“You can keep your weapons and Spheres.”
“But sir ...”
“They need our help and we could not ignore them. Do not let unreasonable fears hinder us to care for others.”
Aska was brought into treatment house with Eorin accompanied him while chief invited Marius into village hall. A gathering being held there, they talked about what kind of menace spreads on the West Rim recently. Mostly said that it was Azgalor army, other thought that it was a bandit and few had opinion that it was disease or strange beast but almost all replies put the blame on government and military.
“This is happened again, like old time before the great battle. Dark Lord’s army came and swept one villages to another, leaved no lives or dead.”
“The Dark Lord is dead, don’t call his name here. Maybe this is just common bandit or something.”
“No, bandit can’t do something like this, if it was them the royal forces have swept them already.”
“It’s Federation for sure. They always want the war with us.”
“Gentleman, please.” said chief tried to calm everyone.
“Maybe he should tell us.” said one of them pointing to Marius.
“What do you mean?” Marius wondered.
“I was there, about two weeks ago when I go to Dampitt Village to visit my brother. Military was there and the village was restricted. When I asked them they said that it was disease and the whole place was quarantined, no one allowed. However I don’t see someone in white only those guys in armor, so I don’t believe them.” said him, “Then I tried to enter to see it myself. My brother once told me about the underground passage he built so I sneaked there. And when I’m inside the entire village was empty and quiet, no one was there as if all of them taken away by some ghost. Hardly to believe that it was Azgalor or bandit, for only little part of the village had damaged and I see no blood there or dead body. You’re soldier, don’t you? What happened actually? And please don’t lie to us, our life may about sheep or grain but we’re not fools.”
“I’m just new guy here and my rank just took order no question. To be honest I had same question about whom or what we’re dealing now, is it Azgalor, bandits, beast, strange disease like government said or maybe ghost in the mist which dragged them into their realm. And we don’t know their motives, those peoples are missing, no blood no dead bodies as this man spoke, possibly they’re still alive held somewhere.” said Marius. “I believed Shell already do something.”
“’already do something’, that sounds like we must wait till they attack this village.”
“Listen, you can do something or you can just waiting in fear and do nothing when they’re coming.” said Marius. “Let me tell you, I am Ishtar soldier, sworn to protect all of you. I will not run, I will not leave, I will fight to protect you even it just me.” Marius stated.
“Then let me join on your side.” replied one of them.
“I don’t care whatever it was, I say we smash them all when they got here!” said one of them raises his hammer followed by yell from the others.
“Yeahhh!!!” shouted all of them.
“Thank you.” said chief to Marius.
“You don’t have to, I just keep their spirit.” said Marius.
“Maybe that’s all we need at the time like this.” replied him.
Marius then gave something to the chief, a talisman. “Keep it whatever happened, so I can keep my words to all of you. If you’ll excuse me, I have to see those kids.”
“Then go and see them.”
Marius rose and went out. The chief then looked at the talisman he gave. In his eyes it looks like an ordinary thing but somehow he feels some malice lurked in it and makes him uneasy just by keeping it.
Chapter 20
Terra Hand
“Look at this I got much Jackpot here.” said Morran, while showing a bag of Spheres. Scarlett could only collect in lesser number. With many Spheres they found made them have to sort out which ones are useful to get them out and which ones are not, though they were reckoned as a high level Sphere.
“Hey, this is Frost Wyrm, this sentient could only be found in the North White, pretty dangerous area, cold and unreturned. My friend once went there and not to be found again, maybe he already frozen there.” said Morran.
“Here’s I could only find.” Said Rey, then he showed a crystal chunk with a creature inside. “Is this a Sphere? I see a sentient sealed inside but the shape wasn’t spherical as in common.”
“It was Raw-Sphere. In common term it could be referred as Proto-Sphere. In old times all Sphere had a shape like this, well not actually shaped like this but all the Spheres at that time was raw and rough.” said Morran. “In ancient times when the castes system splits society in few degrees, a Sphere was used to show their social class, to show that their knowledge and magic was deserved for honor or even nobility. Mostly they attached it on their staff, rod, scepter or any kind of weapon which show a sense of honor or divinity. But don’t get wrong, even the Sphere was the one which showing their social class but they more concern about the shape of their weapon rather than the shape of crystal. That’s why they didn’t give a shape to crystal but only polish it.”
“How do you know this?”
“I was crazy lady but that doesn’t mean I am unintelligence. Besides I was lived in Runeglade before and you could read this sort of things in the any common libraries there.” said Morran “Ah Runeglade, I wish I could set foot there once again, beige floor of libraries, dusty and dirty parchments, the aroma of old papers was more tantalizing than the scent of every flower in the Namasse or, or sweet smell of fresh Colombona Coffee in the morning. You know son, paper and ink is the only thing that could never be replaced by times. Ah if only I could get out of here.”
“Instead lamented on your Runeglade why you don’t help us identify all this Spheres. I want to know what kind of sentient sealed inside and the abilities they had.”
“This is Frost Wyrm.” said Morran shows the Sphere of ice dragon once again. “Great level of ice magic, it could also make you become resist to cold and ice. It also granted you with the ‘frost sight’, you could see clearly among the fog or snow storm, very useful if you’re in area like North White or misty mountains in the northern region.”
“What about this?” Rey shows a Sphere containing sea dragon inside, the shape look similar to Azra’s dragon but slightly different, less ferocious but still looks dangerous as creatures which lies in the deep ocean.
“It is Myrmidon. You could breathe in the water and swim fast with this.” answered Scarlett “They’re not common for us who lived in the continent and coastal, for it was lived in the deeper ocean. But in the place like Azzure Point the Myrmidon was considered as daily life Sphere and their custom.” said Scarlett.
“Hey, I don’t know about this.” said Scarlett shows a Sphere with dragon sealed in it, much like a long serpent with four legs and long thin wings which spanned like fins.
“Let me see!” said Morran sharpen his eyes. “Whoa this is the Demon Knucker.” said Morran looks very excited.
“Demon Knucker?” said Scarlett look curious
“Well, it was extinct about 6000 years ago. I don’t blame you if you don’t know about it. According to the legend he can breathe a hot black smoke, like a shadow upon volcanoes, poisonous and very deadly.” said Morran snickered. “If only we could find a Sphere that contains its opposite sex we could unseal them out, breed them and preserve it. Although it would be very dangerous, the whole place will be … well just imagine when volcano got active.”
“A lot of valuable Spheres here, few of them even the rare ones. But none of them could get us to the surface.” Scarlett moaned.
“Actually, there is one that might be very useful ... this one!” said Moran gave a Sphere to Scarlett, inside it there’s a dark humanoid lizard with luminous red veins on its muscular body as if its blood was burning lava.”
“Is this ...”
>
“Cheruffe, subterranean fire creature, dwells beneath the Fire Mountain of Palisador. Great enough to classify as level A Spheres, possess powerful earth elemental and great fire. In the reign of Queen Astarte she often used this to create cataclysm, sent great earthquake or infernal disaster to whom opposed her, very terrible.” said Morran. “With this we could create small cracks that open our way to surface and what we need to do is just climbed it.”
“Unfortunately none of us could use it.” said Scarlett.
“Why?” asked Rey.
“Because none of us had strong valia to controls it. Using high level Spheres such as Cheruffe will only kill us.” replied Scarlett. “My uncle had one of this, took years to controlled it and yet he could only generates medium earthquake and common flame.”
“Your uncle must have been great to control such Sphere. Who is he? Maybe I know him.”
“Alden of Lucretia.” answered Scarlett.
“I don’t know him. The only one I knew with name Alden was just Alden Bytheroot of Bulvengard, bright and talented he was but stubborn fool and sloppy, always brought himself in trouble.”
Scarlett smiled then laughing “It’s him, it was my uncle. Alden Bytheroot is my uncle, of my mother, we moved from Midgard about twenty years ago.”
“Is that true?! Alden Bytheroot is your uncle?! Wow! The world smaller than I thought.” said Morran laughing.
“So you knew my uncle?”
“Of course I know him and all of Artharis companion. How he is now? Is he good and healthy? And how about his friend Sahagin, did he and that Volk youngling still teased him to mad? I hope they can beat Lord Azriel and save the world.”
Sympathy and respect was in her stare. The old man had been trapped here, in the deepest darkness for decades, thirty years or less in her reckoning. But the spirit and hope on him hasn’t been faded. And maybe being crazy was the only way for him to survive. The old man would prefer to live in the madness rather than drowning in despair.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it just I forgot it has been a long time your life was spent here.” said Scarlett. “Many things have happened since you’re here? Some might surprise you.”
"Why? What’s happened? Did Artharis and the others lost? Is the Dark Lord have dominated all over Spheria?”
“No it’s been better from the last time you had remembered, though not as good as you imagine. I’ll tell you later, for now I want to find the way out of here, for all of us.”
“All right then.” said Morran complied.
“What about this? Asked Scarlett “If I’m not wrong the sentient inside was earth elemental.”
“Yes it was, but I doubt it’s useful to get us out. His abilities were about the surface, controlled the ground or stick them out. I often used this Sphere at the camp when young, creating tall dirt wall to protect me from the beast.”
“Seemed nothing here quite useful than Cheruffe, couldn’t we think of other ways to use this Sphere?”
“I guess not, Cheruffe is sentient class A, too strong for any of us. Alden himself must be take years to control it, wasn’t him?”
“About 4 or 5 years from I knew.”
“If we’re forcing to use it, uncontrolled burst of energy will kill us or because Cheruffe had also strong element of fire it will instantly cremate our bodies in a try.” answered Morran. “And even if we could use it without any harm to ourselves, even if we mastered it fully like the Queen does, we’re blind down here. We don’t know where the magic will generate, we could make a huge crack in the middle of the city therefore we sacrifice many lives up there only to save ours.”
“It just crossed into my mind.” said Scarlett, she paused a moment to think of something “But how about combination?”
When both of them busy sorting and talking about the Spheres, Rey quietly take a walk into city ruins. He seemed in great distress, fear and threat might had passed as the Great Worm was accidentally fell into his stone blade but then the grim silence of the place dragged him into anxiousness once again. He began to worried, what if he couldn’t get out of here? Trapped forever and undiscovered.
Far enough he have bring himself so he couldn’t see his companions but two shadows beneath dim blue and their converse was sounded like whisper. Later he was sitting on debris, fiery blue floating above him like fireflies in the serene darkness and slowly he grew little calmer. Ruins and darkness which was like dreadful fate before now looks like an adventure and unforgotten dreams, yes he was in a place that has not been seen or touched by anyone even for people who live in this world.
Then his mind brought into many question about home, into those who he knew and loved. How about his grandfather? Certainly he was the one who had most concerned and worried about him. His only grandson disappeared, gone away without saying anything and unbeknown to him that there’s mysterious black crystal drew him in an unexpected journey.
And Asti? Surely she worried as much as his grandpa but Rey even worried more about his best friend. Who will beside her when she sad? What if her parent get quarrel once again and he wouldn’t be there to comfort her? What if his friend does suicide, ah it’s impossible, Asti too strong for that, but drugs …?”
And how about Melody? Is she would missed him? Or it otherwise around that she would be comfortably falling for another man without concerned him at all, mostly it will happen and it already has. Scarlett was right, she probably would never know that he was alive, always there and always looked at her. Maybe it was his own fault that he never dared to stood before her and looked into her eyes, even when he gave that gift to her.
His mind then travelled beyond space and time. Bring him back to a most daring night throughout his life, at least according to his measure. The incident was a few months ago, but the light at the dark end still feels glare in his eyes and the roaring sound of the old motor and the sound of rapid gunfire still echoing in his ears.
That night he stood in front of his house, waiting for his best friend. A pot of cactus lied on his hand neatly wrapped on plastic with cute little bear as the pattern. That day was Melody’s birthday and he couldn’t attend her party because he had to help his grandpa in the bookstore. This is near end of the month and their bookstore usually got crowded, between students who have just received the cash for the class to the person who pawned his book to survive till next salary. At the same moment Asti couldn’t get there too until the dusk sinks, noon to evening she was in Bandung to attend ‘Bandung Lautan Api’ Festival and had her band playing there. Because of that she got the idea and requested him to come in the birthday at night thought it might be over.
For a whole night he hesitated, a doubt was grew in his eyes and for many times he tried to drag his feet back as he wanted to get back into the house and hiding behind warmth blanket and forget this stupid idea. But then from the right corner of the road he heard the roaring sound of motor approaching with the blinding headlight drew closer. And the next thing he knew that Asti was before him, ride on the rig which was seemed 10 years older of their age, the side car is much shiny than the bike itself, black and fire patterned. And what wasn’t less surprised him was the rider itself, Asti worn dull brown leather jacket along with retro sunglasses and helmet, like she was Amelia Earhart on the motorcycle. And slung on her shoulder was the Thompson riffle, just a novelty gun but she seemed proud to hold it as if she wanted to be women on war in the past, graceful but tough.
“Where have you been dressing like that? And whose bike is this?”
“I have told you I was in Bandung and I gig with this outfit, cool right? And I hijacked this cool ride from an old collector. I just have to return it with a full tank.” said Asti confident “Let’s go to that goddess’s palace shall we?!”
“Don’t you want to change your clothes first? Is not like we going to war.”
“Love is war. You go forward with courage and confidence then shoot her straight through into her heart.” said Asti g
ave her riffle to Rey.
“I never think that far, I just want to come and give this to her because I have promised. After all we've been friends with her since junior high, there’s no reason for us not to attend on her birthday.”
“This is gonna be the most boring night on my life.” said Asti sighing and look sluggish, for a moment she leaning her head on handlebar but soon she spirited again. “Well, at least I could see your stupid silly face when you in front of her. Come get in!”
The bike was drove with Rey sitting on the sidecar. Not everyday people could see a bike with sidecar, especially when the rider worn an odd fashion and her sidekick hold the old riffle. They have succeeded to attract everybody’s attention with roaring sound of motor and it had embarrassed him all the way up. And about 10 minutes later they had arrived at Melody’s house. Both of them get down and walked slowly, both fear and excitement fell upon him as he looking at the house.
“Good luck!” said Asti encouraged him. But Rey, as was expected just stood looking at her house without dragging forward any of his feet and without noticed by him Asti secretly back into the bike and ready to start the engine suppose Rey didn’t turned at her first.
“What you’re doing?”
“I just check the gas.” answered Asti. Then she got off the bike again. “What you’re waiting for, just get in!”
“Should I do this?”
“Of course.” said Asti.
“Couldn’t we do this next year?”
“Just do it! Knock the door, say 'happy birthday' and gave the gift to her. That piece of cake.”
“Do you think I need to buy another gift?”
Asti looks upset and she sighed, “Be patience Asti, perhaps this is why you’re destined more manly than him.” that girl mumbled.
Asti then opened the gate, so slowly and carefully she opened it till nothing to be heard but little creaking in their ears. Just about two feet she opened it and with grinning face she told him to pass. Without a doubt he passed the gate but soon he turned again to Asti.