The Soul

Adonis, a small boy named for the winter he was born in, was playing in a dry, dusty brook. His boisterous attitude was often attributed to his father, who had spent years at home while injured. Adonis was known for his boisterous nature and was known for his knightly charm. He imagined himself covered in armor and a sword as his enemies gathered near the northern side of the brook.

As Adonis approached his enemies, a voice shot out from behind him, asking about his knightly charm. He turned to a girl, Abbie, who knew Adonis had always had a knightly charm. She told him that she wanted to torment him for it, but Adonis agreed to come on because their supper was getting cold. They marched back to the manor, where they enjoyed a fine potato and venison stew between walls of hardened nails, lumber, and marble.

7 hours later, Adonis walked through the halls, following a distant echo and a soft siren's song. He found a deer trail and a grove, where a figure sat hunchbacked atop a rock. The figure began to speak, telling Adonis that if he won his game, he would bring life to the dying hamlet and save his people. Adonis was keen for games, but this was the closest encounter he had ever had with something paranormal in nature.

The figure asked Adonis what his name was, and Adonis thought about his mother, but this seemed more advanced than children's riddles. The figure then explained that the form was the garden of antiquity, inside a slew of wealth. Adonis was unsure of what antiquity meant, but he was unsure of something meant to be kept safe.

Adonis was told that he had a vault, which he could not find. The figure cackled, and Adonis couldn't help but gulp at this idea. The story highlights the importance of understanding the nature of power and the importance of trusting one's instincts when faced with challenges.

He was colder now then when he had left his bed. His warm bed. The thought of it's covers and sheets flooded his mind and washed out a bit of the fear that was there, but a quick wind pulled him right back out of it. "Alright, now the final question, and my people will be healthy again?" We will have water for everyone?”

"Just one more." It said with a hollow groan. “Now, what do I keep in my vault? The gem of the mind. Our own eternity, our own promise, what do I keep in my vault?”

Adonis breathed heavily. While meeting the being had been different to say the least, these questions had driven him up a wall. He was shaking, his breath forming out in front of him as the morning cold seemed settled with this new wind. But it couldn't be this cold just from the wind, it was something else. Something in the air. He held himself lightly trying to rub his hands under his arms until they would warm as he pondered the riddle. What could be our own eternity our own promise? Some sort of heaven? But why word it in such a way? Our own eternity. "H-heaven".

The being straightened up, the maw of his hood forming teeth as two eyes peered out high under the hood a bright red color. A piercing set of cracks and groans filled the air as the coat was shifted and torn as the form of the hunchback took on a much more menacing shape. "Such a shame."