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This story continues... excuse my bad English and the rushed quality of the art, this was done ages ago, and i've decided to post the whole thing here as well
the other chapters:
Lost traveler 1: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21138550/
Lost traveler 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21157647/
Lost traveler 3: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21232130/
Lost traveler 4: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21307276/
Lost traveler 5: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/22178174/
Lost traveler 6: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/42074410/
Lost traveler 8: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44231054/
The story starts here:
The desertic expanse was way hotter than little Flare had ever imagined possible, she’d never been in a dessert after all. “To think that the sea wasn’t that far away”, thought her. Under a magical cloud she summoned, she was waiting for the mystery cat, already feeling how the savage daemons were beginning to come closer to her, their disgusting auras of confusion and hunger already starting to disorient her and upset her stomach; if the spires of City 45 weren’t big enough to be almost impossible to miss, she’d be in a lot more danger of getting lost forever in the Savage Lands… in the Cosmic Miasma.
And then, she felt a familiar aura. A good mage never forgets and aura and the Felixin’s was not one she’ll ever forget, no matter what. It made her think in silence, a calmed silence capable of overriding the sounds of the wind around her. That’s when she felt the hum of an incoming vehicle:
It was one of those levitating cars, like the one that goat researched owned. This one was black and had also four seats. In the driver’s seat was the very same grey furred Felixin she met during the train fiasco: Amcel, and, unsurprisingly enough, he was wearing the black robes of the Adeptus from the Church of the Sacred Darkness. The symbol of their faith, her faith as well, the moon around an eye, was very visible in his chest.
-Good day, lady Flare!- greeted the felixin with an easy smile- I hope I didn’t make you wait too long- then he yawned a little. He must have interrupted his sleep to come for her, after all, most mages and members of the church tended to be nocturnal.
-Greetings, Amcel- replied her with a little bow of her head- let’s go already, savage daemons are going to come soon- The felixin nodded.
-I feel them too… you came with magic, eh? - he asks rhetorically as she sits on the seat at his side and uses her magic to adjust her seatbelt, which covers most of her small body- well, let’s get going, I’m not interested in fighting this early in the morning-
-I’m just hoping you take me to the Holy Darkness Temple as you said… and that you’ll help me in solving this mess- murmured her, her talking gem purposefully sending the message in a low volume.
-We’ll be going there, and I’ll definitely help you in solving these mysteries, now let’s go, my master awaits- That said, the cat started the vehicle and they were on their way to the city.
Not that far from the place Flare and Amcel met, Nyepu and Giorgio were traversing the sand dunes on the latter’s car, followed by a wheeled truck full of battle mages and an anti-magic soldier.
-I must give it to her… that little red bird certainly is fast- comments Giorgio, driving.
Nyepu only nodded as a response from the backseat, he had taken his aquatic form to be able to coil there, since his legs would have been too big to fit in the car, he’d really prefer to fly by himself to the city, but he still needed to recharge some energy before he could reactivate his biological anti-gravity generators.
-Incomming Savage Daemons, please reduce speed and allow us to take the lead- said suddenly a male voice in their heads.
-Great…- muttered Giorgio annoyed- she must have done more magic to keep us busy fighting those horrors- said the goat researcher bitterly, doing as instructed by the voice of one of their combat mages, swerving to one side and reducing speed to allow the truck to pass them.
-I doubt she’d be that thoughtful… she used magic to come here as fast as possible, that was all- commented Nyepu, very sure of Flare’s lack of planification skills.
They watched as many small hatches opened at the sides and top of the reinforced vehicle. the magicians where already readying their spells to throw them at the first sign of a savage daemon getting too close, while from the upper hatch, three white drones emerged, each levitating by a pair of anti-gravity generators strapped to a structure around the spherical bodies of the drones. Two of them flew a little further from the vehicle, to it’s sides, while one flew over Nyepu and Giorgio’s car.
-Thankfully those trucks come with nullifier drones- comments the goat-looking homunculus.
Nyepu couldn’t help but feel a little relieved by the presence of the little robots equipped with PNGs, Psychic Noise Generators, another anti-magic technology.
-Contact! three enemies incoming, two from the left, and one from the right!- said the male voice from before.
The two researchers couldn’t help but watch around in search of the existencial horrors. And just like that, they noticed all the sand the daemons were lifting with their movement between the dunes far from them, their nasty auras not affecting them yet because of distance and the disruptive presence of the drones’ anti-magic field.
-Maybe we didn’t think this through…- comments Giorgio, dissimulating his nervousness with a giggle.
Nyepu didn’t reply right away, instead checking what could be seen of the spires of City 45 over the horizon already. With a quick math he estimated their distance to the city and, assuming that the savage daemons didn’t get faster in their approaching to them, then by accelerating by 4 Km/h2 they’d be able to be in range of the City’s defenses before the monsters could even attack them… they’ll be safe… he was about to order acelerating when the male voice talked again:
-A fourth Daemon signal… Is coming from underground! Now!- almost shouted in urgency.
Half a second later, the sand exploded under the reinforced car, sending it flying to the blue skies. The magicians response was fast, though, and they managed to make their vehicle fly further, enveloped by shadows and light; meanwhile. Giorgio stomped on the brake, making Nyepu hit his muzzle against the windshield, and started to go reverse while the dragon rubbed his sore nose.
-Fuck fuck fuck fuck…- was rapidly muttering the goat guy while trying to get away from the gigantic thing made of sand, stone and flesh that had just erupted from beneath the dunes they were oh-so-happily traversing. The thing probably looked like a horrible worm covered in tentacles and eyes but Nyepu was too busy trying to ignore it and trying to calm his friend down to tell for sure.
As one of the drones came flying to them (the other apparently was buried in sand) they heard the telepathic order of going in full throttle to City 45, since the other daemons were coming faster to them as well. Nyepu had to slap Giorgio with one of his back tentacles to make him recover his senses… then, he had to restrain him with the tendrils from his pincer since the guy was dead-set in going back to the research facility instead of continuing with “this madness”, as the goat put it. Nyepu had a hard time using his back tentacles and his one very big hand to try and drive the car from the back seat, while restraining his friend (who was being very verbally rude and moving a lot) and being followed, and deafened, by a screaming and maddening sand worm and other horrors. He drove as fast as possible, evading the dunes while watching the city spires growing bigger and barely noticing how the NERV Projector soldier, a ram type homunculus, was shooting the weapon’s weird energy beam at the monsters from the flying truck above them. “I need to incorporate a NERV Bio-Proyector to my pincer” he thought idly.
-You better be in City 45 when I get there, Flare… and pray to the Dark God that I don’t lose a single employee in this mess… or, for Leviathan, Argenta and the God that Left, that I’m going to indebt your tail forever!- murmured, with a very low and menacing tone, the very, very pissed off dragon while evading a tentacle from the daemonic sand worm, thanks to an opportune warning of a mage. His mind was a mess of anxiety for his barely sufficient driving, and curses and insults towards himself, Flare and reality, just like Giorgio’s.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long before he heard a simple “Incomming!” from the battle mages before the whistling of artillery shells began to fulfill the air, replacing the maddening screams of the worms and the curses of his colleague.
They got to the city under the roaring of explosions and horrible madness-inducing screeching.
-Well, as I said, here we are! The temple of the Holy Darkness Church!- said Amcel dramatically from the driver’s seat, motioning his hands to the temple.
She’d been at the temples of her Church before, there was at least one in all the cities, after all. Like the other glorious sanctuaries of the magical people, the temple was a huge structure which started as a stepped pyramid, like a Ziggurat, and had a huge tower built on the top. It was made of a magical dark stone so black that it didn’t reflected the light, and in which you could see the magnificence of the cosmos: nebulas, stars, galaxies and comets perpetually moving on the dark surface. If it weren’t for the edges plated in gold, the whole thing would look like a dark gate, or window, to the eternity.
Once they were out of the car, Amcel just vanished the vehicle, storing it into his magical inventory, apparently, before they started to advance towards the temple, passing by some mages meditating in the gardens or by the ponds around the building.
Flare couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic, she had spent a lot of time training in the Temple of the Holy Darkness of her home city under the guidance of her master. She also felt safe, surrounded by the familiar auras of the magical defenses of the Temple.
As they entered into the main Hall, a huge space with statues made of white stone depicting faceless mages of each magic-capable race in Onirica, Flare couldn’t help herself:
-Well, now that we are here… mind telling me how are you going to help me? Or what’s all this about premonitions?- her face went a little darker then- Or was this all just to insist on training me in blood magic- The Felixin flinched a little at that.
-Well, I definitely am intent on insisting in that- started him having the decency of sounding ashamed, but that was enough for Flare. When her face was beginning to twist in disgust he lifted his hands placatingly, talking faster- but I definitely will help you in your enterprise! I’m offering you the full support of our church, we’ll just need to make some calls and The Sky Kingdom’s branch of our Church will be on your side… of course, we first need to be sure you are the one in the premotions-
-Didn’t you say already that it was me?- asked her confused.
-Weeellll- he rubbed the back of his head, his ears falling back- I may have… exaggerated a little…- she blinked in confusion, he sighed- Premonitions and prophecies are not very easy to interpret, but all things considered, you were the most likely candidate… and now that you are here, we just need to meet my master, he’ll be able to tell us for sure- She didn’t know premonitions were that annoying, why would they have to be? Suddenly, something really got her worried.
-And what would happen if I’m not the right person?- asked her cautiously.
-Not much- Amcel shrugged- your case will lose priority but will still be investigated, my master will chew me out for making such a mistake and I’ll be send to search for the right person…-
-Ah…- said her, flying alongside him, not really sure of how to feel about that at all. If she weren’t the person of the premonitions, that could be good and bad: on one wing, she’d be free of those scary omens from before, but on the other, she’d lose the support Amcel had promised… wait a second...
-Your word as mage bounds you to help me immediately- said her- no matter if I’m not the one the premonition talks about- said her as they got to one of six elevators at the end of the hall. He smiled at that.
-Never mentioned anything about immediate help- he gave her a knowing smile as she stood on his shoulder while the elevator took off- nice try, though; but I’m an Adeptus, I can remember every single one of my words without much difficulty, a skill I can teach you- she gave him an annoyed glare.
-I pass- replied her, crossing her wings; he shrugs
-Your loss, Lady Flare-
One of the wonders of the Temple was that the walls, while impervious to light from the outside, could be translucent from the inside, giving to the mages the ability to watch beyond the walls at will… or at least, as long as their will was strong enough. Amcel made it possible for them to view outside and they were greeted with a beautiful view of the City’s spires and buildings, the sea and the train’s electromagnetic railway, as well as some of the flying vehicles and coastal defenders.
-But you are right in that I gave you my word- said suddenly the cat; she looked at him and he was now looking at the distance with a serious expression- Helping you is my priority now and will be, no matter what- she remained looking at him for a while until the elevator stopped. - well…- said him as an entrances formed in the wall behind them. - we are here! - announced him, leading the way into the new space… or more precisely, carrying her on his shoulder…
The room was a little cold and was made of the same dark stone… there were no golden edges this time, so the only way to safely traverse the room would be to have your magical sense at full alert, to the point of percieving the usually overlook “soul” of everything that exists. Flare did just that and her aura slammed against a powerful presence inside the place. The moment her aura touched that other, she felt tranquility but also couldn’t help but think in an intense silver light, awe inspiring yet distant and benevolent.
-I’ve brought Lady Flare as I said I would, Master…- announced Amcel to the owner of the Aura, a being she was still unable to see, only feel. Then, in the infinite darkness, a pale silver light allowed a silhouette to be distinguished, a figure who apparently was sitting in the ground, with legs crossed and hands spread as in a welcoming gesture. A voice chuckled in the gloom, it was deep and grave.
-You’ve done well, my grandson- “Grandson?!” thought the little princess in surprise, “then this old mage must be…”- suddenly a pair of silver orbs appeared in the darkness and the light became a little more intense, showing more of the figure in the room: a skeleton, a felixin one, the light orbs were in its eye sockets and the whole being was enveloped in the silver light which was actually an aura that took the vaguely shape of a creature with big ears, like that of a felixin, there was an halo suspended over the skeleton’s head and from its head came multiple strands of light that gave the idea of long hairs. The being was wearing some kind of black armor. “A lich… this guy is a Felixin Medium!” thought Flare in awe, remembering the rare felixin mutant capable of interacting with the souls of the dead, bring them from beyond and controlling death itself… a mere Necromancer would have a hard time doing anything this blessed agents of nature could do -Welcome to our humble abode, Lady Flare- said the lich- I’m Celio, Adeptus Primus of the local Temple of the Holy Darkness- the magician stood up and the little Estirge couldn’t help but lower her head in a respectful way, even if the Adeptu Primus wasn’t that much taller than, let’s say, Amcel.- I’m glad you could come-
-I’m humbled to be in your presence- said her without looking up, Celio chuckled.
-I guess, you don’t meet us Mediums everyday- with that, he laughed a little- but enough, you came because we offered our helped and so shall be done…- he then remained silent for a moment- after we’ve dealt with our visitors, that is-
-Visitors?- asked Flare and Amcel at the same time; it didn’t take long for Flare to come up with an idea of who may these visitors be but that didn’t make any sense! why would he be here?! Why would her dragon friend come all the way from his place in the middle of the desert? To follow her? She made it clear that she needed to go as quickly as possible to her nation, that she wouldn’t wait for Argenta… was he here to force his ideas, then? or maybe… “maybe he dropped that and wants to help me?” she blushed a little at that small hope.
-Indeed, I can feel 6 mages and some lesser auras in the entrance… they are all a little tense…- She allowed herself to hope that the dragon researcher came with reinforcements to help her, but a voice in her mind was telling her that said “reinforcements” were there to assist him in forcing her back to the research facility…
-Let’s go- said her to the magical felines, who shared a look before boarding the elevator and descend to the Hall with her.
-Nyepu!- cried her in surprise.
-Greetings, Flare…- greeted him, coldly.
-You came for...- she began.
-I came to bring you back- he interrupted.
-That’s nice, but unnecessary- added Amcel with simplicity, smiling.
-No one asked you, kitty- intervened Giorgio with an annoyed expression, arms crossed before himself.
-Rudeness is also unnecessary… and won’t be tolerated in this temple- sing-songs Celio, arms crossed behind him.
Silence, of the tense kind, reigned in the Hall of the Temple of the Holy Darkness after that. A few minutes later, though, Nyepu sighed and said:
-In behalf of my team…-
-Your team?- interrupted Giorgio, rising a brow.
-Our team- rectified the white dragon, rolling his eyes, before continuing- I’m sorry for our sudden visit, but we really need to take Lady Flare back to our research Facility-
-Well, I’m not going back there, Nyepu- stated the little avian, giving the dragon researcher a very haughty look, wings crossed, from the head of Amcel where she was standing. Nyepu gave her a slightly more annoyed glare.
-You heard the lady, gentlemen- adds the Adeptus with a cocky smile, Giorgio rolled his eyes.
-Why would you take here there, anyway? She’d be safer here, not to mention that we will help her with the resources of our Church- said the felixin lich, in a very clear attempt at keeping things civil. Nyepu was about to talk but Giorgio beat him to it.
-As you may know, lady Flare’s situation is the kind of anomaly that Argenta expects to be informed about, but, to make sure this is really something worth mentioning her, we need to make some tests on the princess. Data to accurately label this is an anomaly is required, and to gather that data, we’ll need to use equipment that is currently in our labs, back in our research facility-
-Aren’t you the guys trying to bring back some ancient biological technology?- asks suddenly Amcel- what are you going go to do? Test how old is her?- the Adeptus got a slightly creepy glare from his grandfather for his words- I mean it, what kind of test would you run there?-
-Of the genetics variety- answered Nyepu simply- detailing them to someone who knows little of the field would be a waste of time- he shrugged while offering a light smile to the felixin, whose face remained civil as ever, and, before anyone could interrupt him, he added- rest assure that the point is to get enough information to corroborate that the Flare on your head is not a clone created by any possible clonation technique-
-And how will that help us? I’m sure I’m not a clone!- said Flare feeling insulted.
-In sciences, subjective statements are not enough, we need hard proves and we, as the senior geneticists that we are, are very well qualified to get said information- replied Giorgio in a matter-of-fact tone- also, if we prove the you are not a clone created by the known technology, Argenta will lend us her resources to solve this mystery-
-Add her help to the help your new friends are offering, and you’ll have this problem solve in less than a week, with risks of failure reduced to the minimun- intervened Nyepu- wouldn’t you agree then that this is the best possible course of action, magicians?-
-I don’t…!- started to say Flare.
-I think…- started to say Amcel.
-I agree- stated Celio and the others looked at him, Flare with shock and Amcel with mild curiosity, obviously hiding his own shock.- The shadow I perceived in my premonition was too big and too terrible- informs him to the other two arcanists and the combat mages of the researchers’ squad showed their surprise at that- We need to be careful, to make sure whatever move we make is going to bring us closer to victory, and to not waste any resource, that’s the way of us mages… and also of you, people of science…- he remained silent for a moment, a moment in which Flare was beginning to feel betrayed again, Amcel angry and Nyepu and Giorgio, triumphant- but because of that very same Shadow, the threat that is right now making its way towards here, I can’t risk Flare’s safety. Bring your equipment to our Sanctuary, I can send some of our other Adeptus to help you if necessary, but the princess stays here where we can protect her-
Flare couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Now the Adeptus Primus was going to make her wait, just like Nyepu was about to do. Apparently, no one really fully understood the urgency of saving her kingdom AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Apparently she’d have to fly by herself. “Just like mother always says” thought her bitterly.
-I’ll stay here to check that Flare doesn’t escapes or something- she hears Nyepu saying - I need you to bring the equipment, Giorgio- when she looked at the researchers, the goat was giving his colleague a very annoyed look-
-Like hell I will… the Admin won’t like this one bit… also, I’m not going to that damn desert again, not this soon!… go retrieve the devices yourself! all of this is your fault, anyway- the dragon growled at that.
-I give you my word that she won’t escape- said Celio, suddenly and Flare couldn’t it take anymore.
-You can’t hold me here… if you want to do things at a snail’s pace that’s your thing, but I need to be on the move now!- said her flying again, feeling angry and betrayed and just fed up with people in general- Now, if you’ll excuse me…- but Celio sighed heavily and, somehow, the temperature in the room felt like it had dropped a few degrees.
-Lady Flare, you are follower of our honorable Church, a student of us servants of the Dark God- said the Lich carefully - you’d do well in following our wisdom, especially in a situation this dire-
Typical felixin, or so would her master have said: he didn’t outright threaten her, but his words were warning enough that he could go to really drastic lengths to get what he wanted, and he was a member of the church she was devoted to, he had a lot a resources aside from his own magical skills. “But, does that really matter?” thought her “Is the safety of her people less important than her relationship with her Church?” She was tempted to just lie but, that would be unbecoming of a heroine, even if it would be acceptable for a princess.
She had remained silent for a few moments, her eyes closed, flying with her wings. “If I tell them my intentions, then they all will try to stop me, but if I lie, then… I… I won’t feel right doing that, not to people that wants to help me… even if their help is becoming more of an annoyance… also, a mage’s word is almost sacred...” She sighs in defeat.
-Very well- started her in a low tone- I’ll stay here…-
-I’m glad that you’ve seen the wisdom in staying with us- says master Celio endearingly.
-But… - she continue- if for waiting to you all my kingdom suffers more… I’ll make you all pay for it- finished her in a dark tone, her little eyes burning with fury- Now, please… mind telling me where are the meditation chambers? I want to be alone…-
She’d never thought she’d ever say that.
the other chapters:
Lost traveler 1: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21138550/
Lost traveler 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21157647/
Lost traveler 3: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21232130/
Lost traveler 4: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/21307276/
Lost traveler 5: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/22178174/
Lost traveler 6: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/42074410/
Lost traveler 8: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44231054/
The story starts here:
The desertic expanse was way hotter than little Flare had ever imagined possible, she’d never been in a dessert after all. “To think that the sea wasn’t that far away”, thought her. Under a magical cloud she summoned, she was waiting for the mystery cat, already feeling how the savage daemons were beginning to come closer to her, their disgusting auras of confusion and hunger already starting to disorient her and upset her stomach; if the spires of City 45 weren’t big enough to be almost impossible to miss, she’d be in a lot more danger of getting lost forever in the Savage Lands… in the Cosmic Miasma.
And then, she felt a familiar aura. A good mage never forgets and aura and the Felixin’s was not one she’ll ever forget, no matter what. It made her think in silence, a calmed silence capable of overriding the sounds of the wind around her. That’s when she felt the hum of an incoming vehicle:
It was one of those levitating cars, like the one that goat researched owned. This one was black and had also four seats. In the driver’s seat was the very same grey furred Felixin she met during the train fiasco: Amcel, and, unsurprisingly enough, he was wearing the black robes of the Adeptus from the Church of the Sacred Darkness. The symbol of their faith, her faith as well, the moon around an eye, was very visible in his chest.
-Good day, lady Flare!- greeted the felixin with an easy smile- I hope I didn’t make you wait too long- then he yawned a little. He must have interrupted his sleep to come for her, after all, most mages and members of the church tended to be nocturnal.
-Greetings, Amcel- replied her with a little bow of her head- let’s go already, savage daemons are going to come soon- The felixin nodded.
-I feel them too… you came with magic, eh? - he asks rhetorically as she sits on the seat at his side and uses her magic to adjust her seatbelt, which covers most of her small body- well, let’s get going, I’m not interested in fighting this early in the morning-
-I’m just hoping you take me to the Holy Darkness Temple as you said… and that you’ll help me in solving this mess- murmured her, her talking gem purposefully sending the message in a low volume.
-We’ll be going there, and I’ll definitely help you in solving these mysteries, now let’s go, my master awaits- That said, the cat started the vehicle and they were on their way to the city.
Not that far from the place Flare and Amcel met, Nyepu and Giorgio were traversing the sand dunes on the latter’s car, followed by a wheeled truck full of battle mages and an anti-magic soldier.
-I must give it to her… that little red bird certainly is fast- comments Giorgio, driving.
Nyepu only nodded as a response from the backseat, he had taken his aquatic form to be able to coil there, since his legs would have been too big to fit in the car, he’d really prefer to fly by himself to the city, but he still needed to recharge some energy before he could reactivate his biological anti-gravity generators.
-Incomming Savage Daemons, please reduce speed and allow us to take the lead- said suddenly a male voice in their heads.
-Great…- muttered Giorgio annoyed- she must have done more magic to keep us busy fighting those horrors- said the goat researcher bitterly, doing as instructed by the voice of one of their combat mages, swerving to one side and reducing speed to allow the truck to pass them.
-I doubt she’d be that thoughtful… she used magic to come here as fast as possible, that was all- commented Nyepu, very sure of Flare’s lack of planification skills.
They watched as many small hatches opened at the sides and top of the reinforced vehicle. the magicians where already readying their spells to throw them at the first sign of a savage daemon getting too close, while from the upper hatch, three white drones emerged, each levitating by a pair of anti-gravity generators strapped to a structure around the spherical bodies of the drones. Two of them flew a little further from the vehicle, to it’s sides, while one flew over Nyepu and Giorgio’s car.
-Thankfully those trucks come with nullifier drones- comments the goat-looking homunculus.
Nyepu couldn’t help but feel a little relieved by the presence of the little robots equipped with PNGs, Psychic Noise Generators, another anti-magic technology.
-Contact! three enemies incoming, two from the left, and one from the right!- said the male voice from before.
The two researchers couldn’t help but watch around in search of the existencial horrors. And just like that, they noticed all the sand the daemons were lifting with their movement between the dunes far from them, their nasty auras not affecting them yet because of distance and the disruptive presence of the drones’ anti-magic field.
-Maybe we didn’t think this through…- comments Giorgio, dissimulating his nervousness with a giggle.
Nyepu didn’t reply right away, instead checking what could be seen of the spires of City 45 over the horizon already. With a quick math he estimated their distance to the city and, assuming that the savage daemons didn’t get faster in their approaching to them, then by accelerating by 4 Km/h2 they’d be able to be in range of the City’s defenses before the monsters could even attack them… they’ll be safe… he was about to order acelerating when the male voice talked again:
-A fourth Daemon signal… Is coming from underground! Now!- almost shouted in urgency.
Half a second later, the sand exploded under the reinforced car, sending it flying to the blue skies. The magicians response was fast, though, and they managed to make their vehicle fly further, enveloped by shadows and light; meanwhile. Giorgio stomped on the brake, making Nyepu hit his muzzle against the windshield, and started to go reverse while the dragon rubbed his sore nose.
-Fuck fuck fuck fuck…- was rapidly muttering the goat guy while trying to get away from the gigantic thing made of sand, stone and flesh that had just erupted from beneath the dunes they were oh-so-happily traversing. The thing probably looked like a horrible worm covered in tentacles and eyes but Nyepu was too busy trying to ignore it and trying to calm his friend down to tell for sure.
As one of the drones came flying to them (the other apparently was buried in sand) they heard the telepathic order of going in full throttle to City 45, since the other daemons were coming faster to them as well. Nyepu had to slap Giorgio with one of his back tentacles to make him recover his senses… then, he had to restrain him with the tendrils from his pincer since the guy was dead-set in going back to the research facility instead of continuing with “this madness”, as the goat put it. Nyepu had a hard time using his back tentacles and his one very big hand to try and drive the car from the back seat, while restraining his friend (who was being very verbally rude and moving a lot) and being followed, and deafened, by a screaming and maddening sand worm and other horrors. He drove as fast as possible, evading the dunes while watching the city spires growing bigger and barely noticing how the NERV Projector soldier, a ram type homunculus, was shooting the weapon’s weird energy beam at the monsters from the flying truck above them. “I need to incorporate a NERV Bio-Proyector to my pincer” he thought idly.
-You better be in City 45 when I get there, Flare… and pray to the Dark God that I don’t lose a single employee in this mess… or, for Leviathan, Argenta and the God that Left, that I’m going to indebt your tail forever!- murmured, with a very low and menacing tone, the very, very pissed off dragon while evading a tentacle from the daemonic sand worm, thanks to an opportune warning of a mage. His mind was a mess of anxiety for his barely sufficient driving, and curses and insults towards himself, Flare and reality, just like Giorgio’s.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long before he heard a simple “Incomming!” from the battle mages before the whistling of artillery shells began to fulfill the air, replacing the maddening screams of the worms and the curses of his colleague.
They got to the city under the roaring of explosions and horrible madness-inducing screeching.
-Well, as I said, here we are! The temple of the Holy Darkness Church!- said Amcel dramatically from the driver’s seat, motioning his hands to the temple.
She’d been at the temples of her Church before, there was at least one in all the cities, after all. Like the other glorious sanctuaries of the magical people, the temple was a huge structure which started as a stepped pyramid, like a Ziggurat, and had a huge tower built on the top. It was made of a magical dark stone so black that it didn’t reflected the light, and in which you could see the magnificence of the cosmos: nebulas, stars, galaxies and comets perpetually moving on the dark surface. If it weren’t for the edges plated in gold, the whole thing would look like a dark gate, or window, to the eternity.
Once they were out of the car, Amcel just vanished the vehicle, storing it into his magical inventory, apparently, before they started to advance towards the temple, passing by some mages meditating in the gardens or by the ponds around the building.
Flare couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic, she had spent a lot of time training in the Temple of the Holy Darkness of her home city under the guidance of her master. She also felt safe, surrounded by the familiar auras of the magical defenses of the Temple.
As they entered into the main Hall, a huge space with statues made of white stone depicting faceless mages of each magic-capable race in Onirica, Flare couldn’t help herself:
-Well, now that we are here… mind telling me how are you going to help me? Or what’s all this about premonitions?- her face went a little darker then- Or was this all just to insist on training me in blood magic- The Felixin flinched a little at that.
-Well, I definitely am intent on insisting in that- started him having the decency of sounding ashamed, but that was enough for Flare. When her face was beginning to twist in disgust he lifted his hands placatingly, talking faster- but I definitely will help you in your enterprise! I’m offering you the full support of our church, we’ll just need to make some calls and The Sky Kingdom’s branch of our Church will be on your side… of course, we first need to be sure you are the one in the premotions-
-Didn’t you say already that it was me?- asked her confused.
-Weeellll- he rubbed the back of his head, his ears falling back- I may have… exaggerated a little…- she blinked in confusion, he sighed- Premonitions and prophecies are not very easy to interpret, but all things considered, you were the most likely candidate… and now that you are here, we just need to meet my master, he’ll be able to tell us for sure- She didn’t know premonitions were that annoying, why would they have to be? Suddenly, something really got her worried.
-And what would happen if I’m not the right person?- asked her cautiously.
-Not much- Amcel shrugged- your case will lose priority but will still be investigated, my master will chew me out for making such a mistake and I’ll be send to search for the right person…-
-Ah…- said her, flying alongside him, not really sure of how to feel about that at all. If she weren’t the person of the premonitions, that could be good and bad: on one wing, she’d be free of those scary omens from before, but on the other, she’d lose the support Amcel had promised… wait a second...
-Your word as mage bounds you to help me immediately- said her- no matter if I’m not the one the premonition talks about- said her as they got to one of six elevators at the end of the hall. He smiled at that.
-Never mentioned anything about immediate help- he gave her a knowing smile as she stood on his shoulder while the elevator took off- nice try, though; but I’m an Adeptus, I can remember every single one of my words without much difficulty, a skill I can teach you- she gave him an annoyed glare.
-I pass- replied her, crossing her wings; he shrugs
-Your loss, Lady Flare-
One of the wonders of the Temple was that the walls, while impervious to light from the outside, could be translucent from the inside, giving to the mages the ability to watch beyond the walls at will… or at least, as long as their will was strong enough. Amcel made it possible for them to view outside and they were greeted with a beautiful view of the City’s spires and buildings, the sea and the train’s electromagnetic railway, as well as some of the flying vehicles and coastal defenders.
-But you are right in that I gave you my word- said suddenly the cat; she looked at him and he was now looking at the distance with a serious expression- Helping you is my priority now and will be, no matter what- she remained looking at him for a while until the elevator stopped. - well…- said him as an entrances formed in the wall behind them. - we are here! - announced him, leading the way into the new space… or more precisely, carrying her on his shoulder…
The room was a little cold and was made of the same dark stone… there were no golden edges this time, so the only way to safely traverse the room would be to have your magical sense at full alert, to the point of percieving the usually overlook “soul” of everything that exists. Flare did just that and her aura slammed against a powerful presence inside the place. The moment her aura touched that other, she felt tranquility but also couldn’t help but think in an intense silver light, awe inspiring yet distant and benevolent.
-I’ve brought Lady Flare as I said I would, Master…- announced Amcel to the owner of the Aura, a being she was still unable to see, only feel. Then, in the infinite darkness, a pale silver light allowed a silhouette to be distinguished, a figure who apparently was sitting in the ground, with legs crossed and hands spread as in a welcoming gesture. A voice chuckled in the gloom, it was deep and grave.
-You’ve done well, my grandson- “Grandson?!” thought the little princess in surprise, “then this old mage must be…”- suddenly a pair of silver orbs appeared in the darkness and the light became a little more intense, showing more of the figure in the room: a skeleton, a felixin one, the light orbs were in its eye sockets and the whole being was enveloped in the silver light which was actually an aura that took the vaguely shape of a creature with big ears, like that of a felixin, there was an halo suspended over the skeleton’s head and from its head came multiple strands of light that gave the idea of long hairs. The being was wearing some kind of black armor. “A lich… this guy is a Felixin Medium!” thought Flare in awe, remembering the rare felixin mutant capable of interacting with the souls of the dead, bring them from beyond and controlling death itself… a mere Necromancer would have a hard time doing anything this blessed agents of nature could do -Welcome to our humble abode, Lady Flare- said the lich- I’m Celio, Adeptus Primus of the local Temple of the Holy Darkness- the magician stood up and the little Estirge couldn’t help but lower her head in a respectful way, even if the Adeptu Primus wasn’t that much taller than, let’s say, Amcel.- I’m glad you could come-
-I’m humbled to be in your presence- said her without looking up, Celio chuckled.
-I guess, you don’t meet us Mediums everyday- with that, he laughed a little- but enough, you came because we offered our helped and so shall be done…- he then remained silent for a moment- after we’ve dealt with our visitors, that is-
-Visitors?- asked Flare and Amcel at the same time; it didn’t take long for Flare to come up with an idea of who may these visitors be but that didn’t make any sense! why would he be here?! Why would her dragon friend come all the way from his place in the middle of the desert? To follow her? She made it clear that she needed to go as quickly as possible to her nation, that she wouldn’t wait for Argenta… was he here to force his ideas, then? or maybe… “maybe he dropped that and wants to help me?” she blushed a little at that small hope.
-Indeed, I can feel 6 mages and some lesser auras in the entrance… they are all a little tense…- She allowed herself to hope that the dragon researcher came with reinforcements to help her, but a voice in her mind was telling her that said “reinforcements” were there to assist him in forcing her back to the research facility…
-Let’s go- said her to the magical felines, who shared a look before boarding the elevator and descend to the Hall with her.
-Nyepu!- cried her in surprise.
-Greetings, Flare…- greeted him, coldly.
-You came for...- she began.
-I came to bring you back- he interrupted.
-That’s nice, but unnecessary- added Amcel with simplicity, smiling.
-No one asked you, kitty- intervened Giorgio with an annoyed expression, arms crossed before himself.
-Rudeness is also unnecessary… and won’t be tolerated in this temple- sing-songs Celio, arms crossed behind him.
Silence, of the tense kind, reigned in the Hall of the Temple of the Holy Darkness after that. A few minutes later, though, Nyepu sighed and said:
-In behalf of my team…-
-Your team?- interrupted Giorgio, rising a brow.
-Our team- rectified the white dragon, rolling his eyes, before continuing- I’m sorry for our sudden visit, but we really need to take Lady Flare back to our research Facility-
-Well, I’m not going back there, Nyepu- stated the little avian, giving the dragon researcher a very haughty look, wings crossed, from the head of Amcel where she was standing. Nyepu gave her a slightly more annoyed glare.
-You heard the lady, gentlemen- adds the Adeptus with a cocky smile, Giorgio rolled his eyes.
-Why would you take here there, anyway? She’d be safer here, not to mention that we will help her with the resources of our Church- said the felixin lich, in a very clear attempt at keeping things civil. Nyepu was about to talk but Giorgio beat him to it.
-As you may know, lady Flare’s situation is the kind of anomaly that Argenta expects to be informed about, but, to make sure this is really something worth mentioning her, we need to make some tests on the princess. Data to accurately label this is an anomaly is required, and to gather that data, we’ll need to use equipment that is currently in our labs, back in our research facility-
-Aren’t you the guys trying to bring back some ancient biological technology?- asks suddenly Amcel- what are you going go to do? Test how old is her?- the Adeptus got a slightly creepy glare from his grandfather for his words- I mean it, what kind of test would you run there?-
-Of the genetics variety- answered Nyepu simply- detailing them to someone who knows little of the field would be a waste of time- he shrugged while offering a light smile to the felixin, whose face remained civil as ever, and, before anyone could interrupt him, he added- rest assure that the point is to get enough information to corroborate that the Flare on your head is not a clone created by any possible clonation technique-
-And how will that help us? I’m sure I’m not a clone!- said Flare feeling insulted.
-In sciences, subjective statements are not enough, we need hard proves and we, as the senior geneticists that we are, are very well qualified to get said information- replied Giorgio in a matter-of-fact tone- also, if we prove the you are not a clone created by the known technology, Argenta will lend us her resources to solve this mystery-
-Add her help to the help your new friends are offering, and you’ll have this problem solve in less than a week, with risks of failure reduced to the minimun- intervened Nyepu- wouldn’t you agree then that this is the best possible course of action, magicians?-
-I don’t…!- started to say Flare.
-I think…- started to say Amcel.
-I agree- stated Celio and the others looked at him, Flare with shock and Amcel with mild curiosity, obviously hiding his own shock.- The shadow I perceived in my premonition was too big and too terrible- informs him to the other two arcanists and the combat mages of the researchers’ squad showed their surprise at that- We need to be careful, to make sure whatever move we make is going to bring us closer to victory, and to not waste any resource, that’s the way of us mages… and also of you, people of science…- he remained silent for a moment, a moment in which Flare was beginning to feel betrayed again, Amcel angry and Nyepu and Giorgio, triumphant- but because of that very same Shadow, the threat that is right now making its way towards here, I can’t risk Flare’s safety. Bring your equipment to our Sanctuary, I can send some of our other Adeptus to help you if necessary, but the princess stays here where we can protect her-
Flare couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Now the Adeptus Primus was going to make her wait, just like Nyepu was about to do. Apparently, no one really fully understood the urgency of saving her kingdom AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Apparently she’d have to fly by herself. “Just like mother always says” thought her bitterly.
-I’ll stay here to check that Flare doesn’t escapes or something- she hears Nyepu saying - I need you to bring the equipment, Giorgio- when she looked at the researchers, the goat was giving his colleague a very annoyed look-
-Like hell I will… the Admin won’t like this one bit… also, I’m not going to that damn desert again, not this soon!… go retrieve the devices yourself! all of this is your fault, anyway- the dragon growled at that.
-I give you my word that she won’t escape- said Celio, suddenly and Flare couldn’t it take anymore.
-You can’t hold me here… if you want to do things at a snail’s pace that’s your thing, but I need to be on the move now!- said her flying again, feeling angry and betrayed and just fed up with people in general- Now, if you’ll excuse me…- but Celio sighed heavily and, somehow, the temperature in the room felt like it had dropped a few degrees.
-Lady Flare, you are follower of our honorable Church, a student of us servants of the Dark God- said the Lich carefully - you’d do well in following our wisdom, especially in a situation this dire-
Typical felixin, or so would her master have said: he didn’t outright threaten her, but his words were warning enough that he could go to really drastic lengths to get what he wanted, and he was a member of the church she was devoted to, he had a lot a resources aside from his own magical skills. “But, does that really matter?” thought her “Is the safety of her people less important than her relationship with her Church?” She was tempted to just lie but, that would be unbecoming of a heroine, even if it would be acceptable for a princess.
She had remained silent for a few moments, her eyes closed, flying with her wings. “If I tell them my intentions, then they all will try to stop me, but if I lie, then… I… I won’t feel right doing that, not to people that wants to help me… even if their help is becoming more of an annoyance… also, a mage’s word is almost sacred...” She sighs in defeat.
-Very well- started her in a low tone- I’ll stay here…-
-I’m glad that you’ve seen the wisdom in staying with us- says master Celio endearingly.
-But… - she continue- if for waiting to you all my kingdom suffers more… I’ll make you all pay for it- finished her in a dark tone, her little eyes burning with fury- Now, please… mind telling me where are the meditation chambers? I want to be alone…-
She’d never thought she’d ever say that.
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fantasy
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File Size 244.3 kB
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