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It was time to leave Argo and put it's cold evil misery behind me. I spent the night preparing myself for an unreturning journey entirely as far away this wicked forest as possible.



I used the town's forge to tinker and craft a few necessities. There were plenty of wolves and bones laying around so I made a nice big furlined rucksack and a compass, along with Ebon Steel weapons and armor. Ebon Steel is strong just like Sundered Cotton. No fowl heathen or savage will penetrate this armor, I'm quite confident.


I haven't felt such comfortable garments in ages. The superior Ebon Steel offers a strong sense of security. I feel much more safer and confident. I do not plan on returning to this retched town. I pack my gear and cure my meats. I made a back strap for my soft fuzzy furlined sack so that I can use both my hands. The time has come...

Into the dark forest I go. Again.


I waited until the crickets and the frogs retired to rest. The deafening chorus would have surely made it impossible to hear any threats and dangers. It is also dangerously too cold at night. One blizzard in the loud midnight and I could be sabotaged or lost forever.


I start by going back to the town's tower to see if there is any sign of life there.
It is a very short distance to the garrison, which was honestly rather relieving to me, as I am cautiously weary of the evils that roam these lands.

Just as I assumed, nothing was there. A deserted watch tower from ages ago. It looks like a perfect place to stay safe, maybe even to consider a home. But it is sealed up with mortared walls. Nothing can enter, and, nothing can leave. I wonder if this is in fact a tomb of some kind.
Either way, this place reeks. It literally smells rotten here. Overwhelming fumes of gases, feces, and death!
Nothing...



In a very vast distance I can see what appears to be a hut or something. I begin my trek in that direction. Foraging whatever I find and slaughtering whatever crosses my path. The fur rucksack proved to be an invaluable investment, holding more than I could possibly carry by hand. And the armor, forget about it!; I can take bite after bite from these starving wolves! I am so warm in this outfit.

Look! Demon!


I use my hammer to turn his empty skull to bone dust. Shattered splinters explode as if the hammer of Thor itself struck it. It felt as if I put no effort in whatsoever. This Ebon Steel feels magical.

The being was hovered over what appeared to be an slain armored skeletal warrior not much unlike itself.
Were they kin or did they duel?


[hears a pack of wolves rushing to attack]
YOU FOWL SNEAKY DOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wield my Ebon Cleaver just in time to save my own life!



After piling up the dogs I set myself up a fire. I need to regather my bearings. Am I even still traveling toward the building?




Wave after wave of foes came from the trees to devour me. This Ebon Steel is amazing!




I stuff what I can in my bag, grab my cleaver, and I run in the original direction that I knew I had chosen from the tower.

I find it!
Yes!!

"Is anyone home!!?"




Nobody's home.
I take a closer look around. It appears to be abandoned long ago. No sign of a family or lifestyle of even a squatters kind.




If I stay will I be consumed by the dark forest? Is the reason that nothing lives here is because nothing survives?
What will be my fate?

One thing for sure is that I will be resting here the the night.

In short, I built up the property and used the forge to my advantage. I craft everything I can from the items I'd gathered. Two strong pine boxes. One for the forge and one for my personal belongings. I crafted a bow and dozens of arrows. As I crafted Sundered Frost Fern bandages I feel a mythical sense of serenity and healing. The cloths glow blue and even looking at it feels good.

It is then I realize that these lands are indeed magical. This explains the superior strength of the cotton, steel, and medicines.

This Ebon glows gold when there's danger and is cold black steel when there is not. The armor gives me unbelievable strength. It all brings a great comfort and confidence.

Nothing stands a chance against me out here. I almost wish I had stayed back in Argo.

I take you back to a time when I was a foot soldier in the royal army. Traveling and engineering in order to make a decent honest living. Waking and retiring everyday and night with an overwhelming sense of pride and duty for my services to the kingdom.
That was before the king was slain. After his death the society quickly turned into an unorganized mob of nomadic sloths. No more were the days of nobility and charity. I had to detach. I went off on my own one night.
I had found a beautiful green shire with a blue pond full of delicious fish. When I arrived at the house I was greeted by the most beautiful woman in all the lands. She was alone. She accepted me with open arms and we began an unforgettable and heavenly happy existence together.
One day, while my lady was away foraging, I was building a fence when the general's marshals found me. Without decree, they put a sack over my head, bound my arms, and took me away.
Here I am

I spend night after night defending my new grounds and territory. Between the hunting and the wandering lost souls of the forest, I was able to pilfer a plethora of crafting and construction materials.







I don't know if it the magic of this sundered land or not, but I feel much more alive than ever before. No aches, no disease, no sorrows. This must be an illusion; sorcery.

I decide I must find my home. My beau. Where am I? Where have they taken me?

I feel awoken and full of life. This sundered existence will be the end of me if I do not seek out society. I feel far too young to settle in these desolate parts as a lonely woodsman.

For now, I am my own king. My own general of an army of one. This small establishment is safe enough. For now.

My soul is awake. I am alive. Ready for battle.

The next day while gathering food and wood...



I hear a quick enormous deep gust of wind. Wings of a massive.....
DRAGON!!!!!!!!!!




Whew...
He flies right over. My heart races for nearly an hour. I wonder if he sees me; if he smells me. Is his sight poor, or like the eye of a Sundered Eagle. Does he have a ruby heart? Can his hide be pierced? If I can get him down here perhaps I can sneak him and cut off his head.

Maybe the winged beast is harmless. An old man waiting to pass on to another life. A father protecting his kingdom. I bet he is a very, very wise soul.

One thing is certain, he breathes fire and he is restless.

I must seek him out.

I must find out.

Life became a continuous fight for my life. Day and night I slayed the evil creatures that ceaselessly roamed the dark forest. Killing became a normal part of my everyday routines.
It was never-ending.
Maddening.
I would wonder if will ever end, but I already know it will not. The fallen outnumber the living by unimaginable counts. An insane existence in a forested corner of the enderworld.
Magic, dragons, and befallen ghouls.
A long lost snowy and shattered memory, there is no future here, only death awaits those who dare roam these lands.

I hear the fatal shriek of a man!
It came from the beach.

I quickly run down the hill toward the shore, cutting down everything that attempts to get into my path!





Mobs of undead demons and hounds attack me. They are no match to the strength of Ebon Steel!





I arrive at an uncanny scene..



What kind of savages could have done this!
Did a dragon swoop down and take his head?!


I cannot take it anymore!
This dark forest offers only death and a plagued existence!
I pull out my Frost Fern bandage and sit down on a log.






The beach water adds to the Zen.


At this point I'd accept any variety of Sundered calming herbs, before I lose my will to even go back into that forsaken forest. I could lay here, but I would probably be laying next to that poor man.

It is then decided. I must, once again, prepare myself to travel.
I will give myself one week's time in preparation to continue my deluge into the nothingness of the forest. Next time I see the dragon I will not fear it. Instead I will follow it.

Day and night I speak to the gods and ask them to keep me safe, strong, and alive out here. I now ask them to guide me to salvation, or to the dragon, and that giant fire breather is not just another ruthless and mindless animal. However, if it is not, then maybe, just maybe, it can guide me away from this nightmare and back to my land, my home, my lover. Is she still well? Does she cry for me?

So yet another chapter of my life begins...


Dragon seeker.

Readers

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE ENTIRE SERIES!

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