A Tale Of Faith

[Shaidalyn]

(I noticed a few other short FFXI stories here and thought, why not? and rather than clutter up the topic with a new post every chapter, I will just re-edit this one. ^^ Any input is nice.. just as a warning I start slow, there is no need for warnings etc as everyone here should be 13+.. if that changes I'll give a heads up)

Ducking under the massive axe, the Mithra sidestepped and swung hard with her own blade. The sword cut through the air and dug deep into the monstrous form’s thigh causing it to roar out in anger as well as pain as it stumbled back a step. Again came the axe, too high. The young Mithra deftly stepped under the blow and delivered another punishing blow to the beast, this time across the opposite thigh.

The battle had gone on a while now, and both were beyond the point of exhaustion. The giant green form, an Orc, had come upon the Mithra while she had been resting. Thankfully the Orc, overly eager in its find, charged up loudly enough to alert the Mithra just in time to narrowly avoid a rather devastating blow.

Her white bangs dripping sweat and her blue eyes blurring, the Mithra shook her head vigorously in an attempt to clear her thoughts. The Orc was slow enough that avoiding its swings wasn’t too much of a challenge, however it grew tiresome.

‘May elements ravage your body and hinder your defenses!”

The Mithra uttered a short incantation, landing an enfeebling spell, hoping it might assist her as it had so far before it wore off.

“Goddess above, I may not have always been the most astute-“ an axe blade narrowly missed her face and she stumbled backwards. “-student of your teachings but I implore you, aid me in my time of need..”

The Orc realized the spell cursing it would soon be it’s demise and in a last ditch effort threw back its head in an ancient war cry.

Stumbling back, the Mithra panicked. The Orc, so battered and broken, now stood at full height again. Its dark eyes gleamed and its visage showed only bloodlust, no longer anger or frustration. Gasping for breath, she knew this could only get worse. Her first day out of San’doria, finally donning the Red Mage abilities, and before she had even an hour to train an Orc had deemed her easy pickings.

The Orc roared and charged her, bringing its axe down hard and fast.

Too fast.

Rather than attempt a hopeless dive out of the way, the Mithra whipped her sword up in a defensive position. The force of the blow sent her tumbling and a painful sting up her arm and shoulder. Without a doubt she knew her arm was broken, as was her spirit. There was now way she could fend it off now.

The Orc smiled cruelly as she scoot backwards, cradling her arm, as if hoping it would somehow prolong the inevitable outcome. Grinning down at the battered and broken Mithra, the Orc lifted it’s axe and raised it above its head preparing to strike.

A single tear made its way down the young Mithran’ cheek as she closed her eyes. “Altana.. I’m sorry….”

 

[tonicfly]

Shaidalyn the story is awesome with great description. I can't wait to read more. ^^

 

[Shaidalyn]

(decided to do it in posts, so it's more noticeable when updates occur.. and ty Tonic ^^)

The Mithra flinched at the sound of steel striking stone and opened her eyes in confusion. Standing shakily she stood before the Orc, now teetering where it stood, and stepped back as a gurgle came from the large beastman. Still trembling from the ordeal, the young adventurer stepped back more, seeing blood begin to dribble out of the Orc’s mouth and it’s eyes roll back.

The Orc stood confused a moment, then, unable to breathe through the blood filling its throat and lungs, and dropped to its knees. The quick thought spell, Dia, had done it’s job, slowly working away the insides of the foul creature, not only weakening it’s defenses, but destroying it from inside.
The Mithra let out a cry of sheer joy as the Orc toppled onto its face and remained motionless. Somehow, someway, Altana had heard her prayer.

Wiping the blood and muck from herself, the young Mage hastily made her way back to town. Here she might be able to find some sort of refuge for the oncoming night as well as a healer.

Staggering into town, the Mithra found no aid nearby so quickly headed to Northern San’doria and to the cathedral.

Upon entering nearly all eyes turned to her. Being a Mithra in San’doria she was used to this and ignored it, shuffling over to a nearby priest.

The lean Elvaan looked down at her and gestured in welcome. “Hello weary traveler, I see you have been wounded in your travels. Come, regardless your race or nationality, we welcome all who carry Altana’s symbol.” He gestured to the necklace she wore, a gift from her mother.

The Mithra smiled a little, and followed him, sitting on a nearby bench. The priest looked over her wounds and took her arm gingerly and mumbled an instant incantation.

Gasping at the sudden pain, the adventurer hissed only slightly and bit her tongue as the bones mended back together. Getting healed was far from a pleasant experience, but it was much quicker and far more convenient than waiting for it to naturally heal.

She bowed gratefully to the priest who gestured in the sign of their Goddess, Altana. “May heaven open its gates to you.”

The Mithra hastily made her way out of the cathedral and back out into West Ronfare. The scenery was beautiful during the twilight, and it was nearing nearly twenty-one hundred hours.

Keeping an eye out for bats, the young Red Mage made her way along the path. Nighttime walks always soothed her and helped her relieve the stress of the day. The full moon above a shone brilliant red, illuminating the dark woods and the fog that had settled a blood red glow.

Trying to ignore the strange sounds around her, a loud roar and the sound of a tree splitting caught her attention. Rather than run for help, the young Mithran knew it would be too late by then, and sprinted toward the sound, heedless the pain running through her arm each step.

Upon arriving to the source of the sound, the Mithra’s jaw dropped in astonishment. Two Orcs had come across a helpless adventurer, now beaten and bloodied at their feet. Both carried no weapons, but that made them no less dangerous.

Both leaned down to investigate their prey and without thinking, the young Red Mage mumbled her spell and gestured to the closer, obviously weaker, Orc. Growling loudly both turned and ran for her. The Mithra, knowing this would not go well, stood her ground and leapt at the one she had spelled, burying her blade deep into its torso.

Both Orcs and the Mithra stopped in amazement, none quite sure of what happened. The Mithra looked in awe as the Orc stumbled back and dropped lifelessly to the ground, and then quickly turned to the other.

The second Orc hesitated a moment and stumbled back, unsure whether or not his fists could outmatch this swift bladed Mithra or not. Deciding fleeing was a better option for now, the Orc turned and lumbered off towards the Fort Ghelsba entrance.

Rushing over to the side of the other adventurer, she noticed the attire seemed kin to White Mage. A tunic covered the upper body and head, a pair of mitts donned the hands, and a pair of slops covered the legs of the motionless figure.

Reaching down to push back the hood and assess the damage, the Mithra jumped back, narrowly avoiding a staff to her face. “Hey!”

The fallen adventurer had lied in wait, playing possum as soon as they had heard the Orcs distraction. Standing shakily the adventurer leaned heavy on their staff, making sure to face the Mithra.

Smiling softly, the Mithra set her sword on the ground and held both hands in front of her in a gesture of peace. “Arrrre you okay? Those foul beastmen arrre gone now..”

The mysterious adventurer stumbled and collapsed but was quickly caught by the graceful and swift Mithra, who almost let go seeing the face of the fallen person. It was a woman’s face, flawless though pale from shock with long black hair in a ponytail. The Mithra stared at the Hume woman a few moments then carefully lifted her up, cradling her like a child.

The walk back to San’doria was long and tiresome, and the fact a storm had come through didn’t help. The rain came down in torrents, soaking her to the bone and chilling her in seconds but the Mithra refused to rest, worried the woman she carried might not make it without the warmth of a fire to dry off and some water.

Finally, the gate was reached. The Elvaan guards, as usual didn’t so much as offer her a hand as the young Mage carried her fellow adventurer into the city and stopped, her mind whirring for a possible place to stay.

“South.. ..Southern Sandy.. the.. the tavern there… room 14.. upstairs…”

The Mithra stumbled in shock nearly dropping the woman she held in shock that she spoke. Nodding and mumbling her understanding, she hurriedly made her way to the tavern, up the stairs and to the room. “It’s locked…”

Again the Hume in her arms spoke, “My.. right pocket….”

Nodding, the Mithra readjusted her hold, blushing slightly as her hand grazed the woman’s thigh, and quickly retrieved the key from her pocket and slid it into the lock. Using her knee to lift the handle, she leaned forward, pressing the door open and walked over to the bed, gently placing the woman down.

Very carefully she removed the woman’s tunic and slops, both soaked through, and tossed them on the floor. She then lifted the blanket at the foot of the bed over the woman, hoping it to be enough to warm and dry her a bit. The tunic and the slops she dropped, were quickly lain before the fireplace, which was pre-lighted, obviously the maid’s doing.

“You’rre safe now.. rrrest..” She made for the door, uncomfortable being in the room of a native San’dorian when she herself usually slept in the stables.

“Wait.”

The Mithra turned, seeing the woman in the bed, sit up slightly. “Stay.. please.. it’s terrible weath.. weather to be out.. it’s the lea… least I can do”

Standing frozen, her hand on the handle of the door, the Mithra conceded and locked it. “Alrright.. but.. just to make sure you arrre okay.”

The Mithra curled up in the chair by the door and drifted off quickly, the warmth and soft crackle of the fire putting her to sleep almost instantly.

 

[Brin]

One big suggestion I can make right from the get go would be for you to double space between paragraphs instead of indenting. On message boards, a double space between paragraphs makes the stories that much easier to read. ^.^

 

[Shaidalyn]

One big suggestion I can make right from the get go would be for you to double space between paragraphs instead of indenting. On message boards, a double space between paragraphs makes the stories that much easier to read. ^.^

Thank you! I didn't know if it was allowed.. makes the posts seem so much bigger ^^; Does look much better. Also, questions/suggestions are very much welcome.
Once upon a time I was a published writer.. then I stopped reading/writing for 6 years.. so the rust has to be shaken off.. ^^;;

 

[tonicfly]

Shaidalyn so far im in love with your writing. the detail that you put into just draws me in. I can't wait for your next post.