Kibble scribble: boom, another chapter that slowly inches us forward. Hey, they are gems, they take a while to do things XD being serious though, should I perhaps start adding a date identifier to chapters to make it easier to tell how much time has passed?
Xxxxx
Historically Karin Valliere was known as a level headed and serious woman. The captain of Tristains Manticore knights as well as one of the most powerful mages and influential individuals in the country. Most saw her as unbending, unmoving and unemotional, a woman who acted upon a set of rules that allowed her to always act properly and right.
In the past that was not entirely incorrect, but after reading her duaghters diary and having time to consider her actions of the past that had changed. She had made mistakes, among them thinking that a lack of emotion would make things better. So in regard to that she decided to make a choice, and only hold back her emotions when not in regards to her family.
So when she heard the name of the most hated Germanian family to her own family, it struck a bad chord and angered her slightly. And then she realized that the woman before her was not only of that family, but one of the most prominent students at the academy to have bullied her late daughter and who in the diary was cited as one of the most hateful of people toward her.
That was all she needed to know. In that same instant she rose and ripped her wand free of its pocket and sent out a huge gale of wind, knocking both girls backwards onto the grass and forcing Evelyn to cover her eyes with a hand.
The Gems simply sat there, unaffected by the wind, watching what was occurring in front of them.
"You Zerbst harlot!" Karin screamed as she swung g her arm and created another blast of wind, knocking down both girls, again as they tried to get up, and knocking Kirche further away. "Tell me why I should not kill you right here!?"
"W-what?" Kirche managed to blurt out in confusion while still on the ground.
"Stop," Tabitha said a bare second later just as Karin was about to speak. She rose to her feet quick , showing skill that marked her as at least somewhat experienced, and pointed her staff at Karin.
"Stay out of this Gallian, it has nothing to do with you, and as an emissary yourself engaging me directly is not in your best interest," Karin said, voice filled with anger and barely held back disgust as she looked back at Kirche. "Tell me why I should not kill you for what you have done?"
"I, do not understand, I do not know you, i have done nothing!" Kirche said in confusion as she tried to get back to her feet, knowing that she was missing something important, but was unsure what it was.
"Lady Valliere, I know that her family and yours do not get along, but this is not right " Evelyn spoke up, her words making Kirche's eyes go wide.
Karin saw Kirche's eyes widen in realization and ignored Evelyn's words as she took another step forward. "yes, I am Duchess Karin de Valliere, the Heavy Wind of Tristain. So Tell me Zerbst, what should I not kill you for what you have done?"
"I, lady Valliere, I understand our families do not get along, both due to history and our territories closeness, but what have I done to you to warrant such a response as this? I have done nothing to you."
Karin stopped, feeling her eye twitch at the words she just heard her anger spiraling up further and further. "Nothing? You claim you have done nothing? How about your action toward my daughter who is now gone? I have read her diaries, I know of the mockery, the insults, the childish and rude pranks and tormenting that you aimed toward her as a primary instigator. My daughter is gone and you are very much a part of the reason, and you claim that you have done nothing to me or my family?!" Karin nearly yelled as the air around her was beginning to whip around into the birth of a cyclone.
"I, it was just, friendly teasing among classmates, it-"
"FRIENDLY TEASING?!" Karin screamed in absolute disgust at the words that Kirche tried to use to defend herself. "Snapped quills, ruined assignment sheets and torn bedding is already harassment of a very high order, and that is little compared to the verbal harassments, insults and belittlement that are far below what any of noble standing would lower themselves too! My daughter is gone, and it is very clear to me that you are part of that reason why. So give me a real reason why I should not kill you right now you disgusting Zerbst Harlot?!"
"I, that is, she had it, I mean, she couldn't-"
"War," Tabitha suddenly spoke up while Kirche fumbled her words, trying to say anything to save herself.
"Excuse me?" Karin said as she looked at Tabitha, her eyes filled with barely contained anger.
"Zerbst, high rank house. Hurt, could cause, war," Tabitha said in a monotone.
"She is right Lady Karin. I do understand why you are feeling the way you are, but hurting, or killing, her is not going to help," Evelyn spoke up, silently noting that the three gems were still sitting on the grass, simply watching.
Karin growled, actually growled, as she slowly turned her gaze back to Kirche. "Get out of my sight Zerbst. I do not want to see your face again as long as I live, and if I do, I will make you're a living hell, however short it becomes!"
"Kirche, friend. Ally. Support for mission," Tabitha spoke up as she stepped in between Karin and Kirche.
"Not a chance!" Karin stated with vehemence. "Germania has a dignitary here for these talks already, and she did not bring you. And I will not suffer your presence any longer!"
"You, you can't just-"
"You will have to deal with her presence for a time," Uraninite suddenly said as she was between Tabitha and Karin as she pointed a hand up into the sky offshore. "We are about to have the worst visitors possible."
Karin blinked and then looked to where Uraninite was staring to find a scene she never before thought she would witness.
For the very sky had a scar forming across it. A deep black line cut across the sky, as if warping everything around it, and then it began to expand, forming an almost oval-like black splotch within it that expanded as it seemed to move closer to the island.
Then, something began coming out of the black mass of nothingness. It was white, like a torrent of water that was colored like clouds yet moved like smoke. It flowed out in waves and waves, increasing the ebb and flow as the mass continued to grow. Then something began to slip out atop the waves of flowing liquid cloud. It looked like porcelain or marble, white with a shine that no metal could replicate. It was like a great disc large as a building, but as it began to push out of the black slice in the sky, two things became noticeable.
There was a strange jingle, like instruments made of bells and whistles that could be heard, and there were some kind of forms upon the disc, though they could not be seen well from the high angle.
"What, is that?" Evelyn asked in confusion as she noted that the other two Gems had stood up, Yellow diamond taking out her sword and revealing it to be a gleaming black and jagged shard of stone.
"Lunarians. Our only enemy," Obsidian spoke up as they held her hands together, a liquid substance as black as their body forming into a short blade before hardening, cracks all over it.
"We have not said much about them, but we do not know much in truth. They come on days of clear skies and try to beat us and capture our broken bodies," Yellow diamond said before scowling. "and sometimes, they come with weapons made of the bodies of our fallen."
"Weapons, made your kind? Out of gemstones that were, like you?" karin asked as she continued to stare at the thing coming out of the darkness in the sky. The music emanating from it was surreal and it made her shiver involuntarily.
"Yes. They attack us, and do not speak even when demanded answers, so our response is always the same," Uraninite said as their arms began to deform, crystals growing out of them both ways and forming jagged claws far larger than what looked proper for their body size. "Beat them into mist!"
"You all should stand back and not get in the way," Yellow Diamond said with a slight smile as the white floating platform finally pulled completely free of the black scar, revealing it to be as large as a building. "We do not know how they may react to your kind."
"Believe, could be violent?" Tabitha asked calmly as the Lunarian platform began to descend, allowing everyone to see the large monument upon it with a demon faced Lunarian atop it, and no less than seven lines of archers knocking bows.
"They always are," Uraninite said, right before the archers all let loose arrows that moved at such surprising speed that Karins eyes actually went wide.
"MOVE!" Karin yelled as she leapt backwards and swung her wand creating a blast of wind to knock the arrows away.
Only they didn't even budge and continued flying, spearing the ground where she had just been standing and almost hitting Kirche if Tabaitha had not used her staff to deflect an arrow that had been going right for her.
Unfortunately for her, the arrow embedded halfway through the end of her staff, and was so heavy she could feel it ruin her staffs balance. "Heavy. Not iron."
"We do not know what the Lunarians weapons are made of. Most disappear when their user does," Obsidian stated as she deflected a thrown javelin, its shaft embedding nearly half of its length into the ground even after she deflected it. "Just stay back."
"But those things are clearly-" Evelyn began to say, only to stop when she witnessed Uraninite jump almost thirty feet straight up into the air and form their one arm into a makeshift shield. The Lunarians turned their bows on her, striking her shield and cracking it. And Yellow Diamond, taking advantage of their shifted target, leapt even higher and landed on the platform, their sword flashing side to side so fast that Evelyn could not even see where it was going. A second later she jumped down from the platform, having culled almost half of their archers, and landed right beside Obsidian, and in front of where Uraninite had landed barely a second before, creating a small crater beneath them. "-to . . . High."
"The big one seems for be guarding the platforms core," Yellow Diamond said simply.
"Then we take them both out at once," Uraninite said with a grin.
"Want to just vaporize them then?"
"No, if I do, it will make the humans sick. Their animals, remember?"
"Oh, regular swords it is then," Yellow Diamond said as they rushed forward and then jumped up so high that they landed on the edge of the platform without an issue. The nearest Lunarians to them turned their bows, but then suddenly burst apart as dark black spears flew through the air an impaled them, courtesy of Obsidian.
Uraninite landed atop the platform a moment later, crystalline claws now covering their feet as well, and making whatever the Lunarian platform was made of bubble under their feet. "I know you things cannot speak, but I know your intelligent and probably forgot about me, so here is a gift!" Uraninite then said as they tossed a large dull green rock onto the platform. A rock that then began glowing orange.
Many of the Lunarians visibly panicked, throwing their weapons at the gems as they all rushed to grab the stone and do away with it. Only for the stone to stop glowing as soon as one of them touched it. Yellow Diamond and Uraninite then fell upon them like an avalanche. Flashes of sword and claw sliced and tore through Lunarians who were now weaponless and culled their numbers quickly, causing the big one who sat atop the platforms pulpit to jump down and attack them.
It proved its skill in combat in seconds, swinging around a club the size of a tree trunk in broad swipes that led into the next, never leaving itself directly open to attack as it pressed its own. Yellow Diamond even with her speed was on the defensive, and Uraninite could not approach with the lesser range of their claws.
Luckily the big lunarian was not their objective, and a moment later a trio of black spears flew over their heads and right into the platforms main column, doing enough damage to break it. The platform shuddered and began to break apart into strings of mist.
"Time to bail!" Uraninite stated as they jumped off the platform, followed a second later by Yellow Diamond.
"Well this confirms that the Lunarians are still around," Yellow Diamond said as the two of the, landed on the grass with dull thuds, much to the surprise of the emissaries.
"Yeah, good thing taking out the platform,-" obsidian was interrupted as the huge Lunarian crashed to the ground on its feet, glaring at them with its beautifully carved face and its eyes filled with rage. "takes, them, out. This is new!"
The Lunarian brute lifted its club high, only to suddenly be impaled on large pieces of ice, struck by balls of flame and cut into pieces by lashing blades of wind.
Yellow Diamond spun about to see Kirche, Tabitha and Karin pointing their wands to where the Lunarian brute had must been, making it clear as the sky what had just happened. "you should not have probably attacked. The lunarians could see you as enemies now."
"they attacked first, so it is of no consequence," Karin said simply as she flicked her wand down at the ground and then slipped it into a small holder on her belt. "Do we need to worry about them appearing again?"
"Not today, no. The Lunarians normally attack on sunny days, but only once per day," Obsidian stated.
"Never on other days?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"No. If there is enough sun they might appear on days with some cloud, but if the skies are clouded they do not appear unless the sun breaks through," Yellow Diamond said as they sheathed their sword. "I need to go report the Lunarians appearance here, so co fine without me for a time."
Before anyone could say anything Yellow Diamond was then gone, a streak of yellow following behind them as they ran across the grass and disappeared into the distance.
"Um, should we-" kirche began to say, only to have Karin turn back towards her.
"You will be leaving, Zerbst. You do not belong here, and I will not tolerate your presence!"
"bit I just-" Kirche tried to argue until Tabitha leveled her staff in front of her.
"it fine. Stay with Sylpheed." Kirche looked like she wanted to speak up, but stopped herself and nodded before walking away, Tabitha's dragon following her a distance away before the two of them sat down much outside of speaking range. Tabitha then looked back at Karin. "Fine?"
"Acceptable I suppose," Karin allowed with a slight scowl in the direction of Kirche. She then turned back to Tabitha. "May I ask your intentions here as an emissary of Gallia?"
"Learn, report, pass information, and messages," Tabitha said simply before turning to Uraninite and Obsidian. "Island, yours?"
"The island is ours, yes," Uraninite said very calmly, the crystal claws braking off of their arms and falling to the grass, faintly glowing still.
"Golems?" Tabitha asked next as she noted the broken shards and took a step forwards.
"No, you cannot touch those," Obsidian spoke up quickly. "At least not when they glow like that."
Tabitha just simply stared at Obsidian, and after a few seconds it became clear she was expecting an explanation.
"Miss Tabitha, lady Valliere and I have been speaking with the Gems a few times now as emissaries from our own nations," Evelyn spoke up, drawing attention to herself. "Perhaps we should first tell you of the things we have been told first. Does that sound acceptable to you?"
Tabitha nodded. " Please do."
"Then let us get comfortable, it may take some time," Evelyn stated as she looked to Uraninite and Obsidian. "Would you like to explain your kind?"
"You may, and we will speak up if there is anything to add, as you likely could explain it better to your own kind I believe," Uraninite answered, their tone oddly distant.
"Then let us begin," Karin spoke up as she sat down, and then began the arduous task of explaining multiple days worth of discoveries to a girl who looked only as old as her daughter should be.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey, you okay?" Obsidian asked in a whisper as they shifted their seated position closer to Uraninite's side as the three humans shared their knowledge. The two of them were doing a good job in not telling the third incorrect information.
But they way that Uraninite was staring at the grass was odd.
"I am fine. At least in body," Uraninite admitted, then continued after a pause. "I, was not expecting her to take my, absence, like that."
"Could that mean that you were wrong about how she felt of you?" Obsidian asked carefully.
Uraninite thought to themselves for a moment before very shaking their head. "I do not believe so. If anyone did care, they should have shown it. My guess is that my, disappearance caused a number of things to happen, or realizations to be made, and that is what caused this change of personality in her."
"Okay, but what are you going to do?"
"Nothing i think. That was my old life, and I don't intend to go back to it. As long as no ones somehow makes a connection between my old identity and this one, I don't need to do anything."
"Do you think anyone knows?"
"Maybe lady Valliere, its hard to say," Uraninite admitted.
"Then we simply pay attention while living," Obsidian said as they looked up and focused on the humans conversation, which seemed to be progressing rather fast.
"So, you understand the basics then?" Evelyn asked Tabitha.
"Yes," Tabitha said with a nod. "Gems, not golem. Sentient, made of precious stones, and eat sunlight. Claim to not age, nor know reason for island homes sudden appearance here. At war with those creatures, called Lunarians. Culture, does not match, Halkeginian, nor Elven."
"Simple but accurate. A Good thing as it took us days to get that information down accurately," Karin muttered with a sigh. "you are mostly caught up on the basics now I suppose. Now we can get back to continuing to learn."
"On that note, we have been alternating questions with the gems. Would you like to as, ask something first as you are new?" Evelyn asked Tabitha.
Tabitha nodded, then looked at Uraninite and Obsidian as if asking permission, and spoke up when Obsidian nodded to her. "Gallia, interested in trade. What might you have to?" she asked, surprising both Evelyn and Karin with such a direct question, as they both had been avoiding such questions this far, content with learning to avoid problems.
Both Gems looked at each other as if conversing without words, before Uraninite spoke up. "I do not believe that we have anything that your people would want that we are willing to trade. The paper and cloth we use is produced as needed, and only enough for repairs is kept aside."
"The blades I make likely wouldn't suit you either, and we can't just hand over our stockpile of small gem pieces in case someone is born of that Gem. After all, injuries are not rare when one is learning," Obsidian added with a smile.
"Born?" Tabitha asked in clear confusion.
"Ah, we forgot that," Evelyn said in realization. "The Gems do not have gender as we do, and they are born from a Cliffside on the island that is apparently filled with a variety of Gemstones. It is a very hollowed place for them in a way."
"Understand."
"Then as for our question, can we know what your reason for being here is?" Uraninite asked simply. "Both Germania and Tristain sent people first to investigate our islands sudden appearance here, and then send these two when they knew we were here after all."
"Gallia, curious about resources. Maybe alliance of some kind. May request meeting in future."
"Founder dammit," Karin swore to herself before letting out a resigned sigh. "My queen has actually made it clear for me too pass on a similar message. She requests to meet you in person."
Uraninite and Obsidian looked at each other then back to Tabitha and Karin, with Obsidian speaking up. "Then, why did she not come with you to meet us?"
"When a regent of a nation requests a meeting, it is not really a request, but an order to appear before them and their court, in their own palace," Evelyn explained quickly.
"Ah, we were not aware of that," Obsidian said before looking to Uraninite, promoting them to speak up.
"With respect, I do not believe we could do such a thing. Crossing the ocean is not something our kind enjoy or partake of, and I doubt that your beasts could lift up more than one of us due to our weight. There would also be the point of all of us deciding upon doing such a thing, which I do not see as very likely."
"May I ask why?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"This island is our home, provides us with all we need, and we know all about it. If one of us is in danger here, others can help, but outside the island such a thing is far harder," Uraninite explained as Yellow diamond came back running at unbelievable speeds, and stopped perfectly beside Obsidian.
"Sorry that took a bit, there were two other Sunspots that appeared, so it took a bit longer to report," Yellow Diamond said as they sat down.
"What are, sunspots?" Tabitha asked in a seemingly uninterested tone.
"The black mass that the Lunarians arrive from. That is what we call them," Yellow Diamond explained quickly before grinning. "What did I miss?"
"The leaders of two of their groups are requesting we leave the island and meet with them in their territory," Uraninite said, causing Yellow Diamonds expression to become conflicted.
"I don't think that will happen. It doesn't sound safe either."
"These two said as much," Evelyn said with a resigned sigh. "That, and what else we now know should likely be informed too our leaders however."
"Easier in person," Tabitha then spoke up as she got to her feet. "May return with questions, or messages."
"Of course, if you are coming peacefully then we have no problem with you coming!" Yellow Diamond said as they looked to Evelyn and Karin. "Will you be doing the same?"
"We likely should yes. Unlike lady Valiere who can send missives, I have yet to report anything of what you have told us to my lord as of yet," Evelyn admitted as Tabitha turned and began walking back to where her dragon and Kirche were waiting.
"My queen will wish to know that her request was, politely refused, as well," Karin said as she got up. "Thank you for meeting with us as you have. You have been very hospitable with what you have. We shall meet again."
"We'll see you later then. Be safe," Obsidian said.
They both nodded before they walked off to their mounts and took off being followed by Tabitha's dragon a moment later.
"So, is them inviting us to meet them good, or not?" Yellow Diamond asked as they looked at Uraninite, who then flopped onto the grass.
"I'm not sure. Tristain and Germania are, not acting how I guessed they would," Uraninite admitted. "It would not be a good idea for us to leave the island if we can help it though. If they decided to imprison us, it would be hard to escape and get back here without making things even worse in that kind of situation."
"Well we can all decide together. Let's head back, Sensei wants us all back to discuss how three simultaneous sunspots appeared."
"Alright, but maybe let us keep up?" Obsidian asked hopefully as they and Uraninite got up off the grass.
Yellow Diamond just smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Dame Evelyn, I should thank you," Karin said as she and Evelyn dismounted to acquire food for themselves before they would part to head their lands capitols.
"May I ask what for?"
"Both for trying to assist in stopping my queens message, and for stopping my emotions from making me do something, distasteful," Karin explained.
"It is fine. You told me of your situation, but it would not do to make our nations less agreeable to each other. Have you discerned if the one is indeed your child?"
"I am, unsure, there have been times where I am certain, yet others where that one seems so completely unlike my daughter, so calm, logical, and collected, that it seems impossible," she said, right before shaking her head. "To many things are yet unknown, and I do not believe that my Queen will take their response well. Though I admit I am more immediately worried about those fishing boats we saw just away from this village. I may need to make it clear to them that the island is not to be approached or landed upon."
"That may be a good idea. Would you like help?" Evelyn asked helpfully.
"Thank you, but no. They may consider it strange if you were there as well."
"I understand. I will buy some food and head for Germania. Till next we meet, Lady Valliere."
"Till next we meet."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So you are saying they are sentient gemstones with no central government, and we saw them jumping and fighting in says no human or elf ever could, and will likely be of major concern to all the countries due to being made of jewelry?" Kirche asked from behind Tabitha on Sylpheeds back.
Tabitha simply nodded.
"Damn, I feel bad for them. Idiots and fools will likely try to attack them thinking it easy money but . . . . Hey Tab, did that one kind of greenish one seem familiar somehow?"
Tabitha turned to look at kirche, saying nothing, but making it clear she did not understand.
"Ah, i guess I'm just a bit tired, never mind."
Tabitha simply nodded and went back to looking ahead, but in truth she did know what kirche was meaning. The green ones eyes were oddly familiar, she just couldn't quiet place it.