Chapter One: Lina

 

There are millions upon millions of universes, parallel to our own. These places are filled with creatures and powers beyond our imagining. Complete worlds, overflowing with magic and prophecies. One such place is the enchanted world of Concordia…

 

Chapter One: Lina

 

           Pagus was a troubled place, residing on the outskirts of Raca, a large seaport in Timor, one of the many lands of Concordia. A seventeen-year-old girl walked down the street. She was short for her age, with long, flaming red hair and a slim waist. She was clad in patched gray leggings, paired with a navy blue tunic and scuffed brown boots. Knives were tucked in the most surprising places, including strapped into her shirt collar, sewn into the seams of her tunic, and tucked into her red hair.

 

            It was stupid not to learn the ways of handling a knife nimbly when living in Pagus. The violence was too much for the Guard to handle, let alone maintain.

 

            Blasted rain, the red-haired girl thought grumpily. Her name was Evangelina Sirett,  commonly known as Lina. She scooted around two men leaving the pub, who were swaying helplessly from too much drink.

 

            A plump woman dressed in a deep purple cotton dress waved to her from the tavern where Lina worked.

 

            “Hello, Eldora,” Lina said, smiling warmly at the woman who owned the Corner Tavern And Inn.

 

            “Come in, dear. You must be freezing.” Eldora bustled the girl into the warm, welcoming tavern, filled with people from all over Timor. “Go get your uniform on, dear. I’ve got meat-pies in the oven that need tending to.”

 

            Lina trudged into the back room and shrugged on the long pale blue tunic and black tights. Then she pulled her hair up with a bow, and tied her cream apron into place. Tugging on her worn boots, she sighed, and walked out into the main room, which was filled with the soft chatter of customers. Scanning the room, she looked for anyone not served yet.

 

            Making her way over to a table in the corner, Lina asked politely, “G’day, sir. What can I do for you today?”

 

            A man’s voice slipped from beneath his dark hood. “Just an ale.”

 

There was something about him that made her feel uneasy as she walked away.Although that dark cloak hid his face, she could feel his eyes searing into her back as she poured his ale. Bringing it back, Lina quickly dropped the tankard on the scrubbed wooden table and bobbed her head when he thanked her.

 

            The rest of her workday sped past. All was a blur and she kept glancing at the cloaked man who had stayed throughout her shift. He hadn’t moved the whole day, but while she had been working, she could occasionally feel his eyes on her. When she mentioned this so Eldora, the woman had offered to have him put out, but Lina refused, not wanting to make trouble.

 

            As dusk began to settle, Lina changed back into her normal clothes and sat at the counter until a tall, striking girl entered the Tavern. She took off her rain-soaked cloak, smiled when she spotted Lina, and strode over. Her hair was a pale purple, still clipped up from work. Her magician’s apprentice uniform consisted of a black-and-white tunic and leggings, padded with armor for protection. A tiny silver tiara sat upon her head, which she now removed, shaking her hair loose from its holdings.

 

            “Hello, Lina,” she said, her pale gray eyes sparkling.

 

            “Selena!” Lina sat up and hugged her best friend, smiling. “C’mon, let’s go.”

 

            “Right now? But I wanted a bi-“ 

 

            “No,” Lina cut her off swiftly, glancing in the direction of the cloaked man who was finishing his drink and starting to stand. “We can pick something up from a street vendor. Come on,” she repeated.

 

            The two girls strode out into sodden cobbled streets, stopping only to buy an apple from an alley-market. Tall wooden buildings towered over them, run-down-looking shops lining the streets. They stopped outside a small bakery with ‘Sirett’ in pealing letters above the wooden door.

 

            “See y’tomorrow, Lina,” Selena said, giving her a quick hug before dashing out across the street.

 

            Lina smiled and pushed through the bakery door. The glorious smell of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchen as Lina moved up the stairs and into the warm apartment.

Author's Note

first chapter!

Reviews

[scented words]

You managed well with the description and narration. It's just that this is too short for a chapter. But this is a good start nonetheless.