Chapter Three: Minister of Magic
In the ruins they all stood. The battle between Cronin and Jarublulix was seconds from erupting. Sakeru and Kurin-Juran watched nervously as their lives relied on the Hume. Winner takes all in scuffle about to begin.
"Well, you talk a lot of crap for someone so short" Cronin taunted.
Jarublulix eyes became like knives at the Hume's smirk. Jarublulix had reached his breaking point. This was easily known just by looking at him.
"Whaty is that suppose-nuppose to mean?" Kurin-Juran, being a petite Tarutaru himself, challenged his own friend's words.
"Er, I got to stop forgetting I travel with a Tarutaru now, no more short cracks", he said under his breath lightly followed by a "I'm joking!".
With the sideshow finish, both of the fighters stood face to face. Jarublulix was about three and a half feet tall and Cronin as about two and half feet taller. Jarublulix in an abrupt movement swung forward at Cronin with the beastman's aged axe. Cronin quickly blocked it with his dirt tan pugil-scale shield and readied his sword. He tried his best to slice down the fiend, but his foe dodged it, not gracefully but almost luckily. Jarublulix was able to land two side slashing blows on Cronin causing him to let out a painful "Agh!".
"Hahaha!" the assaulter was pleased by the outcome of his efforts.
Cronin retreated a few feet; feeling around his lower sides. The cuts were small and only a little amount of blood discharged from his wounds. His protective lizard leather armor had been pieced. The Moblin rammed into his Hume opponent, using the flat side of his axe, Cronin strength was unable to resist the force and was pushed more in distance. His feet slid against the dusty grounds, bringing up clouds of aged chalky powder.
"Weak! Running away?" Jarublulix yelled out with a laugh.
"Bastard..." Cronin answered. He charged forward, prepared.
As the second round of the battle began, he was giving his entire arm into each hit. Cronin had become berserk, a warrior's of combat ability to blindly accept his rage at expense of his defense. Slashing twice as hard as before, Cronin's long sword lacerated the goblin three times very brutally. Jarublulix's three cuts bled uncontrollably.
The light brown leather-mask wearing goblins, Tarutaru Kurin-Juran, and Mithra Sakeru all watched as the two fought in a bloody battle with tension swimming in the air. Both sword and axe parried each other out on the next attack, failing both their attempts to cleave. A sound hurtful to the ears would hit everyone's hearing.
Cronin, with all his strength and will focused, he pulled back his blade back and made a very fast slash. The goblin's arm skin sliced like paper and his blood sprayed into the air. Kurin's head turned away in disgust. Jarublulix was barely standing, bathed in his own blood. He laughed. Cronin and the other two Windurstians looked confused at the nearly dead beastman.
"Has he gone crazy?!" Sakeru asked lifting her right eyebrow and gave a shrug. Neither the less, the adventurers were winning.
The goblin-like gang leader reached his left hand into his inventory and pulled out a small round black ball. Not being alchemists, even they knew what it was: a goblin-made bomb. Goblin alchemy and crafting skills were just as the people of Vana'Diel, maybe even better. Even so, the Goblin merchants rumor about Moblin crafters who are the best in the world.
"Once this explosive hits a surface hard enough, it could blow out a brick wall" Jarublulix warned.
"Oh... crap!" Cronin yelled, slowly withdrawing, his heels moving backs towards his party. The tables had been turned.
Kurin-Juran and Sakeru also suddenly tensed up with fear at the sight of the weapon. The beastman gave a malevolent grin and with the same left hand he launched it forward.
"Only a wuss would use tactics like thrrrrowing a bomb!" Sakeru provoked the goblin, which totally broke his concentration.
"Shut up or I wil-!" Jarublulix yelled until he noticed his mistake. The bomb had dropped to his feet.
Cronin ran back, shield covering his face. Jarublulix panicked, tripping over his own feet. Seconds later, a loud boom roared through the halls and made the ancient walls tremble.
After the legacy of loud echoes, the realization was made: Cronin's opponent blew himself to pieces. A thin coat of black smoke swallowed the room for a brief time. The fallen antagonist's goons were silent like a tearless funeral. A fire crystal rolled to the victorious Cronin's feet.
A new kind of shock came to the beastmen. Their leader, the brutal Moblin outlaw Jarublulix, had been defeated in combat. For months the chief had controlled this cavity in the earth, hunting all that oppose: large insects, undead, and other goblins. They attacked a few adventures and scientist trying to explore the deeper ruins as well.
Cronin breath was heavy as he returned his sword to its indrawn position. He, out of instinct, checked to see how badly damaged his shield was, but didn't care really.
"How could he have done that?" "He killed the big guy without touching him!" "No way would he have blown himself up!" "The Hume has magical powers!" "Magical powers?!" the Goblins yelled, panicking without movement. Fearful eyes feast upon Cronin's not-so-mighty sight.
Cronin, Kurin, and Sakeru all had a puzzled face on. Cronin gave a confused and sudden "Huh?" towards the goblin bandits.
"We angered him! RUN!" one screamed in fear and ran. The others followed pushing and shoving to get away. A moment past...
"Well..." Cronin said almost laughing. His left hand covered his mouth.
"Whataru the hell was that?" Kurin said totally confused.
"Stupid beastmen. That is what it was... prrrretty funny really" Sakeru gave a laugh. Kurin and Cronin joined in. The goblins were far gone by the time the allies started to joke and laugh.
Kurin suddenly spotted Jarublulix very damaged body, facing the ground. His torso was blown out by the bomb, his dark armor shattered. He stopped laughing. "I wish... we would not fight..." Kurin depressingly said very quietly under his breath.
"What was that, Kurin?" Cronin asked looking into his eyes, sensing his possible sorrow.
"Oh nothin'. Come on Sakeru, show us the way" Kurin said to her, no longer paying attention to the fallen foe.
"Alrrrright then. Let us head back to the main rrrrom" she said turning back. They retraced their steps back to the central room. They passed the magical device and started to walk against the walls.
"I think..." she said slightly. The other two focused on the wall as she hit it. Nothing happened.
"Damn... must be on the wrrrrong side or something" she said nervously. A chill graced her fibbing body.
Cronin's eyes narrowed at her. "Do you really know where this door is at?" he asked close to her face. Nervous sweat poured down Sakeru's face.
"Oh Altana..." Kurin sighed. She had been lying and they finally realized it.
Sakeru looked to the ground, guilty. "I'm sorrrry. I was so afrrriad of the goblins... I didn't want to go alone. I knew they would have killed me..." she said and began to sob.
"Oh... oh, uh... it is okay" Cronin was shocked she would take it so hard.
"No! I did something horrible!" she cried out.
"No, no! You did the right thing! You would have died if we didn't help you!" Cronin tried to comfort her.
She sniffed and wiped her red eyes. "Really? You guys forgive me?" she looked cheery at both their faces.
"Of course!" they both said smiling back. Kurin and Cronin turned forward with a new challenge on their minds.
'Suckers... It is just too easy to trick these idiots. Did I even need to lie to begin with?' she thought in her head and grinned after she finished wiping away her faked tears.
"Kurin and Sakeru, you get the left wall. I will get the right" Cronin said as he started to feel against the right wall.
Kurin and Sakeru nodded then did the same on the parallel wall. Within three minutes from the start of their search, Cronin felt the wall move when he pushed against it, hearing a click.
"Found it!" he yelled. Kurin and Sakeru ran towards him.
"Good job buddy!" Kurin praised him.
"Stand back..." he warned and he hit the wall like Sakeru did before. It opened no more than four seconds later. It revealed a lighted hallway, more of the ruins. They walked down the green-lighted halls. A few bats flew about, they were bigger than the flying vermin before as they explored deeper.
"Hmmm, right or left?" Sakeru asked as she spotted that the hall broke into the two directions at its end.
They reached its end and looked both ways. "Well it smells like goblin towards the right. I say left" said Cronin.
"Yeah, at least we won'taru die if we choose wrong" Kurin agreed with a giggle.
After going left for only seconds, they spotted an iron door. "This could be wherrrre the minister is at, like you guys were talking about!" Sakeru cheered happily.
"Wait out here, okay?" Cronin ordered her. Sakeru hid her sigh. Kurin-Juran tapped the door and it opened.
Both of the boys walked into the bright room and door closed behind them. With a quick glace you could see two Tarutarus, one boy and one girl, standing around a rather large magical device; a large glowing orb like the other ones, but bigger. The girl had light pink robe and cap on and the boy had a marine blue robe with yellow patterns, fuzzy tan cap, and small glasses. "Agh! I am tired of this!" the male yelled.
"Ajido-Marujido! Justaru let it go..." she said to him. The two did not notice Kurin and Cronin. Both of the adventurers eavesdropped quietly.
'Ajido-Marujido? Yup, that's the minister...' Cronin quickly remembered.
"Apururu, you will just live in Windurst so blindly? I thought I knew my sister well... Windurst is in such trouble-wouble... We are losing control of the cardians who attack us every other day. Also, the Yagudo, slowly, everyday disrespect the treaty. And the Star Sybil simply ignores this!" the little Tarutaru ranted.
"Ajdio-" she was cut off quickly. "Windurst really-weally doesn't have the 'peace and security' they all claim. The great War Warlocks that defended our country years ago have died or are dying! Who will train the new generation...? Nobody will. Making us defenseless... relaying on this 'peace and security'. Now I will find out the great magic to defend our country" he revealed, now with his tone now favored sadness than anger.
"Ajido-Marujido... if the great 'Mastermind of the Millennium' met such a tragic fate, what a faker-waker fool like you stand a chance" she insulted, frustrated by his words.
"Say as you like. Sure the spell-weaver died, but left behind him great magic-hagic. Not as tragic as you say" Ajido argued back.
"How did I knew you were going to say that" she moaned with those words, slapping her own forehead.
"Foolish Star Sybil, if she would just let me use this magic, which I know I could do, correctly... we wouldn't have to be buddy-buddy with the beastmen!" he shouted away from his sister.
"I know I can't convince your sorry self to stop preaching like that, but don'taru come crying to me when you are imprisoned or killed!" she complained.
"Killed? I like to see those dumb Mithra go against the power of ancient magic" the minister replied cockily.
Ajido-Marujido looked to his left in a random movement. "Who the helly are you?" he asked at Cronin and Kurin-Juran, once he was surprised to spot them.
"Um... we were asked by the Federation of Windurst to help you..." Cronin answered with a bit of fear.
"Yup..." Kurin added almost hiding behind Cronin.
"Hmm, speak of the devil. Well good-wood job on being late, it is over, this stupid gizmo broke down... again" Ajdio said in his usual angered tone, centering his glassed back to his face.
"Sister.... I think it is best if we head back now" he said turning to her.
"Yes brother..." she answered. She chanted a few words and a purple aura absorbed her, leaving behind a shrieking sound and dots of light. Kurin knew the spell as Warp. He was far too weak as a Black Mage to use it though.
"Both of you... I think I got another task for you. A mana orb, those things in the magical gizmos, was burned out during the experimentaru... please go collect it. That is your mission and goodbye" he ordered to them and warped away too.
"What a strange little guy... he sure didn't like how Windurst is being run..." Cronin said, turning back for the door.
"Yeah. Also, I felty-welty his magical aura... it was extremely strong, like nothing I have ever seen before... stronger than Koro-Roko" the Tarutaru followed.
"Hmm?" Cronin looked down.
"I'll tell you later" Kurin smiled and with those words a pleasant memory of his Black Mage training with his mentor returned to his mind... until he remembered 'him'.
They exited the room to see an inpatient Mithra. "Well that was long... I am guessing he was in there. Where is he?" she said looking around them.
"He teleported away... We got to bring back a broken-woken magical orb from the magical gizmos" he said.
"Ah okay, lets get back to the middle room then" the Mithra said and they began their return to the entrance once again.
Kurin and Cronin checked the two closest magical devices while Sakeru checked one in the right corner. None of them looked to be in bad shape. Finally after they checked three other ones, Kurin climbed up the stairs at the base of every device and found a burned-out orb giving out no light when he checked for one.
"Got it! Let's go home guys!" Kurin yelled to them. The others gave loud cheers. Their mission was completed. They traveled back to the Windurst, then to the Orastery.
Kurin-Juran had a feeling... Ajido-Marujido would play a big role in his life as a Windurstian adventurer.
The steamboat that traveled back and forth between Mhaura and Selbina was making its daily trip to Mhaura, just undocking from Selbina.
A figure sat behind a group of boxes, hidden from everyone else. This man was Elvaan with dark eyes and hair. All his clothes were black leather based around the jerkin he donned outside a white mask, which covered his entire face, save his eyes. The black leather armor he wore took shelter within his very large black cape. Also masked by his cape was a blood red colored great sword. His eyes were tired, seeking sleep.
The vast blue ocean gave little opposition to the steel frame and wooden built ship. The sun was very bright out, which often happened on Lightsday. The ship was noisy from its riders and itself. This well-known ship was running on steam power and a large wheel. A Bastokian boat-maker made the greatest ship to ever ride the waters, and this was it. After many years of travel, the ship has grown old and weak, straying from its former glory.
'Why must I do this?' the Elvaan began asking in his head. He sounded dark and heavy even in his mind.
'I don't get why the Archduke would care about such an unknown person...' the thoughts continued in his head why he played with his mask, moving it back and forth, right and left.
'Mer? Mercutio? Yes, that was the name... he wants me to capture him. Unharmed. Interesting to see the Archduke ask for a mercenary such as myself... this must be something 'shady' he finished.
"Whoa, I caugh'aru a big sucker!" a Tarutaru said proudly.
"Nice one, Jakune!" another fishing Tarutaru praised, a girl.
"Thanks Kataruru" his aged voice said smiling. He set out his rod again.
The mercenary looked at both of them with his face peeking from the side of crates. One with silver hair that was covered by a white hat with red markings was wearing a shiny breastplate. The other, a girl, was wearing a white tunic concealing her silver locks of hair.
A large group of people was on the ship outside himself, but only two other stuck out besides him. A Hume and a Tarutaru, both looked elite in their profession: hunters. The Hume had short black hair, covered by a green hat decorated with a leaf. The rest of his equipment was made out of similar green thread or brown leather. The Ranger had an axe and a gun well equipped to his side. The Tarutaru to his right was wearing a red ribbon and a set of beetle made armor: tight black armor with tints of blue, large shoulder guards, and a subligar over black pants. His hair was long for a Tarutaru contained by a ponytail. The Beastmaster had an axe and a tan buckler to his left arm.
Both of them sat on the stairs, steps below a fisherman. "I am pretty excited and I am not one to be so. Been such a long time we went hunting since old boss croaked" the Tarutaru said. His childish accent was absent.
"Siat, I feel excited too, but don't let that disrespect the old boss..." the Hume scolded the Tarutaru.
"Yeah I guess. Well you hear about the new guy, Jody? It is the legendary Renza Azure, a former officer of the Jeunoan Guard... the guy who survived the Behemoth incident twelve years ago. I bet he knows how to hunt!" Siat rumored about his new leader.
"Yep... this guy is like royalty compared to us members of V.E.R.M.I.N." Jody answered back.
A shock was brought to the Elvaan's heart. "The Behemoth Incident... twelve years ago..." was all he said to himself.
'Renza will be... in Mhaura?' the thought summoned both hate and pleasure.
'Only two people survived that battle... out of all thirty-two of us... Renza of the Ducal Guard and me... Ravez, the leader of the West Lions, a Royal Knight company, that's it'.
It would be about five hours until the trip to Mhaura would be completed. Ravez rest his head back on the rough surface of the boxes, chipped and fuzzy with possible splinters.
Staring into the bright sun, he closed his eyes and he rested. "They will be a battle in Mhaura soon..." he said just before he fell into a deep relaxing sleep.