Standard Disclaimer: Need I explain more?
Author's Note: Thanks to all you guys out there who reviewed! I also want to apologize (again) for the lateness of this update: I had serious writers' block.
Oh, and before I forget, there is a part where there is "a detailed description of a homo sapien imploding", so if there is anyone who might not enjoy the *ahem* liberal description, you are now warned…
Now, onto…
Estoland: The Quest Continues
Chapter 4: Doom Island, Revisited Part One of Three
It was a bright and sunny day like any other in Putriken, with shops open, people in the street, and the clop-clop of horses' hooves on the gray cobblestones that had just been laid a few weeks ago. However, this day would be very different from all others, since a group six travelers had arrived.
Maeru, owner of the Twin Swords Inn and Pub, had found something odd about these six travelers, something that she couldn't quite place, yet was so obvious that made the distinction between them and the rest of her tenants.
For one, they had just walked in casually, not worried about the local gang who had "reserved" her inn for their personal use everyday from opening until about six at night, and that's if they didn't get drunk. They had entered with an air of power, yet cool and collected, but, at the same time, not swaggering or boasting in any way. And another was that they didn't try to conceal their weapons, as if inviting a fight with anyone within visual range.
She shook her head slightly. Even though they appeared to be fighters- two were carrying swords, and two were carrying staffs- the gang wouldn't be pleased at this turning of events- Not that she liked the Hellfire Gang, but she couldn't do anything about it: They had almost complete control of the town since there were no police established yet. The few well-doers that had attempted to stop them had found their head stuck on a long pike atop the small fountain in the center of town.
Even as she looked on, members of the gang had already begun to take notice of these travelers and were beginning to close in. She shook her head, causing several indigo strands to fall. 'I guess I'll have to close tomorrow to clean up the blood…' she thought, as ever angry about the thought that she couldn't do anything about it.
Wain and company sat down at a small table in the center of the room, apparently the only table left. This had been the only inn in town, and they had to rest up before going to the crash site, where, doubtless, the Cult would be.
He looked around, his eyes taking in their surroundings. They narrowed quickly as he confirmed what his unconscious had been telling him as soon as they had entered: These folks aren't the ones he'd want to meet at night in a dark, out-of-the-way alley.
Wain looked up, his eyes sweeping over the rest of his companions' eyes. There was the same look in each of them: The danger, however much he'd like to pretend and just kick back and relax for this one night, was very much real.
He turned his head slightly as a man, dressed in a flamboyant red and black armor complete with red plumes (think Roman helmets) like everyone else, pulled up a chair with a loud scraping noise next to him and sat down without asking.
"So… What brings you here to our little town of Putriken?" The man said, seemingly drunk, yet emphasizing the possessive in the question. "You here for sightseeing? Supplies? Doom Island?" He asked the last part with a small slight of the eyes, shifting from Wain to Seena.
"What are you doing with this group of losers?" He asked, staring at Seena, who was looking upon him with disgust written all over her face. "Why don't you come with me for awhile? I bet I could show you something back in the storage room, eh? How about it?" He asked, slightly licking his lips in a manner that implied, well… that.
Wain now looked from the unwanted company to his cerulean-haired girlfriend, silently asking if she wanted to get rid of this guy now with his eyes.
"I'm flattered, but no." Seena spoke calmly, although men in the same uniform were all around the table leering at the three women present.
The man's eyes, just visible behind an armored faceplate flashed.
"No one can resist me. No one can deny me of what is rightfully mine!!" He shouted for all the world to hear.
Wain stood up, his crimson hair waving in an unseen breeze seeming to radiate from him.
"I believe she just did." He stated simply.
"Now you're in for it! No one denies me of something and then insults my intelligence in the same minute!" The room suddenly seemed to house more men. "Now we'll show you why we are called the Hellfire Gang!! Get him!!"
Wain looked at this companions, silently mouthing, 'I'll take care of this,' as he drew the Alum Blade.
Maeru crouched in a small alcove behind the counter, shielded from anything that might com flying her way, but with a perfect vantage point from which to see what happened. Her eyes widened, she realized what she saw was actually real.
The red haired man, apparently either a close friend or boyfriend of the ocean-haired girl, was now taking out the gang's members one slash after another, while the rest just stayed put near the wall, taking care of any stragglers that happened to come near them.
"Aaah!" Seena cried, slumping, a small dart probably filled with a sedative protruding from her left shoulder.
Wain turned in time to see the man who had been lusting after Seena grab her and jump outside.
Maeru looked back towards the red haired fighter who had been taking out the gang, to see a change occur over him.
For, after witnessing the act that the apparent leader of the gang had just committed, Wain felt all emotion leave him like when he had been fighting Guard Daos a year ago.
All fear and tiredness was leeched away from his body. His mind cleared, and filled with only one goal: To get Seena back.
Maeru's eyes widened at the sight, as did his companions as a wind picked up _inside_ the inn!! Slowly at first, the wind began to gather in a circular pattern around the fighter, then speeding up.
Then, she witnessed a sight she would remember forever. The wind, which appeared to be coming from the fighter himself, had turned a dark blood red.
Dei had watched in fear, not being able to do anything to save his friend Seena, now watched in amazement at the unlimited power that Wain was now summoning.
The Spiritual Force that Wain had called upon was immense, even more than the Spiritual Force he had expended in the battle with Guard Daos and Zalbak combined, colliding into the remaining enemies with the force unlike a fifty ton steel block falling onto a person from an altitude of half a mile.
Then, from the middle of the scarlet tornado, came a roar so powerful, it shattered the triple pane windows and blew out the candles, leaving everything bathed in an intense red glow.
"SSEEEEEEENNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The man who had held Seena now stood frozen in front of the archway leading into the Twin Swords, Seena on the ground next to him, his eyes not believing what he saw.
A sapphire beam arced up from the crimson storm of pure power, and then fell with such swiftness and accuracy upon the man. Then, right after it struck, it rebounded right back to its original location from inside the inn. The wind began to die down.
The red storm faded, revealing Wain with his sword sheathed and Seena cradled in his arms. He turned his head towards the man in the middle of the road, as did the Maeru, the rest of his companions, and the local populace from the sanctuary of their stone archways.
A small wind blew through the silence of the town.
Then, abruptly, the man's eyes rolled up into his head, then a bright white light shone perpendicular to the ground, right in his line of symmetry. Then, the body was shielded from view as a torrent of blood gushed out and the simultaneous implosion of his body created an explosion of vital innards and blood.
After the body fell, now spread all over the ground, did the whispering begin as the townsfolk looked upon Wain cradling Seena.
"That's no man, he's a demon, the way he fights!"
"I wish my husband was more like him, in terms of bravery and –giggle– looks!"
"He just defeated the whole Hellfire gang singlehandedly!"
"Ma, I wanna grow up to be just like him someday."
However, Wain hadn't been listening to them, for Dei had told him something of far more importance.
"What do you mean the Awakening won't wake her?"
"This isn't any old sedative. I've seen it used during my days as a rogue thief, the Theives' Guild tried to get rid of me. It's a sedative so deadly that the antidote must be administered in seventy-two hours or the poison shall render her incapable of movement." Dei worriedly told Wain.
"Then what's the antidote?" Wain asked, anxious to administer it to Seena.
"Alas, we do not have it, nor the ingredients required to make it." Dei replied.
"I think I may be of service." The innkeeper stepped up to the group. "I am called Maeru, owner of this inn. In thanks for ridding this town of the Hellfire Gang, I shall tell you all the information that I know that may be of relevance to this.
"There is a healer, about a half day's walk from here to the south, opposite the crash site of the Legendary Doom Island. She has been on this continent before any of us and probably knows it better than anyone around. She may know of the ingredients you seek."
"We thank you for this knowledge." Wain replied, grateful for a chance to heal Seena.
((((++++----++++))))
Wain hurried out of the town with Dei and Aima, after leaving Melphis and Randolph, who reluctantly stayed behind after Melphis volunteered to watch over Seena, towards the South...
His eyes shone with the old determination that he had back in the days in which they had fought the Sinistrals.
He would overcome any obstacle in his path. He would go through any trial, in order to save Seena. He would die for Seena. She was his life, his sustenance. She would live, if it were the last thing he would do.
((((++++----++++))))
A hooded figure stood, staring down and laughing at a swirling crystal in the rough shape of the Sinistral emblem, in which three figures are seen making their way south…
An echo is heard, in the empty and dark room.
'They will be your downfall… downfall… downfall…'
Author's Note: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH-ok I'll stop now. Cruel of me to stop in this of all places, right? *smiles evilly*
So, you like it? After all, this is only the first part!!!
Again, suggestions are accepted, though flames shall be doused.
Oh, by the way, I typed this all in one go, and it's really late, so I may not be at my best. Any mistakes, please inform. Thanks.
One last thing: What I mean by the Sinistral Emblem is the yellow marking on the red carpet right before Zalbak in Doom Island in Lufia 3 (duh).
Next Time on Estoland: The Quest Continues: What will happen to our heroes as they venture into the Southern Wastelands? What will they find there? Will Seena survive that long? Will they even be able to find an antidote?
Next time on Estoland: The Quest Continues: Doom Island, Revisited! Part 2 of 3!
Please Review!
Thanks!
-Blackraven