CANDIDATE FOR GODDESS
BY:
Klengkleng
Table of Contents
Prologue … 3
Chapter One "Splitters" … 4
Chapter Two "A long way home" … 27
Chapter Three "The sudden disappearance of Emoreh" ….. 52
Chapter Four "Heraldin" …..… 59
Chapter Five "The bat-like beast" … 69
Chapter Six "Demeon" … 93
Chapter Seven "A turn of events" ….. 117
Chapter Eight "Conscience" ….. 132
Chapter Nine "Rookie" ….. 151
Chapter Ten "Soul Stealer" … 179
Chapter Eleven "Soul Seeker" … 204
Chapter Twelve "Book of Life" ….. 238
Chapter Thirteen "Embloig" …... 264
Chapter Fourteen "Mischief" ….. 284
Chapter Fifteen "The key" ….. 310
Chapter Sixteen "Home again" … 337
Chapter Seventeen "Soul entity" …. 352
Chapter Eighteen "The Purging" … 368
Chapter Nineteen "Assailant" …. 388
Chapter Twenty "Final Dream" ….. 411
Chapter Twenty one "Revelation" ….. 420
Chapter Twenty two "Iris at last" ….. 439
Credits … 456
CANDIDATE FOR GODDESS
PROLOGUE
Out in the midst universe a small habitable planet just like Earth exists, a planet named Eris. Inhabitants of Eris, also look somewhat just like humans, its people are called Erishans with much lighter skin than humans because their planet can barely get enough light from their star Asterie.
Some Erishans were able to crack their god given talents therefore they possess different kinds of skills and they are called splitters. Those are the kinds of inhabitants that are living in that planet.
For years, planet Eris has been plagued with violent weather conditions since the end of the 'Great War' that took place in Eris more than twenty years ago, leaving almost all the cities and towns in that world a ruin. Due to the circumstances of this post apocalyptic era, some Erishans believed that their world is dying. People from Eris or Erishans were looking for salvation but no one seems to care, except for Demeon - a rich, past middle aged, male Erishan who owns most of the business trades running in that planet.
The planet's atmosphere is being closely surrounded by millions of different sizes of asteroids from outer space, viciously encircling the planet. And it has been thought that the reason why there are millions of asteroids closely revolving around the planet... is to prevent the Erishans from going out.
Chapter One "Splitters"
Carousel, likes to keep her diary in her slightly wrecked drawer, she takes it out and reads silently through the pages... -"I am walking–up, on this circular cloud like staircase and it is so high, as high as the heavens above and, there are these old Erishans whom I cannot distinguish whether they were males or females, all I know is that they are old and they are all looking at me. Their hairs were silver white, and they were dressed in black and white. Printed in decorative patterns and designs, some of them have head dresses and some of them have not, some of them were standing and some of them were sitting, and as I am walking-up through that circular staircase, I was beginning to feel that it is getting harder and harder for me to breathe. The more I get to the top the more it gets misty and foggy and, as I am nearing the top of that circular staircase, some of the old Erishans were no longer visible in my eyes, and then finally… I have reached the peak. I can now see a very bright light…" Carousel paused from reading…
–"But, but that's all I can remember." Carousel thought to herself as she was reading through the pages. –"I have nothing more to read, that is all there is to it." She sighted
-"I often dream of that scenario since I started to have a memory but, I don't know the meaning and the purpose of that dream, or what my purpose in life maybe for constantly having that dream, but I do know and, I do feel it deep down inside me that, that is no ordinary dream…" Carousel thought to herself.
-"I don't know why… but why do I always want to write about my dream…?" Carousel asked herself again. -"My dreams are always the same… and yet I still keep on writing about it." She added as she heavily sighed. -"There are still many things that I want to write about in my diary, like my special liking for Emoreh but, I don't know where to start and I sometimes feel lethargic and doesn't feel like writing about it." Said Carousel to herself, she has mix and contradicting emotions about writing anything in her diary apart from her dreams.
-"I wonder where Rachael is…?" Carousel suddenly asked herself as she awoke from her sleep the following day and, she had that same dream again.
-"It's been three years already since I last saw her, but where could have my best friend been all these years? I wish she was here; I really need her right now…" Carousel told herself… feeling a bit guilty for not even thinking of Rachael for such a long time since she disappeared. -"Emoreh, can't be much of a help right now…" she quickly thought, -"Because he is my problem…" Carousel thought to herself with a tight smile on her face… she was unsure if she was telling the truth to herself, as her tight smile slowly withered in display.
And then suddenly… someone was heavily knocking at Carousel's bedroom door, she quickly got up and opened it…
-"Mom…?" Carousel slowly asked
It was her mother! With a smug facial expression on her face! And she boorishly said to Carousel…
-"Why are you so hard to awake? Can't you even hear the phone ringing beside you? That I would even have to answer it from downstairs..!" She shouted -"Someone called you!"
But Carousel still politely and softly replied -"Who…?"
-"It's Rachael!" Her mother yelled at her as the tone of her voice sounded like she was really irritated.
-"Now, pick up that phone!" She said aloud as her eyes narrowed in doubt and her face slightly tilted. –"I never thought that you sounded like your friend… Rachae! For a moment there, I thought that you were just playing with the telephone…!" Her mother said to her as she then gave Carousel a mocking glaze…
-"Oh my…!" Carousel cried, she was so surprised… -"Really mom…? Rachael?"
Carousel asked her mother again. -"But how…? Why so sudden…? It feels so weird…"
Carousel slightly shook her head as she mumbled to herself. -"But at least Rachael's here now… and that is all that matters." She thought to herself. -"All these years, mom… how did she know our number…? Our phone number…?" asked Carousel as she still tried to sound polite even though the look on her mother's face was very upset.
And her mother just gave her a smacked facial expression. -"Of course she knows!" She yelled -"We haven't moved out or even changed our phone number ever since we got here! Silly!" Her mother explained and, she sounded very annoyed… for the telephone call interrupted her from whatever she was doing.
-"Oh yeah, silly me…" Carousel just calmly admitted to herself, she picked up the phone beside her bed and her mother then immediately went downstairs while murmuring something to herself, Carousel could still hear her mother's murmuring and she could feel the heavy weight of her mother's footsteps as she slowly closed the door and descended downstairs. But before Carousel could even start to say anything to Rachael… Rachael then immediately said something to Carousel on the phone… that astonishes her.
-"Carousel, I know that you have a problem… an emotional problem…!" Rachael's voice was incitingly soft.
Carousel then suddenly burst into laughers as she soon realized that… -"How did you know…? Well… you always knew what my problems were, you have that amazing psychic thing going on in your mind and, that's why I've missed you so much." replied Carousel on the phone as she was slightly taken aback.
Carousel then told Rachael everything what was going on in her life, the things that had happened the last three years Rachael was gone. They talked for hours on the telephone and, Carousel asked her, why she's in the city? And it turns out to be… that Rachael was also invited by the same academy that invited Carousel as one of the few Erishans who have special skills and abilities to qualify and join the academy.
-"Well… I'm not surprised if you were invited, because I can surely tell that you're one of the few who can see the future." Carousel said to Rachael on the phone… -"Wow…! That would be great!" Carousel concluded… -"We would be at the same school and we would bond like we used to." Said Carousel
The following day, Carousel saw Rachael at their school's lobby, at… Stellar
Academy owned by Demeon - the school's possessor, whom they have never met nor seen before. Demeon had put up the academy for free, to help splitters enhance their special skills and develop into their full potential.
-"There she is, looking very beautiful as always, very well polished all the time and she even has the name which I very much like and she has all the qualities and aspects in life, which all I ever wanted and hoped for in my life." Carousel murmured to herself upon seeing Rachael from afar. And as Carousel slowly approached Rachael… they both instinctively gave each other a tight hug… for they haven't seen each other for quite some time.
-"Oh…! How I missed you so much Rachael!" Carousel cried
-"I missed you too!" Rachael replied as they were both holding each other's hands.
-"I am so glad that Stellar Academy had invited you to join in… they might have seen you here somewhere in Midgar city and saw your special skill." Said Carousel
-"Actually, I'm about to go to your place because I knew you had a problem, an emotional problem remember?" Rachael quickly replied as her face nodded but her eyes did not move, because they were focused on Carousel's… -"And that is why they have spotted me here in Midgar city and then… they eventually invited me to join in this academy… and since it's just for free and it would also help me develop my abilities… therefore, I decided and said to myself… why not give it a try." Rachael said with complete sincerity.
-"Wait, you said your main purpose here was to visit me?" interrupted Carousel -"I know I have a problem, but it's not really that big of a deal…! It's just a minor emotional problem." Said Carousel… -"I couldn't believe that you would even bother to visit me for that simple reason only." Carousel said in a confused manner.
-"Carousel…? You can lie to yourself but you can never lie to me." Rachael said frankly
-"What…?" Carousel cried in a more confused manner, she tries to cover her real emotions… -"You mean to say, you know me better than I know myself? That's just ridiculous!" Said Carousel as her voice hits a higher note and, she stroke her right hand into the air.
Rachael just looked at Carousel's eyes with intensity, as if reminding Carousel what her abilities are! Carousel then understood her message.
-"Oh… okay, I got it, not only can you predict the future but you can also read minds… right…? I see…" Carousel was quick to admit and felt a little bit embarrassed.
-"I have the ability to see the future but it's not that clear, not that accurate yet, but I'm working on it!" said Rachael as she paused for awhile and then continued saying… -"And the… mind reading thing…?" said Rachael as her lips twitched… -"Well, actually I can't read other Erishan's thoughts, I can only read yours." Rachael said with decency
-"How and why is that?" Carousel quickly asked as her eyes slowly narrowed in curiosity.
Rachael sighed before answering… -"To be honest, I really don't know either." She paused for a while before continuing… -"Maybe… I still need to develop my mind reading skill, so I can also read other Erishan's thoughts… and that is also one reason why I accepted their offer, for me to develop my skills here in this academy."
-"By the way…" Carousel interrupted again… -"Who were the ones who invited you to join and train here, in this academy…?" Carousel continued to ask Rachael, diverting the topic away from her emotional problem.
-"I believe… his name was Dimitris." replied Rachael as she paused and her eyes narrowed and then she tries to recall if she got his name right. Rachael felt a little bit different about him… -"Dimitris said to me that he is one of the trainers here, in this academy… and there's this another shaman with him… whom I never really got to know his name, because Dimitris was the only one who keeps asking and talking to me, as if he doesn't really want that other shaman to intervene with our conversation." Said Rachael -"That poor old shaman, Dimitris just made him look like an escort to him." Rachael said as she was slowly shaking her head.
-"Dimitris, was also the one who invited me to join and train here in this academy…"
Carousel abruptly said as she was pretending to look very surprised so she could completely ignore the emotional problem topic. -"Because one time… Dimitris saw me running through the Ruins of Midgar and maybe he saw me… ran like the wind and he thought that I might have a special skill to develop and that is why he invited me to train here too, at Stellar academy." Said Carousel
-"Were you really running that fast Carousel? Because as far as I can remember, you really can't run that fast." Rachael asked curiously
Carousel was quick to answer… -"Well… now, when I get very emotional, my reflexes tends to work faster and my adrenalin seems to pump harder that's why I am able to move, walk, run, jump, catch anything I want, and speak, etc. a lot quicker than my usual self, anything that has something to do with my reflexes – but only when I get really emotional that I could do all those things." Explained Carousel
-"And exactly, what kind of emotion must you really feel to do those kinds of things?" asked Rachael as her eyebrows were pulled down and she expects an honest answer from Carousel.
Carousel couldn't answer quickly because she knows that Rachael can read her thoughts and that she already knows the answer to her question and so there's no chance denying the truth to Rachael… all Carousel could think of is… -"How nice… we're back with this emotional problem thing again…" Carousel thought to herself.
Carousel then tries to put a grin before answering back… -"Well you know, when I'm like angry or happy or sad… or…"
-"Or, in-love…?!" Rachael quickly cried, interrupting Carousel's exchange of conversation with her as if she doesn't want to hear anymore of Carousel's complex answers.
-"Well… you could say that too." Carousel unconsciously admitted as she was naively nodding her head. -"By the way, which field of training did they put you into?" Carousel asked as they both started walking across the academy. She tries to divert the topic again.
-"Dimitris said, that my talents would be well suited in the 'PSYCHETENCY' study, which develops the talents of the mind; like mind strength, (telekinesis) mind reading, (telepathy) and psychic ability (the ability to see the future) all the abilities that has something to do with the mind." Rachael explained as her eyes wonders around the huge atrium of the academy.
Carousel paused for a while, as she was a little bit curious before starting to ask another question to Rachael. -"And how did Dimitris know that you were suitable in the
'PSYCHETENCY' study…?" Carousel strangely asked
-"He told me that… when he saw me here at Midgar city, that he tried to read my mind, but he couldn't, because he also have this telepathy skill and since he can't read my mind… then that means that I too, have a telepathy skill." Rachael again explained.
-"You mean to say that if someone has a telepathy skill, then that someone can't read the other Erishan's mind who also has a telepathy skill?" Carousel inquiringly asked
-"Exactly…" Rachael answered… -"The same skill will cancel each other." And as
Rachael continued speaking… -"You can't read someone else's mind if that someone else can also read other Erishan's minds – that's what Dimitris told me… and I have never thought and realized about that, maybe because you are the only one that I can read." Rachael sighted
-"Are you sure…? That I'm the only one that you can read…? Or maybe everybody else has a telepathy skill too that's why you can't read their minds." Carousel teasingly said
-"That's just impossible!" Rachael exclaimed -"My father also has a telepathy skill and he can read other Erishan's thoughts."
-"Well, how come that I'm the only one that you can read?" Carousel pointed out
Rachael tries to analyze Carousel's question before answering… -"I really don't know... but maybe that's why I'm here, to develop and enhance my skills." Rachael replied
Carousel just nodded and asked… -"I wonder why Demeon has put up this academy to train Erishans who have special abilities and skills for free… I mean what's the purpose? If ever we had enhanced and developed our skills, what can we actually contribute to this dying world…?"
-"Who's Demeon?" Rachael asked
-"Demeon, is the owner and possessor of this academy! And judging from what other Erishans are saying, he was the one who gave the people of Eris the hope they needed, because right after the 'Great War' that took place in this planet more than twenty years ago... Erishans hated each other and the only feelings they had for each other is total abhorrence... and that is why Demeon had put up this academy to help rebuild the Erishans hopes and trusts for each other... and that is what Dimitris told me. I was just a newly born when the 'Great War' was over. So I really don't remember anything about it." Carousel slowly replied. -"I have never seen nor met Demeon though... but I do want to meet him someday and thank him for all the things that he had done for all of us, for our world."
-"Well… Dimitris also told me that this academy was actually put up to help the Erishans, to lead the Erishans and to educate the Erishans, and I don't get it too, how would our special skills help? To lead and educate the people of Eris?" Rachael questioned -"And isn't it everybody's responsibility to carry out their own predicaments in life?" Rachael pointed out…
Carousel was hesitant to answer back.
-"Well… I'm just here to receive proper trainings, to improve my abilities and skills, and that's all!" Rachael proudly concluded…
-"You're quite right!" Carousel concluded too. -"We all have, and goes through the same challenges and problems in our daily lives and it's our responsibility to work it out ourselves, but we also have to take care of each other, especially in this city, we are just a mere hundreds and I think there's only a few thousands of Erishans scattered all over this world." Carousel sadly continued saying… -"And besides… we need leaders, because there are no leaders in this world, only 'shamans' to guide and teach us on how to live and survive in this world, that's why we need to look out for each other." Carousel convincingly said to Rachael.
Rachael did not look convinced about what Carousel had said, but instead she rolled her eyes before answering back… -"We don't need leaders Carousel! Even the animals in this world doesn't need leaders to lead them in their daily lives, each and every one of us can manage to live in this world without a leader, that is why we were given proper teachings by the 'shamans' so that we know exactly what to do and, what not to do." Rachael outspokenly explained. -"Like you said, we are just merely a hundreds in this city and each and every one of us is doing our own contribution and we are doing just fine… and I suppose that a lot of Erishans from the past had already tried to lead this world to become a better place… but look where this world stands now? It's dying!" Rachael exasperates -"I definitely don't see myself becoming one of those heroes! I'm just here to receive proper trainings. That's all!" Rachael said as she heavily sighed.
Carousel handed Rachael a memo which she took out in her old and torn bag. And it reads;
[Once you have finished studying; which a teacher or a 'SHAMAN' will only teach you the basic strategy to survive… and the basic knowledge you need in your life, then… you are on your own to decide whatever you want to become in your life. Only the Erishans, who could or have cracked and discovered their own natural hidden talents, are meant to proceed to the proper teachings and trainings…. they are now called 'SPLITTERS' who have successfully cracked their god given talents… and possesses special abilities, skills and talents. 'Splitters' aged slower than ordinary 'Erishans' and because of these gifts. They will be invited by the head shaman of 'Stellar Academy' to train in either of the following fields:
1.) PSYCHETENCY, - Skills, abilities and talents, which the mind can achieve. (Mind reading, mind prediction or premonition and moving objects through the use of mind strength.)
2.) IMPULSY, – Skills, abilities and talents, which the physical body can achieve. (Faster reflexes, sharper senses, and stronger body strength.)
3.) ALCHEMY, - Skills, abilities and talents, which can be achieved with the power of innate knowledge and manmade tools. (Alchemists makes use of gadgets that they have invented or created that can change or transform a certain material into a different kind of material.)
Rachael then returned the memo back to Carousel, after reading it, she was looking unimpressed. As Carousel tries to respond to Rachael, she saw Emoreh and Faust fast approaching towards them and, so they decided to postpone their conversation. Emoreh then greeted Carousel as they were getting near them.
-"Hi…! Carousel, I just saw you from afar and it looks like you were talking to somebody…" Emoreh oddly said as he slowly turns around in circles to observe their surroundings.
Carousel was then a little bit annoyed by Emoreh's statement and she begins to speak in a higher tone… -"Of course I am… I was talking to my best friend Rachael…" replied
Carousel as she knew that Emoreh had just ignored her friend Rachael. –"You are such a snub Emoreh!" said Carousel as she was shaking her head.
Emoreh then looked strangely at Faust's eyes with his eyebrows pulled down. Faust then approached and greeted Rachael -"You must be Carousel's friend." Faust gladly said
Emoreh was puzzled and he felt unusual for Carousel, but he tried to observe and conceal his peculiarities. His eyebrows were pulled down, looking a bit envious.
-"Yes, I am…" Rachael replied excitedly
-"I'm Faust…"
-"Nice to meet you… Faust, I'm Rachael." She eagerly said
Faust nodded and said -"Nice to meet you too…, Rachael?" He clarified
Rachael just smiled at him.
Emoreh was astonished of what he had witnessed and insinuated Carousel that he ought to be introduced to Rachael next, Carousel got the hint and introduced Rachael to Emoreh.
-"Rachael this is Emoreh. Emoreh …, this is my friend Rachael." Carousel said while being vigilant of what Emoreh might say and act towards her friend.
Emoreh looked straight at Faust and Carousel first, and then he sighted before looking at Rachael's direction. -"Nice to meet you…" That's all Emoreh said, as the tone of his voice hits to a drop, thinking if he had done the right thing, and he quickly looked at
Carousel and asked her… -"Are you going straight home today after the trainings? Because if you do, I would like to walk you home, because I have something very important to tell you." Said Emoreh as he pleaded, he was completely ignoring his opening remarks to Rachael.
Carousel then felt rude for Emoreh's approach, but she felt a little bit content, because she knows that Emoreh must have been just jealous of Rachael, him knowing that Rachael was her best friend.
-"Yes, I'm going straight home after the trainings." Carousel was keen to answer; she felt that Emoreh was going to offer her something.
-"Then I'll just… see you afterwards…" Emoreh whole heartedly said to Carousel, as he immediately turned his back and began to walk away, Faust then followed him, having no ample time to even say goodbye to Carousel and Rachael.
-"Hey wait up! What's the big rush?" Faust cried to Emoreh
-"Nothing…!" Emoreh replied as he continued walking away
-"Nothing…? Well… that doesn't look like 'NOTHING' to me…" Faust pointed out and curiously asked, as the tone of his voice hits to a drop. -"I know that it's none of my business, but why were you acting so strange?" Faust surprisingly asked again as his eyebrows were pulled up.
-"Me…? Acting strange…? What do you mean I'm acting strange? No I'm not!" Emoreh was quick to defend himself -"It's just that I wanted to tell something very important to Carousel and it's so frustrating that it has to wait…" Emoreh concluded
-"And what is so important that you can't even wait to tell her?" Faust intriguingly asked as he was very anxious of what Emoreh might say to Carousel.
-"I thought you just said you don't want to bug into someone else's business…?" an irritated Emoreh asked and slowly turning his head away from Faust and he was a little bit annoyed by the circumstances.
-"Alright…" replied Faust while unwrapping both of his hands from being tightly closed and raising them at the level of his shoulders… -"I know…, I'm not going to ask you anymore." Faust said, still anxious and his lips were pressed in a thin tight line.
As Emoreh and Faust were walking away and they were out of sight from Carousel and Rachael, Carousel asks for Rachael's understandings.
-"Oh, I'm so sorry for Emoreh's manner, I know that he doesn't really intended to be rude to you, it's just that he really has this attitude of ignoring people that he doesn't like and, he knows that you are my best friend, so he might have thought that you and I are goanna be in somebody's company all the time again and, that I may not have any more time for him, so I think he was just being jealous of you." Carousel assured, completely forgetting the last topic she and Rachael were having.
Rachael hastily replied… -"Actually, he did not completely ignore me… and honestly, it doesn't really matter what he might think of me and, I don't even care if I don't exist in his mind, it's not a big deal you know."
-"You… mean to say, Emoreh's actions were just fine with you?" Carousel slowly asked as her lips twitched… still anxious of what Rachael might say next.
-"Of course…!" Rachael exclaimed -"I'm fine with it and, besides you said that he really has this attitude of ignoring people that he doesn't like right? So… it's understandable and, I couldn't care less." Rachael bluntly said -"And I suppose I'm not the only one who had to put up with his extraordinary conduct." She concluded as she tucked her wavy long dark brown hair in her ear.
Carousel sighed and was relived upon hearing Rachael's blatant statement. She didn't want her best friend and the love of her life to have a friction between them. And so to further comfort Rachael, Carousel thought that it would enlighten her up if she brings out the other splitter that gets into Emoreh's attitude.
-"Yes, you're absolutely right, there is also this girl… her name is Emery… and Emoreh tends to ignore her every time he sees her." Carousel abruptly said while looking for some place else for them to sit…
-"Who's Emery? What have she done? Is she a friend of yours? Don't tell me that it's the same reason why Emoreh might be jealous of again?" Rachael's voice was now beginning to sound irritated.
-"No…! Of course not…! She's not my friend…" Carousel replied with a smacked facial
expression as her eyebrows were pulled down… but then she was later silenced for a while… -"Well, she used to be… but then I felt that she was trying to avoid me and I felt that she was also trying to separate Emoreh away from me when she found out that Emoreh had a huge crush on her and, that is why I started to avoid her too."
-"So now you're not friends with Emery…? For that simple reason only…?"
-"Well… it's really hard to say but she was the one who started all these, if only had she not try to draw Emoreh away from me, I guess we would still be friends today… and besides I really have a strong feeling that she was the one making all the moves to attract Emoreh and that is why Emoreh fell for her… but we do still talk to one another once we cross paths with each other, but it's not like we're really that close friends, we are just very civil with each other right now… anyways, Emoreh used to have a huge crush on her, but he didn't pursue it any longer… he told me that he had lost his interest in Emery because she was so hard to please and did not even show the slightest token of appreciation to what he was doing for her."
-"And now, Emoreh is ignoring her for that same simple reason only…?" Rachael asked again as she rolled her eyes… -"He's just bitter!" Rachael pointed out.
Carousel just sighed, her lips were pressed in a thin line and she felt that there is truthfulness in Rachael's words that's why she did not bother to answer back, all she said was… -"Come Rachael, let's sit over here." As she held Rachael's hand, leading her to sit at the broad handrails of the academy's balcony
-"By the way, are they training in the same field?" Rachael asked
-"Who…?"
-"Emoreh and Faust of course…!"
-"Oh yes, they are… they are both training in the field of alchemy, but Faust is already a senior and he is training in the higher level of alchemy… he is the best alchemist this academy has and, I think he's a little bit older than we are." Carousel replied
Rachael paused before asking again… -"What does the field of alchemy requires, for you to qualify…?"
Carousel's eyes partially narrowed, thinking the things she knew before answering back… -"I guess 'ALCHEMY' is the only field in our academy that has NO requirements for showing obvious talents... I think… you are only required to be intellectually intelligent in that field, unlike in the field of 'IMPULSY' and 'PSYCHETENCY' where there should be a noticeable talent, like what we both have. In alchemy, it's all up to you to gauge your own skills and abilities, and if you think that you have what it takes to be an alchemist… then you are very much welcome to join in this academy and besides, it's just for free, so there's no harm in trying." Carousel explained -"But I'm not really sure if that's the case, now that you've mentioned it, I would like to ask Emoreh if that really is the case." Said Carousel as her manner of speaking became very curious.
-"Yes, go ahead and ask him what talent he possesses because I'm sure he has none."
Rachael slowly and vulgarly said as the tone of her voice settled down that nobody can even hear the last words she spoke.
But Carousel heard everything she said clearly, not only does her reflexes were improving but also because her senses tends to be sharper, as her eyes slowly looked down… and she said… -"Speaking of asking Emoreh … he told me that he has something to tell me right after the trainings… hmmm… I wonder what it could be…" Carousel excitedly said completely disregarding Rachael's judgment towards Emoreh.
-"Well… what do you think he will tell you?" Rachael intriguingly asked
-"I think… (As Carousel's eyes flickered in anticipation) I think… he's going to propose his love for me, telling me how he truly loves me… and that he doesn't want me to end up with somebody that is not him… I can just feel it…, I just know that his likings for me are more than just the friendly thing, I just know it." Carousel said with complete enthusiasm, while trying to conceal the overwhelming feeling of bliss that is about to explode in her chest.
Rachael sympathetically asked Carousel… -"Is that what you really think he will do?" as her eyes partially closed. -"You really are, so much in-love with him." Rachael's voice started to sound really concern. -"I mean… I can't blame you… who wouldn't fall in love with a guy like Emoreh …? He looks so perfect." Rachael sincerely said
Carousel blushed upon hearing Rachael's declaration but then again she tries to conceal her true feelings. -"Rachael, you got it all wrong…!" cried Carousel… -"I said…, I think Emoreh is the one who feels more than just the friendly thing towards me, not the other way around."
Carousel explained but she couldn't even convince herself while saying those words to Rachael.
-"Really…?" Rachael sighed; and she looked at Carousel's eyes with so much intensity again, as if reminding her again what her abilities are.
Carousel then got the message… -"Oh I hate you!" Carousel expressed with a friendly grunt. -"Why can you read my mind…? It's so unfair." The tone of her voice sounded really frustrated.
Rachael then just smiled at Carousel with absolute understanding.
-"But… I do… I do feel that I… really do love him…, should I tell him…? That I love him…?" Carousel asked worriedly
-"No…!" Rachael strongly replied -"I strongly suggest that you do not" Her voice was sturdy as she said those words to Carousel… -"Let him tell you first, what he wants to tell you… then, you can tell him what you really wanted to say to him." Rachael said as she acted very demanding. Carousel was speechless and clueless.
Then… a few more minutes and the school bell rang, it indicated that the class break was over and that the trainings are about to continue… Carousel and Rachael then got up from their sitting positions, Carousel got up first… -"Oh, break's over, I better return to class now." Carousel said as she was still blushing from their conversation. -"So, I'll just see you tomorrow then." She said and was about to wave her hand goodbye when she noticed that Rachael was looking at her unhappily. -"Oh, common' this is the first time we've seen each other in years. Don't look at me like that Rachael." Carousel implied -"I know that you're not fond of Emoreh but you'll soon like him, once you get to know him better." she said convincingly.
Rachael then took a deep breath before answering back… -"Well, I'm looking forward to that moment…" She replied as she sounded almost believable.
Carousel just smiled at her… as she was feeling a bit awkward. -"Bye Rachael…" said
Carousel as she paused, while waving her hand awkwardly and was looking down… and then she turned around…
-"Bye…" Rachael softly said too, sounding very concern.
Then the two proceeded on their own designated classes.
Carousel then entered the training room for 'IMPULSY' trainees… together with her few fellow splitters. They walked into their own selected places to start training; the rooms were really huge considering that there is only handful of splitters training in it. And as they were training, Dimitris – the head trainer and the head 'Shaman' of Stellar Academy, walked in and told them; -"Listen…, all of you." The tone of his voice was intriguing, and everybody then had suddenly stopped what they were doing and started to pay attention to Dimitris. -"Do all of you still remember about the creature that I once told you…? I forgot what it's called, but it's the water creature?" Dimitris eagerly asked and his voice was very nasally.
-"Yes sir, why…? What about that water creature?" Carousel quickly replied.
-"Well, like what I have said before, a creature like that is so elusive, so rare to find and so hard to capture…" said Dimitris as he started to walk back and forth. -"And that is why I don't remember what it's called." He mumbled to himself with a slight snort. -"Since all of you are training in the field of 'IMPULSY', it would be a very good training for each and every one of you… if you could actually catch and capture one." He loudly said to them sounding very convincing.
-"But we have no idea what that creature looks like or even what that creature's name is…?" One of the splitters asked
-"Yes sir, how can we catch and bring one, if we don't know what that creature looks like." Again, one of the splitters concluded.
Carousel then thought for a second… reminiscing the time when she was just a little girl, when she saw a bizarre shaped water creature rising in front of her while she was walking through the edges of Lake Midgar. She wanted to tell and share her experience to the whole class thinking that it might help them uncover the secrets of the elusive water creature but…
Dimitris unexpectedly interrupted as soon as she was about to start to tell them her experience.
-"I know it's hard to look for something that you haven't even seen before, but that's the part of your training… sharpening your senses." Dimitris said as his manner of talking was very discourteous as if teasing them. -"Although these so called, water creatures has been rarely studied, I do know for a fact that it lives under water." Dimitris snorted and was about to burst in laughter.
Every splitter in the room just looked at each other's eyes with annoyance towards Dimitris and some of them just rolled their eyes.
–"Sharpening our senses?" One of the splitters softly and infuriately asked -"I don't see the connection…" The splitter concluded
Dimitris then walked out of the room snorting, covering his mouth with his one hand in a fist position… leaving everybody in that room puzzled and irritated.
-"I really don't like that shaman…!" One of the splitters cried as soon as Dimitris left the room.
-"Neither do I…, and that annoying high pitch voice!" One of the splitters exclaimed while trying to clear his ear with his little finger. –"Isn't that too much of a sharpening…?" he asked sarcastically.
As soon as Dimitris walked out of that room, every splitter then continued practicing their talents, one of them were neither training nor reading and, the other is doing stretching and running while… Carousel… was doing nothing. She was so excited for the class to be over. She was very eager to see Emoreh, and for what he would have to say to her when he walks her home after the class. The bell rang again and it means that class was now over for the day. Carousel then rushed out of their room, ran so fast along the corridors and finally, to make it look like she wasn't really in a hurry, she started walking slowly outside the building. She then looked at the time on her clock necklace which Emoreh made and gave to her as a symbol of their friendship. Carousel subsequently slowly looked up at the main building of 'Stellar Academy' observing its majestic architecture while waiting for Emoreh.
[The city of Midgar or 'Midgar city' is a very highly-technologically advanced city and 'Stellar Academy' is the focal point and the very heart of 'Midgar city' and, its structure is like a colossal candelabrum made with super steel, with three vigorous shafts soaring up through the skies and, the shaft at the center being the highest and the most robust of the three and, the two other thinner, shorter shafts located at its sides are slowly rotating. It makes use of wind energy that's why the two shorter shafts at the sides are spinning. It's habitually very windy at 'Midgar city' and, almost all the buildings and all the roads at 'Midgar city' are also made of super steel metal which is much stronger and much more flexible than concrete; to also withstand the usual quakes which the city is experiencing.]
And as Carousel was observing and was looking up at 'Stellar Academy', she heard a soft voice coming from behind…
-"Did I make you wait too long?" an enticing voice asked Carousel, as she then quickly looked down from looking up at the main building and turned around to find, Emoreh looking at her from behind.
-"No…, not at all…! I just got here recently myself." Carousel kindly replied while she was trying to clear her throat from being taken aback by Emoreh while she was busy looking up at 'Stellar Academy'.
-"Can we then go now…?" Emoreh abruptly asked her
-"Sure…" Carousel excitedly replied as her eyes widened in anticipation.
The two of them, then walked on a road that leads to their allocated shelters.
Chapter Two "A long way home"
[Carousel and Emoreh both lives at the 'Ruins of Midgar' located just outside north of 'Midgar city'.]
As they were walking, Emoreh couldn't wait to tell Carousel what he wanted to tell her. The trees along the road were barely alive and the weather was very cold and windy.
-"I want to tell you something Carousel." Emoreh eagerly said
-"What is it…?" Carousel unhurriedly asked as if she was enjoying the excitement that she sees in Emoreh's face. Carousel was so enthusiastic to hear what Emoreh will have to say to her and she thought to herself:
"Emoreh … just seeing you every day and every time is already making me so happy, but if you would ask me to be with you, to run away with you and to return the love that you consider for me… then that would make me the happiest girl in the world… and I don't want to sound ungrateful, but before I met you, my life literally had no meaning…, no significance, I perceive life as a mind-numbing routine, where all of us are just doing something, inventing something, achieving something, creating all the things that we can possibly create time and again - and we're doing all these… simply just to make ourselves busy. And that was my perception in life before, but when I met you… you gave a new meaning to my life, you literally made me want to wake up every day, just so I can see you. You made me appreciate the things in my surroundings, telling me that things should never be just taken for granted, because you said… that no one and nothing in this world is without any value and, that I can learn from anything and anyone in this world. And even though at times, things are becoming repetitive - it's our choice to like it or not… and I realized everything you said was true. And for the last three years we've known each other, I have been dreaming of this…, you… walking me home and revealing your true feelings for me, - This might not be the first and only time that you and I walked through this barren and desolated road heading to the 'Ruins of Midgar' but this time, it feels so different, - because you don't usually tell me something that I should even wait for, when you wanted to tell me something, you always tell it to me right away, that's how straightforward you are, that's how truthful you are. I know that it was so lame of me, that it took me three long years for you to really like me, but at least I still made you fall into liking me…, because now, you have finally realized that no one else gives you the attention, the concern and, especially the love that I am giving you. I know that you are just returning the affections that I am giving you because that's also how you feel about me, you are just being true to yourself and feelings, but saying it formally to me will just seal the union between us. And I don't easily get impressed, but you certainly can impress me with your truthful nature." Carousel unconsciously smiled as she thought those words to herself…
Carousel then slowly looked down… she waited for Emoreh to tell her what he wanted to tell her, as she tucked her hair unto her ear, because it was really windy. Carousel slightly shut her eyes, enjoying the scenery around them… even though the clouds up above are gray and the skies are dark red. The clouds were now slowly turning into an even darker shade of gray and it looks like it is going to rain heavily again soon.
-"But it's really such a refreshing feeling to be with you… Emoreh, even if the weather conditions here are always such turmoil." Carousel thought to herself again as she slowly looked at Emoreh's face, his face was filled with excitement. Carousel's eyes were full of eagerness, as she delayed her answer when Emoreh told her that he wanted to tell her something, Carousel still wanted to enjoy the reaction she's seeing in Emoreh's face but she soon finally asked… -"What… is it?" as Carousel slowly turned her face away from Emoreh … pretending to look at where they were heading at and preparing to look as if she's going to be surprised if Emoreh starts to tell her what she's been eagerly wanting him to say to her…
-"Remember Emery…?" Emoreh quickly asked and he really sounded excited, his voice sounded really perky.
-"What…! What about Emery…?" Carousel jolted and slowly asked as she was taken aback and tries to clear her throat, she was confused and Emoreh really did surprise her.
-"Well, I wasn't telling you that I was actually pursuing her again lately, because you might think that I'm really making it hard on myself and I don't want you to worry about it and, it would be so embarrassing for me, to let you know that I will get rejected by her again if things goes on the same, but the truth is, I wasn't over her and, now… she finally decided to give me another chance."
-"…" Carousel was speechless and stunned upon hearing those words from Emoreh; she couldn't believe what she had just heard from him. She felt like there was a huge vacuum of channel sucking her whole body and, then throwing her into the complete abyss of emptiness, she couldn't breathe and, she couldn't speak, as if she had swallowed a big rock that got stuck in her throat.
-"Carousel, is there something wrong?" Emoreh quickly asked, as he was looking very concern at Carousel's awkward situation.
-"No... Nothing…" Carousel abruptly replied as she slowly cleared her throat. -"Why would there be something wrong…?" her voice was obviously shaking. -"That's… good, she finally gave you a chance, I'm really happy for you!" Carousel said, but she couldn't even convince herself that she really sounded happy for them. She then tried to keep her composure.
-"Why… thank you!" Emoreh said with a tight smile as he wonders a bit.
Carousel's eyes widened as she couldn't believe that he was actually convinced that she was really happy for him… he was so naïve in her point of view.
-"As long as you are happy… with her, then I'm happy for you too… and for the both of you." Carousel said, while trying to conceal her real feelings, she tried swallowing the fluids that had accumulated in her mouth because of the stress that she had unexpectedly felt and there seems to be an extreme pain which she was suddenly experiencing in her chest – but then she thought… maybe it was just because of the circumstances.
Emoreh held both her hands while they stopped momentarily from walking, and he stared at her sincerely, and said… -"Carousel… I am so glad that you're happy for me and I wish that you could also experience the same feeling that I am experiencing right now, if only I could make you feel what I am feeling right now… you will certainly forget your own name, because all that you will be remembering is Emery's name… I mean his name…" Emoreh quickly corrected himself. -"I mean… whoever that guy is, that you are in-love with…"
He suddenly released her hands probably realizing what he had just said to her. -"Or, is there any…?" Emoreh unhurriedly asked, having completely no idea what Carousel was really feeling.
Carousel's jaw inadvertently dropped and then she quickly shut it back, as soon as she realized that it involuntarily opened. It was the first time that she had wished for an earthquake to occur in front of her, (Although earthquakes are very common in planet 'Eris', especially at the 'Ruins of Midgar'.) Carousel wished for the ground to open in front of her and consume her, so she can just disappear from this very unfortunate event.
She tried her best to compose herself before looking at him again in the eyes and she slowly replied… -"Yes… I can see your contentment and, I hope that I could also experience what you are experiencing right now… but no, there is no… other… guy, that I… I… love… I mean… I… I like." She slowly said, as they continued walking and Carousel could hardly finish what she was saying. She just hoped that she wasn't acting miserable in front of Emoreh.
-"Thank you… but, contentment…?" Emoreh asked with a smug face. -"I am not just contented Carousel, I am extremely… extremely happy!" His voice was thunderous as he was raising his arms in the air and, for a second it seemed that the dark gray clouds up above them had produced a terrifying lightning that signified his victory for Emery.
Seeing Emoreh in his reactions just made Carousel pity herself, but she… still manages to put up a convincing smile… -"I… see, but…" Carousel was having second thoughts when… Emoreh … quickly interrupted.
-"But… what…?" He interrupted
Carousel wanted to ask him, why she didn't have any idea that he was still madly in-love with Emery which she didn't even became aware of and, that Carousel thought that he was falling in-love with her.
-"But… I guess it's all up to me to realize all those things." Carousel then just softly said to herself and, all that she said to him was… -"I'm… I'm just here… if you need me… I'm just here Emoreh." Carousel still looking mystified of how quickly things had happened.
Emoreh hugged her and whispered… -"I know… I know that you will always be here for me, you were my only companion through my loneliest of times and I hope that it will still remain the same." But the tone of his voice was worried
She hastily answered -"What are you talking about? Of course, we will still remain friends." Carousel made it sound like everything was just normal. -"What makes you think that we won't remain friends?" She asked with civility, but deep inside her, she was still hurting and was trying to compose herself.
-"Well… uhm…" As he released Carousel from being tightly hugged… his eyebrows were pulled down. -"I just thought that…" Emoreh said and then looked at her as if he was analyzing her thoughts, he then rubbed his head.
Carousel looked down and then slowly looked at him in the eyes once more; she was feeling a bit wary of what he might be telling her again, as if she hadn't had enough. Her eyebrows were pulled down, being impatient while waiting for him to speak.
-"You don't seem to have… a special liking for me? Do you?" Emoreh slightly shook his head and sounded a bit sarcastic.
-"Of course not…! I certainly don't!" Carousel quickly replied with a smacked facial expression and, her eyebrows were pulled down to make it look like she was bothered about his statement, but the sound of her voice was obviously not convincing at all… her eyes slowly narrowed. -"Why would I feel that I have a special liking for you…?" The tone of her voice was starting to sound aggravated. -"I see you as a friend… as a friend only and, that is all there is to it, nothing… more and, nothing less." She was feeling really hurt when she said those words.
Emoreh partly nodded, while still looking at her… -"That's… that's… right." he slowly said -"I'm just making it clear, because I don't want to get the wrong impressions about your actions towards me." He sounded worried
-"No…! Not at all… why would you even get the wrong ideas? My actions towards you were just plain and friendly gestures. That's all." But Carousel was very sure that she wasn't sounding believable…
-"So… we're still friends' right…?" Emoreh asked, he was not looking very convinced…
-"Definitely…!" Carousel cried…
-"Then, why don't I see it in your face that you really are happy for me…?" Emoreh slowly questioned Carousel…
-"Don't… I…? I… don't look happy…? You think that I don't look happy…?" Her words were crumbling… -"Of course I am…! See…" As she puts up a convincing smile… Carousel then tried to clear her throat again before saying… -"Oh… look…, here we are at the 'Ruins of Midgar' how time flies by so quickly…" She said, whereas the truth is… she felt like it took them years to walk through that barren road.
-"I'm heading this way…" Carousel said, as she pointed her finger to her left. -"And you are heading, that way… right…?" As she pointed her finger to her right, Carousel still tried to sound thankful, since Emoreh had accompanied her to walk through that road.
Then she hugged him and wished nothing more for him but to be just happy with Emery.
-"I better get going… I still have lots of house hold works to do before night falls." Carousel reprimanded, even though there is really no work for her to do at home, she really didn't feel like lying to Emoreh, but this time, she felt like it was needed. She needed an excuse.
-"At least, let me… walk you… until you get home." Emoreh slowly insisted
-"No, I'm okay… I'll be fine, really." She tried convincing him -"I can manage to go home alone, as if I haven't walked this ruins for so many years, I grew up here, remember?" said Carousel as she tried to sound very perky…
Emoreh nodded and his pressed lips were keen to open before asking… -"So, are you going to train at Stellar Academy Tomorrow…?"
Carousel automatically anticipated that she won't be able to go to the academy the following morning feeling so miserable… so she calmly replied… -"Uhm… I… don't know… I also have lots of things to do tomorrow." said she -"Maybe… after tomorrow, I guess." She persuasively replied as she said goodbye and turned around. And while she was walking away from Emoreh … she didn't even bother to turn around and look back at him again, she felt like she didn't care if he was following her or if he was still looking at her back, Carousel just continued walking and didn't even care and, she felt so wasted… all the while, she thought Emoreh was in love with her because he was surely returning back her affections for him.
-"How could I possibly misunderstand his affections for me…? I'm certain that his fondness towards me is more than just the friendly thing, but then, I guess… I was just keenly falling in love with him all the time… and maybe that's why I didn't became aware that he was also and still ardently in-love with Emery… but then again, how could I get it wrong? His actions were positively true, I'm sure of it…" Carousel said to herself feeling unsure. -"But now… I guess… I guess… that it only seems to feel that it's true… but it's obviously not." said Carousel to herself as she wanted to cry… because she pity herself and she felt betrayed… but yet, the feeling of being deceived and shocked is what she was feeling the most.
Carousel could now see their shelter from a near distance, she wanted to run, to seek comfort, but she couldn't move her feet very well, every step she takes is sluggish.
-"Why can't I move my feet well…? Oh, maybe because my reflexes had something to do with my emotions and I am certainly feeling miserable and exhausted right now." She thought to herself.
[The shelters at the 'Ruins of Midgar' are usually modern buildings that are slightly wrecked… or severely wrecked, with trees mostly growing from the inside of the shelters, sprouting throughout the windows, doors, and roofs or any outlet that it can afford to emerge, vines and shrubs are also recognizable on the walls inside and outside the shelters.]
As Carousel was barely walking from a miserable situation, she noticed a shadow emerging from one of the surviving standing pillars from the ruins. She hesitated at first, because she can hardly see the shadow for it was already dusk and very windy. She tried to partly shut her eyes from the windy conditions to focus on the shadow but her senses weren't that sharp because of what she was feeling. But then she noticed that it was… Rachael who was coming out of that pillar…
-"Rachael…? Is that you? What are you doing here…?" Carousel surprisingly asked
-"Yes it's me, I hope you're alright." Rachael replied, she looked worried as she walks closer to Carousel…
Carousel paused for a while thinking… -"How …? Oh, I get it… you've predicted that this would happen…? Right…?" she softly and faintly asked
-"Yes…" Rachael's voice was hardly heard
-"That's why you came here?"
Rachael just nodded
-"Why didn't you tell me sooner…? So I could have avoided this miserable experience." As Carousel starts walking, bypassing Rachael
-"Even though I can see your future, I can only see a glimpse of it… and I can only see the actions not hear it." said Rachael as she quickly tries to follow Carousel from behind –"And besides, I can't see what Emoreh's future is… I can only see yours… so I'm not totally sure what lies within your future because he had interfered". Rachael explained as she sighed -"And it doesn't mean that when I see a glimpse of the future that it is always sure to happen… things can always have a peculiar twist you know, that is why I decided not to tell you the things that I saw… and who knows what could have happened if only you have tried to tell him first, what your feelings for him are. Maybe Emoreh could have told you a different confession… Oh, I should have told you to confess your love for him first. It's my entire fault. Oh, I'm so sorry Carousel." Rachael said as she tries to comfort her beloved friend.
-"No, I don't think so…" Carousel abruptly replied -"You are not the one to be blamed, and from the looks of him, Emoreh looked so excited and enthusiastic to tell me something, so he's probably really determined to tell me his feelings for Emery and, besides I don't want him lying about his true feelings for me if ever I got the chance to tell him first what my feelings for him are, because I would only be just fooling myself. Things have turned out to be the way I didn't expect it to be… but at least now… I got to know the truth… and it's a little bit hard to accept it right now but I'm sure I'll get over this soon." Carousel said while still feeling exhausted from the situation.
-"Well, I can see that you are feeling a little bit better now, so no need for me to worry right...?" Rachael walked closer to Carousel and hugged her tightly. -"I came all the way here to check if you were alright… and from the looks of it… you are now. If only you knew how I really care about you Carousel" Rachael whispered, as she slowly released her hand from hugging Carousel. -"I'll probably be going home now, because it's getting dark and it's still a long way for me to get home." Rachael said
-"No, please don't go…" Carousel quickly held Rachael's hand when she was about to leave. -"It's already nightfall and it looks like it's going to rain again, so please come home with me and stay here just for tonight." Carousel pleaded
Rachael read Carousel's mind and felt that she was really needed by Carousel, that's why she decided to accept Carousel's plea.
A few more walks and they had finally reached Carousel's shelter, just in time as the heavy rain started to pour, Carousel lives with her mother in an abandoned and slightly wrecked, slightly tilted three storey building, with a big tree that grew at the entrance of the building sprouting towards the second and third floor, where Carousel's bedroom is located.
-"Come let's climb this tree, it will lead us to my room." Carousel said
-"Why do we have to climb that tree…? Isn't there any stairs in this building?" Rachael asked as she looked around to find one…
-"But this would take us less time to get to my room, rather than walk those narrow stairs and, besides this tree is so much more reliable than those puny looking stairs." Replied
Carousel as she was about to climb that tree.
Rachael looked at the fragile looking stairs near the entrance and she was convinced and that she decided to go after Carousel.
Carousel was so used to climbing that tree and that her reflexes was now working much faster again and, it only took her a few seconds to reach her room, when she noticed that
Rachael was still stuck in the middle of the tree struggling for her balance.
-"Shh… be quiet, you might wake her up." Said Carousel when Rachael began making some raucous sounds, she begged Rachael in a quiet soft voice.
-"Who…?"
-"My mom, she maybe sleeping at the ground floor or at the second, I don't know. But
I'm sure she's already sleeping at this time."
-"Well, come and help me then." Rachael quietly demanded
Carousel helped Rachael afterwards as they entered her room through a wrecked window.
-"Why are you so worried that your mom might awake? Is it because she may scold you if she finds out that you got home this late?"
-"I'm glad if that's the case… but no… she doesn't care whether I'm home early or late and, she doesn't even care if I'm here or not, all she cares about is her sleep and her activities. And she definitely doesn't want her nap to be disturbed, and that is why I told you to try, not to wake her up."
Rachael looked worried about what she had just heard and slightly nodded.
-"So is it all right for your father if you spend the night here? Will he worry?" Carousel asked Rachael
-"Of course he'll worry! He's probably worrying about me right now, so I better call him." said Rachael while she was looking for a telephone
Carousel pointed at the rustic telephone on the wrecked side table near her bed and said… -"Why do you need a telephone…? I thought you said your father has a great mind-reading ability?"
-"First of all, you need -eye contact- for you to be able to read someone else's mind and, secondly… same mind reading ability cancels each other's skills remember?"
-"Oh yes, now I remember."
Rachael then called her father on the telephone, while Carousel didn't even bother to see if Rachael did made a phone call because she was so exhausted. She didn't even clean herself and didn't even eat as she prepared herself for bed. Carousel then slowly lay on her bed and Rachael also followed and lay beside her after calling her father… and she hugged her, as Carousel was curled up like a ball on her bed.
-"Rachael, I'm so glad that you're here…" Carousel whispered as she tries to wrap herself tighter from Rachael's embrace.
Rachael just hugged her even tighter…
-"Rachael… can I ask you something…?" Carousel softly asked
-"What is it…?"
-"Why…, did you just suddenly disappear three years ago…? I didn't hear anything from you ever since, why… did you… all of a sudden went away…?" Carousel slowly and softly asked.
-"I went away… because I felt… I felt that you didn't need me anymore during those times." Rachael tenderly replied
Carousel's eyes widened in surprise and, felt a bit embarrass because she knows that
Rachael was actually telling her the truth and, that she felt she didn't really need her during those times.
-"All you needed that time was… Emoreh… so I felt that I wasn't needed anymore, that's why I left." Rachael concluded
Carousel slowly hid her face from Rachael with her two wrapped arms covering her head and, she didn't bother to react. Because she knows it's true and, there is no point in arguing if someone like Rachael can read her mind.
Carousel then quickly fell asleep and she started having that same dream of hers again.
She was walking, up on a circular staircase again, but this time when she had finally reached the top, it has a different scenario… instead of seeing a bright light, she saw a bizarre fluid like object that started to rise in front of her… and then she woke up feeling very anxious after that dream. It was already early morning.
Carousel sat from being laid on the bed, while her arms were wrapped around her two bended legs and she bend her head touching her knees and thought… -"This is the first time that my dream had a different situation at the end." She said to herself wondering…-"That thing…? Reminds me of the water like creature that rose in front of me at 'Lake Midgar' when I was just a little girl…" Carousel looked very puzzled as she was rubbing her forehead… when she realized… Rachael was not there with her at her bedroom anymore. Carousel then quickly went downstairs to look for Rachael but found her mom instead, wiping out a lot of bugs and creepy crawlers on the walls and floors.
-"Mom, killing those bugs won't stop them from coming back." Carousel said, while looking around at their wrecked and tilted home, with vines and shrubs crawling on the walls and, a big tree that had grown from the entrance of their house. And from the looks of it, there is really no way of getting rid of those bugs. -"Mom, just leave them alone, we have lived like this for years and I got use to it, so just get used to it too." Carousel demanded
-"Oh… just shut up!" Carousel's mom cried at the top of her voice while she looked at
Carousel with a complete smug face… -"Why shouldn't I kill these pests? Their pests!
That's what they are and, they should be exterminated!"… "And you should be looking for food instead of wandering around. Now go, before I consider you as one of them!" Her mom haughtily said to her.
Carousel just rolled her eyes and, when her mom wasn't looking at her, she pulled out a bread from the table and left.
-"There's no point arguing with you." Carousel murmured to herself, as she went off outside to look for Rachael.
A few more steps outside their shelter and Carousel finally found her best friend. -"There you are…!" Carousel exclaimed upon seeing Rachael who was sitting at one of the blocks of the ruins.
Rachael then turned and looked at Carousel feeling concerned for her friend… -"Are you alright?" Rachael asked looking a little bit worried again.
Carousel's eyebrows were pulled down looking baffled… -"Of course I am…, ahhh…"
Carousel immediately said while getting Rachael's point… -"Oh, that was nothing, I'm used to it. There is really no point reasoning with my mom." Carousel said
-"By the way, did she see you?" Carousel continued asking…
-"Yes, she saw me but she didn't even bother asking who I am and, you're right… your mom doesn't seem to care anything else besides her doings, so I just left while she was busy making those breads." Rachael said to Carousel
-"I told you so… but when you get to live with her, you'll get used to it."
-"Do you love your mother Carousel?" Rachael unexpectedly asked
-"What are you saying? Of course, I do love her…!" Carousel abruptly replied, as she was surprised by Rachael's sudden question. –"But, there are times that I don't, and there are times that I really want to leave her… but it's just that I don't want coming back home and seeing something really bad happening to her. Because I will be just blaming myself for that, that's why I'm really trying my best to understand her and I'm the only one in this world that she's got, so I have to look out for her."
-"Is she really your mother Carousel?" asked Rachael again
Carousel thought for awhile before answering back… -"You can really read my mind… well… that's what I'm also trying to figure out all these years, because there are times that she's saying that I am her daughter and, there are times that she's saying that I'm not. My mom really has a bad memory you know."
-"Well, what do you think?"
-"I don't know… honestly it doesn't really matter to me that much, if she's my real mother or not because what's the point of knowing my beginning if I can't even remember it."
-"But let's assume that you are not her real daughter, that's why she is so harsh on you… what do you have to say about that?"
-"It's all up to her… it's her right to do anything she believes in… but for me… I would rather have a child that's not really my own that later on turns out to become a better person, rather than having a child that's really my own but had become a very terrible person." replied Carousel as she shuddered
The gray clouds in the skies then started to rumble and it started to rain again and
Carousel and Rachael then quickly moved to a more protected shelter of the ruins.
-"Why is the weather here, such turmoil?" Rachael asked, sounding very irritated about the weather while trying to dry herself from being drenched in the sudden pouring of the rain.
-"The weather here is always been like this, we're used to it… is the weather not like this in your place?" Carousel asked comfortably, as she didn't get wet from the sudden rain pour because she was quick to take cover.
-"I don't remember!" Rachael exclaimed so her voice would be heard as the rain starts to pour heavily.
-"You don't remember? How could you not remember the weather condition at your place?" Carousel asked… her eyes flickered in confusion.
And then a sturdy earthquake unexpectedly occurred…
-"And now, an earthquake…?" Rachael asked with a grunt, while trying to hold on to something. -"Is this the normal condition here?" Rachael complained
-"Actually only slight earthquakes are common here, but a powerful one like this right now, occurs only once in a while but still it's not as if it is rarely happening." Carousel loudly said while her voice was being upstaged by the rumbling sound of the earthquake and she was still trying to put a contented smile. -"That's why people here, doesn't bother fixing or renovating their shelters because of these conditions." She added
Then…suddenly just like that, the underground eruption finally subsided…
-"Finally…" Rachael said feeling somewhat relieved… -"I'm so glad that-that was over… by the way, are you not going to train at 'Stellar Academy' today…?"
-"Uhm… maybe not…"
-"Why not…? Still not ready to see Emoreh yet…?" Rachael was teasingly asking…
-"You can probably say that… yes, I think I'm not ready to see him today, because I'm just goanna feel sorry for myself and pity myself if I will see them."
Rachael bit her lips and anxiously said… -"You know what…? Yesterday when you introduced me to Faust, I thought he sees you as a big of a deal."
-"Really…? What do you mean by that? That's odd…! Because I thought about the same thing about you two…" Carousel hastily replied and shook her head. -"But no… he doesn't…! To me that is…"
-"Are you sure?" asked Rachael
-"Of course I'm sure, I have also known him quite some time now, and I don't see any more than just the social gathering thing between the two of us. He's a friend of Emoreh but he's not a friend of mine; I know his name and his status at the academy but I hardly know him."
-"But I'm sure, he knows you very well." Rachael teasingly said
-"Okay, I know where you're getting me at Rachael." Carousel said with a warning -"I know I can't read your mind but putting Faust on the scene is not really acceptable."
Rachael then puts a sarcastic smile.
-"I'm just goanna be fine, trust me! I know that it will take some time for me to accept it, but I can always get used to it, I can always move on… and you know that!" Carousel said while looking down and trying to breath as normal as possible. -"You don't need to put Faust on the scene just to make me happy…" as Carousel was looking straight at Rachael… -"I guess if you want to train at the academy, you should probably go now… before you get yourself late." Carousel said and she was eager for Rachael to leave, she doesn't want to prolong their conversation about Emoreh anymore.
-"Oh yes, you're right… I should be going now." Rachael abruptly said -"Are you sure you're not coming with me?"
-"Yes… I'm sure, and besides it's not really necessary for us to go there and train every day, it's not like it's a prerequisite, we can always take a time off you know."
Rachael then went on to the academy leaving Carousel behind at the 'Ruins of Midgar' sitting on a ruined block while thinking something to herself.
The following day, Carousel went on to train at the 'Stellar Academy' she was hastily walking, trying not to look at anybody and not to look at anything, she was just looking at the path where it leads to her training room. When she got there, she went straight ahead to their training area.
The areas of the 'splitters' who trains in the 'IMPULSY' division like Carousel are designated at the rotating shafts of the building, so their bodies can react differently if they are positioned in a moving place.
As Carousel took a break from training, she took a quick peek out of the window and noticed… that Faust was looking at her from the other side of the shaft's window, Carousel then smiled at Faust… but Faust just didn't react… Carousel then felt a little bit offended but then realized that Faust couldn't have possibly seen her smile because they were so far from each other, and that she was the only one who could see him clearly because her eyesight was sharper. And she could very well see Faust's facial expression; she saw that Faust's eyes narrowed in and his eyebrows were pulled down as if trying to figure her out but then for a moment he suddenly hid himself away from the window… away from the scene. Carousel then felt uneasy, she twitched her lips as she moved away from that window and continued with her training.
During their training break, Carousel saw Faust again at the school's lobby, and he was a bit uneasy upon seeing her but still he decided to approach Carousel, and he asked her…
-"Uhm… Carousel… you probably saw me looking at you during your training… I just thought for a second there that you were Rachael, because you two really do look alike…, anyways… I'm here to ask if… you have seen Emoreh." Faust slowly asked as he was trying to clear his throat…
Carousel was having second thoughts if she would reply or not but then decided to…
-"No, I haven't seen him yet, why? Didn't he come to train today?"
-"Not just today…! But he also didn't come yesterday, and I figured since you two were always together at all times… that you would know where his whereabouts."
-"No… I haven't seen him today, but I last saw him the other day…" Carousel said feeling a little bit wary. -"But I'm sure he's just busy with something, and he'll probably come tomorrow, just don't worry about it." Said Carousel but her voice sounded like she was about to worry…
-"I know… I shouldn't be…, but… but… how about you? You seemed too worried." Faust unhurriedly said, he was feeling very concerned for Carousel.
-"No… I'm not…! But… yes… I'm a little bit worried, I guess." Carousel said, feeling unsure of what she was really feeling. -"But he's just probably hanging out with Emery, you know Emery right…?"
-"Yes, I know her… but why would he… hang-out with Emery?" Faust asked with his eyebrows pulled down, looking confused.
-"Well… Uhm…" When Carousel was about to continue what she was about to say to
Faust, she saw Emery from afar and decided to have a talk with her. -"Uhm… could you, excuse me for a while…." Said Carousel to Faust
-"Sure…" Faust slowly said as his eyes widened and his lips were pressed in a thin line, he felt somewhat curious.
Carousel then rushed to follow Emery at the outside yard of the academy's lobby.
-"Emery …! …wait up." Carousel insisted.
Emery slowly turned around and looked at Carousel…
-"Did you happen to see Emoreh?" Carousel asked her -"Because my friend…" said Carousel as she points to where Faust was… -"Because my friend… Faust is looking for him." Said Carousel…
Emery's eyes were sardonic… -"No…" Emery replied with the softest possible voice that Carousel had ever heard, and Carousel can barely see Emery's lips move.
Carousel wanted to ask Emery if Emoreh had ran away with her but she felt that this was out of the subject and obviously Emery was standing in-front of her alone… so Emoreh couldn't have possibly ran away with her. Carousel only said… -"Uhm… okay… I… I was just asking…" Carousel said feeling a little bit embarrassed.
Emery slowly looked down, turned around and walked away without any sign of concern.
-"Emery doesn't seem to worry about Emoreh… so why would… I…?" Carousel murmured to herself, she then looked back and she didn't see Faust anywhere so she decided to go back at the training area and found some of her fellow 'splitters' were already developing their strengths and reflexes, but Carousel didn't mind because deep down inside her… she was still worrying about Emoreh.
Trainings ended and Carousel bumped into Faust once again at the school's premise.
-"You okay? You still look very worried." Faust asked
-"No…" said Carousel while she was trying to avoid Faust. -"It's just that…" Carousel was thinking something to divert the subject… -"That… I'm… I'm… worried about… the water creature Dimitris told us to find and capture." It felt like it took Carousel days to think of that excuse. -"Yes, that's right! I'm worried about the water creature that I have to find!" Carousel exclaimed.
-"Why… you sounded really worried…?!" Faust sarcastically said, with his eyebrows pulled up.
Carousel's eyes flickered in awkwardness.
-"Speaking of that water creature, I also want to capture one! They say that, those creatures are immortal, that they can go through a very unique transition in their lives. This goes that if they had already achieved their maturity state… that they can always return to become an embryo, and repeat their life cycle once again." Faust said sounding very sure of his statement.
-"Have you seen one?" Carousel asked
-"No, I haven't actually seen one…, but one of our trainers said, she saw one and that it has a 'tear' shaped body."
-"A tear shape body…?"
-"Yes… why?"
-"Well… because I also saw one, when I was a little girl… but the water creature that I saw during that time has a… peculiar shape, a bizarre shape… not a 'tear' shape." said Carousel
-"Where did you see it…? Do you still remember where? Faust asked, sounding very curious.
-"Yes… I saw one at Lake Midgar".
-"Really…? I would like to go there sometime and capture one."
-"Why…? Is Dimistris asking all you 'alchemists' to go find and capture a water creature too?"
-"No…, not really but because like what I've said, that creature has a transition in its life and in 'alchemy' we are studying about transitions… on how to convert or change one thing to another. So I thought that… if I could only study their behavior, maybe I can find a clue about the way they can make a transition."
-"We can go there right now, if you want… so we can find out if the water creature we both have in mind is the same." Carousel quickly suggested… -"But… 'Lake Midgar' is very far from here… and I don't know about you…, but I can certainly run all the way there without dropping a sweat." Carousel teasingly said and to make it look like she wasn't worried about Emoreh at all.
-"Uhm… I have a 'vessel' parked over there…" Faust pointed at his floating vessel… -"But… today is really not a day for me to be going anywhere, because… you know…
I'm the only one managing the only 'telephone company' in this city and there are cables that were destroyed during yesterday's sturdy earthquake, so we need to get it fixed." said
Faust…
-"Oh… I totally understand…" Carousel abruptly said… -"So… uhm… just set a time then… when you have a vacant… a free time so we can go there."
-"Okay… but I… I still don't know when..." Faust slightly shook his head and his face was a bit worried. -"I only have a few workers with me to work with, because it's so hard to find a worker who wants to work these days, considering that there are only a few hundreds of people left in this city, so its goanna take us some time to fix those cables… but… yeah… I will tell you when I'm available." Said Faust with a smile
-"All right then… so just tell me when you're available okay… bye…" That's all
Carousel said to Faust and then she immediately went straight home…
-"I'm relieved that we weren't able to go to 'Lake Midgar' today because I wasn't really in the mood to go there right now." Carousel mumbled to herself.
That entire time of her talking to Faust was a heave because what she has still in mind was Emoreh.
Chapter Three "The sudden disappearance of Emoreh"
Almost a week had passed and still no sign of Emoreh. Carousel and Rachael were sitting on the rustic floors of the academy's lobby as their fellow 'splitters' are passing by…
-"Rachael… I'm really starting to worry now." Carousel said to Rachael…, her eyes were looking really concerned.
-"It's been almost more than a week now and I still haven't seen nor heard anything about Emoreh, I tried calling him on the phone, but the telephone lines are still dead, and I even went to his place, to his shelter and talked to his father and his father said to me, that he also had not heard anything about his son for more than a week."
-"Is Emoreh's father actually looking for him…?" Rachael asked curiously
-"Well, I guess from the looks of him, he seems not, he's not… he told me not to worry because his son is old enough to venture around and establish his own life."
-"Then I guess… there's nothing really to worry about." Rachael pointed out
-"It's not his father's opinion that I'm worried about."
-"Then what are you worried about?"
Carousel tries to recall the events before saying… -"The last time I saw Emoreh, he told me that Emery had given him a chance in her heart, meaning Emery had accepted him already and she should have been expecting for him long before now." Carousel was slightly agitated…
-"So…?" Rachael quietly asked
-"So… why does Emery… doesn't seem to be affected by the situation…? Look at her…" As Carousel pointed out to Rachael as they both looked at Emery looking unworried from a distance.
-"Then why don't you go there and ask her yourself…" Rachael demanded
-"But I already asked her about it… and she seems to have no idea about it. Do… do you think… that it's just okay for her, to ask her that same question again…?" Carousel's words were crumbling.
-"Of course it's just okay, why wouldn't it be. Emoreh is also your friend right?" Rachael asked…
-"Okay… I'm goanna try."
Carousel then went on to talk to Emery as she was feeling a little bit tense.
-"Emery… can I talk to you for a while?" Carousel said as she strides Emery to a more private place along the isle.
-"Sure…" Emery softly replied
-"I'm assuming that you may probably know that Emoreh is a close friend of mine… or perhaps the only friend I've got…! And he told me that you have accepted his proposal…?" Carousel inquiringly asked
-"Yes I did… I accepted his proposal and I am still waiting for him up to now, but he hasn't returned yet, so I'm thinking that he just didn't want to continue persuading me anymore…." Emery softly said as she slowly looked down.
-"Ah… anyways, thank you for your time Emery." Carousel said as her eyes flickered…
Carousel then went back to Rachael, to tell her what happened.
-"That's what she told you?" Rachael asked upon hearing Carousel's gathered information.
-"Yes, but I'm still wondering…, Emoreh could not have suddenly discarded his love for
Emery just like that, he could not possibly do that! Considering he was so enthusiastic and so happy to tell me that…, finally… Emery had accepted him." Said Carousel with a bit of concern… -"But then again, I'm happy that Emoreh didn't… continue to persuade her." Carousel thought to herself as she was looking at Rachael with a grin.
Rachael read her mind and just rolled her eyes… -"And considering that Emery is so beautiful too, how could Emoreh not continue persuading such a beautiful looking girl like her…? And I love her glowing tan skin…" Rachael favorably said
-"That's glowing tan skin, looks like shining bronze to me." Carousel suggested…
-"I can barely see her lips move when she talks" said Rachael…
-"I noticed that too."
-"And she's wearing those long garments all the time."
-"You're right…, and I can barely see her feet. Actually I haven't seen, I mean… I have never seen her feet. "
Carousel then looked at the skies above, gusty and gray as usual and their sun
'ASTERIE' can hardly shine a light on a gloomy day.
-"Oh, how I wish there is a 'splitter' in this academy to tell me where Emoreh is… so I could just stop worrying about him." Carousel said feeling frustrated.
Carousel and Rachael then asked every possible 'splitter' at the academy who has a mind reading ability, but with no avail… the 'splitters' can read Carousel's mind but they couldn't channel into Emoreh's mind, that's why they cannot tell where his whereabouts, and 'splitters' who has a premonition or a prediction ability needs something of Emoreh's personal belongings for them to see his location, and Carousel has none of it.
-"Well… we have asked all the 'splitters' here in the academy, and it seems that nobody can help us right now." Carousel said feeling helpless and hopeless…
-"We haven't asked the 'Shamans' yet…!" Rachael exclaimed
-"No, I think there's no need for that… because 'SHAMANS' are 'SPLITTERS' too…, it's just that they are older and they are the ones training us."
-"Why don't we ask Emery for help, maybe she can help us." Rachael said, feeling unsure of what she had just suggested.
-"Emery already knows that we are looking for Emoreh, so if she really wanted to help, then she should have helped us already."
-"You're right… let's not waste our time on her… and besides what kind of help would she possibly give us? She looks like a very weak 'splitter'. Rachael proudly said. -"Oh, but wait…" Rachael eagerly said -"I think I know who could help us…"
-"Who…?"
-"My father…!"
-"But how can he help us…? I'm assuming that your father is also just a 'splitter' just like us." Said Carousel
But…, before Carousel could even finish what she was saying…, Rachael grabbed her hand and rushed her out of the academy.
-"Let's go to my father's place, at my place. But it's very far from here; therefore we need to ride a floating vessel to go there." Rachael insisted
-"Sure, but… do we need money or something, to barter them with so we could ride that floating vessel you are talking about? Carousel asked
-"No… we don't need any of those… just tell them that we're from 'Stellar Academy' and they will surely let us ride with them."
Rachael and Carousel then went to the nearest vessel station near the academy and rode a very large 'Floating Vessel' which resembles like a ship but without the sailings and is made with super steel metals. It travels by floating on top of a steel made roads of the city that are also made with sheets of super steel metals that are laid on the ground…, covering the whole road and the large 'Floating Vessel' floats with the use of magnetic field which the steel roads are producing.
Then a dirty old male Erishan from the large floating vessel, who was a crew member distracted Carousel's attention.
-"Hey lady…" The dirty old male Erishan asked, as he was tossing what seems to be a wooden locket to Carousel's point of view, he was tossing it on his hand and he was sounding very provoked.
Rachael and Carousel then turned around to look at the dirty old male Erishan and Carousel asked back… -"Are you talking to me?"
The dirty old male Erishan snorted and boorishly said… -"Of course…! Who else would I be talking to…? If not to you…?" The dirty old male Erishan's voice was starting to sound like he was ready to brawl… -"Lady… do you have any money or… something… to give me… to pay for your ride in this vessel?" As the dirty old male Erishan slowly walks towards Carousel… sounding seductive and implying a dirty look at her…
-"We're from 'Stellar Academy'… we're SPLITTERS" Carousel said while trying to sound brawny too.
-"Ah… so you're a splitter…?" The old Erishan slowly and dubiously asked… -"So… what skill do you posses? Splitting those… legs…? Perhaps…?" He slightly laughed as he slowly looked at Carousel from head to foot and he sounded dissuaded as he unexpectedly throws the wooden locket in his hand directly at Carousel's face…
But Carousel caught the wooden locket in a flick of an eye, the incident angered Carousel as she looked at the man with complete ferocity, she held the wooden locket so tight at the level of her eyes so the man could see clearly what she was about to do with his locket. Carousel then slowly crushing it with her bare hands… the wooden locket turned into debris as the wind carries the dusts away… leaving just the metal band of the locket in Carousel's hand. The dirty old male Erishan looked in complete awe upon seeing what Carousel did. Carousel then slowly walks towards that dirty old male Erishan … -"I have many more skills to show you. You want… to see?" said Carousel in a sturdy tone.
-"I… I… was just testing if you really are a splitter… and it turns out to be that you are really, actually… a true splitter…" The dirty old Erishan said, his voice was now shaking… -"Because you know… these days, a lot of Erishans are pretending to be a 'splitter' just to have a free ride… so… where… would you… want to go…?" The dirty old male Erishan slowly asked, his words were crumbling in fear.
-"Where are we heading…?" Carousel quietly asked Rachael beside her, while maintaining her ferocious stare at the dirty old Erishan.
-"Tell him to drop us at the Ruin city of Harlow" Rachael softly said
-"Ruin city of Harlow" Carousel piercingly said to the dirty old man, sounding very demanding.
Then… the dirty old male Erishan nodded and walked away…
Carousel gave a mocking grin at the old Erishan before he went away, then she looked back at the open view window of the 'Floating Vessel' to enjoy the scenery outside.
-"That man surely knows how to test a splitter." Rachael sarcastically said… -"You surely gave that old man a very good answer by crushing his wooden compass."
-"Oh… so that's what it was… I thought it was a wooden locket…" Carousel slowly replied…, she was a little bit embarrassed because it was she who has a sharper eye sight than Rachael… but then she was the one who got it wrong… and then she hid the metal band in her pocket.
Rachael's eyebrows were pulled down… -"Why would he…? Locket…? Oh never mind, at least you gave him what he truly deserves!" she added
-"You said it's going to be far… but I didn't expect it to be this far." Carousel said as they were riding the large floating vessel for quite some time now.
-"Just be patient, were almost there…" said Rachael
Chapter Four "Heraldin"
The captain of the large 'Floating Vessel' then announced that it was the last and the farthest place the vessel could take them; 'The entrance hall' leading to the 'Ruin city of Harlow' the farthest realm… far west of 'Midgar City'.
Carousel and Rachael then boarded off the vessel, they were the last passengers. And they both started walking again, through the entrance hall leading to the 'Ruin city of Harlow'. They walked through long dark narrow passages, complex rocky roads and complicated streets which no one could possibly remember.
[The 'Ruin city of Harlow' is a mountainous ruined city. Where residences of the city are usually shelters that are carved from the stones, fixed on the rocky mountains of
Harlow, like cave houses that are piled up on top of each other... to withstand the turmoil conditions. A lot of the residences are abandoned and only a few Erishans were there to live and stay.]
-"Rachael… why do I feel like all the Erishans that we come across are only staring at me, not you... even though I am only following you…" Carousel whispered as she was reluctant to look at the Erishans whom they were passing by.
-"Because you are only new here, and they don't know you yet… but don't worry, they won't harm you, just ignore them." Rachael replied
-"Is this your everyday routine? Don't you get tired? We've been walking for so long now and even I am beginning to feel tired." Carousel asked, she was feeling really exhausted.
-"Here we are…" Rachael said, ignoring Carousel's question
-"Oh… at last…!" Carousel happily said, feeling so relieved
They arrived at almost nightfall at Rachael's residence, and they both knocked on the entrance door at the same time.
A man opened the door… and the man's eyes widened upon seeing them… -"Rachael… you're finally home, I'm glad to see you… both of you." The man said, wearing a robe with an undo hood underlying on his back, revealing his face with prominent scars.
Carousel's eyes narrowed as she was confused by the man's reaction… as if it looks like it was the first time that Rachael's father had seen her…
-"Father… this is Carousel…" Rachael introduced
-"I know…" slowly said the man -"At last we finally meet, come in…" he said as he was staring at Rachael… -"Rachael has told me so many things about you…" said he to Carousel.
-"Carousel…, I want you to meet my father… Heraldin." Rachael said to Carousel
-"Hi… sir… I'm so glad to have finally met you too…!" Carousel said, feeling reluctant while she shakes hands with him.
-"Please… call me by my name." Heraldin insisted
-"Father…" as Rachael tries to tell him about Carousel's problem…, Heraldin immediately knew her difficulty.
-"I see… you want to know where your friend is… I already made an eye contact with you so I know why you're here…" Heraldin said to Carousel
-"Yes, please… Heraldin…" Carousel was not at ease speaking just his name. -"Could you please help me find my friend Emoreh… it's been more than a week now, and I haven't seen nor heard anything from him…, and we tried looking for help but it seems that no one can help us."
-"Yes, certainly…" Heraldin said -"But you two, need to fill up your energy first… I can see that you're both exhausted… so just eat anything you want from the kitchen."
Carousel and Rachael then went to the kitchen to look for food.
-"Carousel, just grab anything you want okay? I don't feel like eating right now… so I'm just goanna go to my room and rest for a while." Rachael said
-"All right…" Carousel replied, as she was looking around… -"This place is so huge and so clean even though this whole shelter was just carved from the top of this small mountain." She thought to herself while grabbing something to eat and drink, but she was so keen of knowing where Emoreh is that's why she rushed back to talk to Heraldin.
-"Heraldin… thanks for the food, but I… I'm finished… so can I now ask for your help…?" Carousel muttered but politely asked
-"Sure, take a sit." Haraldin said -"I can channel through your mind and through your thoughts, but you have to guide me by concentrating your thoughts to your friend…
Emoreh…, is his name…? Am I right? So I can channel through him and we can know where he really is."
Carousel then took a sit facing Heraldin. -"I would really like to thank you for helping me, and to Rachael for bringing me here to see you, even though she's not very fond of
Emoreh." Carousel said sounding very thankful to Heraldin
-"Oh, is that so?" Heraldin asked... he lingered for awhile and said… -"All right… I want you to close your eyes first, think of him as hard as you can… and when you're ready… then you can open your eyes, so I can see." said Heraldin
So Carousel did what Heraldin asked her to do and she took a deep breath and closed her eyes momentarily and was now ready to open her eyes… and as soon as she opened her eyes… Heraldin instantly channeled into her mind like there was a power that pierced into her eyes, then into her mind.
-"Awww…" Heraldin suddenly cried, holding his head with his both hands, while he broke loose from channeling into Carousel's mind.
-"Why…? What's wrong?" Carousel cried, seeing Heraldin's mental state, she was now starting to panic a little.
Rachael heard the commotion and went directly to their place…
-"What happened…?" Rachael asked, as she saw her father having a tight grip on his head… feeling an immense pain.
Rachael quickly attended to her father's distress, and tried to comfort him.
-"Father… what's wrong? Are you alright? What just happened?" Rachael asked, sounding very worried while trying to help his father to get up from being bent over in pain.
-"Yes… thank you, but I think I am fine now." Heraldin replied, upon recovering and he stroke his forehead with his fingers down to his face, wondering what had just happened to him. -"I just felt an immense pain for a second but I've seen your friend Emoreh… he's asleep… but I've also felt an extreme power in his surroundings, preventing me to tap into his mind." Heraldin said…, his face was almost in awe while telling them what he had just experienced. -"I have never felt nor experienced that kind of power in my entire life, that power… felt like it was… a higher being… though I have never been familiar to a higher being or to a different entity before… but I'm sure that-that power didn't just came from a splitter." Heraldin pointed out as his voice turns shaky…
Carousel and Rachael then just looked at each other with complete awe.
-"Do you think that… that higher being is responsible for Emoreh's sudden disappearance…?" Carousel worriedly asked
-"I guess… so." Heraldin replied -"I mean… why…? Why wouldn't it want me to channel into Emoreh's mind, if it wasn't responsible for it? Clearly it doesn't want me to interfere with its plans."
-"You said that Emoreh was asleep…? So at least we now know that he's still alive… right…?" Carousel mutedly asked, unsure of what Heraldin was about to say…
-"Yes… I saw him, he's just asleep… and he's alright."
-"Did you happen to see where he is? Carousel utterly asked
-"That… I didn't have the time to see, because that… that power prevented me from actually seeing where Emoreh is, but I can still try again." Heraldin convincingly said
-"But father…!" Rachael interrupted
-"Don't worry… I will just be alright, I was just caught off guard by that immense power, that's why I was harmed… but this time I'm prepared… and I'm ready."
-"Father… are you sure of what you're about to do again? Rachael worriedly asked.
Heraldin slightly nodded and looked straight at Rachael like he was reminding her of what his own capabilities are… -"Yes… I am sure." Heraldin said in a deep voice as he slightly smiled at her.
-"You sure do know what you're… doing…?" Carousel murmured to herself as her eyes widened in array.
Heraldin then looked into Carousel's eyes again, then attempted to channel into Emoreh's location… through her thoughts.
Heraldin then saw Emoreh's whereabouts but paused for a while, Carousel and Rachael waited… their eyes narrowed in anticipation.
-"Did… did you see where Emoreh is?" Carousel eagerly asked
-"Yes, I've seen where he is… but something's not right." Heraldin's eyes narrowed in confusion.
-"What… what is not right?" Rachael interrupted
-"All of a sudden, there was no sign of that extreme power that I was recently talking about! It has anticipated my channeling and it suddenly disappeared leaving me completely open to find out where your friend is. It didn't even try to stop me this time."
-"Well… that's good to know." Carousel said -"Where is he then?" Carousel quickly asked
-"At… at… the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine'…" Heraldin said sounding very sure of his answer…
Carousel's eyes then flickered in astonishment upon hearing Heraldin's answer.
-"That's… amazing, I was expecting like… you would say that you saw him locked in a certain room or some place and, that we still have to figure out where that place is… but…" Carousel sighed –"You know exactly where it is, I'm assuming you've been in that place before…right?" Carousel asked feeling so overwhelmed
-"You're absolutely right, I used to be a shaman myself and preached in that shrine" Heraldin replied -"But we have to hurry and get there, and find your friend… we might be dealing with a powerful being so we need to be alert at all times."
Heraldin, Carousel and Rachael then rode Heraldin's floating vessel, a common transportation vehicle used by Erishans in planet Eris.
[The floating vessel looks like an enclosed capsule but with a leaner and tapered head because the driver of the vessel is the lone individual in front with no other seats on the other side, the seats are all located at the back row of the driver giving it a semi-triangular shape, -when you are looking down at it from the top.
It also floats on roads made with sheets of super steel metals with the use of magnetic fields and it floats using high air pressure if it is traveling through none metallic surfaces.]
They all went straight away to the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' and as they were on their way…
-"Heraldin… can I ask you something…?" Carousel asked sheepishly, her eyes were barely looking at Heraldin's
-"What is it…?"
-"I have never been this far away from home in my whole life… except at the 'Ruins of Midgar' where I live and 'Midgar City' where I grew up, and I have always thought that the 'Ruins of Midgar' became a ruin because of the constant quakes that - that place is experiencing… but now… I have come to realize… that every city and everywhere I go is actually a ruin and there seems to be an occurring earthquake, and sink holes are visible everywhere." Explained Carousel to Heraldin, as she was looking outside the circular glass window of the vessel and that they were passing by many ruined cities along their way.
Heraldin was silenced for a while and he took a deep breath… before answering back…
-"Everywhere and every possible city in this world is a ruin because… because of the 'Great War' that took place in this world more than twenty years ago, every city, every town, everywhere is destroyed… and millions of people were annihilated and were reduced to just a few thousands… this was just a small world before… but now… it seems that this is so big for all of us to live in. This world was a very modern world, before the 'Great War' started. And look at it now…? We are still in the process of recovery and we find it very hard to recuperate because there are only a few hundreds of people left in every possible community and city… its' either they can't produce children because of the radiation they have suffered from the war or they don't want to produce any more children at all, because of the trauma that they had experienced during the 'Great War'." … Heraldin sighed… - "Why…? Didn't your 'SHAMANS' in your academy teach you that?" asked Heraldin
-"No, they didn't… I mean... yes they did tell us that there was indeed a 'Great War' that had happened more than twenty years ago, but they didn't tell us that – that war, that particular war was responsible for all the ruined cities and places there is in this world... and they only taught us the basic things to survive... like, where or how to get food, how to cook food, how to raise livestock, how to treat wounds, how to build a shelter, and how to sew our own clothes… that's all, no histories included. And besides I wasn't born yet when that war happened that's why I don't have any idea… and I've always thought that it was because of the constant earthquakes and regular turmoil weather conditions this world is experiencing that's why almost all the places and cities here on planet Eris is ruined. But… except for Midgar city." Carousel slowly asked… "Do you know why…?"
-"'Midgar city' is just a new city and was built only after the Great War." Heraldin said as his eyes narrowed while he was reminiscing the conditions of planet Eris before the Great War had happened. –"Almost all of the buildings and roads there, at 'Midgar City' are made of super steel metals to withstand the constant quakes and turmoil weather conditions, but the weather conditions now, weren't as bad as before, these bad weathers only took place after the 'Great War', but still it is not as worse as today, and these days, the weather conditions are getting worse and worse, but before the 'Great War', I could still see the stars up above those skies during the nights… but now, we can't… all we see at night are thick gray clouds and thunder storms and we could barely see our star 'ASTERIE' during the daytime and as far as I know…, your head 'SHAMAN'… Dimitris…?" asked Heraldin as his eyebrows were pulled up… unsure if he had the name right…
-"Yes, that's his name alright." Carousel quickly replied
-"Well… he is one of the Erishans responsible for building the entire 'Midgar City' together with... Demeon..." Heraldin slowly said... -"Demeon is the owner of Stellar
Academy... and almost all of the business establishments there at 'Midgar city'... he is considered as the savior of this world since the 'Great War' happened... but is he actually the one responsible for rebuilding the broken hopes of the hopeless people...? And yet he is rarely seen and I don't know if he is really rich or someone who have high connections with the other businessmen that are in charge for building the entire city too, because I actually never met nor seen him personally, the only one that I always tend to see is the head shaman of your school – Dimitris... and I don't know if he has a hidden agenda or something… I don't know. I can't read his mind because he probably has a
mind-reading ability as well... that's why I can't read his mind." As Heraldin repeatedly said and slightly shook his head.
-"But at least he helped build the city too… and it's still a right thing to do." Carousel concluded as she was looking slightly doubtful towards Heraldin.
-"I don't know…" Heraldin muttered… -"I just… I just have this feeling that they shouldn't be trusted." Heraldin softly said
Carousel sighed and she looked doubtful at Heraldin as she slowly looked away from him... on the other hand… Heraldin read Carousel's thoughts before she even looked away from him and he just looked at where they were heading… he felt the uncertainty
Carousel was feeling towards him.
-"Are we there yet?" asked Rachael
-"We're almost there…" replied Heraldin
Chapter Five "The bat-like beast"
The 'floating vessel' they were riding was in an auto drive mode, and it indicated that they are nearing at 'The Ruins of Goban Shrine'
-"We're almost there… Rachael… I want you and Carousel to stay together at all times, no matter what happens because we don't know how powerful that being is, who took your friend, so we should always stay alert." said Heraldin, in a commanding tone.
-"Yes, father." replied Rachael
-"I just hope that we find Emoreh as soon as possible before that powerful being detects our presence." Carousel said
-"I suppose… it already did." Heraldin unhurriedly concluded as his eyes narrowed to observe their surroundings…
-"Heraldin…?" Carousel asked again…
-"Yes…?"
-"You said… you used to be a shaman too?"
-"Yes… why…?"
-"So you're not a shaman now…? Why did you give up on being a shaman?"
Heraldin was silenced for a moment, slowly looked up through the dark skies as it can be seen from the glass window located at the top of the capsule-like 'floating vessel' he then slightly sighed and said… -"I… don't want to talk about it right now, it's a… long story." as his voice slowly hits to a drop.
Finally… they have reached the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine', it is an abandoned place, no one lives there anymore and it is the largest temple in planet Eris. The pillars of the temple are barely standing but there are still a few quarters that are still in fine form. It was very dark and the flashes of lights that are coming from the lightning's strikes from the skies up above are what illuminate the entire place. It wasn't raining yet but the wind was blowing so hard and scattered dusts are affecting maximum visibility.
Heraldin then stepped out of his 'floating vessel' and said…
-"I better check on your friend by myself, it's too risky for both of you to come with me, so you two just stay here in the vessel and wait for my return." Heraldin insisted
-"But Heraldin… I'm a well trained splitter, I can look out for myself, and I want to help you find Emoreh too." Carousel pleaded
-"I know that you are a well trained splitter Carousel, but whoever or whatever… that took your friend Emoreh in this place…" As Heraldin stretched his arms to present the situation that's taking place… -"Must be someone or something that even I am afraid to find out… and I can't risk having you both in danger, at least if I were to be harmed then let me be harmed alone."
-"If you are willing to be harmed because of my friend… then I am willing to be harmed as well… so let me please come with you." Carousel begged
But before Carousel can speak another word… Heraldin quickly locked the doors of his 'floating vessel' so that Carousel and Rachael could not get out.
-"This vessel will automatically fly both of you back home if something bad happens to me." Heraldin said as he pushed a series of buttons on the remote control which he took out from his pocket. And he went straight ahead to the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' leaving
Carousel and Rachael behind locked inside his vessel.
Heraldin then walks through the dark and dusty isle of the temple, he slightly covered his face with the hood of his robe to protect his eyes from the debris that are flying in the air and also to have a better sight of his surroundings, he examines every possible place that might reveal where Emoreh is…
-"Now, where is that place that I have seen in Carousel's mind, him being inside…" Heraldin thought to himself…
Heraldin was walking and checking through an undestroyed quarter when he noticed that someone or… something was spying on him, hidden behind one of the standing pillars at his side. Heraldin then seized a quick glance at his side to see what it was, and then he saw a huge shadow suddenly hid itself from a robust pillar. Heraldin then maintained a direct focus on that particular pillar he believes that shadow might be hiding… as he slowly walks towards that pillar to check what it was that he saw. Heraldin then cleared the dusty air with his telekinetic ability to have a better view of his surroundings and, he slowly unveils the hood of his robe. When suddenly, the shadow that was hiding from that particular pillar moved from pillar to pillar with lightning speed, Heraldin was sprawling in bewilderment upon seeing it.
-"What… is… that?" Heraldin slowly and softly asked himself, as he tries to ready himself from an attack that might come from that shadow.
Heraldin tries to follow the movement, but it was too fast for him to take a good look, and then he suddenly hears a high pitched reverberation sound coming from his back… and he tries to face it and to have a good look at it… but before he even tries to do it, the vast shadow slammed him from pillar to pillar, taking him by surprise at his back. The pillars then collapsed and the tore downed pillars buried them both to the ground.
The commotion that had happened was so loud that it can be heard from over a very long distance… but if there were only Erishans around to hear it. But Rachael and Carousel were the only ones there to have actually heard of it.
-"What was that?" Carousel asked as her voice sounded a little bit nervous, upon hearing the commotion, she looks outside the window of the floating vessel to see what it was, but couldn't clearly see what just happened because of the poor visibility due to the dark and windy conditions, and the atmosphere was clouding with debris. Carousel tries to open the door of the vessel but it was tightly locked and the door won't budge.
-"Something huge must have fallen down to create that kind of a very loud blast."
Rachael said as she also starts to look worried.
-"I think we better check it out!" Carousel cried -"Maybe something bad had happened to Heraldin." As Carousel tries to unlock the door again but still it won't budge, the door was tightly shut. When all of a sudden they heard a loud growl coming from the inside of the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine', Carousel and Rachael looked at each other when they heard the loud growl. Rachael was in awe. Rachael tightly held Carousel's shoulders… -"I hope my father is alright…" Rachael muttered as her eyes widened in fright.
But Carousel had a different reaction…, -"Let me out of here!" Carousel cried as she starts to jolt the locked doors of the vessel. -"I won't let another Erishan get hurt just for the sake of my own problems." Carousel furiously murmured to herself, as she keeps pushing the locked doors of the floating vessel… and finally one of the locked doors snapped open, because of her heavily budging since she was getting really mad about the situation. Carousel then pushed the door and hurriedly rushed out of the vessel to look for Heraldin at the shrine… Rachael soon followed her…
-"Carousel, wait for me!" cried Rachael seeing Carousel ran so quick.
Carousel slightly turned her head back as she was running through the temple.
-"Come… we have to hurry, your father might be in peril." Carousel cried
Rachael can hardly hear what Carousel was saying because the air was filled with dust and Carousel was already far away from her. Carousel continued to go through the temple and Rachael slightly covering her eyes with her hand to protect her vision as she followed Carousel through the temple as fast as she could.
Carousel then reached the entrance of the temple, the pillars were barely standing and the air was already cleared because Heraldin had previously let the dust settled on the ground using his telekinetic ability. Carousel hurriedly searched for Heraldin from quarter to quarter.
-"Heraldin… can you hear me? Where are you?" Carousel cried
And then something caught Carousel's attention when she heard something chinking inside a freshly made ruble. Carousel slowly moved towards that ruble to check what it was. She stopped when she saw that something was emerging out of the ruble. Then she saw a big monstrous bat like creature slowly shoving the rubles off of its body. Carousel's eyes widened in awe…
-"What… is that… thing?" Carousel slowly mumbled to herself as she was trying to step back while still facing the monstrous creature.
[The monstrous bat like creature is very huge; it stands twice the height of Carousel and it even stands slightly humpbacked because of its large built body, covered with hairs that stings when shedding, its two forelimbs are developed into huge wings with a huge claw on the second toe of its forelimb. It also has huge ears and large pitch black eyes, and its mouth is like a suction hole with a long slippery tongue, with razor sharp teeth around it and fresh blood that had already darkened is also evident in its razor sharp teeth.]
Carousel couldn't move because of the fear that she was feeling, the beast looked at her with so much intensity while it was shuddering off the rubles on its body, the beast slowly crouches as it slowly moves towards Carousel. The beast's hairy claw like feet leaves a heavy mark on the ground every time it walks in a crouching position because of the tight grip it makes to the ground, as its two huge claws located at its second toe of its forelimb slowly clamps the ground to hold up its massive body while crouching. The beast stared at Carousel as it slowly approaches her and then… the beast slightly looked back at the ruble to check if Heraldin was still buried in the ruble, it snarled as it reared back into Carousel. Carousel's eyes were still widened in complete awe of what she was witnessing, she could hardly breathe and tries to gulp down to clear her throat.
The beast paused for awhile as someone was nearing through the corridors of the temple… and it was Rachael…
-"Carousel…! Where are you…?" Rachael unhurriedly asked as her voice was shaking in fear, while checking on every quarter she passes by. And then she finally sees Carousel… and the beast.
-"What the…! "Rachael exclaimed as her voice sounded more like a scream, upon seeing the beast. Carousel then quickly grabbed Rachael by the hand and they both ran away as quickly as they could. The beast was taken aback by how fast Carousel reacted, but then soon followed them both when it finally realized that the two were already gone. Carousel and Rachael were franticly running away from the beast when they suddenly found a small cavern suitable for only one Erishan to fit in, located at one of the standing walls of the temple.
-"Quick, hide in there and be quiet… don't make any sound." Carousel told Rachael
-"But… how about you…? Where will you hide?" Rachael worriedly asked
-"Don't worry about me…" Carousel confidently said as she was now feeling a little bit angry. -"At least I can outrun that beast… I am faster than you are, and besides I have to look for Heraldin and Emoreh." Carousel said as she led Rachael into the small cavern.
Carousel then quickly runs off the scene, to avoid Rachael from being detected by the beast. But she was too late… the beast was already there before she even got the chance to flee. The beast attacked Carousel by surprise with its huge claw as soon as it sees her, but Carousel managed to avoid the attack. Carousel was also moving at the same lightning speed that the beast possesses. But all Carousel could do is dodge every attack that the beast makes. Carousel is not strong enough to return an attack. The scrapes and scuffs made by the beast were shrilling.
Meanwhile… out from the ruble came out a slightly wounded Heraldin, his back was slightly bleeding from the ram he received from the beast. As Heraldin was slowly tapping and shuddering all the debris on his body, he heard a loud commotion that the beast was making. Heraldin then instantly had an idea whom that beast was attacking.
-"Rachael… Carousel…" Heraldin worriedly mumbled to himself, and quickly ran off to look for them. He followed where the loud sound of the commotion was taking place…
In the meantime, Carousel was busy distracting the beast, she runs from pillar to pillar evading the beast's attack, and then she saw and went into an even darker quarter of the temple thinking she could hide from the beast, but she was wrong… it made no difference to the beast because it has an echolocation and infrared sensors which it can use in dark places. All that Carousel could only do was to dodge and evade the beast's heavy attacks.
-"What am I goanna do now?" Carousel thought… -"I can't do anything except to avoid its attacks; if only I am stronger could I lift those fallen pillars, at least by then I could do some damage to that dreadful beast." Carousel worriedly thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Heraldin was quickly following the loud sound of the commotion, and he heard someone called him from behind, he turned around and saw Rachael hiding in a small dark cavern.
-"Father…" Rachael quietly called
-"Rachael… is that you?" Heraldin curiously asked as he slowly approaches the small dark cavern…
-"Yes, it's me…" Rachael whispered, still hidden in the small dark cavern
-"I'm glad that you're fine, but… where is Carousel…?" Heraldin worriedly asked
-"She's being attacked by that beast…" Rachael softly said as she tries to go out from the small cavern from where she was hiding.
-"No, don't go out yet… just stay there for a while, I'm goanna help her." Heraldin told
Rachael.
So Heraldin immediately ran to where the commotion was taking place, and he saw Carousel from a distance, continuously evading the beast's attacks and she looks somewhat exhausted from their fight.
-"Carousel…! Get down…!" Heraldin cried, as he threw a large pillar directly to the beast, using his telekinetic ability.
The beast snarled upon receiving the large pillar's impact that smacked its body.
-"Come' on! Let's go… before it fully recovers!" Heraldin said, as he grabbed Carousel and quickly fled that place, they went back to where Rachael was hiding and seized her out, and then they all ran as fast as they could out of the temple. But then Carousel stayed a little bit behind the two because she knows she could easily outrun them both anytime, that's why she decided to be a look-out for the two. And when they got out from the temple and they were nearing the safety of Heraldin's floating vessel… Carousel stopped for awhile.
-"You two go ahead… I need to go back and get Emoreh." Carousel insisted
-"But… that beast…!" Rachael exclaimed
But before Rachael and Heraldin could say another word… Carousel rushed back in the temple to look for Emoreh.
-"Rachael, I want you to go and stay inside that vessel until we return, and please… lock the doors, I'm going after her." Heraldin insisted
Meanwhile, Carousel was quickly scanning every possible quarter of the temple, hoping to find Emoreh. And finally… she spotted Emoreh from a distance… he was laying, unconscious on top of a catafalque… beside one of the many destroyed sarcophaguses around the temple. Carousel then rushed to where Emoreh was, but suddenly that beast appeared in front of her again and it was looking very upset. The beast growled in anger, showing its big mouth at Carousel that looks like a big suction hole, and around it are razor sharp teeth positioned in a circular style and a long thick tongue was sticking out of its mouth. Carousel stepped back again, to prepare an evasion and she noticed that she was standing in a narrow corridor and there isn't much space for her to move.
-"If this beast decides to attack me the same way it attacked me earlier, I'm dead!" Carousel thought to herself in awe… -"I have nowhere else to go, I'm in this very narrow corridor." said she, but seeing Emoreh unconscious across the hall made her stronger. Carousel felt like she really needed to save Emoreh. And as the beast tries to attack her again… a bizarre shape silhouette of light suddenly appeared at the back of Carousel. The beast stopped its attack, its eyes widened in fear; it started breathing heavily as it was distracted by something that had appeared behind Carousel, and the beast swiftly fled in lightning speed… Carousel was then puzzled about the beast's reaction and she slowly turned around to look behind her to see if anything had frightened the beast. But she saw nothing, but then she heard somebody was fast approaching… she could hear the high-speed footsteps looming…
-"Carousel…! Are you alright…?" Heraldin cried
Carousel was relieved upon seeing that it was only Heraldin who was fast approaching,
Carousel sighed in relief.
-"Yes…, I'm alright, I'm glad to see you… I thought for awhile that…, that beast just took a different route to attack me from behind… but is seems that we're all safe now." Carousel told Heraldin in complete ease.
-"Where is that beast now?" Heraldin asked looking very wary
-"I think it fled away… maybe because it sensed that you were coming, and maybe it was scared to get smacked again." said Carousel
-"It fled…? Are you sure?" Heraldin suspiciously asked
-"Well… you don't see any beast anywhere… anymore? Right…?" Carousel said, while slowly turning to scan their surroundings and hoping that her speculation was right.
-"See… I told you it fled… you scared that beast, no trace of that beast anymore." Carousel confidently said, and then suddenly she felt the cuts and bruises on her body.
-"Ouch…!" Carousel cried, as she tries to feel her wounds and contusions. She leaned over the walls with her back to support her injured body as she was slowly losing her balance.
-"Wait…! Let me help you…" Heraldin insisted as he tries to give Carousel a raise
-"Why do I suddenly have these wounds…?" Carousel curiously asked -"I wasn't feeling anything when I was avoiding that beast's attacks." Carousel said in pain
-"It's because your abilities are about… what your body can achieve and it relies on your emotions, and you weren't feeling any signs of fear when you were tackling that beast, that's why you weren't able to notice and feel the pain and that you were being injured during your confrontation with that beast… and now that it fled, your mind is relaxed and you are now feeling the outcome of your fight." Heraldin explained
Carousel sighed and asked… -"Heraldin…, do you have any idea who, or what is that creature that attacked us? Why did that beast took Emoreh here?"
-"I also… don't know…" Heraldin softly answered -"All I know is that…, that creature is very powerful…" said Heraldin as he paused for a while… -"By the way…, did you see your friend Emoreh here?" Heraldin asked
-"Yes…, I spotted him there; he's unconscious, and he's lying just around that corner." Carousel quickly replied as she was pointing to where she had spotted Emoreh and she was about to go there…
-"Wait…!" Heraldin quickly said to Carousel -"Let me heal your wounds first before you start moving."
-"You can…, heal my wounds…?" Carousel slowly asked
-"Of course I can…" Heraldin convincingly said as he positioned the palms of his hand just above Carousel's wounds… -"I can close your open cuts and bruises with my telekinetic powers…, but I can't completely treat your injuries inside… but at least it can relieve the pain that you are feeling now."
-"Wow, thank you, that's amazing, and I can actually feel the difference now…" Carousel gladly said upon being healed by Heraldin, her eyes widened in astonishment.
Carousel and Heraldin then went on to get Emoreh from across the corner, still very wary of their surroundings whether the beast might return and attack them again… but gladly, it did not.
-"It seems that the beast is not around here anymore." Carousel said
-"I think you're right…, but we have to hurry before it decides to return again." Heraldin cautiously said.
They both found Emoreh lying unconscious on a catafalque, Carousel stroke Emoreh's forehead upon seeing him, she was so relieved to see Emoreh still alive but in a deep sleep.
Heraldin then hurriedly carried Emoreh on his shoulder, who was still unconscious and unaware.
-"Let's carry him both…" Carousel suggested
-"No need, I can handle this… and besides you're still wounded." Heraldin said
-"Are you sure you don't want me to help you carry Emoreh? He's bigger than you… you know? And you're also wounded." Carousel worriedly said as she looks at Heraldin's back as it was stained with minor blood spatters.
-"Well…, he's just a little bit bigger than I am!" Heraldin pointed out -"And I already healed my wounds at my back, it's just a minor injury. So don't worry about me carrying your friend…, because I'm actually using my telekinetic ability to lift him, and I'm just carrying him at my shoulder so that if anything bad happens... I won't drop him on the ground; unlike if I let him float on air... then that would be riskier to carry out." explained Heraldin…
Carousel then slightly nodded -"Is Rachael alright?" Carousel worriedly asked
-"Yes, I told her to get inside the vessel." Heraldin said but wasn't really sure if Rachael was really fine, so they mutually understood each other and began to run as fast as they could, out of the temple to check if Rachael was really fine. And moments later… they saw that Rachael was in fact safe inside the vessel.
-"I'm glad she's fine" Heraldin said and he was relieved upon seeing Rachael unharmed inside the vessel.
-"Me too…" Carousel smiled upon seeing her best friend unscathed.
Rachael was inside the floating vessel looking out of the window and seems to be very wary, but as soon as she saw them, Rachael appeared to be relieved.
Heraldin and Carousel approached the vessel, and Heraldin unlocked the doors with his device that he took out from his pocket that controls his floating vessel. He then placed Emoreh at one of the vacant seats at the back of the vessel and placed his floating vessel in an auto-drive mode again and, they headed back home to the 'Ruin city of Harlow'
-"So…, d… did you kill the beast?" Rachael slowly asked and still feeling terrified
-"No…! It suddenly fled." Carousel promptly replied -"Wait…, why do I, suddenly feel like I'm scared again? The beast has already left!" Carousel hesitated being unsure of her emotions, her eyes looking very baffled.
-"Or maybe because you're close to Rachael again!" Heraldin told Carousel…
-"What would that have to do with what I'm feeling?" Carousel was puzzled, she couldn't see the connection.
-"Look at her…" Heraldin said, as he looks at Rachael… -"She still looks very scared."
Carousel and Rachael then simultaneously asked… -"So…?" sounding very confused, their eyebrows were pulled down. –"What's the connection?" they both asked.
-"Well…, I just noticed that whenever you two are together, the other one seems to be getting the other one's manner depending on who feels the greater feeling. Like when you…, Carousel were so eager to find your friend Emoreh…, I observed that Rachael was eager to find him too, even though you told me that Rachael wasn't fond of him. And recently you weren't feeling scared anymore, then you suddenly felt scared when we got here." Heraldin concluded
Carousel and Rachael looked at each other looking very baffled, their lips and eyebrows were pulled down. And they don't seem to see the connection.
-"Maybe…, because we're best friends and we're so used to each other's company that's why we can feel each other's sentiments, but it doesn't mean that we're suppose to feel the same." Carousel slowly pointed out, while her shoulders were pushed up.
-"Well…, I'm…, just telling what I've observed." Heraldin slowly said, his tone was apparent and his eyebrows were pulled up.
-"Did you say that the beast fled? Rachael interrupted
-"Yes it did" Carousel quickly replied
-"Why…?" Rachael asked as she was now feeling a little bit relieved
-"Because it probably sensed that Heraldin was coming that's why it fled, perhaps it already had enough beatings that it could take for the day." Carousel said looking very sure about what she had just said.
-"I wouldn't be easily saying that-that is the case." Heraldin clarified. -"That beast is so strong and powerful it could have killed us all, and up till now I'm still wondering why that beast suddenly fled?"
-"And why did that beast took Emoreh?" Carousel strongly interrupted too
-"Let's just wait for your friend to awake." Rachael said -"So we can ask him why that beast took him there in that temple." Rachael was then silenced for awhile -"But… will…, he even wake up?" Rachael slowly and worriedly asked.
-"Of course he will." Heraldin said, and he was very positive. -"There are no marks or signs of injury on his body, he looks perfectly fine, he is still breathing and in good condition…, and he's just been put into asleep so he'll probably wake up soon." Heraldin said as he examines Emoreh's body that he had put on to rest on one of the vacant seats of the floating vessel.
-"Why would that beast take Emoreh away and doesn't do anything with him?" Carousel asked Heraldin
-"And what makes you so sure that he had just been put to sleep?" Rachael also asked Heraldin
-"Heraldin's right" Carousel quickly cried -"Emoreh had just been put to sleep because I can smell Emoreh's breath and it looks like that beast had been feeding him with 'Loco Ferns' a kind of plant that could make you sleep. But what puzzles me is that…, why is he totally unhurt?" asked Carousel
Heraldin's eyes narrowed in… -"That's what I have been asking myself too, I tried channeling into that beast's mind…, but I couldn't…, because it keeps closing its eyes whenever I try to make eye contact with it." Heraldin said -"As if it knows exactly what
I have in my mind; we will just have to wait for Emoreh to wake up so we can ask him about the incident."
-"Then…, when will he wake up? Rachael again asked
-"Probably tomorrow…, a 'loco fern' can only make you sleep for a day or two." Heraldin replied.
-"Then that beast must have been feeding Emoreh a couple of times." Rachael pointed out
-"Probably" replied Carousel
The 'floating vessel' had finally reached the 'Ruin city of Harlow' and they got back to Heraldin's shelter.
[The 'Ruin city of Harlow' is a ruined rocky city; it is a place with lots of rocky hills and Rocky Mountains. The ruined shelters are well blended with the surroundings, because the shelters there were carved from the hills and mountains. Heraldin's residence is a one storey structure made of rocks and stones that are carved at the top of one of the hills of the city.]
Heraldin then carried Emoreh to one of the guest rooms of his shelter…, he laid him there on the bed.
-"Thank you Heraldin…" Carousel softly said -"Thank you for helping me find my friend." Her eyes were glowing with gratitude.
Heraldin smiled at Carousel, a sign of agreeing to her acknowledgement towards him. –"I should go…, now you…, just attend to your friend's needs until he wakes, all right…?" Heraldin said with seriousness while Carousel smiled and nodded.
Heraldin then went out of the room and Rachael soon followed him leaving Carousel and Emoreh alone at the guest room.
-"Father…" Rachael asked as the two were walking.
-"What is it?"
-"You told us that…, a higher being took Emoreh? That beast is the higher being you were insisting? Because if that's what a higher being looks like…, then I'd rather be a lower class of a being."
Heraldin slightly laughed and slowly turned around to face Rachael from the corridor that they were walking through… -"Rachael…, sometimes physical appearances can deceive you…, that beast may look monstrous to you… but it possesses great powers which you've just witnessed. But to be honest, it was not like what I have expected it to be either."
-"Neither do I…" Rachael abruptly said with her eyes widened in disbelief… -"That beast still gives me chills up to now… it looks very evil!" she added
Heraldin sighed and said -"You tell Carousel to stay here for awhile; it will be very dangerous for her, especially for her friend to leave, that beast might still be looking for
Emoreh. And we don't know where or when that beast will yet attack again."
-"I know…" Rachael replied and she immediately went back to the guest room where Carousel and Emoreh were, Rachael knocked and opened the door, she found Carousel sitting on the love seat placed beside the bed where Emoreh was laid. Carousel was curbed like a ball and she was looking at Emoreh when Rachael came in. Carousel slightly turned her face to see Rachael at the door.
-"Carousel…," Rachael called in a soft voice -"I just want to tell you, that my father insists that you and Emoreh should stay here for the meantime until we are all safe from that beast."
Carousel smiled while she was staring at Rachael. -"Thank you…, yes I will, but I don't know about Emoreh."
-"Well…, for sure he already knows what that beast had done to him. It would be very stupid for him to be just ignoring the fact that he was taken captive."
Carousel looked back at Emoreh's unconscious body and observed his situation.
Rachael leaned back at the door and her arms entwine. -"You would do anything for him, would you?" Rachael softly asked as her eyes slowly looked down -"You're willing to risk everything for him…, but you're afraid to accept the fact that he might not do the same thing for you."
Carousel nodded -"You're… right, and sometimes I want to change the way I feel about him but…, I just can't…"
-"For now you can't…, but why change it? Just accept it."
-"I know…, and after all I've been through, I guess I will always have these feelings for him."
-"Yes…, don't change that."
-"Yes… I…, I… won't." Carousel slowly said and slightly nodded -"I… should call my mom." As she gets up and asks Rachael for the telephone.
-"Why call her? I thought you said she doesn't care whether you are home or not."
-"But I still want to call her." Carousel somewhat demanded
-"All right…, come with me." said Rachael
Carousel followed Rachael and she slowly turned around to look back and checks one more time on Emoreh who was still unconsciously lying on the bed.
-"He'll be fine…, don't worry" Rachael said as she leads Carousel out of the room and into their kitchen where the telephone is situated.
Carousel then called her mother… -"Mom…, hi, it's me…, Carousel" Carousel said as she heard her mom picked up the telephone.
-"What made you call?" Carousel's mom said as her voice was at the usual mocking tone, she sounded like she was still yawning from being awaken.
-"I…, just want to tell you that…, I'm staying here at Rachael's place for the meantime."
-"Why would you even call… you could stay there forever if you want, there's no difference whether you're here or not!" Her mom insensitively said
-"Well then…, uhm…, just take care okay?" Carousel slowly said as she could hear a male Erishan's voice invitingly telling her mom to go back to bed. And all she could hear after that was a dead line implying that the telephone had just been hanged.
Carousel then slowly hangs up the phone too.
-"What did your mother say to you?" Rachael asked
Carousel looked at Rachael with her eyes partially shut…
-"Oh…, I told you so." said Rachael as she slightly hugged Carousel when she read her best friend's mind.
-"I…, I know" Carousel slowly said too -"I just wanted to know if she was alright."
Heraldin then came, and asked Carousel to follow him.
-"Carousel…" Heraldin called -"I want to tell you something."
-"What is it…?"
-"Before we went to the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' you asked me… why did I gave up on being a shaman? Well now that we are dealing with that beast…, then I'll probably tell you what you should know about me." Heraldin said as he was staring directly at
Carousel's eyes… -"Rachael, you stay here, and wait for Emoreh to wake up and if he does… just call us." Heraldin insisted…
Carousel then looked at Rachael with complete curiosity, and Rachael just shrugged, her lips were pressed in a thin line. Carousel then followed Heraldin, eager to know what he would have to tell her. And he led her to a secret door that leads to the basement. And when they reached the basement…. again Carousel saw another door, but this time the door was much larger and was made of super steel metal… a very hard metal, the facade of the structure was very modern but the rusts are visible, perhaps due to old times of exposure to humidity. Heraldin then pushed the door and the pivoted door opened, the interior of that place were very technologically advanced compared to the shelter on the upper ground. Heraldin and Carousel then walked in, and Carousel realizes she was standing in a very large atrium.
-"What is this place?" Carousel inquiringly asked as she examines the whole area, she slowly walks around the very huge mezzanine where they were standing, overlooking a huge fountain with geometrical structures down below. -"This place is so beautiful; I can't imagine that there is a place like this, down here." She said, with a slight silly laugh as she looks high above the ceiling, a dome made of glass: the plates of the dome were hexagonal in shape and are framed with struts made of super steel metal. And only a soft glow of the cove lightings on the edges of the ceiling illuminates the entire place.
-"This place used to be so much more beautiful before the 'Great War' happened." Heraldin softly replied because there were slightly visible cracks on the walls already.
-"You mean to say…, this place was already built before the 'Great War' happened?
How was this whole, beautiful place get made down here?" asked Carousel in disbelief
-"This place was buried. There's a mountain beside this hill, and it got struck by mass destruction weapons made during the time of the 'Great War' and erosion buried this whole place. So we need to build a new home on top of this region."
Carousel was intrigued of what she had just heard. -"Ah…" She replied and slightly nodded.
Heraldin then led Carousel to one of the many doors of the atrium. The atrium is very high with pillars made of super steel metals placed all around it. They then walked into a room which seems to be a very large library. Shelves and books were neatly placed into the room. Carousel's heart was pounding as she enters the room, with an anxious look on her face.
-"Why lead me all the way here?" Carousel quietly and curiously asked, as she turns around and looks up at the room. -"What do you need to tell me, that we even need to come down here… at your library? Or whatever this is…" Carousel slowly asked as her eyes narrowed with unease. Carousel was very curious to know what Heraldin might tell her and she felt a little bit distress.
-"Actually, this is not a library… this is my research area, where I do my study and my examining the things that I want to have a better understanding with." Heraldin replied with a smile. -"I can see that you are very wary of what I might say to you…, but don't worry, it all depends on how you want it to be." Heraldin said as he opened a locked drawer from a desk located at the side of the room and he was trying to find something inside that drawer.
-"What… do… you… mean?" Carousel slowly asked
Heraldin then grabbed a book from the desk's locked drawer and showed it to Carousel.
-"What… is that?" Carousel asked again, looking very intrigued
-"Things… you should know about me." replied Heraldin
-"Is… that a… diary?"
-"Yeah…, you could say that – but I call this, my 'book of life'." Heraldin said as he handed the book to Carousel -"Now, it's up to you…, if you want to read it or not… that is… if you could see and read the words that are written in here." Heraldin teasingly said
-"What do you mean?" asked Carousel again… her eyebrows were pulled down
-"Ordinary or normal Erishans cannot read this book because they could not see the writings on this book that I made… so, only Erishans with hidden talents could read this, so are you a genuine splitter? Are you prepared to see if you are a true splitter who could read this?"
-"Yes…, of course, I'm up for the challenge and I want to read it." Carousel slowly replied. Carousel sat on the chair of the desk, then started reading the pages of the book. Her heart was pounding again, unsure if she can actually read what was written in that book. Carousel took a deep breath before fully opening her eyes to read the book, the pages seems blurry at first but then, Carousel can actually see the words written in Heraldin's book of life. Carousel sighed in relief as Heraldin left the room with a smile on his face.
-"I'm going back up to my shelter to check on your friend Emoreh." Heraldin said, and Carousel was left alone in the research room, reading through the pages of the book.
-"I can read through the context… I'm a true splitter." Carousel mumbled to herself. -"But of course I am… why would I be worried to think that I am not a genuine splitter…" she said to herself anxiously… -"Heraldin must have read something in my mind that I am not aware of…" She thought to herself but she doesn't seem to be bothered about Heraldin's ordeal. Carousel then started to read through the pages again… but the contexts she was reading soon became blurry… -"What's this? Why can't I read it properly?" She was yawning when she thought to herself while reading the book. -"Oh I guess it's because I'm too sleepy."
-"I'm so tired…and so sleepy…, I can't read it properly. What does this book have to do with that beast…? And if I want to know the connection, then I must start reading this book from the very beginning…, but this book is so thick." Carousel said to herself as she slowly flips through the pages…, she suddenly felt very sleepy, and lied down on one of the divans in the room and let the tiredness get into her… -"I'll probably just read this book tomorrow… right now, I just want to sleep." She said to herself…
Carousel then quickly fell asleep and started to have that same dream of hers again. She was walking up on that circular staircase again, and when she reached the peak… the bizarre fluid like object was slowly turning into a floating mirror…, Carousel slowly walked towards that mirror to look at it… step by step, little by little she was getting there, she looked at the mirror, stand there in front of it but she couldn't see her reflection through that mirror.
Carousel was wondering why…? Why couldn't she see her reflection through that mirror?
Chapter Six "Demeon"
Meanwhile, the beast that they had dealt with at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine', was flying hastily through the dark skies, it flew through the skies of 'Midgar city' and landed on a mansion at a close distant to the 'Stellar Academy' The beast slowly transformed itself into a naked male Erishan with bruises on his body as he walks through the parapets of the manor down to the aisle of the mansion. While he was walking... he summoned his three accomplices;
-"Conscience", "Mischief"…, "Assailant…" The naked male Erishan called their names in a deep voice…
And then soon after, three very dark shadows simultaneously appeared from different parts of the mansion. The first to appear was Conscience, -a beast that has a body of a naked male Erishan with hairs covering his chest down to his genitals and he has a single horn at the middle of his forehead, his eyes were as dark as his hair and his mouth resembles that of a beak of a raptor's, his hands and feet are claws like talons that could tear a body in a single strike, and it has huge dark wings on its back slowly unwrapping itself revealing it's whole image, as it spoke…
-"Yes...? Master…?" Conscience asked in a very low devilish voice
Mischief and Assailant shortly appeared right after Conscience. They too have the same features and appearance that Conscience has, the only difference is that 'Mischief' had two horns on its forehead and 'Assailant' has three, Mischief's body is also slenderer than Conscience's but, Assailants' is the most robust amongst them three.
'Mischief' then asked their master too, but with a different address
-"What is it…? Demeon…?" Mischief addressed his master by his name and the tone of his voice was very nasally and the sound of his voice is very irritating.
Demeon was upset and replied… -"I went to the 'Ruin city of Harlow' to suck that stupid shaman's soul out of his mouth, and when I was finished dealing with him, I decided to return home… but then when I was airborne, I unexpectedly saw a silhouette of light from below… floating on the ground, and I was astounded of it thinking that it was a soul… so I followed it…, and it vastly drifted through the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' and so I went after it to check what it really was, but there were 'splitters' who interfered.
-"Splitters" you say? ... Are you sure they were 'splitters'?" Mischief quickly replied in an annoying high pitch voice.
-"Of course I'm sure…!" Demeon strongly replied -"Do you think… that I don't know the difference between 'splitters' and ordinary Erishans? You imbecile! They had skills and abilities… especially that girl…" Demeon paused for awhile and intensely thinking about his recent interaction with Carousel… -"Until, I realized that she is the one who possesses that powerful soul that I was pursuing, and seeing her soul emerging out from her body even startled me… so then I decided to withdraw, because that soul is too powerful for me to consume." Demeon said while walking back and forth naked.
-"Tomorrow, I will visit 'Stellar academy' and I will see to it, if we had already recruited those splitters." Demeon said as his eyes narrowed in curiosity. –"And that man… he seems to be more than just a 'splitter'… he seems to be more powerful than those two ladies…" Demeon thought to himself as he was thinking about Heraldin… then he slightly smiled as if he had plans for Heraldin…
-"But… Demeon…" Mischief quickly interrupted -"You can't go out in daylight."
-"Nonsense…" Demeon snarled -"I don't go out in the day time because I am a nocturnal being, … and that I feel very sleepy during the day, that is why I don't usually go out during daylight, but it doesn't mean that I can't totally go out during the day time. And besides, our 'Asterie' can barely shine a light these days…" explained Demeon
Mischief then slowly walks towards Demeon and said… -"Demeon… then please do come, because I think I do know who you are talking about." said Mischief in a nasally voice as his eyes slowly narrowed
-"Really…?" Demeon sarcastically replied in a very deep voice
-"Yes… I invited her and she just recently joined the academy." Mischief gave Demeon a very convincing look in the eye
-"You seem to be very sure… What's her name?" Demeon sarcastically asked
Mischief, Mischief was then taken aback of what Demeon had asked him, because he doesn't know the answer to his question. He had forgotten the name of the splitter he had recruited and he tries to come up with an excuse…
-"I tried reading her mind to know her name but I can't, but… ah… I do remember her face." Mischief answered in a very annoying manner and was about to giggle.
-"There are just barely a hundreds of 'splitters' in the academy and you don't even know their names?" Conscience interrupted with a mocking tone.
-"Why don't you go there and try to memorize their names!" Mischief told Conscience in a loud voice as he looks at him from head to foot.
-"You know that you are the only one amongst us who can blend in with them!" Conscience replied with a growl and was about to smack Mischief on the face.
-"That's enough!" Demeon interrupted as the two will about to fight -"Mischief… I want you to bring me that girl you were referring to; and I will be there at 'Stellar academy' by tomorrow noon to see if she really is that girl that I want to see… and you… Conscience… I want you to round and watch the entire surroundings of 'Midgar city' and go as far through the 'Ruin city of Harlow' and look for a girl that you feel like she is a powerful 'splitter' just in case Mischief got it wrong." Demeon ordered
-"Master…" Conscience called… -"Mischief can read minds, why don't you just let him read yours so he could see the girl that you were referring to."
Mischief snorted and Demeon snarled while looking at Conscience.
-"Yes…, you are quite right and Mischief can actually read my mind, but he can't read the other one's mind that I am thinking about… because you need to channel into that other one's mind if you want to see their faces… and Mischief hasn't developed that kind of a powerful mind reading ability yet…" Demeon strongly insisted, his voice was frightening, but at the back of his mind… he really didn't want Mischief to read his mind.
Then, 'Assailant's' strong sneer could be heard at the back…
-"Don't worry; you'll get your share of work soon." Demeon said to Assailant -"Now, all of you… leave me…!" Demeon ordered
-"You two heard the master!" Mischief said in a very nasally sound, Conscience snarled ferociously and left the area and so did Assailant; they both swiftly vanished in the midst of the night. Demeon then entered his mansion… got clothed and went up to his private room and was searching for something… -"I want that young girl's soul…" said Demeon to himself… -"I have long been waiting for a 'splitter' to possess a powerful soul. And now, one was finally able to make it… achieve it…" Demeon murmured to himself… -"And all for me… to consume… interesting…" said he with a laugh…
Mischief, on the other hand was left in the area, he then slowly shape shifted into his 'Erishan' form… and his eyes narrowed in curiosity.
Meanwhile, Carousel awoke from her sleep, and decided to go back up to where Emoreh was laying, to have a look if he had already awaken and when she went out from the research area, she was a little bit sluggish and tired, she thought about why her dreams were now suddenly having a continuation, a change…
-"My dream is having a continuance…?" Carousel asked herself as she rubs her eyes to have a better view at the dome from up above her… she slowly looked at it. And the dim light of the day can be seen from the dome of the atrium. But that ray of light is barely visible from her point of view because the whole place, the whole atrium is buried into the ground. Carousel then noticed that it was already daybreak so she immediately headed for the upper shelter…, but while she was walking, she remembered something…
-"Oh… I forgot… Heraldin gave me a book…!" said Carousel to herself… -"Heraldin said, that it would make me know him better… I better get that book back." Carousel thought to herself as she went back to the research area to get it back… but when she returned… the book was gone and it was nowhere to be found.
-"Where could that book be…? I remember that I was just reading it here." Carousel mumbled to herself as she was looking at the divan where she had slept for the night. She looked everywhere… every possible place in that room, she didn't let any area unsearched but still, Heraldin's 'book of life' was nowhere to be found.
-"Where could it be…? I should have placed it somewhere more secure before I even slept… now, what would Heraldin say to me if he finds out that I don't have his
book of life" Carousel worriedly mumbled to herself. Carousel was searching the entire area with lightning speed, with her lightning reflexes, she was very nervous; books and papers were all over the place because they were being checked by Carousel with rapid speed. Carousel then suddenly stopped searching when she heard footsteps that seem to be approaching the room…
-"What am I goanna do now…?" Carousel asked herself as she turns away from the door.
Then she heard a knock on the door…
-"Come… in…" Carousel slowly said trying to sound calm -"I won't look directly to whoever walks in through that door because Rachael and Heraldin can surely read my thoughts." Carousel mumbled to herself as she turns her face away from the door. -"But… I hope its Rachael coming to pick me up…" she thought to herself…
And the door opened… and it was… Heraldin who came in through that door.
-"What happened here…?" Heraldin asked as he looks around at his researched area, he was shocked to see the whole place was in such a mess.
-"Oh… Heraldin, it's you… uhm… nothing…! I was just about to clean this place, because…" Carousel slowly said as she was thinking of an excuse to say and she was looking down so Heraldin won't be able to see her eyes and he won't be able to read her mind.
-"Because… what?" Heraldin asked as he tries to look into Carousel's eyes but she was too quick to move from corner to corner avoiding any eye contact with Heraldin, as she picks up the books and every clutter she had made.
-"Because… sometimes I… I sleepwalk at night…" Carousel slowly said in a bright tone, her eyes glowed in surprise upon making her own excuse… -"Yes! ... That's right… I … I may have been sleepwalking last night and when I woke up, there's these mess all around… I had probably and unconsciously done all these." Carousel said as her words were breaking down.
-"And what would you be dreaming about last night that you would have to muddle the entire room? If I may ask…?"
-"Well… uhm… you see… I always have this dream that I am constantly walking up on a… some kind of a staircase, you know… which probably why I stepped onto some of your things."
-"Ah… I see…" Heraldin said as his eyes wonders around the room. -"Because I thought that this is what you were looking for…?" Heraldin said as he was holding his 'Book of Life' in his hands… as he showed it to Carousel.
Carousel slowly tries to peek from her back with caution to see what Heraldin was holding. She was careful not to look into Heraldin's eyes and sneaked a quick glance at what Heraldin was holding.
-"Oh… that…?" Carousel squealed in surprise upon seeing the 'Book of Life' and she slowly walks towards Heraldin… -"Yes… I was also looking for that, I thought I had lost that book in this mess that I made." As she extends her arms to show Heraldin how disorder the whole place is… -"I'm glad that you have that… that book back."
-"Yes… I picked it up and took it back when I returned in this room and saw that you were already sleeping and it seems that you have dropped this book on the ground." Heraldin said and his voice was very calm.
-"Oh I'm so sorry Heraldin…" Carousel begged as she was very apologetic and her eyes narrowed in discomfort… -"It's just that…"
Heraldin quickly interrupted… -"You were so tired… I know… you don't need to apologize. Last night wasn't the right time for you to read this… you were exhausted. But just to let you know… this book is my life… so I'm just goanna have to keep it for now,
I'll let you read this some other time. For now, let's go up to my upper shelter… your
Friend… Emoreh is awake and he is looking for you."
-"His awake…? Really…?"
-"Yes, so let's get going, by the way… can you tell me more about your dream last night…?"
-"Why…? Didn't you read my mind?"
-"Actually… I already did, that's why I knew that you weren't lying when you told me that you had a dream… but what I cannot see… is your dream itself."
-"But… are you capable of seeing a dream…? I mean… do you usually see someone else's dream?" asked Carousel
-"No… not really… I can't actually see someone else's dream but…, yes… I can tell whether a person had actually had a dream or not… when that person starts to imagine or starts to think about his or her particular dream… and then, that, I can actually read his or her mind that he or she is actually thinking about it… but still I cannot see your dream. You already told me that you were walking up on a staircase… and so on… but I still cannot see that in your thoughts." Heraldin added
-"Hmm… that's odd…, because I was already imagining that place in my mind, but I'll have to tell it to you later, come 'on let's get going." Carousel quickly said because she was very eager and anxious to see Emoreh.
-"Emoreh doesn't remember anything that had happened…" Heraldin said as they were swiftly walking to the upper shelter…
-"He doesn't remember anything…? Do loco ferns make you forget things? I thought that it would only make you sleep." Carousel worriedly asked
-"Yes, but sometimes when you have eaten a lot… then it can cause you to have a temporary amnesia."
-"How is he now?"
-"He's fine, I gave him something to eat but he is too agitated… I told him that we brought him here; he wouldn't speak to me until he heard me mentioning your name. He told me he wanted to see you."
-"Well… I'm glad to know that he still remembers my name…, do you think he is telling the truth that he doesn't remember anything that had happened…?"
-"Yes, I read his mind… and he is telling the truth."
"That beast must have fed him a lot of loco ferns." Carousel strongly pointed out…
Then they went up to the upper shelter and saw Emoreh at the visitor's area, already out of the guest room and he was looking very tense.
-"Carousel…! There you are!" Emoreh cried upon seeing her and he strides Carousel to a more private area… -"Where am I…? And who is he…?" Emoreh asked Carousel in a soft tone, as he gave a quick curious glance at Heraldin from a distance.
-"He is… Heraldin… Rachael's father…" said Carousel to Emoreh
-"Who's Rachael…?" Emoreh asked with a smacked facial expression
-"Rachael is my best friend; I already introduced her to you before… don't you remember…?"
-"What…?"
-"Oh… never mind, you probably don't remember that too…" Carousel said as she rolled her eyes… -"Anyways… look, we brought you here because a monstrous beast took and captured you…, and this place is the only place that is safe for both of us, so we will just have to stay here for a while until we are safe from that beast."
-"What beast?" asked Emoreh as his eyebrows were pulled down, he was looking very confused… he doesn't seem to remember anything… and then he slowly asks Carousel…
-"That… that man…? Heraldin…his name?" asked Emoreh
-"Yes… why…?"
-"He keeps asking me about that beast too… and I told him, I don't remember any beast taking me to the 'Ruins of Go…go…' whatever, I don't actually know the place."
-'Goban Shrine' Carousel quickly concluded
-"Yes, that's it! Goban Shrine"
-"Well… What do you remember then?"
Emoreh was silenced for awhile, he tries to remember the beast that Heraldin and
Carousel said that took him… but he can't remember anything about it.
-"I… I really don't remember any beast that… you two are talking about." Emoreh replied
-"Then… what was the last thing you remembered then?" Carousel asked
-"The last thing I can remember… was…" Emoreh suddenly felt embarrassed upon trying to remembering it… "Was…" Emoreh slowly said, feeling uneasy and his eyes unhurriedly looked down from looking into Carousel's eyes and then, he then suddenly lost interest to continue his conversation with Carousel…
-"Was… what?" Carousel asked
-"…" Emoreh turned away and did not answer…
-"Was… what?" Carousel asked again and this time she sounded demanding, the tone of her voice was louder… -"Emoreh, if you don't want to tell me the last thing you remembered… then that's fine… because you're the one that beast wants, not me… not us, we are just trying to protect and help you… and if you don't want our help… that's your choice, just don't expect me to be there again when that monstrous beast takes you." Carousel said as she sounded very upset and starts to walk away from Emoreh too.
Emoreh slowly turned around to face Carousel and decided to tell her the last things that he remembered.
-"Carousel… I'm embarrassed to say… but our situation right now… reminds me pretty much about the last things that I can remember." Emoreh softly said… his voice was a bit shaky; he was uncomfortable and unsure of what he had just said.
Carousel was taken aback of what Nathan had just said, and she saw Heraldin from a distance, looking at her, his back resting on the wall and Heraldin abruptly unleashed his arms from being entwined and immediately went away when he saw that Carousel was looking at him. Carousel then turned around to face Emoreh.
-"That… was the last thing you remember?" She whispered
-"Yes… you…, were walking away from me…"
Carousel then understood what Emoreh was talking about… she sighed and said… -"It's not like I was really walking away from you… I was just walking straight home, that's all." Said Carousel as she remembers the scene where Emoreh had confessed to her his true feelings for Emery… about a week ago.
-"I wanted to follow you… but something knocked me off, and I can't remember what it was, and when I woke up, I'm in this shelter." Emoreh said as his eyes wonders around the huge shelter… -"And I thought… that man Heraldin was the one who knocked me off, and that is why I became vey agitated."
-"No, Heraldin was the only one who helped us find you, if not for him… Rachael and I would have nowhere else to look for help."
Emoreh nodded and felt a bit embarrassed… -"Heraldin is Rachael's father right?"
-"Yes…"
-"Oh… now, I remember her… you introduced us yesterday."
-"Yesterday…?" Carousel exclaimed -"That was already more than a week ago! And if those are the last things that you… remember… then that beast must have put you to asleep for more than a week."
-"More than a week ago…?" Emoreh asked, with a smacked facial expression. -"What…? How…?" Emoreh asked and was starting to sound like he finds the circumstances very pathetic.
-"Yes… you were put into asleep, by feeding you with 'loco ferns' and from what you have remembered… you were put to sleep for more than a week." Carousel explained with her eyebrows pulled down
-"But…"
-"That's why we need to find out what that beast is really up to… why it captured you but not do anything with you for more than a week." Carousel paused and thought for awhile… -"Or maybe that beast was about to offer you to its… master or god or something." Carousel said as she was just making a conclusion of her own…
-"You mean like a sacrifice?"
-"Maybe…"
-"But why would it have chosen me to be its sacrifice? What do I have to offer?" Emoreh paused for awhile and he suddenly thought about his proposal to Emery. -"I… I need to go home." Emoreh unexpectedly said to Carousel.
-"Why do you need to go home now…?"
-"I'm safer there."
-"No, you're safer here, and so are the rest of us… Heraldin will…"
-"I have to go home now!" Emoreh quickly interrupted
-"But why…? You'll be in danger again!" Carousel worriedly asked as she clenched
Emoreh's hand so tight…
-"I have to go…" Emoreh said as he slowly unhanded Carousel's tight grip on his hand.
-"But… but… do you know the way, the right way to go back home? ... Back to the Ruins of Midgar…?"
-"Yes… I know…"
Emoreh then hurriedly left the shelter without even saying his farewell to Heraldin and Carousel. Carousel then looked at Emoreh as he was wrapping himself with his jacket and walking further and further away, Carousel felt so worried for Emoreh … she was recalling the circumstances when suddenly… Heraldin slowly held her shoulder.
-"Why does he have a feeling like he wasn't safe in this place…?" Heraldin asked
-"I don't know… he must have felt really bothered when I told him that he was put into asleep by that beast for more than a week." Carousel replied -"I just hope that he can look out for himself."
-"I don't think he can…" Heraldin concluded
-"What makes you say that? He's an alchemist." Carousel pointed out
-"I think we better follow him…" Heraldin said… -"We are dealing with a powerful beast and I think your friend Emoreh is taking great risks by just going on by himself." -"What's the use of following him? There's no way he's going back here… we will just be following him forever with no avail, let's just wait for him to realize that this is the safest place for him right now. And I'm sure if he realizes what I've said, then he'll be running back here in no time." Carousel said, feeling very confident as she continued having her meal…
-"What if it's too late for him to realize everything…?" Heraldin softly asked
-"What do you mean?" Carousel asked as she slowly turns to face Heraldin
-"Can you afford to lose your friend? Or is he… just your friend?" Heraldin softly asked,
Carousel's eyes widened in anticipation…
-"You're right… I think I better follow him…" Carousel said
-"I'm coming with you…" Rachael quickly cried as she was walking towards Carousel and Heraldin.
Carousel was surprised to see Rachael from behind. -"I thought you were at someplace else… you always shows up when I surely need you, come, hurry, let's go…!" she said
-"I was at my room, and I'm about to go here when I overheard you and my father talking…" Rachael explained
And then the three prepared themselves to follow Emoreh. They followed him with precise tracking…
-"He looks worried." Carousel softly said as they hid themselves on one of the abandoned shelters and saw Emoreh with his head slightly bent down looking on the ground while he was walking.
-"Yes, he does." Heraldin quietly replied
-"Can you tell… what's on his mind and what he is thinking about right now…?" Carousel silently asked Heraldin…, while Rachael was just looking at them both and observing what their next move will be….
-"No, I can't… there must be an eye contact first before I can read someone else's mind."
Heraldin whispered.
Emoreh was looking down and he thought to himself while walking in a hurry… -"I can't believe I was put into a deep sleep for more than a week now… who ever did that to me will surely experience my revenge soon. Emery must have been waiting for me so badly, I told her I'll meet her up, right after I finish telling Carousel about our mutual understandings… but I got knocked off and worse… it's more than a week now that had passed away. Will Emery still accept me? She must be really upset by now, now that I didn't show up on our agreement. I've got to hurry… I hope she is still interested in me. I have so much explaining to do"
Emoreh was walking swiftly… and to a point where he seems to be running, and then changing to a quick sprint… Heraldin, Carousel and Rachael can barely keep up from going after him because they don't want Emoreh to see them following him. The three of them participated in an exhausting hide and seek pursuit, until Emoreh walks across a few Erishans who seem to be gathering around, and they appear to be shocked and terrified of something on the ground… Emoreh took a quick glance at it… and saw a body of an Erishan that was lying on the ground. He only saw the body's waist down, because some Erishans were blocking much of the view. Emoreh was curious too but ignored to get closer, he had more important goals in his mind so he continued his swift walking. But Heraldin, Carousel and Rachael had decided to drop by and take a look at the scene…
-"What are those people looking at?" Carousel whispered
-"Come on' let's take a look." Rachael suggested
-"But let's hurry so we can't lose track of Emoreh." Heraldin quietly said
They quickly and quietly walked into the scene, and they were very wary to be seen by Emoreh, they were all hoping that Emoreh would not turn around and have a quick glance at the scene again, and thankfully he did not. As soon as they arrived at the scene, they too were shocked of what they saw. Carousel covered her face with her hand and slightly moved nearer to Rachael to seek comfort; Rachael hugged her and she turned Carousel's face away from the scene. A lifeless male body of an Erishan is lying on the ground, his lips and teeth were ripped out from his mouth leaving his jaw wide open with only the color of pitch black can be seen from his throat. There seems to be no traces of blood on his body because it appears that his blood was drained up to the last drop because his skin was crippled and darkened like a dried prune. The dead Erishan appears to be unrecognizable… Erishans were whispering, asking each other, who might that dead Erishan be, and what had happened to him, but Rachael soon recognized the dead body.
-"I… I think I recognize him." Rachael softly said
-"You do?" Heraldin quietly asked so not to startle the Erishans around them.
-"Yes…"
Carousel slowly turned around to look at the dead body… -"Who…?" She asked
-"He is with Dimitris that day…! The one I told you Dimitris wouldn't want to let him talk to me, they were the ones who invited me to join the academy, and he's a shaman, one of our trainers." Rachael softly whispered
-"Are you sure?" Carousel asked -"Because I can't recognize him."
-"He's a shaman?" Heraldin curiously asked
-"I'm sure." Rachael replied as she slowly looked at where they had left tracked of
Emoreh.
-"Look… Emoreh is too far from us already, I can barely see him." Emoreh cried
-"I have a feeling that beast we encountered yesterday, did this." Heraldin thought to himself, as he had no evidence to support his suspicions, his voice was fuming with anger.
-"Father… we are going after Emoreh, you just stay here because the Erishans here…, needs you… and they need your protection from that beast!" Rachael suggested
-"I know… but…"
-"Don't worry… Carousel and I are goanna be alright, I won't let anything bad happen to
Carousel"
-"You two… better be…" Heraldin pointed out the tone of his voice was sturdy
-"Come on Carousel! Let's hurry before we lose track of Emoreh!"
-"Like I didn't know…" replied Carousel
Carousel and Rachael then hurriedly made up the lost time they had and followed back Emoreh, while Heraldin was left behind at the gruesome scene wondering…
-"What did that poor shaman do to deserve this?" Heraldin asked himself… -"I won't let this thing happen again here in my terrain… I have heard about this kind of assault before, but never did I see this kind of merciless attack. It looks like his blood had been sucked dry from his body… pitiable shaman…" Heraldin was shaken by the incident; he wants to know if his speculation was true… that the beast that they had encountered with at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' really had something to do with the death of his fellow shaman in the 'Ruin city of Harlow'. And moments later… there were shamans from the Stellar Academy that are fast approaching… Heraldin hid at one of the abandoned shelters because he did not want to be seen by the shamans… but he listened carefully about their conversation.
-"The shamans are coming… thank goodness it's about time." One of the Erishans who were at the murder scene said, he was also the one who called the shamans on the telephone.
-"He's unrecognizable!" one of the shamans cried as the dead body was now being examined.
-"This is a gruesome assault." One of the shamans said upon arriving at the scene.
Heraldin wanted to ask them if Rachael was saying the truth… if the dead man was in fact their fellow shaman from the 'Stellar Academy' but he draws back at the last minute… he didn't want to be exposed as a shaman himself.
Meanwhile, Carousel and Rachael were busy following Emoreh… they followed him up to the station where they will have to ride a very large 'floating vessel', Carousel and Rachael then boarded that vessel and slightly hid themselves from one of the corners of the large floating vessel when they saw Emoreh from afar. Emoreh told one of the crew member of the vessel where he was heading… Carousel saw the scene but wasn't able to hear their conversation because they were too far away from her. So Carousel just waited for that crew member to approach them and then she could ask him where Emoreh was heading. But as soon as the crew member was nearing, Carousel recognized the crew member and he was in fact the same dirty old male Erishan who mocked her when she rode that same vessel yesterday.
-"Where is that Erishan heading to…?" Carousel mockingly asked the dirty old male Erishan as she was pertaining to Emoreh.
-"I'm sorry lady… but we're not allowed…"
-"You're not allowed to what?" Carousel interrupted, her manner of talking was demanding while she was staring at the dirty old male Erishan with so much intensity.
The dirty old male Erishan's eyes widened in surprised when he finally recognized Carousel. -"He…uhm, he said… he said…" As he tries to clear his throat -"He said, he told me to drop him at the Stellar Academy" The dirty old Erishan said, his voice was crumbling.
Carousel nodded and slightly smiled at the old Erishan to show her appreciation.
-"Drop us there too." Carousel said but this time she showed some gratitude
The old Erishan looked around at Carousel, wondering and rubbing his head, his eyebrows were pulled down and Carousel looked at him with her eyebrows pulled up.
-"What...? What are you looking at?" Carousel asked, her facial expression was a bit sarcastic.
-"Oh… nothing…!" The old Erishan quickly answered
-"Don't tell him, I asked." Carousel seriously said
-"Y…yes… of course…" The dirty old male Erishan answered as he hurriedly turned away -"And yes… we will be dropping you off at the Stellar Academy too" He said, and his eyes were blinking rapidly in puzzlement as he was walking away. Carousel felt uneasy but didn't mind it and she instead focused her attention back to Emoreh. Carousel looked backed at where Emoreh was… but she couldn't find Emoreh there anymore.
-"Now, where could he be …? Hmmm… and why will he go straight at Stellar Academy?" Carousel asked herself… -"I thought he said… he will go straight home…" she thought to herself…
Carousel and Rachael tried going down to the lower deck of the large 'floating vessel' to look for Emoreh but Carousel still couldn't find him. Carousel and Rachael tries to walk with their every step with caution.
-"He's nowhere to be found. Where could he be?" Carousel asked with frustration in her tone. -"We just saw him lately… and then all of a sudden he's gone…?"
-"Maybe, he already saw us when you were talking to that old Erishan… and he decided to hide from us." said Rachael
-"No, that can't be possible… he could not have seen us because even I, have a hard time seeing him because he is so far away from us, this vessel is so big, and I'm sure we were out off Emoreh's sight when I was talking to that old Erishan."
-"But where could he be now? It's so easy to spot somebody with this kind of few people around." Rachael said as her shoulders were pushed up
Rachael's suggestion made Carousel think…
-"Hmmm… maybe… you're right, maybe he did see us, and now he might be looking at us, from somewhere." Carousel said feeling wary of their surroundings as she slowly turns around… -"And now, maybe he is just observing what we are about to do."
-"Carousel, sharpen your senses…" Rachael whispered as they were looking around, slightly hiding themselves from Erishans they were coming across with.
-"I… am." Carousel softly replied as the very large 'floating vessel' was preparing for a stopover.
-"Why are we stopping…? I know that we're not supposed to have a stop over until we get to the next station, which is still very far from here." said Rachael looking a bit confused about the situation
Then the captain of the 'floating vessel' made an announcement…
-"We will now have a temporary break due to a minor malfunction of the vessel, this will not take long. So I hope to have your full cooperation, thank you." The captain of the vessel said on a loud speaker…
Carousel with her eyes narrowed thought for a moment and said… -"Rachael, let's go back up to the upper deck."
-"Why…?"
-"This vessel made a stop over, and maybe Emoreh will take this opportunity to go out of our sight."
-"You're right, let's go!"
Carousel and Rachael then immediately went up to the upper deck of the 'floating vessel' and as they were walking up the stairs… Carousel noticed Emoreh, he was standing and was talking to that dirty old male Erishan asking him what had just happened, and suddenly… Emoreh was about to look at their direction because he heard slight noises of footsteps, and when Emoreh was about to look… Carousel manages to dodge to the wall and hide herself from Emoreh. But it was too late for Rachael, who was right behind her,
Rachael was caught off guard; she was just standing there… completely exposing herself to Emoreh. She did not know what to do. Emoreh looked at their direction with his eyes narrowed… Carousel then immediately threw the metal band from her pocket through the air and it hit the barrels that were on the other corner of the vessel. And it made a clinking sound. Emoreh then was interrupted and he looked at where the clink came from and Carousel immediately pulled Rachael out of the scene.
-"Did he see you?" Carousel softly asked Rachael
-"I don't know…, he's a little bit far away from us." Rachael answered
Emoreh then went on to where the barrels of beer were, and saw the metal band, he picked it up and the old Erishan whom he was talking to approached him.
-"What's that…?" The dirty old male Erishan asked upon seeing Emoreh holding up what he had just picked up.
-"I… don't know… I guess this is just an ordinary necklace." Emoreh said as he showed it to the old dirty male Erishan. -"I thought I heard footsteps on the stairs, and suddenly I heard a clink on these barrels so I went to see what it was and then I saw this." Emoreh unleashed the metal band from being entwined in his palm and showed it to the old male Erishan. -"Someone must have dropped it in here…" said Emoreh
-"This necklace looks familiar." The dirty old male Erishan said as he was trying to take a good look at it…
-"I think… this is not a necklace! Yes! This is not a necklace!" The dirty old male Erishan cried
-"This is my wooden compass' band!" And he tries to take it away from Emoreh.
-"Well…if it's yours… then take it!" Emoreh said as he handed the metallic band to the dirty old Erishan. The dirty old male Erishan then looked at Emoreh with a little bit of concern, and starts to think why his metallic band was there.
-"When are we leaving…?" Emoreh reluctantly asked the old Erishan as he was looking from left to right… he was wary that Emoreh was following him… -"Who was that girl that you were talking to a moment ago…? Asked Emoreh
-"We'll be leaving soon." The old male Erishan quickly replied, ignoring Emoreh's question as he placed his metallic band into his pocket… -"There has just been a minor problem at the engine, and it is now being fixed." He said… only answering Emoreh's previous question.
Meanwhile, Carousel and Rachael were at the corner listening to their conversation and then they decided to go downstairs at the lower deck to have a conversation of their own…
-"Let's just stay here for awhile until this vessel drops Emoreh to Stellar Academy."
Carousel suggested… -"And I guess Emoreh didn't see us after all…" she added
-"I agree, and I 'm sure that old Erishan must be very curios by now to see why his metallic band was there." Rachael buoyantly said as Carousel slightly grinned
Chapter Seven "A turn of events"
The large 'floating vessel' finally sailed, and when it reached the station near the Stellar Academy, Emoreh took off. Carousel and Rachael immediately followed him with caution. And when they all got to the 'Stellar Academy' Emoreh was very eager to find somebody he much wanted to see, he was rushing from corner to corner, room to room.
-"I can hardly keep up with him." Rachael complained -"Why is Emoreh in such a rush?"
-"I don't know either; now let's get going before we lose sight of him again."
Carousel and Rachael barely kept a close gap between them and Emoreh until they came to a turn and lost sight of him again.
-"Where could he be now…?" Rachael asked looking very confused
-"See… if it wasn't for your constant complaining we couldn't have lost him." Carousel said and she was upset, but she was still very wary of their surroundings as she moves from wall to wall.
-"But he was just right there and now… all of a sudden he's gone." Rachael replied with frustrations in her tone. As she points out her hand in front of her while Carousel was looking at where she was pointing at… when unexpectedly someone from their opposite direction laid a hand on each of their shoulder's and softly asked… -"Who…? Who was there…?" a voice asked from behind…
Carousel and Rachael was stunned! They were caught off guard and couldn't speak.
They slowly turned their heads to look at each other's eyes and they slowly looked at their back to see who it was, and it was… Faust who tapped at their shoulders…
-"Oh, it's only you!" Carousel asked in surprise, as she lets go of a deep sighed, Rachael also exhaled with so much relief…
-"Who were you two spying at?" Faust intriguingly asked
-"We're not spying on anybody." Rachael was quick to reply
Until Carousel heard Emoreh's voice from a distance, and he seems to be talking to somebody… and that they were fast approaching, so Carousel immediately ducked into one of the low consoles that serves as a partition of the school's lobby.
-"Get down…" She whispered to Rachael and Faust
Rachael then grabbed Faust down.
-"Why the sudden bustle…? Oh, now I see… you two are not spying on someone, but you two are actually hiding from someone…?" Faust whispered as he tries to squeeze himself into one of the low partitions.
-"Shh… just be quiet…" Carousel softly said
-"Wait… I think I recognize that voice…" Faust said upon hearing the approaching resonance of voice… -"Is that Emoreh …? but… why are you two hiding from…"
-"Yes… I know…" Carousel immediately interrupted, while she shuts Faust's lips from talking… her fingers pinched his lips -"I'll explain it to you later." She said to Faust
Faust's eyebrows were pulled down in suspicion.
The three of them who were hiding inside the console tables… alertly listening to the conversation that is taking place between Emoreh and… the one he was talking to…
-"I told you I don't know what happened to me, if you want… you could ask Carousel, so she can tell you that I am telling the truth." Emoreh explained to the one he was talking to…
-"So… you were with Carousel?" Emery intriguingly asked… she was the one who
Emoreh was talking to…
Carousel heard their conversation and she immediately looked at Rachael as if asking her if she could just stand up and defend Emoreh, Rachael read Carousel's mind and she gave her a stare that demanded her to stay put, Carousel understood the stare Rachael gave her so she decided to just remain still. Even though she was a little bit surprised to know that it was actually Emery whom Emoreh was talking to, and whom he was so eager to see.
-"Yes… I was with her when…" Emoreh slowly said trying to remember the things that had happened to him…
-"When… when what?" Emery softly asked
-"When I lost consciousness… and she… was also there when I recovered… but… but that's just about it… that's all I can remember…" Emoreh explained
Emery's left eyebrow raised a little bit.
-"I know it sounds crazy but it's true…" said Emoreh upon seeing that Emery wasn't convinced by his explanation, Emery slowly held Emoreh's cheek and asked… -"You said… there was this beast that held you captive?"
-"Yes, that's what Carousel told me…"
-"Then… why would a monstrous beast held you captive? What would it want from you?"
-"I don't know! Believe me; please just believe me, I'm not making any excuses Emery, I never wanted you to wait for me this long… it's just that… like what I have told you… there are things that had happened to me, and I don't know why it happened, why me? I don't understand either. And it's scaring me." Emoreh's voice was shaking -"I never thought those kinds of creatures even existed in this world."
Emery then held Emoreh's face with both her palms and softly said… -"Don't worry!
We'll run away from here. We'll go to a place… a place somewhere safe." As she slowly brings her forehead closer to Emoreh's … chin.
Emoreh's face glowed in delight. -"Are you sure you want to run away with me?"
-"Of course… why wouldn't I? That's our plan remember?"
Emoreh was so glad to hear what Emery had said to him, that he hugged her so tight. Emery then smiled at him and she looked down at the consoles where Carousel and the rest of the company were hiding.
-"Is something wrong?" Emoreh asked, as he too, looked down at the low console tables, where Emery was looking at.
-"Oh, no… nothing…" Emery shrugged as she replied. Then Emery put up a sarcastic smile as she strides Emoreh away.
Carousel, Rachael and Faust peeped little by little when they heard Emoreh and Emery had finally left the area.
-"Are they gone?" Rachael quietly asked while she stretched her neck to see if they really had left.
-"Yes… I can't feel their presence anymore…" Carousel replied with a gloomy look.
Faust noticed Carousel's sudden change of face. -"What was that all about?" asked Faust
"Why is Emoreh with… with… Emery…?" He slowly asked as he looked confused -"I thought you two had something special going on"
-"Who me?" asked Carousel -"Oh no, no, no!" She abruptly defended herself -"There was never a special commitment between me and Emoreh … we were nothing more than just… friends, that's all… plain and simple." She said as she was trying to convince herself that she was telling him the truth… Rachael, on the other hand just rolled her eyes…
Faust's eyes slowly narrowed, he doesn't seem to be convinced regarding Carousel's explanation, so Carousel and Rachael then finally decided to tell Faust everything that had happened to them.
Meanwhile, since it was already past noon. Demeon had just arrived at the academy and Dimitris was there to accompany him. Every 'splitter' they had come across with, looked at Demeon with curiosity. And Demeon could hear them whispering… (Is he the one who had put up this academy? – Yes, [says one of the 'splitters'] – he's such a good and generous Erishan to put up an academy that is free for everybody, - as long as they have the skills. [says the other] as Demeon grinned.
Since, this was the only time that most of the 'splitters' had seen Demeon.
-"Now, lead me to that young lady that you were talking about." said Demeon to Dimitris
-"Right this way…" Dimitris said -"She must be training at the upper ground area…"
-"What kind of training is she having?" asked Demeon
-"She is being trained at the "PSYCHETENCY" division…" Dimitris replied
-"Psychetency…?" Demeon asked as he paused to a stop -"She's training at the
Psychetency division…?"
-"Yes…" Dimitris slowly replied -"Why…? You seemed reluctant…" Dimitris asked and his voice was very nasally.
-"A, splitter training at the field of 'psychetency' does not fit the kind of skills that young lady possesses which I have encountered with." Demeon said
-"What makes you so sure?"
Demeon gasped and he slowly looked at Dimitris with a very fierce look in his eyes, they were like burning charcoal and he said… -"Don't you think I don't know the difference?" his voice was intimidating…
Dimitris then gave Demeon a very cold stare and he turned his face away from him so he could roll his eyes without being caught. And they quickly went up stairs to look. They saw some 'splitters' training but didn't saw the one that they were looking for…
-"Did any of you happen to see a young lady… this tall?" Dimitris slowly asked the 'splitters' around as he was calculating the height of that 'splitter' in his mind; he was elevating his hand up and down from his chin down to his shoulder.
-"Sir, are you pertaining to every young lady in this academy?" One of the splitters asked
-"Do I look like I'm having a time to gag around?" Dimitris said, his voice was nasally and annoying.
-"What's her name then? So we could help you find her…"
-"If I knew her name… would I still be describing her to you? ... Of course not! I don't remember her name; all I know is that… she is way cleaner than each and every one of
you, she's the only one… well, except for the two of us of course (as Dimitris looked at himself and at Demeon and then he looked back at them and continued talking) she's the only one who wears clothes that are not torn and dirty, unlike most of you." Dimitris' face looked disgusted… -"And a lot of you seems to be still wearing those torn, dirty, old clothes that your dead parent's had left behind before the Great War. While she… that girl, somehow manages to wear; clean freshly sewn attires…" Dimitris looked at each and every one of the 'splitters' and continued insulting them… -"You all shouldn't be wearing those clothes." he said with disgust on his face.
-"Well, it's none of your business, and besides we like wearing these…" One of the 'splitters' said to Dimitris as he looked at his own attire… -"What's wrong with our attires? We like the layering… and this is the way…, some of us, wants to remember our parents by wearing their clothes which they left behind."
-"Wearing those ugly clothes to remember your dead parents who fought during the Great War and died more than twenty years ago, will not make their legacy any better. We shouldn't dwell on the past, especially if it has no use." Dimitris sighed and continued talking
-"Now… if only you could all tell me where I could find the girl who is beautiful, well groomed, and well polished, and… I'm assuming that you all know who I am talking about because all of you are just not like her." Dimitris pointed out…
-"Now… now Dimitris… That's not how we speak to our trainees." Demeon interfered
-"I think I know who you are looking for." One of the 'splitters' quickly said -"But I don't exactly know her name too, because she doesn't talk much, and she doesn't seem to be anywhere around, if you want to look for her…" said he, as his eyes narrowed while thinking if he got it right… -"But I saw her at the lobby earlier…" the splitter said, and before he even asks them why they were looking for her. Demeon and Dimitris were nowhere to be found, they were not there anymore, and they were very quick to flee.
-"Hey, where did they go?" the splitter asked, looking very confused
-"They are probably… by now begging that girl, begging her if she could somehow make them garments just like what she has." One of the splitter said with a snort
-"You're probably right! Ha ha ha…" the splitters laughed
In the meantime, Faust couldn't believe what Carousel and Rachael had just told him, his eyes flicker in bafflement as Rachael asked Carousel if she still wants them to keep following Emoreh.
-"No, let's just leave them…" Carousel replied, but the tone of her voice sounded very worried. -"They said that they are going to find a safer place for them to stay, so let's just hope that they do find one." Carousel concluded
Faust could see the sadness on Carousel's face even though she tries so hard to conceal it from them, but then Faust wanted to make Carousel feel better so he decided to convince her to join him to go to 'Lake Midgar'.
-"Carousel, would you like to come with me? I'm going to Lake Midgar right now, I'm going to look for that water creature." Faust suggested… -"I know how eager you are to find out what that water creature looks like."
-"Thanks, Faust… but as much as I'd like to… I can't right now." Carousel explained, her eyes appeared to glow for a second but then it quickly perished.
-"Go with him…" Rachael whispered to Carousel
-"I can't…"
-"Why…? I can see that you really wanted to go with him and capture a water creature."
-"But it's too dangerous…"
Rachael slowly looked at Carousel -"Oh…, so you're worried about that beast? But you might be forgetting that, Faust… is the best alchemist there is, in this academy." Rachael reminded her… -"He can destroy that beast, and besides, that beast is not interested in you… that beast is interested in Emoreh only. So why worry?"
-"You're right, that beast isn't concern with me, but… what if that beast suddenly decides to find and attack me again, because we never know what might happen, then I will be putting Faust's life in danger, and should we inform the 'shamans' that there is a beast lurking in there, in the Ruins of Goban Shrine?"
-"Nah… we don't need to, Emoreh and Emery might have reported that already." Rachael said as she whacks the air with her hand.
Carousel then glanced at Faust from a distance, he was also looking at her and he asked… her… -"Well…? Are you coming…?" asked Faust with civility but his eyes seems to be begging her to come.
Carousel looked back at Rachael -"Goban Shrine is pretty far from here right?" She asked…
-"Yes, it is very far from here…" Rachael replied with assurance as she held Carousel's arms… -"Don't worry, that beast must be merely lurking at the 'Goban Shrine' and not anywhere else here." She said
-"But I prefer to go if you would come with us." Carousel pleaded
-"No…! That will ruin the moment…" said Rachael as she quickly corrected herself –"I mean… I… I will just be ruining your means of capturing that water creature; you know how clumsy I can get sometimes…" Rachael quickly incited with a laugh.
Carousel's eyes narrowed in curiosity… -"Rachael, are you seeing things again about my future that you're not telling me again?"
-"No…!" Rachael quickly replied -"It's just that I want you… to brighten up a bit."
-"Brighten up…? Why…? Do I look…" as Carousel slowly shakes her head…
-"Bothered…? Well that's because I'm still worried about that beast that assaulted us yesterday." explained Carousel…
-"Carousel…, we both know that it's not about that beast that you are totally worried about, and I know, that you know what I mean…"
-"I know what you mean?" Carousel slowly asked in an annoyed manner -"What are you saying that I know what you mean…? No! I don't know… what you mean!" Carousel loudly said as she looked at Rachael from head to foot.
"Oh, come' on… we both know that you're still worried about him. Why are you always in denial…?" asked Rachael as the tone of her voice sounded very frustrated.
Carousel slightly turned her head as her eyes narrowed while deeply looking at Rachael.
Rachael then rolled her eyes… -"Just go! You are making Faust wait too long." said she
-"But, how about you…? Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Carousel asked as her lips twitched
-"Yes, I'm sure! Because I still have to check on my father, he's probably doing his own investigation by now. About who, the culprit really is, of that shaman's gruesome death and, I need to help him. Now just go!" said Rachael, Carousel looked hesitant as Rachael strode her towards Faust…
-"Well, I'm guessing that you finally want to go?" Faust said while he was looking at
Carousel and Rachael… -"Rachael… if you want, you can come help us too, so we can all take the credit for capturing a water creature." Faust said with a smile, his arms were entwined, giving him a robust figure that signifies that he can keep them safe. -"The whole academy will be thrilled, and I would love to see the look on Dimitris' face if we could get to show him one." He added
-"No, I'd rather not…, I'm bad at capturing anything." Rachael replied -"My reflexes are not as quick as Carousel's; she's the one who could make capturing looks so easy. And blowing up our cover is just goanna be the thing that I'll be doing."
-"Isn't there any way that I can convince you to come?" asked Carousel to Rachael
-"I'm afraid there isn't! And it's already getting dark, so… if you both want to capture a water creature… then you two better get going now." Rachael said to Carousel and Faust
Rachael then gave Carousel and Faust a friendly push at their back.
-"Faust…" called Rachael -"Bring her home safely okay!"
-"I will…" Faust replied with a slight blush on his face.
In the meantime, Demeon and Dimitris were fast approaching the school's lobby and Dimitris notices the girl whom he assumed Demeon was referring to.
-"Oh…! There she is…" Dimitris cried in excitement.
Demeon looked to see if she was the girl that he was looking for…
-"Hi…! There!" Dimitris cried, while approaching the girl. -"I'm sorry, but… I didn't get to know your name when we last met, I'm sorry for not remembering." Dimitris said, while Demeon closely follows him from behind.
-"Well… I'm… I'm Rachael!" She replied -"Is there anything I can do for you sir…?" Rachael asked
-"Uhm…" Dimitris replied as he looked at Demeon, and he was drumming his fingers.
-"No…! She's not the one…" Demeon whispered to Dimitris…
Rachael's eyebrows were pulled down in curiosity as she tries to listen to their conversation…
-"She's not?" Dimitris asked in disappointment and he begins to fear for his mistake…
-"But I… I promise… I will find that girl you are looking for…" Dimitris fearfully said and his words were crumbling.
-"Yes, she is not the one I am looking for, but that girl was… also there…" Demeon said in a very deep voice… -"We could use her to find that girl that I am really looking for." said Demeon to Dimitris in a quiet tone as he gave a very intense look at Rachael…
-"Really…? She was there too?" Dimitris asked with a snort, he was now relieved for a while.
Demeon then brushed Dimitris aside; he started to approach Rachael… and he asked her…
-"My child, do you happen to have a friend here? A girl perhaps…?"
-"Yes…" Rachael slowly replied while she was very wary of the situation.
-"Can I ask then… where could your friend might be right now?" Demeon asked as his breath was coming out of his nose as he speaks and it could be heard intensely. Rachael's eyes narrowed, she didn't know what to say.
-"Oh, I'm sorry; I haven't properly introduced myself yet! I'm Demeon… owner of this school." Demeon said as he reaches for Rachael's hand to offer her a handshake, Rachael then reluctantly shook his hand.
-"I'm… I'm Rachael, It's nice to finally meet you sir…" Rachael said as she was now very enthusiastic to meet him.
Demeon smiled but Dimitris' eyes widened and his eyebrows were pulled up.
-"Oh…! They just left…" Rachael quickly replied upon seeing Dimitris' insinuation…
-"She… and Faust went to capture a water creature at Lake Midgar. Why? Is there any problem?" Rachael slowly asked, as she looked bothered
-"No…! Absolutely nothing my dear…" Demeon heavily sighed as he thought…
-"Lake… Midgar…?" He softly mumbled to himself…
-"What…what…? Sir, are you asking me something?" asked Rachael as she heard
Demeon talking to himself…
-"I… I said…" Demeon tries to think of an excuse to caveat… -"I am just worried for you…!"
-"Worried for me…?"
-"Yes, because… friends shouldn't be left behind… alone… in this place… right…?"
-"No, no sir…! They didn't leave me behind; I told them to go because I have more important things to do."
Demeon's eyes narrowed… -"Hmmm… well then, if that's the case then you better get going yourself; just tell your friend that I was looking for her."
-"I will sir!"
-"By the way, what's your friend's name?"
-"Carousel…!" Rachael cried
-"C…a…r…o…u…s…e…l" Demeon slowly said… -"A very interesting name…" Demeon murmured to himself as he paused for a while… then asked… -"Rachael, could you… and your friend Carousel drop by at my mansion tomorrow afternoon or better yet at night, I have some very important things to tell you two. That is, if you don't have anything else important to do, tomorrow night?"
-"Well sir, may I ask what is it that you are planning to tell us?"
-"I'm actually planning for all the 'splitters' to have a competition."
-"A competition…?"
-"Yes, you see…" As Demeon held Rachael's shoulders… -"This competition would not only show to the whole academy but to the whole world, to planet Eris, what we had already achieved, we had produced so many talented 'splitters' that are helping to rebuild this damaged planet that we live in."
-"And exactly what kind of competition are you planning to put up?"
-"Now, now Rachael that's why you and your friend should come tomorrow night, because that's what we are going to talk about."
Rachael's eyes rapidly blinked in confusion… -"But… but why us?" She slowly asked
-"Because Dimitris told me, that you two are the best trained 'splitters' around, and it's only right that I should request both of you to help me plan this competition."
Dimitris quickly interrupted… -"Did I actually tell you that? Because I don't remember…" Demeon then thumped him with his elbow before he even finished his talking.
-"Just be quiet, let me deal with this!" Demeon frantically murmured to Dimitris
-"So… will I be expecting the two of you tomorrow evening?" Demeon asked Rachael in such an appealing manner.
-"But I don't know where you live sir." Rachael said
-"Dimitris will provide the necessary information." Replied Demeon
Rachael then slightly nodded.
-"Well then… I'll see you tomorrow night, and don't forget to bring your friend Carousel with you." Demeon said, the tone of his voice was deep but it hit a higher note at the end.
-"Don't worry, I will!" Rachael cried
-"I'll be going now…" Demeon said as he walks away with Dimitris. -"Just like you… I am quite busy myself… anyways; it's been a pleasure meeting you." Said Demeon as his tone was very low…
-"It's been a pleasure meeting you too!" Rachael returned the compliment.
-"Keep an eye on that girl…" Demeon softly whispered to Dimitris as they were walking away… -"I will try to see if Carousel had already left the premise." Said Demeon,
Dimitris then followed Rachael as she heads home. On the other hand, Demeon immediately went outside the academy to look for Carousel… but he was too late, they had already left the building.
Chapter Eight "Conscience"
Meanwhile, Carousel and Faust were heading at 'Lake Midgar' using Faust's floating vessel.
-"Just tell me the way to Lake Midgar?" asked Faust while he was driving his vessel.
Carousel looked somewhat confused. -"You were so eager to ask me to go with you at Lake Midgar, so I thought you've figured out how to get there." Said Carousel
-"…" Faust did not know what to reply.
Carousel slightly sighed -"Okay… we go east… that's where Lake Midgar is, just outside the east of Midgar city." Replied Carousel who was seated at the back side of Faust inside the vessel, then she started to look around to observe the view, she was very wary of their surroundings…
-"Heraldin also has a vessel like this." Carousel said as she looked around the interior of Faust's floating vessel.
-"Who's Heraldin?" Faust asked
-"Rachael's father…"
-"Ah…" Faust reacted, but defended his vessel… -"But you see, this is no ordinary vessel, unlike the common floating vessels you see around, the exterior of this vessel is solar powered so it doesn't need to refuel, this vessel can also turn into different kinds of shapes, some kind of a convertible if I may say, and this floating vessel could go off speeds you can only imagine… my father invented and made this vessel specially just for me." He said while having a quick peek at the rear view reflector mirror located on top of his steering wheel to look at Carousel from behind.
-"Really…? Your father made this thing for you…?"
-"Aha…" as Faust slightly nodded
-"Wow, how I wish I could meet your father, and ask him to make me a gadget that would also enhance my speed."
Faust did not react to Carousel's suggestion, his lips were tightly pressed, his eyes were just focus at where they were heading… and suddenly there was silence for awhile…
-"Did… I say… something wrong?" Carousel slowly asked -"I wouldn't be asking anything for free you know. I'm goanna pay for something that I've asked for."
Faust sighed heavily… -"It's not about that… silly… it's about my father…"
-"What about your father…?"
-"He… his gone…"
-"Oh… I'm sorry."
-"It's alright; it's already been so long ago when he passed away, sometimes I just get so emotional when I get to remember him." Faust distressingly said -"Especially when it reminds me of inventing and making devices."
Faust was looking straight ahead when he noticed that it was Carousel who was not speaking this time and she seems to be deeply thinking of something.
-"Why…? What's the matter? Is your father also…" Faust sensitively asked, as he glanced at Carousel from his rear view mirror.
-"No… he's not! I mean… I don't know…" Carousel slowly replied as she slightly shook her head -"I grew up not knowing if I ever did have a father, my mother never even mentioned about my father, she gets angry every time I raised questions about it, so I just didn't ask her about it anymore."
-"Why wouldn't she tell you about your father…? It's your right to know."
-"I don't know, she sometimes tells me she doesn't remember who my Father was, and at times she tells me that its better if I just don't ask about it, my mother has a very bad mood and it makes me want to leave her sometimes."
-"No…, don't… leave her, you're lucky, you still have a mother to go home to…"
Carousel slowly looked at Faust -"Don't tell me you lost your mother too?" She asked sympathetically.
-"Unfortunately… yes, she died while giving birth to me, that is what my father told me, so basically I don't have any memories about my mother. It was my father who raised me all by himself… until he was killed."
-"Your father was killed?"
-"Yes… he was murdered."
-"By…, who…?"
-"I don't know, up to now, we still don't know who killed my father… all I remember is that… they didn't want me to look at my father's dead body because they said it was way too gruesome for me to see."
-"…" Carousel was just speechless and couldn't look at him straight in the eyes. Her eyes were just full of sympathy.
-"I was just a little boy when I lost both my parents, I'm their only child, and I learned to struggle to live at a very young age, before… all I have with me is this vessel my father left me with and I call this vessel… my 'Rookie'…"
-"Where did you go…? ... What did you do? … When you were all alone..?"
-"I just stayed here… Rookie served as my home, my protector, and sometimes I would ask some of my father's friends for food and clothing, and at times they would give me something to eat and wear, but a lot of times they would say; they have nothing more to give me even though I could clearly see that they have plenty more to give. So I have no choice but to work and to look for food and clothing on my own. Those were the things that I kept doing all the time. I understood at a very young age that you should learn to appreciate everything that is given to you, because you just don't know when it will be the last time that someone will give you something. That's why I learned that anything and no one is without value, you can always learn from something or from someone, and even though things are becoming repetitive at times… it's our choice to like it or not."
Carousel's eyes narrowed in disbelief… -"I thought those were Emoreh's words." She thought to herself. -"But I guess Faust is more believable because he had experienced those things in his life while Emoreh grew up to have almost everything that he needed."
-"And because of those things that I have experienced in my life, I also learned not to depend on anybody… I didn't need anybody… except for Rookie." Faust proudly said. –"And it's also very fortunate for us 'splitters' that Demeon had put up a free academy for us to learn and train." He added
-"You're right..." replied Carousel as her tone was somehow trying to uplift his spirit
In the meantime, Dimitris came rushing back at Demeon at the parking area of 'Stellar Academy'.
-"Demeon…!" Dimitris cried
-"What is it?"
-"I tried following Rachael like you told me so… but…"
-"But what…?"
-"I lost track of her."
-"What…!"
-"I tried sneaking behind her back to see where she was going, and I'm sure that she didn't notice that I was following her… when all of a sudden, when she turned left at one of the corners down the station… she suddenly disappeared."
-"Are you sure?"
-"I'm definitely sure, I checked all the corners of the station and I couldn't find her anywhere." Dimitris said, as his nasally voice hits a higher note.
-"Hmmm… that's odd… you said she was training at the 'Psychetency' division?"
-"Yes"
-"How come she suddenly disappeared…?" Demeon asked as he was deeply staring at Dimitris. -"There are only two answers to my question." Demeon pointed out in a very deep voice… -"It's either she is developing a new skill in which her body can move quicker than normal, just like the 'splitters' that are training in the 'Impulsy' division or… you are just too stupid to carry out a given task."
-"I swear, she was just a few steps away from me… she just turned around the corner… and then she was gone." Dimitris explained
Demeon sighed and went into his own 'floating vessel' which was also parked outside the 'Stellar Academy's' premise, Dimitris soon followed him.
-"Did you catch up with Carousel and Faust?" asked Dimitris in return
-"No, I was too late, some of the splitters said; they had already left when I got there."
-"So…you're just going to wait for her to come to your mansion tomorrow night?"
-"Nor, could I wait for tomorrow, I must have her as soon as possible, I must know what kind of a 'splitter' she is turning into? So I could consume her soul, her soul… not only can it make me an immortal, but it could make me the most powerful being in this world." Demeon's eyes narrowed as he speaks -"And the whole 'competition' thing… I just made that up, so if I fail to get Carousel tonight, I'm sure I'll have the chance to get her tomorrow night." Demeon said with a grunt
-"Do you want me to bring Carousel to you? Rachael said they were going to Lake Midgar correct?" said Dimitris to Demeon
Demeon gave Dimitris a very sarcastic look… -"I already have someone else in mind who could accomplish such duties."
Dimitris slowly looked down and rolled his eyes in disappointment.
In the meantime, Carousel and Faust were almost there at 'Lake Midgar' [Lake Midgar is a huge stone made, ruined stadium submerged in water, and is surrounded by trees and bushes, a forest-like place, located near east of Midgar City. The Great War, the constant earthquakes, tornados and calamities are believed to be responsible for its current structure.]
-"Has anybody told you that you look exactly like your friend Rachael, but only with a pigtail…" said Faust
-"Really…? No, I guess nobody thinks so… I know we have the same dark hair and light eyes but I never had in mind that I may look like her, she is way too beautiful for me to be compared to."
-"Why say that? Don't you think you're beautiful?" Faust frankly said -"Because… I… do!" He slowly said without malice…
Carousel blushed upon hearing those words from Faust but she tried to conceal it and pretended that she didn't hear anything. -"Oh we're almost there!" She cried as soon as she saw the place… -"Just turn right and we're there." She said
-"So, is this where you saw that water creature when you were young?" Faust asked as he stopped and got out from his floating vessel."
Carousel looked around to view the surroundings -"Yes…" She slowly said, while she was reminiscing the encounter she had with that bizarre shaped water creature when she was just a little girl.
Faust took a container out from his vessel. -"This is where we would temporarily put the water creature that we will capture." He said
-"If…?"… "That water creature is still here! I was just a little girl when I last saw it." Carousel strongly replied, feeling unsure if there is still a water creature in that lake.
-"Of course, it would still be here. How could that water creature possibly get out from here?" Faust asked as they both looked at the lake with no other streams of river for it to flow out. -"And they say that those creatures are so hard to capture because of its extreme agility, and there's not even a shaman in our academy that had ever even captured one."
-"But… that was so long ago, and we don't even know if we even have the same water creature in mind." Replied Carousel
-"That's why we're here to find out." Faust said as he took off his bonnet and large goggles (He wears goggles to protect his eyes from the very windy conditions at Midgar, because dirt and debris are being carried by the strong winds.) Then he took off all the layering clothes in his body, starting with his black and slightly dirty trench coat, vest and shirt while he descended at the shallow waters of the lake and started to look for that elusive water creature.
-"Do you see anything yet…?" Carousel cried
-"No…! I don't see anything yet!" Faust quickly replied -"Carousel… may I ask…how? And why were you here when you saw that water creature?"
Carousel paused for a while and was trying to remember the exact situation. -"I was with my mother, and I remember she was busy buying something from the market which used to be located there… I think…" said Carousel as she pointed out at the trees near the lake. -"That used to be a market." She said -"And I was just drawn into this lake, like any other child I guess."
-"And that's when you saw the water creature?"
-"No… not yet, I was walking through the shallow edges of this lake when I…" Carousel was silent for a moment, as she tries to remember the situation again; she was nibbling at her index finger.
-"When…? ... What…?" Faust slowly asked
Carousel approached the corner side edges of the lake and said… -"I remember I was there when I saw that water creature." She said
Faust then went to the place where Carousel told him where she was, when she saw the water creature… -"You were here? When you saw that water creature…?" Faust asked sheepishly
-"Yes, that's exactly where I was." Carousel replied
Faust was looking around it, when he involuntarily stepped forward and all of a sudden he fell down to a very deep part of the lake and sank…
-"Faust…!" Carousel cried, but only bubbles that are surfacing the water is what Carousel is seeing, so she decided to take a swim and tried to save Faust. But when she was about to take a swim… Faust immediately resurfaces and he was catching his breath.
-"Are you alright?" Carousel asked
-"Yes, I'm alright, don't worry!" Faust said as he wipes his face with his hand… -"Whoa…! That was deep!" He said -"I didn't notice that there was a deep hole in this part of the lake… but I think I saw something down there… and I think I just found what we are looking for…"
Carousel's eyes widened in delight while Faust went back at his vessel and he turned on Rookie's headlights and pointed them towards the lake.
-"It's getting dark, we need to light this place up!" he said -"Carousel… I want you to help me spread this net across the shore, while I lure that creature into this trap."
Carousel agreed, and she helped Faust to put up the trap. Carousel waited along the shallow edges of the lake making sure that the net was in proper place, while Faust searched for the water creature he just saw.
-"I've searched almost everywhere, but I couldn't find it anymore." Faust said as he was getting frustrated about looking for that water creature…
-"What does it look like again?" Carousel loudly asked, her voice was echoing through the forest.
-"Actually I haven't really seen it clearly, but one of my trainers said that; it has a 'tear' shaped body and its color is almost transparent, so its goanna be very hard for us to actually notice that creature here, but I swear I saw one that looks like that… in that deep slope of the lake." He pointed to the place where Carousel has told him where she was, when she was just a little girl and saw a water creature slowly rising in front of her there…
Carousel then tried sharpening her senses, her eyes narrowed as she scans the lake, her eyesight was much better than Faust's. And finally when she couldn't see it anymore and she looked back at Faust, she noticed something… something wasn't right about the color of the water, something was much darker.
-"Wait, don't move… I think I saw it." Carousel softly whispered
-"Where…?" Faust softly asked as he was slowly looking around
-"Beside you…" Carousel quietly said -"To your left… is that it?"
-"Yes" Faust said as his eyes widened in delight upon seeing it.
Faust did not waste any time and he quickly jumped towards it and grabbed it with his two hands, he manages to capture it for awhile but then released it back because he was hurt.
-"Ouch…!" Faust cried as he looked at his chest, it was bruised by the water creature's pointed tail; Carousel looked worried and told Faust to come out off the water.
-"Faust…! Come back here, you're hurt." Carousel cried upon seeing blood that is flowing through his chest.
-"No, this is just a minor bruise, now I know why that water creature has a 'tear' shaped body." Faust said with a slight laugh -"Its tail is very dangerous… Carousel… could you hand me my vest." Asked Faust
-"But…"
-"Don't worry, I'm just goanna be fine, this is nothing… see!" Faust convincingly said to Carousel as he washes his chest with water. -"This wound isn't so deep." Said he
Carousel was unwillingly taking the vest that was lying on the ground with his shirt on top of it, but then she had no choice but to return back to the shore and give the vest back to Faust.
-"Are you sure you're just goanna be alright? Because it's not worth it if anything bad happens to you." Carousel worriedly said as she was looking at his bruised chest.
-"Believe me, that thing cannot harm me anymore." said Faust as he puts on his vest
-"But… but how about your arms and hands…? They're not protected." Carousel asked,
Faust just smiled at her then returned back to find and try to capture that water creature again, he seemed very determined. Then… a few more moments… he finally spotted the water creature.
-"I got you now!" Faust mumbled to himself
He grabbed it once more, and again it slipped away, Faust could only see the water creature slowly swimming away as if it was teasing him, when all of a sudden, a net was thrown into the air heading for the water creature's direction. The water creature got stuck and it was caught. And it was Carousel who swiftly threw the net.
-"…" Faust was speechless
-"Go! Quickly grab it!" Carousel cried
Faust immediately held onto the net, and he slowly raised it -"Wow, I can't believe we actually captured one, this creature is so beautiful." Faust said upon seeing the water creature. –"This is like a water bubble, with rainbow colors shining when you look at its edges." Said he
-"Carousel, you did it." said Faust
-"No…! We… did it!" Carousel returned the compliment; -"It was you who did all the hard work; now… let's bring that water creature to the container before it gets stressed out." Said she
"Right…!"
As Faust and Carousel were placing the water creature into the container, Carousel heard a movement behind the bushes, not so far away from them.
-"Did you hear that? Because I think I heard something…" Carousel asked as she looked somewhat anxious.
Faust paused for awhile and started listening at their surroundings… -"No, I don't hear anything." He said as he did not hear anything…
-"I thought I heard something from those bushes." Said Carousel
Faust then took a glance at where Carousel was looking at, as his eyes narrowed. When all of a sudden, something unexpectedly came out from those bushes and it was heading in their direction, and it was moving towards them very quickly. It appears to be a monstrous looking beast, that is about to strike them with its razor sharp claws, Carousel managed to avoid the beast's attack because she moves a lot faster but Faust did not, his right arm was slightly ripped from the beast's strike. His right arm was bruised but instead of reveling his flesh and bones from his torn skin, it revealed a somewhat metallic looking thing with cut wires sparking and springing out of his arm. Carousel was puzzled when she saw Faust's arm. The water creature inside the container then got the beast's attention; the beast snarled and looked at the water creature with interest…
-"Is that, the beast that attacked you?" Faust quietly asked Carousel as they were both pinned to a corner of the lake…
-"No…! That's definitely a…. different beast!" Carousel slowly said as she was in awe… -"I didn't expect that there are so many of them." She added
-"Get inside the vessel!" Faust quickly cried to Carousel as the beast was still preoccupied by the water creature inside the container.
And Carousel then immediately ran and went inside the vessel, Faust then pressed a button at his left arm band to automatically lock the vessel, putting 'Rookie' in a 'Guard mode', Carousel was now inside the vessel but then… she started to pound the locked doors of the vessel when she was inside, because she noticed that Faust did not follow her into the vessel.
-"Faust…! What are you doing?" Carousel cried, where sheets of metal were slowly coming out at 'Rookie's' base, slowly enclosing itself like a metal sphere.
-"I just can't afford to leave it behind." Faust cried, pertaining to the water creature; that they had just captured. Faust can barely hear what Carousel was saying inside the vessel especially now that the entire vessel was now almost covered with metal sheets. Carousel then kept pounding at the locked doors of the vessel but with no avail, 'Rookie' was way a lot well-built than Heraldin's floating vessel or to any other ordinary floating vessels in the 'City of Midgar' in particular. Carousel couldn't see anything because the whole vessel was now covered with metal sheets, she tried looking for a switch to light up the interior of the vessel and she had no idea what was going on between the beast and Faust. Carousel's distress couldn't be heard outside the vessel because it was wrapped tightly with metal sheets, making it look like a spherical canister.
Faust then gave the beast a quick punch to its head, leaving it growling in pain, Faust took that opportunity to quickly cover the container with its lid. And as the beast recovers, it then attacked Faust with multiple strikes sending him on a defense style; Faust used his cyborg arms as a shield to block the beast's boundless slashing.
-"Who are you…? What… are you?" Faust slowly asked in complete perplexity as he was still being attacked by that beast.
The beast named 'Conscience' did not bother to answer back; it just groaned heavily and continued attacking him.
-"Not yet tired?" Faust asked mockingly, because his arms were almost undamaged, despite the never-ending attacks he received from that beast.
The beast snarled upon seeing Faust's arms that were almost undamaged, but the beast's boundless slashing revealed the true nature of his arms. The skins on both his arms were roughly torn away. Exposing both his artificial mechanical arms that are made of super steel.
-"Now, my turn…" said Faust as he threw some punches and kicks to the beast. This time, it was the beast that is now in a defensive manner, it instantly encloses its wings to protect itself. Faust then used his alchemy skill to turn his left hand into a machine gun, and his right hand into a long sharp blade. And then he fired straight at the beast, the beast named 'Conscience' tried to avoid the shots that Faust had made, but there were too many shots made by Faust for the beast to escape. The beast ended up being wounded and one of its wings was noticeably damaged, made and gashed by the sharp blade on Faust's right arm. The beast was packed on the ground trying to regain its strength.
-"Do you know how much trauma you've just caused me?" Faust asked the beast, his voice sounded very angry. -"There's a girl inside that vessel that I really love and that I would be very devastated if I fail to protect, because you know why? …Because I kept convincing her to come with me into this lake even though she really didn't want to!" Faust was catching up his breath… -"Not knowing that I would just be putting her life in a great… great danger because of you!" Faust said to the beast as he tries to finish the beast with a powerful blow.
-"Hmmm…" The beast spoke as it suddenly recovers; Faust was then taken aback…
-"I sense… conscience in your heart." The beast 'Conscience' slowly said with a smile, its pitch black eyes suddenly turned into crimson red in color and its wounds were suddenly healing.
-"My master wants her…" said Conscience
Faust couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. -"What does your master want from her?" said Faust as he then used his left arm again to transform it into a machine gun and started firing straight at Conscience again as it prepares to move towards him, but his shots were just easily evaded by Conscience…
-"How did that beast, suddenly became so invincible…?" Faust asked himself as Conscience was still smiling at him, its dark beak-like lips where darkened even more by the blood of its previous victims, and so as its razor sharp teeth. Faust could only look at the beast with total disbelief.
-"What am I goanna to do now?" He asked himself… -"That beast seems unbeatable." As Faust tries to step back, and Conscience was fast approaching him. Faust took a quick glance at his vessel, making sure that 'Rookie' and Carousel were still alright.
Inside the vessel was a baffled Carousel… she overheard everything Faust and Conscience had said about her, because she has sharp senses.
-"All this years, Faust was hiding his true feelings for me?" Carousel mumbled to herself feeling very confused. She was very worried for Faust but at the same time she felt uncomfortable, she felt very sorry for him.
Carousel was constantly listening to their clash… until she became aware that Faust wasn't saying anything anymore. It was because Conscience was revealing its true power to Faust; the cloud in the dark skies unexpectedly clustered together and everywhere was murky and indescribable, all Faust could see was the thick dark fog that wraps the whole place and out of the dark mist came out a very pitiless Conscience with a lifeless Carousel hanging on its shoulder. Faust couldn't speak upon seeing Carousel's condition because he was now, under the control of Conscience's power; where in Faust's own points of view, his conscience was slowly creeping in; Conscience made him believe that Carousel was clinging in its shoulder dead, and Faust could only blame himself for the outcome. As Conscience carried Carousel's lifeless body on its arms as it approaches Faust. The whole bizarre incident left Faust speechless and stunned in his own thoughts.
In the meantime, inside the vessel … Carousel was very determined to get out; she was worried that she wasn't hearing anything from Faust; all she could hear was the heavy grunt of the beast.
-"What is going on out there…?" Carousel cried as she started pounding the vessel again.
-"Faust…!" She cried, but she couldn't hear any reply from Faust.
-"Faust…! Faust…! Faust…!" She kept yelling and pounding.
But Faust was in the midst of blaming himself… -"How could I let this happen to Carouse.l" Faust asked himself… -"Why did I let this happen to her…?" He repeatedly told himself as Conscience was now in front of him carrying the lifeless body of Carousel, making him see what he had failed to do, whereas in reality… Conscience was carrying nothing.
Until Faust overheard someone calling his name…, "Faust…!"… The voice said in a vague sound, -"Wait… that's Carousel's voice, who's calling me…" Faust mumbled to himself as he now looked somewhat bewildered… -"But… how can she call my name? If I am looking at her lips right now, and it doesn't seem to be moving." He asked himself, as he realized that it was all a trick… -"Wait…. How did you get Carousel out off my vessel in the first place?" Faust asked Conscience. -"No one can break-in through my 'Rookie's' defense…. Not even you!" Faust pointed out to the beast while he now prepares to attack the beast again. And the whole atmosphere returned back to its usual state.
The beast snarled at Faust upon knowing that the latter had found out about its trick. Faust then seized the opportunity to quickly get the container with the water creature in it; and then he fired as many shots at Conscience for it to withdraw but it only made Conscience to step back a little bit, so he fired at some trees to fall onto Conscience. Faust made use of that little opportunity to open up his vessel by pushing a series of combination buttons at his metallic band located at his left wrist. Faust with his captured water creature hastily went inside his vessel as it was now starting to close in again; 'Rookie' was fully closed just in time before Conscience had the chance to attack them again. Both Faust and Carousel could hear the scratches made by Conscience from the inside; but as the vessel fully closes, they could now barely feel the frustrations of the beast from the outside of the vessel.
-"Don't worry…, even with those sharp claws it has, that beast could not possibly rip this open." Faust said with confidence as he was squeezing himself between the vessel and the spherical metal sheets that acts as the vessel's shield.
-"How about you…? I'm glad to see that you're fine… but are you alright?" Carousel worriedly asked
-"Yeah I'm fine." Faust replied -"It just took me awhile to get this back." said Faust as he lifts the container with the water creature in it so Carousel could see. Then he unlocked the doors of the vessel… -"Whoo…" Faust exhaled from being squeezed while he gets inside the vessel. -"Carousel, could you hold this for me." Faust asked as he gives the container to Carousel
-"Sure…" Carousel replied
They were now both feeling a little bit secured because they knew that they were at 'Rookie's' protection even though they could still hear the heavy scraping made by the beast outside.
-"Sit tight…" Faust informed… -"We're going on a blast" He said as he was pressing a series of buttons on the control panel of his vessel.
-"What do you mean…? Blast…?" Carousel cried
-"Just brace yourself…" Faust advised
Faust made the final adjustments and the whole vessel lit up in a bright light and it suddenly disappeared leaving the beast Conscience at 'Lake Midgar to wonder. The beast Conscience was confused about the sudden disappearance of the vessel and it snarled loudly in frustration, its growl echoed through the forest…
'Rookie' was then teleported to Faust's shelter; and the metal sheets that served as the vessel's shields were currently slowly returning to the base of the vessel.
-"Where are we?" Carousel asked as she gets out of the vessel still holding the container in her arms. Carousel was trying to contain the fear she was feeling. –"What does that beast want from me?" She asked herself
-"We are at my shelter." Replied Faust
Carousel looked around to observe that she was in a small buried city… -"Is it safe down here?" she asked
-"Of course…! I mean... at least that beast won't find us in here."
-"Why is the whole city buried in here… in this large cave like place…?" she said while still looking around in astonishment.
-"Because there was a massive sinkhole that occurred during the 'Great War', and this city came down with it…" Replied Faust
They were both teleported at the entrance porch of Faust's shelter, and an underground water fall is seen opposite the entrance. A somewhat long narrow path leads to the entrance of Faust's shelter.
Chapter Nine "Rookie"
-"Come, let's get inside." Faust said as he led Carousel towards the narrow path leading to the entrance doors of his shelter. -"You should be careful not to lose your balance; it's a little bit steep getting at the top." He said
Carousel then looked down at the edges of the narrow path and heard the flowing of waters below it, the path they were taking was surrounded by water. Carousel held a tight grip at the container she was holding, she was very careful not to drop the container.
-"Let me help you with that." Faust insisted
Carousel then gave the container back to Faust.
-"I'm glad we made it here." said Faust… -"I couldn't have escaped that beast if it wasn't for you." He said
-"What did I do?" replied Carousel with an awkward look on her face.
-"Just when I fell prey to that beast's tactic, I heard your voice… you were calling my name. And that's when I knew that everything around me wasn't real; that it was… all just an illusion…" said Faust, while trying to recall the things that had happened. -"That's probably its power." He concluded
-"Well… I'm glad that I did some help." Carousel replied as they were walking…
-"That's not just some help… what you did, was a very big help." As Faust gave Carousel a friendly tap on her back… -"You must have been screaming my name pretty out loud, for me to actually hear it from the outside." Faust teasingly said as his lips were pressed in a thin line, His eyes were filled with pleasure.
-"Oh, believe me… I was just whispering your name." Carousel replied as she felt slightly annoyed.
-"Oh, could you help me hold this thing for a while." Faust said… -"Because these doors need both my palm prints for it to open." He said as they were now standing at the entrance door of Faust's underground shelter.
"Sure…" She replied, as she took back the container from Faust…
Faust, then placed both his palms on each of the two door entrance, and the doors slowly opened, they were retractable doors, sliding through the sides of the wall. And they immediately went inside, and the doors automatically closed.
Carousel and Faust were conversing at Faust's shelter, it is an underground haven, and every area of that sanctuary was very technologically designed.
-"Really…? You were just whispering my name?" He asked sarcastically -"Oh, let me help you with that." He abruptly said as he took back the container from Carousel and he placed the water creature to a much larger container. -"What you mean to say… is that you were really worried about me?"
-"Whatever…!" Carousel softly said as she rolled her eyes… -"Of course I'm worried about you, who knows, what that beast might have done to you… but instead, you're giving a whole different meaning about my concern for you."
-"Hey, hang on… is there something I'm not getting here?" Faust asked in a confuse manner, his eyebrows were pulled down.
-"No, nothing… I was just asking…," Carousel explained -"Uhm… where exactly are we?" Carousel quickly asked -"And what did you actually do to your vessel? Why are we suddenly here? I didn't feel Rookie moved." She abruptly asked, shaking her head trying to divert the topic.
-"Inside my shelter…" Faust replied… -"We're at my shelter, this area is my bedroom, my kitchen, my working place, and etc. all rolled into one, in short… this is my sanctuary." Faust gladly introduced -"Sorry… it's just a little clustered and messy in here because you can see, this is like my multi-purpose area." Faust apologetically said his face was slightly embarrassed. And he tries to pick up some things to lessen the mess.
-"It's alright… I'm not dainty." Carousel replied
-"Rookie teleported us here…" said Faust as he was still trying to clean up the clutter.
-"Wow, really? But, if your vessel 'Rookie' could achieve that kind of unimaginable speed then why did we even bother to take the long way to Lake Midgar? When we could instantly be teleported there?" Carousel asked
-"Well, my vessel couldn't be teleported to places it had never been, because I still need to program the exact location into Rookie's brain for it to be teleported to that certain place, that's why Rookie must be familiarized to a certain place first, before it can teleport itself to that certain place."
-"How is that possible?" She again asked with such surprise in her eyes… -"How did we possibly get in here, in just a nick of time."
-"Like what I have said, my father invented this, so I don't actually know how this thing works… but the only explanation he told me was that…" As Faust stopped cleaning up the mess and grabs something to eat from his kitchen. -"Everything is, and can be located everywhere." He said
-"Everything is located everywhere…?" Carousel slowly asked as her eyes slowly narrowed… -"What kind of a saying is that? This is the only time I have heard such a saying." As she paused for awhile… -"Or did you just made that up?
-"…" Faust did not reply…
-"How's that…?" she asked
-"Yes, you see… everything is actually located everywhere." Faust said as he tries to get a plate and a fruit from his kitchen. -"It all depends on how you perceive and look at it." He added as he took a bite from the fruit… -"Imagine this fruit is my Rookie" He said as he showed the fruit to Carousel. -"And this plate is my shelter." He said, as he laid the plate and the fruit on top of the working table in front of them, but placing them apart… -"You see… this fruit is not placed on top of the plate, because I obviously placed them apart from each other." Faust said as they were both looking at it.
-"Right…!" replied Carousel as she slightly nodded
-"In our own point of view, the plate and the fruit are at a distance because we are looking at them from above." Faust continued explaining as they were standing and were looking down at the table with the fruit and the plate placed apart from each other. Carousel's eyebrows were still pulled down looking a little skeptic.
-"But if we just kneel a little bit." Faust suggested, while he and Carousel slowly knelt down; their eyes are now at the same level of the plate and the fruit on the table. -"And now… you can see that the fruit appears to be placed on top of the plate." Faust explained to Carousel as they were looking at it. -"Everything can be placed anywhere we want it to be, see… it all depends on where we are looking at it." He continued saying… -"And now this fruit, that I am holding… 'Rookie'… laminates itself to that desired place, which is this plate… my shelter." He continued explaining, and Carousel slightly nodded and was somewhat contented with his explanation.
-"Ah…" Carousel sighed… -"So… that's how it works…?" She asked while having more important things in her mind to ask him about the beast that assaulted them, and she really wanted to ask Faust if he really meant the things he said during his fight with the beast. There are so many things she wanted to ask him, she felt awkward just being there at his shelter.
Faust was slowly taking off his vest when he finally became aware and felt his wound on his chest. -"Ouch…!" He softly said while trying to feel his wound with his somewhat damaged arm.
Carousel saw what condition he was in and utterly attended to his throbbing. -"Let me…" She insisted as she helped Faust took off his vest and she placed it beside her. -"Where are your first aid kits?" Carousel asked
Faust couldn't look straight into her eyes… -"Uhm… right across those shelves." He slowly said; as Carousel went on to get it.
-"Are your arms okay?" She asked while still looking for the first aid kit.
-"Yeah… these are just fine." He civilly replied as he tried to put in place some of the torn skins that are slightly sagging, onto his artificial mechanical arms. -"I was born without any arms, so again my father invented and made these especially just for me."
Carousel quickly glanced at Faust and smiled… -"Now I know why you were not that worried about your arms."
-"I'm lucky to have a father like him."
-"You sure are!" She paused -"What are these?" Carousel asked as she was still looking for the first aid kit, but stumbled upon things that she's not quite familiar with. Which are metallic like objects that are slightly rusted and some are even wrecked.
-"Those things are…I … I don't know either." Faust slowly said -"Those things have been there ever since; my father told me that you could use one of those gadgets to take a picture of yourself, or you can even watch somebody from that."
-"From this…?" As Carousel showed Faust a square metallic but rusted object…
-"Yes…"
-"What do you call this?"
-"I… don't know, I forgot… all I know is that; those gadgets and devices are what they were using before the 'Great War' had happened."
-"Is this thing… working?" As she slightly shakes the thing that she was holding, having absolutely no idea what it is.
-"No, those things aren't working anymore; I'm just keeping them so I could relive the time what it was like before the 'Great War', they say that this planet was a very highly technological world where almost everything were prepared by sophisticated machines and robots." Faust held up a small thin rectangular metallic but rusted object and said… -"Believe it or not… this tiny thing is what they used for communication."
-"How did you know…?"
-"Before the 'Great War' happened, I saw my father using one of these… and I heard that he was talking to somebody that's why I figured that they were using this as a communication device although I have never tried to use one. I was still very young at that time, that's why my memories are not that clear, but the thing that I remembered clearly is… the look on my father's face, every time he was talking to that other line, to me at that time he looked sad, very sad… but only now that I have come to age did I figure out that; it was not sadness that I saw on my father's face… but what I saw was… regret, an extreme disappointment on his face."
-"Do you know the reason?"
-"He never told me." Faust replied… -"So anyways… this thing is what they used for their long distance communication." As he diverted back the topic because he didn't want to start a drama.
Carousel felt the uneasy situation and chose to ride the course while her lips twitched and her eyes were very understanding. -"Like a telephone?" She asked
-"Yes, maybe, or perhaps more than just a phone… its wireless and unlike today… where I still have to put the cable wires just to connect the telephones of the entire city."
-"Do you think that they were also using those devices as a self-defense… from…?" as she raised her shoulders "From bad… Erishans…?"
-"How did you know…? That's what I thought too."
-"Well, even though that thing is rusted, from here I can clearly see the holes on the sides of that device… which I think seems a very odd place for a speaker or a microphone to be placed at. I think that… there are substances that are coming out from there."
Faust slowly examined the holes… -"Hmm… or maybe these holes are used to fit into some sort of a mechanism for it to have a different function." Faust said as he was holding the device and locating for a light to enter it, while looking at the holes.
-"Well, we will never know the other functions of that device but one thing we know is that… it was used for communication, and I guess that's the only important thing we need to know, as long as we know the significant function of a certain something then I think there's no need to rediscover it's past history because I'm sure everyone at that time had their own different way of using that device." Carousel explained -"Here it is!" She said upon seeing the first aid kit, and she went back to Faust to help him treat his wound. She first tried to disinfect his wound on his chest… -"Is this the only disinfectant solution you have?" She worriedly asked as she was about to pour the disinfectant solution to a piece of cloth.
-"I guess that's the only one left."
-"Then this might sting a little." She said
-"I know, just be… you know…" He said, his eyes widened as he prepares himself for the rubbing.
-"I will…" She softly replied
Faust, then slowly closed his one eye having the other eye looking at where the wound was… -"Ahhg…" He quietly said, when the damped cloth with the disinfectant solution touched his wound, he quietly tried to conceal the pain he was feeling, his lips were tightly shut.
Carousel treated his wound as fast as she could… -"There… it's finished" She said as she was putting the last strap of the patch. And she slowly held his arms. -"Don't these hurt?"
-"No…" He slowly replied, his eyebrows were pulled down.
-"Don't you feel anything?" She worriedly asked, as she was looking at his somewhat damaged arms.
-"I can feel the sparks but I don't feel any pain."
Carousel felt like she needed to offer a hand. -"What can I do to help?"
-"No, I'm fine… I can fix this." Faust said as he transformed his right arm into an operating machine that had different apparatuses with it. -"See… I told you not to worry; I can fix my own arms. When my arm gets damaged, I can always fix them as long as only one of these gets damaged." He said as he was starting to fix his left arm. -"Because their artificial" He said
Carousel was looking at how he was repairing his arms.
-"What…?" He softly asked Carousel upon seeing her looking at his mechanical arms… –"Do I look weird to you?"
-"Yes… I mean No!" She quickly corrected herself… -"It's just that… I find it strange because when we were younger, I never thought that you were born without any arms and that you already have those… How did your arms grew?"
-"They didn't grow…" He answered, as his tone hits to a drop… -"My father already made a lot of these, in an up scaled version because he knew that I would grow up someday and that I needed arms that would fit my body type, so all I needed to do is to get a new pair and replace my old or damaged arm. But obviously… since I'm not growing anymore and these mechanical arms aren't that badly damaged yet then I would just have to repair it."
-"Those arms your father made are truly amazing, they can even transform into different kinds of gears and equipment, you must be very thankful that he invented such things."
-"No… actually, this is where my talent comes in." Faust abruptly said… -"Yes, my father invented these mechanical arms, but these arms will not move a thing if these were connected to… an ordinary Erishan, you see… you need skills to make these arms move." He continued explaining… -"Because these mechanical arms are just made up of metals and wires that are connected to my nerves. And because I'm a 'splitter' that is why I can transform these artificial arms into things that I want. My talent is all about transition, I can transform anything as long as it is made up of metals and as long as I have very close contact with that certain metal or thing."
-"So that's how your talents work, before… I thought that being an alchemist doesn't require any noticeable skills except to make and invent devices and gadgets."
-"Well, it depends… not all alchemists can make a transition, because it takes a lot of focus to achieve such a feat. And not all can do such actions, but if they can't, then it doesn't really mean that they are not alchemists." explained Faust…
-"Then what actually is the basis for you to be an alchemist? Or what can you actually do, for you to be able to train at the alchemy division?" asked Carousel
Faust looked straight at Carousel's eyes and said… -"As long as you have the heart and the will to train."
Carousel's eyebrows were pulled down and looked confused. -"I… I… don't get it."
Faust smiled and said… -"We are not required or oblige to have a gift when entering the academy of alchemy, all that they will be testing is our determination to study the field of alchemy… but once we entered the training; then our talents will be slowly showing, our talents needs training for us to fully unlock our skills, unlike in your academy of 'Impulsy' your talents are already perceived, noticeable, and that's why the shamans has no trouble in searching for 'splitters' like you."
Carousel then interrupted… -"But in our academy of 'Impulsy', all of us were chosen because we have an obvious talent in our field, which means all of us are certified 'splitters' whereas in your academy, you said; all that is required is the determination of oneself. But what if that certain person did not have any talents at all but had the determination to continue studying, still that Erishan is not a certified 'splitter'… meaning, all of you who are training at the alchemy division are not all certified splitters? Am I right?"
Faust's lips where pressed in a thin line… -"That's probably how you would put it." He answered… -"Because that's the only way for us to be found, like I said; we need to be trained first before our talents to be unlocked."
-"But how long will it take for a trainee to unlock his/her talents?"
-"It depends, like me and some of the others… we find it easier to unlock our skills and it only took us a couple of weeks to figure out our own talents. In my case… in the earlier days of my training I can already bend different thickness of metals easily with my bare hands… transforming it into different shapes and sizes, and it's not just because both of my arms are mechanical and artificial; but it takes tremendous focus and will to stimulate the electricity in my body which I need in my transition skill."
-"So… electricity is what you need?"
-"It's not just electricity that we need but to some extent… yes, that's what we 'alchemists' wants to achieve first, so we can perform a transition skill which is to transform a certain matter into a different composition, but…, of that same certain matter only."
Carousel slightly lifted her left eyebrow… -"Meaning… you can only transform things that are simply just made of metals?"
Faust slightly nodded… -"Yes, but I can also transform a certain element of metal into another element of metal; for example, I can transform a nickel into silver, a bronze into gold… as long as it is in the same state of metals."
-"So now, I know what an alchemist can do… transforming metals, hmm… if only bronze, silver and gold were valued these days." Said Carousel
-"No, not necessarily metals…" Faust again interrupted -"Some alchemists has the skills to transform a certain liquid state, for example; they can turn water into a lava which are both in the liquid state or gas state like; transforming clouds of air into fire or any type of a certain matter as long as it is in the same state of matter."
-"Hmmm…" Carousel replied… -"And by performing such skills then can you only be called an alchemist?"
-"Yes, an alchemist is a name given to us, because we train at the academy of alchemy and we are all called 'splitters' because we have cracked our God given talents." Faust paused for a while… -"Can I ask, what do you call the splitters in the 'Impulsy' and 'Psychetensy' division?"
-"We just simply call ourselves… SPLITTERS…" Carousel replied without any hesitation… -"So you said, it only took you a few days in training to unlock your talents? That's amazing." Carousel said with admiration…
-"Thank you…" Faust slowly and whole heartedly said… -"The shamans that were training me even said that I was the first and only one to have ever unlocked my talents in such a short period of time." He slowly looked down and his lips were tightly pressed in a thin line… -"Well that's because my father and I… knew that I had a special gift long before I even joined the academy, the moment I was able to move my artificial arms were the first signs of my gifts. That's why it was easier for me to figure out my skills… but some of the others…" He again paused and slowly said -"They just can't crack their God given talents."
-"I wonder what kind of an alchemist… Emoreh is?" Carousel slowly asked
Faust was taken aback, his eyes widened and his eyebrows were pulled up; but his lips were pulled down.
-"Faust, can I ask you something about Emoreh?"
-"Sure, what is it?" He asked as his face quickly turned convincingly concerned.
-"Well, I'm just wondering up to now… I don't know what talents Emoreh possesses, even though we've been friends for such a long time now, I haven't figured out what his true talents are."
Faust slowly tried to gulp down before answering back. -"To be quite honest… I… I also don't know what his talents are." He slowly replied -"All these times we've been training, I haven't seen anything extraordinary about his capabilities."
-"You mean to say, he is one of the trainees whom you are referring to as; they just can't crack their God given talents?"
-"No, I don't mean to say it that way." Faust quickly interrupted -"What I meant was, some trainees find it-longer to unlock their hidden talents but I'm sure someday they will; only time will tell." He sighed -"Or maybe Emoreh has already discovered his skills, and he is just not telling us, hmm… I think you should ask him." Faust suggested
-"No, but, I'm embarrassed to ask." She replied
-"Why…?"
-"Well… now that you've told me everything about being an alchemist, and if I will ask him about that… then he will just be feeling pressured and insecure if ever he hasn't cracked his talents yet, and I'm afraid that pressuring him would be a hindrance for him in discovering his true hidden skills." Carousel explained as she heard something very peculiar. Faust had just finished repairing his slightly damaged artificial arms.
-"What is that sound?" Carousel asked in a confuse manner
-"What sound?" Faust replied as he stood up and searched for it.
Carousel slowly walked towards the container, where the water creature was held in captive, while her eyes narrowed.
-"Are you hearing something again? That I'm not…?" Faust asked as his face was skeptic… -"Don't tell me that it's that beast again… It could not possibly have followed us over here!"
-"Shh… be quiet." Carousel softly said… -"I think that water creature is the one making that sound."
-"What sound?" Faust softly asked -"I don't hear anything." He said
-"You can't hear that?" Carousel asked, as she was tapping the glass container
-"No… I'm not hearing anything." Faust said again as his lips twitched -"What do you hear…?" He asked
-"I'm hearing a very… very low drumming sound." Carousel said feeling a little bit unsure about the sound she was hearing.
-"Why can't I hear it…?" Faust complained -"Are you sure that the sound you are listening to, is coming from that water creature?"
-"Yes, I'm sure it's coming from that water creature." Carousel softly assured as she was looking at it. -"Hmm… I wonder, why is it making such an annoying sound…?"
Faust's lips were pressed in a thin line. -"Who knows, maybe it is trying to tell you something." He said -"You said that when you were just a little girl, you saw a water creature right?"
Carousel's eyes narrowed… -"Yes, but… it doesn't look like this."
-"Well, maybe their connected…"
-"I… don't know." Carousel slowly sighed… -"Did you see the look on that beast's face when it was distracted by this water creature? I think that beast also heard this water creature's drumming sound. That's why it got distracted."
-"Yes, I did see that." Faust replied -"But, do you think… that was the reason? And when I asked you if that was the beast that attacked you… you said… that wasn't the one?"
-"Yes, and I… don't know why that beast attacked us, it looks way different from the beast who attacked us before. But this time I'm sure that those beasts are associated with each other." Carousel said, her voice was starting to sound really anxious -"I don't know what to do now, before… I thought that it was only Emoreh that they wanted, but now… it seems that, those beasts are also after me. I just can't keep running away from those beasts." She said, as she slowly shook her head.
-"That beast that we had encountered at Lake Midgar said its master wants you?" said Faust as he was looking very concern…
Carousel was puzzled -"What does its master want from me now? I have a feeling that its master is the beast we have encountered at the Ruins of Goban Shrine." Said Carousel as she was shaking her head again…
-"I'll protect you." Faust abruptly said
Carousel slowly looked into Faust's eyes as her eyes narrowed… -"Why would you want to protect me?" She asked
-"Uhm…" He tried to clear his throat
-"I'm… I'm… sorry… I forgot to thank you, for what you did for me at Lake Midgar." Carousel softly apologized.
-"What… did I do?" Faust asked, his voice was close to being fainted as if he didn't know…
-"You protected me from that beast; you let me into your vessel while you dealt with that beast all by yourself."
-"But… you did help me too, you know."
-"But without you… I don't know what would have happened to me."
Faust gave a quick sighed and slightly scratched his head… -"Well… I guess I was just doing my part, and besides… I promised Rachael that I will bring you home safely." He slowly said with a smile as he sat on the floor and rested his back on some of the torn mattresses that are also lying on the floor.
Carousel was intensely looking at Faust while she returned the favor of smiling back at him. And she thought to herself… -"Faust, I want to ask you right now if the things you said to me are true. About you telling that beast that you loved me. All these times… I should have known better. But I know this isn't the right time to ask."
-"Do you think we should tell Rachael's father about what had just happened to us." Faust asked, as he placed his arms on top of his knees, completely interrupting Carousel's thoughts. -"Because like what you've said… Rachael's father has great talents…"
-"Yes of course!" Carousel abruptly replied -"You don't need to tell me that, because I will really tell him about this, because if there is someone who could help us right now, I'm sure it's Heraldin." She said.
Carousel then slightly turned around and sat on the floor too, and was slowly looking through their surroundings… -"This place… kind of reminds me of our own shelter." She thought to herself… -"The only difference is that this is an underground shelter and most of the areas are technologically designed, but there are also a lot of junks that Faust is still keeping and large roots are sprouting from the cracked walls." She said to herself -"I guess Faust and I have something in common after all."
Carousel turned back to face Faust and wanted to ask him if they could go to Heraldin's shelter because she was worried about their situation…, but she found Faust was already sleeping; he was lying on the floor, but his upper body was on the torn mattress and his eyes were already closed.
"Faust…" Carousel softly whispered
"…" But there was no reply from Faust, all that Carousel could hear was his deep snoring, so Carousel did not bother waking him up.
-"You must have been really tired…" Carousel whispered -"Thank you, you really stood up for me…" she thought to herself and she decided to lie on the torn mattress too. Carousel was curbed like a ball while she was lying on the mattress.
-"I've never felt this so uneasy in my entire life." Carousel thought… -"I should be feeling very scared right now, because of what is happening to us… but instead… I'm feeling this kind of awkwardness… is it because of what I've heard about Faust has said to me that he loved me and that I'm now… sleeping beside him." Carousel sighed and slightly laughed to herself. -"What am I thinking… of course he was just being heroic, trying to look impressive in front of that beast." Carousel told herself as she was looking at Faust; she was observing him in his deep sleep. Faust was shirtless and appears to be feeling cold so Carousel grabbed a torn fur blanket and laid it on top of him. Carousel was very wary of their surroundings as she looked at the water creature that was on the container and it doesn't seem to be making any more noises, she then went to lie back at the torn mattress. -"This place… looks safe enough…" She slowly told herself as she was also very tired and soon fell asleep too. She then began having that same dream of hers again…
She was again walking up on a circular staircase made of clouds, and when she got to the top, it started to feel the same thing again; it was cold and misty and it feels harder… and harder for her to breathe again, and suddenly a bizarre fluid like object was floating in front of her and it slowly transformed into a floating mirror-like object… Carousel looked at the mirror-like object while her eyebrows were pulled down… -"These… these dreams again…?" She slowly asked herself in her dream, her eyes narrowed. She waited for the fluid mirror-like object to settle because the transformation that took place was very wobbly… and finally the mirror-like object settled, and Carousel could now see her reflection much better. She looked at the mirror-like object closely, she slightly stretched her neck towards the floating object as her eyes narrowed as she could now see herself clearly, and she then examined her image; her long dark hair in pigtail, her big light hazel eyes, her oval face and pouted lips. Carousel slowly lifted her arm while still looking at her reflection, her clothes and her hand-made boots were a mess, but… her over all look was somewhat fresher than her usual representation, she looked at herself and then looked back again at her reflection, she noticed the difference so she started to wonder; why does she look somewhat different from her reflection? Her eyebrows were pulled down and her eyes narrowed because she was feeling very confused, as she again tried to look at herself and then slowly looking back at her reflection… but this time when she looked back at her reflection, her reflection was smiling at her… even though she wasn't really smiling at all, she immediately had goose bumps upon seeing her reflection, she felt scruples and a certain degree of eeriness, she immediately closed her eyes and started to breathe in heavily, and at last she awoke, Carousel then slowly started to rub her eyes when she knew that she had already awaken from her dream.
-"Ugh…" She quietly said as she was running her fingers through her forehead, her eyes were still at heave. -"That dream again?" She thought to herself as she awoke and she started to have difficulty in breathing again … she slowly looked down to her torso and one of Faust's heavy metallic mechanical arm was hugged around her waist, she looked at it and she slowly tried to lift it away from her, making sure not to wake him up… but, Faust did woke up.
-"Uhm… s…sorry…" He slowly said as he removed his heavy arm from embracing her.
-"No, I'm fine…" She said -"I didn't mean to wake you up; it's just that your arm was too heavy that's why I took it off of me." Carousel said as she was looking very unconvincing and a bit stressed.
Faust turned around to face the other direction… -"Did you sleep well last night?" He asked as he was a bit anxious to hear her reply.
-"Yes, yes I did sleep well." Carousel replied as she still sounded a bit distressed.
-"But… but I thought you weren't…, that's why I hugged you." Faust slowly said feeling unsure about what he had just said.
-"Why…? What makes you think that I wasn't sleeping well? Was I scrambling last night?"
-"No…, not really, but you seemed to be feeling very cold though."
-"Oh, that's probably because I was dreaming of a very cold place."
-"You were dreaming of a very cold place?"
-"Yes…"
-"Don't you mind if I asked…, but... what were you dreaming about last night?"
Carousel sighed -"Well, you see…, since I was a child I… I…. have always been having this dream, where this place was so cold and misty and I kept climbing this very high circular staircase, and there were old Erishans looking at me, their hairs were silver gray and I can't distinguish if they were males or females. All I know is that… they were all looking at me while I kept climbing that circular staircase, and when I got to the top…, that is where my dream usually ends…, but now… it seems to have a continuation."
-"What… is the continuation?"
-"Do you remember about the water creature that I once told you about?"
-"The water creature with a bizarre shape…? The one you saw when you were just a little girl?"
-"Aha…" replied Carousel as she nodded
-"What about it…?"
-"I saw it again in my dream, it was floating on mid air and… and… it slowly transformed into a floating mirror-like object… and when it was finished transforming, I saw my reflection… on it…"
-"You saw your reflection? Now…, that's something I don't usually hear when somebody takes a good look at themselves at the mirror." Faust sarcastically said… -"Well, whose reflection were you expecting to see anyways?" Faust interrupted
-"Wait, let me finish…" Carousel rolled her eyes. -"I saw my reflection but… but…I wasn't really sure if it was me, I mean; I saw my face, my whole body and everything on that floating mirror-like object but it doesn't seem to be me, it just doesn't feel like it was me, it was like I was looking into somebody else's reflection… and my reflection even smiled at me. But I wasn't smiling at all."
-"Really…? My… that's very creepy."
-"I know…"
-"Then what happened next?"
-"I…, I… woke up."
-"Oh… that's it?"
-"Yes…! That's just it." Carousel said, her tone was sturdy
-"Then I think you should go back to sleep again, so you can see what will happen next."
-"It doesn't work like that…" Carousel replied with a bit of annoyance towards Faust. -"When I sleep it doesn't guarantee that my dream will continue at where it had left, sometimes I do have these same old dreams and sometimes I don't, so it just doesn't work like that." Carousel explained… -"And it is only now that my dream began having these continuations… and I don't know why…, I used to just ignore about it… but now…, it feels so odd."
Faust paused for awhile… -"I think that your dream has a meaning, I mean… I think that your dream is trying to tell you something."
-"You're funny…" Carousel quickly said -"I'm not that naïve, I don't believe in superstitious dreams." She said, but her face looked concern… -"Do you really think so…?" She anxiously asked
-"Yes, I do think so…"
-"But… what could it be telling me?"
-"I… don't know, but you said Rachael's father has great skills, maybe he can help you with your bizarre dreams."
-"Heraldin!" She cried -"Oh! But he already told me that he couldn't see my dreams… And speaking of Heraldin, he might be worried about me; because I forgot to call him last night, I better call him now." Carousel said as she looked concerned. -"Faust, may I use your phone." She asked as she was about to pick-up and dials the numbers on the telephone located at the corner table of the room.
-"Sure, but I'm not so sure if the line here is working, because there was again a sturdy earthquake yesterday morning and I figured, that the lines might have been dislodged again… but I don't know, I'm still not sure…you go ahead and try it."
Carousel hanged the phone between her shoulder and cheek, as she dialed the numbers… Moments later… -"You're right" She said -"The line is dead!"
Faust got up and checked the phone… -"Hmm… too bad." he said as he slightly shook his head. -"But why do you even need to call him?"
-"Well, I'm currently living at their shelter right now, so showing him a little bit of courtesy is the least that I could do."
Faust's metallic wrist band then sounded an alarm; he checks what it is about. -"Oh it's Rookie, what now?" He said as 'Rookie' was reminding him of something… -"Oh! I'm late for my training…" he cried as he saw his metallic wrist band flashing an orange light. He then immediately prepared himself for the day's training. -"Carousel, are you coming with me?" Faust asked
-"Of course, what do you think I will do here, let me just fix myself first? She replied as she looked at her clock necklace to look at the time. -"I'm not yet late… but I could use the ride."
-"That's a beautiful clock necklace you have." Said Faust
-"It used to be…" replied Carousel
-"But it's still is beautiful." said Faust as he takes a look at it… -"I remember… we also made a clock necklace for our project before."
-"I know…" said Carousel as she held her clock necklace. -"Emoreh gave this to me."
-"Oh…" was all that Faust could say… he looked somewhat depressed
And then there was a moment of silence… but they soon realized that it was about time to go to the academy so they both hurriedly did what they were supposed to do as they got ready for the day's training.
-"Wait… I think we forgot something…" Faust said as they were about to leave, they were already seated inside his floating vessel.
-"What did we forget?"
-"We forgot… the water creature!" He cried -"I need to show that to Dimitris."
-"And I also need to show it to my trainer." Carousel abruptly said -"Let me get it!" She suggested as she quickly got off the vessel, Faust did not even have the time to answer back because she was too quick to jump off, all he knew was that Carousel was already coming back, fast approaching the vessel with the container held in her arms.
-"That was quick!" Were the only words that came out from Faust's mouth, Carousel then boarded back the floating vessel 'Rookie'.
-"Are you sure the water creature is already inside that container?" He asked -"Because I put it in a different container last night…" added Faust
-"Of course, I took it from there and put it in here… see…" Carousel said as she showed it to Faust
-"You're impressive!" He said… -"So are we ready to go…?"
-"Ready…" She replied
Faust then pushed a series of buttons on the control panel and 'Rookie' started to light up and they were instantly teleported at the Stellar Academy.
-"Are we already at the academy?" Carousel asked looking very unconvinced of where they were… -"Because, this place doesn't look like the academy." She asked as she looked outside the window to witness the surroundings, it was dark, dirty and drops of water can be heard.
-"That's because we are here at the basement of the school…" Faust replied -"Because I don't want 'Rookie' to get exposed to a lot of 'Splitters' when I'm using its teleportation mode. That's why I teleported us here." He added
-"Ah… so you've been here before?"
-"Absolutely, many times…"
-"This looks like a tunnel." Carousel said as she looked around
-"A sewer indeed it is."
-"How did you come to know about this place…? I've also been training here for so long, but I never knew about this place."
-"Well, let's just say, I'm crafty." Faust said -"If you walk straight up there, it will lead you right outside the academy's vicinity… so come, let's go this way, this will lead us straight to the school's vicinity." He said as he led Carousel out of the murky tunnel.
Faust was holding the container with the water creature in it, and as they were walking… Carousel noticed Faust's arms were just as fine as they usually were, as if they were never been damaged.
Carousel and Faust found their way out and were hastily walking when Carousel suddenly heard the water creature making that low drumming sound again…
-"Why…? What's the matter?" Faust asked when he saw Carousel looking slightly bothered.
-"No, nothing… it's just that-that water creature is making that sound again." She said
-"Why can't I hear it…?" Faust asked, his voice sounded frustrated as he held the container on top of his shoulder and leaned his ear towards it to try and listen to the sound, but he didn't hear anything. -"Nope, I still don't hear anything." He said -"But, why can you hear it?"
-"It's probably because of my skill" She explained -"My reflexes are getting better and my senses are getting sharper too" Carousel said
-"Ah, so that explains it…" He said
They were looking for their way to get to Dimitris when they unexpectedly crossed paths with Emoreh and Emery.
-"Carousel, where are you heading?" asked Emoreh upon seeing Carousel.
-"To… Dimitris, did… you happen to see him?" She slowly replied, as she was taken aback by the circumstances.
-"No, I didn't see him" Emoreh said -"How about you Emery, did you happen to see Dimitris?" He asked Emery, Emery whose soft spoken as usual and her eyes always set to the ground slightly shook her head… meaning… she too did not see Dimitris.
-"Why do you need to go see him…?" Emoreh asked as he took a quick glance at Faust.
-"Because we need to show him this…" said Faust as he showed the container to Emoreh and Emery. -"We captured a water creature." He proudly said
-"No, he captured it all by himself…" Carousel abruptly corrected Faust's statement as she clung unto his arms… -"Faust is so skillful… isn't he just the best alchemist there is in this academy…" said Carousel to Emoreh as she gave Faust a sweet smile… Faust then narrowed his eyes… while looking at Carousel.
-"Really?" asked Emoreh as his voice nearly fainted.
Emery's mood suddenly changed and her eyes which were always staring at the ground slowly looked up and stared intensely at the water creature.
-"You manage to capture one?" Emery asked, her lips barely even moved while saying those words and her voice was so soft.
-"Yes…" Faust replied with all smiles
-"Hmm…" She replied… -"Where did you find one?"
-"At Lake Midgar" Faust said -"Carousel was the one who told me about it."
Emery then looked down again…
Carousel was feeling bothered again… -"That water creature hasn't stop making that drumming sound again…" She said… -"It's so irritating…"
Emoreh's eyebrows were pulled down and Faust saw it. -"I know…" Faust said to Emoreh -"I can't hear it either, but Carousel can." He bragged -"Emery… can you hear it too? The drumming sound this water creature is making?" Faust asked, but Emery turned around and walked away…
-"Hey, wait for me!" Emoreh cried as he soon followed Emery.
-"What's her problem?" asked Faust as he was looking a bit annoyed
-"Don't mind her; from the very beginning that I met her… she has always been like that… she doesn't talk much, she doesn't look at our eyes much, her eyes were always stuck to the ground and I don't know why… she even tried to befriend me before but she just doesn't look very friendly, she seems to have the whole world carried upon her shoulders."
-"Poor Emoreh, he certainly has a lot of understanding to do for Emery." Said Carousel -"And, he absolutely got what he deserves…" Carousel concluded
Faust was filled with so much uneasiness… so he just asked… -"What division is Emery being trained at?"
-"I don't know, I don't want to know and I guess nobody really knows, because she's very unapproachable so nobody really knows her that much, except for Emoreh." Carousel blatantly said as she briefly realized that she was somewhat sounded like Rachael's tone of speaking. -"I thought they said that they were to leave 'Midgar City' at once, because of what had happened to Emoreh, but… why are they still here?" Carousel said as her tone was near from being annoyed.
-"Because they were asking for our help…" a voice said at their back and Carousel and Faust immediately turned around to see who it was, who interrupted them…
-"Dimitris…! It's you!" cried Faust
-"Well, who would you thought it would be?" Dimitris said in an annoying nasally sound, as his eyes flicker when he saw Carousel. –"What's your name again?" he asked Carousel looking very friendly and accommodating.
-"Carousel!" she replied
-Dimitris slightly smirked and nodded -"Training in the Impulsy division?" he asked
-"yeah" she replied
-"I knew you were familiar." Said Dimitris
Faust then interrupted their conversation. -"No, it's just that we were looking for you and we are so glad that you're coincidentally here." Faust said with his eyes widened in surprise. -"I wanted you to see this…" He said as he showed to Dimitris the container with the water creature inside it.
Dimitris' eyes widened when he saw the water creature. -"So… you actually captured one?" He asked
-"Yes… we did…"
Dimitris then immediately grabbed the container from Faust and asked them to follow him. Dimitris then led them to a secret area of the academy.
Chapter Ten "Soul Stealer"
-"This is Stellar Academy's research laboratory, where trainees and shamans are not even allowed here… but you two are exempted." Dimitris said as he let them inside the room, he was about to take off the lid of the container to transfer the water creature to a larger container but then the water creature wobbled heavily and Dimitris lost his control of the trembling container and dropped it on the ground. The container broke and the waters inside gushed out. Carousel and Faust couldn't believe what they saw and their jaws involuntarily dropped. They were expecting the worst scenario but to their surprise the water creature seemed to be unharmed, it was now floating on air as if it was still in the waters… the water creature then starts to venture around the research area.
-"Wow, I never thought that it could live in this environment… and look… it's moving as if it is still in the waters, swimming through the air…" Carousel said
-"It's beautiful!" Faust said as the water creature was still floating on mid air.
-"Look, its tear shaped body and transparent rainbow color is much more distinctive and intense now, now that it's out of the waters." Carousel said -"Or, is it because it could be now seen clearly unlike when it was still in the waters which it only seems to blend in…?" Carousel asked
-"Stop chatting around you two and start helping me capture that thing back." Dimitris demanded…
Carousel then rolled her eyes… -"I should have told him to be careful." She said -"That creature is so hard to capture.
Faust and Carousel then immediately went to help Dimitris… but the water creature was moving so quick. They tried capturing it back but the water creature was swimming on air even faster.
-"Oh my, it was hard to capture that creature in the waters, but now, it is even harder for that creature to be captured on mid air." Carousel complained
-"Amazing…! How could it possibly do that? How could it move in the same manner in a different environment…?" asked Faust; he tried everything that he can do to capture it back but with no avail, the water creature was so much faster now than it was before when it was still in the waters.
-"How are you two, suppose to capture it now?" asked Dimitris
-"How are we…? Thanks to you, we have to capture it again." Said Carousel
-"Just make sure that every possible opening in this room is tightly shut, so it won't have any escape route." Said Faust
-"Well, this is the perfect time for both of you to show me that you really did capture that water creature." Dimitris said with a snort.
All Faust and Carousel could do was to shake their heads and roll their eyes…
-"I can't believe this." Carousel mumbled to herself…
They tried capturing it back… and Dimitris was just looking at them, Dimitris then pouted his lips to show his displeasure as he was drumming his fingers on the table. Carousel rolled her eyes again upon seeing him do that, but noticed the drumming sound Dimitris was making with his fingers, her eyes narrowed and she tried to emulate the same drumming sound that she heard from the water creature… with their surprise the water creature stopped wobbling and slowly went to Carousel. Dimitris and Faust were amazed, their eyes widened.
-"What the… How…?" Faust murmured
Carousel then looked at Faust and slightly nodded…
Faust with his eyebrows pulled down… he paused… while looking at Carousel.
Carousel widened her eyes as she was looking at Faust and she looked at a container near him. She was still mimicking the drumming sound.
-"Oh' I get it…" Faust quickly mumbled to himself as he took the container beside him and quickly captured the water creature using it.
-"Gottcha!" said Faust as he closed the lid of the container.
-"Nicely done!" Dimitris cried
-"I thought you'll never get it…" Carousel said to Faust
-"You two made a magnificent job and you both proved me, that you really can capture a water creature!" Dimitris said with a snort, while Carousel and Faust just looked at each other with complete annoyance towards Dimitris. -"Now, take that creature and put that in that container, and don't put any water." He ordered
The three of them were all watching how the water creature swims, without any water in the container. And Faust saw something at the side of his eyes; it was an egg shaped stall that is suspended at the center of the room.
-"What is that? Asked Faust
-"Oh that?" Dimiris replied -"None of your business!" He said
Carousel looked at Faust and sarcastically said… -"Thanks for asking…"
Faust just didn't mind Dimitris' rudeness; instead he just turned his attention back at the water creature.
-"Amazing, how is it possible that it floats on mid air without having any wings and it moves as if it was still in the waters." Faust asked, but no one replied because no one knew the answer.
-"Carousel... how did you make that water creature stopped?" asked Faust
-"I tried to imitate the sound that it was making..."
-"How…?"
-"I don't exactly know how to say this... but, it just came out from me naturally... perhaps my instinct, my talent just kicked in... I didn't expect that it would work but thankfully... it did."
-"Thankfully indeed... it is…"
-"Dimitris" Carousel called
-"Yes…?" he replied with a very nasally voice
-"You said just now that Emoreh and Emery were asking for your help, so I'm assuming that you already know about the beasts that are prowling this world?"
-"Yes, Emoreh told me about it, but he also told me that he didn't actually see that…" as Dimitris's face became relatively unconvinced. -"That beast…?" his eyes narrowed -"And that, you were the only ones who saw it."
-"Yes, we saw those beasts…"
-"Those beasts…? Now, let's not be too hasty in calling them beasts."
-"But they are, and there are two of them, the other one just attacked us yesterday when we were at Lake Midgar trying to capture that water creature." Carousel said with conviction. -"I think we should tell all the Erishans about this, they deserve to know the truth." Said Carousel…
Dimitris' slightly raised his left eyebrow and said… -"You should tell that to Demeon first."
-"Demeon…? ..., the school's possessor?"
-"Yes, and he told me that he also wants to see you because of a certain school competition that he wants to discuss with you."
-"Yes, certainly I would like to see him, but why would he? He has to know about these beasts that are prowling the planet first…? And I don't know where he lives." She replied
-"Just meet me at noon, after your trainings; I will accompany you to his shelter." Dimitris said with a slight grin on his face… as he quickly led them out of the research laboratory… -"Demeon will be the one to explain everything that you need to know…" He added.
Afternoon came, and trainings at 'Stellar Academy' are ceased. Carousel was waiting for Dimitris, when Faust approached her…
-"I want to come with you…" said Faust
-"You don't need to…"
-"But I promised Rachael to bring you home safely and I still haven't done that…"
Carousel slightly shrugged… -"Alright…" she said.
-"Hey!" a voice interrupted, Carousel and Faust immediately turned around to see who it was…
-"Oh it's him." Carousel said upon seeing Dimitris inside his floating vessel, with the glass window on its sides pulled down.
-"Come on, let's go, and hurry up!" Dimitris cried as he was waiting inside his vessel. Carousel and Faust then went with him right away.
-"You're coming too?" Dimitris asked Faust
-"Of course…!" Faust replied
-"But you have no business there…" Dimitris insisted
-"But… Carousel's safety is my business…" replied Faust
-"Why…? Do you think that she will be in danger and that she will not be safe in there?"
-"If… she really is safe there, then you wouldn't mind if I join in, won't you?"
Dimitris was taken aback… -"Of course not…!" Dimitris tried to sound convincing… even if his voice nearly fainted. -"Jump in!" He said as he turned around and rolled his eyes. He then drove them to Demeon's shelter…
-"Is this… where he lives?" Carousel asked upon arriving at Demeon's shelter.
Demeon's shelter is a huge old mansion, with gargoyles and grotesque sculptures on the exterior of the mansion… located just south of 'Midgar City'.
-"Yes…" replied Dimitris… -"Now, hurry and let's get inside quick before the rain starts to pour."
They were all inside the mansion just as the heavy rain starts to pour again…, Carousel and Faust then looked around to observe their surroundings…
-"This is huge…" said Faust, but he was barely heard because the sound of thunders outside is over powering.
-"Is there anyone around?" asked Carousel -"Because I don't see anybody." She said
-"He lives here alone…" said Dimitris
-"Alone?" asked Carousel -"In this huge shelter? Isn't that lonely?"
-"Lonely…? Perhaps… happy is the word I would suggest." Dimitris slowly and strongly replied, as his eyes slowly narrowed. -"Believe me…" He said -"Now, go up there at the main stairs, and turn to your left, the third room from there is the Library… Demeon will be waiting for you there" said Dimitris.
Carousel and Faust then went straight away.
-"Faust…!" Dimitris abruptly called
Faust turned around and asked… -"Why…?"
-"Demeon only needs to see her not you, you come with me to my research area… I have lots of questions to ask you about that water creature you have just captured." Dimitris insisted.
-"Just… do, what he says." Carousel whispered -"I'll be fine, besides this place looks too beautiful for a monster to be hiding in." Carousel said
Faust nodded -"Alright, I'll be just around the corner." he said as he went on to follow Dimitris at his research area…
Carousel then went to the said Library and knocked on the door…
-"Come in…" A voice softly said, and Carousel slowly came in and closed the door, she then saw a shadow sitting at one of the dark corners of the library and she saw eyes that were flickering in the dark. She felt a little bit nervous. -"Dimitris said that you wanted to see me?" asked Carousel as she was very anxious.
-"Yes… yes indeed, I wanted to see you, come closer my child." The voice slowly said… -"I wanted to tell you that there will be a competition at 'Stellar Academy' and I want you to take part of it." He said as he slowly steps into the light, revealing his face to Carousel…
Carousel was taken aback upon seeing Demeon she was not expecting to see such a very charming man. He had dark hair and dark eyes.
-"Is there anything wrong?" asked Demeon as he saw Carousel in complete silence.
-"Are… are… you Demeon?" asked Carousel
-"Yes…" Demeon replied
-"It's so nice to finally meet you sir."
-"The pleasure is mine because one of the best splitters in my academy is here. And she will take part in a competition." replied Demeon with a smile as his eyes glimmer. -"So… Carousel?" he asked
Carousel nodded -"Y…e…s…?" she slowly replied
-"Now, I have finally met you too…"
Carousel abruptly looked down; she felt a bit self-conscious as she slowly asked Demeon… -"What… do I have to do with the competition?"
-"Dimitris told me, that amongst all the splitters in the lower level that are training at the academy, you… stand out as the most improved… most enhanced… splitter that the academy has ever produced. So I want you to take part of it by joining the 'show off' competition, where you will have to show us all of your learned skills. So we will know if you can crack your own natural talents or not."
Carousel tries to clear her throat… -"Di… Dimitris told you that?"
-"Yes…"
-"But… but, he never told me anything about it." Carousel slowly said as she slightly shook her head. -"I don't even see him very often, how could he possibly know about my talents?" Carousel was looking slightly confused
-"Well, you know how Dimitris works sometimes…" Demeon said, as he cautiously took a book from the drawer. -"You'll never know whether he's checking on you, or not. Even if you don't see him around doesn't mean… that he can't see you either."
Carousel glanced at what Demeon was doing, her eyes narrowed.
-"What…? What are you looking at?" asked Demeon
-"No… nothing…" she abruptly replied as she distanced her eyes away from looking at the book. -"As far as I'm concerned, I know that I'm not that skilled yet." she said
Demeon was turning the pages of the book and said… -"Dimitris believed in your skills and so did I, now the only thing that's holding you back is your belief in yourself. You must believe in your talents for you to be able to crack it."
-"But I am already a splitter… I have already cracked my god given talents… and I am just training at your academy to improve and to develop more of my skills, what more is there for me crack…?"
-"A lot more…!"
-"More…?"
Demeon nodded as he was intensely looking at Carousel…
Carousel felt slightly confused… -"But what if I can't crack any more of my God given talents?" she asked as she was tempted to look back at the book that Demeon was turning pages again.
Demeon tried to insinuate Carousel into asking him about his book, so he would know if Carousel would be intrigued about his book… but Carousel did not ask him anything. She felt that it wasn't appropriate to ask him about the book he was holding.
-"Then you can't proceed to the next level, which I believe you're friend Faust has already achieved." were the only replies Demeon gave her…
Carousel tries to clear her throat again; she was feeling a little bit nervous. -"And what if I can?" she unexpectedly said. -"What would be the purpose of all these?"
Demeon's eyes narrowed and he slowly smiled. -"Now… let's not be too hasty in foreseeing our destiny… you can never be too sure… remember, you would still have to show us, that you can crack your God given talents before we can let you proceed through the higher level, but to be honest… I like your confidence." Demeon said as he hid the book that he was holding and he held Carousel on her shoulders and strode her to the center of the library. -"Take a sit…" he said to Carousel as he looked out from the oriel window, it was already dark outside and the usual sound of thunder can be heard, and the weather is chaotic as usual.
Carousel then took a sit from one of the many settees that are in the middle of the library, her eyebrows were pulled down and she asked… -"Didn't we… the splitters of Stellar Academy had already cracked our God given talents, that's why we are now training at your academy? It's one of your prerequisites right? So I don't understand… why would I still need to crack my hidden talents? I have already achieved it, what is there for me to crack?" Carousel asked again feeling very confused. -"All of us who are training at the lower level, aren't we called splitters yet?"
-"Of course, you are all 'splitters'… yes, but each and every one of you has still a special talent to crack?"
-"A… a… special talent to crack?" she unhurriedly asked. -"I… I… still don't get it; you mean to say, there are more talents that are hidden inside me?" she said -"But… how will I know that there are still talents that are hidden inside me, that are left for me to crack?"
-"Only you… can answer that." Demeon said, his tone was very sturdy
Carousel slowly looked down and slightly bit her lower lip. -"I think I better ask Faust about it, at least he knows how to enlighten me and besides he had already proceeded to the higher level of training, meaning; he had previously passed the test." She thought to herself.
-"Has anybody told you how special you are?" Demeon interruptedly asked
Carousel's eyes were moving from left to right, she didn't know what to reply…
-"Because I can surely tell that you are one…!" Demeon concluded -"So… are you ready to take part of our competition?"
-"Sure" Carousel quickly and softly said, she was caught unaware that she had agreed to Demeon's offer, her voice barely faded…
-"Don't worry; I believe that you will not fail."
Carousel just smiled as she slowly looked at Demeon.
-"I just wish that I could live up to your expectations, you seem to have a lot of trust in me." Carousel thought to herself, she then remembered the beasts that attacked them. She wanted to know if Demeon could help them expose the beasts so that the people of Eris will at least be aware of; -"Did Dimitris tell you about the beasts that are prowling across the realm?" she asked
-"Yes… yes, Dimitris has told me about it." Demeon answered as he was stroking his chin, and he gave Carousel a somewhat of a ferocious stare. -"But don't be too quick to judge them as beasts…" said Demeon
-"So… you know about these beasts? When did you come to know about these creatures?" as she shakes her head –"And I can't believe that you are even defending them…" said Carousel as the tone of her voice was sounding a bit angry; her eyes narrowed… -"Why are you not telling the Erishans about this, are you not suppose to be their protector… our protector?" Carousel heavily sighs –"Those beasts!"
-"I told you, let's not be too hasty about calling them beasts." said Demeon in a very calm manner, as he gives Carousel a pat on her back… -"I see… you are upset." He said
-"But… what are they…? They're obviously not 'splitters', specially the one that attacked us at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine'… that beast was so scary, just imagining it gives me chills; it has huge wings and huge ears with pairs of huge pitch black eyes, and its jaws… are just daunting…" Carousel narrated as she was looking very serious. -"I didn't know such creatures have ever existed in this planet… how could… God create such monsters?" asked Carousel
Demeon side glanced at her, and he looked somewhat intrigued. -"Can I ask… what exactly…, were you doing at the Ruins of Goban Shrine? Isn't that a bit too far for you to wonder around? And you think that God is responsible for their creation?"
-"Of course, who else would be responsible?" Carousel strongly said… -"I went there to visit a friend and we were attacked by that horrifying beast, luckily we were quick to get away." as she tried to sound believable.
Demeon heavily sighed and gave Carousel a look that shows that he wasn't convinced by her reply as he slowly looked away from her… -"Why is it that… we, the Erishans, the people of Eris, believes that God is always the one responsible for creating everything that we see, everything that we can't explain and everything that we can't understand, don't you think that we, Erishans, the people of Eris, ourselves are not capable of creating such creatures?"
Carousel's eyes narrowed and she slowly asked… -"Do you know… something about those beasts?"
Demeon smiled as he looked deep into Carousel's eyes. -"You're very smart, but I told you… they are not beasts."
-"Then… what are they? You obviously know something about them."
Demeon joined Carousel in the settees and sat in front of her. -"They are called… 'soul stealers'…" he said as his voice was very sturdy as usual.
-"Soul… stealers…?" Carousel asked as she was looking very curious. -"How do you know about this…? What are soul stealers…?"
-"Soulless creatures… a creature that is capable of stealing someone else's soul…"
-"But how could they possibly steal someone else's soul?"
-"They suck the soul out of someone else's life through their mouths, leaving them crippled and desiccated."
Carousel suddenly remembered the dead Erishan that they saw and come across at the 'Ruin city of Harlow' as she heard those descriptions from Demeon, she paused for a while thinking if it was the right thing to ask and tell Demeon about what she had witnessed at the ruined city, because she was also worried about Heraldin's identity that if she told Demeon about it, then there would be a possibility that Demeon would ask her; why and what was she doing in a realm such as the 'Ruin city of Harlow' because that place is so far away from the 'Ruin city of Midgar' and that she may accidentally lead him into knowing Heraldin's shelter. So she decided not to tell Demeon about the dead Erishan incident.
-"How do you know all about these… soul stealers?" she inquiringly asked
Demeon stared at Carousel for a moment then he slowly and slightly looked up and begins to tell her a story;
-"There is a story that was passed on from generation through generation… the story that tells about the origin of the very first soul stealer."
Carousel attentively listened to every word Demeon said.
-"A few hundred years ago, during the time of the 'Dark Ages'…" as Demeon continued retelling… -"There was a noble aristocrat land lord named, Victor… he had a pet, a large male 'priropterean' bat – but not a relative of the bats that we have today." Demeon clarified
-"A 'priropterean' bat, now believed to be extinct, evolved from primates…, unlike the remaining bats of today that belongs to the order of chiropterans. Although both species have evolved to become a blood sucking creature … 'Priroptereans' evolved from primates; -primates which are also believed as were the first group of animals that we evolved from. Some primates evolved into the first group of prehistoric 'Erishans' and some primates evolved into the first group of 'Priroptereans'… they say that nature will always regulate evolution in a balance… one being the opposite of the other. As a result, some primates evolved having its hands and some turned into wings to take flight…. to become 'priroptereans'…, having the Erishans roaming the ground and Priroptereans soaring the sky. But at some point the war between the two species escalated and the prehistoric Erishans won, pushing the prehistoric Priroptereans into near extinction." … Demeon then paused for awhile… -"Nobody really knew where Victor got his pet; all they knew was that, Victor brought his 'priropterean' pet into his mansion from one of his many voyages… and that was the only information the Erishans around him knew, Victor then wanted to save… and preserve its kind… but… how can he?, if his 'priropterean' pet was the last of its kind." Demeon narrated as he stood up and heavily sighed; he slowly walked back and forth in front of Carousel then continued his revelation… -"Victor became very frustrated by the fact that his pet will forever vanish if he doesn't think of a way for it to be saved from extinction… so he thought of a plan – a plan that involves breeding…, an experiment that is so disgusting to even listen to, …" Demeon said, his voice was very sturdy as he gave an intense look at Carousel.
-"Victor then abducted a dominant Witch, together with her only daughter near their realm. He threatened the daughter that if she tries to escape, the Erishans around them would burn her and her mother because he will inform them their true identities and during that time of the 'Dark Ages'… anyone suspected of being a witch were thrown into the well of fire to burn, even if the Erishans were not yet convicted that they are really witches. Victor told the daughter that he is actually doing her, and her mother - the dominant witch a favor by letting them into his mansion under his protection. And in return he wanted the daughter to do something for him - Victor wanted her to mate with his 'priropterean' pet… and bare an offspring, the daughter was shaken and stunned; and of course became very frenzied upon hearing Victor's conditions… she strongly refused the order… at first, even citing to him that she would rather die than to mate with his pet, but Victor threatened her again, that if she doesn't comply with his orders… then she, and her mother together with their congregation will pay the price – to be burned in the well of fire, and then finally… the daughter agrees… Victor then introduced her to his pet and she was horrified when she first saw the prehistoric 'priropterean', she became very erratic at first but the consequences that were pitted against her were over whelming, she had no choice but to obey! The promises of riches and freedom were the things that the daughter held on for hope… the daughter's mating with the 'priropterean' were assisted by Victor himself, and he would even have physical interaction with the daughter first before she mates with the 'priropterean', to stimulate her arousal before mating with his pet. Victor even made a deception to the daughter, making her believe that he was falling in-love with her… and the daughter believed in him, and she too was falling in-love with Victor, so she tried to please him by praying to her God and asking her powerful mother to help her conceive an offspring. A lot of attempts were made before the daughter finally conceives an offspring in her womb…" Demeon furiously said as he paused for awhile.
-"What…? The daughter of the dominant Witch has conceived an offspring of that priropterean?" Carousel asked, with disgust
-"Yes, her prayers to her God were answered, she and her mother as well as their congregation will now be safe from Victor's wicked indictments… the daughter then finally gave birth to her offspring… which was the most horrendous creature Victor said that he had ever seen, it was like seeing the devil in flesh… but he was still overwhelmed by the fact that his pet was able to pass it's genes and he was satisfied with the outcome. Victor was successful with his sinful plans but worried that the witches knew too much about his evil doings… and that would damage his image as a very noble man. Victor did not keep his promises to the witches and instead he ordered his two helpers to throw the dominant witch and her daughter into the well of fire to burn… and he then killed his two helpers as well… as soon as they finished carrying out his orders,… but before the two witches were burned… they have managed to put a curse on Victor and all the Erishans around them who neglected and mistreated them as witches."
Carousel quickly interrupted… -"Witches are now believed to be the very first group of Erishans who have cracked their own hidden talents; they were believed to be the very first 'splitters' right?" Carousel asked
Demeon nodded and continued his narration… -"The daughter was feeling an extreme hatred in her heart while cursing Victor, she cursed him using her offspring that he who feeds her offspring will bite the hands that feeds it… and will drain the life out of the one that gave life to it… the devil that she had given birth to, will suck on the blood of the Erishans and will consume their souls… that's what her offspring must do - if it wants to continue to live… those were the two witches curses to Victor before they were burned into the well of fire… they were cursing Victor as the flames were consuming their flesh, their bodies."
-"What happened to Victor…? Did the evil offspring kill him…?"
-"Well… I would have to say that-that would be the possible case… yes, and… the Erishans said that before Victor disappeared…, that Victor had suddenly gone mad… telling all the Erishans he met… that the end is near… that the devil was already born, and that it will bring terror to all the people of Eris."
-"H… how… how did you come to know all of these…?" Carousel slowly asked again
-"They said that it was Victor himself who told them about his evil doings that he did…, but nobody really believed him because he had suddenly turned insane, and like you… it was also informed to me by the Erishans before me." Demeon replied, as he sounded very convincing. -"Although, not a lot of Erishans knew about this story, but it's not like – it's a very well guarded secret." He concluded
-"Ah…" Carousel replied, as she was still looking bewildered about the story that Demeon had told her.
-"Did you know that there was a recent victim that is believed to be the doings of a soul stealer?" Demeon interrupted as he asked Carousel, she was then taken aback… then she tries to clear her throat.
-"Really…? No…! I didn't know about it." She abruptly replied
-"The shamans of the academy told me that they found a body that resembles that of a soul stealers victim at the Ruin city of Harlow."
Carousel slowly covered her mouth with her hand… her eyes widened - to look as if it was the first time that she had heard about the report.
Demeon sighed as his eyes narrowed and he doesn't seem to be convinced about Carousel's reaction.
-"What did you do?" Carousel asked
-"I told the shamans to keep their investigation a secret."
-"But… why…? Isn't it much better if the people of Eris would know about those 'soul stealers', at least they would be aware of them - therefore they will have ample time to prepare and protect themselves from those soul stealers…"
-"That will not be the case… because I believe, that if the story comes out… then all of the people of Eris would be living in fear again; they will think that they – the ordinary Erishans will have no chance to stand up and live against those creatures, and that they will envy the 'splitters' because they will also think that the splitters are the only ones who were chosen by their God to have the capability to fight those creatures and the right to continue to live, they will pity themselves for not being a 'splitter', the people of Eris will surely lose hope… and the will to live…. and I don't want that to happen again, especially now, - now that our realm is heading for recovery."
-"They… will live in fear…? Again…? Heading for recovery? Is this about the 'Great War' that had happened more than twenty years ago?"
-"You're absolutely right… it seems that you've studied your history very well." Demeon said, as he convincingly complimented Carousel. -"The Erishans would not want to experience the same trauma that they had suffered during the 'Great War'… believe me Carousel, informing them about those prowling 'soul stealers' is not a good plan right now…" As Demeon drums his fingers… -"But… don't get me wrong, I'm not persuading you into believing something that you really don't… we are all living in this free world… and the choice is yours to make… it's just that when you choose to tell them about these incidents… then be ready to protect them as well. Because clearly, the Erishans will be expecting you to do this for them as well…"
-"But we can't just let them be unaware of this kind of a situation." Carousel's tone was hitting a higher note. -"We should at least show some concern for the people of Eris… we are only a mere hundreds in this city and would you bear to see that someone might get killed again… where is your compassion?"
Demeon heavily sighed as he looked away from Carousel… and stood up and went to look outside again at the oriel window. -"I already lost my compassion… for all the Erishans." he quietly said…
Carousel's eyebrows were pulled down; her eyes were full of questions as she slowly turned to look at Demeon.
-"I tried saving this world, but with no avail…" Demeon said as he swayed the heavy drapes of the window – to have a better view of the turmoil weather outside. And he started to speak in a very serious manner. -"People of Eris tries to conceal their insecurities from one another by praising each other… glorifying each other… but at the back of their minds they are really not… and in the end. It's their extreme jealousy towards one another that they couldn't contain that eventually led them into the 'Great War'… I thought that there was something that I could do to stop the war… but instead, all of them whom I thought who wanted peace in this world were actually the ones who wanted the war… and in my surprise they also wanted me dead…, but I was lucky to get away with it and made it to survive and live…" Demeon slowly said as he looked down and paused for awhile… while trying to reminisce his past.
Carousel was very much intrigued, her eyes flickered. -"Tell me more…" Carousel pleaded
-"It's already very late… I need to rest, and you should probably go home now." Demeon replied as he was giving the impression of being tired.
-"But… I want to know more about your story."
-"Then perhaps you should come and visit me some other time… so I can tell you all about it…" Demeon said, as he accompanied her out of the library, Carousel did not have a choice but to follow him out of the library.
As they were walking through the corridors, Carousel noticed a series of portrait paintings hanging on the walls.
-"Who are those?" she asked Demeon as they were passing by each of the portrait paintings on the wall.
-"Oh these…?" said Demeon as he pointed each one of the portrait paintings… -"This… this one is my father. This is my grandfather, and this is my grandfather's father." he said as he was pointing out at each one of the portrait paintings on the wall. –"And last but not the least… this very charming Erishan man is me…" said Demeon as he was pointing at the last portrait painting on the wall.
-"I see…" Carousel replied
-"Is it alright with you, if I… will be back here tomorrow night…?" Carousel whispered
-"Of course…" Demeon softly said to Carousel as he was looking around to look for Dimitris… -"Dimitris!" Demeon then cried, as he was calling for Dimitris… Dimitris then hurriedly walked out from a room.
-"Is there something wrong Demeon?" Dimitris asked upon hearing his master, and Faust followed right behind him.
-"It's getting late, and it's not safe for them to be walking home by themselves… attend to them until they get home to their shelters." Demeon ordered
-"No, thank you… sir, but we can manage to go home by ourselves." Faust abruptly said
-"But I insist…" Demeon demanded, his voice was sturdy… -"There might be another 'soul stealer' on the prowl that might put an assault on both of you again."
"Soul… stealer…?" Faust softly asked himself…
Carousel's eyebrows were pulled down, and she was looking a bit puzzled. -"How did you know that Faust and I were recently attacked by a 'soul stealer'…?" asked Carousel -"I haven't told you about that yet." She concluded
-"…" Demeon was taken aback -"Dimitris told me about that incident on the telephone… after you told Dimitris you two caught a water creature." he abruptly said –"And just to be sure that you two are safe from that soul stealer you encountered at the Ruins of Goban Shrine." He added
Carousel just smiled with a bit of shyness. –"Uhm… we will just be fine, Goban Shrine is very far from here and that soul stealer might just be around that area, I guess…" replied Carousel feeling unsure about her answer.
Faust then manipulated his metallic wrist band and said… -"Rookie will be here in no time to pick us up."
Carousel was then left to wonder…
-"Who's Rookie?" asked Demeon
-"My vessel" replied Faust
-"But… I thought you said that Rookie couldn't go to places it had never been." Carousel whispered
-"If I use Rookie's teleportation mode… then yes, it wouldn't work. But I am just leading it to go here; I'm actually the one driving it using this device." Faust softly replied as he showed his metallic wrist band to Carousel.
-"But we left your vessel at the underground tunnel… is there a way for Rookie to get out from there…?" whispered Carousel
"Yes…" Faust softly replied… as Demeon and Dimitris were just looking at each other…
Faust's floating vessel then soon arrived and both Carousel and Faust boarded 'Rookie' as they utterly bid for their leave-taking.
-"I'll be back tomorrow night!" Carousel cried
-"I'll be waiting…" Demeon said with a smile
Faust and Carousel then went on through the 'Ruin city of Harlow' so to bring Carousel home safely.
-"Just tell me where to go…" said Faust
-"Okay!" Carousel replied
-"Alright… let's go!"
As 'Rookie' took off and Carousel and Faust were no longer at the premise of the mansion…, Dimitris asked Demeon a question… -"Why did you let her go…? This was your plan… this was the perfect time for you to have consumed her soul…"
-"I know, but I haven't sensed the soul that I saw from her before… maybe she is just not yet well developed for her soul to be consumed. And besides Faust was also here… I told you to get that girl alone but you didn't and it would be risky to tackle them both."
-"But there's nothing I could do, Faust insisted on coming here… and if I objected, he might suspect us of something, and what do you mean? ... Carousel is already a splitter, what more do you actually want from her soul?"
-"Yes, indeed she is a 'splitter' but I believe that she is more than a splitter, she can still discover some of her hidden talents… I have witnessed it already with my own eyes and for her to become a higher… never mind." Demeon jolted -"By then I can steal her soul, the more powerful the soul that I consume, the more powerful I will become." Demeon concluded.
-"Do you really think that she is more than a 'splitter'? Because I can tell that she couldn't possibly be a 'soul stealer' like us." Dimitris strongly pointed out… -"But…, could she possibly be a soul…"
-"Trust me… she is…" Demeon quickly interrupted… -"I told you before that I have already seen a soul that came out from her body and seeing it even startled me… that is the soul that I want to steal, but not tonight… because I just can't perceive that soul that I have seen in her from before."
-"But how can her soul go out from her body if she isn't dead yet?"
-"I was also wondering about that same question of yours… maybe because I frightened her that's why her soul was able to go out from her body to avoid being consumed by me, or perhaps she needs to be reawakened, and that's why there should be a competition in the academy for her to compete with, so to trigger and bring back her hidden talents… I mean her hidden soul again." Said Demeon as he smiled… "So, my so called competition plan has worked… my excuse has a use after all…" as he slightly laughed…
… Dimitris grinned… "Hmm… you almost got caught, how did you know about…? I haven't told you about the…"
-"Conscience told me…" Demeon quickly interrupted -"It was the right thing for them to have escaped Conscience… because if not, then there wouldn't have been a chance for me to have consumed her soul." Demeon said, as he slowly looked up to the very high dome ceiling of the mansion, and in the darkness of the high ceiling was a silhouette of Conscience who was silently dangling on one of the gigantic hanging chandeliers.
-"Leave that girl to me." Demeon ordered, and a heavy sighed was heard from Conscience's reply.
-"But… what if she figures out that we are in fact the 'soul stealers' that are prowling this planet?" Conscience asked in a very deep voice…
-"She won't, I'll gain her trust… she won't have a clue and the only time that she will know about this… is when the time that I will consume her soul." Demeon said with a grin. Dimitris and Conscience were just furiously composing themselves because they knew that they have no right to consume Carousel's soul… because Demeon was their master… and he must be obeyed.
Chapter Eleven "Soul Seeker"
Meanwhile, Faust and Carousel were having a conversation in the floating vessel during their flight going through the 'Ruin city of Harlow'.
-"What…? … Demeon told you that you could still crack some of your hidden talents? I don't get it, what more is there to crack?" asked Faust
-"I don't get it either… that's why I am asking you about this because Demeon told me that you are already training at a higher level than us. So I figured that you might help me on how get to a higher level too… but… what exactly did you do to have proceeded to the higher level?"
-"Nothing…! I mean, just like you, who were able to crack or discover your own hidden talents, I was also able to discover mine… and that's it. The only reason that I am training at a higher level is because I am already a senior, meaning I have been training at the academy for a much longer period of time than you do."
-"But why would Demeon tell me something that would imply that I still need to discover a hidden talent of mine? When… all it takes to get to a higher level is simply to stay and train at the academy for a longer period of time?"
-"Don't worry about it, maybe that's just exactly what he meant; maybe he wasn't good at explaining…"
-"He asked me to take part of the academy's competition; he said that if I don't pass the test then I can't advance to the higher level."
-"He said that?" asked Faust, his eyebrows were pulled down
-"Yes…"
-"Aghhh… I… I… don't get it… either, I don't know what to say…" Faust slowly said as his eyes flicker.
-"And Demeon also told me about what he knew about the 'soul stealers' that are prowling our realm."
-"Soul… stealers…? And yes…, what about them? What are soul stealers?"
-"The one that attacked us at Lake Midgar"
-"So… that was a soul stealer?"
-"Yes…"
-"How about the beast, that attacked the three of you at the Ruins of Goban Shrine? You said that it looked different from the one that attacked us at Lake Midgar."
-"Yes, that was also a soul stealer."
-"So… What about them? What did Demeon tell you?"
Carousel then told everything to Faust, everything that Demeon had told her.
-"So that's what he told you?" asked Faust as soon as Carousel had finished telling him the whole story.
-"That's what he told me…" replied Carousel
-"Do you believe in everything that he had told you?" asked Faust
-"I want to… but I mean… he sounded believable so I do believe him, why? Don't you?" asked Carousel
-"I don't know… I'm not quite sure." Faust replied, his lips were pressed in a thin line… -"There's just something about him that I find him hard to trust." He concluded
-"And you know what…? When we were walking out from his library I noticed a lot of portrait paintings hanging on the walls and Demeon told me that those were the portrait paintings of his ancestors, his father, his grandfather, etc. but they all look the same. To me it looked like those entire portrait paintings were Demeon's face with different hair styles and clothings, of course because it was in a different time and era." Said Carousel
-"Hmm… really…? Then there must be something Demeon is hiding, knowing that he is just a common Erishan might not be true after all." replied Faust as he was looking very concern for Carousel.
-"Why look at me like that?" asked Carousel
-"I'm worried; I'm really worried about you. That soul stealer we encountered at Lake Midgar said its master wants you. And I won't let that happen, I will protect you no matter what, even if it takes me forever protecting you."
Carousel's eyes begin to look teary upon hearing those words from Faust and as she remembers Faust saying how much he loves her when he was confronting Conscience at Lake Midgar. Carousel was lost for words she did not know what to reply, she just smiled at Faust.
-"Oh… look, were almost there…" Carousel gladly said, as she was very happy to see Heraldin's shelter again.
-"Where…?"
-"There…" she said as she pointed a cave house on a mount like shelter…
Carousel then knocked at the front door as soon as they descended at Heraldin's shelter. And it was Heraldin who opened the door for them. Heraldin's eyes widened when he saw Carousel…
-"I'm glad you're alright… I was worried when you didn't come home last night…" Heraldin said
-"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to call you… the lines were dead." said Carousel
-"That's alright, at least you're safe and that's all that matters now…" Heraldin said as he looked at Faust… -"Who's your friend?" he asked Carousel
-"His name is Faust… he's an alchemist at the academy."
-"Ah… come… come inside…" Heraldin said as he let them inside his shelter.
-"I'm glad to meet you sir, you must be Heraldin…?" asked Faust as he shook his hands.
-"Yes, I am… but, the pleasure is mine… finally I got to meet the best alchemist at Stellar Academy."
Faust smiled and said… -"So that's what Carousel had been telling you?" as he slightly felt embarrassed but humbled.
-"No, I haven't told Heraldin anything about you." Carousel abruptly said
Faust eyebrows were pulled down and he seemed to be really embarrassed and confused… -"But… how…?" asked Faust as he now feels more embarrassed.
-"Heraldin has a 'mind-reading' ability… a-telepathy…" Carousel explained
-"Ah…" Faust replied, as he was now suddenly looking around to avoid eye contact with Heraldin…
-"This place is … awesome!" cried Faust
Carousel and Heraldin then looked around the shelter and their eyes slowly narrowed because they couldn't find anything breathtaking in the area that seems to amaze Faust. All that they could see are old furniture and cracked walls. Carousel was looking at Heraldin as she slightly shook her head and slightly rolled her eyes.
-"Where's Rachael…?" Carousel eagerly asked
-"I… I… haven't… " Heraldin was trying to say something, when all of a sudden Rachael came out from the corridor and started welcoming Carousel.
-"You came back…! Where have you been…? We've been so worried about you." Rachael said as she hugged Carousel tightly. -"You know what… the other day when you and Faust went to capture a water creature at Lake Midgar… Demeon… the school's possessor asked me to tell you that he wants us to visit him at his mansion to discuss the upcoming competition that the academy is planning to put up."
-"I know… that's where Faust and I took off."
-"Oh, so you already met him?"
-"Yes…"
Heraldin's eyes narrowed when he saw Rachael…
-"Where have you been…? I've been looking all over for you." Heraldin asked
-"I was just at the basement, at your underground shelter." Rachael replied
Heraldin's eyes blinked rapidly as he looked away from them. -"I was at the basement just moments ago… why haven't I seen her there?" Heraldin asked himself… feeling a bit confused.
-"Heraldin…" Carousel said, as she called for him and held Rachael's hands firmly… -"I have something to tell you, and to Rachael…" she said
-"What is it?" Heraldin replied as he read Carousel's thoughts…
Carousel then told everything to them about what had happened to her and Faust at 'Lake Midgar' and she also told them about the things that Demeon had told her in his manor…
-"Is that so…?" Heraldin said as he whispered something to Carousel… -"Carousel come with me, I have something to show you… oh but wait… " As Heraldin hesitated… -"I can see you guys are tired and hungry… I guess I should prepare something for the two of you to eat first."
-"No, we're fine." Carousel abruptly said… -"Come on, let's go… I'm curious…"
Heraldin looked at Carousel… -"I can see that you need to take a break, so relax… that thing that I want to show you… can wait." Said Heraldin
-"Okay…" replied Carousel
During their dinner, Carousel quickly finished her meal because she was very curious to see what Heraldin wanted her to see.
-"Are you done? You barely ate your meal." Said Heraldin to Carousel -"Faust… could you please pass me those…." Heraldin said to Faust
Faust did pass the bowl of some kind of a gelatinous food to Heraldin but he did not look at him in the eyes. -"Yeah, why rush your meal? Is there something very important that you need to do? Here, eat some more." Faust said, as he transferred some more food to Carousel's plate.
-"That's… that's enough Faust." Carousel pleaded
Heraldin noticed that Faust was acting a bit immature and he never even looked at him in the eyes ever since they got to his shelter, so Heraldin began to worry… he wanted to look at Faust's eyes to see if he was hiding something from them. But every time Heraldin tries to look into Faust's eyes and ask him something – Faust immediately looks down to avoid eye contact with Heraldin.
-"Carousel… Faust is right, why rush your meal? Is this because of what I've told you?" Heraldin asked…, his tone was like… he was insinuating something.
Faust then pulled his eyebrows down, he was looking a bit annoyed, he wanted to look at Heraldin but he didn't, he just sighed heavily.
-"Carousel, don't get too excited… it's not like I'm going to give you a gift or something." Said Heraldin as he tries to insinuate that he has fondness for Carousel…
-"Considering our situation right now… this is not a good time for gifts!" Faust interrupted with a very sturdy tone… -"And you're too old for her…! I mean for that kind of manner!" Faust said to Heraldin as he finally looked into his eyes. Faust's voice was shaking as he tries to clear his throat.
-"What…?" Was Carousel could only say…
Heraldin finally had the chance to read Faust's mind and he finally understood why he was avoiding eye contact with him. Heraldin's eyes slowly narrowed as he was looking at Faust – Faust on the other hand… quickly turned to look away when he realizes that Heraldin was reading his thoughts. Heraldin then looked at Carousel and smiled at her.
-"Why are you smiling at me like that?" asked Carousel as she was clueless of the whole situation.
-"Nothing…" replied Heraldin as his tone hit a higher note. -"So… Faust has a special liking and feelings for Carousel." Heraldin then thought to himself…
-"Yeah, why are you smiling at her…?" Faust then asked Heraldin, as his face was turning red. Faust was thinking if he had done the right thing asking Heraldin about why he is smiling, or maybe because he was just so uptight about the whole conversation.
-"Do you want me to tell her?" Heraldin asked Faust… Heraldin's face seems to be teasing him. -"Do you really want me to tell her? Why I am smiling?" He again asked Faust in a teasing manner.
-"Yes…!" Faust quickly replied -"I mean… no, yes… no!" He again said -"I mean… What am I saying…" said Faust as he whacked his forehead -"I'm sure that-that was just a friendly gesture right…? Right…?" He asked, as he looked into Heraldin's eyes and he widened his eyes to insinuate Heraldin to agree with his statement.
-"Of course…" Heraldin then quickly replied -"You silly young man…" said Heraldin to Faust -"My actions are nothing more than just a friendly gesture to Carousel, because she is the only best friend that my daughter has." Said Heraldin as he both gave Carousel and Faust… an alternate intent look.
Carousel then slowly looked down because she finally knew what the whole conversation was all about. But maintains that she knows nothing about it because she doesn't know if it was the right time to entertain such thoughts, and besides she still have some feelings for Emoreh.
And then for a moment there was complete silence in the area, all they could hear is the drumming sound that Rachael is making on the table.
Heraldin sensed an awkwardness of the situation, he felt accountable for the uneasiness of the place, and he wanted to break up the silence so to make up for his fault, he requested Carousel and Faust to follow him because he had something to show to them.
-"At last… finally I get see what it is!" Carousel cried, sounding very perky. Rachael then glanced at her looking totally not convinced about her lively reaction, as she pulled her eyebrows down.
-"You want me… to come too?" asked Faust
-"Yes, of course." replied Heraldin -"You wouldn't want to miss seeing such an awesome place right?"
-"Well… right…" Faust slowly replied as he scratches his head, and he looked somewhat embarrassed again.
They all went down to the basement, which Heraldin calls his lower shelter.
-"Wow… now, this place is really… amazing." Cried Faust upon seeing the lower part of Heraldin's shelters which was very technologically designed -"This place looks entirely different from the one above… how… did you build this… shelter?" He asked as he was examining the whole area -"Because from the looks of this place – this whole place looks like an entirely different shelter."
-"But it is." Heraldin said
-"Ah…" said Faust as he nodded
-"I didn't build this… this is actually a huge combat vessel which crashed here during the Great War." said Heraldin -"Well, not actually during…" Heraldin quickly corrected himself… -"But… this huge combat vessel actually crashed here a few months before the actual war happened and since it crashed here… then I might as well make this huge combat vessel my own shelter."
-"You mean to say that this whole place was a huge vessel used during the Great War? Really…?" asked Faust as he stretched his arms.
-"Yes…"
-"Well… can this thing still fly?"
-"I'm not sure, but I did try flying it but somehow it didn't work." Heraldin replied as he continued walking, while the three of them followed.
-"I could help you fix this… if you want?" said Faust as he gave Heraldin a warm offer.
-"Why, thank you… I would be glad if you would help me to." Heraldin replied as he was surprised by Faust's sudden courtesy.
-"When would you want me to help you…?"
-"You can drop by anytime you want."
-"Okay, I will…" Faust nodded -"And you know what…? I don't get it and I don't know why they even called it the 'Great War' what's so great about it?" Faust asked
-"Maybe because that war almost wiped out the entire Erishan race that it was considered the greatest!" said Rachael interrupting their conversation… -"There's absolutely no recorded war in history that could top that!" she concluded -"And now that – that war is finally over… there are 'Soul Stealers' that are now prowling the whole world… and we will be all wiped out in no time." Rachael continued saying -"Unless we can do something that would annihilate those 'soul stealers' first."
Heraldin quickly pulled his eyebrows up to show how opinionated Rachael was. And then he stopped… -"Here we are…" he slowly said as he opened a two-door, entrance. Inside it… is a huge area where there are lots and lots of shelves on the walls and glass– like containers were placed inside them. There were so many that it was impossible to count, the containers and the shelves would go up to the very high semi-dome ceiling of the room. Inside each of the glass–like containers, is a single speck of light with a different color from the other speck of lights that are floating inside each of the glass-like containers. Each container contains a single speck of light in it that eluminates the whole area.
-"What are those?" asked Carousel as she was looking very mystified.
Heraldin's eyes slowly widened, he was amused by Carousel's reaction. -"You can… see them…?" He slowly asked
-"What do you mean them…? You mean those specks of lights that are placed inside those containers…?" Carousel asked -"Yes, I can see them…" She mumbled her words as she widened her eyes; she thought that – who? On planet Eris wouldn't actually see those specks of lights.
-"Those specks of lights are… souls…" replied Heraldin
-"S… s… souls…?" Carousel slowly asked
-"Yes... those specks of lights that you see inside those containers are souls."
-"What are you guys talking about…? What souls? What lights? It's so dark in here, I can't see anything and I don't see any lights… unless someone would be kind enough to turn on the lights." Faust cried -"Then that would be nice." He added
-"Don't mind him." Rachael said to Carousel
-"Are you pertaining to me?" asked Faust… but there was no reply from Rachael.
-"You can see them too?" Carousel asked Rachael
-"Yes…"
-"But… Faust… couldn't? Why?"
-"It means… that he is not a 'Soul Seeker' like us." Heraldin replied as they all walk through the isle of the room, Faust couldn't see where they were heading, his hands were grasping for something to hold on to, so Carousel grabbed and tightly held his hand to guide him on their way.
-"Whose holding my hand?" asked Faust
-"Me…" replied Carousel
Faust was taken aback as he slightly smiled.
-"Us…? Soul Seekers…?" asked Carousel, she was looking somewhat anxious about the whole situation…
-"Yes… only 'soul seekers' like us can see these tiny specks of lights… and since you can also see the tiny specks of lights that are inside those containers, then that means you are not just someone who had cracked his or her hidden skills and became a 'splitter' but you are in fact a 'soul seeker' … a soul seeker is someone that is so rare in this planet, soul seekers like us rarely appears because one must be able to see a soul for him or her to be called a 'soul seeker' and not only that, but… a 'soul seeker' must also have a purpose for the souls that he or she can see… and probably this is what Demeon had seen in you, that's why he was suggesting you that you could still discover some of your hidden talents… but how did he come to know about this?" Asked Heraldin as he looked into Carousel's eyes to figure out who Demeon really is… and by doing so, Heraldin channeled into Carousel's mind… into her thoughts and finally Heraldin did see who Demeon was, inside Carousel's mind but he can't channel into Demeon's thoughts. -"I can't read his thoughts…" said Heraldin
-"Whose thoughts…?" asked Carousel in an anxious manner… she did not notice that Heraldin had actually channeled into her mind.
-"Your school's possessor… Demeon's, I can't read his thoughts… I tried channeling through your mind to get to him but… I didn't get any readings about him…, maybe I must see him for myself and look into his eyes personally… for my powers to work on him. Because I sensed that he seems to be a powerful being too, and maybe that's why my telepathy skill didn't work on him just by channeling into yours." Said Heraldin to Carousel…
-"I knew there was something he was hiding from us." Said Faust, as he was trying to look at one of them but he just couldn't focus to because he couldn't see anything. –"The moment I first saw him I knew there was something about Demeon that he shouldn't be trusted." Faust concluded… -"But guys…? It's still very dark in here…, don't any of you guys' want to turn on the lights?" Faust interrupted
-"No, because we can clearly see our surroundings…" Said Rachael
-"I thought Demeon was just an ordinary Erishan…" Carousel thought to herself…
-"Are those actually the souls of dead Erishans?" Carousel asked again, as she was still looking very mystified.
-"I told you… yes… those specks of lights you see, are actually the souls of dead Erishans." Said Heraldin
-"But how did they all get in there…?" asked Carousel as she was wondering…, "Why are all those souls… inside those glass-like containers?"
-"I captured them… and put them all in there."
-"What…? You captured them?" Carousel cried -"How? And why did you capture those souls and manage to put them in a glass container? I thought souls couldn't be contained because they would just pass through anything."
-"It's really quite easy to capture a soul if… if you could actually see one that is, and not everyone has the power to see a soul, and no! Souls cannot get pass through anything… they actually get stuck to a place where it is enclosed and abandoned. And once they get stuck… they get stuck there forever, unless a 'soul seeker' like us could help set them free."
-"But you didn't set them free."
-"I know, but actually… these souls that you see are the souls of the Erishans whom I have promised to bring their souls to a peaceful place."
-"And this… this is that place?" Carousel teasingly and sarcastically asked
-"No, no…! I'm… I'm still searching for that place."
-"Then, where do you plan on taking these souls…?"
-"Well… you didn't seem to have read my book, I wrote everything in there." Said Heraldin
Carousel's eyes then narrowed as she slowly remembered that it was Heraldin's own 'Book of Life' which he was talking about and that she fell asleep while reading it. -"I did read your book… but it's just that I… I… haven't read that part yet." as she tries to clear her voice… -"So how do you know that these are actually souls?" She continued asking
-"Because when an Erishan dies… a speck of light floats out from his or her mouth and I just figured that – that might be the soul of that dead Erishan." Heraldin explained
-"So, you're not totally sure...?"
-"No, that's not quite the answer that I'm leaning to… because I… myself have experienced death, but… as you can see…" As Heraldin vaguely opened his arms… -"I was able to come back to my body… believe it or not." Heraldin said as he shrugged his shoulders… -"I actually experienced becoming a soul. Where everything I see is light and the feeling was so light. And I guess that explains why our soul appears to be somewhat a speck of light."
-"You experienced death? What was it like? Dying…?" Faust interrupted as he was still blinded by the darkness and couldn't see the specks of light inside the containers.
Heraldin's eyes narrowed as he tries to recall his experience. -"During that time, when I first died…"
-"Wait, when you first died?" Faust interrupted again as he was looking very baffled. -"You mean to say… there's a second…? A… third…?" Faust concluded
-"Yes, yes, yes…" Heraldin abruptly answered -"I'll tell you about those later, but now let me tell you about my first… because that was the most remarkable." As Heraldin continued with his story… -"I felt an extreme pain that I can't even describe… it felt like my whole body was being crushed and I couldn't breathe… the pains were so intense, that my body was reacting to the pains differently, having the opposite reaction… I felt extremely cold, but my body was sweating… and then I felt extremely hot, but my body was shivering. The feeling just keeps repeating itself, it's an alternate feeling of the opposite reaction; it was such a torture… not only because of the intense pain that I was feeling but also the awareness of knowing that I was actually going to die. I could literally feel my veins shriveling, my chest… feels like it's about to explode and I couldn't scream because my body doesn't know how to react anymore, maybe because of the different kinds of pain that I was feeling… that it would be better if I just kept quiet… for nothing could ease the pain." Heraldin narrated as he heavily sighed before he continued saying… -"I was feeling an extreme pain but then suddenly I couldn't feel anything anymore… my whole body just suddenly turned numb. And then soon after, the extreme pain… faded away, and suddenly the feeling of extreme bliss was then the feeling that I was soon experiencing, I felt very much relax… I felt like sleeping but it was so much more intense than that. I was being drawn into that very soothing feeling that I wouldn't want to get out from. I wanted that feeling… I wanted my feelings to stay that way forever… my state of mind was absolutely wonderful, I didn't remember anything… I didn't even remember who I was… but it was okay because I felt like I didn't need to… the feeling of extreme bliss was too powerful for me to even try to think of whom I was, or to even try to think of something." Heraldin paused as he reminisces those thoughts.
-"How…? How did you get out from that state…? How did you come back to life?" asked Faust
-"I heard a voice…" Heraldin softly replied… "I heard a voice… telling me to go back to my body… the voice told me that my body was already been healed and that it was ready for me to go back again… and I said… I didn't want to go back, but the voice reminded me something… it spoke to me, telling me that it can see the character of my soul, my soul which shows that I have made a promise that I haven't yet fulfilled… an unfinished goal, it seems like that voice knew something about me which I didn't need to tell it, - it was a promise that I soon realized, a promise that I made to my Erishans. And that's the time when I knew that I was actually dead and that I was already in my spirit form."
-"Perhaps your soul had shown something… something that – that voice recognized who you were?" asked Carousel
-"Maybe… but I don't know…" Heraldin abruptly replied. -"I didn't get the chance to see what my spirit looks like; all I knew was that I was floating, and everywhere I look, these bright lights were blinding my sight."
-"Maybe that explains why… these souls have different colors." Carousel explained as she again looks at the specks of lights that are inside those glass-like containers.
-"Hmm… maybe… you're probably right." Replied Heraldin -"Maybe their color does represent their character… If only I have seen the color of my soul, then I would have probably known by now, who amongst those souls have had an unfinished purpose like me."
-"But it's not just the color that these souls differ; their shapes also vary in different sizes. Some are smaller than the other." Said Rachael
-"Maybe the bigger and larger ones are that of the 'splitters'. Said Carousel -"And the smaller ones are that of the ordinary Erishan's."
Heraldin smiled and softly said… -"That's right… the bigger and the brighter ones are the souls of a 'splitter' and the smaller ones and are a little bit dimmer are the souls of the ordinary Erishan's."
-"How did you know?" asked Faust, even though he cannot see the things that they were talking about.
-"These are actually the souls of my Erishans… my Erishans who cared for me and wanted my protection. And when they died during the 'Great War' I saw their souls came out from their mouths when they died, that's why I know the difference." Replied Heraldin
-"You mean, these are all the souls of your Erishan people who died more than twenty years ago…?" asked Carousel
-"Not all of them, but all of those souls are the souls of my Erishans from the past and up to the present… some of them died of natural causes… some of them died of sickness… some of them died from being murdered but most of them died during the Great War…"
-"Guys… even though I can't see the things that you three are able to see doesn't mean that I don't mind giving my own opinion about those 'souls' that you are seeing." As Faust interrupted and quotes… -"But how exactly do you know that we actually have a soul? I mean… I would want to believe that I do have a soul… but, do all of us really have a soul? Or we just have to believe that we have a soul…? And then suddenly we have one?"
-"No, a soul… is the very vessel of our lives; it is what we have become, it is what we need to proceed to our higher purpose, it is what we have invested upon… like uhm... the floating vessel that I have… I mean, that we both have." Heraldin explained to Faust as he can see Faust's eyebrows were suddenly pulled down. -"You see, we both own a floating vessel… right?" asked Heraldin
-"…Yeah…?" as Faust's tone sounded uncertain
-"In my part; I wanted to go to, faraway places that I've never been to…, places that I so badly wanted to go to…, and that… is why I did everything that it took for me to get myself a floating vessel. So if I didn't have a vessel... then, I should have not gotten to places that I have been longing to go to. Just like a soul, if you don't have one… then there's no possible way for you to proceed to your higher purpose… meaning you don't want any purpose to be laid down upon you… because our soul is our vessel… without it there's just nowhere else to go."
-"But… how can we possibly have a soul?" asked Faust -"Do we create it?"
-"Yes… But first, you must have a vision… a purpose for yourself." Said Heraldin and he paused for a while… -"Then… you must have the determination and the will to have a soul. Because it's like…, there's absolutely no use of having a vessel, if you don't know how to use it…" As Heraldin pointed out each of his finger as he continued with his outlook in life. -"If you don't want to go anywhere… or if you absolutely have no idea what to do with it, then there's absolutely… and I mean absolutely no use of having a vessel."
Faust nodded and slightly felt contented with Heraldin's answers and he asked again… -"How were you able to get back to your body?"
-"The voice led me to my body… I wouldn't have found it… if it wasn't for that voice. I followed it… and then there it was, I saw my lifeless body lying on the ground, my wounds was gone and my body was perfectly healed, it was the very first time that I have seen myself… personally. And the feeling is very much different from just looking at myself at the mirror… from the feeling that I could actually see the true structure of my face, because when I am looking at myself at the mirror… the mirror is just reflecting my image and it's not even reflecting the right angle." … -"And then by instinct, I went inside my mouth… maybe because that is where… where I have left my body."
-"Then… you came back to life?"
-"Yes, that was the time that I came back to life…"
-"How did you die…?" Did someone kill you? Does the voice that led you to your body had a face?" asked Carousel
-"There are too many questions to answer, I think you should just read my 'Book of Life' again, so you can find my answers to your questions on that book, I wrote it all in there… and besides you… are not just a 'splitter' you are a 'soul seeker' and when the proper time comes… you will be needing to start writing your own 'book of life', and I hope that by letting you read my book of life… that I can help you on how to make your own… book of life."
-"Why do I need to create my own book of life…? Do every single 'soul seeker' needs to have one?"
-"Not really, but it would be necessary… so I suggest that you should make one for yourself, or make two or more… if you want, depending on how many important memories you would want to write on your book… because I'm telling you right now, that you would be needing it." Said Heraldin as he was giving Carousel an essential advice… -"Soul Seekers like us are the only ones who can come back to life, I know all these because I have experienced death so many times, although I'm not sure how many… but I was able to comeback every single time, and every time I came back to life… there's nothing much that I can remember, and that is why I needed a 'book of life' to refresh my memories. Nobody actually told me to write one because there's actually no one that I knew of before, whom who had experienced death like I did… so I guess that my instinct just kicked in… and luckily I managed to write one before my first death, because I was fond of writing, a what you call now as a diary… long before I first died. You need to write down all the important memories that you would want to remember… that is, if… you want to remember any… because if you don't want to remember anything and you just want to start a fresh life without any memories of your past life… then there's no need to make one." As Heraldin pointed out while looking at Carousel -"And I can see it in your eyes… you are probably wondering if we are in-fact immortals…? Right…? Then the answer to that is no! We are not immortals." As Heraldin explained… -"But we are, if you look at it statistically… because we could always come back to life and our bodies will be automatically healed no matter how bad our body's condition is… once our souls entered our bodies. Meaning, we could live for no matter how long we want to, but the fact is that, we could also die, if we get tired of living and have no more desire to come back, then we'll get drawn to the extreme bliss that we can't fight it anymore."
-"How about those Soul Stealers…? Are they like us too?" asked Carousel
-"If they could see souls… then I believe so, because if Demeon told you that 'soul stealers' steals the souls of Erishans by sucking it through their mouths… then, they can probably see souls too. The only difference is that, we… 'Soul Seekers' seeks souls to protect and for us to be of any assistance to them when they get trapped."
-"But Heraldin… why did you entrapped all those souls in a glass container…?" Carousel abruptly pointed out.
-"Because like what I have said, I have made a promise to these Erishans that I will guide them to a better place, to a much more peaceful place than what we have here on this planet… that is my promise to them… and very much my purpose for becoming a 'soul seeker'." Replied Heraldin
-"Then I must have a purpose for them too? A purpose for the souls that I can see…?"
-"Of course, that's the main reason for becoming a 'soul seeker' because once you are able to see a soul then there must be a reason why you can actually see one, and that's your goal to figure out why can you actually see them…, unless you have other plans…? But I suppose you won't go consuming those souls like those soul stealers do."
-"Father, what are saying… of course Carousel would never do such a thing…!" Rachael abruptly defended Carousel as she slightly shook her head.
-"I know… I only meant that as a joke." Heraldin said, while he looked deep into Carousel's mind… -"She is obviously going to become a soul seeker not a soul stealer… right…? Carousel…?"
-"Y… you… mean to say, I have a choice…? But of course." Carousel abruptly replied… -"Why wouldn't I be? I wouldn't want ending up sucking every Erishan's soul… and I definitely don't want looking like those soul stealers, they look hideous."
-"Guys… can somebody please lead me out of this place, my eyes hurts already… it's been so long since I'm not seeing anything." Said Faust as he was trying to feel the walls of the room but instead he touched one of the containers containing a soul.
-"Hey…! Be careful with that, you might drop that…!" Heraldin quickly reminded him… -"Rachael… could you please show him the way out of here…" Heradin asked for Rachael's assistance.
-"Sure" she replied while her lips twitched
-"Yes" cried Faust -"Let's get out of here…" he said but he didn't want to let go of Carousel's hand.
Rachael then guided Faust out of the room.
-"Where were we…?" Heraldin slowly asked as Rachael and Faust left the room. -"Ah… I wouldn't want you to end up like those perpetrators… they were tempted to consume souls, souls of Erishans that is why they probably ended up looking like those hideous beasts." Heraldin said
Carousel was shaken, her eyes narrowed as she exhaled -"Tell me what you know about 'soul stealers' asked Carousel
-"To tell you the truth… this is actually the first time; I have come across the term – 'soul stealer' if it wasn't for you school's possessor – Demeon… I wouldn't have known what they were called. But anyway, I will tell you something… a story that makes me believe in my assumption that those 'soul stealers' were once 'soul seekers'…" Heraldin said as he began to narrate his story. -"Before the 'Great War' happened, some twenty years ago… I used to have a friend… a very close friend, more of like a partner I would say; his name was 'Isoah' he was a 'soul seeker' just like me… our friendship goes way long before the dark ages… about a few hundred years ago… and just like me, he too had a purpose for the souls that he sees… he told me that he wanted the people of Eris to be enlightened about the souls that the Erishans have, he wanted all the Erishans to be aware of the importance of having a soul. Isoah wanted the living people of Eris or Erishans and together with all the wandering souls that are scattered all around the world…, to live alongside with each other… even if ordinary Erishans couldn't see them; he wanted that every household must have a small enclosed shrine for their dead ancestors' souls to live in. He wanted that all existing and none existing matters should live in harmony. Those were his own purpose that he had laid upon himself for the souls that he sees… Isoah was a very good man… a great man actually, until there was a time where he started acting strangely… right after the Great War, and then suddenly I saw some bizarre transformation slowly happening to his physical body; his fair skin were turning into a grayish color and his eyes were becoming darker and darker every day until both his eyes were so dark that you can't see the white part of his eyes anymore... all you could see are his enlarged dark pupils… they have turned into pitch black in color and he was also hiding his hands and feet from me, he was always wrapping them up with cloth saying; he was always feeling cold that's why he was wrapping them up… I asked if he was feeling sick but he told me that there is nothing for me to worry about… until one day, when he wasn't aware that I was peeking at him; he was unwrapping his hands and feet maybe to change the soiled cloth that he had wrapped around them and then… I discovered that his hands and feet had turned into a claw-like feature, they were becoming like claws of a raptor's, like talons, and scales were noticeable from his wrists up to his arms and from his feet all the way to his shanks. I was so stunned to see what he was hiding from me, but I just stayed put for awhile to see if he had more to hide from me… and I was right… he then gets a jar from one of his many jars containing a soul; because that is where he was putting the souls that he had captured, he then placed his mouth on top of the jar's lid and started consuming the soul in it… his mouth also appears to be different, it looks as though it had gotten so much bigger and it resembles that of a beak of a raptor's, so I immediately confronted him about the things that I saw, I demanded an answer on why he was consuming and devouring the soul that-that was inside that jar… but instead he snarled at me and told me that I shouldn't intervene with what he was doing if I don't want to get hurt, and I noticed that his forehead looked like there was something growing on it… it seems to be a small horn that was growing at the middle of his forehead. I touched it and asked what it was, but he knocked my hand off telling me that's it's none of my concern. I wanted to ask him what had happened… I wanted to help him out but he immediately run off, he didn't provide me any answers to know what has happened to him. And that was the very last time that I ever saw him… right before the 'Great War' happened, I tried looking for him… but with no avail. And now, more than twenty years have passed… and I am still hoping that someday we will meet again, although today he might not look the same 'Isoah' that I used to know, but I'm hoping that I would still recognize him." Heraldin said as he reluctantly continues with his recounting. -"Every night… I kept convincing myself that Isoah could possibly just have lost interest in living and decided to just end his life… but when you told me that there was a 'soul stealer' that assaulted you at 'Lake Midgar' and the way you described that 'soul stealer' to me… Isoah came into my mind… that 'soul stealer' could be him… so now, I'm… I'm torn… I don't know if I should be glad to know… to know the fact that he could still be alive so that I could still see him and help him… or it would have been better if he had just killed himself and died, because if that soul stealer is really him, then he had turned into an absolute monster." Heraldin said as his eyes flicker.
-"Why was he tempted to consume those souls in the first place?" asked Carousel
Heraldin then took a glass-like container from one of the shelves with the use of his telekinetic skill and showed it to Carousel. -"Look…" he said as he opened the lid and allowed the soul to get out of its container… the soul then floated in midair as it starts to drift away and Carousel tries to touch it.
-"No, don't touch it!" Heraldin quickly said as he captured the soul back with the glass-like container before Carousel could even touch it.
-"Why..?" she asked
-"You see, that's how tempting a soul is… you immediately got drawn into it and you tried touching it… a soul must never make any contact with someone else's body… because this soul might take over your body."
-"But I'm just goanna touch it, not eat it."
-"I know, I told you that I went inside my mouth to get back to my own body… but it's just that; that's not a guarantee that-that is the only way for a soul to enter a body… I don't know what might have happened to you if you had touched this soul… even I, have never even tried to touch one… I showed you this…" he said as he showed the soul again to Carousel… -"To test if you will get drawn into it… and you did."
-"Does that mean I failed? I can never be a soul seeker?"
-"No, no… that's not what I meant for testing you…"
-"Oh, so you tried to test me because you're thinking, that maybe you're friend 'Isoah' was tempted to touch a soul, and when he did… a soul must have taken over his body?"
-"Exactly…"
-"But… we will never know if your speculation is true unless we try it." Carousel said as she quickly held the soul inside the glass-like container in her hand. Heraldin was caught by surprise… he didn't have time to read what Carousel was thinking, she was too quick.
-"Hmmm… I'm not feeling anything." Carousel said as she was holding the soul in her hand. -"I can't feel that this soul is about to take over my body."
Heraldin's eyes widened in disbelief -"Why… you witty little girl… you got me…" Heraldin said -"You were too quick…"
-"Here… try holding it for awhile…" Carousel said as she offered the soul into Heraldin's hand… Heraldin was hesitant at first, but he soon held the soul into his hand.
-"You're right… this soul isn't taking over my body… but why…? Is it because I too have a soul? And I don't feel like I'm drawn into consuming it now…" Heraldin said as he faced Carousel… -"Then Isoah must have just consume a soul in his own will, in his own curiousity, all the while I thought there was some kind of an influence, some kind of a drowning effect that Isoah felt that's why he consumed a soul, but now I know, he did it in purpose. And he never then stopped consuming a soul." Said Heraldin as he was feeling very sorry for his old friend… -"Now, would you care to try consuming this…?" as Heraldin showed the soul he was holding to Carousel –"So we can also see if you would turn into a 'soul stealer'?" Heraldin teasingly asked
-"Now that would be unnecessary!" Carousel replied with a slight laugh… -"You said that you saw your friend 'Isoah' consuming a soul right…? … And I am convinced that-that is the reason why he became a soul stealer and end up looking like a beast. If you think that I would go that far just to prove your speculation… well, I'm sorry because I won't." As Carousel's tone hit a higher note…
-"Take it easy… I'm just teasing you." Heraldin said as he returned the soul back into the container and placed it onto the shelf with the use of his telekinetic skill. -"I'm just wondering… why Isoah chose such decisions." Heraldin asked himself while feeling sorry for his friend.
-"But what I don't understand is why is it that the 'soul stealer' that assaulted us at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' looked very much different from the one that attacked me and Faust… at Lake Midgar." Asked Carousel
-"I don't have any idea… but my guts tells me that those two 'soul stealers' are obviously working together. And I do find Demeon's story believable about the very first 'soul stealer' that he had told you, because a few hundred years ago, during the dark ages… there was a time that I personally saw the offspring of that witch…"
-"Really…? You are that old?" asked Carousel interrupting Heraldin's interesting revelation.
-"Yes…" Heraldin abruptly replied… as he sighed -"Now, let me continue… There were rumors on the village that Victor was protecting a witch inside his mansion… but I never knew that he was using her as an experiment. The witch was about to throw her child into a cliff when I prevented her from throwing her child. She told me that she had done a very terrible thing… and when I tried to unfold the wrappings of the child to take a good look… I was startled of what I have witnessed; the child was the most terrifying thing that I have ever seen. It looks as though the child had already devoured a soul, even though the witch told me that she had just recently gave birth to her offspring and then managed to escape just to throw away her child into the cliffs… I haven't yet fully developed my mind reading ability at that time and so far my telepathy skill wasn't that powerful yet… so I didn't really get to know the things that had happened to her, and I just told her that she should not kill her child but raise her child well instead." Heraldin resentfully said -"If only I have known better… that her child was to become the very first 'soul stealer' then I should have just let her thrown her child into the cliff." Said Heraldin
Carousel just snorted…
-"Yes… I'm serious, if only I have known better." Heraldin concluded… -"After the 'Great War' and now, these… 'Soul stealers' are prowling the entire world, what would become of us? We should do something before they kill us all."
-"But they do look very different from each other… the soul stealer that we saw at the Ruins of Goban Shrine and the soul stealer that both Faust and I encountered at Lake Midgar, but who amongst those two could have murdered the shaman at the Ruin city of Harlow?" For sure it was a soul stealer who is responsible for that shaman's death… considering the way that he died… and Demeon also knows about that incident… but who amongst the two soul stealer is the real culprit? And was that male Erishan, really a shaman from our academy?" asked Carousel
-"Yes, Rachael was right… that dead Erishan was in fact a shaman… from your academy… I talked to his relatives and they told me…that his name was 'Serroth' a shaman who works at Stellar Academy."
-"Serroth…?" Carousel cried in surprise -"Was that really Serroth? Yes, I know him… he is in fact a shaman at our academy… Oh my… I didn't recognize that it was him, but Rachael did."
-"At first I thought that he was my friend Isoah, but it turns out to be… Isoah could be the soul stealer that you have come across at Lake Midgar… Then I went to Serroth's shelter the following day to see if I could investigate furthermore about his death, if he was just an unlucky victim of that soul stealer? Or… if there was more to it, and I found this 'key' in his room, it looked suspicious so I took it. This key… has an 'eye' engraved on its head." Heraldin said as he showed the key to Carousel. -"Since Demeon also knows about this… then I might as well pay a visit to him personally at your academy and ask him what he knows about the incident, I tried reading his mind just a while ago when I channeled into his mind through your thoughts just like what I did to find your friend Emoreh… but it seems that Demeon could block my telepathy skill." Said Heraldin
-"Could it be possible that Demeon has a mind-reading ability too…?"
-"Possibly, yes…"
-"Wow, I thought he was just an ordinary Erishan."
-"From what I've felt a while ago when I channeled into his mind through your thoughts… he is an extra ordinary Erishan with lots of dark secrets to hide."
-"Hmmm… but he seems to be very charming to have dark secrets in his life." Carousel thought to herself…
-"But you know what they say… never judge a book by its cover." Heraldin said implying that he had read her mind and Carousel gave a quick smirk as she slightly rolled her eyes…
-"But Demeon is rarely seen at the academy…" said Carousel -"I guess you should pay a visit to him at his mansion…"
-"I'll take my chances… if he's not at the academy, then I'll go see him in his mansion."
-"I wonder what this 'eye' symbol represents… and what this key could open…?" asked Carousel as she was examining the key that Heraldin had shown her…
-"I also found this…" said Heraldin as he took a booklet from his robe's pocket.
-"What's that?"
-"A diary… probably Serroth's…" he said
-" Serroth's diary…?"
-"Yes… probably." Heraldin said again as he turned the pages and started reading some parts of the stained diary, he pointed his finger to where he was about to read a line so Carousel could also see it… -"It says here…" He said -"I made a replica of his key so he wouldn't know that I have a key to his secret."
-"Who's he…?"
-"I don't know… Serroth didn't write the name of the Erishan that he was referring to." As Heraldin was looking for a name on the booklet… but it was too dirty and tarnished that's why he couldn't clearly read all the necessary information.
-"But do you think that this has something to do with his murder?"
-"I think so, because from what I read through his diary… Serroth knows something about this particular Erishan's secret which this Erishan doesn't want him to know about."
-"But why didn't he write that Erishan's name?"
-"Maybe he has his reasons for not writing that Erishan's name… and whatever that is… we might never know. Or I might have just overlooked that name which Serroth has written in here because this book is stained and dirty; it's very hard to read some of the details."
-"Let me try to read it…" said Carousel as she asked for the booklet from Heraldin, she then narrowed her eyes to try to read it… but the booklet proved to be difficult to read because it was badly stained and tarnished… -"Even with my sharp eyesight, I have difficulty reading this book…" Carousel added
-"But on the other hand he might be just an unlucky victim too… just like what happened to your friend Emoreh; because your friend Emoreh was abducted too by that soul stealer at the Ruins of Goban Shrine and your friend didn't know anyone whom he had a rift with."
-"But… whatever or whoever those soul stealers are, we must put a stop to them."
Heraldin nodded and said -"I'm glad that you still have the concern for others, because as far as I can see… Erishans everywhere are just looking out for themselves; they seem to have no apprehension for others."
Carousel smiled at him and said -"That's one thing that I will never take away from me… I grew up not having anyone and anybody who feels any concern for me, which is why I will never do that to anyone."
-"I think we're done here." Heraldin said as he slightly stroke her head
-"I think so too…"
-"Let's get out of here and see what they're up to."
Heraldin and Carousel then went out of the room and as they were walking… Carousel said… -"Heraldin… actually, this is not the first time that I have seen these specks of lights, I have seen them when I was just a little girl but only now did I come to know that those tiny specks of lights are actually the souls of dead Erishans… meaning, I was already a 'soul seeker' long before I knew that I was a splitter?" she asked
-"Yes… absolutely…" Heraldin softly replied
Meanwhile… back at the mansion, Demeon sensed the channeling that Heraldin did to his mind so he quickly summoned Dimitris.
-"What now Demeon?" asked Dimitris -"Why is it that it's always me that you are always calling for?" His voice was somewhat irritated and was nasally as usual.
-"Because you are the only one amongst my subsidiaries that has a telepathic skill, and the one who could help me right now… someone was trying to read my mind, and I suspect that it was the old male Erishan whom I have encountered with at the Ruins of Goban Shrine, Carousel have probably told him about everything that I had told her."
-"So that was the one whom you said Carousel was with…?"
-"Yes…"
-"Hmmm… he's intervening with us? So what do you want me to do?"
-"Since you are the only one amongst us who has the ability to read minds, then you are the one whom he can't read. I want you to keep him company when he tries to look for me at the academy, which I assume that he will be, considering the fact that I have told Carousel every intriguing detail about a soul stealer. And he is probably wondering by now, why he can't channel into my mind."
Dimitris just snorted
-"And don't tell…" Demeon softly said as he gave a skirmished look at Dimitris… -"You know…? About this…?"
-"To Conscience…?"
-"Shhh… be quiet, yes…" Demeon said as he was looking around the mansion. -"I don't want Conscience to know about this… and don't go calling his name out loud. Someone might hear you."
-"Don't worry… nobody is willing to come here… and he's out prowling through the realms to find his potential victims again." Dimitris said as he assured Demeon. -"So what do you want me to tell to that… Heraldin if ever he comes?"
-"Just tell him that everything that he wants to ask me, will be answered in the right time and in the right place, you say… and if he insists on asking; why am I not always at the school? Tell him that… it's just that I can't come to the academy everyday because… because…" As Demeon tries to think of an excuse… -"Tell him that-that's why I hired you, to be my assistant, which is your job. Just do everything that you can do, to avoid our meeting because he might read my mind."
-"But if that's the only reason that you're worried about… then you can always wear goggles… therefore he can't read your mind… because if he can't see your eyes… then he can't read your thoughts."
-"Wear goggles…?" As Demeon slightly laughed -"Are you serious? Do you want me to make a fool of myself? Those things doesn't look good on me… and our sun; Asterie can barely shine a light on day time… it is always raining outside… can't you see… the weather is chaotic and you want me to wear goggles? Your idea is totally ridiculous."
-"But that's the idea… to protect your eyes from the windy conditions." Replied Dimitris -"But you can also try to wear sunglasses… that would look good on you." Dimitris concluded
-"But those things are passé; nobody has ever worn those things for decades." Said Demeon as he was looking very worried…
Chapter Twelve "Book of Life"
Meanwhile… back at Heraldin's shelter… Carousel asked for Heraldin's 'book of life'.
-"You said I could read it again right?"
-"Sure" replied Heraldin -"Here" he said as he gave the book to Carousel
-"Why are you letting Carousel read your book of life…? You haven't let me read it first?" asked Rachael
-"Well… that's because you are not always around, but now, you can read it too…" Replied Heraldin
-"Can… can I read it too?" Faust slowly asked
-"I can't see why not." Heraldin abruptly said
-"Wow, you sure are confident for letting us read your book of life." Faust said as his eyes widened. -"You must have done nothing wrong."
-"Why wouldn't I be…? I know that I've done nothing wrong… as far as I'm concern… that is, well that's my own opinion, and that is why I want you all to read it so you can also tell me your own opinion towards me." Said Heraldin
Carousel and Rachael then immediately looked into each other's eyes… they were looking very anxious upon hearing Heraldin's statement; their eyes were full of questions that needed to be answered and Faust eyes soon narrowed from being widened.
-"I'll be at my research area… if you need me." Said Heraldin as he went to his room, Carousel, Rachael and Faust then started reading his 'Book of Life' Carousel turned the pages and in the first part page of the book… it read…
"My childhood"
"My name is 'Heraldin' a name given to me by my parents; Hera and Odin
I was born at 'Goban' and now… the only thing that is left there is the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' I was born during the 'golden ages' and during the childhood years of my life… I could already see tiny specks of light…"
-"Heraldin was born during the golden ages? When was that?" asked Carousel as she stopped reading for awhile…
-"Way before the 'dark ages'." replied Faust -"Let's just continue…" he said as they did continue reading the book…
…which are floating on mid air and they seem to have no direction to go, and I thought it was very unusual because those specks of lights doesn't seem to fade away even if I come back the other day… their glow remains unchanged. And what is more unusual is that I was the only one who could see those three specks of lights. I showed them to my parents and to my brother but all they could see is the empty room where those specks of lights lie within. Until one day as I was walking on the market… I saw an old lady that I could hear some Erishans on the market say that she was about to die… and it turns out that the Erishans around were right, she did die… probably of old age, and then I saw a tiny speck of light that came out of her mouth… it slowly drifted away until it disappeared through the skies, and then I suddenly remembered those specks of light that I saw on one of the abandoned areas near our shelter. I realized that they were similar from what I have just witnessed at the market. I went there again to see those specks of light but my mother told me not to go near that aboandoned area again, because a neighbor told her that recently there were three Erishans that were murdered there…. And then that was the time that I began to ask myself; are those specks of lights actually the souls of the three murdered Erishans?"
"My younger years"
I tried very hard to figure out what those specks of lights were… and then suddenly I also started developing some unusual skills, unusual talents that I thought that I was not capable of learning… I was suddenly able to read the minds of the Erishans around me, whereas at first I was only presuming their character. And then I also developed a talent to see the future whereas at first I was only guessing the events that were to happen, I didn't expect that I could actually learn… and precisely predict the future. I used my newly discovered talents to help the Erishans around… and then citizens of Eris began calling me their 'savior' because I was able to save them from their downfall in life because I could see their future."
"They even said that I was the chosen one… chosen by God to save them."
"Erishans liked me very much that they even built me a shrine… the 'Goban Shrine' but now… its ruins are all that remains."
Faust suddenly asked… -"Isn't that the place where you told me where you have encountered that beast looking soul stealer?"
-"Yes" Rachael quickly replied before Carousel could even answer, as she told Carousel to continue reading. -"Go on…" she said to Carousel -"I want to know if my father became a fortune teller."
-"A fortune teller…?" Carousel amusedly asked as she continued reading…
"The peak of my calling"
I became a preacher as well as a clairvoyant psychic; but to the inhabitants of Goban… I was their prophet; because my predictions were very useful to the community of Goban. They come to visit me in my shrine everyday to ask me if I could tell them about their future… until there came a time where they became very dependent on my predictions; they didn't want to make their own decisions anymore, all they want to do, is wait and rely on my predictions. Whether what I see is good or bad for them… they just accepted it.
"The burden of my calling"
I wasn't happy of what I was doing anymore, because the inhabitants of Goban just didn't understand the purpose of having someone like me who can foresee what their future brings, my predictions should only serve as a guide… not something that they should totally rely upon. They have let me took full responsibility of their lives; saying that they leave their fate totally in my hands… they had given me a duty which I have no choice but to take full custody of.
"Rejecting my calling"
I tried telling them that it is wrong for someone to leave his or her fate and life into someone else's hands. They should be the one to dictate their own fate… but they just didn't listen; they said that I was the chosen one… whom God had chosen for them to be their savior. And I thought that if they won't listen to me… then probably they would listen to our God…
… So I pretended that God had spoken to me, telling me that I shouldn't be making any more predictions for them, because God wants them to live their lives with their own decisions and not let anyone control their fate, but the public didn't believe in my declaration and instead they became furious about my testimony.
And the inhabitants of Goban still insisted that I should act upon their wishes, but I grew tired of their longing, so I intentionally started giving them false predictions… and they were certainly not happy when they began to notice that my predictions were soon failing.
"The price that I have to pay"
The inhabitants of Goban then started torturing me, both physically and verbally… they said that I was probably a false prophet; but I wasn't really a prophet to begin with, because they were just the ones who started giving me that name.
Then they started throwing stones and twigs at me when they see me, they even started spitting at me when they are not in the mood to see me…
-"They tortured him?" Carousel asked again as she stopped reading again… -"Poor Heraldin… maybe that explains why he has those many scars." she concluded… then continued reading…
… The inhabitants of Goban began treating me with cruelty, some of them even made a conspiracy to kill me, and then when I knew about their scheme to kill me… I decided to just go away, to exile myself from the place that I once loved. But the public were too cruel… they said that they wouldn't let me out of Goban alive because I had brought too much hardships and misfortunes to their lives… they blamed me for everything that had happened to them… and that I have to pay the price, even though the only thing I did was to give them what they wanted from me; which is to tell them about their future opportunities and after all that I have done for them in the past… they still didn't show any consideration for me in the present, they treated me like I was an immoral, unlawful, whereas the only crime that I knew I did was to give them some false predictions… but my intentions were just for them to learn and for them to not rely on my predictions so much… at some time I told them that the weather was fine that it would not destroy their crops even though I knew that there was a coming drought. And there were also times that I would really tell them the truth, to make them see that my predictions were not consistent anymore that they shouldn't be relying in my abilities too much because I want them to believe that my predictions were not accurate anymore, but they never seem to learn… they locked me up at my shrine and they still insist in believing in my abilities… and when they finally learned that my predictions were not truthful anymore… it was too late, the realm of Goban was in a complete disarray. I wanted to get out from being locked up because I already knew what the inhabitants of Goban was planning to do to me, so I told one of my loyal servants to help me get out from that place… I just wanted to go away… and he did help me get out; well… that's what I thought… but what I didn't have predicted was that, he was helping me out so he could lure me into the angry citizens who were waiting for me outside the escape route that we had just navigated. I was caught off guard by his betrayal maybe because I trusted him too much, that it never crossed my mind that he would do such a thing. And when the angry citizens saw me… they immediately started beating me up with heavy sticks and rocks… I wasn't able to protect myself at that time because my skills weren't that well developed yet. They beat me up until… until they noticed that I wasn't moving anymore… and some of them even kicked me at my back to see if I would still react… but I knew that it would be better for me to just keep still and that was the only time that they stopped beating me… and then they just left me there on the ground badly wounded and dying… I was fighting for my life… but then the pain was so intense that I couldn't bare it any longer so I soon surrendered… and that was the time that I first experienced death.
And then I heard a voice… it was calling my name and it was telling me to go back to my body…
-"Okay… let's just skip that…" Rachael interrupted as she turned the pages of the book… -"We already heard that from my father right? So let's just read what had happened next." Rachael concluded -"And besides… I don't think my father did anything wrong."
-"I agree" Faust abruptly said
Carousel then scanned the book and pointed out with her finger… -"Here it is" she said as she continued her reading.
… And when I finally went back to my body I couldn't believe that I was alive again, I immediately got up and wrapped my whole face with a blanket leaving only my eyes uncovered so I could see where I was going, I took some dried clothes from other Erishan's shelter so I could changed the ones that I was wearing for it was soaked in my own blood. As I was walking through the market, I heard some groups and they were talking about how they killed an Erishan a few days ago… how they killed their leader, and I soon realized that it was me that they were talking about… and I was surprised to know that it was already a few days that had already passed by since they killed me, it felt like it was just moments ago… I could still feel the remnants of pain that they had inflicted upon me and I could still recognize their faces… but I just walked away when I saw them, I wasn't angry at them… I was angry at myself… because I should have known better.
I walked and walked for miles… I have no food and water, I was so tired and I wanted to rest…
Carousel paused her reading for awhile and yawns… -"Why do I suddenly feel so tired and I want to take a rest too." she said
-"Me too" Faust agreed to what Carousel had said -"Let's just read this thing again tomorrow." he suggested
-"B…, but… I… want to know if my father had written something about my mother…" Rachael slowly said… -"Because I never had the chance to ask him about my mother."
-"You mean to say; you don't know who your mother is?" asked Faust -"Your father never told you anything about her?"
-"Why is that?" Carousel also asked
-"I… just didn't have the time to ask him." Replied Rachael
-"You didn't have the time?" asked Carousel as her eyebrows were pulled down -"What kind of an excuse is that?"
-"Actually, the reason is… I don't feel at ease asking him about it, I mean… why would I even ask him about my mother? I never knew her, I never needed her, and the only one who was there to raise me is my father. So why would I even want to know anything about her?" replied Rachael as her voice hit a higher note.
Carousel and Faust then looked at each other with perplex reaction in their eyes and then… they both directly looked at Rachael and said… -"But you already said that you wanted to know more about her."
Carousel then quickly scanned Heraldin's book of life, to see if she could find anything or any signs of Rachael's mother written on the book… but she couldn't find anything.
-"I'm afraid there's nothing written here about your mother." Said Carousel -"All I could see are Heraldin's different voyages in different places with his friend Isoah and his chance of meeting the witch's offspring… and he's right, that witch's offspring is in fact the beast that we have encountered with at the Ruins of Goban Shrine. Demeon also has the same description about that very first soul stealer."
-"Are you sure…?" asked Rachael… -"Are you sure there's nothing written about my mother?"
Carousel then just pressed her lips in a thin line and she slowly looked down to avoid eye contact with Rachael; she wouldn't want to say anything that would offend her best friend. -"But I guess this is just one of your father's many books of lives… I'm sure there are more of these books in his research area… where he might have written about the things and the identity of your mother." Said Carousel
-"Did Heraldin tell you that he has more than one book of life?" Faust softly asked Carousel
Carousel then quickly nudged Faust with her elbow. -"Shh…" she said as she avoided eye contact with Rachael
-"I get it, its okay…" Rachael said as she slightly nodded and went to her room.
Carousel and Faust looked very concern for Rachael as they both too went to their respective rooms.
During that night, Carousel was having that same dream of hers again; she was walking up on a circular staircase that reaches up to the heavens where there are old Erishans whose hairs were silver grey and they were dressed in black and white who are looking at her as she walks through the circular staircase. And again, a liquid mirror-like object was floating at the top of the staircase and everywhere she looks at; was misty and cloudy. Carousel walked slowly towards the mirror and saw her reflection… and her eyes slowly narrowed as she examines her reflection, finally she recognizes her reflection… R… Rach… Rachael? Carousel slowly asked as she touched her reflection and all of a sudden she woke up from her dream…
-"That dream again…" Carousel thought to herself when she awoke as she was stroking her forehead… -"I forgot to tell about this to Heraldin" she said as she looked at her clock necklace… -"Oh it's already early in the morning." she said as Carousel can't tell apart what is morning from night… because the two just looks the same… dark and murky as usual… -"I better tell it to him now, maybe he can help me to know what it means." She said as she went to look for Heraldin.
She found him at his research area, down at the lower shelter.
-"Heraldin… can I ask you a favor?" said Carousel upon seeing him at his room.
-"Sure… as long as it is not about interpreting a dream, because I can't do that…" Replied Heraldin as he was looking at Carousel's eyes.
Carousel slightly jolted and said… -"Oh it's just that I keep having this same old dream… and I don't know why… and it's so frustrating." She said with vexation
-"Hush, my child…" said Heraldin -"It's not that bad"
-"I know… but, can you at least tell me something or anything about my dreams?"
-"I'm afraid I can't… I don't have the talent to do that, and I am looking into your eyes right now but I can't even see your dreams."
-"But… why…? You can see the future… and you can read minds… so why can't you see my dreams?"
-"You see… a lot of times; an Erishan's fate relies and depends on his or her character, whatever he or she may do in the future depends on his or her attitude and character in the present; let's say, if someone is a hardworking individual… then it is clear to see that he will have plenty of work done in his future... And if someone is a lazy individual… then it is clear to see that - that individual will get no work done in the future, and that is why I can predict an Erishan's fate judging from his or her personal character. What I mean is that… all of us or some of us already have an idea of what our future holds… it's just that we don't want to know about it right now or right away. But a 'dream' is a different matter… it doesn't rely or depend on a certain individual's character. A dream is… something unexpected, something unforeseen, a dream is like a gift they say, that is wrapped up for you every day.
-"I see… maybe it was just a dream… a dream with no meaning I guess… Well, I'm just probably making a big deal out of it." replied Carousel -"So can I just ask you, who was your servant the one you said that betrayed you… who lured you to the angry citizens? Why didn't you write his name?"
Heraldin sighed and slowly replied… -"I… I… didn't want to remember his name… I never want to remember him ever again, that's why I didn't write his name on my 'book of life' I just wanted to remember the incident but I didn't want the hatred to stay with me… forever."
-"So… if you don't want to remember something or someone, then all you have to do is, to not write anything about that certain something or someone?"
-"Yes, if you don't want to remember them in your next life… but as long as you are still alive and haven't yet experienced the feeling to come back to life… then the memories are still there."
-"But of course" Carousel abruptly said
-"Why do you ask…? Is there something or someone that you wouldn't want to remember and that you are planning not to write anything about them in your book of life?"
-"No, nothing… I just asked that's all." replied Carousel as she was thinking about… Emoreh…
Heraldin just looked down when he read Carousel's mind and asked… -"Well… have you started making… one?"
-"Well, actually I never wanted to have a diary, but for some reason I don't know why I keep writing about my dreams and made my own diary, now I know that as a 'soul seeker' it is my instinct to write something and that explains why I have a diary, that is perhaps what I call my 'book of life'. But that's all there is written on it, about my dreams, about my repetitive dreams, nothing more. So if you're asking me if I have started to make my own 'book of life' with all my experiences written on it, then the answer is no, not yet… and I'm not even sure if I want to write one… because I'm not sure if I would still want to have a next life." Said Carousel, as her voice slowly faded while she went out of the room. -"I have to go… I still have to fix myself before I train at the academy." She said as she was about to go… but then she forgot to tell Heraldin something… but she soon remembered it… -"Heraldin…" Carousel called as she went back to the research room.
-"Yes…?"
-"I forgot to ask you something…"
-"What is it…?" asked Heraldin but he already knew what Carousel would want to ask him…
Carousel was hesitant to say… -"I don't want to get involved between your personal life and Rachael's but… it's just that… last night, I pretended that I didn't see and read anything about Rachael in your book of life… I told her that there wasn't anything written about her mother too, but in fact… I read something intriguing about her… you wrote that you… saw her as a little girl at the market near the city of Midgar a few years after the 'Great War'… and you wrote that she seems to be just walking all by herself and everyone around her seems to just ignore her and that you felt pity for her that's why you took her to your shelter and raised her there… so you're not her real father? Does she know about this…?"
-"No, she doesn't know… she doesn't know that she is not my real daughter." Replied Heraldin… -"And I am so glad that you have the decency not to tell her what you've read, even though I have let you all read my book of life. I knew that you wouldn't let her discover her real identity, not yet, that you would take time and proper measures to convey such matters, I knew you wouldn't act with such careless decisions just by the things that you have read in my book, because that would just be so improper… I have seen a glimpse of the future and I'm glad that I was right about you…" said Heraldin as he was looking very thankful to Carousel… -"I saw her at the market when she was just a little girl… she seems to be all by herself… that's why I came up to her and asked who her parents were…? And where is she from…? but she said she doesn't remember anything… and I asked what her name was, and she answered… 'Rachael' and I was glad that she still knew what her name was but I felt sorry for her because she seems to be lost and everyone in the market just seems to take no notice of her and ignoring her. They don't seem to care if a young girl like Rachael was lost and was all by herself; those Erishans were just thinking about themselves. And I tried reading Rachael's mind, so I could, you know, so I could find out who she really is and find out who might have lost her at the market… but I couldn't… I couldn't read her mind, and it was because, it turned out to be… that she also has a-mind reading ability just like me. And up to now, she never asked me anything about her childhood so I figured that it might just be best for her if I just don't tell her about it."
Carousel was a little bit intrigued about what Heraldin had told her. -"Rachael asked me if there was anything written about her mother in your book of life but I didn't see anything, so I just told her that you might have written about her mother on your other book of life."
-"But I don't have any other book of life… the one that I lend you is the only book of life that I have ever made, and like what I have told you… I don't even know who her parents were… and why was she all alone during that time."
-"Do you think that we should tell her about this? Because judging from the way she acted last night… she seems to really want to know who her mother is… and it turns out… you are not even her real father."
-"Carousel… I know how frustrating this whole thing might be to you… and I know that you just want your best friend to be in a comfortable situation… but if Rachael insists on knowing who her mother is, then I should be the only one to tell her, since I am the father that she has come to know."
-"I know… it's just that… she can read my mind, and now that we have talked about her childhood, I don't know if I can keep this a secret to her."
-"Just try not to think about this conversation that we are having when you are looking into her eyes, therefore… she will not know about it."
-"I'll try…"
-"Carousel… there are still things that I want to ask you?" said Heraldin as Carousel was about to go and leave the area.
-"Yes?" replied Carousel
-"How did you find my book of life…? I mean… What can you say and what do you have to say about my past?"
Carousel replied with a strong answer… -"I would have probably done the same."
-"Really…?" asked Heraldin as he heavily sighed and looked down… -"Have you finished reading it?"
-"Well…"
-"I'm assuming that you haven't…"
-"It's just that... last night... it was so late and I was so…"
-"Tired…? I understand." Heraldin quickly interrupted
Carousel felt a little embarrassed –"There was something about your book that I was really drawn into it, I was feeling what you were feeling at that time, so I guess that's what happened, I don't know, everytime I read your 'book of life' I suddenly feel sleepy for no apparent reason even though I am very eager to read it and the things written in there are very, very interesting."
-"But do you still want to continue reading it?" asked Heraldin
-"Of course… besides I'm almost finished reading your book of life, and I want to… I want to know more about you… about your different voyages."
-"Then just give it to me when you're done reading it."
-"Don't worry; I will" Carousel said -"But if you need your 'book of life' I kept it at the drawer... to the room where I am sleeping at, in case you need it back… -"Oh I have to go… I still have to go train at the academy." Said Carousel
-"Do you think that it's still necessary to train at the academy considering the dangerous things that are happening right now?" asked Heraldin as his eyes widened and he was looking all around
-"I know, but there so many things that I still need to ask Demeon, don't worry I will not be harmed, I'm a soul seeker just like you, and they better be ready to tackle me because I won't give in easy, and you know that." Said Carousel with authority as she was looking straight at Heraldin…
Heraldin paused for a while as he was examining Carousel… -"Alright, but you be careful okay?"
"I will…"
Heraldin just nodded… -"But aren't you goanna wait for your friends?" asked Heraldin as he read Carousel's thoughts…
-"Yes… right, anyways have you seen them?"
-"Rachael is probably at her room, but I don't know about your friend Faust, but I'm sure he found himself a comfortable room."
-"I'm sure he did, and maybe he is just sleeping somewhere, but I'll find him."
Carousel then went on to look for Faust, she heard noises coming from one of the many underground areas of the lower shelter, she attentively listens as she walks down at the lower shelter, she then heard something was stroking at the walls… she followed where the sound was leading to, and there she found Faust who seems to be fixing something at the basement. And smoke was gushing out from the exposed pipes where she was heading to, and exposed wires were also visible from the walls up to the ceiling.
-"What are you doing here?" asked Carousel as she climbed down the rusty looking steel stairs… -"You're early? I thought you were still asleep." She asked
-"I couldn't sleep anymore so I went down here; I'm trying to fix these engines." Replied Faust
-"Is that an engine…?"
-"Yes, this is one of the many engines of this huge vessel."
-"Wow… so you're really determined to fix those things?"
-"Of course, I want to see this thing fly." Said Faust as he got up from being seated and examined the engine that he had fixed.
-"So… are you going to train at the academy today?"
-"I'm so hooked on fixing this thing right now and as you can see… there are many more engines to be fix and after I'm done doing all these, I will be needing a long rest so I'm afraid I'll just have to train tomorrow. But if you need a ride I'll be happy to give you."
-"No… its okay, I'm fine… I'm just goanna check on Rachael, maybe she will train at the academy today and then we'll just have to take the vessel at the station like we used to."
-"Carousel… I think we shouldn't be training at the academy for now, because it's not safe out there anymore… there are soul stealers that are prowling the entire planet. You could be in danger again."
-"But I happen to observe that they only attack at night… and our sun 'Asterie' will be shining soon."
-"How can you be so sure that they will only attack at night…? And Asterie can barely shine a light these days… Why? Did Demeon say anything about their agenda of attacking?"
-"No, I just figured that since I am a soul seeker and it is harder for me to see a soul during the daytime because of the light compared to the nigh time, then maybe… just maybe, those soul stealers' might prefer to hunt at night."
-"But you said; those soul stealers' sucks out the soul directly from a certain individual's mouth… they don't need to see where the soul of that certain Erishan is, because it is obviously inside their bodies unless those soul stealers are hunting for scattered souls all over the planet… then they will probably be agreeing with your opinion."
-"But what do you want me to do? Wait here until they disappear, which they will obviously will not. Don't worry about me too much, I can take care of myself and I also need to check on my mother… it's been so long since I haven't come home."
-"But you might accidentally lure those soul stealers to your mother."
-"Hmm… you're right, but I still need to see her, I need to see if she's alright."
-"Then let me come with you."
-"Why…? No, just continue with what you're doing, trust me… I'm just goanna be fine." Said Carousel as she left the room… -"I'm goanna check on Rachael and ask if she would come with me."
Faust sighed and he continued what he was doing, then he slowly looked at Carousel while she was leaving. Carousel climbed up the rusted steel stairs leaving Faust totally anxious about her, and she went to check on Rachael… at the upper shelter…
-"Come in…" said Rachael as Carousel was knocking on her bedroom door.
-"Are you going to train at the academy today?" asked Carousel as she was walking inside Rachael's room which was very cozy compared to the lower shelter which was very technologically designed… a very industrialized looking shelter that gives it a cold impression to Carousel.
-"Yes, I am… I'm just fixing myself." Replied Rachael as she was looking at herself at the mirror when Carousel walked in. Carousel then remembered her dream from last night… which was a floating liquid mirror-like object. -"So… did Demeon tell you when the competition will start?" asked Rachael
-"No, he just told me, that I should participate. And if I don't pass the test… then I can't proceed to a higher level."
-"He said that to you?"
-"Yes… but it doesn't bother me." Carousel replied -"Oh, you're so beautiful Rachael…" she concluded as she was looking at Rachael at the mirror.
-"But so are you…" replied Rachael -"All you need are some new clothes, so go on and pick some of my garments which ever you would like… it's yours."
-"Really…? Because I will surely take them all…" Said Carousel as she picked a comfortable cardigan and a short skirt from Rachael's closet to wear… -"Can I have these?" she asked
-"Sure, but why choose those?"
-"Because I want to wear something comfortable… I don't want the long layering anymore." Carousel said as she tried on the clothes that she took from Rachael's closet... and when she was undressing herself… she felt something in her pocket... she found a key with an 'EYE' symbol on its head in her pocket. -"Oh, I forgot to give this back to Heraldin." Carousel thought to herself as she was holding the key but then hid it back in her pocket. When Carousel had finished dressing up, she walked out from a partition wall where she got dressed to reveal the clothes she had picked. -"So how do I look?" asked Carousel as she was flattening her attire…
-"You are beautiful, and here… try this…" Rachael said as she took a scarf from her closet and wrapped it around Carousel's neck. -"Try loosing this…" she also said as she took off Carousel's pony tail, revealing Carousel's luxurious long dark hair and Rachael matched them up with a pair of handmade leather boots. -"Now, you look much better."
-"Thank you..."
-"It's nothing... just feel free to take anything from my closet." Said Rachael as she tucked Carousel's long bangs behind her ears
-"My mother is the one who is sewing most of my clothes out of used table clothes and curtains but it's usually me who makes them, they are all handmade, but your clothes' stitches are different are these machine made?"
-"Yes… my father buys them at Midgar city… and we also have a sewing machine which he bought at the city too…"
-"So Heraldin helps you with your clothes… but of course." Said Carousel… as she answered back at her question -"And where else could he buy a piece of equipment if not at Midgar city… that's the only city in this planet I know that has recovered from the 'Great War' and that city… offers every possible opportunity for each and every one of us and for the remaining survivors of the 'Great War'… and there, you will find high tech gadgets for sale made by the alchemists at the 'Stellar Academy' and everywhere you look… machineries and robots are very common in Midgar city, whereas if you look outside the city of Midgar… all you will see are 'Ruins' of a ruined city."
Rachael's eyes widened, her eyebrows pulled up as she was giving Carousel a teasing smile… -"So are we ready to go?" were the only words Rachael asked
-"Yes… but just one more question… these beautiful garments that you have in here inside your closet … I haven't seen you wore them… and all the clothes that I see you wear, I couldn't see them here in your closet, why is that?"
-"You ask too many questions Carousel… let's just go!" Rachael said as she rolled her eyes
-"Okay…" replied Carousel
And when they went out from Rachael's room… Faust was there outside waiting for them, he was a bit dirty and greasy because he was fixing the engines of the huge combat vessel at the lower shelter… his eyes widened as he saw Carousel… -"You look… wonderful." Faust slowly said… "Both of you…" He concluded
-"Why thank you." Replied Rachael, as Carousel felt a bit self-conscious
Faust tries to clear his throat before asking… -"I just wanted to ask if you both want me to take you at the academy? After all, Rookie needs a work out."
-"We'd love to…" replied Rachael
-"No, we're fine!" Carousel abruptly interrupted -"We will just take the vessel at the station" she said -"You really don't need to worry about us."
Rachael then nudged Carousel… -"What is your problem?" She softly asked
-"Nothing…" Carousel whispered as she gave Rachael a reminiscent look and then she walked towards Faust and gave him a pat on the shoulder. -"You haven't slept well, and you've been working all day… what you need is a time off… Don't worry… I'll ask you a favor if I need to." Said Carousel -"But right now, you also need to watch yourself."
-"Are you sure?" asked Faust, his eyebrows were pulled down
-"Yes... I'm sure." Carousel replied, her eyes were filled with sincerity... -"Just carry on with what you're doing."
Faust then slowly looked down and slightly nodded.
And then Carousel and Rachael then both went out of the shelter to take a floating vessel at the station that will lead them to 'Stellar Academy' and while they were on their way… Rachael said… -"I get it… you don't want to be with Faust more so often because you're beginning to like him… and you're afraid that your feelings for him might develop into a more intimate feeling."
-"What are you talking about…?"
-"Come on... you know that there's no point in hiding your emotions from me Carousel."
-"Okay fine, it's just that Faust is too good, too kind and too thoughtful that's why I'm beginning to like him too, and believe me... I would be very happy if my feelings for him would soon develop into a more intimate feeling… but what if… but what if it doesn't… I don't want him to get hurt just like what happened to me."
-"Ha…?" Rachael was puzzled -"But why would he get hurt? ... I can see that he really likes you, but... you speak as if he already loves you." Said Rachael as she looked at Carousel -"But... does he?" she slowly asked as her voice hit a higher note. -"Oh my…" was all she said when Carousel looked into her eyes.
-"I told you, I don't want Faust to feel the same way that I did."
There was silence for awhile…
-"So do you still have feelings for Emoreh?"
-"No, it's not like that, I don't know... maybe... but it's hard for me to just forget about him though." Carousel slowly replied, unsure whether she had made the right thing to tell the truth to Rachael or it would have been better if she had just lied about the real feelings she still has for Emoreh.
And then again there was silence... for awhile...
-"Oh, here comes... the vessel…" said Rachael upon seeing the old and rustic huge floating vessel approaching.
Carousel glanced to take a look and saw that the huge floating vessel was still far from a distance; she instantly knew that Rachael just wanted to break up the silence.
But still there was silence up until they boarded the huge community floating vessel. They haven't talked much about Faust and Emoreh when they boarded the floating vessel but instead they conversed about the water creature that Carousel and Faust had captured.
-"Where is that water creature now? I also want to see it." Said Rachael
-"We left it at the academy's research laboratory... but I don't know if anyone is allowed to go into that room, because Dimitris told us that-that is a secret area... a well guarded room, which trainees and even shamans are not allowed to go inside."
-"Then who are the only ones whom are allowed to get inside that room?"
-"I don't know... maybe Dimitris and Demeon are the only ones who can go inside that room."
-"But you and Faust captured that water creature... maybe Dimitris will let you in."
-"Well, what if he only lets me in... I mean, only me... what about you? What if he doesn't let you in?
-"I wouldn't mind letting you in..." a voice suddenly said in an enticing manner.
Carousel was disrupted for a second and was displeased to see that it was that same old dirty man, a crew member of the floating vessel who interrupted their conversation again.
-"Go away!" said Carousel
The old dirty male Erishan's eyes slowly narrowed as he was trying to remember Carousel, he did not recognized Carousel at first but he soon did…
-"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you... I never thought that you could look that good." Said the dirty old man
-"Yes, thank you... now if you would just please go away... my friend and I are trying to have a conversation here." Replied Carousel without feeling offended
The old man looked around... and he then pressed his lips down, he was looking very baffled. -"Okay, whatever you say..." he said
-"Now, where were we?" asked Carousel
-"The secret research area at Stellar Academy"
-"Oh, yeah... right, what if Dimitris doesn't let you in?"
-"Well... the important thing is that when you are in there... and if Dimitris lets you get in there, then just let me in."
-"You mean you're going inside that room illegally?"
-"Carousel, you make it sound like I'm goanna be a criminal. I'm just going to go in there without the knowledge of Dimitris, that's all, it's not like I'm goanna be doing a very unlawful thing... I just want to see that water creature. Dimitris doesn't have to know about this."
-"Okay, but just don't blame me if Dimitris caught you in there... illicitly, now does that sound better?"
-"Much better…" Rachael replied
Chapter Thirteen "Embloig"
Carousel and Rachael then arrived at the 'Stellar Academy' the very heart of 'Midgar City' just in time before the trainings starts to begin and then they both went on with their separate ways, Rachael went to her designated area which is at the PSYCHETENCY division and Carousel went to the IMPULSY division. Along her way Carousel crossed paths with Emoreh and Emery at the isle of the academy; the two were holding each other's hand. But Carousel did not notice them because she was busy thinking about that water creature and the competition that Demeon had told her about.
-"Carousel... hi, I didn't recognize you." Said Emoreh when their paths crossed each other…
-"Oh!" said Carousel; she was surprised by Emoreh's sudden greetings. -"So... you're both still here?" she asked
-"..." Emoreh and Emery were taken aback… -"Wow... that is such a warm reply." Emoreh sarcastically said
-"Oh, I'm sorry... it's just that I thought you two had moved to a much safer place." Carousel abruptly said
-"And where did you get that? Who told you that we were moving to a safer place?" Emoreh asked
-"..." Carousel tries to clear her throat… -"No... Nobody…" she slowly said… -"I just thought and figured that you two must have looked for a much safer place to stay... because considering what had happened to you..."
-"No, we are not going anywhere." Said Emoreh as he strode Carousel to a place where Emery could not hear them… -"Carousel... I don't even know if what you are saying is really true... because that beast you were saying... it never attacked me again. And Dimitris told me that there is no such creature like that - that exists in this world."
-"But Dimitris is just saying that because..."
-"You know what?" Emoreh interrupted… -"Emery is right, maybe you are just making that story up so you can take control of me."
-"What…?"
-"Yes, you heard me right... so you can take control of me; you just made that story up, making me believe that you saved my life, so when you have done something that great then you can tie me up around your finger."
-"Why... why would I do that…?"
-"I don't know, you tell me…"
Carousel looked at Emery from a distance, she saw her eyes flicker whom in return seems to be looking at her too. And then she looked back at Emoreh. -"Emoreh, I can't believe that you could think of me this way, I'm... I'm lost for words... I don't know what to say..." Carousel slowly said, her words were shaking as she slowly walked away from them.
-"Yes, that's right... just walk away from me like that... again."
Carousel did not answer and she never looked back at Emoreh as she was trying to fight back her tears, she just kept walking. She was deeply hurt by Emoreh's accusations... she tries to remember how she was so worried sick about him when he had gone missing, when nobody even cared about his disappearance not even Emery... -"I have risked my own life just to find you... and you never even said a simple... thank you, and instead this is how you show your gratitude?" Carousel mumbled to herself as she slightly shook her head.
-"Carousel there you are!" a voice cried from her back… while she was walking…
Carousel was sure that it wasn't Emoreh's voice that she heard and it sounded like it was Rachael's... so Carousel looked back to see who it was... and she was right, it was indeed Rachael who called her up.
-"Carousel, I just met up with Dimitris..." Rachael said as she saw Carousel looking very dejected… -"Carousel... are you alright? Because a while ago, when we were together... you seemed to be okay, but now, you look like you just had a problem? What is it?" asked Rachael
-"Nothing…" Carousel softly replied as she was avoiding eye contact with Rachael
-"Then why don't you look at me?"
Carousel then tries not to think about the incident she had with Emoreh as she tries to compose herself… -"Nothing…" Carousel softly replied again and this time... she was trying to think about Faust. She tried thinking about how thoughtful and kind Faust was to her.
Rachael's eyes slowly narrowed as she read Carousel's mind… -"You're worried about Faust?" she asked
Carousel slightly expressed amusement because her concealment actually worked… Carousel then slowly said… -"Yes... I'm worried about him..." she said with a smile
Rachael was then looking very baffled. -"I don't get it... now you're smiling?"
-"Enough about me already..." said Carousel -"What did you want to tell me about Dimitris?"
Rachael paused for awhile to assess the situation, but she soon just let it go and said… -"I just met up with Dimitris and he asked me to tell you that he wants to see you at the..." As Rachael partially covered her mouth with her hand and whispered… -"Research Area... well, I just figured that out myself because Dimitris told me that he wanted to meet you at a place that you both knew... and when I asked him where exactly is that place...? He answered... – "Your friend Carousel knows exactly where that place is…" Rachael intriguingly said to Carousel as her eyebrows were pulled up and her eyes widened…
-"Yes... you're right, that is in fact the research laboratory that he is referring to... but why would he want to see me there?" Carousel asked as she looked at Rachael
-"I don't know." replied Rachael -"Why asked me…? But at least I could come with you, and see what that water creature actually looks like."
-"Okay, let's go!" said Carousel as she was looking a bit anxious of the situation, and totally forgetting about the incident that she had with Emoreh... then they quickly went into the secret research area of the academy where Dimitris said that he was to wait for them near the entrance... but they both didn't see Dimitris there.
-"Carousel... Are you sure this is the place? Because I think we're lost." Asked Rachael as they were both going round in circles trying to find where the entrance to that secret room.
-"Yes, I'm sure... this is the place that leads to that research area, but now... I'm not quite certain where that entrance is..." Carousel said as she was examining the walls... the walls are all the same, they are all printed with geometric patterns... Carousel and Rachael couldn't tell the difference between the walls and the doors.
-"Dimitris told me that he will wait for you at the entrance... but where is he?" asked Rachael -"I couldn't see him... I've looked everywhere…"
Carousel and Rachael looked for Dimitris and waited for a moment... until... they heard someone was coming... and it was Dimitris…
-"You girls are quick... I'm sorry if I have kept you both waiting too long; I just needed to call on Demeon on the telephone to tell him what had happened to the water creature you and Faust had captured." Said Dimitris to Carousel
-"Why…? What happened to the water creature?" asked Carousel looking very concern
-"Come, quick…" Dimitris told Carousel and Rachael, he was very wary of their surroundings... because he didn't want anybody to see them at that place. -"Follow me…" he said as he led them to one of the familiar walls on that place... and he pressed a series of keys on that wall and then suddenly that wall's geometric pattern slowly disappeared... and it quickly opened, revealing the secret research laboratory of the academy…
-"I told you, this was the place." Said Carousel to Rachael as they both went inside, Dimitris then quickly locked it so that nobody will get in. He didn't even care if Rachael was inside the research laboratory because his mind was preoccupied by the water creature…
-"I don't know what happened to the water creature." Said Dimitris as he led them to the container where the water creature was being held captive.
-"Oh my..." Carousel mumbled to herself when she saw the empty container.
-"I went here this morning, to take a look at this water creature and I was surprised to see this." Dimitris said, as he showed them an empty container and there seems to be a portion of water scattered inside it.
-"Could that be the water creature?" asked Rachael upon seeing portions of scattered waters inside the tank container.
-"Could be..." replied Carousel -"That water creature couldn't possibly have escaped this container." She said as she was examining the thickness of the transparent container, her eyes narrowed… -"And besides... we didn't put any water in this container yesterday, so these strewn droplets of water could be the water creature." Carousel concluded and she was looking so bleak. -"But what could be the reason why this thing happened to that water creature? Is it because we didn't put any water in this container? And that's why it literally turned into water?"
-"Maybe…" replied Dimitris -"We thought that it could also be an air breathing creature but... obviously we were wrong. That water creature was just meant to live in waters."
-"But... we all saw how that water creature was so adaptive to the air atmosphere... it was even moving as if it was still in the waters... but only much better. There wasn't a sign that it was in fact struggling, and it seems that – that water creature was so comfortable in its new found environment." Carousel pointed out
-"It's too bad I didn't even get to see it." Said Rachael
-"Well... that's the only reason we can think of why that water creature literally turned into water." Said Dimitris
-"But is there a chance that you could still get and capture one?" asked Rachael
-"I don't know... that creature is so rare and we're lucky to have ever found one at 'Lake Midgar' I don't know if we could ever find another one."
-"But maybe there's still another one that is still living in that lake…"
-"Yes... Rachael might be right; perhaps there is still a water creature that is living in that lake, it's impossible for it to be just living alone in that murky lake. Why don't you go and look for another one." Said Dimitris
-"What?" replied Carousel -"But we just did, and it's just too bad that the splitters in this academy didn't get the chance to see it."
-"But I just want you to check on that lake, to see if there is still a water creature living in that lake." Said Dimitris -"You and your friend could go and check on it."
-"Yes, let's go see if there is still one." Rachael cried
-"No…!" Carousel strongly replied -"I will never go back to that place again! That place is dangerous, we even got attacked by a soul stealer remember?"
-"Oh, yes... I... I do remember." Rachael softly replied
-"But I'm afraid we can't consider that you and Faust had captured one... because the trainees in this academy would be asking where that water creature is, and if we can't show them anything, then they wouldn't believe that you and Faust did actually manage to capture one." Said Dimitris
-"I understand..." as Carousel tries to think… "But is there a… a some kind of a surveillance camera installed in here somewhere so we could at least see how that water creature has turned into this kind of water, and at least we could show them that we did in fact captured one."
-"I already checked on that... and coincidentally the surveillance camera that is installed in this room was not properly working last night." Said Dimitris
-"I thought this room was so well secluded and guarded... how come the surveillance camera didn't work last night? Why of all time did it not work last night... and now?"
-"Well... now, it's perfectly working."
-"Hmm... I feel like there's something going on in here." Carousel thought to herself
-"I know what you're thinking…" said Dimitris as he was looking at Carousel. -"But I assure you, that there is absolutely nobody from this academy, who can enter this room without knowing the right keys of combinations to unlock the door except me and Demeon." Explained Dimitris
Carousel's eyes slowly narrowed while looking at Dimitris.
-"Now... now, that's not fair to think of me as the culprit of this incident... I didn't do anything to that water creature." Said Dimitris defensively
-"Why are you so defensive? I didn't say anything about you being the culprit."
-"Yes... you didn't say anything but your mind is saying it, I can read you." Said Dimitris
Carousel sighed heavily as she tries to think what might have really happened to the water creature. -"I better tell this to Faust." She said
-"Now?" asked Dimitris
-"Yes…"
-"But... you can't…"
-"Why…?"
-"Because the school's competition will about to start in a few minutes... and you are to take part of it."
-"But I thought that... we would still have to talk about it first, I didn't expect for it to start right away, this soon... I'm not even prepared."
-"You've encountered two soul stealers!" as Dimitris pointed out. -"So don't expect me to believe that you are not prepared at all."
-"And yes, about those soul stealers..." As Carousel abruptly remembered… -"Why did you tell Emoreh that those creatures do not exist? Are you trying to conceal those beasts? Or you probably know something that you are not telling us?" asked Carousel as she was staring fiercely at Dimitris –"Are you one of them?" she asked as the tone of her voice was sturdy… and her eyes narrowed
-"Hahaha…" Dimitris laughed at Carousel's predicament –"How dare you say such a thing? Do I look like one of them?" He asked…
Carousel's eyes slowly looked down, from looking at Dimitris'… -"No…" she answered as she slightly rolled her eyes…
-"See… I thought Demeon had already enlightened you about these matters?"
-"He did tell me, what might be the possible consequences if the people of Eris would know about those soul stealers, but I wouldn't consider the term – enlightened, because I wasn't."
Dimitris raised his left eyebrow and said… -"Well... let's just get out of here, the competition is about to start." His voice was nasally and annoying as usual.
-"But... Dimitris... you do believe me right? That those soul stealers actually do exist?"
-"I don't know... because I have never actually seen one." he replied
Rachael then rolled her eyes… -"Carousel, let's just go!" she cried
-"I don't know... because I haven't seen one yet…" Dimitris concluded
Carousel then slowly looked into Rachael's eyes and she tried talking to her in her mind… -"Rachael, nod if you can read my mind…" she said in her mind as she was looking into Rachael's eyes.
Rachael then slightly rolled her eyes... she wanted to say… -"Of course…" but she just did what Carousel wanted her to do, and she slightly nodded.
As the three of them were walking out of the research laboratory, Carousel was anxiously looking at Rachael and she was telling her in her mind that; she doesn't believe that the water creature just melted and just turned into water... she wants to know more about what exactly had happened to the water creature because Dimitris doesn't seem to care about it too much.
Rachael then pulled her eyebrows up and she widened her eyes, to signify the question… -"What do you want me to do…?"
Carousel then spoke to her in her mind and said… -"Rachael, I'm going to go out from this room first... I will tell Dimitris that I have to prepare myself first for the competition, but the truth is... I will just hide from one of the pillars outside, and when he is about to lock this door... I want you to divert him from looking at the door... keep him entertained while he is pressing the keys to lock the door, so I can rush back in here."
Rachael wanted to ask Carousel the question: -"How will you manage to get out from this room once you've got in?" But Carousel doesn't have the skill to read her mind and before she knew it... Carousel was telling them… -"I have to go; I have to prepare myself while there is still time for me to practice!" She cried as she didn't even look at Dimitris while she swiftly went out from the research area, leaving Rachael in total panic…
-"I wonder what talents Carousel would show to her fellow splitters." Said Dimitris -"She better prepare herself because she doesn't have any idea what kind of a challenge is actually waiting for her…" said Dimitris in an intriguing tone.
-"What do you mean?" asked Rachael as she was looking very anxious at Dimitris
-"Well... you know…"
-"No..." Rachael prolonged her voice… -"I don't know…"
-"Well... don't worry, just wait because you will soon know."
Rachael narrowed her eyes and glanced at the pillars outside the entrance of the research area... and then she saw Carousel hiding from one of the pillars and she was making an eye contact with her.
-"Rachael, I'm going to try to run as fast as I can back to that room so try not to make Dimitris look back at the door." She said to Rachael in her mind
-"Is there anything wrong?" Dimitris asked Rachael as he looked around and started to press the combination keys on the wall for the door to close. Carousel ducked in quickly when she saw that Dimitris was looking around to see what Rachael was looking at.
-"Nothing…!" Rachael abruptly replied as she softly touched Dimitris' cheek and slowly maneuvering his face towards hers, and Rachael enticingly asked him… -"Do you need... a partner in life Dimitris? Because... I can see that you need one." She slowly said with a bit of provocation. Dimitris was taken aback…
Carousel then decided to make use of that moment and she hastily went back inside the research area in a split second before the door even closed. Carousel heavily sighed as she got in safely without Dimitris even knowing that she had made it back inside the research laboratory once again.
Dimitris' eyes narrowed as he tried to look back at the door because he had felt a slight disturbance before the door even closed, but Rachael firmly held his chin preventing him to look back.
-"I need an answer..." said Rachael as she tried to sound beguiling.
Dimitris raised his one eyebrow and he slowly and with inclemency said… -"Get... your hand, off... of my face!" His nasally voice sounded more annoying than usual. -"It only shows how poor your mind reading ability is, because you can't truly see what I really want." Dimitris said as he gave Rachael a meaningful stare as if he was telling her that she was nowhere his type. Dimitris tapped Rachael's hand as he turned around with a grunt that Rachael even heard when he walked away.
-"Eeewww..." Rachael thought to herself as she had an idea what Dimitris was trying to tell her. Her face was filled with disgust… -"As if I was really being serious with you to begin with." She said to herself as she slowly went to examine the door that locked, so to have a word with Carousel… -"Carousel can you hear me?" Rachael softly asked as she quietly knocked at the door.
-"..." But there was no reply from Carousel.
-"She probably can't hear me; considering the thickness of this wall, I'll just stay here in case she needs me." Rachael thought to herself.
But then Dimitris cried… -"And what exactly are you still doing there?" Dimitris interrupted as he took a quick look back at Rachael. -"Get away from there! Someone might see you there... then they might have an idea what is in those walls and that won't be a secret place anymore!"
-"Yes, I ... I... was just about to go." Replied Rachael with a pretentious smile... and Dimitris rolled his eyes as his usual reaction. Rachael felt anxious about Carousel at the same time sickened about Dimitris as she walked away.
In the meantime, when Carousel went back into the secret research laboratory, she immediately went to look where the water creature was contained, the container was unmoved and there seems to be no signs of intrusion, but Carousel still started digging up some clues that may shed light to why the water creature just turned into water or... if those droplets of water that are inside the container... are in fact the water creature itself.
Carousel tried operating the surveillance camera that was surveying the container where the water creature was at... but Dimitris was right... it did not recorded anything about yesterday and Carousel was still persistent on finding some clues... until she found out that, not only does the container with the water creature in it that was being surveyed but... the entire academy was in fact being surveyed.
-"I never thought that there were surveillance cameras that are hidden all over the campus's perimeters... but why do they need to?" Carousel asked herself as she was looking at the projectors.
The projected images were in 'Three Dimensional' images, giving Carousel a better view of the scene. Then she tried clicking the '3D' images... in her surprise the images were zoomed in, giving the '3D' images a larger picture of the scene.
-"Amazing… this surveillance thing, this might be the thing that Demeon was talking about, that even though Dimitris is not around doesn't mean that he can't tell who amongst the splitters are improving… that is why he was able to observe us… " Carousel thought to herself upon doing so... as she tried looking somewhere else to find clues about the water creature's outcome.
-"There isn't anything in here that I can find useful." Carousel said to herself as she was abruptly intrigued by the egg shaped compartment that caught her attention on the side of her eyes. Carousel walked towards the egg shaped stall that is suspended at the center of the room and tries to examine it... she begins by softly touching the shiny exterior of the compartment... and then it triggered something... Carousel was alarmed by the shrieking sound it suddenly made and she quickly took her hands off. And then the egg shaped compartment slowly opened like a blossomed flower... revealing a comfortable seat in the inside…
-"Hmm... What do we have here?" Carousel thought to her self... as she went in to look and see what it is... and then she decided to try and take a seat inside the egg shaped compartment. She was reluctant to take a seat at first... she was preparing herself to jump off in case something bad might happen. But as she was seated... the egg shaped compartment begins to slowly enclose in and mechanical wires started coming out from the armrest of the seat and began wrapping within the tip of her fingers. Carousel was a bit anxious to see what will happen next; and as the egg shaped compartment closes in, Carousel couldn't see anything... because it was so dark inside... and moments later, specks of lights starts to appear around her, at first she thought that those were souls that she was seeing, but moments later... she figured that those aren't souls, those were the representation of stars. Stars that are floating on infinite darkness, Carousel was amazed of what she had seen, she was inside an egg shaped container... a compartment that looks ordinary from the outside but it looks as if she was floating in outer space from the inside... she could see the different stars... the different planets... the different galaxies... all the different heavenly bodies you could possibly see in the universe. Carousel wondered why her fingers were suddenly wrapped with mechanical wires, so she started moving her fingers, but as soon as she moved them... the scene from the inside started to twirl, spinning rapidly making her feel very dizzy so she figured that she should just move her fingers slowly... she then slowly waved her hand to the left, and the scene moved to the left... she slowly waved her hand to the right, and then the scene moved to the right. It was like a touch screen feeling, where everything she touches and every movement her fingers make... there's an equal reaction. Carousel sat there and tried to maneuver her way... but she soon wobbled in frustration.
-"Oh..." She cried in frustration… -"What is this?"
Then an automatic answering voice machine answered her. -"This is a 'workstation cell' where everything you want to know can be answered."
-"Really…?"
-"Affirmative..."
-"Okay, let me think..." said Carousel as she was preparing for her first question…
-"That is not a question." The machine abruptly replied
-"I know…" Carousel thought to herself… as she soon followed it by a real question… Carousel looked around and asked… -"Where is this place?"
-"What you are looking now, is the outer part of our world – 'the outer space' – as you can see; that star in the center... is our star – 'Asterie' and the two planets revolving around it are – 'Eris' – our world which revolves nearer to the 'Asterie' and the planet located at the outer part is 'Iris' a planet so near to us but inhabitants from here can't even cope to travel to that planet." Answered the voice machine…
-"So there's a planet outside this world…?" Carousel asked herself… -"Why? Why can't we go there?" Asked she
-"Because millions of asteroids are revolving around our planet, it coats our world like a protective shield that prevents anything from entering our planet... but, which it also makes it impossible and dangerous for every Erishan from this planet, even with a vessel to go out and venture out there…"
-"So that's what they are... asteroids…" Carousel thought -"Before, I couldn't tell them apart from those dark clouds at the skies but I always thought that those things... looks different, I knew they weren't clouds, but now I know." Carousel thought to herself…
-"Where did those millions of asteroids come from…?"
-"Thousands of years ago... planet Eris had two moons that is revolving around it but... those moons suddenly collided with each other and exploded for an unknown and unexplained reason... and it's remains are now the millions of asteroids that are encircling our planet."
-"And... What is that... thing?" Carousel asked as she pointed out with her finger a huge circular black thing that seems to be moving around through the vast space.
-"That is what you call… a 'Dark Spiral'... it devours everything on its path." The machine replied…
-"Everything?" she mumbled as she felt a little bit scared and before she got used to those information... she remembered the reason why she went to that room in the first place…
-"Tell me about... water creatures?" Carousel asked
-"Water Creatures..." said the voice machine, then it was searching for an answer… the scene inside the egg shaped workstation cell then changed from an outer space scene to a watery scene… -"There are millions of water creatures in this planet... which one?" It asked as it was flashing pictures of different kinds of water creatures.
-"No, no, no..." Carousel repeatedly said as she was looking at those pictures being flashed and projected in front of her. -"No, I don't see it in any of those pictures" She said as she paused for awhile… -"Those water creatures are believed to be immortals... they are believed to be eternal, so… did any of my description made any help to you?" Asked Carousel
-"Are you pertaining to this water creature?" The machine asked as it showed Carousel the right kind of water creature she was talking about… which was a 'tear' shaped bubble-like creature…
-"Yes…!" Carousel cried upon seeing the picture… -"That's it! What do you call that?"
-"This is an 'embloig' believed to be first discovered by Dr. Mario Tolluca some twenty seven years ago." The machine answered as it showed Carousel a bigger picture of it.
-"Tell me all the information you know about that embloig." Said Carousel
But then... a sudden turbulence distracted it from answering back and Carousel panicked when she felt the sudden disturbance and cried… -"Let me out!" so the machine let her out instantly and Carousel immediately jumped out of that egg shaped stall. -"What was that?" Carousel asked herself as she saw the '3D' images in the room... were also being disrupted. And then something caught the corner of her eye and she quickly turned her head to see what it is, Carousel's eyes widened as she saw... -"Emery?" she cried in surprise as she saw Emery in there. -"Why are you here? How did you get in here?" were the first questions that came out from Carousel's mouth as she saw Emery who was standing before her.
-"The competition... is about to start." Emery slowly and softly replied, her lips barely moved.
-"That's the reason why you're here? ... Just so you could tell me that?" asked Carousel,
Emery slightly nodded.
Carousel could feel the cold stare Emery is giving her but she felt that it should be her, who should have the right to feel cold towards Emery. -"I don't get it... why does she have the guts to stare at me like that?" Carousel thought to herself… -"How did you get in here?" she asked -"How did you know I was here?" Carousel looked confused…
-"..." Emery did not answer instead she slowly looked at the door signifying that she wants Carousel out of the room immediately. But Carousel wasn't moved.
-"You don't want Dimitris to know about this, do you?" Emery asked
Carousel slowly narrowed her eyes and heavily sighed. -"Okay, I'm going…" she said as the two of them walked out of the room. -"Emery, please don't tell this to Dimitris... I just wanted to know what exactly happened to that 'embloig' that we had captured. Because it's not just it was so hard to capture one, but it was also rare to find one and I don't know if we could ever see another one... and it just so happened that we were lucky to find one at Lake Midgar."
-"Don't worry... I won't…" Emery slowly replied
-"Thank you..." Carousel said with a relief, as she looked at Emery but... Emery's eyes were fixed to the ground as usual. -"Have you seen an 'embloig' before? They said that it is an immortal creature." Asked Carousel
-"..." Emery did not reply and she just continued walking...
-"The alchemists in our academy have studied that those creatures goes through a certain transition in their lives, that's why they don't die, and they believe that it may hold to unlocking the secrets of immortality... I wonder what it feels like... to be an immortal. To not experience death at all, I think that it would be nice. I mean, those creatures have achieved the ultimate success in life... which is to be able to live forever." Carousel continued talking even though Emery doesn't seem to be listening.
-"... But... do you really want to live forever…? Even... if, you are in that kind of state…?" Emery asked, as she finally decided to talk.
-"What do you mean? I have seen an 'embloig' and it doesn't seem to be in a miserable state... and I do think that it is actually quite enjoying its natural state in life." Carousel added
-"But are you sure that - that 'embloig' sees it the way you perceived it to be?"
Carousel slightly shook her head; she doesn't seem to understand what Emery meant… so she slowly asked… -"Why…? Is there anything wrong with their actual state in life?"
-"You've seen one, but you don't seem to see the real..." said Emery as she suddenly stopped talking… she slowly looked down again.
-"The real... what…?" Carousel asked impatiently
-"The real… consequences those creatures are facing."
-"I... I... don't get what you mean by that."
-"Like you said, those creatures have achieved the ultimate success in life which is to be able to live forever but... in order to gain something you must also lose something, that is the law of nature, and if that creature had gained everything... then it also has to lose everything, meaning… if it has achieved the ultimate success then it must also endure the ultimate failure." Emery's voice was so soft that it can barely be heard.
-"Which is?" asked Carousel
-"To not… be able to think…"
-"To not be able to think…? You mean those creatures can't think?"
-"Yes…"
-"And if so... how did that became the ultimate failure?"
-"For a living thing to be living and not to be able to think, then that living thing is as good as a lifeless thing."
-"I'm... I'm finding it hard to understand." Said Carousel -"If an embloig cannot think for itself then how did it manage to avoid our capturing? For a living thing to be living and for it not to be able to think, I really don't get it why did that become the ultimate failure?"
Emery slightly lifted her chin up, from always looking down as she slowly looked at Carousel… -"No... You don't…" said Emery
Carousel thought… -"Can she read minds too?" she asked herself, while she didn't become aware that they were already out of the secret research area. Carousel just noticed that they were heading to where the competition was being held. At the center ground of the academy, Carousel looked at Emery with bewilderment while Emery's eyes remained fixed on the ground, the sound of Emery's long garments being dragged on the floor while she was walking is the only sound that can be heard, for it suddenly became very silent... because they both didn't want to continue conversing with each other anymore.
Chapter Fourteen "Mischief"
Carousel and Emery then walked into the arena; the stage was set for the chosen splitters to show off their talents. Carousel looked around to see who amongst her fellow splitters were chosen to enter the competition... and there were just a handful of them... including Rachael and Emery.
-"I'm glad you made it here on time…" Rachael whispered… -"I thought you wouldn't make it."
Carousel slightly nodded her head towards Emery while giving her an indicative stare and Rachael soon figured it out.
-"So, Emery knows that place too?" Rachael whispered as she asked
-"Obviously…" Carousel replied as she saw Demeon from afar, who just arrived, was now sitting at the upper box of the stadium together with Dimitris and they were inspecting for unnecessary ordeals. Moments later each of the candidates were sent into their respective starting positions, they were asked to enter into a maze like challenge separately from one another, each of them were positioned in each sides of the labyrinth, they were asked to encircle it... each being way apart from one another. They were put into a maze that they don't know where the exit is, except that they were being watched by their fellow 'splitters' from above the stadium.
-"The first three 'splitters' to make it to the center of the maze are the ones who will be subjected to proceed to enter to the next challenge." Said the host of the competition…
Carousel looked around and saw Emoreh from one of the splitters from above who are watching the competition; Emoreh seems to be talking to a candidate from below.
-"He must be talking to Emery right now... telling her the way out of this maze." Carousel thought to herself.
The host of the competition who was also a shaman at the academy then started the count down...
-"This is your time… to show off your talents…! 4… 3… 2… and 1! Go!" cried the host of the competition…
And a loud horn was blown, indicating that the competition had begun and the candidates scrambled to find their own way out of that maze... which is at the center of the maze. As the candidates preceded… the walls of the maze started to change... the walls begins to move.
-"What's going on here…?" Carousel asked herself as the walls begins to move from left to right... from front to back. But Carousel was quick to dodge every blow of the moving walls.
-"This is misleading…" Carousel thought… -"How can I find the center of this maze if the walls keep moving...? I've got to figure the way out of this maze, I can't keep this up for long." She told herself as she was still dodging the heavy blows the walls makes each time it moves. -"I wonder how Rachael is doing; I hope she gets out of this." Carousel thought to herself feeling very worried for Rachael.
-"A splitter was caught between the walls... he is now disqualified!" cried the host…
Carousel looked up to take a quick glance at the top, to where the splitters were seated to see if they were looking at the splitter who was just disqualified, and they seem to be looking at where Rachael's position was.
-"I'm sure that it was a 'he' that the host announced, so I guess I shouldn't worry." Said Carousel as she tries to peek who it was by jumping as high as she can possibly jump but the walls were just too high. -"I guess I should just worry about myself because there is really nothing that I can do for them." She thought -"There must be a pattern for these walls in their manner of movement... because they can't possibly be moving at a similar direction at once because that will reveal the core of this labyrinth... I wonder who is controlling these walls…?" Carousel asked herself as she scans her surroundings and the
Erishans who are watching them from up above. To see if there are who she suspects they are. But there wasn't anybody from the crowd whom she can identify... and instead she saw Dimitris and Demeon who were vigorously looking at her, so the pressure builds up for her.
-"I think we are going to have our very first candidate to walk into the center." The host declared. As the crowd wooed in, some of them were softly saying the name – 'Emery?' but Carousel could hear them clearly.
Carousel was eager to know who it was because she wasn't sure if it was really Emery who was about to reach the core first… as Carousel just kept finding her way out of that maze... she quickly moved from one place to another, but it just led her to another... after another... dead end.
-"Oh…!" Carousel cried -"How can I get out of here?" she asked herself sounding very frustrated.
The walls were constantly and rapidly moving up and down, from left to right and suddenly a wall came out from nowhere and it almost hit Carousel on her body, luckily she managed to dodge it, her body seems to momentarily have split into two... the one being hit by the wall and the other one who dodged the wall, Carousel was surprised to see that she had discovered a hidden talent of hers. -"Is this what Demeon was talking about?" Carousel asked herself… -"Then I still have a lot of hidden skills to crack after all." She said to herself as she saw Demeon and Dimitris at the upper box smiling at her.
But as the walls were moving, she noticed Emery was fast approaching the core of the labyrinth.
-"So, it is her…" Carousel thought to her self... so she tried to focus on Emery but Carousel couldn't follow her because the walls around her were constantly moving so she tried focusing again, but this time her focus were on the moving walls...
Carousel managed to see through Emery despite the swift movements of the walls. The walls movement became slower in Carousel's perspective.
-"But now at least, I know where the core is... thanks to you Emery." Carousel mumbled to herself. -"I hope that what I'm doing is not cheating. I can't blame myself if I have such good eyesight." She added as she now started to focus on the walls. Carousel narrowed her eyes for her to have a better view of the moving walls... then as she closes in, the walls moved slower and slower in her own perspective as if she had the power to freeze time... but it was just because Carousel had capitalized on her quick reflexes that's why everyone and everything around her seems to move very slowly. Carousel was now nearing into Emery... Carousel followed her because she knew that she was the one whom the host of the competition was referring to. Emery... who's without any effort, was fast approaching the core, she looked flawless in avoiding those moving walls as if those walls were the ones that are avoiding her. Her decision making was also superb, making no mistakes about the routes she was taking. Carousel tried to outrun Emery to the core but Emery was too close to the center of the labyrinth to be outrun by Carousel.
-"Emery reached the core first!" The announcer announced as Emery entered a concrete door at the center of the maze… -"And I can see... Carousel coming…" the host shouted… -"Emery is followed by Carousel…" he concluded, as Carousel was now closing in to Emery but she was anxious to enter through the door because she wasn't sure where that door might lead her to. -"And… the last but not the least 'splitter' to proceed is... " the announcer cried but he did not know the name of that splitter who is now fast approaching for the third place…
-"Rachael…" cried Rachael to the announcer and so the announcer proclaimed her name… -"Rachael is the last to proceed…" announced the host… -"Now we have our three candidates who have successfully passed their first obstacle… Emery, Carousel and Rachael… now… this maze will now rest." Said the shaman host, and the moving walls of the labyrinth were then put to a sudden stop... some of the candidates were stuck between the walls but nobody was seriously injured and some candidates didn't even moved a step from their starting positions, they were just standing there from the very beginning up till the end of the first obstacle... they were too scared to even try to move. -"This first round is finished." The shaman host declared.
-"Rachael I'm glad you made it!" cried Carousel upon seeing her best friend made it to the second round with her. -"I didn't see you coming... but then you suddenly just came out from nowhere."
-"I was just behind you…! No time to chat... let's just go!" Rachael cried as she strode Carousel into the door of the core. -"The door is closing! Let's hurry!" she cried. As they both hurriedly went into the concrete door... and inside it was a staircase that leads down to a dark and unfamiliar territory. The door then automatically closed as soon as they went inside.
-"Now... spectators of the academy... this is as far as the first round of the competition goes, and I'm afraid we cannot let you see the second round of this competition because it is being held right under where I am standing." The announcer explained and the crowd started to babble. -"Yes, yes, yes... calm down, all of you... I know, I mean I don't know..." The host quickly corrected himself… -"I don't know what kind of obstacle they are being put into right now, because like I said... the second round of this competition is being held right under this place." The host gestured by opening up his arms… -"And we will just have to wait and see who amongst those three 'splitters' will go out from that door and emerge victorious of this competition." Cried the shaman host as he pointed to the crowd a pyramid door shaped like structure located at the top side part of the arena. And he glanced at the box where Demeon and Dimitris were seated because he was unsure of what he had just said... but Demeon and Dimitris were now… nowhere to be found…
Meanwhile... Carousel and Rachael were walking down the staircase. It was dark and dusty inside that underground maze and only a few torches were lit along the walls.
-"What kind of a silly obstacle did they put us into now?" asked Rachael -"What do these silly obstacles have to do to enhance our skills?" She added
Carousel slightly smiled but she was obviously fighting back her fears. -"I wonder where Emery could have gone. She was the first one to enter." Said Carousel… -"Emery...! Emery... can you hear me? Where are you?" Cried Carousel, she was calling for Emery
-"She's probably on her way now to winning this competition, so if you could just keep quiet and stop calling her name and instead you could start helping me to figure out our way out of here..." said Rachael
-"Okay... okay…" replied Carousel as she starts to figure out their way out of there.
The paths were too narrow for them to walk side by side, so they walked along each other and Rachael being at the front.
-"Rachael, could you please walk faster... Emery's goanna win this competition if you keep walking like this." Said Carousel
-"But I can't clearly see where we're heading." Replied Rachael
-"Okay, just let me take the lead then, at least I could see our way better than you do." Said Carousel -"I think they have put us into a maze again... look... the paths interlock each other again." Carousel said as she illuminated the place along their way with the torch she was holding so Rachael could also see.
-"What?" asked Rachael in dismay -"Another maze? Don't tell me that these walls are about to move again." She said upon seeing the labyrinth that Carousel had shown her.
-"No, I think this time... these walls will not be moving."
-"What makes you think so?"
-"I can't feel the mechanisms inside these walls." Carousel said as she was slowly running the tip of her fingers through the walls... she was touching the walls to feel if there were any disturbances of machineries that she can feel inside.
-"Are you sure?"
-"Yes, because these walls are different from the walls that I have examined from the ones at the above."
-"Now… that these walls are not moving, I guess there is nothing for me to worry about." Said Rachael -"Carousel... I think we should split, because that would give us a better chance of finding our way out of here."
-"I think you're right…! Just call me when you find it okay?" replied Carousel as they both headed on an opposite direction with torches lit on their hands which they took from the ones that are hanged on the walls.
Carousel then quickly checked every area that she had come across... examining the walls for any signs of an outlet.
-"I don't know what this competition is all about... but I want to beat Emery here, at least then I could get even with her... so I better find my way out of here quick before she does." Carousel thought to herself as she was flipping the torch in her hand to look for her way out, and suddenly one flip of the torch on the side revealed Emery's face… she was looking at her… -"Emery! You scared me!" Carousel cried as she was surprised to see Emery there… standing in front of her… -"But I'm glad to see that you haven't made it yet... I mean..." Said Carousel as she tries to clear her throat… -"So... I see, you haven't found your way out of here yet?" Carousel mockingly asked but Emery was soft spoken as usual…
-"And I can see that you have grown stronger than before... don't forget your purpose." Said Emery, her voice was very calm as usual.
-"Excuse me…?" asked Carousel as her voice hit a higher note at the end. "Did she just read my mind…?" Carousel asked herself
Then suddenly, Carousel heard Rachael's voice…
-"Carousel…!" Rachael cried
Carousel was keen to hear Rachael's voice… -"I'm coming…!" Carousel shouted -"I think Rachael has found the way out, but if only she could just lower her voice down... Emery might hear her and she might follow us out of here." Carousel thought to herself.
-"I suppose, you don't need my help anymore." Emery softly said as she also heard Rachael's call.
Carousel nodded and replied… "Of course… why would I need your help…? I never needed your help. I guess you can clearly take things right." Carousel sounded somewhat appreciative as she quickly rushed to follow Rachael's voice. –"Maybe, Emery knew that I was following her when she involuntarily led me into this second part of the competition." Carousel mumbled to herself.
-"Carousel…!" Rachael continued calling her, Rachael's voice was now even louder than her first call.
Carousel followed where Rachael's voice was coming from, she was running and rushing consequently fast so as not to give Emery a hint where that place is, because she might by chance lead her out of there... and as Carousel was nearing to where Rachael was, Carousel exuberantly said… -"Rachael, I heard you loud and clear, you don't need to keep yelling and keep calling my name because Emery might..." Carousel immediately came to a standstill from her hasty fleet; she was suddenly speechless and she couldn't continue what she was saying, she was taken aback, her eyes widened as she was stunned to see Rachael and... 'Conscience' again…
-"Rachael..." Carousel called, her voice nearly fainted as she saw Rachael, who was slowly being cornered by Conscience at one of the sides of the maze, so Carousel threw the torch she was holding straight at Conscience. -"Get away from her!" Carousel cried
-"You again?" replied Conscience as he slowly faced Carousel, Conscience was hit by Carousel's torch at his back, but he doesn't seem to bear the pain... as if he was only hit by a child.
-"I should be asking you the same... what are you doing here?" asked Carousel as she was fighting the fear she was feeling.
-"Don't mind my interfering, but... do you two know each other?" asked Rachael as she sounded very confused and it seems as if there isn't a bit of fear she was feeling.
-"That is the soul stealer that I told you about... remember... the one that Faust and I have encountered at Lake Midgar." Said Carousel
-"Oh, now I remember..." Rachael replied
Conscience snarled and said… -"Now let's see if both of you could still remember me once I get to suck on your souls."
-"Rachael!" cried Carousel as she immediately took her by the arm. And they immediately started to run.
-"Is this the challenge Dimitris was talking about? Because... this sure is... unexpected…!" Rachael cried as they were franticly running.
-"What…?" asked Carousel
-"When you left the research lab, Dimitris told me that there is a challenge that awaits us, and I have a feeling that this is it…" Rachael explained as they were still running away from Conscience. Carousel was feeling confused as she leads Rachael through the perplex course of the underground maze.
-"There is absolutely no way out of here." Said Conscience, his voice was very deep as he tried to seize them.
Meanwhile… Demeon and Dimitris were hiding in one of the hidden corners of the labyrinth waiting for what will happen next; they were there to observe Carousel whilst they didn't pay much attention to Rachael and Emery.
-"Do you think 'Conscience' can provoke her into unleashing her hidden skill?" asked Dimitris
-"Let's wait and see..." replied Demeon
-"But what if... he can't make her to…?"
-"Then I'll be the one to try to do it myself… I've done it before and I can surely do it again…"
-"Well... Carousel's soul better be worth it."
-"Oh, I assure you it is... but don't even dare to try and get close to that soul of hers once she unleashes it because her soul belongs only to me."
-"Don't worry I won't, because from the looks of it Carousel won't be unleashing her soul today, look... they're getting away!" said Dimitris
-"That imbecile... Conscience…!" Demeon cried -"What could she possibly do to him? For him to lose his concentration..." Demeon said to himself as he saw Conscience from a distance being worn down by Carousel and Rachael.
-"Then... I guess, now... is the right time for you to do what you have got to do." Said Dimitris in his nasally and very annoying voice…
-"What…?"
-"Well, didn't you say just a while ago that if 'Conscience' can't make it then you will be the one to try to do it yourself?"
-"No, I can't... that would be very risky... because they have already seen me before and if they would see me again right now, then that would be very uncertain especially if they would manage to escape now... which I think is very likely to happen because those two 'splitters' have certainly improved a lot. Now, why don't you go there and help 'Conscience'… they haven't seen your true image yet, and this is the perfect time for you to show them."
-"Hello…?" Dimitris snorted -"As if... they haven't suspected anything suspicious yet… And why me…?" He added
-"Just do what I tell you to do! Now go there and make Carousel unleash her soul, but don't consume it because that's mine, but you can have the other girl's... soul"
Dimitris rolled his eyes and couldn't do anything but to obey his master, he slowly shape shifted himself to 'Mischief' and he flew immediately to the scene.
In the meantime, Conscience wasn't worn out like what Demeon and Dimitris have assumed but instead he was floundering on the ground because of guilt. Conscience's eyes were now suddenly turning into a light gray in color.
-"I know who you are..." said Carousel as she was making a wild guess… -"Your name is… Isoah…" she said
And that was the reason why Conscience faltered onto the ground... his claws was deeply gritted into the ground creating cracks unto it.
-"Why did you choose to become a soul stealer…?" Carousel continued asking
-"..." But there was no reply from Conscience but instead he just snarled and continued his strong grip on the ground. He was floundering and his pitch black eyes were now… turning into a light gray in color.
Carousel narrowed her eyes in array… -"I think he has weakened… But what did I do…?" she thought to herself… -"But whatever it is… I think what I have said is working on him…"
Rachael... then tries to look for their way out…
-"Hmmm... I think I know where our way out of here." Rachael whispered as she saw Emery from a distance.
-"You do? That's great! Where…?" Carousel softly asked while maintaining a constant watch at Conscience who remained unmoved onto the ground.
-"Just follow me…" said Rachael
-"Okay… let's get going then…"
Rachael then hurriedly went to the area where she saw Emery and Carousel quickly followed her from behind.
-"I knew it! Here, I found the door... now help me move this thing." Said Rachael
-"But... how did you find this?"
-"I saw Emery in here so I figured she might have found her way out of here already and I was right... she did."
-"This door is too heavy to be moved... as if it was really meant to be like this so as to not let anybody from getting out of here alive."
-"But how did Emery get out from here?"
-"You're right... I guess we should just try harder."
But as Carousel and Rachael were trying to open the heavy concrete door... Mischief hastily flew to the scene where Carousel and Rachael was, unwrapping himself with his pair of huge dark wings as he landed on the ground.
-"And where exactly do you two think you're going?" asked Mischief in a pitchy and very nasally voice. Carousel and Rachael then slowly turned around to see who it was as the two had an idea that it wasn't Conscience who just spoke to them because the later had a much deeper and a lower kind of voice.
-"What…? Another soul stealer!" cried Rachael upon seeing Mischief… who was somewhat resembles like Conscience but with a slenderer body and has two horns on his forehead.
-"Who… What are you?" asked Carousel as she slightly stepped back.
Mischief then looked into their eyes… he couldn't read Rachael's thoughts but he did read Carousel's… he then smirked at them as he found out what the two girls had done to Conscience.
-"Will it be of importance to you if I will tell you so..." replied Mischief
-"No…!" Rachael abruptly said -"We don't need to know… who or what you are… because you are obviously a monster!"
Carousel then looked at Rachael with a bit of animosity.
-"What…? ... I'm just telling the truth." Rachael said to Carousel
Mischief then approached the two ladies with annoyance towards them... he then threw Rachael on the wall with one strike of his claw-like hand and he grabbed Carousel by the neck on the other. Carousel struggled to breath, but she couldn't let loose... Mischief was tightly strangling her as he lifted her higher on the ground... Carousel's feet were wobbling on mid air as she tries to kick him with her feet...
-"Unleash your soul and your suffering will be over..." said Dimitris
-"What... are you saying…?" said Carousel as her words were trembling as she struggles to let loose, but Carousel's grip on Mischief's hand only makes the strangling on her neck even tighter... Carousel was then about to pass out when a rock hit Mischief on the head and that made him allow Carousel to let loose.
-"Let her go!" cried Rachael as she threw the rock on Mischief's forehead which are scattered all over the place…
Carousel fell to the ground gasping for air as she tries to clear her throat. She stroke her neck to check if she was injured but her attention was divulge when she felt that her clock necklace was missing, she looked around and saw on the ground that her clock necklace was broken and it's band was also broken down into pieces... the result of Mischief's grabbing her by the neck.
-"Why you little..." Mischief snarled at Rachael as he was about to attack her.
-"Don't come any closer." Rachael said, her tone was somewhat threatening.
-"Or else what…?" Mischief said with a snort
Rachael slowly stepped back… -"Do you think I'm scared of you? I'm not... you're just a silly looking beast."
-"Really…?" Mischief teasingly said -"And you… what do you think you are…?"
-"I know who you are." Rachael quickly interrupted
-"Oh... really…?" Mischief asked as he rolled his eyes together with his head, his tone hit a higher note at the end. -"And what if you do know who I am?" He continued saying. -"Do you think that it would work on me? Like what your friend did to..." said Mischief as he almost slipped away, he almost gave away Conscience's name to Rachael... but he was quick not to, he just slowly glanced back at where Conscience was... -"You pathetic little girl!" cried Mischief as he returned to look back at Rachael
-"Don't harm her! It's me you want right?" yelled Carousel to Mischief at his back.
Mischief then paused from walking towards Rachael and he instead set his attention back at Carousel. -"You're right!" cried Mischief.
Carousel's eyes were rapidly moving from left to right... she was trying to figure out what... could she possibly do to stop Mischief... before he gets to her.
Rachael was looking at Carousel who seems to be running out of ideas and she knows that she needed to help her best friend. So Rachael slowly narrowed her eyes and she started focusing on the scattered rocks on the ground... slowly lifting them up with the use of her telekinetic skill... she then started to move the rocks in a circular motion, she spun them round and round getting faster and faster by the minute creating a whirlwind effect... but in doing so, she accidentally killed some of the lighted torches on the wall making it even harder for them to see. And with no hesitation Rachael then threw them all straight at Mischief. Rachael and Carousel then instinctively covered their eyes with their hands to prepare for the impact.
-"Did I get him?" asked Rachael as she and Carousel were waiting for the rubbles to settle down.
...And as the rubbles settled down Rachael and Carousel saw Mischief... he was unharmed, they were anxious to see that he had manage to cover himself with his pair of huge dark wings, right before the impact... Mischief then spreads out his wings to shake off the rubbles.
-"I'm impressed... you almost had me there." Said Mischief with a laugh
Carousel then quickly grabbed him from behind; she grabbed him by the wing then tossed him around.
-"You talk too much... and your annoying voice reminds me of someone." Said Carousel as she tossed him around... Mischief was caught off guard and was slammed by Carousel through the walls of the labyrinth. -"Rachael, let's go before he recovers…" cried Carousel
Then the two ladies ran back to where the door was and they shared their skills to open up the heavy concrete door... Rachael's telekinetic skill and Carousel's improving super strength. They both hurriedly rushed out of the underground maze upon opening the heavy concrete door. The crowds are still waiting for them as they applaud when they saw Carousel and Rachael walked out from that underground maze.
-"There are soul stealers inside that maze!" cried Carousel upon walking out of the underground maze.
Then the crowd who were still watching the competition started to babble again.
-"Now she's talking gibberish just because she lost to Emery." Whispered one of the spectators of the competition, but Carousel heard it loud and clear.
-"No…! I'm not making things up; there are monsters inside that lair." Cried Carousel as she points out to the underground maze where they had just came out.
-"She's telling the truth!" Rachael also shouted. -"I saw those monsters too…!" She cried
Then some of the spectators began to believe in Carousel's declaration. -"Let's get inside to see if she's telling the truth!" cried one of the spectators.
-"Yes, let's get inside to find out!" cried the other
-"But... why would we listen to her... she's the only one who seems to have seen it, Emery didn't walk out from that obstacle feeling harmed." Cried one of the spectators
Some of the spectators then slowly pulled their eyebrows down... wondering what haven't they understood from the situation.
-"Where's Emery?" Carousel abruptly asked
-"Yeah... where is she?" asked too by Rachael -"I don't see her anywhere..."
-"And so as Emoreh." Carousel added
-"Carousel, let's go!" cried one of the spectators again.
And Carousel and Rachael then led some of their fellow 'splitters' into the underground maze. They looked every area, every possible corner of the labyrinth, they looked everywhere... but they didn't see any soul stealers, they didn't see anything.
-"Carousel... we don't see any monsters here." Said one of the splitters
-"But... I'm telling you, they were here... two of them... two soul stealers." Carousel explained
-"What do you call them again? ... Soul... stealers?" asked one of them
-"Yes, they're soul stealers... hideous monsters with horns on their foreheads, they had pair of raven wings, eyes... dark as pitch black and claws that could rip you into pieces... their mouths are like beaks... those creatures steals souls, they do it so by sucking your soul through your mouth." Rachael explained
-"Why would there be soul stealers here?" asked one of the splitters again
-"I don't know, I guess we should ask Demeon about that." Said Carousel
-"About what…?" Demeon quickly answered as he was rushing down into the underground maze, and pretends to be looking very worried. -"I heard the crowd are talking about a monster you just saw... that's why I rushed here to see what it is... are you two alright?"
-"Yes, we're fine." Carousel answered as she slightly shook her head. -"Demeon, why are there soul stealers here?"
Demeon looked to be concerned… -"So it's true…? You saw a soul stealer here?"
-"Yes and there's two of them... they are almost identical to each other, except the other one this time had two horns on his forehead and the one we have encountered at 'Lake Midgar' was also here... can you tell me why are they here…?" asked Carousel, her tone was somewhat demanding.
-"I'm telling you, I don't have any idea on what you're talking about, all I know is that... this place had been abandoned ever since, nobody comes here... and nobody had been monitoring this place for so many years. So maybe that's the reason why those soul stealers made this labyrinth their dwelling place."
-"And what exactly is your purpose for letting us in here…?" asked Carousel in a demanding manner, because she doesn't buy what Demeon was saying…
Demeon was slightly taken aback as he tries to clear his throat… -"This obstacle was not my idea… the shamans of the academy thought of this… I swear, I have no idea there are soul stealers here…"
Carousel narrowed her eyes… -"And that is why... we need to inform all the splitters of this academy that there are soul stealers who are dwelling in here at 'Stellar Academy'... this school isn't safe anymore." Cried Carousel
Demeon then strode Carousel away from the crowd, and he took her by the arm. -"Now, your being exaggerated Carousel... there's no need for you to panic."
-"What…? Me…? Exaggerated…? There's no exaggeration here Demeon, this academy had turned into a soul stealer's lair!"
-"Remember what I told you?" whispered Demeon -"Let's not rush things."
-"I get it… you're worried about your school's image." Replied Carousel
-"No, it's not about that at all... I'm not worried about this school's image; I'm worried for every splitter who is training in this academy... if this school closes, where will they all train? Where will they all go? What will happen to all their dreams?"
-"But what would happen to their lives?" Carousel abruptly asked -"If... if this place isn't safe anymore... that's what you should be thinking, the security of the splitters who are training here and as the owner of this school... that should be your top priority, their safety... their lives... what would you do with your dream if you don't have your life?"
-"Calm down Carousel... you're just over reacting, these Erishans are splitters too... just like you... and they too can look out for themselves... let's talk in my office." Said Demeon as he strode Carousel by the shoulder and led her out of that underground maze.
-"Carousel…! Where are you taking her?" cried Rachael
-"We are just going to talk in his office." Replied Carousel in a soft tone…
-"Can I come…?"
-"Tell her it's private." Demeon whispered to Carousel
Carousel's eyes narrowed -"What do you mean it's private? These kinds of things shouldn't be private... these things should be discussed publicly... for everyone's safety!"
-"And who do you think will believe you if you start talking about this incident publicly?" Demeon softly said -"I'm the only one here who can understand you because I'm the only one who believes in what you are saying."
-"But my friend... Rachael…"
-"Your friend is not needed in this conversation." Demeon interrupted -"Now, just tell her she can't come."
Carousel then looked at Rachael in the eyes and communicated with her through her mind -"Don't worry I'll tell you everything after our conversation, just lead them out of here safely." Said Carousel of the crowd
Rachael heard Carousel right but she also read her mind and what Carousel wanted her to do.
-"At… Demeon's office…?" Rachael softly asked and mumbled to herself.
As Demeon and Carousel were walking up to the higher ground of the academy to go to Demeon's office..., Dimitris approached them.
-"Demeon, I need to talk to you." Dimitris whispered to Demeon
-"What happened to your forehead?" asked Demeon upon seeing a bruise on Dimitris' forehead… he acted as if he didn't know.
Carousel narrowed her eyes as she was looking at the two.
-"Oh…! This?" said Dimitris who instantly covered his bruised forehead with his hand while not realizing that he had been injured. -"I probably got this when I bumped on one of the hanging cabinets at the research lab." He quickly said
-"What is it that you want to tell me?" asked Demeon as he was intensely looking at Dimitris… -"Not now… can't you see…" said Demeon to Dimitris in his mind…
Dimitris then read Demeon's mind… but then he asked Demeon to tell Carousel to go to his floating vessel and stay there for awhile.
-"Why…?" asked Demeon to Dimitris in his thoughts
-"I'll tell you later…" Whispered Dimitris to Demeon… because Demeon can't read minds…
Carousel heard Dimitris' reply but couldn't read their thoughts because she has no mind-reading skill like Dimitris and she now looked very anxious…
Demeon slowly narrowed his eyes as he just did what Dimitris had told him to do... he then strode Carousel again, taking her by the arm.
-"Where are you taking me?" asked Carousel -"I thought that we would be discussing things at your office?"
-"I know, but since I realized yesterday, you said that you wanted to visit me at my mansion. Then I thought that we might as well just go to my manor now and discuss the matters there." Demeon said as he strode Carousel into his floating vessel. -"Now, stay there for a while and wait for me... don't do anything stupid okay?" Said Demeon as he locked Carousel inside his vessel and then he went back to where Dimitris was… and Dimitris was waiting for him right outside the parking area.
Carousel then knocked the window of the vessel. -"Demeon…! I don't feel like going to your manor right now!" Cried Carousel at Demeon's back, but Demeon just ignored her; her voice was barely heard because she was locked inside his vessel. Demeon sneered as he walked away.
-"Rachael…" Carousel worriedly thought to herself as she knows that Rachael will definitely be looking for her at Demeon's office.
-"This better be important. What is it…?" asked Demeon as he approaches Dimitris
-"Did you lock her up in your vessel tightly?" asked Dimitris as he checked on Carousel inside the vessel. -"Hmm... I guess she wouldn't be able to hear us from this far." He added…
-"Yes, I did what you said... now; tell me what is it that you wanted to tell me?"
-"I saw the man who channeled into Carousel's mind last night... he's here. His name is Heraldin, he came up to me and he said... he wanted to see you."
-"What did you tell him?"
-"I told him that I would just go and get you... he's waiting for you at the lobby."
-"You idiot…! I told you to make an excuse if ever he comes here to see me!" cried Demeon as he was trying not to yell at him... Demeon was trying very hard to control his temper, because there were splitters around who were looking at them.
-"I didn't know what to say at that time, I was still thinking about what happened to me and to 'Conscience' at the underground maze." Dimitris explained
Demeon then heavily sighed as he slightly flipped his head towards his vessel and said. -"Just take her to the mansion before Heraldin sees her here and make sure she doesn't get out... I'll be consuming her soul when I get back whether she's fully developed or not."
-"Whatever you say." replied Dimitris with a snort as he went inside Demeon's vessel and drove Carousel through the manor.
Demeon then went to the lobby to meet up with Heraldin… he was very reluctant to wear his sunglasses that is tucked inside the chest pocket of his coat.
-"My assistant said that you wanted to see me?" asked Demeon upon seeing Heraldin at the lobby.
-"Oh yes, by the way I'm Heraldin... Rachael's father…" Replied Heraldin as he stood up from being seated and offered him a handshake.
-"I'm Demeon." Said he, as he was reluctant to shake hands with Heraldin
-"Isn't it too dark right now for you to be wearing that thing?" asked Heraldin as he was pertaining about the sunglasses he was wearing, Demeon paused for awhile and said… -"No, it's not and it's none of your business Mr. Heraldin. Now if you could just kindly tell me why you wanted to see me?"
-"You see, my daughter's best friend... Carousel, you probably know her, told me that you told her about soul stealers, what do you know about soul stealers?" Heraldin quietly asked…
-"I have already told her everything I know about soul stealers, and if she had told you about that then that's – that's all I know."
-"Did you know… and are you even aware that there was a former shaman in this academy who fell victim to a soul stealer? Right after he was fired from your academy."
-"Mr. Heraldin please lower your voice... I don't want the shamans and the trainees of this academy to feel threatened about your claim... and yes, I am aware of that incident and everything is very well taking care of... thank you... so if you don't have any more questions... then would you excuse me, because I have an important conference to attend to at the... the 'Midgar City Gala'... where we will be discussing about the improvements of this city." Said Demeon as he unexpectedly made an excuse and was about to turn around and walk away.
-"Wait… I still want to ask if you had seen Carousel. She said there was a competition that she had joined into." Heraldin abruptly asked
-"Yes, there was indeed a competition that was just recently held... and I did see her compete, but right after the competition I left, so I don't know... just ask her fellow splitters... they might know where she is."
-"Can I just ask another favor?"
-"What if I say that I... I don't want another favor from you, do I have a choice?"
-"Well... I just wanted to ask if I could borrow those sunglasses you're wearing, because that looks so nice... I haven't worn those for years. Can I try them on?"
-"No!" cried Demeon as he quickly stepped back away from Heraldin who was about to grab his sunglasses. -"I mean you can't... the weather is such turmoil and as you can see... there's flying debris everywhere and I don't want my eyes to get dusted, you should buy one at the market if you want one."
-"Oh... am... I just wanted to try it..." said Heraldin as he looked around and observed that the air wasn't that dusty at all… -"But if you are too kind not to let me try them on, then you're right. I would just have to buy one at the market." Said Heraldin as he was trying to peek into Demeon's eyes with the sunglasses he is wearing but his sunglasses were too dark for Heraldin to see his eyes clearly.
-"Yes, you should." Said Demeon -"As if I don't know what you are up to." He thought to himself. -"Now if you don't mind I would have to go." Said he as he immediately turned around and walked away.
-"He seems to be hiding something; I must know what it is." Heraldin thought to himself as he quietly followed Demeon.
Demeon was then quickly walking through the parking area when he suddenly remembered. -"Oh shoot! I forgot, I don't have a vessel to ride on to, I should have told Dimitris to wait for me." Demeon thought to himself as he whacked his forehead.
-"Now... I don't have a choice but to walk." Demeon said to himself
Heraldin overheard what Demeon had said and decided to butt in. -"You're just going to walk?" he asked
Demeon looked around and saw Heraldin from behind. -"Have you been following me?"
-"No…! Why would I?" replied Heraldin -"We are at the parking area right? Well, I need to go to my vessel and go home too, why would I want to follow you?"
Demeon then gave him a smirk and then started to walk away.
-"Tell me, you are not really just going to walk up to there?" said Heraldin
-"None of your business…"
-"I have a vessel parked right there, I could give you a ride if you want."
-"No, thank you…"
-"But you'll be late for your meeting... that is... if you really are going to a meeting." Heraldin sarcastically said.
Demeon then turned around and approached Heraldin. -"You're right... I won't make it on time to my meeting if I were just to walk, now... where is your vessel?" asked Demeon -"Thank you for your offer." He added
-"No problem, come let's go... just follow me." Said Heraldin as he led him to his floating vessel and they both boarded in.
Chapter Fifteen "The key"
In the meantime, Carousel and Dimitris were conversing inside Demeon's floating vessel.
-"Demeon said that he will just meet you at his mansion, he told me to drive you there because he has some more important things to do. So, is it true? You saw a soul stealer at the underground maze?" asked Dimitris sounding slightly surprised and concerned.
-"Isn't this matter much more important…?" asked Carousel in an annoyed manner… -"Yes and there were two of them, I don't know if it was just coincidental but everywhere I go... there seems to be a soul stealer waiting to attack me... I don't know what they want from me, but the other soul stealer did ask me for my soul though." The tone of her voice is somewhat angry.
-"Well... what do you expect a soul stealer would be asking for…? But for your soul of course…"
Carousel's eyes narrowed as she asked Dimitris… -"That's a pretty big bruise you have on your forehead." Said Carousel… -"Where did you say you got it from…? ... At the research lab…?"
-"Do I have to repeat my answer?"
-"I was just asking... you don't need to feel so agitated. I'm not the one responsible for your accident." Carousel said as she was looking at Dimitris through the rear view mirror of the floating vessel. Dimitris was driving the vessel while Carousel was seated at the back.
-"Yes, I was trying to get something from the hanging cabinets when I accidentally hit myself on one of its doors."
-"Did you happen to see Emery in there?"
-"Emery…?" asked Dimitris in a surprised manner
-"Yes, Emery…."
-"Why would I see Emery in there…? She's not one of the few who are allowed to get into that research laboratory. Why are you asking me? Did you see her in there?"
-"No…!" Carousel abruptly replied, her tone was staggered but her eyes narrowed, almost closed, she can't tell Dimitris that she actually saw Emery in there because Dimitris will find out that she in fact went into the research lab without his proper knowledge. -"I was just assuming that Emery is also allowed to get into the lab, considering that she is a very talented splitter... and to support that, she was in fact the first to finish the competition." Carousel explained as she was a bit anxious… -"Then how did Emery get in there…?" Carousel asked herself as she was wondering about the whole situation… -"That's odd…" she added
Dimitris then looked into the rear view mirror to see Carousel and to try to read her mind but she was facing the side window to avoid eye contact with him.
Meanwhile, Rachael was looking for Carousel at Demeon's office... and she was asking the shamans of the academy where to find that room... and they told her where it was but asked her why would she want to go in there, what is her business there, because Demeon had strict rules regarding those kinds of things.
Rachael was trying to think of an excuse… -"I have an appointment with him." She said… -"Demeon said that, he was going to see me in his office." Rachael added
-"But he's not there... in fact no one is there right now." Said one of the shamans as she slowly looked at Rachael from head to foot…
Rachael narrowed her eyes… -"Are you sure…? No one's there?" she asked
-"I'm sure." Answered one of the shamans of the school -"You don't believe me…? If you want... we could go there right now so you can take a look for yourself." The female shaman suggested
-"Can we…?"
-"Of course, come with me..." The shaman said. Her voice was so calm. -"Why do you want to see him anyway?" asked the shaman while they were walking.
-"It's personal... if you don't mind." answered Rachael
-"Alright..." said the shaman in a soft but meaningful tone as her lips were tightly pressed, she was wearing a sarcastic smile while they were walking. -"Here we are... at Demeon's office…" She said upon stopping to a door in front of them.
-"Shh..." Rachael whispered as she tries to place her ear to the door to listen first.
-"What are you doing?" asked the shaman with a slight laugh -"He's not there!" Said she while opening the door to Demeon's office -"See, I told you... he's not here!"
-"Oh..." Rachael softly said, as she saw that no one was really in there, just an empty office... her eyes slowly narrowed. -"Anyways, thank you for your time." Said Rachael
-"I know what you're going through right now." Said the female shaman
-"You... you do?" Rachael slowly asked
-"Aha!" the shaman nodded
Rachael's eyebrows were pulled down as her eyes slowly narrowed. -"To be honest... I... I'm just a little bit confused but it's not really that much big of a deal."
-"I know..." said the shaman; her voice was somewhat anxious… -"Demeon had promises to beautiful ladies like you... and me." She said in an intriguing manner… -"But sometimes he just doesn't keep his promises. I know how charming he is but... just a friendly advice; don't give your whole heart to him." The shaman whispered -"If you don't want to end up like me."
-"What!" cried Rachael -"No, no, no... You've got it all wrong! I just... I just... never mind, I'm just goanna go." Rachael said as she rolled her eyes. She was shaking her head while she was heading back home.
Meanwhile... Heraldin was still persistent to read Demeon's mind.
-"Are you still not goanna take off your sunglasses? It's already night time." Said Heraldin while driving his floating vessel
-"Why is it that you badly want me to take off my sunglasses?"
-"No... I don't mean to annoy you but it's just that, it's already nighttime... can you still see where you're going with those dark sunglasses?"
-"Yes, I can... now if you could just kindly drop me there at that building." Said Demon to Heraldin pointing to a very colossal building with the size of a hypodrome made with super steel metal.
-"Alright, here you go." Replied Heraldin as he parked his floating vessel at the side of the building where Demeon told him to.
Demeon then opened the door of the vessel and quickly got out… he fixed his suit and said… -"Thank you for your conveying."
-"No problem, anytime…" Replied Heraldin -"Good luck with your convention and, and make the city proud." Heraldin concluded while Demeon was already walking through the entrance of the building who doesn't seem to care what Heraldin was telling him. -"Nice talking to you…" Heraldin added
Demeon snarled at his back… his face was the complete opposite of charming. -"You're such a waste of my time." Demeon thought to himself as he was walking away from Heraldin and went straight ahead through the entrance of the building; he slightly glanced back, checking if Heraldin was following him and when he felt that Heraldin wasn't and that his vessel wasn't parked there anymore... Demeon then hurriedly walked towards the backside of the building to exit. -"I guess I have no choice but to transform and fly." He thought to himself, as he finally took off his sunglasses. Demeon was about to take off his clothes and transform… when he heard someone talked to him... Demeon was taken aback…
-"I thought you said you were going to a meeting? This place sure doesn't look like a conference area." Said Heraldin as he emerged from one of the dark corners of the building, Heraldin fortunately followed his instinct, which is to go and check the exit of the building. -"I knew you were up to something." He said as he looked into Demeon's eyes. But before Heraldin could even try to read his thoughts, Demeon quickly went back to the building and rode one of the lifts that luckily opened in his presence. Heraldin then quickly followed but he was too late, the lift that Demeon has taken has closed so he had no choice but to take the stairs, Heraldin checked every possible floor where Demeon might have gone to, He checked all the floors up to the top floor at the roof top... but with no avail. Demeon was gone, Heraldin was too late... Demeon has flown away, Heraldin looked at the ground up through the skies to see if he could spot Demeon... looking through the top balcony but he didn't find anything.
Meanwhile... back at the manor, Carousel was waiting for Demeon at the manor's lobby. They just got out from the vessel and they headed straight at the mansion, passing the foyer... then to the lobby.
-"Just wait for him here." Said Dimitris to Carousel
Carousel then seated herself at the comfortable divan. -"Okay" she said while drumming her fingers on the armrest of the settee...
-"I will now leave you here." Said Dimitris as he took a quick glance up at the dome ceiling of the mansion and saw Conscience and Assailant whom each were dangling in one of the many huge... hanging chandeliers of the manor. Conscience and Assailant were eager to see Carousel; their eyes glowed even if they were pitched black in color. Dimitris then slightly flipped his head, signaling them that they should flee. Carousel hardly saw how Dimitris reacted but she still caught a glimpse of Dimitris, so she too looked up to see what Dimitris was looking at... and saw that the chandeliers were swaying... she didn't see Conscience and Assailant dangling because they were too quick to flee.
-"Must be the earthquakes again." Said Dimitris as he too was looking at the swaying chandeliers -"We sometimes can't feel the quakes because they're not that strong at times but you could just tell when some things around you starts to move." Dimitris explained
-"But... why only two?" asked Carousel -"If you say that it's because of the slight quakes."
-"What…?"
-"Why only two chandeliers are swaying…? The others are not!" said Carousel
-"Do you want something to eat?" Dimitris abruptly asked
-"No thank you, I don't feel like eating right now."
-"Are you sure? Because you just got into a fight... don't you need to replenish your energy?"
-"No, I'm good."
-"Alright then... just make yourself comfortable." Said Dimitris
Carousel nodded as Dimitris walked away. But she couldn't stay still when Dimitris left...
As Dimitris left Carousel... in the lobby, Dimitris met up with Conscience and Assailant at the wine cellar of the mansion... it was dark and eerie. -"Leave that girl to Demeon." Said Dimitris
-"Does she have a powerful soul?" asked Assailant in a very deep voice, his words were crumbling... Dimitris could barely understand him.
-"Yes she has, but she belongs to the master." Replied Dimitris
Assailant snarled -"I long for the smell of a soul; I haven't had one for such a long time." He said and he sounded like he was eating his words.
-"Erishans everywhere are becoming more and more wary of us, it is very hard to find a potential victim these days and if we do find one... it turns out... that Erishan doesn't have a soul. How can we keep our immortality if we don't consume a soul? I too haven't had a soul for such a very long time." Conscience said -"Splitters are the only ones who are guaranteed to have a soul, but it's very difficult to tackle a 'splitter' these days." He added…
-"Neither do I... so I guess if we can't find a potential victim with a soul... then I guess we will just have to settle for their blood... that would still keep us going." Dimitris said with a snort.
Then Assailant began to react aggressively upon hearing Dimitris' assertion, he growled at them and he was about to get out of the wine cellar to aim at Carousel.
-"Here he goes again…" Said Dimitris -"You know what to do…" Dimitris said to Conscience as they both tied Assailant with thick metal chains and they dragged him into the basement vault.
-"You still don't know how to control yourself." Said Dimitris to Assailant… -"But you'll soon learn how to, it will take some time… as you are the latest addition to our group." Said Dimitris as he closed the thick metal door of the vault…
Carousel slightly heard the commotion so she got up from being seated and started to roam around; she went to follow where the noise came from but then she saw the door to the library... then she remembered the book Demeon was holding when she first saw him there so Carousel decided to go to the library again. She silently skipped through the corridors then quietly opened the door to the library... she immediately went inside and closed back the door.
-"Now, where is that... drawer?" Carousel slowly thought to herself as she was searching for it... Then a lightning from the outside illuminated the room revealing where the drawer was. -"Oh there it is." She mumbled to herself upon seeing the drawer. Carousel then quietly moved towards that desk as she softly started to open the drawer... but it won't open... the drawer was locked, Carousel tried to jolt it but it won't budge. -"If I force to open this, Demeon might notice the strain." Carousel thought to herself as she slightly bent down to examine the drawer... she started to feel the face of the drawer with her fingertips and felt that there was something engraved to it... Carousel felt curious, so she ran her fingertips through it again and felt the same carved thing on the face of the drawer, Carousel tried to narrow her eyes to see what the engraved thing is... but the room was too dark for her to have a clear look at it. Carousel was tempted to turn on the lights of the library, but she feared that Demeon might not be too happy to see her in there in case he comes home. Carousel just kept on trying to see what was engraved on the face of the drawer. And then it started to rain heavily again, thunderstorms and lighting was louder and stronger. A bright lightning followed by a loud thunder caught the outline of the carved figure. Carousel narrowed her eyes… -"This looks familiar." she said to herself and a second lightning from the outside illuminated the figure revealing an 'EYE' symbol. Carousel then remembered the key in her pocket with the same 'EYE' symbol on it too, so Carousel took the key from her pocket. -"I'm glad that I forgot to give this back to Heraldin." She said to herself as she tried to insert the key into the lock of the drawer... it fitted just right then she quietly turned the key... the lock snapped and the drawer opened. Carousel was stunned. -"I can't believe this." She thought to herself upon opening the drawer and saw a book lying in there... Carousel picked it up and started to turn the pages. -"I knew it... this is also a Book of life!" Carousel whispered to herself as she began reading it. Carousel read the book as fast as she could; taking advantage of every second a lightning strikes from the outside that illuminates the dark library room, Carousel's eyes widened as she reads along... -"Demeon is a soul... stealer." Carousel slowly said to herself upon reading from some of the pages of the book of life of Demeon. -"So the story he was telling me about the myth of the very first soul stealer is actually true... and it is in fact Demeon himself..." Carousel told herself as she was still alertly reading the book... she was frightened to know the truth.
Meanwhile, Heraldin just got home and he immediately went to look for Rachael and Carousel but he couldn't find them so he went to look for Faust, he found him at the lower shelter... at the engine room.
-"You're still here?" asked Heraldin as he was catching his breath.
-"Yes, and I think I'm... I'm almost finished." Replied Faust as he got up from fixing the engines of the huge combat vessel… -"Do you think we should give this a try? Where's the control room?" He asked.
-"No time for that now…" Said Heraldin… -"Have you seen Rachael and Carousel?"
-"Well, since they left this morning... I was just here the whole time and I didn't hear from anybody except you... so I guess... no... I didn't see them."
-"Then we need to find them, because I think they're in danger."
-"Why…? What happened?" asked Faust as he was looking very worried.
Heraldin then told Faust everything that had happened. -"And that is why I think they are in great danger." Heraldin explained and said… -"You know where Demeon's manor is... so I want you to go there and see if they are in fact there... while I go and check if they are at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' we need to split to increase our chances on finding them." Heraldin suggested.
-"Right…" said Faust as they both hurriedly went to look for them.
-"Faust…" Heraldin interrupted as he remembered something to remind him.
-"Yes…?"
-"If you were to find and see Rachael and Carousel… or just one of them, then don't let her out of your guard, that's your top priority."
-"I understand." Replied Faust
In the meantime... while Carousel was anxiously reading Demeon's 'book of life' she heard a heavy stump noise that seems to be something has fallen at the balcony of the library. Carousel was disrupted so she walked towards the oriel window to check what it was as she hid herself from the heavy drapes of the window... then she slowly parted the drapes to see what it was. And as the lightning strikes again... it revealed that something did in fact fell onto the balcony of the library, Carousel's eyes widened as she again saw the beast that she had encountered at the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' and it was in fact Demeon himself who landed at the library's balcony. The beast was now slowly transforming into a naked man as it walks towards the oriel window, Carousel covered her mouth with her left hand to avoid making an unnecessary sound while her other hand was still tightly holding the book. Carousel couldn't believe what she had just witnessed, her eyes narrowed as she saw the beast slowly turning into a naked man which was... Demeon… Demeon who is now walking straight at her, Carousel then started to look somewhere to hide because it was too late for her to get out from the door since she was at the other side of the library; Carousel saw that there was a ladder beside her that leads up to the mezzanine so she quickly climbed that ladder and stayed there... she then hid herself once again at one of the many tall shelves that were standing at the mezzanine. Then the glass door of the oriel window below the mezzanine slowly opened... Demeon entered through the door of the oriel window... he was soaking wet.
Carousel who was hiding at the mezzanine, now on top of Demeon slowly looked down to observe the upheaval. Demeon then started to walk towards the door when he sensed the presence of Carousel, he stopped but he didn't know where she was... Demeon looked around to see where Carousel was hiding but it was too dark for him to see. -"Come out now Carousel, I know you're in here." Said Demeon as he was looking and smelling around and saw his drawer was opened. -"So, now you know." Demeon concluded. Carousel was just hiding in one of the standing shelves at the mezzanine... she was standing very still against the high shelves, she didn't want to make any unnecessary sound and movement, Carousel slowly peeped and saw Demeon naked with his back facing her. Demeon was then about to turn on the lights but said… -"This is much better." He said to himself as he slowly transformed back into his 'soul stealer' image. Carousel saw something growing at Demeon's back, between his shoulder blades... Demeon broadened his shoulders to emphasize the bones on his back which there seems to be protruding bones coming out off his skin, his fingers were also protruding and before she knows it... Demeon was completely transformed back into his beast representation… which was a huge monster bat-like creature… Carousel then remembered everything she and Demeon had talked about. -"All along... it was only you." Carousel thought to herself.
Demeon snarled as he growled... his echo location skill then located where Carousel was. -"There you are." Said Demeon upon seeing Carousel at the mezzanine, he then jumped to where Carousel was.
-"I believe you have something that is mine." Said Demeon in a very low tone upon seeing his 'book of life' in Carousel's arms… and he then neared his face into Carousel's.
Carousel... then unexpectedly slammed the book onto Demeon's face and quickly ran away, with the book still tucked in her arms… she then jumped through one of the glass windows of the mezzanine… she held her arm with her elbow upfront to protect her head from the impact and her other hand still having a tight grip on the book, the glasses broke upon collision with Carousel and bits and pieces of broken glass where scattered all over the place, she flipped and rolled over as she landed on the balcony… to counter act the force, but some of the shattered glasses bruised Carousel on her arms and legs. In the meantime ... Demeon twisted back his mandibles from the slap that he had received from Carousel and cracking sounds of bones were heard from his actions. -"That did hurt quite a bit." Demeon mumbled to himself as he quickly followed Carousel... -"Give me back my book." Demeon growled at Carousel… Carousel was looking up at Demeon then she looked down from the balcony and saw that it was quite high from where she was, down to the ground... she hesitated to jump at first but she soon decided that she had no choice but to jump to the ground... because Demeon was fast approaching. Carousel jumped off the balcony, the heels on Carousel's boots slightly penetrated the soft ground as she jumped down and landed from a seemingly three floor high building. Carousel tries to feel her knees that had gone numbed from the jump... as she tries to run away, but Demeon was flying right behind her. -"That's right... run! That's what you're good at." Said Demeon
Carousel was running away so fast when she suddenly came to a stop. -"Where will I go now?" she asked herself upon seeing that there was nowhere else to go, she didn't notice that she was cornered, because… perhaps she was seemingly running so fast that she unknowingly turned to a dead end corner... when she realized that she was surrounded and was standing at the foot of a very high cliff. -"How can I get over there…?" She asked herself as she looked up to the cliff. -"I can't jump that high." She thought to herself.
-"So... nowhere else to go?" asked Demeon teasingly as he slowly descended to the ground, Carousel then slowly turned around to face him.
-"You want this back?" asked Carousel as she showed the book to Demeon.
-"Yes, and I want your soul too." Replied Demeon as he grabbed his book back... but Carousel won't give it back to him, she held a tight grip on the book and Demeon tried to capture Carousel, but suddenly something knocked Demeon from behind... Carousel turned to see… and it was 'Rookie' that bumped into him... slamming Demeon through the sides of the cliffs.
-"Carousel, get in!" cried Faust as he opened the doors of his vessel 'Rookie',
Carousel was so happy to see Faust, and she immediately jumped inside his vessel as its doors started to close.
Demeon on the other hand, immediately recovered from the slamming 'Rookie' did to him on the sides of the cliffs and he shrugged off the rocks and debris that had fallen into his body. He snarled and seems to be very angry.
-"Let's go!" cried Carousel
-"You'll regret this." Said Demeon to Carousel as he was standing at the foot of the cliff…
Faust then presses a series of buttons... and 'Rookie'... then immediately teleported Faust and Carousel away from that place.
-"Brace yourself." cried Faust to Carousel.
And moments later... they were at Faust's shelter again, the same place where they were teleported when they encountered Conscience the last time at 'Lake Midgar'.
Demeon snarled upon seeing them leave, he did not bother to follow them because he could not see them anywhere and he knew that there was no use to compete with a vessel that has the ability to teleport, he then looked at his 'book of life' that he had taken away from Carousel... which he managed to take away from her but the book was torn in half and half of the book was missing... Demeon growled so loud that the three 'soul stealers' in the manor even heard of it, but Demeon was a bit relieved when he examined the book and realized that the most important secret plan that he had wrote at the last part of his 'book of life' was still his for the taking. -"I assume she hasn't read this part yet." Demeon thought to him self… -"I guess it's not yet too late for me." He said to himself as he slightly laughed.
Demeon then went back into his manor, he hid the half part of his 'book of life' and ordered his follower – Conscience... -"You know what to do." Said Demeon to Conscience... his voice was piercing… -"You know where she lives right…?"
-"Yes master…" Replied Conscience in a very low tone as he quickly fled away.
Demeon then summoned Dimitris...
-"What is it Demeon? I mean… master…" asked Dimitris in a sarcastic tone…
-"We have to accomplish our main purpose now... before Carousel figures out what it is..." said Demeon… -"She has the other part of my..." He added as he controlled his own thoughts then he was brought to a pause.
-"The other part of your… what…?"
-"Nothing…! Just do what I tell you…" Demeon strongly demanded
-"Yes... Demeon…" Dimitris replied with a snort, as he tried to look into Demeon's eyes to read his thoughts… but then Demeon quickly turned around to avoid eye contact and went on his own way.
Meanwhile... at Faust's underground shelter... -"That was close." Said Faust as he got out from his vessel and started to comfort Carousel. -"Are you alright?"
-"Yes, I'm... I'm fine." replied Carousel but her voice was shaking as she was feeling very frantic.
-"What was that?" asked Faust as his voice sounded really worried and loud.
-"Demeon…" replied Carousel
-"What?" cried Faust -"Demeon?"
-"Yes... that beast was Demeon."
-"Demeon…? Our... our... school's predecessor…? Are you sure?"
-"Yes, if you don't believe me... then read this." Said Carousel as she handed Demeon's 'book of life' to him... but Faust did not mind about the book first... because he was more concern about Carousel's condition.
-"Was... was that the same beast you told me that you've encountered at the Ruins of Goban Shrine?" asked Faust as he now feels that Carousel was in fact telling him the truth, it's just that he couldn't believe it at first.
-"Yes…"
-"Did he hurt you? What does he want from you?" Faust asked as his voice sounded really angry when he saw the minor cuts and bruises on Carousel's body.
-"No... He wasn't able to hurt me; I got these when I jumped off the window." Carousel explained as she was feeling her wounds. -"He's a soul stealer so... what do you think he wants from me?"
-"Wait, I'll have to get you inside so I can help you treat your wounds." Said Faust as he tried to carry Carousel into his arms en route to his underground shelter…
But Carousel slightly resisted. -"Faust, no... You don't need to carry me... I can still handle myself." Carousel softly said as she just clung unto Faust's arm and started to walk with him into his shelter. -"How did you find me?" she asked
-"Heraldin told me to look for you at Demeon's manor because he had an encounter with him and Heraldin knew right then that you were in danger and he was right. He said that it would be better for us to find you and Rachael if we split up, so he went to the 'Ruins of Goban Shrine' to look for you both and he told me to go to Demeon's mansion since I was the one who knew where that place was."
-"Rachael..." Carousel worriedly said -"We need to find her." Said Carousel as she turned back and was about to board 'Rookie' again.
-"But it would be better for you if we would just stay here for awhile." Faust suggested
-"But how about Rachael... I just can't imagine something bad happening to her." Cried Carousel
-"But if we go now to look for her, then I might be risking your own safety... Heraldin told me that if I were to find any one of you then I must keep that someone very safe, those were his firm orders. And I have faith that Heraldin will find her, because if there's anyone who would feel worried about her first, then that would be him... I believe that he won't let anything bad happens to her daughter... let's just put our trust in him."
Carousel sighed as she slowly looked down… -"Thank you..." Carousel softly said… -"Thank you for keeping me safe."
-"It was nothing." Faust answered -"I said to you before, that I promise to protect you."
-"Thank you, thank you…" Carousel slowly said as she hugged Faust tightly, and they both went into his shelter.
Carousel was looking around and said… -"At first I thought that you would teleport us back at the 'Ruin city of Harlow' at Heraldin's shelter." Said Carousel, as she was now feeling much better, the fear in her heart slowly passed away.
-"I'm sorry; it's just that I haven't yet programmed Rookie to teleport us there, my shelter is Rookie's basic refuge you know." Explained Faust -"But if you want, we could go there right now."
-"No, its okay... I'll... I'll rest here for awhile…"
-"Now, what's that you are holding you say?"
-"Demeon's book of life, I managed to take the half of it when he snatched it from me." Said Carousel as she showed the book to Faust... the book was torn into two, when Carousel and Demeon were struggling for its possession. -"I've got the first part." Carousel concluded.
-"So... he was that beast after all…?"
-"Yes, and he was also the one who provoked the 'Great War' to happen more than twenty years ago. He made friends with every leader of each possible realm he knows... his plan was to look into their top secret without being seen... and use those information's he knew to his advantage..." Said Carousel as she turned the pages of the book and pointed out a line that she was about to read. -"In what Demeon called... were his mischievous acts." She added
-"How?" asked Faust
-"Read it…" said Carousel as she handed the torn book to Faust.
Faust then started to turn the pages but couldn't find where it was written. -"Where is it?" He asked
-"Here…" Carousel replied as she flipped the pages and showed Faust where it was written…
Faust then began reading it… -"So, he was a rich businessman with a research facility business... that deals with bio weaponry... and his top research scientist is Dr..." Faust eyes widened as he slowly read the name of that person… -"Dr. Mario Toculla…" his words were shaking as he said those words…
-"Why…? What's wrong?" asked Carousel
-"I, I am… Faust Toculla and Dr. Mario Toculla... is my... father." Faust slowly replied -"I didn't know that my father was working for him."
Carousel was saddened by Faust's declaration. -"I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Said Carousel slowly as she gave Faust a soft pat at his shoulder…
-"It's okay…" said Faust as he was looking a little anxious.
-"But what I'm about to tell you might not be okay to you." Said Carousel, her eyes were wistful.
-"Okay... what... is it…?" asked Faust, his tone was prolonged as he was now looking really anxious.
-"Your father, Dr Mario Toculla is Demeon's leading top research scientist, but... not only that..." Carousel slowly concluded, she looked down and wasn't sure if she would tell something about it to Faust but then... she felt that she needed to anyway, so she sighed first as she looked at Faust. -"Demeon used your father in his evil plans; he made him invent any possible weaponry of war… weapons of mass destruction that he can make. And when Demeon had no use for your father anymore, he... he killed him." Carousel's voice was very sympathetic.
-"What!" cried Faust as he turned the pages of the book to look for the answers himself... he wanted to know if Carousel was in fact telling him the truth, Faust was then fighting back the tears in his eyes when he found it... it turns out Carousel was in fact telling him the truth. Faust was still reading the book when he said… -"I knew it! Before, I thought that... my father died... because of the war, I didn't know that he was actually murdered, but now all is clear, my father was in fact murdered, so if it wasn't for that beast, my father would probably be still alive today." He said, his words were shaking… -"Demeon has really proven himself to be called a beast, because only a beast can do such things... after all the things that my father did for him..." As Faust was reading through the context of the book. -"Demeon still had the guts to kill him... does he even have a conscience?"
-"I suppose he doesn't have that..." replied Carousel -"And speaking of conscience..." Carousel concluded -"I think I read something about that..." said Carousel as she asked Faust for the book back -"Here..." Carousel said upon finding the contents she wanted to show to Faust. -"Demeon wrote here; he said that he has three servants, as well as his accomplices... 'Conscience', 'Mischief' and 'Assailant' were the names that he had given to the three... it says here, that Demeon himself had the power to name them, because he was the one who persuaded these three 'soul seekers' to become 'soul stealers' and these three 'soul stealers' represents Demeon himself... and their names given to them are their strengths as well as their weaknesses. And Demeon knows of these very well that's why he can keep them as his servants… and for them to be defeated… you must break its horn… but first… you must know its certain character weakness is… for you to tame them, because they are very aggressive."
-"Cha… cha… character… character weakness…? I don't understand." asked Faust
-"Yes…" replied Carousel as she continued to read through the pages… -"And it says here… that a soul stealer is a very aggressive being… but more of like a beast if you ask me, and the only way to tame it is to know its certain character weakness is and once a soul stealer is weakened by its character weakness… then that will be the time that you should break its… horn."
Faust nodded as he somewhat understood Carousel's explanation.
Carousel narrowed her eyes as she started to recall the encounters she had with the soul stealers she'd seen. -"Now at least we know their names and it's just a matter of finding out who's who?" Carousel concluded -"The one we had encountered with at Lake Midgar is probably the one Demeon calls 'Conscience'... because you told me that he seemed to have gotten stronger when you told him about your regrets of persuading me to join you in your 'embloig' hunting..."
-"Embloig…? Is that what they call it?" Faust interrupted
-"Yes, I learned it at a workstation at the academy's research Lab." Explained Carousel -"And have I told you that the 'embloig' that we had given to Dimitris was gone…" she added
-"Gone…?" asked Faust -"How did that happened?"
-"Actually… I didn't exactly know what happened… all I know is that when Dimitris called me up to see what had happened to the embloig… Rachael and I saw that the container that we had put the embloig was empty… except for some droplets of water that are scattered all over the container… and we also thought that… maybe the embloig died and had turned into parts of water… because we had let it out of the water too long."
-"But that's just ridiculous." Said Faust -"A water creature or an embloig… if that's what they call it… is an immortal creature, it couldn't just die in such a simple manner… it just doesn't make any sense… and besides… we left it there being adaptable to air and it was very much alive before we left." Said Faust… -"I have a strong feeling that someone or something might have killed it." Declared Faust as he narrowed his eyes…
Carousel sighed as she said… -"Anyways... that soul stealer was playing with your conscience at that time that's most likely why he got stronger, and again I have seen him at the underground maze of the academy during the competition... and when I said that I knew him but I was just actually speculating and that I told him that he was Isoah... a good man who turned into this monster... and then all of a sudden he seemed to weaken as if I was taking hold of his conscience..."
Faust was taken aback… -"Demeon must have intentionally put you into that competition to fall victim to Conscience..." He said
-"Absolutely... but not just to Conscience but to them..." Carousel added
Faust narrowed his eyes, as he waits for Carousel's next details... -"Because there was this another soul stealer in that underground maze with Conscience..." Said Carousel -"That soul stealer looked quite like Conscience but he had two horns on his forehead instead of one and he seems to be slightly slenderer than Conscience"
-"And what are your thoughts on who might that soul stealer be…?"
-"I'm not sure but my guess is... he's the one Demeon calls in his book... Mischief…"
-"So he's mischievous?"
Carousel's eyes slowly narrowed as she explains... -"I have encountered him only once, at the underground maze of the academy and we didn't interact that much because we had escaped... so I didn't really get to know his true character at that time, but it's not hard to know who Mischief really is..."
Faust's eyebrows were pulled down as he asked Carousel... -"Really…? You know who Mischief is?"
-"Yes, and it's not that hard to figure out since Demeon has only one apparent companion."
Faust was subdued to think for awhile… -"Dimitris?" he asked
-"Of course!" cried Carousel -"Who else would that soul stealer be? Dimitris is obviously a very mischievous Erishan, and I can't imagine him not knowing anything about this unfortunate happenings, considering that he's the only companion of Demeon, and now... it's all clear to me why he told Rachael before the competition that there was an unexpected challenge that was waiting for me... because he was actually one of the perpetrators that is about to get me." Carousel concluded -"The bruise on his forehead, just right after we had encountered the soul stealers at the underground maze. And that annoying voice!" cried she as she tries to reminisce the sound of Dimitris' and Mischief's voices… -"I knew that there was a connection between those two." She added
-"How about the third one…? The 'Assailant'…? Do you know something about that soul stealer?"
-"Now, that I don't know about... I've never had an encounter with him nor doesn't this book say much about him either." Said Carousel as she was scanning the 'book of life' of Demeon… -"But it says here that he is the latest addition to the group of soul stealers… and maybe because some of his information was written at the last pages of this book, while, I only got the initial part of it…" She concluded as she shown the torn book to Faust… -"But I'm sure that Assailant looks somewhat like Conscience and Mischief too." She added
-"How can you be so sure…?"
-"Because they are all soul stealers…"
-"Demeon is a soul stealer too... but why doesn't he look like them?"
-"Because he never was and never been a soul seeker to begin with... he was the very first soul stealer... and he was also the one who tempted Isoah to consume a soul, remember that... only soul seekers who turned into soul stealers by submitting to the temptation of consuming a soul are the only ones who will turn into that kind of an ugly, horrible image. It's a permanent reminder of their treachery… it is written in here…"
-"Permanent you say? But if your speculations are true..."
-"But they're not speculations." Carousel interrupted -"It's all written in here... here, read it yourself." Said Carousel as she handed the book to Faust
-"No, what I meant was your speculations about Dimitris, if he is the soul stealer Mischief you say that he is... then why does he look like a normal male Erishan? If you said that they're horrible image is a permanent reminder of their treachery…? Do you think that he probably has a shape shifting skill?" asked Faust
-"Good question…" said Carousel as she tries to remember what she had witnessed at the manor. -"It's possible that he has a shape shifting skill, because I've witnessed Demeon turned into an Erishan then turned back into a beast... meaning, Demeon has a shape shifting skill... so it's possible that Dimitris has a shape shifting skill too, hmm... but I wonder if there's any connection between those two? Demeon and Dimitris?" asked Carousel -"But it's also written in here that soul seekers who turned into soul stealers can never return to their original self and that they will forever bear their horrible image... permanently." Said Carousel as she pulls her eyebrows down while reading the book… -"But now, I'm not so sure anymore if Dimitris is really is in fact - Mischief... if only I have read this whole book" Said Carousel to herself.
-"Did Demeon write in that book why he wanted the 'Great War' to take place?"
-"It's not written in here, but I read about that in the other half of this book... I read that, the reason why Demeon wanted a great war to happen... is to separate the gifted ones; the 'splitters' from the ordinary Erishans, because he got tired of looking around the whole world just to search for a 'splitter's' soul to consume... and he knew that when a war will take place... the majority of ordinary Erishans will die and the remaining hidden 'splitters' of this world will always find their own ways to survive the war because of their god given talents. He knew that most of the Erishans who will survive the 'Great War' are 'splitters'... and he's right, more than eighty percent of the Erishans who survived in this planet from the great war right now are splitters, he didn't care if millions of ordinary Erishans were to die, all he wanted was to gather all the 'splitters' of the world for himself, so he could consume their souls... our souls... and that is also the reason why he put up an academy so he could let us develop our talents and produce a much powerful soul, for him to consume." Said Carousel… -"And that is the reason why he captured Emoreh and left him alive for sometime so he could wait for Emoreh's soul to develop." Carousel concluded
-"He really is a devil... he probably thinks that he's someone special that's why he didn't care about the Erishans who didn't have any god given talents to just die... what made him think that he's so special? Nobody's special! We're all the same! The same creatures who fights for our own survival everyday!" cried Faust
-"Or, we could all be... special, each and every one of us is special, no two individuals are the same." Carousel interrupted -"Depends on how you look at it." She added
Faust sighed -"And he even made my father an instrument; of his evil plans..." He added -"He will pay." Said Faust, his words were crumbling. -"It's so hard growing up without any parents to look after you... my mother died when she gave birth to me and my father would still have been alive today if not for him." Faust concluded
-"My mother!" cried Carousel as she remembered her mother. -"I forgot to pay a visit to my mother... I want to see her." Carousel interrupted -"Faust can you come with me to the Ruins of Midgar?"
-"Sure, but..."
-"I know that Heraldin told you to keep me safe once you found me." Interrupted Carousel -"But it's not like its goanna take us too long to find my mother, she's just at the 'Ruins of Midgar' I just need to see her right now."
-"Okay..." said Faust but he seemed to be unmoved.
-"Alright, if you don't want to come..."
-"I didn't say that."
-"I'll go by myself... and don't even try to stop me."
-"I'm coming with you! That's what I said!" said Faust as he presses a series of buttons on his metallic wrist band – to activate 'Rookie'.
Faust and Carousel then boarded back the vessel – 'Rookie' Carousel was very anxious as they were heading to the 'Ruins of Midgar city'.
-"Are you alright?" asked Faust
-"Of course…" replied Carousel but she didn't even convince herself that she was.
Moments later... they have reached the 'Ruins of Midgar'… just outside the prosperous 'city of Midgar'.
Chapter Sixteen "Home again"
Carousel showed the direction to Faust where she lives but Faust replied... -"Yes, I know where you live…"
Carousel was taken aback, her eyes flickered.
Faust tried to clear his throat as he slowly said… -"I... I mean of course... I know where you live, why wouldn't I be? I've seen you here before, because... we have Erishans here asking for our services regarding the telephone connections."
'Rookie' - the floating vessel then softly landed right outside Carousel's shelter.
Carousel smiled at Faust. -"Thanks... at least you didn't need me to complicate things, because I'm really bad at giving directions."
Faust smiled back at her but he couldn't look into her eyes... and then a loud pound sound was heard from the shelter...
Carousel then quickly jumped off the vessel and started to look for her mother, inside their shelter... she rushed into their slightly wrecked shelter.
-"Mom... I'm home!" cried Carousel as she was looking for her mother at the ground floor of their building, but there was no reply from her... everywhere she looks was a mess... Carousel then went up the stairs as Faust slowly followed her. Carousel was greeted by the cold winds that got inside by the banging window at her mother's bedroom; then... something caught the side of her eyes, she slowly turned her head to perceive what it was because it was quite dark inside... her eyes slowly narrowed as Carousel was stunned to see… that… 'Conscience' has just ripped open her mother's mouth with his beak-like mandibles. Carousel couldn't speak and couldn't move... the feeling of fear and anger had collided inside her and so she didn't know what to react when she saw her mother being slaughtered by Conscience. When Faust saw the situation... he then immediately rammed Conscience through the bedroom walls, as he shoved him through the floors, their fighting was so intense but Carousel just knelt before her mother's body as if there wasn't any intense fighting that was going on around her. Carousel could still hear her mother's breathing... she quickly scrambled to resuscitate her dying mother.
Carousel's eyes were teary and her voice was shaking as she carried her mother out of the room. -"Mom, stay with me... I'll get you to the city, they could... help..." Carousel said, but she paused as she witnessed the last breath of her mother... 'Conscience' then glanced at her mother… but Carousel continued to carry her mother down to the ground floor, but then she slowly laid the lifeless body of her mother on the ground. She knelt and slowly looked down as she observed her mother, Carousel's eyes narrowed and moments later she closed them... Carousel then leaned her back at a wall behind her and curbed herself like a ball; her forehead was touching her knees as her arms were wrapped around her legs...
-"Demeon must have ordered that beast to kill my mom." Carousel thought to herself.
Faust then immediately went downstairs when Conscience had gotten away from their fight. -"Ooohh, I let him get away!" cried Faust with a grunt and a sound of frustration is obvious from his tone as he walks down the stairs, the skin in his arms were bruised again from their fight, partially revealing his mechanical arms... and then he found Carousel there with her lifeless mother.
-"I'm... I'm sorry." Faust slowly said upon seeing the situation.
-"..." but there was no reply from Carousel; as she was unmoved at the corner; her face remained hidden between her arms.
Faust then slowly moved closer to her, he tried to comfort her... he slightly rubbed her shoulders with his warm hands as he slowly worked his way to hug her... his chin was now touching Carousel's forehead as he embraced her even tighter, he then slowly placed Carousel's head between his neck and shoulder so he could embrace her more comfortably but then he noticed that Carousel wasn't even crying, there were no traces of tears on her cheeks, her eyes remained closed as she breaths heavily... Faust wanted to ask her, why didn't she even cry? But then he felt that it wasn't appropriate... he just thought that something very unpleasant and painful must have happened between the two of them before... and that might be the reason why Carousel did not even cry over her departed mother. So that is why he didn't bother asking her about it. Faust just covered the dead body with a tattered blanket that he found.
-"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Were the only words that came out from his mouth, his knees were on the ground as he embraced Carousel tightly on the floor, Carousel remained unmoved as her face was buried within Faust's chest until... she felt something hard between Faust's... chest. -"What is that?" asked Carousel as she felt a hard object between Faust's chest and her left cheek that had been marked by that object. -"Oh... this?" replied Faust as he took it off from his neck... it was a clock necklace.
-"That's a beautiful... clock necklace." Said Carousel upon seeing it, she then kindly asked Faust if she could take a good look at it and Faust agreed... Carousel held the clock necklace within her palms as she observes it.
-"If you want it, then it's yours." Said Faust
-"Oh no, no... No!" Carousel abruptly replied as she hand it back to Faust. -"I was just looking at it." She said
-"Why…? Don't you like it?"
-"No, it's not that I don't like it... actually I love it but... it's just that... it's too much to ask for."
-"Carousel... this is not too much to ask for." Replied Faust as he showed his clock necklace to Carousel. -"I can give you so much more than this... this is just a clock necklace." Faust pointed out.
-"But aren't you suppose to give that clock necklace to somebody who is special to you?"
-"But... you are special Carousel..." Faust slowly replied -"In fact you are very special to me."
Carousel unexpectedly blushed upon hearing those words from Faust... as she tried to conceal her feelings. -"Thank you... if you feel that way for me." Carousel slowly said as she smiled at Faust and briefly forgot about the horrible situation that had happened. Then Faust slowly put on his clock necklace to Carousel, she unhurriedly tucked her entire hair on the side of her shoulder as she let Faust put on his clock necklace around her neck.
-"It's beautiful... Thank you." Said Carousel as she was looking at it, Faust saw Carousel smile while observing the clock necklace that he had just given her, which made him very happy... but then Carousel was saddened again when she realized the horrible situation that had happened to her mother. Faust then hugged her again. -"It's alright... you will never be alone... I'm always here; I'll never leave you... I won't let those monsters harm you. They'll pay for this!" Faust said as he immediately went outside and was about to ride his vessel – Rookie.
-"Faust…! Where are you going?" cried Carousel
-"I'm going after that beast!" replied Faust
-"But how will you find him?"
-"At Demeon's manor... that's their obvious hiding place, those monsters."
-"But you can't fight them all... they're too strong. They will kill you too, and besides... that soul stealer 'Conscience' must have informed his master Demeon about this incident now, and they are probably hunting for us right now, so let's just go to Heraldin." Carousel suggested.
-"Trust me, I can take care all of them!"
-"But it would be better if we had Heraldin on our side."
-"No need, I'm going there alone!" said he as he looked very determined to go.
-"But... but..." Carousel slowly said as she tries to think of an excuse to prevent Faust from attaining his sudden... blown out of proportion plan. -"But... you said just now, that you will never leave me." Carousel slowly said
Faust was taken aback as he slowly stepped out of his vessel and he slowly walked towards Carousel. -"You're right, I'm sorry." Said he as he advised Carousel that it would be better for them to just leave the place... Carousel couldn't agree less, so she went with Faust into his vessel. She boarded 'Rookie' still looking very confused about what had just happened to her mother... her eyebrows were pulled down as her face looked very dreary... Faust wanted to comfort her more but hesitated because by doing so he thought that he might just cause some annoyance to Carousel, instead he just drove his vessel and together they headed to Heraldin's shelter.
-"I think you're right... it would be safer for us to go to Heraldin's place right now." Said Faust and Carousel slightly nodded as she was looking through the window of the floating vessel, she was watching the view from the outside. The weather is chaotic as usual... strong winds, loud thunderstorms... and heavy rain started to pour again. Luckily they have boarded 'Rookie' just before the heavy rain poured. And moments later, as the vessel flew and floats a few inches from the surface of the ground, the debris underneath the vessel starts to settle down... giving Carousel a clearer vision of the outside view... it was because 'Rookie' had suddenly stopped.
-"Why did you stop?" asked Carousel, her voice barely fainted.
-"Carousel, look!" cried Faust as he opened the door of his vessel and he stepped outside... Carousel then soon followed... she opened the door at her side which automatically receded through the side walls of the vessel; she then stepped outside too as her eyes widened... and she looks very bewildered.
-"Why... is everything suddenly so calm?" Carousel softly asked... she seems to be baffled as she looked around and saw that everywhere was suddenly quiet... there were no thunderstorms, no signs of strong winds, no heavy rain, and no sign of anything chaotic... earthquakes… just pure tranquility... the turmoil condition of the planet had suddenly disappeared and went away.
-"I know." Replied Faust -"It's kind of weird isn't it… when it should be the other way around…" He concluded as he looked at the clear skies up above. -"It's been such a very long time since I last saw those stars." He said. -"When... I was just a little boy." He added
-"So those are what they call stars?"
-"Yes…"
-"From here, they all look like tiny specks of light... with different colors and different shine, just like what a soul looks like..." said Carousel
-"So that's what a soul looks like?"
-"Yes…" replied Carousel
Faust was looking at Carousel... while Carousel's eyes remained fixed on the clear dark skies up above. -"This is my first time to experience this kind of serenity... everywhere is so quiet, I wonder why the weather just suddenly turned peaceful... it is, weird." Carousel said as she agreed with Faust.
-"But it should be the other way around." Faust abruptly said again -"Around twenty years ago... I remember when I was just a little boy, this was the usual weather, and I used to fly my kite with my father because the winds aren't so violent during those days and not up until now... I wonder why the sudden change." Faust asked himself as he sat under a tree which was near to where they had stopped. The tree was barely alive... it only had a few leaves in it, and most of its branches are wilted.
-"I guess we should just enjoy the serenity of the whole place for the moment, because this kind of tranquility doesn't happen every day you know." Said Faust as he picked out some of the wilted branches of the tree to make himself a bon fire... Carousel then sat beside him... The night was calm, the skies were clear and the wind was just right. Carousel was touching the clock necklace on her neck which Faust had recently given to her… when suddenly; Carousel heard a cold voice...
-"Come... before it awakes..." the voice said, as Carousel looked around to see who it was, but she didn't see anybody around besides Faust who was seating beside her and... 'Rookie' that was parked near the tree where they were seating, Carousel sighed as she asked Faust; -"Did you hear that?"
-"Hear what?" asked Faust as his eyebrows were pulled down. -"No, I didn't hear anything... why? Are you hearing something again?"
Carousel's eyes flicker as she looked around again and saw that no one was around there. -"No, it's probably just my imagination." She replied as she just ignored the voice. She then just listened to what Faust was telling her, he was telling her a story... a story about his childhood... but then again Carousel was distracted by that same voice... -"Come... before it awakes..." the voice said to her again. This time... Carousel was startled as she stood up and tries to observe their surroundings...
-"What is it?" He asked, upon seeing Carousel who seemed to be somewhat nervous. -"Are they here?" He asked, as he was pertaining to Demeon and his followers. -"Well, in case they're here, then I'm ready for them... so they better be ready for me…" said Faust as he transformed his mechanical arms into a Gatling gun and a sharp sphere.
-"No, I don't think it's them... I... I just heard a voice... and it's asking me to come... before it awakes."
-"What voice…? Who's voice?"
-"I don't know... If I knew, then I'll probably not be looking around am I…?"
-"But nobody's around here, except you and me and... Rookie." Said Faust as his arms that turned into a Gatling gun and a sharp sphere... are slowly transforming back to its original arm form
-"I know."
-"But who will you come to?"
-"I don't know..."
-"What... what... will awaken…?"
-"Faust, I don't know!" cried Carousel -"All I know is that I heard a voice, and it was calling me... it was asking me to come to it."
-"Hmm... You sure can hear some Erishans around here somewhere." Said Faust as he looked around and observed the vast plains of the barren land. He slowly looked around but noticed that there was really nobody else around besides the two of them and Rookie.
-"Look up." The voice whispered again to Carousel
Carousel was taken aback, as she quickly looked up the clear skies and saw that a star is shining distinctively... it glows differently from the other stars, it is the biggest yet dimmest star visible through the night skies, Carousel then narrowed her eyes to focus on that immense object up in the skies. -"Is that where you want me to go?" She softly asked and that star started to glow even brighter as if it was saying… yes to Carousel as if it understood what Carousel had asked.
-"Faust, I think I know where that voice wants me to go."
-"Really…? Where…?" asked Faust as he was looking very anxious at Carousel
-"It wants me to go there." Said Carousel as she pointed out through the clear night skies the star that is twinkling differently from the rest…
-"Are you serious?" asked Faust with a slight laugh. -"That's it; you need to rest and sleep." He added -"You are now hallucinating because you're tired."
-"But I'm not!"
-"Yes, you are!"
-"I said... I'm not! Okay... if you don't believe me, that's fine... but I'm not hallucinating and I am sure that I heard a voice... and it wants me to go there!" said Carousel
-"But... but, that's a star... how can you possibly go there? That's millions of miles away from here... and how can you even get out from this planet? Look!" said Faust as he pointed out through the clear night skies the millions of asteroids that are closely encircling their planet. -"A floating vessel will surely be crushed into pieces once it makes contact and collides to those millions of asteroids." He concluded as they both looked up and observed the millions of asteroids that are viscously encircling their planet, the asteroids became visible because the skies had cleared, the dark clouds that were covering them suddenly disappeared. -"And you can't possibly go near that thing, you'll die. It's a star, it's like our own 'Asterie', it looks dying and fading but it's still very very hot…" Faust added -"But, wait a second..." he said as he paused for awhile and tries to think. -"Now I remember! That's not a star!" cried he
Carousel pulled her eyebrows down. -"Then, what is that?" she asked looking confused
-"That's a planet..." replied Faust -"My father told me that - that is a planet just like our own planet 'Eris', I remember... I used to stare at that planet when I was just a little boy, it shines like a star but it's not, it's actually a planet." He replied
-"Oh... so that's the planet that workstation was telling me." Cried Carousel
-"What workstation…? So you know about that planet too?"
-"Yes, I learned it from the workstation at the research laboratory I was telling you. The egg shaped thing that was suspended at the research lab, remember…?" Replied Carousel
Faust just nodded…
-"I didn't really believe it at first that there is actually a planet outside our world because I couldn't see it but... now I believe it because I can actually see that planet." said Carousel -"Well... are there Erishans just like us who are also living in there?"
-"Maybe... I don't know, nobody really knows about that... because nobody from this planet has ever succeeded to go there… because of those asteroids…" said Faust… -"But one thing I do remember my father told me is that – that planet is also a habitable planet just like ours... it's just that... scientists from here can only observe that planet, but they cannot venture to that planet... because of those asteroids." Faust explained again
-"I forgot what that workstation told me... but I remember that they did make a name for that planet... Did your father tell you its name?"
Faust narrowed his eyes as he tries to remember. -"Ah... he told me that... planet is called - Iris."
-"Iris…?"
-"Yes"
-"Oh yes, Iris... now I remember, that work station said it too." Said Carousel… -"Iris... too bad I can't do what you want me to do..." Carousel whispered to herself as she looked up through the night skies.
-"But... we could try to go there if you want?" Faust slowly suggested as he saw Carousel who seemed to be looking somewhat denounced.
-"But I thought you said that it'll be dangerous to pass through those asteroids? That's why nobody from this world has ever attempted to get out from this planet."
-"I know... but Rookie doesn't need to pass through those asteroids... it can teleport... remember?" said Faust as he only wanted to make Carousel happy, doing things even to the extreme.
-"You said that Rookie could only teleport to places where it had already been... and couldn't... go to places where it had never been."
-"I know, but you see... the reason why Rookie can't teleport to places it had never been is because... Rookie can't see that place, but if I direct Rookie to a certain place that it can see..." said Faust as he maneuvered his floating vessel towards that planet... 'Iris'. -"Then Rookie can absolutely teleport us to that place." Faust concluded but he couldn't even convince himself that he was telling the truth, because he too is unsure if what he had just suggested will actually work... and he slowly said -"And also... the reason why I told you that... is because I want to... enjoy the moment with you... I just didn't want to journey in a nick of time without even talking to you."
Carousel did not know what to answer; she was taken aback by Faust's words again. She wanted to look into his eyes but she wavered several times. -"You only have such kind words for me Faust... I'm... I'm so thankful to have someone so special like you." Said Carousel as she smiled at Faust, she couldn't look straight at him because she wasn't sure if her answer had sufficed his kind words for her.
Faust's eyes flickered and he smiled at her too, but his smile was hesitant as he slowly looked down... he was hoping that Carousel would compliment him the same, but she did not... say another word, now his lips were pressed in a thin line as he looked back up at Carousel. -"So... do you still want to go to that planet and give this 'Rookie' a try?" He asked
-"Only... if you would come with me."
-"But of course, I wouldn't let you go there alone and besides... you don't know how to drive this thing." Said Faust as he gave 'Rookie' a tap… -"But why would that voice ask you to go to that planet anyway…?"
-"Because it wants to tell me something… I guess…"
-"But why can't it just tell you right now what it wants to tell you... if it wants privacy, well, I can't even hear what that thing is saying so why do you even have to go there?"
-"I don't know... I guess I don't have a choice."
Faust looked very anxious as he took a quick glance at planet 'Iris' through the clear night skies. And as they were boarding Faust's floating vessel, Carousel couldn't take her eyes off of him... her eyes were full of appreciation towards him, she couldn't believe that Faust would actually risk his own life and 'Rookie's' just to follow her will. -"Why…? What's the matter?" asked Faust upon seeing Carousel looking at him very compassionately.
-"Nothing, I just want to ask you, if you could teach me how to operate this thing?"
Faust sighed -"Well, okay... this is how it works..." He said as he showed Carousel how to fly his floating vessel and how to use the teleportation mode.
-"Oh, so that's how this thing works?" she asked
-"Yes…"
-"Faust, can I ask you a favor?"
-"Sure…"
-"Can you let me try this on?" Carousel asked as she was pertaining to Faust's metallic band which also serves as a control for 'Rookie'. -"Because I would just like to know what it feels like to control Rookie with that… if... you... don't mind?" she said
-"Why?" asked Faust, while he was looking intrigued at Carousel. But then he handed it to Carousel. -"Well alright, here you go." He said as he put it around her wrist. -"If you want to learn everything there is to learn then this is how this thing works." He said as he presses a series of buttons to demonstrate Carousel how his metallic band works. Carousel was just looking at how he was teaching her… and moments later, she learned everything Faust had taught her.
-"Oh, I forgot something." Carousel interrupted
-"What is it?"
-"Demeon's book of life, I left it at that tree over there." Carousel said as she pointed out the tree where they had just rested at.
-"Don't worry, just stay here... I'll go get it." Said Faust
-"Thank you…" Replied Carousel
Faust then immediately went there to go get it, but when he got there... he couldn't see where Demeon's 'book of life' was... -"I can't find it here." He said as he was looking around that tree. -"Are you sure you left it here?" He again asked but then he heard a sound... a sound that his vessel is about to take flight, he turned around to see and found that Carousel had locked herself in his vessel and she was about to leave.
-"Carousel…! What do you think you're doing?!" cried Faust as he rushed back to his vessel. He knocked heavily through its windows... -"Where are you going?"
-"I'm going to planet 'Iris' alone." Said Carousel as her voice was barely heard...
-"You're crazy..."
-"I'll be back." Replied Carousel...
-"But I thought you just said you wanted me to come with you?"
-"I don't want you to get involved with my silly decisions, it's too risky and you are too important for me." Said Carousel but Faust can barely hear her, as she maneuvered 'Rookie' and headed for planet Iris... moments later... Rookie lit up and disappeared... Carousel had used Rookie's teleportation mode, leaving Faust wondering through the vast plains of that barren place. And he was unsure whether 'Rookie' had really taken Carousel to planet Iris... he just looked up through the night skies, stared at planet 'Iris' and he cried Carousel's name... but his cries only echoed through the rocky mountains as it slowly faded away... Faust was left there in complete fear for Carousel.
Chapter Seventeen "Soul entity"
Meanwhile, Carousel had made it into the planet 'Iris'... 'Rookie' had successfully teleported her there, Carousel couldn't believe that she had actually made it in there, the place was somewhat like planet 'Eris', but only calmer and more peaceful. -"Am I actually in Iris?" Carousel asked herself as she opened the doors of the vessel and stepped outside; she looked around and looked up through the skies. -"I am here!" She cried as she saw planet 'Eris' through the skies, covered with millions of asteroids that are viciously encircling it. She then again looked around and observed that the planet is fertile, and the lands are lush with vegetation. -"This is a much better place to live in." Carousel thought to herself as she softly said; -"I'm... I'm here... I'm really here." she slowly and quietly said.
Then a silhouette of light gradually appeared in front of her... and it was floating on midair.
-"Are you the one who called for me?" asked Carousel upon seeing the entity that had suddenly appeared in front of her. She raised her right arm to shade her eyes from the extreme light that had appeared in front of her. -"What are you?" she asked anxiously
-"Yes..." it slowly answered -"I called for you... to warn you... that you must not let it consume you..." it slowly said in a deep voice, Carousel's eyes narrowed, as she immediately thought of Demeon, and she tried to look at the entity but could not clearly see it because it is shining so brightly, even with her sharp senses she couldn't clearly picture out the entity, her eyes hurts when she tries to look at it.
-"The only way to destroy it... is to lure it to the Devourer". The entity said as Carousel instinctively looked up through the skies to search for that thing-that entity was saying, as she tried narrowing her eyes to focus her sight on the vast plains of the universe and then she saw from a far distance... a disturbance on the cosmic clouds... something very huge seems to be moving, and it seems as it is consuming everything on its path... it looks like a colossal black hole.
-"Is that... the Devourer?" Carousel slowly asked…
-"Yes…"
-"That's the 'dark spiral' that the workstation is talking about…" Carousel thought to her self… -"What is that thing…?" she asked
-"Everything in the universe has a destroyer… and that one is ours…" it replied
Carousel's tone was unsure if she would be asking the same question again... but then she did... -"What are you?" Carousel asked again... -"Are you a God?"
-"I'm... a soul... and this planet is my body..." the entity answered…
-"Well… do you have a name…?"
-"I do not need a name…" answered the soul entity… as it was not speaking directly at Carousel… but instead it was speaking through her mind.
There were so many questions Carousel wanted to ask but... the entity which is a silhouette of light quickly told her to go back to planet 'Eris'.
-"It starts to awaken... go back now..." said the entity as it magically strode Carousel back to 'Rookie'...
-"What is going to awaken?" asked Carousel as she was hauled into the vessel... and she did not get a reply from the soul entity... Carousel just then looked out from the vessel's window and she could see planet 'Eris' from the skies.
-"Go!" cried the soul entity –"Remember, don't let it consume you."
Carousel then pressed a series of buttons to activate the teleportation mode again as she went back to planet 'Eris'... 'Rookie' lit up and quickly disappeared. 'Rookie' came back to planet 'Eris'... Carousel stepped out of the vessel, she was panting as she looked around... the place was familiar... it was because she was teleported back again at Faust's underground shelter.
-"I knew you would be here." Said a voice at her back... but the voice was familiar and so Carousel turned around to see... and it was Faust.
-"How did you get back here so fast?" asked Carousel as she was catching her breath...
-"I transformed my mechanical arms into wheels... and made myself look like a motorcycle." Replied Faust as he was also panting. -"Don't you ever… ever do that to me again…" He strongly said -"What happened to you? Did you find what you were looking for?"
-"Yes... I saw a... a... I mean I didn't really actually saw what it was because it was shining so bright... but it was a silhouette of light... and it said that it was a soul... and that... planet 'Iris' was its body... it warns me not to be consumed by Demeon..." said Carousel...
And then... a series of loud thunderstorms were suddenly heard again from the outside...
-"I guess the weather condition is back." Said Faust... -"I think I'm more use to this kind of condition." He added -"So that's it? That's what it told you? Did it actually spoke to you…?"
-"Yes... but it wasn't like as if it was really talking to me, because I can't see if it even has a mouth or lips or something… all I know is that... that soul was making sounds which I can inexplicably understand and I don't know why… and whatever its reasons are... for asking me to go to planet Iris... is... it definitely did not want it to be heard by Demeon."
Faust looked very worried. -"We have to think of a plan right now, because Demeon is obviously not to be underestimated... and then there's three more... there's so many of them... what must we do?"
-"Hmm... Before, we didn't know what Demeon's weakness is... because he didn't write it down here in his… book of life. But now we know his weakness…"
-"But why would he… be writing about it?" Faust quickly interrupted. -"Then he will just be putting his own life in jeopardy." He added
-"But of course… but at least now… we know how to destroy him… it's just that I never expected that it would be that complicated to kill him… to lead him to the 'Devouerer'… but at least we now know what the three other soul stealer's weaknesses are... so I think we should first look for their book of lives... and then when we find them, we destroy them, we must burn those books.. so when we kill those soul stealers... they won't have anything to look for their memories once they get back to life... they will be alive again but at least they won't have any memories of their past life, maybe then they could go back on being a soul seeker again, instead of a soul stealer."
-"Well... I just hope that your plans and your speculations are true... but I guess we don't have much choice."
-"That's why we need to get those books now."
-"Meaning... we need to go back to that manor?"
-"I guess so... but then I guess we should go to Heraldin's shelter first."
-"Okay..." said Faust
Together they quickly boarded 'Rookie' again and the two conversed in the vessel. They were heading again at Heraldin's shelter.
-"So... what does it look like out there? At planet Iris…?" Asked Faust
-"Pretty much just like here, but only the weather is much calmer."
-"Is it habitable?"
-"I think so... because I wouldn't be able to get back here if it wasn't livable out there... right?"
-"So... my father was right... that world is habitable..."
-"Yes... that world is also habitable just like ours; if only we could travel there safely... you would know how it is out there, if not only for those asteroids..." said Carousel as she looked up through the skies. -"Why are those asteroids even up there in the first place?" asked Carousel as she couldn't clearly see where the asteroids are now because the skies are covered with dark rain clouds again. –"The workstation at the academy stated that it was because of the two moons of this planet that collided with each other… thousands of years ago." said Carousel as she answered her own question…
Faust slightly narrowed his eyes and nodded -"That's not actually the case for Rookie... because Rookie had transported you there... at planet Iris and those asteroids was not a problem for Rookie... the fact of the matter is... planet Iris is rarely seen nowadays... and Rookie needs to see where it is heading first before making a teleportation pace." Explained Faust
-"You're right! I can't see planet Iris from here anymore..." Carousel concluded.
-"It's because of those dark gray clouds that are out there again." Replied Faust…
And as they were heading for Heraldin's shelter, Carousel started to read through the pages of Demeon's 'book of life' again... she turned the pages... but this time... slowly. Carousel's eyes widened as she read something on the page... -"This page here... tells something about Mischief..." she said as she points her index finger through the lines that she was reading... -"I must have overlooked this part..." she added
-"What does it say?" asked Faust
-"Mischief... is in fact... Dimitris." Carousel slowly read as her eyes widened. -"I knew it... Dimitris couldn't have been just an innocent employee to Demeon." Carousel added
-"That monster!" cried Faust -"Now I have a reason to impair that monster... I have had always wanted to get my hands on that annoying shaman... now there's no reason for me not to." Faust said as he tightly closed his fist.
-"And it also says here that... Dimitris is... Demeon's… only son." Said Carousel upon reading the further written information on Demeon's 'book of life'…
-"What?" cried Faust… -"He's Demeon's son?"
-"Yes, and Demeon doesn't want Dimitris to know about it... because Dimitris might take revenge upon him if he knew that Demeon was actually the one who killed his mother." Said Carousel as she was reading the parts were Mischief was the subject of Demeon's revelation. -"And that is the reason why Dimitris chose to be a soul stealer instead of a soul seeker because he wanted to consume the soul of his mother's perpetrator."
-"So Dimitris was a good Erishan before?"
-"Yes… he was probably a good 'soul seeker' before… because that's where it all starts… a soul seeker who consumes a soul will turn into a soul stealer."
-"Who would have thought that a monster like Demeon could have gotten himself a child like Dimitris... but then again the irony is that Dimitris had turned out to be just like his father after all." Said Faust with a slight laugh
-"Dimitris is... the soul stealer – Mischief after all... and for him to be able to disguise himself into an Erishan, he must had have a shape shifting skill... which he must have gotten and inherited that skill to his evil father Demeon." Said Carousel
-"Of course…" Replied Faust
-"We have to inform all the 'splitters' of the academy... that it's not safe for them to be training in there anymore, the only reason why Demeon had put up the academy is just so he could steal and consume all the souls of the splitters in his academy." Said Carousel -"The academy to help the 'splitters' to enhance their skills is just a diversion so not to expose the real tactics of those 'soul stealers'…" added Carousel
-"I know, but you're right we need Heraldin's help... and at least we know that we could trust him." Said Faust
Moments later... they have reached the 'Ruin city of Harlow' and Carousel was very eager to see if Heraldin had already found Rachael... and as they reached Heraldin's shelter... Carousel quickly jumped out from 'Rookie' and headed straight at the shelter. They saw Heraldin's floating vessel parked outside his shelter.
-"He's here." Said Faust upon seeing Heraldin's floating vessel.
Faust then knocked on the door as he turned the knob, but the door wasn't locked... the door was opened... so they just let themselves in.
-"Heraldin!" called Faust as he searched for him inside the shelter.
-"Rachael... we're here!" cried Carousel
-"I'm goanna go at the lower shelter... and check if he's there." Faust suggested
-"Okay." Replied Carousel
So Faust immediately went down to go and check for Heraldin at the lower shelter... while Carousel stayed behind at the upper shelter, as she went straight to Rachael's room... and was hoping that Rachael was there… Carousel was relieved but couldn't smile as she found Rachael there sitting at her bed looking very worried for her. Carousel's eyes were watery and her face was pale... Carousel then immediately walked towards Rachael and without even saying a word they both hugged each other, Rachael knew what Carousel had just been through so she hugged her even tighter... and tears started to flow from Carousel's cheeks.
-"I'm so glad that you are here… they killed my mother..." said Carousel as her voice was shaking...
-"I can see that... I'm sorry..." replied Rachael as she gently stroke Carousel's forehead.
-"I didn't see a speck of light that came out from my mother's mouth." Carousel confoundedly said… -"I didn't see her soul." Carousel added
-"..." Rachael was brought to silence; as she did not know what to reply... she just kept her embrace on Carousel even tighter. -"Maybe you just didn't see it." She cautiously said…
-"But I was there when Conscience took her life; he too was waiting for her soul to come out from her mouth." Carousel explained
-"But... but how can that happen?"
-"I... I... don't know." Carousel slowly replied as Rachael slowly wiped the tears that were flowing from her cheeks. –"My mother didn't have a soul…?" Carousel asked herself feeling doubtful about the whole scenario.
Carousel was so tired so she then lay on the bed... Rachael did not bother to ask Carousel anything anymore because she knew that Carousel was really telling her the truth and it would be the best thing for her to be just quiet for now… Carousel then slowly closed her eyes and she unconsciously starts to sleep. She began to have that same old dream of hers again... when she was asleep…
She was walking up on that circular staircase again... and when she reached the top... the floating liquid mirror like object revealed yet another... image which Carousel couldn't familiarize... so she slowly walked near that object as her eyes narrowed... then the wobbly liquid mirror like object started to settle... revealing a silhouette of a female Erishan's face... Carousel couldn't clearly see the image but she can distinguish that the silhouette figure was looking at her furiously... its eyes were glazing.
Meanwhile... Faust found Heraldin at the control area of the huge combat vessel... he was standing there at the control panel with his back facing Faust as Faust entered the area and Heraldin seems to be searching for something.
-"Heraldin!" cried Faust as he was slightly panting.
Heraldin turned around to see Faust. -"Did you find Carousel?" asked Heraldin
-"Yes... she's up at the shelter." replied Faust -"What are you doing here?" He asked
-"I'm trying to find Rachael, with this workstation... and I'm glad that you have fixed this... thank you." Said Heraldin to Faust
Faust just nodded
-"I've looked everywhere for her, I went to the academy, and I even went to the Ruins of Goban Shrine... but she's nowhere to be found." Heraldin added -"That's why I'm trying to look for her with this workstation... but still I can't find her using this."
Faust narrowed his eyes... -"I think... I heard her when Carousel went into her room..." He said
-"Really…?"
-"No, I'm not sure... but have you checked her room before you left?"
-"Yes, I did... but I did not check on her room as soon as I got back here, but I'm pretty sure that she wasn't there." Heraldin said as he wasn't even convinced of what he had just said… he then left the workstation of the combat vessel and was about to check on Rachael at the upper shelter.
-"How can you find her there?" asked Faust as he was pertaining to the workstation of the huge combat vessel which also serves as the control mechanism of the entire combat vessel.
-"They used to input all the necessary information of every living and dead Erishans in this world in that computer... for whatever purpose they had." said Heraldin as he pointed out the control panel of the vessel. -"And every possible Erishan that has information about them also has a built-in 'GPS' implanted in their bodies... a tiny electronic capsule is embedded in their elbows near the forearm and that's the reason why their whereabouts can be tracked." Explained Heraldin -"I was just trying my luck even though I knew that they couldn't have possibly included Rachael's information in there because she was obviously born after the 'Great War' happened... and for all I know, she was never been implanted with a GPS in her forearm, and this huge combat vessel crashed here even before that Great War had happened… but like I said, I was just trying my luck." Heraldin explained as he quickly left the control area and headed through Rachael's room at the upper shelter... Faust then followed closely behind him.
Faust pulled both his eyebrows down. -"Why do I have a feeling that Heraldin sometimes doesn't seem to know her own daughter…" Faust thought to himself as he followed Heraldin. -"Demeon and his bunch of soul stealers are behind Serrot's murder." Cried Faust -"And Demeon was also the beast whom you have encountered with at the Ruins of Goban Shrine" He added as they were quickly heading for the upper shelter.
-"How did you know all of these?" asked Heraldin
-"Carousel told me…"
-"I'm not surprised." Replied Heraldin -"I've searched up on Demeon's profile on that computer but there wasn't any information posted related to him... whereas he should be one of the Erishans that must have a complete information about themselves... because considering his connections to the top officials of this world before the 'Great War' happened." Heraldin added -"I knew there was something suspicious about that... Demeon…" Heraldin concluded
-"He really is one hell of a school's predecessor!" Faust slightly grunted... but then his mood suddenly changed from irritated to upset... his tone was very gloomy... -"A soul stealer named Conscience killed Carousel's mother." Said Faust as he slowly looked down… -"And that might be your friend Isoah who did it…" Faust added as he felt a little bit bothered about Carousel because he didn't even see Carousel cried when her mother was murdered.
Heraldin was taken aback... his eyes widened as he heavily sighed; he then walked even faster heading for the upper shelter. He rushed in through Rachael's room and found Carousel sleeping at her daughter's bed, but then Carousel awoke when she heard that somebody had walked into Rachael's room, and she slightly curved to see who it was...
-"Carousel... are... are you alright?" asked Heraldin as he entered Rachael's bedroom.
-"Yes, I'm fine now."
-"I'm sorry about what happened to your mother." Said Heraldin
Carousel looked into Heraldin's eyes as she slightly nodded then she turned her back at him and then she laid her head on the pillow and remained laying there for awhile.
Heraldin stroke her head from behind… -"We are just here... if you need us." Said Heraldin as he read the reason why Carousel did not even cry when her mother was killed, it was because she was shocked and she couldn't believe that she did not see a soul that came out from her mother's mouth…
-"Thank you..." Carousel softly replied… -"Where's Rachael…?" she asked as she slowly looked around the room.
-"I was about to ask you the same." Said Heraldin
-"But she was just here a moment ago."
Heraldin slowly looked around the room... and then the bedroom door opened and Rachael came in from that door.
-"Where were you? Where have you been?" Cried Heraldin upon seeing Rachael as he approached and hugged his daughter… -"I would never forgive myself if something bad happens to you... and I can't afford to lose you again."
-"Again?" asked Rachael in a confuse manner.
-"Never mind." replied Heraldin -"The important thing is that... you are here and you're safe, and that's what matters to me."
-"But I was just here awhile ago." Replied Rachael as her eyebrows were pulled up.
-"What's that?" Heraldin unexpectedly asked as he saw an unfamiliar large book laid at the table... he then released Rachael from his embrace and he walked towards that book... Heraldin picked it up and started to read the pages... -"This is a..." he slowly said
-"That's Demeon's book of life." Carousel abruptly said
Heraldin then dropped the book. -"I can't read this!" He cried
-"Why?" asked Carousel
-"Because that's a soul stealer's book of life…" Replied Heraldin
-"So..., what…?"
-"I can't bear to read the things that he might have written about... how he had killed and consumed the souls of his victims."
And then Carousel started to read the pages of the book. -"Yes, Demeon did in fact wrote a lot of gruesome things he had done in his life, and I just have to know." Said Carousel
Heraldin was reluctant to see Carousel reading a soul stealer's book of life but then... he got curious and decided to read the book himself.
-"Carousel is also a soul seeker like you father... but she doesn't seem to be affected like you are." Said Rachael
-"I know..." replied Heraldin as he took the book from Carousel… -"May I…?" he asked
-"Sure...here..." said Carousel as she handed the book of life to Heraldin... Heraldin then started to read the pages...
-"So... these are the things that are written in his 'book of life'... more like the 'book of death', poor creature... I can't read more of these…" said Heraldin... as he was reading through the pages... and then... he noticed that a couple of pages were torn and missing from the bottom part of the book... Carousel then told him that she and Demeon had actually fought for the possession of that book, which is why it was torn into two pieces... Carousel then told everything that had happened to them to Heraldin.
-"Hmm..." sighed Heraldin as he was keen to examine the last pages of the book... the last words he was able to read at the book was the line – "It's time to gather them around..." Heraldin's eyes narrowed as he read those words... -"What does Demeon mean by... - It's time to gather them around?" He thought to himself... as he paused for a while and was walking back and fort, back and fort trying to know what Demeon meant by what he had written, and moments later, he had an idea what it is... -"I think Demeon will gather all the 'splitters' in this world." Heraldin concluded.
Carousel and Rachael then looked at each other... their eyes were filled with uncertainty but they both felt that Heraldin might be right with his presumption.
-"I think... he's up to something." Said Heraldin as he was trying to see the future… but he couldn't foresee it for an unknown reason… -"I guess some of my skills don't work on soulless creatures…" Heraldin thought to him self…
-"We think so too..." replied Carousel
The door was open and Faust was at the doorstep; listening to their conversation... his arms were entwined as he rests his back at the wall of the corridor, his head slightly facing down... his left foot was also bent at the wall to give him balance... but then suddenly he thrust his left foot away from the wall to release himself from taking a break... then he walked away... moments later they heard the front door slightly banged.
-"Where is he going?" asked Carousel upon seeing Faust walked away... then she followed him out of the shelter... Faust is about to ride his floating vessel, when suddenly…
-"Faust, where are you going…?" Carousel anxiously asked
-"..." Faust just glanced at her but he did not reply.
Then someone interrupted... -"You can't go there alone." Said... Heraldin as he read Faust's mind... because he too followed Faust out of the shelter... -"I'm coming with you." He said... Carousel then momentarily looked back to see a glimpse of Heraldin... subsequently she knew what Heraldin was talking about... she then faced Faust again and told him that she too is coming with him. Faust then didn't have a choice... Carousel quickly boarded 'Rookie'...
-"Heraldin... Rachael, come! Let's go!" cried Carousel
-"No, I'm riding my own vessel!" Heraldin replied -"Because it would be better if we had two vessels just in case the other one gets destroyed."
Faust's lips were pressed in a thin line as he was sure that it's not his 'Rookie' that will be destroyed… if ever there are such circumstances…
Heraldin suggested -"Faust, just lead the way and I will follow." Said Heraldin
-"Okay!"
-"Then let's all go to that manor!" Heraldin cried
And they all boarded their designated vessels; Carousel having boarded with Faust in his 'Rookie' and Rachael boarded her father's floating vessel.
Chapter Eighteen "The Purging"
-"Let's take them by surprise... then we'll destroy them together with their book of lives ... then let's see if they could still come back to life after that." Said Faust as they all agreed to destroy it if they found a soul stealer's book of life... Faust immediately activated his vessel and headed for Demeon's manor... Heraldin soon followed close behind, it was almost daybreak when they decided to go... but their sun – 'Asterie' can barely shine a light, that's why it still looks like midnight even though it is already at dawn... the winds were strong as usual and minor earthquakes started to occur again... Heraldin was very anxious; he wanted to let the people of Eris know who Demeon really is. The four of them wanted to warn all the Erishans what Demeon are planning for them, specially the splitters... Heraldin was so worried for all the people of Eris. Then soon after when they reached Midgar city... Carousel took notice of her fellow splitters who were all very eager to go to 'Stellar Academy' to train, there was so many of them... probably hundreds of them... those were the most that the three of them; Carousel, Faust and Rachael had ever seen... Carousel was used to see only a handful of splitters who are coming to the academy to train every day.
-"But why are there so many 'splitters' that are coming to the academy right now?" asked Carousel -"I have never witnessed these much of 'splitters' wanting to train there... we need to warn them..." she said
-"And so... do... I…" Faust abruptly replied -"I've never seen this much of 'splitters' either... and some of them... I've never seen and known of… and some of them I've never quite seen in years... until now." Faust concluded -"Why the sudden rush? What's going on here?" asked Faust as he stopped his floating vessel on the street, where the roads were covered with sheets of super steel metals. He then stepped out from his vessel and asked some of the 'splitters' who were heading to the academy but they were also quick to walk... away from him.
-"Why are you all avoiding ... me?" asked Faust as he was quickly interrupted by one of his fellow splitters...
-"You're Faust..." said one of the splitters who was fast walking towards the academy but had stopped for awhile to speak to Faust…
-"Yes... and you mustn't go in there at the academy, it's not safe for each and every one of you to go there..." said Faust -"Listen! All of you...!" cried Faust as he addressed them all... -"That academy is being run by soul stealers...!"
-"Dimitris was right... you are ungrateful!" interrupted the splitter who stopped for awhile to speak to him -"And now, you're even trying to discredit them by telling us that they are soul stealers...?"
-"But they are!"
-"Faust... you have not become what you are now... if it wasn't for them... you're so ungrateful." said one of the splitters -"Now... if you could just go away... because you are blocking our way..." the splitter added -"So we could all proceed to the academy." The splitter said as Faust was standing on their way... thwarting their way into the entrance of the 'Stellar Academy'...
-"What did Dimitris tell you... what did he tell all of you?" asked Faust... as his face was showing some frustrations, seeing all the splitters just walking towards the academy.
-"..." But nobody replied... they just proceeded to where they were heading, bumping their shoulder's at Faust's as they were heading – at the 'Stellar Academy'...
-"We need to let them know... that they are in great danger!" cried Carousel... as the splitters were just ignoring them as they passes them by... as if they weren't there.
-"I know..." replied Faust
-"We've got to do something..."
Heraldin interrupted -"You two... just go with them." He said -"It would be better if we split up... you two..." said Heraldin as he was looking at Faust and Carousel... -"Just follow those splitters, and check what the affair is all about... and Rachael... I want you to go with them too..." Heraldin ordered
-"But where are you going?" asked Rachael
-"I'm going to that manor." Replied Heraldin -"I have been longing to meet up with an old friend..." He added -"Faust... where's Demeon's manor?" asked he
-"Before you get to Lake Midgar... just turn to the right... where there seems to be a dead end cliff... but that cliff is just a diversion, an illusion to hide the mansion, at the foot of that cliff... there are bushes and shrubs... go inside that cave like forest and it will lead you to the manor..." replied Faust
Heraldin nodded and went straight ahead to do his task.
Meanwhile... Carousel, Faust and Rachael immediately followed the splitters who are heading to the academy... Faust saw one of his familiar senior splitters amongst the crowd who now resides in his own and Faust decided to have a talk with him...
-"Why are you all here? What's going on?" asked Faust
-"Didn't you know?" replied the senior splitter
-"Know what?"
-"Dimitris told all the shamans of the academy to inform us all splitters all over the world to come to the academy at once for there will be a very important matter to be tackled."
-"And what is that concern?"
-"Dimitris didn't specifically inform us about that... he said that we will just have to know about that when we get here... but there are rumors that there will be a great catastrophe that is about to occur and the academy is the safe place to be and the acdemy will also be extending its assistance throughout the other realms in this world which hasn't yet recovered since the Great War... and they say that it's also about how we; the 'splitters' of this world will use our skills to put a stop to the very chaotic weather conditions of our planet... for us to live like we used to be before the 'Great War' had happened... it's about time we figure out a way to solve this problem... we, the people of Eris find it hard to recuperate because of these world's weather conditions."
-"But that is a complete lie!" cried Faust -"Nobody has really ever understood why our world suddenly turned into this very chaotic situation right after the Great War... and don't blame the weather conditions why your lives in your realm are unprogressive... look at Midgar City... why is it progressive here? ... Despite the calamities it is enduring?" asked Faust in a very sturdy tone
-"Because of Demeon…! That's why this city is so progressive." answered the senior splitter with confidence towards his statement…
-"What…? But it's not just Demeon who built the city... but all the people of Midgar city... it's because of these Erishan's resiliency and dedication that's why this city was greatly built, and even if Demeon alone build the entire city - which we all know for a fact that he did not – well... if all the Erishans itself doesn't care about Midgar... then putting it up will lead to nowhere... and don't even listen to Demeon... he's a soul stealer."
-"Now... you are showing no gratitude at all!"
-"But that is the truth... the only reason why Demeon helped the Erishans to build this city is so he could put up the academy and attract a lot of recruits to join his academy... and then he will consume the souls of the 'splitters' who had trained in his school. Demeon targets the strong splitters whom he had sent away... like what he did to Serrot."
-"What exactly did he do to Serrot?" The senior splitter looked somewhat surprised as his tone was doubtful... and he sounded very cynical.
-"So... you didn't know...? Serrot was found dead near one of the abandoned shelters at the ruined city of Harlow, he was barely recognizable... his mouth was reaped open, his skin was crippled and his blood was sucked dry... now tell me... who or what kind of creature on planet Eris could possibly do that? Only soul stealers are known for those kinds of assaults."
-"You are just making that up... soul stealers doesn't exist... they're just myths and rumors that Erishans made... so they could have someone to blame on for those shamans who had suddenly disappeared... and what is your basis for accusing Demeon as a soul stealer?"
Faust wanted to reply but he was interrupted again by a follow up question of that senior splitter alchemist... -"And let's say that if ever Demeon was in fact a soul stealer – which he is obviously not... and he targets the shamans whom he had sent away... like you say that he is... then why hasn't he come for me yet?... Demeon also drove me away; he said that the Erishans in my realm needs my talents and skills more than this academy does..."
-"Oh, come'on we both know that Demeon was just lying to you... the reason why he sent you away is because you don't have any talents... you didn't show any skill of an alchemist for all the years that you have spent at the academy... so what would he need of you?"
The senior splitter shook his head as his eyes were intensely looking at Faust… -"You are really such an arrogant bastard!" He yelled at Faust as he just proceeded to the academy.
"I'm not a bastard…" said Faust "I have parents who were… whatever…" He concluded to the senior alchemist.
Faust, Carousel and Rachael were being dismissed by every splitter that passes their way... the splitters doesn't seem to pay attention to the three's assertions towards Demeon and Dimitris... they don't believe in everything they say. So the three just went with the flow... they followed the splitters up to the entrance gate of the academy... and while they were on their way... Carousel held a tight grip at Faust's hand...
-"We're running out of ideas... what can we do to convince them? They're just ignoring us... they don't believe in everything we tell them... and if we can't resolve this then what can we do and before we knew it's probably goanna be too late..."
-"Don't lose hope Carousel... let's go, let's hurry, our best chance right now is to go inside the academy and see what the situation is all about."
-"That's your plan?" asked Rachael
-"Well... do you have a better idea?"
-"Let's just go!" cried Carousel
But as soon as the three of them arrived at the entrance gate of the academy... shamans prevented them from entering the school's premise.
-"I'm afraid you three can't enter this academy anymore..." one of the shamans said as he closed the gate for them while letting the other late splitters sneaked inside at the side of the gate.
-"Why?" asked Carousel
-"Dimitris gave us strict orders not to let you three into this academy anymore." Answered one of the shamans…
-"You have to let us in!" cried Carousel -"Demeon and Dimitris are soul stealers... and all of you are in great danger!"
-"That's just what Dimitris had told us those three would be saying." One of the shamans murmured to his fellow shaman.
-"But they are!" cried Carousel as she overheard the whispering done by that shaman. -"If anything bad happens to all of you... don't tell us that we didn't warn you…!" She concluded…
The shamans did not reply as they just ignored her, the shamans were just busy letting the late splitters to come in while thwarting the three of them from going in... -"We are just following orders." Said one of the shamans
-"Come'on, you've got to let us in!" cried Faust while he was banging the entrance gate that is made of super steel grills with elaborate designs.
-"I'm sorry, but you three are not welcome here anymore." Said one of the shamans who were guarding the entrance gate of the academy... he looked around to see if there were still late splitters who would at a halt make it in time for their congregation but he did not see any... -"I guess that's the last one..." He said as the last splitter made it in and so he closes the entrance door only to be jammed by Faust... Faust stuck his mechanical arm between the closing entrance doors just as to prevent it from completely closing.
-"Move away your arm Faust..." warned one of the two shamans who were guarding the entrance door. -"Yes, just do what he says, so no one will get hurt." Said the shaman who was trying to close the entrance gate... he was pressing a button to trigger the closing of the gates…
But Faust was not moved... he remained what he was doing... until his mechanical arm was slowly being squished by the entrance gate... the skin on his arm was slowly being torn away by the part of the entrance gate's rail, revealing the metallic internal part of his arm... Carousel then immediately pulled away Faust's arm that is being stuck at the closing gate... the entrance gate then banged and closed instantly... because Faust's arm that he had stuck between the closing gates was suddenly pulled away by Carousel.
-"It's not worth to let yourself be hurt just to prove these Erishans your point... if they don't want to believe in us, then there's nothing more we can do... at least we've done our part." Said Rachael as Faust had to feel his slightly injured arm.
-"Wait! Let me in!" a voice cried from behind them that caught their attention... and it was... Emoreh who was panting as he was running towards the entrance gate... -"Open up..." he said as he was very late for the congregation…
-"No... Don't go in there!" cried Carousel to Emoreh -"We don't know what Dimitris might do to all the splitters in there."
Emoreh narrowed his eyes... -"Carousel... what are you talking about?" he asked as he slightly shook his head. -"Anyways, have you seen Emery…? Did Emery make it in here?" He worriedly asked
-"No, I haven't seen Emery..." replied Carousel as she looked around through the group of splitters who were waiting for their turn to descend to the underground maze... Carousel narrowed her eyes as she tried to focus on them when… from a far distance she saw Emery from the crowd and she was looking at her too. -"Wait! I think I saw Emery in there…! Cried Carousel -"But you shouldn't go in there because Dimitris is a soul..." Carousel said as she was suddenly interrupted by Dimitris who unexpectedly walked out from one of the many corners of the school's building.
Dimitris was then slowly walking towards them... the sound of his shoes' heels echoed through the hallway as he walks...
-"Go! And lead them all into the underground maze!" ordered Dimitris to the two shamans who were guarding the entrance gate of the academy... -"I'll take care of these stubborn trainees..." He added.
The two shamans nodded as they just did what Dimitris has ordered them to do... they both led all the splitters who came in late... into the underground maze until no one was left around there except Dimitris who was mockingly standing just inside the academy's entrance gate. While Carousel, Faust and Rachael together with Emoreh was left outside of the school's premise.
-"Dimitris, let me in!" cried Emoreh
-"You despicable monster!" cried Faust to Dimitris
-"What are you planning to do with all the splitters?" Carousel asked Dimitris as Emoreh slowly narrowed his eyes... he doesn't have any idea on what was going on.
Dimitris snorted as he gave them a sarcastic smile... -"Now... now... you are all too late... the purging of the splitters will soon take place at the underground maze and there is nothing the three of you can do." Said Dimitris with a slight laugh…
Faust and Carousel then started to bring down the very tall and very sturdy entrance gate of the academy... they kept hitting and pounding it. -"You're a monster!" cried Carousel as she was holding and shaking on to the grills of the entrance gate. -"You tricked us in entering to your evil academy so you could consume our souls."
-"You two... stop what you're doing!" cried Emoreh to Carousel and Faust -"Why are you accusing Dimitris of something he's not! Don't you two have any appreciation of the things that this academy had done to your talents... to your skills?" said Emoreh in an angry manner. -"Faust... is this how you repay the head shaman - Dimitris who trained you, to get you to where you are now?"
Dimitris then gave Faust a sarcastic frown, his lower lip was pressed down.
-"Emoreh... you don't know the real story here." Said Carousel as she heavily brushed Emoreh aside... -"Dimitris is a soul stealer!" she said -"And I know that he's up to something..."
-"Soul Stealers don't exist!" cried Emoreh -"Why do you keep insisting that those creatures exist?" said Emoreh to Carousel... as he was fixing himself from being brushed aside and was looking at them with doubt…
"They do exist…" Faust said to Emoreh
Emoreh then faced Faust… "I don't know what Carousel had said to you, but you think you can fool me? You know what Faust? You always made me feel like you were somehow better than me?"
-"But he really is better than you, so much better than you!" Carousel interrupted
Emoreh was just taken aback…
-"No, Carousel didn't tell me anything, Carousel and I saw a soul stealer at Lake Midgar… and I never made you feel that I was better than you… Emoreh, you know that's not true…" replied Faust
-"Because Faust is just way… way better than you and that is the fact!" Rachael interrupted too…
But Emoreh didn't seem to pay attention to what Rachael had just said and instead he asked -"And what were you two doing at Lake Midgar?"
-"We were off to…" replied Faust but Carousel quickly interrupted the conversation…
-"We were off to take a swim, the two of us, me and Faust. And that is where we saw a soul stealer lurking in the forest." Explained Carousel
Carousel was obviously on Faust's side and she was making it clear to Emoreh… Emoreh's eyes narrowed, he felt a bit envious. -"And Dimitris..." Emoreh called as he turned to face Dimitris. -"What... what – purging of the splitters were you talking about?" asked Emoreh to Dimitris as he turned to look at him... his tone was confused... but as soon as Emoreh turned to face Dimitris... Emoreh had suddenly witnessed the true identity of Dimitris... for Dimitris had slowly morphed into his true self - a soul stealer...
Dimitris slowly turned into a soul stealer – the soul stealer... 'Mischief'... and now, his eyes were now pitched black... his skin was gray... his hair was dark as the night... his hands turned into razor sharp claws... and two horns slowly emerging on his forehead... Emoreh was in total awe upon seeing Dimitris in his soul stealer form... Emoreh's eyes widened... he couldn't speak or breathe... he was in a total shock... as he tries to step back.
-"Let's see... I'm going to start the purging with you..." said Mischief in a very nasally sound to Emoreh as he unexpectedly stroke Emoreh to his chest by his claw-like hand and grabbed him by the face by the other... Mischief's claws past through the grills of the entrance gate... cutting it like butter. Mischief then ripped open Emoreh's mouth down to his throat with his beak like mandibles and started to suck his blood dry... Faust, Carousel and Rachael were stunned to see how things had happened so quickly and before they knew it... Emoreh was dead! His lifeless body rests along the entrance gate and his skin started to cripple as Mischief sucks his blood... Carousel was in total shock... she did not know what to do... her eyes widened as she was just looking at how Mischief was sucking Emoreh's blood out of him, and then Mischief paused for awhile... he slightly lifts his head up and looked at Carousel in the eye... he sarcastically smiled at her, as Emoreh's blood flows throughout his face... Carousel looked disgusted and she was now fuming with anger towards Mischief... her eyes narrowed as she immediately pulls a steel grill from the entrance gate of the academy... then she used it to strike Dimitris on the face... Dimitris was put to a hurl upon receiving the sudden heavy blow that Carousel gave to him, making him release Emoreh from being tightly locked up... Emoreh's lifeless body then fell to the ground and a tiny speck of light came out from his ripped mouth, Carousel witnessed the coming out of Emoreh's soul out of his mouth... it was gray in color and it's glow was dimmer than some of the glows of the souls she saw at Heraldin's lower shelter... Carousel was in total shock... she couldn't believe Emoreh was dead.
-"Dimitris!" cried Carousel as her voice was shaking in anger.
-"I knew it... he was just an ordinary creature with no real talent!" cried Mischief upon seeing Emoreh's soul too... it was floating on mid air, Mischief then hastily ran towards where Emoreh body was laying and tries to consume his soul, floating on top of his mouth. -"A soul is still a soul..." said Mischief as he opened his beak-like lips and mandibles and was about to consume the soul.
-"Monster!" cried Carousel as she stroke Mischief again in the head with the steel grill that she was still holding. Mischief was momentarily knocked out from the blow... and he then stroked his head to feel the pain. -"See what you've done? You let your boyfriend's soul slip through my reach..." said Dimitris in anger as Emoreh's soul drifted through the air… -"But then again, your friend's soul is just such a waste after all... and I wouldn't care less if I hadn't consumed his soul, its worthless." Said Mischief with a snort -"So I guess I won't wait for Demeon to consume your soul... I guess I'll have to consume your soul all for myself." He said to Carousel.
Faust and Rachael then soon joined the fight too. The three of them began throwing in their talents to Mischief but Carousel and Faust can't do anything to damage Mischief because the latter could read their minds.
-"You're too predictable!" cried Mischief to Carousel and Faust as he was evading their every attack. -"Your attacks have no effect on me because I can see your every next move." Said Mischief as he strokes them with his sharp claws... Faust and Carousel were brushed away... there's nothing they could do now to stop Mischief from his relentless assaults towards them... Rachael was the only one who could inflict damage to Mischief... but all she could do is to slowly move objects with her telekinetic skill... and before she even starts to move an object... Mischief was there to attack her; Rachael was still a little bit slow…
-"I know what we should do." Carousel whispered to Faust
-"Do you have a plan?" asked Faust
-"Yes... let's just close our eyes first so Dimitris can't read our thoughts... then we should play with him using a mischievous act... according to the book... that would weaken him, because he is too aggressive."
-"Yes, you're right." Replied Faust
-"Hmm... What are you two whispering to each other?" asked Mischief as he walks towards Carousel and Faust, his tone was teasingly annoying. -"As if I wouldn't know…" He added as his voice was very nasally.
Carousel and Faust then began closing their eyes.
-"So you think that by closing your eyes that would keep me from reading your thoughts? That's a clever idea, but…" asked Mischief -"Then let's see how long you two can keep up with what you're doing!" cried Mischief as he was about to attack them again…
-"Faust, be on your guard..." Carousel whispered to Faust as her eyes were tightly shut. -"He's going to attack us from behind... I can feel him." Warned Carousel as she sharpens her senses... Mischief then attacked them from behind and they both luckily evaded Mischief's attack from behind.
-"That was close." Said Faust as he rolled over and was keeping both his eyes tightly shut.
-"Dimitris..." called Carousel... -"I know who killed your mother..." she said
Mischief was then put to a pause... he snarled as he looked at Carousel.
-"And I know that – that is your reason for choosing to become a soul stealer... to find your mother's perpetrator."
-"How did you know about all this?" asked Mischief
-"Let's just say... I read it from a soul stealer's book of life..." replied Carousel
-"A... soul stealer's book of life?" asked Mischief as he looked very intrigued. -"Are you sure…? So tell me, who might have... killed my mother?" asked Mischief
-"I'll tell you... but first... you have to let me read your book of life too... so I can help you…"
Mischief heavily sighed -"Help me what? He annoyingly asked -"So you think that – that is the reason why I chose to become a soul stealer? Is to find my mother's perpetrator? I can find her perpetrator anytime I want to... even if I'm not a soul stealer." said Mischief as he slightly laughed.
-"What do you mean?" Carousel softly asked
Dimitris then gave them a very loud laugh... -"I don't care who killed my mother... in fact I was relieved when she died... and so I should have to thank her perpetrator instead." He cried… as his pitch black eyes were suddenly turning into crimson red, and he seems to be getting stronger… Mischief was now showing his true power… Carousel, Faust and Rachael were now suddenly put into a different dimension and space which Mischief had an absolute control… their surroundings starts to change… everywhere they look at, was pitch black and they couldn't see Dimitris anywhere…
-"This is like the same scene that I have encountered with-with that soul stealer at Lake Midgar…!" cried Faust as he slightly peeked to observe their surroundings…
-"This is harder than I thought it would be..." Carousel thought to herself... -"I think we are the ones who are getting played in this mind game..." she mumbled to herself. -"I have to think of a way to win over his mischievous acts... and I have to think fast..." said Carousel to herself... -"Dimitris..." Carousel then called his name again... -"Demeon was the one who killed your mother..." She said.
Mischief just snorted as he was about to laugh again... then he ferociously attacked them all… his crimson red eyes were very remarkable.
But Carousel then opened her eyes... -"You don't believe me?" She said -"Then… look into my eyes and see it for yourself." Said Carousel as she opened her eyes to let Mischief read her mind... they intensely looked at each other... and moments later... Mischief was confused... and then…
-"What…? Demeon has a book of life?" cried Mischief in anger as he read Carousel's mind.
-"You look so angry…! As if you want to kill your master…?" Carousel mockingly asked
-"He's not my master!" replied Mischief in a loud tone and his crimson red eyes were now suddenly turning into a light gray in color…
-"Yes he is…" said Faust
Mischief snarled at them and tries to swiftly flee away... but Carousel managed to grab hold of his wing.
-"Where do you think you're going?" asked Carousel as her expression was somewhat teasing. -"You don't know that Demeon has a book of life?" her voice hits a higher note at the end. -"Isn't it a must for every soul stealer and every soul seeker to have a book of life?"
Mischief shrugged off his wing. -"Let go of me! You pathetic fool!" He cried but Carousel maintained a strong grip at his wing and she refuses to let him go. -"Just to let you know… we… soul stealers do not possess a book of life anymore once we choose to become a soul stealer." Explained Mischief -"Now let go of me because… Demeon has a lot of explaining to me to do…" He added as he was starting to weaken…
Carousel, Faust and Rachael then looked confused...
-"I think you shouldn't just let Demeon make a simple explaining to do…" Faust interrupted -"Demeon is a traitor! And there's a huge price to pay for treachery… you know what I mean…" said Faust -"I think you should kill him." Faust suggested
-"Yes, I think you should kill him." Rachael added
Mischief was taken aback as he seems to weaken a bit…
-"What's wrong…?" asked Rachael in a sublime manner -"Don't you think we gave you a good advice…?"
Mischief tried to compose himself as not to give them a hint of weakening that he was feeling… -"I think you should all go… before it's too late! You wouldn't want your friends at the underground maze to end up like him… don't you!" cried Mischief in a nasally annoying voice as he looked at the lifeless body of Emoreh that is lying on the ground, then Mischief smirked at the entrance door of the underground maze… where they had gathered all the 'splitters' around the world…
Carousel was caught off guard for a moment as she realizes what Mischief meant, she momentarily let loose of holding Mischief's wing and Mischief made use of that moment to flee… but Carousel manages to quickly grab one of Mischief's two horns on his forehead and broke it before he fled… leaving him flying dizzily in the air.
-"That pathetic girl!" cried Mischief to him self as he felt one of his horns on his forehead was broken."
-"I think you shouldn't have done that..." said Rachael to Carousel -"Look... he got away..." she added.
-"I know... my fault..." Carousel anxiously admitted as she slowly walked towards Emoreh's lifeless body... -"They won't get away with this... I promise..." said Carousel to Emoreh… her voice was shaking as she was holding back her tears and she was almost put to a sobbing when… Rachael said…
-"But what would Demeon want from Emoreh…? If Emoreh wasn't even a 'splitter' to begin with…?" asked Rachael… -"Why would Demeon... go through all the trouble just to consume an ordinary soul?" She asked
-"Perhaps he just didn't know about it yet..." replied Faust as Carousel was just very silent... she was still looking at Emoreh's lifeless body.
Then Carousel heard screams from down below the underground maze... the sound of screaming voices penetrated from the ground up through where they were... Carousel was startled and she immediately proceeded to the underground maze.
-"Carousel... where are you going?" cried Faust when he saw Carousel suddenly rushed through the entrance door of the underground maze. He didn't seem to hear the screams that Carousel heard from down below.
-"I heard screams... from down below..." replied Carousel as she thumped the concrete entrance door of the underground maze because it was locked.
-"Let me..." Said Faust as he approached Carousel and insisted to help her knock the entrance door, Faust's mechanical arms then doubled its size to produce a stronger force... he then helped Carousel pushed the sturdy concrete door, Rachael also joined in... She was using her telekinetic skill to help them push the concrete door too, Carousel on the other hand was very furious about the whole situation and her intense emotion helped them bring down the concrete door. -"Let's hurry." Said she as the huge entrance door collapsed to the ground... and they hurriedly descended inside the underground maze with Carousel leading their way into the dark labyrinth holding up a lighted torch that was hanged at the wall which she took... but they were too late... when they got there... hundreds of lifeless bodies of splitters were scattered all over the place, almost all the splitters who went inside the underground maze were dead... except for the stronger ones who were able to fight back, their mouths were ripped open, but no blood were found on the grubby floor for their blood had been sucked dried out of them and their skin were crippled... indicating that a soul stealer had killed them.
-"Aghhh..." cried Faust in anger upon seeing all the dead splitters lying on the ground... Carousel slightly turned her face away from the gruesome scene because she couldn't bear to look at what happened to her fellow splitters. Rachael partially covered her eyes as she was distressed about the whole scene that they had suddenly witnessed. Carousel couldn't see the souls of their fellow splitters who just died, thinking that a soul stealer could have consumed them all…
And then... from a dark channel of the many passageways of the underground maze... stepped a silhouette of a shadow... Carousel heard the slight disturbance as she was drawn to look at one of the dark corners of the labyrinth... Faust and Rachael were alarmed by Carousel's reaction so they both looked at where Carousel was looking at too... and the two narrowed their eyes to have a clear look at whom or what might that shadow be... but it's not clear what or who it was... Carousel tried to lighten the place with the torch she was holding.
"Show yourself... coward!" cried Faust
-"There's no need to hide Demeon, we know that it's you!" cried Rachael too.
And so the shadow stepped forward to be seen by the three... it was a soul stealer... but it wasn't Demeon... the soul stealer has a robust body and his body is bigger than Conscience and Mischief and it had three horns on its forehead. His eyes were crimson red…
Chapter Nineteen "Assailant"
-"Who are you?" asked Faust in an angry manner... -"What did you do to them!?" He cried as he was pertaining to the lifeless bodies of his fellow splitters.
-"..." But Assailant did not reply... he just snarled at Faust, his furious crimson red eyes remained focus on Faust as his eyes remained still and was not blinking.
-"So you think... we don't know who you are? Ha!" said Faust with a zeal expression -"I know who you are... you're the soul stealer whom Demeon gave the name – the Assailant!" said he with utter conviction "... and whatever reasons you had to become a soul stealer is, we don't care... because I'm assuming that it's probably the same shallow reasons you have just like... your fellow monsters Conscience and Mischief." Faust added…
But ... Assailant just looked unmoved and did not waste any effort to respond to his assertion, instead... Assailant replied with a quick attack to Faust... disregarding the latter's claim.
The two then fought in an intense battle, producing and making powerful attacks on one another. The skins on Faust's arms were torn again as he was using them to shield himself from Assailant's furious attacks; Faust was then left with no choice but to spawn his maximum skills in alchemy… he transformed both his arms into a metallic and destructive weapon… both into a Gatling gun, now the skins on his arms were completely torn away because of the transformation he did to his arms… he then fired multiple shots at Assailant as Carousel and Rachael also joined in the fight… the three of them joined forces to try to beat Assailant… and there's nothing much Assailant could do to fight a determined alchemist and two furious soul seekers.
-"I think we can bring him down even if we don't know what his character weakness is…" said Faust as Assailant was showing a slight weariness from the fight. -"His previous fights with the splitters that he had just killed might have worn him down…" Faust Concluded…
-"But what can we possibly do to deter him?" Asked Carousel
-"Let's blow this place up! We'll bury him together with this evil place!" Faust suggested
-"Are you insane?" Rachael interrupted -"Do you want us to get buried alive too?"
-"Leave this to me… just go with Carousel… I'll meet you up at the surface." Said Faust
-"No…!" Carousel strongly disagreed -"We are not going anywhere… we are in this fight together…" she said as she tries to budge one of the standing pillars of the underground maze which was located near them.
-"What do you think you're doing?" asked Faust anxiously
-"You said you wanted to blow this place up… so this might as well help…" replied she as she continued dislodging the pillar from its proper place and the top part of the underground labyrinth started to shaken and debris started to fall from the ceiling. Faust then again fired multiple shots at Assailant as the latter tries to attack them again… Assailant wraps himself with his pair of wings every time Faust tries to shoot at him, he uses his huge dark wings to shield himself from Faust's attacks, and Faust could not directly shoot at Assailant because the latter was too quick to fold his wings… Faust then transformed his other arm into a bazooka type device and fired a rocket launcher at the ceiling of the underground maze where Assailant was standing, the rubles that fell from the ceiling buried Assailant to the ground… leaving only his one hand with its sharp claws visible from the pile of rubbles that buried him… his hand was grasping to get out from the mound of rubbles… but Carousel was quick enough to lift a large rock and threw it straight at the mound of rubbles that buried Assailant to the ground… they saw Assailant's hand throbbed for awhile then it suddenly stopped.
-"Is he dead?" asked Rachael
-"I don't think so…" Replied Carousel as she walks towards the mound of rubbles to check if Assailant was in fact dead… -"This is not the proper way to kill a soul stealer… his three horns are still intact on his forehead, meaning… the splitters did not know how to kill him. So even though they were splitters… they were killed by Assailant because they didn't know how to kill him properly…" Carousel concluded, but the underground maze came to a sudden change, the ceiling started to fall to the ground and large debris of rocks were also falling to the ground, Carousel and Rachael thought that… perhaps the mishap was triggered by Faust's launching of his rocket launcher at the ceiling of the underground maze… that is why the ground also started to fall apart… and bits and pieces of the grubby floor then started to fall into a very dark abyss… from below, Faust and Rachael were stunned and could not move because they were weighed down to see what was going on… they both looked at the rubbles that are falling down to the dark abyss… the pile of rubbles that buried Assailant… was also… slowly falling down to the dark abyss.. Faust and Rachael slowly stepped back as the ground slowly creeps into their feet… the ground opened in a circular motion… slowly falling even down below into the dark abyss.
-"What are you two waiting for? Let's go!" cried Carousel as she grabbed hold of Faust and Rachael with both their hands. They also helped the remaining survivors of the carnage that took place. -"The whole place is about to fall apart and you two are just standing there waiting to be engulfed by that collapsing ground." Said Carousel in an angry tone…
-"But… but Assailant could still be alive." Said Rachael
-"He already fell to that abyss… and even if he's still alive he can't possibly get out from that situation." Replied Faust
-"Let's just hope that he got buried together with this evil place." Carousel added
Faust gave a quick smirk at Assailant who fell into the dark abyss of the underground maze. -"Hmm…" he then sighed -"I can't see… it's too dark." He said as they were quickly running away from the scene.
-"Just hold on to me." Replied Carousel as she held a tight grip at Faust's hand. -"Don't worry; I can see our way out." She said as she led them out of the collapsing underground maze… as the remaining survivors were anxiously following from behind. Carousel's vision is way better and sharper than that of Rachael's and Faust's… that's why she was the one whom they relied on to take them out of that underground maze, the underground maze then started to collapse as it slowly deteriorates into the ground. Carousel made quick progress to move them to the safety at the top of the underground maze… -"Let's go back to the entrance door… that's our only way out now." Said Carousel, because the whole place was collapsing… preventing them to go to the other side of the maze which is the exit of the underground maze… but as they were running up through the stairs… something grabbed Rachael out of Carousel's hand… Carousel was brought to a pause… but she still continued to walk up through the stairs with Faust holding her other hand and was closely following her behind... Carousel then thought that Rachael had just released herself from her tight grip on her, because she thought that Rachael just got uncomfortable and decided to help and join with the surviving splitters who were a bit slower to run from behind.
-"I can see the light now…" said Faust as he saw from afar a fainted outline of light that was coming out of the entrance of the underground maze… they both quickly followed the light which later led them to their way out of the underground maze… the huge concrete door which they toppled recently was still on the ground. Carousel, Faust and the remaining survivors were panting as they all walked out from the collapsing underground maze… they were all now at the surface… Carousel was on her knees and Faust slowly laid on the ground… in exhaustion.
-"Where's Rachael?" asked Carousel right away as she noticed that Rachael was not there with them.
-"I thought she was with you and that you were holding both our hands." Replied Faust
-"I was… but then she suddenly let go of me… and I thought that she was just following right behind us." Said Carousel as she was looking at the remaining survivors, the splitters who survived the carnage were just looking anxiously, and they too did not notice Rachael. Carousel and Faust anxiously looked into the collapsing underground maze… which was slowly deteriorating into the ground… it was because the whole place was being engulfed by a current giant sink hole in the ground.
-"Rachael…!" Carousel cried as the collapsing underground maze starts to settle down into the dark abyss.
-"…" but there was no reply from Rachael
-"Rachael!" cried Carousel and Faust again… but the unchanged eerie sound of silence was the same reply they got.
Carousel then felt something ghastly within her guts. -"I think something very terrible happened to Rachael." She said as she wrapped herself up with both her arms, her knees dropped to the ground, and tears started to fall down from her eyes as she slowly looked down into the dark abyss… Faust then embraced her from her behind and he tightly rubbed her arms as they were both looking down at the giant sink hole that engulfed the whole underground maze.
-"Could that soul stealer probably got hold of her…?" asked Faust
-"But I didn't see Assailant behind us nor did I detect him…" replied Carousel
-"Let's go to the manor… let's meet up with Heraldin…" Faust suggested as he strode Carousel to his floating vessel.
-"Go back to your realms and warn all the Erishans about what is now happening in here." Said Faust to the survivors…
-"Yes we will, and thank you… both of you, thank you very much…" said the survivors
But before the whole underground maze fell into the sink hole… Rachael was being taunted by her abductor… -"I should have destroyed you a long time ago… I shouldn't have let you grew this strong." Said her captor in a very calm tone…
-"What… what are… y…o…u?" asked Rachael slowly… her eyes widened, but before she could finish her question… her captor destroyed her… completely obliterating her whole body.
Meanwhile… Heraldin has made it into Demeon's manor… he forcedly opened the door and stepped inside the mansion while Conscience quickly greeted him with a powerful attack… Heraldin was then pushed to a corner… he narrowed his eyes as he closely examined the face of Conscience.
-"So… it is you…" Heraldin softly said upon seeing Conscience… -"Isoah… my friend… what kind of life did you choose?" He asked -"Look at what you have done to yourself… What have you become? … Why?" He added
-"You tell me…" said Conscience
Heraldin was puzzled… he did not know what to say… -"I don't know what you mean." Said Heraldin
-"You don't know?" Conscience teasingly asked -"You were the reason why I chose this kind of life."
-"What…!? ..." cried Heraldin -"I… I don't understand… how…?"
-"I despise what you have become…" Conscience interrupted… his voice was deep and frightening. -"I never wanted to be like you… that's why I never wanted to become a soul seeker anymore."
-"What are you talking about? We were both soul seekers… we had visions, we had plans for our own nation… what happened to those dreams we once had?"
-"And where are your Erishan's souls now?" asked Conscience teasingly
Heraldin was taken aback as he heavily sighed
-"Forever trapped inside those containers…?" Conscience asked with a slight laugh… -"You made a promise to your nation that will never happen… a promise that is meant to be broken… you are a delusional old creature Heraldin… you made your followers believe that you could deliver their souls into a much better place… now… have you found that special place?" asked Conscience…
Heraldin was trying to compose him self and said… -"They were asking me for help… they were asking me for their salvation… What do you want me to tell them…? That… that… there is no hope for them…? Nothing to look forward to, once they die… I couldn't just let their hopes and dreams fade away… I want them to have something to look forward to…" Heraldin explained
-"So you decided to promise them an imaginary world for them to live in?"
Heraldin heavily sighed. -"I am still looking for that place… and I know that I will find that place somehow."
-"You really are delusional! You can even make yourself believe in what you are saying… you are so naïve."
-"Say whatever you want Isoah…!" cried Heraldin
-"Oh, yes I will…" Conscience interrupted -"And you even made your followers believe that you were the son of their god."
-"I never made them believe such things…" Heraldin explained -"They were the ones who gave me that title which I never came to approve of."
-"Oh… but you enjoyed it… did you? You enjoyed being called a god…" said Conscience in a very mocking manner and he stroke Heraldin by his torso… Heraldin was caught off guard and was then thrown to the wall… he was feeling an immense pain at his back and torso as he tries to feel it… Heraldin was wallowing on the floor. Conscience walked towards Heraldin with his eyes slowly turning into a crimson red in color as he stepped on Heraldin's face with his claw-like foot.
-"How would you like me to end your life my old friend…" said Conscience as he held a tight grip on Heraldin's face with his claw-like foot… -"Before I consume your pathetic soul… would you like it to be quick or would you like to die in pain again…?" asked Conscience teasingly…
Heraldin cried in pain… -"Arghh… was it worth it?" asked Heraldin in pain as blood pumps out of his mouth.
-"What…?"
-"Was… was all these worth it?" asked Heraldin slowly again as he tries to lift with his hand, Conscience's claw-like foot away from his face.
-"Of course, it was all worth it…" replied Conscience in a thunderous tone… -"Demeon has open up my mind about becoming a soul stealer… and being a soul stealer feels so good… you should try it."
-"So… it was Demeon who poisoned your mind after all."
-"I wouldn't actually call it poisoned… but enlightened… would be the appropriate word."
-"Arghh…" said Heraldin as he tries to lift Conscience's claw-like foot. -"I have had high hopes for you!" cried Heraldin as he tries to throw Conscience away, holding his claw-like foot. -"I had high expectations for you… and this is only what you had become… a monster…! A soul stealer?" cried Heraldin in anger. -"You have just wasted your hundreds of years of living being a soul seeker… if I had known that you were just to become a soul stealer I should have left you dying when you were being mocked by my community at the city of Goban… because you were caught stealing food from their market."
-"I had no choice but to steal… I was so hungry at that time, I had no money… I had nothing to eat… and I could have just gotten away with it even without your help, because it was just a simple misdemeanor… and so now… you're telling me that you saved me from your nation?" asked Conscience in a frightening tone. -"Remember that I was the one who saved you from your own nation when they stoned you to death… remember?" asked Conscience as he was trying to impose his power to Heraldin.
But Heraldin then narrowed his eyes as he tried to remember the things that Conscience was telling him… but then Heraldin remembered nothing… he looked into Conscience's eyes and said… -"Nobody saved me during that time… and I died there alone because of someone I once trusted and an Erishan that I would never want to remember up to now… and it was because of a voice… a voice that I heard when I died that motivated me to continue to live but I'm sure that-that voice didn't belong to you… you obviously read my 'Book of Life' but you haven't understood it properly." Said Heraldin
Conscience just snarled at Heraldin as he stroke Heraldin again with his claw-like hands… Heraldin manages to evade every attack that Conscience was throwing at him.
-"There's no use for this… I can read your every attack." Said Heraldin to Conscience
Conscience then closed both his eyes. -"Now let's see if you could still read my mind." Said Conscience as he prepares to attack Heraldin again
But Heraldin still manages to evade his every attack. -"You're too slow… how can you strike me with your eyes closed, when your every attack depends so much on your eyesight… how long can you keep your eyes closed?" Heraldin asked Conscience
Conscience was now being worn out by Heraldin… but Conscience refuses to give up.
-"I'm goanna rip your mouth wide open and put your soul into a container… just like what you have done to the souls of your nation." Said Conscience -"And I will make you feel what you have been doing to those poor souls that you have trapped for hundreds of years… and counting." He added
-"But at least… it was better to trap them inside a container… and I just entrapped them but I did not consume them…" replied Heraldin… his tone was somewhat trying to let Conscience know the sense of what is right and what is wrong.
Conscience was taken aback for awhile… he was momentarily brought to silence, but he then continued to speak with Heraldin… -"If I were you… you should have just consumed their souls… Heraldin… they are not worth protecting… look at what they had done to you? You tried everything to help your nation… but what did you get in return from your Erishans? They stoned you to death… and now… you still continue to make those kinds of deeds, to make promises to Erishans who wants to seek your salvation… Erishans don't change Heraldin…" said Conscience
-"Yes they do… Erishans can change… look at you." Heraldin interrupted -"You changed… it's just that… you changed for the worst…"
Conscience heavily sighed and mockingly replied -"You are no better than me Heraldin… what makes you think that you are so different from me?"
-"Perhaps the way you look…" Heraldin teasingly replied
Conscience growled at Heraldin and strokes him again with his claw-like hands… but Heraldin can counteract every attack that Conscience throws at him… even though he was also being worn out by Conscience…
-"Isoah… I told you that there is no use for these… I can read your thoughts… I can read your attacks; I can read your every move." Said he to Conscience as he saw Conscience's eyes slightly peeking in his every attack…
-"But I am way stronger than you are!" cried Conscience as he was now slowly being worn down by Heraldin. -"The souls of my Erishans made me stronger… more powerful…" said Conscience
-"But was it worth it?" asked Heraldin again
-"I already told you that it was all worth it!" replied Conscience
-"Consuming the souls of your mother… of your father… and of your brothers and sisters… was it really worth it?" Heraldin asked as he narrowed his eyes… and starts to read Isoah's mind… -"Was it really worth it to consume your wife and your children's souls…?"
Conscience was taken aback, his crimson red eyes were now turning into a light gray in color… his conscience was creeping in at the back of his mind and he was then floundering on the floor again… and Heraldin made that brief opportunity to break his horn.
Heraldin then quickly grabbed hold of him on the floor… he held Conscience's horn as he tried to break it… -"Goodbye… my friend." Said Heraldin as he broke Conscience's horn on his forehead with both of his hands… Conscience then growled so loud it echoed through the mansion… and throughout the forest outside… his body slowly turned into dusts as his horn was broken away from his forehead. Soon… wind came in through the open doors and broken windows of the mansion… and it carried away the remains of dusts of Conscience…
Heraldin was feeling sorry for the death of his old friend Isoah… but he had no choice, when he suddenly heard a clapping from up above… Heraldin looked up and saw from the mezzanine that Demeon was applauding him…
-"That was impressive…" said Demeon as he was clapping his hands and descended down the stairs. Demeon was watching their fight. -"You… by your own standards… the savior of your own nation… but yet you still managed to kill your old friend… how could you do such a thing?" asked Demeon in a teasing manner.
Heraldin intensely looked into Demeon's eyes… -"Isoah ended our friendship… when he chose to join in your side." Replied Heraldin -"And you will pay for what you have done to Serrot and to all the innocent shamans that you have killed." Heraldin added
Demeon slightly laughed… -"Where did we take off…? Oh I remember… you were looking for me at the Midgar city Gala building…" said Demeon -"Now… that you have known many things about me… do you think that I would still let you get out of here alive?" said Demeon as he slowly transformed himself into his bat beast-like form.
-"I am not afraid of you!" cried Heraldin
-"But how can you kill me…? Do you know how to kill me…?" Demeon asked teasingly as he quickly stroke Heraldin on the chest with his claw-like hands.
But Heraldin manages to evade Demeon's attack. -"Your attacks are useless; I can read your thoughts… I can read your every attack… I can see your next moves." Said Heraldin to Demeon… he was then momentarily brought to a silence and he thought… -"So, my mind-reading skill can work on him after all, as long as I am looking into his eyes personally…" Heraldin thought to himself as he was brought to a silence once again… -"But Demeon is right… how can I defeat him…? The way to defeat him wasn't written in his book of life." Heraldin thought to him self… the only way to destroy him is to lure him to the 'Devourer' like what Carousel was saying…
-"Do you think that…? I have need for these…?" replied Demeon as he was slowly pulling his eyes out from the eye socket of his skull… Heraldin was left feeling spiteful upon seeing what Demeon had done to him self… what he had done to his eyes…
Blood… came rushing out from Demeon's eyes sockets in the form of a black gooey liquid like substance… as he pulled his eyes out. -"Ha…! Ha…! Ha!" Demeon laughed at Heraldin. -"Now… can you still read my mind?" asked Demeon… as he was holding his eyes up in the air to let Heraldin see what he had done to himself, as if mocking him… then he unexpectedly threw them straight at Heraldin… Heraldin then dodged it with complete disgust towards Demeon.
Demeon and Heraldin then fought intensely… Heraldin couldn't read Demeon's attacks anymore because the latter had pulled out his eyes… so Heraldin decided to run away because Demeon was too strong for him and there is nothing more he could do… for he was worn out by his recent fight with Conscience…
-"You can run… but you cannot hide…" cried Demeon upon sensing that Heraldin was quickly running away from their fight.
Heraldin quickly rushed out from the mansion then he ran back through the underground forest to hide… he hid himself from one of the many giant algae that are growing inside the dark underground forest. Heraldin then tucked him self even tighter amongst the giant algae when he heard that Demeon was fast approaching.
-"Do you really think that you could hide from me…?" cried Demeon as he was standing there at the center of the dark underground forest… Demeon was looking around… then he used his echo-locating skill to pin point where Heraldin was hiding.
-"There you are!" cried Demeon as he located Heraldin who was hiding amongst one of the giant algae… Demeon immediately flew over where he had spotted Heraldin and quickly started to attack him again… both of them were in a very intense situation but Heraldin is the one who is more exhausted from the fight and was badly injured because he was already worn out by his recent fight with Conscience… Demeon was then about to deliver a fatal blow at Heraldin when a shadow distracted him from behind… Demeon looked back and saw that it was Mischief who distracted him…
-"You never told me… that you had a book of life…" Mischief said angrily to Demeon.
-"I don't have time for this right now!" cried Demeon as he was about to hit Heraldin again.
-"You told us… that we don't need to own a book of life anymore once we become a soul stealer… What are you planning to do that I don't know!"
-"Nothing!" replied Demeon as he slowly turned around to face Mischief… -"What happened to your horns?" asked Demeon as he sensed through his echolocation skill that there was just one horn left on Mischief's forehead.
-"It's none of your concern!" cried Mischief as he saw Demeon without anymore eyes… -"Now, look who's talking… what happened to your eyes…? Did he poke your eyes out…?" asked Mischief with a laugh… he then slowly faced Heraldin… -"Congratulations…" he said to Heraldin –"You certainly gave him what he truly deserves…" he added
-"Now… that's not the proper way to speak to me… Dimitris…" said Demeon in a very low and frightening voice.
Heraldin sensed the commotion between the two soul stealers and decided to use that opportunity to flee… but then he decided to stay there for awhile to hear more from them.
-"And how do you want me to speak to you…?" asked Mischief in a very annoying nasally voice. -"You want to be respected? But you're a monster! A devil! A soul stealer!" cried Mischief -"There is no room for respect for creatures like us!" He added -"Now tell me! Why do you still have a book of life…? Or else…" Mischief said in a threatening manner.
-"Or else what…?" Demeon replied
-"Or… I will kill you! I will see what kind of soul… is hidden inside your monstrous body… or perhaps you don't have one!" said Mischief
Heraldin tried to interfere with their conversation. -"But… but how…? How will you kill him?" Heraldin slowly asked Mischief
Mischief then slowly turned to face Heraldin and said to him… -"Only soulless creatures… soul stealers like me, like 'Conscience' and 'Assailant' has the power to kill him!" cried Mischief as he slowly faced Demeon -"I am the only one amongst us three to have known of his immense secret… and I have known of this since long before I was just a soul seeker and that is why I chose to become a soul stealer because I know that-that is the only way to kill him… and the only way to avenge my mother's death… but now… avenging my mother's death is not really my concern!"
Heraldin was in total surprise to hear what Mischief had said to him… his eyes slowly narrowed.
-"You will kill me?" Demeon asked Mischief
Mischief just snorted
-"But you were my favorite… how can you be so ungrateful… to me…?" said Demeon
-"Me…? Your… favorite…?" Mischief asked as he again snorted -"The only reason why you treat me differently is because I am the only one amongst us soul stealers who knows about your secret." Said Mischief in an angry manner -"And all these times… how did I not know about this book of life of yours?"
-"Because you're stupid…! Replied Demeon -"I tried not to think about my book of life when I am looking at you…"
Heraldin noticed the heated argument between Demeon and Mischief and now he really decided to make use of that moment to flee.
-"And why the sudden hostility?" asked Demeon
-"Because you still have a book of life and you are not telling me about it… so you better speak now before I tell 'Conscience' and 'Assailant' about your well guarded secret!" said Mischief as he looked into Demeon's eyes… but he couldn't read the latter's mind because he had already taken off his eyes.
-"Tell Conscience…?" Demeon asked teasingly. -"Conscience is dead!" cried he with a laugh.
Mischief was taken aback. -"How…?" he slowly asked when Demeon immediately replied with a quick glance at Heraldin… but Heraldin wasn't there anymore… he was nowhere else to be found… he had quickly fled the scene.
Mischief then looked at Demeon to see if the latter was telling the truth… but Mischief could not use his mind reading skill to Demeon because the latter had already pulled his eyes out.
Mischief seemed to be unconvinced about what Demeon had told him… -"How could Heraldin have known how to defeat Conscience?" Mischief asked -"You…! You know how to defeat us, so you're probably the only one who could have told Heraldin how to defeat us…" said Mischief in an angry manner. -"So that's your plan…? Use us three for your soul hunting then dispose of us when we don't have any more use for you…?"
-"Yes, you could say that… but I did not tell him anything… Carousel had the other half part of my book… so Heraldin could have read it too." replied Demeon
-"What…!?" cried Mischief -"You mean to say you wrote the way to defeat us in your book of life?"
-"…" Demeon just snarled, he did not reply
Mischief then suddenly remembered Demeon saying about how Carousel had the other half part… of his book of life. -"So that's what you were trying to tell me before… why didn't I get it?" Mischief thought to himself angrily. -"One way to keep my immortality is to dispose those who knows how to destroy me… and I guess I'll just have to start with you Demeon!" cried Mischief
-"Oh…I'm scared… I'm really scared…" Demeon replied mockingly as he laughed at Mischief -"I owe to teach you some manners child…" said Demeon as he lunged an attack to Mischief… the two soul stealers then fought intensely…
Meanwhile, Heraldin was about to board into his floating vessel when all of a sudden… 'Rookie' was teleported at almost the same place where his vessel was parked at… because that certain place was programmed to where 'Rookie' must be teleported at when Faust wants to go to Demeon's manor… Heraldin was then surprised to see them as Faust and Carousel then stepped out of their vessel.
-"What was that?" asked Faust when he heard a loud commotion at the underground forest… his eyes narrowed as he stepped outside.
-"The two beasts are in conflict…!" replied Heraldin -"Where's Rachael…?" asked Heraldin as he did not see her daughter with them, he slowly looked into their eyes.
Carousel and Faust then told everything to Heraldin… everything that had happened to them and to Rachael.
Carousel was so devastated that she couldn't even bear to look at Heraldin and Faust.
-"But we are not yet sure if she really is gone." Said Heraldin -"If you two say that you didn't actually see what really happened to her… then she might still be there… let's go back there and check it out!" Heraldin suggested
But Mischief unexpectedly appeared in front of them and interrupted their plans.
-"Where do all of you think you are going?" asked Mischief -"All of you must die!" He cried
-"I guess their fight ended sooner than I thought." Heraldin whispered. -"What happened to Demeon…?" He softly asked
-"Be patient… you'll soon find out what happened to him once I do the same thing to all of you!" cried Mischief as he stroke Heraldin on the chest… the two fought intensely and Faust also joined in the fight to help Heraldin. Carousel saw from a far distance… in the underground forest that Demeon was actually laying on the ground unconscious, he wasn't moving and he seems to be dead.
-"You were once a soul seeker who chose to become a soul stealer to avenge your mother's death!" cried Heraldin to Mischief
-"That is not my concern anymore!" cried Mischief
-"Then… what now is your concern?" asked Heraldin as they were still fighting each other. Heraldin is using his telekinetic skills for his defensive and offensive moves.
-"To consume souls… to keep me strong and powerful…!"
-"Then why do you need to kill us?"
-"Didn't you understand what I just said!?" cried Mischief… -"I said I need to consume souls to keep me alive and because you all know how to destroy my immortality." Said Mischief as he slowly looked at Heraldin, Faust and Carousel… -"Then I shall have to kill you all…!"
-"And you killed Demeon because he also knows how to destroy you?" asked Heraldin
-"Demeon and I, both knew how to destroy each other… and it's just a matter of who will get to die first and unfortunately for him… I got to kill him first." Replied Mischief with a loud laugh that echoed through the vast forest…
Faust narrowed his eyes… he was feeling a bit puzzled.
Heraldin saw the confusion in Faust's eyes so he whispered to him… -"Only soul stealers can defeat Demeon." Heraldin explained to Faust
-"Ah…!" replied Faust as he was enlightened about the situation… -"Dimitris…!" cried Faust -"So you chose to become a soul stealer just so you could avenge your mother's death… right? But then you got carried away for consuming too many souls that made you stronger and more powerful than a soul seeker that's why you did not bother to avenge your mother's death anymore. And you pretended that you didn't actually know who killed your mother…? But in reality you already knew that it was Demeon who was in fact your mother's perpetrator… and then… by any means, you have come to know the only way to kill Demeon is to become a soul stealer like him. So you could consume his soul. And then we provoked you to kill him… now you have really killed him…" said Faust
-"And, what is the point of all your nonsense talks…?" asked Mischief as he was aggressively attacking Him and Heraldin.
Faust and Heraldin couldn't get the right timing to get hold of and to break Mischief's horn because the latter was too aggressive.
-"Didn't he tell you…?" Faust intriguingly asked Mischief
-"Who…? Who didn't tell me what…?" asked Mischief in an annoyed manner, his eyes narrowed as he tried to read Faust's mind…
-"Demeon…" replied Faust as his tone hit a higher note.
-"What do I care about the things that he had told you that he didn't tell me…? Tell me…? Why do I have to care…? He's dead…!"
-"Actually he didn't tell me anything, but I actually read it in his book of life… that he was…"
Mischief's eyes slowly narrowed as he was intensely looking at Faust… Faust already knows how to control his thoughts that's why Mischief couldn't get anything from his mind.
-"Didn't he tell you that he was your father…!" cried Faust to Mischief
Mischief was taken aback. -"You're lying…!" cried Mischief as he was still looking into Faust's eyes.
Faust then did not control his thoughts for awhile, instead he widened his eyes to let Mischief read through his thoughts… he willingly let Mischief read through his mind.
Mischief's eyes widened too as he saw in Faust's eyes that Faust was actually telling him the truth… Mischief's crimson red eyes then suddenly turned into a light gray in color, then… he slowly floundered on the ground and he seems to be suddenly weakening by the information that he had known.
Heraldin saw the opportunity that Mischief is being weakened so he quickly cried… -"Faust, now is the time! Break his horn!" He cried to Faust… and then Faust also made use of that brief opportunity to break Mischief's remaining other horn… Faust immediately takes hold of Mischief's remaining horn and he quickly broke it… the last horn snapped out on Mischief's forehead as he was still looking at Faust… the soul stealer Mischief then slowly turned into dusts as his horn broke. The dusts then faded through the swirling wind as Faust and Heraldin watches… Mischief didn't have a soul, just like Conscience.
-"They don't have souls…" Heraldin whispered as he watches Mischief's ashes slowly vanishing through the air.
Carousel on the other hand was still unmoved by the situation as if she didn't care what had just happened, she was still sitting there in front of 'Rookie' with her knees bent on the ground… her head was bowed down and her eyes were watery… she slowly fainted to the ground when luckily… Faust was there to catch her. Carousel was then lying into Faust's arms…
-"Carousel…" cried Faust as he slightly shook Carousel to try to wake her up but Carousel just sighed as she slowly closes her eyes in exhaustion.
-"Rachael… Rachael…" Carousel whispered as those were the only soft words that came out from Carousel's mouth.
Faust tried to wake her up but then Carousel was put to a deep sleep… and she started to have that dream again…
Chapter Twenty "Final Dream"
Carousel was walking up on a circular cloud like staircase again and it was so high, as high as the heavens above, and there were old Erishans whom she cannot distinguish whether they were males or females, all she knew was that they were old and they were all looking at her, their hairs were silver white, they were dressed in black and white, printed with decorative designs and patterns, some of them have head dresses and some of them have not, some of them were standing and some of them were sitting, and as Carousel was walking up that circular staircase, she's beginning to feel that it's getting harder and harder for her to breathe. The more she gets to the top the more it gets misty and foggy, and as Carousel was nearing to the top - some of the old Erishasn were no longer visible in her eyes - and finally she have reached the peak, and she saw a very bright light from above… Carousel shaded her eyes with her hand as her eyes flicker… and at the center she saw a liquid-like mirror again, floating on mid air… just like in her past dreams. Carousel slowly walks towards that object to see her reflection, but it wasn't her image that she saw but instead she saw… Rachael's face… Rachael's face was dull… she was not showing any emotions, Carousel then narrowed her eyes as she was looking at the floating liquid-mirror like object and she starts to wonder why…? -"Why is Rachael not showing any emotions…?" Carousel asked herself in her dream… then in her dream… Rachael's image slowly closes her eyes… and starts to slowly vanish.
-"Rachael…! Wait…!" cried Carousel to Rachael in her dream… -"Tell me where you are…?" she asked… but then from the vanishing image of Rachael… there slowly comes and slowly immerges an image that is fuming in anger, an image that is not Rachael suddenly appeared very furious… Carousel couldn't recognize the image because it was shining so bright, all Carousel could see is that the silhouette of bright light was looking at her furiously and then Carousel felt scared and was suddenly awakened; she was catching her breath and she was panting when she awoke.
-"Why…? What happened?" asked Faust upon seeing Carousel awoke… she was laid to rest at the back seat of 'Rookie'.
-"I saw Rachael in my dream… but then… there was this bright light again that appeared in my dream and it was looking at me very furiously." Replied Carousel
-"Do you think that it is the same entity that you saw at planet Iris…?" asked Faust
Carousel paused for awhile and tries to remember the entity that she saw at planet Iris. -"I guess so, but why was it looking at me so furiously…?" Carousel asked -"Because when I saw that entity… that soul… in planet Iris, it was speaking to me so calmly… but why is it so furious at me right now..?" Carousel asked herself -"Is it because I did not lead Demeon to the 'Devourer' that it was telling me to…?"
-"Or maybe now it wants to tell you something different." Faust concluded
Carousel was silence for awhile when she noticed that they were actually moving… Faust was looking at her as he was seated at the driver's seat at the front.
-"Where are we going?" asked Carousel
-"We're off to follow Demeon!" cried he as he was driving 'Rookie'
-"He's still alive…?"
-"Yes… I went to check on his body at the underground forest to see if he was really dead and that Mischief had really killed him. but then when I got there… his body was nowhere to be found, he wasn't there anymore so I immediately went back to Heraldin and told him about the situation… and then…"
-"Where's Heraldin…? Carousel interrupted as she looked very worried
-"He's right behind us." Replied Faust as Carousel looked at the rear side of the window and saw Heraldin's floting vessel flying beside them… Carousel was then relieved to see Heraldin who was following them.
-"And then… what…?" asked Carousel as she held back and then she looks at Faust…
-"Heraldin and I heard something was breaking and we looked around to see what it was… and then we saw from a far distance… that it was the glass windows on the top floor of the manor that was breaking… and that is where the sound was coming from… and then we saw Demeon flew out of those broken glass windows and he seem to be holding with his claw-like foot, his book of life… that's probably why he still has a book of life… so he could regain and remember all the things that he had lost during his death and now we're trying to catch him." Faust explained
-"And its sure is difficult to come back to life if you don't have any memories of yourself once you died." Carousel added
-"Tell me if you spot him…" said Faust to Carousel as he was looking around through the windows of his vessel… he was trying to spot where Demeon might be hiding. -"He's hiding somewhere but he's severely injured so he can't hide for long." Said Faust
-"Faust, I think I need to go back to the academy… to the underground maze." Carousel interrupted
-"But you already saw what happened to that place… you see… that place had been engulfed by a sudden giant sink hole…"
-"But… Rachael could still be there."
-"Wait…!" Faust interrupted -"There's Demeon! I spotted him!" cried he as he saw Demeon hiding through the cracked edges of a giant rock. -"Stay here…" said Faust to Carousel as he immediately put 'Rookie' to a stop and jumped out of his vessel and went straight ahead to where Demeon was hiding.
Heraldin also followed upon seeing Faust got out from his vessel.
-"There you are!" cried Faust to Demeon upon seeing him hiding through the cracked edges of a giant rock… Demeon was severely injured.
Demeon's huge monstrous ears flickered and he knew then that he had been spotted by the three. -"What are you going to do? Kill me?" asked Demeon teasingly as he was still tightly holding his book of life in his arms.
-"Why are you still alive? I thought that a soul stealer like Mischief can kill you?" asked Faust
-"That stupid offspring of mine forgot to consume my soul…" Demeon replied with a laugh… -"And thankfully he did forget… because my soul was able to go back to my body and that is why I am still alive!" cried Demeon
-"You…? You have a soul?" asked Faust -"But you're a soul stealer! How can you have a soul? Soul stealers are soulless creatures!"
-"But can't you see that I'm different from them…? I was never a soul seeker to begin with!" cried Demeon -"I… I am the first… the last and the only of my kind… and I will never die!"
-"Then let's see about that… I guess I'll just have to kill you again!" cried Faust
-"Oh… but you can't." interrupted Demeon -"You see… only soul stealers can kill me because you need to consume my soul once you have killed me… because if you don't… my soul will just go back to my body and I will repeatedly go back to life again…" Demeon teasingly said -"Faust… can you even see a soul?" he asked with a mocking tone… -"Because I can surely see that you are not a soul seeker… you are just a splitter!" He added… -"Meaning… only a soul stealer can end my immortality!" cried Demeon as he was laughing.
-"Then I… I will consume your soul!" cried Heraldin, interrupting the two's conversation.
-"You…? You wish to become a soul stealer…? And become a soulless creature?" asked Demeon to Heraldin as he was heavily panting. -"Ha…ha…ha…! Then go ahead and become the creature that you despise so much!" Demeon still manages to laugh at them even though he was already severely injured.
Heraldin was impassive as he slowly looked down… he did not know if the decision he will make is the right thing to do.
-"You really are a beast… a monster! You will pay for what you've done to my father! I will avenge my father's death!" cried Faust
Demeon wavered and slightly shook his head; he seems to be confused about what Faust had said.
Faust heavily sighed -"So you don't remember…?" He asked as he took a deep breath and asks again… -"Does the name… Mario Toculla sounds familiar to you…? Does it ring any bell…?"
Demeon snarled at him… as Demeon tries to remember… the things that he had just read from his book of life… Demeon read something about Faust's father… but he did not read his father's name, which was written at the first part of his book of life… which Carousel had in her possession.
-"Is the name still familiar to you…? Or perhaps you've killed so many that you have forgotten the names of the Erishans that you've killed?"
-"Oh… now I remember… so he's your father…?" asked Demeon as he slowly crouched towards Faust… he then sniffed Faust from head to foot… -"Yes… you are indeed his son… you smell just like your father…" said Demeon -"I am desperately in need of a soul to consume right now and I bet your soul tastes even better than your father's." said Demeon with a growl.
Faust replied with fuming anger as he punched Demeon in the face with his mechanical arm and the two then fought intensely… Heraldin also joined in the fight.
-"Let's take him down!" cried Heraldin -"And I will consume his soul…" He added
Faust was taken aback… -"But… but… you will become a soulless…" he slowly said to Heraldin… when all of a sudden… -"No! I… I will avenge your father's death… I will consume his soul…" Carousel interrupted as she stepped outside of the floating vessel.
Faust was again taken aback when he heard Carousel… he slowly looked back at 'Rookie' and saw Carousel descending down the stairs and Heraldin was glad to see that Carousel was alright now.
-"You!" cried Demeon to Carousel upon seeing her… -"You are what I have been longing for… your soul is what I have been craving for since the very first time that I saw you… your soul will surely make me the most powerful being in this world." He added
-"So, it is really me that you want…?" asked Carousel -"It's my soul, which you have long desired for after all… so why did you even use my friend Emoreh in your evil scheme? Why did you abduct him if it's my soul you want?" Carousel asked angrily.
Demeon was confused. -"Emoreh…? Who's Emoreh…?" asked Demeon as his tone was somewhat annoyed. -"Oh I remember…" He added -"That's the worthless boy… and good for nothing! He came to my academy with no real talents… and he hoped someday to become a splitter but up till the very end of his worthless life… he never cracked his hidden talents… that's because he never did have any!" cried Demeon -"So tell me… why would I need his worthless soul?" he concluded
-"I don't know… you tell me…" Replied Carousel
-"So wait!" Faust interrupted -"So you've always known Emoreh was just an ordinary Erishan…? So why did you let him stay in the academy for too long…?"
Demeon laughed -"That's how kind I am…" he said
Carousel's, Faust's and Heraldin's eyebrows were pulled down as their eyes narrowed.
-"Then I will be willing to end your kindness even it means turning myself into a soul stealer!" cried Carousel
-"Carousel, you don't need to do this…" said Faust to Carousel -"There must be some other way to destroy him… we could trap his soul and put it into a container." He added
-"You can't trap his soul forever, what if his soul accidentally escapes…? Then this whole thing will start all over again." Replied Carousel
-"We trap his soul then we destroy his body, then his soul will have nowhere else to go…!" cried Faust
-"Wrong…!" Demeon teasingly interrupted –"Even if you destroy my body but as long as you do not destroy my soul… which the only way is by consuming my soul, then my soul will always find a way to summon my body…" explained Demeon… -"You are underestimating my powers… I'm not ordinary you know…" said Demeon as he looked at Heraldin… -"Am I right…?" Demeon asked Heraldin…
-"Or…" Faust's words were crumbling… -"Or we could lead him to the 'Devourer' just like what that soul entity told you to do." Faust concluded as he looked up through the skies… -"But where exactly is that 'Devourer'…? I can't see it…" said Faust
Demeon just sighed heavily when he heard Faust and Carousel conversing and so he made that opportunity and decided to fly away… since he was still severely injured, there was little chance for him to defeat those three.
-"Look! He's getting away again!" cried Heraldin upon seeing Demeon flee.
But Carousel, Faust and Heraldin then immediately followed Demeon and the pursuit for Demeon continued… Demeon seems to be going to 'Midgar city', so the chase went on up until they reached 'Midgar city' and then they chased him all the way up until they have reached the 'Stellar Academy'… Demeon was badly wounded as he tried to hide himself from the now ruined academy… -"What happened here?" Demeon asked himself as he saw that his academy had collapsed and fell into a huge sinkhole… he tried to hide himself in one of the surviving shaft buildings of the academy. -"Now… I need to find out where Assailant could have hidden all the souls of the splitters that he had just purged." Demeon said to himself
-"So… you led us here after all…" Carousel mumbled to herself upon arriving at the academy, then she immediately went to where the huge sinkhole occurred and she started looking for Rachael through the huge rubles and debris of the ruined underground maze… Carousel dig and lifted huge blocks and pieces of rubles… she was so worried for Rachael that she even forgot that they were actually in pursuit for Demeon. Carousel just let Faust and Heraldin took care of finding Demeon.
Chapter Twenty one "Revelation"
Then as Carousel was looking for Rachael through the edges of the giant sinkhole… Emery suddenly appeared from the unclear and dusty ambiance caused by the strong winds.
Carousel narrowed her eyes. -"Emery …! Emery is that you…?" cried Carousel upon seeing Emery walking from afar.
-"…" but Emery did not reply… she was just looking down on the ground as usual.
-"You survived the purging too?" asked and cried Carousel in surprise, she was feeling a bit relived to see Emery survived the purging.
Demeon too… detected Emery from afar with his echo locating skill as he showed huge interest in her. -"Hmmm… luckily that girl had survived Assailant's purging because I need to consume a soul right now for me to hasten my healing…" said Demeon to himself as his ears flickered. -"You are a perfect candidate." Demeon whispered to himself as he swiftly launched an attack towards Emery.
Meanwhile… Heraldin and Faust were looking for Demeon when… they suddenly saw Demeon flew across the building all the way to the edge of the huge sinkhole… and he was about to attack Emery. Demeon growled as he plunged to get Emery, but before he even tries to capture her… Emery slowly looked up and stared at him intensely while he was on mid air… a few gaps away from her and moments later; Demeon was obliterated… he turned into dusts and slowly vanishes through the windy air. His floating dark soul was all that's left from his remains… but Emery destroyed it too…
Carousel, Faust and Heraldin were all stunned by what Emery had done to Demeon… they were all in total awe to see what had happened to Demeon… they were left speechless.
Carousel then slowly approached Emery as her eyes narrowed, in the meantime… Heraldin and Faust immediately went to the edge of the giant sinkhole where Carousel and Emery were…
-"W… wow…!" was all Faust could say as he rushed to where Carousel and Emily were. -"How… how did you do that…?" asked Faust in admiration towards Emery… -"I never knew that you were such a powerful splitter." Said Faust to Emery… Emery was emotionless as her eyes were stuck staring at the ground.
Carousel narrowed her eyes… then she unexpectedly ripped off Emery's long garment off of her body leaving her standing there naked, Carousel moved so fast that Emery did not notice her hidden intention.
Heraldin and Faust pulled their eyebrows down as they were left wondering why would Carousel do such a thing to Emery… exposing her naked body for them to see…
-"What is your purpose for doing this to her?" asked Faust to Carousel, he was feeling very anxious… but then… Faust and Heraldin noticed that Emery was floating on midair; her toes were not touching the ground… Faust's eyebrows were pulled down as he was looking very baffled.
-"She's a soul…! Emery is a soul entity!" cried Carousel -"I have always wondered why I have never even seen her feet…! Not even once...! But now I know why…!" she concluded to Emery. –"And Emery was the one I saw in my dream that was looking at me furiously, not the soul entity at planet Iris…" said Carousel
Emery, who is always looking down to the ground then slowly lifted her very beautiful face and she smiled at them… her whole body also started to shine so brightly.
Faust raised his arm to shade his eyes from the intense light that he had suddenly witnessed. -"Emery is a soul…?" he anxiously asked -"She's definitely a one huge soul…!" He added
Emery was now fiercely looking at Carousel and she spoke to her… -"Now that you have grown so strong… it's time for you to return to me…" said Emery to Carousel… but Emery's lips was not even moving. -"You've grown stronger… so strong that you didn't even cry at first when your mother died… tell me, is it because she didn't have a soul…? Emery asked sarcastically.
Carousel was taken aback… -"What are you saying…?" asked Carousel as she looked very anxious.
-"You know what I'm saying…" Emery said as she looked at her beguilingly… -"I have put you into this world to understand, to feel and to experience all there is to know…" replied Emery in a very soft voice. -"You have experienced to grow from a reckless mother that did not nurture you well and who forgot to even look at you when you almost drowned… but I was always there for you…" said Emery
Carousel then remembered what had happened to her when she was just a little girl… when she was playing near the edges at 'Lake Midgar'… where she saw a bizarre liquid like creature that suddenly appeared in front of her… Carousel now understands that it was Emery who prevented her from falling into a certain pit of the lake's deep edges.
Emily continued speaking but her lips remained unmoved… but they could still hear her speak. -"You have experienced that the one you loved the most was taken away from you…"
Carousel was again taken aback upon hearing those words from Emery… Carousel's eyes widened as she tries to clear her voice. -"So that is why you took Emoreh… away from me…" said Carousel to Emery in a very soft voice that Faust and Heraldin barely even heard.
-"So, you have finally figured out…" said Emery with a smile
Faust and Heraldin were just looking at each other in complete puzzlement.
Carousel was intensely looking at Emery. -"So, you were the one who took Emoreh to the ruins of Goban Shrine." Said Carousel as she slowly looked at Heraldin and Faust… and then she looked back at Emery again and said… -"And you are the soul that Demeon had seen in me…" Carousel concluded
-"I'm impressed…" said Emery to Carousel
Heraldin then tried to read Emery's mind… but before he even tries to channel into her thoughts… Heraldin felt an immense pain in his head… that made him stopped the channeling into Emery's mind and then he remembered; -"Carousel is right… you were that powerful being that I accidentally channeled into… when I was reading Emoreh's mind." Heraldin mumbled to him self. -"You certainly have great powers that no one actually knew of." Heraldin thought to him self.
-"I am power itself which no one is capable of knowing… unless I show it…" replied Emery in a soft tone…
-"And I suspect that you are also the one who destroyed the 'embloig' at the research laboratory… because judging from what you are… you are the only one with the power to do so… and Dimitris told me that he had never let you into that research laboratory… but why did I saw you in there…?" asked Carousel
Emery just smiled at Carousel…
-"Now it's all clear to me, but… What is your point in doing all of these… to me…?" asked Carousel
-"So I can be… a god… I need your strong soul for me to become a god…" Emery softly replied
Carousel was puzzled as her eyes narrowed…
So Emery explained; -"Like what I have said… you are a part of me… and I have put you into this world to understand, to feel and to experience all there is to know… and now that you have learned and experienced all of these, you have now become stronger… you have now come to know how to control your emotions… now it's time for you to return to me… and together we can be… a god." Said Emery as she paused for awhile… -"Now choose… whether you want to continue your life in this miserable place or do you want to return to me and together we can be a god." Said Emery
-"A god…? So that's what you want to become…?"
-"Yes… and I have put you to…"
-"To suffer…" interrupted Carousel -"You let me live here so I could suffer and endure all the pain and suffering that you cannot bear…!" cried Carousel -"And… No…! I am not a part of you…" replied Carousel with a strong conviction. -"I am my own self…! I have my own mind… I have my own feelings… I have my own will…! I am not a part of you!"
Emery slowly looked down and softly said… -"But you are…" said she as her lips was not moving as usual… -"A part of me wanted to become a god… but the other part of me did not… and that part of me was you…" Emery added -"And so I took you out within me and prepared you for your own destiny… so you could choose what you want to become…" Emery then lifted her face and she looked back at Carousel… -"Your mother's real daughter was born in this world very sick and dying… because of the harmful environment that the Erishans had made into this world… and when she left her very sick child unattended for a moment… her child who was very weak had suddenly stopped breathing and died… and that is when I switched you over to her dead child."
Carousel shook her head… -"No, you're lying…!" she cried
-"Do I look like I'm lying to you…?" asked Emery to Carousel in a soft voice… she looked at her with a grim. -"Now… return to me… and your pain and suffering will go away and together we can be a god…!" said Emery as she unleashed a powerful vortex in front of her that was slowly sucking Carousel towards her… Carousel then tries to resist the force as she clamps her feet unto the ground… but Emery was too powerful, Carousel was slowly being consumed by the vortex…
Faust and Heraldin also tried to help Carousel to break her free from the raging vortex with their own special skills… Faust transformed his arms into mechanical Gatling guns and fired multiple shots at Emery… but the ammunitions were obliterated just before it even hit Emery… Heraldin also used his telekinetic skill to prevent Carousel from being engulfed by the swirling vortex, but again Emery's power was so immense… when all of a sudden… Rachael appeared at the back of Carousel and pulled her out from the raging vortex… Emery was stunned to see Rachael, her eyes glowed even brighter. Heraldin and Faust were also surprised to see Rachael who unexpectedly came out from nowhere.
-"I thought… I destroyed you… but you proved to be stronger than I thought…" said Emery to Rachael as she looked back at Carousel… -"You've made quite a strong alter ego…" said Emery to Carousel…
-"Alter… ego…?" asked Faust and Heraldin… as they were taken aback.
-"I should have destroyed you from the very first day she created you…" said Emery to Rachael as her eyes were fuming in anger…
-"But you didn't…" said Rachael
-"Yes… I did not destroy you, because you were the only one she's got… she had no friends… no real love from her mother… she had nothing… except for you." Replied Emery to Rachael… -"And that is also why she created you…" Emery concluded -"But now… you are a hurdle in all my plans." Said Emery as she destroyed Rachael once again…with a quick sway of her hand, Rachael's body was obliterated in the air once again… exploding like a mist in the air…
Heraldin and Faust was in total awe… -"Rachael…!" cried Heraldin as he prepared to attack Emery, but then he was quickly brushed aside by Emery… Heraldin was looking very angry towards Emery for what she had done to his daughter, but Carousel remained unmoved, her eyes were intensely looking at Emery's… and then moments later… Rachael came back from the obliterated mist in the air… and that it slowly transforming her back into herself.
-"You can never destroy me… I will always be around as long as Carousel needs me…" said Rachael to Emery.
Emery was not surprised that she wasn't able to destroy Rachael… but instead she sighed and said… -"Then, let's see if she will still have a need for you…" said Emery to Rachael as she slowly faced Carousel… -"Return to me… and all the pain and suffering that you have felt in this world will be over."
-"No… I will never return to you…! I have learned to embrace the pain and suffering in this world and I wish to continue living on my own…" replied Carousel -"As long as Rachael is with me… I can overcome anything…!" Carousel concluded
-"Then, you leave me no choice…" replied Emery with a grin, she wasn't happy about what Carousel had said to her, then she created a much bigger vortex in front of her… sucking in everything in its surroundings.
-"If she is a soul entity… a soul that you say that she is…" said Heraldin to Carousel -"Then, we need to put her inside her body… we can't fight a soul, because it would be easier for us to defeat her in that kind of state… but we need to find her body first… where could her body be…?" Heraldin anxiously asked.
-"We are standing on it…" replied Carousel
Faust and Heraldin then looked around… wondering what Carousel was talking about.
-"You mean her body is hidden somewhere here…?" asked Faust as he thumped the ground with his right foot.
Heraldin narrowed his eyes and said… -"I think what Carousel meant… is that, this whole place, this whole planet is her body."
Faust's eyes widened in awe… -"How…how can that be…?"
-"Emery is… Eris…" interrupted Carousel -"This planet that we are all living in, is her body… and that entity that you are now looking at… is the soul of this planet." Explained Carousel
Faust was stunned to know that they were actually witnessing the soul of their own planet… Eris.
-"Emery… I mean Eris…" cried Faust -"Stop what you're doing…! You are destroying the whole place… and by doing so, you are actually destroying yourself." Cried Faust as he was witnessing the huge vortex that Emery has created in front of her… that is now slowly sucking in all the possible things in its surroundings… then Emery slowly turned to face Faust… she spoke to him but her lips remained tightly shut.
-"Yes, I am the one you call Eris, and what you suggest that I should do…? When all of you had already destroyed my body…?" asked Eris in a very soft tone… -"I had given life to all of you… I have nurtured all of you… but what did you all do to me in return…?"
Faust was taken aback as he realizes what Eris meant and he paused for awhile… -"But it was Demeon who started the 'Great War' and he was the one who was responsible for all the destruction in this world." Replied Faust
-"Don't just blame him for his own actions, but also blame yourselves because all of you had contributions to his actions… all of you had the power to stop the war that took place, if you really wanted to… but deep inside in all of you… you all wanted to have a 'Great War' to happen so you could separate the ordinary Erishans from the gifted ones… the 'splitters' like you…" Said Eris to Faust… -"Deep inside in all of you… you all wanted to wipe out… the Erishans with no hidden talents."
-"That's not true…!" cried Faust -"Not all of us are the same, some of us do care about each other, cares about this world we live in." he added
-"I heard of those words countless times already, I have been witnessing the evolution of your kind for centuries and nothing has changed, so many so called heroes had lived and died…" said Eris with a slight laugh… as Eris showed them her visions of the past where there seems to be Erishans who were trying to rebuild their broken nation. -"But your history repeats itself. You all think you're all special but none of you are…" said Eris as she starts to unravel the things that had happened in her body for millions of years. –"Your kind is not the first to walk in my body, to walk in this world." Said Eris as visions of other intelligent species and creatures starts to walk around their surroundings, Eris was letting them see the other creatures that had existed in her body before the Erishans, which later on… dies and becomes extinct…
Carousel, Rachael, Faust and Heraldin were all just watching their surroundings as it started to change.
-"This world, this body of mine used to be so much more beautiful so much lush, when your kind wasn't around." Said Eris as she let them see her lushious, beautiful but imaginary surroundings, the forest was lush; the waters were clear as so as the air and the skies above, two moons were still seen during the night. –"And now, this is what my body looks like…" said Eris as she magically vanish the beautiful surroundings they were all in and started to let them see the real surroundings, which is barren and the weather is chaotic. –"Now, this is what your kind did to me… all of you are just the same…" said Eris
-"But not all of us wanted this to happen!" cried Faust
-"Tell that to your father…" replied Eris
Faust was left speechless… he did not know what to say.
-"I can see everything… nothing remains hidden from me." Eris added
-"But, not all of us wanted the 'Great War' to happen…" interrupted Heraldin -"Only Erishans who have hatred in their hearts wanted that war to happen… I had never felt any hatred towards anybody, either a splitter nor be it just an ordinary Erishan with no hidden talents."
Eris then sarcastically smiled at Heraldin and said to him… -"Are you sure…? Because I certainly did not sense that when you were dying… but instead I felt hatred in your heart that motivated you to continue to live…" said Eris
Heraldin paused for awhile as he now remembers the voice that he had heard when he was dying… it was the same voice that he is now hearing from Eris…
-"It was… you…" said Heraldin to Eris as his eyes widened.
Eris just sarcastically smiled at him… "You've figured?" Eris mockingly asked and began attacking them with her powerful attacks… she made the ground shake, she made the winds stronger, she made all the possible elements in that world ravish. It was like they were witnessing the end of their world.
-"Since all of you wanted to destroy each other… then I might as well destroy you all… and before you all start to destroy me again." Said Eris
Heraldin and Faust was no match for Eris' tremendous power… Eris has the power of all the elements.
-"That's enough…!" cried Carousel as she was witnessing how Eris was making Heraldin and Faust suffer. -"I will return to you… but only if you promise me to keep them and this world safe… for all the Erishans to live in." said Carousel to Eris
-"Yes, I would take your offer… even though I can sense that you are not really willing to return to me… but I promise you – you will never again experience the bitterness that this world has bestowed upon you… I will assure you that you will refuse this kind of life and join me to become… a god." Eris quickly replied
Carousel then started to walk slowly towards Eris…
-"Carousel…! No…!" cried Faust
-"We at least have to try my plan…" Heraldin whispered to Faust… as Faust nodded. He then pressed a series of buttons in his metallic wrist band to let 'Rookie' know where their whereabouts…
Rachael then tightly embraced Carousel from behind… -"Is this what you really want…?" asked Rachael softly
-"I don't need to tell you… you know what I really want… you are the only one who is making me feel strong right now, Rachael please don't let go of me, I need you." replied Carousel as she continued to walk towards Eris
-"I won't… I will always be here for you, always…" Rachael replied softly
-"Don't even try to change your mind… because I can read your thoughts…" said Eris as she sensed the hesitations that Carousel was feeling.
-"But can you still read her mind now…?" asked Rachael as she slowly merged herself to Carousel… Rachael and Carousel then unified and became as one… Carousel's alter ego has finally returned to her and Carousel has then inherited all the skills that Rachael had developed. And now, Eris couldn't read Carousel's thoughts because Carousel has now a mind reading skill which she got from Rachael.
Carousel then had stopped from walking towards Eris… she paused for awhile to feel her alter ego inside her… -"I feel different…" Carousel thought to herself as Eris was now becoming impatient of the situation. Eris then flew towards Carousel, but Faust manages to grab hold of Carousel and took her aside before Eris could have the time to capture her. Faust then quickly took control of 'Rookie' with his metallic wrist band and made his vessel distract Eris… 'Rookie' bashed Eris from side to side using its teleportation mode that even made Eris difficult for her to spot Rookie. Rookie was appearing from side to side… it was being teleported in such an immense speed of time… that even Eris herself was distracted… but again Eris; a soul entity, who possesses great powers that even no one really knows of… slowly looked into Faust's eyes and read through his mind… she read what his next plan was… so she knew right away where 'Rookie' will next appear; and from then on Eris manages to evade all of Rookie's distraction.
-"You pathetic creatures… you think you can outsmart me…" said Eris
-"We need to pound her to the ground fast… so she will be stuck to her body forever." Suggested Heraldin to Carousel
-"But how are we goanna suppose to do that…?" interrupted Faust -"She knows our every move… do you have any other suggestions…?" He added
-"That's the only plan I've got right now." Replied Heraldin
Carousel narrowed her eyes… -"Okay… now that Rachael is inside of me… Eris cannot possibly read my thoughts… and I will be the one to place her to the ground… into her body, where she truly belongs…" said Carousel
Heraldin and Faust then prepared themselves to attack Eris… but Carousel interrupted them… -"Stop…! Eris will surely destroy both of you… I will just be the one to do it…" she said
-"But…!" Faust interrupted too
-"Don't worry… I know that Eris will never hurt me… because she desperately needs me…" she softly said as she quickly ran towards Eris…
-"Eris…!" cried Carousel upon seeing her… -"If you want me… then you'll have to catch me first." She said to Eris
-"If that's what you want…" replied Eris as she quickly flew after Carousel… the chase took place… and Carousel then ran as fast as she could… she ran through the dry and dusty windy place of the academy… Eris was following right behind her… everything that Carousel tries to do… Eris has an answer… until… 'Rookie' suddenly appeared in front of Carousel and then… Faust opened the door and he immediately grabbed hold of Carousel into his vessel.
-"Get in…!" cried Faust to Carousel as he quickly grabbed Carousel into his vessel and he immediately teleported them instantly into his underground shelter. Eris was left unsurprised about the situation as she slowly grinned.
Meanwhile… they were all teleported into Faust's underground shelter… -"I guess Eris won't find us in here… at least it would give us enough time to plan our attack." said Faust
-"I'm not so sure about that…" replied Carousel as Faust and Heraldin were in total bleak… and moments later… they heard a great commotion on the surface… Carousel was right… Eris had followed them right behind…
-"Do you think… that you could actually hide from me… this world is my body." said Eris as she slowly descended to where 'Rookie' was… and she was intensely looking at Faust.
Faust gulped down in fear… -"I didn't expect that she would find us so easily…" He softly said
-"I guess Eris also read your thoughts… before you even managed to teleport us in here…" said Heraldin in a soft tone…
-"What now…?" asked Faust in total awe… upon seeing Eris who is slowly walking in front of them and she seems to be in no mood to play hide and seek with them.
-"Heraldin…" Carousel called in a soft voice… -"I want you to bury us both to the ground when you have the chance… Eris cannot read our thoughts, so it's only you who could help me right now." Carousel concluded
Eris then touched 'Rookie' and obliterated it completely… leaving the three who are inside the vessel completely unharmed; they were the only ones that are left of 'Rookie'… Eris destroyed 'Rookie' but leaving them all unscathed.
-"What the…?" cried Faust upon seeing his floating vessel vanished in thin air… they were all floored to the ground upon 'Rookie's' disposal.
Eris then slowly lifted her hand and Faust was slowly being raised on the ground… Faust was now floating on mid air… just like Eris…
And Faust then wobbled in wonder… his eyes widened…
Then Eris is slowly shutting her fist… and Faust began to feel hysterical, he was choking, he couldn't breathe…
-"Stop…!" cried Carousel to Eris… -"Leave him alone…! It's me that you want… not him… I said I will return to you… but only if you promise me that you won't harm him…"
Eris then smiled at Carousel and she slowly lets go of Faust. -"Then return to me now… my beloved Carousel… before you get yourself hurt again…" said Eris as she slightly turned to look at Faust… she was sarcastically smiling at Faust, Faust on the other hand was floundering and coughing on the ground and he was feeling his neck from the choking that he received from Eris.
Carousel then slowly started to walk towards Eris again and she raised her arms to embrace Eris… Eris was reluctant to touch Carousel because now the latter, could not read her mind. Carousel then held Eris' bright and shining body… Carousel suddenly felt a burning sensation, a burning bliss upon making contact with Eris… she then slowly embraced Eris with her arms… Eris is still reluctant but she still accepted Carousel's offer leaving her oblivious of the situation and before Carousel fully merged herself with Eris… Carousel pulled her down and huge lumps of rocks fell on top of them… Heraldin buried them both to the ground using his telekinetic skill… the ground then shook extremely and latter settled down…
Heraldin was feeling uncertain if his plan had actually worked… as he was brought to his knees… in the meantime… Faust was still on the ground anxiously looking at the rubles that buried Carousel and Eris to the ground.
-"Did it work…?" Faust anxiously asked
-"I don't know…" replied Heraldin as he slowly went to where the ruble is… then the rubles stirred and Heraldin was taken aback… he wasn't sure if it was Carousel or Eris… who will come out of the rubles… but then it was Carousel who slowly raised her hand to be known that she was alright… Heraldin sighed in relief… he then helped Carousel out of the ruble. Heraldin was still very wary of the situation as he waits for Eris to appear… but then Eris did not.
And then…the chaotic weather, the turmoil condition of the planet had suddenly stopped… signifying that they really did put a stop to Eris. Planet Eris now, had suddenly became more peaceful and calm.
-"It worked…! Merging Eris' soul with her body made her stop!" cried Faust from afar upon seeing Carousel emerging from the rubles.
-"But not for long…" replied Carousel in a soft tone… and shudders the debris out from her ripped clothes…
Heraldin's eyebrows were pulled down as he narrowed his eyes. He couldn't read Carousel's mind anymore…
-"When I have made contact with Eris… I have felt… what Eris really wanted to do…" Carousel slowly said
Heraldin looked very intrigued while Faust slowly walked towards them and listened to their conversation…
-"What do you mean…?" Heraldin anxiously asked Carousel
-"Eris… plans to destroy this world…" replied Carousel
-"But… how about …? I thought this is… its… b… o… d… y…?" Faust slowly asked as he was looking very confounded.
-"Body…?" Carousel interrupted -"Yes, this world is its body but Eris doesn't need this world anymore… for her… she feels that this world has no value anymore because of what the Erishans did to its body… and that is why she wants to become a god so she wouldn't need a host… a world, a body anymore." Carousel added
-"If Eris plans to destroy this world… then… Where are we all goanna live…? Where will all the people of Eris goanna live…? What are we goanna do now…? Asked Faust…
Carousel narrowed her eyes and slowly looked up through the now clear skies of the planet and said… -"It is not safe to live here anymore. We need to gather all the remaining Erishans and put them all in there… at Iris… that is a more peaceful planet." Carousel suggested
-"You're right…" Faust concluded -"But how are we going to do that…?" he asked
-"I have an idea…" interrupted Heraldin as he was pressing a series of buttons on his floating vessel's remote control which he took out from his pocket. -"Let's go to my underground shelter." Heraldin added
Faust then suddenly became emotional… he suddenly remembered what happened to his floating vessel 'Rookie'…
-"I'm sorry…" Carousel said sympathetically…
-"There is really nothing much we could do…" said Heraldin
-"I know…" replied Faust
There was silence for awhile, but then… Faust and Carousel looked at each other and they both understood what Heraldin wanted them to do.
Heraldin, Faust and Carousel then quickly ascended to the surface where Heraldin's floating vessel was waiting for them. The three then immediately boarded Heraldin's floating vessel.
-"Do you know how long it will take Eris to recover…?" Heraldin asked Carousel as he was maneuvering his vessel.
-"I don't really know… we just made Eris sleep so I don't know when will be its awakening, but all I know is that we really don't have much time." Carousel abruptly replied
Chapter Twenty two "Iris at last"
And while they were riding the floating vessel… and they were heading straight at Heraldin's shelter… Faust asked Carousel… -"Is Rachael… really an alter ego of yours?"
-"Yes…" Carousel abruptly replied, she is now looking more serious than before when answering questions, Carousel's perky attitude simply vanished…
-"No wonder she always just comes out from nowhere, I mean… anywhere…" said Faust as Heraldin looked somewhat saddened.
-"That explains it…" Heraldin slowly said… as his eyes narrowed. -"Three years ago… Rachael suddenly disappeared… I looked everywhere for her, but I couldn't find her anywhere, but when you two… arrived at my shelter, to seek my help in Emoreh's disappearance…" as he slowly sighed… -"That… that was the first time that I saw her again…, since she suddenly disappeared… for almost three years ago…"
Carousel slowly looked down and just smiled.
-"So, uhm… have you really known about this ever since? That Rachael is actually your alter ego… or did you just recently find out about it…?" asked Faust
-"I just recently found out about it… when I had that dream again that I used to have." Replied Carousel as she smiled at Faust -"And my dream also revealed who Emery really was… because she was also there."
Heraldin and Faust just nodded
-"All these years… I have finally understood the meaning of my dream… and that is why I knew that Rachael was my alter ego…" said Carousel as she paused for awhile and then continued telling them… -"Everything that I reluctantly wanted to tell… Rachael will always tell it… and every time I need her, every time I wanted to see her… she will always come out anywhere and that is the reason why she's always there with me when I need her." Carousel added -"And deep inside of me… I can still feel her right now… and she doesn't want to leave me anymore…" Carousel concluded as she tries to feel and embrace her own body.
-"But… if Rachael is just your alter ego, then why can I see her…?" asked Faust -"Why can Heraldin see her too…? Why can all the splitters in the academy see her…?"
-"Because, you all have hidden talents… hidden skills…" replied Carousel -"That is why you can all see my alter ego, you can all see Rachael." She added
Faust narrowed his eyes and said… -"But… but when you introduced Rachael to us… Emoreh saw her too…" Faust slowly said -"Then maybe Emoreh was not just an ordinary Erishan after all… like what we all thought that he was… then he did have a hidden talent after all." Faust concluded
Carousel then tries to remember the past scene that Faust was talking about, as she slowly looked out the window of the vessel and said… -"No…! Emoreh did not see her at that time… he just pretended that he saw her… and he never did see nor knows anything about Rachael." Carousel added –"Emoreh has no hidden talents, no hidden skills." Carousel continued saying…
Faust's eyes widened as he now remembers and understood why Emoreh acted so strangely when they both met with Rachael before.
Moments later… they had reached the 'Ruined city of Harlow' and then reached Heraldin's shelter… which the façade of the shelter looks like a cave house; they all hurriedly went out off the vessel and straight into Heraldin's shelter, they went down and descended through the underground shelter… which in fact was a huge combat vessel. They all hurriedly went into the control room and Heraldin then sat at the control panel of the huge combat vessel and started to turn on the engines of the vessel, by pressing a series of buttons.
-"I hope this works…" said Heraldin as he controlled and is maneuvering the huge combat vessel… Faust also helped maneuver the huge combat vessel… as he sat on the other side of the control panel, opposite of Heraldin.
-"It worked…!" cried Faust as the huge combat vessel started to shake the ground and started to fly…
-"You did it… you've fixed it…" said Heraldin to Faust
-"We need to gather all the remaining 'Erishans' left in this world." Said Carousel
The three then sat on the control panel and braced them selves for takeoff… the hill-like mount besides Heraldin's shelter then started to erode exposing a small part of the huge combat vessel… and then moments later the huge combat vessel is still stuck underneath the ground.
-"We're still stuck…!" cried Heraldin as the huge combat vessel could not take off, it just kept shaking the ground… trying to let loose from being jammed. -"We can't move… this vessel must have been fixed here for too long… it couldn't shake off the ground…" said Heraldin
Faust then stood up from being seated at the control panel and said… -"I'll go check it out and see what I can do…" He said
-"I'll help…" Carousel interrupted
-"No, just help him fly this vessel." Said Faust to Carousel as he quickly got out from the shelter and started to transform his mechanical arms into Gatling guns again… his layered attire's sleeves were ripped off… because of the constant transformation that he was doing to his arms. Faust then fired multiple shots of ammunition through the edges of the huge combat vessel to try to free it from being wedged to the ground.
-"Just try not to hit us…" Heraldin mumbled to him self as he and Carousel were feeling the effects of what Faust was doing.
And moments later; Faust had successfully freed the huge combat vessel from being jammed into the ground. Heraldin and Carousel tries to fly the vessel again… and it worked… they had successfully maneuvered the huge combat vessel into take off… Faust then quickly got inside the vessel before it fully took off…
The huge combat vessel… shaped like a giant capsule then flew through the skies…
As they were flying through the clear skies, Faust noticed the millions of asteroids that are floating just outside the atmosphere of their planet.
-"How are we goanna get through those…?" asked Faust as he was looking at the millions of asteroids in the skies.
-"That is not our main concern right now…" replied Heraldin -"First, what we need right now is to gather all the Erishans and get them all out of this planet." He added
And so the three went into all the different realms of the world and gathered all the Erishans that they could possibly see…
The Erishans from all over the ruined cities are easier to be convinced by them… but the Erishans from the city of Midgar proved to be more difficult to convince… the Erishans there are very skeptic about the whole situation… they just don't believe that their city is about to collapse and that it is the end of their world… they found it very ridiculous and absurd… they thought that it was just a natural catastrophe that they had always been experiencing. Heraldin tried very hard to persuade them but they just didn't feel like listening to him. They are very confident that their great city can withstand any catastrophe that will happen. They are very confident that they had built a great city.
-"Heraldin… we don't have much time…" said Carousel in a soft voice… she was insinuating that they need to leave them and move on.
-"But what about them…? We can't just leave them here…" replied Heraldin as he was looking very concerned.
Carousel then looked back at the hundreds of Erishans whom they had gathered inside their huge combat vessel and said… -"And what about them…?" she asked in return as the Erishans were embracing each other in fear.
Heraldin slowly looked down and was then very reluctant to board the vessel.
-"Let's go…!" cried Faust as he ordered the Erishans to just stay still in the many quarters of the huge combat vessel.
And the huge combat vessel is now heading for… planet Iris.
And as the huge combat vessel is heading for planer Iris… the atmosphere started to change again… from being calm into being chaotic once again. Red storms and dark clouds started to cover the clear skies, giant sink holes starts to appear once more, sturdy earthquakes and erupting volcanoes started to occur once again and strong gusts of winds starts to disturb the huge combat vessel. All possible kinds of weather disturbances had started to occur once again, but it was so much more intense than before.
-"Eris… is here…" Carousel softly said upon witnessing the weather transition, while Heraldin and Faust were looking very anxious and they were very worried if they could still get pass through the millions of asteroids that are floating just outside the atmosphere now that they couldn't see them clearly because the skies had suddenly turned violent once again… Carousel slowly walked towards the exit door of the huge combat vessel and was about to open it…
-"Carousel…! Don't open that…!" cried Faust -"What are you trying to do now…?" he asked
-"I'm going to put a stop to Eris." Replied Carousel -"I'm going to lead her to the 'Devourer' and let it consume her." She added
-"Is that the only way…? I don't want you to go…!" cried Faust as he quickly prevented Carousel from opening the exit door of the huge combat vessel.
-"Yes… and we don't have any other choice…" replied Carousel
-"But… I'll go with you then… I promised to protect you… did I…?"
-"No, now that almost all the 'splitters' are gone… the people of Eris needs you… you need to lead them to planet Iris."
-"But… but Heraldin is here… he can do that…" replied Faust as he was trying to clear his throat. -"I want to come with you."
Carousel slightly shook her head and said… -"I'm not even sure if what I'm about to do will truly stop her… because if I don't succeed in leading her to the 'Devourer'… then I will have no choice but to return to her… and what will become of you… if you will come with me…?"
Faust was fighting back his tears… -"So you're just goanna leave me like this…?" His voice nearly fainted
-"I want you to go on living and wait for my return…" Carousel replied softly as she embraced Faust.
-"And… when will you return…?" He slowly asked as he did not embraced Carousel.
-"I don't know when… but I will return…"
-"Promise me… you will return to me…"
-"Yes, I promise…"
-"You sure… you really don't want me to come with you…?" He slowly asked as he held Carousel's cheeks and slowly raised her head up from looking down. -"Are you sure… you're just goanna be alright…?"
-"Yes, and don't worry too much about me… I… I have Rachael inside me, she will keep me strong." Carousel softly replied as she felt her chest and briefly closed her eyes… -"And besides… how will you come with me…? Rookie has been destroyed." Carousel added
Faust slightly puffed out… -"And how about you…? How will you lead Eris to the 'Devourer' like you're planning to do?"
-"Remember… Rachael is inside me… and she has the ability to move objects with her mind."
Faust widened his eyes and pulled his eyebrows up as he gave Carousel a somewhat hesitant expression… -"I don't really know what you mean by that… but I have faith in what you will do and I believe that you will succeed."
-"Thank… you…" Carousel slowly replied as she narrowed her eyes…
Then… they were suddenly distracted by Heraldin's call on the speakers on the side walls…
-"There she is…!" cried Heraldin upon seeing Eris through the huge transparent windshield of the combat vessel's cockpit from down below … Eris the 'soul entity' is slowly emerging from the waters edges of a raging ocean… and Eris is now slowly striding towards the shore as it is slowly emerging from the waters.
Carousel then heard Heraldin's loud cry and she immediately opened the exit door of the huge combat vessel and was about to jump out when she noticed that their vessel was heading for and is about to collide with a huge asteroid in front of them… they didn't became aware of the asteroid because it was almost zero visibility in the sky… it was only the combat vessel's radar that detected it but because of the strong turbulence of the strong winds were making… Heraldin did not hear the warning and Carousel is too far away from the cockpit… she and Faust was at the exit door, located at opposite side of the cockpit… that's why she didn't hear it, and it's now too late for their huge combat vessel to make a turn and avoid the huge asteroid… so Carousel immediately called for Heraldin, but Heraldin was busy controlling the huge combat vessel so Carousel had no choice but to move that giant asteroid away from their vessel alone by herself with the use of her now telekinetic ability… and luckily it worked…
-"That was close…!" cried Faust upon successfully avoiding the collision with the huge asteroid… they were now leaving the final layer of the planet's atmosphere…
-"Rachael helped me…" Carousel softly replied
Carousel then looked from down below and she saw Eris from a far slowly emerging from the waters… Carousel's eyesight is as sharp as ever even if strong gusts of winds were blowing her eyes and hair… Faust then held Carousel's hand tightly.
Carousel slowly turned to face Faust… -"I must go now…" said Carousel as she looked into Faust's eyes with complete sincerity… Faust then slowly let her hand go…
-"We'll take it from here…" Heraldin said to Carousel with a smile as he rushed to where the exit doors were because the huge combat vessel was now stabilized… and has been put to an automatic drive, but Faust appears to be very gloomy. Carousel then jumped out of the huge combat vessel's exit door and as she was falling through the skies… she saw Faust from a glance… his eyes were watery and he was still fighting back his tears… and she overheard him say the words… -"I… love… you…"
The huge combat vessel then continued to fly forward towards planet Iris… firing at all the possible asteroids that they might collide into… the huge combat vessel flew until it was no longer visible through the skies…
Carousel then dropped to the ground with her feet slightly buried through the sands because of the strong impact. And she landed exactly in front where Eris had appeared… Carousel is standing through the edge of the ocean while facing Eris who was floating on the shore of the raging ocean… As Eris finally emerged from the waters and started to float… Carousel noticed that the last drop of water that flowed down from Eris' toes became an 'embloig'… Carousel's eyes widened in astonishment…
-"This creature is born every time I part with my body…" Eris softly explained as she did not need to be asked by Carousel… -"This creature serves as a reminder of my every parting with my body." Eris added as she smiled at Carousel… then she slowly looked up the skies and heavily sighed.
-"Eris… it's me that you want not them…" cried Carousel as she did not want Eris to follow the huge combat vessel that is about to leave the planet.
-"I know… you think I would go after them…?" Eris sarcastically asked… -"Never!" she quickly said… -"It's my pleasure for them to leave my body… and it's going to be very unfortunate for the next host that they will be seeking… because they will just destroy it just like what they did to me… and I will make sure that there is nothing for them to come back here." Said Eris as she now started to unveil her anger towards Carousel… -"Now, if you would just return to me… and together… we can be a god… and so we will never have a need for a body to live in…" Eris said as her tone was somewhat angry… and that was the first time that Eris spoke with a bit of harshness because she always speaks in a soft tone.
Carousel then heavily sighed as Eris started to destroy the whole place… the whole world… Eris unleashed a more devastating weather condition to wipe out the entire planet…
Carousel's eyes narrowed as she was looking very furious at Eris…
-"Are you not enjoying what I'm doing…?" asked Eris -"The way you look at me… I suppose you still don't want to return to me…?" asked Eris
-"Never…!" cried Carousel as she slowly lifted herself with her telekinetic ability and then swiftly flew away… up through the raging skies up above… Eris was caught off guard but then she soon followed Carousel… And as Eris the 'soul entity' is leaving her body… planet Eris… the planet started to collapse… just like a ball of rock that is slowly deteriorating.
In the meantime… inside the huge combat vessel… at the command and control cockpit, Faust and Heraldin witnessed the collapsing of their beloved planet… they were both looking very anxious and in complete awe… and from a distance they saw Eris from a far trying to chase Carousel through the vast depths of the universe…
-"I hope Carousel can lead Eris to the Devourer…" said Heraldin as his tone was distressed
-"I have faith in her that she can…" replied Faust but he too was looking very distressed
The looks on their faces altered when their huge combat vessel has finally reached… planet Iris… Faust and Heraldin's eyes glowed and widened in disbelief…
-"We made it…" Faust said softly…upon seeing the beautiful planet
-"So we're finally here…" Heraldin mumbled to him self.
Faust and Heraldin were observing how beautiful planet Iris was… planet Iris looks almost like planet Eris too but only with a perfect moon encircling it, unlike planet Eris… which millions of asteroids are encircling it instead of a moon and all the remaining hundreds of Erishans inside the huge combat vessel that they had gathered were also looking at planet Iris through their designated quarter's windows. All the Erishans were relieved to see the planet that they will soon be living at… looks so beautiful.
But… before the huge combat vessel enters the atmosphere of planet Iris… it was unexpectedly struck by a small asteroid from behind… the huge combat vessel then started to malfunction and as it flies through… it was uncontrollably shaking as it enters through the atmosphere of planet Iris. And the impact broke almost all the glass like containers filled with souls that are inside the room where Heraldin had put all the souls that he had captured… all the souls that got away were hovering through the air as they cannot completely escape because the room was still tightly shut.
Heraldin and Faust then did everything they can to put the huge combat vessel into a still but the damage from its behind was too severe and fire had spread all over the vessel's body too quickly as it slowly plunged through the oceans of planet Iris… the Erishans inside the huge combat vessel then started to panic… they started to run everywhere… as if running around could help them stop the disaster.
And as the huge combat vessel plunged into the deep ocean… waters from the ocean engulfed the vessel and fires around it started to wear down… but the huge combat vessel was now slowly starting to sink into the depths of the ocean… leaving some Erishans stuck into their wrecked quarters and some Erishans started to jumped out of the vessel while Heraldin and Faust then quickly tried to help all the Erishans who are still trapped and got stucked inside the huge combat vessel. Heraldin and Faust had then saved all of the Erishans, and thankfully no one was badly injured and no one was harmed.
Huge bodies of water then started to flood inside the huge combat vessel…
-"Heraldin let's go…" Faust softly said upon seeing the sudden gushed of waters.
-"But… but…" said Heraldin
Faust then quickly strode Heraldin into jumping out of the sinking vessel… into the ocean, while hundreds of Erishans still manages to get out and survive to swim across the nearest land that they could possibly see… the huge combat vessel then slowly sinks into the depths of the ocean.
-"We did everything that we can…" said Faust as he was looking very concern for Heraldin. They were both swirling their arms and feet into the water to remain afloat above the ocean.
Heraldin slightly nodded as he was looking down through the sinking huge combat vessel… Faust unwittingly notices Heraldin's sudden expression…
-"What is it…? What seems to be the problem? No one was hurt." He asked
-"The souls… of my nation…" replied Heraldin in disbelief… as he now remembers the souls that he had captured were still in that room and he didn't even let them escape… Heraldin then tries to swim underneath to free the souls but the huge combat vessel just sank even deeper and deeper making it more impossible for Heraldin to reach into the room where he had placed all the souls that he had captured… Heraldin then had no choice but to surface because he was running out of breath. Herarldin was exhausted as he resurfaced… so Faust helped him to get to the shore.
Both of them were very exhausted as they reached the shore… they lied on the edges of the ocean's shore as they watched the huge suds of water that came rushing out from the huge combat vessel…
-"I guess they will be trapped there forever…" said Faust
-"No… not forever…" Heraldin quickly replied as he was catching his breath… -"I will… somehow find a way to free them… and lay them into a much better place, I will not break my promise to them…" He added as there is nothing much more that he can do about it… -"But for now… I will just have to leave them there…"
Heraldin and Faust was then left to witness the huge combat vessel's unfortunate mishap.
Then moments later… Erishans who had survived and recently swam across the shore… came into Heraldin and Faust's needs… the Erishans thanked them and offer them whatever help they needed…
Heraldin and Faust… and all the hundreds of Erishans who survived the crash were left with nothing… no food… no shelter… no nothing… not even a modern tool that would help them to hunt and look for food… all they had were their lives… and clothes that they were wearing… and each other… but all they actually need is each other, for them to survive in that unfamiliar world that they had just settled in.
The gathering and living together of hundreds of Erishans in planet Iris were short-lived… because of conflicts that started to arise, not everyone is getting an equal share of food and an equal share of shelter. The Erishans' faces were a mixture of delighted and despondent… some are delighted because they had survived the crash and they were given a chance to live again into a beautiful world… but some are despondent because they are not used to live into an unfamiliar territory.
-"We can all survive if we all work together…" Heraldin suggested as he wanted to uplift the hopes of the Erishans… but many Erishans disagreed and proceeded in their own ways… because they believe that if they will all stick together… that they will just end up fighting with each other again because the drive and competition for food and shelter will prompt the conflict.
Erishans then started to leave by the groups, searching for a lush and abundant vegetation of the planet that is enough to support them in their daily lives.
-"I guess it would be better for us if we just go on our own separate ways…" Faust mumbled to himself… as he saw some Erishans were walking away and they were trying to find their own ways in life.
-"I think so too…" replied Heraldin
There were hundreds of Erishans whom Heraldin and Faust helped escape from planet Eris and survived the crash… but they all decided to live in their own separate ways… to avoid conflict with each other. Days and days have passed and some groups had found a haven and some had not… the groups of Erishans who were successful in finding a safe place then started to settle in, and since they had nothing… they started again to make use of dried leaves and dried animal hides for their clothing… caves for their shelter and they hunt their food again using sticks and rocks, because no matter how technologically modern the world that they had come from and used to live in… if they are left with nothing then they have nothing with them and they had no choice but to go back to the traditional primitive instinct of a certain Erishans's will to survive. No matter how hard the Erishans teach their children of modern ways to live… if they didn't have the proof to support their teachings, so then their children just won't understand them. Generations and generations have passed and the world seems just like what Heraldin had witnessed during his younger years in planet Eris… history seems to repeat itself…
Heraldin and Faust… they decided to settle in at a cave at a foot of a mountain that has a water falls flowing within it…
They were both outside their cave enjoying the scenery… -"This world reminds me of our own world… planet Eris" Heraldin softly said to Faust as he was looking up through the skies… -"Eris was also as beautiful as this planet is… but that was before the Great War ever happened." He added as they were both reminiscing the beauty of their world that they used to live in…
-"And maybe that is why Eris got angry about it…" Faust concluded as he too looked up through the clear skies… and his eyes narrowed as he was anxiously looking up…
Heraldin nodded… -"That is surely the reason why…" he added –"Now, I understand… Eris is not a dying world, but what we have done to her made her very; very angry that is why Eris was such in turmoil…"
-"Will she ever return…?" asked Faust in a distress manner
Heraldin slowly turned to face Faust and said… -"I thought you said… you have faith in her that she will…"
Faust slowly looked down… -"But now I'm feeling that… what if she doesn't…? Yes… she did promise me that she will come back, but it's been years since she left…"
Heraldin smiled and said… -"I know she will come back for you…"
-"How do know…?" asked Faust as he heavily sighed… -"How do you know that she will come back for me… who am I to her…? She said I was special but she never even said that she loved me…"
Heraldin's eyes flickered as he slowly looked up through the clear skies again… -"Faust… you know, there are some things that doesn't need to be told because action speaks louder than words…"
Faust snorted as he found Heraldin's words were too corny and unoriginal.
But Heraldin continued telling him anyway… -"She doesn't need to tell you that she loves you… because when she told you that she wanted you to go on living at the cost of her own life… meaning… you were more than just a special someone to her… and believe me… I have looked into her eyes and I have felt that she also loves you… it's just that she doesn't want to get hurt again… even Eris knew about it, remember…?" said Heraldin
Faust then remembered the scene when Eris did say those words to Carousel that she might get hurt again and he slightly shook his head… -"But, but there are so many questions in my head…" Faust said indecisively… -"Will Carousel succeed in putting a stop to Eris…? And if so… when will she come back…? How long should I wait…? Will I still be alive when she returns…?" Faust slowly asked
Heraldin slowly and firmly told Faust… -"Carousel, will find a way… believe me, and besides… she is not just a 'splitter' nor just a 'soul seeker'… she maybe… after all… a candidate… a candidate for goddess. We don't know what exactly she can do. We don't know what she is capable of doing."
Years and years have passed… and Faust is still waiting for Carousel to return… and even if Faust is aging slower than the ordinary Erishans around them… the signs of aging is still noticeable on his scruffy face, and finally… Carousel did return. Faust's eyes widened as he saw Carousel in front of him… Carousel's clothes were almost all torn away… leaving just her delicate parts slightly covered. Her eyes were full of eagerness… as she was touching the clock necklace around her neck that Faust had given to her.
-"C…a…r…o…u…s…e…l…" Faust slowly said to himself as his eyes widened. -"You kept your promise…"
THE END
Credits
I would like to dedicate this book to my beloved grandmother who inspired me to write this novel, wishing that one day we could meet again, she passed away when I was just six years old but the memories she left with me is everlasting. And I will forever be grateful for having a wonderful family and friends.