The Amulet of Seven Destinies

A New Life

“Let's not waste any more time. Time to leave, boy," The stranger said impatiently.

“Goodbye Father," Ashur bowed and bid farewell.

Dalun didn't say anything and simply nodded.

“Can you teleport?" The stranger asked Ashur.

“Not well, I can…I can try but…" Trying to justify himself, Ashur stuttered. He didn't want the stranger to think that he wasn't worthy enough.

The stranger waved her hands dismissively. “It's fine. I can teleport us both. Hang on tight." As she spoke, she grabbed Ashur's hands firmly.

And then they were gone.

In just a blink of an eye, the two of them traveled thousands of leagues away to a valley nestled among tall mountains speckled with greenery. The land of Etheria was a natural fortress and was protected by these virtually impenetrable mountain walls on every side.

“Where are we?" Ashur asked in curiosity. He had never traveled so far from his home before. As compared to the sparse grassland of the Hon Clan, the lush green trees and natural landscape of this place was simply mesmerizing.

The stranger gave him the first truly friendly smile he had ever seen since he first met her. She seemed to be happy that she was finally home. “We're at my homeland, the realm of Lacotta in the land of Etheria.

Lacotta is an ancient civilization that has been around for tens of thousands of years. Within the heights of the mountain, there are many great masters studying and dangerous beasts roaming.

Because it's so well hidden, not many people know about Lacotta, and fewer have the opportunity to visit. You are one of the lucky few who have the chance to," she explained.

Still stunned by the unparalleled beauty of nature in this place, Ashur didn't respond to her.

Trying to help him feel at ease, the woman said, “Come, let me take you around a quick tour of this place so you don't get lost."

Lacotta is neatly segregated into different areas for different functions."

She brought him to an empty patch of land, cleared free of any rocks and stones. There were several archery posts, sword posts, and a small sparring ring.

The woman told Ashur, “This is the Training Ground, where the young cultivators learn basic skills from Masters. Every morning, they will gather here for a training session. If you are free, you can come to watch them train. I will train you separately by myself."

Ashur nodded eagerly. He couldn't wait to learn the Cultivation Style from her.

Walking down the road, she pointed to a small straw hut and said, “This is the Cookhouse. Communal meals are served here three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Right now, Cook is probably preparing dinner."

Smelling a delicious aroma drifting through the air, Ashur's stomach rumbled loudly. He hadn't eaten for a while, and his cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

The woman threw her head back and laughed. She told him, “Just wait a while longer. Dinner will be in a few hours."

Continuing with the tour, she brought Ashur to a fence. It acted as a physical boundary between the village and the mysterious woods in the distance.

“The woods lie beyond the fence. Young children are warned to stay away from there as there are dangerous beasts. The woods are also veiled with a spell so that you can't teleport in and out of the woods from the village. Personally, I like to go there sometimes to find a quiet place. I won't stop you from going there, but remember to stay cautious at all times."

Ashur nodded. He was naturally curious about what lay in the mysterious woods but would put off going there for the moment until he became stronger.

The woman gestured at another section of the village and elaborated, “We also raise many farm animals here. There are barns and pastures for cows, chickens, goats, and more. Horses are also specially groomed for battle. But the most powerful and dangerous creatures in this land lie untamed in the forest."

Pointing to a simple stand alone house in the middle of the village, she said, “This is Leader's house. She's usually very busy with running the entire village and planning missions. She can get easily irritated, so make sure not to disturb her unless you absolutely have to."

The woman brought Ashur to the remaining section in the village. “This is the residential area where everyone in Lacotta stays. Masters stay in the larger houses, while servants stay in the smaller wooden huts."

She brought Ashur in front of a medium sized wooden house which was carved with intricate designs. “And this is my house."

A middle aged woman was tending to the plants outside the house and waiting for their arrival.

As soon as she saw the two of them approaching, she hurried over to greet them. “Mistress Astraea, welcome home. It must have been a long journey. I've prepared a warm bath and a cup of hot tea for you."

With her hair tied up in a neat bun and her small, black eyes, she looked rather intimidating. Ashur made a mental note to himself never to get on her wrong side.

“Thank you very much. Aunt Gha, this is my new servant. I trust that you will take good care of him. Boy, quickly introduce yourself," Astraea prompted Ashur.

“Ma'am, my...my name is...is Ashur," He mumbled nervously.

Looking sternly at him, Aunt Gha rubbed her hands together. “Well Ashur, welcome to Lacotta. Let's not waste any more time. Time to get to work," she said plainly. “You can start by cleaning the barn. After that, you'll need to sweep the whole house, fetch water from the well, and wash the dishes. Only then you can eat dinner."