[Ginkasa]

Okay, I've rewritten what I posted above. Its pretty different this time. I like it better, but I'm not sure its exactly what I want...

***

Wizard Krytas Sera sighed with a sense of frustration as he remembered again what exactly it was he was doing. He understood why he was doing it and had, in fact, volunteered, but it was not something he truly wanted to do. He was going on a second Pilgrimage for the sole purpose of giving a Paladin apprentice a wizard companion.

Pilgrimages were journeys undertaken by wizard and paladin apprentices together, in pairs, to give them experience for the tasks they would be given for the rest of their lives – wizards to heal and paladins to protect. The apprentice pair would travel around the world and help any in need. A Pilgrimage typically lasted around five years. At the end of the journey, the apprentices would return to the town they had left and be officially ordained as wizard and paladin.

Unfortunately, wizard enrollment had dropped dramatically over the last few years. Paladin apprentices had to wait longer and longer to be partnered with a wizard apprentice for their Pilgrimage. Eventually it had reached the point where the Wizard Magister had resorted to sending wizards who had already finished their Pilgrimages years ago.

Krytas had volunteered to join with the latest paladin in need of a wizard companion: Irist Erfin, a young man who showed potential to be a great paladin someday. Krytas had volunteered, however, more out of pity for the boy than any wish to go on a second Pilgrimage. The last thing Krytas wanted was to leave his family for five years, but nobody else had volunteered and Irist had been waiting for so long. So now Krytas was riding with Irist through the city streets on their way to the city gate.

“I would like to thank you again for partnering with me,” said Irist, breaking in on Krytas’s thoughts.

“You’re welcome,” replied Krytas. “I’m just glad to be able to give you the chance to become a true paladin.” Irist flashed his innocent smile in reply. He has no idea about the horrible things he’ll witness on this Pilgrimage, thought Krytas. Then again, they always expect the journey to be as simple as handing out a bit of change to the poor and waving their sword at thieves. They never expect the smell of disease or the sight of villages destroyed by bandits.

The slight sound of voices slipped into Krytas’s mind. He looked passed his horse’s head and saw the sight of the city gate of Gentire nearing. Standing near it was the usual crowd of people: family and friends, members of the guilds, strangers who had come to pay their respects. Krytas strained to see any sight of his family. This will be my last sight of my wife and daughters for five years, he thought forlornly.

Krytas and Irist reached the crowd. Immediately people crowded around the two men while shouting goodbyes and well wishes. Krytas ignored them all, frantically searching the mass of people for his family. Finally, he saw a brief glimpse of his youngest daughter, Sanba, sitting on her mother’s shoulders. He tried to cry out, but the voices of Irist’s rambunctious friends drowned out his own. Sanba caught sight of her father and began to wave frantically. Krytas was only able to raise his hand in reply.

Suddenly, before he had realized it, Krytas had left the crowd and the city. He was now officially on his second Pilgrimage.

“This slow trot is killing me,” Irist said only a few minutes later. “We started too late. We won’t get very far before nightfall if we continue at this pace.”

Krytas feared for the boy’s impatience, but nodded anyway. “Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll catch up later.” Irist smiled and spurred his horse into a gallop.

Krytas looked back at the city, only several yards back. He could probably run back to say goodbye to his family once more and return the road before Irist noticed he was gone. Krytas had almost turned around to do so when he saw Irist galloping back.

“Krytas!” Irist yelled. “You’ve got to come see something!” Krytas hurried his horse forward.

“What is it?” he asked when he neared.

“It’s a man,” Irist answered. “He’s injured.” Krytas followed the young paladin as he quickly hurried up the road. It was not too long after before they came across a man lying unconscious in the dirt. His left arm was gone at the shoulder.

Krytas got off his horse to examine the man further. He was barely alive. Severe burns covered the left side of the man’s body; his arm was completely burnt off. He wore the tattered remains of a military guard’s uniform.

“What do you think?” asked Irist. He took only fleeting glances at the man in the dirt, unable to look at the grievous injuries for long.

“No natural fire could do this,” replied Krytas. “This had to be done by a sorcerer. I can heal the burns, but we have to get him back to the Sanctuary for a closer examination as quickly as we can.”

Krytas was almost happy as began to cast his Light Magic spells; this would mean he would be able to stay in Gentire for a while longer. He’d have to thank this guard if he ever woke up.

***

The first problem overall is that I suck at explaning things like the Pilgrimage and such. It took me forever just to get those first few paragraphs up there, and they read more like a Star Wars opening crawl than someone's thoughts or something.

The rest also seems kind of awkward. I don't know... Maybe that's just me...

I don't know. Hopefully someone will actually help me out with this one *evil glare*


*shrugs and walks away*