8BTFreek: Another chapter, another load of reviews... Let's answer them.
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Allexandra: The language? Well, it's sort of German & Slavic-sounding words mixed with words of my own invention. I'll eventually get my own website and create the dictionary and put it up on there. It's relatively simple: The language is basically substitution with words of my own devising. Sheba Yell Count:1. Sorry for pissing you off for "killing" Sheba. You'll see why it's in quotes this chapter.
tigerlily98: Sheba Yell Count:2. Sorry for pissing you off. But I think I already told you not to believe me, sis.
Mesoforte: Sheba Yell Count:3. Sorry for pissing you off, too. Yeah, there's a plot twist coming up this chapter that I've had in my mind since chapter 7. I just ended there to try being a sadistic bastard.
Rallalon: *hangs head in shame* I'm sorry I disappointed you. It wasn't speed; my creative juices were just drained and I didn't know what to do. OK, so part of it was speed. Goddamn writer's block. Sheba Yell Count:3 and a half. And I'm sorry for "killing" Sheba. I promise, though, this chapter will be better. Although from what you said about last chapter, I doubt I can do worse and feel qualified to post it
Joker: Wow, someone who recognizes the end for what it was. Well, I've got this chapter now, hope you like it. And please get the next chapters of "Shades of Conspiracy" and "IGRTH" up. Thanks for reviewing.
END RESPONSES
Eshli: Yeah, I'd say they're pissed.
8BTFreek: Well, duh! Just remember, dear reviewers: What I do isn't always what it seems.
Eshli: And Dad doesn't own Golden Sun or Elton John, though he does own Rhoen.
8BTFreek: The Sheba Yell Count stands at 3 and a half. That reflects how much of a sadistic bastard I was. If I'd reached five by this chapter, I would've been a little frightened. At least there was only one death threat.
**Two Outta Three Ain't Bad, or Not Dead Yet**
"Ivan! Get help!" Rhoen bent over her.
"Forget it, Q'tiil. She loved me, she left me, she's dead because of me." A small cough issued from Sheba's mouth. Piers stared at her, his eyes wide with shock. "She's not dead?"
Felix looked at her. "If she isn't, it's a miracle. Ivan, get Mia. She'll help." Even though they were on opposite sides, it was one of those times when anyone would do anything to help. Besides, Felix had adopted Sheba as a sister. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she died now, when he'd fired the dart. "Sheba, can you hear me?"
"F-felix?" Her eyes opened a little, then closed. She was breathing raggedly, and she had blood coming from her mouth. "Wh-what...happened?" She sounded tired, and her voice sounded worn. She was having trouble, he could tell.
"I accidentally fired a blow-dart at you." She turned her head a little. "No, don't move! That'll only make it worse." She opened her mouth, but all that happened was a little trickle of blood leaked out. Her body began to crackle and shine. "NO! Don't! We'll heal you." He motioned for someone to aid her.
Piers ran to her side, dropped to his knees, and cast "Cure Poison." The spell was absorbed, but nothing happened. He tried again. Nothing. A third time, a fourth, a fifth. Still there was no reaction. He turned to Felix. "What the hell poison did you put on that thing?" he yelled.
Felix looked away. "I'm not sure. It was one of those bottles Kraden left me - the purple one."
Piers was in the middle of casting Pure Ply a second time when he heard those words. "The purple one...? You mean the purple bottle?" Felix nodded. "Purple..." His eyes widened with shock. "Purified Essence of Jupiter Psynergy..." He leapt up, rage etched onto his face. "You moron!" he screamed. "That wasn't poison - that was the purified essence of Jupiter Psynergy! Do you have any idea what that will do to her?" He turned and quickly cast a Pure Ply on the woman he loved. There was little response. "If she doesn't let out that extra energy, she'll explode!"
Rhoen knelt by the girl's body. "Sheba, royhe. Dal layan m'norg dal. Royhe, dasta'sali." (1) He spoke a few words in his native language in a comforting tone. He turned to look at them. "Piers, have you forgotten your duty?" He looked at him in a puzzled manner. "Your duty to love. You know, healing her?" Piers nodded, then took his place by her side. He removed the dart with a little Mercury Psynergy, took off the shirt that he'd worn for the whole day and night, and wrapped the shirt around her to try and stop the blood from flowing. He reached into his satchel and removed from it a potion. Taking the lid off, he poured it down her throat.
"Sheba, don't die on me, please." She coughed a little, and she looked at him. The potion hadn't had much effect, Piers realized. It was an item overflowing with Psynergy, he guessed.
"Piers, is that you?" He nodded slightly. She began to shine and crackle. "Why did you let him try to kill me?" Piers's throat was stuck; he couldn't think of a response. "Well, why?!" The words were barely a whisper, but they seemed a shout for all the energy she put behind them. The shining and crackling didn't subside; instead, she was now lit up like a Christmas tree. She attempted to raise one of her arms.
"Sheba, try casting something. Anything." His voice was pleading. "Please, Sheba. It might help." The little rivulet of blood that had been flowing from her mouth had grown. Her eyes were clouding over, and she didn't give any sign of hearing him. He touched her hand.
The resulting explosion could be heard in Vault. Pure essence of Jupiter Psynergy concentrated in the body of a young and powerful Jupiter Adept just leads to extremely powerful outbursts, according to Kraden's notes on Elemental Theory. And Sheba had gotten the equivalent of drinking a few sips straight from the bottle. His arms flew behind him, and he was pinned to the training stone that Garet had used to practice Psynergy all those years ago. She coughed a little, blood coming from her mouth in greater quantities. Her eyes were now slowly filming over. It seemed curtains for the young girl.
Mia dashed over the hill just after the blinding flash that had accompanied the loud explosion. She was a little out of breath, but it didn't matter. She flung herself to the ground and grasped Sheba. "Well, at least she's bandaged," muttered Mia. "Pure Ply. Pure Wish." The two spells combined in her little body, but not much happened.
Jenna and Isaac ran over the hill, accompanied by Ivan. Hama was walking behind her brother, a quick pace, but just slow enough not to quickly loose breath. Isaac ran alongside Sheba and quickly cast a Revive, followed by a Potent Cure. Hama took the Tomegathericon from the pocket of Piers's shirt, which was wrapped around Sheba, opened the bloodstained book and read aloud the revival chant. Jenna busied herself by casting Cool Aura on the nearly dead Jupiter Adept. The blood flow in Sheba's mouth stopped, but her eyes also closed. Nobody could tell if the healing effort had killed her or not. Piers ran over to her and cast every healing Psynergy he could think of, even going so far as to take Djinn from other Adepts to get new kinds of healing Psynergy. He even stole the Tomegathericon back from Hama and yelled out the words.
Unfortunately, there was no reaction from the Jupiter Adept. When he saw that Psynergy was having no effect, Piers scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the Sanctum. Inside, he tried as many things as he could, ranging from herbal remedies to physical means. He even tried painting his face and dancing about in a strange manner to cause some nonexistent spirits to heal her. Finally, he gave up. He embraced her, weeping. Some of the tears fell on the shirt he'd wrapped around her, others on her young face. He looked about for a dagger. Finding one in her belt, he raised it up high. He was about to plunge it into his stomach when he noticed a small movement from the table upon which Sheba lay.
"Piers...?" Her voice came as a whisper from her mouth. "Piers, is that you?" He turned to look. She was lying on the table, but her head was turned to face him and her eyes were open. The knife dropped from his hands, and his eyes were wide with shock again. "It is you..." she muttered. She tried to sit up, but he ran over to her and forced her to lie down. "Piers, why aren't you wearing your shirt? And why do I feel so tight around the chest?"
He looked at her, somewhat relieved and a little concerned. "The tight thing around your chest is my shirt. It's there to keep the blood from flowing out. You nearly died." She looked at him.
"Not dead yet," she whispered. She smiled a little. "Not dead." He embraced her again. She was still a little weak from all the healing she'd received.
"Hopefully never dead. Not until I'm gone." He wiped off her face with one of the less bloody sleeves of the shirt, then kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Not until after I'm gone."
He picked her up and carried her out of the Sanctum. The others were waiting outside. They had waited outside with respect, but Felix had a look of pure suspicion on his face. "What were you two up to in there?" he asked.
Sheba looked at her adopted brother with fierce eyes. "What does it matter to you?" she asked in a slightly stronger voice.
Piers mentally thanked the Gods. She was better at dealing with her brother than he was. Still, he couldn't agree with her point of view on the Q'tiil man. {She may have been born from that foul stock, but she was raised in a kind and caring environment. She's nothing like them.} She turned to look at him.
"Piers, I only wish we could see eye-to-eye. I'm going to miss you when I go back to my friends. Please help us." He shook his head; still, he kept a firm hold on her, not daring to let her drop.
"I can't. I just can't." She looked at him with large, sad eyes. "I'm sorry. I just can't explain." She frowned at him.
"Put me down." Slowly, he let her down. She ripped off his shirt and threw it at him. "Take your bloody shirt and go off to your real friends." The shirt hit him in the stomach. He doubled over, a look of surprise on his face. "That hurt, Piers. If you can't tell me, then who can you tell?" He frowned at her question. She looked over to Ivan and Feizhi. They each lent her a shoulder. Slowly, the three of them walked off to Kay's house.
***
8BTFreek: Here's the translation: (1): Sheba, hold on. Your lover will heal you. Hold on, little comrade.
Eshli: Y'know, the language thingy does look like random typing.
8BTFreek: But there's a pattern to the typing, and a pattern to the pronunciation, and I actually have continuity.
Eshli: I'll give you that.
8BTFreek: Well, there you have it. Time for the next chapter in about five months (somewhere in that time-frame I'll put it up.)
Gannon: Bah, you'll put it up sooner. I know you, you cheap, nasty bastard. You'll put it up within the month.
8BTFreek: Not likely. But please, review. The more reviews you give me, the better I'll be in the next chapter. I'm looking for inspiration. Who knows? You might inspire me. So send in those reviews!
REVIEW RESPONSES:
Allexandra: The language? Well, it's sort of German & Slavic-sounding words mixed with words of my own invention. I'll eventually get my own website and create the dictionary and put it up on there. It's relatively simple: The language is basically substitution with words of my own devising. Sheba Yell Count:1. Sorry for pissing you off for "killing" Sheba. You'll see why it's in quotes this chapter.
tigerlily98: Sheba Yell Count:2. Sorry for pissing you off. But I think I already told you not to believe me, sis.
Mesoforte: Sheba Yell Count:3. Sorry for pissing you off, too. Yeah, there's a plot twist coming up this chapter that I've had in my mind since chapter 7. I just ended there to try being a sadistic bastard.
Rallalon: *hangs head in shame* I'm sorry I disappointed you. It wasn't speed; my creative juices were just drained and I didn't know what to do. OK, so part of it was speed. Goddamn writer's block. Sheba Yell Count:3 and a half. And I'm sorry for "killing" Sheba. I promise, though, this chapter will be better. Although from what you said about last chapter, I doubt I can do worse and feel qualified to post it
Joker: Wow, someone who recognizes the end for what it was. Well, I've got this chapter now, hope you like it. And please get the next chapters of "Shades of Conspiracy" and "IGRTH" up. Thanks for reviewing.
END RESPONSES
Eshli: Yeah, I'd say they're pissed.
8BTFreek: Well, duh! Just remember, dear reviewers: What I do isn't always what it seems.
Eshli: And Dad doesn't own Golden Sun or Elton John, though he does own Rhoen.
8BTFreek: The Sheba Yell Count stands at 3 and a half. That reflects how much of a sadistic bastard I was. If I'd reached five by this chapter, I would've been a little frightened. At least there was only one death threat.
**Two Outta Three Ain't Bad, or Not Dead Yet**
"Ivan! Get help!" Rhoen bent over her.
"Forget it, Q'tiil. She loved me, she left me, she's dead because of me." A small cough issued from Sheba's mouth. Piers stared at her, his eyes wide with shock. "She's not dead?"
Felix looked at her. "If she isn't, it's a miracle. Ivan, get Mia. She'll help." Even though they were on opposite sides, it was one of those times when anyone would do anything to help. Besides, Felix had adopted Sheba as a sister. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she died now, when he'd fired the dart. "Sheba, can you hear me?"
"F-felix?" Her eyes opened a little, then closed. She was breathing raggedly, and she had blood coming from her mouth. "Wh-what...happened?" She sounded tired, and her voice sounded worn. She was having trouble, he could tell.
"I accidentally fired a blow-dart at you." She turned her head a little. "No, don't move! That'll only make it worse." She opened her mouth, but all that happened was a little trickle of blood leaked out. Her body began to crackle and shine. "NO! Don't! We'll heal you." He motioned for someone to aid her.
Piers ran to her side, dropped to his knees, and cast "Cure Poison." The spell was absorbed, but nothing happened. He tried again. Nothing. A third time, a fourth, a fifth. Still there was no reaction. He turned to Felix. "What the hell poison did you put on that thing?" he yelled.
Felix looked away. "I'm not sure. It was one of those bottles Kraden left me - the purple one."
Piers was in the middle of casting Pure Ply a second time when he heard those words. "The purple one...? You mean the purple bottle?" Felix nodded. "Purple..." His eyes widened with shock. "Purified Essence of Jupiter Psynergy..." He leapt up, rage etched onto his face. "You moron!" he screamed. "That wasn't poison - that was the purified essence of Jupiter Psynergy! Do you have any idea what that will do to her?" He turned and quickly cast a Pure Ply on the woman he loved. There was little response. "If she doesn't let out that extra energy, she'll explode!"
Rhoen knelt by the girl's body. "Sheba, royhe. Dal layan m'norg dal. Royhe, dasta'sali." (1) He spoke a few words in his native language in a comforting tone. He turned to look at them. "Piers, have you forgotten your duty?" He looked at him in a puzzled manner. "Your duty to love. You know, healing her?" Piers nodded, then took his place by her side. He removed the dart with a little Mercury Psynergy, took off the shirt that he'd worn for the whole day and night, and wrapped the shirt around her to try and stop the blood from flowing. He reached into his satchel and removed from it a potion. Taking the lid off, he poured it down her throat.
"Sheba, don't die on me, please." She coughed a little, and she looked at him. The potion hadn't had much effect, Piers realized. It was an item overflowing with Psynergy, he guessed.
"Piers, is that you?" He nodded slightly. She began to shine and crackle. "Why did you let him try to kill me?" Piers's throat was stuck; he couldn't think of a response. "Well, why?!" The words were barely a whisper, but they seemed a shout for all the energy she put behind them. The shining and crackling didn't subside; instead, she was now lit up like a Christmas tree. She attempted to raise one of her arms.
"Sheba, try casting something. Anything." His voice was pleading. "Please, Sheba. It might help." The little rivulet of blood that had been flowing from her mouth had grown. Her eyes were clouding over, and she didn't give any sign of hearing him. He touched her hand.
The resulting explosion could be heard in Vault. Pure essence of Jupiter Psynergy concentrated in the body of a young and powerful Jupiter Adept just leads to extremely powerful outbursts, according to Kraden's notes on Elemental Theory. And Sheba had gotten the equivalent of drinking a few sips straight from the bottle. His arms flew behind him, and he was pinned to the training stone that Garet had used to practice Psynergy all those years ago. She coughed a little, blood coming from her mouth in greater quantities. Her eyes were now slowly filming over. It seemed curtains for the young girl.
Mia dashed over the hill just after the blinding flash that had accompanied the loud explosion. She was a little out of breath, but it didn't matter. She flung herself to the ground and grasped Sheba. "Well, at least she's bandaged," muttered Mia. "Pure Ply. Pure Wish." The two spells combined in her little body, but not much happened.
Jenna and Isaac ran over the hill, accompanied by Ivan. Hama was walking behind her brother, a quick pace, but just slow enough not to quickly loose breath. Isaac ran alongside Sheba and quickly cast a Revive, followed by a Potent Cure. Hama took the Tomegathericon from the pocket of Piers's shirt, which was wrapped around Sheba, opened the bloodstained book and read aloud the revival chant. Jenna busied herself by casting Cool Aura on the nearly dead Jupiter Adept. The blood flow in Sheba's mouth stopped, but her eyes also closed. Nobody could tell if the healing effort had killed her or not. Piers ran over to her and cast every healing Psynergy he could think of, even going so far as to take Djinn from other Adepts to get new kinds of healing Psynergy. He even stole the Tomegathericon back from Hama and yelled out the words.
Unfortunately, there was no reaction from the Jupiter Adept. When he saw that Psynergy was having no effect, Piers scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the Sanctum. Inside, he tried as many things as he could, ranging from herbal remedies to physical means. He even tried painting his face and dancing about in a strange manner to cause some nonexistent spirits to heal her. Finally, he gave up. He embraced her, weeping. Some of the tears fell on the shirt he'd wrapped around her, others on her young face. He looked about for a dagger. Finding one in her belt, he raised it up high. He was about to plunge it into his stomach when he noticed a small movement from the table upon which Sheba lay.
"Piers...?" Her voice came as a whisper from her mouth. "Piers, is that you?" He turned to look. She was lying on the table, but her head was turned to face him and her eyes were open. The knife dropped from his hands, and his eyes were wide with shock again. "It is you..." she muttered. She tried to sit up, but he ran over to her and forced her to lie down. "Piers, why aren't you wearing your shirt? And why do I feel so tight around the chest?"
He looked at her, somewhat relieved and a little concerned. "The tight thing around your chest is my shirt. It's there to keep the blood from flowing out. You nearly died." She looked at him.
"Not dead yet," she whispered. She smiled a little. "Not dead." He embraced her again. She was still a little weak from all the healing she'd received.
"Hopefully never dead. Not until I'm gone." He wiped off her face with one of the less bloody sleeves of the shirt, then kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Not until after I'm gone."
He picked her up and carried her out of the Sanctum. The others were waiting outside. They had waited outside with respect, but Felix had a look of pure suspicion on his face. "What were you two up to in there?" he asked.
Sheba looked at her adopted brother with fierce eyes. "What does it matter to you?" she asked in a slightly stronger voice.
Piers mentally thanked the Gods. She was better at dealing with her brother than he was. Still, he couldn't agree with her point of view on the Q'tiil man. {She may have been born from that foul stock, but she was raised in a kind and caring environment. She's nothing like them.} She turned to look at him.
"Piers, I only wish we could see eye-to-eye. I'm going to miss you when I go back to my friends. Please help us." He shook his head; still, he kept a firm hold on her, not daring to let her drop.
"I can't. I just can't." She looked at him with large, sad eyes. "I'm sorry. I just can't explain." She frowned at him.
"Put me down." Slowly, he let her down. She ripped off his shirt and threw it at him. "Take your bloody shirt and go off to your real friends." The shirt hit him in the stomach. He doubled over, a look of surprise on his face. "That hurt, Piers. If you can't tell me, then who can you tell?" He frowned at her question. She looked over to Ivan and Feizhi. They each lent her a shoulder. Slowly, the three of them walked off to Kay's house.
***
8BTFreek: Here's the translation: (1): Sheba, hold on. Your lover will heal you. Hold on, little comrade.
Eshli: Y'know, the language thingy does look like random typing.
8BTFreek: But there's a pattern to the typing, and a pattern to the pronunciation, and I actually have continuity.
Eshli: I'll give you that.
8BTFreek: Well, there you have it. Time for the next chapter in about five months (somewhere in that time-frame I'll put it up.)
Gannon: Bah, you'll put it up sooner. I know you, you cheap, nasty bastard. You'll put it up within the month.
8BTFreek: Not likely. But please, review. The more reviews you give me, the better I'll be in the next chapter. I'm looking for inspiration. Who knows? You might inspire me. So send in those reviews!