We're Back! No we're not dead. Amiacon is sorry for the long wait because she was hit with a bad case of writer's block. -_-' Anyway thank you for staying with the story even though it's been a few months. After we finish this story there will be a sequel. I'm so excited! Here's the latest chapter, enjoy!
Disclaimer: We don't own DFO. Need I say more?
The group all went to talk to Seria, and when they arrived, everyone but Eromreven discovered that they had mail.
"We got a letter from Sharan," Evecil stated.
"I wonder what she wants to tell us?" Arren pondered.
"Well, let's see..." Evecil muttered. "It's about our class advancements. We could either become a Glacial Master or an Elemental Bomber."
"Minet," Nel said, opening her envelope. "Necromancer or Rogue."
"G.S.D. Asura, Blade Master, Soul Bender, or... Berserker," Komlin finished. He cast a glance at Eromreven, who shook his head in warning. "Why d'you guys think we all got them at the same time?"
"It's a spell Sharan set up," Eromreven explained. "Adventurers get t'a certain level, they get the note. You're all travelin' together, so you're growin' at the same speed." The others stared at him, surprised. "What? I asked the old coot, he said ask Sharan! That's how she explained it."
Evecil shrugged. "Okay, whatever."
"To Sharan!" Arren cried, walking in a random direction.
"Arren, Sharan is in the other direction," Evecil said.
"I'm off to G.S.D. What to choose... Hmmmm..." Komlin contemplated his choices.
"I have to go back to Hendon Myre too. We might as well keep traveling together," Nel offered.
"Sounds good to me."
"Can you guys wait to see if we need to go back too?" Evecil questioned.
"Yeah, sure," Eronel agreed.
"Thanks. Well, we'll be back in a few minutes," Evecil said and started for the door, Arren on his heels.
After a good ten minutes of walking the twins made it to the mage guild and saw Sharan out front.
"Hello, Sharan," Evecil said. "We received your letter,"
"Thank you for coming," Sharan began. "What do you choose for your subclass?"
"I'll become a Glacial Master," Evecil responded.
"And I will be an Elemental Bomber," Arren said.
"Very well, both of you go talk to Iris,"
"Okay." They both said and walked towards Iris.
"Hello, Iris," Arren chirped.
"Hello young ones. What can I do for you? Iris asked.
"Sharan said to talk to you about class advancements," Evecil said.
"That is correct." Iris responded, "Which class do you want to choose?"
"I want to be an Elemental Bomber," Arren said.
"And I wish to be a Glacial Master," Evecil said.
"Evecil, you need to go to Middle Ocean in Sky Tower, and Arren, you need to go to Full Moon Thunderland, and then you will unlock your new spells."
"Back in Grand Flores?" Arren asked just to be sure.
Iris nodded. "Back in Grand Flores." She handed each of them a scroll on which were written the spells to open portals to these special areas. "These will open portals to the areas you need to go."
"Very well." Evecil took the scroll and turned to leave. "Thank you, Iris."
"You're welcome," Iris responded. Arren trotted off after his brother, and they departed in search of the party.
The twins found the party, but first Arren had gotten himself lost again.
"Well, Arren needs to go back to Hendon Myre with you guys. I have to go back into Sky tower," Evecil announced.
Komlin nodded. "'Kay."
"Glad to have him along," Nel said with a smile.
Arren bounced a little. "It'll be fun!"
"I'll see you when you get back," Evecil said, then turned back to head towards Sky Tower.
"Hey, E?" Eronel asked. "What are you going to do while we're gone?"
The Berserker shrugged noncommittally. "Hang around an' kill shit, I guess. Wanna go face some real challenges again."
"Awright," Komie said. "See you later, I guess."
E grinned at them. "If I don' go an' get myself stupidly killed, eh?"
"Right!" agreed Arren.
The trio said their goodbyes, then left to prepare for the trek back to Hendon Myre.
Evecil stood in Sky Tower's entrance hall and unfurled the scroll. The spell, like all others, was written in a different language, so he took a minute to read it and make sure he had the words right.
Sighing, Evecil started to chant, "Un mage est ici prêt à entreprendre son procès. Déverrouillez le chemin de l'océan Orient!" (Translation note: A mage stands here ready to undertake his trial. Unlock the way to Middle Ocean!) A platform of light appeared before him, and Evecil stepped onto it. The platform took him up to a door that was decorated with wave designs. Evecil pushed open the door and took his first steps into Middle Ocean. After fending off several waves of Dogries and Puppets, Evecil came to the final door. Evecil gasped when he entered the room. Lakius, Master Dogrie, and the Gold Platoni. "You've gotta be kidding me," he groaned. "Three against one? That's hardly fair. Come back with a few more friends and a lot more skill. Then you'll stand a chance." With that he charged up to the bosses, and proceeded to kill Master Dogrie first, then Lakius, and then he started to fight Gold Platoni. Gold made a grab for Evecil, but Evecil dodged out of the way and retaliated with a Wind Strike.
After a few minutes of going back and forth Evecil finally killed off Gold Platoni. With a sudden gasp, he fell to his knees as radical changes to his physiology occurred. Evecil felt his body temperature drop and the air felt even warmer. Evecil stood up and walked up to the mirror and stared at his reflection. His hair had changed to a white color and fell straight down instead of its normal style. His clothing was different as well. Gone were the insanely poofy black clown pants and in their place was a pair of loose fitting slacks that tucked into his boots, and a red sash around his waist. After gawking at his reflection for a bit, Evecil headed back out of Sky Tower to find E.
After searching for Eromreven and not finding him, Evecil sat down at the entrance to wait for the Berserker. While waiting for E, Evecil started experimenting with his new powers, and discovered that his breath was now foggy every time he opened his mouth.
At last, Eromreven emerged from the tower, looking a little beat up and extremely pleased with himself. He scanned the surrounding area, but seemed not to recognize Evecil and began heading back to town to take care of the usual post-adventure business. The mage contemplated letting him go and meeting up on his return - the peace of solitude was quite appealing while it lasted - but decided he might as well do it now. He rose to his feet and, careful to move as quietly as he could, followed the Berserker, slowly closing the distance between them. When he was only a couple of feet behind, he activated a levitation spell, creeping even closer.
"Face me, ya coward," Eromreven snarled, not looking back. His hand drifted menacingly to his blade.
Evecil breathed out hard.
"The hell!?" E shouted. He spun to face his stalker, ice crystals tinkling in his wild mane. "Who the - runt?"
Laughing maniacally and clutching his sides, Evecil managed to nod. "You should have seen your face!"
The snarl dropped from Eromreven's visage, but he still was not happy. "That was fuckin' cold, ya little bastard! Never. Again."
"You think I'd ever want to get that close to you again?" Evecil asked with exaggerated incredulity.
"I hope to hell you don't," Eromreven replied with a crooked grin. "So yer done an' rearin' to go, huh?"
"That's right," Evecil nodded.
"Well," E said tantalizingly, "Ya might like ta see what's above Sky Tower."
The mage's jaw dropped. "You found the way to Behemoth?"
"'S right! Haven't gone into the new dungeons yet, but I finished up here and started talkin' to some of the people 'round there. Some weird shit's goin' down."
"What kind?" Evecil asked eagerly.
"Well..." Eromreven said slowly, enjoying keeping the mage in suspense. "I ain't exactly sure..." His wicked grin gave him away.
Evecil punched him and cried, "Yes you are! Tell me!"
"Haha, you got me," E laughed. "There's this weird... thing by the name o' Lotus that's gone 'n' fucked up this group called GBL, made 'em evil. The, uh... zealots're all over Behemoth doin'... shit."
"GBL..." Evecil mused. "You wouldn't happen to know what it stands for, would you?"
The Berserker shrugged. "I reckon she told me, but it didn't seem important."
"You should always get as much information as you can!" Eromreven's impatience infuriated Evecil. "Why can't you stop to think before you charge in?"
"I do my thinkin' on th'way in," E growled. "You think I give a damn what their letters stand fer when folks're needin' our help?"
"When it can help you figure out how to defeat them? Yes," Evecil said, exasperated.
Eromreven snorted. "I already know how ta beat monsters down. What more do I need?"
"We might need to know why this is happening so we can stop this at the source," Evecil said while rolling his eyes.
"Ah, we'll figger that out as we go," the Berserker said with a shrug.
Back in Hendon Myre...
"I need to head to GSD for my class up to Asura. Meet all back here?"
"Sounds good. See you guys tonight," Nel agreed. She, Komlin, and Arren had arrived in Hendon Myre the night before and spent the night at the tavern, agreeing to finish their class advancements as quickly as possible the next day. As Komie approached GSD, said "Sounds like Sir Komlin has returned with his decision."
"Got that right GSD, I'm ready to become an Asura."
"Then go get the mind's eye potion from Loton and meet me at Moonlight Tavern."
"Um... OK, How much will it cost? I'm low on funds."
"Free. He makes you get the ingredients, he brews the potion." So Komie was on his way to acquire the potion. Loton warned him about the effects as he handed it over. He went over to the tavern and asked Suisha in what room GSD resided.
"Down the hall and to the left in the mock arena."
"Thank you, O great bartendress."
"You're welcome, peasant." They both cracked up so hard they got the crazy stare. Komie was about to enter the room when GSD spoke from the shadows, "Drink the potion before you enter. This will be your test."
"Loton told me this makes the drinker blind. Is that true?"
"Yes. Did you not listen when I said Asura's are blind?"
"I listened, I just thought you would blindfold me or something."
"Then you wouldn't rely on you mind's eye."
Komie whined, "Why did Asura have to be my choice?"
"I don't know Komlin. Just drink the potion and spar with me."
"Ok..." Komie drank the blindness potion and stumbled for a bit then found he could see different energies of people and objects. The fight only took about 30 minutes or until GSD said stop. Whichever came first.
GSD blatantly stated "You are able to see with your mind's eye. You are now an Asura."
Komie jumped in glee. He also exclaimed " Woo hoo! Asuraness has been achieved!" he also felt GSD place a blindfold over his eyes. "So now you put the blindfold on?"
"Yes, now go and meet up with your friend, the Elemental Bomber."
"How do you know that's my friend?"
"His girly shriek and the smell of smoke."
"Oh. Holy crap! Arren, I'm coming to help you!"
"I blame curiosity!" Arren shrieked.
"Minet?" Nel asked softly, walking quietly down a grungy back alley. Why her secretive mentor always insisted on meeting in dark, out of the way places, she did not understand.
At the sound of footsteps around the corner, Eronel ducked into a shadow on the side of a building and froze, poised to act. Forcing even her breathing and heartbeat to be as silent as possible, the Thief waited on tenterhooks as the footsteps - two pairs - rounded the corner. She relaxed as Minet appeared, but clenched her jaw to prevent a sound as she saw Minet's companion: a Necromancer. How could Minet train Rogues of the Queen's Royal Guard and the Elders' Necromancers at the same time? Was she playing both sides of this war? The Necromancer and Minet parted ways, Necromancer walking away from Nel and Minet approaching.
The instructor gave no sign that she had been aware of Nel's presence until she passed her hiding spot and paused. "I suppose you saw that, Eronel? Your silence is commendable; she did not notice you."
"Why do you work with the dogs who are trying to overthrow the Queen?" Nel demanded, stepping into the open. "Are you not on our side?"
Minet finally looked at her student. "Yes and no. I am a double agent. Queen Maya sent me to infiltrate the Elders, and both ordered me to the surface to train novices to their causes. What none of them know is that I have my own reasons for doing this as well, and I hope you are mature enough to understand them.
"This fighting between factions has gone on far too long. I do this in the hope that one day, another will approach me with the goal to bring peace to our warring people."
What surprised Nel most about the declaration was that Minet had actually been willing to talk about her past. Before, she had insisted that it was unimportant; now Eronel understood that she had simply wanted to keep it hidden.
"All right then," Nel said casually. "That is a good goal. And I suppose you already know why I am here?"
"I do indeed. To become a Rogue of the Royal Guard, there are two trials you must undergo," Minet explained. "For the first, you will go to the Tower of Illusion. This trial will test your speed and Dreyfus you are training to become a Rogue, and he will give some of your illusory foes money task is to determine which opponents have these pouches and collect five of them. When you have, return here for your next assignment." She held a hand out in front of her and chanted under her breath. A dark oval that shimmered like an oil slick grew into the size of a door, hovering in the air."This portal will take you to the Tower, and another will appear when you finish there."
"See you soon," Nel said with a confident smile, and she walked confidently into the portal. She had braced herself for a sensation like Shadow Thunderland's entryway, but Minet's was constructed much better: the transition between locations was perfectly smooth. Steps echoing on the polished tile floor, Eronel calmly glanced around the Tower's lobby, wondering if she would see Dreyfus in person this time around. "Reaper Dreyfus!" she called.
"Eronel the Thief," boomed Dreyfus's voice in response. No Reaper today.
"Not much longer!" Nel said. I am here for the Rogue's first trial."
"Then ascend the stairs when you are ready to begin."
Determined not to fail, Nel drew her blades and started up the staircase at the far end of the room.
Finding the money pouches was easy, but retrieving them sometimes posed a challenge; the most skilled opponents always had them. When she had five in her possession, Eronel did not want to waste time finishing the tower, so she had Dreyfus end the illusion there. When she walked up the next set of stairs, she found herself back in the lobby with Minet's portal waiting.
She appeared once again in Minet's favored back alley. Without a sound she ducked into the shadow at the side of a building and began walking, sure that she and Minet would find each other.
Up ahead, Nel saw someone whisk around a corner, and, with no better clue to tell her not to, she followed. Silently stalking her prey, Nel cautiously rounded the corner. Nothing. She released a small sigh of disappointment and kept walking.
"I was about to compliment your skill until that sigh," Minet said.
Nel whirled. "I was just so convinced I'd gotten the jump on you," she said. "I shouldn't have, I know," she said.
"No, you shouldn't," Minet agreed. "You have succeeded?"
Her student silently produced the five pouches and held them out. Minet took them, and they vanished into smoke. "Your next task is to defeat the ancient golden golem, Gold Platoni, in Sky Tower."
Nel groaned. She hated fighting golems. Their armor was just too thick for her little daggers, and their weak spots were few and difficult to reach. But she had to do it, so she would do it. "All right," she said resolutely. "I'm ready."
Minet gave a small smile. "You seem reluctant, but are determined to press on. Good."
"And I will not fail." Nel confidently walked through the portal and right into the golems' midst. The time it took for them to realize that an intruder was in the room was ample for the Thief to get her bearings, recognize the greatest threats, and start moving. The Dogries - soft, easy targets - would be the first to go. The great, lumbering Golems would not be able to catch up with her until she was ready to deal with them.
She sliced the last Dogrie's abdomen open and turned around to deal with the Golems, but, to her surprise, they no longer dwelt within their heavy armor! Instead, hovering before her were several semitransparent Golem spirits. "Let's hope you can still be cut," she said under her breath, then started to work.
She passed the rest of the dungeon with relative ease, daggers flashing with shadow and flame as she methodically destroyed every monster to cross her path.
Finally arriving in Gold Platoni's dwelling place, she glanced around to make sure her current strategy would still work. Ugly monkeys, spirits, Platoni. Go. To her disappointment but not surprise, Platoni could not be shucked from its armor with the destruction of the Golem Commander, but she shrugged it off. There was more than one way to skin a Golem.
As predicted, the shining behemoth, which had to be made of something other than gold with armor that tough, was a troublesome foe. A few healing potions came into play, but Nel finally managed to hack its breastplate loose enough that she could climb on its back, reach one arm in, and stab its power core.
Platoni began to shake. A horrible groaning echoed throughout the chamber. Wrenching her arm and weapon out of its chest cavity in a hurry and jumped off just as the massive Golem began to tilt forward. The crash of Platoni's impact shook the floor and rattled her teeth, and Nel stood proudly in front of her huge kill. She had done it.
The sound of whirling air behind her heralded the arrival of Minet's portal. Inwardly celebrating the victory but outwardly composed, Eronel the soon-to-be Rogue returned to her mentor in Hendon Myre.
To her surprise, Minet was standing in the open, waiting for her. "I have slain the Gold Platoni," Nel declared proudly.
"Indeed you have," Minet said approvingly. From a pocket she produced a fine silver chain bearing a small pendant: the crest of the Queen's Rogues. "Congratulations, Eronel," she said, handing the necklace over. "You are truly a warrior of Her Majesty, Queen Maya now. Do not lose this pendant. It is proof that you have passed the trials."
Nel fastened the necklace around her neck, doing her best to keep her hands from shaking with excitement. Here she was, one step closer to becoming the elite fighter she had always dreamed of: a Silver Moon. "Thank you, Minet, for your guidance. I hope I may continue to return here."
"Of course," Minet answered. "There is much left for you to do."
Nel grinned. "That's right. No way am I going to stop here!" She turned and left, eager to rejoin the boys and hear the tales of their successes.
That's it for this chapter. Review please, that will help us with writing.
See Ya!