Thread: land of the damned ||  bear & reydan

Before the world had understood science, it understood magic. And from the very beginning, magic had been what ruled the world. It brought rain to the deserts and influenced kings and servants alike. Magic brought great kingdoms to rise and fall, and influenced great political decisions. With the rise of science, magic was temporarily forgotten, pushed to the sidelines as man learned in leaps and bounds. They conquered the land and soon took to the seas, the last great venture being to conquer the skies. It wasnt until science started to reveal its shortcomings that magic started to resurface. It didnt take long for magics hold to swiftly regain its footing from all the lost years, turning into a trade that was just as profitable as any. But with its great resurgence came grave consequences to ignoring it for so many years. It was so much easier for a man to learn his trade in dark magic, as it was much easier to learn to enchant things poorly than to take the long way around. White magic, with all of the good it could do the world, was practiced by so few. And it was because of that fact that so few trusted the magic dealers, though their spells and enchantments were things to be in awe of. They sold rings that could accurately predict your death and scrolls that could summon and demoness for a night, and even sold the occasional crystal ball to accurately predict a small amount of your possible future for up to a fortnight. They were miracles of modern magic, while cars were miracles of modern science, and people were just as in awe of them as they were when magic ruled supreme. It was the promise of all that magic could do that made the young woman find herself in the small shop of wonders, her eyes large as she took in all of the oddities that surrounded her. For a good majority of her life, she had played everything safe. Her parents had laid out strict rules for her and had guided her to believe that magic was a thing of evil, and would curse her for all of eternity. They had raised her in the world of science and had encouraged her to find happiness in the mechanics of the world, to learn and study all that it had for her. But mechanics didnt fill her empty bed and mechanics didnt stir her emotions in the way that all of the dealers promised they would. The shop had a small array of love spells and potions against the back wall that was decorated with enough frills and lace to make one sick. The salesman looked to be an honest man, his hair combed neatly against his head and his eyes a clear blue, a smile forever plastered on his lips. He watched her from afar as she perused the small selection, feigning interest in something across the aisle as she eyed a small potion. He approached as she hesitantly moved towards the potion, pulling her hand back at the last second. Oh, dont worry. I can assure you that we hold our customers privacy before all else. I can Explain these all to you, if youd like? He motioned towards the love potions and spells, and of course the rings that would find true love. She was hesitant, but she offered him a shy smile, her eyes moving towards the floor. I, uh, She played with her hands in front of her body and then her hair, not sure of how to explain herself to this stranger, I would like that. She didnt need to explain herself to him. He didnt have to know the ins and outs of her failed love life. It had been a messy affair, from blind dates arranged by her friends to online dating that had ended in only disaster. She had played the field since she was a young teen, but it seemed that love wasnt in the cards for her. And she wanted it so desperately, dreamed of the fantasy life that she could have with a husband to love and a man that wanted nothing more than to live his life with her. Just them for ever and ever, amen. Alicia pressed her lips together as the man explained the bits and pieces to her with the most gentle of tones, picking up several of the items to show them how they worked. He was an honest enough seeming man, though she could tell that he was well practiced in the art of the trade. As they came to the rings, he offered one out, a simple ring that was cut princess-style and set in white gold. The stone in it was a soft pink in color - a true pink diamond, he assured - and was as clear as the sky outside. Her fingers moved over the smooth metal softly, entranced by the beauty of the craftsmanship. It was such a lovely piece, and if it truly worked it would be the perfect thing for her. It didnt generate false love like potions, it merely led you to the situation in which true love could be formed. The salesman smiled as he took her hand in his own, his tanned skin so deep in contrast to her porcelain flesh. He slid it onto her finger slowly, admiring the way the jewelry looked on her finger. It suits you, if I may be so bold. He said, running his thumb over her knuckles slowly. She felt her cheeks grow hot as he lifted her hand up, motioning towards a small dark pink piece that rose from the stone. It was a heart, the point at the end swirling slowly until it came to be fixed on one particular direction. That heart tells you the direction you need to head. The larger it becomes, the closer you are to your true love And I will not lie, that is the Largest I have ever seen it before. You must be so close to love. So close you can almost taste it, cant you? Her eyes were transfixed on the small heart, feeling her own heart racing in her chest. Even though he was practiced in his words, she could feel them ring so true in her chest. Youre right. I am so close. She closed her hand around his, feeling a small weight in her belly. I want to To buy it. The purchase was made in a matter of minutes, the girl signing away all of her life savings in such a short amount of time. But it would be worth it, she was sure, so very worth it to have love at last. She could win her money back, but there was no better time for her to find her love. She set out immediately on her quest, letting it take her down roads that she didnt know and up alleyways that were full of strangers. She watched with excitement as the heart grew larger, starting to throb slowly as she grew ever closer. Just another alleyway and she would find him, she was sure. As she turned the corner, she felt something - a punch to the chest that made her breath exhale and her eyes go wide. Without understanding, she found herself falling down to her knees, then down onto her side. Her eyesight was fading as she found herself gasping for air, not comprehending. She heard him then, a deep voice from down the road - Oh my god! Someone, call the cops. This girl has been shot! He called out to the crowd that was staring at her, watching as she bled out in the streets. Out of all the onlookers, he was the only one that stopped to help her, getting on his knees by her head. He cupped her head in his hands, running his fingers through her hair. Shh, youre going to be okay. We have an ambulance coming. everything is going to be She couldnt catch his last word, her eyes were too heavy. And even as it stopped beating, her heart felt so full of him. The girls eyes opened once again in a new place, the world full of light and people. They were staring at her, a council of men and women alike. Their faces were neutral but their lips grim. Before her, sat a set of scales, one side quite heavier than the other. We regret to inform you, The leader of them spoke, his voice gravely and monotone, That your sins outweigh your deeds. Your soul is heavy with black magic. You will begin your descent. Farewell, Alicia Spinner. May Satan have mercy. And again, the world was black. When the world swirled back to her the first thing she was aware of was heat. It was awful, scorching, breath-sucking heat that made her lungs heave for oxygen and eyes squeeze shut. It was nearly unbearable, like a thick wet blanket that had been set on fire. She forced her eyes open. Oh Oh god. She couldn't say anything else to the scene before her of a vast and desolate wasteland before her, wind blowing grit and ash into her face and stinging her eyes. God what had she done?