I leave the prison with a gleeful smile on my face, I try to stop myself from smiling, but I can't wipe it off. Is this how it feels? It's like a million explosions are happening in my stomach. Is this how mom and dad felt back in the day? Can't imagine how much dad suffered then, to have stopped being a knight. All he does now is just sit quietly in his room, like a husk. Maybe me becoming a Sigil will cheer him up. I quickly hurry back up to Rito, as he sits grunting on the wide staircase.
"Hey you doing good?" I ask.
"Ugh, the shit stain got me in the back. I feel my wound opening over and over." Rito adjusts himself over and over.
"Is there any doctor around here?"
"There is, but he charges a ton. And we don't have any silver left."
"Tch, hmm," I smack my tongue. "Oh! When we were walking to Sentinel, you said something about a bard that could heal!" I burst out.
"You mean Vinifera?"
"Yes, her!" I answer.
"I guess we could go there, might as well give it a shot. But you gotta carry me some of the way." Rito smirks.
"Fine. Let's just get going." I lift Rito up and begin walking out of Sentinel with him. Most shops had closed down, leaving the only noise the laughter and clinks heard from the upper areas. I enter out into the open area at the start of Sentinel, the sun's light was starting to disappear, as the sky turned a bright pink and purple.
The fresh grass seemed more dull at this time, yet more calm. I walk out through the giant arch with Rito on my back. As the bells hanging from all the wooden ships, from big to small swing around chiming their tune.
I look back to Rito, his eyes are closed and he's… Drooling on me. Tch, he already fell asleep. I guess I can just walk in peace then. Even the water seems calmer. Guessing the winds calmed down. Though the sun feels nearly all the warmer as hours ago, maybe just slightly cooler.
How beautiful the sunset is. I wonder what's beyond the horizon, all I can see is just a black sea of nothingness. I look up to peer into the glittering stars, how pretty they are. Now that I have time for myself to look around, I can really peer into every corner.
Like those three islands in the distance, way beyond the mountain ranges of the forest and desert, one is a flatter island long out at sea, with a bunch of wooden shacks. Another is placed in this large canyon of the ocean, looks like a whole fortress of wood was placed on this sort of rock formation, a small hut is at the top of the whole base, and a small cove sits at the bottom. And then to the left of all of these smaller islands, a massive cliffside hangs.
A whole pathway leads up to a sort of dark tower at the top. And behind it is a lavish city farther away on the cliffs. I wish I still read books like I used to, but it's just not that enjoyable anymore, good Rito still tries to keep himself informed. I look ahead of me as the forest's mountains come closer and closer.
I step onto the soft grass, smelling its fresh aroma. Hm, I look to my left to see the path up to Flunkleberg, of our last experiences there, they fully shut down at night, so getting any sort of help from there would be a lost cause. Instead I peer to the right, a long path ahead but at least I can hope for help. Rito is still snoring and drooling on me, I'll just wake him up when we get there. And finally I begin the walk towards the Wayside Inn.
I finally step foot on the small gravel path connecting Cardinal Crossing to the right side of the shore. The mountains shadow me as they arch over the whole area. The sun has already set as well. No more pretty pink sky, just dark blueness across the night.
The large rock formations that hang over the inn also block out the last bits of light from the sun. Small chitters from the wooden houses begin sounding in my ears, as I come closer and closer. The main inn or bar is a large house, this whole place is sort of the same building style as in Alana, wooden frameworks and this coarse wall material. I walk over to the door.
"Excuse me, is the bard Vinifera still here, my friend is in desperate need of healing." I ask the bartender who's currently wiping off glasses.
"Sorry pal, she went home thirty minutes ago, but you're in luck, a traveling healer is here right now, and she doesn't charge, isn't that wild." The bartender says.
"Thank you sir, where is the healer?" I ask.
"Right outside, she set up a small tent for 'customers', be careful though, she sees auras, or whatever she called it." The bartender jokingly says. I go outside the inn, and I try to look for a tent. All I see are the houses and small lanterns hanging from the rims of the roofs. Suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"Greetings, my good filura." I turn around to see a petite albino Kasparan with a small crown of multicolored flowers atop of her head.
"Oh hi?" I say with a confused expression.
"It seems your friend is in need of help." She says.
"Yeah he does, and I'm looking for a traveling healer of some sorts. Do you know where this person is?" I ask the Kasparan.
"Yes, I do know where it is, follow me sir." She answers. I comply, and I go with her.
She takes me over to a small glowing tent placed behind some of the houses. She opens the curtains for me to go inside. Small opals and gems hang from all around, plants are sprouting from every corner as well. And a wooden table is set in the middle of the room.
"So where is the healer?"
"Oh my mistake, I sometimes get lost in my own thoughts. My name is Lady Morva Lilium, but of course just call me Morva. I am the healer you are seeking." Morva explains.
"Oh my bad."
"It's quite alright, not everyday you see someone like me. But could you please lay your friend on the table, it seems like he's in a lot of pain. Never good to hold that in."
"Yes of course lad- Yes Morva." I stumble through my words as I lay Rito on the table.
"Very good, now could you please leave the tent so I can heal your friend in peace."
I nod and just as I push the cloth away. I hear Morva whisper
"Maybe I should give that Vind a check up. Something doesn't sit right within him."
I quickly step out into the ink night sky. I look around for things to do, but everything seems so, still. I go back to the main inn, beside it is another path leading up the mountain. It seems a whole city is up there, maybe I'll ask Rito about it.
Back at the tent, I see even more light from inside, and a weird sound. Like a windhorn and every sort of instrument is playing at the same time in perfect harmony.
Suddenly the light stops along with the weird tune. As the shadow of someone Raises themselves and gets up from the table.
"Judari!" I hear as Rito jumps out the tent all giddy.
"You're already healed?" I ask.
"Yeah, that kind Kasparan did something to my wound, I feel more energetic than ever. Also where are we?"
"Wayside Inn, but I'm sorry to say, Vinifera took home a good while ago." I explain.
"Aw, it's fine. But anyway, what now. Oh and yes, I said thank you to the Kasparan."
"Very good. And Rito, it's time."
"Time for what?" He looks at me puzzled.
"The bounty officer said that the bounty we completed was important enough for The Order to accept us fully!"
"Are you serious!" Rito asks, with his gaping jaw,
"Yes!" I say.
"No reason to be that loud, people are sleeping. But yes, finally! Do we just go to Palelink now or something?" Rito says, I wasn't that loud, was I?
"The officer said they close exams in a couple of days, so how about we get some rest. Don't want to meet up at the Sigill Sanctuary with eye bags on us do we, Ritose?" I tease.
"Oh shut up with that nickname, but sure, we have some silver now so we could rent a nice room here."
"It's a deal, let's go and sign in."
We strolled into the inn where the bartender was cautiously cleaning up his fine foggy pints and glasses. And quickly we booked a room with the silver we had left. Finally a piece of rest for such a day.
"Ooooo, as the seas start closing in, upon thy ship and crew. You captain are, you will befall. To the horrors of the sea." A voice strings these words together in what should be an assumed musical tone, but instead carries a tone of pretentiousness.
A bard had joined our walk from Wayside and past the mountain side covering the forest. He told us his name is Cador, and just came from the upper parts of Saint. Castielons.
"If you two are wonderin', this song has been passed down for well over a thousand years. My personal belief is that it's been changed quite a bit, but otherwise I think it provides quite a lot of info." Cador explains, even though he seems so extravagant, he's beyond boring, Rito seems a little more interested in what he's spewing though.
"When you say it provides info, what do you mean?" Rito asks.
"Well, on the outside, I know a lot of people think it's 'taboo' to talk about outside that weird black sea, but I personally believe there is something outside. Can you imagine?"
"Sounds kind of dumb, why would there be anything outside of Gaia, what'chu think Rito."
"I think it's interesting, but I don't really know."
"Suit yourselves, great hanging around you two but I must get going, even when the sun is down, my frown and tune cant. See you anywhere in life!" He screams and yaddles away onto Cardinal Bridge.
"He was a real piece of work, huh, it's not even night..?"
"I think he was interesting. I mean, it's not everyday that someone just randomly comes up to you and sings," Rito snickers.
"I guess so."
I look up towards the massive gate again. As the sides of the two mountains level with the height of the gate, I notice a small bridge going through it, like a passageway. Guessing people from each mountain range use it to get around.
In this large alleyway into the Royal Woods, as the bricks building up the Cardinal gate get more outlined, we get closer and closer to coming back into the Royal Wood. The canopies of the trees peek their way over the cliff, and, getting closer, I realize there is a small wooden bridge from the edge of the cliff over to the trees, as they travel inside the leaves like a system.
I hear some sounds of mumbling next to me, as I look to the trees.
"Judari!"
"Yes, yeah?" I answer.
"Were you even listening?" Rito looks irritated. I keep quiet as Rito rolls his eyes in exasperation.
"Anyway, I was explaining how we are getting down, last time we did the inefficient thing of climbing down the cliff."
"What's the other way down?" I ask, confused.
"Vines." Rito says in a flat tone, as if that makes it any clearer.
"Vines?"
"Yes, there are some long vines hanging from the trees, I noticed them while we were climbing up last time."
"And what do we do with these vines?"
"You have your sword, right?"
"I do, why?" I ask. A wide smirk spreads on Rito's face. As he bolts towards the edge. I watch as he runs at lightning speed, and suddenly jumps off.
"RITO!" Seemingly of their own volition, my legs carry me over to the edge at lightning speed, my heart thundering in my chest. Terrified, I peer over the cliff, to see him railing down the thick vines, his sword stuck inside the elongated plant, slowly gliding him down to safety. He lands, and looks up towards me and waves me down.
I look forward to the nearest vine, it seems intact enough. Though I can't see it too well with no light. I back myself up, readying to leap. Tearing the dirt apart, as my legs sprint towards the edge. The air beneath my legs, it's so freeing, not bound by any chains of the world.
I try to focus back to the task at hand, a piece of cold vine touches my hand, and immediately I grab ahold of it, and plunge my sword into it to stop my momentum.
My legs spiral around the vine, hitting all the small bumps and leaves sticking out of it as I speed to the bottom of the forest. As Rito readies himself to catch me, I hold tight until-
THUMP.
I look around to see I landed safely, and looking down I see Rito's blue legs under me.
"Ah shit, sorry Rito." I quickly move myself over to the grass, as Rito lays with a dead-pan expression.
"You alright?"
"Just... You just knocked the air out of my lungs." He says as his voice sounds helds back.
"Sorry. Let me help you up." I quickly raise myself and give Rito my hand. I pull him up and brush the grass off my bottom. Rito takes in a breath of air and quickly expels it.
"Sooo. Where to now?" I ask.
"Judari, you really gotta pick up a map or something. Palelink is right over there." Rito points towards the large rows of buildings blocking the view to the ocean.
"We have to get you checked for something Judari, like dear Gods."
"Checked for what? You saying there's something wrong with me?"
"No, just… Never mind."
"Let's get going." Rito begins staltering away, under the light sky.
As the sun sets beyond the horizon, the stars show their glittering selves, littering the sky with small pinpoints of light reminding me of the day that had already passed, walking hours on end through a shaded forest does that to one, I suppose. Though slowly as the forest's smells of wet grass and flowers exits my nose, the fresh cool air of salt, fish and hard alcohol hits my nostrils. The wide city ahead of us, spreads across my whole vision.
The small and big lights gleam across, the ashened white buildings, the roofs of the town differentiates between dull and grays, to vibrant reds and greens.
A tower sticks out in the middle of the crowded brick houses, peering between the arches a large golden bell hangs from the inside of the roof. Most of the buildings carry a sense of old and traditional, with bleached white bricks building up the constructs forming the city, with few dark oak pillars and dividers placed in the buildings.
Along with the upper parts of the houses have an exaggerated feature where they stick out in front of the bottom, forming a sort of architectural shield against intruders. And even so far away from the large populis, sounds of chatter travel towards me. We pick up pace and hurry our way to the small hillway, up the large opening street into the town.
Two silver guards stand ready with their swords as soon as we enter their line of sight. We come closer and closer till the smells of the town infiltrate my nose, and the cozy lanterns scattered around to warm my very skin.
"Halt!" One of the guards slam their sword's seathe against the arch breaking off the town.
"State your business!" The other one yells.
"We are here to enlist into The Order." Rito quickly states.
"Hmpf, your names?" The guard to the right speaks through his helmet. I hesitate slightly.
"My name is Judari Onyx."
"And I'm Rito."
The guards seem taken aback, nearly shocked. Taking a glance at each other for reassurance.
"Onyx huh?" The guard takes a pause.
"Welcome to Palelink, and good luck with enlisting in The Order." They both sternly express, as they both grab the sword to their chests, posing a sort of stature. We step past them and into the glowing bleached city.