Legend of Mana: Odyssey of Shadows

Chapter 5: The Coming Battle of Geo

1 Ocean's Journal

Entry # 381 (Geo)

Day of Salamander, Harvest Season, 0935

A week has passed since we arrived in Geo. At first the city had been a quiet place to rest and recover from the previous job that myself and Predator had completed 2 days previously. However, the city soon became a makeshift hospital complex as hundreds of Dudbears, Sprouts, and Humans came to Geo from Lumina. Dudbears are 4 foot tall, thin, and little bears. With short fur and they normally wore green caps and vests. They are normally only found in Lumina or deep within caves. Sprouts are 3 foot tall humanoid creatures that have leaves, vines, and little sprouts growing all over their bodies. The Sprouts also seemed to be connected to one mind and always knew where all the other sprouts were in the world. Generally they can be found everywhere getting into mischief.

Anyway, hundreds of each type species came to Geo and they all brought with them stories of a large invading army that had ambushed them and massacred most of them while they either slept, ate, or played. Also considering that Lumina has no defense force, or even a police guard, to speak of they had been easy pickings. Many more died while trying to cross the desert or the snowfield on their way to Geo. Those that did make the long trek were exhausted, starved, cold or burnt, and near death themselves.

Geo is home to the largest academy of magic casting and research anywhere. But even the academy has to suspend classes and experiments as dozens of wounded victims are put up in bed, chairs, and anything else that can hold them. I must say it is a sad sight, I've even volunteered my services cleaning wounds, moping up blood, and digging graves. I would normally charge a service fee, but the sight disgusted me to no ends. The stench of the dead and dying, the pitiful cries of pain and prayer, it must've moved something in me cause I've never performed profit-less volunteer work before.

Still, no one yet has been able to identify the attackers or want to. The only details that I can get out of them is talk of a massive army and large metal golems that crushed the wall of Lumina with little effort. No one has said it but I know for a fact that Geo is their next target. There is little of value in Lumina in the way of military goods, except, maybe, for it's large amounts of fluorescent lanterns and glass wares. The question is, 'how long?' An army that size can't cross either the desert or the snow fields very quickly. Yet even now they were probably making their way here.

When they're not tending to the wounded the students of the academy are preparing the city for attack. Concocting magic brews and potions, fortifying walls, setting up barricades, even scouts were sent to spy on the enemy, none of which will return for another day or two. Letters requesting aid from the nearest city of Gato Grottoes have been sent. All these preparations are of a fine quality, I'm really surprised. It's hard for me to even tell that none of them, or very few, have even seen real combat.

But I have yet to determine my role in all this. True I could stay and help them fight, they've even offered to make me the commander of their 'army' since I'm the only one who's had any amount of combat and tactic experience before, that is besides Predator. But if the rumors are true then Geo won't stand much of a chance, unless help arrives from Gato, or hell, even Poltopa Harbor would do. Then there is the talk of money, I'm not getting paid for this and I'm running on a tight budget as is. I'm not sure what to do now, but I'll have to make a decision before the scouts return.

Speaking of Predator I haven't seen her for the past couple hours. I wonder where she's run off to? Damn I can't turn my back on her for a few moments without her disappearing from sight. As a fighter and an independent woman, she is at the top of her class. But as a partner, and teammate she's real lousy at times. But there is no denying that if I were ever in trouble she'd be there to help at the drop of a hat. Hell I can even say the same of myself. But she can be real infuriating at times. I guess it comes with the territory.

Crap! The scout party is back 2 days early. I just saw them run past the front gate. Damn it looks like the invading army is closer than I had thought. Therefor I'm stuck here, since they are now closing the gates and sealing them from the inside. There they've done it. This might be my last entry for a long time. Just blame it on current events, right? Yet, I have a very troubled sense about all this. The kind of feeling you get when some really big and world-shaking event is about to start, It's like that. I just hope Predator was in the city when the gates closed.

Signed,

1.1 Xavier 'Ocean' Malachai

As Ocean laid the dip pen down into a small bottle of ink, he closed his journal with a clap and a sigh of dread. Placing the book into his leather travel pack, which was full of his traveling possessions. He stood up from his rest on the chair and left the building. The house used to be an old jewelry store, but hadn't been used as such in years. Now it had been converted into a crude war room. There was a small 3D map of Geo constructed out of toy blocks situated on a table in the middle of the room. The table was surrounded by 2 dozen chairs and Ocean had sat at the desk at the head of the room which also doubled as a pedestal for giving announcements and briefings.

Ocean wandered the roads and alleys of Geo for the rest of the day, looking for Predator and also to get his own thoughts in order. He was good at fighting, but he wasn't a very good tactician. So how could he take a small rag-tag army of magician trainees and wounded people and turn back a battle hardened invasion army bent on conquest. Gradually his attention diverted to his thoughts and not looking for his partner. He was quite surprised when he found out that he hand meandered back to the war room. He heard conversation inside the building and decided to investigate what was being discussed. When he entered the room there was a student talking with 3 people Ocean hadn't seen in Geo before.

The student, a 14-year old boy dressed in blue student robes with a slightly pale complexion, short black hair and yellow eyes, spotted Ocean as he came in and encountered him at the front door. The boy, whose nametag revealed him to be Harlem Potsar, gave a slight bow and he introduced the 3 newcomers.

"Ocean-kun," the boy said, "I'd like you to meet Ihrie, Larc, and Sierra. They have graciously agreed to help us in our defense of Geo."

For some reason Ocean suddenly felt a lot better. Even though it was only 3 people, every little bit counted and if they could do it, he could to. Suddenly he felt a rush of adrenaline through his system. He felt as though victory could be achieved despite all the odds.