making the townsfolk wonder if it could be breeched. However, most attempts to do so have led to the deaths of innocent people.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG2t6eDwwE
He quickly shuffled through the street, avoiding eye contact with those around him, desperate to reach his refuge before someone needed something of himcopyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb2pFxO02A
“Kyron!” Yelled a voice and the boy stopped dead in his tracks. Turning around, he saw the person who had called out to him.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡs08q4QCJnb
Mistress Jade, the owner of the apothecary and hospital. He hurried towards him, shoving members of the crowd out the way. Upon reaching him, she lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. “We have an emergency.” She said, breathless. “A boy has been dragged out the river and I need your help to revive him.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZSfsYt6v0
Kyron nodded mutely and followed Jade through the crowd, her powerful form causing the crowd to part around her. “We don’t understand how it happened.” She began. “It is physically impossible for anything to be washed up here, the water always comes through the wall and then flows downstream away from us.” She glanced at Kyron nervously. “Unless this means he’s come from the other side of the wall.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNcMcRk1Sm
Which was impossible, Kyron reasoned, the wall was solid still and even if he had passed through, he would indeed be dead.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlmJLrAnaX
But when they reached the river, the boy was, indeed, still alive. Taking a closer look, as they loaded the limp figure onto the wagon, Kyron noticed a few strange things. One; the boy had the same hair as he did. Two; he had draconic wings. Three; he had small curved horns coming from his head. And four; a golden sword was held tightly in his grasp.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡznWrDpq7vV
Instinctively, Kyron reached for the sword and pried it out of his clawed fingers. He startled as he noticed that the boy’s skin that had come into contact with the golden thing had been severely burnt.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fIk2VcmW4
Mistress Jade approached him. “Thank you for your help Kyron, you may leave now. We’ll let you know when there is more that you can do.” She noticed the sword in his hand. “Keep that.” She said darkly. “This creature does not deserve to wield it.”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyq5hbwSzH
Kyron nodded and watched the wagon slowly draw away, the horses gaining speed, hooves clattering over the dust. He sighed and took a closer look at the sword in his hands. It was completely golden in colour and rather than having jewel insets it was covered in ancient runes and engravings.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡP94MAIc0PH
He shoved the sword roughly into his belt and began to pace the street. “I should give it back.” He muttered to himself. “It’s not mine and knowing my luck, I’m going to break it.” He then tilted his head. “But what did Mistress Jade mean about, he’s not worthy of it?” He threw his hands up in frustration. “Oh, I give up!”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYWFjZAvmx
And in an instant, everything changed.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡA550ancHfM
Smoke plumed from the apothecary and a loud “rawark!” Echoed across the town. Kyron turned on his heel to find the hospital on fire. A large shadowy gryphon standing in its rubble, searching for something.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5VtSvc4w2
“Hey!” He yelled, beginning to run towards the chaos, against his better judgement. “Hey!”copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs0I7jIIP4
The large creature turned to face him, white glowing eyes locking onto his own pale amber as he towered over the small boy. The bird frowned when it noticed the sword and then took one step forward, shaking the earth. Kyron froze, feet rooted to the spot as he dumbly dropped the sword to the ground. The massive bird let out a cry of “KREE-YAH!” And lunged for him, maw open wide.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp9lqjID1X
Kyron dropped to the ground, fumbling for the sword. Grabbing it just in time, he held it in front of him, just as the gryphon slammed into him.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq3kTVQ6Zn
It’s agonised, dying cries reverberated through the town of Arizor, then in a whirlwind of feathers, it was no more.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KQ8tXsbGh
Kyron dropped his hands to his side. Getting out of bed this morning had truly been a terrible idea.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWGoh7IZKK
A/N: Don't mind the terrible writing. I just want to get this done. I figure I can always re-write it after NaNoWriMo if it's any good.174Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiFzr8xTke
copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaa0v4VmaU
