The Right Pages Of Publove
The First Page
The group woke up an hour before the sun came up. They all felt rested and knew that it was fine to leave. They paid the innkeeper and walked to the unicorns. Cari and Ryo turned into their dragon form and the rear of them all climbed in and they all set off and flew down.
They landed back on the island on the surface page on the backs of Ryo and Cari. The Chronicler and Scar were on the back of Cari and Oran was on the back of Ryo. They landed before the sun came up and they were given their clothes before it came up making them revert back to their human form.
Then when they returned they were shivering, even-though they were well covered.
Their breath made a bigger cloud than the others.
"By the Demon Realm! How do you cope?" Cari asked, stool shaken from the pain.
"It's harder than it looks!" He moaned, cracking his shoulder.
"No wonder my father wanted to protect me!"
"Well mine didn't, but then again my father was eating out of the palm of a mad witch back then. So I can hardly blame him." He yawned as he rubbed his eyes.
"Well, at least you've got people to protect you now." She said as she hooked her arm around him.
He rolled his eyes.
"Well I don't need it, I've been good on my own. So you can stop that!" He said as he shrugged it off.
"I know, so was I, but you're no longer alone and nor do you have to do it alone any more. Same goes for me too! So I don't have to, brother!" She said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe I prefer it that way." He asked as he took her hand off him.
Scar looked at them with a sorrowful smile and let out a chuckle.
"What?"
"I think that we all prefer it that way." Scar pointed out. "So what do we have to take down now?"
The Chronicler, smirked slightly as she opened her book map and became more relaxed for a moment. Only becoming serious again as she pointed to a tree.
"See, this tree, we have to find it and destroy it. Along with the others on the other pages. See, it produces a spell that keeps the kingdoms on the page submissive to Dark Master Lord Gajellidor's ways. This would most likely lead the people of these kingdoms to side with him during a battle, should one roost up against him. This has kept many generations trapped and enslaved. This enslavement is so bad that it has led to many generational curses developing." She explained.
"That's both horrible and genius at the same time." Scar commented, bitterly.
"Makes you wonder…"
"Wonder what?"
"Whether or not it's too late for these people." Ryo commented.
"For some, maybe, but not for all. So try to think more optimistically. After all, we should give them all that chance." She said, shrugging slightly.
"How come?"
"Because if there's anything that life has taught me is that the future is unpredictable. After all, this could be the only thing to end these curses could be to cut the tree down."
"You know, I never thought about it like that!"
"Well, sometimes, believe me, you do. Now let's be off. Singer we get this over with the sonnet we can move on." She pointed out.
"True."
They walked to the forest. After all, that was where the tree was and they replied that was the best way to hide one. After all, because they did not have the unicorns, they all thought that it would be better to make sure the Top Page was safe before they brought Oran. Despite what she had been though, she was still just a kid. They felt it was not a good thing to continually bring her into danger again and again.
Yet, even though the journey was longer, it felt good to walk for a while. They all found it enjoyable to walk the silence and breathe in the fresh air.
They soon came to the tree. The tree had a face of an old woman on it that had holes like eye-sockets. Even though it looked like it would be easy to take down, they knew that it would not be so. Knowing that night was on their way, they each chose their watch and all but Ryo went to sleep.
He kept his eye in the tree. He looked at it up and down. It seemed strange to him that so much trouble could be caused by such a simple tree. A creepy looking tree. He looked at the face and was it his imagination or was it smiling at him? He looked down and spotted that there was a trail behind it. He looked away as she shivered and then he looked at the group.
He then heard something creek. He looked back and spotted that the tree was coming closer. He looked down and spotted that the roots were crawling in the ground. He could see that the branches were moving and it snapped the branches of the trees that were in the way.
"Wake up!" He shouted.
Their eyes snapped open. They looked and spotted the approaching tree. They then got to their feet and got their weapons out just in time as the roots sprouted form the ground. They dived away from the roots. They then ran to surround the tree.
Ryo ran in and cut of a branch with his scythe, but then the branches wrapped itself around his body. It the bashed him several times but on the last Scar cut the branch with her sword. Then the branches wrapped themselves around her and tried to pull her apart but then Cari's arrows dug themselves into the branches and it let go. She spun away and then get to her feet as Cari fired more and more arrows into its branches.
She closed her eyes and used her magic to set the arrows on fire, but then she felt the branches in her hip. She hit the nearest tree next to her. She hit her head as she landed. Then she looked up as her head pounded. She then got up and then tried to used her magic to set them alight. But again she was hit.
Then it turned it's attention back to Ryo and then grabbed him by his throat. He dropped his scythe. She then closed her eyes and focused her magic to get her another arrow and lit the point with her magic and then hit the branch and the tree let go. Ryo used his magic to make it spread it. Then her arm opened up and blood flowed but Ryo's palm split open.
They then heard an unnaturally loud cry of a scream that they could not drown out with the palms of their hands as the tree turned to ash.
"One down, four more to go!" Ryo and Cari said in unison.
The Chronicler then saw to their wounds as they caught their breath. Taking this time to take a good long and deep sleep.
The Bronze Tree
Oran and the unicorns landed on the second page. They were told to wait for the others, however despite being told to stay put where they were, their excitement and curiosity soon got the better of them. So they decided to look around the place.
They wandered the place for a quarter of an hour before they soon came to a beautiful golden tree with silver and bronze leaves. It gave a strange appearance, almost like it was shining in the dark. She could not believe just how beautiful the tree was nor could she even believe that she was even seeing it.
"Wow. Come and look at this!" She called to the unicorns.
Is this real? I just can't believe it is. I must find out.
She was so enchanted that she reached out her hand to touch it. Just to make sure that what she was seeing before her was real and just to touch it. Yet part of her knew that she should not go anywhere near it but that party of her had been completely silenced.
Then a pale hand quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist and snatched it away from the tree before she could even have the pleasure of touching it. Not even the nails or fingertips got anywhere close to it.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A man warned.
She looked up, feeling upset at not being able to touch the tree, to see who he was. The first thing that she stared into was his enchanting amber eyes and then she noticed his white fringe. Then she saw that the rest of his hair was black.
That's strange.
"Believe me kid. That thing changes people who touch it. I had friends that did and they both tried to kill me once they did. I was lucky to get out of that alive!" He told her.
Her eyes widened.
"Are you alright sir?" She asked, horrified.
He smiled, more to himself than to her. He let out a slight chuckle.
"Sure, but it is concerning, though. The Dark Master Lord's puppets seem to have become more aggressive and dangerous these days. Not to mention that there's a rumour that he's on his way to Publove right now as we speak!"
"What! I've got to tell the others!" She exclaimed.
She took his hand and pulled.
"Who?"
"The others that will come here to cut that tree down! Now come on!"
She ran to the spot where she could sense where Scar was. She could always sense where she was. It was a thing that she had developed over the past couple of weeks. She had become good at it to a point that she always knew where she was.
They ran down several streets and turned three or four corners until they came to the place.
Immediately when they did arrive, Cari looked at the man in recognition.
"Kir? What are you doing here?" She asked, surprised.
"Collecting a bounty, you?" He asked, equally surprised.
"Here to destroy a tree. Who's the bounty?" She asked, still unbelieving he was even here, but part of her was glad that he was.
"The King Kaoyki, he's been known as the tyrant of the tree. After seeing its effects, I'm willing to bet that the tree that made him into a tyrant was that tree in town." He said, pointing to where it was.
"Oh? How do you know?" She asked cautiously.
"My friends touched it and they became completely berserk and tried to kill me."
"Urm..How do you know each-other?" Asked Oran, feeling slightly left out.
"He helped me get into Scorcher." She said, brushing it aside.
"Now, this tree, does it do that to anybody who touches it?" She asked.
"Yes. I have been observing it for the past three weeks and all who touch it have become like that. Yet they seem to become more and more aggressive by the day."
"But we have no time for this! He said that the Dark Master Lord is coming!" Oran exclaimed.
"I said that it was a 'rumour'." He quickly corrected.
"What's the difference?"
"Not all rumours are true." The Chronicler said.
"Speaking of which, what are you doing here? You do realise that there are many that want your head?"
The Chronicler chuckled and shook her head.
"I am quite sure." She replied, with a sky smirk on her face.
"Now, what're we going to do about this tree?" Scar asked, looking at Kir, with a guarded look in her eyes.
He looked at her in the same way. He then looked at Cari with a frown. Yet he shook his head before returning his attention to The Chronicler as did the rest.
"Well we're going to have to find a way to destroy it without touching it."
"Magic?"
"No, I've tried. It only made it stronger." Kir said, with a stern deadpan tone to his voice.
"How?"
"I know a bit about it…"
"You're like me and Ryo aren't you?"
He rolled his eyes and glared at her.
"You mean a royal born out of wedlock? Yeah..What of it?" He growled, dangerously.
She put her hands out in front of her.
"Nothing, it's alright!"
"So, you're the ones that he's after?! Do you even know how much is on all of your heads?"
"No. But I can have a guess."
"And don't think that he's going to pay up." Ryo said. "Just in case you're planning to take ours."
"No need. My father asked not to touch you." He groaned, annoyed.
"Right now what about this tree?" Oran asked.
"Well I think that we need to observe it. Come, follow me, I know where it is." He said and they soon came to the tree.
"Beautiful…" Cari said, her eyes wide with wonder. "No wonder people want to touch it…"
"Well, I'm willing to bet that it's part of their culture."
"Yes, one that is dedicated to kill them or lead them to their deaths, which is why we need to destroy it."
"Well, I think that we all need to find a place to get some sleep. I'll stay awake to see if it has any weakness." Kir said.
"Spoken like a true bounty hunter!" Laughed The Chronicler.
"Well, you above all ought to know. Plus, I heard another rumour that Cari, here, yes, I know who you are, also wanted to become one."
"You heard right." She commented. "And I've got one under my belt!"
"Great, four more and you take your vows. Then you will be a certified bounty hunter."
The Chronicler frowned.
"Well things were different in my day. After all, in my day you said your vows after one mission." She said, with a tone of nostalgia in her voice.
"Well things have changed since your days." He agreed.
With that, they all took their places and all but Kir closed their eyes. After a few hours, the tree started to glow and the leaves turned silver. That was when he spotted a small child, somewhere between five or six, started to walk up to the tree.
Kir started to get up as his hand touched the bark and smiled as the bark turned red. That was when a root came up and stabbed him in his side. To his horror the boy did not even flinch nor did he scream out in pain. In fact, he seemed to be smiling and there was not even a tear in his eyes.
"Wake up!" He shouted.
They all woke up and they quickly spotted the boy.
Cari loaded her arrow and fired at the root, quickly severing it. They all ran to him before the tree stabbed him in the side again. Spotting the second root Cari fired at the root again. She ran further and then fired another shot as another root came up and attempted to stab himself again.
Oran took the hand of the boy and pulled him away.
"Stop it!"
The boy turned to her.
"It's alright! It doesn't hurt, why don't you see?" He replied.
"No." She said as she pulled his hand away. "Why are you doing this?"
"I give my life willingly, see this tree protects and helps us. It was planted by the nature god Pandiam after all." He explained, nonchalant.
"What?" Kir snapped.
"We must feed it once a night with someone with a pure heart!" He explained.
"Why?"
"Because a dark heart poisons it. Now leave me alone! I need to do this!" He pleaded.
The Chronicler looked angry but at the same time there was an unnerving look in her mismatched eyes. One that was more like a hungry predator than a teacher.
She looked at her pleadingly.
"Let him go." She said, coldly.
Her predatorial eyes scared her slightly for a moment. Yet trusting her nevertheless, she let go. The boy went back to the tree. Then the root came up and just as the root dived to the boy, The Chronicler pushed him out of the way and then got pierced instead! They spotted that the root pulsed and then the bark became thin and the leaves dried out and fell onto the ground. The tree drank more and soon it shrivelled up and died.
That was when the boy woke up, he frowned as if he woke up. He looked down and screamed out in pain. He looked up as The Chronicler pressed her hand against the wound that the tree made. He looked at it as it healed up. Then Kir covered his mouth as he pulled out a few bandages. With his free hand he bandaged him up. He then pulled his hand away.
"Now go home." He said.
He nodded and struggled to run home. He looked on and then they booked themselves into an inn.
"Tell me, how come your wound has healed?" Scar asked, looking at where the wound was suspiciously.
"She's immortal." Kir said, huffing slightly.
They stayed there for a few days as they waited for Kir to find his friends. Yet as each day wore on his search became less and less fruitful. It became clear day by day he never would see them again. He knew why.
"Would it be alright if I travel with you for a while?" He said, disheartened.
"Sure." Ryo said, pointing a finger at him. "But I am warning you if you make any move on Car-"
He chuckled, bitterly.
"Don't worry. I'm not my father."
The Tree Of Illusions
"So, all we have to do is take down all these trees and then go to the next land and free them of whatever the Dark Master Lord had placed in that land to keep people imprisoned there. How long do you plan to go along with this?" Kir asked, challengingly.
The Chronicler nodded and smiled.
"Yes, and I plan to go along with this as long as possible, I do not know how long. Although, I will admit, once we defeat whatever it is we will move on. Although, what that child said. I just can not get it out of my head!" She admitted as she shook her head, as they came to the next page.
Kir narrowed his eyes.
"Me too… Although, I do have to ask, how long do you expect to be able to do this?" He asked, looking at Oran and Cari.
She looked at them and she looked at him with determination.
"As long as I can. Although, I have to admit that I have never felt like this free regardless." She said, smiling as she took a deep breath.
"I mean avoid getting killed by bounty hunters and assassins?"
"As long as they don't have any immortal killers. Although, I never took my vows under my true name." She said, with a bitter chuckle.
"And how long do you think that it would be until one of them does?"
"I can not quite say. They are rare things to find and most of them were destroyed in the great wars, especially dragon wars of Merth." She said, as she glanced at the sleeping Ryo and Cari.
He looked over to them.
"Tell me. Is it true, they the royal dragon hybrids?" He asked.
"Yes, and their mother is the dragon queen. The older, Cari was the one to kill her. Although she was weakened dramatically when she did."
"How come?"
"I don't know, but what I do know is that there was a rumour that the last person that she saw was the witch princess. Yet I can not get over the fact that she and Scar look like an old friend of mine." She admitted.
"Who's that?" Ryo asked, as he stirred from his sleep. "The witch princess I mean. Not the friend that Car' and Scar look like."
"Your step-mother. As far as I am aware, he looks and rules far better off now that she's been dead for months. He's also more lively too!" Kir said.
"And Riku?"
"He's fine and sometimes he gets help from King Alexander." He told him. "In fact those two are getting as close as brothers these days! In fact it got my father excited."
"Yeah…" He said, as looked over at the sleeping girl. "I think that we have something to do with that."
They soon came to the tree. It had blood red leaves and roots, with the bark the colour of dried blood. With nightmarishly human scarlet glowing eyes showing an expressionless human face on the center of the trunk. It looked on like a predator waiting patiently for its next meal.
"Grim." Ryo commented.
"I know…" Cari said, shivering as she stirred. "I wonder what it can do?"
"Can't say I know."
Cari's eyes wandered to the pair of glowing eyes. She suddenly felt that they were looking at her and then her body became stiff and had no desire to move. She tried to take her eyes away but she had lost all motive to do so. She could feel her eyes becoming locked in place as she looked deeper and deeper into those eyes as they looked deeply into hers. Her mind started to hurt, like it had something that was penetrating her mind. Then the pain became worse and worse until she felt a painful pounding in her head.
Then her vision went black.
She then saw that she was looking at her sister's room. She saw Hikari next to her, she was seven years old. She was braiding her hair. Even though she did not like how she looked with the countless braids in her hair, she let her do them anyway. It always brought a smile on her face and that was all she cared for, regardless of what her kingdom thought.
She then finished one braid, one more to go until it was complete.
She often wondered whether or not this was what it was like to have a mother. She sometimes felt herself daydreaming as her sister brushed her hair and then, sometimes she would fall asleep as her sister made her way from one side of her hair to the other. Her sister was always good at them, and brushing out her messy hair. Even when it came to the knots, she would brush them out gently.
Cari's heart ached from nostalgia. She missed her sister and father deeply, she wished that she could go back home to them. She wished that she could walk the streets of her kingdom again.
Why are you showing me this? She thought.
"Oh, you'll see!" Came a voice that she knew was not hers.
That was when everything went back as she heard a loud noise. No, it was a loud roar coming from behind. They turned around to see a dragon descend from the skies. She didn't know it back then but she knew it now, while she had often thought about her, this was when she met her mother.
They were paralysed with fear for a moment. Then Cari ran in front of Hikari to protect her but with a single whack she flew back. She was helpless to see her sister scream and as she ran to her, the dragon's claws wrapped themselves around her tiny body and she was off.
Her father did not return for quite sometime. No, only that day, he was out hunting with Earl, he had insisted that they were to go out hunting that day.
Hold on! Earl had insisted on going out hunting that day! Well, wouldn't it have been interesting if he had known that mother was on her way? What's more, that he knew that she was going to kidnap Hikari that day.
Yeah and if he knew what that would lead to?
Soon she snapped out of her memory. Her heart raced and her mind became as sharp as a blade. She knew that the only way that she would ever have the answers to her questions was to return home. The sooner the better, after all she knew that she would forget all about it if she left it too long.
Why had I not thought about it before? She questioned herself. Because it wasn't relevant.
"Cari!" She heard Oran shout, snapping her back into reality.
Just in time too, for she suddenly realised that her hand was about to be bitten off. She whipped her hand back as the mouth of the tree bit down onto nothing.
She quickly loaded her crossbow and fired an arrow at it. She then aimed for the eyes of the tree and fired one shot and another in the other eye. That way none could look in then again and become entranced by their gaze ever again. She then ran at it and picked up a flint but as she ran to the tree she felt a root wrap itself around her wrist.
Her vision became black again.
She found herself surrounded by dead bodies. She soon recognised that they all belonged to people of her kingdom. She looked at her reflection in their blood. She could see that she was an adult. She looked on as if she knew where she was going. Like she was tracing steps that she had already taken before...A long time ago...Back in a much, much, more simpler time.
She had a crossbow in her hand. She to a glance at the quiver and saw that her quiver carried many arrows of all colours and knew that they were all made from dragon scales. She could feel that her heart was heavy and her mind felt like it had too much in it. She knew, somehow, that it was filled with dangerous knowledge.
She soon came to the throne room to see none other that Earl sat where her father or sister should be sitting right now. She raised her crossbow and felt a fire in her and her mind was at piece than everything went white and her vision faded and she saw that the tree was nothing but ash.
The Fourth Tree
They soon set off the following day for the next page. They were feeling good about themselves. Their minds were strangely clear and they felt well rested. After all, their time here would soon draw to a close. Then they would be going onto the next place and then they would free that and soon the whole of Merth would be free. None could resist the excitement in the air.
Yet despite all that, they all had the dread sinking in. After knowing that somewhere on their journey, should the rumour be true, they might have to encounter the Dark Master Lord. Yet if they were fast enough, they may not even need to even worry about them.
The Chronicler whipped out her map. She pointed to the corner.
"That's where the next tree is." She said, circling the area.
"Tell me, who supplied you with this information?" Kir asked, looking at her suspiciously.
"I broke into the library of the Dark Master Lord's himself." She told him. "Although, at the time, I didn't know. That's how I know all that I do. Including all that he's got going on in this potent time."
He nodded, with a relieved look in his eye.
"Speaking of which, how did you know that we were supposed to take care of all this?" She asked.
"I have a friend that had visions of this. Although, he's been depressed for centuries. Which is why he sent me and did not come himself."
Scar nodded, still not satisfied.
"And how do you know that they were visions?" She asked.
"Believe me, after a half of a dozen times he knew!" She chuckled lightly.
"It got him into a lot of trouble didn't it?" Scar deduced.
"Yes, in fact it was one of his visions that made us fail the last time."
"'Last time'? You mean that there was a time that Gajellidor could have been stopped?" Ryo exclaimed.
"Yes, and last time it was more about stopping him even though we thought we were successful. However we lost what mattered and only two of us survived past the end of the event that could have brought all of this to an end before it could become as bad as it is now." She said, as she took a glance at Cari, and then to Scar.
"Well there was that one guy…" She added, shivering.
She felt an uncomfortable feeling in her gut. She even could feel like there was a blade in her heart. She looked down but noticed that there was nothing there. Scar felt it too. Almost like she was feeling an echo of some strange pain from a long time ago in a time that none could remember.
The Chronicler shook her head.
"Anyway, I don't think that it's a good time to speak of such things right now." She said, looking up at the others.
She looked up at the sky as she squinted.
"I think that it's time for us to book into an inn. Last I remember, the Nenjosh Inn was a good one." She said, as they came to Tiekob, which was the place before the forest where the next tree was.
Cari was soon in her room and sleeping like a log. She found herself dreaming about the demons that were wearing the masks of their gods again. She raised her crossbow and it was armed with the weapon of the demon king and she fired at them again. She then spotted that the weapon turned into a girl with long black hair and purple eyes. She woke up and her head turned as The Chronicler looked over her.
Soon they were all awake and eating their breakfast. Scar glanced at the Chronicler, she was looking at her money bag with a slight look of concern. She decided not to comment on it.
They were soon on the road and they left the unicorns in the end of the forest. They walked past a tree that was deep crimson and purple leaves with branches that ascended up the bark like a spiral staircase.
Oran, squinted as she looked up.
"I wonder where that leads." She said, pointing upwards.
"I hardly think that anyone wants to know." She told him.
"Yeah...I agree."
"I'm guessing that that's the tree!"
'Yeah, come on, let's burn this thing." Kir said.
That was when Cari spotted Scar was walking to the tree. With a blank expression on her face and walking on the roots.
"Scar?"
She did not respond. Her gut that told her that this was not good. She then pulled her off the root. The moment that she did Scar frowned almost as if she had snapped out of some trance.
"What was that all about?" She asked.
"I don't know." She admitted, as her leg touched the root.
Her face went blank again and as she climbed to her feet her leg did not move from the root of the tree once. She then started to walk on the root. The Chronicler pulled her off and looked down. As she did she saw a little boy walking along the roots. They were about to pull him away until he touched the bark and his entire flesh turned to wood. He then started to climb the tree like a flight of stairs, getting thinner and thinner as he did. Until his entire body was absorbed into the tree and his clothes fell down.
"What did-"
"That tree just absorbed him!"
They looked at the tree shocked.
"And-and the roots-they're-they're-"
"They hypnotise people!"
They looked around to see if there was anyone else coming.
"Quickly, before anyone else dies.."
Ryo, Cari and Kir all focused their magic on the tree and tried to burn it that way, however that had no effect. Which only led to Cari's arm split open and Ryo's hand being cut.
"So, magic doesn't work on that either."
Scar looked around and picked up a stick and then some fallen bark. She gave the rest some bark.
"Chronicler, Oran, you stop anyone that comes anywhere near here. Ryo, Cari, Kir, here," She said, passing them bark and sticks. "get on making a fire."
They all nodded and then they started to twist then on the bark. They did this until they caught fire. They then threw it at the tree and the three caught fire. They soon saw it burn and they attended to their wounds as it turned to ash.
"That one was easy."
"Yeah, maybe the next one will be more challenging."
The Tree Of Slumber
"Now for the final tree" Oran declared, punching the air, when they were about to set off.
They had spent a couple of days recovering. Now that they had recovered, they were all itching to get back on the road. They just could not wait to get this one over and get to the next land. Where they knew more adventures would lie ahead.
They all climbed into the carriage for the last time. They were all off. They flew down faster than before. They soon landed on the land below before they even had time to register. It seemed that black unicorns were the fastest unicorns in the land.
When their hooves touched the ground they were greeted by Count Ardulac. Oran looked up and frowned.
"It's to give him back his unicorns." The Chronicler said, as she got out.
"Oh! But why?"
"Because they don't belong with us. We have been only borrowing their services."
"Oh!"
"Now I think that it's time to say goodbye."
Oran hung her head and nodded.
They took their things and said their goodbyes. They waited until they had flown away until they turned back and then looked at the map, knowing that from now on they were going on foot.
"We need to get away from here." She said, as she pointed to a large town. "It's a large town called Karisnow."
"I've heard about that place, it's said that all those that go there never come out." Kir said. "One of the many places my mother told me to steer clear of. Although she would never say why."
"Well, it's about time to find out." Cari and Scar said at the same time.
They then got to their feet and walked on and on. On the way The Chronicler and Kir had to take turns to carry Oran, as she tied easily. It was one of the smaller moments that they were reminded just of how young she truly was. She even slept some of the times that she was being carried. She would be able to walk a bit more and then she would get tired and Kir or The Chronicler would pick her up and carry her and for a while she would fall asleep.
Yet during her time carrying Oran, The Chronicler, looked distant and somewhat lost in melancholy.
They then stopped for lunch. They eat, even though they had become aware of their supplies beginning to run low. So they ate what they knew what they could, without running out. Kir and The Chronicler cooked some meat and then they ate some of that. They then cleaned the pots and then packed up and were on their way.
"After this, I would like to go home for a bit, I guess I'm feeling slightly homesick." Cari admitted.
"Alright, but I will have to say this, whatever you're worried about we will be sorted out." She said, with a strange tone to her voice.
Cari looked down and nodded.
"Also, we need to get to the nearest market. All our supplies are running low and some of them have started to turn."
"Agreed. Although, I think that I am going to have to go out on a hunt. We need more money too."
"By the way, what's your real name? I mean Chronicler isn't your real name right?" Scar and Kir asked.
"Yes, you are right, however I do not think that I should tell you my name just yet. After all, now is not the time." She said, with a slight sigh.
Cari nodded, knowing that she would know the time. As Oran became tired and the Chronicler picked her up.
They did not get there until the following day and after a rough but a long night's sleep. However they all were hit by a grim scent. They came closer and closer and the scent had become stronger and stronger.
They soon found out why. They could see that the food out on the marketplace was all off and urine and dung littered all around. They could even see that everyone around all had their eyes closed and they spotted that they were all thin and some were so thin, that they could see their skeletons were far too visible.
Cari walked up to one of then and checked their pulse.
"Alive."
"It seems like everyone in this place is asleep."
"What the hell?"
"It must be the tree.'
"Why would he do that?"
"Because not all foes can be killed."
"Like you?" Cari asked.
"Like me." She agreed.
"Looks like we know-Oran!"
They turned around to see that Oran was on the floor and spotted that the girl had collapsed. Her face was grazed slightly. They could see that her breathing became slow and deep. Scar placed a hand on her forehead.
"She's not running a fever but I don't know if she's going to be okay." She said, stroking her forehead.
"Well, physically she will be, but once we destroy the tree the spell over her will be broken."
"So we need to go as soon as possible." Ryo said, lookout around at the sleeping locals.
"Well that's obvious." Kir said. "Also I think that I will say to guard the girl."
Nodding, knowing they were right they turned.
Scar smiled at her, she had come a long way since they had found her on the Queendom Isles. She felt a swell of pride in her heart for her. They must have agreed, after all, even if she was not a normal girl, she was still just a girl. A girl that Scar could have easily thought of as a little sister.
They walked away to the heart of the town, after all that was where it would most likely be. As they walked on and on they started to feel more and more tired. Their eyelids started to feel heavier and heavier. Their walking became like that of a drunk. They all balled up their fists and dug their nails onto their palms to keep themselves away as their eyes started to blur.
Just take a nap. Come on, you have time. Just sleep and you'll wake up so refreshed. Come on! You will be better at focusing. Their thoughts told them.
They could feel their eyes start to roll up. Then Ryo fell and even-though he hit his head his eyelids did not even open once. He was out cold and he was not waking up until that tree went up in flames.
They did not want to leave him, but they knew that if they stopped now, then they would fall asleep and never wake up. They soon came to a beautiful cherry blossom tree with a deep crimson bark. They were about to light a fire until both The Chronicler and Scar fell, leaving Cari to burn the thing down before she joined her friends.
She fired her arrow at it. Her blurred vision made her miss once. She stumbled slightly as she walked closer. She fired another arrow and her left eyelid fell as she fired another and it also missed. She walked on and as she closed her eyes she fired another arrow. This hit and she picked up a rock and slid it along the metal and the sparks hit the bark and started to catch fire as she collapsed in slumber.
The fire started to spread and rose up. Soon they all woke up in a pile of ashes. As did everyone else.
"Wha' 'appened to Dremare's gift?" One asked.
"Who's Dremare?" Scar asked as she stirred.
"The goddess of dreams and visions."
"That seems to be the second time that an evil tree came from a god. How very suspect."
"Maybe, maybe they're not." Cari commented, as her throat became dry.
She wiped away the ash off her, with her hands.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryo asked.
She let out a long sigh.
"Well I've been having this recurring dream where demons are wearing masks of our gods. Then I raise my crossbow up to them and I arm the bow with the weapon of the demon king and fire at them." She admitted.
The Chronicler raised her eyebrow at that.
"That sounds strange." Ryo said.
"Maybe the demons are masquerading as our gods to make it easier for people to accept the trees." Kir suggested.
"Maybe…"
Encounter
They all woke in the early hours in the morning. It was still cold and dark outside and the wind was blowing hard, however they did not let that stop them. No, they packed as they heard the winds strange and haunting hum. Kir and the others walked down the stairs and left behind some coins that would pay for their time spent there. They had noticed that it was a very peaceful morning.
They were making their way through town when they noticed people giving stage looks to them. Almost like they were dirt. Yet as they made their way to the docs they saw more of these looks. They were about to reach the docs when a dark cloud appeared above their heads. Ignoring it they continued, trying to act as if nothing was happening. They were about to get there when they spotted that the cloud above their heads was moving at a rate that the cloud should not.
The Chronicler looked up at it directly and squinted her eyes at it for a moment. She looked as far as her eyes could see. Then her eyes widened quickly for a moment and she became deathly pale.
"Run!" She shouted.
"Why?" Ryo asked.
"That cloud contains the Demon King Wolfox and Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh!"
They looked at each other. Cari and Ryo lowered themselves into their fighting stance just waiting for him to arrive. Their eyes were filled with determination.
"What're you doing?" She asked.
"Preparing to fight."
"No, you're not ready to fight him yet!" She cried, desperately.
"Then it's about time we found out." Cari said, smiling slightly.
She gripped their hands and then pulled them up. Scar picked up Oran and they started to run. They were almost at the doc when large spikes pierced the ground before them. They ran to the left but that too ended up being cut off too. They then turned to the right, but that was already cut off! They turned back to see that that was cut off too! Then fire surrounded the spikes. They looked up to see that the fire was coming from the demon king!
He then flew down and then a man jumped off him and landed with a bent knee he then stood up. His hair was as black as night with a single snow white streak. His pale face carried such striking cold beauty and his crimson red eyes, which had black where the white should be, looked at them with such intensity and malice that it was as if he was looking directly into their very souls. He was clothed in darkness with green and red rims that sat side by side.
They all could tell by his demeanour that his man had such a lethal charisma that he could talk you into tying your own noose and be cruel and evil enough for him to tighten it but loose enough that would leave you to die a slow and painful death as you strangled.
The looked at the Chronicler that just looked at hem with such fear that told them that they would be lucky if they got out of this alive.
Cari, not wishing to go out with a whimper loaded her crossbow and fired. Dark Master Lord Gajellidor froze her arrow in mid air before it could hit. He looked up and let out a bone chilling laugh. She suddenly remembered her mission to take down the wyvern. She felt a chill run down her spine.
Why did I not recognise him before? How could I have not realised that it was him? She wanted to hit herself for being such a fool.
Then lightening struck the ground. Oran berried her head into Scar's chest as she started to tremble. She even started to cry.
"Shh, shh, it's alright." She said but in vain her voice was drowned out but the loud thunder.
It was all too clear that her words were having no effect, which was not surprising for she did not have anything to back it up. The worst part was, she even knew it.
She then spotted that Ryo ran up to him and before he could bring down his scythe he looked at him and then Ryo flew back. He started to spin faster and faster as he did. When he landed he spun around until he was stopped by one of the spikes. When he got up he staggered as his sides were grazed.
"So this is the devious little group that has been undoing my plans recently." He said with a cold but alluring voice.
"Pathetic." He added, licking his lips.
He looked at them like a hungry serpent would look at a wounded dove. His eyes then slid and looked at Cari, licking his dry upper lip as he did.
"Pathetic eh?" Ryo said as he ran back to him.
He sighed and raised his hand and Ryo fell to the ground. Suddenly cuts and bruises appeared all over his body. He cried out in pain. He looked down at his body as he tried to get up lightening struck him and the next moment he was gone!
At this Cari lost it and shot arrow after arrow at him. All were in the air. He smirked as the arrows turned their heads back to her. Then he fired them back at her. She tried to use her magic to stop them but it was not obeying her. She dived away as to not get hit.
The Chronicler and Kir both ran at him but they too were struck by lightning and vanished.
"What did you just do to them?" Scar asked.
He looked at her as Oran clung to her.
"Why? The same thing that is going to happen to you my dear Mythos Puros." He said as lightning struck them both and they too vanished, leaving just him and Cari.
"No!" She shouted as she looked at where her friends and family were hit.
Her knees bent under the weight of what she had just seen. She felt tears begin to run.
"You needn't fear, I did not kill them. I just sent them away." He sang, walking towards her.
"After all, I did not wish for them to interrupt our precious little time together." He said, as he nodded to Wolfox.
He picked her up by both of her arms locked into place beside her.
She looked as saliva ran down his jaw and landed on her. She pulled and pulled fearing what he was going to do to her. He chuckled.
"It's alright, he's not going to eat you, no, I have something else in mind for you." He said. "But he is going to hold you until I'm done."
Now wanting to know what that was she pulled harder and harder, but his grip was far too strong for her. She was helpless as she moved closer and closer to her. Soon she could feel his breath dampening her forehead. He placed a hand on her cheek as he looked in her eyes.
“"You know, you are quite beautiful." He said as he leaned in closer. "Which is why I'm not going to damage your face."
She tried to back away but she couldn't. She tried to use her magic, but she couldn't. He pulled out a knife. He slowly lowered it to her thigh.
"Now, to stop you from trying to run away!" He sang.
He then dug it into her leg. She screamed out in pain. He then twisted it to make it hurt more. She tried to kick him away but she only made it worse. She cried as he took it out. She could feel herself trembling as her blood flowed down her leg. Then, just as she felt like she had a break he did the same to the other leg. She tried to put her weight onto it but then caused pain.
He placed his hand on her face but then he wiped his dagger onto her face. He then lowered it and dug it into her shoulder and she screamed as he pulled it out. She felt herself shaking as he dug it into the other. Then he cut into her arm. He cut deeper and deeper, driving out as much pain as he could and she was helpless but to feel and witness this and become blinded by her tears.
"Stop! Stop! Please, just stop!"
He reached out a hand and she flinched as he rested it upon her head.
"Now, let her go." He said as she fell.
She tried to get up but the pain in her shoulders stopped her. She tried to get up but the pain in her thighs stopped her from doing that. She was forced to stay there where she was. He then sat on her back. He then cut her back and then slashed over and over again. She screamed out.
"Stop it!" She shouted. "Just stop it!"
He got off and kicked her on her back, breaking her ribs. He then sat on her stomach and struck her across her chest again and again until her body was flowing with blood.
He then stroked her cheek. He then pulled her hand and forced her to watch him strike her hands.
"Please. Just stop it!" She wept.
He then placed a hand on her and she flinched.
He smiled and then got off her.
Then she was struck.
She vanished.
She was found nearly half dead in another land in the middle of a shallow river by a man that looked very much like her.
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