To A Journey's End

I've decided to added more to this chapter instead of leaving it short and unsatisfying. I took a look at this chapter and read it, then changes bits here and there, then read it again. -huff- I don't really want to butcher it but I guess this will do? Cliche and all at the end I think.

I think El will be back later once the story has finally started rolling forward. My internal clock as changed time zones so I've been sleeping during the day and waking to stay up at night. Not pleasant in the least in my opinion. Oh well, make do with what I've got I guess.

EDIT: I've decided to take advantage of the AFF forum for dicussion on To A Journey's End. I'll be adding the link to my discussion thread into each chapter before you start reading as well as another link in my author's profile. All response to reviews will be posted there. And here's the link! http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=13776

Read, review and Enjoy. Onto the chapter!

* * *

He was just the average human boy, causing trouble where he went. It was rumored that there was a Being in the village. He wanted to see what he could steal from it. With a smirk on his face and an evil idea coming up, he headed off towards his aunt's place.

"Good morning Aunt Koria," he chirped.

"Good morning to you too, Sumire. Where have you been all morning?" she asked.

He looked at her with puppy dog eyes, the bottom lip quivering for extra effect. Watching his aunt from his fluttering lashes, Sumire batted them again, whining in the process. His Aunt started having a fit of laughter, arching her brow as she looked at him.

"Come now Sumire, stop that. You know that doesn't work on me," she chuckled.

"Oh, come on Aunt Koria, I was just out on business. Why don't you believe me?"

Aunt Koria looked at her nephew with a second arched brow that morning. She looked him over before she replied to his "why do you think I am lying" expression.

"Well, considering that you came in covered in dirt and dust, I'd say you've had another one of your play time before the sun had risen today," she scold.

"B-but..."

"Don't "b-but" me little one. You are all the trouble I need. I don't want you found dead in an alley somewhere, when I promised your mother to raise you to be someone and not a trouble maker of the whole village," she reasoned with him. He gave up trying to convince her that he really didn't do anything that morning. Well, maybe something that morning, but not what she had assumed had happened.

"Here," she said handing him a basket, "Take this to Daniel. He was expecting early this morn. But since you were not here and I was still looking over its cooking, you will have to do double today."

Groaning at his misfortune, Sumire picked up the basket and went to the Shepard's Inn where Daniel had taken up.

* * *

His world was clouded with gray and black clouds swimming in the sky. Every bird had nestled down in the safety of their homes, as the wind lashed at the trees that perched on the hills and mountain sides. Any thing that was not secured down onto the ground was ripped from where it stood, and lashed around with the force of a thundering tornado. The minutes had passed by slowly that the day would have gone by before the wind had stopped its howling.

The cluttered trees in that small area was only a small portion of the whole forest it was part of. And this forest stood in the Kingdom of Ardus, a mystery to the rest of the kingdoms that's established around it. Although much is not known of the kingdom, old wives tales and stories sung by the fireplace at carnivals, was the only thing that hinted of what may lie there.

After the storm's vicious thrusting, slowed down, the animals of the forest and hills came out of their hiding place. Any eye could be seen peaking out of a small black hole that bored into the ground. Every where its eyes sight reached, it could see the animals and creatures of the forest slowly crouched out of their homes and protective shelter.

It pulled itself out of its hidden home as soon as the coast was clear. The precipitation of rain fell from the sky like tears as if the angels of the heavens were crying. To incur the wrath of heaven was something that it avoided like a sickness, and to know that there were humans incurring the heaven's wrath left it with chilled fear.

Having not much cover it, the sun's rays kissed it's skin while bring light and color to its features. 'It' was actually a 'he'. Pointed ears could be seen as it adorned the elfin structure of his thin oval face. A golden hoop could be seen on each lobe of his ears as he looked from one place to the next. A ruby gem was strung onto the hoops. Against the gold it added a flash of red, like the color of blood.

Straight and thick black hair concealed the features of his face as he quietly forged his way through the dense trees. Each stride that he took was slow yet graceful. What ever he touched glowed with a healthy sheen. Even though no sound came from him, the wind rustling between the branches and leaves whispered praises and aw in a language long forgotten.

Quietly, he breached the sightings of a small water fall, hidden from human eyes. The sun's ray stroked the surface of the rippling water as light glimmered and danced, each made its own beautiful color.

Looking around, this creature in human form walked to the edge of the cool water. Stopping there, he stripped himself of the cloak he was wearing as well as the shirt and pants. Once he was divested of the clothing, he carefully stepped into the water. Though the water was cold to anyone else's touch, his fevered skin was cooled by it's cold embrace.

* * *

Sumire was tired of waiting the tables. He was sure that his aunt would send him on another errand, but no~ she had to ask Daniel if he needed any help for today. So here he was, waiting tables and picking up after all the customers. Just as he picked up the table wares on the table, the door to Shepherd's Inn burst opened to reveal two people he didn't want to see at all.

"So, Mrs. Wile was right!" The tall blond haired boy shouted, elbowing his shorter companion.

"What do you two want?" Sumire curtly asked.

"Look at that Ken! He even asked us what we wanted to eat!" The blond one chuckled as Ken, his brunette companion looked at Sumire.

"Yes, he did." Ken agreed.

"Whatever Nick," Sumire addressed the blond. "You and Ken can go rent a room, or something, but don't get all mushy in front of me."

The implication sent Nick on a rampage of angry words with Ken forgotten and pushed to the side. Ken didn't bother. It was the usual routine.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" A red faced Nick sputtered. "Do you even know what you are trying to imply?! Such things NEVER happen! AND you're lucky that my father LIKES your aunt! Other wise he would have gotten rid of your lot by now!"

"Whatever." Sumire said, brushing off Nick's pointless threat. "He liked my mother too when she was still alive. I bet your dad wants to sack me up too 'cause I look just like my mom."

Nick was now infuriated. Not only has Sumire insulted HIM, he has also insulted his father! A curd like Sumire! He was made a fool of and by a trouble maker no less!

"We'll settle this TONIGHT! I won't let you and your filthy mouth spoil my meal." Nick retorted trying to gather what little dignity was left.

Ken, tired of waiting for the two to stop their bickering, had found Nick and himself a table.

Sumire was glad that Ken thought to choose a table that he was not waiting on. Otherwise, their bickering would amount to no end. Why Ken was friends with Nick was a confused mystery. Why Ken still stuck around even made no more sense than why they're friends from the beginning.

At least for Sumire, the sun was setting and his 'help' at Shepherd's Inn was coming to a close.

Thank the heavens for a setting sun was all Sumire thought of at the end of each day. He was glad that the day was over. Waiting the tables had been a bother and keeping himself on schedule was even harder since Nick and Ken kept watch. Luckily he didn't have to go through the front of Shepherd's Inn to avoid the two and going through the back seemed more logical to him. So, here he is, walking down Market's Quart with what little light from the setting sun beating down on his back.

According to the rumors that he was able to gather, the Being of mystery was bunked at Nigma Tavern. Well, that was a very NON attracting place to bunk at. Whom ever the Being is, didn't seem to know that bunking there was NOT the brightest idea; considering other hundreds of Inns and Taverns with a much MUCH better reputation. Of course finding out WHICH resident of Nigma Tavern is the Being will be more difficult.

This village may be small amongst the other villages consisting of only sixty thousand registered residents, Sumire had estimated that there are at least ten to twenty thousand unregistered residents that live in the poverty of the this village's shadow. Sadly enough, most go uncounted for and Sumire had one day become curious to the history of this poverty. So he had set out to figure the numbers and had met some very interesting people as well as the probable cause of their under-minded choice of living.

Reminiscing about the past isn’t going to help much now. The sky had become a dark hue of blue as the stars blanket it with stars. He had moved from the wealthy part of the village to the poverty driven one. There was no light save from the moon that showed Sumire his way to Nigma Tavern.

Sumire liked the sophisticated structure of the wealthy society but he also liked the freedom of the poverty stricken as well. Each had its own appeal and Sumire didn’t mind lavishing himself in the freedom or wealth and fame.

Walking into the night life of the conspicuously bright lights of taverns, Sumire ignored the young girls that loitered around the corners, waiting for some unfortunate perverted moron.

He laughed to himself. Oh he wasn’t sorry for the girls, he was sorry for the dumb ass that would fall for their appearance of innocent need of food and shelter. No, the girls were very strong and talented with hidden weapons. Sumire had seen other people who had been under the brutality of the girl’s quick reflexes that he didn’t want to head there any time soon or later.

Nigma Tavern could be seen now fifty yards from him and Sumire hurried his step. A small crowd of street bandits, mercenary, and bounty hunters blocked the front entrance and Sumire sighed in defeat. He didn’t want to cause any more trouble and luckily for him, he could get around through the back. With that in mind, Sumire made a round about change of direction to a narrow alley way that lead to the back of the tavern.

Funny though, that the owner of Nigma built the tavern right next to a drop off. The idea though stuck and every other persons who was willing to risk the loss of their business to a natural disaster over the trampling of bandits and thieves, followed the idea and made their business right next to his. Sumire shook his head. Thank goodness the owners thought to keep up the maintenance. Otherwise there would’ve been a gap. A really big gap.

Sumire smiled and walked up the small trail to the back door and knocked twice. It wasn’t long when the door was jerked opened and Sumire walked in. He could hear the shouts and cheering of merry men from the other side of the wall that separated the back room of the bar from this private room.

“Hi Graps!” Greeted Sumire. “More lively than the usual, eh?” he continued smiling at the old man.

“No surprise that you’re here,” Gramps noted as he kept polishing the glass cup in his hand. “Though you’re late as usual, the Being has left the inn at sundown.”

Sumire looked up shocked. “What do mean it left at sundown! The sun has just set!”

“That’s exactly what Gramps means, you dolt!” chided a voice from the door parallel to the one he came through.

“El!” Sumire exclaimed as he leapt at the young man, a big grin plastered on both their faces. “I know what Gramps mean, it’s just that I’d have missed it if it left at sundown! I mean, I WAS walking down Markets Quart.”

“Well, IT didn’t leave by Markets Quart.” Informed El. “It went out the north gate, towards the Mardanot Mountain. I know you’re going to follow the Being ‘till the ends of the earth for all we care; and yes I’ve told Aunt Koria that you’d be leaving so here.”

El shoved a bag into Sumire’s arms and fisted his hands onto his hips, smiling at the younger boy. Sumire just smiled and punched El on the shoulder before putting the pack onto his back.

“El... Thanks.” That was all Sumire could think to say. El was always there and to know that he was going to go on his own was exciting and doing it alone had an even bigger challenge to its process

“You’d better go or else you won’t be able to catch up to it.” El said sensibly. Sumire laughed at this before giving El a hug. When he backed away, El held out a dagger in a plain leather sheath. Sumire looked at him with aw before looking back down at the small object.

“You’re going to need this. I know you don’t have one of your own.” Sumire reached out and held onto the handle. He could feel that El had put all his thought into this parting gift.

“Thank you, El.” Sumire looked at El and smirked before turning around, walking towards the door. Looking back, Sumire thanked El and Gramps before heading out. When he closed the door, Sumire looked out beyond the fall of the cliff and turned back to the alley that lead to the main road.

“Huh... So much for leaving discreetly...”