Latale: A Memory's Venture
Chapter 14: Champion of Elias
"'till everything ends, I'll keep you safe, I promise…"
Raavi's POV
Back at the tent we rummage through whatever we got to ration enough food until we reach Elias. The path goes, Elfa, to Aioch then back to Yong Gyoung and finally Elias. It is quite far and honestly I would want to just have Luli tap space for us. But she seems down and unproductive after Kyiin got stabbed or killed maybe. So it's not an option.
Corelle doesn't wanna waste any of our money to buy capsules for easy transport, her reasoning why is stupid, but her intention is clear. She wants to get more time and think. So it seems this party had broken away from each other. Corelle isolates herself in the beach and Luli keeps killing those crabs that spawn near our tent. She seems to be enjoying her carnage.
It worries me that Luli vomits every now and then. She keeps on telling she has an upset stomach, but I know she performed Fortissimo's second incantation, which takes your enemies life and add it onto yours. She must've used it against Captain Bong, the after effects had just set in, it will eventually fade, but the pain it causes is tremendous enough for Bards to commit suicide. Those who luckily perform the Fortissimo's second incantation often end up dying at their own hands, unable to withstand the pain of the after effect. This effect has no immediate cure. I pity Luli that she can't die and she'd endure that pain. It's torture but that's how it is. I can't change that.
At our site camp, I rummage through all my packs trying to find my map, by the time I found it and fix up the camp site and plunge it in my briefcase. I took a glance on what is left unpacked and I got curious with Kyiin's rucksack.
It isn't my nature to invade privacy, but things are different now, Kyiin is gone, I'm sure he'll be back, Sophia said so, but whatever we may find inside it can be useful. Without any hesitation I just rummage through his rucksack.
Lucky me found Symphony's pitcher. I'm not a seeker so I can touch it without seeing Symphony, so I set it aside. I still need that Shard of Envy to summon her here. For Corelle and Luli at the very least.
Apparently Kyiin doesn't check the insides of his rucksack and just keep putting stuff in it. His Gulliver Gloves are good weapons, but he has a Starfish Knuckles in his rucksack too, other than that he also has a Lamia Snake Cleaves, apparently he has a handful of weapons at his disposal.
At the bottom of his rucksack, there were dried up and crumpled leaves, I couldn't tell what they were because they were already too dried up to be distinguished. He also has a set of sharp needles a very big one on top with the tip dyed in yellow. I don't know what that is So I simply set it aside.
At the bottom there was a notebook with a black and purple cover. It folds two-way and meets at the center, like the notebook is folded to divide it into three. A lace ties the two centerfolds together. If it was a diary I'll be invading his privacy, but I invaded too much anyway so why not take a peek?
I untie it and tried to open it, a purple circular rune appears. I was startled and I dropped the notebook. *sigh* There was Null Magic embedded, there isn't anything I can do to remove it. So I returned the notebook inside his rucksack.
There was something glowing underneath his rucksack. I picked it up, and inspected it carefully. And Lucky me just got an Iris shard of something.
By the time I descended from our camp site. Corelle already picked up her things and Luli was ready to go. I placed my briefcase on the cockpit of my Death MG and pulled the key, so when Death MG fades away so does my things, so I have less things to carry. But I still cradled Kyiin rucksack in my shoulders.
"Cheer up, you're making me feel awkward." I punch Luli in her shoulders, she didn't react at all.
"…" This is really awkward.
"Let's go." Corelle lowly commands we start walking quietly.
"Hey, I got good news. I found a new Iris shard underneath Kyiin's…rucksack." I say a bit reluctant.
"Really? let me see." Corelle smiles and grabs the shard away from my hand.
"This is…" Corelle paused for a moment and stares at the horizon. "Shard of Envy."
"Bingo. I needed that, Symphony's Pitcher is here too, we'll summon her here sometime else." I say happily
"Why do we need her?" Luli asks.
"Symphony is great at medicine, she can give us medication for Corelle's shoulder inflammation and your 'upset stomach'"
"Isn't a Bard enough to cure you from your ailments?" She inquires and looks down, even more depressed.
"I didn't mean it that way, you're great at patching up external wounds, but we need someone to help us with our conditions not our wounds." I defended my misunderstanding statement.
"I see. I'm sorry I'm useless."
"…" Damn.
Kyiin's POV
A chasm, I'm in a chasm, I can feel something stinging in my stomach. But everything else is just black. I close my eyes and just try to feel like I'm floating, so that I can arrive at Sophia's realm. But nothing, not a single gust of wind to feel, not even a single amount of warmth, just cold and darkness.
I opened my eyes again, this time I was in a room painted checkered black and white. I sat up and scoured my surroundings. The room is dark, and the only light source is a flickering dim light from a lamp in a desk in front of the bed. A thin blanket was placed over me during my sleep, two pillows on where my head lay and two more in my sides and small one which I might have held on to.
The desk in the room had lamp with a very dim light, papers scattered all over the desk, a chair not even properly placed, and its design matches the desk. It had a bookshelf beside it, a pile of books neatly stacked on the floor beside the desk. Papers clipped and hung on the wall, some nearing to fall.
The windows are open, and I'm cold. I try to move towards it, a sharp pain stung in my stomach. I realized I was half naked, my top was gone and a thick bandage wrapped around my abdomen. Ignoring the pain I stood up and approached the window, I try to close it and took a peek outside.
What was outside? The Court.
So I can't go to the Graveyard from my dreams because I'm already in the Graveyard? I died?
Then what happened to Luli? To Corelle? To Raavi? Did they get the Nostrum of Azure Chasm and got away safely? It seems none of these questions can be answered, because I'm dead.
My story ended so quickly, I can't even recover my memories, and I can't find Iris, that girl that asked me for help in my dream. So it's done, I don't get to die at the hands of my Origin, I just died, and now the Seventh seeker can commence his or her journey, the seventh, the last, the one who will end all of this. Now I get to feel how it's like to be collected.
"Feeling cold?" A voice came from behind. The door was wide open and Malice leaned beside the doorway. The checkered tiles can be seen, red curtains drape from the ceiling, a lone table with a single flower vase containing one orchid can be seen through.
"A bit." I say trying to stop myself from shivering, suddenly a gust of wind blast through the window pane and I was forced to hug myself from the cold.
Malice laughed and threw a white cloth on the bed. I pick it up, it was a shirt, a long-sleeved shirt actually, thin and tiny holes appear to be everywhere, and certainly this thing has lasted for quite some time.
I didn't give any complaint about it, I put it on and head for the door. Malice stretches her arm and held a fur vest, I surely don't know what kind of animal this comes from, but apparently it's warm. I put it on and felt immediate warmth coursing through my body.
"Where are we going?" I asked Malice who hasn't said anything after we exited my room and head towards the hallway.
"Dining Hall." She said. "Now hurry up, I'm hungry, if get too hungry I'll eat you." She says darkly. I took a step back and tried to think through if she is joking or serious.
She opened a large double door, inside it still has that same eerie feeling, that same black and white checkered tiles from top to bottom, a huge checkered black and white table stands in the middle of room, it's like an illusion really, I didn't really made out the table until I bumped into it, the chairs were red though easy to see. Above hangs a chandelier it emanates a yellow dim light, same from the room I woke up just a few moments ago.
A large feast stands in the checkered table, you could see a variety of foods laid, each decorated with such finesse. I wonder who cooked them.
At the table I sat between Phy Cruz, she was the least threatening member of the court I have talked to so far. Malice just gave me the creeps, and sitting beside Symphony is out of the question, simply because she buried her dagger in the cushion of the chair beside her and she is in the edge of the table.
"Is it always this boring eating here?!" I exclaimed.
"Pretty much." Cruz says and cuts his steak and took a bite.
"If you wanna make something interesting in this boring place, I suggest you find new ways to die." Symphony says with a cruel laugh.
"Shut up, He isn't even dead yet." Phy shouted at Symphony.
"What?!" I shouted at her. She looks at me confused.
"Oh great he thinks he's dead, if you're dead you'd hear …." Then silence only a faint rustle from outside can be heard.
"What?" I asked again.
"You ain't dead kiddo. You're lucky that Sophia always watches over your cute face." Malice finally talks and took a small bite.
"I'm sorry but… What?"
"Dumb." Symphony retorted.
"Leave him alone, he just got stabbed." Cruz enters the argument.
"Kind of ruins the moment right?" Phy asked me.
"I'm sorry yet again, but what?" fourth time to ask 'what'…
"It's natural, current seekers are usually amnesiacs." Malice says pointing her fork at me.
"So you mean you've been in my condition?"
The three previous seekers answered at the same time that I can barely make out what they're saying, I'm sure I heard, someone say "worse" and "about right."
"Remember what I told you about the seekers?" Phy asked me.
"About them being trapped in a limit in the time and space continuum?"
"Yes." She smiled. "Well you see, every seeker that has been set to travel before, what we call "Beginning of Suffering" has been given amnesia, basically Symphie, the 2nd, Malice, Me and You have them, only Corelle and the last are set to have all their memories with them."
"But I'm the seeker after Corelle, how come I get amnesia and she doesn't?"
"Turbulence in the time and space continuum…" Symphony starts explaining but again I can't hear anything.
I knocked on my head twice to see if there is anything clogged in my ear. "Symphony that is useless, he can't hear anything." Cruz explains as he tries to bite out a thick steak from his plate.
"What do you mean I can't hear?" I say softly.
Phy pats my head twice. "Well just for the misery about it, we amnesiacs gain our memory back after we die and arrive here. But you aren't dead yet, so you can't get any hints from us." She says as she stands up and helps Cruz cut the steak from his plate.
"It's Sophia's idea to bring you here, and she didn't want any spoilers, she'll just put up something that can make us block out any important info to you." Symphony says and finishes her meal.
"So I don't get to know anything until I die? That's horrible." I say and play with leftover Mashed potato in my plate and scatter it all over.
"No, you can still investigate and know your past; you just can't get it from us." Malice says as she fills up her plate again.
"Geez, don't you get tired of eating Malice?" Symphony exclaimed in disgust.
"I happen to be different from the insecure you Symphie." Malice argues with her.
"I don't want an argument guys, do it at the court not at the table." Phy says with authority.
"Why would that be an argument?" I ask
Cruz signals me to bent a little and let him whisper something into my ear "Symphony doesn't take insults lightly, Ever since you collected Phy, everything is much peaceful here." Cruz whispers making sure Symphony didn't hear.
"What are you bad-mouthing kid!" Symphony shouts. "Don't you dare say something about…"
"Symphie!" Phy shouted making Symphony's rattling stop.
"Fine, have it your way." Symphony throws down her spoon and fork and walks out of the Dining Hall.
"Forgive her, she's a bit off." Phy explained.
"Yeah, guess so, she different from when we first met though." I remember the time I touched that pitcher in Shaowee's ehru. Symphony appeared before me, she gave me so much information that I used ever since, her dreaded story of betrayal rings to my head, are we seekers capable of doing something horrible without knowing what we did ourselves?
Phy chuckles nervously, "So shall we go? I see that you're done."
"But Malice ain't done yet." I reluctantly say. Malice waves her hand and tells us to leave.
"You don't wanna wait for her to finish, it takes a long time." Cruz says. "Miss Sophia normally would join us in dinner, but she's on an errand so you don't get to see Sophia in her table behavior." Cruz laughs.
"Why? What does she do?"
"She acts like Symphie, arguing and insulting." Phy says simply. "Even to the point where they throw their plates at each other." Cruz adds.
"Oh, so where are we headed now?" I asked, again I was hoping the answer won't come with a threat.
"You'll see…"
Corelle's POV
My arm hurts. If it was dislocated, all they need is to relocate it and it won't swell… but that dumbass didn't relocate it soon enough. Now it's swelling.
I'm such in a weak state, this isn't usual. Ever since I "died" at Dark Moon Princess's hands, and Kyiin started his journey, I can't perform as good as I did the last time. This is obnoxious, I'm not gonna stick to being some weak Elemental Master who just happens to be the fifth seeker, not now, not ever.
I kept thinking that over and over again, I said nothing to the others, I don't want to anyway. Kyiin isn't dead. He can't die unless Chon Palm did it herself, whatever may occur next, this journey is far from over.
Or perhaps this journey would never be over.
"Corelle!" Raavi shouted, I glanced back to the blue haired asshole who called me.
"We're here." Raavi spoke, I glanced around. We did arrive back to Yong Gyoung, the overflowing red theme of the city surrounds us. But we are far from Elias, a city away to be exact, but Raavi planned to summon Symphony in this town. I really don't think it's a good idea. But that bastard's our leader as of now. He'll do whatever he wants and he'll regret it.
"Do what you want, I'll be at the armory." I walked away from the group.
"Corelle! Meet us as Red Crop Field." Luli shouted. I nodded, she's getting better and better already.
Kyiin's POV
"Where are we going?"
"To Elias." Phyllis said with sadness in her voice, I wonder why.
"You're coming with me?"
"Just this one time. Let's go."
Cruz meditated a bit, and extended his hands, light came from it, a sort of ripples from the darkness we are walking to.
"This is a warp in space but in time, I can't send you directly to the part where you arrive at Elias, so when you warp you will see a couple of scenes that had happened in the past. Maybe they will help you. Goodluck" Cruz smiles softly. He does resemble Luli after all.
I stepped into the white hole that will send us to Elias supposedly, but when I opened my eyes again. I was in a completely white space. Only Phyllis was standing in front of me.
"Up and ready to go?" She said.
"How long was I out?" I whisk my eyes, and stood, then the dizziness hit me, I fell only for Phyllis to catch me. I said sorry and rubbed my head, as soon as the dizziness was out I stood and walked forward. Phyllis trailed.
At the far end of the white space, there was another hole, where a dark forest seem to grow.
"That's it, The Dark Forest, it connects to Elias. Let's go." Phyllis implies. I was scared so I hesitated to stepping any nearer. But she held my hand and smiled at me, her smile cooed my fear, her presence deepened my desire to move forward, what is this feeling? It's totally inappropriate!
I stepped into the hole, then everything was static. As Cruz said the warp will show events of the past.
It flashed several for a few seconds only, I can't seem to see or recognize all of them. But then the static stopped. Iris was in front of me, her white flowing hair, her white linen silk, her silver bow. It was her, the person who I started this journey for. She was talking to Rowen of Belos. Then she smiled and walked away. A series of flashes after that, it stopped again. This time, everything was covered in blood. Iris was covered in it, it seems the war had broken out beside her a couple of known members of her party, Levi, Kazno, Muwen, Zoe all of them beat up and tired, before them was the traitor, Chon Palm laughing at them. She started to chant something. Then white enveloped the field. Everyone was gone. The flashes didn't have sound, but this one in particular had, it showed Chon Palm, her short beige hair, her wool clothing and her dreaded crossbow readily aimed at her opponent, a woman with brown hair curls in the front and back, a huge silver staff was in her hand, her light green tunic waved at the presence of the wind.
"It has been done. You can't do anything now." Chon Palm laughed.
"It's so pitiful, for a Heartbreaker like you. But my attention is not on you." The woman said. She turned toward the bloody figure which has laid in amidst the bloody plain, her white hair still glows even though it has been soaked in blood, hers and other's. "Iris Livier, unfortunately dear, this is already the climax of your little story, If you are as pure as you say, then the one who is tainted, where is it? That's right, there exists none. Remember this Iris; they will be looking for you and at you." The woman looked towards my direction, like she knew I was going to be watching her, its creepy and scary, but the fear ended when I saw her entire facial feature. It's Sophia!
Then flashes come and go again. First, Symphony was shown with a few of her party members, afterwards it stopped again, Symphony was alone in a blood covered field. She was crying and two hooded figures approached her. Then another series of flashes, the second was shown, it was a purple haired boy, with Symphony. It didn't have any long flashes before Malice was shown, she was in a tree covered area, and the clouds are underneath her. It continues, and she arrived at some sort of shrine and then everything was draped in blood. If Phyllis is next, I assume she was the hooded figure in the vision, all through this while I was still holding her hand as we move through the static place, She was shown in some sort of fight, no like a tournament, everyone was watching a Dragoon and Phyllis fight, she won and a crown a placed atop her hooded head, which she refuse to remove, then the clouds gather up and conjure a storm, and then everything was pitch black. Corelle was shown next at some sort of pagan ritual, she was set on fire and the light from the fire shone brightly enough to cover what happened next. I was next, I was hoping something good will come, it showed the four of us, Raavi, Corelle, Luli and me, holding hands together at the beach.
Then the next I see is grass.
Luli's POV
"Raavi, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"What do you mean?" Raavi places the pitcher in on the ground, and reaches for his pocket, he held a shiny crystal, I guess that's the Shard of Envy. He dropped it into the pink, flower decorated pitcher, a puff of blue smoke was emitted, and then all hell broke loose.
Corelle's POV
The Armory, still has the same theme as the rest of city, everything is flowing red, even everyone is wearing red. Blank Porcelain displayed on shelves, black wooden boxes pile up in a corner, a charcoal ignited fire burns through the chimney, weapons hung in every corner, every sort of them from daggers, short swords, greatswords, bows and arrows, even guitars, afterall Bards needed Guitars to fight. Yep, this is the armory.
"Hello, Welcome! Can I help you?" The man who was blacksmithing knives said. He's supposed to be famous around here but I already forgot his name, oh well.
"Yes I was looking for a simple stack of arrows." I implied
"Arrows? We have the best quality here! But from the looks of it, you don't look like a Explorer or a Treasure Hunter who often buys those stuff." He said as he rummages through a pile of weaponry.
"Yes, I'm not, it's a gift." I say blandly. "For whom? Your boyfriend? Pretty girl like you, can have any decent guy that you like." He said and retrieves a stack of arrows.
"Teehee, No..." I chuckled, pretending to like what he said. Though it's just annoying. As soon as I got my arrows paid and packed, I head out towards the Red Crop Field.
A familiar scream. I guess I know what happened. I continue to walk towards the same direction pacing slowly, because no matter how fast I get there, there is just nothing I could do to ease the situation.
I entered the Red Crop Field. The entrance to Arcadia is near, but I walked forward still. In the Red Crop Silo plain, an expected fight has erupted. Raavi had summoned Symphony successfully. And she attacked both of them.
I sat down waiting for the fight to die out, eventually Symphony will stop.
Luli's POV
Raavi let go of the shard, a small puff of smoke, and then hundreds of arrows hail toward us.
It was the first time I saw Symphony, yet I already felt nostalgia as soon as her arrow started hailing down. She rushed toward us she swiped her bow on my stomach causing me to turn, she back up her stance and pull the string, she let go of the arrow which came out of nowhere, it hit me, right in the stomach I tried to turn away, but she grabbed her arrow and pulled it from the stomach, she punched me kicked me and pulled me down to the ground. Raavi tried to interfere. But Symphony was too fast for both of us; she easily maneuvered toward Raavi's back and gripped his neck flailing him up and throwing away like a plush toy.
Raavi pounced back and tried to tackle her down, she took a step to the side, tripped Raavi and retrieved a crossbow that was attached to her legs, she fired two to three shots, all of which hit, Raavi crumbled to the orange lighted field. Then he stopped moving.
"Raavi! No!" I shouted and tried to regain to my feet, as soon as I managed to, Symphony grabbed my hair and tugged on it hard plucking out a few. She dragged me to the field while laughing maniacally. Then flailed me to the ground, I stood immediately readied my guitar and took a fighting stance. I wasn't gonna let a bitch like her bully me around like an idiot.
She reached on her back, for her Bow, loaded it with six to eight arrows, and waits for my move.
Aren't you tired of being thrown around like a weakling? I can help you to become stronger.
Let me control you. For you are my Bard, and I am your Maestro. Together, we shall perform with outrageous sense of perfection, until the applause gave music for our souls!
"I do not want you. Go away!"
Too bad what I am is exactly you. The same but opposites.
Waggle your tail to the enemy and it's bound to attack you without consent.
Symphony fires out six arrows, I barely dodge them, she reloads again, this time she makes sprint, fires one and tumbles overhead and lands behind me kneeling and releases another. It hit my back, she jumps further backward and releases two more arrows, I dodge the first by the second hit my knee, and she sighs and bends one of her knee, extends her hand and stances to fire arrows.
"Fire All." She calmly says. Then she consecutively shot arrows at me. I shut my eyes, but felt nothing.
'This has been well…"
"Finally it's you; I was tired of bullying that kid around." Symphony talks calmly.
Corelle's POV
"Is that really how you say hello to an old friend Symphony?" Luli exclaims
and all this while, I just sat there not caring a bit, until now. Luli has transform into the Black Immortal again, though it is her, she was been overtaken with something to make her act this way.
It's not like I don't trust the Black Immortal to defeat Symphony, but if we kill her, she just be back and this fight isn't gonna end.
"Ha! You talk so highly of yourself; you think you can just talk to me so lowly after what you have done?" Symphony is shouting now, like all her anger was reserved just for this.
"I do not wish to repeat the past Symphony Alastair, its plain boredom, if you insist of settling this feud we had. Wait until the proper time comes."
"I'm not waiting for that long!" Symphony trusts her dagger towards her enemy, Luli evades it punches her stomach which sent her aback. She thrust and slices continuously without focus and aim; she just flails herself over her opponent.
"All I have worked for, you destroyed it, if it wasn't for you… I could have ended everything, there will be no more seekers, no more Iris, they would just be gone! But you destroyed everything!" Symphony shouts. And buries the dagger in Luli's arm, black mass came out, she deepens the cut, but Luli shows no pain. Instead Luli grabs her neck. Raises her with such strength that she tries to grapple free but to no avail.
"I had fun Symphony Alastair, but time for you to die permanently."
"Second Incantation, Black Runes of Space, Remove."
I dashed toward Luli and tackles her. She drops down and Symphony is release from a her grip, she coughs up tries to regain her breath. Luli stands and tries to restart the incantation.
"Luli stop it!" I shout holding her arm and breaking the rune.
"A pitiful name for a pitiful creature."
"Raavi help me out here!" I shouted, I know he isn't unconscious, he's just faking, because he doesn't want to join in the fight.
"Fine fine." He snorted. He approached us and draw something form his pocket. He tossed a coin in the air, my gaze and Luli followed it spin in midair. When it went down, he has already created a magic rune, a flicked it and an energy pulsed through the area, Luli was then unconscious.
"Hmpf." Symphony crosses her arms and looks away.
"I'm the arrogant one. You're supposed to be envious." I say to her.
"Why have you summoned m-."
"Medicine." Raavi responds cutting her off.
"Fine." She threw a small vial towards us. "I still don't see the context of you summoning me here. Or perhaps-" She turns her back.
"You already know." Raavi taunts. Symphony turns her face at the side and gave a smirk. Then she walks away.
"Good job genius, she attacks us and leaves, she more useless than you are."
Raavi waves the vial at my face.
Kyiin's POV
It hurts… Being hurdled straight to the grass at high speed at that.
Once I regained myself I inspected my surrounding. A dark Forest, vines growing in every inch of the remained pieces of bricks and asphalt. Dead trees and decayed leaves, cracked and dried twigs, crawling marks on the grounds snakes are present in the area. I look at Phy, she looks fine she pulls out a cloak and pulls out hood and covered her face.
"let's go…Kyiin…"
I followed her through the dead woods, the creeping wilderness of the forest that haunts adventurers who wander here.
As we move toward the ruined asphalt path, we came to a dead end, nothing but a mossy black streetlamp was lighted with a live fire within. I immediately glanced around, behind the dark dead pile of trees, there was a door covered with vines.
"Foe Mansion…" Phy said quietly. I looked at her and walked toward the door. I glanced around to see if there is anything that might catch me if I break the door. After assuring nothing will kill me, I broke the door wide open with a punch.
Phy and I walk in and we found ourselves face to face with a large man or woman who has a ski-mask and carries a chainsaw, in fact there are several who looked like one another.
"Agasuras, they aren't humans. Don't be afraid, they're nothing but just rotting flesh" Phy says calmly, she pulls out two purple, multi-barreled Mermech Pistols and starts to fire them at the horde of those things.
She ran towards them making a clear path forward and I follow her, I didn't do anything, none of the creatures we past ever even got near us before Phy shot it down. I'm using only a glove and my ridiculous strength, if this don't come near me, I can't possibly fight, and I won't charge in either, I remember when I barge through enemy lines when me and Luli went to the Dragon's Lair, it didn't turn out well, so I plan to keep on a defensive play this time.
We reached an area filled with floating masked ghost-like things carries short scythes, or maybe sickles. "Specters, beware they attack in packs, I can't annihilate all of them at once. Keep your guard up."
I nodded and readied my fighting stance, we dash in through the pack of specters, she continues to fire and I eliminate anyone coming near us, by the time we were tired, all the specters are gone.
"They'll only Spawn again once we enter 'her' room." Phy says panting as she sat down. She removes her hood and let her green hair flow against the cold wind barging through the mansion's cracks.
"Where is 'her' room?"
Phy points behind her, an empty wall. "It will come from there, but it isn't open yet. We best try to wait until it appears."
So I sat beside her, nestled against the cold by hugging my knee and began to occupy myself with the view of the mansion, the crack ceiling, the broken shards of glass, the blood against the thick, and destroyed walls, and the creaking wooden floors, then I looked closely, there was a carving on the wooden floor, 'Save the Champion of Elias'
"Save the Champion of Elias" I say softly. Phy looks at me with curiosity, "It was written here." I pointed at the wooden floor.
"The Champion of Elias, Sir Levi Arens." She says
"Sir Levi was one of the party members of Iris in her journey right?"
"Yes but Levi's purpose was only to kill the Dark Moon Princess. But things change, after Iris' party he went back to Elias and served the King, until he became trapped here."
"Trapped here? in the Mansion?"
"Yes, he was trapped under Pandora's spell, she took his emotions as he became trapped here, no one ever came to save him ever since. Right then, his title as Champion of Elias was turned over to a new generation."
"So the title is passed from one champion to another?" I inquired and Phy laughed at my statement, then a blue whirl of light appeared behind us, the gate had opened.
We enter in, a small room, decorated in a gothic style, candle lighted chandeliers, white covered tables, a portrait of a lady behind us, with no warning Phy pushed me aside. I stumbled toward the floor, I stood up and looked at her, she was firing her guns toward the portrait.
"See that room? Go inside. I'll call for you when I need help now." Without hesitation I left her shooting an inanimate portrait.
I enter the room, a dark filthy room, a lone grandfather clock from within, a lone figure stands beside it, I readied my stance and took a closer look.
"at last, someone managed to get here." The voice said monotonous, bland, and stressless.
"Who are you?" It said to me. "I am the sixth seeker of Iris."
"Iris? Is she still alive? Oh thank goodness, please tell me you know where she is." Though the words came out with excitement and happiness I only heard it as bland as before.
"I don't" The figure walked toward me, his face is finally revealed, blonde tangled hair, a plated mail and cap, blue eyes and a emotionless gesture. From what Phy said earlier, I knew him, Sir Levi Arens.
"Sir Levi…?" I asked, he nodded and gave a bow, but no emotion left from his face and his eyes either.
"What could you have been seeking adventurer? I doubt the King had sent you to find me."
"I came for Pandora's Scroll, for her Incantation."
"Why would you need such a thing?"
"I need to kill the Origin of Chaos to find Iris. That's what Corelle told me."
"I see, Corelle the fifth seeker told you so, you have been in the realm of the dead. Then if you happen know the previous Champion of Elias is, tell him I'm sorry.
"Why?"
"I killed him, to gain the title of Champion of Elias, he has to be gone, so I challenged him to a duel in the middle of our mission and I killed him. He was never a guy of talks, he would nod and turn his head, we never even got to see his face, he always wear that hood that covered his face, but his was great, the greatest Champion I must say, he defeated an Army using only two Mermech Pistols and came back without a single scratch. It was a miracle that I even got to kill him, he ran straight through my sword, and died." Levi says and looks at me.
"Even if it was just envy, you shouldn't have killed him, he did not deserve to die so you can achieve that title, now you are trapped here, and forever will be." I says mercilessly, I was raged with his story of how arrogant and prideful can he be, how he treacherously acted upon his superior to only become the superior. He was doomed to stay there, I wouldn't save him, he isn't worth it, a sinful person cannot save another who is just as sinful.
"The circumstances are different now. Before they prophesized that the Champion of Elias was the only one accompany the legendary Iris. It was the big break I was waiting for, I don't want to be a worthless guard when I can do so much better."
"Even now you're not worth saving…" I say to him.
"You don't understand, the previous Champion of Elias, he was a cruel bloke and can never protect Iris. He became the Champion of Elias by defeating everyone in the tournament, but during that time all of his opponents died. He can never be the one prophesized to protect Iris, he'll destroy Iris's purpose." He wanted to shout, but I guess Pandora taking his emotions didn't really help him make a point.
"That doesn't diff…" I tried but was cut by a screaming sound from the other side of the door I came in.
"Uhhh…Kyiin! Help here?" Phy shouted, I responded immediately and left the room she told me to stay in. I saw Phy shot the portrait of a blonde haired Lady, then a white light surged from it, A Blonde Lady the one who was in the portrait appeared, she wears a blue gothic dress, a feather hat, a red shoal and carries a red cotton fan.
The objects around the room started moving. The Chandeliers started shaking the tables and chairs floated, the sword décor moved too. Now that is troublesome.
"Watch out the entire room is her weapon!" Phy shouts and shoots at the lady floating in midair.
I charged in too. The chairs and tables moved towards us and we dodge them as they crash to the other side, on a glimpse I saw the shattered wood reform back into the chair or table it once was.
I charged in again, trying to punch her with my oversized gauntlets, she dodged and I hit the wall, which buried my arm, I can't take it out. She waved her hand and the Sword decors quickly dash towards me. For that split second I was about to be stabbed. Phy stepped on the swords and push them toward the ground; she rotated midair and aimed her guns launching a magical bullet which sent her back. The Lady evaded the bullet. And clasp her hands, the golden candle Chandelier fell down and Phy was held trap underneath it. Then the torch's flames lit brighter and larger, It was gonna Lady flicked her hand the flames loom out but Water surged pass it extinguishing the flame. My hand came free and I punch her in the face, she staggered and again refloated, two arrows pass and pierce her, Phy shot continuously, and the arrows made their way to their target.
The Lady held her cap and light shone through her. She then disappeared.
"Is it all worth it?" another female voice came from the darkness. Green Hair, tied at one end, wearing a flower decorated dress.
"I know that voice… it' "
"Hello Sixth Seeker." Symphony smiles. She scours on the mess the Lady made and hands me a scroll. "It's what you came for."
"I apologize I can't accompany you throughout your pathetic journey, but I'll say that I will wait for you atop Bifrost, where I died. I found her, Iris. I'm sure you will too." She started to fade.
"Wait, If you already found Iris, tell me what is it she wants from us? Why did you not accomplish what all seekers are suppose to do and why do the seekers continue to roam after you finished your quest successfully?" I shouted at her but only her smile is seen.
Levi went out of his confined room and headed for us. Phy lifts her hood and turns firing a shot to Levi's arm
Edited: Posting the next chapter later. Thanks!
How much apology? Not enough..
Hello again.
I decided to cut the chapter, for reasons of being able to write..
i'll fill out the rest on the next chapter.
So I here i didn't mention who the Champion of Elias is, but it's already obvious.
But there is more stuff needed to be revealed next.
As for the Golden Haired Twins, I reread that from my Chapter 5(forgot already)
I based that on the 3 spheres of Earth. and the 3 guardians.
The phrase above will be expounded in the next chapter too.
It will be entirely connected to the next Chapter: A Smite to the Frog's Cage
Bye Thanks