Retreat and Recuperate (2/2)

In one of the upstairs rooms as Kieron left, Felkin started a serious discussion with the twins. "We feel… That you've a lot to talk about." Nox said warmly. "I know you guys might be unfamiliar with this world, but you two are as good a guide as any in terms of the higher powers and gods I've encountered… So many things have been happening… And it's been overwhelming…" said Felkin. "Just… let's go from the start and we'll see what to make of it." Solis remarked. "I… can only recall up to a few days ago. Any further back and I can barely see fragments of memories, like dreams that disappear once the morn breaks." "Wait… No memories? If it's an injury, then it would be rare to simply impair your memory and nothing else. It makes magical effects as a plausible cause." Said Nox. "Oh, sorry. Please continue." He added.

"I was living… Surviving in an area, it appeared to be some kind of ruins… In a marshland, surrounded by the cover of dead trees. I… have no clue how long I spent there as every day felt monotonous… Doing nothing but gathering food from small creatures nearby, making fires, drinking from a puddle, and sleeping. I think I might have been waiting for someone…" Felkin said, confused and pondering. "That is certainly…" "Strange. I assume even in this world such an occurrence is unusual." The pair replied. "Maybe a spell was placed upon you that left you to continue in a certain way after losing your memories? What happened next?" Nox asked. "All the while, I had this." Felkin said as he raised his sword. "Your weapon, it's quite extraordinary." Said Solis, recognizing the value of the tool.

"I had it with me, and it feels like a piece of myself. It has the ability to extend and possesses an abnormal amount of power and durability. Another unusual aspect I have rarely seen anywhere else. I think it can also absorb and utilize energy but through what conditions, I'm pretty unsure…" He said, studying his own weapon. "Let us see it." Solis remarked. Felkin held up the sword to her, and Solis clasped her hands around it, but the sword phased straight through surprising her. "Just hold it up." Said Nox, studying the sword up close. "These inscriptions on the blade… They're similar to the weapons of that old man. And from what we've heard from Dagran and the other desert folk… The ancient warriors had ships and implements with a similar fashion of construction. And its abilities, its most likely forged in a special way or imbued with magic." He remarked.

Felkin paused, he was struggling to say something. "Dagran. I... I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me…" "It's fine. It's not your fault." Said Nox. "He'd be glad to give his life and… We expected no less than death for ourselves in the desert." He added, somewhat forcing the words out. Felkin noticed his hand was trembling wildly, and though Solis' hand could not physically touch her brother's, she grasped tightly until Nox calmed down. "That's… What Raln and the others said as well." Felkin quietly said. "Well, let's test the ability of your sword to absorb energy since you know little of it… How about you use our energy imbued in the curved blade..." Said Solis.

Felkin hooked the shotel onto his sword and it immediately began to glow with blue energy and began to freeze his blade. "Hmm… Doesn't seem like the simple application of it will work immediately." Nox exclaimed. Felkin put the shotel around his waist and indirectly used its energy and held his sword as a golden glow emanated from his hand. The ice melted away, but the sword didn't change form and appeared not to be in its activated state. "Before, the bandit we fought wielded it and the runes glowed with the color of his energy, and I was briefly able to use it like he did too. But it looks like I haven't quite mastered it yet." Felkin remarked, studying his weapon, and making the energy from his hand dissipate. "Maybe there's a certain condition to be met? Or is it the amount of energy expended…" Solis remarked.

Felkin looked at his arms, his left was covered in a sheet of ice while the right radiated warmth. "Your arms… There seems to be an effect by the energy you use that is actually entering your body." Felkin looked down onto his arms. "I can feel it coursing within me. Like the energy from the shotel is flowing into my body as a conduit. But unlike my sword I seem to be ill-suited for the effects of the energy, as I can be affected and harmed physically by the energy I use." Felkin then put down his sword and held both of his hands together, causing the ice to melt and the warmth to be less apparent.

"Even though I expel the energy I use, if I continued to try to expel it all I'd be wasting it if I didn't use it in combat… And even though it harms me… I'll need my strength for the next wave of enemies and challenges that will come my way." He said, a faint disheartenment could be heard in his voice. "I believe that your choices are your own, but as for advice… Your strength might be a requirement if the conditions outside are still the same, and with your powers and presence… It's likely that you will have to defend against others still, may they be gods or your fellow men." Nox surmised. "Where were we in your story? It seems like we've barely begun to discuss your recollection of events before we strayed off course." Said Solis. "I then, met a man… Metas. He's a few years older than me. You saw him earlier, he was the one who used flames and a relic that had been activated as he made use of his abilities. But then him and my other friend Iris, disappeared suddenly."

"Hmm… A sudden disappearance in a flash of flame… Using and producing fire out of thin air… It's likely that he's also one manipulating the elements via supernatural means." Said Nox. "About that, Iris also told me about an event where she was visited by a 'herald of flame', an ominous dragon armored rider who appeared to inform her about a coming event that would occur at the capital. A gathering of the heirs of flame to decide and contest with each other to earn it…" "Heirs… It could be that a source of divine power from another realm imbued people here with there power, and is now enacting their will upon them? But for what reason?" Said Nox. "Wait… Did you say dragon? That was the name of…" "The great beast." Nox finished Solis' words. "Yes, from what I've seen of a dragon beforehand, it appeared to look similar to the solidified being in the desert." Felkin answered.

"Fascinating that you met a similar beast. But how did you encounter it? And was it the same kind of being who made the desert flourish in our homeland?" Nox asked. "I'm not sure. We encountered it only briefly, but that occurred a little later…" said Felkin. "Alright, continue your story until we get to that part." Said Solis. "After we met, it was dark and he produced flame from his hands to create a campfire. But at dawn, we were attacked by a beast. It didn't feel alive nor dead, and seemed to originate from darkness… We killed it and moved on." "A being of darkness and shadows…" Nox said to himself. "Yes, that being originated from a realm of darkness we stumbled into. An abyss. Those werewolves and other shadowy creatures attacked us at dawn in the days since. I only found respite after I slipped into your realm… And through by some means after…" Felkin replied.

"Beings of abyss. Its similar to the stain of darkness we can sense within you." Said Nox. Felkin looked surprised. "You noticed. I… think the source of those things and my main source of strength are the same. But this force… I recognize that it's a corruption… Anyways, we reached civilization and went to a village at the outskirts of the cities. Metas, he… He was a knight, a warrior belonging to the cause of this kingdom. Perhaps at first he thought I was somebody lost in the wilderness and was willing to accompany me to the nearest town. But after the encounter with the creature, I suspected that he might have been keeping an eye on me for his masters. From what I've seen, he was part of a secret order that undertook in missions that the kingdom did not want the public to be aware of. And his presence investigating and expunging dark forces and creatures may be something the kingdom doesn't want to be known officially." Felkin surmised.

"Knights and kingdoms… As long as there's a large group of people, it seems like they will naturally form a defensive force to protect themselves from threats. And their leader will have mounting pressure to make the right decision, which would lead to them doing acts that others below them would view undesirable…" Nox exclaimed, putting one hand on his chin in thought.

"The village was crowded full of people, many of which were living in rotting and barely standing houses or spent their lives on the streets. They occasionally held stake burnings, executing witches, those who they believed to be in the grasp of dark powers. They were in unfortunate states, it was likely that they didn't get support from the kingdom at large... And they attributed much of their problems to these infernal elements they executed in the town square. Not that they were wrong that there weren't dark forces at play, but the choosing of their target seemed... Random, on a whim. We then met Yuria, she appears to be maybe slightly younger than me though I'm unsure. She's the girl in the next room who drained her own life to help with the battle earlier. When we met her, she had conceded to her execution, although she could have escaped their grasp easily. Although... She easily could have been the source of the possible misfortune, or maybe beasts of darkness flocked because of her influence and that the villagers could be more at ease at her death, I felt... An unfairness. I rescued her with the pretense of helping Metas investigate, and as we did so... We were set upon by the executioners and the mob of townsfolk. Right there and then I realized... That their judgement of punishment was flawed. Not that we posed no threat to them and what we did seemed like an apparent crime... But people only see what their eyes view at a first glance." Felkin paused and the room was silent.

From the other room, the boy could listen close even if the walls were quite thick. N healed Yuria, but felt a deep connection to Felkin's words. Felkin shifted as he sat in the bed, although it was a soft and comfortable surface, sitting still in one position was bothersome. The specters of the twins could not feel any longer and were unperturbed floating in the air. Likewise, the boy stood for an extended period of time and had his hands raised over Yuria, but his legs and arms were not getting stiff nor sore from doing so.

Light shone through the dust covered windows and into the rooms. It was of an ethereal nature, seeming like it came from the environment itself instead of a singular source like the sun. It illuminated the floating dust particles in the air, and made the nearly imperceptible cobwebs between the books in the shelves and up in the corners of the wooden room's ceilings apparent.

"As... we were trying to escape from the mob, we were cornered and she was forced to create a portal to that deep, calm blackness that those creatures stemmed from. I suppose I could have fought through them, I'd be only defending myself from them. But... I didn't feel it was fair." "Fair?" Nox asked, finally talking through Felkin's words. "Because they were innocents?" Solis asked. "Well, No... Maybe, it was because I was still unsure of defending or attacking either side, or maybe it's because I didn't want to act without knowing everything yet..." Felkin looked down, uncertain. "Continue." "We were lost in darkness. The ground was wet but was shallow, like thin water over a soft but firm floor... Maybe like flesh? But in the eerily calm, those beasts attacked us again. Wave after wave of them set upon us, and me and Metas managed to fend off their advance. I thought it was strange that we immediately went up to arms against them. Maybe because of their fearsome appearance, or that their aura didn't feel alive to begin with. Metas would have raised his weapon quicker than I against the villagers, but the beasts were threatening our safety all the same. As we were struggling against them, Yuria had opened a gateway back to the world, but we had exited into another environment entirely, into a land of blindingly white ice and snow... I thought the same was true for when I first emerged into the desert realm, and I feared I may be thrown into another environment if I went back. As we tried to manage the cold and unforgiving landscape, the two others trudged on."

'Hmm... Although the desert is unforgiving as well because of its daytime heat, something alike the cold of desert nights present and worsened even in the daytime is quite different, but unforgiving all the same.' Nox thought. 'Oh, I just didn't want to interrupt.' He said in his mind to Solis, who glanced at him. Felkin sensed there was communication ocurring but carried on. "Metas... I wonder where he would be without my interruption. I unwittingly uprooted him from his life and dragged him through turmoil, but not once did he complain, and he defended us all the same..." Felkin looked up at the roof and wondered.

"And then that's when we encountered the dragon. A large flame breathing beast was awakened as a mountain like creature that emerged from the snow." "Flame. Another connection to the herald you mentioned." Solis remarked, with Felkin nodding in response. They continued to discuss Felkin's experiences at length, and followed his lengthy journey through the last couple of days that would mean a short length for any other living an ordinary life. In their passing into the snow village, and meeting Ellyn. And with their battle and eventual killing of Siegmund. "So that's how you two met her..." "And that's where Metas truly chose a side and comitted a betrayal." The two commented.

He recounted the day after encountering the bandit leader, and escaping into the forest after. "Hmm... People who prefer to take advantage of others instead of working for themselves... I suppose some of them might have no choice but..." "They must have understood the risks, and the consequence of retaliation they should have considered." Nox stated, and Solis followed up. "Well, after we fought and escaped from the bandits, we went into the nearby forest, which was a place that was feared by and mysterious to the nearby denizens." Felkin continued. He continued on wutg the nature of the mysterious forest and Pharros, the being of light that told them about an unknown fate, and battled them thereafter.

"A being of light... Who spoke ominously about fate..." Said Nox. "Their aura, seems to be strangely similar to the feeling I get from this realm outside." Remarked Felkin. He proceeded into his fight and "death" at the hands of the blue demon immediately after. "So... You died, that makes three of us who somehow cheated death. But how exactly?" Nox asked. "Uh... My memory isn't clear on how, and I just woke up." Though there were some truth in his words, Felkin felt inclined not to speak about the wrapped girl he kept encountering, and his experience in the abyss prior to his resurfacing. The two sensed something wasn't entirely right, but did not interject.

"When I woke up, it was more of the same. I met up with a group of knights, of the more official capacity. They were returning to the capital after finishing a welcome and though they were also initially untrusting of me, I was accompanied to a nearby village. That village was attacked by bandits that night. More of the same." Felkin sighed before continuing. "I... could have left the town be, the knights with me were considering leaving as the force of the bandits were too numerous and are battle could further endanger or risk the town. But it felt unfair... And I felt I had to intervene. In that town, that's where I met Kieron and fought the crimson hand bandit once again. Our fight led to some of the knights perishing, and I... somehow convinced Kieron to escape with me, we ran into the forest and away from the pursuit of that bandit. It was there we had to rely on Kieron's ability to escape not because of the crimson handed bandit, but one of the creatures of darkness who wasn't affected by any of our attacks. That was when we slipped onto your desert realm." "And the rest... Is history." Solis Remarked.

"This was a whole wealth of information... And I'm afraid we aren't capable of helping or understanding it all alone. Maybe its time we told the others?" Nox asked. "The others... I... don't want them to be involved anymore..." Said Felkin. "Well... That's not your choice to make..." Said Nox. "The decisions and actions I've made... They've led to people I've involved to get hurt, killed or have their lives changed irreversibly. It would be best for their involvement with me to stop to ensure their safety." Felkin remarked.

"Who are you, to decide on their behalf their own safety?" Solis asked. "Who are you to decide what to do for me? I make my own decisions, same as them!" Felkin answered, raising his voice. "They won't have a choice if your actions deprive them of theirs!" Solis answered back. "That's enough." Nox remarked sternly. "You're right in that we can't control what you do, only you can choose for yourself. But, you have to think about if it's the right decision, and if it's what's fair to them." He added. "..." Felkin squeezed and clenched his fist around the bedsheet as he sat, and his sword twisted and coiled without him holding it. He was silent and in contemplation.

The silence was palpable, the flight of the unseen creatures could be heard, as well as Kieron and Ellyn's conversation downstairs. "I've decided!" He suddenly jolted up to his feet, and his sword jumped up slightly as he reached and grabbed it, and then briskly walked out of the room with Solis and Nox floating behind him. He used great heavy strides and exited the room and walked up to the railing of the stairs towards the downstairs area. Kieron and Ellyn looked up at him, and as he was opening his mouth the front door suddenly flew open.

Felkin immediately pointed his sword at the door. Kieron quickly raised her weapons, and Ellyn snatched a nearby knife and readied herself. "Hey kids." Jura calmly remarked, and patted at his legs removing some kind of bright crystalline dust from them. He closed the door behind him, and he took his tools off his back and lowered them by the entrance. As he walked towards the counter, Kieron spoke. "Old man! You're here! Great, you can help us!" She exclaimed. "Wait, you know old Jura?" Ellyn asked her. "Yeah, he helped us a great deal earlier." Replied Felkin, as he walked down the stairs.

"Hmm..." The pair who floated by Felkin wondered. "Why... Are you here?" He asked Jura. "Because this is sort of where I live." He replied, going down behind the counter and grunting as he bent down to pick up a bottle. N stepped out of the second floor rooms and said: "You've returned." "So you're here too. Is 'she' here?" Jura asked. "No... I thought you would know where she went." N answered. Ellyn noticed the lady in white's absence and noted it internally. "Old man... The reason why you helped us, why you're here... There's a lot of unknowns and paths intertwining with each other." Said Felkin. "Ellyn here said that they helped them escape after you... 'died'..." Kieron's voice trailed off. "I see you two have been acquainting well with each other." Solis commented.

"And he let us stay here before we went outside to find Metas' siblings, and before the bandit attack happened." Ellyn added. Felkin had a serious look and thought earnestly. "Clearly, there's a lot of things at play... And the most important thing for us to do now... Is for us to discuss. I'll... try to tell you guys everything I know." Said Felkin, walking up to Ellyn and Kieron. Solis and Nox had the tiniest satisfied smiles on their faces. Jura poured liqour to halfway of a tiny glass and gulped it down. He sighed. "Great... Talking." He remarked to himself.

In the room upstairs, Serafion put down one of the dusty books she was reading. 'Whew. Reading... Always calms my nerves. To understand something, is to be sure and know about it. And what's outside... Is far beyond the reach of my understanding.' She laid the book on a stack on the desk in front of her and observed the collection. 'The selection they have here is quite extensive, though seemingly not of one category. Books about magic, survival, and combat... But also books on myths and legends...' She looked up at the ceiling, at the desk and at the bed behind her. 'This place... It seems like a base, like a place to gather information and rest... But for what purpose was it built? It seems like its quite old...' She thought to herself. She stood up and pushed the chair she was sitting on backwards. "I've decided. I've rested for too long, and its time for me to face whatever's actually happening. I'd be doing nothing if I continued to stay cooped up here." Serafion said as she exited the room and proceeded downstairs.

"So Metas and Iris, and the princess have been forcibly taken into the realm of flames." Said Kieron. "Correct, the purpose of which is to decide an 'heir' for the purposes of inherting the strength of the elementals..." Nox replied. "Though the purpose of doing so is unclear..." Felkin remarked, before looking up expectantly towards Jura. He sighed before saying: "Alright. The court of flames that presides over their realm selects candidates for a ceremony that they'll conduct to see which would be a suitable heir. Typically, its citizens of Lodeleth, their representative kingdom with its descendants having access to their powers of flame. But there's likely some exceptions... With the one you travelled with, its confirmed. It's likely that they'll use this avatar to exert control and widen their presence over this realm, but the how's and why's of it either I don't know... Or I can't say." Replied Jura.

"W-What are you talking about? R-Realms? Court of flames?" Serafion asked, confused as she walked down the stairs and approached the group. "I haven't seen you yet, but you look to be of some authority. I'm... Serafion." She raised her hand to shake Jura's, which after a few seconds, he reluctantly reciprocated and shook her hand. "So... What is this strange conversation about?" She asked the group. They all looked at each other unsure, and Solis shrugged saying: "Well she's here now... Might as well tell her now." "Hey kid, put her up to speed." Jura said to Felkin. The others continued talking as Felkin turned to Serafion and separated from the conversation.

"Me? Uh... Ehem." Felkin coughed and prepared. "I am... A human, enhanced somehow by a power from another realm, a world seperate and beyond this one." "Wait, another world?" She blurted out quickly. "Maybe it would be better to explain the current relevant situation at hand?" Nox suggested. "So, Metas, Iris, the kingdom's princess and we suspect a few others suddenly disappeared in a flash of flame after they all gathered here, or outside here in the kingdom's realm." Said Felkin. "Okay..." Serafion exclaimed, processing the information. "Well, it's because the source of power of the Lodeleth knights, is a force or a being outside the world, and is in a realm of flames which they govern over the aspect of flame in our world." He added.

"Govern over flames? So all fires made and set alight are controlled by them? What about fires made on realms except that one and our own?" Serafion asked. "That's... A good question, are they responsible and control all flames?" Solis asked Jura. "As... Far as I know, they can freely manipulate flames and can grant 'the strength of flame' to humans, but aren't responsible for every fire." He answered. "Hmm..." Serafion was in thinking. "Alright, what's next." She added. "You've acclimated well." Solis remarked. "I... know what I'm seeing right now is reality, all that's left to do is to accept and understand it. From my studies, there's always been speculation about the origin of magic and the powers we call from. And the mystical origins of the powers of flame... With that, all that's left is add the pieces together." She said, looking down and drawing from the wealth of her experiences.

"Well, since they disappeared, we suspect they might have been put in some ritual, or competition in order to create a new heir for them, an avatar in which they'll grant them power with." "Go on." "Now the problem is, Metas and Iris have been injured and beaten down after the fight earlier. And I don't doubt they can hold their own, they might not be able to handle if they were pitted against others, or if they were to face some kind of extreme trial, they might not be able to last." Said Felkin. "So your hope is to rescue them." Said Serafion. Felkin was slightly taken aback. "Well, yes." He answered. "The problem is, we aren't exactly quite sure how to get to that realm." Ellyn chimed in.

"Myself, the girl upstairs: Yuria, and the old man have the ability to travel between realms. But me and the girl have only travelled between one realm, and she's drained of her powers, and I can't control mine. And we aren't even sure if we two can travel to elsewhere except the one place we were able to go to." Kieron exclaimed. "And the old man, er... What was your name sir?" said Serafion. "Jura." He answered, with his arms still crossed. "Uh... why can't Jura take you there?" She asked them.

"Well..." Felkin started but the old man continued. "I can't be involved in an official capacity. Meaning I can't be seen or involved there myself. I... Have my reasons, doing enough here is the best I can do." He had a sharp look in his eyes that flashed between his grey hair and metal steel mask. "And so that's where we are right now..." Said Felkin. "This conflict... This chaos, I... Don't want to be any part of it." Serafion commented, surprising Felkin. "Don't... Get me wrong, I want to help... But what I've done earlier, I don't want to risk my life more than I already have. Everything's quite overwhelming..." She added.

"That's alright... Your decisions are your own, so is ours." said Felkin. "Okay." Serafion sighed deeply, pulled a chair and sat down. "What about the boy, where is he? He made this place go from that street to here, right?" She asked them. "After seeing the old man, he went right back upstairs to healing Yuria." Said Ellyn. "That won't be of use. He only relied on this place's ability to shift between that realm, and this one, so he won't be able to take you to the realm of flames either." Jura replied.

"Let's think about possibly replicating your method of travel..." Serafion remarked. "I think he used his the tools he always carries around to travel between realms." said Felkin. "I'm sorry, but you can't borrow mine..." Jura answered. "Wait... Your weapon, its appearance... Its nature may be similar to the old man's." Kieron remarked. "The runes on the blade, the enchanted metal of Felkin's blade, its similar to the ships once used by our ancestors to travel to our once lush verdure lands. If it's of a similar nature to Jura's tools then..." Nox exclaimed. "That's doesn't necessary preclude that they can do the same things." Said Jura. "Enchanted tools, weapons or relics however you call them, have powers granted, empowered and blessed with magic and can do a variety of different things. Transportation, is only one of those things, and it doesn't mean that one item can do it, another can do the same thing." Jura said, sipping from his glass once more.

"But... It doesn't mean... It can't, right?" Said Felkin. "That's... Right! It could still very much be possible!" Kieron exclaimed, standing up from her chair. "Could be." Jura commented. "So let's get to work immediately." Said Ellyn, standing up as well. "Let's do this outside... I don't want to accidentally lose another table." Jura remarked, uncrossing his arms and stopped leaning on the wall behind him.

"Let's go." Felkin said, standing up and walking to the front door. He raised his sword and cautiously opened the door with his left hand, looking up towards the "sky" before stopping from going outside as he looked down at the ground of white leaves at his feet. "Don't fear, the ground outside's pretty solid, but don't walk too far or you'll sink deep and we'll never be able to find you." Jura commented. "Alright..." Felkin became slightly nervous at his remark, but took his first step outside, with Ellyn and Kieron behind him. "And the flying creatures outside?" Ellyn asked Jura. "They won't even notice you, provided you don't attack or pose a threat to them." He added. Kieron gulped. "A floor of leaves that we can't distinguish solid ground from pitfall, large flying creatures in the sky that'll attack us when we pose a threat..." She nervously said to herself.

Felkin opened the door fully, and took his first steps outside. He cautiously stepped outside slowly and held his sword close to him. He looked around for any threats, and then upwards to see if any of the flying creatures were overhead. He covered his eyes from the bright light that was shining from above, and then rubbed them before talking a better look at the landscape. "Whoa..." Kieron remarked, as she and Ellyn followed Felkin outside. All three of them had wide eyes as they looked around the vast area. It was like they were miniscule insects in a spacious cavern, that stretched higher and farther than they could see.

The walls and the ceiling was covered with white leaves and could might as well be the sky and the horizon with their height and volume. Great circular arches and concave walls stretched high above, but there was an opening that shone down a bright white light downwards covering the realm in its entirety in radiance. Felkin inhaled and exhaled deeply, as he did so he closed his eyes and savored the air. "The air here... Maybe because we were in the burning village earlier and there was a lot of smoke. No, it seems... the air's much cleaner here!" He exclaimed. "It's... so peaceful." Kieron remarked. "Yuria... She would have loved to see something like this." Ellyn said to herself. "And Metas... I'm sure he would have liked it too." She added.

Felkin turned to Ellyn and Kieron behind him and had a determined look on his face. "That's why... We need to move fast." He remarked. Serafion looked out from the inside of the house, peering from the window and the doorway, and was apprehensive to go outside. She moved away slightly to let Jura pass, who walked outside with his arms still crossed in a neutral expression. He calmly stepped out and walked up to the three outside. "So, let's start! How... do we start?" Kieron exclaimed. "Well... How exactly do you guys travel to another realm?" Ellyn asked. "For me, its kind of an instinct." Kieron said. "I think its a feeling... I, think about safety, disappearing, and instinct drawing me back to where I was from. I could see the desert even before I knew what it was... It was like an instinct." She exclaimed, trying to explain the vague experience she felt. "Though I doubt it's going to be the same with this instance..." Kieron added.

"Visualization. You visualize your destination and focus, before feeling and utilizing your medium of choice to undergo the process. Typically though, you will need to have to travel or see the place you're going to first so you can imagine and visualize it later." Said Jura. "So you need to go to the place you're going to, before you can go to it?" Ellyn exclaimed. "Visualization..." Felkin said to himself, looking down at his sword. "Maybe instead of seeing the location first, maybe you can describe the place to me so that I can see it in my mind? Wait, that'll only work if you've seen the realm of flames yourself, or you've been there before." He added. "You're correct. Although I can't officially intervene in the court's matters right now, I've travelled to the place before." Jura answered.

"The court?" Ellyn asked. "Tch." Jura remarked, slightly irked. "Well, no sense hiding it now, Its not like describing a place could be such a hassle." He added. "Please do." Said Felkin. "Well, the realm of flames is aptly named. And since the realms don't have names officially assigned to them, we use the most descriptive factor." "Flames..." Kieron said to herself as Jura spoke. "The realm itself is hot... With a name like the realm of flames that was expected. The landscape is barren and devoid of life, its rocky with a black stone surface of the land, like burnt coal. Plumes of flame erupt from the ground, openings leading to beneath the earth release blasts of fire up into the air. Pools of magma flow and cover depressions in the earth like lakes or rivers. The sky is black and smog fills the air. Its a place you'd think no life would thrive in." "But... How then?" Ellyn asked.

Serafion stepped out and said: "The environment would be hostile to organic life... But there are other forms of living beings." "What do you mean?" Kieron asked. "The two spirits with the boy, are you there?" Serafion asked, before the wisps of Solis and Nox emerged from the shotel around Felkin's waist once more. "What is it?" Nox asked. "I was wondering where you guys went?" Kieron asked Solis. "Projecting ourselves into being for an extended period of time makes us lose energy." She answered. "I was wondering where you guys disappeared to." Kieron remarked. "And that lies therein our answer." Serafion exclaimed. "Hmm?" said Felkin.

"You two, you are incorporeal, correct? And as such live in a form without flesh, composed of energy and consciousness alone." Serafion remarked. "Yes, though it wasn't like this until recently." Nox answered. "Your point being?" Solis asked. "Water nymphs, flower fairies, wind spirits and golems of the earth. All mystical beings of legend, though in the forms of the elements and not in flesh and bone. Their existence was contested and sightings of them rare, but with what I've seen now, beings of flame in a place called the realm of flames may be plausible." Serafion surmised. "Correct." Jura answered. "But although the realm is mainly presided over by flame elementals, you'd be surprised over the types of flora and fauna that survive in that kind of environment." He followed up. 'Hmm... I'd love to learn about what types of plants and animals that can live there.' Serafion thought curiously.

"Tell us about the court, are they the ones who gathered Metas and the others?" Ellyn asked. Jura walked a few steps and breathed deeply. "The court... They're a kingdom that has existed and thrived there for a long time. They're beings fundamentally different from humans, but not too dissimilar. Without the burdens of needing to eat or sleep, they're able to achieve and create many things and they built quite the kingdom for themselves. Advancement of their society and fulfillment of the court's highest purposes are their sole goal. The lower ones of the kingdom can be likened to drones in a hive, working hard not for themselves but for the ones at the top. The elementals vary in strength, size and power, and are pretty much animate flames." "Wait... I'm just curious on when an elemental is considered a living being. Can a simple spark be considered sentient?" Serafion asked.

"For something to be considered alive, it has to have a will and a conciousness... Where that line is, don't ask me." Jura responded. "And the court?" Felkin asked. "As you could have guessed, they're the royalty of the realm, and they're responsible for taking away and pitting the heirs against one another. They're a bunch of powerful and ancient elementals that I wouldn't advise crossing... But it seems that your minds are all made up." Said Jura. "Yeah... If we're going up against things that powerful..." Ellyn remarked. "I'll... handle it." Felkin responded. "So... If the court is the one responsible for taking them, then are they keeping them in their domain, maybe a castle of some sort?" Serafion asked.

"They've created quite the home for themselves, they use their lack of need for nourishment and their flames to create a technologically advanced, well... For the lack of a better term, city. The dukes and nobles have a keep in its center, a castle of sorts, that they use to inhabit and conduct their official business in. Their architecture reflects the land and their flames, dark red and black walls and ceilings from the stones they gather around them. They have banners and ornamentations displaying the crests of their royalty: a dragon breathing flame." "That seems to be something distinctly human that they do without practical reason." Nox commented. "Dreadfully human. It's an expression of pride." Jura answered.

"And then?" Kieron asked. "That should be a good enough description... Isn't time of the essence?" Jura exclaimed impatiently. "He's right. We already spent too much time here, something... Might have already transpired." Felkin exclaimed, worriedly. "The realms exist apart from each other, and time is distorted as we travel, meaning you all could arrive there before anything even happens..." Jura remarked. "Or we could reach there and the whole ceremony could be over." Said Solis. "So we'd better leave as soon as possible." Replied Ellyn. Felkin exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and held his sword flat to his forehead. "Wait, are you trying to do it now? Is it going to be like a gateway, or is it instant transport? If its the latter, then..." Kieron exclaimed, grabbing Felkin's shoulder.

"Are you two staying or going, if it really is instant transportation you better decide now." Jura remarked. Felkin appeared to be struggling and exhaled from his mouth. "I... can't... Nothing's... Happening..." He quietly said to himself, frustrated. "I'm... Staying. I can't thank you all enough for helping me out earlier, but I won't risk my life again. I'm sorry." Serafion asserted. Felkin's grip tightened on his sword, as his teeth clenched and he squinted his eyes further. "Maybe, maybe we need an energy source to activate his weapon. You two, can you empower the blade with your energy?" Kieron said to Solis and Nox.

The two immediately went to work and held their left hands up and they made Felkin's blade glow, one side glowing gold, and the other emanating dark a dark blue hue. Ellyn clutched the stump of her arm tightly and said: "I've decided... I'm going to stay... I... wouldn't be of much use and... I don't want to be a burden." "It's... Not working! I can't... I have to do it!" Felkin was beginning to be panicked. Jura was watching silently with his arms crossed, with a serious and neutral expression. "Guys, please... Don't beat yourselves up." A soft but sickly voice called out to them. Felkin opened his eyes immediately, and Ellyn quickly turned around. "Sorry, I... couldn't keep her upstairs, she just wouldn't allow herself to sit still." N was standing behind the doorway, as Yuria stood holding the side of the door.

"Yuria!" Ellyn exclaimed, quickly running back towards her, throwing up leaves in the air with each step. "Whoa!" Yuria exclaimed, as Ellyn hugged her. "Don't hug her too hard..." The boy remarked. "I... Was so worried about you." Ellyn said, as she released her grip and stood back up as she crouched hugging Yuria. "I'm... just fine..." Yuria responded weakly. She was relying and holding the door for support, and she appeared pale. Felkin walked up to Yuria, with Kieron standing nearby watching. Serafion observed curiously, and Jura's expression appeared to have lightened ever so slightly.

"I'm... glad you're fine as well." Felkin remarked, stretching his hand out for a handshake. Yuria emulated Ellyn and suddenly wrapped her arms around him, doing a sort of half-jump towards him. Felkin was surprised, but his right sword arm remained raised, while he gently patted her back with his left. "Hmm..." "She's looking lively." The twins remarked. "I... didn't get the chance to thank you earlier. If you... didn't come to help us earlier, we could have lost, or all died..." Yuria said to Felkin. "It's... Not a big deal, I did what I had to." He answered. Yuria looked up to Solis and Nox and said: "You were with us as well earlier, I don't know who or what you are... But I'm Yuria... and thank you!" She exclaimed cheerily although her circumstances. She then turned towards Serafion and raised her arms towards her. "Miss... You're the one who we encountered earlier, you're... Here too!" She remarked, and started towards Serafion.

The academic woman raised her hand towards Yuria. "I'm fine... It's good to see you're doing well too." Yuria stopped in her tracks, and then smiled and nodded. She turned around towards Jura and said. "Old man, you rescued us twice before and... I think this is your place, but... Wow, where we right now? This place... Its amazing!" She marvelled and looked towards the horizons and the farthest reaches of the realm but it stretched out into far our of sight. She looked up and around, and then raised her arms towards Jura before walking forward. "Hmph." Jura raised his gauntleted arm up and gently stopped Yuria by holding her hat back, causing it to start to fall backwards. Jura caught it, and then placed it back onto her head, slightly ruffling her hair.

"Um... You are Yuria correct? I... think you might be able to help us." Kieron said to her. "Who... are you?" Yuria asked, curious and cautiously. "I'm..." "She's a friend." Kieron started, but Felkin completed her sentence. Kieron tried to hold back a shy smile as Felkin walked forward towards Yuria. "She's right. We might need your help for opening a portal to another realm." He remarked. "Another realm... N here told me that Metas was taken... If I can help, I'll help in any way I can! But I don't think I can use anymore magic in my state..." said Yuria. "You don't need to transport us yourself, but if you can tell us about how you open portals, then you might be able to help." Answered Ellyn. "Right, I'm trying to go to the realm where Metas is staying, but... I can't somehow seem to do it." Felkin remarked.

"How I use my magic... It's through powers from the dark abyss that I use it. I need parts of things from the abyss, but although it didn't take us to a different... Place? World?" "Do you mean realm?" Nox remarked. "Yes. Even though her magic didn't take us to another realm like the abyss, didn't it also transport us as well?" Yuria asked, pointing towards Serafion. 'Tsk.' Serafion thought. "Oh, right...." She answered. "That's right, I forgot!" Ellyn exclaimed. "Uh... I didn't think it would be relevant to pose it since it was transportation across only one single realm, and its untested, and requires risky methods and..." "Just tell us how, and we'll take care of the rest." Felkin asked Serafion in earnest. "Talk." Jura said, with a calm and serious tone.

"Well I... Draw energy from the abyss itself, I place runes on specific places I would want to go to in the future, almost like instructions or... desires I imbue with the energy in order to accomplish what I want... That includes transportation. Though I need to place my runes on the place I'm going to, and envision going there first so... Not that different from his instructions." Serafion answered. "Yuria, how did you go about the process?" Solis asked. "The time I opened a portal back in the village, I... had a piece of an abyss beast as a source of energy, and I suddenly felt a feeling... I accepted what was going to happen to me, but I... suddenly wanted to do something else, to be alive!" She exclaimed, with a warmth welling up inside of her.

"Maybe that's it! Maybe we need a strong desire to kickstart the process." Ellyn exclaimed. "But its not like I didn't want to take myself to where Metas is..." Felkin said, looking downwards. "Yes, but... Maybe you need to focus..." Said Yuria. "I'm..." "And calm down..." She added. "Breathe..." Felkin closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, before exhaling. "Think about what you want to do. For the things I create from the darkness I notice are a result of what I want, and what I feel in that very moment..." Yuria said softly to him.

The others outside were silent, and the flight of the creatures overhead could be heard, and white leaves slowly descended and floated through the air, they were the most in motion as the others were still. 'Emotion... Desire... What I want for myself... What I want to do... I want to save Metas, Iris... I want to save my friend... I want to unshackle the others, whatever that might mean... I want... A rest from this conflict, even though I know it might not come...' He held his sword up to his face, the cold steel pressing against his forehead. N gestured over towards Jura who walked over to him.

"So, we didn't get the chance to speak earlier..." N whispered to him. "Is... Henry alright?" The old man asked the boy. "So you cared enough to notice, but not to help?" N commented. "Hmph." Jura muttered. "He's fine... They were rescued by the knights of the town." "Good." Jura quietly replied. 'Take me to the realm of flames... So I may save my friends...' Felkin thought deeply and envisioned the sights described to him. 'Then your humble request is mine to fulfill.' A familiar voice chilled like a cold breeze to his ears. "!" Jura quickly leapt back and assumed a stance ready for combat, and N readied himself, both reacting to an overwhelming presence that appeared only briefly. A red glow flashed beside Felkin, which immediately disappeared. "Guys... Was that just me, or did you feel that too?" Kieron asked, nervously.

Yuria began to stagger, before falling backwards and being caught by Ellyn. "Hey, are you alright!?" She said to Yuria. "I'm... Fine. Felkin..." She muttered as Ellyn gently lowered her to the soft leafy ground and turning towards Felkin. He was strangely still, almost lifeless. He turned around away from Ellyn and slashed the air in a calm but dispassionate manner, like a man possessed. His slash created a red streak in the air, that appeared to be sucking in air. Felkin's head raised as he was suddenly freed from his stupor, and after taking a quick glance at the slash, he turned around to Ellyn and the others. "Your eyes!" Kieron remarked, and Felkin quickly turned away to look at his reflection on his sword. His eyes turned into a faint shade of maroon, but as he stared back at his reflection he was surprised at his sword which had become activated.

The runes on his segmented sword as well as the spaces between the segments glowed bright red. He then looked at the tear, which suddenly rapidly enclosed within itself. He ran up to it and stuck his sword into it, stopping the tear's disappearance but struggling to hold it open. "You two, help me!" He cried out as Solis and Nox emerged and held their hands out, producing energy that helped stretch the tear open. "He... Can't keep it open!" Ellyn exclaimed. The boy and Serafion quickly ran in, with N exuding a radiant energy, and the scholar quickly carved a rune into the ground.

Their combined efforts tore the portal open further and further, until it was a sizable diagonal tear, looking into it one could only see darkness, with air rapidly being swallowed into it. "Is this going to lead into the realm of flames?" Kieron asked, raising her voice against the vacuum of air. "I... Don't know. But... It has to!" Felkin responded. "Listen everyone, I'm going! Take care of Yuria for me!" He yelled as he walked to enter the rift. "Wait, you're not going in alone!" Kieron yelled. "The gateway's getting smaller, I have to go!" Felkin replied. "She's right, you need somebody who's willing... and able to help you!" Ellyn followed up.

Felkin looked at Ellyn, and then back at Kieron, before handing her the ivory sickle. "Can you two still use your powers?" He asked the twins. "Yeah!" "Certainly!" Solis and Nox replied. "Alright, let's go!" Felkin exclaimed as he entered, with Kieron following. As they walked through the tear, it closed behind them, leaving them moving forward in a haze of darkness. 'Is… this place the abyss? The environment seems dark like it… But this place feels… Empty.' Felkin remarked to himself. He turned around to see Kieron clutching her weapons close to herself, looking around nervously as she followed him. "Is something wrong?" Felkin asked her. "No! Well… Is this really going to lead us to the realm of flames?" She asked. "Yes, I… believe that we'll reach it. We'll reach that place." Felkin answered confidently and reassuringly.

He turned back around and proceeded forward. 'She's right, is this really going to lead to that place? That voice earlier, it was the girl from the abyss… She might have lead and tricked us here for her own purposes, no… Those words of her earlier, they were genuine… I believe, and hope we'll reach it…' Felkin thought to himself. "Say… It's likely we're about to face some pretty powerful foes, right? Without preparation?" Kieron remarked. "Well… We've faced some strong contenders ourselves… But since time is of the essence, I admit that we're shorthanded and at a disadvantage without preparation." Said Felkin. "But… With Metas and Iris injured… We would be avoiding direct combat, as engaging with the enemy directly would only endanger them further. It would be better if we were to take them and escape immediately." He added.

"How would we be able to escape?" Kieron asked. "It would be back the same way we came, through my ability. And if that doesn't work, we'll try your ability, and if push comes to shove… With the two of them with us, we'll be able to devise a plan to escape even in enemy territory." Felkin answered. "You're… Fairly confident in them… And you're willing to jump straight into danger for them…" Kieron remarked. "They're my friends and allies after all… I've fought alongside them, and it doesn't feel right just to leave them be after all they've done for me. But what I'm not sure about, is why you were so willing to save people who you don't even know." Felkin answered.

"From the few things you've said about them, I believe they're worth saving as well. And… Once I thought that I was just repaying a debt, but since you're my friend, I'm going to help you if you need it. That's what friends do, right?" Kieron answered. Felkin smiled. "Right." They then reached a red tear in the darkness, pulsing eerily.

"Is this it?" She asked. "It should be." Felkin responded. As he touched the tear in the air, his eyes started to glow a brighter and deeper red, and a bright light flashed and swept over them. "You two, protect her." Felkin said to the twin spirits. "We will." Solis and Nox replied. Determination and fear swirled in Felkin's head. 'Power and ancient enemies… An unfamiliar realm… I've faced every challenge along the way but only barely won… Will I really keep running headfirst and succeeding every time? I… can only try.' Felkin thought to himself.