Kior

Ryoka rode on his horse in a rather bored fashion. While he never rode on the back of a horse before, especially bare back, he seemed to be able to do it very easily, even while gripping his spear. In fact, he was doing it with no hands. Ryoka seemed to have this ability to balance extremely easily, and have extraordinary dexterity. As of now, while holding onto his spear, with one hand, the boy lifted his hat, pulling out the emerald green gem. Ryoka looked at it with curiosity, before his head turned to Skoul.

"So what is this thing in the first place? Everyone kept looking at me, or the gem as if it was extremely important. And now everyone keeps calling me chosen. I don't get it?"

Ryoka had yet to grasp how important his role was to maintaining peace in the world -- something that he, in all honesty, did not even care about. All he cared about was surviving. And living to accomplish one goal with he, and his parents.

Guul was still waiting. It wouldn't be much longer but every second now was a chance of being caught. Busy planning out her escape she was unaware of what was happening on the streets. It was completely quiet with no one around. Turning around she noticed the quietness, she was being signaled to go over to people hiding inside a house. When she was safely hidden like them she asked, "What's wrong?" One of the older men in there replied, "There has been a Death Force sighting not too far and they'll arrive in just a few moments. Every time they come here, death is sure to follow if you don't hide." Guul's heart was racing now, they had come looking for her and this place will be destroyed all because of her.

The thought of running out of there was even more powerful. She had to get over to the tailor. She told everyone to wait inside as she took a peak outside. It was still empty. She made a run for it to cross the street and get behind another house. Checking again it was still clear. Again she ran and hid behind a house. This time she wasn't so lucky. Looking around the corner she picked up several body figures, they could easily see her if she ran across. She was about to go the other way but she saw more bodies coming from her other side. All hope was nearly lost when she heard a loud voice, "Get out here peasants! We don't have time to play games now!" Some hope shone through those words, she could sneak through the crowds but also she knew exactly who those words came from. She didn't want to think of it though.

Alasse heard a voice. Although the boy Ryoka was a horse's width behind her, she slowed Coldfire until she was abreast with his stallion.
"You don't know then?" she asked curiously in a lilting voice. After all, it was rare enough to have a child in such a place of power, but hey, whom was she to judge? She shrugged it off and continued after his silence.
"That gem there- there has been many prophecies of it. It would descend from the heavens and choose one who is worthy, and responsible enough to behold and use such a power for the common good. It is called the Gem of Peace. And it has Chosen you to bring that peace about." She finished her small speech, and glanced around for any other comments her fellow guardians had. She had specifically left out what he was expected to do with the gem, incase the boy grew scared or selfish with his duties. They had just entered the span of the trees, and Alasse had to block them all out. She had excess magics stored away for immediate emergencies and didn't want to draw upon it just yet. She gripped her staff more tightly and whispered a few elven words under her breath. Immediately, the five became invisible, to all except one another.
It was as if a blanket had settled down upon them.
She could feel the weight with her mental sense, aswell, but was unsure if the others would feel it. She knew the mage would feel it, even in his unconcious state, and prayed it wouldn't wake him until they returned to the other edges of the forest. She beckoned to the others and set off at a canter after twisting her mare to the left to take a back road. They wouldn't be as noticable.

Skoul constantly scanned the field around them, and occasionally glanced behind them, to make sure there weren't any Death Soldiers coming. There still weren't any in sight. When he heard the Chosen speak, Skoul looked over to see the boy looking at him. His lack of understanding was understandable. After all, he was only a child. It might be hard for someone his age to grasp the importance of the role of being the Chosen. Before the native could speak, Alasse answered the boy's question after slowing down to get beside him. "You must take the Gem to the Temple," he said after the elf finished. "It is there that the Gem will annihilate Malphas and the Death Force."

Shortly afterward, they reached the forest. Faintly, Skoul could hear Alasse say a few words to herself, most likely another spell to keep them from being tracked or seen, going by what she said back at the town before they left. He followed her, keeping to the back of the party like he had been since they left and keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of the Death Force. Maybe they were safe from sight, but staying alert was such a habit for Skoul that it was hard for him not to keep a watch on his surroundings.

Ryoka listened to Alasse. His face quickly became grim when she finished. Despite them being in the cover of the forest, Ryoka stalled the horse to a complete stop.

“What??” The boy let out in a bit of an angered tone. “I have enough problems trying to save myself as it is! People look down at me because I’m poor. They try to rob me. They try to kill me, and you and this green rock want me to save pretty much the entire world against something the world itself cannot go up against?”

It was as if the boy was throwing a temper tantrum. But all his points were quite valid… Or at least, that was the majority for it. Ryoka clenched the gem tighter in his fast, as if he could quash it like a helpless fruit. Of course, the gem wouldn’t succumb to an angered eleven-year-old’s fist.

Ryoka let out a few deep breaths. When he spoke again, he was angry, but it was no longer a raised voice. After all, he was still wanted by the death force. “My entire life, I did what I wanted to do. And it’s going to stay that way. I am not going to have my life changed and do something that’s absolutely insane just because of some people mumbled some things in a desperate attempt to keep up some kind of hope. Do you know what I did to get past my struggles? I did what I needed to do. Not hoped some hero would do it for me. And I’m certainly not going to stick my neck out for the world who did nothing to take of me, either.”

Ryoka’s violet eyes seemed to glow a little bit brighter, especially since dark was coming, and the rain clouds were closing in. “I don’t care about the world. I don’t care about other people. I only care about myself. The world can rot for all I care. As far as I’m concerned, everyone deserves that, one way or another.”

Not even giving a chance for the others to speak in response. Ryoka kicked the horse, a little bit harder then he needed to, but it got the thing going again. Despite what he said, one thing remained a fact. He – or them – still needed to lie low for a while.

Skoul stopped his horse when the Chosen did, not wanting to let the boy fall behind everyone to where he would be left open for an attack. He could not see the boy's face, for the child's back was on him, but it was probably for the best; the stone-like expressions on Skoul's face cracked to show an inkling of anger. The native could not believe what the child was saying. What a selfish brat! He dare let the country continue in its current state because of his own wants.

When the boy let his horse start trotting again, Skoul did the same. "Yes, the prophecy may have been shared to give the people hope, but the fact that the Gem descended from the Heavens, just as the prophecy stated, should adequately prove the prophecy was more than mere words. You can detest your role as the Chosen as much as you want, but you will take the Gem to the Temple, one way or another. It will not be like you will be alone on this. All of us are here with you for a reason. We want to help."

Skoul did not think this would comfort the boy, but he did not care. Honestly, while he usually did not let anger--or any other emotion, for that matter--get the better of him, it was getting hard to control it. It was a good thing they decided to take horses. If they had not, Skoul more than likely would have came close to pummeling the child. But regardless of how the Chosen felt, he had a duty to fulfill, and Skoul was going to see through to it that he did it, even if it meant tying him up and dragging him all the way to the Temple to do so.

Skoul did not want to question Fate, but now he was beginning to with the way the boy was acting. Then again, what could one expect from a mere child?

Mobs of villagers came out of nearly every hiding spot. Some hid under sand covered blankets, some in homes, other in dark corners that would have easily concealed them. Sliding against multiple bodies, pushing some a little, she navigated her way through the crowds undetected. While the villagers were being yelled at, Guul was putting on her clothes and cloak which were patched up nicely. She also felt some cushioning on them which was very comfortable.

Just as she was finishing a voice behind her said, "Hey, why are-" His sentence wasn't finished, Guul had sliced his throat and the only sound he made was a gargling noise. Now that she was prepared to leave she was going to make she the Death Force knew for sure she was alive. Taking a small knife from the tailors house, she pulled out a piece of paper with writing on it. Attaching the note to the knife with some string, she went back to the crowd. It was easy to sneak along with the sand so no one noticed her coming up from behind. She arched her arm back with the knife and threw it with expert skill, inserting itself in a Death Force's face. The crowd grew uneasy at that. The general there had approached the commotion and quieted everyone down. A foot soldier handed him the piece of paper and the general unfolded it and read:

If you get this letter, then you know I'm alive. While you're reading this I will have made my escape and be far from here. Sorry for the loss of one of your men but that's life.

The general smashed the paper in his hand and yelled, "Kill everyone here and move out!"

Alasse had to admit, she was startled at his outburst. He was the Chosen, there had been prophecies fortold of him, and all elves, and most likely any Naitive, would accept him into their homes with open arms, and more still would if it wasn't for pain of death hanging over them. When Skoul spoke up just then, she grew troubled. All this arguing would disrupt their travels as well. She refused to argue with him. Still, it was impossible to refrain a few words of wisdom.
"You think you're the only one who's had hardship? No one escapes the age of ten without a scar. I suspect you've many. Still, giving up on what's been demanded from you is like quitting. And because of a few rich snobs, you're going to sacrifice humanity." Her voice was thick with sarcasm, though her intentions were obvious. She just wanted to get out of the town- she didn't care much for anybody's whining right now. Perhaps they were all selfish- all wanting the gem for themselves, but not that gem. The gem of their families' freedom. Riches. She didn't think anyone there was honestly slaving for only humanity's sake.
She wasn't even one of humanity. But the elves were at stake. All of it rested on the one kid.
She saw through it immediately. At least, she thought she did. A chance for Ryoka to repent, maybe. Or a chance for each of them. It was no conicidence that they all showed up in the same place on the same day the Gem chose to descend.
She smiled at the irony. It was so unexpected, like a ray of sunshine shot through the clouds of a rainy day. She let a laugh escape. "Who cares? We're free!"
But she spoke too soon. Her keen ears had reached out. Three horsemen were trotting down the road half a mile ahead.