Last time, on our previous tale...
Once
everyone was settled, Relisar pointed out one of the centermost
cities. "From Elfheim over here, make your way for the Western
Keep--there you might find some clues as to the Crown's location.
Once you bring it back to its rightful place in the keep, it will
show you where the Crystal has been heard singing." "Where
do you suppose the cave housing the Earth Crystal might be?"
Lina asked. "I have received word from the Dwarf King
Giott that he has heard singing coming from the Cavern of Earth
nearby Mt. Duergar." Relisiar replied as he rolled up the map
and put it away. "He has offered passage to any adventuring
party that wishes to investigate." First the elves, and
now the dwarves... Mallory sighed as the party turned to leave. This
is more serious than I thought...
Episode 28: Remembering Titan
After bidding the elves goodbye, the party hiked westward into a nearby forest. Mallory could see the blue roof of the Western Keep in the distance, but she also noticed the Chicobo pacing back and forth, as if it was expecting something to emerge from the brush. "What's the matter, Boco?" she cooed to the antsy yellow bird.
"Boco?" Vince was interested in the Chicobo's new name.
"I heard it was the name of a great hero's Chocobo." Mallory replied. The Chicobo just nuzzled Mallory, happy with its new name before refocusing its attention on a rustling bush. After a few tense minutes, a large pink and blue worm emerged from the underbrush, intent on having the frightened yellow bird as its next meal.
"Back, get back!" Vince yelled, drawing his blade in a show of defiance to the worm. The worm lunged at Vince, but the ringing of a blade impacting its target signaled to the others Vince had struck first.
"Kweh?" the Chicobo asked as it tracked worm insides through the grass.
"What was that worm?" Mallory asked as she reached for some cloth to clean up the mess from the Chicobo.
"That was a gigyas worm." Vince explained as he cleaned his blade. "They are large, and aggresive when they find their prey, but very easily dispatched with a sharp instrument."
"One was easy, but I'm worried about what will happen if we happen to meet two--or more..." Lina shuddered, sickened by the chocobo tracks dotting the worm's corpse.
"They tend to travel alone or with other worms, but a lone gigyas worm with other monsters is also not that uncommon." Darien explained. "They are also not that intelligent, so taming is impossible." Some nervous giggles punctuated this.
"At any rate, it's slain now, so let us go inside the Keep." Vince began as he motioned for the others to follow him towards the white building that towered over the trees.
Inside the Keep...
Mallory took a moment to look around at the Keep as she followed Vince inside. Her boots thudded on stone walkways that gained a blue tinge in the evening sun. The yellowed ivory columns that lined the hallway seemed like bone--and the numerous cobwebs made her worry about the possibility of skeletons appearing to attack her.
After rounding a corner and coming to an ornate door decorated in more yellowed ivory, Vince watched as the door opened, leading inside a room similar to Relisiar's chamber, barring a small throne in the center of the room. A long grey-haired boy in ivory and blue robes watched from the throne, his pale green eyes fixed on Mallory. A sick feeling came over her--was this boy a friend or a foe?
"Welcome, my friends." the boy began. "It is fortunate you have come--my castle has fallen into disarray..."
"Who was the fiend that caused this?" Vince asked.
"I was tricked by the dark elf Astos..." the boy began. "If only if I could retrieve the elven crown from those that spirited it to the Marsh Cave--then I could restore this place to its former glory!"
Lina lightly tugged Mallory's sleeve. "Is it just me, or do you think that this elf isn't all that he seems?"
"His eyes...that's what's scaring me." Mallory replied as she tensely eyed a statue of Titan in one corner of the room. "I vaguely remember Astos described as having green eyes...and that the summons know the difference between what is true and what is not..."
Be careful, lady red mage... came a booming yet gentle voice the reverbrated in Mallory's head.
"Who are you?" Mallory softly asked, trying not to alert the elf nor Vince.
It is I, Titan--the earth giver. the voice replied. From my abode by Melmond and the Black Mage's lodge, I can sense you are in danger...the one to whom your friend is speaking is not all he appears...
"Can I help Vince?" Mallory asked, but Titan didn't respond.
"Might you bring me the crown?" The elf's voice snapped Mallory back to reality.
"We will!" Vince replied. Mallory's heart sank--was it possible Vince had fallen for a trap?
To Be Continued...
