- Three days later: Firene -
"So, what is your world like?"
Traveling with Veyle had been pleasant. He hadn't felt relaxed in a long time, mostly due to his years in the military and then dealing with things that happened when he returned home. Miguel thought for a moment then spoke.
"I think one of the main differences compare to what you told me about Elyos, is that in my world, we don't have magic," Miguel said and Veyle looked at him shocked.
"Your world...doesn't have magic?!" The girl screeched, "Then...that means that dragons, wyverns, pegasus, Gods, and supernatural creatures don't exist in your world at all?!" She said and Miguel nodded.
"Well, everything you just mentioned is considered works of fiction. And on the topic of Gods..." he pressed his lips together and held his chin, "I'm not sure if we have a God." Miguel said, "In my world, I say it's more like a lack and different interpretations of a God. We have different cultures, languages, myths, and legends of many different kinds of gods and other supernatural beings. Stories, faiths, traditions, and cultures are born over time and change differently. They are even other interpretations of different holidays. Some languages are born from another and change but are still similar in a way." He explained as Veyle held her chin and listened, "For me specifically, I'm not very religious but I am open-minded. I like to learn about other cultures." He explained and Veyle was surprised by his answer.
"Interesting...Then, how many languages are spoken in your world?" She asked and the man snorted.
"Well, in my time, over 7,000. I only speak three, and that's a whole other hell I went through." He said and Veyle was stunned.
"Also, unlike Elyos, which is only one continent, there are seven in my world." Miguel explained as they kept walking, "Each continent is different. Different people, cultures, religions, and beliefs. As well as many different states. The continent I lived in is called The United States of America. It has 50 states. 51 since I consider Puerto Rico part of my home." He said and Veyle nodded.
"This explains your reaction when you saw me cast a fire spell. You had never seen magic before." Veyle said and looked a bit sad.
"Well, not exactly." He said as Veyle looked at him confused, "As I said before, while my world does not have magic, we have the creativity of the mind. Many authors, artists, musicians, and such, even normal people like me have different interpretations of magic. With their imaginations, we created hundreds and not thousands of different magic systems. We love creating new stories. We all have our versions of magic and worlds." He said with a small smile.
Veyle's eyes widened just a bit. For a moment, the smile the man had reminded him of her caretaker's husband.
He was a kind man who was friends with her mother and helped take care of her siblings. He...truly was a kind man. She missed them. She truly missed them.
"What are your siblings like?" Veyle asked and Miguel thought for a moment.
"I have two sisters. One is a medic in the military. She and I followed our grandparents and great-hrandparent's footsteps. The second one...is a novel writer and before all this happened, was applying to go to culinary school. But she has multiple hobbies. As for me, I joined a military program when I was in my early teens before I wanted to follow in my grandparent's footsteps." He said and looked to the sky with a distant gaze.
"Your family sounds amazing. I can tell you all had a close relationship with how you smile." Veyle chuckled and Miguel had a wistful smile.
"What's your family like?" He asked and Veyle sighed, putting her hands behind her back as she looked up to the sky.
"It's...complicated. I had a close relationship with my mother and my caretaker who I saw as a second mother. The relationship with my father...it's non-existent. And the rest of my siblings...I don't remember. They have passed away." She said and Miguel looked at her sadly.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He said and Veyle shook her head.
"Don't be. Remember I told you I too am looking for my siblings?" He nodded, "I found out that three of my siblings are alive. The question is...where?" He looked at her surprised, "I am the youngest of my family. I was a child the last time I saw them. Today, I hope to see them again. Where ever they are, I hope they are happy." She said and he nodded.
"...I know this is sudden, but why don't you come to Lythos with me?" Miguel said and the girl looked at him stunned, "I may be crossing a line but you suggested I go to Lythos where I could receive some answers about my sibling's whereabouts. Perhaps, you can find the answers you seek as well?" He said as Veyle's lips became a thin line.
"I...do not think I can step a foot there." Veyle said and the man looked at her confused, "I...have my reasons. It's just that..." she looked away she fidgeted, "I'm not..."
"Alright, I understand." Miguel said and Veyle looked at him confused, "I think I understand what you are trying to say. But, if you change your mind, if possible, I would like to speak with you more. If that is alright." He said and smiled softly.
Veyle was stunned by his words. No one...had ever actually thought about what she wanted or how she felt. He was...respectful to her. But...would that change if he knew her true identity? What she was? Who...is her father?
"I would like to talk to you more as well!" Veyle said, "We should be reaching the town in a couple of hours. We can talk there before we part." She said as they looked on ahead.
"Oh!" She stopped, "What were your great-grandparents' names? And where did they come from?" She asked.
"Well..." Miguel hummed, "I know my great-grandparents were immigrants, but they never said where they came from. My great-grandmother, I always assumed she came from Brazil, Mexico, or Spain because of the three different languages she spoke." He said, "The language we are speaking now is called English in my world. She also spoke these languages called, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as English. But..." his forehead became creased, "she said she didn't come from Brazil, Mexico, or Spain. Which... confused me." He thought for a moment, "My great-grandfather said he came from a family of scholars and powerful warriors. So, based on his accent I assumed he was from a place called Scandinavia, France, or Russia. He spoke Swedish, Old Norse, English, and French. He always told us that because he came from a family of scholars, he had to learn to speak all of them." he explained and Veyle was stunned hearing all this.
"I apologize for suddenly dumping all this on you. But...your question suddenly had me thinking about my family's origins. Truthfully, we don't know my father's side. My mother and grandmother, we do. My mother immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Same with my grandmother who my grandfather married." He said and thought again for a while.
Before his great-grandparents passed away, they left something for him and his siblings. He and his sisters all received a pocket watch with a strange star symbol on it, and at the center of it was a blue gem. The second thing he inherited was the small metal wood-colored flute he was currently wearing. His great-grandfather gave it to him and his great-grandmother taught him how to play it.
Perla inherited a bracelet made of opal beads and it had a charm with the same star symbol as the pocket watches. Lastly, Nanami inherited their great-grandparent's journal. It was a thick heavy old leather-bound journal that had a blue oval-shaped gem on its cover but on the back, it also had that strange star symbol. Another strange thing, not even his grandfather knew where they came from. His grandfather said they arrived in the United State two years before World War 1 started.
He was about three years old. Later on, once he was old enough, he joined the military to fight in World War 2. After the war, he came back to his family. The subject of where he came from was something his grandfather's parents never spoke about. Not even to him...but...
"If you can figure out how to read our journal, then you will learn the true origins of our family."
The journal that Nanami inherited. For years the three and his parents and grandparents tried to figure out the strange lettering and symbols his great-grandparents wrote in that journal, but they had no luck. Nanami even made of joke that maybe the language came from outer space but only got funny looks from everyone.
"Miguel, are you alright?" Veyle's voice made him snap out of his thoughts, she was looking at him worried.
"Sorry. Just lost in thought. And to answer your question, my great-grandparents' names were, Ermos Lycinth. And my great-grandmother, Maria Sanchez. My great-grandfather adopted her last name. So, my full name is Miguel Lycinth Sanchez Delgado. Lycinth, we have no idea where that last name originated from. All we were told was the family name that all children of our family will inherit." He explained and let out a sigh.
"L-Lycinth..." Miguel noticed Veyle's voice tremble, "Your grandfather's last name was Lycinth?" She asked and he nodded.
"Is something wrong? You look..." Miguel looked her up and down, "Pale."
"Cough!" Veyle coughed and quickly composed herself, "Sorry! It's just that, the last name is a rare one here in Elyos. Here, it means Star Guardian." Veyle said and Miguel nodded.
"Oh hey!" Miguel said as he looked toward the end of the road, "I see a town ahead!" He grinned but it suddenly disappeared, "Wait...why is there smoke?"
Veyle quickly ran forward, ignoring Miguel calling out to her. Her eyes went wide, and her body froze, she trembled as she struggled back, seeing why the town was in flames.
"GGRAAAAHHH!"
Corrupted.
Corrupted were attacking the town. No...they shouldn't even be able to enter the land! If the corrupted were now rampant, that meant that the seal...
"What the hell?!" Miguel's voice made her snap out of it and she saw the man looking at the town shocked, "Are those zombies?!"
"C-Corrupted..." Veyle choked, "They undead given life by dark magic...T-They shouldn't be here!" She whispered, terrified.
The two knew they couldn't just leave, they had to help in some way. They made their way down quickly and hid behind a building. They could hear people running for their lives, but Miguel gritted his teeth.
"I counted 15. If we can distract them, I should be able to take them down." He said, "I'm ready to throw hands at those monsters." Miguel said as he hid with Veyle beside him.
He looked at the case over his shoulder and let out a heavy sigh, "I didn't think I have to take it out." He said and threw down the thick case on the ground.
"What are you doing?" Veyle said, "Fighting to save lives. That's my duty as a soldier, no matter where I am." Miguel said.
"You get your weapon out! I'm going to help the people!" Veyle said and jumped out, running towards the village to fight the corrupted!
"Hey! Don't g—Shit!" Miguel cursed, "I'm gonna have to support her from behind." He quickly undid the locks of the case.
He flipped it open, then gritted his teeth. He didn't think he have to pick it up ever again.
"Hey pal, haven't used you in two years, but I need your help." Miguel muttered and pulled it out, "Let's go."
CLICK, CLICK!
[—-]
Black flames conjured in Veyle's hands and unleashed them on the corrupted. A family she protected looked at her shocked as she stood in front of them, her tome glowing brightly in her hands. She looked back at them, worried.
"Go! Run to the port!" She yelled and they did, but the family looked back at her worried.
Veyle gulped as she turned back to the monsters.
She wanted to run away but then, she heard more screams and turned to see the group of citizens surrounded by Corrupted. She ran and run, she wasn't going to make it on time. She reached out, desperately trying to reach them. In her mind, the image of her caretaker's friend, and her siblings, all being burned to cinders appear.
"No! No!" She cried out and just when a corrupted was about to kill a child...
BAM!
The sound, the sound was so loud, as if a small explosion occurred, but the corrupted dropped to the ground dead. The birds, animals, people, and monsters alike all became still as stone as they saw the wound right on the head of the monster before it turned to dust.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The corrupted that surrounded the villagers all dropped to the ground. They didn't know what was happening but all they knew is whoever just snipped those monsters, saved their lives. The corrupted were dropping like flies. The chest, head, the center of the chest, the neck, that's where they were all hit and killed in an instant. The corrupted kept falling. From a high tree, Miguel's cold eyes landed on another corrupted target.
"Tch." Miguel clicked his teeth his finger still on the trigger, "One..." he looked through the telescope on his M24, "two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven." He watched the corrupted desperately looking around to where the attack as where coming from as he fired two more rounds, "two, three." He muttered and aimed at a corrupted that was chasing an elderly woman, "four."
BAM!
Veyle could only remain still as she watched the corrupted falling one by one. But she was quickly snapped out of her trance as another bang rang, and she went to the family to check if they were alright.
"Are you okay?!" Veyle said as another bang was heard and a corrupted fell.
"What is going on?!" The man said, "W-Who is taking them out?"
"He's a sniper!" Veyle suddenly said, "My friend is currently in the trees, cracking down the corrupted. He's the one that has taken down several right now." She said and another bang was heard, a corrupted that was on the verge of hurting a knight dropped.
That was the best she could come up with. That he was Sniper. But, she had never heard a bow make that kind of sound when an arrow was released. Was it some sort of relic? She kept looking around, trying to find Miguel's location. But the only way to do it would be if... she looked to see the family was now gone.
She took deep breaths, closed her eyes, and heard another bam, then her eyes snapped open, and her pupils turned to slits. The aura around her became dark as she looked around and finally, she found him. High above a tree, using some sort of black, metallic weapon. It wasn't a bow...then what was it? She took another deep breath and her aura disappeared, and her eyes returned to normal.
[—-]
Clink!
The shell casing of a bullet fell to the ground and he took down the ones he counted earlier. There should be only a few more. Still, the feeling of the M24 in his hands after so long. The man let out a shuttered breath as he aimed, his senses went on full alert seeing a corrupt running towards Veyle.
"No, you don't." He growled and aimed, waiting till...
BAM!
Right at the head, he watched it fall and turned to dust. All that remained was the bullet. Miguel did around scout and saw no more monsters. He jumped down and quickly put the gun away and locked the case nice and tight before picking it up and swinging it over his shoulder. He ran out to the field and to Veyle, who was helping gather the people to the center of the town to treat.
"Hey!" Miguel yelled out and ran up to her, "How's everyone? I checked the area and made sure there were no more monsters. Shot the last one a few minutes ago." He said as the people that were gathered looked at him stunned.
"Young man," a man dressed in knight armor walked up, "you said you took care of those..monsters correct?" Miguel nodded, "Are you...a sniper?"
Miguel nodded, "Former...Sniper. I didn't think I have to pick up my weapon again." He whispered that last sentence but the knight heard it.
"There is no shame in picking up a weapon again." The knight said, "You're a soldier aren't you?" Miguel nodded, "Even if not a soldier of this nation, you did what was right. Good job." The knight said and Miguel nodded.
[—-]
Hours passed and Miguel and Veyle went out to help the people of the town. Veyle went to help treat the wounded while Miguel went to help out the knights. Considering he was in a world where magic and all that existed, he expected to see knights sooner or later. The conversation with them was...nice. Some of the knights were his age and asked him questions about how long he had been serving as a soldier. Others asked him if he was a retired soldier from Solm (which Veyle explained to him was a nation in the southeast of Elyos. The people there had skin color like him.) and he said yes, just to go with it.
"I must ask, why did you leave the army?" One of the older knights as they made their way back to the town.
"I have recently left the army to be with my family. I have...been away from home far too long." He said and the old knight hummed, nodding as the two turned to watch the children and Veyle playing from afar.
"When did you enlist?" The knight said and Miguel sighed.
"Not sure if being in programs that prepare you to enlist counts, but I wanted to follow in my Great-grandparents and grandparents' footsteps. I was offered a sponsorship when I was 18. And that part of the money I would be paid would go to my sisters so they could have a roof over their heads while I was away. I left the army two years ago. So...it felt strange using my...magic tool again after so long." The young man said as the knight nodded.
"By the way, is that young woman your wife?" The knight said as he looked over to Veyle and Miguel snorted.
"No. I met her recently. She saved my life. I am new to this nation. I was told there was a possibility I could find my siblings in Lythos." He said and the knight nodded.
"You helped save lives today. Thankfully, there weren't any causalities. Still," the knights looked back to the town, "it's going to take some time to repair the place."
"Miguel, right?" Another knight said, "You said you're heading to Lythos right?" Miguel nodded, "The boat with the star on it. It's my father's, get on it. He's heading to Lythos for a shipment that needs to be delivered." The knights said and Miguel looked at him shocked.
"Um...I don't have any money."
"It's fine." The knight said, "Take it as a thank you for saving the lives here." Miguel was about to protest again but sighed because he recognized the look in the knight's eyes.
"Alright. And thank you."
— Two days later
"Sigh. Guess this where we part." Miguel sighed as he stood at the wooden bridge that led to the ship.
Two days had passed since the attack and he and Veyle had been working together to help the people. It was interesting, to say the least. Especially because the elderly woman and some mothers, like back on Earth, were trying to introduce him to their daughters, but he always politely declined. Unfortunately, that didn't stop them from giving him things like bread, food, and even some produce. Miguel was quick to learn that the people of Firene thanked their knights and soldiers by giving them meals, food, and drinks.
"Are you going to be okay carrying all that?" Veyle snickered seeing the stuffed bag of things he was given.
Miguel sweat dropped and nodded.
"I'll live." Miguel said, "Say, is there any way we can...you know, contact each other? We can write letters to each other since we don't know when we will see each other again." He said and Veyle was shocked.
"Does that mean...you want to be my friend?" Veyle said, and he nodded.
"Of course!" He grinned, "And, thank you again for saving me and building me here." He bowed politely to her, "I truly enjoyed our time together. It was nice getting to know you." He said and Veyle smiled warmly.
"Then let's make a promise!" Veyle said and held up her pinky, "If we ever meet again, tell me about your travels and more about your world! And, it would be nice to meet your family." She said and Miguel nodded, holding out his pinky.
He hadn't done a pinky promise in a long time. The last time he did it was with his sisters when he swore he would take care of them after their parents passed away. After their grandparents passed away as well...
"I'll introduce you to my sisters. I think they like you." Miguel said, "Then it is a promise. We will meet again someday. That's a promise." Miguel said and the two intertwined their pinkies.
Miguel bordered the ship and looked back to Veyle, waving as he walked on. The captain announced the ship was sailing as the last of the people boarded. Miguel kept his eyes on the port till he could no longer see Veyle.
"A friend..." Miguel whispered as he took deep breaths and looked towards the horizon, "Veyle...I hope to meet again." He smiled softly, "If those two were here...they probably want to spoil her."
[—-]
The spirit in Miguel's ring snorted as she watched the exchange but let out a sigh. They were finally heading to Lythos but...
"Something is off about Veyle." The spirit thought and looked back to the girl.
She could sense two sides...just like her. The spirit was not looking forward to the struggle that would come in the future. But...even if she is sealed, perhaps she could do something. The good thing is, she might have a chance...
In the realm of dreams.
[—]
"Hmm..." Veyle suddenly felt her eyelids become heavy, "Oh...Yaawwn...I must be tiered. Zzz..." And she closed her eyes but, the bird nearby suddenly raised their heads and quickly flew away, terrified.
Veyle's soft snores came to a halt and her eyes opened slowly as she heard footsteps behind her. Her eyes were no longer purple, but crimson slits. And the warm smile she had turned to a deadly one as the footsteps stopped.
"Lady Veyle." Zephia bowed to the woman, "It is good to see you. We have been looking for you for some time now." She said and Veyle turned to her, her gaze half-lidded.
"Indeed it has been, Zephia." Veyle said and looked back to the sea, "Were you able to obtain The Ring of The Dark Saint? As well as The Ring of The Silent Seer. What about The Ring of The Holy Magus?" She said and the four were silent.
Veyle's voice had turned from light, warm, kind, and airy, to deep, silk-like, and full of malice and arrogance.
"I do not like your silence." Veyle said and turned to them with a scowl, "What happened?"
"IT WAS HELL!" Marni suddenly cried out, "Lady Veyle, the islands…it was as if they were alive! Monsters and demons kept coming out everywhere and attacking us! Each time it sounded like some wailing singing banshee was summoned!" The girl screeched and Veyle looked at her stunned.
"Tch. I'll talk about my end." A man spoke, his name is Griss, "Someone showed up on the island before me and awakened The Ring of The Dark Saint." Griss growled darkly.
Griss was a tall well built man with dark green hair, crimson eyes, and a purple tattoo on the right side of his face. He wore an open vest with warlock clothing. The man next to him was older and had slight spiky gray hair with thin circles. He wore heavy silver armor with a blue and purple cape. Veyle narrowed her eyes and looked at each of them.
"Mauvier, was it the same for you?" Veyle asked and Mauvier shook his head.
"I arrived at the island where The Ring of The Silent Seer should have been located but, there was no ring. I was not attacked nor did I encounter any struggles. The place was empty. There were no signs of battle." Mauvier reported and Veyle huffed, "After investigating more, it seems a Brodian expedition team had arrived before me. Unfortunately, they did not have the ring." He explained.
"The human who my defective half sent off…" Veyle said, "I could have killed him in his sleep but I did not. I decided to observe the human my other self had taken a liking to." She said and the group looked at each other puzzled.
"Hmmm..." Veyle hummed and held her chin, "Zephia," she closed her eyes, "what makes a good mate?"
Griss choked on his spit. Marni jaw dropped open and Mauvier's eyes widened. Zephia was stunned hearing this and did not know what to say. She expected the defect to say something like this but to hear it from Her Lady was difficult to process. Why did the subject suddenly change?
"Someone worthy. A strong individual who can handle our draconic auras. I assumed none of the mage dragons have been satisfactory. Or any of the other non-humans?" Zephia said and Veyle snorted.
"They all tremble at my aura the minute I set foot in the area or flee like flies." Veyle said and narrowed her eyes, "It seems the defect has found a human who can handle our aura. And..." she wicked smile formed on her face as she put her hands together, "the eyes of a killer. Rare among mortals have I seen one who can strategies so fast against the corrupted." She hummed.
"Let alone...the scent of someone from the Outrealms."
"What?" Zephia's gaze became dark, "That should be impossible. No one from another world should be able to come here other than The Emblems. The last Outrealm Gate was destroyed by the two traitors one thousand years ago." She said and Veyle narrowed her eyes as she looked up to the sky.
The stars were starting to show. But most of all, she touched the pendent her other half would wear. On it, was the symbol of an eight-pointed star with a snowdrop flower engraving. It was the same pattern Miguel's pocket watch had.
"Despite me and the defect being children in the past, the scent of the guardian that once watched over us and our siblings is one I will never forget. That mortal..." she closed her eyes, "has the same scent. There is a possibility he may be a descendent of them. And what luck," she smiled, "he said there are two more. Two more siblings. Huff..." she opened her eyes.
"That makes three...Griss, Marni, Zephia, and Mauvier, you all said that three islands appear. All that had Emblems. Two were snatched away and the other was empty. I wonder..." she smiled, "if he and the other two have them. They just don't know it yet." The woman chuckled darkly.
"A human who is an Outworlder. What luck. Father will be thrilled once we tell him this news. They have their scent. The mortal man could withstand my fell aura. No, he didn't feel it at all! Ahahahah!" The woman burst out laughing and turned back to look at the sea.
"If we can get our hands on the other two…there is be no need to sacrifice those with sovereign blood. The blood of The Outworlders will be more than enough." She giggled darkly.
"I wonder how my defect half will react should I take the one she fancies and make him mine." She said, "Yes…His bloodline is perfect. He will be the perfect mate for me." She chuckled darkly.
"I hope we meet soon…Miguel."
- Four Days Later: Brodia -
There were two unspoken rules in Brodia. One that applied to the royal family and one that applied to the entire nation. The first is:
Don't piss off the Court Mage.
And the universal rule:
Don't piss off the doctor.
Perla was a patient woman. It was what earned her the reputation of the nicest surgeon in the hospital she used to work at. But a patient person has their limits. Perla was already on edge after being transported to another world and it didn't help that the young man in front of her insisted he was alright.
"M-Miss, I told you I am-EEP!"
The young man was not alright. His shoulder was dislocated along with being covered in scratches and bruises from what looked like a fight. The smile she had and the aura surrounding her were becoming darker by the second. Sophia was trying not to go into a giggle fit as she watched from her ring. Perla raised her hands, balled one into a fist while the other was flat, then grind her fist into her hand. She only open her eyes just a tad bit as she looked down at the young man, the smile still on her. But the shadows were over her eyes, making her look terrifying.
"You are injured. I suggest you take a seat before I tie you to a tree." And the young man let out an ungodly scream as she strode over to him looking like a banshee ready to devour him.
The next sound that followed was another ungodly scream joined by the sound of a bone being popped back into place. Perla let out a heavy sigh as she used a tweezer to use the cotton swab to clean the cut on the young man's arm, and glared at him. Crimson eyes trembled at her presence. The young man had sleek deep blue indigo hair with a long bang and a sliver pin over his front bang. He wore a long sleeve button-up shirt with a ruffled collar, but at the moment the shirt had his left sleeve ripped off because of his injuries. Next, he wore a crimson vest over the white shirt that had a fanned-out collar. He also wore cream-colored pants with crimson leg armor and black metal boots. Lastly, a blue cape. On the ground was a silver bow along with the thing that was used to hold arrows.
"Listen, kid, what are you doing out here in these wooded areas?" Perla said as she finished treating his cuts and started to apply a Tiger balm on his shoulder.
The young man looked at her puzzled, "You don't recognize me?" He said and Perla raised an eyebrow.
"Should I? Are you perhaps a citizen of this nation? Did you wander far from the village? I was told it was the direction I was going before I heard your groaning." She said and went into her bag, pulling out a small bottle and opening it.
The young man studied her, and looked at her bag, and then back at her, who turned to him holding some sort of white pill towards him.
"It's a pain killer." Perla said, "You're going to be in pain for the next few days because of your shoulder. I may have popped it back into place but the muscles and ligaments need time to heal before you can do any other movements." She said and the young was hesitant but nodded, taking the pill and swallowing it dry, "Here." She handed him her water bottle, "Drink." He nodded and had the bottle hover over his mouth so that the water would pour.
"Sigh...Thank you." The young man said, "U-Um...what is your name?" He asked, "You don't seem to be from around here? Are you from Solm?" The young man asked and Sophia was quick to speak into the woman's mind.
"Say yes. We can't afford anyone to know you are not from this world. Not yet at least. And say you are heading to Lythos." Sophia said, scaring Perla, who frantically looked around but coughed to fix her composure.
"Ahem! Yes. I am from Solm. I'm a traveling doctor and I am trying to find a ship that will take me to Lythos." Perla said and the young man nodded, "And what is your name?"
"Oh! I...I am Alcryst. I am with two of my colleagues guarding the borders of Brodia. There has been a rise of bandit and Elusian attacks over the years so, we do what we can protect our people." The young man named Alcryst said as Perla nodded and placed her hands on her hips.
"Nice to meet you, Alcryst. I am Perla, and like before I am a traveling doctor." She said and smiled a bit and held out her hand to him.
Alcryst was confused for a bit but eventually did shake hands with her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Perla. And, thank you for treating me. The village is nearby so I'll take you there." Alcryst said and Perla nodded as they began walking.
So how did she meet this young man? Well you see, it had been a week since Sophia and Perla started their journey. And in that week, Perla told Sophia her story and Sophia did the same. With their stories exchanged, Sophia also learned of what had happened on earth after she disappeared. It was safe to say...Sophia was pissed. War, the pandemic became worse, inflammation, it was safe to say Earth had gone to hell. She felt so bad for her friends that lived there and only hoped for the best.
As they continued down the border, Perla heard the cry of someone in pain. She searched the source till she found it, that being Alcryst. The man was terrified and had even pointed his bow at her but was too injured to properly pick it up. After reassuring him that she was not going to hurt him, she told him that she can help him. The man was stubborn and from there, the rest was history.
"By the way, why were you here by yourself?" Perla began, "You said you were with two others. Did you get lost or separated?" She asked and Alcryst chuckled nervously.
"This may sound...foolish of me but we got separated after a monster attack. Speaking of monsters..." Alcryst's lips became a thin line, "I have never seen monsters like that..." he muttered and Perla's lips also became a thin line.
"He must be speaking of the Corrupted." Sophia said, "I believe I told you about them. Monsters created from the Fell Dragon using the bodies of those who have fallen in battle. If the worst-case scenario happens where you have to fight them, I'll help you in any way I can. I know it's been a week since we have gotten close to this area but you have yet to use magic. I'm not sure if you can use magic but if you can, I will teach you." Sophia said and suddenly, the women became silent.
"Sophia? What's wrong?" Perla thought and the woman stopped walking, making the young man confused.
"Run." Sophia said, "Run! Run! Run! NOW TO THE DIRECTION YOU AND ALCRYST WERE GOING!" Sophia roared and Perla started running in the direction they were going.
"Perla, what's wrong!" Alcryst called out and ran after her and the man nearly froze when he heard the sounds of roars, swords, and people screaming for their lives.
They ran and ran, till finally, they reached the village. Perla felt like her soul was sucked out of her body as she saw the horrific scene before her. Monsters in black masks with pale skin, horns, and glowing red eyes swarm the town as people for their lives. Soldiers fought the monsters as others evacuated the people. Alcryst did not hesitate to grab his bow and quickly aimed at a monster that was chasing a man and his child. The young man was steady and then released, Perla watched as the arrow went through the air and pierced right through the skull of the monster. It fell to the ground where black blood poured before it turned to dust.
"W-What are those things?" Perla whimpered as she took a step back, her entire body trembling as she watched monsters attack.
"Those are the corrupted I told you about!" Sophia said, "I know you are scared but we need to help evacuate as many as we can! Hurry! Go! And grab a weapon on the ground!" She said and Perla gulped but nodded.
She made an oath to save lives and she was going to keep it. She whispered a prayer before she ran towards the village. She ran and ran, and quickly opened her bag, pulling out...brass knuckles. She put them on and ran straight to a corrupted that was about to attack an old woman when she jumped in the air, raised her fist, and socked the bastard in the face. It fell to the ground, knocked out before an inhumane scream came out of Perla and pulled out a military knife, stabbing into it.
"Listen, I know this is illegal but I don't give a damn." Miguel sighed and gave Perla and Nanami a black plastic box.
The two girls looked at each other confused then back at the box. They opened it and Perla's eyes widened to the size of plates while Nanami's eyes sparkled as she held up a military hunter knife and in her other hand, a brass knuckle.
"What the hell is this?!" Perla screeched, "A knife and brass knuckles?!"
"Hey. Grandpa approved along with Grandma." Miguel said, "Look, I know you're 17 and Nanami is 15, but I want you to be safe. I'm going to be leaving soon to officially be part of the military." He sighed and patted their heads.
He crossed his arms and smirked, "So, before I leave, I'm going to teach you both how to use them."
"And where exactly did you learn how to use them?" Perla glared at her brother, "Miguel, answer."
"Some of his friends are part of gangs." Nanami causally said and Perla looked at her brother horrified.
"In my defense, we have been friends since childhood."
"RAAAHHH!" Perla screamed and punched another corrupted but this time under the chin then stabbed her knife into its chest.
It gurgled and tried to reach out to her before she sent it flying with a kick.
"This dress is getting in the way!" The woman snarled and quickly ripped the sides of her dress to be able to move, "Miguel's and Grandfather's lessons have paid off." The woman muttered and roared running at another corrupted and killing it to save a family of three.
She jumped on it from behind and it trashed trying to throw her off but she wrapped her legs tightly around it before she slits its throat and it dropped to the ground. The family of three was stunned but she turned to them and threw them the bottle of pills used to stop bleeding.
"Go now! And if anyone was stabbed or is bleeding, give them one pill from that bottle! It will stop the bleeding! Go!" She yelled and turned back to the monsters coming their way.
"But miss! You're a doctor! How can you fight?!" The husband said and Perla looked back with a grin and then back to the corrupted.
"Rule number one!" The woman raised her knife
"DON'T PISS OFF THE DOCTOR! HYAAA!"
And she lunged.
[—]
Alcryst gritted his teeth as he sent an arrow toward a monster and the woman behind him cut down another. A short pink-haired woman wearing a brown and red headband with white ribbons, glared coldly at the corrupted as it turned to dust. She wore a crimson breastplate with soldier armor and a red cape with inside brown. She wore a crimson skirt with black brown tights, knee-light white tights over them, and red armor boots. She also had pale pink colored eyes.
"Your highness!" The woman turned to Alcryst, "There are too many of these monsters! We must make haste and evacuate as many as we can—" the two suddenly heard a boom, and looked up to the sky to see a red flare was sent up and watched it explode.
Seconds later, a green one was seen not too far in the distance.
"That must have been Citrinne. She sent an emergency flare. Seeing the green, my brother must be nearby!" Alcryst said and the two heard another inhuman scream right when both turned to the direction, the sight...was not what they expected.
An elderly man was trembling but was quickly caught by his daughter as the woman that Alcryst met, Perla, was panting and gasping for air as the corrupted that had attacked fell to the ground, dead.
"Gasp...gasp...huff..." the woman gasped for air and then glanced at the two, "Go!" she yelled and the two she saved nodded, and they ran.
Perla waited for them to leave before she spotted Alcryst and ran to him.
"While I am glad you are fighting to protect the people here," she reached into her purse and handed him balm, "do not push yourself. Your shoulder is still healing since I placed it back." She said and looked at the pink-haired woman, "Both of you get to safety."
"I beg your pardon, but we will not leave!" The pink-haired woman said, "We are warriors of Brodia! Will not abandon our people!" She hissed and Perla sighed.
Right, when she was about to speak, another roar was heard and they saw a wave of Corrupted headed their way.
"Shit!" Perla cursed and the other two quickly got into position
Right when the prince raised his bow, a shock of pain suddenly surged through his arm and caused him to drop his bow in pain.
"Prince Alcryst!" The pink-haired girl yelled out to him, and Perla looked at them worried but...
"They need to get away! There are too many!" Sophia yelled and Perla quickly put her knife away and slung Alcryst's other arm over her shoulder.
"Come on, let's go!" Perla yelled and the two were stunned they had no choice.
They ran and ran, turning corners left and right to avoid the monsters as best they could. But they were being chased. Right when one pounced, a giant shard of ice flew past them and pierced through the corrupted. The trio turned to see a woman with short blonder hair with a golden metal headband with a white feather. She was of fair skin, and crimson eyes, and wore a sleeveless brown dress with the left side of it split open you can see she wore a ruffled white long skirt. She wore brown tights with knee-length brown boots. Lastly, brown and golden shoulder armor.
"Alcryst! Lapis! Are you two alright?!" The blonde woman said and ran up to them, "Wait, who are you?" She said, looking at Perla with a wary gaze.
"I'm the medic," Perla said and the group flinched hearing the corrupted roar.
The worst fear in Perla came true. They were surrounded and somehow there were more corrupted than before. At the rate it was going, they were going to get killed.
"What do we do?! What do we do?!" Perla thought and Sophia spoke in her ear.
"Listen to me, Perla..." Sophia said, "what I am about to tell you, is something I did not want us to do. But at the rate it's going, it must be done." She said and Perla gulped, "Use my power."
"But what can I do?!" Perla thought as she saw the blonde woman create a ball of fire and launched it corrupted, "We're surrounded."
"I told you before, I am an Emblem. A different form of a Fire Emblem. If you use my power, we can destroy these monsters and get out of here alive. Will you do it?" Sophia said and Perla gritted her teeth.
"I made an oath! I will protect and save lives!" Perla suddenly yelled and Sophia smiled softly, her ghostly hand hovering over her ring.
"Then do it. Use my power of flames to burn all those who hurt the innocent, to ashes." She said and Perla nodded, "Heal the wounded. Take their pain, and turn that pain to power to eradicate sin."
"Where are you going?! That's suicide!" Alcryst yelled as Perla now stood in front of them.
Perla raised her ring and closed her eyes. The wind began to gather around her and then explode, flames joined as she raised her hand and balled it into a fist. She needed to live. She needed to find her family. She needed to fulfill her oath. Her eyes snapped open and slammed her hand over her heart.
"EMBLEM ENGAGE!" Perla roared at the top of her lungs and the ring on her figure burst with the power of fire.
The corrupted that originally were attacking suddenly came to halt and turned. From the road, the reinforcements' eyes went wide as they were stunned by the display. Their leader was stunned as they watched a figure rise in the air. The fire that once burned began to surround her body. Her clothing changed to a pure white dress and her hair crimson. A long flowing dress with the front spilled open, boots, a butterfly-shaped crown, and strange golden ornaments floated behind her to create wings. Perla's eyes snapped open and they had turned red-green as the fire around her moved at her commands. The woman raised her hand, and blue balls of fire formed.
"Good!" Sophia said in her mind, "NOW TAKE DOWN THOSE MONSTERS!" The woman roared and Perla lunged.
The power flowed through her body, knowledge, and wisdom as well, as instructions on how to use the power Sophia was granting her. The balls of fire rained down on the corrupted that screamed in agony and burned to ashes. She hovered in the air and lunged at another, her fist raised as she roared, her fist covering strange-looking gauntlets as she punched a corrupted wyvern rider to the ground. The woman panted and gasped for air as she punched another corrupted, her fist going right through its chest before she ripped her hand out, black blood splattering all over her face. The corrupted roared and charged at her, but she was faster.
"This is..." she raised her fist and now stood in front of Alcryst and the two females, "I made an oath!" The woman roared, "I will protect and save lives! RAAAAHHH!" And she lunged.
Alcryst, Lapis, and the blonde girl were too stunned to speak as they were frozen in place. Watching the crimson-haired woman massacre the monsters that attacked the village. She raised her arms and the gauntlets she had transformed into charkarms, which she spun her body to decapitate to corrupted berserkers that ran her way.
"Alcryst...Who is that?" The blonde-haired woman said as a bead of sweat ran down her cheek.
"I...she said she's a medic." The prince was barely able to say, "She said...Emblem? Is she...an Emblem Weilder?" Lapis whispered.
"RAAAHH!" A corrupt charged at the, but a tornado of flames suddenly engulfed it.
Perla lowered her hand then waved it to make a staff with a tip in the shape of a butterfly appear and flew to the top of the village.
"It's time to end this." Sophia's voice spoke through her lips and she raised her staff, "The Sacred Flame burns the sins of man...Love burns brighter than the stars and extends its hand. Strength burns in the souls of all life." She chanted and a magic circle began to form above the village, "Saltatio The Sanationis Novae!" She yelled and light burst all around them.
The Corrupted screamed in agony but soon, the dark magic that filled their bodies began to turn white. The mask that they wore cracked and crumbled, and the faces of the people they once were, turned relaxed and closed their eyes, smiling in peace as their bodies disappeared slowly. The injured were engulfed in white flames, sending Lapis and the blonde woman into a panic.
That was until they noticed the cuts, bruises, and wounds they had were being healed by the flames. The light felt warm and gentle.
"Huff...Huff...Huff..." Perla panted as she started to float down to the village, "I...I...Feel...tired..." she gasped but suddenly, blood dripped from her nose, "What?" And a shock of pain suddenly burst through her body as if she had been struck by lightning.
"A-Ah!" It felt like she couldn't breathe, "Hugk!" Perla clutched her chest painfully as she dropped to her knees in an alleyway of the town she just saved.
Her body was sore from using that power. The power of an Emblem, she had never seen or felt anything like it before. The feeling was exhilarating yet, the consequences that followed were something she did not expect. Her lungs felt like they were filled with salt water, like how she was originally drowning before she woke up. The transformation came undone and her chest felt as if she was punched repeatedly. She undid a button and looked down, seeing her chest was bruised. What the hell happened? Should the power by doing that?
"Uck!" The taste of iron suddenly overpowered her mouth and she moved a bit to the right to vomit.
She just stayed still, seeing the blood that spilled. She could feel Sophia shocked, terrified, and confused. This wasn't supposed to happen!
"No...No...No!" Sophia's voice cried out in her mind, "Why is this happening?! My Emblem powers should not be doing this to you!" She screeched, "Perla, please hold on! Don't fall asleep! I'll get us out o—"
Someone was suddenly in front of Perla. The woman remained still as she heard them get closer and closer. Her heart pounding in her ears as her vision was starting to become blurred. They stopped in front of her, and the women refused to look up. She was terrified, she needed to escape. They got closer and closer, and they knelt, their hand reaching out to her, but she flinched, closing her eyes shut quickly.
"...I'm not going to hurt you." A male voice spoke carefully, "Are you, Perla?" The woman carefully opened her eyes and brown eyes met crimson.
"...A-Alcryst..." the owner of those crimson eyes looked at her confused, "I-Is Alcryst...Okay? A-Are..." her vision was starting to go dark, "The people...safe? A-Are..."
"Stop." The voice of man, "Yes. He is safe...Everyone is safe. The monsters are gone." Gentle the voice was yet also stern, "Rest...You have done more than enough." The man said and she nodded, her eyes closing and falling into a deep sleep.
[—]
"Incredible..." Alcryst did not what to say or do as he looked at his arm, "The bruising and pain. Even the cuts...they are all gone." He awed and turned to Lapis and the blonde one known as Citrinne, "How are you two?" He asked and Citrinne spoke up.
"I'm fine, Alcryst. But what happened earlier? You suddenly disappeared from us. And who was that woman?" Citrine asked, worried, "She doesn't look like she is from here."
"I met her in the forest. She was on her way here when she found me. She...sigh, the method of healing reminded me of my aunt." Alcryst said and he rubbed his shoulder, "She popped the bone back into place!" The two women looked at him horrified.
"Everyone!"
The group turned and saw a blonde-haired woman with her hair tried in a ponytail, golden eyes, with thick armor knight armor, jog towards them. Beside her was a man with blonde hair combed back with some of his bangs loose, golden eyes, and wore a white long-sleeve button shirt with white pants. Over his white shirt, he wore a black vest with red stripes on the collar and belt, with a tailcoat. Lastly, he wore, black armor boots. The woman was named Jade and the man, Amber. The two had been looking for the trio as they had also gone to check on the survivors.
"I'm glad you are all alright. Prince Diamant will be here shortly. He said he needed to check on a few others." Jade said and the group nodded.
"Still, I have never seen an attack like this." Amber shook his head, "I think the last serious accident was thirty years ago. We'll most likely have to report to King Morion about this." He said as the others nodded.
"Not everything."
The group turned and the retainers quickly bowed as a tall man with spiky red hair combed back, walked up. He had crimson eyes with a slightly stern expression. He wore heavy armor in the colors of red and black over his body. Lastly a red cape with the symbol of Brodia on the part that was over his chest. But that was the thing. He wasn't wearing his cape, they saw it was missing. This is Prince Diamant. But the group all focused on the individual the prince had in his arms, who was wrapped in the prince's cape.
"That's her!" Lapis said, "That's the woman that help you, Prince Alcryst!" The prince nodded and gulped as his older brother came to them.
"W-What happened?!" Alcryst said as he saw just how ghostly pale the woman was and nearly fainted seeing the smear of blood from her nose and the blood stains on the chest part of her dress, "W-Why is she like this?!"
"She's the one responsible for casting the spell that engulfed the village." Prince Diamant said and everyone looked at him stunned, "She...must have used all her energy to save everyone here. And the result was..." his lips became a thin line as he looked down at the woman.
"All of you," he spoke firmly, "not a word about what you saw. I mean it."
"But!" Citrinne was about to protest but Alcryst spoke, "Alright. We won't." He said and his two retainers looked at him stunned, "We. Will not. Speak of what we witnessed. Understood?" He said firmly and the two bowed their heads.
"But, what about the people?" Amber asked and Diamant smiled a bit.
"Many are saying they saw a mage dressed in white protect them. We should be okay." The prince said before anyone could speak anymore, the sound of ringing was heard.
Amber scrambled to open his bag and pulled out a crystal ball that was vibrating. He touched it.
"Hello?" He spoke carefully and then...
"I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!"
A female voice boomed from the crystal ball and the retainers all made faces as Prince Alcryst groaned and Diamant let out a heavy sigh.
"Don't! Sigh! On me!" The female voice said, "Remember boys, I'm not called The Hawk of Brodia for no reason. It's not the first time I have seen idiots run across of field of flames." Diamant looked away, "Prince Diamant, I suggest you jump off a cliff and die if you do not listen to my orders to rest. You are still recovering from the monster attack of last week." The voice sighed heavily.
The retainers made more faces but Alcryst was used to the rambunctious and rash talking of the owner of the voice. She meant well. He understood what she was saying. She was saying to his brother, "For the love of God the divine, listen to me for once! You need to rest and recover!" She had a funny way of saying things.
"And I already told you I am not." Diamant said back, "Especially with the sudden rise of monsters." The crowned prince narrowed his eyes dangerously, "But...I will see you when we return."
"Stubborn like a mule. Tch." The voice clicked its teeth, "Fine. By the way, I suggest you warn your brother, Citrinne, and Lapis to remain silent about the woman." Diamant looked at them and then back to the crystal ball.
"Do not worry. I already did." Dimant sighed heavily, "I have this...feeling if we spoke of what transpired today, what we witnessed, things will not end well."
"See, this is why you are my favorite. You're reasonable, unlike your father."
"Don't push it, Aunt."
"Ah, and before I go, do bring that woman to me. I know why she is in that state." And with a click, the crystal went silent. The group didn't know what to do or say after the conversation but Diamant let out a sigh and looked down at the woman.
"Let us return home," Dimant said and turned, heading back to his battalion as the others followed.
[—-]
The ride back to Brodia castle thankfully went smoothly. Coming into view as they rode their mounts, a giant of a fortress-like castle. The citadel-for in its enormous size it could be called no less-was like a behemoth standing against the horizon, blocking out everything up to and including some light from entering its protected and venerated walls. They rode across the bridge and soon river at its giant metal gates. Guard yelled out orders and the gears in the towers were turned to pull up the giant metal gates that led to the castle. The citizens of the kingdom cheered seeing their princes and soldiers return.
(A/N: Credit for writing this description of Brodia goes to a friend of mine: Daedalus Highwind)
They made their way to the castle and the gate once more opened to allow them in. Unfortunately for Prince Diamant, Prince Alcryst, and the rest, the one who called them waited for them along with their father.
"Look out, it's her," Lapis said and walked up to them as they got off their mounts.
"Welcome, my sons!" King Morion grinned as he walked up to them.
King Morion was a tall bulk man wearing thick gray armor with a red cape with the nation's symbol on its back and had the same shade of red hair as Diamant. Beside him was a petite woman, holding a black fan to cover her lips.
"Father, how many times have we told you to stay inside the castle? It's dangerous here." Diamant said ad the king laughed.
"Oh, it's fine! But not another lecture. Martha told me what happened at the border." The group became tense, "To think that so many unexpected monsters showed up. Already a message was sent to Queen Lumera." The king said and they looked at him confused.
"Allow me to explain." The petite woman spoke up, "it's not just Brodia that was attacked." She said, "Firene, Solm, and Elusia were also attacked by those monsters. Hahahaha! I am speedy in reporting this! Ooohohoho!" The woman snapped her fan close, revealing her face.
"Martha, don't be smug…" The king sighed and Marth puffed out her chest, smug, "Don't ruin my moment, brother-in-law.
Martha was a petite woman with long pink puffy hair that was tied in two pigtails in bubble style, as well as curled bangs that framed her face. She had dark pink eyes and somewhat pale skin. She a gremory styled shawl with a fur collar. The top part of her clothing she wore, exposed her shoulders, and she wore golden ornaments. But instead of the long skirt, she wore long pants that fitted her curves and the ends of the pants were loose, making it easy to walk in her boots with small heels. On her waist were strapped two tomes, along with potion bottles. She made her fan glow and it turned into a long black staff with a dark red sphere at its top and four crow wings spread out. Lastly, she wore a red jeweled necklace and star earrings.
"Oh, silence you." Martha huffed, "Now, Diamant and Alcryst, thank you both for bringing me, my student. The poor woman should not have been caught up in a such fight." She said and the group along with the king was confused but Diamant was quick to realize what she was doing.
"Woman?" King Morion said and finally saw the woman in Diamant's arms, "Goodness gracious! What happened?! She looked like she was about to break at any moment! Take her to the infirmary!" He said and Martha slammed the but of her staff to get their attention.
"No, not there. To my office. I can see why she is like this." The woman narrowed her eyes as she got closer, "Tch. You fool." She said to the knocked-out woman, "She used too much magic to heal the people that were attacked." She said and her gaze landed on the mysterious woman's hand.
Sophia glared back from her ring and Martha's lips became a smile, sending a shiver down her spine. Martha then stood up straight and looked at the group.
"Go rest up. I'll take it from here. Diamant, you don't mind carrying her for a bit longer, do you?" Martha said and her nephew sighed.
"Alright, I'll take her to your office." The prince said and Martha smiled, nodding in approval.
[—-]
As they walked down the hallways, no servant in sight, Martha stopped as well as the prince.
"You did well catching on to the stunt I pulled earlier." Martha said and turned to him, "Now, tell me what truly happened." She said calmly.
"How about telling me first about my mother's health?" Diamant said and Martha sighed as she motioned him to keep following her with her fan.
"Queen Opal…her health is dropping. I don't know what to do." Martha sighed heavily as they arrived at a moon gate-shaped door, "I'm not giving up. I'm still trying to find a cure." She said and the door opened.
"Aunt." Diamant muttered as they walked in, "You haven't slept for days, haven't you?" Martha smiled bitterly.
"No. And I don't plan to. Not until I find a cure." Martha said softly, "Put her over there." She said pointing at the bed she had near the windows, "I'll take it from here."
Diamant took Perla to the bed and carefully set her down. He studied her features. Despite her pale complexion, she was a pretty woman. And it was the interesting name she had, her name meant Pearl in Elyos' common language. Still, the strange bag she had, he had never seen it before. His gaze fell to her ring, was it truly an Emblem? It was for a brief moment but he had never seen anyone use such power. The power of legends...
Would it be reported to Queen Lumera?
"Diamant, you can go now. I'll keep an eye on her." Martha's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he nodded.
"Just..." the woman raised an eyebrow as he stopped at the door, "did we witness the power of an Emblem of Legends?" He asked and Martha stared at him for a bit.
"Curious?" She asked and he would be lying if he said he wasn't, "The power of flames to burn sin and to heal the wounded...in exchange, the user takes their pain. The pain," she started walking towards him, "accumulates till it can no longer shoulder and then explodes to destroy everything in its path." She stopped next to the bed and looked at the woman.
"How fitting...for a doctor." Martha opened her fan and turned to look at him.
"But that pain should not have stayed after they transformed back to normal. Something is wrong with the ring...I can sense some sort of curse." She sighed heavily.
"Will you be able to help her?" Dimant asked and Martha nodded, "Also, you said Doctor...Alcryst did inform me that she said she was a traveling doctor from Solm." He looked back to Perla.
"Don't worry. She's in good hands."
Dimant was hesitant but nodded, closing the door after he went out. Martha remained silent and still before she let out a heavy sigh and turned to look at the woman. Her lips became a thin line as she leaned in closer. She sniffed the air and paused. They sniffed again and a smile formed on her face as she stood back straight.
"Well, well, well. I never thought I see your people again…..Mother. The scent of the stars and primordial sea."