My Journey Pt.2

Chapter XI: I resume my journey as I take my much desired exeunt from the isle of black sorcery. I had no desire to look back nor return. My only desire, in fact, beyond leaving this place, was to fill my stomach with anything. Yet I had no means to do

that with. Beyond the wicked isle laid the jungle. Trees rose to scrape the roof, thick bushes and shrubbery cloaking the ground. It took all the effort I had to continue pushing my way through the jungle. The heat was hardly bearable and sweat rolled

down every corner of my body. For the rest of the day and into the night I made my snail's pace through the jungle. Every strategy I concieved for escalating my pace failed. I tried swinging from the vines but fell. I tried forcing my through the coast

but slipped into the water. At last, I was reduced to continuing my pace through the jungle with no chance of increasing my speed. I reached the jungle with the morn and when the moon fell I was still there. And even when the dawn rose of the next dawn

I still battled with the wretched jungle. To make matters worse, I had not a scrap of food and the cocoa growing on the trees were wretchedly sour and vile in taste, and when I went to chew them, they neither crunched nor broke. At last, I decided there

was no redeeming factor to this jungle. Yet as I gave up hope of any food or returning to my dear Therulis, a path of wood caught my eye.

Chapter XII: I crossed the river I was following and came upon a path. One way went east, away from Therulis, and the other west, toward Therulis. However, I was so deprived of food that my pace was all but stopped and my mind just short of dead. I went

east, hopeful that it would lead to a farm with fine pastries and fruits of all varieties. And so for hours I limped on, walking and walking. The path went straight, bridging over gaps when the appeared and tunneling through hills when they rose. At

last, I took one great look down the path, and saw nothing but empty road ahead, slowly deteriorating to nothing but a vague trail, and remembered my dear Therulis. And so, I turned, and went toward my home. The path went true, and at last I returned to

the river where I first spotted the path. It did not lead across the river, yet tunneled under. I carefully walked down the stairs, knowing very well that once crack of the glass tunnel would lead to my death. The light was dim, and after an eery walk it

reared up again. The road went straight through a hill, resuming it's original altitude. I walked through a long, dark tunnel, and when, at length, it ended, I was graced by the sight of a great cliff above me, age-old vines dangling down. Yet there was

no food on them, nor any signs of life past nor present.

Chapter XIII: As I continued from the cliff, my eyes spied a great platform in the air, held up by nothing more than a few thin pillars. However, being hungrier than any man had been before, passed it as nothing but an illusion. I continued on the road,

and came upon great walls. The road led to them and I followed the road. Where the road met the walls a small doorway sat and a small sign near the door tested my ability to read. Yet my brain still had some sharpness to it, and I read the words:

"Now Entering the Township of Arran Upon the Isle of Arran" I entered the door and climbed stairs. At length I came to small building leading into a city. There was a sign, stating "welcome to Arran"

I smiled. Perhaps it was an illusion, but even an illusion of food would be a marvelous sight. To my dismay, Arran was empty, despite showing signs of life. Much like StoneArk, it saddened me. However, I had not the reasoning I had at StoneArk, and much

less food. I found a farmstead and pillaged it, sloppily replanting the seeds in a rush to prepare the bread. I found an oven and cooked the wheat, eating it the moment it left the oven. I had more bread than I could count, and it filled my pockets and

then some. I had no interest in exploring the ghost town, and continued, leaving Arran to my back. One day I shall return, and thank it's people for saving my life, if they ever return.

Chapter XIV: I left Arran, and found a small hovel and a small patio, both abandonned with no sign of life. I came upon the great mountains, and I rejoiced, for I recognized the mountains as the ones east of my Therulis. My journey would

succeed! It was a miracle, for many times on the journey I thought death was certain. Yet I had a challenge left. The mountains were tall and the river below deep. One slip would not only wound me but also take my life. I found a great yet empty farmstead

and dived into the river below. I landed in it's centre safely and prepared a boat. I began sailing through the hills. I found a tunnel leading southwest through the mountains. I sailed through it after some thinking, for any inch nearer to my Therulis

was infinitely better than an inch away. As I was halfway through, the end in sight, I found a small doorway, with a label carved into stone: "Ladder to Benderoma, abandonned city" I left my boat and scaled the ladder. It

went high, even moreso than the one at the very beginning of my journey. As I reached the top, I was immediately disturbed by it's emptiness and ruin. I left and returned to the river, and continued sailing. I found a tunnel and followed it through,

for the river was leading away from my home.

Chapter XV: As I exited the long tunnel, I saw the course of the river turning away from my dear home in Therulis. I knew I had but one choice. I took the scaling the mountain, climbing by my fingertips and nearly falling at least a dozen times. At last I

reached the summit. The mountain had a flat yet small top, and a thin bridge leading south. On the bridge was a sign with a declaration on it. As I knelt to read it, my eyes widened and my heart raced. 'Now entering Therulis'

I had come home.