Chapter IV: Demonstration

Λ: Expansive, Primitive, Pilgrimage

Nami and I had been participating in the event for about three hours. We traversed twelve dungeons, battled many more monsters, and solved four ridiculous riddles. We reached another dungeon and thought about calling it quits. That was, however, until she told me that if we did not finish she would cut me. And though she was joking, I knew that she would hold a grudge. So we trekked on, and set about solving another puzzle.

A large statue sat at the center of the room, its eyes glowing bright. "Answer me this and the path onward shall be revealed," it said, its voice a thunderous boom. "Do you accept this?"

We both nodded. "Yes, we accept."

'Long past the crucible of Moyra,

They sheltered in a citadel:

_________, so said its denizens

Where mind and body could be cleansed

Of any hardships one endured…'

"Tell me, young ones. Who were they? And where did they find their safe haven?" asked the statue.

I thought for a minute while Nami rambled on about how confusing these puzzles were. I knew I heard this quote from somewhere before, but couldn't pinpoint just where. When I remembered, I smacked myself in the face.

"They were the heroes from the Epitaph of Twilight, by the famous web poet Emma Wielant." Nami's eyes grew so wide I expected them to burst. "And they headed for Fort Ouph."

The statue's eyes flashed, and I heard a bell chime. The structure began sinking into the floor and was replaced by a golden treasure chest. I knelt to open it and pulled out a gear that looked like a puzzle piece.

On our way out of the dungeon, Nami exploded. "You've read Epitaph of the Twilight!? How? When? Where?" She would not stop bothering me about it, even as I ignored her, all the way over to Fort Ouph.

"When it was still on the web, way back when I was a little kid," I said nonchalantly. "Ten years ago. I was nine at the time."

"That's so awesome! I never knew that!" I shook my head and rolled my eyes, continuing onward. We saw a large wall that was never here in the Aerial City before, and it had a lot of gears turning on it. I groaned.

"An actual puzzle this time." I pulled out the gear from before and looked around on the wall. There was an empty place where a gear was supposed to go, but I knew it would not be so easy. And besides, from the shape of this one, it would not fit.

Nami and I scoured around for a bit, examining the different shapes and sizes, until she attempted to just jam the piece into the empty slot angrily.

"No, no. You're doing it all wrong," I said, placing an arm in front of her, to keep her away from the wall. "This must be part of the last puzzle. We came to Fort Ouph, and that is where Gorre appeared. From there, it goes something like this:

'As pity laced her heavy heart,

Fili strode towards the beast

Whose crushing limbs were now repulsed

Ere they touched her ivory skin;

When came she nigh with rapier drawn

A single thrust did slay its brawn,

For mercy guided Fili's blade

Where scorn could never penetrate.'

"I think that this is the piece of "scorn" the poem mentions. We've just gotta find the piece that looks like mercy." We took a little while longer and finally Nami found it. The gear was shaped like a teardrop. She pulled it out, revealing an indentation in the wall that the drop did not fit, just overlapped. I placed in the gear we had found and nestled in the new one into the empty space. The wall crumbled at this and I could hear the faintest sound of someone crying.

Another chest appeared at the base of where the structure had fallen, and inside laid a white blade with the word "Mercy" embedded on it. I let Nami take it, and she equipped it immediately. We also received a message stating that we were to return to Carmina Gadelica right away.

Λ Server Root Town, Carmina Gadelica

When we arrived back at the city of endless night we were greeted by a wave of applause and cheer. Beatrix strode up and stepped between us, grabbing one of our arms each and raising them high into the air.

"I give you our champions! Master Navel and Lady Nami!" She let go and walked forward, addressing the masses. "I would like to thank you all for participating in this event with me. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves, and will be sure to do this again real soon." She turned to us, and smiled. "Now, because of your great victory against the evils of the 'Wave' this evening, CC corp. would like to congratulate you both with a special gift."

"A gift," I asked. "What do you mean?"

"Why, a modification, of course. Or a weapon. Armor, perhaps? Maybe an item?" I turned to look at Nami, and then back to Beatrix.

Nami went in first. "I want wings. Not tiny things, like some axe-users have, but real ones, like the great Descendant of Fianna himself, Balmung of the Azure Sky!"

"Done!" another wave of cheer echoed throughout the town, and Nami became illuminated in a golden light. When it dissipated, she stood before us all with large, black angel wings. She grinned and struck a pose, two fingers up in a 'peace' sign.

I laughed at this and began thinking of what I wanted. "What'll it be for you, slick?" asked Beatrix, inching closer to my face, her eyelashes fluttering.

"Well…I would also like wings, if that isn't too much trouble. But," I paused, and Beatrix sighed, about to cast the spell. "I do not want them for me. I want them for a friend of mine who really deserves them."

Beatrix patted me on the shoulder, and smacked my nose gently with a finger. "No problem, kid. Done!" She snapped her fingers and a green and gold box appeared in her hand. She placed it into my care and bowed. "For your friend. Master Navel of the Aqua Capital, and Lady Nami of the Frontier Town. Congratulations once more, and I hope you enjoyed the evening."

Δ Server Root Town, Mac Anu

I sat on the bridge, my legs hanging over the side, the parcel in my lap. I waited patiently for Gardenia to arrive, so that I could tell her all about Sunday night's previous event. I began whistling quietly until someone came and sat beside me. It was Nami, her large black wings tucked in.

"Hey," I said, tapping my fingers on the box. She began fingering the feathers on one of her wings, her eyes staring off into the distance. "You enjoying your wings?"

She bobbed her head as if she were dozing off, and scoffed at herself. "Not as much as I thought, actually." She stood up, and showed off her avatar, spreading out her wings. She wore a long black dress with red lining. There was a skull patch on the front of it, and she had one shoulder pad, made completely of bone. A large spike protruded from the tip. Her hair was also black, with red streaks on either side of her face. The wings made her look like a glum angel.

"Nice," I said sarcastically, whistling again.

"So how come you're not taking your wings and putting them on? I mean, they would look really odd on you, but you deserve them. What's the deal?"

I shook my head and stood up, facing her. "As I said last night, they're for my friend. That's all."

"It's Lawk, isn't it?" she said, making a faint smile. "That's sweet, Navel. I always knew you two had something special going on."

I attempted to return the smile, but instead stared blankly in her direction. "I guess, but I wouldn't really say it like that. Lawk's been my best friend for so many years. I've grown accustomed to him, you know?"

"Admit it, there's more to it, and you know that." She elbowed me in the stomach, cackling. "I see the way you two interact."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to leave. "I'm going to head over to the Chaos Gate now, Nami. I'll talk with you again later."

She smiled and nodded. I dodged over the bridge and up the steps to Chaos Square, and sat in a corner. I held my staff in front of me to rest my head on and nodded off for a bit.

"Well, fine. I'll just leave you here, looking like a homeless wizard," said Gardenia, kicking me out of my sleep. I reflexively jumped up and raised my staff.

"Oh, it's just you, Gardenia. Sorry, I guess I was still tired. Work was so tiring, and really long."

"I know what you mean. My job is the same way," she gazed around, scanning her surroundings. "So, what're you up to today, Navel? I hope that this venture here was not in vain, as I do really loathe when things have no point."

Same old Gardenia. "I was thinking that, since it is Wednesday, maybe we could go participate in an event that I was originally going to go on with Lawk."

"Secondary choice. That sounds rather awful, if you ask me—but you're not—however, because I am not busy, I will be glad to accompany you. Even if I was not your first choice."

I winced. Knowing she was merely joking, it still hit me as if she were sincere. "Well, all right. Let's go. They start in about fifteen minutes; we'd better register and then head over to the town square."

"Right. Let's go!"

CC corp. Online Offices, Λ Server

"It would seem that Balmung of the Azure Sky is no longer a unique individual," snorted Beatrix, leaning back in her chair. She sat at the head of a long rectangular table, with seven others around her. "Two players were given the Wings of Twilight, just on Sunday evening."

The man in red armor with the wild blonde hair grabbed his stomach as he laughed, so that he wouldn't hurt himself. "Well, he's going to hate that! People are going to expect wings now after every event," he said, glaring down at Beatrix, while continuing his uproar.

"Yes, I suppose it was a mistake on my part. It will not happen again, I can promise you that. I've already sent an email to the player Nami, asking for her to select another modification, and she will think about it. As for the Wavemaster, he said that the wings were a special gift for his friend. I'm sure he will not give them up lightly."

A large woman several seats down scratched her head. "Well, what did you offer the Blademaster? What else could she possibly want other than the famous Wings?"

"A flying mount, of course. She wants the ability to fly, that's all," interrupted a seething bald axe-user.

The blonde man stood up, smiling. "Well, if the Wavemaster would cooperate, we could offer him a flying broom. I mean, he is a spell caster, which is as close to a witch as you can get. But for a Blademaster, there's nothing to offer."

Beatrix shook her head, popping open a window in front of her. "A feather. She mentioned a feather. Something that she could stick in her hair as a head piece and transfigure into a flying mount at will. It is not that difficult to manufacture, I'm sure. Mr. Hagi, Miss Katsuru, I would like you to get started with these designs immediately, if It is no hassle." The bald man and the plump woman both nodded and gated out. "As for you, Daybreak." The blonde's face brightened. "I want you to get to work on today's event. I am rather busy this afternoon. I'm booked."

"As you wish." Daybreak stood up and bowed, leaving the room with a "thumbs up" salute.

Ω: Graceful, Tempting, Fallen Angel

The man in red armor—Daybreak—stood on a large platform, two Ruby Knights in tow, and shook Lady Rain's hand as she and an envoy of Emerald Knights stepped up onto the dais.

"Lady Rain of Mac Anu, and I, Daybreak of Dun Loireag, would like to welcome you all to the event of the seasons! Twilight Dragon…You all know what I am talking about. Well, this day marks the anniversary of the imprisonment of the graceful beast. Your task is to follow the clues to find the two henchmen of the Abominable Wave, the Dragons of Dusk and Dawn. Strike them down, and release the Bringer of Light!"

Lady Rain stepped up next, taking her opportunity to chime in. "And at the end of the event the winning party will be granted a fantastic prize! For starters, we shall pay for their access fees for an entire year, starting tomorrow!" A loud cheer ran through the crowd. Even Gardenia sounded impressed by this. "And secondly, we shall grant the party a level enhancement of plus five! But for the last and greatest prize of them all, you shall have to wait and find out! Now, let the games begin!"

"Before you all go, I must give a little story about this particular field. A couple of years ago, this place appeared randomly onto the Omega server. The dungeon bears many floors, much more than the average amount. There will be dangerous beasts down below, and CC corp. expects to hear each and every report of anything strange that may happen there."

And with that the crowd flocked into the dungeon at once, battle ready and eager. "Are you ready to win something great, Navel?" said Gardenia, drinking a potion to increase her attack power. "Because I do not like to lose."

As I whipped out my staff I turned, and gave her a familiar mischievous grin. "Let's do it!"

Ω: Bursting, Passionate, Treasure Gem

Beatrix ran as fast as she was able, her sword scraping against the narrow canyon walls. As she sped through the trench, she could see the figure's shadow from above, moving here and there. She tilted her head to see if she could find her pursuer.

Stopping, she inched back against the wall and looked around frantically. When she decided that they had given up, she let out a long sigh. When she attempted to move on, the shadow loomed over her and directly in front of her, from above, landed the enemy. He wielded a long red wand and had messy green hair that seemed to have been styled off of a shock from an electric socket. His grin made Beatrix shudder, but she would not falter, not now.

"What do you want with me?" asked Beatrix, breathing heavily. "If it was an audience you desired, you should have accosted me at Palace Carmina." She leered at the pale man, fascinated by his silver and lavender silk finery.

"Ah, an audience, a consultation, a meeting of minds…a partnership," he bowed low to the ground gracefully, so that his pristine silken sleeves swept the rocky ground. He modulated his voice when he spoke, like an actor declaiming his lines. Beatrix narrowed her eyes.

"A partnership? You presume much, my foolish friend," she stated bluntly. She was playing with the man now, as he had with her.

"I presume much because I have much to offer my lady." The man paced forward several steps so that he could speak in a lower tone of voice. His gestures continued to be theatrical. "What matters the most is what I bring." From out of one of his voluminous sleeves he drew out something resembling a doll. He tugged at it hand over hand like a charlatan magician. His slender hands shook out a piece of fabric, revealing that it was an eerie puppet cat in a floppy steeple hat with a gold star printed over its left eye. It was dressed in a small pair of shoes, a vest, and a robe that was tucked into its trousers. Beatrix could not have pinned her finger on just what made the strange little moppet so uncanny; perhaps it was the eyes and their deep crimson setting, so dark it was impossible to tell if they were merely imitations or were actually watching her.

"You offer me toy? Perhaps my daughter would like to play with your dolly, but she's rather outgrown such things at the age of fifteen."

"Ah, but can your daughter's toys do this?" asked the man, extending the puppet's arms and then releasing. Those bloody eyes lit up and, instead of toppling to the ground when the pale man let go, it jerked forward, bending awkwardly halfway to the floor, and then stood up on its own. It staggered forward a few steps and brought its hands together as if it were in prayer.

"Very clever, puppeteer. I admit that you've entertained me, so I shall not punish you for wasting my time in this manner." A battalion of Amber Knights appeared and surrounded them. Her message had been received! Fire began blossoming between the mannequin's hands.

Beatrix's right-hand man raised his sword and gasped. He stepped forward and grabbed the man's sleeve, angling his blade to his throat. "If you wish to live, call off your golem," he shouted, his voice ringing clear as metal through the canyon. The Amber Knights stepped forward and closed in on the man and his eccentric toy, their weapons drawn and ready to taste blood.

When the man did not move instantly, the captain allowed his weapon to bite into his flesh. A drop of blood welled up on the tip of his blade and ran down its length. He was met by an angry hiss.

"It was merely a demonstration, Rose." With a dramatic wave of his wrist the puppet collapsed into a heap of clothes again. The captain withdrew his sword from his smooth throat, now marred with a smudge of red, but kept it leveled at his heart. The sunlight reflected in his glittering defiant eyes.

"Captain Eckhart, call off the knights and let us hear what the gentleman has to say in his defense." Beatrix sounded imperial now. She wanted to know what the man's angle really was. She had not been too shaken by the incident. The captain moved his subordinates back.

The man's moth-white hand fluttered to his neck and he eyed his blood-smeared fingers with surprise. "The rose garden is filled with thorns," he said softly, his voice pitched for Beatrix's ears alone. The seductive whisper poured down her spine like ice water. She sheathed her sword and backed up a bit.

"My Most Beloved Lady, I, your humble subject Locke, merely wished to show you the effectiveness of my powers." He swept another self-affecting bow, so low that she thought his forehead nearly touched the ground. Now he was playing the unassuming servant, but she could see his cold eyes flashing, even in this role. She did not trust him.

"And what would I want with your powers, Locke?" she asked, laughing hard, shaking. "As you can see I have quite efficient and effective soldiers at my disposal."

"Yes. Quite effective, for mere audience chamber guards. But what of your vast campaigns? With the power of the Phases Reborn they are not swayed by paltry human consideration like emotion, hunger, compassion and honor." He spat the last at the ground as though it tasted most bitter indeed. Beatrix felt the chill of anger settling in her heart. How dare he belittle her comrades for their humanity?

"My Phases will never be felled by fatigue nor driven back because they must sleep or go to work. They will obey your every whim without question, Lady Beatrix." Locke stared into her eyes. It was almost as if he could sense how much she resented being here. She dearly wished to be able to close her eyes, but even such an infinitesimal action would concede defeat to this man with a serpent's grace.

"Campaigns? I have planned no campaigns," said Beatrix, but rather than being affronted and angry she merely sounded interested.

"My lady--" said the captain, but Locke interrupted.

"Oh, but you will." Locke observed, smiling charmingly. "You will."

"What is your true angle, Locke?"

"All we want is to become part of The World…you've been briefed about Harald's entrance into The World, by that "Ultimate AI", haven't you? You should know what Demosthenes and I are after."

She drew out her sword once more and raised it into the air. "This conversation is over," she stated, and she and the knights gated out simultaneously.

Ω: Graceful, Tempting, Fallen Angel

On the thirteenth floor we stopped to recover for a moment. "This is tough," said Gardenia, emptying a Mage's Soul. "I don't think we're going to make it this time. Several parties passed by us already. Who knows who'll defeat—"

A message appeared on our screens telling us to warp back to the field. I groaned and pulled out a Sprite Ocarina. "Jinx," I breathed, and we headed back up.

Upon arrival we saw three players: a Blademaster, Wavemaster and a Twinblade, all being crowned by Lady Rain. Daybreak stood before them all, kneeling and saluting to each of them, one at a time.

"It is my great pleasure to award Matsura, Tabbycat and Jordan the award of a lifetime!" Daybreak stood up, and took a large box from a knight at his side. "Along with your free one-year access payment and five new levels, as promised, the Ruby and Emerald Knights would like to endow you with the limited edition Twilight Weapons!"

Lady Rain opened Daybreak's box and pulled out a purple and silver blade. "For Matsura, the Blademaster." She then drew out a beautiful silver wand, with a golden spiritual orb hovering above. "And to Tabbycat, the Wavemaster." She then pulled out two silver and gold daggers, handing them over. "And, finally, to Jordan, the Twinblade!"

"Thank you all for attending, and good night!" shouted Daybreak, gating out along with his Ruby Knights. Lady Rain and her followers took their leave soon after, and left all of the participants alone.

"That was great," I said gloomily. "We didn't win, but we gained some levels. That was a difficult dungeon. I'm pretty proud of myself."

Gardenia agreed and raised her trident. "I am just glad I came back here after all this time. I haven't been to this field since the last Twilight Incident, you know."

"Oh?"

"Yes. This was where the dot hackers recovered one of our fallen comrades. Little Elk was so happy, I nearly cried. But I didn't, for the record."

I fell on the ground, laughing hard at this. I gave her a hug and we parted ways. "That was fun. I'm glad you came with me."

"No problem, kid. Talk to you soon."

Ω: Putrid, Geothermal, March

"You careless imbecile!" Demosthenes smacked Locke to the cold stone with her wand, growling. "You didn't even think about her reporting your meeting with her associates, did you? You simple fool. You never think! You could have ruined everything!" She struck the Wavemaster once more and, with her staff's power, hoisted him high into the air. "I have no choice but to punish you, dearest Locke." And, with a single command, he was wrapped in an explosion of iridescent, flickering lights. In other words, he was subjected to Data Drain. When he toppled back onto the cobblestone, she threw herself over his shoulders seductively. "What will I do with you? Ha-ha---ha ha ha ha ha!" She pulled out a knife and held it at his cheek, letting it carve into the side of his face and then walked off, leaving the other alone to wallow in pain.

"Ma…Macha," said Locke, barely able to move. A ripple opened in the air and a humanoid cat PC, similar to the puppet he animated before, stepped out and bowed. "Monitor…monitor Beatrix. Make sure that…that she does not speak a word of…this. If she tries, you know…what to do."

Macha nodded its head, and opened its mouth to speak. No sound followed, but somehow Locke was able to understand him. "That's right. Get to it." The cat bowed again and patted Locke's head, and disappeared.