Journey from Vercessia

[Thaseus Gaeadose]

The chilly air of the night made the man shiver, as he sat in the bush, watching. As soon as the guard left his view, the man, Deraclay, got up and stepped toward the row boat. He took one last look around before he stepped on. Mist from the ice cold water hit his face, making him even more uncomfortable. But it was all worth it, if he stayed in Vercessia any longer, he would be killed. He is already being hunted, and if he stayed it was just a matter of time before his end came.

Suddenly a large shout was heard not far from shore. Deraclay turned his head and spotted a the shadow of a guard. "Dammit, they must have seen me!" He cursed, and pushed the boat from the dock and started his long journey away from Vercessia. He had only brought his bag and a long staff with him. In his bag he had a small ration of food, four books, and other various things from his old home, which was now in ruins. He had nothing left to live for in Vercessia.

It was his fifth day on the sea, and the bread he had brought was almost gone. The water he had brought, ran out the day before, and his craving for water started to kick in. He leaned over the side of the boat, cupped his hands and dipped them in the water. He brought the water up to his mouth and drank. The water was cool, and it felt good flushing down his throat. He held his stomach and sat back down on the wooden seat. A few moments later he jumped up and threw up over the side of the boat. The boat shook. Deraclay struggled to keep his balance. He was unsuccessfully and fell to the bottom floor of the wooden boat.

Deraclay crawled to his feet. He positioned his hand so it supplied his eyes with shade. His eyes widened as the figure of land appeared in the distance. The man rubbed his eyes, and took another look. The island was no illusion. He took the ores in his hands and began to row toward the island.

Deraclay laughed as the small wooden boat touched shore. He had made it,..but the fact that the guards back in Vercessia spotted him haunted his mind. They would come after him for sure. He needed to hide himself somehow. He tied the boat to a tree near the shore and headed to town.

Passing through the forest, he spotted a man sitting alone. Deraclay moved behind a tree and peered at him. Deraclay then turned around and slumped down against the tree. He opened his bag and took out one of his books and scrolled through the pages. He stopped suddenly. The spell he was looking for was found. A spell that would allow him to free the spirit of a person, and take their body. It was just what he needed. His body was worn, and exhausted from the journey. He had grown thin, and weak. If he would be able to possess the body of the man, it would also hide his old identity.

For this he would need hair of the man. He stood up, and peered around the trunk of the tree. The man sat still, looking almost lifeless. "Perfect", he thought. The man moved from behind the tree.

"Sir...please...I need food...and water...help me!" Said Deraclay, as he grabbed the man by his shoulder.

"Sure, just wait here. I'll run to town and get some food." He smiled and walked off.

The man grinned as he left. He held up a strain hair, he took from his shoulder. "This will work just fine."

Deraclay left before the man would return. He retreated deep in the forest and began the ritual for the spell. Soon he would have a new healthy body and a new face. He would be secure from the threat of the Vercessia's assassins.

***

Hours pass. The man from from earlier, Arkrem, was busy brewing potions, when he felt a sharp pain in his side. He dropped his mortar and it shattered on the solid ground. Arkrem fell to his knees and held his stomach in agony. He opened his mouth to shout, though only a quiet screeching noise was heard. Arkrem fell forward. His face collided with the rock pavement. Arkrem was out cold. Only a few moments later, he pushed himself up off the ground. Something was different though. Arkrem's light brown hair was slowly growing darker and longer. His face even seemed to change it's figure. In fact, he was no longer himself.

The spell of Deraclay worked. Arkrem was no more.

"I will call myself Thaseus.." he muttered as he walked off, hoping no one would recognize him.

[Thaseus Gaeadose]

((Some things above were changed to fit the story better.))