As the two approach the massive door, their eyes adjust to the faintly-dimmed corridor. A wondrous green aura glows about the handle of the enchanted entrance. Its hollowed hub is emboldened by wondrous bulbs of flickering lights that briefly illuminate the densely moss-filled area. They marvel at the sheer size of it as they look around to find a way in. There are various spells enchanting this area. Known for her ability to decipher them, Kereila looks on. Through the wards are barbs of energy that look like a broken puzzle. Studying it further, she sweeps her hands over the oddly-shaped item. It chimes softly but remains unmoved. "Rea…look there. There's a small opening but no key. It may be a simple spell but I'll need to decipher the pattern. She attempts to reach out to the "lock" and move the parts around. She notices some strange words and begins interpreting. The lock responds to her words that makes the handle twitch about. "Now, if I read that correctly, it should open." Kereila reasoned. Afterwards, she slid her hand over the lock and clasped the handle. However, it doesn't turn.
Below them lies large, clear glass-like fixtures encasing broken words of a language lost long ago. The ancient door is riddled with scratches, blood and notches from being heavily used for what seems like many lifetimes ago. The door is solid like an old oak tree. Its hinges are rusted quite a bit. The entrance floor is worn and dirty. What lies within is unknown to these warriors. Could there be more enemies ahead? Traps? They wondered..
The green aura displays what seems to be a simple spell based on commonly-used ancient magic. Rea looks it over a bit more.
"Wait. What's that obstruction to the left of the door?" Kereila leans in and squints at the small letters. "It looks like some sort of entrance spell. So, a certain sequence has to be used to enter."
"Nothing too fancy from what I can see."
Rea stares as she touches the door.
The door glitches, as if simulated, and flickers about.
"Got something for opening eerily hidden and horribly creepy long lost villages, Kereila?" Rea joked.
"Sure do...the words simply translate to: "Just Open The Door"."
"I tried opening it but nothing happened. It looks like the spell is intended for one person to use at a time."
"Perhaps we should try pushing it together."
The two nod and lean into the door as they start pushing it. The door doesn't budge initially. Another push causes the handle to click what sounds like a lock opening. The "simple" spell releases it hold a bit then disappears.
The two continue gently forcing it open. The door creaks loudly as a strange powerful light begins to illuminate the ever growing opening. The two shield their eyes and a peculiar being greets them at the entrance.
"Ahhhh! I thought I heard someone coming in! Welcome! Welcome! A mill-i-yon welcomes! I hope you found it rather simple! Rather simple indeed! Oh, my friends, my friendssssss how wonderful it is to seeeee you!"
A strange merchant greets the two upon entry. Eagerly grabbing their hands, the strange man reveals himself. It is shrouded with a large, thick cloak. Its eyes wildly spinning as if to hypnotize the newcomers.
"What...is it doing?" Kereila asks.
"Not working for you, is it?" The odd merchant shakes its hands and disappears into a cloud of dust.
"Ohhhh kay, that was pretty weird."
"Be on alert." Rea cautions. "We don't know friend from foe."
The two press on. The outskirts of the village is a combination of street merchants, beggars and beings strewn about. The atmosphere is thick with trade and chatter. Lights pulsate throughout the bazaar-like grounds where the galaxy's inhabitants can mingle and barter.
Several posters govern the landscape. The pictures are digital in nature and describes multiple fugitives in various tongues. One such image catches Rea's eye.
"Wait.That one! Is...that what I think that is?!"
Rea points to the advertisement.The picture illustrates the image of a being thought to be dead years ago.
"I know this one! It lives near the border town of Herjexis. Not far from Quadrant 117." Rea explores a possible side quest to her current one. She knows the opportunity may be gone but can't help but to be intrigued."That bounty could feed an entire hillside! We'll put that on our to-do list." She glances back at it with excitement. "Hmmm, looks like it's rated two gold tiers! We should be able to beat out the others. What tier are you, Kereila?"
"Well, since our last quest, I've earned a new rank within our faction. Gold tier 3."
Awesome! I'm a Platinum tier 4. Should be a breeze! Let's go, Kereila."
The two begin to continue their but something catches Kereila's attention.
"Wait! I...I sense something." Kereila's eyes light up a brilliantly white glow. Amongst the crowded area lies an ominous spirit of some sort. She surveys the grounds but sees nothing unusual. Her eyes twitch and quint a bit. Unmoved by her actions, an odd sense of glaring seems to be coming from nearby. Though she cannot tell its intent, she remembers the spoken word of several spell-seeking enchantments. Rummaging through her belongings, she stumbles across an old spell for fog control and shapeshifters. She studies the spell for a moment and lifts her hands. With a whisper, she cites the encantation: "Wizards, witches, demons too. Emerge before me with translucent hue. A command to summon and to pursue. I make this chant exclusive for you. Declare your status or abstain at risk. Hidden no more your identity. "CLEARMIST". A strange, translucent mist arises over the bazaar. It reveals all beings: hidden and presently seen. Shrouded in darkness is a small being hunched over...watching. Its eyes are dark then light like fireflies. They are filled with a strange lime-colored glow. It stands about two feet with dark greying hair. Its skin changes colors as it mimics its surroundings.
"There! By the fourth stand. Something's watching us!" Kereila exclaims as the mist dissipates. Rea looks about as she tries to locate the odd being.
Rea shrugs her shoulders. She cannot see the hidden figure amongst them.
"Can you track it?" Rea asks.
"Gimme a second. The mist tags the hidden things but only for a short while. Look for small trails of light."
The creature, however, doesn't move. Kerelia walks towards its last known location. The little creature darts away towards the thick brush beyond the bazaar.
"I saw it. There! Beyond the bazaar! Follow the light!" Kereila and Rea run towards the being. The being slowly sheds its disguise. With its small hands raised, a purple hue engulfs the two. Their sight fades as they are teleported back to the village entrance.
"What the? Ok. I definitely think THAT'S the one we're after."
"Kereila, let's try this again."
The two prepare their armor.
"I'll enter cloaked. You enter as normal. Be sure to use your mist spell. Track it then tap on the ground the directions. I can use my tracking spell for small distances. Ready?"
"Gotcha, Rea! I'm ready!"
They gently push the large, old door. The bazaar is still bustling like before. Rea runs near the first location the being was spotted at. Kereila walks towards a clearing in the crowd.
"Clearmist."
Again, she can see those hidden and again the small creature sits camouflaged; watching. This time Kereila says nothing but bends to one knee as if to clear debris from her feet. She, nonchalantly, taps the exact location the being is seen in. Rea's tracking spell pinpoints the exact location. Rea hurries to its new location: beyond the well near the Asdregs. The Asdregs are merchants that deal with dark magic spells and the like.
"Ahem..." Kereila coyly clears her throat. She attempts to get Rea's position. She senses her movements briefly. While cloaked, Rea minimizes her contact with the ground by walking on air. She can do this, periodically, as she moves about. Kereila stretches her arms as she stands. She subtly points towards the being.
The odd figure watches quietly. His eyes begin to flutter as if it's trying to clear its vision. As it wipes its eyes, Rea has her hidden dagger at its throat.
"Teleport ME you little..."
Rea has a firm chokehold around its neck.
"Ack...ack...ackkkk!!! Wha...whattaya want wit me, yer furfleckin dingalion friskers!!?! I'd dunnuddun!!"
"Oh, you've done SOMETHING all right! Can you explain this?!"
Rea shows him a picture of an ancient crest. Upon the crest is a forgotten language. The same language found under this beings' left hand.
"No place I've fought, no place I've lain have I seen these words. Yet, here THEY ARE on YOUR HAND!"
Rea clutches his hand and twists it. Kereila catches up to question the strange being.
"Rea?! What are you doing?!? I thought we were here to-"
"Get the truth...on why or WHAT this thing knows! Our memories are so scattered but in mine is this being and THESE words. I tried to learn them but...we were punished for it. I spoke to other beings, elders, wisemen...none would speak of them. Only Meiga would tell me about these beings. Even still, he left it to me to find the truth of my past. I've wondered about for awhile now but never could find a good lead...until recently. Meiga told me there would be a flare of light that would guide me to my destiny. A beacon of some sort...one that would change my life forever. Though I'm here, facing my past, I can only remember so much."
Rea slowly lessens her grip around his neck. The being violently strikes her head. The blow opens up a large gash upon her brow. It doesn't bleed. The sudden hit awakens Rea's memories. The being grabs Rea's head.
"Sooooo...you likeeeee memories, eh?"
The being shifts about as its bones pop and elongate. Its skin sheds to reveal its long serpent-like body.
"Bound by the crest...I will...accommodateeeeee youuuuuu."
The strange being, still clutching her head, rises above Kereila. The bazaar clears from the beast known as a Frexlis. A being that can alter, delete or restore memories.
"You...are not...alone. Where are the others?"
The beast looks about as Rea shakes from the flood of memories being restored. The effect, though temporary, is a painful process. It forces the brain to adjust to a slew of information over a short period of time. While doing so, the being extracts memories from its host with the ability to alter them as it pleases.
"You...know of Meiga? Fassssssinating. Your past...very violent. Many died. Your future...many possibilities...whichhhhhhh will you choose?"
Rea's mind runs wild with memories of her Braitling; her younger years. She is transfixed with her parents words on fulfilling her destiny. Her body glows a soft greenish hue. Her body is at peace as she can see her siblings singing and dancing about. How their laughter fill the air. They are unaware of the dangers that are to follow.
Upon the night is death's call. The hint of whimsy and carefree dreams are the illusion surrounding their peace. A peace soon forgotten. There they lie. Creatures without a care...and there they'd stay. Bloodstains comfort their broken bodies as Rea and the others flee. They have to escape death's call...for it echoes loudly and seeks its prey without mercy.
"Mercy! I beg for mercy! Find refuge in your heart for the ill-gotten! Save us from the treacherous beings upon us!"
The words awaken Rea. She raises her hand and can feel the aura within her grow.
The beast lifts her and tries to rip her apart.
"Youuuuuu...you're the one!! You and your kind...curssssssssed me!!! I will...haveeeee my revenge!!!"
Tight and heavy.
These words would prove too much for this being.
Tight is the way its chest would rise and lower as Rea's aura engulfs it. The glow from her aura now stretches around the snake-like creature like that of a python.
Heavy is the way the beasts' body dropped to the floor. Rea's grip proved to be too deadly. As she slowly raises her head.
"You...will not escape me...AGAIN!"
Rea bludgeons the poor beast until its body grows cold.
Kereila watches in horror. She cannot believe such darkness resides in this peaceful being known as Rea.
Underneath the fallen creature is a small parchment with words about its surface.
"Transinton"
"What an odd name."
"Rea? Are you ok?"
"I wonder how long I can...stand...?"
Rea collapses from the energy she used fighting the beast. Her body is heavy as the armor reduces its defensive ability.
"System deactivating. Threat level dissipated. Armor off."