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Crystalrail Station
Terra
XX
The Courier looked around at the large station he stood in, waiting for the crystalrail train to arrive. He and Leanna had spent the better part of the previous night dancing, before deciding to head back to the inn once they realized how late it had gotten. When Six had entered his room, he had found his pango companion sleeping at the foot of his bed. Deciding not to question the abilities of the magical creature, he had simply gone to bed. That morning, he had found Amelia, Zack and Leanna all at a table in the inn, just as they had planned.
Amelia had told them that they needed to ride the 'crystalrail' to get to another city called Bazada. She lead them to the crystalrail station, which sat on the eastern end of Illumia.
Six looked around at the station, observing it's architecture. It was reminiscent to the monorail stations back in Vegas, but instead of a single magnetic rail for the train to move along, it utilized two rails of crystal covered metal that sat underneath the train. The ceiling was made of tinted light blue glass and the walls were a ornate white, lined with crystal-lamps. They had already purchased their train tickets, now awaiting their designated train's arrival.
"Hey, look! It's our train!" Leanna exclaimed, pointing to the groups left. Six turned and looked where she pointed, and his brows rose in surprise. The sleek, white and blue train silently hovered above the crystal lined rails, the bottom of the train cars all lined with matching crystal covered metal. The train was lined with doors that quickly opened, allowing those on the inside to get off.
Once the flow of passengers leaving the train tapered off, the ones getting on quickly began to shuffle inside. Leanna lead their group in getting on, the pango following right behind her.
Or he tried to, at least.
"I'm sorry, but due to the amount of exposed magic crystal systems on board, pangos aren't allowed to ride." the car attendant, who stood next to the doorway into their car, stated. Leanna looked surprised for a moment, before a devastated expression made its way onto her visage. She glanced from the car attendant to the pango on the ground, who stared in confusion at the two of them, before falling to her knees and enveloping the pango in a tight hug.
"We're going to have to leave you here. I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She reluctantly set the pango back on the ground, before quickly standing and rushing onto the train, casting a quick "Goodbye!" over her shoulder. The group stared in stunned silence at what had just occurred, before looking to the pango, who looked even more confused than before.
"While I have not known you for long, I will be sad to see you go." Amelia stated, giving the gelatinous creature a light pat on the head, before heading into the the train herself. Zack merely stared at the creature for a moment, before walking past him and onto the train. The pango looked up into Six's red lenses, his confused expression unchanging.
"Poi?" he questioned, thinking that Six could understand him. Six decided to humor his companion, and shrugged in reply. The pango gave a small smile before bouncing in uncertainty, continuing to stare at the Courier. Six gave him one final nod, and he boarded the train himself. Once he was on, he found the rest of the group standing in the narrow hallway, waiting for him. He had a feeling he was going to be seeing the pango again soon.
They all slowly made their way down the aisle, Amelia leading the way. Once she reached their designated cabin, she slid open it's door, before immediately slamming it shut. The rest of the group all looked to her in surprise, wondering what warranted such a reaction.
"Impossible." Amelia stated, her eyes wide and her face aghast. She slowly slid the door open, staring with a bewildered expression at the scene inside. Leanna, who was still lightly sniffling, looked over Amelia's shoulder and into the cabin. Her face immediately lit up, and she squealed in glee, shoving past Amelia and into the cabin. Zack and Six looked to each other in confusion, before simply shrugging and moving forward, looking into the cabin themselves.
How.
The.
Hell.
Six stared in absolute bewilderment at the sight that greeted him. Inside the cabin, Leanna sat in one of the four leather chairs that lined either side of the small space, two sitting on either side. She wore a bright smile on her face, tears of joy replacing those she had previously shed for the creature sitting in her arms. The pango, who Six assumed would be absent from their party from here on out, was chirping happily in Leanna's grip as she cuddled with him. The creature, utilizing whatever magical powers he seemed to possess, had somehow made it into the cabin before them. The only way Six could even see that happening was if the pango had somehow gotten in through the cabin's sole window, which sat in-between the two sets of chairs, above the table connected to the wall.
Six felt his sanity slowly begin to slip as he tried to comprehend the situation. Shaking his head and quickly dismissing the occurrence as he did all the other times he had witnessed it, he sent a quick prayer to the Lord to keep his sanity in tact for the rest of the train ride. Once the Courier had snapped out of his semi-existential crisis, he slowly made his way inside and took the seat next to Leanna, Zack sitting directly across from him. After a moment longer, Amelia followed suit, slowly closing the door behind her, and took the seat next to Zack. The pango, noticing Six, quickly hopped out of Leanna's grasp and into Six's lap. Leanna looked slightly put-off as she crossed her arms in disappointment, her smile being replaced with a frown.
A short moment later, the train suddenly lurched forwards, lightly jolting the group within their seats. The landscape visible outside the window began to blur as the train slowly accelerated, impressing the Courier with it's speed. Once the train reached cruising speed, the group finally relaxed. Zack opted to lean his head forwards, his long locks of hair overshadowing his eyes, most likely to get some sleep during the long ride ahead. Leanna and Amelia looked out the window, staring into the quickly passing landscape. Six brought up his Pip-Boy, thinking this would be a great time to resume taking inventory.
Six gazed at the large assortment of makeshift shops lining the dirt streets, watching as the shop owners tried to entice the townspeople into purchasing their goods. The train ride had mostly been silent, everyone, sans the Courier, had opted to sleep through the majority of the 12 hour trip. Bazada was a medium sized town, mostly made up of two-storey tall wood and stone buildings, with a massive square in the middle of the town. The square, which the group now stood in front of, was filled to the brim with both travelers and townspeople alike, browsing the makeshift shop's wares.
"So how do we get to Embermyst from here?" Leanna asked Amelia. Amelia put a hand to her chin as she thought for a second.
"We must first traverse some rough terrain and pass through the forest before we find Embermyst." she replied, pointing south. Six looked in the direction she was pointing, and noticed treetops poking over the roofs of the buildings. Amelia glanced up at the sky, the sun's position signaling it to be around 5 in the afternoon.
"Considering only a few hours remain until nightfall, it may be in our best interests to spend the evening here in the city and depart in the morning." she stated, looking back to the group. Leanna nodded in agreement.
"Good thinking. This marketplace is so huge, people say you can literally buy your hearts desires here." she commented, gazing around the array of makeshift stalls.
"Poi!"
Six glanced down at the pango by his boot, watching as it wiggled in excitement. Six noticed how he had a strangely hungry look in his black eyes as he stared at the mass of people. He assumed it must have something to do with magic, considering the gelatinous creature's nature. Amelia crouched in front of the pango, and poked him, causing the creature's gelatinous body to ripple.
"Poi Poi!" the pango exclaimed, widely grinning at Amelia. Amelia continued to stare at the pango for a moment, before poking him again.
"I'm going to the inn. I'll meet up with you later." Zack stated, before walking forwards and quickly disappearing into the crowd. Six and Leanna glanced at each other, before simply shrugging. They continued to stand in silence for a moment longer, only interrupted by the occasional "Poi!" from the pango, caused by Amelia's constant prodding. After a moment of consideration, Leanna looked to Six, who simply observed the bustling townsfolk.
"I'm going to go check out some of the shops. Would you like to come?" she asked, a slightly hopeful expression on her face. Six gazed out at the crowd for a moment longer, before turning back to her and nodding. Leanna gave him a smile, before turning back to the crowd and moving forwards, Six following after her.
The townspeople give the two as wide a berth to move as they could, most not wanting to get near the Courier. Leanna noticed, but chose to ignore their reactions due to the ease of movement it provided. As the duo slowly moved through the crowded streets, Six observed the stands they passed, utilizing his superior height. They offered a diverse set of wares, each stand offering some form of trinket or pottery. Some of the more reputable looking shops offered foods and magical items. They turned down another street, the crowd thinning out as they moved. Suddenly, Leanna stopped, Six stopping just behind her. Six watched curiously as she closed her eyes and deeply inhaled, before a serene smile grew on her face. She turned to him, her smile growing.
"Do you smell that?" she asked, deeply inhaling once more. Six gave her a deadpan stare, pointing to his helmet. Leanna blinked, before rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment.
"Oh, right. Sorry." she apologized. Six shrugged in reply, the movement somehow coming off as meaning "no big deal". Leanna looked down the slightly less crowded street, spotting a peculiar looking stand towards the end.
"I think it's coming from that stall over there. Come on!" she said, before darting into the crowd. Six quickly followed after her, careful not to knock over any of the townspeople. Leanna stopped in front of a large wooden stall, Six catching up and standing to her left. The stall was covered with delicate looking glass bottles, each containing some sort of light-colored liquid.
"What are these?" Six questioned, glancing from bottle to bottle. The stall owner, a lithe old man with thin gray hair, beckoned the two closer.
"Why this is only the greatest selection of perfume in all Bazada!" the man explained, gesturing to the wide array of bottles. Six merely raised a brow in curiosity, wondering what was so great about them. Leanna looked from bottle to bottle, before setting her sights on one containing a pale pink liquid. The stall owner, noticing the bottle she was staring at, retrieved it and held it out to her.
"A noble scent to match a noble woman." the man said. Leanna lightly blushed at the compliment and took the bottle from the man's hand. She brought the bottle up to her nose and inhaled, her face lighting up in recognition.
"Is this extract of Spirit Orchid?" she questioned, handing the bottle back to the stand owner. The man nodded, a confident smile appearing on his visage.
"Yes, yes! Very rare, from the far Celestial Mountains." he stated, returning the bottle back to its place. Leanna put a hand to her chin in contemplation.
"I never expected this perfume here…" Leanna trailed off, once again lost in her thoughts. Six looked between her and the bottle of pink perfume.
"Why not?" Six questioned, curious. Leanna snapped out of her thoughts and looked to Six, a remnicent look upon her face.
"Spirit Orchids are a very rare type of flower. It only grows in the Celestial Mountains, a massive mountain range very far north." she explained. Six nodded in understanding, before thinking of something else.
"Why 'Spirit'?"
"The roots are a very pale white and when it grows it almost looks like it's floating in mid-air, like a spirit."
"Interesting." Leanna's expression slightly fell at his neutral reply, before she went back to her thoughts. Six glanced between the bottle and Leanna once more, another question surfacing in his mind.
"Why is it of interest?" he asked. Leanna perked up at the question, before sighing.
"It just… reminds me of my home." Leanna paused, "My grandmother used to wear this perfume when she left the house. When I was little, that meant taking me down to the market." Six listened with rapt attention, interested in his companion's backstory. Leanna smiled fondly at the memory, a slightly sad look in her eyes. "I loved wandering the shops and stalls. It didn't matter if I had nothing to buy. It was a chance to leave the house and be like everyone else."
"'Be like everyone else'"? Six asked. Leanna adopted a slightly sour look on her face, as if she had eaten something rotten.
"It was complicated." she stated, subtly telling him to drop it. Six got the hint and dropped the subject. He continued to stare at her for a moment longer, before turning back towards the stand owner, who simply watched the duo.
"How much?" he questioned, gesturing to the Spirit Orchid extract. The stall owner seemed to think for a moment, before grinning broadly at him.
"Why, it's only 30 gold coins!" he stated, holding out the bottle to Six. Leanna looked sharply to Six, a confused look on her face.
"You don't have to get it for me." she stated, confusion lacing her tone. Six glanced at her, reaching into his duster for the coins.
"You seem to like it. I don't see why we shouldn't get it." he stated. Before Leanna had the chance to reply, Six handed the appropriate amount of coins to the stall owner and retrieved the bottle.
"Here." he said, holding the bottle to her. Leanna looked hesitant for a moment, before sighing, a small smile growing on her face. She took the bottle from his hand, observing it with a fond expression.
"I could have bought this myself, you know." she stated, placing the bottle into a pouch on her armor.
"Yes, but I have a much larger sum of available funds." he replied, looking at some of the other shops nearby. Leanna stared at him for a moment, before giving him a grateful smile.
"Well… thank you, then." Leanna said. She looked around for a moment, glancing at the same shops Six had just scanned. Suddenly, her face lit up in joy.
"They have a dessert stand! We should go see what they have!" she exclaimed, excitedly looking at the Courier. Six considered it for a moment, before shrugging in nonchalance. Leanna humorously rolled her eyes, and gripped his gauntleted forearm before tugging him through the crowded street. Six allowed himself to be lead, deciding to humor her. As Leanna continued to lead him through the crowded street, Six noticed what appeared to be their destination. An average sized stand off to the side of the street, painted blue and white. The stand was lined with glass boxes filled with all kinds of different desserts.
When they reached the front of the stand, Leanna immediately began looking through the large assortment of pastries and desserts. Six took his time in scanning the rather large selection, not entirely interested in the sweets. He had had enough Sugar Bombs to satiate his sweet tooth for a lifetime. He heard Leanna gasp from his left, and he glanced in her direction, curious as to what held her attention. Leanna noticed Six's gaze, and gestured to the glass box in front of her, which held multiple small glass cups. The cups were filled with a strange mix of foods, slices of apple covered in powdered cinnamon, topped with oats and covered with some sort of cream.
"It's a cinnamon parfait, one of my favorites. I used to get these all the time back when I was younger." she explained, a fond expression upon her face. She looked to the Courier, a smile lighting up her visage.
"I'm going to get one. Do you want one as well?" she questioned. Six contemplated her offer for a moment, before giving a shrug. Her smile became humorous for a moment, before she nodded.
"Alright." she turned to the stand keeper, an elderly woman with graying hair, before pulling out enough coins for the both of them. "2 cinnamon parfaits, please." The stand keeper nodded and gave Leanna a friendly smile, before heading over to the glass box that contained the aforementioned dessert. After a moment, the lady returned, a cinnamon parfait in each hand. She set them on the counter, and smiled once again at Leanna.
"10 gold coins is your total, dear." Leanna smiled and nodded, before handing the lady the appropriate amount. Leanna grabbed both of the parfaits, moving to Six and handing him one. Six gave her a gracious nod in thanks, and proceeded to undo the clasps on his helmet with his free hand. Once he had gotten the helmet off of his head, Six hung his helmet off of his bandolier, before taking the wooden spoon that came with the dessert and taking a bite. Leanna watched in apprehension as he slowly chewed, temporarily forgetting about her own dessert.
"This is…" Six paused, searching for the correct word, "... surprisingly good." Leanna nodded in agreement, taking a bite of her own parfait. The two silently continued to eat their desserts, idly watching the flowing crowds. After a while, they finally finished, Leanna letting out a content sigh.
"That was good." she stated, Six nodding in agreement. As Six began putting his helmet back on, Leanna looked to the sky, noticing the setting sun. "It's getting kind of late, I think we should head to the inn." Six nodded in agreement, his helmet back in its place. The duo slowly made their way through the still-bustling streets, Leanna leading Six to the inn. Eventually, the two arrived at the bustling, three storey tall building. They both purchased a room key and looked around the inn, searching for their other companions.
"Oh! I see them, over there." Leanna said, pointing towards the back of the inn. Six looked in the direction she indicated, spotting both Amelia and Zack sitting at a booth. Leanna led as they made their way over to their companions.
"Hi guys." Leanna greeted them, giving them a friendly smile. Six stood just behind her, offering the two a nod in greeting. Zack and Amelia glanced up at the two, their expressions tired.
"Hey."
"Greetings."
"Poi!"
Six and Leanna glanced down at the pango in surprise, not aware of his presence. The small creature sat directly at Amelia's left side, nuzzling into the girl's skirt. Amelia gave it a small poke, the creature letting out a giggle in response. Zack looked back up at the duo, glancing between the two.
"You two should sit down. We ordered food for all of us, just in case you guys came back." Zack commented, scooting over to allow them to sit, Amelia doing the same, "Should be out here any minute." Six and Leanna nodded in agreement, sitting down at the booth. Leanna sat next to Amelia, the girl scooting over to giver her more space to sit, while Six sat next to Zack. The group sat in silence for a long moment, no-one feeling the need to speak. After another 10 minutes of waiting, their food finally arrived, the waiters setting a steaming bowl of soup in front of each one of them.
Six deftly unclasped his helmet, before taking it off and placing it next to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Amelia staring at him, her eyes marginally widened. Her eyes darted from one place to the next as she took in his appearance, taking note of the multitude of scars lining his face, especially the two circular marks on his forehead partially obscured by his brown hair. After a slightly awkward moment, one Amelia seemed to not notice, she tore her gaze away from Six's visage, turning her attention back to her food.
"So… what did you guys do?" Leanna questioned, growing tired of the silence. Zack and Amelia glanced at her, continuing to consume their meals.
"Sat here, for the most part." Zack stated, his emotionless tone making it abundantly clear that he didn't wish to speak. His attitude caused Leanna's expression to slightly fall, her smile becoming more strained. She turned to Amelia, the girl returning her gaze.
"How about you Amelia?" she asked. Amelia seemed to think for a second, before returning her gaze to Leanna.
"The pango and I had simply visited some of the local shops. I found nothing of interest." she stoically stated, her expression matching her tone. Leanna's expression fell completely, giving up all effort to begin conversation. She glanced over at Six, a desperate expression upon her face. Six raised a brow in concern as he ate another spoonful of soup, giving her a clueless shrug. Leanna simply sighed, idly toying with her half eaten soup. After a while, the group finally finished eating and decided to head up to their rooms. They slowly left their booth and made their way up the stairs. Once they reached the second floor, they made their way down the hallway, searching for their rooms.
"Oh! Here's ours." Leanna stated, standing in front of one of the many doors lining the crystal-lit hallway. The rest of the group stood around her, all of them glancing at her.
"Mine's next door." Zack said, gesturing to the door across the hallway. Leanna nodded, giving him a smile. She turned to Amelia, who was silently watching the two.
"Amelia, you and I will be sharing a room tonight."
"Naturally. That would be more appropriate than the alternative." she stated dismissively. After a moment, she gazed at Leanna with interest. "Are you insinuating you would rather be in a room with them?" She pointed to the other two, who stood off to the side, silently observing them.
"W-what? No! Of course not!"
"Oh, my mistake. Of course you could not have meant both of them. There aren't nearly enough beds." She stated, "You must have meant him." she pointed to the Courier, who silently stood next to Zack.
"Amelia! That's not true!" Leanna shook her head, a blush lighting up her cheeks. Amelia's expression turned suspicious, staring at Leanna intently.
"If that is false, then why is your face red-"
"The point is I'd rather share a room with you." Leanna interrupted, crossing her arms. Amelia blinked, and her face was stoic once again.
"If that is the case, then why even bring it up?" Amelia raised a brow in question.
"Because I'm excited! It'll be nice to have some girl time." Leanna replied, smiling brightly at the girl. Amelia studied Leanna, before nodding in agreement.
"I concur. Sharing a room has proven to strengthen bonds amidst peers and foster camaraderie." Leanna stared at he girl for a moment, before raising a brow.
"... You mean make friends?"
"Precisely."
The two grinned at each other, their conversation coming to its conclusion. Six glanced between them, wondering why the exchange was necessary in the first place.
"Poi?" They all glanced at the small blue creature sitting by their feet, the small chirp seeming to ask where he would be staying. Amelia quickly snatched him up, snuggling him into her chest.
"The pango will be staying the night with us. We need him for science." A feeling of pity fell upon Six for the small creature, the term 'science' giving him a bad feeling. Leanna nodded in agreement, her expression turning mischievous.
"Yes, for science."
The two quickly entered their room, shutting the door behind them. Six and Zack continued to stare at the door for a moment longer, before Zack glanced at Six.
"Is it just me or did that seem unusually suspicious to you?"
Six shrugged, not wanting to ponder on the confusing mannerisms their companions had just displayed. They stood in the quiet hallway for a moment longer, before Zack finally decided to go to bed. He approached his room door, glancing back at Six one last time.
"Night" Six nodded in response, and Zack entered his room. Six decided to head to bed as well, the thought of sleep ever so enticing.
He walked down the hallway, his hidden eyes scanning the room numbers. Finally, about 8 rooms down from his companions, he found his room number.
He opened the door and entered, slowly closing it behind him, before locking it. He glanced around the room, taking in its arrangement. It was very similar to the previous room he had stayed at in Illumia. The sole painting above the full sized bed sitting in the middle of the room was different, but everything else was much the same.
Six approached the bed and unclasped his helmet, taking it off and placing it on the nightstand to the left of the bed. He sat down on the bed, before laying down and allowing sleep to overcome him.
Six idly glanced around the inn, waiting on his female companions. The inn wasn't nearly as populated as it had been the night before, only a few people being sparsely seated around the room. There was only a single employee attending the bar, Six assumed the half-dozen others that were present last night were either sleeping or off. He and Zack both sat at one of the many wooden tables that lined the room, content with the comfortable silence. He spared a glance at Zack without turning his head, as to not alert the trench-coated man. Zack was examining his dischargers, wiping down any part of them he deemed dirty. Six turned his gaze back to the rest of the inn, and noticed the very people he had been waiting on. Leanna and Amelia approached their table, the pango hopping along after them. Leanna looked like she hadn't gotten any sleep, while Amelia simply looked as stoic as ever.
"Good morning." Six greeted, giving the two a nod. Leanna's expression seemed to light up, her usual friendly smile appearing on her face.
"Morning."
"Poi!" the pango hopped up on the table, Zack defensively holding his dischargers away from the magic consuming creature. Amelia offered no greeting, and sat down next to Zack, before reaching into her pouch. As Leanna sat next to the Courier, Amelia pulled a folded up piece of paper out of her pouch, unfolding and spreading it out on the table.
Six observed the paper, his eyes scanning every part. There were precisely drawn rivers and mountains spread all throughout the map. In the bottom left corner, next to the compass rose, sat a small collection of buildings labeled 'Bazada'. To the north-east of the forests surrounding the city, there was a large collection of mountains labeled 'Sinoa Mountains'.
"Once we begin our journey, we will proceed eastward, through the forests adjacent to Bazada." she explained, pointing out their path as she spoke, "From there, we will travel northbound towards the Sinoa mountains." she trailed her finger through the forests and into the mountain range, "Assuming there are no divergences in course, we should arrive in Embermyst by mid-day. Any inquiries?" At their silence, Amelia folded the map back up and placed it into her pouch, before standing from their table.
"Let us make haste." She stated, turning and walking towards the exit. The rest of the group followed after her. She led them through the winding dirt roads and alleys, careful not to take them into the bustling crowds. Six gazed around at the city as they walked, surprised to see so many people up this early in the day.
Eventually, they approached the outskirts of the city, the crowds of people thinning. Without the high covers of the stalls and rooftops to obscure them, Six was able to make out the dark green leaves of the forest. The treetops were a stark contrast to the light blue of the sky, their outlines being accentuated by the shining sun. As they approached the edge of the forest, Amelia consulted her map, before nodding to herself and continuing onwards. The group entered the forest, continuing to follow Amelia's lead. As they continued further into the forest, Six noticed other wandering people. They seemed to simply be navigating the forest, holding maps as they cautiously moved between the trees. Small animals ran about through the brush surrounding them, drawing the pango's attention.
Six warily scanned the treeline as they moved further into the forest, the thickening trees perfect for an ambush. Regardless of the fact that they didn't have anything making them worth attacking, he wasn't going to trust bandits to be smart enough to figure that out. The leafy canopy above them thickened as they continued to move deeper into the forest, the suns rays struggling to pierce the trees. Six, noticing this, turned on his Pip-Boy's light, brightening the area around the group. They all looked to him in surprise, Amelia looking intrigued.
"How did you do that?" Amelia questioned. Six held up his Pip-Boy for them to see, careful not to shine the light in their eyes.
"My Pip-Boy has a setting that sets the screen brightness to it's maximum." he explained, pointing to a small button on the front side of the device, "It has been useful for lighting up enclosed spaces." Amelia looked like she wished to inquire further, but decided against it. She reached into her pouch, pulling out an unlit torch.
"Your Pip-Boy's light will be unnecessary. This will provide sufficient illumination." she stated. She brought her fingers to the top of the torch, the bracelet on her right arm lighting up. After a moment, a spark of fire shot out from her fingers, causing the top of the torch to erupt into flame. Six, deeming the light sufficient, turned off his Pip-Boy's display. The group continued further into the forest, making their way through the densely packed trees.
"Poi…" the pango lowly chirped, it's movements sluggish. Amelia looked down at the creature in concern, before reaching down with her free arm and picking him up, the ball of jelly snuggling into her. Six glanced around as they continued to move, and noticed Leanna slowly drifting towards him, a worried expression upon her visage. Her right hand was nervously grasping her left forearm, her eyes warily darting left and right.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Zack questioned, glancing at Amelia. Amelia nodded, holding the torch out further.
"Indeed. There is no need for alarm. The darkness merely indicates that we are about to enter the Forest of Sorrows." Leanna's gaze snapped to Amelia in alarm, her face paling.
"Forest of Sorrows!?" Leanna exclaimed. At Amelia's nod, her expression became panicked, "Do we have to go through here? There must be an alternate route!"
"Embermyst can only be accessed through these woods." Amelia replied, shaking her head. Leanna let out a low groan, her expression falling.
"I had a feeling you were going to say that…"
Six realized what must have been bothering her. He couldn't really tell why she was so afraid of the Forest of Sorrows, aside from it's foreboding name. After a moment of consideration, he decided to ask.
"What's so bad about the forest?" he asked, his tone neutrally inquisitive. Amelia glanced back at him, continuing to move forward.
"It is rumored that those who venture into the Forest of Sorrows never come out."
"Why?"
"The reason people are unable to escape is because they hear the voices of their loved ones they have lost. They fruitlessly search for their loved ones, losing their way, chasing the wailing of spectrals-"
"No! Amelia, stop!" Leanna exclaimed, her expression fearful. She had begun walking right next to the Courier at this point, the two separated by mere inches. Six noticed, but didn't entirely care. Amelia looked to Leanna, her head tilted in confusion.
"We can travel through this stupid place if we have to, but no more of this story stuff that isn't true, and can't be true, so it's not true!" Six noticed Leanna trying to put on a brave front while she spoke, but the shrillness of her voice told him how she really felt. Amelia continued to quizzically stare at Leanna for a moment, before simply nodding.
"Very well. Let us continue."
Amelia led the group further into the forest, passing through the wooded area. As they moved, the trees began to become withered and old, with the leafy canopies being replaced by a roof of intertwined branches. The only sound within the deadened forest was the crunching of leaves beneath the groups feet.
Six's eyes darted left and tight as he noticed beady eyes within the forest, whatever they belonged to hiding within the dense trees. The squawk of crows made Leanna jump, her nervous expression becoming more fearful as she kept pace with Six.
"Are you sure we're going the right way? I swear I've seen that same-"
Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blew through the forest, causing the torch Amelia held in her hand to go out, leaving them in darkness.
"Kyaaaaa!"
Six stopped as he felt something wrap around his left arm. He glanced down, unable to make out what it was due to the sudden lack of light. After a moment, Amelia was able to re-ignite the torch, returning their sight. Six glanced back down at his left arm, only to find Leanna with her eyes tightly shut, her face partially buried into his chest. He could feel his hand and part of his forearm being pressed into her rather prominent chest, her arms wrapped around his, holding him in place.
"What are you doing." His voice couldn't have been any flatter. One of Leanna's eyes slowly opened, and she glanced down at where his hand was buried. After a moment of staring, her face erupted into a blush and she untangled herself from him, taking a hasty step away.
"Sorry I…" she trailed off as her blush deepened. Leanna and Six stared at each other for a moment, Six awaiting her answer. "I-I was just startled by the light going out. Sorry." Six nodded at her apology, the atmosphere still slightly awkward.
"Can we move on?" Zack impatiently asked, standing a few paces ahead of the two. Six and Leanna both looked to him, Six nodding.
"Affirmative" Amelia replied, turning and beginning to walk forwards. The group once again began their trek through the forest, Leanna opting to keep her distance from the Courier after their incident. Gradually, the darkness began to give way to light as the trees were illuminated by an ethereal glow. Blue and green light, seeming to come from the ground, lit up the surrounding forest. Six looked around, scanning the ancient trees. They seemed to contain some sort of innate knowledge or power, a feeling in his gut that he couldn't quite place. He didn't like it.
"Poi!" The pango squirmed in Amelia's grasp. After a small struggle, the creature hopped out of her arms and into the surrounding brush. She gave a disappointed huff as the pango disappeared, before turning and continuing forward.
As they walked, they heard rustling in the bushes. They all froze, Six placing his hand over the holstered Mysterious Magnum. The rustling continued for a moment longer, before their gelatinous companion hopped out, a content smile upon his face. Six, along with the rest of the group, relaxed, moving his hand away from his firearm.
"Ah, he must have gone to consume the ambient magical energy." Amelia stated, putting a hand to her chin, "The vast quantity indicates that we're close to Embermyst." Leanna let out a happy sigh at that, a smile on her face.
"Finally."
Six gazed at the two guards in front of them, his body tensed, prepared for combat. The group had continued on through the forest, and had eventually reached their destination. They stood in front of a set of large, wooden gates connected to a wall that surrounded Embermyst. The gates were open, allowing Six to see the primitive village within.
The guards were two tanned men wearing some sort of leather armor, holding ornately carved staves that were inlaid with rough crystals. The guards stood on either side of the gates, their staves were crossed with each other. The space between their staves seemed to shimmer, the light seeming to bend and warp. Six assumed it had something to do with the glowing blue crystals sitting at the top of their staves.
"Please state your business." the guard on the left asked, his expression blank. Amelia took a step forward, her expression slightly apprehensive.
"As students from the Mage Academy, we seek an audience with Elder Issim."
The guards looked the group over, their gazes lingering on Six. After a moment, they closed their eyes, and the red crystals on both of their staves began to glow in unison. As the crystals glowed, the translucent shimmer in between their staves began to fluctuate. A few tense minutes passed before they opened their eyes, blankly staring forwards. Leanna and Zack glanced at each other in concern, while Amelia simply continued to watch the guards.
After a moment longer, a figure appeared from behind the open gates. Six turned his gaze to the figure as it walked forward, his hidden eyes scanning it's form. The figure was an old, squirrely man with rectangular glasses that slipped down his long, hooked nose. He had a long, fuzzy gray beard that covered the lower half of his face. He wore a faded and wrinkled open robe, decorated with colored crystals. He approached the group, coming to stand just in front of Amelia.
"Elder Issim." Amelia greeted, bowing her head in respect.
"Yes? Who is it?" the old man questioned, his tone friendly.
"I am Amelia Estelle from the Mage Academy, and these are my associates." she gestured to the group behind her.
"The Mage Academy, you say?" Elder Issim adjusted his glasses, peering at Amelia.
"Yes… yes…" One by one he peered at the rest of the group, until his gaze landed on the Courier. His breath hitched, his eyes shining in both surprise and recognition. The old man continued to stare into Six's red lenses for a moment longer, before shaking his head and turning back to Amelia.
"Well, come on then. No point in standing around." He said, turning around and walking back into the village. The group exchanged glances, before hurrying to follow after the Elder.
Six gazed around the village as they walked, observing both the buildings and the inhabitants. Most of the villagers were tanned, wearing plain, loose fitting tunics. The vast majority of the buildings were composed of wood and clay, having a wooden door that lead into the modest homes.
Elder Issim led them to a larger clay hut, the structure decorated in crystals. He opened the door, and held it open as they shuffled inside. The interior of the clay hut was just as modest as the exterior, having crystal decorations along with tribal blankets and cloth. There was a small fire pit in the center of the room, surrounded by wide cushions lining the dirt floor. Following Elder Issim's lead, they all sat down on one of the cushions, allowing themselves to get comfortable.
"So tell me, how were you able to find this place?" the Elder questioned, gazing at Amelia.
"Through you."
"Eh?"
Amelia reached into her satchel, pulling out a worn tome. Elder Issim's expression lit up in recognition.
"My old research!" he reached over and retrieved the tome, running a hand over it's worn cover, "I thought I'd lost this…" he slowly turned the pages of the old book, a reminiscent look on his face. After a moment, Leanna cleared her throat, getting the Elder's attention.
"We were told you could help us."
"By whom?"
"Professor Exavier." the Elder bellowed out a laugh, before calming himself.
"Exavier is a professor now? Good for him." Elder Issim seemed to think for a second, before glancing back at Leanna. "I've been out of touch with Havengarde and Illumia for many years. I'm not sure how I can help."
Leanna gave the Elder a very simplified version of all that had happened so far, beginning with the spiked energy readings and ending with Professor Exavier's advice. She made sure to omit any and all information about the Courier being from another world, something Six was grateful for.
"The temporal rifts! It's been so long since I've really researched them. I'm afraid I've been rather distracted." he paused, an excited look upon his face, "Still, someone is here hoping to discuss these theories and I'm more than happy to talk about them." He clapped his hands together excitedly, "Where should we start?"
Before any of them could answer, a deep rumble shook the earth. Leanna looked around in panic.
"What was that!?" she asked, her expression slightly unnerved.
"Hm? Oh, just the volcano. Nothing to worry about."
Six flatly stared at the Elder. He had extensively studied history in his free time, both through Big MT's archives and salvaged books, and he knew the story of Pompeii.
This sounded like an awful lot to worry about.
"The potentially active volcano sitting next to your village is nothing to worry about?" Six asked, his tone flatter than an ironing board. The Elder looked to Six in surprise, before returning his expression to normal.
"There's no need to be concerned. The volcano will not erupt. This is the first sign of activity it has shown in thousands of years." Again, Pompeii.
"Isn't that concerning?" Leanna asked, a worried frown on her face.
"Perhaps if it were any other volcano, but this particular volcano is in the domain of the fire elemental who protects us all." Amelia glanced at the Elder, her face inquisitive.
"The fire elemental of which you speak, are you referencing the ancients?" Amelia questioned. The Elder looked to her, and impressed expression on his face.
"Precisely."
Zack doubtfully stared at the Elder, crossing his arms.
"The ancients are only a story." Zack stated, his tone disbelieving. Elder Issim and Amelia both turned their gazes to him. Six was rather lost, not aware of any of the aforementioned 'elementals' and 'ancients'.
"Ancients?" Six asked. Amelia glanced to him, her eyes locking on to his lenses.
"They are the elements of Esaria. The magic which we have learned to manipulate are gifts left behind by the ancients." Amelia explained. Six nodded in understanding, his need for knowledge satiated.
"That's how the legend goes…" Leanna said, her tone slightly doubtful. Amelia turned her gaze to the woman, her expression stony.
"You are mistaken. They are not legend." Leanna uncertainly looked at Amelia, while Zack simply scowled.
"You still believe those stories?" Zack asked, his tone slightly condescending.
"I believe in research, and Elder Issim has accumulated plenty of it."
"Then where have the elementals been all this time?" they all returned their focus to the Elder, Zack's question directed at him.
"Er, I suppose I do have some theories on that as well… But the elements are a lot trickier than temporal rifts. The story of the ancients is so old, it predates our understanding of crystals and spheres. That's why most societies have written them off as a legend." he turned his gaze to one of the tribal blankets hanging on the wall, "The people in this village, though, have not forgotten. When I arrived, I was focused on finding the fire temple," his gaze briefly flicked to the Courier, the same look of recognition shining in his eyes, "... amongst other things, for research." he paused once more, gazing at the group. "But the longer I stayed, the more my focus strayed from the temporal rifts to the ancients themselves." the Elder put a hand to his bearded chin, "If you believe that the cause of those random energy spikes are the result of temporal rifts, perhaps that is the link to the return of the elementals to Esaria."
"So… what does that mean?" Leanna asked. Elder Issim shook his head in uncertainty.
"It's hard to say. We don't know why they left in the first place. My guess is that something was keeping them occupied in the spirit world. Perhaps whatever that is was set free by the rifts." Amelia listened with rapt attention, hanging on to his every word. Leanna fiddled with her manipulator, while Zack simply looked uninterested.
Six contemplated the new information, attempting to figure out how it all fit in with him being here. He theorized that one of these rifts were active at the exact moment that he had activated the Transportalponder MK II. Something had gone wrong with the process, causing the energy the prototype Transportalponder had generated to open the rift, and thus sending him to Terra. That meant that he needed another rift to get back to Earth.
The Courier looked to the Elder, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Would it be possible to create a rift to a specific location?" Six questioned the Elder. Elder Issim glanced to the Courier, a knowing look in his eye.
"It would be incredibly difficult, considering no human could ever possess the needed amount of magic energy without dying. But, if someone, somehow, did manage to accumulate enough energy, they could theoretically open a rift to wherever they please." the Elder seemed to realize something, if his excited expression was anything to go by, "The only places with the needed concentrations of energy are the elemental temples." Six perked up slightly at that, and idea forming within his mind.
"The fire elemental's temple is on the volcano, correct?"
"That is correct. It sits on the outskirts of the village, built on the side of the volcano. Not a very far walk." Leanna and Six exchanged a glance, both of them coming to the same conclusion.
"Then that's where we need to go." Leanna stated, pushing herself to her feet. The rest of the group followed, sans Elder Issim, who looked surprised.
"Leaving so soon? I was hoping we'd have a longer chance to chat. I have so many questions about Illumia and the academy. As you can imagine, one does not get a lot of outside news here."
"We can continue our discussion upon our return, Elder Issim." Amelia stated. The Elder gave her a small smile, and nodded in agreement.
"Ah! Yes, of course. Well, you best be on your way then."
The group all said their farewells, Six merely giving the man a nod, and began to exit the hut.
"Ah, just a minute."
Six and Leanna, being the only ones yet to exit the abode, looked back to the Elder. Elder Issim stood just behind the two, looking at the Courier.
"I would like to speak with you. In private." the Elder glanced at Leanna when mentioning privacy. Leanna concernedly glanced to Six. Six stared at the bearded man for a moment, before nodding. He turned back to Leanna, who looked concerned.
"I'll meet you outside." Six stated, his tone the usual neutral. Leanna looked hesitant, but nodded nonetheless. She gave the Courier one last concerned glance, before exiting the hut.
Six turned to the Elder, wondering what the man wished to discuss. The Elder stared Six for a moment, before clearing his throat.
"I knew you would come, it was only a matter of time."
Six raised a brow in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
The Elder sighed, turning away from the Courier, before sitting back on his cushion. He stared at the empty fire pit in the middle of the room, a look of contemplation upon his face.
"I lied when I said I came to Embermyst to research the fire temple. While, yes, I have spent a considerable amount of time looking into it, it was never my focus. No, my reason for coming here was to wait for you." Six stared at the man, even more lost than he had been initially.
"Why?" Six asked. The Elder continued to stare at the fire pit, his stony expression a stark contrast to his usually friendly smile.
"Twelve years ago, I received a prophecy from an Oracle." he paused, glancing up at the Courier, "An Oracle is a practitioner of magic that has become so in tune with the elements, that they are able to see glimpses of the future in their dreams."
Six walked over to the cushion he had previously been sitting at, and sat. He had a feeling he was going to be here for a while.
"He told me of a warrior from a world set on fire. A warrior in foreign armor, with blood red eyes, utilizing unnatural weaponry that could destroy entire armies. He told me the warrior would be summoned to Esaria to restore peace in a time of peril. He commanded me to go to Embermyst, the hidden city, and to await the warriors arrival. To assist the warrior in his quest to return home." He let out a low chuckle, slightly lightening the mood, "I did so, obviously, but in my haste, I also left behind all my notes, some of which I had written the location of Embermyst within, should anything ever happen to me. Funny, how things turned out."
Six stared at the bearded man, processing all that he had said.
"So my coming here wasn't a coincidence." Six stated. Elder Issim looked to him, his expression curious.
"No, why would it be?"
"I was sent here due to a malfunction during the testing of a prototype teleportation device. I believe that the massive amount of energy generated by the device may have sent me through one of the active rifts between our worlds." Six explained. The Elder put a hand to his chin, a contemplative look upon his face.
"Fascinating. I would like to inquire more about your coming here, but I don't think we should keep your friends waiting." Elder Issim stated, looking to the door.
Six nodded in agreement, standing from his cushion. He gave the seated Elder one last glance, before heading towards the exit.
"Wait."
Six stopped, turning back to the Elder.
"What is your name?"
After a moment of silence, the Courier turned away from the man, making his way to the door.
"Six."
