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Dark clouds formed in the distance. It looked liked rain. The wind started to pick up rather quickly. There was an ominous look to the horizon as the clouds loomed closer.
"Looks like were heading right for that sea storm captain," the first mate said as he lowered the looking glass. The captain reached out his hand for the looking glass to confirm what he had just heard. He put it up to his eye.
"Should we change course, sir?" the first mate asked.
"Hmm. Perhaps we should consider it. The waves ahead look fairly-", he was instantly cut off as the ship was rocked at an angle. Sailors were thrown off their feet onto the deck of the ship. Water started pouring over the edge, drenching everyone.
"Hard to port! Hard to port! Get us out of this thing!", the captain shouted orders as he ran into the bridge, but to no avail for the sailor maining the helm was down on the deck. The captain ran to the helm himself and started spinning the wheel.
Waves continued to batter the hull of the ship. The rudder was broken off by a wave, sending powerful shockwaves amidships. The wheel jerked in the captains hand and his grip slipped from the wood. The mast holding the sails was soon snapped in two by even bigger waves.
"Captain! The storm seemed to appear over us out of no where. The storm we saw was a good 50 kilometers out!"
"How could that be? Storms don't just appear out of thin air!"
His voice was soon drowned out by the waves crashing through the portholes. A large wave approached the ship. The captain looked up and saw its presence coming, "God help us."
Ten minutes later, there were no clouds in the sky and the sun shone brightly on the calm water.
Author: Hangover_boy
"Hello Pravus..." the dark cracking voice said.
"Hello, I'm afraid I have nothing new." The man named Pravus said.
"Hmmm, that is not good. I trust you though, if you can find nothing, who else could?"
Pravus walked deeper into the room. He grabbed the edge of a dust covered chair and slid it under his body. He sat for a moment, then reached into his pack and drew out a small crystal ball.
"Pravus," the voice said, "It's already given you the clue, it won't give you another one."
"I know I know, I just thought there was something I might have missed." He gazed deep into the ball. The ball itself was black and opaque. It gave off an eerie shine, so much you wanted to stay away from it. Pravus concentrated his mind, a picture appeared in his mind. It showed a grassy field, in the center was a black dome, the surface much like the sphere he was holding.
"One day, maybe one day, I'll find the meaning."
Author: DragonMasterHawk
The night was cold and damp, as our heroes lay asleep in the small town of Wae Sala. One hero, however, is haunted by the shadowy past that he has stepped into. And now, the day of reckoning has begun.
A letter. Stained with the scent of cherry blossoms falling, as winter approaches. Julian crushed it, and went towards the dark forest - only known as Kamui.
"I will come for you. I will keep my promise; I shall be the keeper of your happiness..."
"I will wait for you soon," a cold voice whispered, as her cold hands began to hold Julian. He was helpless, as he saw his bloodstained sword, the Muramasa lie on the ground. Blood splattered everywhere, as his hands were covered in deep crimson. And beside him, a woman lay covered in a sea of crimson; her hands clasping dearly to her loved one's frightned face.
"I am sorry I could not make that promise; I am sorry you had to die..."
It was then that Julian woke up, his body feverish as the beads of perspiration trickled down his face. His eyes, affixed on the ground, as if he had seen a ghost of the past - an unforgiven atonement.
"Althea." It was all he could utter.
Author: Rivermaya
Ayame took slow steps one by one. She had not seen it for a few years now. Why was it back, why was it here? It should not be there, it should be gone. She reached her hand up to the shimmering black dome and lightly touched it, sending small ripples through its surface like water. The dome seemed bigger than it was a few years ago, when she had last seen it. She looked around, but saw no one nearby. No sign of Hawk, or Tonelek. Then why was this dome here again? She reached her hand into the dome and she was instantly sucked into it's blackness. Ayame could not see anything for several moments. She heard a faint whimpering.
"Who- Who's there?", she asked, apparently to the source of the sound she now heard. There was no response. She replied again to the dark, "who's there? Why are you crying?" She walked farther, not seeing where she was going. Then she saw the source of the whimpering. A small child. Her three year old son. His back was to Ayame. Ayame was shocked to see him here, "Gabe? What are you doing here?" She walked slowly around him to see why he was crying. She looked down and she insantly gasped, "Gabe!" A rat lay on his lap, ripped open and bloody. He looked up at her, blood and bits of rat hanging from his mouth. His eyes glowed a deep crimson and he snarled at Ayame.
"Ah! Gabe!", Ayame screamed as she sat up in bed in a cold sweat.
"What's the matter?", Trent asked as he wiped the sleep away from his eyes.
Ayame jumped out of bed and ran next door to Gabe's room. He was soundly sleeping in his bed. Trent walked up behind her and put his arms around her, "what's the matter? You scared me half to death. Gabe is okay."
"I don't know. I had a bad dream. It was strange."
Ayame heard a voice in her head, sounds like a night of restlessness. Ayame turned around and saw Julian in the doorway.
"What is going on?", asked Ayame.
Author: Hangover_boy
Pravus stepped into the library. He saw rows upon rows of ancient text.
Scholars who were ancient themselves were walking with books in their hands. White robes hung from their shoulders, dragging slightly on the floor. One particularly old scholar's eyes met with Pravus' body. His eyes lit up.
"Pravus! Is it really you?" The elderly man said excitingly. Pravus gave a laugh and a smile.
"Of course old man!" The scholar put his hand on Pravus' shoulder, a smile on his face.
"It has been so long..."
"Yes, indeed, we must get reaquainted. I'm afraid I didn't come here for a friendly visit, though. I need your help, desprately."
The smile disappeared from the elder's face. "That is truly unfortunate. But I, Pristinus, will do everything in my power to help you."
"Thank you, my friend, I need to know about black domes."
"Black domes? You must be more specific I'm afraid."
"All I know is that there's a black dome in a grassy field somewhere, and I need to find it."
"Are you at liberty to tell me why?"
"Let's just say...the world is off balance, and I need to straighten it out."
Author: DragonMasterHawk
Felerial walked through the grasslands. He was at peace with himself till suddenly his brain exploded with flashes of color and bright lights. All too soon, his vision cleared. there was no sound, no movement. Felerial stood quietly and cocked his head to the side, trying to hear something alive. he glanced around and noticed a trail of blood. Suddenly, the air was full of moaning. Felerial walked towards the moaning. He knew this vision. It was his father dying. But the druid said it would stop as soon as the killer was destroyed.
there were two bodies. one of his father, but the other of the wizard. "This is odd" he thought to himself. Without warning, the wizard's body changed into the corpse of another man, and Felerial heard a voice. Until The True Killer Of Your Father Burns In Hell, The Dreams Will Not Cease.
There was another explosion of colors and light, then Felerial stood. No one was there. Then he did something he had not done since he was a very young child.
He cried.
Author: Charizard's Breath
"You seem startled Juju, are you ok?"
"Yeah", Julian moaned, "rough night "
Ayamé looked at him, trying to figure out what he really was trying to say. She saw him looking at Trent, who looked as if he hadn't been asleep for ages. "Looks like you could do with some sleep as well", he tried to change the subject.
"Ahh", Trent replied, "I've had a rough night as well, with the storm raging outside. I was afraid that lighting would strike in Gabe's room."
Julain laughed, he always does that when Trent acts like a father. Somehow he can't manage to see him as a father figure....maybe because of his past....nah! He just doesn't look like one. Although he hasn't been seen changing any dipers at all.....
Trent leaned his head against the door of his room. "HAAAAAAAW. i think I'll get some more sleep", he groaned, "Coming or staying, Aya?"
"I'll be right there"
He turned around and dissapeared into the room.
"So what's really bugging you?", she prompted.
"It's nothing much, really", Julian replied as they descended some stairs, "I've just been having trouble sleping lately"
"Is it the storm?"
".........yeah, something like that"
She knew he was lying, but sensed it was better to leave things alone. Julian sat down at the table near the window. "You know, I never thought I would have a home again. I never thought I would 'live a normal life', for as far as this is normal."
"I think it's pretty cool, with Ash living a few houses furtheron."
"Yeah, that's cool, everyone's close to eachother. Naliya and Colin live in those cabins in the woods near Brook, doing their tracking business and keeping the forest clean of monsters, so the children can play freely. They are pretty calm for the moment, haven't seen them in a couple of days"
"They're probably just quarrling again", Ayamé grinned.
"(laughs) as usual... (sighs) If you put everything together, we did save the world, you know."
"Having some delusions of grandeur my dear brother?", Ayamé mocked, "We did kill Tonelek, but that doesn't mean we saved the world. We didn't completly rid the world of evil, you know. It's still here, and somehow I have the feeling we haven't had our last share of fighting"
Julian looked at her, not wanting to have heard what she said. He wasn't afraid to fight, he just wasn't in the mood for that. He didn't want to be the hero at the moment. There were other things bothering him at the moment.
"I'm worried about Xaya", Ayamé changed the subject, "She hasn't written in a while. Usually she writes back after one or two weeks but now I haven't heard from her, nor has Ash"
"I'm sure she's just too busy searching for herself", Julian reassured his sister, "It is sad she has left us, but I'm sure once she'll have found herself she just needs some time. Do you really miss her that much?"
"Yes, I know it doesn't always look like that, but I do sense we were good friends in the past and I want that back"
"Emotional over Xaya, Ayamé?"
"You'd be surpirsed what being a mother does to you"
Both of them laughed, together, as they have been doing a lot lately. Although they surely haven't found their peace yet...
****
In the nearby forest Colin was up, watching the moon. "Isn't she beautiful", he said to Ghost who was clearly enjoying the little rat he had just chased to death. The beast replied by swallowing it's tale, even slurping a little. Colin rolled his eyes. "It's been a long time since she has been so beautiful, even with this storm raging. Maybe times are finally getting a little better."
"I wouldn't count on that!", a voice spoke from behind.
Colin looked behind him and saw his friend Naliya standing on the other branch of the tree he was in. "Naliya....I didn't expect you here at an hour this late"
"I couldn't leave you here talking to yourself you old man! Besides, it was keeping my up. You're talking that loud the entire forest heard you!"
Colin mumbled something uncomprehensible and then said: "I wasn't talking to myself, I was talking to Ghost"
"Waw, what and improvement"
"Oh, just shut up"
Naliya laughed, she had won the arguement. She still enjoyed beating Colin in everything she could.
"So what are you doing tomorrow?"
"I have to accompany Julian, Ash and Trent through the woods and then we'll go into the city. We'll go and see Telano in his elven town, Northa."
"Why do you have to accompany them?"
"They're bringing some gold the miners dug up to the mayor of Northa. He asked for it to help rebuiling the city hall that was heavily damaged in last weeks fire."
"Do they still not know what caused that?"
"No, but I think we'll be there for a while, maybe a day or 3. I think the mayor still wants to talk to us. Especially now that the woods have been awfully quiet this past week. I think he knows something we don't"
"And you just have to get to the bottom of this right?" she laughed "Well, looks like it's just gonna be us girls here. It's gonna be cool taking care of Gabe. He's so adorable"
"Naliya liking babies? Maybe you should consider one yourself", he mocked.
"Don't push it, ok?"
"I wouldn't dare"
"Old man!"
"You just keep saying that to yourself, but this old man can still beat you in a flash of an eye!"
"Want to bet on that?"
"I bet I can catch that squirrel and feed it to Ghost faster than you can!"
"You're on!", Naliya said, "Ghost's on my side anyway "
******
Colin beat Naliya in the chase to the squirrel, so all he got for goodnight was a groan. "What? no kiss?", Colin laughed. He decided to stay outside just a little longer, he loved it when there was a storm raging.
******
Ayame and Julian walked up the stairs again. Julian wanted for Ayamé to be safe and sound, for he had other plans for tonight...
As they reached the top of the stairs they saw Trent standing outside his room.
Author: Ayame
"Well. It looks like everything is okay. Why don't you get some sleep," suggested Julian.
"Sounds like a good idea," agreed Trent, "let's go Aya."
Ayame turned back to Gabriel to make sure he was okay. The child slept soundly in his bed. Trent put his arm around Ayame and turned her back toward their bedroom. Julian watched the husband and wife pass through their bedroom door before moving. He walked swiftly into his room and grabbed his black over coat and put it on. He picked up his sword and carried it with him outside. He ran through the rain into the horse stable and started to prepare his horse. He set his sheath and sword on the horse and mounted. The horse was hesitant to go because of the weather but Julian calmed it down, "it's okay. Be calm. It'll be alright." The horse heeded to Julian and they rode out of the barn and into the rainy night.
****
Colin kept the deer in his sights for as long as he could. He watched the deer walk slowly through the woods. Colin kept the bow drawn and studied the motion of the deer. The best way to hunt animals and other creatures is to study their movement. Over the course of his life, Colin had tracked every animal, creature, and monster known to man. He's even tracked humans on a number of occasions. Just last year, a family was trapped under an avalanche during the winter. A large rescue party was banded and they searched for days. They had almost given up, but they contacted Colin and Naliya to help them. Colin had been teaching Naliya a lot about tracking as of late so they were determined to find the family. After many hours, Colin and Naliya finally found them nearly frozen and starved.
Colin was startled quickly from his thoughts when the deer galloped away. Had the deer heard him? Unlikely. Then Colin instantly saw the source of the comotion. Two men were running his way. Colin slowly released the bow and put the arrow back into his quiver. He slowly walked around some trees and hid behind some brush. One of the men started getting close to-
"Ahh!!", the man screamed as he was caught in one of the many snares Colin had around his cabin. His friend instantly stopped to come and help him.
"What are you gentlemen doing on my property?", asked Colin.
The one man turned around to face Colin, "help us! There is a problem in the woods." The man pointed in the direction from where they had just ran. Colin looked and saw it. Smoke rising through the trees.
"What's going on," inquired Colin.
"Fires. Lot's of them. They just erupted out of no where. We were just walking along with our friends and the trees started exploding into flame. We don't know where are friends are either."
With eyes still on the smoke in the distance, Colin pulled his dagger, walked over to the hanging man and cut the rope bound to his leg.
"Give me just a few minutes," said Colin as he ran through the trees. Within seven minutes, Colin had returned with Naliya. The men looked at her for a few minutes.
Naliya noticed and said, "what? Havn't you ever seen an elf before?"
"Well..."
"No time to chat," said Colin. "We must hurry."
Colin, Naliya, and the two men ran in the direction of the smoke.
Author: Hangover_boy
Cedric ran through the furious lightning storm, to make sure he wasn't struck by any bolts of lightning that took a favor to his armor. His shoes slushed through snow, made into slush by the rain. A bolt struck down not too far from where he was, and then one struck him.
Cedrice was thrown brutally to the ground, the bolt acting like a heavy hand. After a few minutes, he moved his head up, and then hoisted himself up to his feet. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and then continued on.
After a few hundred feet, he saw a cement shelter. He ran to it, got inside, and fell to the floor.
"Whoo..." he said, his breathing slowing steadily down. After lying down for a few minutes, he got up and observed his surroundings. The hut was apparantly a temporary live-in hut, probably built by a farmer who'd pass through here every summer and use the house for that time, and then leave in the winter. Cedric was in luck. A full bedded kang was in the corner. Cedric took out his flint and tinder, lit the oven under the kang, removed his armor, and went to sleep.
Author: Neclordsword
Ryona stood at the edge of the beach that almost totally surrounded her home town, watching the ocean as it receded past the sand bar to explode upward and return, only to repeat the process. She head footsteps behind her, footsteps she had heard many times before, belonging to a man, a man who had come in search of something he only described as the light, and gave his name as Deiban,
"I thought you were leaving today, you have found nothing here,"
"You seem troubled, I can tell. And yes, I am leaving as soon as I say goodbye,"
"I am troubled, the ocean is riddled with light magic, fire is destroying the forests and the mage school is in chaos, surely you to feel the disturbance,"
"Yes, I feel it, the darkness is fading. I must go Ryona, I have a further search to go,"
"Goodbye Deiban, I will see you one day," She heard him walk away as the ocean crashed once more.
Ryona remebered the words the older children had told her in Northa, about the disturbance and imbalance caused by a sudden and uncontrollable loss of darkness. They told her that the magic would overload in a fight for a part of the world the darkness had left behind. She had never believed it, and the stories became worse when she discovered she was an ocean Nymph and not a wood Elf, but now it was happening. She could feel the pain, the draining of her element as light riddled the land as fire faught earth, water faught fire and ice melted in the heat of sudden thunderstorms in the deserts. Something had to be done. She remembered the children had told her the balance would be ended by four and restored by eight, and knew of only two names she knew she must go to a place that in Elven meant Our Story (Wae Sala) and a boy by the name of Gabe...
Author: Blueangel_wing
The rain continued to pour endlessly for the night; Julian wandered aimlessly, not knowing where he's headed. All he knew was to find something. Or that something will find him soon. His mind raced, as his horse galloped through the muddy forest.
15 years ago; prior to the restoration of Rusalia...
"It's dark. we should be moving since there's been a growing amount of skilled assassins around recently," the knight known as Sardis lès Cross whispered.
"You mean "The Slayer"," replied the old man. "I've heard of this assassin cloaked in darkness. Does he really exist?"
"I would not know," replied a third man. "No one has lived to tell whether The Slayer indeed exists."
"Hey give me a break. It's been awhile since I had my first good drink tonight." the old man retorted. "Let this battousai come. I would not care."
Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared out from the rooftops. As fast as the night fall, he moves like the wind. Blade in hand; he was The Slayer...
"Sardis lès Cross? You and your comrades shall pay for the sins of Rusalia."
Darkness. It was pitch black; and only the shimmering blades clashing could be seen flashing through the night sky. Blood was washed in blood; in a moment, three bodies lay dead.
"Nothing personal. I just needed to take your lives," the man called Julian said.
Sardis lès Cross, hanging on to his last breath, grabbed his dagger and climbed towards Julian. He struggled, and at the last moment, fell lifeless into the ground. He stabbed the dying knight straight at his heart.
"The old man is right. No one lives to tell the truth about the Slayer."
Julian suddenly fell from his horse, and landed in the soft, wet grassland. He looked on, and saw the forest. "The forest north of brook... Naliya. Colin."
Author: Rivermaya
The four of them stopped as soon as fire was visible. "What do we do?", asked Naliya.
"We'll just have to try some magic," suggested Colin. He readied his bow and locked an arrow. He closed his eyes and concentrated. The arrow turned an icy blue. A coldness was felt eminating from the arrow. The blue turned more intense, then Colin fired. The arrow left a trail of snow and ice as it headed straight for a tree. The arrow hit its mark, exploded in a cloud of water and ice, and the fire soon subsided from the tree.
Naliya took the hint and closed her eyes as well. Vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around a burning tree. The fire was quickly smothered. Within a few minutes Colin and Naliya put out most of the major fires, while their two new companions put out the smaller ones.
"What caused these fires?", asked Naliya.
"That's what we tried to tell you. We don't know. They just blazed up out of no where."
"We better start looking for your friends," Colin told the two men. "I'm Colin and this is Naliya."
"I'm Bruce and this is Ghedrin."
"Nice to meet you. Let's get started," Colin looked around for a few minutes and noticed two pairs of footprints heading away from the direction of the path from where they had just come. "It looks like they headed for the clearing. Let's go."
Author: Hangover_boy
Little Gabriel was twisting and turning in his sleep. The poor baby was scared to death from the storm outside. He was asleep, but still heard the noises.
Terrfied. He woke up and cried. Cried as loud as he could, hoping for his mummy or daddy to comfort him. Very soon he felt his mum's arms lifting him up and was put on her shoulder "Don't you cry now my dear little Gabe, it's just a storm. I'm here with you, mummy's here", she whispered. The child muttered something incomprehinsible, but Ayamé payed not much attention to it. She walked outside of his room and went downstairs. She put him on the table and came back with a glass of milk. "Here, want some milk?", she asked her son.
".....Mmmmmmyes", Gabe spoke. He took the glass from her hand and started drinking. Ayamé looked at her son and then out the window. She saw how daylight was slowly coming on again, but the storm kept raging. The weather had been acting unusual the past year, but never this way. It isn't supposed to storm this time of the year, it's supposed to freeze and snow, not storm...
*****
Julian managed to get on his horse again, but was hurt pretty badly by the fall...and the shock of his memory....
He rode his horse a little further until he could see some figures in the distance. They looked like people he knew...
*****
Colin and Naliya had each gone the other way by means of finding the sources more easily.
"That's strange",Colin tought, " Blake only uses his cabin in the summer when he has to get up early to check his crops. But there's some light now. I better go check if everything's alright, and he might even know something about the fires. Blake can always tell you the most interesting gossip..."
Colin headed for the cabin expecting to find his friend on the kang.
Ryona had taken a horse from the nearby stables and felt she was leaving this place behind for a very long time. She had no idea of which direction to go, so she figured she'd best go and search for the place called Wae Sala first. She was very disturbed by the inbalance in magic that she felt was growing. As a nymph it's her calling to solve magic-related questions and she had done quests before, but never like this one. here she really knew just about nothing, but she showed no sign of discouragement. She was bound to continue and find what she was looking for.
She had already ridden a little while when she came upon a huge field filled with flowers, but overshadowed by the viscious storm that still hadn't stopped. The view was incredible. She was standing on top of a small hill which marked the end of the forest she had just gone through. In the distance she could see the lightning strinking right into the ground, while it was being cooled down by the eternal rain. Astonished by the view, she continued down the hill. A little further she suddenly stopped, hearing something somewhere nearby. She looked around her and suddenly saw a figure sitting in the wet grass.
"Who goes there?", she called out.
The man was startled, he hadn't heard her coming. He got up and looked at the nymph. "I and Felerial, you are?"
"Ryona, can I help you?"
Author: Ayame
Colin creeped the door open, not sure of what to expect. He glanced in and indeed the kang had been lit, but its occupant was no where to be found at the moment. He took a step in and examined the room. Colin didn't notice any disturbance, nothing stolen or broken. "Blake?" Colin called out. "Are you here?"
With a quick motion, a figure emerged from behind the door and held a dagger up to Colin's neck, "don't move if you value your life."
"Blake?"
"No. I'm not. Too bad you'll not live to learn my name."
"I'm not here to hurt you. This is my friend Blake's cabin. I was wondering why it was occupied."
Cedric's grip became tighter on Colin's neck, "From where I'm standing, you're not in a position to hurt me anyway. I would leave if I were you and leave me be."
Colin gasped through choked breaths, "would you atleast let me go?"
"Maybe you should do what he says," came a voice from behind Cedric.
Cedric stood still. He could feel the coldness of steel on his neck. Cedric released his grip on Colin, who rushed forward and turned toward the knight. He saw the familiar form of Julian with his great sword tipped to the knight's head. Colin told Julian, "it's okay, you can lower your sword. Identify yourself knight and tell me what you're doing here."
"I am Cedric, and if you haven't noticed, there's a storm raging the area with an increased intensity of lightning. Very uncommon anyway, let alone even this time of year. So I sought shelter and layed my bed here."
"Well, that seems fair enough," admitted Colin.
Julian broke his own silence, "do you make it a habit to attack everyone around you?"
Cedric turned his head toward him, "I thought him to be a thief, so I prepared myself. No harm in that is there?"
"No," replied Colin. "I suppose not. Anyway, have you seen anyone else come through this area?"
"No. I've been shacked up in here all evening, why?"
"I was tracking a couple people through here and was wondering if you've seen them."
They were inturrupted by a voice from outside. It was Naliya, "Colin! Where are you?! You have to come look at this!"
Author: Hangover_boy
"You may help of you wish to help. I search for the man who killed my father," Feleriel said to Ryona, "You yourself seem to be searching for something Rinoa..."
"Ryona!"
"Sorry, Ryona. Perhaps beyond that storm,"
"What is beyond that storm?"
"A place many say doesn't exist. The Elvens say it is Our Story, whatever that means,"
Ryona stared into the storm and whispered to herself, "Wae Sala"
"Just so,"
"Thank you Feriel..."
"Feleriel,"
"Sorry. I must be one my way,"
"I shall follow," Feleriel said, following behind as she half ran ran down the hill...
Author: Blueangel_wing
Felerial mounted the horse of Ryona and let her do the riding.
"Can I ask you one more thing?", he said.
"Sure, fire away"
" Why is it you seek this place, this Wae Sala? What do you gain from finding it?"
"It is my duty do find it because of the disturbance in the magic force"
"Disturbance? Magic force?"
"You don't feel or see it? Don't you think it's rather strange that there are storms occuring all over the world, this time of year?"
"Yes, but I didn't think it had something to do with some sort of a magic disturbance"
"What else could it be???"
Ryona clearly felt the Felerial wasn't that busy with the current events. He seemed to be someone who often wonders off in his own world. She wondered what journey lay ahead of them and if he would be accompanying her for long.
Author: Ayame
Felerial and Ryona wandered, searching for Wae Sala. Felerial was gripping his sword so tight that his knuckles lost all color. Ryona noticed this and asked,
"Why do you hold your weapon so tight?"
"This is the land of many evil things. They are not difficult to beat, but there are many. It makes me uneasy not to see a single one."
Ryona glanced around and saw nothing.
"Maybe they have forgotten us for today."
"No, they never forget. I have killed a great number of them, and they shall seek revenge."
Felerial noticed a movement in the corner of his eye and drew his bow. Ryona looked around and saw the movement. felerial fired and scream was heard. suddenly, the air was filled with the sounds of grunts, warcries, and screams as hundreds of black, giant spiders scuttled towards the pair.
"Damn," said Felerial, "We will have to run"
Ryona mounted the horse, and galloped away. Felerial screeched something that sounded like what the spiders were screaming and ran after the horse.
Author: Charizard's Breath
Ryona kicked the horse hard with her carfs so that it would do more than gallop.
"Faster!!" Felerial yelled.
"He won't go any faster!!", Ryona screamed back. He tried to make her horse run faster, but the poor animal was already racing as fast as it could. The giant spiders were enclosing fast. Felerial was almost shooting at point blank and his arrow supply was running out fast as well. "We HAVE to go faster", he said once more.
"Oh, shut up!!!", Ryona barked. She led the horse towards another hill, hoping that that would make the animal go faster. Felerial looked around him and hit some branches in a critical spot so that they would block the path of the spiders. The spiders were held of a little, but that didn't keep them from continuing the chase. "This is going to end badly", Ryona muttered.
****
In the forest where Naliya and Colin were, she had shown him what she found. "These look like torches", Colin stated. "Well, duh!", Cedric, who stood behind him, commented. Colin was ready to say something, but Naliya inteveaned: "That means the fire's were dileberatly lit"
"Yes, but by whom?", Colin was puzzled.
In the distance they heard a terrible rumbling. The storm was getting worse. But something else could be heard as well. Something that sounded like a horse enclosing at terrible speed...
Author: Ayame
"Deliberatly?", wondered Ghedrin. "That's impossible. We saw with our own eyes, the trees lit up by themselves."
"Are you sure?", asked Julian.
"Positive. There was no one else but us."
The sound of the apparent galloping horse was getting closer.
"We'll figure it out later. What is that sound?"
They soon saw it. A horse emerged from the edge of the trees into the opening at an alarming rate. The animal was occupied by a male and female rider and the group soon realized why they were in such a hurry.
"What are those?", asked Ghedrin.
"They look like..."
Everyone exlclaimed at once, "Spiders!!!"
Colin, Naliya, Cedric, and the four campers just stood and watched in disbelief as they witnessed the black mass of giant spiders chasing a horse...
Author: Hangover_boy
"Black dome...black dome..." muttered a confused and frustrated Pravus. The pages sounded a quiet rasp as the turned in a monotonous pattern.
"Pravus! Here!" Pristinus called out. He was holding a heavy and dust-ridden book in his hands. His eyes held joy. Pravus rushed over, almost forgetting to put down the book he was holding. "Look, the black domes!" He pointed to a picture featuring a black semisphere.
"Yes, yes! Very nice, my friend!" A grin formed on his face as he read deeper into the article.
The black domes are a mystery to archeologists around the world. Ancient writings confirm these black domes as somehow connected to the dark arts of black magic. They call these black domes by their proper name: Acerbus Barathrum, meaning Dark Abyss. It is rumured that each of the elements is symbolized by a part of the world. Fire, Water, Air, and Earth are all seen in the natural world. The opposite powers of Light and Dark are not so readily seen. They need an accompanying source of power. It is said that these Acerbus Barathrum are sources of darkness. As a reflection, Lucidus Caelum are the light domes, meaning Shining Heaven. They are not easily found, and seen to be attracted to beings with extreme amounts of power. There is a dome for each of the mirrored paths that seem to be the "Home Dome," or "Mother Dome," as some like to call it. They harness all of the power of their element and create the perfect light/dark attack. It is rumored that the dark "Mother Dome" was recently found and used, and then disappeared. It is not for sure though. The Dark Mother Dome is called the "End of the World" by some, and the Light Mother Dome is call the "Creation of Life." Other than this, not much is known about the domes.
"Amazing..." Pravus whispered to himself. His grin transformed to a stern scowl.
"What is it?" Pristinus questioned.
"For now, I can make no assumptions, too much is at risk. Facts are all I can rely on at this moment."
"I can see that you cannot tell me, and you are beig discreet. Pravus, you should know I respect you!"
"And I you, my friend. I have a favor to ask, but don't do it if..."
"Just tell me! You know that I am not a patient man. We are brothers in spirit, ask of me a favor, and I shall do everything in my power to do that thing."
The smile returned to Pravus' face, "Very well! I need you to find the locations of the Mother Domes of light and dark. Everything else I will do."
"Mother Domes? I will do what I can."
"Thank you. I must leave now, but I will be back."
Without looking back, he went to go see the creature.
Author: DragonMasterHawk
The horse bounded toward them like nothing Julian had ever seen. The loan voice of the woman screamed over the thousands of spider squeals, the black flood quickly closing on the group,
"RUN! For the Lords's sake RUN!" She screamed, the horse bounding past them, almost knocking them of their feet.
"Um, I think we should take her advice..." Gehdrin said, turning to run.
"We can't just let them chase them forever..." Naliya said, reading her bow. A small sqeal from the direction the horse went, followed by a thud was heard.
"Thanks for the choice, Horse!" The woman yelled, running back to the river of spiders, "It seems we can't run,"
The man she was riding with came from behind too, ready to help try and fight off the spiders as well. The spider blanket ran at them, ready for their dinner...
**
Ryona readied herself, on hand on the three pronged dagger by her side, the other prepared for using magic. She heard the two archers fire their arrows, killing only two of the thousands.
"We need to be able to do more than one at a time!" Ryona yelled.
"What the hell kind of magic are these things weak against?" One of the men said.
"I wouldn't have the slightest clue, experiment!" She yelled, shooting a stream of water toward the spiders, seemingly to no effect...
Author: Blueangel_wing
"Water won't work!", yelled Felerial. "They'll drink it! Try fire!"
Ryona yelled again, and column of flames poured from her hands into the spiders. A hundred of the spiders caught on fire and were burned to a crisp instantly. More were wounded.
"Everyone spread out! Don't give them one place to go after", yelled Julian
Naliya and Felerial fired their bows again, then ran to another position, while Ryona deep-fried the spiders. Though many of the spiders were dead, even more survivrd and surged forth. One finally reached Felerial and screeched. Felerial screeched back. Suddenly, everything was silent. The humnas were stunned because Felerial knew "spider". The spiders were stunned because Felerial had just insulted their leader's mother. The silence was shattered with a wave of screeches that rushed forth towards Felerial. He calmy drew Sasperilla and shifted it from hand to hand.
"I could use some help here!", he yelled
Author: Charizard's Breath
Ayamé was walking around in the kitchen, preparing some food for Gabe when suddenly an image flashed through her mind "I could use some help here!", a man unknown to her yelled. She saw a bunch of spiders enclosing on him. Fire was surrouning the beasts but seemed to do not much anymore. In a faint image she could make out Colin and Julian's face and a little later Naliya's. They were all rushing towards the man, in hope of saving him from his doom.
"Juju!!!!", she screamed. Trent, who was talking outside with Ash, heard it and came rushing in. "Ayame, dear, are you alright?!?", he panicked.
"I'm fine, it's Julian, Colin and Naliya. They're in trouble! We've got to get there now! Didn't you see it?", she asked Ash. He just shook his head and ran back out the door. "Well?", he looked at Ayame and Trent, "What are you waiting for?" Trent looked at his wife and at his son. "What about Gabe? we can't take him with us, can't risk it", he said
"I will not leave my 3 year old son here by himself!", Ayame argued.
Trent jumped on his horse, as did Ash on his own horse, and looked at the young mother. "You stay here then"
"I will not stay put while my friends and brother are in trouble!", she yelled and ran back inside.
Trent and Ash left immediatly, thinking that Ayame just rushed off inside in a rage of madness and wasn't planning to come back. But she wasn't, she was just going for the boy.
"Come on Gabe", she said as she took her child on her arm and ran outside and mounted the last horse standing there.
Ash had already made 'mind contact' with Julian, who was able to tell them just about where they were. Upon arrival they saw an unknown man slashing at lots of spiders and Naliya, Colin and another unknown woman were casting fire spells to keep the spiders away from the other man. Julian immediatly noticed them and left behind another man that was unfamiliar to Ash and Trent, trying to warm them for the spiders that were closing in from behind. A spider jupmed from a nearby branch and headed right for Trent as it was struck by an arrow of Naliya's. "Nice to see you have come to join us", she commented.
No one noticed that from afar Ayame and her son were closing in on the fight...
Author: Ayame
Felerial stared at the unexpected help. Now the tides of war were in their favor. Felerial let out a warcry and slashed furiously, killing spiders as he worked his way over to the new arrivals.
"How did you know about us?", he yelled.
He didn't hear the answer. All he saw was a flash of color as his vision returned.
He was in an empty field, holding a dagger. On the foor were two men. The evil wizard and his father. The evil wizard was once again changing to a normal man.
"I know I killed a regular guy! Please, I have a battle to fight". "The killer of your father is not the wizard. Kill the killer and the visions will stop," came the voice of the druid
"What!?", yelled Felerial. "I saw the wizard strike him down!" "Kill your father's killer"
There was another flash of light, and Felerial was on the ground, three of the strangers fighting over him to stop the spiders. Felerial got up, hefted his sword, and stabbed a spider. He looked at the new people and they looked back, giving him a strange look. One came closer. It was the one they had called Trent.
"What was the name of the wizard that killed your father."
Felerial's blade was suddenly at Trent's throat.
"How do you know about my father?", asked Felerial
"You spoke in that vision-like thing," replied Trent, ready to kill Felerial.
Felerial lowered his sword, as did Trent.
"I don't know."
Trent was about to question Felerial further, but a new wave of spiders came and they busied themsleves in butchering them.
Author: Charizard's Breath
"Yes...perfect," came the voice inside the ruined building. His plan was coming along nicely. "Pravus' usefulness is unsurpassed, I shall have to reward him."
He saw a vision in front of him of Pravus waling down the busy streets. A seemingly normal looking man. It concerned him. Not Pravus' loyalty, no; he knew that Pravus was a man of his word. It was what Pravus didn't know that concerned him. He had heard what Pravus had found in the book, for he knew everything Pravus knew and more. He had heard of these domes before. The Creation of Life was his only hope. He knew he would achieve his goal, for Pravus vowed his help, and that was help to be respected. The sphere with the vision of the Acerbus Barathrum was found next to his body after it was...changed. Pravus had happened upon him during one of his travels. Being an intelligent man, he didn't try to kill him, for he knew that appearances were decieving.
He gave a sigh, then closed his eyes for a rest.
*****
Pravus was walking along to the ruined house, or the Place as they simply called it. He was moving quickly, for he had urgent news. Anonymous faces passing him by, there one second, gone the next. So many, yet they are all just puppets to fate. He didn't think much more about it. All at once, he fell. His knees hit the ground and dust went flying. Images raced through his head. He could only make two of them out. One was a small child in the arms of a silver-haired woman, the other was a man that he thought he recognized. He could feel the memory in his back of his mind. He strained his nervous system to the breaking point. Wizard...dagger...village...elf...his eyes burst open in a catastrophic revelation...Felerial!
Author: DragonMasterHawk
Ryona Shot another flame at the charging spiders. She knew she couldn't keep it up much longer, fire wasn't her element. She had to think of something, maybe one of the others could help...
"Hey Felerial, do these things fry with thunder magic too?"
"Yeah, just be careful not to shot twice in the same place, they like to disapate," Another arrow shot past.
"Ok, hey, um, new guy with the arm, yeah you, do you do thunder?" She asked the man who had just joined them.
"yeah, a little," He said, obviously a little confused.
"Get ready to cast it at my spell in a second ok, ready," She readied herself for her attack, "NOW! TSUNAMI!" She raised her arms and a wave, apparently from no-where, rose from behind her. She heared the crackle of a thunder spell as it joined the water, insencifying the elecricity. The suddenly empowered water hi the spiders with one last explosive, collective sqeal...
Author: Blueangel_wing
The spiders were nothing more but ashes now. Felerial looked at the strangers and thanked them. "You have my gratitude", he said modestly.
"No problem", Ash replied. They were all looking at eachother for a moment, until Julian broke the silence: "Shall we get introduced first? I am Julian Makoto"
Ash stepped forward: "Ash Masaki, pleased to meet you."
Ryona looked pleasing at Ash, "Ryona Alysta, at your service" and made a nobel bow.
"Colin, loyal tracker", he spoke.
From behind Colin another man introduced himself: "Prince Cedric Val Hsraldouazan" All of them looked surprised. There was a prince amongst them. Trent was feeling a little uncomfortably till the man who rode with Ryona spoke: "Just plain Felerial for me. and I that you all very much for saving me"
"And I am Trent Scythe", Trent said as the last one. There was some form of rivalry in the air between Trent and Felerial. Soemthing strange. Trent immediatly felt he had to compete with Felerial for some reason. Strange...
From afar the could hear a horse closing in. "Someone's coming!", the local folks who were still there shouted. Felerial and Cedric readied there weapons and held them up high.
"STOP!!!", Trent shouted when he saw who was sitting on the horse.
Author: Ayame
Pravus came back to reality, surrounded by gaping onlookers. He pushed himself to his feet, and brushed the dirt off of his clothing with several quick swipes. Satisfied, he walked to the edge of his circle and broke through the crowd, once again on his way. His head was racing with thoughts. What...what could this mean? Felerial, the boy, the one holding anger. And what of the woman with the babe? There was a new thought in his mind, he must meet the man...and capture the babe.
"Gabe," he said to no one in particular. He had approached the Place. Without hesitation, he pushed the cracked door open with the usual creaking.
"Welcome back, my friend. You need not say anything, I know all that has happened. The child is what you should be concerned about."
"How do you know my vision had meaning?"
"Of course it had meaning, Pravus. You are gifted, we both know, and visions don't just come to the gifted. Go to the child, Pravus, he means more to this than we know."
"But is it right to take a child?"
"The ends justify the means."
"Ahh...do they?"
Pravus walked through the door again, not looking back. He knew where he was going. The place where the child was. The place where he might find part of the puzzle he was trying to put together, with only a sphere to guide him. Wae Sala, the town where his destiny resides.
Author: DragonMasterHawk
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii", Ayamé's horse was startled by the sudden stop it had to make. "Wow horsy!", she called to calm it down.
Cedric and Felerial lowered their weapons. "Who's the pretty lady?", Felerial flattered Ayame, a little too much to the likings of Trent. "She's my WIFE!", Trent snapped back. Naliya couldn't stand to laugh, but was poked in the ribs by a clearly amused Colin. Trent walked up to Ayame and asked why she had followed them. "And you brought our son too?!?", he asked her as she dismoute the horse with Gabriel in her hands. "I couldn't just leave him home, could I?", she said.
Trent grabbed the boy from her hands and asked if he was alright. "I am.", Gabe muttered, "Mummy take care of me"
Trent hugged his boy and said: "Of course she does", looking at his wife, smiling, "Still, you shouldn't have come. It's dangerous with a child in the woods"
Ayame knew he was right but she couldn't possibly have left Gabe behind. Julian went up to Gabriel and said: "You are one brave boy coming all the way into the forest"
"I wan to be like uncy Julian. Brave ands trong", Gabe babbled, but soon got shy again when he noticed all the others standing on the other side.
Ryona walked up to the boy, who was hiding behind Julian's cape. "And who might you be?", she tried to make him feel a little more at ease. The child stuck his thumb in his mouth and looking at the floor he said: "My name is Gabe"
"Gabe?", she replied.
"Short for Gabriel", Ayame interveaned.
Ryona didn't believe what she was hearing. could this be the boy she was looking for?
Author: Ayame
Ryona Knelt so her knee rested on the ground, as Gabe's mother slowly let him down to the ground.
"Really?" She asked with a smile, but inwardly curious, "And how old are you, Gabe?"
Gabe beamed all of a sudden, "I'm a big kid now! I'm Fwee!" He exclaimed, shooting out three short little fingers toward Ryona, indicating his age as if she couldn't hear him.
"Wow! You are a big boy aren't ya? I bet one day you'll be as big as your dad."
Ryona said, finally standing up. She opened her mouth to speak to Gabe's mother, but was interrupted by a proud little voice,
"Nooo wayee! No-one will ever be big as daddy, not even uncle JuJu!"
"Is that so, well, your dad I'm sure would be really proud to hear that young Gabe. Since you seem to enjoy talking to me, do you think you could tell me where you’re from?"
Gabe nodded like his head was on a well oiled hinge, "I'm fwom Wae Sawa, mummy said she came from there before I came too. It's vewy nice there, you should come visit, Winoa!"
"It's Ryo... Never mind. I'd love to visit, Gabe, if that's alright with your mum and dad,"
Someone cleared their throat behind her, "Excuse me, as much as we all love being ignored, there is a storm coming and I think we'd all be better off returning to our shelters," The voice who spoke was male, the man who had introduced himself as Julian Makoto.
"Lead on," The prince said. The prince was like no royalty Ryona had ever seen, he didn't act regal. However there was no doubting his royalty and that was an end to the matter, irrespective of whether or not he asked someone else to lead.
Ryona waited patiently for Julian to head off. Julian slowly inched toward his horse. She looked toward Ferial, who was heading toward the horse they had shared before.
"Come on Ryona, We'll take this horse, K?"
Ryona looked around at the others, "No, ride with one of them, I'll be fine, just watch..."
Ryona held an arm in the air above her head, "Hyritaias Tynylora" She said, an elven accent indicating the words of an ancient elven calling spell.
They all waited in silence as nothing happened. She repeated the words.
"What she doing mummy?" Gabe whispered behind her. She heard Gabe's mother shoosh him behind her.
"Um, Ryona? Was that meant to do something?" Felerial asked.
Ryona lowered her hands, "Something is wrong. Something is gravely wrong."
"You told me, now get on the horse before the storm hits." Felerial helped her onto the horse and called for a third rider, "Ok, loyal tracker, you too"
Felerial helped the one who called himself Colin onto the horse behind Ryona. The horse groaned in protest, but co-operated. As the others mounted the respective horses, Julian helped an Elven woman onto his own horse.
Ryona had noticed that Felerial was too an Elf, but not a wood Elf, something different…
“Felerial, Foi jitia hitilga mirivett politiria? ” She said, speaking in a generic Elven tongue she’d learned at the wood Elf village she grew up in.
“Hitilga towya maia xai hyba ol wa” He answered back.
“What are you two talking about?” Colin said as the horse took off.
Felerial turned his head slightly, “Do you know who the wood Elf on the horse with Julian is, Ryona’s getting paranoid,”
Ryona poked Felerial in the ribs, “Shut up! I am not getting paranoid, I was just curious,”
“That’s Naliya, she’s a tracker too. She’s a friend of mine,”
“ Gobaiti Hyajenti? Ui polikta sala ”
“We are just friends, and I’d thank you to stop talking about me in another language!” Naliya said, after asking Julian to slow back to be level with theirs.
“What did she say?”
Naliya eyed Ryona, “’Just Friends? A likely story,”
“Naliya,” Ryona said with a smile, “I think I’m going to like you, and your Hyajaio ”
“Rinoa!” Felerial scolded.
“It’s ok, Feral, I’m only joking. I know they aren’t lovers,” Ryona and Naliya both giggled at some unknown joke.
“Don’t call me feral.”
“Then get my name right Felerial, it’s RYONA, not Rinoa. Whoever SHE is you certainly have her on the brain,” Ryona giggled again.
Julian intervened before any more jocular insults could be thrown, “Would you all be quiet!”
“Tai Kora ” Naliya and Ryona said at once, a little salute from Felerial indicated his agreement.
Julian frowned, “Don’t call me sir…”
***
They reached Wae Sala just in time for the storm to hit. Ayame held Gabe to her and rushed inside to get out of the rain.
“That was sudden,” Trent said, following her into Gabe’s bedroom.
“I know, wasn’t it. Trent, where did you put the others?”
Trent watched Ayame put Gabe into his crib, “The house near the fountain,”
Ayame turned quickly to face her husband, “You did what? Trent you can be o stupid sometimes,”
“What? What did I do this time?”
“The house by the fountain was Xaya’s house,”
“So?”
“So, don’t you remember what she said last time we heard from her?”
“Um, Aya, in case you hadn’t noticed, the last time I heard her in my head, I went crazy,” He waited for that to somehow sink in, it didn’t “Please, recap.”
Ayame turned away, “Forget it,”
“Aya…”
“I said forget it,”
“Anyway, we haven’t heard from her in months, she’ll never know,”
Ayame started out the door, “Watch Gabe…” And she walked out the door, back into the rain.
“Daddy, where is mummy goin?” Gabe asked, his pleading eyes piercing Trent’s soul.
Trent looked out the window, “She’s going to see uncle Juju,”
“Weally?” Gabe smiled, there was always something interesting come from his uncle’s.
“Yeah, Weeeally,”
“Weally Weally?”
“Yes Gabe,”
***
Julian found the others in the house by the fountain. He knew it had to be Trent that put them there, Ayame wouldn’t even look at the place.
“Hello, anyone home?”
“Yeah, Juls we’re in here,”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t call me that Colin. How is everyone settling in?”
“Impeccably,” Felerial said, rolling his eyes, “Ryona and Naliya have gone somewhere already, who knows where. As for me and Colin, we are just trying to get comfortable. There are some freaky vibes going on in here. The Prince himself and the other two guys are upstairs. How come this place smells like burning?”
Julian cracked his knuckles, “Long story,”
Colin just nodded in agreement.
JULIAN MAKOTO!
“Oh no, Ayame don’t think at me! It makes my head hurt!” Julian said, swinging his head to yell out the door.
“Julian! How could you let them in here! And don’t be such a wimp, it makes my head hurt too alright,”
“Why aren’t they allowed here? There isn’t anywhere else to stay,”
“Julian! You heard Xaya’s last message didn’t you?”
“That was MONTHS ago! Aya, you are over reacting. We haven’t heard from Xaya in months, for all we know she could be lying on the ground dead somewhere!”
“Don’t say that!”
“Why not? It’s probably true.”
“Oh shut up, you sound like… like…”
“You?”
Ayame stopped, “No, you sound like, like mother that’s who,”
“Oh come on,”
Colin leaned over to Felerial, “Sibling rivalry, the most natural thing in the world, after se…”
“You shut up,” Ayame and Julian said in unison. Colin leaned back a little, but shut up.
“I give up with you Julian, I really do, where are Naliya and the other lady?”
“You mean Ryona? Who knows. The Prince is upstairs with the others,” Colin answered.
“Did I hear my name said?” Naliya called from an adjoining room. She emerged and greeted Ayame and Julian.
“Is it still raining?” Ryona called from the next room, not noticing the dripping wet Ayame.
“Yes, it is still raining,” Ayame said, “You said something on the way about balances, what were you talking about?”
Ryona finally looked at Ayame, then the roof, “I’m surprised this house is still standing. There’s dark magic in the walls,”
“I asked you a question,”
“Whoa, calm down Ayame, if the imbalance is just reaching here now, then that may explain it. You see, about three years ago a cataclysmic event somehow destroyed a keeper of Dark magic, thus removing dark energy from the balance of power within the world. Since where I come from is around about the area where the elements come together, we were effected first. If one element is destroyed, the others will fight for dominance, it is almost a nature war, that we are caught in the middle of,”
Ayame lost her frown, and spoke softly, “Three years? Um, Ryona are those white dome that have been popping up in the news something to do with that?”
“Yes, they are the light forces fighting for dominance over the other elements, before the cataclysm, they were only summonable by very powerful mages, now they occur naturally,”
“Ryona, three years ago,” Julian began, clearing his throat, “We, Ayame, Ash, Xaya and I, we destroyed two every strong dark mages, we were in a huge dark dome when we destroyed them,”
Ryona visibly took in what she heard, “You? You are the four born to magic?”
Julian frowned, puzzled, “Pardon?”
“The four born to magic, people who have magic coursing through their blood. Tell me, where is this fourth person you speak of?”
“Xaya? We don’t know, we lost psychic link with her a few months ago. She used to live here when we were children. The dark magic in here came from her, when she destroyed this town and everyone and everything in it, including her blood sister,”
“That explains the burning smell,” Felerial said, lost at what was going on.
“Psychic you say? She must have been on the edge of the vergence when you lost contact. If she has dark magic, I am truly sorry, your friend will not have survived,” Ryona looked down for a second.
“You obviously don’t know Xaya,” Colin said, “She has – or had – some kind of fire magic in her too, she would have made it,”
“No, if she has psychic power and fire, she would have been torn apart by her own magic. Dark is no longer an element unless it found new keepers within seconds of being lost, or every trace of dark energy would be taken over by the others, which means this house and possibly this town,”
“What if they did find keepers? What would keep the other elements attacking?” Naliya asked.
“I realize this is all very confusing. If the keepers didn’t realize and truly know in their heart they were the keepers, and know how to handle it, the darkness would lay dormant until the other elements had destroyed each other, and all of a sudden the world would be plunged into the verge, The End,”
The words the end sent shivers down Ayame’s spine. And strange memories of all those years ago.
“Let’s say they found keepers. The only people around were us,” Julian said, his fascination growing.
“Then if it found keepers, which I find most likely,” Ash said, standing in the doorway, dripping with rain. He’d been listening in, and his knowledge of magic brought him an advantage, “Then it would have been one of our group,”
“But, none of us have it, we know Telano and Leo don’t. If Sheila did it didn’t last long, god rest her soul, they only other one we don’t know enough about is… Xaya… She’s a keeper?”
“Possibly,”
“But who did she take? Hawk or Tonelek?” Julian asked.
“And who took the other one?” Ash asked.
Ryona frowned at Ayame, “Were you pregnant with Gabe then?”
Ayame was rather caught off guard, “Yes, I didn’t know though…”
“What are you suggesting?” Julian asked.
“It’s only speculation, but there is every possibility that with the focus magic you must have used flowing through your body, that your unborn child became even more receptive and…”
“Gabe may be the second carrier…”
Ryona just nodded.
Author: Blueangel_wing
Ayame didn't believe what she was hearing. Her little boy, her sweetheart, her and Trent's proof of life........
Julian saw his sister wasn't taking the news too well and held arm. "You ok?", he asked, not expecting an answer. She just looked up at him, straight in his eyes, and felt her head spinning again. She sort of shook it off and ran out the door, right back in the rain.
"She's got a temper", prince Cedric said, who had been listening from the stairs. Naliya just gave him an anrgy look. "She is touchy", Felerial admitted. Julian thought it would be better to get these people out of the house. "let's go to Ayamé's place. She's got some more room for us all.", he suggested and was followed by everyone through the rain.
***
Ayamé was sitting by the bed of her young child, watching it sleep. Trent came up from behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "What's the matter my dear? Is it Xaya?"
She sighed. "It's worse than that"
Trent looked at her, confused, not knowing what to say exactly.
"What is the problem?"
She sighed again. "Unfortunalty, Gabe seems to be the problem"
She explained him what Ryona had told her just now. Trent immediatly sat down and looked at his son.
"You mean, Gabe's....a keeper?"
Ayame held her husband's hand. "I know Trent, I know. But nothing's sure now"
"But he doesn't even have magic abilities!"
"Maybe they are hidden", a voice said from outside the room. It was Ryona. She had found her way up to Gabe's room. Trent didn't know what to say. He was stunned.
"I think we better go downstairs and discuss this further", Ryona said. Trent and Ayame walked down the stairs hand in hand, followed by Ryona.
Downstairs Julian had briefly explained the Prince, Felerial and the other two men what had exectly happened in those two past years. Ayame walked over to Julain and whispered in his ear: "Thank you for getting them out of Xaya's house. Finally some sense you have gotten." Julian looked at his sister angryly, but was interrupted by Cedric: "So you are all linked in some magic like way?"
Author: Ayame
"What have I done?" Pravus mumbled to himself. He was walking to Wae Sala. It was a bit far, and he wished he had bought a horse, but he had to get there. There had to be some connection between Felerial and Gabe, or they wouldn't have both been in the same vision. He decided to make camp in a small clearing. He scraped stone against flint, and a fire was born. He sat before the flame and closed his eyes to rest. Not a bird sang its tune, not a squirrel scampered. The only noise was the soft crackling of the blaze in front of him.
"My my, you are a pesky little boy," chimed the floating wizard. The boy was sprawled on the ground, blood seeping from a wound on the back. The breaths were short and weary. A man, the boy's father, was standing in defiance of the wizard. A sword was clutched by both his hands, and a cheek wound was dripping spots of blood down his face. "You are annoying too, little man," he said as he spit down to the man.
"Felerial, don't worry, everything will be okay," he said to his unconsious son.
******
A hill away, a man was walking siliently. He heard some shouts, and went to investigate. He saw the scene of the three figures. Something piqued his interest about the boy, there was something...special about him. He decided to take action.
******
"I think I'll dispose of your dear son first, hehehe..." The wizard shifted his hands in an arcane manner, while at the same time mumbling an ancient language.
"Mors mortis oriundus desuper!" Thunder could be heard directly above them. Lightning cracked all around them.
******
"Semel desino..." the man spoke. The world flashed white all around him. It felt like the life force was being sucked from his soul. It was a temporary side effect of the spell, as it required tremendous power. The wizard, the man, the boy, even the lightning was frozen in time. He stepped from where he was, but the footprint in the grass stayed as it was. The grass itself was solid, and would be like walking on a bed of nails if not for his boots. He went over to the boy and touched his hand. "Eximo..." he whispered. The boy came out of the time stop, limp. Not because he was injured, but because only the caster of the time stop spell could be consious during it. He put the boy over his shoulder, and put him over in the bushes, out of harm's way. Next came the hard part, the process he hated. A life could not be saved with this spell, only switched, and by the rules of magic he had to put someone in place of the boy. He walked over to the father, a stone figure in the field. His eyes shone anger, and his knuckles were white. The blood looked eerie just frozen there. It looked like liquid still. He touched the father's face, "Eximo..."
******
The wizard was having a fun time with these two. They were so weak compared to him. He summoned up the lighting to strike down the boy for good. He chanted the words, and down the electricity came. Something was wrong, though. For the boy was no longer there, in fact, the boy was no where to be seen. Instead, in his place, was his father, lying on the grass. It came down, the man opened his eyes. All he saw was a strange man in the distance, watching.
Pravus awoke with a start, his face burning and sweaty from being too close to the fire for too long. He felt hollow inside. Was it a dream? Or was it for real...?
Author: DragonMasterHawk
Ash explained their past to the Prince so that finally everyone would get a better clue of what's going on.
"Ok, and how are we going to bring this balance back?", Felerial said.
"We? We?", the prince replied, "Where did the we come from all of a sudden?"
"What do you mean?", Felerial replied.
"Since when do we have anything to do with it?"
"Everyone on this planet has something to do with it!!!!", Ryona got mad, because the seriousness of the situation was still unclear to Cedric. "If we're all going tosit back and watch what happens next, this world will be torn apart by its own magic!!"
Ayame sat in the back, holding Trent's hand and spoke: "Don't worry about anything, Ryona, you have our full support"
Julian, Ash and Trent nodded.
Naliya stood up:"And ours too! we will help you out, with that helping the world"
"Again...", Colin remarked. A chain of laughs was heard throughout the room and Cedric agreed to help them as well, followed by an approving nod of Felerial.
Guess they are ready to face the danger....
Author: Ayame
The first hint of daylight started to stream between the trees. Birds sang, squirells chirped. The light footsteps of deer on wet leaves was heard as all the sounds of the morning forest came to life. Soon, magnificant sunbeams cast their glow across the town of Wae Sala. There was a light mist in the air, which was not unusual for this time of day. There was a slight breeze russling the leaves among the ground. It was a beautiful day. It was a wonderful change of scenery from the chaos in the elements as of late. There were no storms, fires, or harsh winds. Just a calm, pristine morning that many have woken up to experience just for the sheer wonder of it. However, there was still one thing amiss.
Ayame was turning in her sleep. She found herself in a dream, similar to the one she had a few nights before. She found herself standing in the blackness of space once again; very similar to the interior of Hawk's black dome. Only this time she didn't see Gabriel. She looked around for him, knowing he should be there, but found no traces of him. She ran searching for him, shouting out his name. Ayame started to panic, her heart racing. The path in which she followed became sparatic, as she hurried back and forth, looking for her lost son. She was very confused. She had just seen him here in this dome, eating a rat. She hadn't looked away for a second before he was gone. But that was the last dream. It was different this time. Gabe simply wasn't there. He wasn't in some dark, secluded area of the dome. He wasn't running to avoide Ayame. Gabe was simply not here. She ran faster still, screaming his name. The black dome seemed to go on forever, neverending. She gave out one last scream before she heard Trent's voice calling to her.
"Ayame! Ayame wake up!!"
Ayame jerked up in bed in a cold sweat, "Gabe!"
"He's fine! He's in his room. What's the matter this time?"
"There's something wrong," Ayame said as she started to get out of bed.
"Ayame. Why do you keep doing this? You know he's perfectly safe."
Ignoring her husband's words, she ran out of the room and down the hall. Trent slowly got out of bed and followed in the direction of Ayame. He soon quickened his pace when he heard Ayame screaming.
"Trent!"
Trent bolted through the door, "what's wrong?" He soon realized the answer to his question, "Gabriel."
The space where Gabe usually slept was now empty. Trent and Ayame ran through the house looking for their son, but to no avail. There was no need to look in the house further. Ayame knew she wasn't going to find him there.
"Wake Colin. We're going to have to track down whoever took our son."
Author: Hangover_boy
Cedric laid asleep, still as a dead log. Thoughts swirled around in his head like a tornado. Why was he here? Who were these people? He knew he had to help, it was his word! But at the same time he felt as if he should run away.
Suddenly, it all went black. He opened his eyes to find himself in a pitch black room. He noticed a flaming sword hovering in the middle, so he instinctively walked toward it Upon further inspection he noticed it was a royal king's sword, with a scarlet cloth firmly wrapped around the handle, a silver hilt, and a ruby pommel stone. But what stood out most was the blade. It shone like a thousand suns and moons through the flame that engulfed it.
He reached out to grab the sword, but noticed that it was farther away than he thought. He walked closer to it, but it remained the same distance away from him. Cedric walked faster, but the sword seemed to be avoiding him. He broke into a fast run, but the sword kept its distance. Suddenly, a hand reached out of the darkness, grabbed the sword, and drew it away into the dark from the hand came from. Cedric stopped running, and stood still. Then the hand came back out and drew Cedric in with it.
Cedric fell out of the bed he was in with a thud. He got back on his bed and rubbed his head.
"Just a dream," he said. But it seemed so real.
"Gabriel!" someone cried out from downstairs. Cedric put all thoughts aside, and ran downstairs.
Author: Neclordsword
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