Wow look how nice I was! Finished another chapter! Even those my hands were hurting after I finished writing it on paper. My hand writing so sucks. ; anyways here the next chapter.
And thanks for the review Jessie Enduro glad ya like it! -
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Chapter 11: into the Darkness
We made a campfire for the night. Virginia slowly turned to Clive. "But, boy…you sure surprised us when you mentioned your wife and daughter…" Clive rubbed the back of his neck. "Ahh…My apologies…I didn't mean to keep it a secret. It's just hard to find the right timing of bring it up…" He finished saying as we all looked toward the campfire again.
"Well…umm…what were we talking about, again? Oh yeah, surprises, right?" Clive slowly shook his head toward Virginia. "There is no need to beat around the bush, Virginia…We were all surprised by what we saw…" Virginia didn't look up from the campfire. "Yeah, I guess…I…I just find it so hard to believe that someone could transform like that…" "Is that the true power of the artifacts? To change someone into a different being? The power of the past?" She asked still staring at the campfire.
I stay quiet just listening to them. "You all felt the pulsation of the mediums when he unleashed his powers…The mediums seemed to be expressing anger and animosity toward him, and moreover, fear…" Gallows finished saying as Clive nodded to him. "The mediums tremble in fear…Just as when the dark spear was summoned. Then it is safe to assume that the mediums recognize him…no, the dark spear as a feared entity." Clive looked pretty worried over this.
"A medium is kinda like a vehicle or ago-between…we're all connected to the guardian's by it. So the fear expressed through the medium is that of the guardian's and…The guardians represent the power of filgaia. This means that whatever scares the guardians is a threat to the planet itself; And from what we know, there's only one thing that threatens this planet…" We all looked pretty surprised towards gallows.
"The demons…? Filgaia's enemy from folklore! Then, what he was saying was…" Virginia started to finish to say. "…Most likely true. Which means the existence of demons is now an actual threat!" Then gallows hit the ground with his hand. "So, this is why we were entrusted with the Mediums and let loose over filgaia!" gallows yelled. "I turned my back on my lineage and destiny of priesthood so that I could be free…But all I'm doing is playing a part in granny's whole scheme!" Virginia quickly started to glare toward gallows.
"What do you mean?" She yelled. "Through Shane's dreams, Granny detected the rebirth of demons as a threat to this planet. The guardians who protect the planet and the demons, who seek to destroy it, are to come face to face. We're all just marionettes being forced to dance by invisible strings!" Gallows finished saying holding a hand out to his side looking around to each one of us. Then a light came from the four mediums and flying southern sky.
"It crossed the 'southern sky' to the 'east'…what are the mediums trying to tell us…?" Clive asked looking toward the sky. "Doggone It! Do I have to live according to fate? Why can't I just be free?" Gallows asked looking toward the ground. "I think it was partly fate that brought us together in the wasteland. And I'm really grateful for it. But the thing is, I don't want to entrust every decision to it." Virginia slowly stood up. We all watched her.
"What I trust most is you guys—the bond we share together. And the mediums are a Bond that connects us with Filgaia. I want to trust this bond and take action." I slowly shook my head listening to her. 'They're she goes again…' I thought. "Brush fate a side…and trust in our bonds to take action…" Gallows whispered closing his eyes. "It's not a battle between guardians and demons. We must face the demon's threat as the ones entrusted with the power of guardians!" Virginia finished saying holding a hand over her heart.
"This isn't a battle about the past this is our battle, now!" Virginia yelled holding her arms out in front of her. "This isn't about curiosity. I can feel it…And I know you all do, too…" Virginia said looking around to us. "Something is stirring on our filgaia…" I shook my head again. "I suppose this really isn't a task you can just ask someone to do…" Clive whispered.
"Everyone would think we're crazy if we tried to explain…" jet whispered rubbing a hand in his hair. "Let us rest here tonight, and escort the young lady back to town at day break. I believe we still lack the information to delve into the meaning behind the lights that pointed southeast. I suggest we gather any kind of information we can about guardians and mediums at little twister." We all nodded to Clive and soon after that we when to bed.
Soon morning came and we head back to town. For two reasons; one to take the missing woman back. And two getting information on what is to the southeast of town; the woman looked very happy to be back home. When we got inside of town; "Are you sure you're okay?" Virginia asked looking a bit worried toward the woman.
"Y-yes…thank you kindly. Although ah have nothing to give you…" the woman slowly answered nodding to Virginia. "No worries miss. Your beautiful smile says it all. Actually, it sure beat any reward we've received thus far…Please, continues smiling." Gallows said with a huge grin on his face. I rolled my eyes at him. And Jet glared toward Gallows.
The woman looked speak less toward gallows. "A-all right..." She whispered. Then we all heard a woman voice yell toward us. "Claudia! Now, where on Filgaia have ya been? Ah'll be deducting wages from yer paycheck for, all the days ya missed work!" It was the bar woman from the saloon. She slowly headed over to us. "Madam…" Claudia whispered to her.
"All you'll ever be good at is working in my saloon! Now, get your booty over here!" the two women quickly left and headed toward the saloon. I watched gallows hold out a hand toward them. "It isn't fair…" he whispered looking toward the ground. "So…which one of us was the most fired up through out this entire unpaid mission?" Jet asked looking around the group rubbing a hand in his hair. Clive shook his head a little. "The same person who proposed to make a fortune; without taking any risks, I believe." I slowly shook my head as well.
I watched Virginia snap toward gallows. "You Men are all the same! You only have one thing on your minds!" Virginia yelled toward gallows. Gallows kept looking at the ground. "Not all of us are. Please don't associate me with him." Clive whispered to Virginia. "Yeah, same here…" Jet said crossing his arms. Gallows quickly turned toward us. "I'm sorry guys…I got a little carried away." He said bowing to us. "A little is an understatement…" I whispered to hear jet laugh to him self.
"Well we should search around town for information about any info of ruins to southeast of here…" Clive said; we all nodded to him. Virginia, gallows and Clive searched the east side of town for information. And me and Jet when to search the west side. We headed into the saloon where the woman we just saved ran up to us.
"Oh! It's is you drifters I give you my thanks again…" She whispered to us with a smile. "Oh think nothing of it…" I whispered back to Claudia. "Do you know of a ruin south-east of here…?" Jet asked out of no where. "Hmm well…" She started to say placing a hand under her chin. "A customer once told me that there is a site of a 'Giant shrine' somewhere in these parts." She finished saying.
"'A Giant Shrine?'" I asked. "Ah hear it can be found southeast of this town. Its faith has died out long ago and the shrine has been robbed of its treasure over the years. Due to its rundown condition, Ah hear its home to many frightful monsters…" We both nodded to each other. Jet started toward the door. "Thanks for the information…" I said nodding to her. "Ah think nothing of it after all you drifters did for me…" I said my goodbyes to her; then me and jet headed outside where Virginia and the others we're waiting.
"Did you find any information…?" Virginia asked looking toward the both of us. I slowly nodded then told them. "Hmm…that has to be where the mediums we're pointing…" Clive whispered holding a hand under his chin. We all slowly nodded to him. "Well if we know where to go….Let start heading there…!" Virginia yelled running for the exit of town. Gallows let out a laugh watching Virginia run.
"Does she always have this much energy…?" Jet asked. I slowly nodded to him. "Sadly yes…that always got us in trouble back home…" Jet just shrugged to me. "Well we should follow are leader…" We nodded to Clive and left town as well. We all climbed into the horses and started off south-east. It wasn't very long before we found a ruin.
It was pretty far; close to the end of the land. We slowly climbed off of the horses. Then slowly nodded to each other and headed inside; the ruin called 'Lunatic Garden.' As soon as we entered; we all felt something not right. "I don't know about you, but my stomach feels like its being clawed at from the inside." Gallows said placing a hand on his forehead. "Yes, yet another unpleasant sensation brought about by the medium, it seems..." Clive whispered feeling it as well. But somehow I felt it as well. But I didn't have a medium, so how come I could feel it? I don't understand.
"Yeah, I know what you mean…I get this sinking feeling filled with exhaustion—a different kind of energy than the one Janus emits." Virginia whispered looking toward the ground. "I feel like something slowly growing weaker…" Jet gave me a look. 'She can feel this as well?' he though. "I have a bad feeling about this…Let's just hurry and get this over with." Jet said looking forward. We started down a big hall way and under a bridge.
We found a locked door at the end. We saw an open door to the right side but it was blocked by a platform. "How do we get around that…?" Virginia asked backing up a little to have a better look around. Somehow she tripped falling into a switch on the floor. "Epp!" she yelled as the door in front of us opened. I slowly shook my head at her; then I helped her to her feet.
"I wish you could always to things that easy…" I watched her glare at me. "Oh! Shut up you!" She yelled. She headed into the now open door. With me and the guys following her; we found three chests in the room. The middle one had an item called the 'steady doll.' "Hey! Maybe I can hit that level in the last room with this!" Gallows said with a big grin. "Well I guess that couldn't hurt to try…" Clive said with a weak smile. "Then just leave it to me!" Gallows said still with a huge grin on his face. Somehow I don't think he was thinking about hitting that level.
We slowly headed back; Gallows then headed up to the level and threw his Steady doll. And to my surprise it did work! The level when down and so did the platform that was in the way. "See nothing to it!" gallows said holding out his arms toward me. "W-what?" I asked stepping back a little. "How about a hug for a job well done?" I gave him a look. He had to be joking. "I don't think so…" I whispered to gallows.
"Aww…Come on!" he cried starting toward me. I stepped back a bit more but he kept coming. But before he could try to hug me; Jet stepped in. He stood right in front of me glaring at Gallows. "w-what!" Gallows asked quickly stopping in his tracks. "Back away…And I don't kill you…." Jet whispered under his breath. "You? How could you k--…" But gallows cut him self off as he saw Jet pull out his boomerang.
"Whoa…I mean…I'll be good!" gallows quickly backed away from jet. Then jet slowly put his boomerang back away; as I heard Virginia and Clive laughing to him selves. Did I miss something? I shrugged to my self. I'm sure it was nothing. But I was glad. Gallows wasn't coming by me now. "W-well should we move on?" Clive asked looking around. We all nodded and headed into the door at the right. In the next room a switch with a block sat by it. But we couldn't get too close because it was blocked off. So, gallows had his steady doll push the block into the switch then the door opened.
In the next room we headed up some stairs to an open door at the top. And when inside; then a bit left inside another door. We were now on top of the bridge in the first room. We headed over the bridge to an open door. This time there we're three switches and three blocks. Again Gallows took out his steady doll and pushed the blocks into each switch. Then the door up some stairs and over to the right opened.
"See…I still think I should get that hug…" gallows said grinning toward me. Me and jet both glared at him. "W-what?" he yelled stepping back a little. I shook my head a bit. Then we head up into the now open door. We headed up some stairs and into a open door before us. A button like thing was on the wall in this room. We headed up some stairs. Then gallows threw his steady doll at the button pushing it in. Then slowly the door to the right opened.
"That doll sure is helpfully…" Virginia said looking at gallows. "See?" Gallows said holding the doll over his head. "But it sure makes him look girly…" Jet whispered with a grin. Gallows slowly looked at the floor staring to cry. "Shut up…" He whispered. "Hehe…" I whispered grinning toward Jet. Then we headed into the next room. We found a button on the ground but stepping on it did no good. So we started toward the door to try to think of another way. But jet when left and not right with us. "Jet…?" I yelled calling to him.
But he didn't answer; he got to the end of the walk away over the switch. Then he jumped on top of it. IT just needed more pressure! "Oh…!" I said as jet quickly ran over to us as the door opened. "Good thinking, Jet!" Virginia said. He jus shrugged to her as we headed inside. We found a level in the next room with a very high platform. Gallows threw his steady doll at it as part of the floor when up.
"Oh I see…" Clive said pushing his glasses up a bit. Gallows looked lost toward him. "Do that again…" Gallows did as he was told. The floor when back down. We quickly made are way over to that spot. "Again!" Clive yelled. Gallows did so, as we slowly got up to the platforms. Then gallows turned to find us up there. "Hey! How did you get up there!" he yelled. We all shook are heads at him.
"Is he really that clueless…?" Jet gave me a look. "Remember who you're speaking of…" He had a point. Clive had to tell him how we got up there. And Ten minutes later Gallows was up there with us. "Well that took you forever…" Jet whispered crossing his arms. Gallows glared toward Jet. "Don't start!" Virginia yelled toward them. "Well let's be on are way now…" Clive leads the way into the door in front of us.
A long platform in front of us with an open door at the end. We quickly ran into the next room; only to find stairs to have to go up. At the top of the stairs was a door of bright light before us. We enter it to find are selves outside in a garden like place. "Wow this is rare…" I whispered looking around. Clive nodded to me as he smiled looking around this room. Lots of boxes were around this room. As well as three triangle crystals on diffence sides of the room. And three light pink Triangle crystals on top of three poles.
"Hmm…" Jet whispered walking around the room. Somehow I tripped and started to fall into a box. Jet quickly blinked and ran toward me. Trying to catch me; But we both fell into the boxes. "Ahhhhh!" We both yelled. I had my eyes closed rubbing my back a bit. "Oh god…that hurt…" I slowly opened my eyes to find Jet on top of me. "Err…" he whispered staring at me with a red face. MY face slowly turned red when I felt his body press on mine.
I felt my heart racing again. But why was it? "J-Jet….?" I whispered staring back at him as he stared at me. He didn't say a word. "So that's why you we're keeping me away from her so you could make your move huh?" Jet quickly turned to find gallows grinning. Jet quickly got off of me. "I-I wasn't doing anything like that! You old Prevent!" Jet yelled still with a red face. I could only look confused watching. Are all boys confusing?
I feel confused every time I listen to Jet for some reason. I shrugged it off and slowly got to my feet. "Well if you two are done…" Clive said giving Jet and Gallows a look. "I believe the three crystal triangles react to the ones one the pole…" Gallows could only look confuse toward him. "Uh, meaning…?" Clive slowly shook his head. "Light up the three crystals and the three on the poles will be as well…" gallows still looked dumb founded. "Then the door will open, right?" I asked. "Yes it looks that way…" Gallows quickly picked up a box.
"Alright! Leave it to me!" He yelled. So we did so. But…Let's just say his aim is really off. 15 minutes later the door opened. "See! No problem!" Gallows said with a huge grin. "That took you forever as well…" Jet said rolling his eyes. "I know…It took—Hey!" Gallows yelled. Virginia quickly pulled them apart. "Knock it off! Come on we're moving on!" Virginia yelled running up to the door then heading inside.
We could see a switch a bit away from us as we headed inside. Gallows quickly threw his steady doll lowering the platform. We then hopped off the platform and into the door in front of us. We then enter a big hall way with a spinning thing with a spinning circle in the middle of it. Odd I wonder what that is….I thought to my self. Virginia quickly started up some stairs to a big door way in front of us.
We enter to find a robed man stealing energy from a guardian! That was what I felt! "Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Gallows yelled toward the man. The man had blonde hair. He slowly turned around to look at us. "Life…is what I'm seeking. My desire is to pour life into a vessel of human form." The robed man said with a small smile on his face. It was odd…I felt like I had seen this man's face before. But this was the first time I met him. "Your dubious, stuck-up attitude…you're just like that woman!" Virginia yelled toward the robed man.
"Oh…? I see you've met 'Melody.'" He said with a small grin. "Melody…?" I asked. "You seemed to have offended her. I took the brunt of her fiery wrath. She's back at the lab working diligently, but…She's not the type to keep her feelings bottled up. Even as we speak I'm sure she's raging furiously." The man was still slowly stealing the Guardian's energy even when he was speaking to us.
"I don't know what it is you're scheming but your actions speak of evil intentions. Stop this at once!" Clive yelled toward the robed man stepping forward a bit. "Oh, does this 'light' bother you?" The robed man asked with a smile. "What is that light…?" I yelled toward the man. "Sure the heck aint normal! Don't play smart with us!" Gallows yelled. "Your boorish behavior annoys me. Take a look around, this warm, shimmering light…Oh, how beautiful life is…The Existence of this guardian will cease but will continue to live on in a new and beautiful form. A much more worthy demise than decaying in this forgotten shrine, wouldn't you agree…?" that man is crazy to do something so heartless to a guardian of the planet.
"Not if we can stop it!" Virginia yelled stepping toward the robed man a little. "But what must be done, must be done. I must get on with my work. Understand? My motto is: 'work with a smile and always go the extra mile.'" Was this guy for real? How could you smile doing something like this? "But if you really insist on fighting, then I guess it cannot be avoided. However, there is still much I need to do…So I will leave the dirty work to someone more appropriate for the task." The robed man said with a shrug.
"Janus!" he yelled. But we didn't see him. "What is it, Janus? Do you not accept?" The blonde man asked. With no answer in return; "If I cannot count on the Dark knight, then I will take matters into my own hands!" he yelled coming toward us. Virginia shot at him but the bullet passed though the man's body! "Arms will not work!" Clive yelled to the others. "Then we should go with magic!" Virginia yelled right back.
Clive nodded to her. Virginia casted protects on her self. Jet casted Vortex on the blonde man doing some damage. Gallows casted Ice then Clive casted his non-elemental spell called Devastate on the blonde man. After two or three rounds of magic the blonde man finally fell. "Your perseverance has given you the upper hand in this drawn out battle. But I have gathered enough guardians' energy for the time being. The wise choice for me is to retreat…" the blonde man said holding his shoulder.
Then with a flash of light Janus appeared beside the blonde man. "Janus? I could have used you!" he yelled looking up to Janus. "The coordinate axis of my mutation is still unstable. My body hasn't' fully adapted to its powers and there are times when it won't function like I want it to." The blonde man looked angry to hear this. "The nerve of you to say such things…Even your mutation is unreliable! Moreover, there never would been a need to utilize the guardians. If only you had acquired the Ark scepter in the first place! Do you realize the pain and suffering my body endures by trying to make contact with on intangible spiritual being?" Janus slowly shook his head toward the blonde man.
"My apologies…But hey no worries. I'll personally deliver the energy you've collected and escort you out of here. You have my word." Janus quickly waved the dark spear in front of us. We quickly moved out of the way. To watch them run out of the door behind us. "You're not getting away with this!" Virginia yelled. We quickly ran after them. Well everyone aside from Gallows.
The guardian gave him a little gift. Then he nodded to the guardian. "You're coming with me. Let me show you the right way to kick their behind." He then looked at the new medium in his hands. Gallows got the Moon spark Medium. The moon spark Medium is the guardian of darkness for those who don't know. Gallows then quickly ran out of the room. We quickly made are way back tracking. They wouldn't get away with what they did to that poor Guardian.
We found them in the room with the switch you have to jump on top of. They quickly stopped looking up at us. "There's no way you'll make it out in that shape you're in!" Virginia yelled toward them. The blond man slowly smiled toward Virginia. "Persistent, aren't we? Tell me, what motivates you to act with such Passion?" Janus slowly smiled as well. "Persistence is the key to survival." The blonde man slowly looked to Janus for a second then toward us again. The blond man held his hands out toward us.
"It's a creature from ages past, but it shall suffice to buy us sometime…" Was he doing what I thought he was? Was he summoning a monster? "Angolmois! Unleash your hidden frenzy! Do not hold back!" we all watched in shock as a monster appeared before us. "You got to be kidding…" Jet whispered.
Then the monster came toward us. Virginia casted protects on her self. The boys shot at it. Then next turn everyone but Clive shot at it. As Clive casted fragile lowing the monster's defense. The monster then did Seventh moon's on everyone doing a lot of damage. After many rounds of healing and firing Gatlings at the monster it fell.
Then after we found out the two got away. "Something has been set in motion with the guardians at its core, No; it's surging around the world…" We all looked speak less at Virginia.