Michael turns his body to Franni, but his gaze goes beyond the sorcerer and to the viewing booth where Steven observed from afar. So this is the famous Judge I've heard about, he thinks to himself. Steven had assigned him to tear the group from the inside alongside Aly, only learning about his plans since the start. He was a seed of betrayal laid in soil for when he sprouted, he would wreak havoc and distrust. Michael indulged in this satisfaction, he had no morals and the truth was something he'd always avoid. But was decit all that he knew?
Franni walks down to his level, Michael being a bit taller towered over the Judge, and the pair walk to the preparation room, the crowd still cheering with their bloodlust fulfilled. Along the way Franni explained why the group needed him, his role and the significance of his abilities. Michael was confused and hesitant to join, rebutting how they'll lose when killing the dragon, but it was part of his facade. Gain their trust, and tear them from the inside. It was a simple plan, but one that requires constant focus and deviation from it could cause Steven's plan to crumble. In the end he agreed to join their crusade
"Where's the first eye?"
"There's one in Yusev Udet, Briyaki Tal and already in the end-portal in Tero Joklip", Franni says drawing a portal onto the wall in front, "Steven is our informant"
And this is where he noticed Michael's facial expression almost like he knew the person
"Do you know him?"
"Steven? I don't know who he is, I've been fighting in Yusev Udet most of my life", Michael moves through the portal and onto the streets again, daylight breaking at the same time
Franni follows through but can't stop feeling discomfort around the man
"I know where the eye is", Michael says holding out his sword, "it's beneath the palace"
"Alright, lead the way then"
"Can't you teleport us there?"
Franni looks bemused, "now where's the fun in that?"
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"So tell me about yourself?" Hina says to Ash who was munching on a jelly snack
"I mean what's there to tell?" her mouth full with jelly, "I was born in the Country Kingdom, I was interested in potions and decided to learn at the Tower of Doe Cap. Eventually I became the greatest conjuror in the tower, my skills were going off. I was teaching newbies how to create potions without injuring themselves and the Grand Mage told me I was expecting you and Jaden"
"Well...there was something to tell"
"Ahh, no, haha"
Jaden was ahead of the girls by a few meters leading them to the next place. They retrieved an eye from the Tower of Doe Cap, now it was a matter of discovering the other in the Sallytok Fuenji Mines. The trio travelled quite a distance considering the mines were situated close to the Borders of Connection, and they had to hurry since the group planned to regroup at the end of the week in Tero Joklip.
The trio kept walking through Neon Kingdom, passing a waterfall on the way, the water streaming downwards to the Sallytok Fuenji Mines. It was pristine, sparkling when the sun touched it. They decided to take a rest beneath the shade of the trees, the grass gently grazing their skin, the trees moaned in the wind, bees busily collecting nectar from lilacs and returning to their hive, fishes swimming upstream. Ash rarely ventured outside the walls of the tower. It wasn't necessarily a terrible thing, but it restricted her encounters with the rest of Yomar.
As Jaden and Hina continued discussing their route, Ash spotted a herd of horses galloping towards them, coming to halt for rest and grass. The neighs of the creature were magnificent, the elongated caramel mane and cocoa hair glistening in the sunlight captured Ash's eye.
The trio set off again, the sun just reaching the halfpoint of the day. If they were to make it on time they would need to travel with haste
"We're here", Hina says, stopping at the mouth of the cave
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"Do you need help?", Franni asks stepping to the right, avoiding a fireball
"Nah, I'm alright", Michael says
Franni just collected the eye which was encased in glass, and now is watching Michael attack the dragon released when they took the eye. Michael had told Franni to stand back, watch the show and trust him in his skills. He sat near the entrance of the cavern, the sandstone shaking every time the dragon swung its tail at Michael.
The dragon breathed fire onto the warrior. Michael held out his shield and grunted at the intensity of the blaze while Franni was playing with Mr J. He fired arrows at the creature's hide, but it would bounce off into a different direction, his sword pierced it's hide but the dragon threw Michael off before he could impale it further to the heart. He was right, the skill he possesses is unlike Franni ever saw in Yomar. Even if he was flung or hit by the creature Michael persisted with the attack, it was almost beautiful. His movements were fluid, attack after attack, and his reluctance to give up was amusing.
Steven's owl situates itself onto a perch, hidden from Franni's sight. The eyes are to the windows to the soul, and Steven wanted to analyse Franni's magics
"Need help?
"No...I-", and the dragon wraps its tail around Michael, restricting his arms and lifting him up into the air
Franni puts Mr J down into a safe spot, removing the dust from himself as he stands and begins stretching
"Really!"
"I don't want to pull a muscle"
"Franni!"
"Quit whining you old lady, geez"
An emerald sigil forms on his hands, he directs his palm to the beast releasing pressurized water. It screeches at the attack, dropping Michael onto the sandstone, he runs behind Franni. The symbols on the sigil changes and he reaches into the ground. The earth begins to shake, the floor cracks upon and water-golems surround the beast. Franni twists his hands in opposite directions, projects it in the area enclosing the dragon in a water cage to prevent its escape
"Woah",
"Woah, indeed"
And Franni starts controlling the golems, raising their arms to the beast and firing water at it. The creature wails attempting to escape into the air but upon touching the water cage falls down weakened, sand particles flying in every direction, Michael covers his face, but Franni remains unfazed. It moves its arms, trying to get up and roars at Franni, but he already sets his next attack in motion. He circles his hands inward, the water cage collapses and combines with the water-golems then a water tornado forms around it. Michael looked at Franni's eyes as they were closed, his head swaying in unison as if he conducted music, and to a degree his fluid movements made the creature's death beautiful. Once it was enveloped in water he clenched his right hand and the water entered the dragon, Michael was terrified and Steven was in awe, Franni opened his eyes and pulled his right hand back causing the beast to implode, and holds out a sigil for protection against the flying meat.
The sorcerer pants heavily, sitting down trying to catch his breath. This is the power of Franni?, Michael thinks. He was terrified, how was he meant to kill him if his power was this intense. Steven's nether-magic was strong but in comparison to Franni it wasn't this raw. On the other hand, Steven wasn't worried, but his plans did change, why waste this power when he can use it himself. The owl flies back to Steven, Michael watches it leave and looks back at Franni. He extends his arm to the tired man, Franni smiles and takes it standing up
"That was amazing"
"I can become loose in situations, so be careful"
"I'll take note"
"I apologise for being skeptical about you"
"Don't worry"
"Next is Briyaki Tal, lead the way", Franni smiles
"Ladies first", Michael directs
Franni punches his shoulder gently, laughs it off and walks first. Michael stares at Franni, he has to kill him, yet weakness and regret begins to grow in his head. He shakes his head to remove it, I have to kill him, he repeats in his head and follows after
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The trio walked through the caves, spotting large chests filled with an array of ores and gems from the mines. Jaden had never seen such beauty glistening in the dark of the mines, a bountiful sort of rare materials in his life. Ash's mouth was open like a goldfish, finding it difficult to close it. Hina led the group through the mines, she pushed a cart onto the track, pulled the lever to set it in place and urged the others into the cart. Steven's owl followed behind undetected
"Hold onto the edges", and Hina pushed the lever
The cart set in motion on a straight path into the dark mines
"What are these hooks for?", Jaden asks
"Just wait"
It was relatively slow then the cart shook at an incline, metal rails dragging it upwards from the bottom. Jaden's anxiety increased, Ash was smiling and Hina was preparing herself for the drop. The cart continued being pulled until it reached the edge of the line where they couldn't see anymore, the rest was just a steep drop. Jaden's eyes bulged out grabbing tightly onto the edge of the cart, swore and prayed he wouldn't die. The cart tilts forward, he takes a deep breath, Hina thinks, here we go again, and Ash is prepared to scream, and they drop fast into the dark abyss. The trio screams intensely as they fall, the sound of wood creaking as the cart takes them from the start to the end
Jaden closes his eyes, swearing as fast as his brain could make him. Hina was screaming in delight, squealing at the prospect she hadn't experienced this in a long time. Ash was having the time of her life, never she had imagined encountering such a thing. The cart shoots straight, the momentum of the drop carrying them upwards. Steven's owl follows quickly. They come to a crossroad but veer to the left as Hina pushes a passing lever, the cart tilts heavily but the trio balance it out. The wind whistled passed their ears, they began to spiral downwards
"Open your eyes", Hina nudges Jaden
"No"
"Hurry up, love, you'll miss it"
And despite his fear gripping him, Jaden eventually opens them to countless gems being mined by dwarves. Ash and Jaden's mouth drops wide open in awe to the dwarves scaling the cave for minerals, or carefully exploding the side for a new access point. There were wooden platforms stretching further down into the cave lit only by lanterns hanging by chains. They continue spiraling downwards towards the centre then come to a slow stop at the bottom, just a few meters before crashing into a pile of ores. They trio get out of the cart, Ash stumbling and trying to balance herself. Hina turns to a dwarf, her eyes widen and runs towards her
"Min!", she screams
"Hi, love", as she receives an embrace from her old friend, "who are these?"
"These are my friends. I have a favour", Ash and Jaden wave
"What is it?"
"I need the eye of ender"
And Min's eyes widen in confusion. The owl perches itself onto a rock, hidden from the trio