The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Lance: "Ah! That rock was sharp." *He watched the pebbles he accidentally knocked, roll down the slope.*

  Alicia: "Tee hee."

  Lance: "What are you laughing at, chunktron?"

  Alicia: "..."

  Ashton: *He sighed, as he concentrated on avoiding rocks on the slope.* (When will those two give it a rest?)

  Teresa: *She listened to Alicia and Lance's conversation.* "Such meaningless effort wasted, it is not tolerable."

  Ashton: "Wow, you kind of speak like me-"

  Lance: "But with no emotions-"

  Ashton: "You're awesome-"

  Lance: "But with an emotionless face-"

  Ashton: "I'm sorry, Lance but you've been demoted."

  Lance: "Emotionless-" *He paused and looked at Ashton.* "Wait wat?"

  Ashton: "Demoted to single digit two of my friends."

  Lance: "Pssht, shut up." *He grinned and shook his head.*

  Teresa: "We are almost at the bottom-"

  Lance: "Ah-" *He tripped on a root, causing him to tumble forward.*

  Ashton: "Lance!" *He gasped in shock, as he watched Lance roll down the slope.*

  Teresa: *She stared at the village with an emotionless face.* (I can feel someone of captain in ranking down there.)

  *The party found Lance at the bottom of the slope.*

  Alicia: "We should keep our voices down now."

  Ashton: *He walked up to Lance, who was still on the ground and picked him up.* "You okay?"

  Lance: *He brushed dirt off his face and out of his hair.* "Gah, I've had worse."

  Teresa: "I concur with Alicia."

  Lance: "Wateva-" *He looked towards the village and something shined in his face.* "Huh?" *He mumbled to himself and walked up to the light.*

  Ashton: "What is it, Lance?"

  Lance: *He found a sword, which conveniently laid against a crate.* "Kool, a sword-" *He faced the party and sliced the air in front of him.*

  Teresa: *She glanced at the village of three wooden houses, surrounded by wooden verandas.* (What am I meant to do if we encounter trouble?) *She stared at barrels and crates, which were stacked all over the village.*

  Alicia: "From a bird's eye view, I noticed a cliff next to the village-"

  Teresa: "Indeed, ensure to be careful or you may fall off-"

  *An angry scream caused Teresa to stop in mid-sentence.*

  Ashton: (That sounded similar to the one in The Library.)

  *The party stealthily ran closer into the village and hid behind a stack of crates.*

  Mindy: "What do you mean!?"

  Elderly Man: "You're too early, we got taxed just a day ago." *The old man raised his hands in the air, as he kneeled on the soft ground.*

  Mindy: *She focused her attention to a stack of crates.* "Who is there? Show yourselves! Immediately!"

  Alicia: "Oh no, we've been spotted." *Her eyes widened, as she covered her mouth in fear.*

  Ashton: (Blast!)

  Teresa: (This was not one of my best of ideas-)

  *A little boy revealed himself, by walking out from behind the stack of crates.*

  Mindy: "My, my. That child can be your tax, hmm-?"

  *People gasped at Mindy's proposal, as they watched from the shadows.*

  Ashton: "We cannot allow this to happen!" *He looked at the party with desperation.* (I cannot allow another person to get hurt. This is unacceptable.)

  Teresa: "I disapprove your intentions of even confronting a captain, but-" *She paused and looked at Mindy from behind the crates.* "We do have the element of surprise-"

  Alicia: "B-But what are we going to do?"

  Lance: "Yea, no plan aye?"

  Teresa: "I have one, Ashton, you be a distraction behind-" *She mumbled her plan to the party, causing them to nod their heads in response.*

  Mindy: *She stared at the silent villagers, causing her to smile.* "Well, if that's the case-" *She glared at the boy, causing his legs to shake.* "Boy, come here now."

  *The boy started to whimper, frozen with fear.*

  Mindy: "You're going to be my pet from now on, got it?!"

  *Before the whimpering boy took a step forward, Ashton jumped out from behind the crates.*

  Ashton: *He frowned and faced Mindy.* "No way anyone will be your pet!" *He waved his arm and threw two knives, which travelled directly towards Mindy's head.*

  Mindy: *She reached towards the back of her right shoulder and held onto something invisible.* "Two knives?"

  Ashton: *He stared at Mindy's arm with confusion.* (She doesn't have a weapon-)

  Mindy: *She lowered her arm, causing the two knives to bounce off a swirl of sparks.* "Despite being knives, you're so weak I couldn't even sense your presence." *She watched the knives land on the ground with a smirk.*

  Ashton: (How did she block them? What were those sparks?) *Sweat ran down his forehead, as he nervously stared at Mindy's hand.* "W-What is that?"

  Mindy: "Pfft, to make me release my weapon to you lowly people, I'm sickened at myself." *She lifted her arm holding a large green mallet.*

  Ashton: (Where did she get that large mallet from?!) *He thought to himself in fear and confusion.*

  Mindy: *She admired the light which reflected off her mallet.* "You attack a captain classed warrior, then stand on the spot completely vulnerable?"

  Teresa: (It appears she has released her weapon, already.)

  Alicia: *She stared at Mindy's back, holding a small dagger in her hand.* "..."

  Ashton: *He ran directly towards Mindy.* "Here I come!"

  Alicia: *Ashton's words caused her to run towards Mindy.* "..."

  Mindy: "Obviously you both have no idea what I'm compatible of."

  Alicia: *She ran into striking distance and raised the dagger.* (Did she say both-?)

  Mindy: *She quickly spun around and smirked in Alicia's face.* "Roaring Beast Kick."

  Teresa: (An Azure?!)

  Alicia: "H-Huh-?" *An invisible force kicked her in the gut and blasted her towards a stack of crates.* "Eek-" *She smashed into the barrels, causing wood to snap around her.*

  Mindy: *She spun around without hesitation and slammed the mallet on top of Ashton's foot.* "Hah harh." *The ground rumbled and cracked around her weapon.*

  Ashton: "Argh!" *He yelled in pain, as he stared at the mallet on his foot.*

  Mindy: "Shattering Stones." *A ring of dirt swirled around her, before a sudden shock wave blasted Ashton across the ground.*

  Ashton: *He slid along the dirt and stopped, as he moaned in pain.* (The pain is unbearable-) *He gritted his teeth, as he tried to overcome his fear.*

  Teresa: *She remained hidden behind the crates.* (At this rate, I may have to interfere and stop this.) "Tcch."

  Lance: "No way, stupid cow!" *He jumped off the roof and slashed the air in front of Mindy.*

  Mindy: (I didn't even sense him-) *She quickly spiralled to the side, avoiding Lance's strike.*

  Lance: "F-Fast-" *He stared at Mindy with sheer shock.*

  Mindy: *She raised the mallet and stared at Lance in thought.* (I wasn't expecting this at all, for a single digit, I could get demoted-)

  Lance: "Harh!" *He jabbed the sword towards Mindy's chest.* "Gotcha-"

  Mindy: "Too slow-" *She flicked the mallet up at blinding speeds, causing the sword and Alicia's pendant to fly into the air.*

  Lance: "Pssht-" *He grunted and raised his arms, noticing the sword was gone.* "W-Wha-?"

  Mindy: "How dare you even get this close." *She spoke in a low tone, as dirt swirled around her.*

  Teresa: (She's gathering Neurons!)

  Lance: *He stared at his hands in shock, causing him to look up.* (Why is my sword in the air? She didn't hit me? She moves so fast, everything is in slow motion-)

  Mindy: *She closed her eyes and smirked.* "Shattering stones." *She tapped Lance in the chest with the top of the mallet.*

  Lance: *He looked down at the mallet in shock.* "..."

  Mindy: *She nudged forward, blasting Lance off h
is feet.* (He's dead-)

  Lance: "Gwarh-" *He smashed into the house he jumped off and wood exploded, as he smashed out from the other side.* (M-My feet haven't touched the ground-) *He slammed into a small tree, causing it to snap over him.*

  Mindy: *She smiled at her destructive power, before focusing her attention back to Ashton.* "How unprofessional of me, using a skill like that to a lowly peasant like yourself. So now where was I?"

  Ashton: *He squinted his eyes in pain.* (She's psychotic-)

  Mindy: *She lifted the mallet towards her face and took several steps closer to Ashton.* "Now I will use my Ougi."

  Teresa: *She watched Ashton rock back and forth in pain.* (He is overcome with pain, he has failed to notice Mindy-)

  Mindy: "Hope you enjoyed your life, now it's time for me to end it." *She raised the mallet behind her head, as she readied herself for the killing blow.* "Ougi-"

  Alicia: "Icy swirls call down upon me, frigid skies grant me power, ICICLE EDGE"

  Mindy: "What?!" (That sudden burst in Neurons!)

  Teresa: "Rostical!" *She gasped, keeping her emotionless face.*

  Alicia: *She stood up straight, as the pendant around her neck glowed a bright blue.* "..."

  Mindy: *She looked over her shoulder and stared at Alicia.* (Rostical?) *She readjusted her footing and prepared to flashstep.*

  Alicia: "Flashstepping now, won't save you." *She looked sad and spoke with disappointment.*

  Mindy: "You're wrong-" *An ice spear blasted from the sky and pierced into her back.* "Kark-" *The ice spear shot through her chest and jabbed into the ground.*

  Lance: "G-Gah-" *He coughed up blood and awkwardly stood up.* "W-What was-?" *He staggered closer, holding himself in pain.* "Was that Alicia?"

  Mindy: *She watched swirls of mist evaporate off the ice.* "I can't believe this-" *She wheezed.* "I didn't know the pendant was still active-" *She threw up blood and wheezed.*

  Alicia: "N-No-" *Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed onto the ground.*

  Mindy: "I-I can't-" *Her words were distorted, as she gargled blood.* (I can't die like this. Kath, I-) *She dropped the mallet to her side, causing several vibrations.* (Failed.) *She sighed out her last breath and became motionless.*

  Ashton: "Argh my feet, it burns so much." *He held his foot with both hands, as he twitched in pain.*

  Teresa: *She noticed Mindy dead on her feet, supported by the ice spear.* (It is over?) *She stepped out from behind the crates and walked up to Ashton.* (These injuries are serious, but considering they fought a captain ranked warrior. They are very lucky.)

  Lance: *He stopped and leant on the house.* "Is that Mindy girl alive?"

  Teresa: *She looked to her side at Lance.* "Hoh? You are still conscious after receiving that attack-?"

  Lance: "Yea-" *He coughed up blood and fell unconscious, causing him to slide off the house.*

  Alicia: *She opened her eyes and looked around with blurred vision.* "H-Huh?" *She stood up and staggered, as she tried to regain her balance.* "Ashton!"

  Ashton: *He looked at Alicia and his eyebrow twitched in pain.* "That was amazing, I didn't expect you to use Rostical?" *He spoke with his teeth gritted, as he tried to overcome the pain.*

  Teresa: "Despite the fact it was a weak variant of a weak Rostical, if you did not have the element of surprise, this outcome would not have been the same."

  Ashton: "Why didn't you help us-?" *He stopped in mid-sentence, grunting in pain.* "My foot!"

  Teresa: "I am useful with knowledge not fighting."

  Alicia: "T-Teresa if you don't mind, could you please lay Lance alongside Ashton please?"

  Teresa: "Hoh?"

  Alicia: "I can't explain it well, so I'll just show you."

  Teresa: "I see." *She walked over broken pieces of wood, which had scattered everywhere.* "Tcch-" *She grabbed under Lance's arms and dragged him over to Ashton.* (Me doing such a tedious thing.)

  Alicia: "Th-Thank you." *She stared at Lance and Ashton, as they lay side by side on the ground.*

  Teresa: *She nodded her head and instinctively stepped back.* (Just what exactly is she doing?)

  Alicia: "With the divine power of the holy spirits, scattering light, HEALING RINGS" *A pulse of sand blew into the air and her hair blew back, as swirls of light formed lines on the ground.*

  Teresa: *She stared at the lines of light, creating a glyph.* (What is this!-)

  *The glyph started to move in a clockwise direction around Lance and Ashton.*

  Teresa: (What elemental affinity is this?!) *She watched their visible scratches and bruises heal in the light.*

  *The glyph suddenly transformed into two white rings, which continued to spiral around them.*

  Teresa: (This? Can't be the power of-) *Her eyes flickered in the light caused by the rings.* (Light?)

  Ashton: *He looked to each side, as he stared at the rings in awe.* (Such a beautiful sight-)

  Teresa: *She glanced at Alicia and took a step back.* (Alicia's power? This has sparked my interest-)

  Ashton: (Hey? The sharp pains running up my leg, are gone?!)

  *One of the villagers rushed up to Alicia and forewarned her that warriors were spotted.*

  Alicia: "Thank you." *She nodded her head in appreciation, as she concentrated on the Rostical.*

  Teresa: (Warriors were spotted? So Mindy's party have finally caught up to us?)

  Alicia: "We have to go." *She lowered her arms and stepped back with weak knees.*

  *Strings of light swirled around Ashton and Lance before fading away.*

  Ashton: "I heard." *He stood up and looked at his foot in shock.* (It's completely healed!)

  Teresa: *She noticed Lance lying on the ground unconscious.* "I may require assistance, Ashton." *She bent her knees and struggled to lift up Lance.*

  Ashton: "Oh sorry, how embarrassing." *He quickly grabbed Lance's arm and picked him up.*

  Warrior: "Come on! The captain said if we're late she'll beat us up!" *His grunts echoed in the distance, alerting the party to move faster.*

  Alicia: "I-It sounds like they're very close." *She bit her bottom lip and covered her mouth in fear.*

  Ashton: "Where can we go?" *He supported Lance over his shoulder, as he spoke with panic.*

  Teresa: "If we head East down those slopes, we might be able to use The Igloo Forest's canopy as cover." *She pointed towards the cliff, causing Ashton and Alicia to look into the direction.*

  Alicia: (What a smart idea-)

  Ashton: "Let's go!"

  *The party awkwardly ran towards the cliff and suddenly stopped at the ledge.*

  Ashton: *He peered down the cliff, causing him to look worried.* (How are we going to get down?)

  Teresa: *She stepped to the side, leaving Ashton to hold Lance.* "Hmm? We should be able to slide-"

  Ashton: (Slide!) *He thought in relief, as he scanned for an area to jump down.*

  Alicia: "Slide? What do you mean-?"

  Ashton: "Please excuse this, Alicia."

  Alicia: "Wha-?"

  Ashton: (Please don't let anyone get hurt-) *He grabbed Alicia and stepped forward, causing the party to slide down the slope.*

  *Trails of dirt followed the party, as they safely slid towards the bottom.*

  Teresa: *She landed with ease and gracefully ran towards nearby trees.* "We must hurry."

  Alicia: *She awkwardly landed and coughed, before running after Teresa.* "..."

  Ashton: *He landed and nearly fell forward, due to holding Lance.* (Come on, Ashton-) *He grunted to himself and stood up straight, before running towards the forest.*

  Chapter 3: Neurons and Astragons

  *A single beam of light shined directly on top of a kneeling woman.*

  ?????: *Two strands of long blonde hair dangled in front of her face.* (Thy should not be here.)

  *The room was dome shaped and the sounds of old people chattering, echoed in the darkness.*

  ?????: *She looked up and watched dust float in the ray of light.* (
Have The Wise gone mad-?)

  The Wise: "Pepper!"

  Pepper: *She quickly looked down in respect.* "But it wasn't me-"

  The Wise: "Pepper, you understand you broke one of the most sacred rules of our kingdom." *An old man's voice echoed throughout the divine room.*

  Pepper: "But-"

  The Wise: "Enough excuses!" *An old woman's scream echoed in the room, causing the chatter to stop.* "The kingdom of Valhalla does not tolerate anyone breaking the rules."

  Pepper: "I understand-"