Questis Geshtar, part 3: Future, Life's blossom
by Kaeli
Flammie landed next to the palace, spreaded her wings and laid her head on the soft moss.
- "Go inssside, Geshtar. I willllll sleep out here, sssso call me if you need meeee..." As Geshtar rubbed her forehead, she fell asleep, totally exhausted by the long journey. Geshtar smiled as he heard the soft melodious sound of her snores, and he stood there for a moment. The melody reminded him of something... but he couldn't remember what it reminded him of. Instead of thinking about it any longer, he turned to the Palace and walked towards it.
Suddenly, he stopped, just a few feet away from the palace doors. A strange power crept up his body, probing and searching his soul. He felt nauseous: after a while, he had to throw up. When he did, the strange feeling left him sickened. Geshtar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
- "Jeezes, what was that?! I feel like I've pushed my entire system out!" He stepped up to the doors, and pushed them open, causing his disguise to drop almost immediately. The Tree Palace was just like he remembered it: big, green, and empty... Dryad was nowhere around. And yet, while she wasn't in the main hall, her voice resounded through the halls, as timid and as girlish as he remembered it:
- "Geshtar Tirsh, man born in light and conquered by darkness... Proceed, I know why you are here..."As if it were automatic, he found the stairs to the Seed Chamber. He knew he had gone up those stairs before, but why? Another thing he could not remember... But his worries dissipated as he saw Dryad, who was sitting on the stairs of the Seed pedestal. Her luscious green hair, like palm tree leaves, was dew-covered and held in its upright position by a tough bandanna made of palm tree bark. Her body started like a young girl's and ended in a lot of roots and bark. Her face was still pale, and so were her arms: it looked like she wore a disguise. The greenest of eyes twinkled in that face, and she blushed shyly as she saw the handsome man approach her. But underneath that girlish look and that shy smile, Geshtar realised, a tremendous power and a great strength were hidden. He bowed in front of
her, showing her the respect she should receive:
- "Greetings, Dryad, most gracious Elemental of Nature..." He paused when he saw her smile impishly.
- "Hello, Geshtar, just stand up now... I know who you are, and you know who I am. No need for calling a little girl like me big names... Err, maybe you want to hear a story?" She looked so enthusiastic, he just couldn't say no. "Listen well, this is a story known only by two persons still living, and one long dead. One day, long ago, mankind found an ancient energy. This energy was called Mana, the planet's natural life force. The gods watched over this energy, protecting it so the planets could all keep on existing. But humanity, so long ago, needed new and greater power sources. They had lost all respect for the gods, and they wanted to defy them: thus, they made the Mana Fortress, arming it with sophisticated weaponry and great defenses. The Mana of this planet was nearly depleated, and the gods responded to the human defiance. They created the Mana Beasts: beings with such tremendous powers, they could eradicate humanity with their fiery breaths and level the planet so Mana could regenerate itself. There were nine Mana Beasts: one for each true Elemental and one for our creator, the beautiful being called Solar, Elemental of the gods. Solar was, in fact, one of the gods once, the only female one. The most mighty god splitted himself in half: one female part, Solar, and one male part, that was called Celys. Solar became Elemental, by being granted the power to turn the spirits empowering this planet into semi-gods like herself. Celys didn't like that at all: the gods had made him into a full god and he felt a severe dislike of his "sister". Solar didn't care for his opinion: so when the Beasts attacked, she rode on her very own beast, together with the other eight Elementals. She made us like the images she had seen in ancient books: Undine as a women that was half-fish, a mermaid; Sylphid like a floating servant of the winds, a jinn; Gnome like a small and mischevous dwarf, a leprechaun; Salamando as a being of flame, a salamander; Shade as the dark night; Lumina as a star; Luna as a moon elf, bodyless and eerie; and me like the forest nymphs called dryads. She was cast out of heaven by her brother, ruler over the gods, but re-introduced as angelic Elemental of the gods. The beasts were beautiful in all their might... I believe I have a picture of them here..." She took a painting, which depicted all of the Beasts, with the Elementals. Geshtar looked and was amazed: he saw the magnificent blueish-green feathers of the Water Beast, the impressive fiery colors of the Fire Beast, the pitch black darkness reflected from the Night Beast, and last, but not least, Solar and her Beast... The beast itself was pink, with green wings, and had the deepest of burgundy eyes: Solar stood in front of it, her white dress flowing, ending in a mist-like cloud at her feet. Her face was near expressionless, except for a faint smile. From her back sprouted magnificent wings, in a very light shade of blue. In each hand, she held a sword: one was made entirely of silver, one of gold. Her hair, long and reddish, was adorned with threads of gold woven throughout it. She was devastatingly handsome, and yet as innocent as a newborn baby. He sighed as he put the painting down.
- "Dryad, who else knows this story, besides the Elementals and me?"
- "Luka, because she has been born as daughter of a sage; Sage Joch, for he is all-seeing; and the person who is now dead is Evan Thanatos, aka Thanatos the dark lich. He has witnessed the "birth" of the Elementals from up close: he stood high on top of the Mana Fortress when the Beasts came down and destroyed nearly everything. Only, like Luka surely has said before, the people and places chosen by the Elementals were spared. And Thanatos belonged to the chosen ones..." She sighed, her cheeks turning a sort of deep purple. "My servant was then called Mischa. She was a painter, she made this. When you look at it just now, you see rough strikes of paint. But there's a trick to it. You see, when the Beasts attacked, Mischa was struck by the immense light of the Light Beast. She was blind, the poor thing... So, look at it again. What do you think of it?" She gestured
towards Geshtar, smiling gently.
- "Well, it's supernatural!" It was the only word he could think of; just the right word for the image. "What did she look like, that Mischa?"
- "She had long hair in a beautiful color: like the bark of a tree in the evening sun, reddish brown. Her eyes were empty and always gazing towards the horizon. I think she hoped for the return of her relatives, or of her husband. She was in blessed condition when the Beasts attacked. Her child was born in this very palace: it was the first time that blood was shed here. The stains cannot be removed from the tiles. I guess they have grown in... But enough about Mischa. You have come here for a reason. To see your past, is it? Well, I think I can help you..." She neared him, her roots brushing sofly over the moss-covered floor of the Seed Chamber. "Close your eyes. I can show you anything you have questions about. Just relax and let me show you what you want to see... what you need to see..."
His mind became filled with memories.
- "Miss Luka! Miss Luka! Look what I've got!" He saw himself as a small boy, looking like he was ten years old. He held something in his hands, and ran towards Luka to show it to her. "It's a dragonfly. A very beautiful one, with luminescent wings. I wanna give this one to you, as a gift... It's as lovely as you are!" He handed her the timid little insect, and saw her whisper something to it before releasing it into the open air again. "Hey! You let it go! Why?"
- "Well, I've given it a message to spread around the world. If you make a wish and tell it to a dragonfly, it'll make sure your wish comes true..." She smiled as he caught another one and whispered his own wish to it before opening his hands and letting it fly away into the world.
- "Does it really work, Luka?" He looked at her with wonder-filled eyes.
- "Sure!" She smiled as he did. The boy was happy. Suddenly, Geshtar knew what he had wished for: for Luka to love him. The dragonfly had really fulfilled his wish, just like Luka had said...
Another memory came to him.
- "What's the matter, Luka, don't you like it?" He looked a lot older, about seventeen. His armor shone in the light of the holy fire. His hair flowed onto his back, and blended in nicely with the mantle. Luka stood before him, looking admiringly at him, her hands resting on her lap.
- "O-of course I like it, Geshtar... It looks so... radiant!" Her confused reply gave away her bewildered thoughts. Luka had told him she had loved him since he had grown up. Was that the reason for the hasty response and her sparkling eyes? He quietly wondered... until the next piece of his memory came forth.
- "Fanha, please... I need to know what Thanatos has ordered you to do. Tell me, please, I beg of you!" He stood in front of the red-haired mage, beckoning her to answer his questions.
- "I have been ordered to summon another demon. One of the Middle Order. The idiot is afraid to be killed by it, so he asks - no, commands - me to do it! The damn idiot! If I die, he loses his control over the demon I summoned."
- "Come on, Fanha, IF you are killed by that demon, I'll slay Thanatos faster than he can lift a finger! I'll avenge you..." His words became more gentle as he took the frail hands of the mage into his own rough ones. "I hold you very dear, Fanha, can't you see? I'd rather die than see you turn away from me... So please, don't do so. I'd die of misery!"
- "Oh, Geshtar... Thanks!" She hugged him and held him for a long time before going to her quarters. Before going outside his room, she turned around and said: "I'm very happy to have a friend like you!"
The next memory was different. He was spellbound and doing Thanatos' will.
- "Luka, just hand over the Mana Seed and no one gets hurt." His evil grin really hurt poor Luka, he could clearly see it in her eyes: filled with tears. Bitter tears of a broken heart...
- "It was stolen. You're too late. Now go away!" She spoke with a slightly too high voice.
- "Oh, but surely you've sent someone to fetch it? I'll just wait here... And when your servant returns, he'll hand over the seed. And die! Hahahahaha..." Luka sank to her knees, her head hidden in her hands, sobbing. Geshtar never knew what he was like when he was under Thanatos' dark influence... but now he cursed the day he agreed to follow the bastard. His own eyes filled with tears when he saw himself acting so icily around Luka in his memory.
The next vision made him feel a lot better. It was a vision of Fanha and him.
- "Fanha... Are you allright?" He held her hand as she awoke in the hospital bed next to his. "Another day in paradise...", he whispered towards her sarcastically as she took a look at her blood-stained dress, her arms and legs which were covered with wounds and bandage.
- "Seems like it, Geshtar", she responded when she was fully aware of the situation they both were in. "Sorry for it all. I have to put you under spells and all... Thanatos will pay for that one day, I can sense it!" She cried, unable to wipe the tears off her cheeks. Geshtar sat up, pulled a few wires loose and wiped them away.
- "Yeah, he'll pay. For every tear you cry, dear Fanha, he'll pay ten times!"
Another vision amazed him. He saw himself, sitting in the meeting hall of the Imperial castle. Fanha and Sheex sat opposite to him: Sheex growled to him, and Fanha smiled her usual friendly smile. Emperor Vandole had a fit with Thanatos, who had left his mask in his room. Cold, empty eyes gazed at the emperor.
- "No, Thanatos, I'm sorry. I can not give you that much power! The Imperial soldiers, the demons, including this one-", he pointed at Sheex, who smiled sarcastically, "-they are enough! If you have insufficient man power, summon more demons, lich!" The latter clearly and obviously shocked Thanatos.
- "Very well, Emperor Vandole. We'll count votes for it. All rise!" Geshtar saw Empress Algea raise herself from her seat, blinking naughtity at him; Raziel, captain of the Imperial castle guards and second-in-command to him, stood up too. And mayor Handsley was present too. "All those in favor of the Emperor, step to him. All those in favor of me, come to me." Slowly, Geshtar saw himself going to the Emperor, together with Algea, Raziel, the mayor... and Fanha. The expression on Thanatos' face was magnificent to behold: confusion, anger and defeat mixed together and smeared all over his face. He felt great as the images faded away.
The last of his visions... a devastating one...Geshtar saw himself arriving at the rising Fortress... just in time to see the Mana Hero plunge his sword into Fanha's heart. With a sigh, the naga form shifted into Fanha's own body again to die with a smile of relief on her face. He cried out in despair as the Mana Heroes stood before her cooling corpse.
- "No, this cannot be the end! Fanha, Fanha dear! Don't die now! Thanatos still hasn't received our revenge yet! No, don't die... Don't die... DOOOON'T!!!!!"
He hurried to avenge Fanha's death, hoisted himself into his Mech Rider armor again. Blinded by his tears, he confronted the Mana Heroes in a pitched battle he knew he couldn't win. All he could think of was revenge, revenge for a death that was too early. Geshtar saw the memory with a feeling of sadness growing inside of him. Of course, it was Thanatos who had killed Vandole after he had opposed him... Raziel had died "on duty": in reality, Thanatos had charred him. Mayor Langsley was thrown in a dungeon so deep and damp that he'd die within the day. And surely, he'd find a way to get to Algea too... But Geshtar, knowing he'd die anyway, cared little for his nearing fate. He just fought like a lion until the Mana Hero smashed the motor in his hover-cycle. It exploded, hurling him away into the open air. His last image was the Fortress, half-raised and shuddering as it continued to lift itself out of the ocean...
He opened his eyes again and looked at Dryad. Her face was a calm reflection of her thoughts about him: so you did evil things, but you remain human to me. He could nearly hear her thinking it.
- "Hey, how did you like the memories?" She reached out to him, but he declined.
- "I wish to sleep in a sleep of memory. I wish to remember everything from the moment I left the Water Palace to the moment I went to the Water Palace. Can you do that?" He saw her flinch, and blinked at her meaningfully. "I want to see whatever you try to steer away from. However it'll upset me. Please, I wish to undo the wrongs that I have done."
- "Okay..." She sighed as she enveloped Geshtar in a whirlwind of Sleep Flower petals. He dozed off...
His sleep filled with dreams immediately... He saw himself, sitting in a pub in Pandora, drinking away his sorrow.
- "Luka, poor Luka! I've left her for such a minor thing. But I feel like this is my destiny. THIS, not sitting around in the Water Palace doin' nothing. I wanna fight, goddammit! The demons are again roaming the lands freely again." He took his glass and drank it in one single gulp. After paying the bartender, he went outside, where he was awaited by a man wh had seen and heard him.
- "Hey, guy. Want to fight, huh? Well, maybe you'll like my offer, then... I'll pay you ten thousand GP when you..." the man whispered lowly into his ear. "... when you make sir Pollther have an "accident", get what I mean?" Geshtar saw his own disgusted reaction at first, but then his horror disappeared for an impish grin.
- "I get it. Tomorrow he'll have had the "accident". You just have those ten thousand coins ready!"
Geshtar dreamt, with rising disgust, of the "accidents" he had accomplished: sir Pollther was the first of many... Every single time, he was successful, got a great amount of money which he spent on drinking and gambling almost immediately. Women were attracted by him like moths by a flame. They all fell for him and made him their lover. But just like the moths, they all burned their hands and learned no lessons whatsoever. Until, one day... Until he met Fanha and Thanatos.
She was sitting all alone in Geshtar's favorite pub, the "Demonic Girl Inn". He stepped to her and asked flirtingly:
- "Heeey! What's a pretty girl doin' here with no one to guide her?" He grinned as she shrugged.
- "Thanks for the interest, sir, but I can mend my own business. I'm pretty, but not weak."
- "You sure? If you want protection, I'll be right here." He smirked when Thanatos entered, his expressionless face and the cold eyes made everybody shiver.
- "Fanha, come on. We should get going, if we want to reach the border of your mother's territory before she finds out who took you... If she pursues us, the only thing she'll find is your dead body!" His voice was as emotionless as his face, and as dead as his eyes. Geshtar bowed over to the girl:
- "Nice father you've got there, Fanha..."
- "He's not my father. And you wouldn't want to get into a fight with him. He doesn't have any mercy."
- "Hah! What does a mercenary like me fear?! Death? Anger? I don't even fear a demon like him: I've killed hundreds and thousands of his kind..." He paused as Thanatos looked at him angrily "... and all of them with just my sword. I'm a skilled man in this." Thanatos' interests were getting more and more dense.
- "Young man, how would you like to join us? We are heading to the Empire. You will get the fame you want there, and be paid a solid amount of money..." He lowered his voice in an evil whisper: "There, I can guarantee you constant pleasure: all the liquor, gambling, danger and women you want..."- "Allright then, I'll come with you." He took the pen in his hands, shrugged as it scratched over his hand and the tip was covered in blood. The dark red color blended in with the ink, he saw as he signed the contract Thanatos had offered him.
The dream went onwards, and he saw himself sitting in the Imperial Castle, at the meeting table, together with Thanatos, Fanha and Emperor Vandole.
- "So, you say you can help me gain total world domination? How?" The Emperor's low and hypnotising voice boomed throughout the audience hall, causing the guards near the doors to shiver.
- "Yes, I can give you my aid. I and my assistent Fanha here are high mages. I once served Shade until I was cast out of his Palace. This young man here has battle skills no one could ever match, plus he is a master mechanic: he knows everything there is to know of the ancient technology. Well, will you take our help - for a price of course..."
- "Wait just a minute! I want proof of your skills. Guards! Fetch me the very best soldiers! This man will battle them outside. What is your name, mercenary?" The Emperor spoke directly to him. Geshtar was, although he had never been spoken to by an emperor, very upset.
- "I prefer to be called SIR Geshtar... my Emperor." The latter, he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
- "Very well, Sir Geshtar, go out there and fight!"
And he did fight: he won easily against one, two, three, even ten soldiers at a time. He showed his sword, gleaming in the evening light, to the Emperor.
- "You have proven yourself. Now you, Thanatos. But first, remove that mask of yours!" Thanatos followed the order, took off his mask and showed his empty eyes and pale face. "Y-you are a.. a LICH!!", Emperor Vandole gasped.
- "You see, my powers are so great, they can even overcome death. Do I have to prove anything else?"
- "N-no... You have proven enough, lich. Now you, girly. Show us your worth... I know, summon an Upper Class Demon!" Fanha shuddered as she listened to the order. She looked at Geshtar, who blinked and nodded slightly.
- "Very well... but I will need to make preparations."
Geshtar helped her prepare the meeting hall: incense, magical signs on the floor, a protective circle around Fanha, and his ensuring presence right behind her. Fanha started the incantation, and suddenly the air grew cold and damp. A form materialised: an Aegragropollion, the most feared of the Upper Class Demons... Fanha asked it to name itself.
- "I am Sheex, an Aegragropollion, a shape-shifting demon. I can assume any shape you want me to assume... What is your name, my master?" His growling voice sent multiple shivers down Geshtar's spine.
- "I am Fanha Caina, I have total control over you. Can you become human, Sheex?"
- "Yes, Fanha my mistress..." He shifted into a beautiful young man with a kind of deep purple hair. "Is this form at your conveniance?" She blushed.
- "Yes, it is, Sheex. Have I proven myself, Emperor?"
- "You have, indeed. You and your party are hired, lich! I can always use good fighters like your Geshtar, and good mages like Fanha." He shrugged, grinning evilly towards Thanatos. "You are a nice side-effect... lich!"
Thanatos shrugged as well.
- "Very well, you have it your way, Emperor Vandole. But do remember that I have these powers... and you don't."
The dream then went onwards. He saw himself helping the Empire invading the Gold Isle and taking it over; the many kills he had done for Emperor Vandole, the way he took the money for doing that: it all made him feel deeply disgusted by his former self. Then, an interesting part came.
- "Sir Geshtar? Are you still awake?" A soft woman voice from behind the door. Geshtar had, once again, drunk too much after seeing Fanha with Sheex again. He couldn't bear her friendship with a demon... and thus sought comfort in liquor.
- "G-g-go away, whoever it isssh... I'm not in the m-mood fer visiters!"
- "But Geshtar, I've merely come to talk to you! It's me, Algea!" the latter made him amazed: the Empress knocking on his door?!
- "Oh..." He opened the door for her and could easily see she had been drinking and crying too. "What'sh wrong, dear Empress of mine?"
- "Geesh, call me Algea! I've come to say goodnight and to ask you if you'd do me a faver... My husband's gone again, to who knows what stupid country to play his childish game of conquer-or-destroy... I need comforting." She approached him: Geshtar could easily see her underwear through the thin fabric of her nightgown. He himself was also wearing very little. Her soft, slender body gently pressed against his when she hugged him.
- "Algea..." His thoat was dry, his vision was clear all of a sudden. Desire for that beautiful woman hit him. "D'you know..."
- "I know. C'mon, don't hesitate! Do it while we can still blame it on the alcohol."
With that sentence, his dreams faded...
- "Geshtar... Geshtar, wake up! It's morning!" Dryad's soft voice awoke him from his deep and calm sleep. He raised himself slowly, looking through one of the windows of the Palace, and suddenly realised that he knew the Seed Chamber as the room where he had found Vandole's dead body... His eyes immediately went towards the stairs of the pedestal - the blood stains were still there. He shuddered, making Dryad sense his emotions and answer his unspoken question : "Yes, this is indeed the place where Emperor Vandole met his doom. I can not try to remove the stains: my Mana energy makes them grow into the Palace instinctively... But really, you shouldn't wait any longer now. It is a long journey to the Water Palace: why waste more time here?"
- "You're probably right, Dryad. I should get going now." He hugged Dryad, who was surprised, and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you, Dryad! I needed to remember those things... Now I can go back and..."
- "Geshtar, declare to the world that you are not evil. Do not be afraid for the consequences, just do it! There have already been too many misunderstandings... Clear them all and your name with them!" Her cheeks turned a kind of glowy light brown when she added: "Luka's... lucky to have a lover like you..." She saw a blush on Geshtar's cheeks and wiped it away with a single swipe. "Don't be ashamed: I did see what has happened between you and Luka, but just... no details,okay? Now go, sir Geshtar, and never forget what I just taught you: in human life, there may never be guilt or shame about good things. Believe me, I know..."
- "Hey, what do you mean by that? Tell me what you mean..." He stood in front of the Elemental, his eyes questioning.
- "Allright then. When the Beasts struck this Earth, the Elementals had to be created. Solar was only a half-god and could not create us out of nothing. She... She used people's bodies, altered them and gave them power. I was once a little girl, and made into this. Most of my memories were wiped away, but the memory of my metamorphosys is still clear. I wore a brown dress, flowing around my feet like Solar's always does. My hair was a kind of deep golden brown, and it reached all the way to my waist. I remember feeling weird, a feeling that started at my head. My hair turned a dark shade of green, and stuck in strings to each other. When I heard the call of the Beasts, from a great distance, I went outside. My hair was by then already changed into these palm leaves. My dress stuck to my body, growing into my skin and turning into a tree trunk at the bottom, from my waist down. A small green plant grew immediately over my back to my arms. Then... I do not remember anything about what happened after that. But what I do know is that I suddenly stood face to face with the Nature Beast. He said nothing, heaved his head to cry his song of Nature's Mana... And I recognised the song, went to him and sat onto his back. The Mana immediately seeped into my body. I saw a boy burst into flames, a girl crying herself all wet... I saw Shade being born out of a dark-haired man, and Lumina out of a pale girl in pyama's. I saw Sylphid and Luna and Gnome arising from what appeared to be only a deep slumber. But it wasn't pleasant to be this little girl forever... It renders me shy, unconfident, ignorant and naive..." She sighed, allowing Geshtar to think about that.
- "...But it also makes you fresh, energetic, and innocent: you are the Elemental of Elementals. Without you, the earth would be empty and rough. You are the queen of all living things... the beauty among all nature's creations. You, Dryad, would be the perfect ruler over all this planet. But you have a more important and heavy task. Indeed, a task not suited for a child... but your mature spirit and your Elemental nature make you greater than even the most mighty of men."
- "Thank you Geshtar..." This time, she was really speechless: his flattery had now made her whole tree-like body a deep shade of burgundy. "Wow... Thank you, so much!" She pointed outwards. "Go now, I bet you Luka misses you very much... and you miss her too, I can sense it! Go then, Sir Geshtar - hurry now!" She accompanied him back down the stairs and outside. "I'll come with you, to visit her. Wait while I seal the Palace. Green Turn Bright, Green Vanquish Intruders!"
The "wall" around the Palace became visible, illuminating the whole surroundings when its greenish glow turned bright and then dissipated back into thin air. "An enhanced version of my Wall power. Come, call Flammie. We'll be there very soon." She smiled, but stopped to when she saw Flammie, who flew towards them in a slumpy way.
- "Gesssssssssssshtar, will Drrrrrrrrrrrrrryad come withhhhhhhhh us?" Her voice sounded really tired, so Geshtar neared her and immediately rubbed her back.
- "Yes, she would love to come too... if you can carry her, that is."
- "Sssssssssssssssure, I'll carrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry herrrrrrrrrr..." The Elemental was aided to climb onto the sturdy dragon's back by Geshtar, gallant as he was. The dragon sighed heavy when she heaved herself into the air, her wings beating in an ancient melody that soothed Dryad's tensed mind.
And not far from there, two spirits accompanied by a girl dressed in a pink combat suit went towards the Water Palace, their feet moving to the melody, which now resounded clear and calming. Sprite sang the words to the song:
- "Mana, Mana Hara Nekha. Mana, Naya Lethe Daara. Mana, Mana, Drago Nalaa. Mana, Mana Hara Nekha...", and his voice blended in with the melody while Fanha's spirit shrieked once and a while in deep agony. The Water Palace was already in sight...
by Kaeli
Flammie landed next to the palace, spreaded her wings and laid her head on the soft moss.
- "Go inssside, Geshtar. I willllll sleep out here, sssso call me if you need meeee..." As Geshtar rubbed her forehead, she fell asleep, totally exhausted by the long journey. Geshtar smiled as he heard the soft melodious sound of her snores, and he stood there for a moment. The melody reminded him of something... but he couldn't remember what it reminded him of. Instead of thinking about it any longer, he turned to the Palace and walked towards it.
Suddenly, he stopped, just a few feet away from the palace doors. A strange power crept up his body, probing and searching his soul. He felt nauseous: after a while, he had to throw up. When he did, the strange feeling left him sickened. Geshtar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
- "Jeezes, what was that?! I feel like I've pushed my entire system out!" He stepped up to the doors, and pushed them open, causing his disguise to drop almost immediately. The Tree Palace was just like he remembered it: big, green, and empty... Dryad was nowhere around. And yet, while she wasn't in the main hall, her voice resounded through the halls, as timid and as girlish as he remembered it:
- "Geshtar Tirsh, man born in light and conquered by darkness... Proceed, I know why you are here..."As if it were automatic, he found the stairs to the Seed Chamber. He knew he had gone up those stairs before, but why? Another thing he could not remember... But his worries dissipated as he saw Dryad, who was sitting on the stairs of the Seed pedestal. Her luscious green hair, like palm tree leaves, was dew-covered and held in its upright position by a tough bandanna made of palm tree bark. Her body started like a young girl's and ended in a lot of roots and bark. Her face was still pale, and so were her arms: it looked like she wore a disguise. The greenest of eyes twinkled in that face, and she blushed shyly as she saw the handsome man approach her. But underneath that girlish look and that shy smile, Geshtar realised, a tremendous power and a great strength were hidden. He bowed in front of
her, showing her the respect she should receive:
- "Greetings, Dryad, most gracious Elemental of Nature..." He paused when he saw her smile impishly.
- "Hello, Geshtar, just stand up now... I know who you are, and you know who I am. No need for calling a little girl like me big names... Err, maybe you want to hear a story?" She looked so enthusiastic, he just couldn't say no. "Listen well, this is a story known only by two persons still living, and one long dead. One day, long ago, mankind found an ancient energy. This energy was called Mana, the planet's natural life force. The gods watched over this energy, protecting it so the planets could all keep on existing. But humanity, so long ago, needed new and greater power sources. They had lost all respect for the gods, and they wanted to defy them: thus, they made the Mana Fortress, arming it with sophisticated weaponry and great defenses. The Mana of this planet was nearly depleated, and the gods responded to the human defiance. They created the Mana Beasts: beings with such tremendous powers, they could eradicate humanity with their fiery breaths and level the planet so Mana could regenerate itself. There were nine Mana Beasts: one for each true Elemental and one for our creator, the beautiful being called Solar, Elemental of the gods. Solar was, in fact, one of the gods once, the only female one. The most mighty god splitted himself in half: one female part, Solar, and one male part, that was called Celys. Solar became Elemental, by being granted the power to turn the spirits empowering this planet into semi-gods like herself. Celys didn't like that at all: the gods had made him into a full god and he felt a severe dislike of his "sister". Solar didn't care for his opinion: so when the Beasts attacked, she rode on her very own beast, together with the other eight Elementals. She made us like the images she had seen in ancient books: Undine as a women that was half-fish, a mermaid; Sylphid like a floating servant of the winds, a jinn; Gnome like a small and mischevous dwarf, a leprechaun; Salamando as a being of flame, a salamander; Shade as the dark night; Lumina as a star; Luna as a moon elf, bodyless and eerie; and me like the forest nymphs called dryads. She was cast out of heaven by her brother, ruler over the gods, but re-introduced as angelic Elemental of the gods. The beasts were beautiful in all their might... I believe I have a picture of them here..." She took a painting, which depicted all of the Beasts, with the Elementals. Geshtar looked and was amazed: he saw the magnificent blueish-green feathers of the Water Beast, the impressive fiery colors of the Fire Beast, the pitch black darkness reflected from the Night Beast, and last, but not least, Solar and her Beast... The beast itself was pink, with green wings, and had the deepest of burgundy eyes: Solar stood in front of it, her white dress flowing, ending in a mist-like cloud at her feet. Her face was near expressionless, except for a faint smile. From her back sprouted magnificent wings, in a very light shade of blue. In each hand, she held a sword: one was made entirely of silver, one of gold. Her hair, long and reddish, was adorned with threads of gold woven throughout it. She was devastatingly handsome, and yet as innocent as a newborn baby. He sighed as he put the painting down.
- "Dryad, who else knows this story, besides the Elementals and me?"
- "Luka, because she has been born as daughter of a sage; Sage Joch, for he is all-seeing; and the person who is now dead is Evan Thanatos, aka Thanatos the dark lich. He has witnessed the "birth" of the Elementals from up close: he stood high on top of the Mana Fortress when the Beasts came down and destroyed nearly everything. Only, like Luka surely has said before, the people and places chosen by the Elementals were spared. And Thanatos belonged to the chosen ones..." She sighed, her cheeks turning a sort of deep purple. "My servant was then called Mischa. She was a painter, she made this. When you look at it just now, you see rough strikes of paint. But there's a trick to it. You see, when the Beasts attacked, Mischa was struck by the immense light of the Light Beast. She was blind, the poor thing... So, look at it again. What do you think of it?" She gestured
towards Geshtar, smiling gently.
- "Well, it's supernatural!" It was the only word he could think of; just the right word for the image. "What did she look like, that Mischa?"
- "She had long hair in a beautiful color: like the bark of a tree in the evening sun, reddish brown. Her eyes were empty and always gazing towards the horizon. I think she hoped for the return of her relatives, or of her husband. She was in blessed condition when the Beasts attacked. Her child was born in this very palace: it was the first time that blood was shed here. The stains cannot be removed from the tiles. I guess they have grown in... But enough about Mischa. You have come here for a reason. To see your past, is it? Well, I think I can help you..." She neared him, her roots brushing sofly over the moss-covered floor of the Seed Chamber. "Close your eyes. I can show you anything you have questions about. Just relax and let me show you what you want to see... what you need to see..."
His mind became filled with memories.
- "Miss Luka! Miss Luka! Look what I've got!" He saw himself as a small boy, looking like he was ten years old. He held something in his hands, and ran towards Luka to show it to her. "It's a dragonfly. A very beautiful one, with luminescent wings. I wanna give this one to you, as a gift... It's as lovely as you are!" He handed her the timid little insect, and saw her whisper something to it before releasing it into the open air again. "Hey! You let it go! Why?"
- "Well, I've given it a message to spread around the world. If you make a wish and tell it to a dragonfly, it'll make sure your wish comes true..." She smiled as he caught another one and whispered his own wish to it before opening his hands and letting it fly away into the world.
- "Does it really work, Luka?" He looked at her with wonder-filled eyes.
- "Sure!" She smiled as he did. The boy was happy. Suddenly, Geshtar knew what he had wished for: for Luka to love him. The dragonfly had really fulfilled his wish, just like Luka had said...
Another memory came to him.
- "What's the matter, Luka, don't you like it?" He looked a lot older, about seventeen. His armor shone in the light of the holy fire. His hair flowed onto his back, and blended in nicely with the mantle. Luka stood before him, looking admiringly at him, her hands resting on her lap.
- "O-of course I like it, Geshtar... It looks so... radiant!" Her confused reply gave away her bewildered thoughts. Luka had told him she had loved him since he had grown up. Was that the reason for the hasty response and her sparkling eyes? He quietly wondered... until the next piece of his memory came forth.
- "Fanha, please... I need to know what Thanatos has ordered you to do. Tell me, please, I beg of you!" He stood in front of the red-haired mage, beckoning her to answer his questions.
- "I have been ordered to summon another demon. One of the Middle Order. The idiot is afraid to be killed by it, so he asks - no, commands - me to do it! The damn idiot! If I die, he loses his control over the demon I summoned."
- "Come on, Fanha, IF you are killed by that demon, I'll slay Thanatos faster than he can lift a finger! I'll avenge you..." His words became more gentle as he took the frail hands of the mage into his own rough ones. "I hold you very dear, Fanha, can't you see? I'd rather die than see you turn away from me... So please, don't do so. I'd die of misery!"
- "Oh, Geshtar... Thanks!" She hugged him and held him for a long time before going to her quarters. Before going outside his room, she turned around and said: "I'm very happy to have a friend like you!"
The next memory was different. He was spellbound and doing Thanatos' will.
- "Luka, just hand over the Mana Seed and no one gets hurt." His evil grin really hurt poor Luka, he could clearly see it in her eyes: filled with tears. Bitter tears of a broken heart...
- "It was stolen. You're too late. Now go away!" She spoke with a slightly too high voice.
- "Oh, but surely you've sent someone to fetch it? I'll just wait here... And when your servant returns, he'll hand over the seed. And die! Hahahahaha..." Luka sank to her knees, her head hidden in her hands, sobbing. Geshtar never knew what he was like when he was under Thanatos' dark influence... but now he cursed the day he agreed to follow the bastard. His own eyes filled with tears when he saw himself acting so icily around Luka in his memory.
The next vision made him feel a lot better. It was a vision of Fanha and him.
- "Fanha... Are you allright?" He held her hand as she awoke in the hospital bed next to his. "Another day in paradise...", he whispered towards her sarcastically as she took a look at her blood-stained dress, her arms and legs which were covered with wounds and bandage.
- "Seems like it, Geshtar", she responded when she was fully aware of the situation they both were in. "Sorry for it all. I have to put you under spells and all... Thanatos will pay for that one day, I can sense it!" She cried, unable to wipe the tears off her cheeks. Geshtar sat up, pulled a few wires loose and wiped them away.
- "Yeah, he'll pay. For every tear you cry, dear Fanha, he'll pay ten times!"
Another vision amazed him. He saw himself, sitting in the meeting hall of the Imperial castle. Fanha and Sheex sat opposite to him: Sheex growled to him, and Fanha smiled her usual friendly smile. Emperor Vandole had a fit with Thanatos, who had left his mask in his room. Cold, empty eyes gazed at the emperor.
- "No, Thanatos, I'm sorry. I can not give you that much power! The Imperial soldiers, the demons, including this one-", he pointed at Sheex, who smiled sarcastically, "-they are enough! If you have insufficient man power, summon more demons, lich!" The latter clearly and obviously shocked Thanatos.
- "Very well, Emperor Vandole. We'll count votes for it. All rise!" Geshtar saw Empress Algea raise herself from her seat, blinking naughtity at him; Raziel, captain of the Imperial castle guards and second-in-command to him, stood up too. And mayor Handsley was present too. "All those in favor of the Emperor, step to him. All those in favor of me, come to me." Slowly, Geshtar saw himself going to the Emperor, together with Algea, Raziel, the mayor... and Fanha. The expression on Thanatos' face was magnificent to behold: confusion, anger and defeat mixed together and smeared all over his face. He felt great as the images faded away.
The last of his visions... a devastating one...Geshtar saw himself arriving at the rising Fortress... just in time to see the Mana Hero plunge his sword into Fanha's heart. With a sigh, the naga form shifted into Fanha's own body again to die with a smile of relief on her face. He cried out in despair as the Mana Heroes stood before her cooling corpse.
- "No, this cannot be the end! Fanha, Fanha dear! Don't die now! Thanatos still hasn't received our revenge yet! No, don't die... Don't die... DOOOON'T!!!!!"
He hurried to avenge Fanha's death, hoisted himself into his Mech Rider armor again. Blinded by his tears, he confronted the Mana Heroes in a pitched battle he knew he couldn't win. All he could think of was revenge, revenge for a death that was too early. Geshtar saw the memory with a feeling of sadness growing inside of him. Of course, it was Thanatos who had killed Vandole after he had opposed him... Raziel had died "on duty": in reality, Thanatos had charred him. Mayor Langsley was thrown in a dungeon so deep and damp that he'd die within the day. And surely, he'd find a way to get to Algea too... But Geshtar, knowing he'd die anyway, cared little for his nearing fate. He just fought like a lion until the Mana Hero smashed the motor in his hover-cycle. It exploded, hurling him away into the open air. His last image was the Fortress, half-raised and shuddering as it continued to lift itself out of the ocean...
He opened his eyes again and looked at Dryad. Her face was a calm reflection of her thoughts about him: so you did evil things, but you remain human to me. He could nearly hear her thinking it.
- "Hey, how did you like the memories?" She reached out to him, but he declined.
- "I wish to sleep in a sleep of memory. I wish to remember everything from the moment I left the Water Palace to the moment I went to the Water Palace. Can you do that?" He saw her flinch, and blinked at her meaningfully. "I want to see whatever you try to steer away from. However it'll upset me. Please, I wish to undo the wrongs that I have done."
- "Okay..." She sighed as she enveloped Geshtar in a whirlwind of Sleep Flower petals. He dozed off...
His sleep filled with dreams immediately... He saw himself, sitting in a pub in Pandora, drinking away his sorrow.
- "Luka, poor Luka! I've left her for such a minor thing. But I feel like this is my destiny. THIS, not sitting around in the Water Palace doin' nothing. I wanna fight, goddammit! The demons are again roaming the lands freely again." He took his glass and drank it in one single gulp. After paying the bartender, he went outside, where he was awaited by a man wh had seen and heard him.
- "Hey, guy. Want to fight, huh? Well, maybe you'll like my offer, then... I'll pay you ten thousand GP when you..." the man whispered lowly into his ear. "... when you make sir Pollther have an "accident", get what I mean?" Geshtar saw his own disgusted reaction at first, but then his horror disappeared for an impish grin.
- "I get it. Tomorrow he'll have had the "accident". You just have those ten thousand coins ready!"
Geshtar dreamt, with rising disgust, of the "accidents" he had accomplished: sir Pollther was the first of many... Every single time, he was successful, got a great amount of money which he spent on drinking and gambling almost immediately. Women were attracted by him like moths by a flame. They all fell for him and made him their lover. But just like the moths, they all burned their hands and learned no lessons whatsoever. Until, one day... Until he met Fanha and Thanatos.
She was sitting all alone in Geshtar's favorite pub, the "Demonic Girl Inn". He stepped to her and asked flirtingly:
- "Heeey! What's a pretty girl doin' here with no one to guide her?" He grinned as she shrugged.
- "Thanks for the interest, sir, but I can mend my own business. I'm pretty, but not weak."
- "You sure? If you want protection, I'll be right here." He smirked when Thanatos entered, his expressionless face and the cold eyes made everybody shiver.
- "Fanha, come on. We should get going, if we want to reach the border of your mother's territory before she finds out who took you... If she pursues us, the only thing she'll find is your dead body!" His voice was as emotionless as his face, and as dead as his eyes. Geshtar bowed over to the girl:
- "Nice father you've got there, Fanha..."
- "He's not my father. And you wouldn't want to get into a fight with him. He doesn't have any mercy."
- "Hah! What does a mercenary like me fear?! Death? Anger? I don't even fear a demon like him: I've killed hundreds and thousands of his kind..." He paused as Thanatos looked at him angrily "... and all of them with just my sword. I'm a skilled man in this." Thanatos' interests were getting more and more dense.
- "Young man, how would you like to join us? We are heading to the Empire. You will get the fame you want there, and be paid a solid amount of money..." He lowered his voice in an evil whisper: "There, I can guarantee you constant pleasure: all the liquor, gambling, danger and women you want..."- "Allright then, I'll come with you." He took the pen in his hands, shrugged as it scratched over his hand and the tip was covered in blood. The dark red color blended in with the ink, he saw as he signed the contract Thanatos had offered him.
The dream went onwards, and he saw himself sitting in the Imperial Castle, at the meeting table, together with Thanatos, Fanha and Emperor Vandole.
- "So, you say you can help me gain total world domination? How?" The Emperor's low and hypnotising voice boomed throughout the audience hall, causing the guards near the doors to shiver.
- "Yes, I can give you my aid. I and my assistent Fanha here are high mages. I once served Shade until I was cast out of his Palace. This young man here has battle skills no one could ever match, plus he is a master mechanic: he knows everything there is to know of the ancient technology. Well, will you take our help - for a price of course..."
- "Wait just a minute! I want proof of your skills. Guards! Fetch me the very best soldiers! This man will battle them outside. What is your name, mercenary?" The Emperor spoke directly to him. Geshtar was, although he had never been spoken to by an emperor, very upset.
- "I prefer to be called SIR Geshtar... my Emperor." The latter, he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
- "Very well, Sir Geshtar, go out there and fight!"
And he did fight: he won easily against one, two, three, even ten soldiers at a time. He showed his sword, gleaming in the evening light, to the Emperor.
- "You have proven yourself. Now you, Thanatos. But first, remove that mask of yours!" Thanatos followed the order, took off his mask and showed his empty eyes and pale face. "Y-you are a.. a LICH!!", Emperor Vandole gasped.
- "You see, my powers are so great, they can even overcome death. Do I have to prove anything else?"
- "N-no... You have proven enough, lich. Now you, girly. Show us your worth... I know, summon an Upper Class Demon!" Fanha shuddered as she listened to the order. She looked at Geshtar, who blinked and nodded slightly.
- "Very well... but I will need to make preparations."
Geshtar helped her prepare the meeting hall: incense, magical signs on the floor, a protective circle around Fanha, and his ensuring presence right behind her. Fanha started the incantation, and suddenly the air grew cold and damp. A form materialised: an Aegragropollion, the most feared of the Upper Class Demons... Fanha asked it to name itself.
- "I am Sheex, an Aegragropollion, a shape-shifting demon. I can assume any shape you want me to assume... What is your name, my master?" His growling voice sent multiple shivers down Geshtar's spine.
- "I am Fanha Caina, I have total control over you. Can you become human, Sheex?"
- "Yes, Fanha my mistress..." He shifted into a beautiful young man with a kind of deep purple hair. "Is this form at your conveniance?" She blushed.
- "Yes, it is, Sheex. Have I proven myself, Emperor?"
- "You have, indeed. You and your party are hired, lich! I can always use good fighters like your Geshtar, and good mages like Fanha." He shrugged, grinning evilly towards Thanatos. "You are a nice side-effect... lich!"
Thanatos shrugged as well.
- "Very well, you have it your way, Emperor Vandole. But do remember that I have these powers... and you don't."
The dream then went onwards. He saw himself helping the Empire invading the Gold Isle and taking it over; the many kills he had done for Emperor Vandole, the way he took the money for doing that: it all made him feel deeply disgusted by his former self. Then, an interesting part came.
- "Sir Geshtar? Are you still awake?" A soft woman voice from behind the door. Geshtar had, once again, drunk too much after seeing Fanha with Sheex again. He couldn't bear her friendship with a demon... and thus sought comfort in liquor.
- "G-g-go away, whoever it isssh... I'm not in the m-mood fer visiters!"
- "But Geshtar, I've merely come to talk to you! It's me, Algea!" the latter made him amazed: the Empress knocking on his door?!
- "Oh..." He opened the door for her and could easily see she had been drinking and crying too. "What'sh wrong, dear Empress of mine?"
- "Geesh, call me Algea! I've come to say goodnight and to ask you if you'd do me a faver... My husband's gone again, to who knows what stupid country to play his childish game of conquer-or-destroy... I need comforting." She approached him: Geshtar could easily see her underwear through the thin fabric of her nightgown. He himself was also wearing very little. Her soft, slender body gently pressed against his when she hugged him.
- "Algea..." His thoat was dry, his vision was clear all of a sudden. Desire for that beautiful woman hit him. "D'you know..."
- "I know. C'mon, don't hesitate! Do it while we can still blame it on the alcohol."
With that sentence, his dreams faded...
- "Geshtar... Geshtar, wake up! It's morning!" Dryad's soft voice awoke him from his deep and calm sleep. He raised himself slowly, looking through one of the windows of the Palace, and suddenly realised that he knew the Seed Chamber as the room where he had found Vandole's dead body... His eyes immediately went towards the stairs of the pedestal - the blood stains were still there. He shuddered, making Dryad sense his emotions and answer his unspoken question : "Yes, this is indeed the place where Emperor Vandole met his doom. I can not try to remove the stains: my Mana energy makes them grow into the Palace instinctively... But really, you shouldn't wait any longer now. It is a long journey to the Water Palace: why waste more time here?"
- "You're probably right, Dryad. I should get going now." He hugged Dryad, who was surprised, and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you, Dryad! I needed to remember those things... Now I can go back and..."
- "Geshtar, declare to the world that you are not evil. Do not be afraid for the consequences, just do it! There have already been too many misunderstandings... Clear them all and your name with them!" Her cheeks turned a kind of glowy light brown when she added: "Luka's... lucky to have a lover like you..." She saw a blush on Geshtar's cheeks and wiped it away with a single swipe. "Don't be ashamed: I did see what has happened between you and Luka, but just... no details,okay? Now go, sir Geshtar, and never forget what I just taught you: in human life, there may never be guilt or shame about good things. Believe me, I know..."
- "Hey, what do you mean by that? Tell me what you mean..." He stood in front of the Elemental, his eyes questioning.
- "Allright then. When the Beasts struck this Earth, the Elementals had to be created. Solar was only a half-god and could not create us out of nothing. She... She used people's bodies, altered them and gave them power. I was once a little girl, and made into this. Most of my memories were wiped away, but the memory of my metamorphosys is still clear. I wore a brown dress, flowing around my feet like Solar's always does. My hair was a kind of deep golden brown, and it reached all the way to my waist. I remember feeling weird, a feeling that started at my head. My hair turned a dark shade of green, and stuck in strings to each other. When I heard the call of the Beasts, from a great distance, I went outside. My hair was by then already changed into these palm leaves. My dress stuck to my body, growing into my skin and turning into a tree trunk at the bottom, from my waist down. A small green plant grew immediately over my back to my arms. Then... I do not remember anything about what happened after that. But what I do know is that I suddenly stood face to face with the Nature Beast. He said nothing, heaved his head to cry his song of Nature's Mana... And I recognised the song, went to him and sat onto his back. The Mana immediately seeped into my body. I saw a boy burst into flames, a girl crying herself all wet... I saw Shade being born out of a dark-haired man, and Lumina out of a pale girl in pyama's. I saw Sylphid and Luna and Gnome arising from what appeared to be only a deep slumber. But it wasn't pleasant to be this little girl forever... It renders me shy, unconfident, ignorant and naive..." She sighed, allowing Geshtar to think about that.
- "...But it also makes you fresh, energetic, and innocent: you are the Elemental of Elementals. Without you, the earth would be empty and rough. You are the queen of all living things... the beauty among all nature's creations. You, Dryad, would be the perfect ruler over all this planet. But you have a more important and heavy task. Indeed, a task not suited for a child... but your mature spirit and your Elemental nature make you greater than even the most mighty of men."
- "Thank you Geshtar..." This time, she was really speechless: his flattery had now made her whole tree-like body a deep shade of burgundy. "Wow... Thank you, so much!" She pointed outwards. "Go now, I bet you Luka misses you very much... and you miss her too, I can sense it! Go then, Sir Geshtar - hurry now!" She accompanied him back down the stairs and outside. "I'll come with you, to visit her. Wait while I seal the Palace. Green Turn Bright, Green Vanquish Intruders!"
The "wall" around the Palace became visible, illuminating the whole surroundings when its greenish glow turned bright and then dissipated back into thin air. "An enhanced version of my Wall power. Come, call Flammie. We'll be there very soon." She smiled, but stopped to when she saw Flammie, who flew towards them in a slumpy way.
- "Gesssssssssssshtar, will Drrrrrrrrrrrrrryad come withhhhhhhhh us?" Her voice sounded really tired, so Geshtar neared her and immediately rubbed her back.
- "Yes, she would love to come too... if you can carry her, that is."
- "Sssssssssssssssure, I'll carrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry herrrrrrrrrr..." The Elemental was aided to climb onto the sturdy dragon's back by Geshtar, gallant as he was. The dragon sighed heavy when she heaved herself into the air, her wings beating in an ancient melody that soothed Dryad's tensed mind.
And not far from there, two spirits accompanied by a girl dressed in a pink combat suit went towards the Water Palace, their feet moving to the melody, which now resounded clear and calming. Sprite sang the words to the song:
- "Mana, Mana Hara Nekha. Mana, Naya Lethe Daara. Mana, Mana, Drago Nalaa. Mana, Mana Hara Nekha...", and his voice blended in with the melody while Fanha's spirit shrieked once and a while in deep agony. The Water Palace was already in sight...