Many fallen creatures are strewn about. The others are too afraid to enter the path but watch in the misty fog that surrounds it. On guard, Meiga uses the echoing spell, Nostradus. Nostradus sends fear to all creatures weaker than its weilder for several hours. The fowl beasts cringe and slowly step away as he approaches. Unimpeded the rest of the way, Meiga approaches the strongholds' sanctuary. The Temple of Rwalm (Ra-walm).
Kereila is elated to see Meiga.
"You made it!"
"Yes. Had better days, though." He pauses for a moment. "Mind if I sit for a while?"
"Of course, Meiga!"
Kereila quickly brushes aside some things and prepares Meiga a place to rest.
"Hang in there. I'll get the healer."
Kereila runs off to get help.
Meiga surveys the room a bit. It is an old storage area. Within are the remnants of tattered linen, old medicines and empty bottles of healing potions.
The air is filled with a dusty, stale smell that is a reminder of what used to be. This very room acted as a stronghold years ago. It was the last stand for many that fought to retain the resources of this beautiful land. Meiga reaches up and stirs the air. He can see the images of long ago. He is sure to change form as it is customary to do. He chooses the humanoid spell, Redantus. It's a subtle spell to shapeshift but he cannot stay like this for extended periods of time. (That skill is more of a shapeshifter specialty.) With his new form, he watches the battle unfolds before his eyes as he slowly goes off to sleep.
Tannon and the others gather around Meiga.
They notice how much smaller he's gotten.
"Wow! Is this the same Meiga?!" Opjulia asks.
"Tanwan? Whatcha do to him? He wasnt twis bwad!"
"Well...I think he lost a lil weight. Otherwise, seems like good ol' Meiga...I guess?" Tannon scratches his head.
The others can see his actual form deteriorating. This shapeshifting spell only works on lesser beings within the temple or other populated areas.
"Wait here everyone." Rea notices his crest was recently used. His aura has dimmed and seems to be extremely tired.
Rea heads into the hall of mages where several powerful beings reside. The beautifully lit temple has emerald crystal torches that light the jade-colored floors. The rooms have huge arcs that form sacred barriers for each inhabitant. The barriers act as locks and each room is identified by the residents' crest and magical specialty. Searching for the best healer, Rea walks to the room of Equestra. A waterbearer, according the emblem above the door, that uses different water spells for healing the sick.
The being within senses her aura and welcomes her inside. Her room is filled with magical energy that grants each occupant a small health boost. It's like walking into an ocean with receding waves. Upon entering, Rea walks through a veil of water. The water glides back towards the walls as the water hovers about and around them. The walls and beneath the flooring lies enchanted seawater. Equestra is primarily made of water. She can make elixirs by mixing different ingredients from the many waterways about the area.
"Hey, old friend." Rea greets her with a smile.
"Rea."
"You remember Meiga?"
"Of course! Why?"
"He's arrived but a little worse for it."
"Really? Hadn't seen him in, oh, a thousand years or so. What happened?"
"He bought us some time to escape the scavengers."
"Not again." Equestra shakes her head.
"Afraid so. You wouldn't happen to have one of those Practilos (Prak-till-ohs), would you?"
"Such an elixir is too powerful for most of us celestials. Why? Do you think he's in that bad of shape?!"
Rea lowers her head.
"Yeah...it's...pretty bad."
"Rea? You're not looking too good, either."
She notices her posture is a bit off and has several bruises about her. It looks like she survived Meiga's attack…barely. "I only have intermediate healing potions, I'm afraid...you up for a quest?"
"Sure! What do you have in mind?"
Meanwhile, the others are still gathering about Meiga.
"Should we let him rest, Tannon?" Hereta asks.
"Perhaps that's best. Kereila should be able to aide him from here."
The others turn away and head to the main hall.
Kereila runs back with the healer, Olidius (Oh lid ee us).
"See?!?" Kereila exclaims.
"My stars! What happened to him, Kereila?"
"I don't know. His stats are so strange. I can only read some of it. The rest seems to be ...guarded."
After observing the sound asleep Meiga, Olidius reaches a grim conclusion.
"I don't think I can reverse this. Did he use his crest recently?!"
Olidius looks about Meiga. He finds the crest. It's still warm from the battle.
"His...body is...fading." He glumly states. "I just don't know where to start. A being of light and dust is very difficult to revitalize." He observes Meiga and opens a HUD to examine his body. Pressing a few buttons he swipes and finds some information on this kind of holy being.
"His biological composition has a scaly-leathery consistency. As if it is holding his body together."
Olidius scans Meiga's massive hands.
"What a specimen, indeed!"
Olidius observes the many wounds about his body. The leathery skin is brittle to the touch.
"Oh my...it's...shedding?!"
Meigas' skin begins to shed. The flakes crumble to dust as they hit the ground. Beneath his skin is a muscular shell that shines with an effervescent glow.
"What...am I seeing?!?" Olidius is in utter wonder. Only the heavens were more beautiful. It was like looking at a nebula. But this nebula was Meiga's new "skin".
"Kereila...there is no known elixir you can find within this area but perhaps Equestra can help." Olidius cannot resist. The idea of such beauty is too tempting not to. Olidius reaches out to touch Meiga's inner skin.
"What...are you doing?" Meiga questions as he looks toward Olidius. The air he once stirred no longer shows the wars from long ago.
"Uh...nothing, nothing."
Meiga slowly drifts back to sleep. His body glows a dim yellow. He is healing but slowly. Given his present state, Kereila and the others will not be able to call on him.
Rea catches up with Kereila. Kereila is saddened by Olidius' words. She's lost as to how to aide her friend.
Sensing the grim situation, Rea turns to her ally. "Kereila? I've news on how to help our friend." Rea states.
Kereila's eyes dart with excitement.
"How can I help, Rea?!"
"There's a old bestiary in the dwellings of this temple. No one's gone there for ages. Perhaps it can help us understand Meiga's biological composition. As it stands, there isn't an elixir that can help him, but Equestra gave me a quest. The quest seems simple enough: retrieve the bestiary. However, ancient knowledge is heavily guarded. By what… is unknown. The All-Fathers are very particular about sharing information. However, it's worth a try. What do you say?"
"How many will be with us?"
"Well, to be honest, the space isn't very roomy. According to Equestra, it's about six feet high and wide. We would have to walk shoulder to shoulder or one behind the other. Either way, it's pretty dangerous. Dodging attacks is nearly impossible and using powerful attacks may bring the temple down on top of us."
Kereila remembers one of the warriors has a special ability suited for such a mission.
"Palasin! That's it! Palasin can resize us but for only an hour. We can use our strongest attacks. Just focus on limiting our abilities. Give me some time to reach him. I can't use my summoning powers on him. He has no ears to hear them. I will have to use vibrations and that could take time."
"Hurry, Kereila. Though Meiga is stable, his scrollsman stays near. That can't be good..."
"Understood."
Kereila rushes off to ask Olidius of Palasin's last known location. Olidius reminds her of his home, Versadian. She will have to tread lightly as she will be virtually alone on this trip.
Kereila gets as many potions as she can carry and makes her way to Versadian.
Versadian is a mystical forest that enchants its inhabitants with resizing abilities. Palasin is about 5' 2" but can be resized to 3' when needed. He generally keeps to himself and hates leaving his home. Given his limited abilities, Palasin uses his powers reluctantly. His body is made up of fairy dust and several of the forest enchantment spells. His ears were damaged, years ago, from the kaiyalu's scream. He hasn't heard a thing since.
"Kereila! Wait up!" Rea hurries to her side.
"Equestra said there's a hidden path to the forest and to stay east. There's an enchantment lock at the entrance to Versadian. We'll need to recite this to gain access:
"No beast shall feast to the east
But haste makes waste in this case
As screeches empty beaches to the west
Sever ties when phalanx cries or all dies".
"Not exactly helpful but who knows, right?"
After hearing this, Kereila worries. She remembers how many friends are lost to the darkness of time. She relies on her courage and strength to overcome all odds. However, Rea lives for adventures. Her powers seem to be infinite. Kereila gives it a second thought and believes they can achieve this task. Especially, after seeing Rea in action. She now seems up to the challenge.
As they near the entrance, an old spell whisks and flashes a bit as it acknowledges the pair's authorization spell.
The two continue walking as the authorization spells slowly disappears.
"So...how long have you and Meiga known each other?"
"Oh...about 364 years, give or take."
The two continue to make small talk as they head down the old corridor.
"That's a pretty long time. Where did you two meet?"
"It was a small gathering place. We were altogether...watching a celestial crash upon the hillside to the south. It would be one of many. Something exploded above the beings..."
Rea relives the horrors of that day. The booming noises were so unnerving, inhabitants ran in fear of an all-out assault. It wasn't, however, as the beings were needed for their healing technologies. Olidius was guiding one of the beings and noticed something sitting above the clouds. It was massive. And deadly. Without warning, it attacked the incoming vehicles.
"And...Meiga?" Kereila interrupts.
"What else? Training as always..."
"Well. What I remember of it anyways. Shortly after meeting Meiga, there was the battle for the temple grounds."
"Why would anyone want this old temple?"
"The bestiary and the healers might be the main goals. Additionally, it's sacred ground for the fallen. According to legend, the temple can house the energy of the fallen. The energy can be weaponized but no one has that kind of power. Not even Meiga. The elder scrollsmen basically hang around but never make mention of this temple. I always wondered why. They don't seem overly interested in anything, really. They just wait around like..."
"...Death"
"Yes. In fact, not everyone seem to know much about them. Mine comes and goes but Meiga's is always near him. I just wish I knew what that means."
"How old are you, Kereila?"
"Me...well, we count our age by 'star flashes'."
"What's a star flash?"
"It's our home planets' binary stars. Whenever they cycle our planet, there's an encoded flash. Each interpreter can decipher everything about the planet at that moment. That includes our birth cycles. The next cycle will be my twenty-first."
"I see. I can't fully recall my life. The images fade when I try to remember certain things. I do know that I'm somehow drawn here. My body responds to these surroundings as if I was here before." The torches seem to glow a bit brighter as she passes them. Kerelia takes notice as it appears to interact with their presence. Is this cave alive? The two journey along as they pass several odd pillars and notice the flattened earth beneath them. The ground seems a bit more dusty in this area as they head closer to the center of the winding path. "I know some of the inhabitants but cannot remember everything about them." Rea continues.
The two carefully navigate the hidden path and follow the dimly-lit torches guiding the way. As they walk along, a low grinding sound eeks along with them.
"What was that??!" Kereila asks. Visibly shaken by the odd noise, she gets into a defensive stance.
"I...I don't know..." Rea nervously stammers. Unsure of what lies ahead, she prepares herself as a strange source of energy can be detected. Amongst the floor are large stone tiles now that seem a bit different from the grounds before. Embued with energy, the ground seems to vibrate briefly.
As they make their way through the corridor, plates of metal can be heard. They seem to be moving succinctly.
"Rea? That sounds like..."
"A small army..." Rea interjects.