English is not my first language so I apologize for any grammatical errors you would encounter.
I Don`t Own SVTFOE
Her eyes slowly fluttered open expecting the starry night above to greet her but was instead, her gaze lands on the beautiful mosaic on the ceiling. Confusion hits her like a truck as she wonders why she is resting inside what she presumes to be a dark room as she remembers that they set up camp on a clearing far from the road and not on a marble structure.
Sitting up from her current position, a groan escapes her lips while clutching the side of her as pain rolls in waves. Minutes passed by before the painful throb in her head finally subsides. Jackie looks around her new surroundings. Towering white walls littered with beautiful paintings, at the corners of the room, intricate columns carved from marble looms at her. Warm light from the braziers enveloped the room, casting shadows all over the room. Aside from the light made by the braziers, a soft blue light shone its way inside through the open balcony where curtains made of silk sway gently from the cool breeze.
Standing up from the wooden bed she was sitting on. Jackie realizes that she was wearing her usual clothes sans her socks. Other than her missing socks she realizes that her leather armor and weaponry were also gone, leaving her completely defenseless. Panic bubbled up inside her as she finally notices that she woke up all alone with no Marco in sight.
Jackie wanted to look for him, burst through the lonesome door to her left, and shout for his name but refrain against the idea, remembering that she`s in an unknown area without any bit of intel nor does she have any idea what was waiting for her on the other side of the wooden door. In and out her breathe goes as she tries to calm herself down.
A minute has past and she feels herself finally calm down. She quietly makes her way towards the balcony to get a better sense of where her location is. A lump is caught in her throat as her gaze lands on the vast city below, a high contrast to the view she and Marco saw in the past months. Jackie blinks a few times to make sure what she was seeing was true, after realizing that what's below is true as the sky is blue.
Building made of clay and stones stood like blades of grass in verdant plains, dotted throughout the city with their brown-colored tiled roof stood in contrast to the grey paved roads that run through the buildings like a long snake finding its way through a field of tall grass. Towering aqueducts can be seen Crisscrossing over the city like veins inside a body as it supplies the inhabitants with the blood-colored water, she got accustomed on drinking.
Jackie continues to gaze at the city below, trying to imprint as much as she could to her brain. "It`s like I traveled back in time to a city at the age of classical antiquity," Jackie mumbles to herself. "I would have thought that the architecture of the city would resemble those of the tribal villages, albeit a bigger version of it anyway."
Before she could ponder more about the difference in architecture a soft creaking noise reaches her ears sending her on high alert. Nearly getting a whiplash for turning around too fast. She saw a lizardman or lizard woman in her case quietly enter the room, the end of her palla nearly touching the stone floor beneath her. She continues to make her way towards the bed not noticing Jackie standing at the balcony watching her.
Finally noticing the inhabitant of the bed was missing the lizard woman froze before frantically looking around the room searching for the skater girl. It didn`t take long for the golden eyes of the lizard woman to land on the form of Jackie. Green meets gold as the two continue to stare at each other, silently gauging each other with their eyes. A soft growl akin to a sigh, escapes the palla-wearing woman`s reptilian snout.
Jackie flinched and instinctively took a step back when the reptilian woman starts to raise her hand. Jackie on her part knows too well how deadly the claws on the inhabitants' hands are as she saw firsthand the damage it can do to flesh.
The lizard woman hesitated at first when she sees Jackie flinched at her action but continue non the less to raise her hand. Jackie`s eyes widen as the single word from the lizard woman reaches her ear. Expecting sounds of clicks and growls she was instead greeted by a sound she knows too well having grown up in a country that uses it for daily life. English.
"Hello." The woman said albeit with a heavy accent where the letter 'o' is pronounced a little bit longer than normal. Jackie continues to stare at the native in shock silence, still trying to process the word that came out from the lizard woman`s mouth.
The native`s face scrunched up as if struggling to put into words what she is trying to say. A beat has passed before she was able to utter another foreign word from her tongue. "Come. Friend." She said gesturing at Jackie to come forward. Not seeing the blonde teenager move from her spot the lizard woman once again tried to show her that she is in safe hands by repeating her words and gesture.
The lizard woman waited for a bit of positive reaction from the foreigner. She wanted to calm her down as she sees the teenager in front of her starts to back away, eyes wide with fear. The lizard woman wonders why she receives even a more fearful response from the stranger. Following her gaze, she notices that she is not looking at her but rather her gaze is directed over her shoulder.
Jackie heard a growl of surprise from the woman in front of her as the reptile woman met face to face with two armed guards standing behind her. Jackie nervously watches as the woman let out a series of frustrated clicks and growls towards the two guards who immediately pound their scaly hand to their chest and swiftly leave the room leaving her alone with the woman once again.
A shiver crawled through her skin as the cool breeze from the wind mingles with the sweat that start building up on her shirt. "Friend." The woman in front of her slowly said while pointing at herself. Looking over her shoulder, Jackie tried to find a way to escape and look for Marco but stop as her heart drop as she saw how high the room, she was in. She quickly looks over the woman`s shoulder towards the open door, she debated whether to throw caution in the air and bolt like a mad man out of the room but discarded the idea immediately as she realized she doesn`t know how many guards are stationed inside nor does she know the layout of the building. And to add to that she doesn`t where Marco is located within the building nor is she sure if he`s even in the building.
With no choice but to follow the woman, she cautiously walks towards the native with hesitant steps, eyes darting over the woman`s form in quick succession trying to find the smallest hint of danger but found none.
Standing away in an arms' length from the palla-wearing woman, Jackie has to look up to meet the yellow eyes of the tall reptilian in front of her. Jackie fidget nervously under the silent gaze she was receiving.
The woman took a step back trying not to intimidate the blonde in front of her even more before gesturing to follow her outside of the room.
Flank by the two guards earlier, Jackie followed the woman through the brightly lit corridor. If she wasn`t panicking with fear of her current circumstances, she would have appreciated the beautiful decors in their surroundings. Beautifully sculpted statues portraying icons from this dimension painted vase showing intriguing stories of old and the new, well-made arches above the corridor boasting the natives` mastery in the art of architecture and engineering.
Their journey through the maze-like corridor ended when they finally stood in front of a colossal double door guarded by soldiers on each side. Two claw figures made from silver could be seen etched on each side of the door, its fingers open as if it's going to grab the flame icon made of gold nestled above between two golden jagged horns.
A quick and loud knock on the door from the native the titanic door gives out a loud groan and slowly opens up, revealing a room that easily dwarfs the room she woke up in. Red walls encompassed the gigantic room giving it a darker atmosphere compare to the white walls she passed through, a long blood-red carpet with golden trims at the side leads towards a beautiful black throne. Colossal column resembling that of a Corinthian flank the carpet leading to the throne. Multiple large banners of the imperials could be seen drape over the walls of the room. Braziers at the sides of the columns burn brightly, giving out a warm glow that encompassed the entirety of the area leaving few places for the dark to hide. Behind the throne lies the long silk curtains hiding the large arch that serve as the entryway towards the large semi-oval balcony jutting out of the building.
Jackie didn`t realize when she starts walking towards the throne as her mind still linger on thinking of the different possibilities that would happen to her. A gasp escapes her lips as she was broken out of her train thought when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. Turning over to her right she sees the familiar face of her boyfriend, Marco Diaz. "Jackie I am gla-"Marco exclaimed but was unable to finish as a pair of arms quickly envelops him. Marco stood there stalk still before wrapping his arms around the lithe form of his girlfriend with equal fervor. A hint of lilac hits his nose even though faint, waves of nostalgia and comfort fill his entirety. Images of his home, family, and friends flash at the back of his mind.
Remembering all the people they left behind, tears threaten to spill from his eyes. A quiet sob reaches his ears and notices the form of his blonde companion starts trembling and shuddering with each breath she took. Regret hit him like a punch to the gut. For the past months, he felt like a failure, each time the sun sets his regrets grew even further. He saw the look of fear and uncertainty in her eyes and it kills him every time inside when her eyes land with his and shine with hope and trust. The trust which he knows he doesn`t deserve the smallest ounce of it.
"You're alright…" Jackie mumbles clutching tighter to him afraid that he would vanish again and she would wake up alone again. "You're here, right?" Marco hummed answering her question. He felt her shudder in relief.
The two would have stayed in each other's embrace, both completely oblivious to the amused and curious stare from the natives if they hadn`t heard a low growl akin to someone clearing their throat. The two quickly separate from one another, face burning in embarrassment.
Having lost each other in their presence Marco failed to remember that they are in the presence of an important figure of the imperial city. Sitting at the obsidian throne sits an albino lizardman whose looking at them with an amused gaze. The man on the throne wears a purple toga that signifies his high status in society, an obsidian crown with three horns protruding from its base lies on his head. Two of the medium-length horns sprouts at the sides and then point upward then inwards, the front horn which is the shortest of the three spikes, juts from the front and points upwards but unlike the other two it remains to point upwards. A golden brooch with a fire symbol proudly shines on his left shoulder. Four silver rings can be found inserted at the thumb and index finger of each hand. Adorning his feet, a sandal made of wood and leather could be seen with its straps nearly reaching below his knees.
Standing beside the man on the throne stands a man wearing a red toga minus the crown and jewelry worn by the one on the throne. Two more guards flank the obsidian throne but unlike the soldiers they had seen within their months wandering the dimension, the two guards wear breastplates made from bronze easily outclassing the leather armor in terms of protection. Large round shields made from bronze and wood stood in front of them the symbol of the empire proudly painted at the center. Wielding an eight-foot-long spear on their right hand, a short sword rest attached to their hips acting as a secondary weapon.
A series of low growls and clicks catches the attention of the two earthlings. Even though the two listen carefully they can only decipher only two words like 'Greetings' and 'Outsider' from the man sitting on the throne. Having their full attention on the speaking lizardman they failed to realize the lizardman standing beside the albino man was also listening carefully to what the other was saying.
"His holiness, Far-eye the high priest of Heku greets you, outlander." The man said after the albino lizardman greeted them in his native tongue. Jackie stares in wonder and amazement at the proficiency of the lizardman`s use of the English language. She turns her head towards her companion to see his reaction to the scene in front of them.
Unlike her, Marco`s reaction was a bit tamer than his girlfriend`s. As he has already realized before Jackie entered the throne room that the man can proficiently speak their language.
The man on the throne let out another series of clicks before turning towards his translator who speaks not a minute later. "His holiness would once again want to know if you and your companion are a follower of goddess Heku."
'Followers of Heku? Does he mean Hekapoo?' Jackie thought. She turns towards her latino partner with curiosity in her gaze. "Marco, do you think it's Hekapoo they are talking about? she whispered. "I mean looking at their symbol alone is a huge indicator that they are talking about Hekapoo." She continued.
Marco hummed in agreement while not tearing his eyes away from the men in front of them seeing if they can hear their whispers to one another. Marco wasn`t sure if they could hear them or not as they continue to look at the two of them with either a neutral or passive look but took a leap of faith and reply to his girlfriend. "Yeah, and they seem to have put her on a high spot on their society or borderline worshipping her as a deity."
Jackie reeled back in alarm, eyes widening in shock as Marco`s words sink in and realize their situation with the trial has gotten even worse. "Then what do we do now? We can`t just tell them we are going after Hekapoo!" She whispers nervously. "Who knows how they`ll react!" She continued making Marco mumble in agreement.
"Probably declaring a national manhunt on us." Marco jokingly said as he sees the growing dread on Jackie`s face. Although Jackie felt a bit of joy seeing Marco trying to lift up their current situation instead of his usual scowls, she couldn`t find the humor in his attempt before lightly socking him in the shoulder.
"Dude, I get that you're trying to lighten up the mood but now is not the time," Jackie whispers with a blank look. "But we need to figure out how we're going to get out of this situation with our heads firmly attached."
With a confident grin on his face, Marco gives her a thumbs up before saying. "Don`t worry because I already got a plan." Jackie`s mouth form an 'o' shape in astonishment after hearing that he already formulates a plan.
"That was quick," Jackie said in astonishment. "How did you come up with a plan that fast?"
"After we were ambushed earlier that night, I woke up alone, and like any sensible person, I immediately panic after that," Marco said with Jackie listening intently to what he was saying while glancing at the natives from time to time. "And I panic some more when I realize you were nowhere in sight so I-" Marco continued but was interrupted by Jackie.
"Let me guess…" Jackie said tapping her chin with her index finger while sporting a pensive look. "You panic some more." Jackie stated with a grin earning an eye roll and a small chuckle from Marco. "What? Don`t try to deny it, Marco Diaz." She said poking the latino teen on the chest.
Gently grabbing the appendage that was poking him in the chest, he let out a soft chuckle as he caresses the knuckle of the blonde teen. "I am not denying anything, Mi señorita."
Since their time exploring and surviving on this strange dimension, Jackie notices a few things that change. Their hair, their skin tone that gotten a bit darker due to them travelling usually without cover. Those are the few things she can easily notice that change but their voice? She can`t even tell if her voice had changed throughout their adventure. But Marco`s? She didn`t realize it until he calls her in his father`s tongue.
She looks at him in confusion at first, clearly not used to the different sounds coming from his vocal cord. She could feel her face growing hot as blood rushes to her face, dusting her cheek with pink. She didn`t know when his voice changes to a deeper range but she wouldn`t deny that she like it more than she should. A series of scenarios involving her and Marco with his voice creep into her mind.
She didn`t realize she was lost in her own thought when a snapping sound enters her ears. Blinking in surprise, her sight comes into focus and sees Marco looking at her in concern. "Yes?" She said nervously.
"Are you alright, Jackie?" Marco worryingly whispers to his partner. "You kind of zone out for a minute there, señorita." He continued.
For the second time of the day, blood rush to her face and she doesn`t know if it's alright for a portion of her blood to only rush to one part of her body. Avoiding eye contact, a groan of embarrassment escapes her lips making Marco look at her in confusion.
With a hand on her chest breathing in and out trying to calm her fast-beating heart. After a moment has passed when she finally deemed her beating heart wouldn`t jump out from her chest. Her calm gaze clashed with his confused one. "Stop it." She whispers in a serious tone, throwing the latino teen in a loop.
"I am sorry, stop what exactly?" He whispers back while chuckling in confusion.
"No more question Marco just stop it, ok?" She said not taking her eyes from his.
"Uhh… ok? I still don`t know what it is but sure…" Marco said unsurely earning a nod of contentment from his girlfriend.
"Good." She said simply after hearing his reply. "Now how about laying the plan you have?" She continued.
"It's a simple plan actually." He whispers confidently earning a hummed from Jackie signaling him to continue with his explanation. "We`ll tell them were followers of Heku or Hekapoo."
After hearing his plan, Jackie quickly gave him a look that screams 'are you serious?' "That's a stupid plan, Marco." She said simply. "I appreciate that you were able to come up with a plan but can we like take the time to revise your plan and form it into something that would not potentially have our head chopped off?"
"Well, it's better, to tell the truth anyway given our current situation," Marco said. Jackie was about to ask what part of the plan was them telling the truth but Marco beat her to it by saying. "Besides we really are a follower of Heku, we`re chasing her through dimensions."
Jackie wanted to argue with his plan, a plan which can have a different outcome than they intended but realizing that his plan to tell the natives that they are followers of their deity has benefits on its own. Even though acknowledging the plan made by her partner, Jackie still tries to think of a different plan but came up with nothing leading to her reluctantly going all in with the current plan.
They turn towards the two lizardmen on the throne who weirdly watched and waited for the two to answer their question. After a minute of explaining and translating between the natives and outsiders, the two earthlings are welcomed by the high priest as a citizen of the empire.
After half an hour of nerve-wracking encounter with the high priest and his entourage, Jackie finds herself and Marco sharing a large room located at the other end of the building, opposite from the room she woke up in. Leaning forward on a large balcony overlooking the Romanesque city, her eyes aimlessly wander on the buildings below as her mind fruitlessly tries to wonder why they got accepted by the imperials rather easily. Although she`s happy for being welcomed by the natives but she can`t help but feel a nagging feeling of dread at the back of her mind growing as the minutes goes by.
After a minute of wondering for answers, she looks over her shoulder to see Marco lying on the queen size bed, looking at the beautifully painted ceiling of their shared room with a smile of relief drawn on his face. Jackie wonders why he can lie there without a care in the world while she on the other hand can`t even take a moment of relaxation.
'He's probably used to this kind of situation already with his adventures with Star.' She mused as she turns her gaze back at the vast city below her to continue raking her mind for the answer, she can`t seem to find. She was broken out her train of thought when she felt a warm hand grasping her shoulder. Without tearing her gaze from the city, she gives him a single nod of acknowledgment to silently tell him she is listening to whatever he was going to say to her.
Now standing beside her, he copied her action and gaze at the sight in front of them, they silently stood there without uttering a single word to one another and continue swimming at each other's company. A cool breeze hits their skin eliciting a soft sigh from the blonde teenager.
Breaking the comfortable silence between them, Marco turns his gaze towards his girlfriend and gently asks what`s on her mind. Her brow scrunches for a split second as she debates whether to answer him or not but ultimately chooses the former as she turns towards him. "It just doesn`t feel right, Marco." She simply stated earning a questioning look from her partner.
"What doesn`t feel right?" Marco asks turning fully towards her. She extends her arms to her side, gesturing at their surroundings. "This. All of this doesn`t feel right. Don`t you find it weird that we just got accepted into their society just like that?" She answered. "They just ask us if we are followers of Heku. We answered yes and presto! We`re a citizen of the empire no other questions asked. Not even asking for our names." She continued.
"I mean, yeah it`s weird but maybe that's how things roll with them, you know? Hearing that we follow their religion kind of put us in a good light to them." Marco stated before turning towards the view. "Maybe they just embody the saying 'If you're not with us, you`re against us.'" He continued before awkwardly scratching the back of his head throwing a sheepish grin at his girlfriend. "And regards for them not asking for our names, I kind of already told them that before you enter the throne room earlier. Sorry I should have waited for you and discussed it with you to see if it's alright to tell them our names."
Jackie just stares at him for a few seconds before a small laugh escapes from her lips. "You don`t have to apologize for that Marco, if I was in your situation, I would have also told them our names in fear of pissing them off." She said before jokingly punching his arm. "And I am touched that you value my input-on matters like this Marco." She continued.
A smile graces his face after hearing her statement. "Well, we are in this together, so I can`t just make decisions for the both of us." He said as he relaxed and continue gazing at the city.
"I miss that you know?" Jackie said making Marco look at her in curiosity but not uttering a single word, signaling her to continue. Catching the signal, he was giving she smiles at him before resting her head on his shoulder in contentment. "For the past months wandering this dimension, all I can see on your face are anger, worry, and regret. There are times when I can see you without it but they are few in between and go away quickly as they appear. I fear that I was the reason you wear those masks, that I am holding you back and making it harder for you." She continued.
Marco was about to retort but was quickly cut off. "But after hearing that you value my input it struck me that maybe I wasn't that much of a dead weight and maybe I was able to contribute in some way on our trial. And even though I have mixed feelings about being here at the city and unknowingly becoming a citizen, I am glad that it allowed you to relax and be happy again."
Marco stood still, silently processing what he just heard. Regrets boil inside him as he digested her word, in his time with her, wallowing in regret he failed to remember that he wasn`t the only one who is taking a physical and mental struggle. Uttering the only word, he can, he whispers a string of apologies.
Lifting her head from his shoulder, she shook her head before saying. "You have no reason to apologize dude. I understand the reason why you acted that way… well not at first but I do now." Throwing a playful punch on his shoulder making the latino teen rub his shoulder awkwardly. "But maybe next time we can talk about what's bothering us." She suggested earning a hummed of agreement from her partner.
Far away from the border of the imperial city. Three figures carrying torches in their hands can be seen walking on an open field. A series of clicks and growls emanates from two of the figures as they approach what seemed to be an abandoned campsite. Reaching the site, the three automatically search their surroundings seemingly looking for any signs created by its inhabitants. A string of growls erupts from one of the figures alerting the other two with what he found.
The reptilian native turns around to face his approaching companions while holding a familiar seashell towards them. A pair of brown eyes widened as it zeroed in on the necklace being held by a scaly hand of the native. "Damnit we didn`t make it in time!" The third figure curses as she grabs the necklace from her companion. "No, it's not your fault, Trailblazer." The third figure said as she heard the lizardman now known as Trailblazer form a series of apologetic growls.
The third figure lets out a frustrated sigh as she quickly stashes the necklace into one of her pockets. "Come on, let's not waste any more time here we need to go back to the village and inform the chieftains on what happened here."
Morning once again came to the world signaling its inhabitant of the start of a new day. The two earthlings find themselves sitting in front of a marble table of their room with a tray of food in their hands courtesy from the servants sent by the high priest.
"I can`t remember the last time we ate without fearing looking over our shoulder every minute," Marco said popping a piece of meat into his mouth before with gusto before suddenly choking on his food. An amused look was thrown towards him by his companion before returning a grateful look as he receives an offered goblet of water. After finishing their breakfast, the two made their way towards the throne room as they agreed last night with the high priest.
As they approach the large door of the throne room, they were met by two guards who easily recognize them and quickly open the entryway as they growl at them in greetings which the two teens return awkwardly as still not used to actually using the alien language they learned. Waiting inside were four native lizardmen not counting the heavy imperial soldiers standing vigilantly around the throne room.
Once in front of the high priest and his entourage, the two earthlings produce a growl in greeting which made the lizardmen in front of them show their teeth resembling a grin. The high priest let out a chuckle in amusement before he turns towards his translator and start speaking in their native tongue which was too fast for the teens to understand a single word.
"His holiness, greet you, friends." The translator said. "You can speak in your own tongue for we can speak and understand your language to an extent." He continued before gesturing at the two new natives beside him. Standing beside the translator, an excited ancient-looking lizard man wearing a toga carrying three scrolls in his arms. The other one was a native woman wearing an armor worn by the guards inside the throne room but has an intricate design, a red cape drape behind her while a bronze kettle helmet with a horizontal flume of feather rest on its top was tuck under her right arm. "Citizens of our proud empire normally start their education at an early stage in one of our many built institutions spread throughout the imperial cities. And like the other followers of Heku that came before you two would need to get a crash course lesson to quickly survive the prophecy that has once again returned to threaten our world." The translator continues.
The mood of the two quickly took a nosedive as they processed what they just heard from the lizardmen. Fear and confusion douse their entirety as the word 'prophecy' flares up like a sore thumb in their mind. "Wait what do you mean by prophecy! You didn't mention anything about a prophecy last night!" The two exclaimed at the same time not caring if they unintentionally pissed off the man on the throne.
Before the two could continue they were cut off when the woman slams the butt of her spear on the floor making a loud thud and easily getting the attention of the two-panicking teen. Seeing the two have quieted down, the translator let out a click forcing the attention the two to return to him. "His holiness didn`t mention the prophecy last night as he doesn't want you two to be overwhelmed as you two woke up in an unknown place. So, his holiness decides to tell you about the prophecy after you two receive a good night's rest and are a bit more at ease around us." The translator said to calm the two panic-stricken teens.
"His holiness wanted to tell you the prophecy himself but unfortunately he would be rather busy these upcoming days." The translator said before he gestures at the older native beside him. "Our most esteemed scribe, Wisdom-tooth would be the one teaching you about our world`s history, our people`s way of life and provide you two with details regarding the prophecy. Once you are done with your lesson you would go with Legate Sharp-claw to be trained in the art of combat." After the translator finished with his explanation, he and the High priest made their way out of the throne room while flanked by six heavy imperial soldiers.
The two stares at one another wondering how they should greet the two entities in front of them. Should they speak in their own tongue or in theirs? Fortunately for the two teens, Wisdom-tooth let out a burst of small laughter while Sharp-claw just smirk at them in amusement. "Fret not, young ones as Legate Sharp-claw and I are able to speak your native language. Although I might be a bit rusty as never in my lifetime would I thought that I would be given a chance to talk with a follower of Lady Heku even more so with two of them!" The old scribe said with his deep voice laced with uncontrolled excitement as he made his way towards the two surprised teens and unabashedly look them over. "Hmm… Bipedal same as us but entirely different in physical appearance." Wisdom-tooth excitedly said as he scrambles to open one of his scrolls and write on it with a quill that he procures out of nowhere.
"Father, shouldn`t you be teaching them about our people?" Sharp-claw piped in as she sees the two teens squirm uncomfortably under her father`s gaze. "Forgive my father, friends, for his behavior towards you as like he said earlier, we didn`t think it would be in our lifetime to meet the followers of Lady Heku," Sharp-claw said as she bows in apologies before she urges the two teens to follow her.
After getting over the sudden intrusion on their personal space, the two quickly followed the younger native. As they walk beside the brown scaled legate, the two can see a long scar running from her right eye ending at her jawline, fortunately, they see that her vision from the right sight wasn't taken away from her. The two then find themselves standing in awe in the middle of a large circular room, towering shelves full to the brim with tomes and scrolls in their crevices. A loud bang and string of curses capture the attention of the two teens, turning to the source of the sound they see the old scribe hurriedly shuffling around as he trips on a protruding tile on the floor. "Sorry about the mess, followers of Heku! I didn`t have enough time to clean up the place given that I was only notified earlier." The scribe said in embarrassment as he shuffles about, hurriedly trying to tidy up the place.
"Father I told you to clean your workplace ages ago." The legate said with exasperation but a small smile of fondness can be seen on her face. "And I know I am not the only one to tell you that."
The old scribe`s face flush in embarrassment as he shoves a scroll haphazardly into a cabinet." I-I already know that! It`s just I didn't expect to meet them!" He continues as he excitedly gestures at the watching teens earning a sigh from his daughter.
"Please forgive my father, followers like everyone in the empire he`s just very excited to meet the two of you." The legate said in embarrassment as she rubs her hand at the back of her head. "Father I know you like to learn more about the followers but you really need to impart your knowledge to them." Sharp-claw said turning back to her father.
The ancient-looking scribe let out a sigh of disappointment before he gestures to his daughter to provide some chair for the two. After being given each individual sits, the two waited in anticipation as Wisdom-tooth moved about the messy room looking for something. After a victorious shout from the old man, the two teens watch the scribe practically skip towards the table in front of them. Without a care in the world, the scribe shoves the items already on top of the table earning an exasperated sigh from his daughter who hurriedly picks up the discarded items. Unfurling the large scroll on the table the two teens was greeted by a huge wall of alien text. The two`s attention was ripped from the block of words towards the scribe when he smacks his palm in excitement where they can see from the edge of their vision the legate muttering in embarrassment. "Now here is one of the scrolls containing the history of our people, the Dinorians!" He said as he stares at the two.
Silence descends upon them as the three figures in front of the table staring at each other waiting for someone to speak up again. "Father, I don`t think they can read our language." Sharp-claw said after watching the three stare at one another.
"Oh of course! Sorry about that. I thought that you can read our language after you greet us in our own tongue earlier." The scribe said before clearing his throat. "Well, then I`ll read it instead!"
"At the beginning of the First Dawn the Adarians walk and rule over the world and name it after themselves, they are Lord Adar and Lady Ria`s first created sentient mortal race. The Adarians are a bipedal race blessed with powerful wings for flight, the smallest of their kind easily towers. But their height, strength, and gift of flight isn`t what allows them to dominate the world but it is their power to wield 'Eredar'. "
The two teens sit there listening in rapt attention as Wisdom-tooth decipher the alien text to them. Jackie who`s love for the subject of history can only be compared to her love of skateboards raise her hand in curiosity. "What`s Eredar? Is it some kind of physical power?" She asks.
Wisdom-tooth shook his head and was about to explain it to her but was beaten to it by his daughter who answered for him. "Eredar is the lifeblood of the gods. It allows them to wield any elements to do their biddings like cast fire to rain from the heavens, lighting to sprout from their fingertips, water to heal easily heal their wounds, mold the earth to their liking, and many more." Sharp-claw with said with clear fury visible on her face as her hand hover over her scar.
Wisdom clears his throat to get his daughter`s attention. The father and daughter stare at one another, communicating in silence. After a minute of silence, Sharp-claw gives a sigh of defeat making her father nod slowly. "As my daughter said, the Adarians wield Eredar to bend the elements to rule over the world. Now our kind, the Dinorians first came into being at the height of their power at the middle of the First Dawn." The old scribe said before pausing as if reminiscing something from his past. "At first our ancestor coexists peacefully with the Adarians. But unfortunately, the peace didn`t last long as the Adarians see the Dinorians as nothing but barbarians and justify it as a reason to enslave as to serve them."
"They were successful, they not only manage to completely defeat the army of the Dinorians but enslave us and crush any future resistance from our ancestor with the help of their mastery of Eredar." The scribe said as he releases a melancholic sigh. The two teens simmered in anger and disgust as they heard the history of the native. "But when it seems that all hope is gone for our kind, forever under the boot heel of the Adarians, she descends." He continued, happiness quickly oozing from his voice.
"It has been said, she came down from our world in a swirling fire, like the fury of a storm she wreaks havoc on the Adarians and freed us from the bondage of slavery. With her fiery powers, she not only gives us hope but imbued our people with powers to resist and fight against the Adarians." He continued.
"With her at our side, the second Dinorian-Adarian war erupted. But unlike the result of the first war, our kind won after nearly a millennium of conflict." He said before gesturing to his daughter. "My daughter was only a hatchling when she encounters an Adarian soldier after they sieged one of our cities. A single Adarian took on half a legion on his own but not before hitting my daughter with one of his attacks."
"Fortunately, the war ended after that attack as that was the last legion of the Adarians civilization."
"So, the Adarians are completely gone now?" Marco asks after listening to the tale earning a nod from the two natives.
"Yes, we were told that it was the remainder of their kind," Sharp-claw said with a smile. "Good riddance, I say." She continued earning a nod of agreement from her father.
"You mentioned that your kind was imbued with power, what power did you guys have?" Jackie asks in curiosity.
"The breath of fire was given to us by Lady Heku. But only the high priests and imperial family are the only ones who can wield it as they were the one chosen by Lady Heku to lead our people." The ancient native explained making the two teens hum in acceptance.
After his explanation to the native of earth, Wisdom-tooth look through his window and saw that the two suns are already at their highest. He ordered his daughter to escort the followers towards their room to have their lunch.
I kind of rush it at the end as the plot bunnies in my head are literally running on fumes right now. Then again even if it was running on full tank the quality of my writing is average at best lol.
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