The Crimson Mystic Legacy Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Chosen Beginning

Read chapter 1 of The Crimson Mystic Legacy by CRIMODAS on NovelPedia.

(FIRST DRAFT, ONLY 1 Like This, gets better at #2) The Mystic In Mandalo: Part 1 --- Setup (Chapters 1-5) Note: hey, basicly, im waiting to finish perfecting chapter 1 until im a better writer, as chapter 1 is very important. Please Understand ______________________________________ The forest stretched endlessly, a sea of green broken only by a single dirt road. Two horse-drawn carriages tore down the path, wheels kicking up clouds of dust, hooves pounding like war drums. The lead carriage's driver, Garrick, gripped the reins like his life depended on it, and it did. His eyes darted behind him, heart hammering. Inside the carriage, leather seats held a family frozen in fear. Matric, the husband, clenched the armrest, while Liam, the oldest son, pressed against him, shaking. Elara and Finn, the younger twins, huddled together. Isolde, the wife, stared out the window, jaw tight, refusing to look back. The second carriage tore through the trees behind them. Three bandits leaned forward like predators. Varek controlled the reins, eyes cold and sharp, he was the leader. Kael flattened onto the roof, pulling a glowing yellow sphere from his coat. It shimmered, twisted, and morphed into a massive sniper rifle, he was the group's powerhouse. He took careful aim. The bullet screamed through the air, slicing toward the first carriage. Inside, the bullet whizzed just past Elara's head. The family hit the floor hard. Matric, Liam, Elara, Finn, and Isolde smashed themselves down, hearts hammering, breaths stuttering. Garrick shouted, muscles straining as he yanked the reins. The carriage lurched onto a rocky, twisting road. The bandits followed, struggling to keep control. Chaos erupted inside the second carriage. Kael tumbled off the roof, hitting the floor hard. Varek cursed as Ryven craned his neck out the window, rage twisting his features, he was a newbie in the group. The floor was a sea of glowing cacti, stolen treasures glinting in the morning light. Ryven scrambled, looking for leverage, but nothing came fast enough. Ahead, a cliff loomed. The first carriage swerved sharply. The second carriage didn't have time. It launched into the void. Ryven and the glowing cacti flew through the air, crashing together violently. By the time the carriage landed, Ryven was pinned, stuck, and shredded against the spiny green mass. Garrick risked a glance behind. The bandits had stopped. Relief flickered, just for a moment. The family slowly rose. Isolde pressed against the window, scanning the woods. Liam and Matric exchanged tense nods; Elara and Finn stayed crouched, trembling. The road straightened into the open city gates, stone walls, towers looming, a castle at the heart of it. But chaos struck again. The second carriage burst from the trees, slamming into the rear of the first carriage with a thunderous crash. Ryven crawled across the roof of the second carriage, cactus and bruises clinging to him. Rage and pain twisted his face. Arrows and bolts flew from the city walls, striking him. He fell screaming. Varek skidded to a halt. He knew it was over. The lead carriage rolled safely through the gates. The first carriage screeched to a stop inside the gate. Dust and bruises clung to the wheels, the family shaking like leaves in a storm. Three guards ran forward. Roland, a rank 3 cadet, yanked the door open. Inside, the family huddled together, faces pale, breaths ragged. Theron ran in, eyes widening at the scene, this was his first day on the job, children clinging to each other, a mother trembling against her husband. The guards lifted the family out, hands firm, guiding them toward a heavy wooden door beyond. The echo of hooves and screaming faded behind them, leaving only the quiet tension of what they had just survived. The family stepped into the room, still shaken from the chaos outside. A man in a crisp white uniform greeted them with a nod. Matric and Isolde held their children close, hearts pounding, eyes wide with fear. Outside, the