(TFOR) Chapter 1: Horizon of the Chosen

It rang. Again. The sound of the large metal chime echoed across the burnt fields, warning the weak to scatter. Another orange flag was straightened up on the tower, showing an image of a weapon according to how horrifying it would be, and a numeric letter aside. It was no less than another raid. Our village was ripped apart treacherously that day. When the ravenous creature appeared in the town square several years of ago, I was beyond terrified. I found myself alone, after we felt our faith of the future fade into the smoldering ash. That day, I felt utterly hopeless. Our people tried their hardest to get a newly planned out home together. It was rather difficult for us to gather the resources, construct temporary shelters and assign duties to the ones who mostly procrastinated from the day to the next.

My mother passed away in the wreckage, after those hours of wrath and demolition. Some day in some way, strangers found her corpse in the cemetery beside Lord Caznomen's grave. It was horrendous to see her expression of despair that sudden moment before. When I was too early and young to know my truest goal of life, she would spend the last minutes of every single night, telling the dramatic tale of the heroic Lord Caznomen and his troops saving the village from pillaging, robbery and complete destruction. He was my hero through my entire childhood. I couldn't thank him enough for his good deeds that was contributed to our village, although he might be just a myth.

I couldn't see a slight trace of my father after the incident. I assumed he couldn't get through The Great White Sandstorm without finding himself lost in a sea of pebbles and sand, but I still have hope that he will find his way back here. A few days ago, he somehow sent me a letter, but the contents of the message will be kept secret for now. Along with the letter was a recognizable gift. It was my mother’s iconic sapphire ring, the Blue Guía. It was her obsession that I couldn't clearly see the meaning in it. The ring itself glowed aqua in any absence of light. The textures of this particular gem were considerably unique. It was an octagonal-shaped gem with a mesmerizing blend of water blue, cyan and a drop of metal grey. It also had a mysterious and distinct smell of nature and the nostalgic woods in the outback of my old stained backyard. When it is attached to a small hoop of pure treasure, it looked extraordinary even to the wealthiest lapidaries and jewelers.

When days lead to the word "Now". Staying with my furry companion Bud was something to be happy about. A gifted hound of loyalty he was. He always came to my aid whenever I needed him. When I look at him, point blank into the iris, I could see his brown pupils of almonds combined with pearls of precious gold, outstanding like sparks reflecting off the surface of a silent night pool. Its staring skills and the endearing smile do satisfy me sometimes. An animal filled with senselessness and serenity does make me feel a bit jealous. My consequences of being born as a human makes me sense the guilt of living in this world. 

For a long dreadful while after my father sent me the unraveling gift, it was really a question that cannot be fully answered and forcefully compressed into my mind, always filled with nonsense. Until now, I don’t get why he sent it to me in the first place or how he even did it. Everyday, when I wake up, I like to wear it and watch its true powers reveal itself. I waited. I waited patiently, but in the end, it still looks dull and pointless. I don’t understand how it should work, or maybe I'm just too idiotic to wield it as my possession. However, I'm on the case of finding the truth.

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