Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Luna: "Pssht-" *She rolled her eyes and strutted forward, stepping into the castle.*

  Twortz: "Unlike her, I appreciate respect. Thank you, Trevor?"

  Trevour: "Trevour."

  Twortz: "My apologies." *She nodded her head and walked through the castle doors.*

  Rachael: "Thanks."

  Karol: "Fanks."

  Lezard: *He looked at Trevour and giggled.* "Let's go together, so there is no last person to enter."

  Trevour: "Heh heh, okay."

  Nathan: *He took several steps forward and shivered, noticing he stood in the middle of a long hallway.* "It's cold."

  Rachael: "It is a little chilly." *She noticed a long, thin red carpet which travelled down the hallway and up a set of white stairs.*

  Luna: (I actually like the cold.) *She smirked and observed the castle's pale interior.*

  Twortz: (It's almost like it's air conditioned.)

  Lezard: "Excuse me, Twortzamotto?"

  Twortz: "... Yes?" *She spoke on her breath.*

  Lezard: "Rooms without doors could be seen down the hallway on opposite sides-"

  Twortz: "Okay."

  Nathan: "I'm not really sure where to go now-"

  Lezard: "Upstairs, everyone." *He purposely walked on the red thin carpet and turned right, hobbling up the stairs.* "Watch your step, these stairs zigzag up to each level."

  Rachael: *She jogged up the stairs, running her hand along the white rail.* "What were the rooms?"

  Lezard: "At the end of the hallway is the kitchen and a place to get rations."

  Trevour: *He glanced down the hallway before walking up the stairs.* (He's obviously been here before.)

  Rachael: "Where exactly is this racing course?"

  Trevour: "Good question, madam."

  Nathan: "In The Hall of Oats."

  Lezard: "It's an amazingly sensational Reality Marble."

  Rachael: "But where?"

  Luna: "Yea, I didn't see no racin' lap."

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Nathan: "It's up on the third level, you could say there're four levels of the city. The Hall of Oats has its own level."

  Rachael: (After we speak to who's in charge, I want to take a look around there-)

  Lezard: "And floor number two!" *He giggled and hobbled around, facing the party with a childish smirk.*

  Karol: "And-And, and.. What's this lehvel?"

  Lezard: "This one, my little monster, is the city's Inn."

  Twortz: "Rest?" *She panted behind the party, struggling to walk up any more steps.*

  Nathan: "Unhealthy?"

  Twortz: "No, I'm healthy. It's possible to be large and be healthy at the same time." *She spoke in a stern voice, emphasising her annoyance on the subject.*

  Luna: (Damn, I'm nearly outta breath like Twortz..) *She tried not to breathe through her mouth.*

  Rachael: "And the next floor?" *She jogged up the next set of stairs, causing Luna, Twortz and Karol to sigh in defeat.*

  Lezard: "Well-"

  Rachael: *She jogged onto the next level and noticed the hallway was much wider than the rest.* "This floor has vending machines?"

  Lezard: *He hobbled behind Rachael and nodded his head.* "This is the research area."

  Rachael: "The research area?"

  Lezard: "If we're lucky enough to view their database, this is the floor we'll be using most. It has access to their detectors, researcher's logs, and the access to The Library's archives."

  Rachael: (Like a computer room?) *She watched the party gather across the hallway.*

  Twortz: "Made it." *She whispered to herself, taking a deep breath.*

  Rachael: *She focused her attention to the stairs, looking up in curiosity.* "And the next level?"

  Twortz: "The next?" *She whimpered, wiping sweat off her forehead.*

  Luna: (Man, it's cold and I'm still sweatin' too. Not as hungrily as Twotters over there, but still-)

  Lezard: "Up there is Grey's throne room."

  Luna: "That's some leader, right?"

  Nathan: "That's the fella I'm taking you to."

  Trevour: "If we're seeing the ruler, perhaps I should wait outside?" *He glanced at his warrior's armour.*

  Lezard: "Don't be a silly sausage. I know the ruler, I'll let him know you aren't a villain."

  Trevour: "Maybe I could be?"

  Luna: "Aha, you ain't no villain." *She chuckled, causing Trevour to sigh.*

  Trevour: "..."

  Rachael: "Alright, who's keen for some answers?" *She smiled and jogged up the next set of stairs, causing Lezard to quickly follow.*

  Luna: *She stared at Nathan.* "..."

  Nathan: *He made eye contact with Luna, causing her to look away.* (Weird.) *He unintentionally smiled to himself and started to jog up the stairs.*

  Trevour: "Madam?" *He looked at Luna.* "You look all flustered."

  Luna: "M-Me flustered?" *She spoke out of character and shyly ran up the stairs, avoiding eye contact with Trevour.*

  Trevour: (Maybe I was wrong?) *He watched Luna jog up the stairs with ease.* (She's almost as energetic as that Rachael lady.)

  Rachael: *She jogged onto the next floor, noticing the hallway was slightly dimmer than the rest.* (It's more quiet up here too-)

  *Rachael looked down to her feet, noticing the light shine off the polished floors.*

  Lezard: "And this is the level to the royal chambers-" *He sarcastically spoke under his breath to hide his exhaustion from trying to keep up with Rachael.*

  Rachael: *She looked down the hallway and noticed a circle shaped room, containing enormous wooden doors.* "Down there?"

  Lezard: "Yuppers-" *He sniffed, placing a hand on his waist.*

  *The party gathered behind Lezard, causing Rachael to walk down the hallway.*

  Twortz: "Will we be able to see the ruler so easily?" *She sounded unconvinced.*

  Lezard: "Actually no-"

  Rachael: *She walked into the middle of the circular room, observing the area around her.* (This place feels like it's more expensive than the rest-)

  *The polished floors shined in the light, several cases overfilled with thick books stacked against the spotless wall in between the wooden pillars.*

  Rachael: (I guess the royal room is behind the doors?)

  *The pillars were carved with fancy royal-like patterns and a massive door similar to the pillar's design was firmly built.*

  Lezard: *He hobbled behind Rachael, followed by the party.* "Razzypoo admired the sparkling polished floors and several cases of books, which stacked against the wall in between the wooden pillars."

  Twortz: "Do you need to do that?"

  Lezard: "Yuppers."

  Rachael: *She stared at royal appearing wooden pillars, admiring their detailed carvings.*"These pillars, it's like they're telling a story."

  ?????: "That's because they do tell a story."

  *A man's voice echoed from behind the wooden door, instantly catching the party's attention.*

  Nathan: "Who's there?" *He shouted and faced the door, standing in a battle-ready pose.*

  Lezard: (That voice sounds familiar.)

  ?????: "Who's there? That is my question."

  *A mature man dressed in imperial-like armour proudly opened the doors with both arms, stepping in front of the party.*

  Karol: (He's sckary looking.) *He shuffled behind Rachael, glancing at the man.*

  Nathan: "You must be, Grey?"

  ?????: "Do you think the ruler will just randomly show up at every unannounced visit he gets?" *He adjusted an imperial helmet on the side of his head.*

  Lezard: "It's a pleasure, Ordin." *He giggled and slightly bowed down to one knee.*

  Ordin: "You know of me?"

  Lezard: "Who wouldn't?"

  Nathan: (Ordin? The ruler's right-hand man, second in charge of the city.. One of the best swordsman of this generation-) "Please forgive my disrespect!-" *He dropped to his knees, giving a sense of respect.*

  Ordin: "If it isn't Lezardestel
."

  Lezard: "Holy fish-cakes, you remember me?"

  Ordin: "Millardestel, who could forget him." *He spoke with a smile and stepped forward, causing his armour to rattle.* "What are you doing here?"

  Lezard: "We request for an audience with his majesty."

  Luna: "Yea, we gotta get home, aye."

  Twortz: "We need some answers."

  Rachael: "Please-"

  Ordin: *He observed each party member, unintentionally snarling in disgust at Rachael, Twortz and Luna.* "How dare you three disrespect the ruler!"

  Twortz: "Excuse me?"

  Luna: "Aye?"

  Nathan: (What did they do-?)

  Ordin: "Look at your filthy appearances! The damned Scoldrants are far cleaner than the lot of you combined!" *He shouted, causing his voice to echo down the hallway.*

  Lezard: "Jinkies, Ordin-?"

  Ordin: "I am in the middle of setting up The Agoura Marbles! I don't have time to show the ruler a bunch of backwater villagers!"

  Trevour: *He glanced at Rachael, Twortz and Luna, noticing their mud smeared clothes.* (I had not realised how easily their clothing attracts dirt and odour-)

  Rachael: "Well, I also want to participate in this marble games."

  Ordin: "..."

  Nathan: "I am a warrior. I will also participate in the games." *He stood up straight and placed a hand on his sword.*

  Ordin: "A warrior.."

  Luna: "I'll fight too, aye!"

  Ordin: "..." *He slowly turned back around and took several steps towards the opened doors.*

  Twortz: "Where are you going? We are in the middle of a conversation, how incredibly unprofessional if you are indeed, high up.."

  Ordin: *He paused due to Twortz and sighed, keeping his back facing the party.* "You wish to have an audience with Grey the fourth?"

  Trevour: "That would be much appreciated, sir."

  Ordin: "Hmph. There is a huge waiting list for people wanting to see him, even if I decide to put you on the list, why should I expedite your request?"

  Luna: "'Cause we ain't from this worl-"

  Lezard: "Because our stories aren't from this world.. He will be most indulged in our delicious stories."

  Trevour: *He looked past Ordin and stared at the opened doors, only noticing darkness.* (It's as dark as night.. Perhaps it's a Spacial Funnel-?)

  Ordin: *He ignored Lezard and focused in front, staring at the darkness.* "Speaking of warriors, what is he doing here? I don't recall any Consultant related business today."

  Destiny: "Yeu?"

  Luna: *She noticed Destiny trembling, causing her to stroke her fur for comfort.* (It's like Destiny is afraid of this guy?)

  Trevour: "I am no longer a representative of the warriors, sir."

  Ordin: "I wanted to forewarn you about my Ougi's potential, sir."

  Trevour: "S-Sir?"

  Ordin: ".. At the cost of my morals, I can kill even the strongest of captains with one stab of the heart.."

  Luna: "Umm, pretty sure if someone gets stabbed in the heart, they die.."

  Nathan: "Luna?" *He grunted, as if he wanted her to be quiet.*

  Luna: "Aha, it's like saying, when people get killed, they die.. Like no shit-"

  Ordin: *He turned back around, facing Luna.* "You have a warrior's blood running through your veins."

  Luna: "Pssht, my parents are no warriors, aye-"

  Ordin: "Despite this, you're still just a troubled little girl that doesn't know her place-"

  Nathan: "Even though that's true, you don't need to hurt her dignity-"

  Ordin: "Dignity? Look at her, she has no dignity."

  Luna: "...-"

  Lezard: (Oh dear, this isn't how I pictured our confrontation with Ordin would be.)

  Ordin: "I no longer have the patience. Wait with the others and you'll eventually receive a pass to see the ruler-"

  Twortz: "Is there not another way to get this pass sooner?"

  Ordin: "..."

  Trevour: "Please, sir."

  Rachael: "We'll owe you-"

  Karol: "P-Pwease?"

  Ordin: (I don't have the time-) *He sighed in thought, as he readied to leave.* "You wanted to enter the games, correct?"

  Rachael: "Sure do!"

  Luna: "Damn right, aye!"

  Nathan: "For sure!" *They spoke at the same time.*

  Ordin: "Go sign up in the entertainment section of the city. The winner is honoured, by being personally graced with his majesty's presence."

  Rachael: "Shooting two birds with one stone." *She smiled to herself.* "I'm really good at sports."

  Twortz: "A win-win situation, only someone with half a brain and poor judgement wouldn't cease the opportunity-"

  Ordin: "Hmph. The Agoura Marbles isn't just a sport. It's just as dangerous as Battling Oxident-" *He turned away and started to power walk into the darkness.* "If not worse."

  *Ordin swayed his hand in the air, causing the doors to slam shut behind him on their own accord.*

  Twortz: "..."

  Ordin: "Not that it's plausible, but even if you do win, I will not grant you the permission to see his majesty if you don't clean yourselves up!" *His voice sternly echoed from behind the door.*

  Rachael: "I will try my best to win!" *She formed a fist, frowning with a smile.*

  Nathan: *He looked at Rachael and stood in a more casual manner.* "He's gone."

  Rachael: "Oh.."

  Trevour: "What's the plan now, everyone?"

  Lezard: "Well, new clothes!" *He giggled, wiggling his bottom to each side.*

  Luna: "I freakin' dislike goin' shopping for clothes-"

  Rachael: "I don't mind it." *She smiled.*

  Trevour: "Despite retrieving new clothes, we also need to sign up for the games."

  Rachael: "We'll do both, no biggie."