Squish* Squash*

  The tapping of rain bounced off my scruffy head. Pain aching all over my body. The weight of my wet clothes clung to the mud. With a jolt, I push against wet ground and slip. The lingering cold pressing on my face.

  It hurts.

  The taste of wet dirt trails down my lips. Leaving behind a bitterness on my tongue. Clenching my teeth, I take a deep breath, and hold the chilly air in my lungs. With a straining exhale, my eyes adjust to the darkness. Mounds of shadows laid on the ground. Weapons stuck out of their corpses. I carefully adjust my wet clothes and crouch down. Claiming the cloak as mine, I let out a sigh and went towards the carriage.

  Rain rattles against the thin carriage roof , mellowing out the obnoxious creaking. Searching around the dark, my hand brushes against a crate. Inside was something dry and rough, like leather.

  Begrudgingly, I take it out from the crate. Giving it a sniff, A familiar scent of meat salivates my tongue. Without hesitation, I placed a piece in my mouth. Immediately, the taste of salt shrivels my tongue.

  I had to spit it out.

  The flavors of dirt and salt mixed on my tongue. Tears ran down my face. In an unfamiliar land surrounded by corpses, I curled into a ball and fell asleep…

  Déjà vu lingered as my eyes rested on the light below the door. With a deep breath, I turn the doorknob. A soft light draped over this familiar room. This room was decorated with a bookshelf and a plain wooden desk by the window. In between the bookshelf and desk was a fluffy-looking bed. With annoyance, I walk to the desk and picked up an opened book. The sentences seemed fragmented but were interpretable.

  “Amid the world, holds an ethereal power that one can harness with repeated dedication and talent. A practitioner who harnesses ethereal power or “mana” can invoke and command their own soul to enhance themselves physically and spiritually. However, the stronger an individual is, the more challenges that individual must face."

  "To start, one must “open” themselves to the world and feel the “mana” that is within us all. First, one must relax and feel a slipping feeling. The mind must remain focused, this can be developed with the “breath.” There are many “breathing methods” out there. do not worry too much. they all seek to remind the practitioner that they are still conscious.”

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  Slumping onto the chair I let out a sigh. All this information took a toll on my mind. In the corner of my eye, darkness crept past the window…

  The chirping of the birds signified a new morning. The smell of wet wood and petrichor lingered in the carriage. A glint catches my eye, revealing a small latch underneath the cushions. I pry it open and found a few books, a rolled-up scroll, and a letter. Unraveling the letter, I looked through the contents.

  “To, Reid Cornelius,

  I, Trobell Cork, have manufactured a special wine as thanks for the partnership with Idosa. I wish to support your efforts to combat the Aroca faction. Those meddling scum have claimed far too much in their conquest. Idosa will send whatever aid necessary in pursuit of a successful victory.

  To the delivery crew, please send this letter and inform Reid with the yellow stamped scroll. I will be expecting a message from Reid. So do not run away with the contents.

  -Torbell Cork.”

  With a sigh, I shivered from the lingering cold and tossed the books aside. With a couple of jerky, I set off to the back of the Carriage.

  Might as well find the wine.

  Taking a moment to think, I glance around the wreckage. Some crates were open, others were too heavy to move. The scene was rather gruesome under the sunlight. Splintered bits of wood spiked the soles of my shoe. Each box had an emblem that matched the Carriage’s symbol. A circle with a sword embedded in the middle.

  Slumping on some grass, I took a heavy breath. A remarkable stillness, extreme focus, and a rush of power flowed through my veins. However it quickly settled. Walking back to the Carriage, I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, numbing the aches.

  This wine has to be in the back, right?

  Threading around the small puddles, a wall of crates stood in-front of me, blocking the path. Defeat washes over me.

  How am I supposed to overcome this?

  A practitioner who harnesses ethereal power or “mana” can invoke and command the world itself. These words bounce around my head; like a shadow in the corner of my eye. Without much thought, I remembered my breathing.

  Was it the scent of rotting wood? Or the quiet swaying of autumn trees? The soft light of the sun felt ever warmer.

  O’ Fleeting wind

  Gather around.

  The trees started to howl as a rushing wind envelops me. With a swipe, the boxes fell to the ground. Suddenly, concern overwhelms me.

  “Where’s the wine?”

  Stepping over the boxes, I dart around the opened crates. A leather satchel revealed itself in the middle of the rubble. Pushing ahead, a well-decorated box hid itself in the back. Its veil was unraveled by the wind. Taking a peek inside the box, A sense of relief washes over me.

  “I found the wine!”

  I let out an embarrassing cheer and quickly tucked it away. Retrieving the leather satchel, I gathered some rations, and carefully stored the wine. Flipping a coin, I confidently pointed in a direction.

  “This way!”

  With a confident grunt, I headed down the main path…