Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Nathan: "I hope we don't run into Scoldrants. We're almost defenceless."

  Luna: "That's it!" *She screamed, causing Trevour and Nathan to stop.* "I want answers now! Someone tell me what the hell these damned Scoldrant things are!"

  Trevour: "Despite our training, I'm not really familiar with Scoldrants, besides what kind there are."

  Nathan: "I do.." *He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, readying himself for a deep explanation.*

  ----------

  Lezard: "Rachael, Twortz and me, walked along a sandy beach, watching the ocean glisten in the sun's delicious light."

  Rachael: "What's with the commentary?"

  Lezard: "It comforts me." *He placed his hands on his chest, sarcastically shaking his bottom.*

  Twortz: "Explain more about that creature. Was it a robot?"

  Lezard: "Not sure who Robbo is, but that was a Scoldrant. It had the ground element signature. That makes them impervious to physical attacks."

  Rachael: *She looked at Twortz, whispering under her breath.* "Do I have to say what's happening here?"

  Twortz: "That he's played way too many online MMORPG's?"

  Rachael: (No... That creature.. The lack of planes and cars.. Technology.. I'm starting to grow suspicious of a crazy idea-)

  Lezard: "There are also different levels of Scoldrants." *He spoke with a smile, oblivious to Rachael and Twortz's whispers.*

  Twortz: "Different levels?" *She looked at the frying pan and swapped hands, allowing her to stretch her wrist.* (When I hit that.. Robotic Scoldrant, the sound.. It vibrated and-)

  Lezard: "Oh?" *He turned around and faced Twortz, noticing her discomfort.* "Right now, I only excel in two Remenistal."

  Rachael: "What is Remen-..?"

  Lezard: "Rem-en-istal. It's just an old way of saying Rostical." *He giggled and spread his arms, focusing on Twortz's wrist.*

  Rachael: "Then, what does Rostical mean?"

  Lezard: "Really? It's what I used to heal your wounds."

  Twortz: (I got it! This has to be some sort of hi-tech holographic game! What else could explain all this, and this type of gaming.. I don't know much, but I hear the younger staff talking about their games all the time.)

  Lezard: "Quick internal light, INVOKING AURA" *He shouted with an echoing voice, watching a white platform draw itself underneath him.*

  Rachael: (Rostical.. So it's like magic-) *She thought to herself in amazement, watching warm light flash around Twortz's wrist.*

  Twortz: *She sighed in relief, causing her to open and close her hand.* (The strain in my wrist has completely disappeared? This is not possible. Therefore, it has to be some sort of illusion of holographic experience-)

  Lezard: "Back to what we were talking about before." *He smiled and turned around, continuing to walk in the direction they were headed.*

  Rachael: "Scoldrants?"

  Twortz: "Regardless of where we are or what we're in. You have my appreciation."

  Lezard: "Naww, not really sure what you mean by that, but thankies!" *He waved his arms and giggled at Twortz, as if he was happy with what she said.*

  Rachael: "Hehe." (This guy is cool.)

  Twortz: (Instead of respecting my appreciation, he acts in an immature-like manner and spouts made up words.. This gentleman is very troubling.) *She sighed in thought.*

  Lezard: "So where was I? Oh, yeah! The different levels of Scoldrants."

  ----------

  Nathan: "There are different types of Scoldrants in terms of power."

  Trevour: "Fascinating."

  Nathan: "First, you have regular Scoldrants. These Scoldrants have no special abilities."

  Luna: "Is lightning weak to water?" *She grunted on her breath, rolling her eyes.*

  Trevour: "Yes? I know my elemental affinities." *He spoke in appreciation oblivious to Luna's sarcasm.*

  Luna: "Just wateva." *She grunted and awkwardly stepped down the hill, as she continued to walk in a blind-like manner.*

  Trevour: "Sir?"

  Nathan: "Then you have long-lived Scoldrants."

  Trevour: "I've heard about these fellows. The Consultants or captains usually send us off as a group."

  Luna: "Wat's so special about these things?"

  Nathan: "They just have stronger attributes than normal Scoldrants. Nothing more."

  Trevour: "Next, should be Rostical Using Scoldrants, correct?"

  Luna: "There's that Rostickal word again."

  Nathan: "Rostical.. The ability to manipulate the elements."

  Luna: "Wat? Don't be bullshittin' me!"

  Trevour: (Once again, she doesn't know such basic common knowledge? I'm getting a little weary here-)

  Nathan: (After Rostical Using Scoldrants, you have Guardians.. Guardians have been known to rival certain single digit warriors in terms of strength and power.)

  Trevour: "Do you know anything else?"

  Nathan: "No.." *He grunted and held the side of his head.* (I do, but I don't?)

  Trevour: (Looks like he's still suffering from the Neuron memory loss.)

  Luna: *She noticed she walked on flat land.* "I might not be able to see right now, but I get the feeling it's a big field we're in."

  Trevour: *He admired the bright green plain and watched lines of sunlight shine off the grass, as it blew in the cool breeze.* "You're definitely not wrong, madam."

  Nathan: "Where exactly do we have to go?"

  Trevour: *He scanned across the magnificent plain, focusing his attention on an enormous forest to his right.* "We head West and travel around the forest as cover."

  Nathan: "Alright." *He mumbled in a deep voice and started to walk in the direction Trevour motioned.*

  Luna: "OK, I'll play along to this charade. Tell me more about this world."

  Trevour: "Heh heh, you almost sound like you don't come from here."

  Luna: "Aha, funny." *She spoke with no enthusiasm.*

  Nathan: "What would be the closest village? I need to buy a sword right away."

  Trevour: "Buy with what?"

  Nathan: "I have-" *He patted around his belt, causing him to grunt in shock.* "I don't-"

  Trevour: "It is fine, sir. I have enough for a sword."

  Nathan: *He shook his head, as if he didn't want Trevour to pay for it.* "You don't-"

  Trevour: "I heard how hard it was for the lower ranking warriors to capture you. You must be skilled with the sword."

  Nathan: *He looked down while walking and watched the grass sway around his feet.* "I am."

  Trevour: "So, you're also a Scoldrant User."

  Nathan: "I'm nothing."

  Luna: "..."

  Trevour: "No need to be so down on yourself."

  Nathan: *He chuckled in disgust.* "No. Don't categorise me with a title. I'm Nathan.. That's it."

  Trevour: "Alright? I don't quite follow you, but sure, sir."

  Trevour: "Can either of you use Rostical?" *He watched the trees of the forest become larger, as they slowly towered into the sky.*

  Nathan: *He stepped into the shade caused by the large trees.* "Haha. No."

  Luna: "Nah, never tried."

  Trevour: (Never tried?) *He glanced at Luna in confusion, before focusing his attention on Nathan.* "What was with that reaction?"

  Nathan: "Let's just say, I don't like Rostical Users."

  Trevour: "Sir? Rostical Users help govern the rules and-"

  Nathan: "I don't want to talk about it." *He grunted in a stern-like manner.*

  Trevour: "It was Rostical that freed us from Sorrowprax, you didn't seem to complain then."

  Luna: "Ooo, snap. He gotcha there."

  Nathan: "Hmph."

  Luna: "Tell me more about this Rostickal."

  Nathan: "I only know the basics, but, I can't remember the rest." *He frowned, rubbing his forehead.*

  Luna: "Too bad I wasn't askin' you anyways."

  Nathan: "..."

  Trevour: "I'm a Rostical User with the elemental affinity of ground."


  Nathan: (That's how we were able to escape so easily-)

  Luna: "If you can use magic, then prove it! Manipulate the ground underneath me!"

  Trevour: "But, madam, I can't-"

  Luna: "Thought so!" *She grunted and frowned, purposely tilting her head away from Trevour.*

  ?????: "Oh my, Rostical can't be used here." *A woman with a high tone of voice caught Trevour, Nathan and Luna's attention.*

  Nathan: "Who's there?!" *He grunted and stood in a battle-ready pose, forming fists.*

  Luna: (I can't-) *She looked in the general direction of the woman's voice.*

  Trevour: *He frowned and stepped in front of Luna, intensely staring at the trees.* (That voice, there may be two hundred and fifty warriors, but I don't recognise that voice-)

  ?????: *She hobbled out from behind a thick tree, panting in an exhausted state.* "Hello."

  Nathan: "Who are you?!"

  Trevour: "Are you friend or foe?!"

  ?????: "Oh my. A friend perhaps? I mean no harm."

  Nathan: "You look pretty beat up."

  ?????: "I used my powers, so I had to hide."

  Nathan: (She looks familiar..)

  Trevour: "Oh, but why, madam?"

  ????? *She took a deep breath and wiped sweat off her face.* "I guess it was a silly idea after all."

  Trevour: "Judging by your similar physical condition.. You're a Rostical User too, correct?"

  ?????: *She smiled, as if Trevour was right.* "They call me the champion."

  Luna: "Aye?"

  Nathan: (The champion?!) *He grunted to himself, closely observing the woman with a large hunchback.* (It feels like I've seen her somewhere before, but I can't remember!)

  Luna: "We're also running away from people, aye."

  Champion: "Oh? Who." *She noticed Trevour's warrior armour, causing her to refrain from saying anything more.*

  Nathan: "He may be a warrior, but I owe this guy my life."

  Trevour: "Your compliments are most welcome. Either way, things will be less turbulent once we're out of this Purity Zone."

  Champion: "I couldn't agree more." *She spoke in a high, innocent-like manner, smiling at Trevour in agreement.*

  Trevour: (I can certainly feel the drawbacks of not being able to use my Rostical.)

  Champion: "I know it's sudden, but could I please join your party?" *She smiled and paused, waiting for the party's answer.*

  Luna: "Wait? A party? There's no party 'round here?"

  Trevour: "She mean us, as a group."

  Luna: "Rightio.."

  Champion: "Your eyes-" *She spoke in a sorrowful-like manner.*

  Luna: *She frowned in anger.* "Your voice! But you don't see me pointing it out."

  Trevour: "Technically, it should be, you don't hear me pointing it out-"

  Luna: "Shuddup."

  Trevour: "S-Sorry, madam."

  Luna: "How about, I shove wateva item I find up your metallic goody-goody ass, and-"

  Champion: *She ignored Luna and Trevour's bickering, focusing on the puffy burns around her eyes.* (The damage around her eyes, that's undoubtedly a fire based Rostical.)

  Nathan: "Can we all shut up?"

  Luna: *She growled, intensely staring in Nathan's general direction.* "You.."

  Trevour: "..." *He looked at Luna and stared at her face in deep thought.* (I may not know any of these people that well, but I can tell how upset she is. She must've endured a lot of pain if she can mask something like this so well-)

  *A siren-like horn echoed in the distance, instantly catching the party's attention.*

  Champion: "Oh my, that doesn't sound good."

  Luna: "W-Wat's that?" *She looked to each side in a blind-like manner.*

  Nathan: Crap."

  Trevour: "How temperamental! They've just discovered we're missing."

  Nathan: "How far away until we get out of the Purity Zone?"

  Champion: "It should be about another thirty minutes?"

  Trevour: *He nodded his head and gently held Luna's elbow, quickly walking on the outskirts of the forest.* (Thirty minutes.. If they send someone strong enough, they could get here in five minutes.)

  Champion: (Hiding in a Purity Zone.. I honestly had no other choice-)

  Nathan: *He power walked with the party, glancing at the champion.* "What's your story? Are you running from the warriors too?"

  Champion: "I am right now, aren't I?"

  Nathan: "That's not what I mean."

  Trevour: "Why else would you hide in a Purity Zone?"

  Champion: "I am running. But not from the warriors."

  Nathan: "From who then?"

  Champion: ".. Let's focus on getting out of here, okay?"

  Trevour: "Sounds great to me."

  Luna: (Luna.. Please wake up..)

  Chapter 4: The Future Guardian

  Lezard: "Lezard and the ladies continued to walk to their destination, before noticing a delicious cottage up ahead."

  Twortz: "Stop the commentary-?"

  Lezard: "There." *He giggled and pointed forward, drawing Rachael and Twortz's attention to several straw-made huts.*

  Rachael: "The huts look Hawaiian?"

  Lezard: "I believe this is The Seaside Village."

  Twortz: "Could we please rest?" *She sighed, taking deep breaths.*

  Lezard: *He noticed the sweat pour off Twortz, causing him to hiss in disgust.* "If you don't mind me asking-"

  Twortz: "I do-"

  Lezard: "What on the lost Astragons caused you to be so large?"

  Twortz: "Excuse me?"

  Rachael: "Lezard, that isn't an appropriate question to ask?"

  Lezard: "I was just curious-"

  Twortz: "Curiosity killed the cat?" *She growled, raising the frying pan with killing intent.*