Heraldic Mage
Disclaimer: Weren't you paying attention to the other chapters?
"Rena?" We are in the throne room of Cross Castle. The King of Cross seems a bit puzzled to see us again. "What is it?"
"If it please Your Majesty," Rena says, "We would like to know if you know anything about a three-eyed woman." The King raises an eyebrow.
"Well, yes! She came in here asking about the three-eyed man we granted audience a few days ago. She is in the mountain palace now, I believe." I raise an eyebrow. Another one? I thought Ashton had it bad.. three eyes?!
"Your Majesty, may we enter the mountain palace again? We should at least make sure she is safe. If she travels alone.." the King cuts Rena off.
"There is no need to remind me of the dangers, Rena. Go ahead. I would rather know she is safe, and I can think of no one better to help her." We bow and curtsey, then leave for the Mountain Palace.
**at the Mountain Palace**
"I hate this place, I hate this place, I hate this place.."
"Celine, we get it." Claude snaps me out of my complaining. I really hate this place. One giant maze with no real ending. Just up ahead, we see Opera fuming. We stop a few feet away.
"Why is it so dusty in here?!" Opera practically screams. We look at each other and shrug.
"Maybe because it is a cavern?" Rena responds. Opera stops pacing with her back to us.
"Hmm. I see your point." She suddenly stiffens. Then she snaps around and pulls a strange thing out.. I think some kind of weapon. Whatever it is, I don't want to be hit by it. She puts it away when she sees who it is. "I'm so sorry, you startled me."
"Don't worry." Rena says. We just kind of look at each other a moment, not sure who should make the first move.
"Is there something you need?" Opera finally says. Claude steps up.
"Actually.." Claude pulls Opera aside. We look at each other not quite sure what is going on. Claude is saying something to Opera, and she seems to be arguing with him. I look over at Ashton and Rena.
"What in the world?" I ask. Ashton shakes his head, but Rena steps up.
"What's going on over there?" She says. Claude turns around, a bit red.
"Well.. ummm.." Claude stammers a bit, but Opera starts laughing.
"Don't worry, we aren't that close." She laughs. "I already have my heart set on someone." We all turn to her. "I have a boyfriend. I followed him here, but I lost him. I think he is in here somewhere. So I am looking for him." She seems to think a moment. "There sure are a lot of monsters here though.."
"This place is sort of a nesting site for them." Rena responds. Opera looks at her.
"Could you all come with me?" she asks. "You can keep anything we find on the way." We go into a quick huddle. Then we all decide to do it.
"Sure." Claude says. Opera lights up.
"Thank you so much." She points to the wall. "I think Ernest did this." Claude's jaw drops.
"That must be one piece of equipment he is packing.." he says. I have no clue what is going on. We start moving. After about 2 hours, we are thoroughly lost. But we have come on a strange room. I look down at the floor, and there is some kind of star pattern there. We go in, and there are all sorts of strange things.
"This looks like an experimental facility.." Claude says. Opera looks around.
"But no Ernest.." she looks down. I go up to her and try to comfort her a bit. Claude steps up as well.
"Well, we know he isn't here though." Opera nods. Then she sighs.
"So now what.." she says. Claude gets the 'I've got a great idea' look in his eyes.
"Why don't you come with us?" he says. Opera looks at him.
".....that's right.." she says. She doesn't sound really convinced.
"If you come with us, you may find Ernest. It would be better than just sitting around." Rena says. I nod, and so does Ashton. Opera seems to think a moment.
"Well, I don't really see why not. Maybe I could help you as well." She says. We all smile. Time to get the heck outta here.
**4 hours later (stupid maze..)**
I'm ready to kiss the ground now that we are out of there. I hope I never have to go in there ever again. My treasure hunts have always taken me to strange places, but I have always been able to find my way out with little to no difficulty. We are walking back to Herlie. We still have to drop off the Ancient Writings we found in Cross Cave. When we finally get to Herlie, the place is practically deserted, like it wasn't before. People seem to be moving as far away from the coasts as possible. Can't really say I blame them. We board the boat and head over to Lacour. Rena, again, is leaning far over the side. Claude and Ashton are both holding on to her trying to keep her from going overboard. Opera sees this and laughs. I can't help but smile as well. Rena is having a ball. Claude and Ashton finally pull her back onto the boat. She gives them both death glares, then goes to the front of the boat.
**Back on dry land. a.k.a. Lacour**
We get off at Hilton, then head for Linga. The monsters are getting stronger. But we also notice something else. Opera's weapon shoots some kind of Heraldic power from it. That is the only explanation I can come up for it. It is sure making our battles easier. We finally get to Linga. Since we have no idea where the linguist is, we decide to split up. I go into the University and look around. Some of the classrooms have lectures going on, so I don't want to interrupt. On the second floor, I find some kind of lab. One of the people in it notices me.
"Can I help you, miss?" he asks. I nod.
"I am soo sorry to be a bother," I say, "But could you tell me where I could find a linguist?" he nods.
"Keith lives next to the University Co-op. He is the best linguist in Linga."
"Thank you ever so much." I say. He nods, then I leave. We agreed to meet up after a half an hour back at the town entrance. On the way, I see Ashton and Opera walking back from different parts of the town. We all go up, and see Claude, Rena... and another young girl. Wait, I remember her. I saw her chasing some little blue thing earlier.. she was all over the place.
"What?" Ashton asks. He apparently noticed her as well. "Who's she?" Opera has a sort of blank look on her face.
"Umm.." the girl says, "Maybe I should introduce myself." She twirls around. "I'm Precis. Nice to meet ya!" Rena and Claude must have said she could come. A hyper teenager..exactly what we need..
"Well, we still need to get these writings deciphered." Rena says.
"Well," I begin, "The people at the University said to go to Keith." Ashton looks at me.
"The people at the Library said the same thing." We all stare. Opera puts her two cents in.
"Almost everyone in town says that." This Keith must be pretty good. We all head over to his house. When we enter, we are 'greeted' by an assistant.
"How can I help you..people" What, does he think we are animals or something?! How rude.
"We would like to speak to Keith." The assistant shakes his head.
"You need an appointment." Claude grits his teeth.
"Then we would like an appointment as soon as possible." The assistant seems to think about this a moment.
"Even if you make an appointment now, you would still have to wait a month." Then he begins to push us out the door. Once we are outside, we try to figure something out.
"We can't wait a month!" Claude says. I just look down. There must be some way.
"Precis," Rena says, "Is there anyone he calls a friend here?" I look up. Maybe that is the ticket. Precis seems to think a moment, then lights up.
"That Pharmacy!!" she exclaims. We all look at her.
"The Pharmacy." Rena repeats. Precis is on a roll.
"EVERYONE goes to Bowman's Pharmacy when they have a problem. He always helps them!" We all look at each other.
"Well," Claude says, "What do we have to lose?"
**Bowman's Pharmacy**
When we enter, we see a man putting various items on a shelf. Precis decides to 'politely' greet him.
"HEY BOWMAN!" The man jumps, and almost drops the bottle. Then, without even turning around, shakes his head.
"What did you do this time Precis.." he says. Precis starts giggling. I decide that I don't really want to know.
"Nothing." Precis says. Bowman turns around and sees us all.
"Well, this is something else.." he says. "What can I do for ya?"
"Pardon us for asking, but could you talk to Keith for us?" Claude asks. Bowman's eyes widen.
"Is there a real reason? He is kinda busy." I step up a bit.
"We wanted him to take a look at some writings we found in Cross Cave." Bowman narrows his eyes. I know where this is going.
"Cross Cave?! And you made it out alive?!" he says. He seems to think a moment.
"We have the writings as proof." Rena says. Bowman shakes his head.
"Some book isn't proof. You could have gotten that anywhere." We all think a moment. There must be some way to convince him that we are telling the truth. Bowman looks up. "I might be convinced if." We all look at him. "If you are good enough for Cross Cave, you should be good enough for the Sanctuary of Linga." We all look at him.
"OK. what do you expect?" Claude asks.
"Well, it has always been a place for herbalists. But in the innermost reaches are herbs that are very valuable. I'm sure you can find something that has yet to be discovered. We look at him.
"Yet to be discovered?!" Claude almost shouts.
"What are you waiting for?" Bowman asks. "I would think it would be no problem for the conquerors of Cross Cave." We head out to the Sanctuary of Linga. Here we go again..
To be continued.
Disclaimer: Weren't you paying attention to the other chapters?
"Rena?" We are in the throne room of Cross Castle. The King of Cross seems a bit puzzled to see us again. "What is it?"
"If it please Your Majesty," Rena says, "We would like to know if you know anything about a three-eyed woman." The King raises an eyebrow.
"Well, yes! She came in here asking about the three-eyed man we granted audience a few days ago. She is in the mountain palace now, I believe." I raise an eyebrow. Another one? I thought Ashton had it bad.. three eyes?!
"Your Majesty, may we enter the mountain palace again? We should at least make sure she is safe. If she travels alone.." the King cuts Rena off.
"There is no need to remind me of the dangers, Rena. Go ahead. I would rather know she is safe, and I can think of no one better to help her." We bow and curtsey, then leave for the Mountain Palace.
**at the Mountain Palace**
"I hate this place, I hate this place, I hate this place.."
"Celine, we get it." Claude snaps me out of my complaining. I really hate this place. One giant maze with no real ending. Just up ahead, we see Opera fuming. We stop a few feet away.
"Why is it so dusty in here?!" Opera practically screams. We look at each other and shrug.
"Maybe because it is a cavern?" Rena responds. Opera stops pacing with her back to us.
"Hmm. I see your point." She suddenly stiffens. Then she snaps around and pulls a strange thing out.. I think some kind of weapon. Whatever it is, I don't want to be hit by it. She puts it away when she sees who it is. "I'm so sorry, you startled me."
"Don't worry." Rena says. We just kind of look at each other a moment, not sure who should make the first move.
"Is there something you need?" Opera finally says. Claude steps up.
"Actually.." Claude pulls Opera aside. We look at each other not quite sure what is going on. Claude is saying something to Opera, and she seems to be arguing with him. I look over at Ashton and Rena.
"What in the world?" I ask. Ashton shakes his head, but Rena steps up.
"What's going on over there?" She says. Claude turns around, a bit red.
"Well.. ummm.." Claude stammers a bit, but Opera starts laughing.
"Don't worry, we aren't that close." She laughs. "I already have my heart set on someone." We all turn to her. "I have a boyfriend. I followed him here, but I lost him. I think he is in here somewhere. So I am looking for him." She seems to think a moment. "There sure are a lot of monsters here though.."
"This place is sort of a nesting site for them." Rena responds. Opera looks at her.
"Could you all come with me?" she asks. "You can keep anything we find on the way." We go into a quick huddle. Then we all decide to do it.
"Sure." Claude says. Opera lights up.
"Thank you so much." She points to the wall. "I think Ernest did this." Claude's jaw drops.
"That must be one piece of equipment he is packing.." he says. I have no clue what is going on. We start moving. After about 2 hours, we are thoroughly lost. But we have come on a strange room. I look down at the floor, and there is some kind of star pattern there. We go in, and there are all sorts of strange things.
"This looks like an experimental facility.." Claude says. Opera looks around.
"But no Ernest.." she looks down. I go up to her and try to comfort her a bit. Claude steps up as well.
"Well, we know he isn't here though." Opera nods. Then she sighs.
"So now what.." she says. Claude gets the 'I've got a great idea' look in his eyes.
"Why don't you come with us?" he says. Opera looks at him.
".....that's right.." she says. She doesn't sound really convinced.
"If you come with us, you may find Ernest. It would be better than just sitting around." Rena says. I nod, and so does Ashton. Opera seems to think a moment.
"Well, I don't really see why not. Maybe I could help you as well." She says. We all smile. Time to get the heck outta here.
**4 hours later (stupid maze..)**
I'm ready to kiss the ground now that we are out of there. I hope I never have to go in there ever again. My treasure hunts have always taken me to strange places, but I have always been able to find my way out with little to no difficulty. We are walking back to Herlie. We still have to drop off the Ancient Writings we found in Cross Cave. When we finally get to Herlie, the place is practically deserted, like it wasn't before. People seem to be moving as far away from the coasts as possible. Can't really say I blame them. We board the boat and head over to Lacour. Rena, again, is leaning far over the side. Claude and Ashton are both holding on to her trying to keep her from going overboard. Opera sees this and laughs. I can't help but smile as well. Rena is having a ball. Claude and Ashton finally pull her back onto the boat. She gives them both death glares, then goes to the front of the boat.
**Back on dry land. a.k.a. Lacour**
We get off at Hilton, then head for Linga. The monsters are getting stronger. But we also notice something else. Opera's weapon shoots some kind of Heraldic power from it. That is the only explanation I can come up for it. It is sure making our battles easier. We finally get to Linga. Since we have no idea where the linguist is, we decide to split up. I go into the University and look around. Some of the classrooms have lectures going on, so I don't want to interrupt. On the second floor, I find some kind of lab. One of the people in it notices me.
"Can I help you, miss?" he asks. I nod.
"I am soo sorry to be a bother," I say, "But could you tell me where I could find a linguist?" he nods.
"Keith lives next to the University Co-op. He is the best linguist in Linga."
"Thank you ever so much." I say. He nods, then I leave. We agreed to meet up after a half an hour back at the town entrance. On the way, I see Ashton and Opera walking back from different parts of the town. We all go up, and see Claude, Rena... and another young girl. Wait, I remember her. I saw her chasing some little blue thing earlier.. she was all over the place.
"What?" Ashton asks. He apparently noticed her as well. "Who's she?" Opera has a sort of blank look on her face.
"Umm.." the girl says, "Maybe I should introduce myself." She twirls around. "I'm Precis. Nice to meet ya!" Rena and Claude must have said she could come. A hyper teenager..exactly what we need..
"Well, we still need to get these writings deciphered." Rena says.
"Well," I begin, "The people at the University said to go to Keith." Ashton looks at me.
"The people at the Library said the same thing." We all stare. Opera puts her two cents in.
"Almost everyone in town says that." This Keith must be pretty good. We all head over to his house. When we enter, we are 'greeted' by an assistant.
"How can I help you..people" What, does he think we are animals or something?! How rude.
"We would like to speak to Keith." The assistant shakes his head.
"You need an appointment." Claude grits his teeth.
"Then we would like an appointment as soon as possible." The assistant seems to think about this a moment.
"Even if you make an appointment now, you would still have to wait a month." Then he begins to push us out the door. Once we are outside, we try to figure something out.
"We can't wait a month!" Claude says. I just look down. There must be some way.
"Precis," Rena says, "Is there anyone he calls a friend here?" I look up. Maybe that is the ticket. Precis seems to think a moment, then lights up.
"That Pharmacy!!" she exclaims. We all look at her.
"The Pharmacy." Rena repeats. Precis is on a roll.
"EVERYONE goes to Bowman's Pharmacy when they have a problem. He always helps them!" We all look at each other.
"Well," Claude says, "What do we have to lose?"
**Bowman's Pharmacy**
When we enter, we see a man putting various items on a shelf. Precis decides to 'politely' greet him.
"HEY BOWMAN!" The man jumps, and almost drops the bottle. Then, without even turning around, shakes his head.
"What did you do this time Precis.." he says. Precis starts giggling. I decide that I don't really want to know.
"Nothing." Precis says. Bowman turns around and sees us all.
"Well, this is something else.." he says. "What can I do for ya?"
"Pardon us for asking, but could you talk to Keith for us?" Claude asks. Bowman's eyes widen.
"Is there a real reason? He is kinda busy." I step up a bit.
"We wanted him to take a look at some writings we found in Cross Cave." Bowman narrows his eyes. I know where this is going.
"Cross Cave?! And you made it out alive?!" he says. He seems to think a moment.
"We have the writings as proof." Rena says. Bowman shakes his head.
"Some book isn't proof. You could have gotten that anywhere." We all think a moment. There must be some way to convince him that we are telling the truth. Bowman looks up. "I might be convinced if." We all look at him. "If you are good enough for Cross Cave, you should be good enough for the Sanctuary of Linga." We all look at him.
"OK. what do you expect?" Claude asks.
"Well, it has always been a place for herbalists. But in the innermost reaches are herbs that are very valuable. I'm sure you can find something that has yet to be discovered. We look at him.
"Yet to be discovered?!" Claude almost shouts.
"What are you waiting for?" Bowman asks. "I would think it would be no problem for the conquerors of Cross Cave." We head out to the Sanctuary of Linga. Here we go again..
To be continued.