Black Liver & Silver Fangs

On a prosperous farmland within Valaris where numerous fauna and flora life forms resided, a young man was operating a tractor to transport a bale of hay from the fields to stockpile them into a barn. Though it was the sunny season, that area usually experience unpredicted rain showers. Thus this was often done to safeguard the stocks quality.

No one else was there at that area of the ranch to lend their assistance to the young man so he had the days work cut out for him. Feeling tired, he parked the tractor outside the barn and went around the side where a miniature water tank was to get some drinking water to quench his thirst. The faucet was positioned over a concrete sink, this was where he positioned himself to interact with the water.

After refreshing his stomach, he turned the spigot out some more which generated a higher pressure of water. The youth lowered his head underneath the faucet and let the water flow all over his bleached hair to cool his head. During this messy process, the water spilt all over his body, causing his upper torso to become soaking wet.

While the water was still running, the strapping lad withdrew his head from underneath the faucet and started taking off his wet shirt. The rays from the sun hitting against his body from a certain angle did much to accentuate the tone of his ripped muscles.

At a glance, anyone could tell that this fellow was a hardworking individual. The quality of his sinews could challenge the tenacity of a lions strength. Only his upper muscularity was visible for his lower half was being concealed in long jeans pants, even so, it couldn fully keep the defined structures of his buttocks and crotch hidden.

”I better wash this out while I have time. ”

The young man placed his shirt beneath the flowing water source and began rubbing it together to get it well cleaned. Finished doing so, he turned off the spigot and wrung the excess water out of his shirt.

A clothesline was set up close by where he usually hung his working apparel. On his way there, he felt a terrifying quake, moreover, heard a loud crashing noise coming from within the barn behind him.

”What was that? ” Becoming alert, the young man tossed the wet clothing over the clothesline, picked up a shovel that was leaning against a fence and dashed toward the barns entrance.

”What the hell happened here? A questionable gaze was evident on his face when he entered the barn and discovered a stockpile of hay in disarray along with panicky noises from a herd of unnerved cattle.

Wondering what could have caused this level of destruction, he started venturing to the source of the tremor with slow and cautious steps.

Among the disorganized objects, there was a spot in the barn at the back that had an obvious state of decay plus a bizarre radiance of dissipating particles. By the time the youth got there with his investigative demeanour, all the particles had faded and what he discovered was a young lady and a little boy passed out among cattle dung.

”Huh, where did they come from? ” The lad thought it peculiar that two weirdly dressed strangers showed up in the heart of his barn out of the blue just like that. He couldn make heads or tails of how they caused the entire ranch to quake briefly.

”The way they are dressed, are they playing a LARP? How did they end up here? They look similar. Perhaps they
e related. ” Moving closer to the siblings, he pushed forth his shovel and used it lightly to test if they were alive. He didn keep this up for long because he saw slight movement occurring. They acted similar to a drunken man waking from his stupor.

”They are alive. ” The young man withdrew his shovel hastily and kept his vigilant eyes fixated on the Vaud siblings.

”They have silver textured hair? ” Needing to know more about these strangers origin, he stuck the shovel in the earth beside him and began moving closer to the objects of curiosity.

”What is that? ” He noticed a slender dark stone resting atop a pouch on the young ladys chest and reached out for it. However, before his fingers could caress its surface, he felt a tight hold gripping his hand and directed his frightening sight at Amich.

”My hand! ” The youth was shocked by the level of strength that the kid was exuding. Amich had the crushing grip of a vice. He had to use his other hand to push away Amich and backed away out of the cage.

”What a strong kid. ” Observing his hand, he noticed livid bruised marks and become concerned. He stared at the boy and said, ”Who are you people and what are you doing in my born? ”

”… ” Amich didn answer the question. He just stood guard over his sister while consistently glaring at the young man.

”If you
e not going to answer then get out! ” The young man picked back up his shovel and used it to threaten the little boy. But this was a blunder that he would later regret.

”Growl! ” Amich perceived the shovel aimed at him as a threat and began exposing his sharp fangs while undergoing a slow transformation.

”Even his teeth are silver? ” The young man was bewildered by this little boys existence. Keeping a firm grip on his shovel, he observed a bizarre change occurring.

Amichs fingers were constantly twitching out of order as his nails grew to a scary degree. He crouched on the ground, mimicking the exact posture of a tiger ready to pounce on its prey. The air surrounding Amich started to become inexplicably pressurized. This caused the scattered hay in the vicinity to start twirling around him in a flurry.

”What the heck is wrong with this kid? ” The youth saw an intense rage glimmering in the beastly eyes of Amich and got ready to swing forth his shovel if he move to attack him.

”Growl! ” Amich was about to launch at his hostile target when he felt his sisters hand gripping his leg, moreover, heard her voice telling him to calm down.

”Stop it Amich. Thats an order. ”

”Hm… ” Amich glanced back at his sisters serious visage and subsided his killing intentions. His eyes and grown claws returned to normal and he went over to assist his sister to her feet.

”Thank you, Amich. ” After standing up, Silvia noticed the bewildered gaze of the half-naked youth staring at her. Averting her eyes to the side, she told him, ”Im sorry for the way my brother acted earlier. He didn hurt you did he? ”

”Huh, you can speak? ” Hearing what was asked, the youth covered the bruising on his arm and replied, ”Its nothing. ”

”Are you sure? ” Silvia could tell that he was in pain. ”Let me take a look. ” Silvia went ahead to check on the youths injuries. Amich stuck closely to her thighs while occasionally glaring at the man.

Silvia hovered her palm over the mans bruised arm and whispered an incantation. He felt a cold chill penetrate his flesh briefly and quickly withdrew his hand.

”What did you do to me? Huh! ” He was surprised when he looked at his arm and saw no trace of bruising. He poked it a few times with his finger and it didn even hurt.

How is this possible? He became curious to know more about these silver-haired strangers who mysteriously appeared in his barn, but he didn feel entirely safe around them, especially the mute boy. Thus he retreated a few steps and introduced himself to the lady.

”I am Chad, Chad Berkley. What about you guys, do you have a name? ”

Silvia nodded while speaking, ”My name is Silvia and this is my little brother, Amich. ”

”Silvia and Amich. ” Chad processed their names then said, ”That little fellow clinging to your leg has a really strong grip, he almost tore my arm off. You 2 don look like you are from around these parts. Where are you from and how did you end up here? ”

”Huh! ” listening closely, Silvia realized that Chads ancient was very different from hers and his hair had a particular colour she had never seen before, including his soiled rubber boots and jeans pants. She shifted her eyes around the barn suspiciously. The cattle didn look that different, and neither did their filth smell any stranger, but there were a few appliances that she didn recognize.

Silvias face was riddled with confusion as she asked, ”Where are we, are we still in Astasia? ”

”Astasia? ” Chad also adopted a visage of confusion as he clarified, ”This place is my parents ranch. In western Thains of Valaris. ”

”Valaris? ” Silvia had no recollection of this place.

Looking pensively, Chad shared, ”Come to think of it, Valaris used to be called Astasia a couple of centuries ago. Im not really sure about the exact details. I flunked history class. ”

Silvia became intrigued hearing this. ”How long ago did you say? ”

”I think they changed the name in the early 15th century. I could be wrong though. I would search online for the specifics but I left my phone to charge back at the house. ”

Silvia didn comprehend half of what Chad said but she was fixated on knowing the exact timeline they were in. ”What date is it now? ”

”August second. ” Responded Chad.

”And the year? ” Silvia inquired.

”It is 2022 everybody knows that. ” Chad became suspicious of the question he was asked. ”Wait, why are you so concerned about the date, do you and your brother have somewhere urgent you need to be? If you do I don mind giving you a ride in my truck. I have a full tank that can take you 2 to town. ” He was quite generous.

”Excuse me. ” Deep in thought, Silvia dashed passed Chad and exited the barn with her brother still clinging to her leg.

Coming outside, she scanned the environment with a meticulous gaze. There was an automobile in her line of sight that she had no clue about. Down the hillside was a small scheme of houses crafted from modern architecture and solar technology. This confirmed her suspicions.

Silvia locked eyes with Amich and said, ”If this is the year 2022 then that means that weve skipped way ahead of our time. Why did the Supreme Magus send us here? ”

”… ” Amich didn utter a response, he only shrugged with a look of unknowing.