Disclaimer: I do not, repeat, DO NOT own Ragnarok Online. This is the property of Master Lee-Myoung Jin and Gravity Corporation. pRO belongs to its publisher Level Up! HOWEVER I do own anything within my sorry account, which means my character, is seriously mine and the character names I will use here are actually real people in the Philippine Odin Server. I'll have to give credit to them later on and I might mention some guilds, which are very much famous in our locale.
Clarifications here... [Forbidden Magic]-it is the act of combining two different spells to create a unique one, sometimes more powerful, sometimes weaker. The wizard's lust for knowledge and intelligence inspires him to create and combine different spells to obtain the desired effect. Such an act will consume him and destroy his physical body.
Rules of Forbidden Magic:
[1] Any spell may be combined, however, the elements will determine the strength of the spell. If both the elements are complementary to each other [i.e. Fire and Wind, Water and Earth] they can create stronger magic [Flare and Erosion respectively]. However, it may create adverse effects if the elements are weak against one another, while one is stronger [Fire and Water, Wind and Earth] and can consume the other [Steam Blast and Grounded respectively].
[2] If both spells are of the same element, it will create a stronger spell, however it will leave the caster faint at the same time.
[3] Camp spells [Meteor Storm, Storm Gust, Lord of Vermillion, Heaven's Drive] may be combined, and it will produce no adverse affect to any caster, so long as two or more people combine their spells. [4] Effect spells [Quagmire, Stone Curse, Frost Diver, Fire Wall, Sense] and Trap spells [Fire Pillar] cannot be combined with other spells. It will produce no effect.
Agh! Just wanna tell you...I luv you guys! Thnx for the support! Wah! Reviews! Reviews!
(starts drooling across the screen...)
They say that...writers leave a part of him in every story that he writes. Every letter...every word...every page becomes a window to the soul and heart of a writer...---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Chapter 7: Alone
Byakko had woken up to the sounds of the festivities that had commenced for the Annual Lumina Festival in Geffen. It was already dusk when he decided to suit up again and walk down to the stairways that would lead him outside to the streets of Geffen.
There, Myashka, who was talking about certain things with the still blushing Shadow, met him up. Both had looked at his direction after they had heard the dragging of footsteps in the stairway.
"Byakko..." Shadow and Myashka whispered as the platinum-haired acolyte staggered to their table. Still weak from this morning, yet well enough to move around and about. He sat at a chair opposite of both of them.
"Guys...I...I wanna..." Byakko found it hard to manage a few words to come out of his mouth. "Well...I just wanna..."
Myashka stood up and encircled her arms on the still stuttering acolyte. "It's okay, Byakko...we know what you want to say..."
Byakko found his face turning red as he was still pondering whether it would be right to face the only two persons he had disclosed his revelation upon. The awkwardness was enough to cause him to black out again.
"So...Byakko..." Shadow cut in over the acolyte's thoughts. "Where do you plan to go after the festival?"
Byakko looked up to the assassin, who was thoughtfully drinking his coffee, ready to hear any new words the acolyte would say.
"Well, I..." Byakko was looking for an answer. "I...I really don't know. I've reached Job Level 50...and, well...see..."
"Byakko!" His thoughts invaded him. "This is your friend! You can trust him!"
Byakko sighed. "I'm gonna look for my mother's murderers..."
Shadow choked at his coffee as Myashka gave a /omg while slapping Shadow's back.
"Seriously...you do know they are all high-leveled. How do you think will you be able to face against them? You couldn't even stand up against a single assassin..."Shadow frowned at the prospect of seeing him all mangled and deformed.
Byakko only gaped at what Shadow had said. The assassin was right. How would he stand up against an entire party?
Myashka suddenly screamed as she saw the festival floats pass-by the inn window. "Forget what you're talking about, people! The festival's already started! Let's go! "She excitedly dragged the two out into the streets with the other onlookers. Both men just gave a /swt at her.
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"Master..." Dark Illusion rasped. "The festival is going to start any minute now..."
"Now, now..." Dark Lord cracked his knuckles as he gathered energy from the evils of Glastheim. "There's enough time. I need to secure energy to allow myself to venture outside the realms of this castle..."
"The foolish wizards of Geffen shall provide you aid, Master..." Dark Illusion interjected.
"I know...humans are foolish enough to tamper with things best left to demons and evils. But...it never hurts to be safe..." Dark Lord was gathering up the last trickle of darkness.
"There..." He said, finishing his ritual. "Call my other three servants...it is time to claim him..."
Dark Illusion bowed low as he disappeared to call upon the other Illusions. Dark Lord only waved a hand, as his aura enveloped him, and him beginning to disappear as well.
"It is time..."
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The festival was well named indeed. Even though it was nighttime already, it still looked like noon inside Geffen, although the air was cooler. The wizards must have enchanted the whole city to make it look like it was day.
Stalls and merchants lined the city streets as Myashka, Byakko and Shadow passed by to view their merchandise. The merchants and blacksmiths saw the opportunity of the festival, as it was a crowd drawer, and obviously enough, they did make huge profits over it.
"Ooooh! Look, a Very Very Very Strong Fire Claymore! Wow, is that a Bunny Band?!?! Omigosh! An Angel Wing! "Myashka's head shuffled left and right as she was overwhelmed by the vast amounts of rares displayed at that moment.
Shadow was giving thought over a plus 4 Sucsamad and was haggling with a merchant to trade it plus 200,000 zennys with his Apple o Archer.
Byakko wandered around too, looking for some good cards to invest upon. It was nice he got a Sohee card for only 500,000 zennys. He slipped it on his Shoes and admired a certain aura that enveloped it after.
[Received Soul-Enchanted Shoes – 1 ea]
Shadow met up with him a few minutes after, proudly showing off his plus 4 Sucsamad. He was earlier using only a plus 5 Shrewd Damascus, but being power hungry and all, he was satisfied with his deal.
"What do I need DEX plus 3 for?" Shadow rang an air of annoyance after Byakko commented that "he could have gotten a better deal if he just stashed the AoA for awhile".
"Here I have an elite item that is unbreakable and powerful, and who wants to wear a plastic apple on his head that even smells like a rotten egg gone bad?" Shadow never stopped ranting, saying he did get a good deal at it; unknowingly earning death glares from hunters behind him that were wearing AoA's as well. /swt
Byakko just left a small snigger pass through him as he covered his mouth with his gloved hand, hoping it will suppress his laugh. Shadow heard it and gave a small smile at him.
"See? Doesn't it feel good if you enjoyed life for a while?" Shadow grinned like an idiot. Byakko could only smile at him...it was rare and uncommon for him to smile. The sensation was somewhat alien and new...
And then something happened...
"BAKA! AHO! Take THAT you overpricing FREAK!" A shrill scream rang inside the city as both men instantly recognized it.
There Myashka was. Panting like a mad dog, as she was glaring rabidly at an unconscious merchant that had a cart shoved up forcefully into his nose.
[Wonder how that would look like /swt]
"Poor merchant, tsk, tsk, tsk..." An onlooker commented at the two boys. "The blonde was asking nicely about his red potions, and she would have almost bought a hundred when she realized the prices read "420 zennys each!" She did a cart revolution sort-of thing, bonked the heavy cart onto his head, and shoved the cart up his nose! Ugh, I don't think the best priest nor the Pope of Rune-Midgard can bring him back after what happened..." He said, shaking his head as he walked away.
Myashka was still raving like a lunatic (pun intended) even after Byakko and Shadow dragged her away, before any GM would have showed up. They sat at the benches near the fountain to calm her down.
"Seriously," Myashka drank a White Potion to cure her Auto-Berserk status." I would have shoved it up on his arse if he weren't crouching in that silly position! The nerve! How dare he try to scam ME! Of all the persons in the world! Why, I ought to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blaaaah!"
Shadow just snatched a Headset from a passing Wizard just to muffle her ranting, only returning it after a GM gave a death glare at him /heh. Byakko had it harder; he was putting into thought of just becoming into a priest so that he could cast Lex Divina on her...
Byakko eyed a cart next to them. The blacksmith was sleeping soundly, so Byakko just took a few items and left the payment in place. This would solve the problem...
Byakko took an empty bottle and drained the liquid from it's original container. "Here," Byakko offered the sweet-smelling substance to the hyper-active swordie "it'll make us all feel better..."
Myashka took the "potion" and gulped it in one go. Minutes went by and they never heard another complaint from her again, much to the interest of Shadow.
"WHAT was in it that you put, Byakko?" Shadow took the empty bottle and examined the yellow fluid in it. The acolyte just chuckled as he took a pot with the words...
"Hunny"
"Hhh, hhh! Ery hnny, Hyako! Hl het hyou hor his hen high het hy hout unhuck! Myashka managed to pull out a few words.
[Translation: Ha ha! Very funny, Byakko! I'll get you for this when I get my mouth unstuck!]
Shadow snorted a chuckle as Byakko laid down the pot, enjoying the company of both. It seemed that everyone was happy (even Myashka, who didn't mind being unable to talk for the meantime).
The main event began to start; the moment people have been waiting for. It was the exhibition of magic, a full-flare no barred moment when wizards are allowed to cast all hell magic at the city. It was wizard heaven...
It also served as a good solution for fireworks...
The choir of wizards positioned just in front of the three, facing the entrance of the magic tower. Dismal Wizard placed himself in front of the group, composed of at least 15 wizards, 7 female and 8 male.
At the signal of the Dismal Wizard, the wizards performed synchronized camp spells. The Meteor Storm wizards were allowed to cast first, as the time spent was a constant 15 seconds, chanting a liquid string of powerful words. Lord of Vermillion and Storm Gust chants then followed suit, the voices of the wizard's incantations melding together like an awesome Gregorian mantra. Powerful ley symbols on the ground appeared, each revolving in a constant rate, like a gear of an ancient clock.
In a few moments, burning rocks appeared overhead the city; breaking the daylight enchantment of the wizard guildsmen, revealing the night air outside and bathing the city back in darkness. Lightning crashed side by side the meteors; others were fusing with the rocks to form super-charged meteors, cracking with static and flames.
The meteors and lightning landed on to the center of the city, in front of the magic tower, and onto the revolving symbols on the ground; in perfect timing, synchronization and order. The ground shook as if a hundred Hammer Falls had happened, and super heated air rose from the crash site, bringing forth-glowing cinders of rock and ash into the air.
The Storm Gusts followed, and the air dangerously began revolving into itself, creating a glowing tornado, like some sort of gigantic Fire Pillar. It was an awesome spectacle, the lights from the cinders glowed on and off irregularly, and all revolved into a twirling column of rising hot air and descending cold air.
All the people cheered at the astounding sight, giving cheers and howls to the performing wizards. Dismal Wizard gave a bow, followed by the wizards. Then, he turned his attention to the burning column of fire and ice.
"All wizards! Staffs at the ready! [cough]" Dismal raised his Staff of Soul at command. The wizards then chanted again, melding their voices in unison, as crackling balls of electricity started to form on their outstretched hands. The same ball of lightning appeared onto Dismal Wizard's hand.
"[cough] Jupitel Thunder!" He threw the ball of lightning at the pillar, other balls following from his rear, as all other wizards fired too.
The balls slid into the tornado, as static started to build up from inside. In a few moments, the pillar would burst and there would be no more. Dismal Wizard just walked towards his group to congratulate them, in his own miserable and grim way. ("Nice job you've done there! Hope you don't die tomorrow! [cough])
"Well, that was nice..." Byakko commented, as he conjured up a Ruwach to provide light for them. Now that the enchantment was broken in the city, the only source of light left was from the burning pillar of fire.
They had just started to walk back to the inn when Myashka insisted to come near the pillar.
"But, Dismal said it would just be okay to go near it! It won't explode in your face if that is what you're thinking..." She pleaded to the two boys.
"Oh crud, just...just let her go..." Byakko interjected an almost seemingly complaint from Shadow. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to hear her cry..."
Walking past the other wizards and mages, who had used Sight also, Byakko's Ruwach stood out from them. At least he was unique...
Myashka oohed and aahed at the pillar, the three of them 20 feet away from it. Yet, there was something strange...it should have collapsed a few minutes ago. Static was just building up from inside, but it never destroyed the pillar.
Byakko was just going to talk to Dismal Wizard about it, when his Ruwach began to move erratically again, flaring up into a bigger ball of energy; it's sudden flash catching the attention of Dismal Wizard and the others.
The Ruwach homed in onto the pillar, disappearing as well inside. Dismal and the others walked just behind Byakko and Shadow, as Myashka instinctively also backed up. It was indeed strange...
A light flared inside the tornado, and then momentarily vanished...
"JUPITEL THUNDER!!!" Five booming voices came from within the pillar, as balls of lightning flew out of it. The orbs of electricity hit Shadow and Myashka, who went flying towards the wizards, as the globes embedded into each of them, drilling like a persistent screw.
Dismal had caught the two persons from the orbs, as the two globes rebounded back to the pillar. Sixteen orbs flashed out, targeting the wizards and Dismal.
"Earth Drive!" Dismal swished his Staff, as spikes of earth, each in different ranges, started to rise from their feet and impaled incoming electricity. The young wizard suddenly collapsed, after using forbidden magic. Such an act used both spell points and HP as well.
The pillar had indeed, finally busted, showering the whole city in cinder- ethereal magic. However, from it's core, an evil shadow came out. A spirit having a horned skull head and armored with green and bone armor seemed to be the source of an evil, yet very, very powerful magic. With him, were dangerously familiar-looking undead.
"D...Dark Illusion..." Byakko assumed. Yet, there were four of them...all looking so similar and just the same.
Shadow called out from his collapsed position on the ground.
"Byakko! Get out of there! That's Dark Lord!!! Gods! Run away Byakko!"
From the corner of his eye, Dark Lord glinted malicious pleasure upon seeing his prey so quickly. He would have assumed it would be harder to look for his intention among the many people.
"So..."Dark Lord floated from the original location of the pillar towards the boy. "You're Byakko...I expected nothing less from you..." he rasped, closing in on the young boy, sensing his aura as if trying to remember it.
Byakko fell from his position, feeling fear for the first time in years. Yet, he was already used to it. He did have an encounter with Dark Illusion years ago...
A silver arrow whooshed by Byakko's ear and lodged neatly into Dark Lord's shoulder. It suddenly was dissolved into thin air.
Dark Lord just stood from his position, laughing. The huntress was terribly annoyed at the reaction, and from her rear, other hunters were already lodging their arbalests and bows with arrows of silver.
"SHOOT THAT GOD ----- BEAST!" The huntress shouted, a hundred arrows flying across the city of Geffen, all neatly embedding into him. Dark Lord just laughed at their pathetic excuse for an attack.
"Heh, heh, heh..." Dark Lord finally calmed down." Did you know why I chose to appear at this moment?"
The Dark Lord slowly moved his hand in the air. The cinders from the forbidden magic suddenly closed in to his fingers, as if fireflies were being attracted towards it.
"It was because of your foolish festival that had given me so much POWER!" Dark Lord grazed his hand in the directions of the hunters. The cinders suddenly became sharp looking and flew towards them, like burning shards of glass.
Each and every shard of energy embedded deeply into the hunters that had attacked Dark Lord. Most of the hunters slumped on the ground, unconscious from the magical attack. The remaining ones who survived were kneeling in pain and agony, the shards had the effects of cursing and poison.
The wizards lined up on to Byakko's back. All of them with a glint of anger as they had felt their city was being invaded. All of them were seething with anger and revenge, especially at Dismal's demise...
"Soul..." A wizard almost shot the undead with spirits of the ancients when he heard the ground rumble. It looked as if it came from within the magic tower.
"Heeyah, yah!" A sound, similar to a stampede, came forth from the tower. It was no other than Doppelganger, the ghost who took the form of a dead swordsman. He was leading out a herd of Nightmares onto the city, all of them looking fierce and deadly.
"Long time no see, Dark Lord!" Doppelganger waved an arm at him. Dark Lord gave a nod of approval at his timely arrival. With this, Doppel gave a malicious grin at the wizards that had been charging up their spells.
"All right..." Doppel moved his attention towards the humans.
"All of you will make a nice dinner for my Nightmare herds!" Doppel spread a grin of malicious intent.
"HA HA HA HA! Die! Die! Die!" Doppelganger lost himself to the pleasure of slashing the humans with his Immaterial Sword. The sword went through their flesh and grazed their souls directly, draining them of energy and life. The Nightmares were grazing onto the dreams of the unconscious as well, feeding off the dreams and replacing them with bad ones.
Byakko was unable to move, too dumbstruck at the sight of destruction around him. But most especially when he saw Myashka and Shadow slump onto the ground, doing their best to stand up and fight for their lives.
"So..." Dark Lord turned his attention to the boy. "...are you ready to come back home? Byakko..." Deathly smoke seethed out of his mouth as he spoke.
"What do you mean...I..." Byakko looked back at them. "I have my friends here! This is my home! Please...just leave me alone!" He stood up, gaining strength from the anger that was growing inside of him.
Dark Lord feigned a look of disgust at the words Byakko spoke. But his eye caught something. Something that hung in Byakko's neck...
Dark Lord came nearer towards the young acolyte, his size shrinking to that of the same height as Byakko's. He then grasped the necklace in front of Byakko's neck.
"Are you sure of what...you are saying, Byakko..."Dark Lord gave a tone of taunting to the acolyte's words. True enough, the acolyte had been doubtful of what he had said.
Why? Why am I not sure of my thoughts? Do I really want to stay here with my friends? Is this what I really want? Can they trust me?
Can I trust them?
Dark Lord exploited that doubt in Byakko's self. He knew he would have won now. There was something in doubt that always made him strong against people...
Dark Lord mused to himself "It would take years and years of friendship to build a strong one, but the rot of doubt can crumble all of it in seconds..."
Armed with this knowledge, Dark Lord thrust his gloved hand at Byakko's heart. The startled acolyte jerked towards it, gasping for breath, head falling backwards. Undead energies started flowing back and forth from Byakko's body and Dark Lord's arm. His hands and legs limped lifelessly in his sides, as all life seemed to drain from every corner of his soul, slowly, he fell into eternal darkness...
[Byakko's thoughts]
Why? Why is it so dark in here? I can't find my way out...
Help! Somebody! Help me! Please!
What's happening here? I can't see anything; I can't feel anything. Wasn't I somewhere before this? Wait...
Who...am...I?
Wha...what's wrong with me...why can't I remember?!?
I...am...Byakko. My name's Byakko. I am the son of Sohee Mistress and Lord Eddga. But...why am I here?
Yes...I remember...my mother was killed...and my father, I don't know...
Does this mean...I'm alone now?
Is there no one to go with me? Is there no one willing to be the family I had lost?
There were...two persons...both of them...
They...they...left me?
They sold me for money...and I...I was made a hunting game by people...
A son of MVPs...a rare prize indeed...
I don't want it here!!!
I don't want...to be alone!!!
It was me who always ended up hurt in the end...it would be best if I were left alone!!!
Isolated...
No one else around...
Why won't people just leave me alone?!?!
What...a hand? Who is this? It's trying to guide me somewhere...
Its cold, lifeless cold...yet, I find comfort and warmth in it...
I feel that it wants to take care of me...whoever is at the end of this arm...
I...I want to see you...I want to know...I want to ask you...
Will I be alone again?
[End thoughts]
Byakko woke up, trapped in mid-air, Dark Lord's hand still deeply embedded into his body, and tears stinging his eyes. Yet he didn't mind...
He grasped the strong arm of Dark Lord, and felt its strength and texture; not minding it was buried halfway inside him.
"It was you..." Byakko mumbled, his head looking up towards the powerful creature.
"Yes...Byakko. You belong to us..."
"We are your true family..."
Byakko surrendered to his weakness, offering no resistance to Dark Lord.
"Then...please...take me back...take me with you...I...do not belong in here."
Shadow woke up to hear what Byakko was saying in delusion. He saw Byakko's expression. His eyes, lifeless and empty. His face, pale and calm.
"Bring me back to my true family..."
Dark Lord nodded in assent as he took his arm out of Byakko. He encircled his palm into Byakko's torso and brought the young boy closer to himself, bringing him into an embrace with himself.
"Byakko! No! What the hell are you doing with that monster?!?!" Shadow shouted in desperation, hoping that the acolyte will hear. Myashka woke to the sight of Byakko being carried off.
"Get down from there, Byakko! That's a monster you're dealing with!" Myashka shouted in unison with Shadow. Her hair blew with the wind; tears cascaded from her desperate face.
Byakko looked back to the annoyances that were shouting at him. Glaring at them with half-lidded eyes, he brandished his fangs in disgust.
Shadow and Myashka only looked at him as he was slowly carried off by the undead, back to the castle of Glastheim.
Doppelganger and his pack of Nightmares had already retreated back to the magic tower, apparently fulfilled of their carnal desire for dreams of humans. Shadow and Myashka only looked around them, to find unconscious people lying around.
Myashka covered her mouth as she began sobbing softly. "Please...let this be a nightmare..." She cried, burying her face into the assassin's shoulder.
Shadow could only offer her his comforts as he softly whispered to the swordswoman too...
"I wish you could've been right about that..."
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Ahh! Too angsty! That's what I get for not having a muse! Hmmm 4,225 words...now that's a bit short...but that will have to do for a week...
Reviews make happy y'know...(starts pawing people and grows neko ears...)