Post by Aeric Ecrai on Aug 1, 2008 22:39:44 GMT -5
Aeric was appreciative of Luanris and Astellos for their escort, and of their allowing him back into the Infinite Realm. Of course, he sent them away as soon as he arrived. Something in the back of his mind told him to never trust Observants.
His cloak stayed to his shoulders, for there was no wind here. He felt neither heat nor cold, for temperature did not exist.
Striding to the center of the infinite white, or the beginning, or the end, or in between, he focused on one area. One domain that was lodged in his memory.
As soon as he thought it, there it was. The castle. Or what was left of the castle that had been visited so many years before. Time flowed so much differently here.
* * *
A short while later he was inside, looking for them. The ones in the black cloaks. They would be here. He knew they would never attack someone bearing his armor. He had only to wait...
Unbeknowest to him, this is where it had all begun. The possession of Kari. The anger and despair of Link. The beginnings of Degaro. The vanishing of Dameus. The Infinite Realm wasn't evil. But it shows you who you are. It shows you your heart.
It only took a second. Or a minute, or an hour, a day, a month, a year. Aeric knew not, but the four stood before him, calmly assesing him.
"And who might you be, wearer of the Armor of Light? Not some illusion created by the darkness we guard, I assume?"
It had come from the one in front. A male voice. Not old, but not young. Experienced. Who were they, he wondered?
"I am Aeric, General of the Oblivia Guild, defender of justice. I have come to seek your help, though I know not who you are. An organization rises against us, and I fear that other evils are stirring. And who might you be?"
One by one, they removed their hoods.
The first, the one who had spoken, was a fiery haired man, unaged from when he was last seen.
The second was a woman, shorter than the man, with hair of purple and white, one pupil maroon and the other gold.
The third was a mage, and a cocky one. His magii prowess radiated through the air.
The fourth was an archer, and a very accomplished one.
These four had not been seen for years. They were there, at the beginning. They knew what had happened.
"I am Liinck, this is Karion, Notlimach, and Zerith. We are Eck'Thaa. How can we help you, General Aeric?"
"Would you be willing to depart the Infinite Realm and help us defeat this evil?" Aeric responded, not knowing the answer.
"That depends, General," a quizzical voice spoke up. Zerith.
"Is this true evil, such as the Necromancer, or your view of evil? Are you sure your intentions are pure? The Eck'Thaa are not thugs for hire, and do not bend to requests."
"I was afraid you'd say that. They told me you would. Cogs in the wheel of failure..."
Aeric said despondently, waving a hand.
"Take them."
Astellos and Lunaris materialized on either side of the group, weapons drawn.
"Observants. I knew that had something to do with this...they cannot hold us, General Aeric. But we will cooperate, to show you the extent of what you don't know. To show you the truth, and the real evil. We are protected. We are Eck'Thaa."
"Sir, they reek of the Immortals." Astellos said to Aeric, his voice suspicious, "they should not be trusted."
"Yes, well, you shouldn't be trusted either. They are coming with us. No further questions, you know our contract."
Liinck bowed his head. Aeric, he knew, was partly his twin. He had known it as soon as Aeric spoke. What had gone wrong in the other realm, the True Realm?
So they would find out. They would go with him, this General, and leave the fragment of the Dark Orb they guarded unguarded. The world would resolve itself. Only Observants, Immortals, and Vanguards had access to the Infinite realm.
The Vanguards had yet to play their card in all this. Sides would be chosen and lines drawn, soon...
And so Aeric, with the Eck'Thaa his "prisoners" departed again for the True Realm, with his two Observant guards, unknowing of what he was truly doing, and causing.
Another unknowing cog in the Observant's plan...
His cloak stayed to his shoulders, for there was no wind here. He felt neither heat nor cold, for temperature did not exist.
Striding to the center of the infinite white, or the beginning, or the end, or in between, he focused on one area. One domain that was lodged in his memory.
As soon as he thought it, there it was. The castle. Or what was left of the castle that had been visited so many years before. Time flowed so much differently here.
* * *
A short while later he was inside, looking for them. The ones in the black cloaks. They would be here. He knew they would never attack someone bearing his armor. He had only to wait...
Unbeknowest to him, this is where it had all begun. The possession of Kari. The anger and despair of Link. The beginnings of Degaro. The vanishing of Dameus. The Infinite Realm wasn't evil. But it shows you who you are. It shows you your heart.
It only took a second. Or a minute, or an hour, a day, a month, a year. Aeric knew not, but the four stood before him, calmly assesing him.
"And who might you be, wearer of the Armor of Light? Not some illusion created by the darkness we guard, I assume?"
It had come from the one in front. A male voice. Not old, but not young. Experienced. Who were they, he wondered?
"I am Aeric, General of the Oblivia Guild, defender of justice. I have come to seek your help, though I know not who you are. An organization rises against us, and I fear that other evils are stirring. And who might you be?"
One by one, they removed their hoods.
The first, the one who had spoken, was a fiery haired man, unaged from when he was last seen.
The second was a woman, shorter than the man, with hair of purple and white, one pupil maroon and the other gold.
The third was a mage, and a cocky one. His magii prowess radiated through the air.
The fourth was an archer, and a very accomplished one.
These four had not been seen for years. They were there, at the beginning. They knew what had happened.
"I am Liinck, this is Karion, Notlimach, and Zerith. We are Eck'Thaa. How can we help you, General Aeric?"
"Would you be willing to depart the Infinite Realm and help us defeat this evil?" Aeric responded, not knowing the answer.
"That depends, General," a quizzical voice spoke up. Zerith.
"Is this true evil, such as the Necromancer, or your view of evil? Are you sure your intentions are pure? The Eck'Thaa are not thugs for hire, and do not bend to requests."
"I was afraid you'd say that. They told me you would. Cogs in the wheel of failure..."
Aeric said despondently, waving a hand.
"Take them."
Astellos and Lunaris materialized on either side of the group, weapons drawn.
"Observants. I knew that had something to do with this...they cannot hold us, General Aeric. But we will cooperate, to show you the extent of what you don't know. To show you the truth, and the real evil. We are protected. We are Eck'Thaa."
"Sir, they reek of the Immortals." Astellos said to Aeric, his voice suspicious, "they should not be trusted."
"Yes, well, you shouldn't be trusted either. They are coming with us. No further questions, you know our contract."
Liinck bowed his head. Aeric, he knew, was partly his twin. He had known it as soon as Aeric spoke. What had gone wrong in the other realm, the True Realm?
So they would find out. They would go with him, this General, and leave the fragment of the Dark Orb they guarded unguarded. The world would resolve itself. Only Observants, Immortals, and Vanguards had access to the Infinite realm.
The Vanguards had yet to play their card in all this. Sides would be chosen and lines drawn, soon...
And so Aeric, with the Eck'Thaa his "prisoners" departed again for the True Realm, with his two Observant guards, unknowing of what he was truly doing, and causing.
Another unknowing cog in the Observant's plan...