My god. First of all, let me say that I am not happy with how this chapter is. I think that this is possibly the worst written piece I have out there so far. It gets the message across though, and that is why this is up here. I really can't be bothered to rewrite this a fifth time. FIFTH TIME?! yes, fifth time, does that explain why it took ages to get it out? Yes it does.
Do i own Riot yet? No I don't.
No matter. I DO hope that you fine folks will enjoy this all new chapter, I have now introduced all the main OC's that I will be using throughout my story. All weird stuff that is going on in here will be worked out in chapters to come, no worries.
As always I aprreciate ALL REVIEWS! (hint hint) as long as they are not random flames or unexplained criticism.
White.
Alex opened his eyes and all he saw was white. Surprisingly enough he was dressed like he would be during any normal day. Strange. He recalled Nami knocking on his door last night and… He took a moment to dream away at the thought of the beautiful Marai.
"Hey, attention here please. I don't have until eternity."
Alex turned his attention to the voice. A bright light shone behind the figure, turning him into a silhouette. Alex squinted his eyes. The figure stepped forward and revealed itself to be a young male, not quite human. A soft glow emanated from his skin. His long black, with runes embroided garb slowly swayed in an invisible breeze.
"Who are you?"
"I am known by many names, most of which you wouldn't know or care to know. I am most commonly known as Mirion. I am, so to say, Valoran's caretaker."
"And supposing that I am not going mad, why did you bring me here?"
"You mated with one of the Marai. As I hope she told you beforehand you have to choose whether you want to be immortal or not."
"She told me that the choice would be made for us. Not by us."
"Can you keep a secret from your mate, Alex?"
"I would never."
"Then perhaps it is not time for the world to know yet."
"Ok… You are not making any sense right now and you are starting to freak me out."
"Then the only thing that remains for you to do is make a choice."
Alex was silent for a moment. The strange, not sense making creature clearly was all 'cut to the chase' for some reason. "I can't do that. Not without asking Nami first."
"Then wake her."
Alex was about to ask how he could wake up someone who wasn't even in the same room as him, when the deity made a gesture to Alex's left. He followed Mirion's hand and saw his beauty, partly shrouded by the thin mist floating over the floor, sound asleep.
He swiftly made way for her and gently kissed her awake. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at him, half asleep, half questioningly. She looked at him as if he was insane as he swiftly explained their predicament. Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, Alex gestured towards the otherworldly figure, who had not moved from his spot and stood there, waiting impatiently for them to finish.
"I have already taken such a major decision for you concerning your life, Alex. You should decide what is best for us."
"But I can't in good conscience force you to wander this earth for the rest of your days with me, or take your eternal youth away from you."
"When will it get through your thick skull that spending eternity with you is all that I have wanted to do for about as long as I have known you?"
He looked at her, his gaze so intense that it just might have burnt through several layers of flesh. Alex then took Nami in his arms, seeing as there was no water for Nami to float around on and made his way back for the robed figure.
"Made up your mind yet?"
Alex briefly glanced down to the girl in his arms, then responded. "We choose immortality."
Mirion's mouth briefly curled up into an amused smile. "Then let it be so. Now you should awake, someone has been attempting to get your attention for a few minutes now."
Alex immediately sat up in his bed, a loud banging noise coming from the solid wood door that lead to the hallway. Nami let out a low groan as she awoke as well. Reya's muffled voice could be heard in between of the loud thumps that echoed through his room.
"Alex open up!"
He grabbed his pants and shirt as he stumbled out of his bed and quickly put them on whilst moving towards the door. Opening the door, he quickly confirmed that it was indeed Reya, hand raised mid-knock.
"Do you know where I can find Nami? She wasn't in her room and you are the person who she has been around a lot."
As if on cue, Nami, hair in complete disarray, blanket wrapped around her upper body, poked her head over Alex's shoulder.
"Did you need me?"
Reya averted her gaze to the floor, suppressing the urge to burst out in laughter at Alex's undignified expression. "You have been summoned by the high council. Before you ask, they did not tell me why, but supposing that it is about five hours before sunrise I am guessing that it is urgent."
"Uh, sure… Just… you know… give me a moment."
Alex quickly closed the door behind him. He turned his attention to the owner of the pale hand that gently moved along his arm. Nami grabbed her cennart of the floor.
"Would you please help me put them on?"
Alex nodded and motioned for her to sit down on the bed. Gently he pulled her tailfin through one end of the bodysuit and slid her arms into its sleeves. Then he proceeded to gently lift her off the bed, carrying her to the bathroom. He opened the tap and waited for the sink to fill up.
Kissing her, he set her down on the edge of the bath. She made a gesture with her hand, making the water in the sink rise out and spill onto the tiled floor. She balanced herself on the puddle that had gathered under her powers and asked Alex for her staff and veils. He quickly ran back to grab them and handed them to her.
Nami leaned up for a final kiss and then proceeded to the door. Reya was still waiting outside.
"Let's go" Nami said.
Swiftly they made way through the maze of corridors, passing through the main hall and down the long gallery. Most of the lights were either off or dimmed and the institute seemed devoid of life. Reya stopped in front of a pair of large doors, a guard on either side of it. Nami knew these doors. She had been in here for her judgment once.
"I am not allowed to take you any further. Good luck, tidecaller."
Nami nodded in farewell. The guards opened the door, before letting Nami proceed into the large chamber. Unlike the last time she had been here, when the figures behind the elevated semi-circular stone desk had been shrouded in darkness, the room was now evenly lit, Revealing several bearded men and elderly women in robes.
Nami gracefully bowed for the council. For several ominous moments utter silence hung heavily in the air. Then the man on the middle chair, that resembled more of a throne, spoke up.
"Several moments ago, we were contacted by a scryer. His name was Arathano, you surely have heard of him."
Nami swallowed. "Yes, of course. He is one of the most gifted magicians among my people. What did he have to say?"
"He told us that all of the Marai are falling back to a place called 'Erivale's Breach', that the message should be relayed directly to you, that it was of the utmost importance and that you would know it's significance."
Nami immediately knew what this meant. Erivale's Breach was a cove, deep within the civilization of her people, where the sacred temple and tomb of Phaëton stood. It's thick walls had withstood anything that had been thrown at it since the beginnings of the first tales.
"Would you be so kind to enlighten us on what he meant?" The man continued.
Nami was silent for a moment again, quickly deciding what to tell the council. "It means that my people are getting desperate. Erivale's Breach is most closely resembled by a large citadel, easily defendable. If everyone is being relocated to that citadel, it means that the outlands have become undefendable and more of our lands will soon follow."
"And have you progressed in your quest, tidecaller?"
She nodded and quickly summarized what she had learned from Reya, Diana and Leona. The councilmembers then turned to each other and whispered into each other's ears. After several long moments the man on the ornate chair quickly nodded to his fellow councilmembers and turned back to Nami.
"The council has decided. You shall leave with a small delegation to attempt the recovery of another moonstone. How you will lead them is up to you. You are, however, responsible for everyone's wellbeing and you are to return to the institute upon completion of your quest."
Nami was speechless for a moment. "And if I may be so rude to ask… who will be joining me?"
Right then the massive two doors opened. Leona and Pantheon walked into the large room, briefly knelt before the council and got to their feet again.
"You summoned us, archsummoner Rylanus." Leona stated
"Indeed I did. You are both undoubtedly aware of Nami's predicament, therefore I won't elaborate on its contents. We have received word that the situation of her people is getting dire and therefore you will be going with her in order to attempt the retrieval of her artifact."
The kneeled figures briefly voiced their disdain through exasperated sighs, before recognizing the council's higher authority.
"Yes, archsummoner Rylanus"
Two more figures walked into the room through the open doors. Diana and Erion also knelt before the council, Diana noting the Solari's presence and trying to maintain as much of a distance as she could.
"Keep it brief." Diana muttered.
"As you wish. You will be joining these four fine individuals."
Diana shot a quick glance at Leona and vice versa. "With her?!" both women cried out in unison.
"Yes, with each other. You will have to put aside your petty argument for several weeks. Feel free to continue your bickering after this is done." Rylanus addressed the women. Then he turned to Erion.
"You have expressed your wish to become a summoner, this will be your ascention trial, young master Sarrius."
Nami was watching the whole scene unfold before her eyes. If she was going to head out with this unruly group of people, she would need help. She quickly formulated a clever plan in her mind.
"If you wouldn't mind, I think that where we are going we could also use someone specialized in the more intricate matters of lunar magic."
"Will it suffice if we send high-summoner Alexeiar with you?"
So that was his full first name. No wonder he always shortened it to Alex.
"It would be greatly appreciated, councilor Rylanus."
More coming shortly!