2.

2.

    Shoden had been nervous when Grimwall had left him on the road at first. He remembered the previous night's discussion on the tree creature he had seen in the Gray Woods and how, because it had come from Shoden's own mind, he was more vulnerable to the Devil. Since then, fear had been added to the void and its shadow in his heart. He kept checking over his shoulder to see if he was being followed and, despite the beautifully warm day, chills kept running down his spine. The calls of the soaring rabbit hawks overhead had become an omen of the Devil's arrival in his head. 

    After a while, however, of walking on the cobblestone road, Shoden's nerves began to calm themselves. After all, the Magician had told him that as long as he stayed on the road, he wouldn't be in any danger. But, a voice spoke up in his head. You could be tricked off of the road. The Devil takes many shapes, some not even the Gods of. You must stay alert. This thought sent another chill down Shoden's spine, but he kept walking. He'd be careful.

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After an hour, Shoden could see the City of Arc sitting in the nearby distance. He had never seen such a beautiful thing: large buildings, skyscrapers that touched the sky, roads of tar and horse-drawn carts. He could see oil street lamps from where he was, as well as the sentry post that rested at the edge of the City. He felt a sudden surge of excitement. He'd heard of such cities in Allworld, but never thought he'd see one with his own two eyes. He wondered if his father and mother had ever seen such a place, and the thought of his parents made the void and its shadow inside him squeeze his heart.

    Shoden tried to push the bad feeling away, reassuring himself that he was on a quest to right the wrong that was done, and pushed on. As he did, he watched as one of the horse-drawn carts came rolling away from the City of Arc, towards him. It was quickly upon him and the driver reigned the horse to a stop in front of Shoden.

    "Hello, young man," the driver, an elderly man, said cheerfully from the cart. "Where be you going?"

    "The City of Arc, sir," Shoden replied.

    "Ah, so I thought. Do you have any weapons on you?" the driver asked.

Shoden was about to tell the elderly man that he did not when he remembered his father's ancient gun.

    "Yes," he said to the driver. "I do."

    "Ah, well, I'm afraid you'll have to forfeit it when you enter the City, my dear boy. Come here and I shall take you."

Shoden moved to get into the cart when a thought came to him: The Devil takes many shapes...

    "Um, sir," he said politely. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather walk. I can use the exercise."

    "So be it," the driver replied and sent the horse forward again. As he passed, Shoden saw the face of the elderly man and thought, for a moment, he saw his eyes flash a brilliant red, like the tree creature's had, but when he turned back for another look he saw that they were not, they were normal blue.

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    "Hello there," 

Shoden looked up and saw he had reached the sentry post at the edge of the City of Arc. The guard there was a man in his later years, but still young enough to rumble when needed. He was wearing a coat of hard armor over his regal clothing. He had his hand up, gesturing for Shoden to stop.

    As Shoden did stop, the guard came forward and the two shook hands.

    "What brings you to the City of Arc?" He asked casually.

    "I was wondering if I could have audience with the High Priestess," Shoden said. He tried to speak formerly and found it sounded silly.

The guard laughed lightly and said, "I apologize for laughing, but there is no need to speak formerly to me. Why, if you don't mind my asking, would a boy like you want audience with the High Priestess?"

    "I have questions of personal importance to ask her." Shoden replied.

The guard nodded. "Fair enough. Tell me, son, do you have anything that could be considered a weapon on you? A slingshot, or pocketknife?"

    Shoden brought out his father's pistol and showed it to the guard, whose eyebrows hit the roof.

    "Where did you get that?" He asked, no doubt impressed.

    "My father," Shoden said. "Do you need it? I really don't want it out of my sight."

The guard raised his hand for the gun for a moment and then brought it back down. "You're not going to start anything, are you, kid?"

    Shoden shook his head. "Of course not. I'm only here to see the High Priestess and then I am leaving."

The guard nodded and said, "You're alright then. Do you need help finding the High Priestess' throne?"

    "Probably. I've never been here before." Shoden said, a little embarrassed. 

    "No problem, kid." The guard turned and pointed down the street. "See it?"

Shoden looked and saw the large stone monument. It was a throne, no doubt, adorned in flowers and gifts of food. In the throne sat a beautiful woman. She was older than the guard, but her beauty had kept all her years. She sat with her eyes closed and her long blond hair pulled away from her face with a glass crown. Her dress was the regal purple color and she held a scroll in her hand. 

    "Yeah, you see it." the guard smiled.

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    As Shoden approached the High Priestess' throne he saw that there were no sentries standing guard around her. She was presenting herself fully to the Citizens of Arc. For some reason, this sent a brief feeling of happiness through Shoden. He walked slowly up to the beautiful woman sitting there in her stone throne, relaxed and maybe even asleep. Her eyes were closed and Shoden didn't know whether or not he should wake her. He was about to leave when the High Priestess spoke gently.

    "What have you come to ask me, young boy?"

Her voice was beautiful and, for a brief moment, covered the void in Shoden's heart. He turned around and saw that her eyes were open and she was smiling down at him.

    "You have come to ask me something, yes?" She asked.

    "Um, yes, ma'am," Shoden said, struck by the woman's appearance.

    "Well don't be shy, young one. You can ask me anything." And Shoden believed he could.

    "Ma'am, I come from the village Cloud Valley. Two days ago, my family was killed by raiders."

The High Priestess first touched her chest in sympathy and then laid her hand, bejeweled with bright-colored rings, on Shoden's shoulder.

    "I am very sorry, my dear," She said.

    "I was told," Shoden continued. "That you would have advice for me. High Priestess, I have revenge in my heart. I am seeking the raiders and plan to kill them when I find them."

    The High Priestess closed her eyes again and was quiet for several moments before she opened them and said, "Young one, I do have advice for you."

    "You do?" Shoden asked hopefully.

    "Yes. My advice is this: Your journey of revenge and hardship will be complete when your heart is ready for it to, and only then. You cannot push it, for if you do, you may find that killing these raiders will not be sufficient. You may find that there is no end to this quest for vengeance. Your heart will know when it is ready for the journey to end. You must open your ears to it, young one, and it will guide you."
    Shoden felt as though he had been struck with a brick. He had come seeking an answer, and all the High Priestess had done was tell him that sooner or later, he'd be satisfied.
    "What's the matter?" The High Priestess asked, her lips in a small smile. "That was not the answer you were looking for, was it?"
    "No, ma'am," Shoden said as politely as he thought he could.
    "It very rarely is," the woman nodded. "But in time you will see that I am correct. Just keep my words with you and you shall see."
Shoden nodded and said, "I will. Thank you, High Priestess."
    "Do not thank me, young one." The woman smiled. "I am here for you and people like you. That is why the gods put me on this world. Go now, in as much peace as you can find."
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    Shoden felt, as he passed the sentry post that led into and out of the City of Arc, that he found some peace. With the High Priestess' advice came a steadying calm over the void and shadow in his heart. It didn't stop them, but it was starting to push them, it seemed. He felt that, as vague as the woman's words were, they were true and wise.
    Shoden gave one last passing glance back at the City of Arc, and walked the road that led back to Lillith and Grimwall the Magician.