Chapter 7
Ora Settlement: 150 AD
When Crono had first traveled back to the Middle Ages, he'd marveled at how the simple, primitive Truce Village could have eventually evolved into his home. If imagining that had been difficult, imagining that both had evolved from this colony (which they'd learned was called the Ora Settlement), was almost impossible. Nearly every house was built out of logs. A few of the larger ones were made of large stones, but even they didn't look very sturdy. There was nothing that even remotely resembled any kind of machine. Any kind of work was being done by people. Chickens, cats, and various other animals wandered around. It was remarkable, however, that they had built so much so soon after arriving here.
The first guard escorting the four pointed to a stone house, slightly larger than the rest, at north of the village. "There's Lord Arvel's house."
Trying to ignore the many villagers staring at them, Crono said, "Well, at least we'll be able to rest for a few minutes."
"I hope these people have heard of chairs." Lucca whispered quietly to Crono and Marle, laughing.
Entering the house, Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo were instructed to sit at what appeared to be a large dining table.
Crono looked and the large table and shrugged. "Maybe they're planning to serve us dinner."
Suddenly Robo's thermal sensor alerted him to something. "Someone is coming."
A moment later a tall, thin older gentleman entered the room. His clothes, a regal-looking blue suit, were much fancier than anything the other villagers they'd seen were wearing. He put his weight on a cane in his right hand as he walked. He had a long but neatly-trimmed white beard and stern but non-threatening look in his eyes.
Marle, always the bold one, was the first to stand and speak. "Lord Arvel, I presume."
The bearded man nodded his head. "Why yes, my dear. And who may I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"My name is Marle," she said, gesturing to her friends, who all stood up, she added, "and this is Crono, Lucca, and Robo."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Arvel said, shaking each of their hands. He stopped at Robo, though, as a fascinated look appeared on his face. "You, sir, what manner of creature are you?"
"I am a robot." Robo said, matter-of-factly. "A machine."
"A... machine?" Arvel asked, confused.
"Well, it's difficult to explain."
Rather than pressing the matter, Arvel simply nodded, his look of fascination remaining. "Well, clearly if you've all come from a time yet to come, no doubt you are aware of things I cannot begin to fathom."
Lucca began to look uncomfortable "Actually, sir, that's what we'd like to ask about. How can you be aware of people traveling though time."
Arvel gave her a smile. "I knew you must have been waiting to ask that, so I won't force you to wait any longer. Until recently, I thought it some fantastic fairy tale myself. Then I learned of Lavos, the Epoch, and even the four of you."
Crono leaned closer. "From who?"
Arvel's smile broadened. "From my wife, of course."
"Your wife?"
"I met her five years ago." Arvel recalled fondly, "She was so excited at the idea of colonizing a new land. She has always had an amazing spirit. Perhaps that's why she told me about the other times. I showed her a new world. Perhaps she wanted to return the favor."
"Would it be possible to meet with your wife?" asked Marle.
"Most certainly!" said Arvel. "In fact she will be quite eager to meet with-" he paused as he noticed a figure outside the window approaching the house. "Ah! There she is!"
The woman who entered made Crono, Marle and Lucca all draw breath. She was slightly older than when they last seen her in Zeal, but it was unmistakably her.
Smiling at each of them, she said "It's so good to see you all again."
Crono's jaw dropped. "Schala?"
Ioka Village: 65 000 000 BC
Frog never would have thought anything could have made Magus any grumpier, but apparently lack of sleep could do it. Sleeping on a cot apparently made of reptile hides was hard enough without wondering if that Vrath fellow would live through the night. Though Frog had managed to eventually nod off, Magus appeared to have spent the night pacing around considering the consequences if Vrath lived or died. With that much on his mind, it wasn't a wonder that he couldn't have relaxed long enough to fall asleep.
Frog wasn't too surprised, then, when his query on how Vrath was doing this morning was met with an angry snap back, asking how he could know this if he hadn't checked on Vrath yet himself.
Magus seemed to be taking this quest very personally. Frog couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not.
When Magus had finally got up the nerve, he and Frog stepped into Kino's hut, unsure whether they would find Vrath dead or alive. Magus was relieved (though he didn't show it) to see it was the latter.
Looking dazed and disoriented, the older man, with Ayla and Kino watching over him, didn't seem notice Magus for a few moments. Then he looked carefully at the pale-looking sorcerer and a flicker of recognizance appear in his eyes.
"Janus? Is that you?" Vrath whispered "You've grown older."
Magus nodded. "We both have, it seems. I go by the name Magus now. How long have you been here?"
Vrath lowered his head. "There's really no way to be sure, but I'd say at least twenty years. I was working near the Mammon Machine in the Ocean Palace when there was this bright flash of light. When I awoke, I was here. I never thought I'd end up spending my adult life living in the jungle, dodging reptiles."
"I'm afraid we have more urgent matters that lamenting our lost youth."
Vrath shook his head. "I don't understand."
"Someone is looking for the rock fragments." Magus said, simply.
Vrath's bloodshot eyes suddenly widened "No! They can't! If some manages to-"
Magus raised his hand. "I know what's at stake here. I have reason to believe one of the fragments is here. We have to find it first."
"Now just a moment!" Frog croaked sharply, sounding somewhat annoyed. "I have continued to hear of the importance of this rock but I've yet to be told what precisely it is."
Ayla and Kino chimed in. "Ayla want hear what rock is too!"
Vrath looked at Magus. "Can we trust them?"
Magus sighed. "I don't think we have a choice. Very well. When I was growing up in Zeal, Schala occasionally took me with her to visit the Earthbound Ones. I'm sure you can imagine I didn't enjoy that at all. On one of those trips, however, I noticed a rock half-buried in the snow. I don't know why it interested me. It was just a rock but there was just something about it. The energy I felt in it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before.
"Being very close to Vrath, Schala told him about it, and we agreed to show it to the gurus to see if they could tell us what it was. They studied it for days before they agreed on what it could be. I'll never forget what they told us.
"Gaspar told us an ancient story about a concentrated ball of energy that had existed for billions of years, perhaps since the beginning of the universe itself. Eventually some of the energy was turned to matter and it took the form of a stone. It somehow found its way to this planet. The gurus called it the Genesis Rock.
"The energy in that stone was so powerful it seemed to leave an imprint of energy as it went through space and time. These imprints linked the stone to every point in time it had been to and would ever be to. This meant anyone who controlled the stone could theoretically affect not only the world around them, but all points in time simultaneously. If the power of the Genesis Rock was ever used for destruction, its owner could possibly destroy all space and time itself.
"Melchoir concluded that such a power was too great for anyone to wield and that the Genesis Rock must be destroyed. Unfortunately it wasn't that simple. When Belthasar tired to destroy the stone, all he was able to do was able to do was shatter it into several pieces. The stone's power was greatly diminished but we realized it might be possible to reassemble them, so Melchoir instructed Schala to use her powers to scatter pieces as far as she could. One of them was thrown into the sea. It must have landed near the site where the Ocean Palace was being built and been thrown back in time like Vrath when Lavos arose. We have to find it and every remaining piece as quickly as possible. I don't know whether the other one looking for them can travel through time or not but given how powerful he was, I suspect he can."
Frog didn't know what to say. After pondering Magus' story for a few moments, he composed himself. "How wilt thou know where to find these pieces?"
Magus looked down at Vrath, then back at Frog. "I am descended from Zeal's most powerful magic users. I grew up around magic. I can sense it in other things and people. Something as powerful as a piece of that rock will be impossible to miss."
Though obviously straining a bit, Vrath managed to stand himself up. "I'm feeling much better now. I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"Me come too!" Ayla cheered.
Frog turned to Magus, smiling at the wizard for the first time ever. "Then what do we waiteth for?"
Vrath still looked somewhat concerned. "What about this person looking for the pieces? What will we do about him? Should we try to track him down?"
Magus placed a hand on Vrath's shoulder in an uncharacteristic display of warmth. "Don't be in such a hurry to face him. Besides, I have a feeling he'll find us."
On a mountain overlooking the village, a hooded figure smiled and watched as four odd-looking individuals marched out of the chief's hut and into the jungle.
"Thank you, Janus," the figure whispered. "You were always so helpful. As you lead me to the next fragment, know that you're simply dooming the world you seek to save and that your faith in those you care for will be your undoing."
Next: A fight on two fronts...
Ora Settlement: 150 AD
When Crono had first traveled back to the Middle Ages, he'd marveled at how the simple, primitive Truce Village could have eventually evolved into his home. If imagining that had been difficult, imagining that both had evolved from this colony (which they'd learned was called the Ora Settlement), was almost impossible. Nearly every house was built out of logs. A few of the larger ones were made of large stones, but even they didn't look very sturdy. There was nothing that even remotely resembled any kind of machine. Any kind of work was being done by people. Chickens, cats, and various other animals wandered around. It was remarkable, however, that they had built so much so soon after arriving here.
The first guard escorting the four pointed to a stone house, slightly larger than the rest, at north of the village. "There's Lord Arvel's house."
Trying to ignore the many villagers staring at them, Crono said, "Well, at least we'll be able to rest for a few minutes."
"I hope these people have heard of chairs." Lucca whispered quietly to Crono and Marle, laughing.
Entering the house, Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo were instructed to sit at what appeared to be a large dining table.
Crono looked and the large table and shrugged. "Maybe they're planning to serve us dinner."
Suddenly Robo's thermal sensor alerted him to something. "Someone is coming."
A moment later a tall, thin older gentleman entered the room. His clothes, a regal-looking blue suit, were much fancier than anything the other villagers they'd seen were wearing. He put his weight on a cane in his right hand as he walked. He had a long but neatly-trimmed white beard and stern but non-threatening look in his eyes.
Marle, always the bold one, was the first to stand and speak. "Lord Arvel, I presume."
The bearded man nodded his head. "Why yes, my dear. And who may I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"My name is Marle," she said, gesturing to her friends, who all stood up, she added, "and this is Crono, Lucca, and Robo."
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Arvel said, shaking each of their hands. He stopped at Robo, though, as a fascinated look appeared on his face. "You, sir, what manner of creature are you?"
"I am a robot." Robo said, matter-of-factly. "A machine."
"A... machine?" Arvel asked, confused.
"Well, it's difficult to explain."
Rather than pressing the matter, Arvel simply nodded, his look of fascination remaining. "Well, clearly if you've all come from a time yet to come, no doubt you are aware of things I cannot begin to fathom."
Lucca began to look uncomfortable "Actually, sir, that's what we'd like to ask about. How can you be aware of people traveling though time."
Arvel gave her a smile. "I knew you must have been waiting to ask that, so I won't force you to wait any longer. Until recently, I thought it some fantastic fairy tale myself. Then I learned of Lavos, the Epoch, and even the four of you."
Crono leaned closer. "From who?"
Arvel's smile broadened. "From my wife, of course."
"Your wife?"
"I met her five years ago." Arvel recalled fondly, "She was so excited at the idea of colonizing a new land. She has always had an amazing spirit. Perhaps that's why she told me about the other times. I showed her a new world. Perhaps she wanted to return the favor."
"Would it be possible to meet with your wife?" asked Marle.
"Most certainly!" said Arvel. "In fact she will be quite eager to meet with-" he paused as he noticed a figure outside the window approaching the house. "Ah! There she is!"
The woman who entered made Crono, Marle and Lucca all draw breath. She was slightly older than when they last seen her in Zeal, but it was unmistakably her.
Smiling at each of them, she said "It's so good to see you all again."
Crono's jaw dropped. "Schala?"
Ioka Village: 65 000 000 BC
Frog never would have thought anything could have made Magus any grumpier, but apparently lack of sleep could do it. Sleeping on a cot apparently made of reptile hides was hard enough without wondering if that Vrath fellow would live through the night. Though Frog had managed to eventually nod off, Magus appeared to have spent the night pacing around considering the consequences if Vrath lived or died. With that much on his mind, it wasn't a wonder that he couldn't have relaxed long enough to fall asleep.
Frog wasn't too surprised, then, when his query on how Vrath was doing this morning was met with an angry snap back, asking how he could know this if he hadn't checked on Vrath yet himself.
Magus seemed to be taking this quest very personally. Frog couldn't decide whether that was a good thing or not.
When Magus had finally got up the nerve, he and Frog stepped into Kino's hut, unsure whether they would find Vrath dead or alive. Magus was relieved (though he didn't show it) to see it was the latter.
Looking dazed and disoriented, the older man, with Ayla and Kino watching over him, didn't seem notice Magus for a few moments. Then he looked carefully at the pale-looking sorcerer and a flicker of recognizance appear in his eyes.
"Janus? Is that you?" Vrath whispered "You've grown older."
Magus nodded. "We both have, it seems. I go by the name Magus now. How long have you been here?"
Vrath lowered his head. "There's really no way to be sure, but I'd say at least twenty years. I was working near the Mammon Machine in the Ocean Palace when there was this bright flash of light. When I awoke, I was here. I never thought I'd end up spending my adult life living in the jungle, dodging reptiles."
"I'm afraid we have more urgent matters that lamenting our lost youth."
Vrath shook his head. "I don't understand."
"Someone is looking for the rock fragments." Magus said, simply.
Vrath's bloodshot eyes suddenly widened "No! They can't! If some manages to-"
Magus raised his hand. "I know what's at stake here. I have reason to believe one of the fragments is here. We have to find it first."
"Now just a moment!" Frog croaked sharply, sounding somewhat annoyed. "I have continued to hear of the importance of this rock but I've yet to be told what precisely it is."
Ayla and Kino chimed in. "Ayla want hear what rock is too!"
Vrath looked at Magus. "Can we trust them?"
Magus sighed. "I don't think we have a choice. Very well. When I was growing up in Zeal, Schala occasionally took me with her to visit the Earthbound Ones. I'm sure you can imagine I didn't enjoy that at all. On one of those trips, however, I noticed a rock half-buried in the snow. I don't know why it interested me. It was just a rock but there was just something about it. The energy I felt in it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before.
"Being very close to Vrath, Schala told him about it, and we agreed to show it to the gurus to see if they could tell us what it was. They studied it for days before they agreed on what it could be. I'll never forget what they told us.
"Gaspar told us an ancient story about a concentrated ball of energy that had existed for billions of years, perhaps since the beginning of the universe itself. Eventually some of the energy was turned to matter and it took the form of a stone. It somehow found its way to this planet. The gurus called it the Genesis Rock.
"The energy in that stone was so powerful it seemed to leave an imprint of energy as it went through space and time. These imprints linked the stone to every point in time it had been to and would ever be to. This meant anyone who controlled the stone could theoretically affect not only the world around them, but all points in time simultaneously. If the power of the Genesis Rock was ever used for destruction, its owner could possibly destroy all space and time itself.
"Melchoir concluded that such a power was too great for anyone to wield and that the Genesis Rock must be destroyed. Unfortunately it wasn't that simple. When Belthasar tired to destroy the stone, all he was able to do was able to do was shatter it into several pieces. The stone's power was greatly diminished but we realized it might be possible to reassemble them, so Melchoir instructed Schala to use her powers to scatter pieces as far as she could. One of them was thrown into the sea. It must have landed near the site where the Ocean Palace was being built and been thrown back in time like Vrath when Lavos arose. We have to find it and every remaining piece as quickly as possible. I don't know whether the other one looking for them can travel through time or not but given how powerful he was, I suspect he can."
Frog didn't know what to say. After pondering Magus' story for a few moments, he composed himself. "How wilt thou know where to find these pieces?"
Magus looked down at Vrath, then back at Frog. "I am descended from Zeal's most powerful magic users. I grew up around magic. I can sense it in other things and people. Something as powerful as a piece of that rock will be impossible to miss."
Though obviously straining a bit, Vrath managed to stand himself up. "I'm feeling much better now. I'm ready to go whenever you are."
"Me come too!" Ayla cheered.
Frog turned to Magus, smiling at the wizard for the first time ever. "Then what do we waiteth for?"
Vrath still looked somewhat concerned. "What about this person looking for the pieces? What will we do about him? Should we try to track him down?"
Magus placed a hand on Vrath's shoulder in an uncharacteristic display of warmth. "Don't be in such a hurry to face him. Besides, I have a feeling he'll find us."
On a mountain overlooking the village, a hooded figure smiled and watched as four odd-looking individuals marched out of the chief's hut and into the jungle.
"Thank you, Janus," the figure whispered. "You were always so helpful. As you lead me to the next fragment, know that you're simply dooming the world you seek to save and that your faith in those you care for will be your undoing."
Next: A fight on two fronts...