The Court Case
Disclaimer: Me no own! Ce n'est mon pas! This is not mine! My story is!
A/N: So it seems Universa is alright…but what of this Raise Summon Spirit? Sheena begins to unravel mysteries as a visit to the Secluded Lands comes nigh…Last chapter was brilliant for me to right. So many things flowed through it, and the InuYasha music I was (and now am) listening to really helped the mood. Also, yes, Lapisa's song was my own creation. I'm glad that people liked that part. I really must get to the case soon, but since there is still a week and two days 'till the trial, since it was morning of the day before that and since Sheena slept through that whole day. Read on.
Chapter 11: Voyage to the Secluded Lands
Sheena, now fully up and in a black kimono with a stitched rose on the shoulder, looked up at Crimsonia, who gave a distant look out the window. Sheena suddenly thought of Raine, who had left town, thinking that might have been what was making Crimsonia act strange. She got out of her thoughts and diverted her attention to her friend. Crimsonia's red hair seemed to luminate attention; her garb was silver with white lace running down it. The red haired woman looked sad, so Sheena went to go aid her, as Crimsonia had her many times before.
"Is everything okay?" Sheena asked, pulling up a chair.
"Yes…everything…everything is…augh." Crimsonia began to break out in tears right in front of the ninja, who then gave her companion a small hug. Crimsonia smiled and then sighed.
"It is just that…I have not been to East Tahjra in so long…I am beginning to--" she cut herself off, "I should not be so selfish. A court case is arising. Now is not the time for weakness."
"Don't say that!" Sheena argued, "Missing your land isn't a bad thing to do! You should go if you want to! Is you do miss it, then I want you to go there."
"But it would be so disloy--"
"No. I allow it. OS now you can go."
"Oh, Miss Sheena! I guess you are right. Would you like to come along?"
"Oh, sure. But we can't stay there for too long, so we should get back when there are two days left to finalize everything. I mean, unless you want to stay there longer. But I have to leave then."
"Oh no! A week is fine! Packing shall not be necessary, I do not think. Just some clothes brought would be all we need."
"I'll go get the Rheiard!" Sheena ran off.
"Wait!" Crimsonia stopped Sheena in her tracks, almost tripping her, but not quite.
"Hmm?"
"It's just that…Rheiards are much too weak in that mana barrier…we have to find another way…Hmmm…Elemental Cargo would not work either…"
"How did you get here?"
"Oh, by Gilmia, of course." Crimsonia unsheathed her rapier.
"Umm…I don't think you can ride on a rapier…"
"Oh, that is right. I have not told you, but in East Tahjra, weapons are ride able. But I have not mastered how two people shall ride it yet. So…Universa would be the best choice."
"Oh, really?" Sheena blushed for a minute, then said, "I'll be right back."
She went into the shower room and summoned Universa.
"Do you need my aid?" he asked/
"Yeah, that, and…" Sheena still kept her face a beet red, "Can we not act awkward anymore? Can we act like that never happened, like we were before?"
"Oh, forgive me, I was not polite in manner. I will do as you say though."
Astra, now in the closet spied on Sheena and Universa, a warm smile spread across her face. It wasn't so she could but in on a relationship, but more rather to guard Sheena for emotional damage.
"So…" Sheena scratched the back of her head, "Can you take us to the Secluded Lands? East Tahjra, I think it was called."
Astra gasped, her head brought back in shock. Her hand was over her mouth, but the collision she had made with the wall knocked a bunch of towels down, landing on the thing that took up most the floor, Astra. A noise was made, and both Sheena and Universa opened the closet doors. The towels, a nice sweet lavender, covered Astra completely. The female ninja and the Summon of Spirit closed it up and continued their conversation.
"Yes. That would be fine. Now are you going back to Crimsonia or is something else on your mind?"
Universa read her like a book. Sheena was still trying to get over the whole thing she had experienced before. She ignored it and said, "There is, but I'm getting over it. I'll go se Crimsonia now."
The female ninja left to her companion. She saw Crimsonia looking at Gilmia, the feather-like hilt shining as she polished it. The red haired woman looked at Sheena and asked, "So, is everything okay now? Should we go at this instant?"
"that would not be the wisest choice." Astra commented as she randomly appeared, "Sheena must know the ways of your people, such as how they have magic with no weapon blood, or using weapons to ride to places."
"Oh, Astra." Crimsonia blushed, "I am sorry. I was being selfish again…"
"No, you were not." The Mistress of Stars shook her head, "I am just saying this so it would be less awkward for Sheena."
"Oh." Crimsonia nodded, "Well then, I shall begin with the simplest thing first. The weapon riding. This is an ancient art passed along throughout out o all of the Tahjra region, an art only people who have magic can use. It takes many months to complete, though. Firstly, mana must be concentrated into the weapon, a certain element that may be effected by terrain. For example, using the water element would help one cross lakes and sea, but not fare well near volcanic or hot climates. Fire would do nicely in those said parts. Earth, is very good to use, since land and mountains make up much of terrain nowadays. Light and Dark are not effected by anything, but are the hardest to use. I got here by using the Light element, but that is not important now. When you use a weapon to transport yourself --and perhaps a companion, but I cannot do that-- you act much like you are fighting, but the only the correct slashes, thrusts, and other such maneuvers will get one a burst of speed, and the slashes following that add up to a huge amount of velocity; in the past, when it was hard to control, people were ripped to shreds, but that is not the case now. I am rambling aren't I…?"
Sheena stared at Crimsonia, and after taking all of it in she replied, "Not really. Just being specific, but Crimsonia, how do you and everybody at the Secluded Lands know magic?"
"Oh, that?" Crimsonia looked flustered, "It's hard to say…It has something to do with the atmosphere. The Secluded Lands…they are filled with mana. It is said that the mana there is so rich it flows into the people there. The power is transmitted through the body, but only for natives; a person must be born there to have the gift of magic. It is a truly amazing place, hard to enter and hard to exit. So, should we go now?"
"Oh, yes. Universa should be--"
"I am right here." Universa cut the female ninja off, gesturing for the two to come in the sudden magic circle, "Shall we get going?"
"Oh, yeah." Sheena replied.
"Sheena…" Crimsonia muttered to herself, "Raise will not be contracted with you so easily, I am sorry."
Sheena thought Crimsonia had said something, but stepped in the circle anyway, followed by a silent Crimsonia.
The room began to shift, turning into an assortment of colors. Sheena began to feel sick, and Crimsonia stood there, waiting for it to be over. Soon, the feeling was over and the two were at the outskirts of a village labeled, "Dilvin, Prime City of East Tahjra"
"Ah." Crimsonia sighed, "My city. Well, now let us get going. We might as well go take a visit to Raise."
Meanwhile, at Zelos' mansion…
Sardnyox and Emereld ran into the mansion.
"Seles!" Sardnyox screamed, "Sheena disappeared!"
"What!" Seles ran out of her room, in a pink nightgown.
Avoiding the awkwardness, Emereld continued, "She and Crimsonia were talking…about East Tahjra…and Universa teleported them there."
"WHAT!" Seles got very close to Emereld, "THEY WENT THERE?" The pink haired demoness took out some floorboards and began to throw them at great velocity, "IT WAS OUR PLACE! EVEN THOUGH RAISE WAS SO MAD! AHHH!" More things were thrown, including wall tiles, more floorboards, a lamp, part of the ceiling tiles, and Sardnyox's lance, which left a big gaping hole in a picture of Sheena in a group portrait that had been painted long ago.
Back to East Tahjra…
Dilvin truly deserved its title. For a country town, it seemed advanced more than most, small kids practicing high level magic and others using weapons that should be wielded only by masters. A bridge lead to a huge castle, and another bridge leading the opposite direction lead to a Temple, most likely Raise's. The two platforms were held above a beautiful sparkling lake, of the most pristine water one could ever taste. A heavenly smell enshrouded the area, coming from the castle. Glittering crystals hung from the trees, and hen Sheena tried to pick one off, it shattered in her hand, spreading some mana into her body.
"That felt weird." Sheena commented, poking a jewel, "What are these?"
"They are manauille crystals. They regenerate often, and they also help spread the mana. You must see them on a clear day. It is marvelous!"
"Ah1 Crimsonia!" A fire-red haired woman jumped on Crimsonia, wearing a nice green dress that had a with collar and cuffs. Crimsonia got up from the dive and smiled, "Ah Flaren, it is good to see you again. How are Scorch and Embre?"
"My siblings are fine. Who's this? By the looks of it, she's a Summoner, right?"
"Sheena blushed at that fact, "How did you know. I'm Sheena." She shook Flaren's hand.
" Flaren LaHeart. Pleased to meet ya." Flaren turned to Crimsonia, "Have you seen Singe recently? Is she alright?"
"Singe? That general lady of the Meltokio Guard?" Sheena asked.
"Oh, so she's general now, is she?" Flaren rolled her eyes, "We haven't even heard of her…in like, two years! Ugh, she annoys me sometimes."
"You know mail is hard to get here…" Crimsonia sounded like she was apologizing, "It's not Singe's fault."
Flaren looked up, "I know, but it's so hard to forgive sometimes…hmmm, but anyway…Sheena, so you want to see Raise's temple?"
Sheena pondered this for a minute. Whether or not to see the town first…a big decision.
Crimsonia kicked Flaren's ankle and whispered, "What do you think you're doing? We cannot let Raise be taken from here!"
"It would be her own decision!" Flaren whispered back, "Raise's mana doesn't power these parts anyway! We've trained for this!"
"Fine, but later!"
Sheena, finally done with her decision, said, "I think I want to explore here a bit more. Is that alright, Crimsonia?"
"Oh, yes…" Crimsonia began to walk as Sheena soon followed. She pointed at the castle, "That is the ruler of East Tahjra's castle. Over there…" she pointed to the village, "Is Dilvin. We focus on intelligence and mana here, as well as weaponry. Schools also teach how to weapon transport. Over there below the bridges, is the Manauille River, which flows into the Lake of Crystal Dreams, which Twists into the Sea of Light. These area also flow into the ocean, but they have special properties. We use the Manauille River's Water for weapons, clean water and hydropower. We also may traverse to the Lake of Crystal Dreams for armor, since the ore there can be processed into many things, houses, weapons, and some magic uses. It is almost impossible to reach the Sea of Light."
"Oh." Sheena said, understanding the most of it, "So what about Singe, though? She said she was from Kahlijdima…"
"Ah, she's a mix of both East Tahjra and Kahlijdima. So she went to both nations a lot."
Crimsonia explained the rest of the town, and the day slowly passed…
"Some kind of sky contraption…" Raine muttered to herself. She continued walking until the place was reached. The Otherworldly Gate…it was her choice. The Secluded Lands needed to know of the discrimination, too. Raine would not rest until the world had been purged of it…She was alone. But she knew she wouldn't worry. Kratos…was there. He always would be. Her love had not confessed itself to him yet. But that was a problem to worry of later…
Meanwhile, the night spread upon East Tahjra. A beautiful moon cascaded the stars in an ethereal scene of elegance. Astra looked up at a very faint purple star, her home, Derris-Kharlan…She missed it. She knew, though, that she would go on. Sheena silently looked out the window of Crimsonia's house, which was very nice and tall. The temple seemed to be glowing, and somebody was offering something to it. They soon left, and the sky seemed to calm itself. A rip in space appeared, shooting a half-elven Professor onto the ground, but a certain female ninja took no notice. Crimsonia could be seen bathing in an aqueduct off the Manauille River. This was a common thing, and now, Crimsonia had though of her horrible lie she told Sheena so long ago. She was not married to Pietro, A certain and that "son" of hers was Singe's secret to hide. The red-haired fencer cried a bit, also not noticing the tear of space come to form. It was gone as soon as it appeared. Universa glanced at the temple, then accidentally staring at the aqueduct Crimsonia was in. Crimsonia, who saw him, blushed and covered up, Universa yelling an apology, which did not wake the sleeping Sheena. After this run on sentence, the Redjewels were seen leaving Seles' manor, along with their master. Following a certain Professor's footsteps, they also stepped into the Otherworldly Gate, which should have not been open, or was the mana beginning to change…
A/N: That was a bit longer than I usually write. Hmm, at least I'm updating better. I have a lot of free time now. Except the fact that finals are coming up and I will have to study, or cram. Preferably study.
Raine: Coming from one who crams, the "preferably" should be replaced with a "probably not" or a "Never" or perhaps "It is a crime to" or then famous "In a million years, I have not"…
TimesHalt: It was shorter than that!
Next time…what the heck happened to Oshitm? Will he be in the next Chapter? No. The Redjewels seem to be coming to the Secluded Lands, will they make it? And what about Raise? Also, what about the other continents, Kahlijdima, West Tahjra, North Tahjra, South Tahjra, Redsia, and the others that have not been named? Find most of this out next time in The Court Case, Chapter 12: Sky Shifting Future!