FINALLY I get a chance to write. Sorry about the wait. ^^;;;
I know pretty much exactly what's going to happen for the next couple chapters, and my brain's been collecting little details and scenes here and there, so let's see what happens!
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All the Adepts were glad to get away from the freezing mainland, even Mia and Picard. It had stayed cold for a while, but it was finally warming up. A sure sign of the improving weather was the fact that Garet would stay out on deck for more than five minutes at a time; the first time in days he had dared to.
Everyone was relaxing on deck, enjoying the sunny weather, while Picard continued to steer the ship. They were expected to arrive at Lemuria sometime that day, Picard had told them, so, after packing a few things, the five friends had gathered into a group.
There wasn't much open conversation, excepting an occasional word exchanged between neighbors, until Picard walked over and joined them.
The five had noticed that the Lemurian's eyes seemed to change with his moods, and now they were slightly darker than normal, though nothing seemed to be amiss. Now they looked up, knowing he must have something to tell them. It wasn't often he left the Orb unattended.
He was silent for a few moments, then spoke. "We will be arriving soon," he began, "but there is something you need to know about entering Lemuria." Seeing that no one had a comment, he continued. "It has been a tradition for as long as anyone can remember for outsiders to take a test of sorts to gain entrance to our island. I don't know if it will be required of you, since you carry the Gifts, but you should be prepared nonetheless."
"What sort of a test?" asked Mia, looking slightly worried.
"Ah, Mia," Picard sighed, "I am afraid it is not an easy one."
The others were silent.
"First of all," Picard began resignedly, "items are not permitted other than your weapon and your armor. You will enter the Cave together, and complete about half of the Test in a group, but then you must split off for your individual ordeals."
"What will be our goal?" asked Ivan, alert and practical as always.
"To make it out conscious and alive."
Ivan's face visibly fell, almost regretting the question he had asked. Worried glances passed around the circle of friends as they wondered what lay in store for them.
After a few seconds, Isaac spoke.
"Have there been... any failures?"
"There have been some."
"Many?"
"Some."
More silence. Picard, however, had more to tell.
"After completion of the Test, all group members must wait in the goal room for all of the group to emerge. There will be a Vial in this room, for use of the first person to exit the Cave." Here he paused. "You must plan your strategy carefully. When you reach the point where you must split up, your best healer should go first." He glanced at Mia. "Any secondary healers should follow, so that the best healer can use the Vial, then heal the secondary ones, and they all can split the work of healing the others."
"So, we basically have to stay alive until the last person reaches the goal room," Videll stated. "Do we have to remain conscious?"
"No, once you exit the Cave itself, consciousness is no longer required. Only to remain alive."
Garet spoke, combining all of their thoughts into one phrase.
"This isn't gonna be easy."
"Land ho!"
Ivan slid from the crow's nest to the deck, landing lightly on his feet as he dropped from the rope. Videll watched him, smiling, but her eyes were worried. What if someone doesn't make it? What if I never see him again?
Ivan walked over to the others as they prepared to go ashore. He didn't want to be reminded of the danger ahead - didn't want to be reminded of that chance. Videll took his hand, giving him a sad smile when he looked up into her eyes. He looked away, tears suddenly forming in his eyes, begging to be let out.
He squeezed her hand tighter.
The crew looked around themselves as their feet hit soil. Lemuria looked like a normal island, but a little way inland, there was what looked like a high wall reaching back into the distance. Over the wall, a few building tops were visible, but not nearly enough to get any impression of what Lemuria would look like once they got inside.
If they got inside.
Silence reigned over the group as they made the long trek toward the wall. Picard led the way, seeming to make for a large door in the side of the wall. As they got closer, several forms became evident against the marble.
They finally reached the doors. Torches set into the wall transformed the guards into silent silhouettes, but when they stepped into the light, they were revealed to be as kind-faced as Picard himself, and just as handsome. They seemed to be Mercury Adepts as well, and Mia wondered if all on this island were.
Picard forward, speaking to the guards in a language the five could not understand. They replied in the same graceful tongue, and, now moving to the group, proceeded to remove their bags and pouches. When all their items were in custody of the guards, Picard instructed them to step up to the doors.
A guard spoke. The five were suprised to find he had no accent - with the right clothes, he could pass for a normal citizen of Gondowan or Angara.
"Are you ready?"
The Adepts looked around at themselves and the others, then one by one nodded.
"Very well, then." The guard smiled kindly. "Good luck."
The other held out a hand, and the doors swung inward, revealing a dark void. With determined looks and deep breaths, the Adepts stepped inside the Cave. The doors swung shut behind them.
They were alone.
Isaac's voice pierced the darkness that surrounded them.
"Stay close."
They didn't need reminding - they were already so close that they could feel each other's breath. But somehow they grouped tighter.
Suddenly torches flared, illuminating their surroundings with a ghostly glow. They were in what looked like a tunnel of a cave, which continued forward into the dark. Slowly, still in a tight group, they moved down the tunnel. They jumped as another pair of torches burst into flame beside them.
Torches kept lighting at intervals as they made their way further down the tunnel, as if some unseen force knew where they were.
And maybe one did.
Eventually they ended up at a wall. A plain stone wall.
"Great," Garet muttered. "We've barely started and we hit a dead end."
"I don't think so," Videll stated. "Maybe..."
Ivan, as if he had read her mind (and of course he had), stepped up to the wall and pressed his hand flat against it. He closed his eyes and a glow flared up under his hand, slowly spreading over the wall like voilet fire burning through paper. It was no longer a wall, it was a door - and it swung inward, revealing blackness.
Cautiously, carefully, the Adepts moved into the room, hands linked so as not to lose each other. They hardly dared to breathe - who knew what was waiting for them in the dark?
The light came suddenly, revealing exactly what they were up against.
And it wasn't pretty.
Four Grand Golems, lined up and staring at them with blank eyes, claws gleaming in the light. Two Fenrirs, fangs dripping with poison.
"Dammit, there's more of them then there are us!" Garet exclaimed. "How are we gonna pull this one off?"
"Just take them as they come," Isaac replied, one eye still on the enemy. "There's too many of them to plan it - something'll just go wrong. And Videll, Mia, try not to use too much Psyenergy unless it's needed. You two are the main healers, and we're really gonna depend on you at the end of this."
Garet started to speak again, but a Fenrir lunged, and he just managed to duck as the deadly claws reached for his throat. He brought Murumasa straight up toward the ceiling, and the Fenrir fell away from the blade. In two pieces.
The cries of the other monsters echoed throughout the room, sending chills up the Adepts' spines. They swarmed toward the five like ants to a picnic - and with many of the same intentions. The fight was on.
A Grand Golem lumbered toward Videll. Fighting the urge to let out a Storm Ray, she took a defensive position and waited for the giant creature to make the first move.
It swung its claws at her, and she jumped, bringing her legs up under her and her arms out to the side. Clearing the thing's arm, she landed with her staff over her left shoulder. Swinging it across her body, she beat the monster back.
The remaining Fenrir, seeing that it was not a good idea to attack Garet, made for Ivan instead, leaping suddenly towards him. He did a slight backbend to avoid the sudden attack, the monster sailing over his head. With a quick twist, he thrust his hand into the air, and Destruct Ray hurtled down from the cave ceiling. The beast's knees buckled, and it fell to the floor, stunned.
Ivan raised his Zodiac Wand over his head to strike, but just as he made contact with the Fenrir's skull, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, and his senses started to jumble and blur...
Videll, bleeding from a gash across her hip, heard the Fenrir's howl as it disintegrated. Gathering her strength, she swung her staff hard at the Golem's head, and it fell to the ground, joining its comrade. Now, her view clear, she saw Ivan stagger forward as the Grand Golem behind him dislodged its claws from his shoulder. Cursing under her breath, she ran over to Ivan, holding him upright.
She winced when she saw the wound - it ran straight through his shoulder - but didn't waste time. Gently pressing her hand to the spot, Blessed Wind swirled around him, mostly closing the wound. He stood on his own, and with a smile and a quick "thanks", was back in the fray.
Isaac had seen the Golem the same time Videll had, and was there as quickly as he could. He ran the Gaia blade through the creature's back, but it spun quickly, sending him flying. Something stopped him, and he found arms around his waist. He looked up into Mia's worried blue eyes. She set him back upright, and he quickly fired a Ragnarok before the Golem could reach them.
The Golem still lumbered on. Running forward, Isaac delilvered one last blow with the Gaia blade, and it finally fell. Out of the corner of his eye, Isaac saw Garet dodge a Golem's claws and thrust Murumasa through it, then spin, sword out, slicing the other into halves.
It was over. The Adepts trudged to the center of the room, and were starting to size up their wounds when they heard the sound of grating stone. Turning, they saw an open door, opposite to where they had come in.
"I guess that's where we're headed," Isaac said. "No severe injuries?"
"Not anymore," said Ivan with a grimace. "I hate to think how many battles like this we'll have." And how long our Psyenergy will last, he added silently.
Videll agreed wholeheartedly, and told him so with a feeble smile.
New doubts were arising in everyone's mind as they headed for the next room. Especially when they saw what was in it.
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Jeez, that took a long time. I was planning to go farther with this chapter, but it's getting late, and my inspiration is starting to wear off...
The test will definitely take another full chapter - in fact, it will probably take two more full chapters. So, review! Tomorrow's the last day of school before Christmas break, so updates should be more frequent than the last few have been... ^^;;;
Review!!!