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Chapter 8
Mikoto awoke the next morning from a dreamless slumber, completely refreshed. At least physically, mentally she was fatigued. She did not think she would ever actually be going to the Iifa Tree, it seemed so far away and long ago. Why did she ever agree?
"Ready to go in?"
She looked to her right, Blank stood there smiling cheekily at her.
"After you."
------------------------------------------
Mikoto trailed the others, walking across the now green roots.
The Iifa Tree was alive.
She saw it with her own eyes.
It towered above them, the early morning light passing through the verdant branches. Shadows danced by as the breeze ruffled the leaves. The intertwining roots plunged down into the abyss, obscured by Mist.
Distant cries echoed across the cavern underneath, the distorted sounds creating eerie effects.
"Man, this place is creepy." Cinna remarked.
"Stop shivering, it's bad for our image. I mean who would respect us when it looks like you're going to piss your pants." Marcus commented.
"Yeah? Who's gonna see us? No one's here." Cinna replied.
"Well, then what the hell is that?" Mikoto asked.
Some kind of monster crawled up from underneath the root ahead. It crouched low to the root on its eight spindly legs. Red eyes glowed from deep within its cylindrical body. Long, shaggy brown fur dangled in greasy tendrils, it swayed as the beast moved.
"Get ready boys! Here it comes!" Baku shouted as he drew his blade.
Mikoto readied herself in the back of the group, prepared to support the others. She hoped to save her magic for upcoming fights.
The beast lunged forward, opening its great maw. Sharp, jagged yellow teeth appeared, hungry for flesh.
Baku was the closest, he attacked low, ripping the skin below the troat to shreds.
The beast spurted out thick red blood, crying our in pain.
Cinna was next, he rushed forward only to be blinded by the spray of blood. He faltered and only managed to smash one of the many legs with his hammer.
It only angered the monster, and it spun around to face Cinna. Its body smacked Baku, sending him down.
Cinna was now trapped between the edge of the root and the beast. But Marcus and Blank came to his aid, they rushed forward, jumped up and slashed down. The beast, focused on Cinna, did not stand a chance as it was split into three pieces.
The beast vomited blood, as its insides poured out, making splashing noises as they hit the root and slid off. The three pieces fell apart, the attached legs twitching in the air.
Then it was still.
"Great, now we have a mutilated monster blocking our path." Blank muttered, wiping his blade off on Cinna's hat.
"Hey man! I'm already covered I blood, I don't need anymore!"
Blank smiled, "Well, I figured red goes really well with your eyes-"
He was cut off as Cinna lunged after him, trying to strangle his Tantalus brother.
--------------------------------------------
The group continued down into the bowels of Iifa, trying to navigate the labyrinth of roots.
As they neared the colossal trunk, they came upon a stone platform nestled into the bark. Ancient marking lined the circle, their engraved images filled with water. Vines sprawled across the rock, crunching beneath the party's booted feet.
"What the hell is that?" Baku pointed to the now glowing stone ring.
Mikoto recognized the area from Zidane's longwinded and numerous stories, "It's an elevator, it will take us into Iifa, towards the Lifestream."
Cinna didn't look convinced, "You sure? I don't like the look of this thing."
"The only thing you like to look at is food." Marcus laughed.
The grinding of Cinna's teeth could actually be heard.
"Onward then?" Blank asked.
Mikoto nodded and took the lead, standing on the platform. The others followed her, trusting her judgment. Once everyone was on, it shook a bit, rumbled and descended.
Darkness surrounded them as the elevator came to a halt. Suddenly orange globes flickered on, casting an eerie glow onto the twisted path ahead.
The path spiraled downward, seemingly endless as the group trudged on. Every sound echoed off the walls, and the orange lights acted like beacons on a stormy night, hopefully leading the travelers to safety, and not to their demise among jagged rocks.
Baku stepped forward as they neared the bottom of the path. "Alright boys, search around. Whatever we're looking for oughta be here."
They split apart, searching the antechamber.
"Find anything?" Blank asked.
She continued searching the walls, straining her eyes. "Not yet, I hope this doesn't take forever."
"I'm sure we'll find something," he said, "I'm more afraid of what we'll find."
Mikoto looked to him, surprised at the emotion in his voice. He apparently remembered the role of Mist and the Iifa Tree well.
Mikoto continued to scan the walls, looking for any irregularities. As she walked, a light suddenly flashed into her eyes. She followed it to a partially hidden opening. She stuck her head inside, brilliant light streaming forth.
"Over here!" she called over her shoulder, walking towards the light.
The narrow passageway quickly opened up into a large cavern. Columns of phloem and xylem plunged into the glowing light. A spiraling stone ring lined with symbols and spikes disappeared into the brilliance.
Mikoto wandered to the edge of the abyss, looking down. Whatever they were searching for was down there.
The others joined her, staring wide eyed downwards.
"Where does it lead to?" Cinna asked confused.
"Gwahahahaha! Well there's only one way to find out!" Baku motioned to another platform attached to the stone ring.
Taking a moment to check their weapons and supplies, they then slipped onto the leaf-like platform. It raised and then spun around into the glowing light.
--------------------------------------------------
As the leaf came to a stop, Mikoto looked around. The path led forward to a stone building. It seemed out of place, somehow. Almost as if it was too new for the ancient Iifa Tree.
But the most prominent feature was the strange flowing matter around them.
"Is that…?"
"…the Lifestream." Mikoto finished the redhead's thought.
She could feel the countless souls flowing. They called out to her to end their horrific existence. The others must have felt it too, for they stared into it horrified and enthralled.
The Lifestream glowed, reflecting light like a liquid opal. Mikoto stared into it as well, she could almost see someone. She felt herself being drawn in…
"Sister dearest, so good to see you again."
Mikoto tore herself away from the Lifestream's milky depths, focusing on a voice she hadn't heard in over ten years.
Chapter 8
Mikoto awoke the next morning from a dreamless slumber, completely refreshed. At least physically, mentally she was fatigued. She did not think she would ever actually be going to the Iifa Tree, it seemed so far away and long ago. Why did she ever agree?
"Ready to go in?"
She looked to her right, Blank stood there smiling cheekily at her.
"After you."
------------------------------------------
Mikoto trailed the others, walking across the now green roots.
The Iifa Tree was alive.
She saw it with her own eyes.
It towered above them, the early morning light passing through the verdant branches. Shadows danced by as the breeze ruffled the leaves. The intertwining roots plunged down into the abyss, obscured by Mist.
Distant cries echoed across the cavern underneath, the distorted sounds creating eerie effects.
"Man, this place is creepy." Cinna remarked.
"Stop shivering, it's bad for our image. I mean who would respect us when it looks like you're going to piss your pants." Marcus commented.
"Yeah? Who's gonna see us? No one's here." Cinna replied.
"Well, then what the hell is that?" Mikoto asked.
Some kind of monster crawled up from underneath the root ahead. It crouched low to the root on its eight spindly legs. Red eyes glowed from deep within its cylindrical body. Long, shaggy brown fur dangled in greasy tendrils, it swayed as the beast moved.
"Get ready boys! Here it comes!" Baku shouted as he drew his blade.
Mikoto readied herself in the back of the group, prepared to support the others. She hoped to save her magic for upcoming fights.
The beast lunged forward, opening its great maw. Sharp, jagged yellow teeth appeared, hungry for flesh.
Baku was the closest, he attacked low, ripping the skin below the troat to shreds.
The beast spurted out thick red blood, crying our in pain.
Cinna was next, he rushed forward only to be blinded by the spray of blood. He faltered and only managed to smash one of the many legs with his hammer.
It only angered the monster, and it spun around to face Cinna. Its body smacked Baku, sending him down.
Cinna was now trapped between the edge of the root and the beast. But Marcus and Blank came to his aid, they rushed forward, jumped up and slashed down. The beast, focused on Cinna, did not stand a chance as it was split into three pieces.
The beast vomited blood, as its insides poured out, making splashing noises as they hit the root and slid off. The three pieces fell apart, the attached legs twitching in the air.
Then it was still.
"Great, now we have a mutilated monster blocking our path." Blank muttered, wiping his blade off on Cinna's hat.
"Hey man! I'm already covered I blood, I don't need anymore!"
Blank smiled, "Well, I figured red goes really well with your eyes-"
He was cut off as Cinna lunged after him, trying to strangle his Tantalus brother.
--------------------------------------------
The group continued down into the bowels of Iifa, trying to navigate the labyrinth of roots.
As they neared the colossal trunk, they came upon a stone platform nestled into the bark. Ancient marking lined the circle, their engraved images filled with water. Vines sprawled across the rock, crunching beneath the party's booted feet.
"What the hell is that?" Baku pointed to the now glowing stone ring.
Mikoto recognized the area from Zidane's longwinded and numerous stories, "It's an elevator, it will take us into Iifa, towards the Lifestream."
Cinna didn't look convinced, "You sure? I don't like the look of this thing."
"The only thing you like to look at is food." Marcus laughed.
The grinding of Cinna's teeth could actually be heard.
"Onward then?" Blank asked.
Mikoto nodded and took the lead, standing on the platform. The others followed her, trusting her judgment. Once everyone was on, it shook a bit, rumbled and descended.
Darkness surrounded them as the elevator came to a halt. Suddenly orange globes flickered on, casting an eerie glow onto the twisted path ahead.
The path spiraled downward, seemingly endless as the group trudged on. Every sound echoed off the walls, and the orange lights acted like beacons on a stormy night, hopefully leading the travelers to safety, and not to their demise among jagged rocks.
Baku stepped forward as they neared the bottom of the path. "Alright boys, search around. Whatever we're looking for oughta be here."
They split apart, searching the antechamber.
"Find anything?" Blank asked.
She continued searching the walls, straining her eyes. "Not yet, I hope this doesn't take forever."
"I'm sure we'll find something," he said, "I'm more afraid of what we'll find."
Mikoto looked to him, surprised at the emotion in his voice. He apparently remembered the role of Mist and the Iifa Tree well.
Mikoto continued to scan the walls, looking for any irregularities. As she walked, a light suddenly flashed into her eyes. She followed it to a partially hidden opening. She stuck her head inside, brilliant light streaming forth.
"Over here!" she called over her shoulder, walking towards the light.
The narrow passageway quickly opened up into a large cavern. Columns of phloem and xylem plunged into the glowing light. A spiraling stone ring lined with symbols and spikes disappeared into the brilliance.
Mikoto wandered to the edge of the abyss, looking down. Whatever they were searching for was down there.
The others joined her, staring wide eyed downwards.
"Where does it lead to?" Cinna asked confused.
"Gwahahahaha! Well there's only one way to find out!" Baku motioned to another platform attached to the stone ring.
Taking a moment to check their weapons and supplies, they then slipped onto the leaf-like platform. It raised and then spun around into the glowing light.
--------------------------------------------------
As the leaf came to a stop, Mikoto looked around. The path led forward to a stone building. It seemed out of place, somehow. Almost as if it was too new for the ancient Iifa Tree.
But the most prominent feature was the strange flowing matter around them.
"Is that…?"
"…the Lifestream." Mikoto finished the redhead's thought.
She could feel the countless souls flowing. They called out to her to end their horrific existence. The others must have felt it too, for they stared into it horrified and enthralled.
The Lifestream glowed, reflecting light like a liquid opal. Mikoto stared into it as well, she could almost see someone. She felt herself being drawn in…
"Sister dearest, so good to see you again."
Mikoto tore herself away from the Lifestream's milky depths, focusing on a voice she hadn't heard in over ten years.
