Chapter 5: The Eternal Sparkle
After the little talking inside the Saloon we exit it. And head into the main square of town. Sadly we found Janus and his group there. Janus quickly turned around grinning at us. "Howdy! Good to see you, kiddos." Janus said as the other two ran up to his side. I really didn't want to see him again.
I felt my stomach started to get sick just seeing him. Janus gave me a little wink. "Ugh…" I whispered closing my eyes. Jet started to glare toward Janus. "My. My sweetheart you bring a friend? Hmm…princess…?" Janus asked looking toward Virginia. Jet felt angry toward Janus. He didn't like how Janus was looking toward the two girls. Wait…why did he care how they were looked at?
He did his best to shake the feeling off. Virginia slowly turned toward us. "Let's go…" We all nodded slowly walking past Janus and his group. "Oh, what's that face for? I Know! You've found some clues." Janus said as a grinned appeared on his face. "Come on, give us a little hint." "Please?" a place a hand over my mouth. I didn't even like looking at Janus.
"Why would I help a Scoundrel like you?" Virginia yelled turning back toward Janus. "A scoundrel! Oh, that hurts!" Janus whispered acting like it really did hurt. "We're drifters. Sometime our goals collide, but it comes with territory." Janus said with a shrug. "So please lay off the insults." Virginia closed her eyes looking away. "You want the eternal sparkle." Janus whispered with a grin. "How did you---? You been spying on us?" Virginia asked filled with angry now.
"There you go again…look, anybody in this town with half a brain can find that out." Janus said with a shrug. "Ain't much else to this town." "Look…let's work together with all of us, I'm sure we could uncover the location of…" He started to say. I shook my head I could feel he was up to something.
"Nope! I just can't trust you!" "I hate not trusting people, but still…" I was glad Virginia said nope to Janus. I couldn't stand Janus more then gallows. "I just said I'd make a team with these drifters I met out in the wasteland." "So I can't work with you right now." Janus slowly stepped toward us a bit.
"Hmm…that's too bad…" he whispered and head over to me. I stood ready unsure of what this man may do. He quickly ran in front of me as jet blocked the way glaring at him. "Hehe…Just listen to this…" "I heard the eternal sparkle is somewhere inside an ancient vault called the 'ruins of memory.'" Janus finished saying looking down at jet.
"The ruins…of memory…?" I asked watching Janus. "An old museum constructed by the ancients that houses the history of our world." "Some say it's been plundered before, but no one knows how deep it is in there." "It has quite a mysterious layout." "Well maybe that's why some still whisper of relics inside yet untouched by modern hands." Janus shrugged a bit watching jet still standing there. "Believe me or not…it's your choice, sweetheart and princess…" Janus whispered winking toward us.
"Ugh…" I whispered holding my stomach. "But we're not trying to fool you; you can trust me on that one." Janus slowly stepped back a bit. "Next time we meet, I hope you'll be ready to help us out." "And I say what a knight you have there sweetheart!" Janus said giving a little wave before he left. "A knight…?" I whispered finding jet in front of me.
Jet hasn't said a word. He didn't really understand why he jumped in front of this girl to begin with. He didn't care about other people so why did he do this? He shook his head a bit finally stepping to the side.
I don't know what up with this guy. But he a bit weird I think. But I'm somewhat glad he stops Janus from stepping any closer to me. It was like he was being protected of me? Wait why would he be protecting me to start with? Hell. I don't care. I don't like any guys to start with. I would always hate all guys even with I was little. Virginia on the other hand would go out with guys. But me I always turned them down. Why? I didn't see a need for it. I could do things better off without them!
I guess I am stubborn like that as well. But now wasn't the time to think about things like this. I wonder if Janus info could be trusted at all. "Hmm….but do we trust. The info just given to us…?" Clive asked looking around the group feeling unsure about it. "Well…what do we have to lose to follow his info for now?" Virginia asked looking over to Clive. He nodded she did have a point.
Jet kept quiet still unsure of why he was protecting that girl; he still didn't understand. He didn't see anything special about her. She was just a stupid girl after all. Gallows grinned looking at jet. He quickly ran up behind him messing up his hair. "So what was that about…?" Gallows asked with a grin. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he yelled pushing gallows hand off of his head. "Hehe! I mean you being so protect of her…" gallows said looking over to me.
"Huh…?" I asked looking up at gallows. "I wasn't being protected of her!" he yelled crossing his arms looking away from gallows. I watched the two looking lost and why was jet getting so up set about it? I shook my head I really didn't understand. "Sure sounds like you are…" as soon as gallows said that jet threw his boomerang at his face. Hitting him head on gallows quickly fell into his butt on the ground.
I fell a sweat drop roll down the back of my head watching the two. "What the hell did you do that…for?" he yelled holding his face glaring toward jet. "Learn to keep your mouth shut…" jet whispered under his breath putting his boomerang away. "WHAT!" gallows yelled standing up with a big red mark on his forehead.
Virginia quickly steps in the middle of them breaking the fight up. "Stop that! Both of you!" she yelled as they both quickly did so looking away from each other. I shook my head a bit still watching them. "If we are going to look for this Ruin of memory we should go there before any other drifters do…" Virginia nodded to me. "Yes your right…especially before Janus thinks about it as well!" Virginia quickly grabs a hold into my hand pulling me toward the exit of town and the guys slowly followed behind us.
So with that we Left the town of Jolly Roger; and started to search the area outside of town for the ruins where the first seal was sleeping. The first seal of the eternal sparkle; I wonder if this eternal sparkle really is a gem that never loses it sparkle. Well no reason to worry about it now.
We had only been walking around for about 20 minute and gallows started to cry about it that quickly. "When will we be there…?" gallows asked looking around. "When we find the ruins…" Jet growled at gallows glaring at him. "And when is that…?" gallows asked as everyone could hear jet growl louder. I shook my head a bit as we started to head a bit northwest from town. It had to be somewhere around here because we couldn't find it any other place.
"Are we close now?" gallows asked jet was growling, I could tell he was going to hit gallows again soon. "SHUT IT!" jet yelled crossing his arms. Virginia shook her head a bit listening to the two and I did as well. As I took another step I started to see a flash of light. I started to feel weak in my legs as I quickly fell into my knees. I fell like the world around me was spinning. What was happening? "Ugh…" I whispered grabbing into my head.
Virginia quickly stops walking to turn to look at me. "Sara…?" She called seeing me kneeing on the ground. She quickly ran over to me. "Sara!" she yelled as the other quickly turned as well looking worried. I could hear people yelling at me but I couldn't see them. What is happening to me? I wondered. I started to see visions in my head. But I never saw before.
FLASH of light.
"You have the info I need…just be a good girl. And don't fight…" The voice whispered as a hand came closer and closer to my face. The hand had a blue glove around it. For some reason I felt scared just seeing the hand but I couldn't see the face it was closed up with armor. Blue armor?
What info was this person speaking of? What info would I have to hide? I didn't understand. I felt someone shaking me. I blinked to find Virginia kneeing down in front of me. "Sara…!" she yelled I slowly let go of my head. "V-Virginia…?" I whispered looking confused at her. "Are you alright…?" She asked looking worried at me.
"Y—yes I guess the sun just getting to me…" I said lying I knew it was better not tell her about this. But was that really a vision? Why would I have something like that now? For what reason?
Virginia slowly stood up and I did as well. I shook off what I just saw. Maybe it was just a weird dream day? Yeah that had to be it. "You alright…?" Clive asked as I nodded to him. "Yes I am we should keep moving…" he nodded as the group started up again. But jet started to slow up and walked besides me. Maybe he could tell I did lie to Virginia? Oh who cares if he could tell. Not like he would say anything to her right?
I slowly looked over to him. He was looking forward not saying a word. Normal for him it looks like I guess if you call that normal that is. I shrugged to my self looking forward to see the others had stop walking we finally found the ruins where the first seal to the eternal sparkle sleeps. The ruin of Memory; we nodded to each other and slowly head inside.
We head inside we found four statues of mages of the look of it. They had they're hands in the air. But this place did have a different feel to it. Some for reason. "We should head to the main hall…" The others nodded Virginia leaded the way. With gallows and Clive close behind her. And me and jet a bit behind them; we head into the next room with a big door and enter the main hall.
Virginia stepped ahead of us a bit. I was pretty sure someone was in the room with us. Before long Virginia pulled out her arms and pointed them toward the east. Then we heard a voice. "Pretty quick on the trigger. But as a drifter, it may cost you your life if you don't pull it." Janus came out of where he had been hiding.
Oh god, I have to see this joker again, I though. I started to feel a bit sick again. "What are you doing here?" Virginia asked still pointing her arms toward Janus. "I wan to join forces, Princess, Didn't I mention that before?" He asked with a grin then he pointed toward himself. "And I do have a name. Allow me to introduce myself—Janus Cascade, and the Pleasure is all mine." Virginia didn't say a word still pointing her arms at him.
I could only hope that Virginia would turn him down again. "I seem to have made a bad first impression. You have every right to reject my offer." "But that is precisely why I want to join forces. I want to redeem myself and earn your trust." I shook my head a bit, I was sure this guy was planning something now. "If you're after the eternal sparkle, we'd like to help." Virginia looked back to me for a second I shook my head at her.
She slowly nodded putting her arms away. "Fine…Let's find the eternal sparkle together." The others all looked as shock as I'm sure I did to hear Virginia answer. "Hey, hey hey? What are you thinking? We can't trust this guy!" gallows yelled wondering what she could be thinking. "As long as you are the leader, we shall abide by your decision." "However, are you sure you have carefully though this out?" Clive Said feeling unsure about the idea as well.
Virginia turned quiet placing hand over her heart. "I understand your concern but everybody deserves a second chance." "I don't like to hold grudges…It's too hard and painful to handle." I shook my head at her. Her heart was just too soft sometimes. "But Ginny…I'm sure this is just part of they're plan…" I said she slowly nodded to me. "Yes I know…but…" she slowly nodded looking to the others. "To tell you the truth, I don't trust him one hundred percent, either." "But at some point, I have to do this, Or else I'll be Skeptical of him forever." Virginia slowly turned around to face Janus.
"That's why I chose to trust him just now." Clive nodded to Virginia. She did have a point and she was testing Janus this way. "Understood. I shall accept his propo…I mean our leader's decision." The other slowly nodded to what Clive said. "Look…you have my utmost respect, Princess. I wish I could think like you." "Actually, Maybe I did back in the day." Gallows started to glare toward Janus.
"Well, not that we're a team, what are you guys gonna do for us…?" Gallows asked placing his arms behind his back. "Information…We can provide information about the 'demons', who said to have sealed the eternal Sparkle." After hearing him say that. I started to wonder where he would get information like that from. "Demons?" I asked looking toward Janus.
"I'm sure you've heard of them. Those demons you hear about in folklore?" I slowly nodded as Janus stepped a bit closer to the group. "They are said to have existed ages ago, and their spiteful rancor supposedly lives on within these ruins." "Do you know what that means? The eternal sparkle and the demons are somehow connected." Janus whispered putting his arms away. "I'll tell you more once we find it. I think it's a fair deal." "We just need you to escort us deep within these trap filled ruins." Virginia slowly nodded to Janus. But I hoped I wasn't the only one who didn't trust him.
"With our strength and your information, we'll get through these ruins in no time." "We're counting on you, Janus." Virginia finished saying as a small smile appeared on her face. "Same here princess…Same here..." with that we left the main hall and into a door in the east. In the next room there we're broken glasses everywhere. It looked as some very special relics may have been there at one time.
Jet shook a bit behind me keeping an eye on Janus. Jet didn't trust him as much as I did. Janus started to grin a bit looking toward Jet. And jet didn't like it one little bit. We still there waiting Clive place a bomb by a glass wall. The wall quickly disappeared then Clive step on the switch opening a door to the east. We head into the next room. We could see a switch but a fence was around it. Janus slowly pointed toward me; jet could only look confused at him.
Janus started to move his hand toward my butt; Jet's eyes filled with angry just watching him. The others were tried to find out how to hit the switch still. Janus hand started to move a bit closer and Jet quickly grab a hold into it. "Hehe...what a knight you are…" jet quickly let go of his hand throwing his arms backward a bit. I slowly turned around giving the two a weird look. Janus grinned at me. I was started to feel sick again. I slowly looked over to jet, to find his face was a bit red?
I wonder why that is. I shook the question off. "Jet do you think your boomerang can hit it…?" When I asked him, he looked lost in thought. But he was started at me at the same time. "Jet…?" I asked waving a hand in front of his face. He quickly snapped out of it. "w-what? Oh yeah no problem…" Jet started to walk past me. I heard Janus laugh. I could only give him a weird look. Jet threw his boomerang at the switch. And he did hit it, then the door opened. "Good job…!" Virginia said bouncing a bit.
Jet saw Janus was right behind me again. Jet quickly grab on my hand pulling me away before Janus could do anything. I watched Jet glare at Janus. I wonder if something happened. I look to Janus, he was only grinning. Then I looked back to jet that had a red face again. I was pretty sure I missed something now. "Yo, Sara comes on!" Virginia yelled standing at the open door. I followed her into the next room. We were on like a little bridge now.
Gallows took out his freeze doll taking out all the candles there, and then the door in front of us opened. We head into the next door. It felt like we were going in circle how the rooms are. There was a switch and a block in this room. I told them I would take care of this one. I head over to the block and started to move it toward the switch. "You know…" Jet slowly looked over to Janus. "She is really pretty…but if you like her Mr. knight you should tell her so…" jet glared at him then crossed his arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" Jet said looking away. "Your loss…" Janus whispered with a shrug. I finished moving the block into the switch, and then the door opened. "Nicely done!" Virginia said with a giggle. I nodded as we head on. We walk into a long hall way then a room with four Statues. After we enter the door closed behind us. Both door in this room we're locked. Did that mean a switch could be hiding somewhere in here?
We started to search the room. Virginia, Gallows and Clive searches the statues by the door we came in. And me Jet and Janus search the statues by the other door. I started to check the upper statue and Jet and Janus checked the lower one. I knocked on the statue. It sound a bit weird and it had some cracks in it as well. The switch had to be under this one, I thought. As I thought that I felt something rub on my butt.
I let out a small scream, Jet quickly turned around to see Janus touching my butt. Jet quickly ran up to him, and punched him in the face. Janus quickly fell into his knees grinning at Jet. "Jet!" A voice yelled; I turned to find Virginia giving jet an angry look. "What reason would you have to hit Janus in the face?" Virginia yelled at him. But he didn't answer he just shrugged at her. Jet knew if he did say the reason.
The others would think he liked this girl. But the real reason we he didn't understand it him self why he just punched Janus out of no where. He just felt angry seeing Janus doing that over and over again in his mind. "Umm…" I whispered they looked toward me. "I believe the switch is under this one." Clive nodded to me placing a bomb next to the statue. And it was there. I stepped on it and the door opened. After Virginia finished yelled at jet a bit more she headed into the next room. But jet just looked like he didn't care that he was yelled at.
I slowly walked over to him. "Jet…what did Janus do…?" I asked he looked at me for a second; just staring again. Then he slowly looked away, "H-He touched your butt…" jet whispered under his breath. I felt my face turn deep red. I could believe what a sicko that Janus is! But it surprised me more that jet had been looking out for me.
"Umm…thanks for looking out for me…" I whispered with a small smile on my face looking toward jet. "N-No problem…" jet said rubbing the back of his head. I nodded to him heading into the next door and he followed behind me. We head down another hall way then into a room to the west. We found are self in a room filled with book selves. Virginia head to the end of the room to find a wall there; "A dead end…?" She asked looking to Clive.
He shook his head at her. "Nope…" he whispered placing a bomb at the wall. A door way quickly appeared. Like anyone wouldn't guess to do that. Uh, beside Ginny I mean. I saw jet was watching behind us. Maybe to make sure Janus didn't try something again. We slowly headed into the next room. Another lock door how different I thought.
We could see a switch just behind a pole. Jet slowly nodded stepping forward; he threw his boomerang around the pole and made it hit the pole so it would fall into the switch. And it did, with that the door opened. Virginia quickly ran down the steps and into the next room and Gallows, and Clive quickly ran after her. I shook my head a bit heading toward the steps.
But I quickly stop; I started to see a flash again. "Ugh…" I whispered falling into my knees. It was happening again. Was I going to see another vision? I placed my hands over my head, it was pouching. "Ugh…" I whispered again. Jet quickly ran over to me. He yelled my name but I could hear him.
FLASH OF LIGHT
"You shouldn't have left boot hill…" the voice said. I knew this voice from somewhere. It was a man wearing all brown. "The enemy base is just ahead…but if you go on you will not like what you find out…" the voice finished saying. I don't understand. What do these visions or day dreams mean? If they do many anything that is.
"Sara!" I heard a voice yelled my name the voice sound a bit scared. I slowly blinked seeing I was still in the ruin of memory. "J-Jet..?" I asked looking around at him. He gave me a weird look he knew something was up now. "I'm alright…just a bit tired…" I said slowly trying to stand up. Jet took a hold into my hand helping me. But I felt another hand grab my other one.
I looked to see it was Janus. "Huh…?" I whispered giving him a confuse look. Jet glared at him. They both slowly help me up. When I got into my feet again; I quickly let go of both of they're hands. "Umm...thank you both…" I whispered sweating a bit. "Hehe…no problem sweetheart…" Janus said with a grin.
Ugh…there goes my stomach again, I thought. Janus slowly walked past me and grinned at jet. Janus headed into the next room. "Hmp!..." Jet whispered crossing his arms. I don't really know why he so angry now. I mean Janus was only helping that time right? I shrugged it off. "Jet, we should head into the next room too." He nodded to me. He followed me down the steps and into the next room.
We found gallows putting out a candle as we enter. A step when down. We step into it; then Virginia threw a Tinder Crest at the candle lighting it up. The step when back up; But I was pretty sure we we're at the end of the ruins now. And I was right; But little did I know are trouble just started.