Well, here's the next chapter!
Not much to say, but...enjoy!
The group of warriors finally reached the top of the treacherous mountains called the Kirhen Mountains. Tyrell stretched his arms. "Finally"
"Boy. This is about the eighth time we've actually climbed up here, but I'm always amazed of how the Zol mine works. It's truly impressive." Rief said. "I wonder how the blocks can actually float so easily."
Everyone looked at the mammoth walls of metal which surrounded the powerful city of Passaj, thanks to its famous machine, the Alchemy Forge. The red glowing lines were burning, showing that the machine was at full power.
They entered the city.
The city was taking the Tuaparangian threat a lot more seriously than the two other cities. Soldiers were in constant training; food was being imported and locked into houses where they should be conserved for weeks. Those who could make weapons were forging swords and armor without pause. The citizens were also a lot less panicked. They told each other what to do if they were attacked. In other words, the city was extremely well organized.
In the middle of the people, an old man could be seen, making sure that everything was under control.
"Bogho!" Matthew cried.
The old man turned around. He saw his friends, and walked towards them, his hands raised. "Amiti! Kraden! The children of the Warriors of Vale!"
The old man hadn't changed a bit. He still was as wrinkled and energetic as before.
After the presentations, the group explained the situation. The old man listened carefully without asking a question.
"So basically, we need to the Alchemy Forge in reverse again. I hope you don't mind…" Matthew said
Bogho looked at him regretfully. "I'm sorry, but right now, we're using all the energy our machine is using. Putting it suddenly in reverse could damage it a lot more than we think."
"Well this is problematic." Rief said. "The only way to reach Morgal without a ship is by using the Cloud Passage that connects Craggy Peak with Passaj. When do you think we'll be able to put the forge in reverse?"
Bogho thought. "Well I'm not sure. The last time the Alchemy Forge was put in reverse, it took us about two weeks to be able to stop it and put it back on normal track. Within two weeks, the Turaparang would've reached at least Ayuthay."
"But if we put it in reverse now; we might be able to stop the deadly empire before it even reaches Belinsk" Karis pointed out.
Bogho shook his head sadly. "I guess you haven't heard the news."
The group gave him a quizzical look.
"The Tuaparang are already at the doors of Belinsk, and they are marching towards the Kolima Village. It's a wonder that the army still hasn't taken over the capital." Bogho explained.
There was a stunned silence.
"But what about the reinforcements? And our parents? They were supposed to help the beastmen repel the attack!" Tyrell blurted out.
"The reinforcements have been wiped out. As for your parents…I don't know what happened to them. I heard that some of them are trapped in the siege of Belinsk. Some of them have only reached Port Rago, but they aren't going to help the others. They must have a backup plan."
Matthew felt his stomach turn inside out. How could they stop the invasion if they didn't have at least the Teppe Ruins under their control? They could climb Craggy Peak and then launch an offensive from the sky on Passaj.
"That makes it even more of a reason to go there! We have allies in danger! If we don't do anything, they'll just end up dead, or worse, be under the Tuaparang's control, and be used against us!" Matthew cried at the elder. He thought about Sveta, Himi and Eoleo, who were still in danger.
The old man tried to reply, but Matthew simply continued yelling at him. "And if we don't even manage to put Craggy Peak on our side, Passaj will be crushed, and those walls you're so proud of won't even be any use!"
Tyrell grabbed Matthew the shoulder, and spun him around. "What do you want?" the earth Adept yelled.
Tyrell punched him. The blow was powerful enough to make Matthew lose footing, and fall on the ground. Shocked, surprised and dazed, he looked at his friend.
Rubbing his hand, the fire-Adept looked at Matthew. "You're calm now? Can we think for a second? Or do I have to hit you a second time?"
Matthew rubbed his cheek, and nodded. He got up.
"Tyrell's right. Yelling about is useless. I agree with you Matthew that we need to get to Craggy Peak, but if the machine is going at full power, it's obvious that it can't be turned in reverse so suddenly." Kraden said. He turned back to Bogho. "I believe you were about to say something before this outburst happened."
The elder shook his head, trying not to show his hurt. "No. I have nothing to say. I'm sorry I can't help you anymore." the elder turned to walk away. "You can stay here as long as you please." he finished.
The entire group glared at Matthew.
"Good job Matthew. Not only we can't reach Craggy Peak, but you've hurt Bogho. Honestly I sometimes wonder whether you're better than Tyrell in terms of talking." Karis said
"Stop." Kraden ordered, "The last thing we need is another fight. We have to leave this place as soon as we can. Tomorrow morning would be best. I'll talk to Bogho and see if there is a possibility to try and turn the Alchemy Forge in reverse." He turned to Rief, and Amiti. "I want you two to try and find a way to create a cloud passage without turning the machine in reverse." he then turned to Tyrell and Karis "I want you two to check the history relics and try to find any information that could help us." he then turned to Matthew. "As for you; rest. The only thing that explains why you're in this mood is because you've been fighting with Flint all night. Is everyone okay with the organization?"
Everyone looked at each other. "No rejections." Tyrell said
"Good. Let's get started"
Rief and Amiti reached the highest part of Passaj. Here was the exhaust port of the Alchemy Forge. Rief climbed on the metal. He looked down.
"I suggest that one of us stays on the platform to make sure the cloud can support at least one person." Rief said
Amiti shrugged. "I don't really understand why we have to do this. The Forge can be controlled by fire. Tyrell should be trying to lower the flames. We can't do that."
"Maybe," Rief admitted, "but we can cool down the cloud and make it hard enough so it can carry us. Don't forget that the clouds are made of floating Zol. It'll be easier to cool down than original clouds."
Amiti said nothing. A misty cloud appeared from the ventilation. Immediately, Amiti and Rief began to cool it down by melting pieces of ice in the boiled water. It rose Rief a few feet off the ground, but it disappeared. It was still far too hot.
Frowning, they tried again. They weren't as successful as the first time. The next cloud didn't arrive yet. They two water Adepts knew that they had to wait.
Karis and Tyrell walked towards the little hut where the wisest ones usually did their councils, trying to create new goals for the city. When they went in, they realized that no one was in. They walked towards the library, and began to peer in some of the books.
"Anything that might help us?" Tyrell asked after several minutes of searching.
Karis took a thick red book, checked the title, and put it back. "Nothing so far. Try searching the room."
Tyrell began to look in the pots, barrels and beds, hoping to find something, while Karis kept on searching through the books.
"Hey." Tyrell yelped
"Found something?" Karis asked, taking her gaze off a book.
Tyrell pulled out an old, long parchment from a barrel. It had turned yellow with age. "What's this?"
"Are you looking for something?" said a recognizable voice behind them.
The two Adepts turned around. "Baghi!"
The young man entered the hut. His black hair had grown so it fell out of his hat, and covered his neck and forehead. He used to be as tall as Tyrell, but he had grown and was nearly as tall as Isaac. He wasn't as pleased as the two Adepts; he wore an irritated look on his face.
"What are you doing here?"
Tyrell hid his finding behind his back. "Nothing." he replied. "We wanted to meet you, but we saw that the house was empty, so we began to look through your things to learn a bit more about your personal life…for no apparent reason at all."
Baghi grinned. "I saw that you just hid something behind you. What is it?"
"We were just going through your books." Karis said.
Baghi glared at her. "I want to know what you took."
"We were going through your personal life which is none of our business." the wind Adept replied "Tyrell found nothing."
"Guys…tell me the truth"
Tyrell made a face. "We wanted to learn more about the Alchemy Forge. That's all."
"Well you won't find anything. Out." he snapped, pointing at the door.
"Why are you like this?" Tyrell asked
"OUT!"
The two Adepts walked slowly out of the room, not taking their eyes off the young man.
When they left, the door of the hut slammed behind them.
"What's with him?" Karis asked.
"And why is he making such a fuss over this?" Tyrell questioned, looking at the rolled up parchment.
"I don't know, but he made it sound important. Let's hide it until we are once again together." Karis simply answered, beginning to feel nervous.
They raced back towards the inn.
Kraden walked towards Bogho, who was standing inside the temple where lay the Alchemy Forge. He was staring at the powerful machine, whose fires were roaring. He gazed at the Sol Mask, the object needed to make the Forge work perfectly.
"I'm sorry for Matthew's rude outburst. He's exhausted. And the news of his father being trapped in Belinsk must've shaken him." Kraden apologized.
"It's okay." Bogho reassured. "I understand."
They watched the ancient machine calmly. Kraden spoke again.
"I know you probably told everything you knew, but are sure you can't create a cloud passage between Craggy Peak and Passaj?"
The elder shook his head. "If there's one, I don't know it. I'm sorry. Truly I am."
Kraden nodded. "Thanks for your help anyway. I'm sure we'll find a way. Sorry about Matthew's outburst again."
Bogho didn't reply. He continued to gaze at the wonderful machine.
"This man's soul is with this machine and this city." Kraden thought. He knew how the man felt.
Kraden entered the room he and his friends had booked at the inn. He turned and looked at the group of young Adepts.
"I see that none of you have found a way to reach Craggy Peak"
Rief and Amiti looked down. "We're unable to cool the cloud down. It's too hot. The water that we keep on placing inside gets immediately evaporated. It's no use trying to use this kind of way."
Karis and Tyrell seemed to have a bit more hope. "We've found something." Tyrell announced. He took the parchment. "This."
"We've examined it, but it doesn't say anything about the Cloud Passage." Karis said
"So then what's its use?" Amiti asked.
"Well," Karis said "It's how the Alchemy Forge actually works. There are blocks of floating zol which get chipped into pieces, and then are placed into the walls. The stone in which it's buried in is a sort of thermal protector. In other words, the pieces of zol stay cold."
"We were thinking that if we dug these out, we could try and melt them together with the boiling cloud. With the difference of temperature, the cloud will cool, and it will be strong enough to carry the six of us." she explained
Tyrell nodded. "The only one who can be able to dig those floating rocks out of the walls quickly is Matthew, because he's an earth Adept. We wanted to ask him if he was okay with the plan, but we didn't get an answer: he was sleeping."
Kraden nodded. "That's a possible way." he agreed. "Does anyone else have any better idea?"
Everyone stayed silent.
"Then your plan is accepted. We'll get started immediately."
Yeah, I made Baghi a real douchbag here, but I wasn't sure what to make out of his character. ^^" I fail when it comes characters with different personalities.
Anyway, read and review!