Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Nathan: "What is it now?"

  Luna: ".. Thanks.."

  Nathan: "Ah? You're welcome?"

  Luna: "..." *She looked back down and sniffed, staring at her lap with a mature facial expression.* "About my question before. Did you used to fence?"

  Nathan: "Fence?"

  Luna: "That's what my bro used to do. Somethin' to do with swords?"

  Nathan: "Oh?" *He mumbled in realisation, slowly nodding his head.*

  ----------

  *Trevour and the champion stood in front of a house with a pub-like booth on the front.*

  Trevour: "Greetings?"

  Craftsman: "Hello?" *He walked to the side and leant off the counter with one arm, looking at Trevour.* "What can I get ya today?"

  Trevour: "I'd like fourteen Acro Berries please."

  Craftsman: "Yes." *He nodded his head and looked behind the counter, as if there were many cabinets.*

  Champion: "Also, one Ambrosia Flower."

  Trevour: "An Ambrosia Flower? They're expensive and rare!"

  Champion: "Do you have one?"

  Craftsman: "We've got-" *He scanned to each side, before grunting to himself.* "Two."

  Trevour: "Well, could we also have something that boosts affinities?"

  Craftsman: "I have wind resistant bangles, fireproof rings and boots which increase speed."

  Trevour: "Interesting."

  Champion: "What are the item's attributes?"

  Trevour: (From the confidence in her tone, she's done this before?)

  Craftsman: "Bangles, minus five percent on wind. Rings, minus seven percent on fire and boots, a massive six percent increase in speed."

  Champion: "What kind of swords to you have as well?"

  Craftsman: "I like doing business, but why do you need this stuff?"

  Champion: "Well, I...-"

  Trevour: "I've been summoned for an important mission and require these items."

  Craftsman: "Oh, why didn't ya say so? I've got wooden, steel and carbon-based swords."

  Champion: "Any attributes?"

  Craftsman: "Unfortunately not. These are just ordinary swords."

  Champion: "A carbon based sword please."

  Craftsman: "No worries! Can I get ya anything else?"

  Trevour: "If it's possible, I'd like to take them all."

  Craftsman: "Take them all? All the items you requested?" *He sounded as if they were expensive.*

  Trevour: "Yes. You can subtract the funds on the warrior's next tax?"

  Champion: (Sneaky-)

  Craftsman: *He nodded his head at Trevour.* "I only have one boot in stock. Four necklaces and two bangles remaining."

  Trevour: "Fine by me, sir."

  Craftsman: "All warriors get a discount. Unfortunately, the Ambrosia Flower will need to be paid upfront, due to its rarity."

  Trevour: *He felt around his armour.* (My pouch! I must've left it at Sorrowprax!-)

  Champion: "Will this be enough?" *She placed down several gold stones on the counter, causing the Craftsman to eagerly nod his head.*

  Trevour: (Where did she obtain such wealth?)

  Craftsman: "That will just about cover it, even without the warrior's discount."

  Trevour: "I would be happy to pay you back-"

  Champion: "Oh my. No need." *She smiled.* "If I chose to walk alone, I would've had to deal with the Scoldrant all by myself."

  Trevour: "Heh heh. No worries-"

  Craftsman: *He wrapped the sword up, gently giving it to Trevour.* "Anything else?"

  Champion: "Would you happen to have the RPG bag?"

  Craftsman: "Norhorhor-" *He laughed with a snort, shaking his head at the champion.* "We wouldn't possess something like that in a backwater village."

  Champion: "It didn't hurt to ask." *She smiled with her eyes shut and grabbed a large sack from the counter.*

  Trevour: "Thank you for your cooperation, sir."

  Craftsman: *He watched Trevour and the champion walk away, causing him to wave his hand out.* "Pleasure doing business with ya."

  ----------

  Nathan: "I don't know what happened back in Sorrowpax, but I can tell you. I, for some reason know I'm really good with a sword."

  Luna: "But magic.." *She grunted with a chuckle, as if she found using the word funny.* "Magic will shit all over your damned sword."

  Nathan: "You mean Rostical?"

  Luna: "Rostickal?" *She spoke like an idiot.* "Yes.."

  Nathan: "It took me years, but I learnt how to do some Azure Bursts."

  Luna: "What are Azure Burks?"

  Nathan: *He smiled, knowing Luna couldn't see him.* (Now she wants to listen-)

  Luna: "I'm waiting."

  Nathan: "They're special techniques one can use."

  Luna: "So, pretty much mag-.. Rostickal, aye?"

  Nathan: "Not really. Azure Bursts are majority weapon based, but skilful people can use them without a weapon."

  Luna: "Listenin'."

  Nathan: "Depending on the person, even if they knew Rostical, Azure Bursts could be stronger."

  Luna: "Wat's stronger than shittin' out ice?"

  Nathan: "Ahhh, I don't think that's a Rostical-"

  Luna: "Don't be a loser and continue tellin' me this."

  Nathan: *He looked puzzled, slowly smirking to himself.* "Some Scoldrants are more weakened to physical attacks, while some even nullify Rostical or some elements completely."

  Luna: "Dude, this is totally out of a game, aye."

  Nathan: "When fighting, it's definitely no game."

  Luna: "Gah, wateva." *She waved her hand, implying for Nathan to continue.*

  Nathan: "Well, I'll be able to actually defend myself once I have the weapon I've spent years training with."

  Luna: "Why not pick up a branch or somethin'?"

  Nathan: "I've actually tried that at one point."

  Luna: "And?"

  Nathan: "The Neurons I instinctively put into my weapon blew it up."

  Luna: "OK?"

  Nathan: *He tilted his head back and grabbed Luna's hand, causing her to feel small red scars on the side of his neck.* "The splinters left behind some awesome reminders not to do it again."

  Luna: "Shit.." *She whispered on her breath, withdrawing her hand back into her lap.*

  Trevour: "Hope we weren't long, heh heh." *He awkwardly chuckled, throwing the sword at Nathan.*

  Nathan: *He caught the wrapped up sword, staring at it in amazement.* "Awesome!"

  Trevour: "Courtesy of the champion here."

  Nathan: "Wow, I was a little worried getting a sword without money, so thank you!" *He spoke in respect, slowly unravelling the dirty cloth around the sword.*

  Champion: "Oh my, you're welcome." *She smiled with her eyes shut and slightly bowed in respect.*

  Trevour: *He looked up, staring at the orangey red sky in amazement.* "The sunset looks beautiful."

  Luna: "Yea, I like the purple shadowing around the red."

  Trevour: "You do? Where-?" *He looked down, noticing Luna staring at the ground in a blind-like manner.*

  Luna: "How embarrassin'."

  Trevour: "..."

  Champion: "We've got all we need."

  Nathan: "Any Acro Berries?"

  Champion: "The maximum we can hold with a poor bag."

  Nathan: "Twenty?"

  Champion: "Yes."

  Trevour: "Were you able to find rooms for us?"

  Nathan: "Two rooms."

  Champion: *She smiled and awkwardly placed her hands on her back, trying to stretch her massive hunchback.* "I think it's time to reside inside."

  Nathan: "Alright." *He stood up like a child, as if he was really happy about the sword and glanced at Luna.* "Trevour, she's all yours."

  Luna: *She frowned in response.* "Trevour, she's all yours." *She spoke like an ogre, causing Trevour to chuckle.*

  Nathan: "Say what you want. I'm in a happy mood." *He continued to smile at the sword and quickly picked up a rock which was placed near
the Inn's door.*

  Champion: "Isn't that used for keeping the door open?"

  Nathan: "I'll return it tomorrow."

  Trevour: "Madam?" *He reached down and held Luna's elbow, causing her to hit it away.*

  Luna: "I'm fine." *She grunted and arrogantly stood up.* "I'm not disabled or anythin'."

  *Luna hissed under her breath and started to walk away, causing Trevour to awkwardly cough to catch her attention.*

  Trevour: "Madam, this Inn was directly in front of where you were sitting."

  Luna: "Gah! Just take me there." *She spoke in a defeated-like manner and purposely pointed her elbow out, allowing Trevour to grab it.*

  ----------

  Lezard: "So, the luxurious Lezard, ravaging Razzypoo, luscious Lucky and terrible Twortz walked up the spiral hill, eagerly awaiting to find Lucky's friend."

  Rachael: "Lucky, why were you down here?"

  Lucky: "My friend and I are Soul Linked, we become good friends, hyuck hyuck."

  Twortz: (Soul Linked?)

  Lezard: "Does that mean you're a Scoldrant User?"

  Lucky: *He giggled, touching his ears by habit.* "We went to find bird. Bird was friendly. He attacked us when he sick."

  Lezard: "Sick?"

  Lucky: "Eyes. They went scary." *He waved his fingers around his eyes, emphasising his story.*

  Rachael: "Like, bloodshot scary?"

  Twortz: "Are we talking about a bird or his friend?"

  Lucky: "Yellow. Scary."

  Lezard: "Yellow eyes?" *He spoke to himself, suddenly frowning in a serious-like manner.*

  Rachael: "Either way, we're almost up there."

  Twortz: *She looked down, noticing she was up very high.* (I'm not sure why I'm blaming Rachael's rather rash and immature views on helping people. I could've said no any time I wanted.)

  Lucky: "You use Rostical, help Lucky and friend!" *He slowly reached the top of the hill and bent down, as if he was hiding from something.*

  Rachael: "I don't exactly know what's happening, or how I did it-" *She ducked behind Lucky, forming a fist with a smile.* "But I'll do my best to help someone that needs it."

  Lezard: *He popped his head up, slowly looking to each side.* "As Lezard looked up-"

  Twortz: "Why is everyone ducking their heads? What are we hiding from?"

  Lezard: "Shh, I'm searching-"

  Twortz: "What do you see?!" *She hissed under her breath, causing Lezard to bend back down.*

  Lezard: "Nothing. But I can sense something-"

  Twortz: "If there's nothing up here-" *She stood up and glared at Lucky while walking on top of the hill.* "Right. Nothing. We've been played."

  Lucky: "Lucky wants you to be careful-"

  Twortz: "Careful of what?! The air?!"

  *Rachael and Lezard stood up and cautiously stepped on top of the hill, glancing to each side.*

  Twortz: "See, nothing."

  Lucky: "Where are you?" *He shouted and stood up, hesitantly stepping onto the hill.*

  ?????: "G-Kark!" *A loud bubbling-like roar came from the shadows.*

  Lezard: *He quickly turned around, facing the darkness.* (That was a Scoldrant for sure-)

  Lucky: "There he is! Help! He stuck on wall!"

  Rachael: "On the wall? Whereabouts, Lucky?"

  Lucky: *He skipped up to Rachael and pointed with his body towards a specific part of the darkness.* "There! Right there!"

  Rachael: (Okay, here it goes!-) *She formed fists and pushed forward.*

  Twortz: "What could you possibly hope to do-?"

  Rachael: "Harhhh!" *She shouted and enthusiastically withdrew her arms to her chest.*

  Lezard: *He listened to stone-like cracks come from the walls, causing him to step back.* "Did that do it?"

  Rachael: *She lowered her arms, shaking her head.* "That's the best I can do. I don't know how to do it yet."

  Lezard: "It's okay, little monster. It can take years to even have a visible manifestation of Remenistal."

  Lucky: "No, you crack, it good!"

  Rachael: "It is?"

  ?????: "Kark-karkikiki-"

  *The walls cracked further, causing boulders to tumble down towards the ground.*

  Twortz: (I don't like this-) *She frowned and raised her frying pan, standing in a battle-ready pose.*

  Lezard: "Lucky, is that your friend making those scary sounds? Or is Twortz being all serious again?"

  Twortz: "Seriously?" *She glared at Lezard, keeping her professional-like composure and stature.*

  *An explosion burst a pile of rocks off the wall Rachael focused towards.*

  Twortz: "Did something just-"

  *A large sea creature fell from the air and landed heavily on the hill, causing it to vibrate under the party's feet.*

  ?????: "Karki!-"

  Twortz: "W-Wharrck?!" *She stared at the creature with widening eyes, readying to attack.*

  Rachael: (A human-sized crab with octopus tentacles?!)

  Twortz: (It must've jumped off the wall from all the way over there-)

  Lezard: "And this must be your friend, Lucky." *He spoke with a smile, causing Rachael and Twortz to look at him in shock.*

  Rachael: "What are you saying?"

  Lucky: "I got help like you said. Hyuck, hyuck." *He chuckled and ran towards the creature, causing Twortz to gasp in shock.*

  Twortz: "Don't touch it! It's hideous!"

  Scoldrant: "Korkk?" *It looked at Twortz and snapped its pincers.*

  Lucky: "You hurt Whaka-Rangi's feeling!"

  Whaka: "Korkk!"