The Delay of Destiny (In Character)

[AnonymousSpeed]

[This is the in character thread for Delay of Destiny. For questions, comments, applications, and really anything besides the in-character actions, please use the Discussion and Sign Up thread.]

Entry 456 (Noon)-

As with the previous 455 days, nothing has occurred at Red Cave by the time of mid day. There is no evidence to suggest that this trend with not continue through the rest of the day.

A man in a scholars robes sighed heavily, leaning over a large book with a quill pen in his hand. He took a gander at the entry he'd just written, then all the others written on that page. The book was reasonably large in page size but somewhat thin, and rested on a wooden desk placed at the front of an open cloth tent, designed to keep out rain while allowing Red Cave to be observed. Sleeping and supplies were handled within sections of the tent cut off with nothing but walls of the same cloth as the ceiling, if one could call it that.

Another sigh escaped him as he placed down the pen, as was typical of him to do. For no particular reason, likely due to simple boredom, the man turned to the front page in the book, and glanced over the earlier pages for a few minutes, quickly running out of pages and flipping then as one shuffles a deck of cards until he came to his latest entry. One could tell a difference between the entries; The earlier ones tended to be longer and more detailed, while some made note of some interest occurrence or something which had been discovered around Red Cave. But to the man, whose name was Albus, all conveyed the same meaning.

"This is a complete waste of my time," he muttered to himself, pulling a handful of hair down in frustration. There were some number of hundreds of people around Red Cave, and for what? Supposedly, there was a great force which had been sealed in there magically, many millennium ago. In the mind of Albus, for no good reason at all. All of these people, himself included, were wasting time and potential sitting around and staring at an old cave which was in no way special at all. He had walked within the cave himself, as had many others, and there was absolutely nothing within it. Yet the superstition persisted, and so he seemed doomed to transcribe the same thing every day for the rest of his life:

Nothing has occurred at Red Cave.

"Why can't people simply forget about this place?" Albus continued to grumble as he shut the book, placed it under his shoulder and turned to leave.

"Har! That be because it still be there to remind 'em it exists," said another voice in a taunting manner, one Albus was familiar with.

Another sigh from the scholar. "Good evening Pierman," the scholar managed in an exasperated tone, rolling his eyes before turning to face the other man, a large, jacketed fellow leaning against a wooden desk named Pierman. Pierman was a fellow Albus was rather tired of seeing most days. He was loud, intrusive, and had very little appreciation for books, all of which conflicted with Albus's common desire to keep to himself and read.

"Harhar," Pierman chuckled, crossing his arms and grinning broadly. While he bore no ill will towards Albus, he found the scholar could be quite moody, and as such was either in need of cheering up or not going to be much worse off from his taunts. "Aye now Albus, ye can't be so under the weather all the time, lad," he remarked. "It ain't good for ya to never crack a smile!"

"Yes, well, technically Pierman, one is always 'under the weather', since that refers to atmospheric conditions," Albus began, starting somewhat timid but growing a little bolder as he spoke. "And I am quite capable of smiling," he continued.

"Oh really now? I don't think I ever seen ya smile. Harhar! Maybe you've forgotten how since you last did it," the taller of the two joked.

"I have not," the scholar pouted. "Pierman, while this may suffice for you," he began, his voice quite a bit grumpier than before. "I am not particularly pleased that I have spent over a year starring at an empty cave," at this point in his speech, Albus was beginning to move his arms about in relation to his words, starting by firmly placing the book under his arm down. "Awaiting for some ancient force to inexplicably spring forth from it," he shouted, throwing his arms up. "Because of some old superstition which has proven itself to be incorrect!" With that last line, Albus jerked his neck back to stare at Pierman, who just shrugged.

"Well, at least you aren't doing it as probation," he chuckled.

Edited December 22, 2014 by AnonymousSpeed

[Dragoncat]

Two wyverns carrying riders landed in the middle of the crowd. Anyone who knew enough about the draconic beasts would be able to tell that the fiery orange one was female, and the snowy white one was male, because the fleshy face ruff was larger on males. They were each the same gender as their masters, who were obviously closely related, both with red hair and green eyes, and built similarly.

"Look." The young man pointed at the cave in the distance. "It's actually red."

His sister chuckled softly. "Well it IS called Red Cave...I wonder if those rocks are that color naturally or because of the magic that sealed those idiots in there?"

"I thought it was a clever play on words, to be honest...like refering to the blood that was shed back then."

There was a pause. "Could be a bit of both. Say, that big tent up there looks important. Should we?"

"Sure..."

[SirNicee]

A young man in robes walked alongside a couple of travelers. The lot appeared to be having a conversation, though it was obvious that none were interested in what the others had to say. If only these two had any taste, the first one thought bitterly. Then maybe, just maybe, this conversation will go somewhere. Suddenly, a somewhat older gentlemen interrupted the trio. Why, this was Atticus of Begnion! What in the world was he doing here?!"

"May I speak with the priest?" he asked. "Us two have rather... important matters to address." The other two shrugged their heads, allowing their companion to leave.

"Why have you come to me, lord Atticus?" the younger man asked as politely as possible. He absolutely hated Atticus with a passion, but this was a member of Begnion royalty he was dealing with, so he had to be extremely cautious.

"I thought you'd never ask, Aloysius. You see, I've known about you for quite some time. A traveling priest, I've heard. I'm sure you have plenty of connections, and I'd honestly like to know you. I must ask you to take a look at this." He proceeded to pull out a stone tablet with some sort of markings etched onto its surface. It appeared to be that of the Red Cave they were standing outside of. I must admit, Aloysius thought, this is a very nice drawing. There's still some things I don't understand about it. I'd better ask...

"It's a drawing of the Red Cave, yes?" Atticus nodded joyously. "Indeed, Aloysius. However, that's not what interests me. Take a good look to the right..."

Why, there was a bit of the ancient tongue on that slab! He'd recognize it anywhere from some of his father's old books. Stories involving the Herons, mostly. He didn't quite understand what they meant, though.

"Whatever it means, it's written quite horribly," Aloysius stated rather bluntly. "The curves are all far too rigid to be by experts. The cave's pretty, though. It's no doubt that this is a genuine article from years long gone."

"Indeed," Atticus admitted. The two didn't agree to much in terms of their beliefs, or really anything, so this was a happy moment for the both of them. "Listen, do you know anyone who might be able to decipher this text? I've had no luck, despite my knowledge of magic." Aloysius thought for a moment. Then, he finally remembered something. He had met a man who somehow understood the language. His only guess was an entire year's worth of language studies. This man could be their only hope of discovering something big.

"Actually, I do. Care to follow me to him?" For the first time in his life, Aloysius had no trouble being polite to this man. He was far too eager to be mad.

"Of course. Please lead the way."

[Fateborn]

A small gust blows across the pale cheek of a young soldier as she walks across a green plain with her lance resting against her right shoulder, and in the other hand holds a quiver containing dissembled spears made for throwing. One foot after another, she meets the border of dried land. She takes a step over it as she was heading in the correct direction. Legends of Red Cave that she heard only the other day after the annihilation of her mercenary band, she presume that there might be something there she could find relating to her past. Clattering in her quiver as she come to stop once she see a group of men sitting around in smaller group with sprout of tents everywhere.

I guess I'm here, her mind runs silently. Walking through various size of men, avoiding the violent types she could find, unfortunately, she missed one. "Ho...! A pretty thing lik' ye shouldn't be here. How' bout I escort a lady lik' ye away? Yar?" Standing in her way is a man of a well-built size but not well enough to consider him war fit, one would presume he lazied around after a fight. Ignoring the man and walks around the obstruction as she believes trouble would only follow if she continue listening. But the man didn't take the hint and bars her way once again. "Ye should listen to dis hero of the army, ye ain't sayin' no." He grabs at her right arm, and in an instant, she push her spear shaft against the man's right leg and used her own right leg to assist in the tumbling of the alpha. A beautiful whirl as the man hits his temple knocking him out. The blonde haired woman simply stands up and pats her right gauntlet of any dirt the man might had on his hand. She continues to walk toward an area in front of the Red Cave.

[momogeek2141]

"That was horrible! Our book is almost out too! One last try or you fail!" his instructor said. Dal looked at the last remaining page of his tome. I better do it right this time. This is my last shot. Dal took a deep breath. Holding the book, he chanted the words of the book. "ഇരുട്ടിൽ എന്റെ കമാൻഡ് അനുസരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യട്ടെ!" A gust of wind began swirling around him. Is it working? I don't remember casting wind magic. Black spots covered up his eyesight. In his mind, he had a vision of strong warriors. They broke through village gates, took the food, burned the houses, killed all that they saw. Then, he saw 4 great warriors, fighting them with all of their strength. They were pushed back to a cave, and sealed. They wouldn't escape for a long time.

...

"I'm sorry Dal, but you failed. Leave the premises immediately." Dal woke up from his vision, looked once at his instructor, and left the building.

He didn't know what to do. All of his work had been for naught. He wandered aimlessly, without eating or talking. Eventually, he saw a gathering of people. Where have I come to? He approached the crowd. Soldiers of all kinds were armed. Dal deduced that they were in a defensive formation. He wormed his way to the front, and saw the cave. This is the same cave in the vision! he thought. Anxious that his vision might be true, he approached a female soldier with blonde hair, who didn't seem to be talking to any of the others. "Excuse me, ma'am, do you know why the Begnion soldiers seem to be guarding this cave?"

[Fateborn]

Valerina looks over to the mystery man who approached her. She then looks to her right and to her left, then points to self. "Me...?" She asked, but nevertheless answered. "I only hear legends. Begnion only guards because they are aware of the story of the Red Cave, but they do not think it is true. Superstition action I suppose." Her voice is soft, yet contains a hint of unknown accent, and she's too polite to be a soldier almost defeating her purpose. With the answer given, she twitch both ears and turns toward the sky. "...I smell a storm brewing." She whispered to herself and walks away.

[Dragoncat]

The female wyvern poked her head into the tent closest to Red Cave. She made a soft screeching sound, her eyes fixed on the less buff of the two men in it, like she thought he was the leader.

"Blaze, mind your manners." A second head poked in, this one human. The young woman looked at the berserker looking man, then the one at the desk with the papers. She smiled slightly. "I apologize if either of you were startled. Blaze thinks she speaks human sometimes...she won't bite, I promise."

"Me and my brother are here...well, same reason everyone else is." She pulled back the tent flap, revealing a white wyvern and his rider, who smiled and waved.

"I'm assuming you guys are leading this thing?" The girl scratched the orange wyvern's head while she waited for a response.

[AnonymousSpeed]

Albus almost growled at Pierman's last comment. "I would hardly call your arrangement undesirable, given the circumstance of it," he managed to grumble out, though not very loudly.

"That be a fair point," the large man replied heartily. "But yer still a citizen with a job, and I'm not," he reminded smugly, wearing his situation almost as a badge of humility against Albus.

Sighing, the scholar gave up. He was once again letting himself get dragged into things. "Yes, of course," he mumbled, squeezing his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture, which had started to slump in his small fit, and looked about for a distraction from Pierman. "It seems to be rather crowded today compared to most, doesn-Pierman. What are you doing?"

One small series of glances about the camp and his view returned to Pierman to see his nose firmly planted in the air, sniffing heavily.

"Aye, there be a storm comin' up lad," he remarked, taking another long whiff. "I can smell it, it be somethin' ya learn to sniff out if ya spent much time at sea."

"That is ludicrous," Albus stated plainly.

"Ya wouldn't get it lad, ya never even been to sea."

Another sigh escaped Albus, this one notably more frustrated than most of his others. "Yes, well, as I was saying," he continued, straightening out some of the papers he had just strewn about without proper organization, "there seems to be some sort of influx of people. I see no reason not to go and-"

Once again the scholar froze, this time for a completely different reason: The face of a wyvern poked through the tent, followed by that of what Albus assumed to be its rider. "Y-yes, no, not all, your apology is accepted," he nervously sputtered, trying to be formal, though the draconic creatures presence made this rather difficult.

Chuckling at the scholars expense, Pierman gave a quick wave to the four, two riders, two mounts. "Aye, no trouble at all lass, this man here just ain't familiar with thin' not in a book."

Albus took a deep breath, both to maintain breathing and to tune out the berserker, and cleared his throat. "No, actually, we are not. In fact, there isn't a specific leader for this place, it's more so...a coalition, of sorts," he tried to explain, breathing rather heavily. "I am simply a scribe....here to record the event which happen here...you see."

Edited December 23, 2014 by AnonymousSpeed

[SirNicee]

"Do you see those men, sir?" Aloysius was pointing toward a couple of wyverns attempting to enter a tent. A ridiculous site, he thought. "I pray we get past these brutes. I don't wish to get dirty."

Atticus shook his head. "I'm sorry, young man. I can't go in." Aloysius was greatly confused. "Why is this?" Atticus could only shrug, saying...

"I can't be seen in that room. The man you describe frankly... disturbs me. Please, take this with you." He handed Aloysius the tablet. "Please, get this to him quickly. I must be off." And with that, he vanished. Gone with the wind, if you will. What a convenient disposal of baggage, Aloysius thought to himself. Frankly, he was annoying me. Oh, in denial as always.

Now came the most difficult part: Getting past the dragons that could murder him with a simple twitch of the tail. Thankfully, these weren't dragon Laguz; those were even more difficult. Always asking for money and all that. Darn, he thought, how in the world am I supposed to get past that? Suddenly, he found a way.

Aha! There's a crack in between the two wyverns! I'd have to pick up my robes for it to work, but it's manageable.

And so, he crawled straight through the crack. It was just as filthy as he imagined, sadly. Neither he or his robes could be saved. Still, he was there, ready to speak. "Excuse me, sires, but I need to make my presence known." This, of course, prompted a response.

"Oh, great. More company. What do you need, Aloysius?" He then pulled out the tablet.

[momogeek2141]

Dal was not satisfied by her response. What is the legend of the Red Cave? He sensed a storm coming up. He walked up to the cave and inspected the seal. It's growing weaker. One imbalance and it will cease to exist. Hopefully the storm does nothing to cause this imbalance. He was studying the seal when he heard the voice of Aloysius. Maybe this man will give me the answers I need. He walked away from the cave, and listened.

[Dragoncat]

Cerai nodded understandingly. "I see..." Turning to the berserker man, she added: "Well there are books about wyverns. So either he hasn't read those, or he's spooked because of their acidic venom." Blaze snorted softly. "Which is a perfectly reasonable thing to be spooked about, it can melt skin if you're not careful-"

She was interrupted by a low growl from Blaze. A man in white robes had squeezed in, which had startled the wyvern. She stared at him, eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, I guess I should've told you...there's a priest coming." Leo smiled awkwardly. "Or already here..."

[AnonymousSpeed]

"Hahah! A picture an' the real thin' ain't the same," the berserker chuckled. "This man here's one o' them history fellows, yet he's never even lifted a weapon!"

"I have lifted tomes!" Albus scoffed.

"That ain't a weapon, it's a book," Peirman taunted.

"Y-yes, I am quite quite familiar with the effects of wyvern venom," the scholar stuttered, backing away. "I see, no no, that's quite alright," Albus muttered as this strange priest began talking to a man standing a bit behind him. "Well then, unless I am needed here, I think I shall move to a place which is a bit less crowded," he remarked before excusing himself and heading to leave the tent.

"HA! If ya think this is crowded, why I tell ya, you'd have a panic attack in an army!"

Albus squeezed his hands on his ears, attempting to block the story Pierman would try to tell from them. Stepping out into the open, he put his hands down and took some deep breaths. He took the time to look around, as he was both a curious person and became very bored very quickly without information to take in. It was during this that he noticed the storm Pierman had been talking about. Cursing at the bandit's correctness, the scholar then noticed something odd. The clouds seemed to stay in one place...about Red Cave.

[AnonymousSpeed]

"Hahah! A picture an' the real thin' ain't the same," the berserker chuckled. "This man here's one o' them history fellows, yet he's never even lifted a weapon!"

"I have lifted tomes!" Albus scoffed.

"That ain't a weapon, it's a book," Peirman taunted.

"Y-yes, I am quite quite familiar with the effects of wyvern venom," the scholar stuttered, backing away. "I see, no no, that's quite alright," Albus muttered as this strange priest began talking to a man standing a bit behind him. "Well then, unless I am needed here, I think I shall move to a place which is a bit less crowded," he remarked before excusing himself and heading to leave the tent.

"HA! If ya think this is crowded, why I tell ya, you'd have a panic attack in an army!"

Albus squeezed his hands on his ears, attempting to block the story Pierman would try to tell from them. Stepping out into the open, he put his hands down and took some deep breaths. He took the time to look around, as he was both a curious person and became very bored very quickly without information to take in. It was during this that he noticed the storm Pierman had been talking about. Cursing at the bandit's correctness, the scholar then noticed something odd. The clouds seemed to stay in one place...about Red Cave.

[SirNicee]

"What a shame. Albus left. I appear to have wasted my time." Aloysius was annoyed by the scholar's departure. Who remained wasn't much better. The larger man especially angered him. Why, if he was going to accomplish anything, it wouldn't be near these ruffians.

Hold on, Aloysius he thought, there's still hope. If Albus wasn't going to help him, then by goodness, he would do it himself! He began searching for something that could help him translate the tablet. At last, he found some books hiding in a corner of the tent. Most were rather uninteresting books, like the kinds one would give a young man who's trying to discover the world and won't stop annoying you with questions. How to Speak to Sailors, Myths and Legends of Tellius, The Story of Shanty Pete... aha! The Laguz Language, by Nailah! Surely, a guide written by an actual expert would be helpful! Aloysius really didn't want to do this, but as Albus was clearly in a mediocre mood, he'd have to do it himself.

"Would you three mind? I'm trying to decipher code!" The three people obliged, backing away from him. Just for emphasis, he added, "And don't help me!" He stole one of Albus's pens and began to write on a slip of paper he had on him. He began to translate the writing.

"One... thousand... forty... it's... here..." "1040: It's Here. What is the significance of that number...?" Suddenly, he had a sudden burst of realization. He opened up Albus's journal and began to skim through. Finally, he found the right words. Dead silence filled the room.

"...it's been 1040 years since the prophecy was first foretold."

Edited December 24, 2014 by A Nice Guy

[Dragoncat]

((...I'm getting confused, Nice Guy. Are you writing for Anon? Because that's generally frowned upon...))

[AnonymousSpeed]

[Correct. I gave a longer explanation of my thoughts here.]

[SirNicee]

[[Outofcharacter: I'm confusing myself, now. I'll try to edit it to make it more clear. If it's even possible.]]

[Dragoncat]

The awkward silence was broken by another low wyvern growl. Blaze didn't understand human language other than simple commands such as "go", "heel", "drop it" etc. The priest's announcement had little effect on her, although she was still annoyed at him because he stepped on her tail when he squeezed into the tent. But she could sense the storm, and so could her white scaled companion, Frostbite. Frostbite shuddered and covered his head with his wings. There was no room in the tent for the wyverns, and the only thing that looked like it could work for shelter was the cave, but something seemed unnatural about it.

Leo shivered. "There's definitively something up. Look how the animals are acting." A horse neighed and bucked in the distance. Cerai nodded in agreement.

[Fateborn]

Valerina finds herself secluded in an empty plot beside the Red Cave in her aimless trek. She pause for a moment when she mumbles, "Who was that human?" "Just a nobody, I'm fairly certain he will soon die as you interacted with him. It's only fair that way, after all, you are a living misfortune," whispers an enigmatic voice. "...What of the Red Cave? Why do I come here? You did say I might find something here, yet I see nothing," Valerina queried her voice companion. "Not even I know what it is. However, why would I tell you even if I knew?" "Then why do you reside with me?" She groans. "Oh? Why... you are the most interesting of all beings I've encountered so far, you amuses me. I wonders how Ashunera created you," it sneers at its host. "Impossible, she no longer exists, therefore she did not create me," Valerina reply to the nameless one. "Have it your way then, but be warned, you cannot die of your own according, I do not permits my little toy to simply disappear," it warns Valerina before vanishing into a misty void.

A pause before she finally rests her head on her occupied left hand. Feeling the rubber strap of the quiver holding her javelins on her fog skin, she groans to herself quietly. Then she hears footsteps. Three... Four... No... Six, a thought went through her head. An all too familiar voice reach her ears. "Found ye girlie. Time fer payback," the harasser approach her with his five henchmen circling around Valerina. "Ye really put a number on me," he growls holding his deep red swollen temple. The lone maiden stands outnumbered but her appearance is unnerved by this situation, she averts her glance at nothingness toward the leader. Her cold stare pierces his skull making him sudden with unexplainable fear. She finally speak to the fool releasing the hidden voice she never revealed to another, "Do you really want to die that much?" The twisted tone of her broke the thug as he collapse to ground landing on his butt leaking out liquid gold, and the other five froze in the place with fear of the unknown. The scene pause for a less than thirty seconds before a movement is made. Valerina walks through the encirclement neither harmed, nor bloodthirsty leaving the six paralyzed men behind. Her destination lies with the leader of the camp scouting for the biggest tent.

[momogeek2141]

"1040 years? What?" He had overheard the priest's words in the tent. He also noticed most of the animals acting up, as if they were trying to get away. He began to have that same dark feeling...

It started to rain. He wasn't wearing many layers, and was starting to get cold. He went inside the tent. He observed the priest and the wyvern riders without saying a word. He was especially curious with the wyverns themselves. Even they seemed like they wanted to leave. He looked around the tent for a tome, and took a dark magic tome for himself.

Edited December 27, 2014 by momogeek2141

[AnonymousSpeed]

"What in Ashera's name...?" Albus remarked, extending a hand to catch some of the drizzling rain which had begun to fall and looking at it. Usually at this time of year, the weather around Red Cave was quite calm, and there was not a drop of rain to be seen, yet alone so suddenly. As he pondered this, a sound as strange as the weather reached his ears, the sound of clanking metal and heavy footsteps. "Hm?" the scholar remarked, swiftly looking up from his hand and looking about. There was nothing around him which could be making that sound, and it certainly couldn't be from Red Cave, so...where did was the sound coming from?"

***

"Huh?" Pierman raised an eyebrow at the strange priests remark, as Pierman was strong, Pierman was resourceful, but Pierman was decidedly not smart. "Aye lad," the berserker agreed with Leo as a group formed inside the tend, inhaling deeply. "There be something odd 'bout this this. I can smell it." Shortly after remarking this, Dal walked into the tend, whom Pierman greeted with a half-hearted wave and nod.

***

Still looking about in confusion for the source of the sound, Albus caught a glimpse of something in Red Cave. Squinting, he managed to make out a glint from inside. That wasn't something he'd noticed before, but it was nothing odd; Someone could have easily left a weapon or a piece of jewelry or the like in the cave. However, that didn't explain were the sound was coming from. Albus sighed and began to think about were that could be coming from. The area around cave had no great number of soldiers and no drills, so where could such a sound come from. It was not long before he noticed just what the glint had come from.

The scholar could just make out the shape of soldier in the cave. Then another. And then another. Soon the source of the sound become: A formation of soldier in saddle brown armor marching out of the cave. "Oh dear...oh gods..." Albus took a step back in shock, but quickly collected himself before dashing back to the tent. That is impossible! There is no way this could be happening! This-

Albus's thoughts were interrupted by his arrival at the tent. He scrambled to the side opposite the wyverns and threw open the opposite flap, trying to say something coherent but failing to let out more than panicked gibberish.

"Aye aye, calm down now lad!" Pierman boomed, walking over to the scholar. In his mind, the berserker assumed Albus was just freaking out about something. "Now lad, take a breath," he commanded, gripping the smaller man's shoulders. Albus complied, though rather than take one breath he inhaled and exhaled deeply many times. "There there, now, what seems to the matter?" Pierman asked.

"Y-y-y-you all may wish to look outside," Albus managed to say, a feeling of tightness in his chest and panic in his mind.

[SirNicee]

Aloysius looked up from the journal to see the remaining group's faces. All were either filled with confusion or boredom. Why, he'd compare their looks to a deer looking head-on at an incredibly fast carriage as it prepares to run it over! None, however, were interested in what he had to say. 1040... the connection was disturbing.

Suddenly, a new face appeared. He appeared anxious, and the only one who even seemed remotely in what he had to say. Still, it was only in the "What are you talking about?" sense. He saw him grab something off the shelf to his right, and sneak it into his robes. It appeared to be some sort of tome, likely of dark magic. He decided that he would also browse through the contents of the shelf. He was always interested in magic, you see. He walked over and took a look.

Let's see. Light magic, dark magic, anima... nothing interesting. It's all tomes! Just what in the world was Albus hoarding all of those tomes for? None of it was useful to Aloysius, sadly... then he took a look to his right.

A stack of healing staves was placed in a pile, like a bunch of firewood. Finally, something he could use! As a religious man, he was trained privately in stave use. He was not quite as good as the superiors, or even Atticus, who held S rank. He was a mere D rank, but he could still heal. He decided to take a staff and carry on. After all, what could Albus possibly use them for?

Suddenly, he saw Albus barge in, panicking. He looked as if he wanted everyone to see what he had. All Aloysius could do was scream at him. "Just what in the blazes are you freaking out over!? You're making yourself look foolish!" Still, he was interested in seeing what caused this man to go into disarray. He got out through where Albus came in. What he saw was... quite disturbing. A pack of soldiers was rushing toward them, and their intentions were clearly not to their benefit. Aloysius had only one thing to say.

"Oh... oh my. We're done for, aren't we?"

[momogeek2141]

Dal walked outside, and saw the soldiers. He knew what would happen next. "Everyone! Those of you who wish to fight, you may want to reconsider! The men of the Red Cave are no ordinary bandits! Those of you who wish to escape, follow me! Run as fast as you can! Wyvern riders, ferry as many as you can! We've got to get as many out of here alive!" He shouted, and took off. He just ran for his life, not looking once behind him. After some time of running, he realized he had no idea where he was going. He did notice that were trees on the horizon. "I think, we're going west. Why west?" he thought. He pictured the map of Tellius in his mind. "Let's see, to the east is Begnion, and to the west is: Serenes Forest! Maybe the Herons will solve this mystery and maybe even help us!" he thought. With this in mind, he sprinted even faster towards west, towards Serenes Forest.

[Fateborn]

Before Valerina could approach her targeted tent, she hears marching directly behind her. Before she turns to inspect, the shade within her speaks out, "So the era of annihilation has begun...?" After speaking out, Valerina see what appears to be a platoon of unidentified men with ancestral looking armors of brown. "Remember what I said? I do not permit you to die, so... leave now before you are utterly obliterated." Valerina has no choice but to heed to the thing's words, however she couldn't just exchange lives for her, so she paced back toward the tent to deliver her opinion. A chuckle in her head echos against her thoughts, the spirit finds her still amusing as ever.

[Dragoncat]

"So it was true..." Cerai clenched her fists, grabbing her lance and hopping onto Blaze's back. The orange wyvern snorted softly.

A man ran past shouting something about escaping, and wyvern riders ferry as many as they can. "How about no!" Cerai directed Blaze toward him, attempting to block his escape. "I would but that would just weigh me down! You trying to sacrifice me?"

"GAAAAAH!"

She stopped and turned around. That sounded like Leo. Sure enough, he was locked in combat with one of the phantoms. It wielded what looked like a steel axe, and every time he reached for his lance or tried to get onto Frostbite it swiped at him and prevented him from doing so.

A well timed dive bomb knocked the phantom down, giving the twins just enough time to attack and destroy it. It crumbled into a pile of dust.

"No time to thank me." Cerai told her brother as he opened his mouth to speak. "Get ready for battle before another one shows up."