An Underconfident Priest

"Marco, it's time to get up," Jacob Shisai told his twin brother, "You are to become High Priest of Baskar today, and we must journey to the Fallen Sanctuary in order to ask the blessing of the Elemental Guardians." The green-eyed boy with the brown ponytail continued to shake the other boy, who looked exactly like he would if he wore his hair short, until he had awakened.

"Thank you, brother, for making sure I got up. I was up all last night thinking, so I didn't get as much sleep as one might think. We'd best get dressed right away, if we want all of the formalities to end sometime before dinner tonight," Marco joked, and then both youths laughed.

Jacob put on a light brown sleeveless shirt, green shorts tied with a rope-like belt, a tan shawl, a pair of leather boots, and a pair of leather gauntlets. Marco, meanwhile, dressed in a red long sleeved shirt, brown shorts with a tan shawl being used like a belt, another tan shawl around his shoulders, a pair of leather boots, a pair of leather gauntlets, and a headband with three feathers on the back. Both boys grabbed a cane, and headed out of Baskar Colony, on their way to the Fallen Sanctuary.

Both boys were only nineteen, Marco older than Jacob by about three minutes. Shortly after Jacob had been born, his mother had passed away, too weak from childbirth. As the younger sibling, his father often blamed him for what had happened to his mother. So from a young age, Jacob had been belittled, while Marco was always praised. Their mother's mother, the former High Priestess, had shown pity to him, but was unsuccessful in pacifying their father. Sadly, both Granny and their father had died only about a week ago, when they fought off an invasion of monsters from town. That put Marco, as the older brother, as High Priest by default. Not good when the candidate hadn't finished his studies. Marco did trust Jacob enough to help him out if needed be, but Jacob didn't know why. Certainly, a failure such as he, who had killed his own mother, could be of little or no use to a Baskar Priest.

Jacob and Marco soon arrived at the Fallen Sanctuary. But the entrance was blocked by a few stacks of stone cubes, left on the floor. It was apparently a test left to see if the future priest was able to cope with situations such as this. Luckily, they were ready. Both pulled out a Feather, and used it to push a block out of the way. With the twins working together, soon all the blocks were gone.

Marco stated, "We must go upstairs, that is where the High Guardians dwell. Remember, if we seem unworthy, they will attack us. But as long as one of us has the spirit required to wield them, then they will transform into Mediums for us to use." He began to walk up the staircase, Jacob following close behind. At the top, they came across the shrine for the Elemental and High Guardians.

They were facing east as they arrived at the top of the stairs. Each of the cardinal and secondary directions ended in a staircase. The ones in the cardinal directions would lead to the pillars that served as shrines to leave offerings to the Elemental Guardians. On the other hand, the secondary directions would lead to the pillars that served as shrines to leave offerings to the High Guardians.

Marco and Jacob stepped forward, and stood on opposite ends of the room, northwest for Marco, southeast for Jacob. Then, the two youths began to pray, as they were told to do when asking for the Guardians' aid. "Oh, great Guardians of the Elements. Hear our prayers, as we forge a new future for all of Filgaia. Schturdark of Water in the North, Moor Gault of Fire in the South, Grudiev of Earth in the East, and Fengalon of Wind in the West. Open up to us, and grant the power you possess to the new High Priest of the Baskar, as the agreement between our tribe and the Guardians states."

The energy began to flow from the four pillars, and solidify into the Mediums of the Elemental Guardians. But suddenly, a dark presence could be felt in the air. All around them, stood Shadow Demons, a creature that could only be damaged with magic. They had apparently come to seek the power of the Guardians, and would kill the boys if needed be to acquire it.

"Jacob!" called Marco urgency filling his voice, "Equip Fengalon and Schturdark. I'll Invoke Moor Gault and Grudiev. We're going to have to work together if we want to get out of this alive!"

Both boys Invoked the Mediums Marco had suggested. Now, Jacob could cast the Water Gun, Submerge, Sonic Claw, and Tempest Lores. Marco could attack with Red Beaut, Napalm Hit, Rock Bolt, and Gravitron. If, while having those Guardians equipped, the boys killed a certain amount of enemies, they would be able to permanently learn those skills, even without a Guardian on.

Jacob used Submerge, while his brother struck out with Napalm Shot. The Shadow Demons, while impervious to physical attacks, were extremely weak, and died with one shot. Only the sheer number of them was keeping the battle going on. After ten minutes, none were left.

"Foolish humans. You may have defeated my minions, but I will win nevertheless. How about if I separate the two of you, and your Guardians," a wicked voice spoke from out of nowhere.

A large wind began to kick up, pulling Jacob into it. Suddenly, the Mediums of Moor Gault and Grudiev flew out of Marco's hands, also drawn into the whirlwind. Jacob had barely enough time to scream, before the sheer force of the wind knocked him out cold.

* * *

Jacob awoke to a voice calling his name. But no one was there with him. Heck, he didn't even know where "there" was. It certainly wasn't anywhere close to Baskar. What was more, all four Mediums were lying on his chest. Although good for him, it made him worry. If all the Mediums had landed where he had fallen, then how would Marco fare out there on his own?


Jacob said, "I've got to get back home. Marco needs these in order to show his worthiness to become High Priest. Now, if only I could find my way, I am so lost. And how can I take on the world on my own, when I've never even been out of Baskar before today?"


He had no idea that darker dangers were lurking out there in the shadows of Filgaia. But Jacob would have to now rely on himself in order to fight against the evils. And that in meeting others, he will not only be able to solve the mysteries, but find his own power deep inside of him.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Well, when I mean shawl, I'm talking about something like what Tim wore over his shirt in WA2. He even looks sort of like a brown-haired Tim. And, if you can't tell, he's kind of like Lilka, with not believing in himself. I combined the system of using a Medium to gain the usage of Arcana in WA3, with the technique for learning Lores in WA2, in order to create the new system of magic for Baskar.

Translations

Shisai=priest