Chapter 4: All's Past, Your Past, and Choices…
The only sound The Five could hear was the sound of the camp city in the distance as they took in the sight of their parents bowing to them as though they were royalty. After a couple of minutes passed, Jack was the first to break the odd silence.
"Look, I really like the royal treatment here, but this is so far over the top that it can't be real," He said, looking to Carrie as she looked up from her kneeling position. When she didn't respond, Jack pressed further, trying to break the supposed act.
"Does dad know how much all of this cost? I mean, you might have paid for part of all of this, but this has to have maxed out your credit card," Jack pressed, but still, none of their parents were answering. Matthew finally walked over to him after a long silence.
"I don't think this is a fake, Jack. Olsen, Helen, Jenny, and I explored this whole area before you woke up. Trust me; it's all real. All of this is a real world." He said. Helen focused on Aran, crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one leg.
"I can believe being taken to another world, perhaps even taken to another part of the globe seeing as we were all engulfed with a beam of light. Strange, yes, but explainable. But telling us we five are related to the class masters from a computer game is a stretch. Things like that don't exist," Helen said firmly. Jenny came up to her and stood just within Helen's peripheral vision.
"Why wouldn't it be? If it were real, it would explain all that weird stuff that happened at the dock." She said, hesitating as she finished her sentence. Helen clenched her jaw and pulled her arms tighter around her chest.
"Yes, Jenny. I am well aware of what happened at the dock." She answered, speaking each word intensely while remembering the distress forced onto her. Tina stood and came forward, holding out her hand to Jenny.
"If you let us, we can attempt to explain where we are and who you are meant to be," she answered. The remaining four masters came from behind her and guided their children away from the dock in multiple directions. Olsen looked over his shoulder, watching as Jenny and Matthew were led back towards the camp city to the north. He felt a tap on his shoulder and was instructed by his father, Pierre, to follow him closely through the dense underbrush of the forest surrounding the dock. He had no idea of what was in store, but in the same breath, he was curious.
Jenny's choice
Tina led Jenny north through the main street of the camp city and into the forest on the far end. As they weaved through the crowds, Jenny was wowed by how many people would stop the two of them and excitedly talk to Tina. Some would talk about what sounded to be bow techniques, while others would speak with awe. On the far side of the main street, Tina directed Jenny to a well-worn path leading to what appeared to be a target range for learning archers. Bent or broken arrows stuck out of both targets and trees a few yards away from them, reminding Jenny of the single target range in the Watermans' backyard. Jenny's thoughts were sharply interrupted when Tina placed an uncharacteristically heavy hand on her shoulder, stopping her mid-stride.
"Jenny, what is it you have seen since coming here?" Tina asked, letting go of Jenny's shoulder and walking to a split log bench where a large, silver, and orange bow lay with a quiver of arrows next to it. Jenny thought for a moment, recalling everything she had seen over the previous day while waiting for Jack to wake up.
"Well, I've seen soldiers, pandas, strange short guys, all kinds of weird plants I didn't know even existed…"
"No, Jenny. That is not what I mean." Tina interrupted.
"What does this area look like to you? What does the presence of so many people gathered together as such appear to you as?" Tina asked, this time with an almost wistful quality to her voice. Jenny's brow waved from one side to the other, mentally taking note of the area and the things she had seen while being escorted by her entourage of children earlier in the day.
"It kinda reminds me of what Mu Lung would look like if it were real life. And all the people here make it look like this is some kind of refugee camp," Jenny answered. Her mother picked up the quiver, putting it around her shoulders, and picked up the bow.
"That is indeed the case, Jenny. All of these tents, this entire "city" is a refugee camp for the thousands of people who used to live on Victoria Island. A long time ago, I absorbed and wielded the power of the Emerald Crystal to keep the entire world of Ossyria safe and to stop the Black Wings from resurrecting their master, The Black Mage. But now that power has been passed to you, and it is why I have been teaching you archery." Jenny looked to her hands, then took a seat on the nearest bench, unsure if her mother had suddenly lost her mind until she saw Tina walk to one of the lanes in front of a target.
"My name is not Tina Price; it is Athena Pierce. I am the Bow Master of Henesys on Victoria Island." Jenny still looked at her mother with deep apprehension, unsure whether or not to believe her. What was she trying to pull? She couldn't equate the mother, Tina, she had grown up with, to the mighty archer, Athena Pierce, that she claimed to be.
"Don't you trust me, Jenny?" Athena asked, shifting her grip on the bow. Jenny slapped her knees with her hands and stood up from the bench with a huff.
"You're telling me that you're supposed to be someone from a game, an NPC. I mean, yeah, it sounds awesome, but like Jack said, it's just too over the top to be real," Jenny answered. Athena nodded and held her hand to the sky.
"Then let me prove it to you," Athena said with a devious grin as blue cloud swirled into existence on the palm of her hand, where it became a fiery red mass. The cloud shot straight into the sky, piercing through the air and creating a portal into another dimension. A fiery Phoenix appeared from the portal, dull heat emanating from its body as it hovered in the air. With a lift of Athena's hand, the Phoenix locked its gaze onto a target. A blaze of hot flames roared from its wings, reducing the target to ashes and scorching the ground beneath.
The Phoenix then returned to its dimension through the same portal, which shrank out of existence. A green fern-like glow then lit up around Athena's eyes as she held up the silver and orange bow and drew its string. The same blue, cloud-like substance flared around her hands and began engulfing the bow, taking the form of a dragon's head where an arrow would be, taking aim at another target. When she released the string, the blue cloud turned bright green and let out a roar. It obliterated the mark and leveled every tree in its path, charring the ground behind it.
Athena then pulled six arrows from her quiver and nocked all six, turning to face the third target. The same blue glow flared from her arms, engulfing the arrows as Athena drew the bow's string. When she released, each of the six arrows became a bright white light, firing one at a time from the bow into the target. The light of the first arrow exploded, blasting a hole through the target, allowing the next five arrows to hit a tree behind it, making chunks of its trunk explode. Jenny was stunned as the realization began to cement in her mind. Her mother was the actual Athena Pierce! The bow master from her favorite game! Now things were getting interesting. There were still hundreds of questions she needed to settle in her mind, but the evidence shown to her was enough for Jenny to at least consider what was asked of her.
"Wow…" Jenny whispered, walking over to the targets and looking over the devastation. Athena walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you now believe in what I have told you, Jenny? I did not teach archery to you because it was an excellent physical exercise. You were born with that ability. Everything I have shown to you are abilities that you, too, will achieve. It will take much training, far more than you have been given while in Ohio, but you can be far greater than even I. So, are you able to stand and take up this bow, the Kandiva, and accept that you are to defeat the Black Mage?" Athena asked, holding the Kandiva out to Jenny. Jenny tripped in awe, slowly wrapping her soft, non-calloused hands around the bow, feeling as though an ancient power was flowing through it. Athena slowly let Jenny take the weight and backed away proudly.
"This thing's heavier than it looks," Jenny commented, looking over the metal frame and pausing for a moment as her eyes caught a glint of the palm-sized gem set in the center of the bow. Jenny held it up and tried to draw it. As she pulled the string back, her arms began to shake and wobble until she was finally able to wrench the sinew back by a small distance.
"That is the weight of the future set before you. It will be some time before you are ready to use this bow, the Kandiva, and its companion, the crossbow Nishada, properly. With training, you will be a better bow master than even I." Athena said wistfully.
Olsen's Choice
Olsen followed Pierre southeast through the thick bushes and close-growing trees for what felt like ages, using the area as a makeshift parkour course that led to a quiet spot near the shore. When Olsen was sure their trek was finished, he put his hands on his knees and heaved for breath as the misty air of the area made it difficult to breathe. After a short rest, Pierre walked away from Olsen until he was a few feet from the edge of the water, standing in silence and listening to the water lapping on the rocky sand.
"Olsen, you still have not been training to keep your energy under control," Pierre said, pulling his hands behind his upper back. Once Olsen caught his breath, he straightened to his full height and squared his shoulders.
"Yes, I know," Olsen answered flatly. Pierre said nothing for a long while, standing with his back to Olsen until he dropped his arms and reached into a burlap bag hanging from his hip.
"Have you no excuses to offer?" Pierre asked, pulling something from the bag.
"No sir, I have none," Olsen answered in return.
"And why is that? Have I not taught you what needs to be done?" He asked, turning around to face Olsen while holding his hands behind him once again.
"Yes, sir, you have."
"Then what is your excuse for still being unable to control your breathing? That jaunt through the woods was a short stroll compared to what will be asked of you." Pierre pressed, making Olsen chuckle.
"Is something funny, son?"
"You say that as if I am being groomed to be a hero in some video game."
"Does this world look like a game, son? Do the soldiers returning from defending the borders of the Herb Town camp look like a game? Does the power that Jack unleashed when Helen was almost raped look like a game to you?" Pierre growled. Olsen clenched his jaw hard as the reminder that he was utterly useless was brought up again. He was there when Helen woke up two days ago, and his dad questioned her about her ordeal. But Olsen felt that his dad already knew what happened.
"You wield the power of the Pink Quartz Crystal within you, a power that I once wielded, and believe me, it is a power this world needs right now."
"Then take it back! What makes me special to be the only one to wield this power you're talking about?" Olsen sneered, clenching his fist tightly. Pierre let out a hard sigh, pulling his right arm from behind, sporting a partially armored glove. On top of the wrist and forearm were pointed plates that formed what appeared to be a maple leaf pointing to his elbow. On the center plates of the leaf and on the back of the hand were golf ball-sized green gems.
"I cannot. The power of the Quartz has become a part of your very soul. There is no taking it back. And as much as I loathe the thought, I am growing too old. My body is slowing down, and new pains of ancient wounds are beginning to exacerbate it. My time as Dark Lord Jin, Master Ninja of Kerning City, is coming to a close," Pierre said with an almost regretful tone.
"Dark Lord Jin? Dad, you are a private investigator. I don't think you need to worry too much about slowing down." Olsen answered. He faced his dad and realized that he saw that Pierre, for the first time in a very long time, looked old and tired.
"This world needs heroes, Son. With the Black Mage released from his seal, the people of Ossyria will need them now, more than ever. But my time has passed. You must take up that mantle."
"You are asking me to protect a world. I was unable to defend two of my friends from a group of thugs!" Olsen shouted, throwing up his arms.
"You can, and you will protect everyone once you have been trained to use your powers."
"What powers, Dad? You're not making any sense," Olsen said, crossing his arms over his chest. Pierre closed his eyes as a blue haze appeared around his right hand and glove. The presence around him felt heavy. It was as if the air itself were responding to the respect he commanded.
"Then let me show you," Pierre said cryptically. Three throwing stars appeared in his hand, hurling them past Olsen's head, burying them into a tree behind him. Streaks of fire followed after the stars and burned the tree's trunk to a crisp. After the first throw, more blue haze engulfed another star that Pierre had drawn, making it grow to his height in size while eerie green vapors rose from the metal.
He threw the enlarged star into the forest lining the beach with a grunt, cutting through four trees. Olsen watched in awe before feeling a breeze rush past him, his father catching the giant star, which shrank back to normal, while the blue haze dispersed into the air. Pierre stood by Olsen a moment later, holding the claw to him, blue vapors rising from the metal.
"I am Dark Lord Jin, Ninja Master of Kerning City. Ahead of you are dangerous trials and tasks. What I have shown you is only a small taste of what you will be able to accomplish. However, you must endure training of a much higher caliber. You may even have to kill." Dark Lord said sternly. Olsen wasn't sure he was ready to accept what he had seen or what he was told. Slowly, he took the heavy glove and slipped it on, struggling to keep his arm up until the weight of the glove tired his arm, making it hang beside him.
"I'm pretty sure I can do it," Olsen answered, hauling his right hand back up with the assistance of his left.
"We ninja do not have the luxury of being 'pretty sure,' Olsen. Remember that. We must be sure what those actions will do with each shuriken we throw or each swing of a dagger we make. Mistakes mean people can, and will, die. Memorize the claw's weight, The Skanda. It, as well as the dagger, Dark Mate, carry the burden of your future and the future of everyone here in Ossyria."
Helen's Choice
Before leaving the circle, Glen lifted himself from the ground and levitated north toward the nearby forest while Helen followed. He stopped in an area covered by matted leaves surrounded by shrubs. He remained still for a while, listening to the sound of the slight breeze rustling the leaves.
"Do you know what it is that you are being asked to do?" Glen asked, turning slightly to Helen. He spoke in a serious tone, a voice that she only heard when she was being scolded back in Ohio. Helen remained still, thoughts running through her head, trying to understand her surroundings. The thankful, friendly nature of everyone living in the camp and Aran's words weighed on her mind ever since she woke up here. It was all too much to lay on a person all at once. Glen fully faced her, holding his staff forward.
"You were born with the power of a great mage in you, far more powerful than I could ever be…"
"Stop! Just stop it! I'm not this savior you think I am. I just want to go home." Helen interrupted.
"Helen, you are home. This is where your bloodline comes from. This is where I am from, and you are the last hope for this world. You have a power no other in this world or any other can ever wield. Do you think that I would make this up?"
"I don't know! Are you making it up? Everything about my life for 18 years was normal. Then there's a beam of light at our school, Jack goes all weird glowing status on us, and we've been whisked away to some weird place that you say is our home?! The highest stakes I've had to deal with were failing a test! If I'm supposed to be some great hero, where were my powers when that monster nearly raped me?!" Helen angrily screamed. Glen lowered his staff and walked to her, pulling her into a tight hug as she began letting out great tears into his chest.
"I'm sorry something so terrible happened to you. But you are far stronger than you realize. You may have this ghost haunting you, but Ossyria, my home and yours, needs you. Turn to those closest to you and let them be your strength when yours fails you." Glen softly said, holding Helen for a long while until her tears slowly dissipated. Pulling away from him, she wiped her eyes and crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry, grandpa, but I'm not who you think I am. If I can't even fight off one ordinary man, how am I supposed to defeat The Black Mage?" she asked, beginning to turn away.
"Helen, you are one of five Guardians destined to defeat the Black Mage. You are my granddaughter, a descendant of Grendal the Ancient, Master Magus of Ellinia. I will teach you everything you need to know, and you will become a mage far more powerful than I could ever be with the Amethyst Crystal's power, which you now carry." Helen stopped mid-stride, rage burning in her chest. Her ears felt hot as she turned around with a new bout of tears stinging her eyes.
"If you hadn't come to my world in the first place, none of this would have happened to me! Magic only exists in movies and fantasy novels. I'm not going to stand here and have you make an idiot out of me because you want me to be some sort of 'world savior.' I'm an 18-year-old senior in high school student who has a promising career in English literature!" Frustrated tears began to fall down her cheeks as she spoke.
"If you think that you can just lay this huge weight on my shoulders, you're dead wrong! You can keep your fairy tales and wizardry to yourself!"
"Helen, will you listen to what I have to say?" Grendal asked, holding a hand out to her.
"No, just…" With tears streaming down her face, Helen ran off into the forest, running as fast as her legs could carry her to whatever direction that would get her out of this place and back to her home, her real home. She ran through the main street, bumping shoulders with people there. Helen ran from her grandfather, ran from her pain, ran away from it all. When she finally stopped, she was on a secluded dock where bamboo boats bobbed and bumped against each other.
"I just want to go home…" she said as she knelt down and hugged herself, feeling cold from the thick mist that hung in the air.
Jack's Choice
Staying south of the main street on the beach, Jack and Carrie walked west as they watched Jenny, Ms. Price, Matthew, and Mr. Drake melt into the crowds filling the main road. As they neared a relatively spacious area near the main docks, a few people gathered at the end of the main street to watch, making Jack feel nervous. Though, disappointingly they were coming to see Carrie. He laughed to himself, thinking about what Mark, his dad, would say if he were awake and around to see the dozen or so guys watching his mom's every move.
"I'm guessing you're a bit confused about what happened to you back at the docks in Ohio, right?" Carrie asked. Jack blinked a shook his head, waking himself from his train of thought.
"Sorry ma, what did you say?" he asked.
"Do you remember what happened at the docks in Ohio?" Carrie asked again, smirking as she turned around to face him and crossed her arms at her waist. Jack looked up to the sky for a moment, finally nodding as the fuzzy memory came to him in bits and pieces, but unable to make sense of any of them.
"All I can remember is feeling something come over me. It was like this warm blanket. It almost felt like I blacked out. But that was almost three days ago, apparently. Why are you bringing it up now?" Carrie nodded and smiled, pulling her fur-trimmed cape from her shoulders and tossing it onto a large boulder jutting out of the coarse sand, one of a few surrounding them.
"You do know there are a TON of guys watching you, right? I know this is going to sound totally out of line; you look a little like a… call girl," Jack said, taken aback once Carrie had tossed aside her cloak and revealed her tight-fitting clothes. Carrie laughed. Murihat and Black Bart had said the same thing when she first dressed this way.
"It's alright. My father, Black Bart, would rather see me in a dress to tell you the truth. I don't mind a dress every now and then, but my abilities require freer movement rather than coverage; this suits me better." She answered, motioning over her body and to the clothes she wore.
"But back to what happened at the docks. That was the power of the Ruby Cyrstal, a powerful relic from a long time ago. I've been teaching you what I know as a brawler so that you would have the fortitude to keep its power in check. Seems like you weren't ready for it, and I don't think you ever would have been if we stayed in Ohio."
"Wait, what?!" Jack questioned, raising one of his eyebrows high enough that he unknowingly tilted his head.
"That feeling was the power of the Ruby Crystal I used to carry. It overwhelmed to the point that it took over, tapping into its memory of my using it and responding to your desire to keep Helen and Jenny safe."
"Alright, I'm lost." Jack laughed, throwing up his hands. Carrie took a breath and tossed aside her hat to reveal a bright red bandana tying back her hair. She pulled a pair of gloves with a plate over the hand that resembled a maple leaf edged with gold from her belt. Carrie clenched her fist after slipping on the glove, making two blades shoot out from under the plate. Once she had fully latched the gloves to her hands, a blue glow surrounded her arms and hands. Carrie appeared at a boulder in a blur of speed as sand blew into the air along her track. In less than a second, she reduced the majority of the rock to pebbles with powerful punches, the blades of the knucklers sparking each blow. Carrie then backflipped, breaking the last bit of rock away with a kick.
Sand swirled into the air as Carrie leaped high into the air, spinning parallel to the ground until she landed hard, driving her blue flaming punch into the sand, forming a crater. She quickly stood and slammed her fists into one another. Golden light flared around her as she jumped high into the air, the golden glow becoming a dragon's head and neck. As she descended, the light plunged below the surface. Afterward, dragon heads began to appear around them, immediately launching the remaining boulders into the air. Jack watched in awe as each of the stones were wrenched from the ground. Carrie then reached to her hip and drew her pistol, pointing to each of the five rocks and cocking back the hammer. The gun glowed with the same blue flames, and a blast thundered from the barrel, making the boulders scatter into pebbles. The people standing on the outskirts of the main street all began running for cover.
When Jack was sure no more stones were falling, he slowly turned back to where Carrie stood. In the middle of a crater, Carrie appeared to be made of golden light. Her eyes were ablaze in white while her hair stood up above her head, with only her bangs hanging around her face. She walked over to Jack, holding out her hand as an orb of the energy surrounding her appeared in her palm, making his skin itch with static.
"I am Kyrin, Master of the Pirates and Captain of the Nautilus." She said, her voice sounding almost as if it were an ethereal apparition speaking when the glow stopped, returning her to normal. Jack was awestruck, and his skin crawled with adrenalin; he had built a character in Maplestory to a very high level, so he knew what a lot of the abilities looked like in the game. But he was facing his mother, the master of the Pirate class, and had just witnessed what those attacks looked like in real life!
"I get it now. The reason I knew what to do with those guns, why I punched those guys out; it was because…"
"Yes, Jack; the blood of a pirate runs through your veins. Had you known other skills, you might have killed them or yourself. You have a power that makes me look weak. The training I gave you in Ohio was child's play compared to what I will teach you to save our world. But I know that you can do it." She said, taking the pistol from her hip and laying it in Jacks' hands, still warm from the shots that she had fired.
"This Cannon Shooter is yours to wield, as are these Knucklers, the Golden Claw, once you have been trained and are ready. It'll be a while, but I have faith in you, son." Jack looked over the pistol. Despite its small size, it was deceivingly heavy. He tried holding it up to look down the sights, but he still had some trouble keeping it up even when using both hands. When he let it lay in his hands again, he felt an ancient power flowing within it, making his hands and arms tingle.
"I'll do it." He said, pulling his lips to the side in a sly grin. The thought of becoming a ripped brawler excited him, and that was in addition to the attention he would get for being this 'guardian' everyone called him.
Matthew's Choice
Matthew's thoughts were a whirl of trying to make sense of what he had seen over the last couple of days. So many people revered him as someone that, until recently, he was utterly unaware of. Yes, it was flattering, but to have all of this hit him at once was overwhelming.
"So, this is what Maple World really looks like, huh?" Matthew asked as he and John walked up the main road for a short while before turning to the forest that surrounded it, stopping in a small clearing. John slowly turned around, then set a heavy hand on Matt's shoulder.
"This is not Maple World. This Is Ossyria. The game Maplestory may have made you familiar with the evils of this world, but the evils that exist in this world are far more dangerous than words can describe. For this reason, I have taught you the basics of wielding a sword so that one day, you and your friends will defeat the Black Mage for good." John said, walking to a nearby tree where a massive sword was propped against the trunk. As he gripped the handle, bright blue vein-like branches appeared down the blade. It screamed with the sound of a marble on glass, allowing him to pick it up with ease. Golden light gathered at the guard, blowing outwards as he pointing the relic sword to the skies.
Thick ribbons of frost, flames, lime-green lighting and golden light tore into existence around the finely honed blade as the threads of lightning arced from the guard to the tip. As John swung the majestic blade, all four elements slid from the sword, hitting four different trees. One was burnt to ashes, the second was frozen solid, the third looked as though it had become sacred, and the fourth's trunk exploded.
John then drove the point of the sword into the ground and folded his hands as though praying. Above him shone a light shaped like a spell circle. A young woman appeared from the circle, placing her hands on John's shoulders. Threads of lavender light then swirled from his body onto the ground in the shape of another spell circle, where a dragon's head formed in the center.
Matthew was neither prepared for nor expecting the deafening roar from the circle, knocking him down and blowing him across the ground. The soundwave ripped through the trees, tearing leaves from their branches, leaving them nearly bare. John lifted the sword to the skies as a blue cloud curled around the blade into the air above it. He grunted loudly as he swung the sword down. Before the edge hit the ground, the cloud transformed into a giant gold hammer that hit the ground with a tremendous force, making it shudder for well over 20 seconds after impact. Once the tremors had subsided, Matthew got back to his feet and brushed the leaves from his shirt. John came and stood before Matthew, setting the tip of the sword firmly into the ground at the boy's feet
"I am Dances with Balrog of Perion. I am the Master Warrior of this world. Are you willing to take the task we all ask you to complete? I beg you, son, please help us. Within you lies a power that will make even my abilities look small." Dances said, letting go of the handle, allowing the sword to stand before his son. As Matthew reached to the handle, he felt something strange surge through his arms, as if it were searching for something. He pulled the sword towards him, straining as he tried to catch the weight of the sword to prevent it from slamming into the ground.
"That is the weight of the Soul Rohen, the weight of the future set before you. It will be many moons before you are ready to wield this or its companion, the Glory Sword. But given time and rigorous training, you will." Matthew looked to Dances and then back at the sword resting in his hands. There was no way he would be some great war hero. The immense task his father asked of him weighed on his mind. Disgusted, Matthew let the sword fall to the ground with a loud clang that sounded as if the blade were crying.
"You're saying that I'm supposed to be some hero that will save the world. I'm not buying it. That thing is so heavy that I can't even lift it up with both of my hands. I froze when we were confronted with four normal humans, and you expect me to save the world?! I couldn't even keep Helen from getting assaulted; Jack did that!"
"But son…"
"No! Have you forgotten that I am just a kid in high school?" Matthew walked away before Dances had a chance to speak to him. How could his dad think that Matthew was this formidable warrior? And where the hell did he get those abilities of his? Were they just some kind of illusion? Angrily, Matthew walked on with questions mounting in his head, not noticing that he was walking to the end of a dock until Helen caught him by the arm and stopped him before he stepped off.
"Didn't you hear me calling you?" Helen asked. Matthew sighed heavily and stepped back a bit; He stood on the edge of the dock and scanned over the foggy surface of the water.
"I guess your dad told you that you're the savior of this world too, huh?" Helen asked timidly. Matthew shook his head in disbelief.
"What gives them the right to put this on us, on me? I had a normal life, one that I was proud to call my own. And now we've been taken to some other world where we're this 'last hope' against the Black Mage! Power like that you can't just defeat."
"I'm no better. I couldn't even fight off one guy," Helen added meekly. Matthew closed his eyes as a hollow feeling settling into his chest. He knew she hadn't fully recovered, and maybe she never would. It weighed on him that he didn't do a damn thing to help Helen when she needed it the most.
"So, you don't believe in who your parents or relatives are?" asked Aran, slowly walking onto the dock. Helen turned to him with a furrowed brow and shook her head.
"No, I don't. We aren't who you think we are," Helen shot back, putting a hand to her chest and motioning to Matthew. Aran looked as though he was hurt by her words and took a breath.
"Come… there is something that you both should hear before making up your mind." He said. Matthew huffed as he angrily followed Aran, followed by a downtrodden Helen. Aran led them across the main road to a small area that appeared to be a council circle with a campfire in the center. When Matthew and Helen saw their families sitting around it, their anger was rekindled. Dark Lord, Olsen, Jenny, Athena, Jack, and Kyrin sat comfortably on fallen logs. Mark, Yasmin, Greg, and May had awoken and sat within the circle as well. Matthew sat and Helen away from their parents, still unsure how to incorporate what they had been told. Aran stepped into the center of the circle, setting down his Halberd, and began.
"Many centuries ago, the ones that created the world of Ossyria were not always so. Minerva The Gentle's father, D'Gran, was a wealthy human merchant. Her mother, Candala, was a fairy who used to be an attendant to the Queen of Fairies, Una. Their relationship was seen as taboo, and so D'Gran helped Candala flee her home of Elphame. The two of them settled in the small mining town of Millvale where Minerva was born with pure white wings on her back. Minerva read ravenously from a young age, often visiting the library to read any texts and tomes she could find, especially those with a focus on magic. D'Gran repeatedly urged Minerva to be a merchant, and while she did excel at the trade, she often dreamed of doing more.
"Not long after Minerva was born, Corus Braun was born into a hardworking smithing family. In his teens, he took to working with his father as an apprentice blacksmith. When metalworking was slow, Corus would work on leather with his mother. When neither of the parents needed his help, he would stray to the library, reading texts, tomes, and ancient scrolls that depicted swordplay forms. Some days he would take a practice sword he made and repeat the stances he had seen, dreaming of becoming a squire or even a knight one day.
"This thirst for knowledge led to Minerva and Corus meeting within the quiet halls of the library, becoming fast friends over their shared desire for knowledge. Together, they taught one another what they had learned and soon had memorized every book covering Magic, Fighting, and languages. With the reluctant blessing of their parents, the two of them set out to study abroad, furthering their knowledge and power. Eventually, Minerva and Corus gained enough strength to travel into different dimensions, increasing their vast knowledge exponentially. During their travels, they learned of Black Magic, a power capable of toppling deities but at the expense of the user's soul. Together, they vowed never to use such magic.
"Their dimensional travels led them to many strange places, knowledge, and dangers, making their rooted friendship blossom into a deep love for one another. As they traveled the dimensions, they stumbled upon one that appeared to be devoid of life. It was a blank slate, filled with tumultuous seas haunted by funnel clouds and violent windstorms of raw power. Tachyons whipped through the air without purpose, caught in the winds. This place could be formed as desired, so they decided to create a world of their own with the thousands upon thousands of spells they had learned. Minerva spotted a single white building floating high above them in the inky blackness as they prepared to leave.
"Grabbing Corus' hand, Minerva spread her massive wings and flew up to the building. As they neared, they could see a woman standing at the railing of the building watching them. The woman introduced herself and the Goddess and Transcendent of Time of the world Olde Sapp, Rhinne. With her help, Corus and Minerva began to remake the world. First, Corus gathered the power permeating the air into five crystals: The Emerald Crystal, the Ruby Crystal, the Pink Quartz, the Amethyst Crystal, and the Dark Crystal. In gathering this mass of power, the sea was calmed, and the dangerous windstorms were silenced. Rhinne gathered the free-floating tachyons within a capsule at the Temple of Time, the building Minerva had seen.
"With the storms gone, Minerva and Rhinne formed a massive continent in the depths of the endless oceans they named Ossyria, which Corus then raised. Using the newly formed crystals, a vast forest on the northernmost region of the continent was created that Minerva named Perion and decorated with flowers and exotic plants. Corus made a massive pit of a mineral called Mithril Crystal on the eastern side, a substance adept at channeling magical power to aid them. Just west of that pit, Corus created the winter wonderland of El Nath. On the South-Eastern corner, Minerva planted a huge medicinal herb garden.
"In the very center of the continent, Minerva created the city of Ludibrium, a town made of interlocking building blocks and ruled by toys. The capsule stored within the Temple of Time was placed and used to warp time around it. This was to isolate and preserve childhood innocence, allowing toys to be created for the children born in this world. Corus formed another landmass to the far north to have people live there one day but decided against it. Though he did tend the acres of exotic fruit trees planted there. With the world anchored, Corus and Minerva created one more city. It floated high above El Nath on clouds and served as a city and palace for Minerva and Corus. They called it Orbis.
To the far west, Corus created the Minar Forest. Minerva created a pocket dimension in the center of this forest and planted the World Maple Tree, the direct link into the Life Stream that would allow this world to remain alive. As this tree was planted, the Spirit of Life and the Spirit of Light appeared to them. Both spirits told how this world needed Transcendents: stewards and defenders of the world within the bounds of the aspect of reality that has chosen them. Corus was selected by the Spirit of Light. However, the Spirit of Life simply said there was no one present that he could choose. Corus promised that there would be others he could call on once the world was complete, which the spirit agreed to.
"Corus then filled the world with animals and creatures of all kinds using the power of the crystals, some familiar, some from pure imagination. Among these creatures were Pandas, a few of which Corus gave sentience and charged them with watching over an herb garden called Mu Lung. Minerva then created short fuzzy creatures called Halfrings to guard the Maple World Tree's pocket entrance. Minerva then created fairies: magical attendants of the forests led by their queen, Ephania. Minerva then created those that would serve their queen. The Papilio sported wings of butterflies to guard Ephenia and the woods. The Nymphs lived within Orbis and flew on great feathered wings, much like Minerva. They prepared magical powders and salves to enrich the soil. And finally, the Sylphs were entrusted with keeping all of Minerva and Corus' knowledge of magic in a library deep within the forests called Ellin, just south of Perion.
"Now that most of the world was complete, Minerva and Corus returned to their home dimension and village where they were married. As a wedding gift, Minerva's father, D'Gran, gave them a crystal shard called the Rubian, the only remaining fragment of something called the Antelleon and would grant its users immense power. Corus and Minerva had heard of the crystal in their studies and its ability to focus magic. However, they also remembered ruinous tales of those that had used it. The two happily accepted it, though between them agreeing that it would be locked away somewhere safe once they had returned to Ossyria.
"As they prepared to embark onto the new world, many young people went with them, including Minerva's younger sister, Windharp. They were eager to face the dangers, trials, and triumphs that awaited them. Within weeks, the young people that had come set up a small farming village within the forests of Perion and decided to call themselves the Sharenian. The people crowned a 'king' to act as their leader, who often sought out Minerva or Corus for advice in developing a system of government, yet still recognized the two of them as their supreme leaders. Minerva and Corus found their family growing as within a year, Minerva gave birth to twins, a girl named Enia and a boy named Shar, named in honor of the people within Perion. Of these people, the Spirit of Life chose a girl named Alice Teasdale to be his Transcendent.
"With more and more people being born, the small village became a vast metropolis with a magnificent palace having been hewn into the mountains. As the city grew, many people moved away from it and into other parts of Ossyria, such as El Nath, Mu Lung, a vast desert area left unfinished in the world's creation, and Ellin's forests in the southeast Victoria province. Within these forests, pompous, human-like people called Elves appeared.
Minerva and Corus both met these Elves, who instantly bowed to them, calling Lord Freyr and Lady Freya. Using this mistaken Identity, they learned that these elves had come from a realm called Alfheim when a ritual spell failed. Neither Minerva nor Corus had ever visited a realm of Elves, nor did the Elves know how to return without using something called The Bifrost.
To help these newcomers, Minerva helped them build a new city deep within the Ellin Forest called Ellul, defended by a few new creatures created by Corus. He sensed that these Elves would resist any attempt to live peacefully with humans. And so, led the humans settling in the forest towards the Secret Library, Corus's personal study. Here, the town of Ellinia was established, some distance away from where the elves were.
"In wanting to help the traveling humans survive, Minerva created a stone building south of Perion in the Henesys Plains. Here, Minerva, Corus, and even Rhinne would sometimes teach magic to any person willing to learn. It was not merely for defense but also to assist in living in their unfamiliar surroundings.
"Within a few decades, those that had initially come to Ossyria passed away, including Shar and Enia, and a new king of the Sharenian was crowned. While still personally friendly with Ossyria's creators, those that remained began to elevate them both into godhood for their state for being seemingly unaffected by the passage of time. Corus and Minerva were at first flattered but firmly reminded everyone they could that Rhinne was the true goddess of Ossyria. Unfortunately, as the years passed, this elevation of Minerva and Corus became more and more prominent and increasingly challenging to dissuade.
"Temples and shrines began appearing within each city and village across Ossyria dedicated to Minerva, Corus, Rhinne, or all three. The biggest and most prominent of these was where Minerva used to teach magic, which was converted into a grand sanctuary guarded by stone golems. With no sign of their dissuasion taking root, Corus and Minerva gave up and accepted the role placed upon them. But this made them feel even further separated from the people.
"Four hundred years passed; Kings and Queens of Sharenian rose and fell as the empire continued to spread, reaching to the pit of Mithril Crystal Corus had made so long ago. High above even Orbis, Rhinne watched and often visited Minerva and Corus. The memories of how Olde Sapp destroyed itself haunted her mind, especially when the people discovered the Mithril crystal and created machines and devices to enhance their magical powers.
Thanks to the Pillars of Time, the world couldn't be destroyed again; powerful relics made by Rhinne herself. Memories of the people of Olde Sapp creating similar things, prompting Rhinne to warn Minerva and Corus of the similarities. Corus volunteered to mingle among the people and discourage the creation of these machines. But despite Corus' efforts, the people's voracious appetite for power only became worse.
"When King Sharen III came to power, he learned of the Rubian and began to search for it in earnest. Minerva moved the gem from its hiding spots many times when they came too close to finding it, afraid of what it might do to the king, but eventually, the people found it. It was brought to the palace in Perion, where it was placed in a machine under the castle. The machine began to drain the land of its life and was absorbed by Sharen, who was unwilling to accept that he would one day die and lose his throne. As this happened, Corus would often disappear or tend a fatally injured man having come to them from a portal in the middle of the night. Minerva herself called for and led an army to take back the gem from Sharen. But her forces were met with Sharen's own regiment of Skeletons and General, a man dressed in black with a skull mask.
"The battle was ultimately won, but it was revealed that Corus was the man in black, using what they promised never to use: Black Magic. His use of it changed Corus in many ways. Its effects also turned one of Minerva's wings into a sleek bat's wing. With no sure way of reversing what had happened to Corus, Minerva instead sealed him away within a mountain deep within the Minar Forest. Without the Rubian, the Life Energy stolen by Sharen overpowered him and turned him into a living tree we call The Stump King. He became a legend within Perion, only ever seen on the highest desert peaks.
"After Sharen's fall, Minerva attempted to lead the people as their queen, but the distance the people had created by elevating her to a goddess made it impossible. And so, Minerva decided that she would fulfill the role of a goddess, watching and protecting her world from afar. To ensure the people would have a proper leader, she searched for the newest child coming from the lineage of either her son Shar or daughter Enia. Unfortunately, Shar's bloodline had died out, leaving a boy by the name of Tarquin from the heritage of Enia. This boy became the first Emperor of Ossyria, chosen by Minerva herself.
"To secure Ossyria's leadership, Minerva created the Island of Ereve, a new Palace for the Emperor of Ossyria. To protect the island and the Emperor, she called upon the dragon deity Quetzalcoatl from the Realm of Dragons she had heard of in her dimensional travels. Together they created a formidable yet gentle guardian: The Feather Dragon, Shinsoo. With the leadership of Ossyria secure, Minerva pulled away from the world, watching and protecting together with Rhinne. However, Minerva's attention was drawn to the landmass Corus created so long ago, finding many dragons who had escaped from the Realm of Dragons because of a massive civil war. Among them were the Dragonesses Ukitaan and Saia. Ukitaan would go on to become the mother of the Nova; Half dragon, half-human warriors. With help from both Rhinne and Minerva, Saia honed her powers as The Nine Spirits Dragon.
"300 years passed in peace until the empresses forged a bond between herself and Shinsoo, declaring that the binding would be done for all rulers as a symbol of leadership. Minerva had almost forgotten what had become of Corus until rumors began spreading of a man wielding dark power deep within the Nihal Desert.
"With each year that passed, the rumors became more frequent and more disturbing. Minerva and the empress ruling at the time, Aria, searched for clues as to who the man could be. Each lead only produced more questions. Adding to the worry, an organization calling itself the Black Wings began to rise. Its members claiming to be followers of a man calling himself The Black Mage. When some of the Black Wings were captured, the only information gathered stated The Black Mage would destroy the world and remake it.
"Minerva sent out a call to all Ossyria as its goddess. She asked that any willing person be the vanguard against the Black Mage and his forces to prevent Ossyria's destruction. Five answered the call, myself included. The biggest surprise of all was that the Elf Queen Mercedes herself answered Minerva's call. The Elves still held a relatively high disdain for humans even after so many years had passed. All five of us were trained by Minerva and became The Heroes of Ossyria.
"Despite our training, however, we were ultimately unprepared when The Mage attacked in full force. The Black Wings attacked all of Ossyria at once, allowing The Mage and a select few attacked the Temple of Time." Taking a moment to breathe, Aran looked over to Athena, memories of seeing her as a late teenager rising to the forefront of his mind. Once he had a drink of water, he continued with his tale.
"Athena here was the first to begin evacuating the people living within the Minar Forest to the north, The Victoria Province, the same province where the Sharenian capital of Perion was located. When Minerva learned of Athena's efforts, she assisted in gathering everyone into the region, then separated it from the continent. Minerva tried to contact Rhinne for assistance with the separation, but all her calls went unanswered. Minerva sent the province drifting on the waters, far away from The Minar Forest and the Black Mage using all her strength. Once she was sure it was out of The Mage's reach, she scattered the Five Crystals across Ossyria. She was about to hurl the Rubian in a random direction when we saw The Mage run Minerva through, using a sword made of his dark power.
"We heroes returned to the mainland to find any remaining refugees, but mostly to find Minerva. Instead, we found four people telling us they were unable to save our goddess, but that she left a message saying that The Mage was Corus, seeking to take Rhinne's power. To what end was still unknown. When we asked them about the Rubian, they said that there was no such gem with Minerva. We could only assume that The Mage had taken the Rubian and went to face him in the Temple of Time. It seemed we were able to stop before he was able to take Rhinne's power.
However, outright killing him was beyond our ability. Instead, we sealed him away. For some odd reason, our seal put him in the very center of Victoria Island, the same island we were trying to protect. But, The Mage cast one final curse, sealing us within ice. Only recently was I found by my wife Lilin, who helped me regain my strength." Aran glanced towards Athena and nodded, cueing her to stand and take his place in telling the tale. Looking around at the people gathered, she knew there was so much more to say to them. In time, when it was needed, it would be revealed. Nodding to Aran one more time, Athena let her mind drift back into the past.
"Once the Black Mage's defeat was assured, The Black Wings became near extinct. Any trace of them appeared to be erased. One of the Black Wing's generals had assassinated Empress Aria, and there were still unknown dangers within Victoria leftover from the days of Sharen III. Chief among them was the Fairy Queen, Ephania, whose mind had been poisoned into believing that all humans were evil. She and the Papilio spread thick clouds of poison throughout the Ellin Forest. Had it not been for the help and five young people coming to our aid from seemingly nowhere, we would have never survived. She remains sealed within that forest to this day.
"With careful planning, we managed to make a living for ourselves on Victoria, spreading to all corners of the island and beyond. It would be another six hundred years before I met Dances with Balrog, Grendal the Ancient, Dark Lord Jin, and Captain Kyrin." Athena paused, her gaze lingering on Kyrin for a while, nostalgia and a bit of sadness in her eyes. Shaking her head, Athena centered herself and continued.
"Together, we faced many ferocious creatures who attempted to rule or destroy Ossyria in the Black Mage's absence. To aid us, we found the Five Crystals and absorbed their power. We were graced with the assistance of a Gunslinger named Jett and two warriors from a race known as the Nova for a time. With each creature we defeated, rumors and sightings of The Black Wings began to surface. It was slow at first but gained momentum and validity with each passing day. The newly crowned Empress Cygnus's soldiers captured one of them, interrogating him thoroughly.
"This disciple revealed that The Black Mage would return from his sealed slumber and that the interim leader of the Wings, Eleanor, was in search of the Five Crystals for her master, The Black Mage. When this was revealed, I explained to the other masters what the crystals were and how stories and legends portrayed them. We decided then that removing them from the world would be the best option. We entrusted the Dark Crystal to Cygnus and her Chief Knights to hide it while we took the power of the other for crystals into another world to protect them. Grendal, in his meticulous research, found that the crystals' powers would diminish over time if they were not used. In many ways, their energy could almost be considered alive. For this reason, we intended to come to Earth to both Hide the crystals and hopefully make them dissipate out of existence.
"Eleanor came close to stopping our leaving this world when she and a massive force of Black Wings descended on Ereve. We barely escaped the attack, going through a portal Grendal had made using magic he found in the Ellin Forest. Unfortunately, his understanding of the magic separated him from the rest of us through time. But by using a bit of magic and the power of the Amethyst Crystal, he managed to reverse his aging and remained alive long enough to find us again after one hundred years.
"Now, in a new world, Grendal taught us as much as he could so that we would be able to at least function. However, when it came time to decide how to tell you, our children, of where you came from, we all realized that would be much harder. The powers and magic that exist in Ossyria are nothing but fantasy in that world. We then discovered a gaming company seeking a story to pair with their game, so we told them our story. That game was Maplestory. And now, the Black Mage has risen. He still seeks the crystal's power, the same that resides within you. But without continued use, their power has faded considerably. If the Ruby Crystal within Jack had been at its full strength, it would have torn his body apart." Matthew stood from his seat and walked closer to the fire, throwing his arm to the side and leaning into his step.
"Then why would you bring us back here? If the crystals are the thing The Black Mage is after, why not stay back in Ohio?" he asked. Athena sighed, staring down into the fire, realizing how cool it had become as evening set in.
"Bringing you back is the only way we have to stop The Black Mage. Ossyria can muster enough strength to possibly end the Black Wings, but The Mage himself is another matter entirely. Don't forget that it took everything the five Heroes of Ossyria had to merely seal him. That seal was lost to time when Freud died, and The Mage will not stop until he sees Ossyria in ashes. You five, the Guardians of Ossyria, were born with the crystal's power within you. It is a part of you. We masters have aged and can no longer control the crystals. So please, will you five help us to stop the Black Mage once and for all?" Athena finished. Matthew once again took his seat while everyone sat in silence. It was a long and sad history of this world. Helen's thoughts were interrupted when she felt a small hand grasp hers. The child's wide eyes made Helen feel guilty for refusing to help this world.
"You're gonna stop that bad man, aren't you?" she asked. Helen bit her lower lip and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. Looking at Matthew, he too had an unsure look on his face before huffing leaving the circle. Helen walked back to the secluded dock with him and looked out to the warm-colored sunset.
"What are we going to do now?" Helen asked.
"I don't know. That story is just so close to the game's storyline that I'm not sure if I believe them. Some of what they said doesn't even exist within the game. I still don't think I'd be able to accept being one of this world's saviors. I want to help, but I don't think I have what it takes."
"You must accept it." said a female voice. Helen and Matthew jumped, turning to see who it was that spoke. Sitting on the dock was a young woman with long white hair and light blue eyes, while a halberd similar to Aran's lay beside her. Hugging her chest was a green vest held with leather laces and didn't completely close in the front. Tassets hung low around her hips, while a decorative metal crest held the two sides together just above her leather pants. A knee-length half skirt was tucked under the tassets, with armored stockings held up by clips made of chainmail.
"And who are you?" Matthew asked. The girl turned to him and stared as if looking through him.
"My name is Lillianne. I am the daughter of Aran and Lilin, who married once my father regained his memories and strength. I was born 2 years after your parents left this world for yours." She answered shortly before turning her studying gaze to Helen.
"So, what is your opinion on all of this?" Helen asked with a chill in her voice. Lillianne turned back to the sunset and pulled one of her lean legs up to her chest.
"In all honesty, I am disappointed in you two. You're supposed to be this world's last hope, the Guardians, and yet you won't even consider helping us?" Matthew clenched his fist hard.
"Guardians this, the savior that! I've heard those terms so many times that I'm getting sick of it!" Matthew roared. Lillianne shook her head slowly, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"There was a prophecy given to the Heroes before separating Victoria. Minerva visited a woman known as Carta the Sea Witch, who was known for seeing the future. It says:
'Those that lead the weak shall leave for a time, to protect and hide the Ancient Powers forged by a gentle goddess. Five children shall be the sword to cut evil asunder and deal a mighty blow. But they that led the weak must be vigilant, so when the time is near, those blessed with the power will show itself as a sign that the final battle is nearing fruition.'" Matthew and Helen both sighed heavily, upset they had such a heavy weight dropped onto their shoulders. Life in Ohio was so much more straightforward, even if they felt like they were meant for something greater while they were there.
"Then tell me this: If you were yanked from the place you had known all your life, then thrown into a world you had no knowledge of, asking you to stop their most powerful adversary because you're their 'last hope,' would you just accept it?" asked Helen.
"Of course, I would." She answered.
"Even if something happened that made you seriously doubt that you were up to the task?" Matthew pressed. Again, Lillianne nodded, looking to him as he threw his hands up and walked in a circle.
"Yes, Of course, you would. Because your father is the oldest warrior in this entire world, who trained you to be what you are." He answered sarcastically.
"Isn't that what your parents did?" Lillianne asked in return. Helen and Matthew stayed silent for a while as they thought back over the 18 years of 'normal' life they had lived.
"We were given 'basic' training," Helen answered. Lillianne chuckled to herself, turning away quickly and burying her cheeks in the crook of her arm when she caught a glimpse of Matthew.
"I'm in no position to tell you what to do, but please help us. Enough life has been lost because of this monster. Help us by stopping him once and for all." Lillianne got up and walked away into the heavy mist that settled over the village, leaving the two of them with their thoughts, hoping that they would accept. Once she lost sight of them, Lillianne took a breath and calmed herself, unexpectedly feeling attracted to Matthew. It brought a smile to her face, but silently she scolded herself.
"Remember, Lillianne, they are the promised ones; don't get your hopes up just yet."
The Mage gritted his teeth and then relaxed as he thought of the one thing that would be the downfall of those warriors. Eleanor came up behind him dressed in a wine-red silk robe that clung to her body like a tight-fitting dress. She noticed what had happened in the Mage's Crystal Ball, feeling the tension in his shoulders.
"Calm yourself, Master. It's the shock of being forced into a new world expecting so much from them." She soothed. Disturbed, hissing whispers filled the air around them, making Eleanor smile with dark radiance.
"Yes, they may descend from her bloodline, but that is no reason to blame them. Besides, they're human. Eventually, they will come to terms with their situation and let themselves be used like the tools they are to help you, not Ossyria." Eleanor smiled, her glossy red lips spreading to reveal white teeth below. The Mage nodded thoughtfully, narrowing his eyes as he thought.
"The Knights of the Empress and the young Dragon Master Evan should be finishing with the last wave of Skelegons I sent out earlier; we shouldn't have to worry about them for a while," she added. Again, The Mage nodded his head, calling up the image of the battlefield in his crystal ball. Indeed, thousands of skull fragments and hundreds of Skelegon bodies lay strewn everywhere. His eyes narrowed, looking as though he were smiling as the image faded. Eleanor turned her attention to The Mage when whispers filled the air, inquiring of a project that she had been given.
"Just a bit longer, and he will be ready for service," Eleanor replied wistfully, sighing as she made herself comfortable on his chair's arm. The Mage thrummed the spittle in the back of his throat approvingly, dancing the Dark Crystal over his fingers like a coin, watching the energy within swirl each time it stopped. Raising his eyes to the horizon, he breathed slowly as aura fizzled from his shoulders: he would show Minerva what she was lacking, and these children were just the tool to do so.