Author's Note: Lately, I've wanted to try a Dragon Quest story, after being inspired by what things I looked about DQX and this is the result of it! Just to say, I will not bring up the accents the games tend to use, because I'm afraid I'll mess it up, and this is just easier for me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in Dragon Quest.

The tower could have been a tomb for the silence that engulfed it, broken only by the rustle of the rodents in the walls and occasionally a lone visitor. With a click of the door, an elf woman arrived at the top of the stairs. She was in no hurry, lifting the hem of her dress to keep it out of the dust as she locked herself in. No one else was permitted to enter.

Normally, when she would enter this room, silence would greet her. But this time, there was a sound or rather a voice, letting out a soft groan. "Where… where am I? It's so dark… Can anyone hear me?"

"Interesting," the elf thought as she approached the pedestal. Cradled on a soft and dusty pillow, protecting it from unnecessary harm, was a pendant. She said nothing as she studied the glassy black depths of the pendant through torchlight.

Something wept from within. She had been told of this happening once before, and that there was a way to silence it. But she didn't know how, so she had to search out the answer. After a moment, the weeping seemed to stop on its own. "I don't… I don't understand. Where am I?" The voice held a hint of sorrow as well as confusion. "Is someone out there?! Please! Answer me!"

"This won't do. Those echoes will attract attention," the elf thought with a grimace that momentarily distorted her graceful features. She carefully picked up the pendant. "Silence, child," she purred, tracing a finger gently over the glassy surface. "Have patience and all will be well."

A gasp came from the pendant, creating another unwanted echo. She made a hushing sound with a finger to her lips, as though hoping the voice would get the gesture. While it didn't stop the voice from speaking, it did seem to soften her tone a little. "I knew someone was there! Who are you? Where are we?"

With growing irritation, she told herself that she had to keep the creature quiet. Keeping steady control of her voice, she continued to half whisper and began stroking the Gem again. "Hush, young one, you are safe. I am Bryia of the Maciden Tower and soon you shall be well." As she spoke, she gently began working a spell. This creature had been mortal once, and continued as a mortal entombed within stone. It should respond with growing sleepiness to the spell. It was far from an ideal solution, as it wouldn't last for long. But it would hopefully buy enough time.

"I feel something," the creature murmured, not wanting to stay quiet. As expected, the voice sounded tired, yet it already seemed like the hold wouldn't last long. "This power… what is this power I'm feeling… I need to get out of here. Bryia, what are you doing? I know these words you are saying somehow… please don't put me to sleep. There is something I think I have to do…"

Curving her impulse to refer to her as a little wretch, Bryia kept her voice as calm as she was able. "You've slept nigh to three hundred years, child. I'm sure whatever it is you must do, it can wait another day. And you will need your strength." Then with great bitterness, she added to herself, "And I must consult the Oracles. Confound their secrecy to force me to those disgusting chambers!"

"Three hundred years?" the creature repeated with as much alarm as she could muster. "How have I…? When have I?"

As though there was some sort of cue, a sound could be heard outside the door, and they sounded like footsteps. The spell was finally finished, and the elf was assured that the creature was soon oblivious to all and left the pendant on its pillow. She walked to the door and placed a pink hand on it. "Who trespasses?" she called. "Unless you wish death as your reward, I hope you have a good excuse."

At first, there was no reply to her question, but then a male's voice spoke on the other side of the door before she could repeat her threat. "Forgive me, I don't mean to be rude. You are Miss Bryia are you not? I've come on behalf at the Oracles."

The elf woman frowned to herself as she tugged on a lock of red hair. It was possible this person was a messenger although she didn't recognize the voice at all. She quickly reasoned to herself that there was some sense to it. Her own servants wouldn't dare come here out of fear of angering her, or if they did, they learned quickly. She glanced back to the pedestal, pleased that only silence came from the Gem. Even still, she kept the door closed. "I was just about to consult them," she said finally. "I hope their message will relieve my current anxiety."

"One can only hope, miss." The voice on the other sighed slightly. "I've heard there has been some unrest of late. The Oracles have told me to let you know that the time is now." There was no hesitation in his voice. It was as though he had rehearsed it several times. She could only imagine that whoever he was, his mouth formed a thin line because of his next comment. "Forgive me if that leads to more trouble for you. I am new, you see, and I'm not sure what they mean by that. They said you would however."

Yes, she did. Both irritation and a thrill jolted her nerves all at once. She once again glanced back at the pedestal and then freeing the key from around her neck, she opened the door. A weddie stood on the other side of the door, wearing white and red robes that looked like the Apprentice's robes. Just as she half expected, though not quite believing, the person stood with his chin raised revealing a circle with a flame and small star inside tattooed to his blue neck. There was no mistaking that mark; it was the special mark of the Oracles.

"You are not a servant," Bryia said with a gracious smile. "Do you have full communion with your Masters yet? Or must you be in their presence to speak with them?

The weddie allowed himself a laugh at the question. "I just said that I was new, didn't I? Though I wish I had, as it would make things much easier."

"Yes, it is a pity," the elf agreed. "Then enter, and I wish you to take back a description of what I both show and tell you. With a request for an explanation." She closed the door behind the young man with a sharp snap and directed him to the center of the room. "I trust you have a quick transport so I may receive an answer by the morrow?"

"Of course, of course," he said quickly, waving his hand as though there was no need for her to be concerned. "There is another waiting for me outside as we speak, and he has the Zoom spell, so we can get back there quickly." For a moment, he let his shoulders slump. "Since you can guess, I was never here before, and neither was my companion, so we had to make the journey here first and I got us lost. We were to be here by yesterday, I think. I hope you can forgive our delay.

Bryia was growing impatient, but she quickly decided it was best to not turn him into something foul. It wouldn't do to offend the Oracles by returning him as a spider. "All is forgiven. Now, look upon my treasure," she invited as she picked up the pendant and turned to face him once more.

The weddie nodded in response, and when he saw it, a spark seemed to appear in his purple eyes. "Is this what you are you talking about, miss? It is very lovely."

"Ah, but it is more than just lovely," the elf replied, noticing his expression as she spoke. "As I'm sure you are aware, this is a fully habited Luna Gem. Powerful, but very rare. Today, it has woken and if the event you have come to tell me of has truly taken place, then my treasure must be put back to sleep." She trailed her fingers over the surface, watching her guest's open astonishment and growing alarm. "My message is to inquire how that is done."

For a moment, he didn't respond to her, as though he should be in shock despite having that knowledge. "Chrysta," he whispered. Then he shook his head once to wipe away the expression and placed a hand to his chin with a thoughtful look on his face. "I could ask that yes, but would you have the power to do so, miss?" Noticing the look in her eyes, and maybe thinking he knew what it meant, he quickly gave her an apologetic look. "Forgive my assumption," he said quickly with a slight bow. "It's just, if you are worried about such a thing, perhaps I can take it with me? The Oracles could place the proper spell, I'm sure."

"If I wished to take it to them, I would do it myself," Bryia snapped. She took a deep breath to get her composure back, assuming that the only reason he suggested it was because he heard the creature earlier and how she couldn't quiet her. "There is merit to your suggestion. Can your companion transport three?"

"Sadly no," he answered. "He just learned the spell recently himself. You have nothing to worry about. I promise to take good care of your treasure." He extended his hand to accept the pendant.

Bryia gave him a knowing smile that she was sure was calculated to make him nervous. The Zoom spell could at least take the caster with three more. Alongside the name she was sure she wasn't supposed to hear, she was all but sure he wasn't who claimed himself to be. "No matter. I can transport us there myself. You and your companion can stay the night, rest from your journey. Tomorrow we shall see your masters together. Come."

Despite the way he had been acting earlier, the weddie gave a smile of his own. "Your hospitality is most gracious, miss, and normally I would be willing to comply. Sadly, I do have a job to do. You've seen right through me haven't you? Knew I should have done some spell research. No matter though."

"Yes, you do have a job to do," the elf remarked, her blue eyes narrowing. "But you are so late, it wouldn't make too much difference." Anger the Oracles or no, this was going to be fun. She raised a finger and heard two gasps, one from the pendant and one from the weddie. He doubled up in pain as his body morphed and shrunk. With her free hand, she picked up the weddie turned rat by the tail, giving him a consoling smile. "You don't need to worry, the spell will wear off in a day or so. She frowned when she heard a half tired groan echoing from the Gem as she placed it back on the pillow. "And I shall deal with you later."

"You can… you can't do that, Bryia," the creature said in a sleepy tone with a hint of pain. "I think… I think I understand now… and you can't use me like that!"

"Sleep!" Bryia thundered, her patience at the breaking point long ago. The spell hit the Gem hard, silencing the fight. She then turned to sweep from the room, fury with every step. She would see the Oracles, silence the creature, and prepare to welcome the long awaited event. Though her anger made her very careless.

The puklipo leaned his head back, breathing slowly to maximize his hiding spot behind the tapestry. That sudden yell he heard told him that he had to stay put. An angry voice floated down the hall, and he did his best to stay as quiet as possible. "Cidren! Where are you, you fool? Take this beast and have my night bag prepared. I will not wait for the morrow. I will see the Oracles tonight!"

"As you command," her fellow elf replied, wearing clothing that one would expect from a butler. Though he reached out to accept the rat, whom the puklipo was sure was his companion, he wondered if this Cidren knew he was there. If he noticed he didn't say.

"I told Hikaru not to come here," he thought to himself grimly. "I told him that two thieves, or a thief and a con man would be better suited for the job! But no, he said he had to come, like it was his duty or something!" He quickly chided himself. From what he just heard, they didn't have much time left.

Slowly, when he was sure all was busy with serving that yelling, obnoxious elf, he stole across the hall to the door. "It would help if they had told me everything," he thought grumpily, but shook his head. "Doesn't matter. All right. Clovis, let's get to work."

He pulled out his lock pickers and spell breakers, looking over his shoulder once to make sure the coast was clear. The he started work on the door. He put his ear to the door and listened for just the tiniest sounds as he moved expertly. Though triumphant, he was surprised when he heard the click of the door unlocking, from only using two spell breakers with a lock pick.

Clovis entered, careful to lock it behind him before going up the stairs. "Really, two spells?" he said softly to himself so no one would hear him. "Why would this sorceress risk so little protection? Is she really that arrogant?" He slowly shook his head as he climbed the stairs. He decided that it worked all the more better in the end anyway. It made his job a lot more easier than even he thought it would be!

He opened a second door with a green hand, sneezing with a cloud of dust that the previous occupants had just kicked up. The room wasn't anything special. Just a circular room with a couple torches and a pedestal in the center. But that was when he saw it, the necklace resting on the pedestal. "That has to be it," he thought as he approached. "It's the only clean thing here. It's such a small thing to create so much trouble," he added shaking his head.

Without ceremony, he dropped the pendant in his pouch and turned to leave. Time to rescue the newly made rat. And if he couldn't, well, he had to get the heck out of there. But he was going to at least try first.

As he started to walk off, he felt something odd, and he didn't know how to describe it. At first, he had sensed fear, not that it made sense, it wasn't his own. But suddenly, he noticed that it seemed to have calmed.

"He… he said my name…" a feminine voice said softly. She sounded muffled and if anything like she was talking in her sleep. "With what Bryia did, he can't be like her… I have to help him."

Not sure he could believe where the voice was coming from, Clovis said quickly, "I don't know who you are, but if you want to help him, you have to be quiet. You'll give away our location."

The voice of a girl, the one he was almost sure came from the pendant, not that he understood how, said softly, "I don't know who you are either… but if you can help him… I'll be quiet."

Clovis nodded slowly, wondering for just a moment what he had gotten himself into.