"We're here! We're finally here!" Julia shouted as she drank water from Al de Baran's clean waters…
"I can't believe it…..after 10 years, I'm back here again," Aru said as he turned around in amazement, "A lot of things have changed….."
"We should go take a break," Julia suggested as she washed her face with the same water, "Aru, your home's here, right?"
"Umm….yeah."
"Then go and introduce us to your parents!" Lucas bellowed as he tugged the two of them towards the center of Al de Baran, where the famous clocktower stood. The massive structure just stood there, the cries of many, both human and not, could be heard from deep within the tower.
"By the way…." Lucas said as he stopped pulling and scratched his head. "Where IS your home anyway?"
"Is there anything else you would like, Ms Mamba?" One of the waiters asked out of fear.
"You've just turned from useful to useless….get out of my sight!"
"Yes, m'lady."
Black Mamba stood up from her table, all eyes were on her. She never did like that. All those "pathetic souls" looking at her like she was one of them.
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" She bellowed. The people went back to doing what they were before she came in.
As she walked out the door, she noticed something peculiar.
"That cloak….seems….faintly familiar." A closer look revealed the arcane tower's insignia embedded on the back of the cloak.
"Arubatael! Or was it Arushatael? Whatever…."
The doors behind her opened. A man in heavy, black armor strode off into the distance, bumping Mamba in the process.
"What's your problem, punk?" She yelled.
No reply.
"I'm talking to you!"
The man could no longer be seen. Mamba was furious at this. She wanted to blow up the whole city if she wasn't affected by the change of magic as well.
"That's a stupid idea! I might end up burning my own soul!" She thought to herself. "Yes, just calm down. Don't think about those useless souls."
"Yes. Don't." A voice from behind said in an emotionless tone.
Mamba quickly turned around to see the face of Mephisto, the demon. His white hair hidden by the cloak he was wearing. He seemed to be enjoying his vanilla flavored ice cream.
"Want some ice cream?" He offered.
The doorbell rang, but no one bothered to open the door for the three. Aru pushed the doorbell again. Nothing.
"Oh!" He said in an agitated tone, rapidly pushing the doorbell over and over again.
"Yes, yes! Coming!" A voice from inside said. Moments later, the door opened, and inside was a woman with long blonde hair.
"Oh my God! Arukatael!" The woman said as she hugged Aru as tight as she could. "Thank the heavens you're alright!"
"Mom….."
"I was so worried!"
"MOM!"
"Ooohh, right." She then let go of her tight grip on him. "And who are these friends of yours?"
"This is Julia le Rouge. She's a mage, and we're headed to Juno so she can take the sage test." Aru said as she pointed to Julia. "And this is Lucas Valentine, he helped us against those spider-thingies in Prontera."
"Hi." The two of them said in unison.
"Well, come in. Come in." Aru's mom ushered them inside.
"What would you like? Water? Soda? Tea?" She said as she fiddled with the cupboards.
Julia rejected the offer, "No thanks"
"I'll have some tea please!" Lucas said, sounding very enthusiastic.
"By the way," Aru's mom said as she gave the tea to Lucas, "Where's Phoenix?"
"He's over at Payon doing research on those blue guys."
"BONGUNS!" They all said in unison.
"Oh fine, so everyone knows what they are except me!"
"Where's the medicine? WHERE IS IT?" A cloaked figure said as he rummaged about his destroyed home. "I feel the darkness overcoming me, my sanity pouring out like a new wound……"
He opened the last drawer he hadn't yet checked. Inside was a vial with transparent silver liquid. He quickly took it out and brought it closer and closer to his lips. That's when he lost it. Before reaching his lips, his grip on the vial increased ten-fold and broke the vial, the liquid dripping down the floor. He couldn't think straight anymore, he couldn't control his movements now. He wasn't himself.
"Archaeon……It is time…." A voice from behind him said.
He turned around and saw his sword.
"Tirfing the accursed sword commands thee!"
"Your will be done."
"I'm going to go buy some supplies we need. Potions, scrolls, and other stuff." Aru suggested as he walked out the door.
"Wait," Lucas said as he ran after him. "I'll go with you"
Aru just smiled as he closed the door, "You go start brewing those potions."
"In this house lies a sage…..interesting." The sword, Tirfing said with blood lust in every word "Take me to her! The blood of a sage will quench my blood lust for over half a millennia! I must have her blood!"
"Your will be done."
"Aru……I was just wondering, where IS your father?" Lucas asked as he loaded some scrolls on the cart.
"He…he's dead," Aru paused for a while. "My mother and Phoenix are my only living relatives…."
"Well then, I'm sorry to hear that…"
Julia had offered t help Mrs. La Croix cook lunch that day, when the door was being banged on.
"I'll get it," She offered as she handed the pan to Mrs. La Croix. She twisted the knob and opened the door, "Yes?"
"Sage…."
"Excuse me?"
The man in front raised his sword and thrust it down the ground. The earth shivered in fear, the buildings of Al de Baran crumbled one by one.
"What do you think you're doing?" Julia bellowed, "Frost Diver!"
That instant, the man froze solid, the earthquakes stopped.
"Julia! What's going on there?" Mrs. La Croix bellowed as she walked over to the front door. "Black Alchemy!"