Fate, Chapter 2
The morning sun shone through the windows. Rudger, who always awoke early, blinked as the shone tickled his face. He sat on his bed, looking around and found Iris slept at the bed next to his. Smiling, Rudger got up from his bed and opened the window curtains widely and the let more sun shine entered the room. That still wasn't waking the girl.
“Iris, wake up,” the brunette called her. Iris still fell asleep, and apparently won’t wake up anytime soon.
Rudger sighed and scratched his head. The young man finally decided to take a bath before Iris woke up, or else she might be think he’s a perv maniac.
At the same time Rudger entered the bathroom, Iris woke up. She looked lazily around her and found Rudger’s bed is empty. The girl then got up and walked to the body-length mirror next to the cupboard. Reached her towel, Iris walked to the bathroom and opened the door. And that unexpected accident broke the silent morning in the whole inn.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”
“WHOAAAAAAAAA!???”
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Two Queen’s Knights were waiting in the lounge at the first floor. The golden haired knight lady stood in front of a picture and took her time admiring the beauty art. At the other side, the violet haired man sat on the sofa, winked to every maids that walked across him, made them blushed.
Some footsteps made them stopped their activities and looked at the lounge doorway. Iris and Rudger walked through, both of them have slight blush on their face before they noticed the knights were there.
“Oh, Sir Kaylee, Lady Latina,” greeted Iris. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. You know, I think there was a loud scream that made the patrol guardsmen outside panic. They said it was come from around here. You two were okay, right?” asked Kaylee, rather worried.
“Sir Rudger, what’s that red mark on your face?” added Latina, spotted Rudger’s wounded face.
“Nothing!” the brunette quickly replied.
“A-anyway, can we visit the equipment shops before we go to the site? I want to buy some equipment…” the younger blonde girl cut in hurry.
“Sure. Equipments are good extra safety for the scholars in this country,” Kaylee agreed. “Well, let’s go.”
They came out of the inn and walked to the western side of the city, where the shops district lies. With Kaylee and Alexis’ faces showed, the teens got armours with great discount. After wore the armours under their clothes, the group walked to the weapon shop.
“Oh wow, there’s many weapon here!” Iris amazed, since it’s the first time she ever visited weapon shop.
“I’ll buy this sabre,” Rudger immediately found a weapon that he knew how to use for fight. “And temper it please,” he added.
“3000 potch,” answered the blacksmith. The brunette man brought out his wallet and gave the old man the money.
While waiting for the sabre finished, Iris looked around. Rudger grew a wicked smile and chuckled. “Find your suitable weapon yet, Miss I-never-swing-weapon?” he asked from the chair in front of grinding table.
Iris glared at him. Latina then approached her and patted her shoulder. “If you’re beginner at this, why don’t you choose weapon that wasn’t so sharp, like staves?” she suggested kindly.
“That’s a good idea, sis! You remember what my Mom taught you!” praised Kaylee with his mischievous smile.
“What? Sis? You two are…brother and sister?” asked Rudger surprised. “But, you’re not looks alike at all.”
“Well, no. My father is Kaylee’s mother old friend, and since we often met whenever we bumped each other at the Palace as a kid…we became as close as brother and sister now,” explained Latina. “Oh, that’s right. Are you a good magician, Lady Iris? Can you use any magic?”
“Oh, yes. I bear a Water Rune,” Iris nodded as she busy looking for a good staff. “I was told by the tutor at the academy that I’m a good hybrid-fighter, just like Rudger here. But I never get enough training to learn how to fight in real battle. Hehe. I’m poorly experienced.”
“That’s not a problem. Everyone can learn how to fight if they want,” supported Kaylee.
Iris tried to swing staves one after another, but none of them fit her well. Some was too heavy, some was too long, and some was too short. Latina even suggested how if she picked a wand, but Iris merely refused since she won’t be a healer.
That blonde girl touched a middle-length staff and held it. Its light and the long matched her reach. “I guess I’ll buy this one,” she said finally. “How much is it, sir?”
“It's only 1200 potch.”
“Here you go,” Iris gave the man the money. She turned around and found Latina pulled out her weapon, a pair of long daggers. “W-what was that for?” she asked, panic.
“Testing your skill, of course,” answered Latina calmly. “I need to measure which level are you in so I can know how I should protect you, while you able to use that staff.”
“She’s a beginner, just protect her as much as it is!” claimed Rudger angry. He can’t believe a Queen’s Knight would put a fight to an amateur that just received her first weapon.
“If you want to know, then let me be the one who measure it.”
Everyone in the shop looked at the shop’s doorway and gasped. The selfish young silver haired guy which was supposed to have lot of assignments today stood there. Right, Ehlen was there, leaned on the door. He walked inside as if nothing happen, while the Queen’s Knights still dazed by his sudden appearance.
“W-what are you doing here?” asked Iris, surprised just like the other.
“Hmm, my cousins were came back last night and they kindly offered to replace me do the inspections to Baska Mine and Hershville,” he explained, unsheathed his long rapier. “So, how is it? I’ve lower skill than the Queen’s Knight, so I would be perfect for this task, right?”
“You really are an easygoing prince,” muttered Rudger under his breaths.
“Did you say something, Sir Rudger?” Kaylee having this threatening aura even his face smiling.
“Nothing,” the brunette shrugged and looked at his partner. “What will you do, Iris?”
“I will,” that black eyed girl nodded. Her determination reflected in those eyes. “I’m accepting your challenge.”
Ehlen nodded. The five headed to the pier, where currently there were not so many people there so they could fight in large free spaces.
The silver haired youth swung his sword in front of him, raging Iris to attack him. But that golden haired girl only stood there, tired to have a fit grip at her new staff. She’s have no experience at fighting at all, so she thought she’ll only did like what the soldiers in Muse did when she visited the capital.
When Iris tried to hold a position, some images like lost memories was crossed her mind. There was a man, practicing some moves. She couldn’t look at his face clearly. It was almost like she once saw the event, but it was happen so long ago that she couldn’t remember well.
The man in the images swung his staff to the air, made some beautiful moves. When he finally stopped, the man turned to her (because Iris thought she saw it) and approached her. He smiling and kneeled, but when Iris almost could saw his face, Rudger called her.
“Iris! Are you ready?” he asked.
“Huh? What? Oh, yes…” Iris nodded. She considering something, but finally settled her mind. She made a strange pose, definitely not looks like a battle-pose for any combatants. She faced Ehlen, of course, but she held her staff, rather hid it behind her body.
Ehlen quickly swept away his confused mind as Kaylee began to countdown to the match. After that violet haired Queen’s Knight shouted a ‘zero’, Ehlen rushed forward, sword out in an attack. He was surprised when his sword and Iris’ staff made a large ‘clank’, forcefully made the two pushed backwards.
Kaylee and Latina widened their eyes. They didn’t expect their prince could push by a simple blow by a beginner combatant like Iris. But that silver haired guy still not gave up. He got up and rushed again. Iris managed to jump and protected her body from the attack by raised her staff in front of her.
The fight continued. Ehlen kept rushing to Iris, but that girl managed to defend this long. The Queen’s Knights impressed. Never thought Ehlen could have a hard time to make this girl fell down.
Annoyed, Ehlen became more aggressive. He began to do another fighting stance. Iris felt that he will become dangerous. Ehlen rushed to Iris again, now making combos of four hit every ten seconds, leaving only some seconds to rest his lungs. Iris watched carefully his attacking style, and found his blind spot.
When Ehlen finished his combos, Iris quickly changed her defence to attack. She raised her staff and thrust Ehlen’s chest, made the young prince fell to the ground. Before he could get up, Iris pointed her staff to his neck, made a total defeat.
“I win,” she said, now huffed to inhale some fresh air.
Kaylee helped Ehlen stood up after Iris pulled back her staff and jumped to Rudger, who was been so quiet while the fight take place. They got into another partner quarrels while the other three approached them. Iris turned around to see Ehlen’s satisfied face.
“That was pretty good,” he said. “I think you don’t need to be over-protected by us. I’m expecting your assistance if any nasty monsters appeared, Lady Iris.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” and the two youths bowed respectfully at each other. After threw a huge grin, Iris came back into sense. “Okay...so, when we’ll go to the site?” They all laughed and immediately came back to the city plaza, taking a ride on the coach that was tirelessly waiting for them.
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After two hours, they finally reached the site. It was located near Rainwall. The site entrance was actually at a very big crater called the Big Hole by the common people. Prince Freyjadour found large ruins inside and it was speculated as one of Sindar legacy as well. Three years after the enthronement of the Queen, she decided to gather scholars to solve the mystery there.
Ever since then, scholars from wide-world began to join the search but none solved the mysteries yet. Some of them who were taking much interest in it began to build houses around the hole, creating a small village there.
Iris hopped of the coach and amazed by the width and depth of the crater. She followed the royalists, together with her partner, to the base of the hole where scholars and guardsmen took rest after their tiring research. Some of them greeted Ehlen and his Queen’s Knights, which they only replied with a single nod.
“Oh, you’re here, young boy.”
The grouped stopped as they saw a black haired lady approached them. She didn’t seem like holding a high respect towards Ehlen, rather friendly to him even.
“Hello, Lorelai,” answered Ehlen. “Still as spirited as ever?”
“Hmm…what do you know about me, kid?” the named Ehlen frowned when she saw the other youths behind the prince. “Don’t tell me these kids also scholars?”
“Yes, they are,” Latina nodded. “They were from Dunan. This is Sir Rudger Fleming,”-Rudger smiling reluctantly-“and this is Lady Iris Wisemail.”
Lorelai gasped. She walked to Iris, made the others gave her some spaces since she seemed like to observe the blonde. Iris only frowned, though. When Lorelai stopped observing her, Ehlen asked the lady. “What’s wrong, Lorelai?”
“No, something’s odd here,” explained Lorelai, folded her arms in front of her. “What is your relationship with Teresa Wisemail?”
“She’s my aunt and the one who take care of me since I’m still a baby,” replied Iris, rather doubt to explain it, actually.
“Why? Did you know her?” asked Rudger, covered Iris behind him.
Lorelai kept staring at the nervous Iris and shrugged. “Well, saying it won’t change the truth, anyway. So, if you want to help the research, follow me.”
“Lorelai, you need to explain yourself,” Kaylee smirked and blocked her way.
“Sigh. Fine, fine,” the black haired lady only tilted her head a little so the young scholars could saw her smiling. “My name’s a Lorelai, and I’m the same of you: seeking a way to solve Sindar mystery. Not so I able get the rewards, but there’s something I’d like to know. Don’t bother calling me ‘Lady’, since I’m not a noble or high rank person anyway. Now, get out of my way, Kaylee.”
Lorelai continued walking ahead as the youths as Ehlen explained more to Iris and Rudger. “Lorelai is Father’s acquaintance. She helped him and Mother too when they seek a way to open Ceras Lake’s water valve in the last Civil War. She was on her journey in the northern continent, but when she heard that the Queen opened a research party to explore this site, she came back and joined. Now she’s the head of researcher here,” the silver haired boy told them.
“Oh, I heard about you. You were once a member of Allied Force at Dunan Unification War, together with Lady Teresa,” Rudger remembered that he was once told in the history class about the war.
“That’s past,” replied Lorelai.
They came deeper and deeper inside the site and finally stopped after entering a large opening. There was a very large scale of ruins, maybe a city in old ages that was destroyed during some natural disaster. Some poles blocked the way, made some researches need to take another route if they wanted to proceed.
“What’s your impression, kids? Be honest,” asked Lorelai. She stared at Iris and Rudger, having this looks of testing them.
Rudger touched the nearby poles. Some symbols were engraved on it. He smiled and looked at his blonde partner. “Iris, you noticed?” he asked as he looked at another poles.
Iris approached a cracked wall. She touched and nodded. “It’s not Sindar. Its Armes ruins.”
Ehlen, Kaylee and Latina gasped. They looked at each other and looked at Lorelai, which have this mischievous smile on her lips. She folded her arms in front of her and chuckled. “Hm…why did you two say so?” she asked, still smiling to them.
“Well, this structures, this symbols. Everything here expressed Armes culture,” Rudger shrugged.
“Though, it's rather different. It seemed older than that. It was older than this Queendom. Rudger, what’s the kingdom that has the Sun Rune before the Falena does? ...Oh yeah, the Ancient Armes Kingdom,” Iris kept mumbled while she observing the area closer.
“Excellent work. It’s not Sindar but Ancient Armes. It was suspected as the capital of the Ancient Armes Kingdom back then. After the king went insane, it was destroyed…at least that’s what we speculated this far,” explained Lorelai.
“Wait, are you telling we’re wrong? Our Queen didn’t know about it and kept the researchers working in a wrong objection?” asked Latina furious.
“Some fool researchers belief this ruins were Sindar, but some smarter researchers found that the Sindar ruins lies deeper in this site. Now, follow me to see if you can observe that ruins more,” Lorelai turned around and walked ahead. The youths were following her again.
“Is it okay for a prince to wander around in this dangerous place?” asked Iris worried, since Ehlen seemed enjoying this explorations himself.
“Why do you think Kaylee and Latina kept following us? Only to protect you? Nah, they protected me too,” answered Ehlen easily.
“Of course we are. Because if we didn’t follow you and something happened to you, we’ll be the one to take the responsibilities, Your Highness,” muttered Kaylee.
They walked past the Armes ruins, met some researchers that busy translating the symbols that they found engraved on the poles or walls. Lorelai has brought them to the deeper parts of the site. Some researchers also there and they didn’t greet the youths since they were too busy with their own activities.
And so on, they arrived to a large room. There was a platform, where a large box lying on it. Lorelai was walked on it and signalling the others to follow her. The box have no cover on it, not like it was lost in some way, but someone has opened it forcefully, made the hole inside opened to let anyone enter.
“Come,” Lorelai whispered. “It’s inside, and you should prepare your weapons. The monsters here were more than you can imagine, and very nasty.”
Lorelai hopped in, followed by Ehlen, Iris, Rudger, Latina and then Kaylee. They needed to go downstairs to see some more runic engraved on the walls. Iris and Rudger quickly approached it and tried to decipher the runic. The other was waiting for them to say something. After some minutes, Rudger turned around.
“It’s indeed Sindar writings, runic, and symbols. It didn’t seem very old, though. The cracks lesser than the other ruins, but many mosses here, which represented that the ruins quite old itself,” he explained.
“How about you, Iris?” asked Ehlen, leaned on the wall.
“…’to whom I show, to whom I tell…’” the golden haired muttered under her breaths. “…’shalt we give you our wise? We doubt to…’…”
“What?” Kaylee frowned and looked at Rudger in confused fashion. The brunette boy only shrugged and smiled to the Queen’s Knight.
“She can read it further than me. I’m sure she can decipher all writings here,” Rudger leaned next to Ehlen and stared at Iris’ back. “It’s her nature. She even took her time mostly at the library, trained her ability to translate all ancient runic. It’s no wonder that she won many ancient text translation competitions in her young age, right?”
Lorelai kept looking at Iris, which still busy read all the runic. Ehlen noticed and asked. “Do you have something in your mind, Lorelai?” he said. “Are you envy her?”
“No. She just reminded me of someone…” the black haired lady shook her head and leaned on the other walls.
“I get it!” Iris shouted all of sudden, made the other get all serious again. “The biggest mystery lies in the very deep of these ruins! If what I read was true, there must be a very large room like the entrance of this place. Can you show me the place, Lorelai?” she asked. Her spirit lit, brighter than before.
“Very well. It’s very linear, but there were still be monsters lurking around. As I said, prepare your weapons,” replied Lorelai, held her halberd tighter.
The six go all the way downstairs. That place truly lurked by many dangerous monsters, such as Zombie Unicorn and Megaeyes. However, Lorelai defeated most of them, leaving Kaylee and Latina as the next strongest combatants while Ehlen and Rudger defeated enemies that have lower agility than them. Here, Iris only acted as extra attacker and mostly using her Breath of Ice.
After ran through monsters and some helpful treasure chests along the way, finally they arrived in front of a large door. Ehlen, Kaylee and Rudger pushed the door together, while the girls only supported them from behind. When the door finally opened to let the six came in, the youths surprised.
The room was larger than the entrance to the ruins. And it barely has any decorations except maybe the unused light torch on the wall and some symbols and runic engraved on the floors and walls. There was also a large glyph on the centre of the floor, with a picture that similar to a rune.
Rudger and Lorelai went to observe the right wall, Iris and Ehlen approached the left wall while the Queen’s Knights on guard near the doorway.
“…’black haze of sky’…’the sparkle of fierce battle’…” Iris muttered.
“…’shalt be the wrath of sky and earth’…’lifeless body emerged, and dost us gave life…’…” Rudger read in the other side. “Gee, can’t understand what they meant. I think I’ll leave it to Iris.”
“Some help you are, kid,” mocked Lorelai, sighed and walked to Iris.
“Understand something?” asked Ehlen curious from her right side.
Iris became really quiet. After she stopped reading for awhile, she nodded quietly and turned around. She walked pass Lorelai, as if she didn’t care about the eldest lady. Rudger noticed that she acting strange and approached her too. Iris stopped in the centre of the glyph and kneeled down. The other were began to worry and approached her as well.
“Iris?” Rudger called her. “Iris, what ha--”
The blonde girl touched the glyph with her right hand and began to chant something strange. Not magic, not runic read. More like keywords to unseal something.
“Oh blackness without beginning or end...One eyed god imprisoned there now harks unto my call. In the abyss the trident of hell's lore dances, dripping crimson truth lights the one true path. I command you, and take the offerings for my guidance of fate!”
The glyph began to light. The blinding light surrounded Iris. Rudger quickly ran to her, but Kaylee stopped him, as it seemed dangerous for anyone to approach. They covered their sight so the light wouldn’t turn them to blind. After the light faded away, the five found Iris on the glyph, unconscious.
“Iris, wake up,” the brunette called her. Iris still fell asleep, and apparently won’t wake up anytime soon.
Rudger sighed and scratched his head. The young man finally decided to take a bath before Iris woke up, or else she might be think he’s a perv maniac.
At the same time Rudger entered the bathroom, Iris woke up. She looked lazily around her and found Rudger’s bed is empty. The girl then got up and walked to the body-length mirror next to the cupboard. Reached her towel, Iris walked to the bathroom and opened the door. And that unexpected accident broke the silent morning in the whole inn.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”
“WHOAAAAAAAAA!???”
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Two Queen’s Knights were waiting in the lounge at the first floor. The golden haired knight lady stood in front of a picture and took her time admiring the beauty art. At the other side, the violet haired man sat on the sofa, winked to every maids that walked across him, made them blushed.
Some footsteps made them stopped their activities and looked at the lounge doorway. Iris and Rudger walked through, both of them have slight blush on their face before they noticed the knights were there.
“Oh, Sir Kaylee, Lady Latina,” greeted Iris. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. You know, I think there was a loud scream that made the patrol guardsmen outside panic. They said it was come from around here. You two were okay, right?” asked Kaylee, rather worried.
“Sir Rudger, what’s that red mark on your face?” added Latina, spotted Rudger’s wounded face.
“Nothing!” the brunette quickly replied.
“A-anyway, can we visit the equipment shops before we go to the site? I want to buy some equipment…” the younger blonde girl cut in hurry.
“Sure. Equipments are good extra safety for the scholars in this country,” Kaylee agreed. “Well, let’s go.”
They came out of the inn and walked to the western side of the city, where the shops district lies. With Kaylee and Alexis’ faces showed, the teens got armours with great discount. After wore the armours under their clothes, the group walked to the weapon shop.
“Oh wow, there’s many weapon here!” Iris amazed, since it’s the first time she ever visited weapon shop.
“I’ll buy this sabre,” Rudger immediately found a weapon that he knew how to use for fight. “And temper it please,” he added.
“3000 potch,” answered the blacksmith. The brunette man brought out his wallet and gave the old man the money.
While waiting for the sabre finished, Iris looked around. Rudger grew a wicked smile and chuckled. “Find your suitable weapon yet, Miss I-never-swing-weapon?” he asked from the chair in front of grinding table.
Iris glared at him. Latina then approached her and patted her shoulder. “If you’re beginner at this, why don’t you choose weapon that wasn’t so sharp, like staves?” she suggested kindly.
“That’s a good idea, sis! You remember what my Mom taught you!” praised Kaylee with his mischievous smile.
“What? Sis? You two are…brother and sister?” asked Rudger surprised. “But, you’re not looks alike at all.”
“Well, no. My father is Kaylee’s mother old friend, and since we often met whenever we bumped each other at the Palace as a kid…we became as close as brother and sister now,” explained Latina. “Oh, that’s right. Are you a good magician, Lady Iris? Can you use any magic?”
“Oh, yes. I bear a Water Rune,” Iris nodded as she busy looking for a good staff. “I was told by the tutor at the academy that I’m a good hybrid-fighter, just like Rudger here. But I never get enough training to learn how to fight in real battle. Hehe. I’m poorly experienced.”
“That’s not a problem. Everyone can learn how to fight if they want,” supported Kaylee.
Iris tried to swing staves one after another, but none of them fit her well. Some was too heavy, some was too long, and some was too short. Latina even suggested how if she picked a wand, but Iris merely refused since she won’t be a healer.
That blonde girl touched a middle-length staff and held it. Its light and the long matched her reach. “I guess I’ll buy this one,” she said finally. “How much is it, sir?”
“It's only 1200 potch.”
“Here you go,” Iris gave the man the money. She turned around and found Latina pulled out her weapon, a pair of long daggers. “W-what was that for?” she asked, panic.
“Testing your skill, of course,” answered Latina calmly. “I need to measure which level are you in so I can know how I should protect you, while you able to use that staff.”
“She’s a beginner, just protect her as much as it is!” claimed Rudger angry. He can’t believe a Queen’s Knight would put a fight to an amateur that just received her first weapon.
“If you want to know, then let me be the one who measure it.”
Everyone in the shop looked at the shop’s doorway and gasped. The selfish young silver haired guy which was supposed to have lot of assignments today stood there. Right, Ehlen was there, leaned on the door. He walked inside as if nothing happen, while the Queen’s Knights still dazed by his sudden appearance.
“W-what are you doing here?” asked Iris, surprised just like the other.
“Hmm, my cousins were came back last night and they kindly offered to replace me do the inspections to Baska Mine and Hershville,” he explained, unsheathed his long rapier. “So, how is it? I’ve lower skill than the Queen’s Knight, so I would be perfect for this task, right?”
“You really are an easygoing prince,” muttered Rudger under his breaths.
“Did you say something, Sir Rudger?” Kaylee having this threatening aura even his face smiling.
“Nothing,” the brunette shrugged and looked at his partner. “What will you do, Iris?”
“I will,” that black eyed girl nodded. Her determination reflected in those eyes. “I’m accepting your challenge.”
Ehlen nodded. The five headed to the pier, where currently there were not so many people there so they could fight in large free spaces.
The silver haired youth swung his sword in front of him, raging Iris to attack him. But that golden haired girl only stood there, tired to have a fit grip at her new staff. She’s have no experience at fighting at all, so she thought she’ll only did like what the soldiers in Muse did when she visited the capital.
When Iris tried to hold a position, some images like lost memories was crossed her mind. There was a man, practicing some moves. She couldn’t look at his face clearly. It was almost like she once saw the event, but it was happen so long ago that she couldn’t remember well.
The man in the images swung his staff to the air, made some beautiful moves. When he finally stopped, the man turned to her (because Iris thought she saw it) and approached her. He smiling and kneeled, but when Iris almost could saw his face, Rudger called her.
“Iris! Are you ready?” he asked.
“Huh? What? Oh, yes…” Iris nodded. She considering something, but finally settled her mind. She made a strange pose, definitely not looks like a battle-pose for any combatants. She faced Ehlen, of course, but she held her staff, rather hid it behind her body.
Ehlen quickly swept away his confused mind as Kaylee began to countdown to the match. After that violet haired Queen’s Knight shouted a ‘zero’, Ehlen rushed forward, sword out in an attack. He was surprised when his sword and Iris’ staff made a large ‘clank’, forcefully made the two pushed backwards.
Kaylee and Latina widened their eyes. They didn’t expect their prince could push by a simple blow by a beginner combatant like Iris. But that silver haired guy still not gave up. He got up and rushed again. Iris managed to jump and protected her body from the attack by raised her staff in front of her.
The fight continued. Ehlen kept rushing to Iris, but that girl managed to defend this long. The Queen’s Knights impressed. Never thought Ehlen could have a hard time to make this girl fell down.
Annoyed, Ehlen became more aggressive. He began to do another fighting stance. Iris felt that he will become dangerous. Ehlen rushed to Iris again, now making combos of four hit every ten seconds, leaving only some seconds to rest his lungs. Iris watched carefully his attacking style, and found his blind spot.
When Ehlen finished his combos, Iris quickly changed her defence to attack. She raised her staff and thrust Ehlen’s chest, made the young prince fell to the ground. Before he could get up, Iris pointed her staff to his neck, made a total defeat.
“I win,” she said, now huffed to inhale some fresh air.
Kaylee helped Ehlen stood up after Iris pulled back her staff and jumped to Rudger, who was been so quiet while the fight take place. They got into another partner quarrels while the other three approached them. Iris turned around to see Ehlen’s satisfied face.
“That was pretty good,” he said. “I think you don’t need to be over-protected by us. I’m expecting your assistance if any nasty monsters appeared, Lady Iris.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” and the two youths bowed respectfully at each other. After threw a huge grin, Iris came back into sense. “Okay...so, when we’ll go to the site?” They all laughed and immediately came back to the city plaza, taking a ride on the coach that was tirelessly waiting for them.
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After two hours, they finally reached the site. It was located near Rainwall. The site entrance was actually at a very big crater called the Big Hole by the common people. Prince Freyjadour found large ruins inside and it was speculated as one of Sindar legacy as well. Three years after the enthronement of the Queen, she decided to gather scholars to solve the mystery there.
Ever since then, scholars from wide-world began to join the search but none solved the mysteries yet. Some of them who were taking much interest in it began to build houses around the hole, creating a small village there.
Iris hopped of the coach and amazed by the width and depth of the crater. She followed the royalists, together with her partner, to the base of the hole where scholars and guardsmen took rest after their tiring research. Some of them greeted Ehlen and his Queen’s Knights, which they only replied with a single nod.
“Oh, you’re here, young boy.”
The grouped stopped as they saw a black haired lady approached them. She didn’t seem like holding a high respect towards Ehlen, rather friendly to him even.
“Hello, Lorelai,” answered Ehlen. “Still as spirited as ever?”
“Hmm…what do you know about me, kid?” the named Ehlen frowned when she saw the other youths behind the prince. “Don’t tell me these kids also scholars?”
“Yes, they are,” Latina nodded. “They were from Dunan. This is Sir Rudger Fleming,”-Rudger smiling reluctantly-“and this is Lady Iris Wisemail.”
Lorelai gasped. She walked to Iris, made the others gave her some spaces since she seemed like to observe the blonde. Iris only frowned, though. When Lorelai stopped observing her, Ehlen asked the lady. “What’s wrong, Lorelai?”
“No, something’s odd here,” explained Lorelai, folded her arms in front of her. “What is your relationship with Teresa Wisemail?”
“She’s my aunt and the one who take care of me since I’m still a baby,” replied Iris, rather doubt to explain it, actually.
“Why? Did you know her?” asked Rudger, covered Iris behind him.
Lorelai kept staring at the nervous Iris and shrugged. “Well, saying it won’t change the truth, anyway. So, if you want to help the research, follow me.”
“Lorelai, you need to explain yourself,” Kaylee smirked and blocked her way.
“Sigh. Fine, fine,” the black haired lady only tilted her head a little so the young scholars could saw her smiling. “My name’s a Lorelai, and I’m the same of you: seeking a way to solve Sindar mystery. Not so I able get the rewards, but there’s something I’d like to know. Don’t bother calling me ‘Lady’, since I’m not a noble or high rank person anyway. Now, get out of my way, Kaylee.”
Lorelai continued walking ahead as the youths as Ehlen explained more to Iris and Rudger. “Lorelai is Father’s acquaintance. She helped him and Mother too when they seek a way to open Ceras Lake’s water valve in the last Civil War. She was on her journey in the northern continent, but when she heard that the Queen opened a research party to explore this site, she came back and joined. Now she’s the head of researcher here,” the silver haired boy told them.
“Oh, I heard about you. You were once a member of Allied Force at Dunan Unification War, together with Lady Teresa,” Rudger remembered that he was once told in the history class about the war.
“That’s past,” replied Lorelai.
They came deeper and deeper inside the site and finally stopped after entering a large opening. There was a very large scale of ruins, maybe a city in old ages that was destroyed during some natural disaster. Some poles blocked the way, made some researches need to take another route if they wanted to proceed.
“What’s your impression, kids? Be honest,” asked Lorelai. She stared at Iris and Rudger, having this looks of testing them.
Rudger touched the nearby poles. Some symbols were engraved on it. He smiled and looked at his blonde partner. “Iris, you noticed?” he asked as he looked at another poles.
Iris approached a cracked wall. She touched and nodded. “It’s not Sindar. Its Armes ruins.”
Ehlen, Kaylee and Latina gasped. They looked at each other and looked at Lorelai, which have this mischievous smile on her lips. She folded her arms in front of her and chuckled. “Hm…why did you two say so?” she asked, still smiling to them.
“Well, this structures, this symbols. Everything here expressed Armes culture,” Rudger shrugged.
“Though, it's rather different. It seemed older than that. It was older than this Queendom. Rudger, what’s the kingdom that has the Sun Rune before the Falena does? ...Oh yeah, the Ancient Armes Kingdom,” Iris kept mumbled while she observing the area closer.
“Excellent work. It’s not Sindar but Ancient Armes. It was suspected as the capital of the Ancient Armes Kingdom back then. After the king went insane, it was destroyed…at least that’s what we speculated this far,” explained Lorelai.
“Wait, are you telling we’re wrong? Our Queen didn’t know about it and kept the researchers working in a wrong objection?” asked Latina furious.
“Some fool researchers belief this ruins were Sindar, but some smarter researchers found that the Sindar ruins lies deeper in this site. Now, follow me to see if you can observe that ruins more,” Lorelai turned around and walked ahead. The youths were following her again.
“Is it okay for a prince to wander around in this dangerous place?” asked Iris worried, since Ehlen seemed enjoying this explorations himself.
“Why do you think Kaylee and Latina kept following us? Only to protect you? Nah, they protected me too,” answered Ehlen easily.
“Of course we are. Because if we didn’t follow you and something happened to you, we’ll be the one to take the responsibilities, Your Highness,” muttered Kaylee.
They walked past the Armes ruins, met some researchers that busy translating the symbols that they found engraved on the poles or walls. Lorelai has brought them to the deeper parts of the site. Some researchers also there and they didn’t greet the youths since they were too busy with their own activities.
And so on, they arrived to a large room. There was a platform, where a large box lying on it. Lorelai was walked on it and signalling the others to follow her. The box have no cover on it, not like it was lost in some way, but someone has opened it forcefully, made the hole inside opened to let anyone enter.
“Come,” Lorelai whispered. “It’s inside, and you should prepare your weapons. The monsters here were more than you can imagine, and very nasty.”
Lorelai hopped in, followed by Ehlen, Iris, Rudger, Latina and then Kaylee. They needed to go downstairs to see some more runic engraved on the walls. Iris and Rudger quickly approached it and tried to decipher the runic. The other was waiting for them to say something. After some minutes, Rudger turned around.
“It’s indeed Sindar writings, runic, and symbols. It didn’t seem very old, though. The cracks lesser than the other ruins, but many mosses here, which represented that the ruins quite old itself,” he explained.
“How about you, Iris?” asked Ehlen, leaned on the wall.
“…’to whom I show, to whom I tell…’” the golden haired muttered under her breaths. “…’shalt we give you our wise? We doubt to…’…”
“What?” Kaylee frowned and looked at Rudger in confused fashion. The brunette boy only shrugged and smiled to the Queen’s Knight.
“She can read it further than me. I’m sure she can decipher all writings here,” Rudger leaned next to Ehlen and stared at Iris’ back. “It’s her nature. She even took her time mostly at the library, trained her ability to translate all ancient runic. It’s no wonder that she won many ancient text translation competitions in her young age, right?”
Lorelai kept looking at Iris, which still busy read all the runic. Ehlen noticed and asked. “Do you have something in your mind, Lorelai?” he said. “Are you envy her?”
“No. She just reminded me of someone…” the black haired lady shook her head and leaned on the other walls.
“I get it!” Iris shouted all of sudden, made the other get all serious again. “The biggest mystery lies in the very deep of these ruins! If what I read was true, there must be a very large room like the entrance of this place. Can you show me the place, Lorelai?” she asked. Her spirit lit, brighter than before.
“Very well. It’s very linear, but there were still be monsters lurking around. As I said, prepare your weapons,” replied Lorelai, held her halberd tighter.
The six go all the way downstairs. That place truly lurked by many dangerous monsters, such as Zombie Unicorn and Megaeyes. However, Lorelai defeated most of them, leaving Kaylee and Latina as the next strongest combatants while Ehlen and Rudger defeated enemies that have lower agility than them. Here, Iris only acted as extra attacker and mostly using her Breath of Ice.
After ran through monsters and some helpful treasure chests along the way, finally they arrived in front of a large door. Ehlen, Kaylee and Rudger pushed the door together, while the girls only supported them from behind. When the door finally opened to let the six came in, the youths surprised.
The room was larger than the entrance to the ruins. And it barely has any decorations except maybe the unused light torch on the wall and some symbols and runic engraved on the floors and walls. There was also a large glyph on the centre of the floor, with a picture that similar to a rune.
Rudger and Lorelai went to observe the right wall, Iris and Ehlen approached the left wall while the Queen’s Knights on guard near the doorway.
“…’black haze of sky’…’the sparkle of fierce battle’…” Iris muttered.
“…’shalt be the wrath of sky and earth’…’lifeless body emerged, and dost us gave life…’…” Rudger read in the other side. “Gee, can’t understand what they meant. I think I’ll leave it to Iris.”
“Some help you are, kid,” mocked Lorelai, sighed and walked to Iris.
“Understand something?” asked Ehlen curious from her right side.
Iris became really quiet. After she stopped reading for awhile, she nodded quietly and turned around. She walked pass Lorelai, as if she didn’t care about the eldest lady. Rudger noticed that she acting strange and approached her too. Iris stopped in the centre of the glyph and kneeled down. The other were began to worry and approached her as well.
“Iris?” Rudger called her. “Iris, what ha--”
The blonde girl touched the glyph with her right hand and began to chant something strange. Not magic, not runic read. More like keywords to unseal something.
“Oh blackness without beginning or end...One eyed god imprisoned there now harks unto my call. In the abyss the trident of hell's lore dances, dripping crimson truth lights the one true path. I command you, and take the offerings for my guidance of fate!”
The glyph began to light. The blinding light surrounded Iris. Rudger quickly ran to her, but Kaylee stopped him, as it seemed dangerous for anyone to approach. They covered their sight so the light wouldn’t turn them to blind. After the light faded away, the five found Iris on the glyph, unconscious.
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