A lone figure stood at the gates of Muse--A kobold of tall stature in military attire with a long sword sheathed at his side. The kobold stared out towards the endless plains in a stern expression, gentle winds soared through his fur.
"The Pneuma is arid as is the Terra, akrasia is string in the air..." the kobold spoke to himself. as he stared at the distant sunrise.
A figure approached the kobold from within the city, the kobold saw the figure at the edge of his eyes and turned back towards the woman, a slight smile appearing at his canine lips.
"You sure are early!" Zenith said as she walked up to the kobold. "So, how long has it been General Genesis?"
"The last time we met I was still a general, it was during the Southern Campaign... so it must be about 7 years. Oh yes, "Gengen" 'll do just fine Lady Zenith." The kobold said with a laugh.
"It's good to see you again, you look as young as you were back then!" Zenith said.
"Lets see how long that would last, as the mortal frame of our kobold kind expires faster than that of man," Gengen said in a somber tone.
"Still a stoic are you? Perhaps we could chat about Tauer's eschatological theories, or Bora Atkin's law of general akrasia?"
"That would be nice Lady Zenith, it's hard to get any intelligent conversations these days!" Gengen laughed. "Anyhow, I thought you had more coming with you?"
Zenith replied as she looked towards the city, "They should be here anytime."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Is there anything lighter professor?" Lorentz whined as he threw down a silver shield. "Why does Grand Master want me to be at the front row..."
Lebrante raised his bald head as he stopped rummaging thougha pile of equipment in his lab, "Those shields are very good though Masters Lorentz and Gomez... perhaps you could try this..." Lebrante reached down into the pile and pulled out an ungly looking shield with a lizard-like face carved on it's face.
"That's one ugly shield, looks light though," Lorentz commented.
"These are the Magical Shields of Pak-Tor, these belong to the Karaya, and is supposed to be strong against fire Sir Lorentz," Lebrante handed the shield to Lorentz.
"This isn't bad, it's pretty light. I'll take this--and now, a weapon. Do you have anything light and fitting for a rune master professor?" Lorentz eyed the racks of equipment--the walls were stacked with a wide array of weapons, one maul looked filling for a giant, "HOW could that weapon be used!?" Lorentz thought to himself.
Lorentz realized that Lebrante was holding out a bladeless hilt at Lorentz. "This will be good for you Sir Lorentz and Gomez.
Lorentz took the hilt with an expression of confusion, "professor, this is no time for jokes, or are you telling me I don't need a weapon? I'll agree to that, but Grand Master would get mad..."
Lebrante interfered, "No no sirs, these hilts are perfect for rune masters. You see that small slot at the end of these hilts? Try putting two rune crystals in there, heh heh." Lebrante's eyes wandered wildly as he cackled with joy.
Lorentz looked at the hilt. The hilt lacked any guard, it was more like a simple cylinder. It was very light, but lacked any design. He saw that there was a slot at one end of the hilt.
"So professor, you want me to put a rune crystal inside this slot?" Lorentz asked perplexed.
Lebrante nodded. Lorentz went ahead and grabbed a water rune that he kept as backup, the rune fit perfectly as he slipped the rune inside the slot. The rune crystal started to glow as it was held into place and the hilt started to hum. Lorentz then saw a blade extend from the hilt.
"How peculiar!" Lebrante raised the sword to his eyes, amazed. The blade was definately made with water, and was clear but refracted light just like water, but the blade had the shape of a sword. Lorentz also realized that the sword itself was weightless. "Professor, what is this weapon, and how did you find this?"
Lebrante cackled, "Rather peculiar wouldn't you say Masters Lorentz and Gomez? Those are called rune sabers, I have no idea of their manufacture or origins--a shame it is, the Grand Masters simply asked me to archive them. Ofcourse, back then the hilts had darkness crystals within them, heh heh."
"Grand Master never spoke of such a relic, and she never used darkness runes... but neverthless, this is a fitting weapon for me, I suppose." Lorentz removed the water rune from the hilt and pocketed the hilt.
Lorentz watched Lebrante back at digging through the pile. "Well, professor, I'll get going. Aren't you coming as well?"
Lorentz replied without looking back, "Heh, don't worry Sir Lorentz and Gomez, I'll get there soon after I find what I am looking for. I have a few things I wish to test in 'direct appraisal,' hee hee."
"Well, I'll see you at the gate then professor," Lorentz left the lab.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan and Gretchen were already at the gate with Zenith and Gengen when Lorentz arrived. Huan was standing with a bored expression while Gretchen and Gengen were busy talking. Zenith was glaring angrily at Lorentz as he approached.
"...so, you say that reflections of physical objects are false?" Lorentz heard Gengen say to Gretchen.
"Yes, a image of a moon reflected off of the water is just a mirage, so it's false, ofcourse!' Gretchen replied cheerfully as if she figured out a solution to some profound problem.
Lorentz approached the group wearily, "sorry I'm late Grand Master," he said in his typical weak-willed voice.
"Punctuality is important to rune mastery Master Lorentz, what took you so long?" Gengen and Gretchen stopped their discussion hearing Zenith's harsh tone. Gengen smiled as he watched on.
Lorentz eyed everyone nervously, but his hood kept others from seeing his nervousness, "It took some time to find myself appropriate equipment Grand Master."
Zenith looked at Lorentz, her purple eyes filled with annoyance, "So you have an ugly shield? But where is your weapon? Don't tell me you're going to fight with your fists Master Lorentz."
Lorentz reached into his robe and pulled out his hilt. Zenith's expression changed to one of shock as she looked at it.
"...so the professor gave you this? N... not a bad choice. Well, I guess we should go now!" Zenith suddenly turned away and walked out the gate.
Huan was amused by Zenith's odd reaction, "The professor hasn't arrived yet Grand Master."
"Oh yes, what could be taking him so long?"
Lorentz replied, "He was rummaging through a huge pile when I left, Grand Master."
Huan realized that Gengen was gazing afar towards center Muse. Huan followed his gaze and spotted a hulking armor-clad man walking towards the gate. His face was obscured by his helmet's visor, but the gait of the man was awkward and quite humorous.
Gretchen realized Gengen and Huan were looking towards the center of Muse, she then suddenly screamed, "It's professor Lebrante! He's wearing his Silver Armor! Yay!" She ran off towards the armored man. Huan wondered how Gretchen was able to tell.
Lebrante slowly approached the party with Gretchen talking to him, "Heh heh, excuse my tardiness sirs and ladies, it took a while to get these arms on myself," Lebrante said as he lifted his visor.
"Gretchen, how did you know he was the professor? With all the armor I wasn't able to tell," Huan asked.
Gretchen looked at Huan and smiled, "Nice question master! You see, I worked with the professor when were examining this armor. All silver equipment has healing properties right? So I wanted to see if it was caused by naturally-occuring healing runes!."
"I see," Huan was slightly dazed by Gretchen's fast, enthuisiatic speech.
"Well professor, now that you're here, I guess you could lead the way?" Zenith said in her typical cool and collected tone.
"Wait a second," Huan interfered, "No disrespect to the professor, but he isn't exactly the warrior-type is he? Why is he leading the way?"
Lorentz mumbled, "Well, as long as I'm not leading..." Huan quickly shoved his hand on Lorentz's mouth.
"So little faith in our dear professor Master Huan?" Zenith chided, "He has the map memorized."
"You mean both maps, obviously?" Huan replied testingly.
"Exactly!" Lebrante replied, "heh heh, just follow me sirs and ladies, hee hee." Lebrante walked off, making a lot of noise as his metalic greaves clanked on the paved path.
Gengen shrugged and follwed Lebrante, Zenith gave Lorentz a shove as he followed unwillingly, the rest followed and walked out the gate, skimming around the outer walls of Muse in search for the enterance to the Sindar Ruins.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few hours have passed since, and the party was still wandering along the western edge of Muse's city walls.
Huan was silent with an expression of boredom on his face. Lebrante was busily scanning the area, "We should be close miladies, but according to the map, the entrance is supposed to be next to a rock with a peculiar profile, heh heh."
"What profile is that professor?" Gretchen asked.
Lebrante turned towards Gretchen, but stared at the space right beside her, "heh heh, Master Fletchen, how nice of you to ask. The rock is supposed to be shaped like a "land-water beast," which would be an alligator by our diction! But all I have seen are two alligator shaped rocks..."
Gengen started to laugh, Zenith turned around, "You've given us a clue professor, I believe I know where to look now."
Huan eyed Zenith with a taunting gaze. Zenith glared back in annoyance as she proceeded to lead the way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after, the party arrived at the "two alligator rocks." Gretchen circled around the rock from the right side as Gengen cricled from the left side.
Lebrante protested, "These are not the rocks! We're looking for just one rock standing alone!"
Gengen returned znd Zenith whispered something to Gengen, Gengen then said, "oh yes, the rock on the left seems to have been brought here recently... I think," Gengen nodded with a smile at Zenith.
"Ah hah, how clever, a decoy! hee hee," Lebrante started to cackle as if something was funny.
"So, how exactly do we find the entrance?" Huan said, then mumbled to himself, "if we ever do... that is."
Lebrante regained from his cackling and said, "don't worry Master Huan and Guan, I have a plan, hee hee." He pulled out a scroll from inside his armor and handed it to Zenith. "Just use this spell milady," he said.
Zenith let out a voice of suprise, "Voice of Earth!? We don't even use this spell anymore, they still use it in Toran, but the newest Earth Runes had it replaced with Revenge Earth."
"Yes, I believe the Trismegistic Council wished to strengthen the protective functions of the Earth Rune so they removed Voice of Earth," Lorentz added.
"Thanks for the education Master Lorentz," Huan retorted, "lets get on with it Grand Master."
"Patience apprentice," Zenith said as she started to concentrate on the scroll.
"Terra fragmentatis!" Zenith uttered, and immediately the earth beside the rock started to move like waves, and within seconds, a gaping hole opened.
Gengen walked to to the hole, "wind... humid, there's water down there... and the stench of beasts."
Zenith grabbed Gengen's shoulder, "and that's why I hired you, mister mercenary! Now, lets go."
"Are you sure you smell monsters?" Lorentz asked Gengen in a concerned tone.
"Many!" Gengen said as he drew his sword--he promptly lept into the hole.
"Here I cooo~me!" Lebrante screamed as he leapt in the hole after Gengen.
Zenith shoved Lorentz into the hole, Lorentz screamed as he fell in.
The rest leapt in after the front row fighters went in. Huan realized that the ground was quite soft as he landed inside the dark. "Liminare interminablis," Zenith chanted as light suddenly occupied the subterranean chamber.
The room had an oddly odd ceiling. The walls were made of stone which made it obvious that the room was man-made. Huan saw a passage on the south end as well as to the west. The floor was soft and green as if it was made of some sort of vegetable matter--cold and humid to the touch.
"Whoa!" Gengen suddenly let out a yell, "This floor is... moving!?" In fact, the floor did start to move--first towards the southern passage and then to the side. Then suddenly, Lebrante screamed, "I see one snake head, a huge one, hee hee."
Huan looked towards Lebrante, and saw two snake heads, Lebrante was charging towards the middle of the head with a huge axe in his hand. The snake head on the right swung itself against Lebrante and effortlessly knocked him to the side--Lebranted landed somewhere with a large clang and an "Owww!"
"Looks like we are standing right on top of this poor thing's body..." Gengen said as he plunged his sword into the "floor." Sticky green-blue fluid splattered as the sword plunged into the snake's flesh.
"Everyone get off this monster and regroup to the west corridor!" Zenith yelled. Huan willingly obeyed her command and the rest of them promptly jumped off of the slow-moving giant serpent. Gengen gave Lebrante a hand because he was struggling to stand up due to his heavy armor. Huan looked back and saw that the snake's two heads had runes embedded upon them. He wasn't sure what the runes were, but the rune on the left head started to glow a bright red.
"Hurry up Gengen, it's gonna cast a spell!" Zenith yelled. Gengen kicked Lebrante in the butt to get Lebrante to walk faster, he looked back at the snake with a worried look.
"Tarnations! Zenith I feel fire coming, indulge me!" Gengen yelled as he grabed Lebrante's shield. He then ran towards the snake with his sword and shield. "A kobold warrior is brave, he never looks back!" Gengen shouted his warrior's litany.
Gretchen squealed in amazement, "He is so brave!"
Zenith laughed, "He IS brave, but he is not stupid..." Zenith quickly started to chant as she raised her runic rod. Her rod traced out a triangle and the symbol of the flowing rune appeared above her head, "abracadabra." Strands of light arced towards Gengen as she finished her spell, turning into immaterial shards in front of him.
Lebrante finally trudged into the corridor when flames suddenly gushed from the floor, barely missing him. The flames formed a wall, envelopingt the entire room. Huan felt the intense head radiating from the flames, and an image of a barbecued kobold appeared in his mind as he wondered what fate may have befell the poor canine.
Suddenly a huge beastly roar was heard from beyond the flames--the flame suddenly died down and Gengen rushed inside, not burned at all to Huan's dismay. "Sorry I'm late, thanks for the help Zenith!" Gengen curtseyed humorously.
Gretchen appluased enthusiastically, "Grand Master was so fast at casting Protection Mist!"
"So that's why the kobold didn't turn into kobold burger," Huan thought.
"Protection Mist!? That fast? I didn't even notice!" Lorentz said.
"Save the praise for late Master Lorentz, it's still alive and well." Zenith said while gazing into the smoky chamber.
As the smoke died down, the party heard another roar, Huan was able to see that the giant snake was disoriented--and missing one head.
"General Genesis, did you decapitate one of its heads?" Huan asked.
"Yes! With a swift swing of my beloved sword, 'Gladius Bona'!" Gengen twirled his sword and smiled, revealing white fangs.
Huan was amazed at this, he has never seen combat skills like this before. Of course, he was never really involved in battles in the past, but he thought that such skills were only seen within fairy-tales and legends blown up beyond proportion. The snake's neck had a girth of well over 6 feet, and this kobold slices through all that flesh with his sword. The idea was quite foreign to Huan, and he had to give in to the idea that this kobold was a genuine first-class swordsman.
"Alright, take your positions and advance!" Zenith ordered. Gengen, Lebrante and Lorentz stood in the front as Huan, Zenith, and Gretchen stood behind. The six of them advanced slowly into the dark room. The single head of the snake slowly lift itself and turned towards the party, its red eyes glowing in the dark. Lorentz activated his rune sabre, holding the sabre awkwardly in his right hand as he held his shield far in front of his body.
The battle started with Gengen dashing at the snake. The sound of explosion filled the air as lightning arced towards the giant serpent from Zenith's runic rod, Lebrante started running towards the snake with his axe, and Lorentz started running, emitting a girlish scream. Suddenly, something whipped through the air beside Huan's ears, and moments later a few small arrows struck the right eye of the snake. The snake yelled out a scream. Huan looked back in suprise as he saw Gretchen holding triple arqueballistae. Gretchen smiled, sticking her tounge out a bit in a gesture of mischief, "I saw this in the professor's storage room, and always wanted to use it!"
"Huan, hurry up and attack!" Zenith scolded. Huan wasn't quite interested in attacking, but was interested in the powers of the darkness rune. He concentrated on his darkness rune. Immediately he felt like he was being dragged into another world--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan suddenly realized that he was standing on a rocky shore, I have been here before Huan thought. Smooth pebbles the size of eggs littered the beach. Huan walking along the beach, smelling the salt in the air. The sky was gray, and the wind was strong. It even felt like it was raining but Huan wasn't sure--it didn't matter. After a while, he saw a hooded human figure standing on a huge rock that jutted out of the beach just at the edge of the sea. Behind the rock was a huge cliff. The human figure was hooded, and was wearing a white cloak. From afar, Huan was able to hear a faint, growling voice from the figure. "...se who pl... blood shall...sters" Then the figure lifted his or her arm, and pointed diagonally downwards, right where the waves were crashing against the rock. Huen walked closer the figure spoke again, "Those who play with blood shall themsleves become monsters." The figure's head lifted, and Huan fell backwards in shock, it was Gretchen. However, her eyes steared at him cold and blank as if lacking the soul.
The figure spoke, "Be it known, kin to the Rune of Life and Death--your powers are rooted in darkness. Darkness is without form or substance, it lies in between all things like a wave crashing onto a rocky shore, it disappears in the presence of light. Likewise, darkness lies before, between, and after life and death.
"Darkness unites all things, it is the cause and end to all creation?" Huan spoke out, as if posessed.
Gretchen clasped her hands and bowed, "Remember, child of darkness--life cannot exist without light, but also can not exist without darkness--same with death. Neither can exist without the other..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan suddenly woke up, Lorentz and Gretchen stared down at him with worried looks. Huan suddenly screamed and backed away, "Wha, what happened!?"
Lorentz laughed, "Why Huan, you destroyed that large snake with your darkness rune, you immediately fainted but good job!"
"Yes master, I've never seen a darkness rune in use! It was AMAZING!! The snake just broke into piaces of light and disappeared!" Gretchen was ecstatic. Huan realized that Zenith was smiling at him knowingly.
"I have a few questions for you later Grand Master," Huan grunted.
Zenith nodded with a smile, "good work apprentice."
"Egads Master Huan, that was quite a show!" Gengen said as he slammed Huan in his back.
"We'll keep onwards, lets take the southern path first, I'm sure we'll get used to battle soon enough." Zenith said.
"More battles!?" Lorentz whined.
"Don't worry" Gengen said, "Some have greater talents in combat, but anyone could become good at fighting--it all depends on how strong your enemy is. Every time you defeat a strong enemy, you become stronger. That's the way things work! Soon you'll become a formidable warrior Master Lorentz!" Gengen laughed, his open mouth showing all his white fangs.
Huan shook his head and stood up, "I hope I don't have to faint and see weird dreams every time I use a frickin' spell!" he thought.
"Lets go mister runic warrior!" Gretchen chuckled at Lorentz as she patted his back.
Lorentz scurried over to Huan and whispered, "'runic warrior,' doesn't that sound sort of cool?" he said.
"Idiot," Huan replied as he followed the rest into the southern corridor. Lorentz followed, whining.
"The Pneuma is arid as is the Terra, akrasia is string in the air..." the kobold spoke to himself. as he stared at the distant sunrise.
A figure approached the kobold from within the city, the kobold saw the figure at the edge of his eyes and turned back towards the woman, a slight smile appearing at his canine lips.
"You sure are early!" Zenith said as she walked up to the kobold. "So, how long has it been General Genesis?"
"The last time we met I was still a general, it was during the Southern Campaign... so it must be about 7 years. Oh yes, "Gengen" 'll do just fine Lady Zenith." The kobold said with a laugh.
"It's good to see you again, you look as young as you were back then!" Zenith said.
"Lets see how long that would last, as the mortal frame of our kobold kind expires faster than that of man," Gengen said in a somber tone.
"Still a stoic are you? Perhaps we could chat about Tauer's eschatological theories, or Bora Atkin's law of general akrasia?"
"That would be nice Lady Zenith, it's hard to get any intelligent conversations these days!" Gengen laughed. "Anyhow, I thought you had more coming with you?"
Zenith replied as she looked towards the city, "They should be here anytime."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Is there anything lighter professor?" Lorentz whined as he threw down a silver shield. "Why does Grand Master want me to be at the front row..."
Lebrante raised his bald head as he stopped rummaging thougha pile of equipment in his lab, "Those shields are very good though Masters Lorentz and Gomez... perhaps you could try this..." Lebrante reached down into the pile and pulled out an ungly looking shield with a lizard-like face carved on it's face.
"That's one ugly shield, looks light though," Lorentz commented.
"These are the Magical Shields of Pak-Tor, these belong to the Karaya, and is supposed to be strong against fire Sir Lorentz," Lebrante handed the shield to Lorentz.
"This isn't bad, it's pretty light. I'll take this--and now, a weapon. Do you have anything light and fitting for a rune master professor?" Lorentz eyed the racks of equipment--the walls were stacked with a wide array of weapons, one maul looked filling for a giant, "HOW could that weapon be used!?" Lorentz thought to himself.
Lorentz realized that Lebrante was holding out a bladeless hilt at Lorentz. "This will be good for you Sir Lorentz and Gomez.
Lorentz took the hilt with an expression of confusion, "professor, this is no time for jokes, or are you telling me I don't need a weapon? I'll agree to that, but Grand Master would get mad..."
Lebrante interfered, "No no sirs, these hilts are perfect for rune masters. You see that small slot at the end of these hilts? Try putting two rune crystals in there, heh heh." Lebrante's eyes wandered wildly as he cackled with joy.
Lorentz looked at the hilt. The hilt lacked any guard, it was more like a simple cylinder. It was very light, but lacked any design. He saw that there was a slot at one end of the hilt.
"So professor, you want me to put a rune crystal inside this slot?" Lorentz asked perplexed.
Lebrante nodded. Lorentz went ahead and grabbed a water rune that he kept as backup, the rune fit perfectly as he slipped the rune inside the slot. The rune crystal started to glow as it was held into place and the hilt started to hum. Lorentz then saw a blade extend from the hilt.
"How peculiar!" Lebrante raised the sword to his eyes, amazed. The blade was definately made with water, and was clear but refracted light just like water, but the blade had the shape of a sword. Lorentz also realized that the sword itself was weightless. "Professor, what is this weapon, and how did you find this?"
Lebrante cackled, "Rather peculiar wouldn't you say Masters Lorentz and Gomez? Those are called rune sabers, I have no idea of their manufacture or origins--a shame it is, the Grand Masters simply asked me to archive them. Ofcourse, back then the hilts had darkness crystals within them, heh heh."
"Grand Master never spoke of such a relic, and she never used darkness runes... but neverthless, this is a fitting weapon for me, I suppose." Lorentz removed the water rune from the hilt and pocketed the hilt.
Lorentz watched Lebrante back at digging through the pile. "Well, professor, I'll get going. Aren't you coming as well?"
Lorentz replied without looking back, "Heh, don't worry Sir Lorentz and Gomez, I'll get there soon after I find what I am looking for. I have a few things I wish to test in 'direct appraisal,' hee hee."
"Well, I'll see you at the gate then professor," Lorentz left the lab.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan and Gretchen were already at the gate with Zenith and Gengen when Lorentz arrived. Huan was standing with a bored expression while Gretchen and Gengen were busy talking. Zenith was glaring angrily at Lorentz as he approached.
"...so, you say that reflections of physical objects are false?" Lorentz heard Gengen say to Gretchen.
"Yes, a image of a moon reflected off of the water is just a mirage, so it's false, ofcourse!' Gretchen replied cheerfully as if she figured out a solution to some profound problem.
Lorentz approached the group wearily, "sorry I'm late Grand Master," he said in his typical weak-willed voice.
"Punctuality is important to rune mastery Master Lorentz, what took you so long?" Gengen and Gretchen stopped their discussion hearing Zenith's harsh tone. Gengen smiled as he watched on.
Lorentz eyed everyone nervously, but his hood kept others from seeing his nervousness, "It took some time to find myself appropriate equipment Grand Master."
Zenith looked at Lorentz, her purple eyes filled with annoyance, "So you have an ugly shield? But where is your weapon? Don't tell me you're going to fight with your fists Master Lorentz."
Lorentz reached into his robe and pulled out his hilt. Zenith's expression changed to one of shock as she looked at it.
"...so the professor gave you this? N... not a bad choice. Well, I guess we should go now!" Zenith suddenly turned away and walked out the gate.
Huan was amused by Zenith's odd reaction, "The professor hasn't arrived yet Grand Master."
"Oh yes, what could be taking him so long?"
Lorentz replied, "He was rummaging through a huge pile when I left, Grand Master."
Huan realized that Gengen was gazing afar towards center Muse. Huan followed his gaze and spotted a hulking armor-clad man walking towards the gate. His face was obscured by his helmet's visor, but the gait of the man was awkward and quite humorous.
Gretchen realized Gengen and Huan were looking towards the center of Muse, she then suddenly screamed, "It's professor Lebrante! He's wearing his Silver Armor! Yay!" She ran off towards the armored man. Huan wondered how Gretchen was able to tell.
Lebrante slowly approached the party with Gretchen talking to him, "Heh heh, excuse my tardiness sirs and ladies, it took a while to get these arms on myself," Lebrante said as he lifted his visor.
"Gretchen, how did you know he was the professor? With all the armor I wasn't able to tell," Huan asked.
Gretchen looked at Huan and smiled, "Nice question master! You see, I worked with the professor when were examining this armor. All silver equipment has healing properties right? So I wanted to see if it was caused by naturally-occuring healing runes!."
"I see," Huan was slightly dazed by Gretchen's fast, enthuisiatic speech.
"Well professor, now that you're here, I guess you could lead the way?" Zenith said in her typical cool and collected tone.
"Wait a second," Huan interfered, "No disrespect to the professor, but he isn't exactly the warrior-type is he? Why is he leading the way?"
Lorentz mumbled, "Well, as long as I'm not leading..." Huan quickly shoved his hand on Lorentz's mouth.
"So little faith in our dear professor Master Huan?" Zenith chided, "He has the map memorized."
"You mean both maps, obviously?" Huan replied testingly.
"Exactly!" Lebrante replied, "heh heh, just follow me sirs and ladies, hee hee." Lebrante walked off, making a lot of noise as his metalic greaves clanked on the paved path.
Gengen shrugged and follwed Lebrante, Zenith gave Lorentz a shove as he followed unwillingly, the rest followed and walked out the gate, skimming around the outer walls of Muse in search for the enterance to the Sindar Ruins.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few hours have passed since, and the party was still wandering along the western edge of Muse's city walls.
Huan was silent with an expression of boredom on his face. Lebrante was busily scanning the area, "We should be close miladies, but according to the map, the entrance is supposed to be next to a rock with a peculiar profile, heh heh."
"What profile is that professor?" Gretchen asked.
Lebrante turned towards Gretchen, but stared at the space right beside her, "heh heh, Master Fletchen, how nice of you to ask. The rock is supposed to be shaped like a "land-water beast," which would be an alligator by our diction! But all I have seen are two alligator shaped rocks..."
Gengen started to laugh, Zenith turned around, "You've given us a clue professor, I believe I know where to look now."
Huan eyed Zenith with a taunting gaze. Zenith glared back in annoyance as she proceeded to lead the way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after, the party arrived at the "two alligator rocks." Gretchen circled around the rock from the right side as Gengen cricled from the left side.
Lebrante protested, "These are not the rocks! We're looking for just one rock standing alone!"
Gengen returned znd Zenith whispered something to Gengen, Gengen then said, "oh yes, the rock on the left seems to have been brought here recently... I think," Gengen nodded with a smile at Zenith.
"Ah hah, how clever, a decoy! hee hee," Lebrante started to cackle as if something was funny.
"So, how exactly do we find the entrance?" Huan said, then mumbled to himself, "if we ever do... that is."
Lebrante regained from his cackling and said, "don't worry Master Huan and Guan, I have a plan, hee hee." He pulled out a scroll from inside his armor and handed it to Zenith. "Just use this spell milady," he said.
Zenith let out a voice of suprise, "Voice of Earth!? We don't even use this spell anymore, they still use it in Toran, but the newest Earth Runes had it replaced with Revenge Earth."
"Yes, I believe the Trismegistic Council wished to strengthen the protective functions of the Earth Rune so they removed Voice of Earth," Lorentz added.
"Thanks for the education Master Lorentz," Huan retorted, "lets get on with it Grand Master."
"Patience apprentice," Zenith said as she started to concentrate on the scroll.
"Terra fragmentatis!" Zenith uttered, and immediately the earth beside the rock started to move like waves, and within seconds, a gaping hole opened.
Gengen walked to to the hole, "wind... humid, there's water down there... and the stench of beasts."
Zenith grabbed Gengen's shoulder, "and that's why I hired you, mister mercenary! Now, lets go."
"Are you sure you smell monsters?" Lorentz asked Gengen in a concerned tone.
"Many!" Gengen said as he drew his sword--he promptly lept into the hole.
"Here I cooo~me!" Lebrante screamed as he leapt in the hole after Gengen.
Zenith shoved Lorentz into the hole, Lorentz screamed as he fell in.
The rest leapt in after the front row fighters went in. Huan realized that the ground was quite soft as he landed inside the dark. "Liminare interminablis," Zenith chanted as light suddenly occupied the subterranean chamber.
The room had an oddly odd ceiling. The walls were made of stone which made it obvious that the room was man-made. Huan saw a passage on the south end as well as to the west. The floor was soft and green as if it was made of some sort of vegetable matter--cold and humid to the touch.
"Whoa!" Gengen suddenly let out a yell, "This floor is... moving!?" In fact, the floor did start to move--first towards the southern passage and then to the side. Then suddenly, Lebrante screamed, "I see one snake head, a huge one, hee hee."
Huan looked towards Lebrante, and saw two snake heads, Lebrante was charging towards the middle of the head with a huge axe in his hand. The snake head on the right swung itself against Lebrante and effortlessly knocked him to the side--Lebranted landed somewhere with a large clang and an "Owww!"
"Looks like we are standing right on top of this poor thing's body..." Gengen said as he plunged his sword into the "floor." Sticky green-blue fluid splattered as the sword plunged into the snake's flesh.
"Everyone get off this monster and regroup to the west corridor!" Zenith yelled. Huan willingly obeyed her command and the rest of them promptly jumped off of the slow-moving giant serpent. Gengen gave Lebrante a hand because he was struggling to stand up due to his heavy armor. Huan looked back and saw that the snake's two heads had runes embedded upon them. He wasn't sure what the runes were, but the rune on the left head started to glow a bright red.
"Hurry up Gengen, it's gonna cast a spell!" Zenith yelled. Gengen kicked Lebrante in the butt to get Lebrante to walk faster, he looked back at the snake with a worried look.
"Tarnations! Zenith I feel fire coming, indulge me!" Gengen yelled as he grabed Lebrante's shield. He then ran towards the snake with his sword and shield. "A kobold warrior is brave, he never looks back!" Gengen shouted his warrior's litany.
Gretchen squealed in amazement, "He is so brave!"
Zenith laughed, "He IS brave, but he is not stupid..." Zenith quickly started to chant as she raised her runic rod. Her rod traced out a triangle and the symbol of the flowing rune appeared above her head, "abracadabra." Strands of light arced towards Gengen as she finished her spell, turning into immaterial shards in front of him.
Lebrante finally trudged into the corridor when flames suddenly gushed from the floor, barely missing him. The flames formed a wall, envelopingt the entire room. Huan felt the intense head radiating from the flames, and an image of a barbecued kobold appeared in his mind as he wondered what fate may have befell the poor canine.
Suddenly a huge beastly roar was heard from beyond the flames--the flame suddenly died down and Gengen rushed inside, not burned at all to Huan's dismay. "Sorry I'm late, thanks for the help Zenith!" Gengen curtseyed humorously.
Gretchen appluased enthusiastically, "Grand Master was so fast at casting Protection Mist!"
"So that's why the kobold didn't turn into kobold burger," Huan thought.
"Protection Mist!? That fast? I didn't even notice!" Lorentz said.
"Save the praise for late Master Lorentz, it's still alive and well." Zenith said while gazing into the smoky chamber.
As the smoke died down, the party heard another roar, Huan was able to see that the giant snake was disoriented--and missing one head.
"General Genesis, did you decapitate one of its heads?" Huan asked.
"Yes! With a swift swing of my beloved sword, 'Gladius Bona'!" Gengen twirled his sword and smiled, revealing white fangs.
Huan was amazed at this, he has never seen combat skills like this before. Of course, he was never really involved in battles in the past, but he thought that such skills were only seen within fairy-tales and legends blown up beyond proportion. The snake's neck had a girth of well over 6 feet, and this kobold slices through all that flesh with his sword. The idea was quite foreign to Huan, and he had to give in to the idea that this kobold was a genuine first-class swordsman.
"Alright, take your positions and advance!" Zenith ordered. Gengen, Lebrante and Lorentz stood in the front as Huan, Zenith, and Gretchen stood behind. The six of them advanced slowly into the dark room. The single head of the snake slowly lift itself and turned towards the party, its red eyes glowing in the dark. Lorentz activated his rune sabre, holding the sabre awkwardly in his right hand as he held his shield far in front of his body.
The battle started with Gengen dashing at the snake. The sound of explosion filled the air as lightning arced towards the giant serpent from Zenith's runic rod, Lebrante started running towards the snake with his axe, and Lorentz started running, emitting a girlish scream. Suddenly, something whipped through the air beside Huan's ears, and moments later a few small arrows struck the right eye of the snake. The snake yelled out a scream. Huan looked back in suprise as he saw Gretchen holding triple arqueballistae. Gretchen smiled, sticking her tounge out a bit in a gesture of mischief, "I saw this in the professor's storage room, and always wanted to use it!"
"Huan, hurry up and attack!" Zenith scolded. Huan wasn't quite interested in attacking, but was interested in the powers of the darkness rune. He concentrated on his darkness rune. Immediately he felt like he was being dragged into another world--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan suddenly realized that he was standing on a rocky shore, I have been here before Huan thought. Smooth pebbles the size of eggs littered the beach. Huan walking along the beach, smelling the salt in the air. The sky was gray, and the wind was strong. It even felt like it was raining but Huan wasn't sure--it didn't matter. After a while, he saw a hooded human figure standing on a huge rock that jutted out of the beach just at the edge of the sea. Behind the rock was a huge cliff. The human figure was hooded, and was wearing a white cloak. From afar, Huan was able to hear a faint, growling voice from the figure. "...se who pl... blood shall...sters" Then the figure lifted his or her arm, and pointed diagonally downwards, right where the waves were crashing against the rock. Huen walked closer the figure spoke again, "Those who play with blood shall themsleves become monsters." The figure's head lifted, and Huan fell backwards in shock, it was Gretchen. However, her eyes steared at him cold and blank as if lacking the soul.
The figure spoke, "Be it known, kin to the Rune of Life and Death--your powers are rooted in darkness. Darkness is without form or substance, it lies in between all things like a wave crashing onto a rocky shore, it disappears in the presence of light. Likewise, darkness lies before, between, and after life and death.
"Darkness unites all things, it is the cause and end to all creation?" Huan spoke out, as if posessed.
Gretchen clasped her hands and bowed, "Remember, child of darkness--life cannot exist without light, but also can not exist without darkness--same with death. Neither can exist without the other..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Huan suddenly woke up, Lorentz and Gretchen stared down at him with worried looks. Huan suddenly screamed and backed away, "Wha, what happened!?"
Lorentz laughed, "Why Huan, you destroyed that large snake with your darkness rune, you immediately fainted but good job!"
"Yes master, I've never seen a darkness rune in use! It was AMAZING!! The snake just broke into piaces of light and disappeared!" Gretchen was ecstatic. Huan realized that Zenith was smiling at him knowingly.
"I have a few questions for you later Grand Master," Huan grunted.
Zenith nodded with a smile, "good work apprentice."
"Egads Master Huan, that was quite a show!" Gengen said as he slammed Huan in his back.
"We'll keep onwards, lets take the southern path first, I'm sure we'll get used to battle soon enough." Zenith said.
"More battles!?" Lorentz whined.
"Don't worry" Gengen said, "Some have greater talents in combat, but anyone could become good at fighting--it all depends on how strong your enemy is. Every time you defeat a strong enemy, you become stronger. That's the way things work! Soon you'll become a formidable warrior Master Lorentz!" Gengen laughed, his open mouth showing all his white fangs.
Huan shook his head and stood up, "I hope I don't have to faint and see weird dreams every time I use a frickin' spell!" he thought.
"Lets go mister runic warrior!" Gretchen chuckled at Lorentz as she patted his back.
Lorentz scurried over to Huan and whispered, "'runic warrior,' doesn't that sound sort of cool?" he said.
"Idiot," Huan replied as he followed the rest into the southern corridor. Lorentz followed, whining.