Pika stood with daggers in hand. Each breath burned his chest as he drew it in, and nearly choked him as he exhaled. His heart thundered in his ears so loud it was hard to hear anything else. The clouded night cast a thick fog over the entire are, giving perfect cover for an escape, but he could go nowhere yet. Not without her...
Where was she? His sister had disappeared from his side shouting and demanding for him to keep going, she was coming. DAMN but he shouldn't have listened. Now where was she? He pressed along the edge of the building, listening as the Vectorian guards passed by and holding his breath, quietly praying that they could not hear his thundering heart. They were so close but he was in no condition to fight. He had no strength left. He fought against the pain of his breath, captured in his chest, and waited, eyes wide open.
Dark edges intruded on his vision and he had to let his breath out in a rush. He heard the guards stop walking and his grip tightened around his dagger. A lump in his throat formed. He was scared. His sister was gone, he was here alone, and two Vectorian guards? He was no match! WHY did they come to this place? So stupid and thoughtless! Vector ruled these parts as well they knew, and their parents had been well known for their hatred against the Vector. But they had heard their other sister was here. They had to know, they had to see.
But now it was all for nothing, he thought, as the guards moved towards his hidden corner. Now he was separated from both sisters, and he would never know the fate of either. His 16 years of life was about to come to an end and he was alone. He closed his eyes and braced his feet. He would not go down without a fight. He swung around the corner and swung his right arm out with deadly accuracy towards one of the guards. The guard stumbled back and the other slashed out his sword, nicking Pika along his side as he, himself, stumbled back. The guards opend their mouths to shout and before a word could come out, a bolt of lightning shot down from the clouded sky, zapping right through the center of one of the guards and jumping to the other.
Pika took no pause as he circled around, stabbing his daggers once, twice, three times into the back of the guard who was still standing. He paid no mind to the guard as he fell, instead scanning the area quickly for his sister. Surely it was her doing. A hand grabbed him from behind and without hesitation they were both running down an alley way, fleeing the city before more guards could overcome them. One more fight would be the end of both Pika and Tika. Fleeing was the only option for now. Their sister would have to wait. Perhapse they would need to find another way of discovering her location.
Impossible Chances
Entering Market Square he could hear people talking about the airship that was hovering there, "At least other people could see it." he thought, before stopping to get a better look. He says to himself as others look up at the airship "at least now I know I'm not going crazy."
"I can't believe that you can win this airship!" a young lady says to his side. Tenchi stops for a moment, with a quizzical look, before getting the person's attention, "Excuse me, miss, what do you mean win this airship?" Looking shocked as though someone asked her what color the sky was she responds, "Haven't you heard? If you find the keys for this ship, it's yours, to keep forever! Talk about a dream ride!" Holding up one of the keys he found he responds with a question, "Do the keys look like this?" the young ladies eyes get wide, "Yes! You found one!" she exclaims, "I have been out looking for them, but I heard there are many of them, but only one key works." She explains "The one I found didn't work, I am SO upset about that." She stomps her foot and crosses her arms, clearly upset.
Figuring he didn't have a chance, he might as well try. Tenchi dismounts and walks up to the hatch of the airship holding the key in his hand. He puts the first key in the door and tries turning it, the lock doesn't budge. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out another key sliding it into the hatch, the lock again does not budge. Muttering to himself as he pulls a third key from his pocket, "What would I want with a pink airship anyway" he slides the key into the lock, "It's not like it won't be noticed from a mile away anyway." As the key turns with a soft click.
Standing there for a moment, stunned, he removes the key and pushes the hatch open. Cheering and crying alike can be heard all around as he climbs into the ship. A banner on the opposite side of the hatch read as follows.
Welcome winner! Congratulations on winning the best little airship money can buy. What's more? You get to drive this shiny new baby around town like a pretty little princess in her brand new porche.
"I can't believe that you can win this airship!" a young lady says to his side. Tenchi stops for a moment, with a quizzical look, before getting the person's attention, "Excuse me, miss, what do you mean win this airship?" Looking shocked as though someone asked her what color the sky was she responds, "Haven't you heard? If you find the keys for this ship, it's yours, to keep forever! Talk about a dream ride!" Holding up one of the keys he found he responds with a question, "Do the keys look like this?" the young ladies eyes get wide, "Yes! You found one!" she exclaims, "I have been out looking for them, but I heard there are many of them, but only one key works." She explains "The one I found didn't work, I am SO upset about that." She stomps her foot and crosses her arms, clearly upset.
Figuring he didn't have a chance, he might as well try. Tenchi dismounts and walks up to the hatch of the airship holding the key in his hand. He puts the first key in the door and tries turning it, the lock doesn't budge. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out another key sliding it into the hatch, the lock again does not budge. Muttering to himself as he pulls a third key from his pocket, "What would I want with a pink airship anyway" he slides the key into the lock, "It's not like it won't be noticed from a mile away anyway." As the key turns with a soft click.
Standing there for a moment, stunned, he removes the key and pushes the hatch open. Cheering and crying alike can be heard all around as he climbs into the ship. A banner on the opposite side of the hatch read as follows.
Welcome winner! Congratulations on winning the best little airship money can buy. What's more? You get to drive this shiny new baby around town like a pretty little princess in her brand new porche.
Trickery?
Tenchi had spent a great deal of time thinking, too much probably, he really needed to get his problem taken care of. He decided that before he went through with the process, he would take some time to wander the places he had been before, while he could.
With the assistance of Niliwine at the Keepers castle he befriended one of dragons that he cares for. Tenchi traveled to the various places of the realm: his favorite shops in Torregiano and to see how much progress they had made, New Thalos to catch up with his old teacher, and finally to Thalos to visit the library for its section on magical research to see if anyone had come across this affliction before.
Unsurprisingly no one had, Tenchi sighed and left the library. He wandered Old Thalos, making his way through the general populous, he noticed a splash of color on the ground. Odd, that no one seemed to take notice of colorful object that stood out like a sore thumb, "How could they not notice?" He asked himself, it was bright pink. Pausing to dismount he picks up the pink object, a key, he mounts the dragon companion, puzzled by this key that no one else could see.
Continuing down the path he notices another pink key, "Is someone playing a trick on me?" he thought. He again collects the second key, no one paying heed to what he is picking up. Puzzled Tenchi leaves Thalos, letting the dragon walk as he examines the keys. Finding himself feeling a bit cold, he stops the dragon and looks around, he finds himself in a dark forest, another pink key on the ground and another one a little farther down the path.
Feeling as if someone truly had been playing tricks on him, he decides to head back to the castle. He pats the dragon on the side and urges the dragon on, back up the path and back to the main road, making his way back to Westbridge. "Someone really must be playing a trick on me.", he thought, as he entered through the gates he could see there was a very pink airship off in the distance.
With the assistance of Niliwine at the Keepers castle he befriended one of dragons that he cares for. Tenchi traveled to the various places of the realm: his favorite shops in Torregiano and to see how much progress they had made, New Thalos to catch up with his old teacher, and finally to Thalos to visit the library for its section on magical research to see if anyone had come across this affliction before.
Unsurprisingly no one had, Tenchi sighed and left the library. He wandered Old Thalos, making his way through the general populous, he noticed a splash of color on the ground. Odd, that no one seemed to take notice of colorful object that stood out like a sore thumb, "How could they not notice?" He asked himself, it was bright pink. Pausing to dismount he picks up the pink object, a key, he mounts the dragon companion, puzzled by this key that no one else could see.
Continuing down the path he notices another pink key, "Is someone playing a trick on me?" he thought. He again collects the second key, no one paying heed to what he is picking up. Puzzled Tenchi leaves Thalos, letting the dragon walk as he examines the keys. Finding himself feeling a bit cold, he stops the dragon and looks around, he finds himself in a dark forest, another pink key on the ground and another one a little farther down the path.
Feeling as if someone truly had been playing tricks on him, he decides to head back to the castle. He pats the dragon on the side and urges the dragon on, back up the path and back to the main road, making his way back to Westbridge. "Someone really must be playing a trick on me.", he thought, as he entered through the gates he could see there was a very pink airship off in the distance.
Thinking the Impossible
As Sanria stared at the cottage, a low whistling could be heard. She turned to find Thasmudyan. She did not have the rush of emotion she used to have. It was simply like meeting an old friend - albeit one you were embarrassed to inform of your polyandry. Still, they spoke, Sanria noting the distinct absence of any questions about Nioma. He had truly let go of his daughter. She gave him a tour of the castle, inviting him to apply to the Keepers, and after a bite to eat, they said their goodbyes. Sanria checked her mental list. She could say truthfully that she was no longer in love with Thasmudyan, but she hoped that he would be part of the Keepers and remain her friend.
She returned to the cavern later that evening after finishing a bit of work. That night she spoke with Colin, determining that the two men were at odds. Colin spoke about how they should be together, and Sanria found herself thinking about the way Gilean looked at her. She had seen he and Claire together, she saw the concern on his face when she sat in the living room. She knew what it looked like when someone was holding back what they felt. She certainly thought she had seen it on Gilean's face.
Sanria offered Gilean the chance to leave, to not feel obligated to stay. The answer was a resounding no. Sanria frowned at the distress on Gilean's face and was confused. He said he loved her, wanted to be with her, that she was the mother of his children, and wanted her to want him. She felt guilty that she didn't want him to leave, but at the same time... at the same time she knew that somewhere inside of his mind, of his heart... she was his second choice.
The following day she sat at the kitchen table alone. She closed her eyes. "Leandra, I know you probably don't want to talk to me, but, I truly need your help."
The flippant acid reply came back, "What do you want, mom?"
"I need you to tell me where I can find Claire."
She returned to the cavern later that evening after finishing a bit of work. That night she spoke with Colin, determining that the two men were at odds. Colin spoke about how they should be together, and Sanria found herself thinking about the way Gilean looked at her. She had seen he and Claire together, she saw the concern on his face when she sat in the living room. She knew what it looked like when someone was holding back what they felt. She certainly thought she had seen it on Gilean's face.
Sanria offered Gilean the chance to leave, to not feel obligated to stay. The answer was a resounding no. Sanria frowned at the distress on Gilean's face and was confused. He said he loved her, wanted to be with her, that she was the mother of his children, and wanted her to want him. She felt guilty that she didn't want him to leave, but at the same time... at the same time she knew that somewhere inside of his mind, of his heart... she was his second choice.
The following day she sat at the kitchen table alone. She closed her eyes. "Leandra, I know you probably don't want to talk to me, but, I truly need your help."
The flippant acid reply came back, "What do you want, mom?"
"I need you to tell me where I can find Claire."
Turnabout (2 of 2)
Gilean's expression faltered. "No... you said something..."
"Sanria said she could see it. Something she saw when you and Claire were together." Colin shrugged dismissively. "If you don't believe me, why don't you ask Sanria yourself."
Gilean stood staring at Colin for another moment, fighting whether or not to accept what he had just been told. That is what Sanria had said, something about the way he looked at Claire. But no, that was over, Claire was gone and Sanria was his family now. He loved her, the kids loved her. Claire was gone.
Gilean's shoulders drooped a bit in defeat as he turned to leave the training room.
"Gilean!" Colin called sharply.
Gilean paused and half turned, looking over his shoulder at the decidedly intense glare of the large warrior.
"Sanria better be wrong about you and Claire. I better not be putting up with all of this if you would rather be with someone else. And you better not hurt Sanria. Because if you do..."
Gilean narrowed his eyes with a scowl and silently left the room.
"Sanria said she could see it. Something she saw when you and Claire were together." Colin shrugged dismissively. "If you don't believe me, why don't you ask Sanria yourself."
Gilean stood staring at Colin for another moment, fighting whether or not to accept what he had just been told. That is what Sanria had said, something about the way he looked at Claire. But no, that was over, Claire was gone and Sanria was his family now. He loved her, the kids loved her. Claire was gone.
Gilean's shoulders drooped a bit in defeat as he turned to leave the training room.
"Gilean!" Colin called sharply.
Gilean paused and half turned, looking over his shoulder at the decidedly intense glare of the large warrior.
"Sanria better be wrong about you and Claire. I better not be putting up with all of this if you would rather be with someone else. And you better not hurt Sanria. Because if you do..."
Gilean narrowed his eyes with a scowl and silently left the room.
Turnabout (1 of 2)
Gilean entered the upstairs training room to see Colin actively working over one of the dummies in the room with a practice blade. He took a moment to be sure the door was securely closed behind himself before turning toward the larger man with an accusing glare. "Just what are you doing?"
Colin barely spared Gilean a glance as he continued in his measured strikes. "I'm training, and I don't recall inviting you. However, if you'd like to take up a blade and spar..." Colin flashed Gilean a mocking grin.
"You know what I'm talking about. Sanria."
Colin paused in his strikes and let his arms drop, turning toward Gilean with a scowl of his own. "No, I don't know what you're talking about. Last I heard you seem to be getting everything you want so you're going to have to be a little more specific."
Gilean took a few steps toward Colin. "What did you say to her? She comes to me and starts talking about helping Claire, bringing her back, letting me be with her!"
"Well, maybe that would just be better. You could have your own family and I could have mine."
"How dare you suggest that to her," Gilean said, pointing his finger at Colin angrily, "My family is with Sanria. She's the mother of my children. Not just the babies, but Matinus and Nioma."
"I suggest you watch yourself," Colin retorted as he raised the dulled practice blade back in Gilean's direction. "Nioma's not even your child. I was going to raise her before you were even around. Just one more thing you have tried taking from me."
Gilean stood his ground for a moment, his eyes locked with Colin's and his jaw tense, before finally dropping his finger. "What did you say to her?"
"Do you want to know the funny thing," Colin scoffed with a small shrug, "I didn't say anything at all. That was all Sanria."
Colin barely spared Gilean a glance as he continued in his measured strikes. "I'm training, and I don't recall inviting you. However, if you'd like to take up a blade and spar..." Colin flashed Gilean a mocking grin.
"You know what I'm talking about. Sanria."
Colin paused in his strikes and let his arms drop, turning toward Gilean with a scowl of his own. "No, I don't know what you're talking about. Last I heard you seem to be getting everything you want so you're going to have to be a little more specific."
Gilean took a few steps toward Colin. "What did you say to her? She comes to me and starts talking about helping Claire, bringing her back, letting me be with her!"
"Well, maybe that would just be better. You could have your own family and I could have mine."
"How dare you suggest that to her," Gilean said, pointing his finger at Colin angrily, "My family is with Sanria. She's the mother of my children. Not just the babies, but Matinus and Nioma."
"I suggest you watch yourself," Colin retorted as he raised the dulled practice blade back in Gilean's direction. "Nioma's not even your child. I was going to raise her before you were even around. Just one more thing you have tried taking from me."
Gilean stood his ground for a moment, his eyes locked with Colin's and his jaw tense, before finally dropping his finger. "What did you say to her?"
"Do you want to know the funny thing," Colin scoffed with a small shrug, "I didn't say anything at all. That was all Sanria."
Will there be life?
Aneh looked down at her hands. She silently chided herself on paying more attention and placed her hands on her belly. The child within knew her limitations better than she did. She took some time to meditate and center herself before she rose from her quiet place within the Tripower Hall. One last push. That's what she had said. She would make it true. She had employed several tripower liches to aid in this process. She wanted no more chances.
Aneh sent a young recruit to gather her team members and made her way to the lab. She took some time to look down on the stones. She had so many feelings about these stones. They were so... odd, so full of life. But that seemed an impossibility. It was just magic, wasn't it? Was it her own wishful thinking that something deeper could be at play here? Maybe it was her out of control hormones that were playing tricks on her. Aneh's team started filtering in, taking up their positions and starting their work. The time was now, she knew, and she turned to her team.
'This is it, guys. After this we will go directly to the suit and we will start the final processes. Everyone will be working through until this is complete. I hope you all are well rested because no one leaves until we are done.' Aneh looked at each of her team members for any signs that they weren't in this for the long haul. Seeing none, she nodded and turned to the stones.
'Let's begin,' she said. Aneh filtered her magic through two of the stones, much like she had before. She closed her eyes and let the process overtake her, becoming one with the process and melding her magic and life force with the stones. When the stones duplicated, Aneh stepped back. She motioned for her team to move in, and watched, her eyes still glowing from the interaction with the materia, as the grand suit was rolled forward by several men. Tripower Wizards came forward, magic trinkets in hand and liches followed, one for every wizard. Aneh nodded quietly as she, alone took each stone and placed it in its proper setting within the suit. One in each knee joint, one at each shoulder, one where a human heart would be, and one, the original mastered stone, where a human brain would be. Six stones. There was one more setting at the back, and that was for the item that would bind this all together. Aneh nodded to a young wizard who brought a jet black object forward. It looked like a simple stone, but for weeks now, it had been infused with spells and magicks of the Tripower Wizards, more delicate and purposeful than the mechanical workings of the suit its self. Aneh watched carefully as it was placed in its setting and after a deep breath, she nodded.
Chanting began from liches and wizards alike, and Aneh stood directly in front of the suit, with her team fanned out behind. She watched the eyes of the suit, as if they were a real live mans, waiting for the being to 'wake'.
'The world is waiting for you,' Aneh whispered, a soft smile playing on her lips as her team frantically wove their spells. Aneh reached out to the stone that was where the heart should be. She allowed her magic to flow into the stone, her eyes glowing a bit more as the link was formed, visible magic and life essence flowing from one stone, to another, forming a complete link. Men stood by, closing up the suit as Aneh stepped back, breaking her connection to the flow, and allowing it to stand on its own.
'Come on, I know you're in there,' she whispered...
Aneh sent a young recruit to gather her team members and made her way to the lab. She took some time to look down on the stones. She had so many feelings about these stones. They were so... odd, so full of life. But that seemed an impossibility. It was just magic, wasn't it? Was it her own wishful thinking that something deeper could be at play here? Maybe it was her out of control hormones that were playing tricks on her. Aneh's team started filtering in, taking up their positions and starting their work. The time was now, she knew, and she turned to her team.
'This is it, guys. After this we will go directly to the suit and we will start the final processes. Everyone will be working through until this is complete. I hope you all are well rested because no one leaves until we are done.' Aneh looked at each of her team members for any signs that they weren't in this for the long haul. Seeing none, she nodded and turned to the stones.
'Let's begin,' she said. Aneh filtered her magic through two of the stones, much like she had before. She closed her eyes and let the process overtake her, becoming one with the process and melding her magic and life force with the stones. When the stones duplicated, Aneh stepped back. She motioned for her team to move in, and watched, her eyes still glowing from the interaction with the materia, as the grand suit was rolled forward by several men. Tripower Wizards came forward, magic trinkets in hand and liches followed, one for every wizard. Aneh nodded quietly as she, alone took each stone and placed it in its proper setting within the suit. One in each knee joint, one at each shoulder, one where a human heart would be, and one, the original mastered stone, where a human brain would be. Six stones. There was one more setting at the back, and that was for the item that would bind this all together. Aneh nodded to a young wizard who brought a jet black object forward. It looked like a simple stone, but for weeks now, it had been infused with spells and magicks of the Tripower Wizards, more delicate and purposeful than the mechanical workings of the suit its self. Aneh watched carefully as it was placed in its setting and after a deep breath, she nodded.
Chanting began from liches and wizards alike, and Aneh stood directly in front of the suit, with her team fanned out behind. She watched the eyes of the suit, as if they were a real live mans, waiting for the being to 'wake'.
'The world is waiting for you,' Aneh whispered, a soft smile playing on her lips as her team frantically wove their spells. Aneh reached out to the stone that was where the heart should be. She allowed her magic to flow into the stone, her eyes glowing a bit more as the link was formed, visible magic and life essence flowing from one stone, to another, forming a complete link. Men stood by, closing up the suit as Aneh stepped back, breaking her connection to the flow, and allowing it to stand on its own.
'Come on, I know you're in there,' she whispered...
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