The Esper World
Chapter Four - Involvement
From over a mountain range several objects broke the sky. Different looks, shapes, sizes, but same moving speed. Sparkling light glimmered about the objects in their approach towards land.
Another object emerged from the water below creating a spherical waterfall. A cool turquoise Esper moved around the water float ensuring its flight.
On another float shaped in a triangle a younger Esper with triangle ears directed lightning about it. He also had a golden mohawk begin on his forehead traveling down the center of his back ending at his tail.
Young kitten Espers held up magic pots of swirling dust on another float. It encompassed the entire float like a liquid ball on a desk. A large stray cat as the floats main attraction.
"Looking good there." An Esper commented to another float. "Now lets get it started."
The large float in the center of the several dozen bunch capaciously levitated in the air. Rainbow fire lit up this one. A large bird statue sat above ashes from a volcano in the center representing Phoenix.
The children of Siren readied every dozen floats. The parade began when the floats passed over land into the first town near the polar region.
"Wake up to the dream scape it calls. There's magic for one and all. Receive an honorable blessing. In this time of wane you know. No matter how gloom you sow. This is a time in need of addressing."
Many Espers in shops and homes stared at one another alone or together. Some of the fire-based Espers watched a small candle flicker. Those of ice kept their magical food frozen.
"It's a motivational parade. Sometimes the dreamscapes sends discordant dissonance." The float leader guided the floats over the city.
A fire brightened when food began to cook. Several Espers left houses and town squares levitating up to the floats. Each Esper taking a seat on one closest to them.
"It always works." The float navigator plotted a course towards the next settlement. Each town enjoyed the parade as usual.
The next day in the tower of a building a magically appearing bell rang. The sun had recently appeared for the day. Many Esperites had a fulfilling and dreamy morning before heading off to school.
Many children that lived near the school warped to it in addition to flying. The ones that lived further used warp posts to arrive. Some students rode on Palidors.
The students took their seats in their proper classes. No student arrived late. Every Esper always enjoyed a pure and genuine sleep.
"OK, class. Who can tell me a name of one of the statues?" The teacher announced at the front of a class of fifty.
Many used magic to respond by creating magical hands and sparkling signals.
"We have someone in seat 34." She motioned towards the one.
"Doom!" She tossed up miniature magic fireworks.
The teacher waved her wings creating magic of her own. It appeared in seat 34.
"Yeah, hee, hee!" The student laughed from the exhilaration with a small appearing candy. "Thank you."
Two other students correctly answered Goddess and Poltergeist.
"Nearly all of these creatures have little of their own magic powers. They have five fingers and five toes with hair sprouting from their heads?"
"Human!" Someone in the middle row of students said to the teacher.
"Correct."
"Where are the humans now?"
"In another dimension." Someone close to the middle row said.
"Yeah, we're on a roll today." The teacher used her magic to wove a transparent board right above her desk. A human figure appeared leading others towards other humans.
"They mostly have the luxury of metal as their tools in the involvement of violent acts. They've killed one another for only the metallic properties of their world with some chunks of dirt."
The students watched in wonder as the picture began to progressed throughout history. The teacher continued.
"To some humans their own technology might appear to be magic to those less fortunate."
A scene appeared. She enlarged the screen.
"Euww, they let themselves rot and go hungry!" A front row Esperite pointed out. Starving children and adults lined countrysides, cities, deserts, rivers, bridges, and other places.
"Lets not judge them too harshly everyone. They can be jealous. And fearful of us and our privileges."
A human leader studies the sealed gate.
"They do have a curious knack to learn and evolve." A good student told.
"Too slowly in my opinion." Another good student retorted.
"Are they coming here?" Another one asked?
Ms. Carbunkle cleared her throat to answer. "I don't..."
The scenery changed to a herd being commanded by cowboys. The teacher looked to the back of the room at the school sanctuary aspectivist. A no personality posture showed in the Esper's stance.
"...continue watching the video screen students. I'll return shortly." She tapped on her desk appearing in the back of the room near him. She followed him to right outside of class.
"Hello, Ms. Carbunkle. Your new child will be fine." The glowing moth Esper said. Traces of starlight purity surrounded him.
Ms. Carbunkle beamed with joy. She thought her baby might not make it from Phoenix.
"There's still some magnetic flux traces but they were minimal when you received your child. The medical ward told me a few minutes ago."
"Thanks for warping up here to tell me." She said. "You didn't have to."
"And also, the repairs to the east region of the school are doing well. It had a slight magical weather problem last night."
"Thank you again." She looked slightly eastward knowing enough school blocks her view.
"All staff and students may enter it now." He created an image of the repair log. "You'll go back to forty students."
"Thank you very much. Some of the students and I have become closer in our studies." She said.
He glowed again saying. "It happens."
She spoke up. "It's a blessing in disguise. Plenty of surprises where ever you go." She noticed his tone change.
"Also, we're also sad to hear your continued refusal to teach other subjects in demand."
She crept a smile before responding.
"Thank you. I'm only a part time teacher. I'm comfortable with what I'm doing."
"You're right Ms. Carbunkle. Each of their own." The moth floated backward still facing her. "You should get back to your class. I feel they're beginning to transmit telepathic notes."
She moved away while nodding to him during their departure.
"Every sinner, every hopeful child. Every writer, every poet. Every atrocious leader, every newborn hero. Our arrogance, our posturings, our imagined self-importance. Everyone whose ever lived is reflected through a pale blue light." A human scientist reemphasizing the nature of humanity.
Most of the Esperites attempted to pay attention to the screen through growing classroom commotion. Ms. Carbunkle sneaked through the back of the class watching it.
"Hey." Someone whispered.
The classroom activity subsided as Ms. Carbunkle appeared.
"Don't worry everyone. There's no test on this subject. Your parents will tell you about it as you grow up."
Some students cheered as others pondered the events.
Ms. Carbunkle appeared at the front of the class again. "And I'll lose ten of you tomorrow. The east region is repaired."
"We'll miss you." A couple students said to her.
Ms. Carbunkle returned a smile. "Session time is closing."
The Esperites began putting magical supplies away before leaving.
"That's it for now everyone. Off to your next class." Ms. Carbunkle watched the students warp out of the room.
Some students appeared in classrooms. Others appeared outside before a large obstacle course leading several hundred feet into the sky.
"Glad everyone made it to gym." A large furry Esper instructor spun around turning on the course.
"Wow, is this our mid-term test?" Someone looked up in awe.
"Yessiree. There's no warping unless you begin to fail. Powers are OK" The instructor said.
"I don't know if I'm ready." Someone else stepped back.
"It's required to pass this class. You have three minutes to get ready before I call on someone." The instructor moved away.
Many Espers quivered at the idea. The ones studying hard in gym became ready for the challenge. The instructor moved toward the group of fifty after three minutes. The Esperites discontinued extending their powers.
"All right I've chose an order. Nufaria you have first go."
She's done well in this class. The instructor watched her take off.
Nufaria entered a portal toward the middle of the course. Inside of the tunnel forcefields appeared off and on ahead. She used her momentum to decelerate getting through in time.
Ahead of her an ice block and firewall lied in her way. She began a spell when a force from behind accelerated her forward. She managed to cast slow on herself before using ice on the firewall and fire on the ice block to open the way.
When Nufaria passed the first hurdle the instructor began. "All right ten seconds you're next." He looked at a bat like Esper that took the far tunnel. It led into a glass mirror maze requiring a great memory of where one has been.
"He's doing good in the maze...three...two...one...next!"
A larger bear like Esper took the first tunnel. Walls and barricades of cinder lied in his way. The bear rushed down a transparent tunnel breaking through the barriers with ease.
Thirty seconds later another Esper entered a portal. In a few more seconds the Esper had to pass through floating magical rings. Though a gust of magical air threw off the Espers momentum sending him into the ring.
He found himself at the beginning in front of the first ring.
"Our first miss." The instructor pointed out.
Nufaria really had to concentrate on the last stretch of her course. Small floating pads appeared and reappeared hundreds of feet above the ground. She found herself without powers. It's all up to acrobatics.
After twenty seconds waiting on the ledge Nufaria discerned a pattern in the pads. She leaped from one to one remembering most of it. After half way through she missed by an inch landing stomach first over the pad on a few feet in circumference.
Nufaria knew she only had a few seconds to stand up and jump. She opted instead to hoist herself into a handstand turning around before leaping off. She passed though the pad appearing to grab onto one of a side indent.
This time she stood up on the pad remembering the pattern to leap again. She landed on the last pad before making a final leap for it. She caught the edge of a hallway floor with the ground looming below. She tilted herself getting her foot onto the ledge hoisting herself onto the floor.
"You are a great class. You can do it everyone!" The instructor watched from below.
The bear Esper reached a mound of rocks about thirty feet high. The door closed leading another Esper to a similar room next to the bear.
The bear moved away the rocks one at a time. The ant-like Esper entered another rock mound room removing two rocks at a time.
Another Esper hit the wrong button causing an image of siren to appear. It sang a song putting the participant to sleep for one minute.
"I did it!" Nufaria said exiting the course on the other side.
"90% speed and 90% ability. The last part got you and the slow spell isn't necessary since you only need to either firewall or ice block 90% overall." The instructor said.
"When I'm ready I'll try again." Nufaria sat down catching her breath.
"This score is saved so you can't get any lower. 100% is the maximum of course." The instructor smiled.
The bat began the final part. Powers allowed him to put up a shell shield from random laser beams from the obstacle walls. He maneuvered swiftly around most of them. About half way through a laser struck his shield reducing it by thirty percent.
"I have to do something." The bat wheezed. He cast a spell near the wall. To his joy the shell field dispersed the lasers making it easier to avoid.
"Yes." The bat used quick to gain another minute. "Now I'm out of MP."
He entered another tunnel that exited too.
"100% speed. 88% ability. It's common sense to stop a spell at its source." The instructor said. "94% overall."
"I'm out of MP. I have to keep that score." The bat calculated.
The bear arrived.
"86% speed. 90% ability. You slowed down half way to avoid getting hit. Solid overall."
Many others had various difficulties and eases with getting through the course. After about an hour most of the students had no MP before lunch.
"I'm proud to say 46 of the 50 of you passed. We had two at 78%. Right under the 80% cut off. There will be a retest for the four. The two with 78% should pass on it. The other two might have to repeat this class."
Over the school the sky began to change colors. Instead of the multicolored surroundings the air above the school took shape.
Espers outside the school noticed it. The parents had a chance to talk with their children.
A magical bell appeared in the sky signaling for lunch. The students exited their classrooms required to walk to the cafeteria over warping.
Because along the way fountains of Ether replenished the students. They soon entered their assigned lunch halls.
When the students arrived only two attendants watched over them. The entrees appeared through magic generated by a field around tens of colorful boots to represent the type of food.
"It's a human food called a banana. This one is sunflower." A student sat down at a floating bench.
"The green one gave me celery, broccoli, spinach, and peas." Another student looked in disgust. "Give me asteroid soup any day."
"Did you transfer recently." Another student asked.
The student nodded pushing the green-filled plate away. Peach cream suddenly appeared on the face of the Esperite who asked about the student transfer.
"Magic food fight!" Someone yelled.
The cafeteria erupted into spells of enhanced food to the conventional toss it across the room. Esperites caught off guard used reflect, safe, and shell powers to protect themselves.
"You think you're ssafe." A snake began.
The attendants ran to stop it.
"Whirlwind!" The snake spun around sending food through all the protective fields entrenching the cafeteria into beautiful food colors.
Everyone had difficulty curing themselves off of food debris. With the whirlwind though the food fight died down as the attendants succeeded in throwing up an anti-elemental barrier.
"It's going to cost you two minutes of your lunch to clean this." The attendants said in unison.
"I'm surprised we had a food fight today this soon after repairs. You all should know better." Ms. Carbunkle said to her afternoon class.
"It's human food." Someone mumbled.
"Either way it's even up to you how to spend your lunch time."
The class listened. A couple thought sparks rose.
"Now where were we?" Ms. Carbunkle finished the day without any more problems.
"Good bye, class. See you tomorrow." Outside her class, she saw the last student leave.
In moments, another teacher approached Ms. Carbunkle. "I wonder what happened to Maduin? He wasn't on patrol today."
Around the world the rest of the Esper community enjoyed a celebration.
"Here lets drink to it." With very little need for plates and utensils, special food floated across over the sheets. Special diamonds held the contents in place in front of the Espers.
"I learned that power not too long ago." Ifrit swallowed. The contents in front of him turned pale.
"You drained the energy." A guest at his table observed.
"Behold!" A snake turned about in a whirlwind to surf across the air. Terrato landed perfectly at his spot at the table.
"Get a hold of this." A cocky Esper snapped.
A female Esper pointed her finger at him from behind at another table. Many laughed when his bolt smacked his plate throwing its contents in his face.
"Shiva! Did you take my power through Osmosis?" He clutched his hand.
Shiva winked.
Ifrit warmed his own drink.
Stray tapped dance vividly and wildly on stage as Palidors whistled overhead. Most of the Espers talked, ate, and continued with demonstrating their magic.
One of the many recruited Golem guards 'stopped' two Espers getting out of hand. Maduin led the Imperial Forces also enjoying the party himself.
The Imperial forces set down Ragnaroks that guarded the gift table. Siren at the other end of the room played new music for everyone.
Crowds of Espers joined in party to celebrate the dawning of magic that occurred throughout the locations of the dream scape. The capital being no exception.
"Maduin leads the Imperial March and Seraphim is Master of Aspectivists today. Where could they be?"
"Message from the Revival Room." An Esper appears in front of the table.
"Go ahead."
"To the Grand Elders. Carbunkle is awake. He says Seraphim joined him."
Ramuh floated up. "What? That means she's still out there. Get the Imperial and Palidor Patrols on it."
"We can recall Kirin from the Room." Siren said next to Ramuh. "Kirin has already remedied Carbunkle's situation."
"Yo, yo. Whose the coolest cat around? Speak up 'cause I don't hear a sound." Stray made his way over to the table dancing and singing all over.
"Losers say 'what', Stray." Siren said concentrating.
"What?" Stray looked to Siren. The entire Capital Circle laughed because Siren increased the volume of their conversation to be heard over the city.
Ramuh's table stopped laughing. "We're going to excuse ourselves, Ramuh." Three other Grand Elder's said previously sitting at the large circular table. "We'll get started pin-pointing Seraphim and Maduin."
Ramuh nodded missing the enjoyment of Siren and Stray performing together. Kirin wept privately using her powers to hide the tears.
"You could cause a downpour with those." The old man smiled. "I know. Mr. Thunder and Lightning here has forgotten how to cry too."
Kirin didn't respond.
"I'm sure they're happy where ever they are." He looked out. Strands of light from the multicolored sun bended on the ocean of the dream scape
"Remember that time you found a young one within seconds using Scan. It's still the fastest."
Ramuh turned to Kirin.
"You've brought so much hope in us all young to old, old to young. I know you miss those you care about deeply."
Ramuh paused. The party had begun dancing to the beat of Siren and Stray. Kirin kept watch wondering why Ramuh still paused. The Sun reached its zenith when the Espers fun bloomed in full sway.
Kirin reached for Ramuh who remained motionless. Kirin's aura glowed signaling peril. Kirin called out unable to move.
Siren and Stray dropped a beat or two. The crowd followed. In surprise they stopped too. Some Espers continued to dance without the music. Others felt awe towards the table.
"It could be too late to save them."
Maduin's eyes widened. "Do you feel that? Now!" He dived off the cliff with her towards the waterfall. Seconds later a geyser from below blew the grove into dirt and rubble.
"What could it be?" She balanced her flight with him in the sky.
"A dream quake!" The party-goers yelled. The entire dream scape began to tremor. The Espers went to full alert now.
Maduin watched the falls repressively shattering from the cliffs. "We're not going to make it!" He shouted over the cacophony roar. Maduin concentrated holding her close.
He held her head against his shoulder watching a tidal wave head towards them. He only had seconds to think releasing a force of light and fire.
The tidal wave struck drowning out the sound of Maduin repelling the water. He spun downwards exiting the wave, relaxing his power, and catching his breath. He noticed tidal waves fly through the air traveling ever which way.
Palidor fought the ferocious wind trying to navigate the turbulent currents. "Hold on everyone!" Palidor dived away from a tornado that appeared near them in the sky.
"Ahh! I wanna go home!" A young passenger clutched Palidor.
From below Palidor noticed a rising plate of water. Palidor focused on an area of water. A hole broke apart leading a passage through it. Palidor cast slow on the tides ascent.
Palidor navigated safely through the tunnel. The passengers in awe at all the water surrounding them. Palidor broke through the last part back into the windy sky. The water plate broke up.
The large tornado crushed the water that rained in all directions. More tornadoes began to form with whirlpools beginning in the ocean below. Palidor noticed another water plate come from the side.
"Lets get out of here, now." Palidor renewed haste to outrun the water. The water began to catch up.
"I'm not out of tricks. This isn't my first natural elemental attack." Palidor hasted below up. He shot up to avoid the water curtains width side. Palidor rose ten feet about the top length side of the plate to notice its density.
The storm surrounded them with two lights of hope. "I see something over there." A passenger pointed into the darker side of the storm.
"There's others out here." Palidor noticed it too. "We have to help them."
Maduin coughed up moisture. She used her abilities to stabilize them. They kept did their best to survive with their bodies soaked.
"Did you feel that?" Maduin said. "Magic."
"Yes." She noticed it too. "A person's magic!"
They flew away from the next wave with someone on their trail. They heard shrills and whistles through the wind turning around to spot it.
"Palidor!" Maduin cried. He helped her onto Palidor's back in seconds with the other passengers. They all huddled from the storm.
"This is the worst one I've ever seen." Maduin motioned to the storm.
"You're right, Maduin." Palidor looked about. "We'll need to work together to get out of this alive."
The party-goers at port towns headed for the hills to avoid the floods using their magic. The towns more inland took to the air to avoid the quake.
"The quake had to happen today when we set it all up." An Esper complained at his ruined decorations. Another shock hit the town causing an arc of energy.
The Revival Rooms and Imperial Golems stood sternly to deflect the quake. Energy towers around the towns warped to locations disrupting discerning magic.
"It's so strong and long. What's going on?" Someone asked with their voice ringing hollow. The clouds and water waves in the sky blocked out the sun.
Four Espers witnessed the multi-colored sun from a frozen state. The epicenter of the quake opened into a dark hole sucking them in until the quake ended.
Inside they viewed the entire aspects of the dream scape. Bismark flying from ocean to ocean. Espers on land fleeing. Others in the air trying to stay safe.
At the other end of the singularity laughter echoed when all turned black. "More for our collection." Came a distant voice.
"We survived the quake, but it abducted Ramuh, Siren, Stray, and...Kirin." The Imperial Guard reported to the remaining Grand Elders.
"Their loss will be felt by all in the dream scape" Everyone received the news from another Siren. Palidor and Maduin watched the sun descend under the calm ocean from a distant cliff.
"I know they're out there somewhere." Maduin looked sharply. "I won't rest until they're found. I should have been there."
"Don't blame yourself, Maduin." Palidor lifted Maduin by floating him like a weight has been lifted.
"The damage is considerable and we need to prepare for aftershocks." Maduin encouraged them.
After a while, they left the cliff to head home. Golem used his strength to hold up doorways allowing young Espers to escape destroyed houses. Golem also used his powers to fix roadways.
Shiva used her cure powers to aid the injured. Ifrit kept the shelter less warm. The Palidors searched for the missing while Maduin led the Imperial Force to keep the dream scape in order.
They put out hazard signals to warped homes, landscapes, and other locations dangerous after the quake. Maduin came upon a large cave that appeared from the dreamquake. He though he saw a fading light from within.
"I wonder what's this about?" Maduin studied the surroundings. "Maybe it's..."
Maduin took a long though.
"Maybe the rumors are true." He halted the rest of the guard. "Lets see."
"Wahh!" A bolt repelled Maduin about twenty feet. "It's the seal of Ramuh to the cave entrance. Either way I'm going to report it."
Maduin ordered several guards to stand watch. Others patrolled the surrounding area while Maduin ordered two guards to follow him. They soon warped away to the Grand Elders.
"Ramuh felt not to involve us with it." A Grand Elder in the private chamber declared.
"But why?" Maduin sat humbly before them. "Do we Espers need to keep secrets...um..I mean..."
"There's no wisdom like Ramuh's." Another Grand Elder mentioned ignoring Maduin's hesitation.
"Do you think it has anything to do with the quake?" Maduin looked at them all.
"Even we don't know everything..." Someone said.
"...We have some nice speculation though."
They all murmured to one another.
"Since Ramuh is absent we'll take the steps necessary to unseal the cave entrance."
"...Once we determine that is is safe."
Days after the quake most of the dream scape has recovered. Teams accounted for everyone with only minor repairs of the dream scape remaining.
"Only a few more hours until the seal is dissolved." A Grand Elder announced to Maduin and other vital people present in the opulent private chamber.
"The other Elders and I have created a barrier only letting a select few to investigate."
"For safety reasons."
Many voiced their opinions.
"You have been selected for the journey ahead."
"It leads outside the dreamscape."
"I'm not sure what Ramuh planned with this-although he is gone we shall leave no stone unscanned no matter what lies ahead." Someone said.
"This secret comes as a complete shock to us."
"We're usually informed about the entire dream scape."
"But the fact we didn't know means anything is possible."
End of Chapter Four.