Chapter 1: Chapter 1 – An Uneventful Journey

Among the many sights a traveler could behold on their journeys were a river dyed purple from the glowing mushrooms that inhabit its waters, or a volcano where molten red trees grow on lava. However, when there isn't much to see, and the land one may find themselves in appears bleak, they may eventually start talking to a tree to occupy themselves. In my case, the tree was a ghost rowing a boat upon a fog layered lake.

"...it's an ailment that robs you of your dreams, breaks apart the foundations of your being as if it were made of brittle iron, and forces you to make sacrifices you would come to regret. And so, have you ever wondered what the cure to a god's curse is?" I asked the ghost of a ferryman in front of me. But the misty white ethereal figure paid no heed to my words and continued to row the moss-infested boat, his hair flowing back and forth as if submerged in water.

I let out a slight sullen sigh. At the very slightest I hoped that the ghost would raise a brow or make some other minute gesture to display a sense of interest. But I guess I should’ve expected this, because unlike in taverns, the audience this time isn’t quite…alive.

Flipping a gold coin in my hand, I thought about how my travels led me through a disappointment of a forest to a ferryman wearing a tattered gambeson.

It all began with that fox engraved gold coin. A special currency which could be exchanged for a divination and was a prize offered from a gladiatorial tournament held in Elyanae. Of course, with a prize of such renown, it didn't take long for town-criers to spread the news around. Many skilled combatants rushed to Elyanae to compete and those that didn't fight were surely there to enjoy the spectacle of such an event. Anyways, after having attained the coin, two choices were made available to me. Either bring this to the Diviner of Truth known for her brevity and clarity, or the Diviner of Lies known for her obscure ramblings.

I will make no lie of it, the coin took a great amount of effort to obtain and at the moment I didn't entertain the idea of exchanging a highly valuable coin for gibberish which would make sense in the future. Though, I do wonder why people would go to the Diviner of Lies in the first place. With that thought process in mind, I sought out the one of truth.

So I went around and asked around, 'Greetings good sir. Do you happen to know where the Diviner of Truth resides?' And south through the Fetid Marshes of Kelas I was told to go. And then from there, I was told to go south over the Rukyck Mountains known for freezing animals that dared challenge it. And past it, I was told again to go further south past a place called Rovelt's Mistake. It occurred to me later, as I watched the sun fall past the horizon for what felt like the thousandth time, that maybe I should have also asked how far I should go before I embarked on my travels. Oh well, a long journey is fine as long as I can enjoy the traveling part.

But I didn't.

I can tolerate the marsh's pungent stench lingering on my clothes for longer than reasonably possible or the chilling winds as sharp as daggers. But this forest, not so much. What followed past Rovelt's Mistake was a leafless forest whose expanse felt wider than that of the previous places combined. The trek through which was filled with an embarrassment of a dirt road as well as coal-black trees which looked like the victims of an ardent fire. There was nothing to marvel at, glance at, or tell a great tale about. Compared to all the places I've been, this place was dead. Aside from the ghost, the only interesting thing here was how this ancient and artifact of a boat still floated with all its cracks.

I sighed once more. Maybe I should have sought out the other Diviner. Before boredom forced me to stare at ripples, I heard a thud. The boat had finally reached the docks of an island. As I leapt off the boat with energy unseen in the weeks past, I looked to the ferryman one more time. His mouth was agape and his eyes wide open.

"I hope in your next life you come seeking the Diviner with Fate's gold coin. That way, a ferryman will come to you. And the truth you sought would not have been for naught."

Maybe it was my imagination, but for a second, I could've sworn the eerie ghost gave me a slight nod.

I have heard tales of men desperate enough to seek the Diviner without Fate's coin. Unfortunately, without it, the men drowned trying to swim in a lake that felt like an ocean. In their death, however, Fate offered the men the truth they sought on the condition that they become ferrymen for a period of time the living know not.

The island I arrived on was as lifeless as the forest that surrounded it. It was absent of the sounds of nature, though the scent of the lake pervaded the area. A giant tree stood in the middle of the island with dimly lit lanterns hanging on sharp leafless branches that reminded me of the tendrils of Shadow-Lurkers. At the top of the tree I could see light emanating from small carved holes. Windows, I suppose. At a glance, the tree didn't look like anything special, but it was actually an abode, or an attempt at one at least. There were doors, windows, stairs, and…I think that was all.

I took the carved stairs surrounding the tree to the top which led me to a door with a sign written, 'For a question asked, an answer received.'

I gripped the coin firmly in my hand. To think, that I would seek a god’s servant to help rid me of the doubts my curse causes me. I scoffed.

How pathetic of me.

You are reading story A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner at novel35.com

You can find story with these keywords: A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner, Read A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner, A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner novel, A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner book, A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner story, A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner full, A Tale of the Sojourner and Diviner Latest Chapter