Dec

Long ago, in a rugged mean world, known only as Onceth, there was a village, where creatures like Goblins, Noams, and other mischievous no-goodoers used to call it home. It was dark, crabby and a hateful place. All its inhabitants were disdainful, distrustful and suspicious of their neighbors, friends and even their own families. This was a place where adjectives like love, friendship; belonging had their own meanings and origins.

The Village was known as Dreary-ville. Unknown to its locals and the general miscreant, this place was also a portal. A portal into a world that was fast connected, and where the rules of reality and physics were still persistent. This world was built much more recently and was still growing and was known as super-route.

The locals of drearyville and Onceth were hard in their ways and to a larger extent ignorant of all around them. Only a handful in Onceth knew about world that existed beyond the portal and why it was there. This was more so because, the locals of Onceth never believed in change or liked it much. They were content and contempt with who and what they were and they liked it that way.

There was a family of Goblins living in the Ural caves. This family was a special one, because there was small baby Goblin, who would grow up and bring about a big change in his own world. His name was Khadrin. It was this name that had set a powerful prophecy into motion.

Khadrin, as he grew up went on to become the most notorious and mischievous lad, Dreary-ville had ever seen. He would trick other goblins into burning their houses or parting away their valuables. His favorite pick would to pick on unsuspecting travelers. To his relief, the travelers never knew who he was or what he was capable off. So to them he was like any other Goblin and as the standard assumption of Onceth, Goblins were dumb.

From childhood itself, Khadrin’s mother had been teaching him how to read and write. After a few years, he had developed affinity for literature and had become a learned goblin, he never would read anything that was not fiction or made up. Infact, one can say he had become the most learned goblin there was in the whole of Onceth, where fairytales and witty quotes were concerned. So, suffice to say, where Khadrin was concerned he was not only clever but also witty and learned and could handle himself on the mean ways and lanes of Dreary-ville.

It was one such mischievous day that changed Khadrin’s fate and his world. It was late afternoon. This was time of the day when there was maximum people traveling through the village land of Dreary-ville. There was an odd-looking traveler walking to get to his destination. Khadrin saw him coming. Usually Khadrin used to pick and chose his so called “relievers” by judging them up by what and who they were. Mindless travelers were not supposed to be interfered with, because they wouldn’t be fun to tangle with. He chose his subjects in such a way that the repercussion of his doings would be minimum or none and they wouldn’t be able to stand a chance before him, if it came to the blows.

Khadrin used to fool these travelers buy adopting various roles, one day he would be a guide asking his acquaintances to follow him and he would guide them and show them what the area had to offer, another day he would be a lost traveler trying to get from point A to point B and would want to sell some magical stones. What’s more are some of these travelers believed that the pebbles he stole from the pond were actually magical stones? What was not known to Khadrin and may me most of the locals in Dreary-ville was Magic existed in Onceth and judging by the origins of the world, a lot of it was still in attendance, unlike super-route, the world that was built on physics.

The traveler headed towards Khadrin, was old, with a funny tilted and pointy hat. He had a big beard and was looking very weary. Khadrin also noted his strange way of walking, he would stouch and he was almost limping. Khadrin also noted that he never looked up. The traveler’s whole wait depended on his stick. This strange traveler had sparked Khadrin’s mischievous heart. This gave Khadrin an idea.

For Khadrin, coming with different ways of harassing and mindlessly cheating people was a challenge and every soul in Dreary-ville knew how much Khadrin loved challenges. Khadrin approached the visitor, today as a goblin whose love had bereft him and left for Eremere. Eremere was another small village, famed to be the focal point of the magic that kept the world of Onceth floating. Khadrin never knew this. He only knew, that it was place was due southeast and this was where the strange traveler seemed to be headed in the direction of.

On noticing Khadrin, coming towards him, the strange traveler lifted his head to look straight at him. Both of them locked their eyes. Khadrin saw a mild bright shine in his eyes. This for no reason that Khadrin to comprehend, actually made Khadrin feel happy and content. Khadrin felt a sense of belonging and he could feel the eyes probing his heart.

Before Khadrin could say something, the strange traveler looked up and jovially said, “Hello stranger, how can this old weary soul be of service to you?”

Khadrin found this very strange; no one in Dreary-ville or on the roads had ever been so jovial in conversation before. Infact, it was always that Khadrin initiated conversations, never the travelers. So much so that he had never ever met a traveler who would say “hello”.

Khadrin replied, “Hello Stranger. I am a lost soul. For I have lost my way and lost my love. Now I try to find both. I would require some directions to Eremere. She has left for Eremere yesterday and it is utmost important that I reach there as soon as possible.”

“Eremere is where I am headed, why don’t you tag along, it can be good conversation and we should be there by night fall.” Replied the strange traveler.

Khadrin had never met any inviting travelers on this road. He had found it extremely difficult to make first contact with no matter whom he had tried to con before. This made Khadrin, take for granted, that it would be easy implementing his idea of mischief with the traveler, since the traveler himself was soft-spoken and open in his ways in a world that was so grey. Intrigued by this stranger and his extremely forthcoming behavior, his curious mind took over his mischievous heart. Khadrin wanted to know more about where this stranger came from and possibly everything he could get out of this stranger.

Wearily Khadrin replied, “Would it be wise to trust me with your travels, noble soul. You seem to be unawares of this village and its ways. Or are you just born today? Onceth is the world sir, and not a single soul I have met here who has been this open to his family either. So how could you trust me and let me share this travel with you and why should I do the same, when I don’t even know your calling?”
“I hail from a lost land of Aricnamet. My business in Eremere is my own lad and I am known as Shank the boulder. I have walked most of Onceth and I can tell you this, that I have never met a soul that has questioned my longings of servitude and I have never met a soul more arrogant than you. My offer still stands stranger. What would be your take is a question left unto you.” Said the traveler.

Khadrin heard authority in the travelers voice and was all the more interested to know what he was and where he was headed and why and more than that he wanted to harass this traveler for calling him arrogant. Not that he wasn’t but he hated being talked to like that.

“I am Khadrin, son of Arium. I will join you noble Shank of Aricnamet. And may be you can share what Aricnamet is in Onceth? And other such information that I can live up to.” Said Khadrin.

Hearing his reply the stranger eased his grip on his staff and Khadrin noticed the stranger loosening up. This he took as a good sign.

For Khadrin, his work had been half done when the stranger had already shown trust as open as a calling card. And thus Shank and Khadrin began their journey.

Both spoke of their homelands and Khadrin came to know that Aricnamet was founded right after Eremere and it was the second village to be built in Onceth. He also came to know that magic existed in Onceth. This made him think of all the possible ways of deceiving other travelers. More stories for Khadrin to make up.

It was late evening and both were an hour away from Eremere. The traveler seemed to grow more and more refreshed with every step. This was something that Khadrin noticed, but let the thought remain on hindsight. Probably this was the reason that Goblins were considered to be dumb and dumber by the dozens.

Khadrin on the other hand in his quest of filling his Ego and his curiosity had never given a thought to food or rest and was quite tired. He wanted to take rest before they proceeded. “Can we stop for a while Shank sir. I am weary of my strength and sitting for some time would definitely bring it back.” Said Khadrin.

“All in good faith lad. Lets sit by the green mound.” Replied Shank the boulder. Khadrin wasn’t so tired, not so much that he could not have traveled for an hour more and made his way to Eremere with Shank.

Khadrin and Shank took their seats on the grass. Khadrin looked around and noticed the trees. He thought he could hear the trees speak tender and could feel the grass cushioning him. He also noticed the atmosphere was not bogging or cloistered, unlike his village or anywhere else he had been around.
He also noticed that the breath was sweet.

Shank was sitting next to Khadrin. Shanks staff was kept on the ground and it was like the staff was breathing. Khadrin looked at the staff and saw there were peculiar markings on it. These marking were running all along the staff in the spiral manner.

From the time Khadrin had noticed the staff he had wanted to steal it and this had been his primary reason of coming this far. He had wanted the staff for his own. The knowledge about everything that Shank could share was secondary.

“You know lad, there is a prophecy. It is said that one day a soul that eats to his hearts content would be facing a challenge greater that he has ever. That day would be the start of a change that would change Onceth. It is also said that from that day Onceth would be known as Cometh. Cometh would be a calm, serene world where all things life would be fair and endless.” Shank was trying to make Khadrin relax. For he had noticed Khadrin become tense after sitting down. He had also noticed
Khadrin looking at his staff.

“Ha! Shank sir, of all the stories I read this is one that is more fiction and no punch and I have read more than the grass blades around where I sit.” Replied Khadrin.

“Such closed mindedness, Khadrin is being ignorant. You are arrogant and if I were you, I wouldn’t be ignorant with it. Haven’t you noticed the trees or felt the grass or tasted the air, hasn’t it changed yet for you my friend?”

“No sir, for fiction is only true in ink. I for one live in the present and Onceth is all I know. And from what I have experienced this place will no more change colors and people in Onceth will be what Onceth is. A dark, sorry world. A careless world and why not, with everyone getting what they want, surely it still heaven for the likes of us atleast.” Said Khadrin.

“Then my lad, you have to see Eremere. Find your love and I give you my word. I will help you find your way. Now come, we must start on our journey again lad.”

Khadrin got up. He gave his left hand forward to help Shank get up. Shank took his hand. As Shank was getting up, Khadrin grabbed his staff with his right hand and took away the support that was offered by his left to Shank.

Shank lost his balance and fell.

“You old hag. This is what Onceth is. Deceit. Trusting anyone in Onceth is surely meeting your doom. You are lucky old man, that I am just interested in taking your staff. For this is what supports you. Besides I like it, I have never seen anything like it. It would become my greatest trophy. I cant wait to show this spoil of mine off.” Khadrin was laughing and his Ego had been fueled by the staff.
Shank was still sitting on the ground. His eyes were emitting rage. Khadrin felt the heat but thought of it as a weakness and ignored it. Khadrin started walking back.

“Halt lad! I have more for you to take.”

Khadrin turned around. He saw that Shank was now standing and had a wicked smile. Shank started to recite something, an incantation. Khadrin couldn’t understand anything that Shank was reciting. Khadrin could see a void opening up. He could see within the void there were two shapes that kept zooming up and down or to and fro. One shape was just like the staff. Straight and the other were like a snake biting his tail.

The staff in Khadrin’s hand was begining to come to life. It had a mind of its own and was trying to get to its master. Khadrin fought for control, but the staff some how managed to get lose and made itself comfortable in the strangers hand again.

Once the staff was with Shank, the void started getting bigger. The staff was absorbing energy from the grass. Shank walked up to Khadrin.

“Khadrin, now I shall tell you my reason of traveling to Eremere. I was told that I would be called to the origins of this world. And from origins would originate a new world. This void you see is all the magic of this world can afford and I am a wizard. I have summoned it to fulfil this world’s prophecy. I was the beared of this void. I am suppose to send you to the world of physics. A world which connects another world called Earth. This world has lost its ways and before you change Onceth to Cometh, you would have to spend 200 years in exile in the super-route. You would have to learn, to impart and help others on Earth using super-route as a medium. For you are the chosen one to correct the mistakes of Onceth and to move us to Cometh. Once you are in Super-route. Your new home would be ArcadeGoblin.com. You would provide entertainment to others now, instead for yourself and you would use this as a platform to pass on the message of peace, belonging, trust and general goodness to people on earth. Your new home would be ArcadeGoblin.com. With this I shall leave you Khadrin to your destiny. For it awaits.”

Welcome to ArcadeGoblin.com; “How may I be of servitude to you sire?”