Home; Almost Alone
"Today seems to be your lucky day," Kai tells the Brawlers. "It seems we have no room here for you anymore. So, get ready to fight for your freedom."
Kai laughs as he walks away, leaving them to their thoughts. However, as he disappears along the dark corridors, the Brawlers seem to tremble. Their figures begin to glow brightly before shattering into thousands of pieces. The stone wall fizzles and shakes before turning to dust and floating to the ground. Elise hurries over to the cell and grasps at one of the bars.
"Are you alright?" Elise whispers.
Runo sneezes as the last of the dust caresses the ground. "Yea, I think we're okay… What was that stuff?"
She smiles. "It is Lunar Solstice Heavenly dust," she glances around, and gestures to them. "Come now, time wanes. We must leave now, if ever."
Concentrating, Elise releases a steady stream of power into the bars. The bar shudders before bowing down in surrender. Elise steps back and the Brawlers rush out in a flurry. She waits until the last of them are gone, and then she extends her abilities to lift the bar into its place. She ushers them down the corridors so as to avoid whomsoever is approaching them. Though, she does so, more than anything, to allow Roxanne to enter Kai's highest areas of security. Elise prays that she hasn't made a terrible, terrible mistake.
"Let us leave now, we must make haste," Elise urges.
Shun moves through the shadows, silent as a wraith. All around him people are swarming, rushing with their arms full of supplies. He keeps walking, staying close to the wall. Shun doesn't have any idea why there's such a fuss, but he knows he can't get himself involved. Though, he very soon realises that he's being followed. He's sure it's Alice, although whether by her own choice or control, is yet unknown. Shun releases a small stream of power from his hand. It flows like a river over to Alice, and wraps around her waist. She stops following him, and stays in its hold without resisting. He can tell that she's still being controlled by Kai, and leaves before Kai breaks his hold.
Shun turns a corner, inching closer to Kai's Star Room. Over the years, Kai has shown more than enough self-absorption to have his own private room. Kai probably doesn't even expect anyone to be able to sneak past security and come near his room. His overconfidence will be his downfall.
Two eyes blink as Shun disappears around the corner. Roxanne reaches up and pulls her head scarf lower. She waits, crouched down until the crowd suddenly parts, and they scuttle away from each other. She stands up and flits back up the hall in the opposite direction from where Shun left. Roxanne's goal doesn't require Shun, but she will seek him out later. Right now, she's going to the Reactor room. It offers the building power, but is in no way the main source. The raging Cunbrica Falls above see to that. However, the Reactor room offers something much more than power.
Roxanne turns to her right and flits down the hallway until she reaches a left turn. There, she glances around herself before slashing her nails across her left forearm. A soft green glow appears in a distinguished pattern before the glow fades, but the marks remain. She stalks into the shadows, and the seal on her forearm finally breaks. Roxanne turns and places her hand against the wall and it glows before a large portion in the shape of a door melts away. She slips in unnoticed and almost instantly vanishes in the untainted darkness. Behind her the wall tries to regrow and cover the space, but it fails to do so.
Runo's gaze is transfixed on the clear area of crystalline blue sky. Surrounding it are grey clouds that almost seem violet in places. Her gaze travels down from the high-reaching, lush mountains and the forest clinging to the base of the mountains. Ahead of them, in the clearly carved out valley is a sparkling river. On the other side of the valley, the mountains aren't as tall as the mountains opposing them; nor as they as vibrant and as full of life. Runo tears her eyes away from the scenery, albeit reluctantly, and looks at Elise.
"Where is this place?" Runo asks.
"Why have you brought us here?" Claus frowns.
Elise glances around the valley. "I had told you before, I am the Princess of Crescentia, and a Thirteen…"
"This is Crescentia, isn't it?" Chan breathes, surprised.
"I could not risk Kai finding you, and this place is safe from his eyes," she turns to them. "Kai promised he would not decide the fate of another existing here. He will not betray that vow… I must take my leave now, please excuse me."
Elise re-enters the waiting portal, and it closes behind her. The moment she emerges, a red box with an X inside it appears at the right corner of the portal. Elise turns and stares at it, incredulous. She reaches out to touch it, but pulls back as it emits an electric shock. Panicked, she stumbles back, glancing around her surroundings. Her eyes dart about the stone room. It looks exactly where she had been trapped and imprisoned before.
"Well, do you like your accommodations?" Kai asks, standing on the other side of bars. "I hope you aren't too uncomfortable."
Elise stares at him, incredulous. "Let me out, Kai. Release me from this hold. I know you mean no wrongs."
He shakes his head, slowly. "No, you will remain here… The key has already been lost,"
Author's Note: Argh! One review away! I'd type that I need one more review before I update again, but I'm going to be nice to you guys. The next chapter comes free! I hope you enjoyed reading my chapter. Thank you very much for taking an interest in my story.