The Dark Hearted Man Saga: Part 1, The Message

[Play Back]

Corone was a bustling country, full of people of every shape and form. This was the first country on Play Back's stop to find The Dark Hearted Man. This particular man was one who would one day bring ruin upon Althanas. At least, that's what Play Back's mentor, David Finch, told the masked teen. As such David sent his star pupil out into the world. Play Back would be the one to save the world from The Dark Hearted Man.

Unfortunately, David did not take into account Play Back's claustrophobia. The child had to gain clues around Radasanth at night, or risk going into a panic attack. The city was just too crowded for Play Back to get any leads like he needed. The teen had been in Corone for four days now, with still no clue on where to even begin his search.

Then fate smiled upon him.

When Play Back returned home after another long night of clue-scouting, he found a letter. It was simply marked with the initials CM. The thing was though, Play Back knew of no one with those initials. As a matter of fact, in the four days he had been here, the only person he had befriended was a child named Kially. Play Back took the letter into his room and began to read it out loud.

"I know what you are searching for, and I can help you," he read slowly in an attempt to take the aura of the letter in, "if you want my help, meet me in a small forest to the northwest of the bazaar at high noon tomorrow. Bring whoever you feel you need to. I'll be waiting." Now, Play Back was never the type to go to the calling of letter written by strangers, but how else was he going to get what he needed? How else was he going to save Althanas?

Play Back tossed and turned all night as to whether or not he should go. He finally decided to check out the author of the letter, but he was not going to go alone.

"Thanks for coming Kially," Play Back spoke to his single companion, a young boy for whom he had bought a practically infinite stew set for, "I really need your help. I need you to watch behind us carefully, OK? If anything mean-looking tries to surprise us, I need you to tell me as soon as you see it." Play Back sighed within his mind. How cruel was he to bring a child into potential danger? He had no choice though, it was to save Althanas and stop The Dark Hearted Man.

Besides, any danger to Kially, Play Back could easily take care of. At least, he thought he could...

(Closed quest to myself and the forementioned Kially)

[Kially Gaith]

It were fortunate for Play Back, the location that were mentioned inside were none only than the childs birth place, one of which he knew well, each tree type, where the best healing herbs grew, even where the rare fresh water springs were kindly placed by Mother Nature herself, of course, the child was still unaware that they were heading to his birth place, but his natural advantage (pun intended) would later be apparent.

The boy was indebted to the older male, so he'd follow at whim, naively running into whatever hell Play Back had set up for himself.

"Where we goin'?" He asked curiously, trying to gaze at the letter, even though his skill in reading was weak at best, he was but 7 after all. He'd been born with speech, a feature his spiritual mother had believed he would need...And even his speech was edgy, reading was a partial luxury she'd gave in weak proportion. His head bobbed from left to right, up and down, trying to find an optimal position in which the letter stood out. "Wha's it say? Wha's it say?!" Jumping up and down giddily, he continued attempting to read it, until it occured that he really couldn't actually read all that well, getting caught on even the most simplest of words...

"Mean lookin'?" He questioned as Play Backs order met hyperactive ears, his head now tilted on a quirky curious edge. "Wha's mean?" A generic question at best, considering Althanas' population, of course, in this case, referring to whatever fevered Play Back.

His attention was all but lost as he smiled, taking a large gulp of the fresh water from his stew set, setting it down in a safe place in Play Backs abode as he gazed about curiously, taking in all arround him. A large item made of wood, with large things made of fabrics, looked cosy and warm, now that must be a luxury, it looked so comfy! Urges were urges. Compulsion was compulsion.
Just that alone was all was what was needed for...

"Weeee!" He jumped up onto the said item, this being the bed of Play Back, seemingly not even caring that Play Back allocated it, and began bouncing up and down. Of course, with the general lack of springs in the older design of bed, he were hardly 'bouncing', more jumping with facaded style, but the idea that he was touching something he'd never had before was oddly comforting and disturbingly saddening despite his large ammounted pot of joy. He'd been missing out for many many years.

"What's this called?" He stated, finally stopping his jumping up and down as he pointed at the soft bed with paled and dirty fingers. A sign of both the depravity and perhaps peace the boy had lived in. No technology, no need for love nor anger. Just a boy, nature, and surivival, instinct of what to eat infused by the spirit mother nature and a loving tree, housing him in strong roots.