RISE OF THE SWARM

Liams sat in the room, Garrick the old mage and the Young lady standing at opposite sides neither speaking a word. The girl leaned back on the wall hood covering her head.

"Well I guess introduction are in order, you already know me so I guess I'll let the woman there introduce herself" Garrick said pointing at the girl.

The girl looked her emerald green eyes now visible through the hood staring daggers towards Garrick. Garrick though didn't seem to mind it much reciprocating with a smile of his own. The girl still with a frown on her face turned towards Liam.

"Ell, you can call me Ell" she said with a disinterested tone the quickly put her head down as well.

"Liam, my name's Liams nice to meet you" Liam said.

"Don't mind her she's usually angry at nothing most of the time." Garrick said with a laugh. Ell shot a killer stare at Garrick but he remained unfazed. She turned her haze back onto Liams as of observing something about him.....

Liam nodded in understanding sparing a side glance at Ell.

"If you don't mind me asking what happed yo your village." Garrick asked curious about what had transpired.

Liam gulped the memories about still stung like a fish wound but he didn't have any choice here

"Well they attacked late in the night, I woke to find the entire village in flames, I rushed over trying to find anyone alive, anyone that I could save. But everywhere thay I went bodies littered the ground, ash fell like rain. I the encountered a mage and and a bandit I managed to kill the bandit but the mage captured me. Then they took me and the surviving villagers to s clearing out on a nearby forest. That's when they began the sacrifices. They killed all the villagers saving me for last." Liam said tragically.

"Is that when the beast attacked?" Garrik asked interrupting the story.

"Yes, it was a wolf type creature with yellow stripes and large fangs. It began slaughtering the heretics, the more it killed the stronger it became, but I faintest I have no idea what happened after that." Liams said.

Garrick nodded. Before standing up and patting Liam on the back offering some form of condolences.

"That must have been quite the tragic experience. But don't worry your safe now."

"Thankyou." Replied Liam.

"That's doesn't add up though." Ell said staring at liams.

Liam swallowed hard. His mind rushing into overdrive. Have they found out that his story is a lie? Surely they couldn't have he didn't give any details thay might slip.

"Whar do you mean Ell?" Garrik asked with a smile.

"You see I went through the a bestiary of the creatures found in thay are, and there are ko sitings of any creature thay fits thay appearance, and there were no tracks left at the sacrificial field, so I think there's something you're hiding from us. Ell said narrowing her eyes as she crossed her arms together.

Liams gulped but before he could respond another figure entered the room.

"Oh my gosh he really is awake, and here I thought Aldric was lying." She said.

She was dressed in a long brown tunic. On the front of her skirt a large golden Cross war embroidered with golden string, symbolising her role as a healer. She carried with a a tray on it a wide selection of food stuff. A bowl of goat stew with bread and a small block of cheese. Liams mouth watered he didn't when was the last time he had eaten.

"Hello there love, I'm the healer. You can call me Hilda. You've been sleeping for quite some time now, so I htought you some food to keep your strength up." She said placing the food on the bedside table.

Liams internally sighed In relief. Thanking the healer for saving him from having to answer Ells questions.

Hilda then turned to face Garrik and Ell.

"It's best you give the boy some space, crowding here isn't going to help him get better. Off with you two now. Scram." She said shooing the two away out of the room

Garrik laughed " guess we'll see you later Liam." He said leaving the room.

"Well enjoy your meal love. If you need anything else just holler and ill come." Hilda said leaving the room.

Liams let out a sigh of relief, his eyes immediately turning towards the tray on the side. He tool the bread immediately tearing into it, savouring its taste.

He continued to feast on the food eating every last crumb that from the tray. He sighed in satisfaction. Now onto the next issue he thought staring into the room.

It seems they can't see these grey orbs. He thought himself. Infront and all around him gray orbs filled the room. They looked like clouds, but were much fluffier and hazy. They slowly floated towards him getting absorbed into his body.

What are these thing he thought to himself.

On the outside Ell and Garrick walked out into the busy street their destination unknown.

"Are you sure it's him." Garrick asked his face now devoid of the smile he always had.

"I'm certain. Its him thay the prophecy talks about. I can't see through his fate, its all bundled and jumbled up, its as if.....someone or something is refusing for us to see through it." She said in a hushed tone.

Garrick nodded his thought whirling concocting a plan that only he himself knew.

"We keep a close eye on him, we'll take him there and watch over him. For jf this prophecy is true then the world as we know it is in danger." Garrick said in a grim tone.

Back in the room Liam fidgeted around with the grey formless orbs thay floated around

He tried touching them only for his hand to faze through. How weird he thought.

Then a sudden voice rang i his mind. One thay he recognised all to well.

"Watch out for that mage and girl, they are not what they seem"