Till the Dawn of Time
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Xaya wrapped whatever she could grab of hers in her cape and tied it into a bundle, continually looking over her shoulder for Hawk. She grabbed the bundle in her arms and ran, avoiding the falling meteors she'd produced for dear life. she knew Tonelek would realise before long and stop the attack, if it hadn't killed him already.
She ran with her head down through the halls, passing rocks and dead Drows all around. She turned at the nearest door that looked like it headed out.
She ended up in a courtyard full of gravel. She stopped and looked around, spotting Sheila. She ran for her, bundle still in her hand and grabbed her arm before still running through the iron gate that was open and mangled.
"Xaya! There art Rusalian guards that way! Why are we running? What art thou doing?" Sheila yelled, struggling to keep running with Xaya dragging her.
"Shut up Valkyrie. To begin with, the guards are either dead or I'll kill them, 'cause god knews that they'll be dead soon anyway. Secondly, remember what happened in the forest? The big magic that destroyed my town? Well history is repeating itself. And lastly, I'm saving our arses! If Tonelek manages to stop this onslaught and we're still here, were both in deeper s**t than we can think of!" She kept running, past the gate and out toward the forest. The two guards were watching the castle as the dark cloud expanded out the windows, then stopped suddenly.
"Xaya, I think he stopped it."
Xaya turned back and cursed, running faster. She tripped over the skirt of her dress about three time before letting Sheila's arm go and holding her dress instead.
Sheila stopped, "Xaya, we're out, what art thou doing?"
"Just keep running Sheila!" Xaya didn't stop to yell it back, just kept running.
"Why?"
Xaya finally stopped, turning back and heading back for her. She pointed toward the castle, "That's why."
Four horsemen were riding in their direction, the cloud from the castle having disipated completely. Xaya and Sheila turned and ran into the forest, jumping over logs and streams as the horses closed on their possitions.
Xaya, don't run, I'll get you whereever you are!
Xaya heard Hawk's voice in her head, like a loud speaker bashing on her senses. She almost screamed when his voice got louder, repeating the same thing over and over. She kept running through the voice, holding her ears to try and stop it.
This is what it feels like to get your Project Pandora, Xaya. How do you like it?
How the hell is he doing that!?! Xaya thought, still running.
She dragged Sheila around a corner where she thought she felt... something.
XAYA! YOU CAN'T escape me! I'm like you, I will find you!
Xaya didn't have a clue what he meant, just kept running. She couldn't hear the horses or the voice anymore, but she still ran.
"Stop will thee, I can't run anymore," Sheila said, stopping and bending over, breathless.
"Come on, Valkyrie, you can't give up now!"
"I can't keep going."
Xaya could hear the horses start up again, coming closer. Hawk really could find her. She grabbed Sheila's arm and tried to pull her along, "Come on! They'll do tests on you too!" Xaya tried to drag her along. Whatever they'd drugged her with had really ruined her.
"No, you go."
"Listen, if anyone's gonna be tested on, it's me, I'm the bad guy rememeber? Come on!"
Sheila didn't move and inch.
"Damn you Valkyrie I've done enough good for one decade!" Xaya hit the floor next to her and dragged Sheila down next to her. "Illusion!"
The spot they were in was replaced by a huge tree, and Xaya tried to stop thinking to stop Hawk finding them. She heard the horses go straight past them, except one, which stopped.
"Where are you? Xaya, dear, come out and I promise the knight won't get hurt."
It was Hawk. Xaya and Sheila stayed perfectly still.
Why doesn't he just try that mind thing again? she thought, trying to keep it as inconspicuos as she could.
"Xaya, can Elves use telepathy?" Sheila whispered.
Xaya shook her head, closing her eyes and inwardly preying that something was interfering with his mind. She tried to think of why he could do what he was doing. Humans couldn't do mind tricks either. In fact she had no idea why she could do attacks like Lyrical Destiny and Project Pandora, she just could.
Xaya listened for more hoof falls or something to show Hawk had gone, there were none.
There are too many of them around here. Why would there be so many? Why are they all amplified? Hawk was confused. The other subjects were all on a telepathic level he couldn't reach, and he wasn't sure they knew about it. Their minds were all intermingled, like a strange instinct to protect each other by confusing an attacker. He didn't understand. Perhaps it was the fact they were failures, all of them. Perhaps the magic had somehow heightened their mental abilities more than anything else, and that's WHY they were failures. Hawk was confused as hell.
He tried reaching for Xaya's mind, and got jumble messages from everywhere, like many thoughts directed at him and her together all at once. He sent a general probe to all of them, and heard more garble and a single, projected mental scream...
-= Sawella =-
Ash heard what sounded like a crowd at a sporting game in his head all of a sudden, many garbled thoughts all together. He frowned, trying to distinguish just one of them. He failed misserably with every attempt.
Who are you? came the first disernable voice. He didn't recognise the voice, nor did he think he would, but he was sure at least Ayame heard it because she frowned at the same time as he heard it. Then, like it was a reply, came a brain peircing scream.
"Jesus Christ, did any of you hear that?" Julian said aloud.
"Hear what?" Telano said, unsure as to what was happening.
"A scream, a loud and peircing one," Ayame said softly.
"I heard it too," Ash said, stepping forward a little and looking up, waiting for more.
what the hell is going on? He thought, looking at the sky. He was perfectly aware Jewel was behind him long before he turned to face her.
"Thank You for helping us ma'am." He said.
**********
Xaya didn't know why she'd screamed, but she was deffinately aware of the general who are you sent out by Hawk. What was more she was sure she hadn't screamed aloud. What she was sure of is that Hawk was riding away, toward the deffinate area where she'd sensed a huge amount of magic, fresh magic. She wiped the illussion away before sitting up, then standing and brushing the grass off of herself and fixing her hair. She heard Sheila stand up too, but she wasn't sure if she'd brushed herself off or not.
"Let's go that way." Xaya pointed to where the magic was coming from and the place she seemed somehow drawn to by the garbled she'd heard before the query after who she was.
"Wait Xaya, I want something explained first."
"We don't have time, there's something over there and we have to go."
"I want to know what thou were talking about testing for."
"That's what they do in there, they use humans as guinea pigs. What they were and are testing I don't know, all I know is that they tested whatever it was on me when I was little."
"Why didst thou save me?"
Xaya stopped and turned away before she answered, "I didn't want it to happen again." She seemed to herself to be on the verge of tears. She looked back at Sheila before she realised she was more than on the verge, "Come on Valkyrie, your friends are this way. I'm not turning good or anything, it's just that until we're away from that stupid little s**t, we're on the same side. Survival.
author: Blueangel_wing
**********
Hawk rode towards to place where he felt strong magical emmanations. His three helpers were following him. As he approached the site his heart skipped a beat.
"G...go back," he gasped. The helpers, having been in the service of Hawk for years, followed unquestioningly.
The valley was a grass field. Perfectly circular, clear except for a small dome. The dome was black without and opening, it seemed to shine, its luster was bright like the sun. Hawk approached the dome, obsessed with it. He didn't even notice the two women at the top of the valley looking down. Hawk slowly touched it, hands trembling, he felt the smooth surface, then smiled. His eyes flashed around, spotting the women at the top.
Xaya and Sheila were watching the boy look at the dome. It was like no dome Sheila had ever seen. Xaya seemed to recognize it, yet not know it. Hawk turned his head and saw them, giving them a menacine smile.
"We have to get down there, NOW!" Xaya shouted. Sheila stood there, in a state of paralysess.
"It's the magic, snap out of it!" Xaya took one look into the valley and saw Hawk walk into the dome, yet there was no door. After he had walked through the dome looked just as it had. An uncanny silence overwhelmed the area.
author: DragonMasterHawk
**********
Xaya ran down the hill quickly, Sheila seemed to just walk slowly down the hill, as if it didn't matter whether or not she got there at all. Xaya'd left the bundle her things were in on top of the hill. The dome wasn't very big, anout big enough to accomidate five or six people with ease. Xaya stopped short of the dome, placing her hand on the surface, but not enough to send it in.
Hawk? Are you in there? She thought, hopefully toward the bubble. She knew that if he was trying to listen, Hawk would hear.
If you want the answers, then come in here Xaya, I will show you.
Xaya knew deep down she shouldn't have listen, shouldn't have gone in, but at the time her curiosity overwhelmed her every sense of what was a stupid thing to do.
Inside the dome was a black mass of nothing, like standing in space. Xaya was a little freaked out at first, but calmed when she realised she was feeling ground under her feet.
Welcome to the end Xaya.
Xaya opened her mouht ot try and speak, but nothing worked.
There are no words here Xaya.
Hawk, what do you mean the end? Xaya was not convinced of what this boy was saying, she thought he was playing one of his mind tricks.
The End, where there is nothing. Where the truth began, and where we will finally learn it. The end is the place where our dormant minds will awaken and produce a power so inconceivable that we will only grasp it in moments of complete loss of control. We are the only two of us that has the strength we should have received Xaya, we are the only ones that can start the world again.
Xaya was getting freaked out, she could feel her heart in her throat, fear she'd never felt before. She felt her mind expand mentally, like it wasn't her controlling it, like there was something there calling for help. She could tell Hawk felt it too, she didn't know why she knew, there was just a feeling.
There is something in you Xaya that makes you less of a failure than the rest. If we can tap that power WE can be more powerful than Lord Tonelek. Together we can rule!
Xaya felt the weird feeling explode in her head, and once again heard the garble, What do you mean, the power?
I'm not going to tell you that here Xaya, they Can hear you in here. We must find a place where your mind will not call them.
Call who?
The failures, the ones who could not take the power, the others like us
Her head told her distinctly to try and leave, but a part of her wanted to know what he spoke of. There are others? Like us? Tell me boy what do you mean like us?
The others who went through the symbiosis, the mixing with the beings that give us the power!
Xaya felt she finally had the hang of this mind talking, and the garble was becoming focused by the energy in the dome. The garble was three distinct voices beside her own. She heard minds asking questions, hearing the confusion, hearing the strange and curious words the minds were speaking without their owners, and the owners hearing the garble and not knowing what was happening. Her own mind's voice was speaking as well, trying to explain the predicament to the others.
I'm losing my mind! I'm going as crazy as the boy! I can't really hear these voices!
She tried to ignore them, focus on speaking to Hawk, listen to him. Sure he was just as crazy as she was but at least the garble would stop.
She tried to ignore it, but her own mind was trying to get her to listen, there was part of her that wanted to scream, the rest knew she couldn't. It was an endless circle of sound and confusion, like a million reassurances making the problem worse.
I'M LOSING MY MARBLES! She heard herself think.
Are you hearing them Xaya, tell me you are hearing them and I can use our minds to destroy them.
She heard Hawk but didn't listen, she felt torn between her own desire to get rid of the voices and the second part of her that wanted to save the others, the minds that were desperately trying to help hers. She felt a final 'push' by her own mind and turned to where she remembered coming in from and heaeded for it. She reached the side and forced her body through the wall of the dome, the last sound in her my from the boy was an evil and residual laugh.
I'm going crazy, I know it! There is no way I am hearing this!
Her mind was still bombarded by the voices, her own second mind trying to push something through the rest, or perhaps to the rest...
The town was alight and the horsemen hadn't moved. Xaya ran out of her house, clutching the last remaining thing she had that wasn't burned or burning. She didn't have a clue what was happening, nor why it was happening, she just knew it was. She was crying as she clutched the doll for dear life, running toward the Makoto's house. She saw her sister running to the well, and ignored her. She knew Unxia would just leave her whereever she could and go off alone. Xaya kept running. She saw the Makoto's house burning, and three people running away from it. She ran toward them , hoping they were the Makotos. She fell when the ground shook as another meteor hit the ground.
"HELP!" She screamed toward the people around, only one of them, besides the three she was heading for, stopping to help. It was a woman from down the road, one who owned the flower shop. The woman carried her to where the other three stood and handed her two the oldest looking one. She knew it was Unxia's friend, the boy who always called her Little Chit. She looked at the other two as they started running again. She felt a little better when she saw who it was.
The three horsemen at the town entrance stopped them as they were about to run out, grabbing first the two who had their hands free, then Xaya, and last her sisters friend. The man who had taken her scared her to a point where she screamed' "AYAME!!!!"
Xaya held her ears against her own thoughts, trying to stop the bombardment of thoughts, pictures and words that were attacking her mind. She screamed, not knowing why or what she was saying, talking like she’d fallen asleep at five and just woken up.
"Xaya, art thou alright? What was in there? What did he say to you?"
Xaya’s dormant mind took over, the mind that fought to keep in contact with the others, to force her back to when it was began, to the beginning, and her self to the end.
"Who are you?! Where is everyone? What am I doing here?" Xaya backed away from Sheila, a figure her dormant mind didn’t recognize. She tried to tell herself what she was doing was stupid, that she knew what was happening. She just wouldn’t listen.
I’m going completely nuts! If you’re out there Hawk, I swear on the life blood of my veins I’ll kill you!
"Xaya?" Sheila questioned, looking on the crazy woman with confusion and disgust.
"NO! Go away! Where’s Ayame?" Xaya knew that she was asking for Ayame for a reason, and dismissed it as the lunacy of the mind that Hawk had described, drawing the first name it could and using it to confuse her. This was all Hawk’s doing, she knew it.
"Ayame? Why art thou asking for Ayame?" Sheila asked, stepping forward toward Xaya.
"JUST GO AWAY! You took us away, you left us here!" She felt her ‘dormant’ mind crying out to whoever could hear, to everything around, it exploded like a huge tsunami of pain and fear and thoughts that she didn’t want and didn’t like. She was going out of her mind, her own magic was being used against her to ruin her mind. She had to wok out a way to work against it. She had to kill Hawk, he was doing it. He put the crazy stuff in her head. And Ayame, why was she in her head, why was she the one she called? Perhaps she was calling for the person who was really behind all of the madness, or perhaps Hawk was right, perhaps this was a power she and he possessed and if she could control it the s**t would stop.
"Xaya, what art thou saying?"
Xaya’s mind screamed for the others, screamed for those that were like her and those that she knew were out there, the children of Wae Sala.
If scared her more than the voices when she received a pointed answer…
author: Blueangel_wing
**********
"Aah! Stop it!!", Ayamé screamed. "What's happening?"; Naliya asked concerned. "get her out of my head!", Ayamé kept screaming. Julian and Ash were hearing the voices too. "It's Xaya.", Julian clairified, "She's trying to get into Ayamé's mind. She's calling for her."
"Ayamé, help me! I can't take it anymore! Help me getting his voices out of my head! Please...", Xaya sounded in her mind.
"I don't want to", Ayamé replied, "Leave me alone! Please, let me be..." She fell down on her knees. Trent rushed towards her, hoping to be able to help her. "Can't we help her?", julian asked, "We have the same abilities. We must be able to drive Xaya away! Ash, help me out here!"
"I would like to know why we're able to do this first!"
"No time to think about that. Can't you see she's in pain."
"i'm fine", Ayamé said, "I don't know why but she suddenly stopped."
"I don't like the sound of this...", Trent said. Just as he said that, Julian fell on the floor.
author: Ayame
**********
Julian...
Julian...
Julian, where are you, what are you doing?
The voice was pleasing to the ears, it ran through him like blood through his body. Again the voice called, Julian, why do you avoid me? He felt drugged, he had a face of stupor.
"Who are you?" he barely said.
I am Hawk, I am your friend, don't be afraid of me. Please? The voice sounded so reassuring. He wasn't sure, so he decided to ask Hawk another question.
"What do you want with me?"
Oh Julian...I just want to let you have happiness and peace. You just have to do one thing, do you want the pain to be gone?
"Yes! Let the pain be gone! What must I do?"
Kill Ayame.
"What, Never! I...I can't do it! NO!"
He was laying on the ground with Leo looking over him and Ayame to the side looking deep into his eyes. Ayame gave a smile of relief, and everyone else smiled. He felt better, but he knew he had to warn Ash and Ayame.
"Ayame...you too Ash, you have to listen to me. There is an evil man out there, named Hawk. He will try to trick you, but you must resist. Above all, never face him alone, I have a feeling he is a powerful soul. We must take him together!"
author: DragonMasterHawk
Naliya turned to face Jewel who she had noticed had been staring at Telano during the whole of the incident.
"Do you know what's going on?" she asked the witch.
Jewel laughed "And if I did what makes you think that I would tell you anything. Aren't I supposed to be the Bad guy?"
"Well you didn't seem all that bad to me when you helped us to defeat that dragon." Naliya said bluntly "You are obviously skilled in magic and I think that your involvement in what's going on is a little more than just trying to kill Telano."
Telano listened to the them intently, keeping his eyes transfixed upon Jewel. Leo sat at his side and his falcon who had finally caught up with them rested on his shoulder much to Leo's discontent.
"Why don't you help them yourself?" Jewel snapped.
Naliya quickly looked over at Ash and Ayame who were leaning over Julian trying make sence of what he was saying. Trent and Colin with Ghost at his side where also gathered around.
"If I could then I would do everything in my power to help them." Naliya replied "However I'm afraid that this goes a little beyond my capabilities."
Jewel followed Naliya's gaze and was startled to find that she was beginning to feel slightly sympathetic.
Jewel growled under her breath. "Fine." she said at last. "But I want to make this clear to you Blondie. I'm not doing this for your benefit or any of their's. I'm only doing it because it will really piss off that no good, two timing, ugly, squat, bastard-excuse of a husband!" she paused and then smirked wickedly. "I wish I could see the look on that slut's face when she finally sees that venomous toads true form(*)." she cooed to herself.
Naliya looked at the witch bewildered.
"Forget it." Jewel muttered.
author: Sephiroth_&_Kuja_fan
Jewel thought back at her husband with great disgust. "When I ever get the chance, I'll kick his ass so badly that he won't know what hit him.", she muttered. Julian was already back on his feet. Ayamé was hepling her brother whiping off the dirt that was all over his suit. "I think we should decide on a destination now, after all, we still have to find our friend Sheila. god knows what happend to her. How do we know she's still alive?", Ash said. "Sheila's a strong one, she's still alive, believe me!", Trent said, referring to their mutual pasts. Ayamé was the only one who got what he was referring to, but that was Trent's intention. "I think Sheila will have gone to the Russalia castle, 'cause she knows we were heading there as well. If we go there, we should find her", Naliya said. "But how do we get there?", telano asked. Jewel sighed. "Ok, I'll help you out. I know how to get there, after all, I have lived there long enough." Ayamé was relieved the witch was helmping them. She had already adapted to her, for as far as that was possible; "Ok Jewel, lead us the way.", Julian said. "We'll have to stop by the nearest town first to get some upgrades for our weapons and for our friend here who needs some rest. (pointed at Telano)Let's get going, we might get there before dark."
the party followed Jewel, but trent grabbed Ayamé's arm and pulled her to the back of the group. "Say, do you think I should tell Sheila? i mean, she's probably been through a lot wherever she has been and this won't exactly come as good news to her.", Trent asked his girlfriend. "(sigh) It's against my morals to do such a thing, Trent, you know that. But...you are right. I don't think you should tell her now"
Trent felt relieved and hugged his friend. "But...but don't get too excited, you'll have too tell her sometime...if you won't , I will!", she tried.
He looked at her, lovingly, and said:"(made a puppy-face)But you'll keep your mouth shut for now, won't you? PULEEZE? (she nodded) I knew I could trust you!", he said and gently kissed her lips. they were so busy with eachother, that they had completely forgotten about the rest. "Hey Lovebirds! get your butts down here before we lose you!", Julian mocked his sister. The couple had to run to catch up with the group, but Trent felt a lot better, now that he had that off his chest.
author: Ayame
"So uh, what town are we going to?" Trent asked as he caught up with the others. "If you two wernt over there making out you would've known" Julian teased, then slipped in "but i cant really blame ya" to Trent. "I'd suggest going to Tagin, the one that collects the bee's in a giant building incase of attacks. The bee's are trained to know who to attack, and who not to attack" Ash said knowingly. "Maybe we could pick up a few pets there" Colin suggested, no one in the group knew if he was kidding or not. "Thats not actualy a bad idea, the bee's are sold cheap because they have so many of them, and they are excelent defence" Ash replied. "Well, lets decide that when we get there, but are we sure thats where we want to go?" Ayame asked. They all shrugged, but finaly Colin asked "Where else would we go?". The group once again looked blank. "Ok, then we dont have much choice do we? We're already half way there anyway".
**********
"Whoa! Look at that thing!" Trent exclaimed, refuring to the giant glass cage infront of him. "Its just like a jar, but bigger" Ash told him. "Well, lets get some weapons" Colin said impatiently. "That looks like a good shop for warriors" Jewel offered. "Ok, Judd's fine armory it is" Ayame said as she started walking over. "What are you doing?" Jewel asked.
"Getting weapons"
"But here they have magic shops, they will sell better staves"
"Really? I've never heard of one before".
The rest of the group was also a bit skeptical. "Here, i'll show you" Jewel said as if she was teaching a child how to walk. "Follow me" she finished. Ayame looked at the others, not knowing if she should really trust Jewel, but in the end headed off with her. "Well, they'll be fine. So Judd's armory?" Colin asked. The rest nodded and went into the shop.
author: Coco Starfish
**********
"Miné Luké's mystical magic shop?", Ayamé said when she looked at the name that was painted above the shop. "Are you sure this is the right place?" She suddenly didn't trust Jewel that much, I mean, come on! What kind of shop would have a name like that? "it's the best place in the world for magic staffs and they have a couple of scrolls which will certainly help you", Jewel said in a sarcastic tone. "What do you mean by that? That I don't know any good magic spells?" Ayamé was getting really pissed off. She didn't like Jewel's, how do you say, 'air'. She looked at Ayamé asif she was better than her. She looks the same way at Naliya, but I don't think she's noticed. "I'm just saying they might help 'expanding' your magic vocabulary" "She has a way with words, doesn't she? One more remark like that and I'll show her how big my magic vocabulary is!" Ayamé caught herself thinking badly about Jewel. She was a bit worried, 'cause it's not like her to see the bad things in people. But she didn't get the chance to give it much thought, since Jewel was already waving at her to come in the store. Slowly she followed Jewel inside.
"Where are they going?", Naliya asked Telano. "They're going to fetch some new staffs"
"I know that, I meant, that store, it's kinda wicked"
"You can't say jewel's really a normal witch, can you?"
"You're right, I bet her friends are as weird as she is. Let's go find a good place to stay."
Telano and Naliya walked out of the small street, in search for a comfy inn.
**********
"And this is the magic master 2000, a very nice specimen", the shopkeeper said. "Thank you, but I prefer to stay with a more classical modal" Ayamé was having serious doubts about this shop. Everything seemed so...futuristic. Then again, it's been a while since she has bought a staff, she's kinda been out of the loop. Yeah, it was that beautiful moring when she was playing in the forest with her brother that a stranger walked by and adressed Julian and her. He said he was a friend of the family's and that he wanted to give his last work to their father (who was a magic user). You can imagione the man's pain when Julian told him that their parents had passed away. (this was after the Wae Sala incident) The man was an old friend of their father's and he had promised him that his last work would be his best and he would give it to Mr. Makoto (this guy is a staff builder). He had made the ultimate staff. It absorbs the magic used by it and fortifies the incantation of the next spell catsted. The only disadvantage is that it's time sensible. (that's why Ayamé needs a new one) But the mysterious friend believed the twop children and asked to see their magic skills. Julian didn't make much of it, but Ayamé stunned him. She had frozen 5 trees at a time with her blizzard spell. That was very akward for a young child (she was 12). The man knew that the staff would be in good hands so he gave it to her, on one condition: that she would use the staff only for good. She has kept that promise all her life. They never saw the man again...
"Hey! Ayamé! do you want to see another staff or not! Joehoe! earth to Ayamé!" Jewel was being annoying again, but Ayamé chose not to say anything about it. "Yes please. But I would like a norm...more classical model please."
"Maybe I've got something in the back", he said as he dissapeared in the back room.
author: Ayame
"What do you see in those old things?," Jewel asked Ayame. "They are worthless now. These new ones are more responsive than ever and many can even store spells so you dont even have to cast them" She concluded as she fingured a staff called "the maginator 800".
"I wouldnt trust my life with something that has artificial mana in it."
"Artificial mana works better than real mana does"
"Is that a fact?"
"Yes, it is"
"Has anyone saved the world using one of these staves"
"Well, there havnt been any major enemy's recently. But i'm sure they could do better in that case than old models"
"I guess i'm just old fashioned then"
"But-" Jewel started, but was cut of as the shopkeeper came out of the back carrying something in his hands. "This is interesting" he said as he uncloaked what he had in his hands. Even now Ayame could see a glow coming from it. When the shopkeeper finished unrapping it, he said "Look at how it glows, i dont even know magic at all."
"That is strange..." Jewel said, admiring the craftmanship of the staff. "Here, why dont you try it out, see how it feels" the shopkeeper said, handing Ayame the staff.
**********
Colin was looking at a new bow, made out of enchanted oak wood. It had 148 punds of pull and intricit gold decorations along the middle of the shaft. Ash was examining the weapons, not really looking to pick them out, just studying them to expand his vast knowlege. Trent was looking at some darts and small throwing knives with points made of emerald, enchanted to make them sharp and light. Naliya was beside Colin, but was instead looking at a wooden pole that increased the users stamina. Julian was searching through the selection of swords, but wasnt seeing anything he liked. There was one, but it was much too large for him and didnt feel right in his hands, so he passed it over. Telano was with Colin too, and was looking at a smaller bow with 125 punds of pull and enchanted with a grip spell and an accuracy spell
author: Coco Starfish
**********
The staff felt really good in Ayamé's hands, she felt asif she had it for years. "Can I try it on something?", she asked the shopkeeper. "Sure, there's a pile of rubble in front of the shop, go ahead" Ayamé exited the shop as Jewel kept looking at the furturistic staff. "Is this the latest modal?", she asked.
"No, the latest would be this one: the Wishmaster Pro"
"Waw!", Jewel exclaimed as she held the heavy staff in her hands. "Is there already mana stored in this thing? It's so heavy!"
"Yes, it's included in the price. It's a battle-ready staff."
"I'll take it!", she said
"Shouldn't you try it first?"
"Niles, how long do I come here now, 7 years? I think I can trust your merchandise."
"Your choise", he said and bliked at her, thinking back a old times.
"How much?"
"20000 goldcoins"
Jewel swallowed painfully when she heard the price. "O...Ok. Here" She threw the coins on the table and took the staff with her. "there go my savings", she thought as she exited. Outside she saw Ayamé praticing and trying out her staff. "DOes it fit you?", Jewel asked the young woman. "Yes, I think I'll buy it. It has this special air, I can't explain it. I hope it's not too expensive... I see you found something."
"Yes, It's a beautiful thing, but it costed me my life savings. But I'm sure it's worth it. Say, do you know where we are supposed to meet?"
"Yes, in the best inn of this town"
"That won't be hard, there's only one. Tell the rest I'll be a little late for dinner, I'll visit an old friend", Jewel said as she walked away. Ayamé walked inside, completely anchanted by her staff. "How much", she asked the shopkeeper. "Well, since I've been trying to get rid of this one for quite some time, I'll give it to you for a good price. 5000 goldcoins" Ayamé was relieved. That wasn't as expensive as she thought. Instantly she said:" Sold!" and threw the coins on the table. "Keep the change", she said as she walked out of the store, her generousity reminding her of her brother.
**********
"They sure have a lot of things here", Trent said to Ash, "It's so hard to choose." "I'm just hoping thins isn't too expensive, I'm not that rich, you know", Ash replied. Colin seemed to have found what he's been looking for. A beautiful bow with mystic carvings on the surface and a green emerald in the middle of it. It seemed to have some strange codings on it, but it was a language unfamiliar to him. "Naliya, do you know what's on this?" She examined the bow well before saying: "This is Iama, an ancient elven language. It's previous owner was a tracker as well. It says: He who finds this beloved bow of mine will recieve my great powers with which have defeated many monsters and have saved my life more than once."
"Sound goods, doesn't it?" Colin was very optimistic about this bow. He really seemed to like it. Naliya was more suspicious. She was thinking about how old that bow would be. It was a language that belonged to an elven tribe that was long extinct. What powers would be in there? What if it was an evil man? Although that wouldn't make any difference, Colin would just recieve the powers, not the mind of the owner. She wondered why someone would leave a bow like this behind. Maybe this man suffered a terrible death. Oh, she was worrying too much. She got herself together and concentrated on finding something for her as she saw Colin stepping up to the counter. Maybe she was worried because she still longs for their strong friendship that they seemed to have lost along the way, but was slowly growing back.
author: Ayame
**********
The black dome still loomed, casting a shadow over the pair in the late afternoon sun. The entire valley was quiet, and Sheila had fallen asleep. The words in Xaya's head had dropped to the controllable garble again, words that could have been her own thoughts and she knew that is what the others would have dismissed their garble as. The others...
What if I could talk to the others, tell them where Sheila is, and leave. I have to get rid of Hawk. I need allies, but the others are not appropriate, they would only reject and leave me like they did when we were children. Except Ayame.
"Argh! I'm so confused,"
Sheila woke up quickly, a trait of all Valkyrie, "Xaya, calm thyself. What dost vex thee now?"
Unable to tell of her predicament, Xaya made something up, "I'm hungry, that is all."
"As am I, but this is not exactly a market. There is no food here."
Xaya got up and brushed herself off. Deciding the bell sleeves that hit the ground were just too much, she tied the end of them around her wrists, not willing to ruin a perfectly good bartering tool and headed toward the hill where they'd left her bundle, "Well, let us go find some then."
She traipsed up the hill, almost as slowly as Sheila had come down it. When she reached the top, she grabbed the bundle and walked on through a cluster of trees, only to stop abruptly at the site of the biggest town she had ever seen.
"Xaya, why hast thou stopped?" Sheila asked, not seeing the big deal of the town she knew of as Romayin. That town was so big, your entire family could be sitting on one side of town, and no matter how much you walked, you'd never know they were there. The town was full of ruffians, gamblers, hoodlums and rapist at one end, and high society at the other.
"Well, come on, there has to be some food down there!"
"Xaya wait! Thou art heading to the wrong end of town!" Sheila chased after her, running harder when Xaya reached the town border…
author: Blueangel_wing
**********
Naliya continued to look at the weapons that were on display. She couldn't help thinking about the bow Colin had found.
Maybe he'll let me examine the text a bit more when we get to the inn she thought.
Just then her thought was interupted by a sharp tap on her shoulder. Naliya spun around to see Colin's grinning face.
"Found anything yet?" he asked still examining the fine craftsmanship of his newly bought weapon.
Naliya shook her head and took out her small dagger.
"I've never been good with this." she muttered "But for some reason I cant bare to part with it. The same goes for my bow aswell." Naliya re-sheathed the dagger. "Besides," she added "There's nothing here that takes my fansy."
"You don't have to get anything." Colin assured her. "You can always just get your old weapons upgraded."
Naliya considered Colin proposal and decided that it wasn't such a bad idea.
"As for the dagger" Colin continued "I'll teach you how to use that thing properly."
"You will?"
"Sure. Of course I'm going to have to ask for a favour in return."
"Like what?" Naliya asked causiously
"Nothing big. I just wondered if you could translate the rest of this text..."
"Deal." Naliya said before Colin could even finish talking.
Telano stood outside the shop watching his falcon circling overhead. He had decided to settle with a new bow and to keep his old long sword.
Telano whistled sharply and the falcon turned and came to rest upon his shoulder. It was then that Telano noticed that Colin's wolf, Ghost, was watching the two of them closely from the otherside of the street. Telano walked over to the wolf and patted him gently on the head.
"Hungry?" he asked the wolf not expecting an answer. Ghost looked back up at the elf his expression unchanged. Telano counted up the change he had leftover from his purchace. "I doubt that Colin would mind too much if I got you a little something. Come on. I'll treat you both to some fresh meat."
author: Sephiroth_&_Kuja_fan
Trent saw his girfriend outside of the shop looking at the merchandise in the store window. He waved at her, so that she would come in. "So, have you guys found anything," she asked them. "Just Colin has found what he's looking for", Naliya replied. "I think I'm going to take this dagger and I'll come back for an upgrade on my weapon tomorrow. I have to sleep over it, you know."
"I would like to have my blade renewed on my sword", Julian said to the shopkeeper, "Make it something that can cut bad guys up in one slash!" The shopkeeper took his sword and put it in the back. "It'll be ready tomorrow, sir", he said, "May I have that ma'am?" referring to Naliya's dagger. She handed it over. "5,000 goldcoins please"
She thought it to be a good deal and payed what the man asked her for. "I don't think anyone will find anything here today. We'll come back tomorrow. Besides, it's getting really late, we should find an inn", Ash said as they exited the shop. "I know where we can find one", Ayamé said. The party looked riddled. "Jewel told me", she explained.
After a five minute walk they had arrived at the inn. "How many rooms do you have for us, pretty lady", Ash said to the young woman behind the counter, blinking at her. "Errh...I have three left, kind sir" She was as red as the roses that stood in a vase next to her. "We'll take them"
"Wel look who turns out to be a real prince charming", Naliya whispered in Ayamé's ear. She giggled but turned serious again when Ash approached them with the keys. "Dinner will be brought to your rooms", the young woman said as they went up the stairs. "in all of the three rooms, there are three beds, which is just enough", Telano was calculating. "Telano and Trent will sleep with me, won't they?", Ash said. The men nodded and entered the room. Naliya, Julian and Leo went in the next, leaving just Ayamé and Colin for the other one. (Jewel will be joining them later on.)
Later that night...
Everyone was already asleep. They were sleeping like babies! They should be; they've had the best meal in years! They young woman turned out to be a wondeful cook! They had all enjoyed the meal and were off to the land of dreams... all besides Trent. He was dissapointed that he wasn't in the same room as Ayamé was. After thinking it over again and again, he stood up, went downstairs, took a key from the counter and returned back up. He opened Ayamé's door very quietly. the door 'peeped' a bit, but no one seemed to have heard it. Jewel hadn't arrived yet, but Ayamé was awake. "Trent, what are you doing here?", she whispered. "I'm coming to get you. Come on, get out of your bed and come with me"
She did as she was told, so she put on her bleu cloack and followed Trent down the hall where he tried the key. Click! It worked! He enterred the room and closed it behind Ayamé. "Trent, what is..." but she was interrupted by his passionate lips that were all over hers. He kept kissing her over and over and didn't seem to have the intention to stop. Ayamé stepped away from him for a second because she needed to breathe. "Calm down, Trent. You have all night to please me", she said.
Somehow she had know he would come for her. She had seen it in his eyes earlier. She wasn't disturbed at all. In fact, she had been longing for him since the day they met. He looked at her and stepped up to her again, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Take of this heavy cloack of yours. I want to see they beautiful woman underneath" Ayamé couldn't believe he was so sweet and romantic. Never had she met anyone like him. SWeet and soft, yet hard enough to throw himself into battle for her or for his friends.
Her cloack fell on the ground. For the first time Trent got a good look at what she wore under the cloack. It was a dress, whiter than snow, which perfectly fitted her body, asif she was born in it and it had grown with her over the years. "Take off that heavy armour of yours.", she said, "fair is fair..." he obeyed her and took off his 'heavy' armour. he took off the shirt that he wore under it as well. Ayamé was astonished by the muscles on his body...and by the scar. Well, she knew where that came from and wasn't going to bother him about it anymore, because...because she trusted him. She trusted that he was framed and he didn't have any intention of really killing the queen. Why did she trust him? Because...she loves him. Only for that and for that reason only.
His hands were on her hips, pushing them against his. He moved them on to her back and opened the strings that closed her dress. Gently he slid it over her body dropping it on the floor. He kissed her intensly and pulled her onto the bed. There they allowed themselves to enter the lover's utopia...
Meanwhile...
Julian and naliya had been up talking all night. they were remenicing. Julian walked over to the mirror in the room and looked at his sleepy head. Naliya looked at his reflection and said: "How did you get this scar anyway?" "I'm not sure, but you know, the weirdest thing happened yesterday. When I was in the shop and Ash walked in I had this creepy flashback:
*flashback*
Julian was walking around in a dark, cold cellar. "Aya? Aya? where are you sis? Xaya? Were are you guys? this is no time to play hide and seek! We have to get out of here! I've seen some scary monster in a corner! Help me!!!" Julian was searching and searching, entering rooms that contained VERY strange things, until he came across a tank filled with a strange substance in which he saw his sister. She seemed awake, becaus she was looking at him. She hit her hands on the glass as she saw her brother passing by. "'ll get you out of theresis! Don't worry, first I have to find Xaya!" he walked around another corner and there he saw Xaya chained to the wall
author: Ayame
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