25 August 2012
Chapter two
Exiting the village. She began trudging the thin footpath that cut through the thickest of the marsh. Theres only so many talents people could have within a small village. The small amount of people means that the magic is a lot more concentrated, very few people here are powerful to the extent that they could actually cast spells or mix potions. There was probably only three within the two thousand people that made up the area. She'd been lucky in that respect. Not that she'd told anyone... Or anyone had noticed. Sure, she couldn't cast or mix, but she'd be blessed with the ability to see in the dark, and one that seemed to pull here to precious type things. Jewels, metals and occasionally the rare item in the world. It was the only way should could have found this place, and explain the way that her veins seem to throb in excitement at the prospect at what could be prospected. She pulled up a invisible hatch that hid her mine away from the world. She was so glad she found this place, clearly the previous owner of it had died... Or was harvested. Either way it had gone unused and hidden for a long time. She slid down the rotting ladder, into the thick sludgy flooded floor.
The dark she have enveloped her, but her eyes meant that she could still see, as if it was midday on a non cloudy afternoon in the summer. But she lit a few candles anyway. She preferred it that way. She spread her arms out and laid her palms flat against each side of the mine, and dragged herself through. Feeling for the pulse of the ores. Stopping suddenly she flicked her index finger. She definitely had something. Pulling her pickaxe from her special holdall she began aiming at the spot that made her heart beat faster. And with every swing her her life began coming further and further into sight.
Lacedonium. Rare enough to make the effort worth it. Hard, shiny, white with black swirly pattern. It was almost other worldly. She sighed cradling the ores in her hands, she pushed herself and mined more.
She stopped, thoughts swirled in her mind. She was just like the people in power, only she stole away the best instead of the worst. She was harvesting. Bagging up the ores she'd gathered, she headed back to the village. Dawn was soon approaching. And soon enough the festivities would come to a deathly end. And although it would be nice not to watch, everyone was made to watch. A sort of warning against rebellion or to force the need for improvement back to the people.
She creeped back along the thin path to the village.
Human Harvest • Opuss № I