A Tale of a Long Time Ago

IS 450

"Lady Leknaat, can you tell me another story?"

"Can't sleep, Luc? Well then, come here. Do you know the Karakas Desert?"

"Yes. It has nothing but sand."

"A long time ago, there was another boy who asked the same thing to his master. Here is the story...

IS 390

"Master, why's this area so desolate?"Said the boy.

"Indeed. More than half of Senan area is covered by Karakas desert. No one knows for sure how this barren land formed. Some legends said it appeared in one night, devastating what used to be a lush pasture."

The boy was curious, but he said nothing. His master extended his hand.

"Come, Mazus. We shouldn't waste our time here."

So they walked across the desert, and time passed, until the boy, now a man, met his master again at the desert. But things were unlike they once be.

IS 410

"Mazus...so you're really going against me, your master? Who do you think has taught you everything you've come to know?"

"You should be proud, Master Crowley. To have your own disciple defeating you...Let this desert be the witness of your fall."

"Enough! Shall we begin?"

As they chanted their spells, particles of energy formed, surrounding them like curtain of light. They readied themselves to unleash the power of the runes, earth beginning to shake violently when suddenly someone appeared amidst the storm.

Realizing there would be civilian involved, they tried to stop their spells.

"Huh? Where am I? ...D-dust...everywhere...I...ACHOO!"

Too late.

IS 340

Dust. Fire. Cyclone. Darkness. Destruction.

They were so powerful that lake dried, mountains split and moved. And so the Karakas desert formed.

If you ask locals, they would tell you an outrageous story involving two confused mages and an childlike young girl, which was so innocent that the villagers swore she was almost angelic.

And a lot of dust."

"That's the end of the story? But who is that girl? I don't understand. She sneezed and they went back in time?"

"Oh, you will know when the time comes. Now, go to sleep, will you? We have a big day ahead."

IS 456

The black haired girl turned to face her companions, face red and regretful. "I'm sorry. Looks like I messed up again..."

Luc, having bailed out by Shu, groaned. Suddenly he wished he never showed interest to meet the girl in that story.

A/N: I hope you're not bored by Viki joke yet. This serves as some sort of epilogue to the chapter we have earlier, as tenth chapter celebration.