Eternity Dawn Chapter 1

Chapter 1
The Hunted

Warm blood ran down Rydia Velthwithe’s cheek as she wiped the trickle off her face, a cool torrent of rain drenching the earth as her piercing hazel eyes stared down at her fallen opponent.  Her long blonde hair flowed with the storm, the harsh winds fighting against her as she pulled the strands away from her face.  Mud and splotches of dried blood covered her soft, cream-toned skin seemingly mocking the current situation she currently found herself in.  She uttered a soft sigh as her right hand wrapped around the hilt of a combat knife, thrusting downward into her opponent’s heart. Blood splashed on her as she removed the blade, her face emotionless as she watched him take her last breaths.  She sighed softly as she shook the blood off the blade.

"Looks like he's the last of them.  To think that they would pursue us this close to the border."  She kept speaking as she turned around and focused her attention on the figure that sat under a nearby tree.  "You ok Lydria?"  Rydia asked as she walked toward her twin sister.

"Hopefully, these ambushes will be over  now that we are closer to Shina’s border."  She kneeled on the ground and examined her sister's body.  Dried blood covered her body, all the result of wounds that had been inflicted from their constant battles.  Physically, both women looked the same expect for the markings that covered Lydria's back and the distinctive green color of her hair.

She heard her sister struggle to talk, her voice strained.  "Rydia, get out of here and stop worrying about me.  My body, it’s reacting to the poison that one of the Nablains used from an earlier battle.  If you keep worrying about me, you'll only get us both killed."

Rydia placed her hand on Lydria's shoulders as the tone of her voice grew softer.  "No, we're both this close to the border, so there is no reason to abandon you.  Besides, we both know the reason why I just can't let you die or leave you to be captured."

"You need to think of Transa’s welfare."  Rydia watched her sister lower her head.  "This power that’s sealed inside me, its not worth throwing everything.  The people of Transa need you more then I do."

“And what kind of leader would I be if I abandoned my sister?”  Rydia reached for a canteen, pressing it against her lips.  “You need to drink this down."  Pouring the liquid down her sister’s throat, she stopped when her sister began to gag, resuming only after her sister recovered.  “I know you hate being babied, but we can’t take the risk of you getting dehydrated.”  Removing the canteen away from her sister's lips, Rydia shook her head.  “If only mom or Est were here, you might not have to suffer so much.”


Rydia ran her fingers across the cuts that covered her skin as she smiled.  “But at least she’s safe.  Even if both of us die, at least Transa will still have an heir.”    She held her right hand against her side, wincing as she spoke. “ Honestly, I’m amazed we’ve made it this far without any medical supplies or a medic.”    Gulping down a mouthful of water, Rydia clasped the canteen on her belt as she stood up.  “We need to get moving.”

Rydia  lifted her sister off the ground and placed her on her back.

Adjusting her body to compensate for Lydria's added weight, she began running through the forest.  Moments passed as Rydia kept at a good pace, her Caryslan physiology well-adjusted  to long periods of physical activity.  Her mind remained focused before the felt pain radiate from her abdomen.  Fresh blood began to soak through the bandages she had placed there, onto her white shirt, staining it.  She struggled to stay on her feet as the pain grew more intense.  Fighting off the first notion to rest, she forged forward, keeping up her movement towards the border.

Damn it, if only I could dress this wound properly.  Of course, I wonder if a pure-blooded Caryslan would be affected this badly by a wound like this.  Maybe it’s because I’m a half-breed that my tolerance to pain is lowered.  She snapped out of thoughts quickly as a wall of water suddenly erupted in front of her.  "You gotta be kidding; we came this close just to be stopped now?!"  She sighed in frustration as she laid her sister on the ground keeping her focus on the  figure that emerged from the water wall.


She watched as the woman’s light blue hair flowed with the wind, he face concealed behind a mask.  Reaching for her knife, she unsheated it as the woman approached her.  Her movement is not hampered by those robes.  She glanced at the woman’s hands, noting the blue mist that rose from them.  This woman,  she’s a member of the Muda clan.  But could she really be siding with Nabal?  Was she disowned?

“Who are you?”  Rydia’s tone was harsh as she glared at the woman.

“Hand over her over and prepare yourself for death Lady Rydia.”

Rydia shook her head as raised the knife.  “I suppose I have my answer.  But to think I would face a rouge member of the Muda clan.  You must have fallen far to be working for a parasitic state like Nabal.”  Tensing her body. she dashed forward, aiming the blade for the woman’s heart.   

Her blow was parried by the woman’s seamless counter, leaving her open to a strike from an ice blade that woman had formed.  Pain radaited as the knife dug into her cheek, slicing open her flesh.  Blood seeped down the side of Rydia’s face as she clutched the woman’s arm and threw her over her shoulder.    Stomping her foot into the woman’s gut, she drove her blade downward, stabbing the woman in the heart.  Breathing deeply, she fell to her knees as she clutched her side.  Thank the gods I was able to end that quickly, I don’t think I have the strength to fight another prolonged battles.  This madness, it has to end at some point. 

As her thoughts ran through her mind, the form that she had stabbed suddenly turned to water.    Turning around, she felt cold hands grab her throat.    She was lifted off the ground as the hunter spoke  “Will you surrender now Lady Lydria?”