The New Age of Celtland

Chapter III

DISCLAIMER: This thing really bothers me. Just refer to the original one, ok? Oh, and I also don't own any spells from Tales of Symphonia, ok? Those will be appearing in this story, too.

-Dondoran, Back in the Ancient Library-

Erus had gone back to reading his books. He was just sitting there, intently reading, with a cold look on his face. Just outside of the room, around the corner, was Avayna. 'Alright, Avayna… you can do this. Just try to make conversation… and maybe he'll be nice, after all…'

"Hello!" Avayna said with a smile at Erus, walking into the room. Erus lifted his gaze, quite startled at someone approaching him in a friendly manner such as this.

"…Hi." Was his response.

'Well, that could've been worse…' Avayna thought. "So… what are you reading, there?" She then asked Erus.

"A book about the eight sources of the elements, the jewels of power." Erus replied, in a slightly friendlier tone.

"I see… isn't it strange that they'd just disappear like that? The only two remaining are the ones in the Limelin vault." Avayna said.

Erus nodded. "Indeed. You know that the Eletale Book has disappeared, too?"

Avayna blinked, startled at what she just heard. "Did… you just say that the… Eletale book… is gone?"

"Mhm. heard the news from a Melrode traveler who came to this library. Last time someone opened that, the world was visited by the day of grief… and the world began to decay." Erus stated nonchalantly, his eyes still reading.

"The… world… began to decay?" Avayna asked. "How is that possible? Is the Eletale book really all that powerful?"

Erus sighed. "The Eletale book was created at the beginning of time, by the eight supreme gods, the very creators of existence. It is the records of their powers, and their spells are recorded into its pages… that's why nobody can really open the book. The powers listed in there are so great, the very text can kill a person or an entire nation just by being gazed upon."

Avayna sighed. "That's not good… I hope that it wasn't stolen."

"Mn. And furthermore the stones really aren't the source of the elements, as most people say. Well, technically they are, and technically they aren't. See, each of the eight supreme gods created a stone, which would carry their power into the world. The gods are the real sources of the elements… the stones just bring their powers from the heavens unto Earth… well, namely Celtland." Erus explained.

"…How come you know so much? It's not the public knowledge… and I've never heard it before, yet it sounds so true…" Avayna said.

"…I read a lot." Erus replied. "…and I don't believe you've ever told me what your name was?"

Avayna blushed. "Oh, how stupid of me… my name's Avayna."

Erus made a small smile. Something that Avayna could barely see, but she was sure that she saw it. She was finally on the path of making Erus open up to her. "The name's Erus. Pleasure to meet you."

Avayna blushed deeper. "No, the pleasure's mine."

Erus then looked at Avayna, but not in a cold way. Avayna was hoping that her face wasn't as red as she thought it was. "Hm. I think I've heard about you before from somewhere… you're one of the top twelve water mages in this guild… both book smart, and well-liked."

Avayna smiled at Erus. "I…" Then she looked down, and stopped. "…I've heard of you, too. You're the most powerful mage of this guild, with powers that exceed even that of the sages. Nobody ever approaches you, because they are scared of you."

Erus shook his head a little. "Can't say nobody ever approaches me. Besides you, there has been another who's approached me on friendly terms."

"Oh really? Who?" Avayna asked, curious.

Erus smirked a little. "I met him about a month ago. His name's Staff… and I must say that he's a very… amusing person."

Avayna thought for a minute. "I think I heard of him from a good friend of mine. Apparently, he's Maris' boyfriend… but I've been wondering why they call him Staff…"

Erus chuckled a little. "…It's because he got hungry and ate his staff."

Avayna looked at Erus, confused. 'What the HELL?!?' She thought.

Erus just nodded. "Anyways… I hear that you're really smart, too. What spells can you use?" He then asked.

Avayna thought for a moment. "Um… Water Pillar, levels one through three… healing levels one and two… walking water… drain magic… soul searcher, levels one and two, Spread… and water bomb." She explained.

Erus nodded. "Hm. A pretty good collection of spells, I must say."

Avayna smiled. "Thanks… and what about you?"

Erus sort of frowned. "Too many to count… I lost my memory, so I have no clue what I can do… but I can remember a few… Rock levels one through six, avalanche levels one through four, rolling rock levels one through five, rock blade, ground dasher, earthen staff, rock shower levels one through three, magnetic rock levels one through three, magic barrier levels one and two, meteor shower, envelop, and Earthquake."

Avayna blinked several times. 'Whoa. I haven't even heard of half the spells mentioned there… and I thought that spells could only reach a max of the third stage; yet here he is with rock… level SIX?!? … Is he a god or something…?' She thought.

"I… I can't believe how many spells you know." Avayna whispered, amazed.

Erus sighed. "It just takes some practice, that's all."

Avayna blushed. "W… will you help me?" She asked.

Erus looked up at her, and smiled. Not a full smile, but not a faint smile. "Sure. Want to get started today?"

Avayna smiled deeply at him. "Thank you so much! I'll be glad to!"

-Sometime later, outside the gates of Dondoran-

"…Good. You're coming along nicely. Now show me that Water bomb spell." Erus stated.

"Fine, but only if you show me your sixth-stage rock spell… I really wanna see it." Avayna replied.

"Ok, it's a deal, then." Erus said.

Avayna nodded. "Water Bomb!" She exclaimed, with a wave of her staff. Suddenly, a 12-foot long drop of water fell from the sky, and splashed on the ground, making water fly around everywhere. It must have taken out at least ten hellhounds roaming the area. "Ok, now let's see that rock spell."

Erus nodded, as a couple of Ware hares approached. Oh boy, talk about overkill.

"Rock…" Erus exclaimed, as suddenly a humungous boulder that made the level four boulder look like a pebble was torn from the ground. The boulder was roughly the very size of the entire guild of magic. Avayna looked up, and stared in awe. The ware hares were running away in fear. The colossal boulder then lifted itself up, and flew at the fleeing creatures.

-Meanwhile-

"King Scottfort XXXVIII-squared-to-the-pie-th-power!" A guard exclaimed, rushing into the throne room.

"Please… just call me King Scottfort." The king, who was a direct descendant of the original King Scottfort who held the Earth Orb five hundred years ago, sighed.

"Yes, your majesty. But, news is that the werehare population has been multiplying rapidly, and soon, there might be an overpopulation problem!" The guard exclaimed.

The King sighed. "Yes… this could be a problem."

CRAAASSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

The entire town began to shake violently. The torches in the throne room fell over, and the shields and weapons hanging up on the wall fell off. The guard had lost his footing, and the king fell out of his throne, and onto the floor. After the momentary sudden violent shaking stopped as quickly as it came, another guard ran into the room.

"Your majesty King Scottfort XXXVIII-squared-to-the-pie-th-power-direct-descendant-of-the-original-king-Scottfort-who-gave-the-Earth-Orb-to-the-legendary-mage-five-hundred-years-ago-who-

"ENOUGH!!" The King yelled, silencing the second guard. "What news do you bring?"

"Um… oh yeah. The ware hare population is no longer of any concern." The guard said.

-Back outside the gates-

"And that's how you use a rock spell at the sixth stage." Erus said, helping Avayna, who had been knocked off her feet, up. She blushed as she took his hand.

"Thanks." Avayna said quickly.

Erus nodded. "We're done for today. Tomorrow's the weekend… if you want to find me, I'll probably be in the Library." He said, looking at her, and smiling a little once more before walking off.

Avayna sighed. 'Yes… I'm definitely getting him to open up to me… he really is cute when he smiles.' She thought blissfully. She followed Erus back into town, just as the sun itself set from the sky.

End of Chapter

Hoped you all liked it… now please review. It'll give me the motivation to write even faster.

Until Next Chapter,

-Biggoron