Finally, he opened his eyes.
The world around him was like a crude post-modern painting. Paths led nowhere, and nothing seemed solid, nor did anything around him seem to have any meaning. The only path he could see led up to what looked like a hollow tree.
He scratched his head for a bit, only to realize that the fur was still there. He looked at his hands- no- claws.
No!
With an angry snarl, he swiped his claws at the ground. Why? Why was he not only trapped in this hideous body, but also this sickening un-reality?
So I'm Lynx now, am I? A fitting punishment. Kid is dead, and I'm trapped in the body of a monster! That dream was a warning that I should have heeded. I should have brought a gun with me- not my stupid swallow!
He looked around and noticed that said swallow was lying next to him.
Even though it's my one reminder of reality…he thought as he picked up his old friend.
He decided to see what was inside that hollow. It looked big enough to live in. Perhaps it would be his new home…if someone didn't already live there. Either possibility seemed to suit him just fine.
Slowly, he made his way up the twisted path that led to the tree. It didn't seem like it could be real, but as he opened the door leading inside, he couldn't deny that it had indeed responded to his actions.
"'Ey you!" shouted an old woman's voice, "Wot are you doin' in me 'ouse?"
He looked up to see a small, green demi-human sitting up in a hammock eating a piece of fruit.
She jumped down and faced him. "Hmmm...I figured you for another wandering spirit. 'Ow many years 'as it been since a physical being wandered into this world...? Very strange indeed. Rightly so, this world is controlled by chance and chaos. Anythin' can 'appen as quick as a wink. Nobody knows. Somethin' you 'ave today may be gone tomorrow. Just like this fruit I'm 'oldin'. Important stuff, irreplaceable stuff: all these may come to 'arm with superlative ease. And wot's frightening is there be absolutely no meaning to wot 'appens in our daily lives. Meanin' is non-existent. No matter wot's born, lost or changed, it's beyond calculation. There may be no one or nothing watching over you. Such is life, my feline friend,"
Serge/Lynx stared at the crone in horror. It sounded like things that philosophers from Termina might pretentiously say. But in its absolute, literal form, it was a total nightmare. How could such people even pretend that not only such a world existed in real life, but was okay?
"Wot's yer name, eh?" the old demi-human asked.
"Sserrrge," he managed to utter. The voice was so horrible-sounding that he didn't even bother to ask the old crone her name. He never wanted to hear that voice again, let alone from his own lips.
"Serge, eh?" the woman finished eating her fruit, "Well, you can call me Sprigg. Glad to know ya!"
Serge nodded. Then he turned around and headed towards the door.
"Just a second!" Sprigg went over to him, "You're gonna try an' go to that tower, right? I'll open it for ya. I 'ave a feeling that I might finally escape from this 'ere 'ell-'ole if I follow ya,"
Serge nodded again and opened the door. Sprigg followed him as the two silently made their way up the path to the top of a hill. The tower Sprigg mentioned stood before them. Sprigg took out a key and opened the door. They went inside.
"You are tres late, non?" Harle stood before them, "Come on, Monsieur Lynx, let's go. We don't have ze time to be dawdling here. We may truly get lost in time. I can't afford to lose you just yet,"
"My…lot of company today," Sprigg mused.
"I'm…not Lynx!" Serge growled in the voice he hated.
"Yes you are," Harle contradicted him, "You are no longer Serge. You are Monsieur Lynx! Look at you! Who in their right mind iz going to believe you are Serge? C'est simple: if everybody, except for yourself, says zat you are Monsieur Lynx, then voila! You are Monsieur Lynx! It's as simple as zat! Zat iz who you are! C'est la realité! If you try and go against realité, realité will surely crush you. Realité will kill you. And realité will continue to go on as if nothing ever happened. From yesterday to today, and from today to tomorrow. Realité marches on...leaving your crushed body behind,"
"Reality iz only wot others except yourself perceive, eh?" Sprigg shook her head, "Nope, I don't buy it,"
"I did not recall asking for your opinion, old hag!" Harle snapped, "This is Monsieur Lynx's trial- not yours! You are merely using him as your ticket out of here!"
"That may be so," Sprigg admitted, "But it's because I was able to perceive as much reality as I could in a place like this, that I managed to survive 'ere all these years! Serge, don't listen to that there clown! If you are who you say you are, then that is at the very least, your own reality. Whether or not it's the reality, you'll find out in time, eh?"
Serge stared at Sprigg. Yes…that's right. She's right! He nodded at her eagerly.
"Ooh la lah..." Harle seemed amused, "So, you still insist zat you are Serge, oui? Well, perhaps the hag is right. You as Serge…it can be the reality as well as yours, if you use ze Dragon Tear…"
Serge's ears perked up at that last bit, but he remained silent.
"So you will say nothing then…?" Harle frowned at him, "How boring, Fine, I understand how you feel. Let's head back to reality,"
She left through a portal. Serge followed hesitantly.
"'Ey, wot about me?" Sprigg hurried after the two as best as she could.
On the other side of the portal, was yet another surrealistic mess. It was a set of staircases with the proportions completely off, and many optical illusions littered the place. Without a word, Serge and Sprigg followed Harle down the proper sets of stairs. Occasionally, Harle would throw a switch, eliminating some of the illusions, thus, allowing them to continue on.
After about half-an-hour of walking, they came to another portal. Harle stepped in without a word. The other two followed.
/p center ...
"We are back to realité," Harle observed as they stood in the Hydra Marshes, "Does zis place look familiar to you, Monsieur Lynx? Do you need me to tell you where we are?"
Serge shook his head.
"Good," Harle nodded, "Then let's leave zis forest marshes at once,"
"Ahhh…" Sprigg stretched luxuriously, "Yes, I'm finally back in the real world! A world with substance! Even the water and air are different! This is great! It's time to party, eh? Let's have a toast 'ere to our return to the real world!"
"Listen, old lady," Harle grew impatient, "You are not getting younger. Try to control your emotions. And there iz absolutely no time to be partying! We must hurry along!"
"'We'?" Sprigg raised a weathered eyebrow at Harle, "Look- I've done my part. I let our friend Serge, or Lynx, or whatever, into the tower. You took over, and now I'm back where I belong. Don't be such a buzz-kill. So long,"
She walked away.
"I'm sure you wish to return to ze other world and find out how your friends are," Harle said to Serge.
"They're dead, aren't they?" Serge grumbled miserably.
"If you survived, what is to say they didn't also?" Harle tilted her head to the side.
Serge looked at her. "But Kid…"
"Now iz not ze time to grieve," Harle said sharply, "We can only move forward from here. However, now that ze missing piece to zis world has been found, there is nothing we can do now. I suppose you could go home to your mother, but I doubt she'll even…where are you going?"
Serge walked out of the forest.
"Monsieur Lynx! I wasn't serious! Don't try to go home- you'll only be hurt in the end!"
Serge hadn't even acknowledged Harle's presence during the walk back to Arni Village.
"What…!" one of the citizens of Arni gaped at the duo as they walked through the gates, "Demi-humans! What do you want here! Answer me!"
"You shut up!" Harle snapped at the man.
Serge continued down the path, ignoring the shocked and terrified faces of the villagers, until he went inside his house.
Marge was busy washing her dishes when Serge burst inside, Harle trailing behind him. She turned to face him.
"Oh?" she looked extremely surprised, but not as terrified as many of the villagers had been, "Who might you two be? May I help you?"
"Mother!" Serge fell to his knees.
"What…?" Marge nearly dropped one of her dishes, "What did you just say!"
"It's me, Mom!" Serge strained, "It's Serge!"
"…Please…explain to me what's going on here…?" Marge looked frightened.
Serge got up, went over to his usual spot at the dinner table, and sat down. He told her the entire story, the voice of Lynx grating against his ears the whole time. Yet, he knew he had to be the one to explain everything, as he still did not trust Harle to speak for him.
"I see…" Marge said when Serge had finished, "So that man told you to go to the Sea of Eden. I really don't know about dimensional distortions or about the other world. But, if like you say, something really big is on the verge of happening,"
"You…believe me…?" Serge whispered.
"It may have all started fourteen years ago," Marge looked out the window, "On the night of the storm. That night, your father, Wazuki, and his friend Miguel set out to sea, despite a storm. It was an emergency. They were swallowed by the high waves and lostconsciousness. When they came to, they found themselves inside the Dead Sea...a place where no living creature dares enter. I don't know what happened, but that incident changed your father,"
She closed her eyes, as if the memory still pained her.
"And your father's friend, Miguel...Leena's father. He never returned... Back then, that place wasn't called the Dead Sea...yes, I believe they called it 'Sea of Eden' But that was fourteen years ago. And that, Serge, is why I believe you. Besides- what mother wouldn't know her own child?"
Serge bowed his head and sighed with immense relief.
"I stand corrected…" Harle commented.
Marge was just about to ask her what she meant when the door opened once more. This time, Radius, the one Serge had known for years as the village chief, entered.
"No…" Radius gasped, "This can't be…Lynx! How can you still be alive! Step outside so we can have it out once and for all!"
Harle sighed. "Look, geezer- I would not show off like zat if you want to live. Do not underestimate ze power of Monsieur Lynx,"
"But he's not Lynx!" Marge protested, "Please, Chief Radius- just listen to me! Lynx is alive, but he's pulled a dirty trick on Serge! He used the power of the Dragon Tear to switch bodies with my son! The one you see before you is the real Serge!"
"He…" Radius went up to Serge carefully, and stared at him for a while. "Hmm…I do not sense the same malice that Lynx once had…I doubt he'd have mended his evil ways…do you really mean to tell me that you are not Lynx?"
"That, and General Viper and his men are still alive in the other world," Marge added.
"What other world?" Radius asked.
"Sit down," Marge pulled out a chair for the old man, "It's a rather long story…"
When Marge had finished recapping everything for Radius, he stared thoughtfully at the table for a moment. Then he stood up.
"Understood," he said, "I shall accompany you! We may still have a chance to save the general and Riddel in the other world!"
"What!" Harle exclaimed, "This old man iz only going to get in ze way!"
Radius ignored Harle. "We must gather news in Termina about General Viper's disappearance. We may find clues to show us how to return to that other world. I, Radius, shall give you my all, in the name of Viper!"
The city of Termina was as Serge had originally remembered it: town always on edge. Run by Porre soldiers, people were afraid to go out beyond their daily jobs. If the soldiers saw something they didn't approve of, they wouldn't hesitate to deal out a swift punishment. At least when the famous "Commander Norris" he'd heard of so many times wasn't around anyway.
A guard ran up to the trio immediately. "…Sir Lynx!" he stared at him, "Is it really you? I can't believe you're safe, sir! Where have you been all this time!"
"It's a rather long story," Radius explained, "We need to use a boat, though,"
"We've set up a temporary military dock beyond this point," the guard explained, "Nobody may pass without permission from Commander Norris...not even you, Sir Lynx. Commander Norris is at the ruins of Viper Manor. Please report your current status to him immediately, and we'll see what we can do,"
"Very well," Radius nodded, "Viper Manor it is!"
"This…is Viper Manor?" Harle exclaimed in disbelief.
A large, dilapidated building stood before them, behind rusty gates. Tall grass and weeds grew in every crack, and insects buzzed about everywhere.
"I believe it has been 4 years since I retired from the Dragoons..." Radius sighed, "Time sure does fly... I was shocked to hear of the Dragoons' disappearance three years ago. I took the liberty of conducting my own investigation, but I have discovered nothing. All I know is that a man named Lynx approached the general and had involved him in some kind of incident. The only difference with the other world you talk about is that something happened to the general 3 years ago. I just hope that this Norris fellow knows something…or do you?" he looked pointedly at Harle.
"I know nothing!" Harle snapped, "I never even saw this world until today! I do not find your accusations amusing!"
The guards guided them through the manor, which was equally run-down. Finally, they reached Commander Norris' door.
"Go right inside," the guide nodded at them.
Warily, Serge opened the door and walked inside, his two companions right behind him.
A young man in his mid-twenties sat at a desk going over several papers. Upon hearing the door close, he looked up, his expression turning to surprise.
"Sir Lynx!" he stood up and strode over to the trio, "It's been a while, sir! I regret to inform you that there is no sign of the general or the others. We are still investigating the area, but it appears that the Frozen Flame is not here,"
Serge sighed, still hating being addressed as Lynx.
Norris peered at him. "Sir...are you all right? You seem different than I last remember..."
"You are correct," Radius spoke, "This man is not Lynx,"
"Excuse me, sir," Norris said politely, "But who might you be?"
"I am Radius, a former dragoon," Radius bowed his head, "This person may look like Lynx, but his spirit is of another,"
"That is…quite strange, if I may say so," Norris frowned.
"It's up to you what you want to believe," Radius shrugged, "So, what business did you have with Lynx?"
"Well," Norris went back to his desk and sat down, "It was actually Sir Lynx who approached us about the existence of the Frozen Flame in El Nido. Being from the main continent, we had doubted its very existence, so I was sent to El Nido Archipelago as a spy.
"I had narrowed down the location to Viper Manor, but it appeared as though General Viper and his men were in search of it as well. Eventually, I was called back to Porre, but it was then that I heard General Viper and his men had disappeared and that the manor had been destroyed as such.
"I heard only recently that there is good evidence the general and his men headed to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is an ocean located to the east, surrounded by coral. It used to be called the Sea of Eden, but even then, not many dared enter. We investigated the area, but to no avail. We could find no entrance,"
He looked up at Serge. "It was you, Sir Lynx, who wished to change this distorted world using the Frozen Flame,"
"Ooh, lah, lah!" Harle mused, "Such grand dreams, Monsieur Lynx!"
Serge winced.
"Hold your tongue!" Radius snapped at her.
Harle glared at the old man, but fell silent.
"So…" Radius looked thoughtful, "The Dead Sea…that ocean was called the Sea of Eden until 3 years ago. This may just be the clue we were looking for. Once we uncover Lynx's plans, it should be easy enough to counter them,"
"So you're planning to go to the Dead Sea?" Norris asked, "There is no way to get there. We searched all over for an entrance, but to no avail. No one else knows anything about it either,"
Serge sighed.
"Don't worry, m'boy," Radius placed a comforting hand on Serge's shoulder, "I'm sure the demi-humans of Marbule know something about this. The only problem is, they detest humans. But if you were to go, then perhaps they would give you a hint,"
"Then," Norris spoke, "may I join you? I want to know. I want to know if the Frozen Flame really exists, and about everything else that has happened here. Will you accept my help?"
He looked at Serge, who remained silent.
"Please excuse him," Radius explained, "Except for when he has no choice but to talk, he's pretty much been mute since his transformation. The real Lynx is running around somewhere in Serge's body. What he desires with the body of a 17-year-old boy, we still don't know,"
"Understandable," Norris nodded, "Such a thing must have proven to be very traumatic," You have no idea…Serge thought, But I've no time for self-pity now. The sooner I find the Dragon Tear, the sooner I can shed this filthy shell.