Callia's Redemption

Callia’s Redemption

I close my eyes as the rain begins to fall. I’m slightly sheltered by the trees, but that is of little comfort to me. Everything seems different. Maybe because it is. I gave up everything I had in order for them not to win, but in the end I lost. I lost everything because the one person I relied on choked. He gave in and gave them everything. I have spent the last century in purgatory as a result.

I hear shouting in the distance, causing me to roll my head over, leaving half my face in the mud. Through the blur of water and mud on my face, I see the faint glow of torches. They’re looking for someone. Likely me. I don’t want them to find me. I have no idea why I’m suddenly released, but I have no desire to find out. I stand up, my body completely exposed as I start running through the forest. I pray I find nothing that wants to eat me; because at this point, I might let them.

It’s easy enough to explain why I’m like this. I trusted someone who was not to be trusted. I should have known he would do this, but I didn’t. As a result of this, this world was left to fall in the hands of Gstalt. Who he is, is another matter entirely. He’s part god and part human. More god than anything else. You see, he was left trying to prove himself and he took it a little too far. Gstalt believes in the world being his and only his. This means he’s the whole entire worlds’ king. This is including lands that no one has even heard of before. He’s a vindictive tyrant who needed to be put down. Only I was the one that ended up in that later position.

Okay, I need to stop playing the victim and get going on living again. I have no idea where I am. I woke up falling from the sky. I landed in a rainstorm completely naked. My body feels new; but fits like my old one. The scar that I used to have on my hand is gone, so it must be new with the design of the old one. Whoever did this likely has seen my original one. That is only slightly comforting.

I was born originally, half human half god. Demigods are actually quite common since there are several gods in this world. In order to reanimate me someone must have my original blood, along with my birth parents, and have known me in real life. Considering I have no idea who my birth parents are, they have a leg up on me. I can’t think of anyone who would want to do this, considering it requires a life sacrifice, which is very sacred and forbidden. Then again, so is murder.

The rain lets up after a few hours. When it does there is a small village that comes into view. There is a small house on the end that appears dark and there is something going on in the middle of town. I can hear people chanting and it appears there is a festival. Some Demigod must have summoned a shield to protect the town during the festivities since the town is dry.

I open a sliding window at the back of the house and crawl in. A dog growls as I land on the floor, causing me to look up. He’s a beautiful reddish-brown dog that comes up to just below my hip. I put my finger to my lips. He whimpers slightly and comes to lick my face.

I pet him as I stand up. I look around and see beautifully hand done paintings nearly covering the walls. The paintings consist of many things, mainly of daisies. I’m currently in the kitchen that has a stove complete with a tiny table and six chairs. It must be crowded. There is a room to the left with a basinet at the end of the master bed. A ladder leads to upstairs where you can just make out four little beds. I go into the master room and go through the woman’s closet.

Finding nothing I like I grab a pair of black pants and a red and white top. The top clings around the waist in a corset fashion. The sleeves are short, just short of covering my shoulder. The pants are tight and lace up at the waist. I grab a pair of black flatted boots that go up to my knee. I refuse to wear heels when I’ll be hiking through mud. I grab a brown canvas backpack and shove some bread and a waterskin in there. I’ll take what I need. No more.

I leave through the front door and close it on the not happy looking dog, trapping him inside the house. As I walk through the town, I see lanterns of various colors and flowers in every direction. Vendors try to sell a variety of things. From clothing and jewelry to foods from foreign lands. Since it’s so crowded, I managed to steal a few bits of clothing, and some coins, as I make my way through. If I remember correctly, this festival is the Warming Festival. To celebrate the dead winter and welcome the warming spring. It gives life and hope after months of heartache and cold.

There are many people engaged in the street performers. They’re doing tumbling and have the crowd completely entranced. So mesmerized in fact, that no one notices the pickpocket, and I do not mean me this time. The man is bald and has ice colored eyes. He’s dark skinned but with white splotches all over him. I cock my head as I look at him. I know him. He’s old and his white patches has spread but it’s him. Considering his eyes have no color he’s mostly blind right now.

I walk through the crowd as I slowly go by him. I brush his arm, making him straighten while I walk. If it is him, he’ll hopefully remember our signal. It was complete chance I ran into him in the first place. If I remember this city, who is famous for their tumbling show, we’re in Canture. This means, if I am right, I’m at least on the same continent. This is a good thing, and a bad thing. Good thing since I’m familiar..ish with my surroundings. Bad because this is the same continent that Gstalt is in. The city is also close to his kingdom, so I was likely reincarnated by someone close to him. I can’t think of a reason Gstalt would want me. Unless…It might have worked.

I go and wait by a fountain surrounded by people enjoying the festivities. I occasionally watch Merkth as he still goes through, grabbing what he can before anyone notices. I’m starting to lose hope when I feel a brush on my arm. I look to my right and see Merkth sitting next to me.

“It’d be a mistake to steal from me.” I sigh as I slouch. I need to figure out where to go from here.

His eyes widen as he straightens. “My apologies.”

“It’s quite alright old man.”

“Callia!” Merkth very nearly shouts in his whispered raspy voice. “What are you doing here? You’re dead.”

I chuckle. “I was hoping you could tell me. Someone performed the spell to reanimate me, and I have no idea who.”

Merkth hesitates as he rubs his face, trying to think. “There were rumors I was hearing a few months back. At the beginning of the cold season in particular. The rumor was that someone was asking questions about you. They wanted to know your birth city. From what I could gather, they were the king’s guards. There was another man. I’ve never heard of him but when he’d walk, I could hear chains.”

I cock my head. “Chains? A captive?”

He shrugs. “My guess, or one of the many Demigods that are forced to serve him. The name was Alaric I believe.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Forced to serve?”

“Almost all of the Demigods are in assigned housing with round the clock guards, Callia. The only ones that aren’t are the ones considered weak or lame.” He takes my hand. “If I were you, I wouldn’t use my powers until absolutely necessary.” He leans in. “I’d also run. If you’re here, the only ones capable of summoning you are directly under Gstalt.”

That sent an alarmed tingle up my spine. “Are you telling me, Gstalt is the one that more than likely ordered my reanimation?”

“No, what I’m telling you is that he’s the one that likely did it. He kills anyone who is strong enough to do it; or force them into slavery. He’s terrified of you ever coming back. I don’t know how you ever got away from him if he did revive you.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I was in a random part of the woods. There was no one even close to me. There was no one for me to escape from.”

“So who did it?” Merkth asks.

“I’ll have to find out.” I breathe, already sensing the dooming adventure as I say those words.

Merkth grabs my arms. “If I were you, I’d go far away from here. Reanimation spells trigger an effect. You know this. If by some miracle Gstalt doesn’t know you’re here, then that ripple effect will.”

I nod. “I sense the change already. Rain started pouring the minute I came from the sky. It was heavy, but I felt hope in it. By morning, when the rain fully sets the sky will turn lilac, signaling I am here. Gstalt will know for certain then, and that I didn’t die in the reanimation process.”

“What do you remember seeing when you came too?”

I think about it. “Torches. A lot of lit torches and yelling. I couldn’t make out their words, and I had no desire for them to get closer.”

Merkth nods. “I suspect it was Gstalt that ordered your return. Why would he?”

I stretch as I sigh. “The only thing I can think of is that it must have worked. Why else would he unleash me?”

Merkth sucks in his breath. “Then he’s vulnerable.”

I grin. “Which means we can begin again my friend.”

“Callia, the last time we tried this you died. A darkness fell on this world and everyone in it, regardless of their heritage. We cannot risk losing you again.”

“There is no point in me being alive unless it is to fight, Merkth. I was brought back for a reason. I need to find that out before I plan my next move. If there is a way I can rid the world of this demon, I will.” I stand as two men enter the square. “I have to go.”

Merkth grabs my arm. “No one but Gstalt remembers what you look like Callia, except the old. Stay away from them if you choose to live. I’ll keep what we’ve discussed a secret, and that I have spoken with you. If I am caught speaking with you, I’ll be killed after days of torture. Please, stay safe.”

I pat his hand gently, kiss his cheek, and leave as my response. I need to find clues to why I was brought back. For that I need to head back to where I was summoned. This can be incredibly dangerous, but I have little options at this point. It’s still night, and I have to get there before morning. In the morning, the whole sky will be the color of lilac. I’ll be at my most vulnerable then and Gstalt will use every opportunity to find me.