"Fragments of Life" (Ch. 1)

Age : 22 Joined : 06 Nov 2005 Posts : 172

After a long and challenging battle ending in the subjugation of the insatiable fiend known as Kahl'lej, Amaterasu and Issun watch the poisonous fog dissipate and reveal the sky, sea, and land of San Francisco. Instead of the shining bayside sun, however, the air is illuminated with twinkling stars.

"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing, Ammy?" Issun chatters in disbelief. "There's a constellation all the way out here too! But this one seems to be in pretty bad shape. Just look, it's almost gone!"

With only one bright star left, Amaterasu promptly paints in the rest of the pattern with the Celestial Brush. Once completed, the constellation shimmers and transforms into a slender figure with a long tail and carrying a large, ornately-bound book. The creature spirals through the air and comes to a stop before the sun god.

"Ah, Okami Amaterasu, what wonder your presence in such a distant land as this brings! I, Le Petit Mew, feared that I would be extinguished forever in the cloying malaise, but your heavenly power has shone through and revived me! As I am a patron of writing, I have no brush techniques to bestow upon you, but I do enjoy composing stories. Shall I regale you with a tale?"

"Come to think of it, Ammy, we've done a lot since getting here, and it's gonna be a long journey back to Nippon," Issun muses. "Maybe we should sit for a spell and listen until we're rested up."

In response, Amaterasu yawns and lays down, her head still raised and at attention as their host opens his book and begins reciting...

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"Fragments of Life," a tale from Relic Kingdom Anselat by Le Petit Mew

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CHAPTER I

Maya Circlinade jumped aside as the ronquarr's massive claw slammed into the floor of the cavern chamber, causing a loud, rumbling crack and sending dozens of small rock fragments hurtling into the air. A long blade of gale-force wind sprung from the sword hilt in the princess's hand as she swung at the beast's arm. The weapon cut into the wound started by the previous three strokes, but it only managed to slice through another half-inch of rock-hard flesh. Maya gritted her teeth and turned her attention towards her partner on the other side of the room. "I didn't expect it to be this tough! It keeps resisting my magic!"

"We haven't run out of options yet." Mathias Meioh pointed his spear just behind the ronquarr's shoulder, the prismatic tip sparkling immediately before launching an arrow of cold energy. The spell struck at precisely the intended spot, piercing through half a foot of skin before dispersing into the creature's body. It howled in response to the chilling pain, sliding its narrow eyes in the boy's direction as it circled to face him.

"Sounds like you made a good hit!" Maya brandished Million Revelations again, producing her own blade of ice and stabbing the other side of the ronquarr's abdomen. It roared even louder, its body briefly trembling from the shock. "It's definitely reacting the most to cold!"

Before Mathias could ready another spell, the ronquarr opened its frog-like mouth and spewed a stream of molten rock at him. He managed to dive out of its trajectory, but a thick strand of the magma splashed off of the rocks and landed on the thigh of his pants, instantly bursting into a cord of flame. The boy yelped as he felt the intense heat seep into his skin and gripped his spear tightly, lowering its head to the flames and extinguishing them with a small cloud of freezing mist.

"Mathias! I've got you covered! Are you all right?" Maya slashed the beast's jaw and stepped back, drawing its attention away from her companion.

Mathias didn't immediately answer. The vanishing fire exposed a thin trail of hardened rock clinging to his clothes. He stared at it quizzically for a second before looking back up towards the battle, watching the princess dance around the ronquarr's slow swipes and counter with swift stabs. "That's it! Princess, this way! I know how we can end this quickly!"

"Great! I'll be right there!" Maya dove past another powerful slam and rolled underneath the ronquarr's body. It lowered its head and slowly backed up, still able to sense the vibrations of its opponent's movements. However, by the time it realized Maya had emerged from behind and began turning around to engage her again, she was already on her feet and dashing to Mathias's side. "What's the plan?"

The boy held Aurora Piece vertically in front of him and erected a shimmering wall of light. "I'm going to stay behind here and ready my most powerful spell. When this wall disappears, I need you to bait the ronquarr into spitting its molten breath at me again. I'll finish from there."

"That's your plan?" she remarked in disbelief. The cave rumbled as the ronquarr smashed into the magic wall, which remained unmoved and undamaged. "I mean, I'm not opposed to my part, but are you confident taking on an attack like that with no defense?"

"If you succeed in your role, then I have nothing to worry about." Mathias smiled brightly at Maya, still holding his weapon before him. The ronquarr slammed its claws into the wall repeatedly, causing more deep echoes.

Maya hesitated, then returned the smile. "All right! Let's make this one of the great victories of Anselat!"

Mathias turned back to the ronquarr, focusing his eyes on it through Aurora Piece's translucent shaft. A soft white light appeared within the weapon and grew steadily in intensity.

Maya sprinted out from behind the wall and past the ronquarr's right side. "Enough of your tantrum; I'm right here!" she cried with a brilliant spike of crackling electricity coursing from Million Revelations and skipping along the creature's body. The ronquarr uttered a low-pitched squeal and stomped backward, aiming to trample Maya under its muscular back legs. Unable to track her effectively with its wild thrashing, it crashed into the opposite wall of the cavern instead.

Mathias did not flinch from their combat. As Aurora Piece shone brighter, the magical wall gradually faded.

Maya momentarily diverted her attention towards her partner, seeing that the barrier was nearly gone. "If you can behave for a moment, my friend would like to play," she said, luring the ronquarr towards her as she backed towards Mathias. It slammed the ground with every step of its front legs, though all that touched the princess were the blasts of hot air from its nostrils.

Maya gripped Million Revelations tightly, concentrating on a vivid mental scene: the road home bathed in silver moonlight, with emerald- and copper-colored trees swaying above and a cool breeze beckoning the party along. Yes, the wind... that would be most welcome after this battle.

At once the black crystal split into the sword's crossguard and a tapered blade of frost formed from it. Maya reared back and seized the grip with both hands. "Twinkling Hadelneim!" mingled with the tinkle of breaking ice crystals as she cut across the ronquarr's face. Its tiny eyes grew wide, followed by a deafening roar. The glow of molten rock surging up its throat was visible even before it closed its mouth.

Mathias lowered his spear just as Maya dove out of his way and the ronquarr's cheeks bulged. "Magnificent Deeper!" All of Aurora Piece's light fled to the tip and erupted as a wide column of white light and arctic wind. The ronquarr opened its mouth and the spell flooded in, shoving the rock back into its throat and solidifying it. Mathias's glasses fogged from the intense cold, but he kept his hands steady and his aim on target.

The ronquarr moaned and retreated, thrashing frantically. It was suffocating. It repeatedly threw itself against the surface of the cavern, but the rapidly hardened rock did not dislodge. Maya and Mathias crawled to the opposite end of the shaking chamber, watching the spectacle warily. How long the beast remained moving they could not remember, but soon its violent thrashing calmed to a meek writhing, and then to complete stillness. There was not even the sound of labored breathing to drive out the silence.
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And then...

Age : 22 Joined : 06 Nov 2005 Posts : 172

"Do you think it's dead yet?" Maya's voice wandered about the cave after a brisk pause.

"After how fiercely it was moving before, it has to be," Mathias's followed.

"Well, that was exciting." The princess got to her feet and dusted off her legs. "It still almost seems like a dream: 'The heir of Anselat and her protégé, conquering one of the planet's natural disasters by their own wit and resolve!'"

"We can't afford to brag, though, Princess." Mathias wiped his glasses with the cuff of his sleeve and replaced them. "Our ulterior motive has yet to be fulfilled -- and for now must remain among the members of the expedition," he remarked in the mannerisms of the palace councilors.

"I did not forget... Master Meioh." She smiled; he grimaced. "Why, now would be the perfect time to carve the beast open and acquire-- did you hear that?" The two lifted their heads to the chamber entrance above and to their left, where their lantern now slumped atop their pack but still offered its dim light. They could faintly hear a continuous procession of sounds... a mixture of footfalls and brief words. A man's voice slowly grew intelligible. "This way... Wait! ...a light! Yes, I knew it! Quickly!"

"They've already caught up with us?" Maya mused. "Ainquist must have really been spurring them on."

"Should we have expected anything else?" Mathias rolled his eyes.

The princess raised her hands to her mouth. "This way, men!" she called. "We're both here, and we're fine!"

Three figures appeared in the threshold of the chamber, the studs in their leather armor glinting in the low light. "Ah, by Her hand, it's them!" one of them exclaimed and turned back towards the tunnel. "Send word back to the Captain! We've located the princess and the master, both alive!"

"Princess, are you sure you're unhurt?" another soldier inquired as Maya and Mathias ascended to meet them. "We could hear rumbling throughout the cavern and feared you had engaged the ronquarr alone!"

"We did." Maya lifted her lantern and aimed it towards the beast's corpse. "Through ingenuity, we avoided a long battle, and now the fruits of our victory are ripe for harvesting."

The soldiers' jaws hung open. "Trickery or miracle!" one gasped. "The beast doesn't even stir at the sound of our voices! It must be dead, but how?"

Mathias scratched some dirt off his cheek. "Ronquarr don't like cold meals?" He laughed sheepishly. The men exchanged perplexed looks.

"Regardless, I'm sure Captain Ainquist wants to see us for himself," Maya interjected, lifting up the pack. "Here; this can get two of you started searching the ronquarr for the relic. Try not to squander all of the fun, OK? We'll be back." She walked past the soldiers with Mathias following behind.

"Are these mortal children or mere specters haunting the planet's bowels?" a clear, robust voice demanded, amplified by the stone walls. Another soldier stood before them, this one bearing a polished steel mantle with a four-pointed crest over his armor. He folded his arms and stared straight into Maya's eyes.

"What privilege! Captain Ainquist, you came to meet us!" the princess gushed, stepping forward and taking one of his hands in both of hers.

Ainquist tore from her grasp without hesitation. "If only I had been the first to find you, I might not have recovered from my fear enough to speak so sternly. This will certainly write a new chapter in the record of your exploits, Princess Maya. Humor me: if I told you that I counted four examples of improper conduct, what would you say they were?"

"Well..." Maya began counting on her fingers. "I wouldn't say that I left the safety of the company without word because I left a note for you. I wouldn't say that I commandeered property of the company because there were supplies for everyone, including myself and Mathias. I wouldn't say that I stole one of the scouts' delika because we intended to return it. And I wouldn't say that we engaged an opponent with insufficient resources because we had a plan. Well, the plan we originally had wasn't as effective as expected, so we had to improvise. I guess I'll give you half a point for that, Captain. Congratulations; I'll have to do better next time."

"I'm not awaiting that day," Ainquist remarked. "And what of the ronquarr? I assume you would not be wanting to tarry here if it could still be defeated."

"Perhaps, but we won't be finding out today. Here, Captain." Maya shined their light into the cavern again, where the other soldiers were already examining the ronquarr. "Mathias and I hoped to accomplish the entire mission before you could arrive, but clearly we underestimated your zeal in pursuing us. Would you like to hear about the battle?"

"Captain! We have confirmed that the ronquarr is dispatched!" one of the soldiers shouted.

"Understood! I will summon additional men and grant the order to begin the dissection!" Ainquist turned back to Maya and Mathias. "I must postpone the storytelling, Princess. In the meantime, I suggest that both of you report to the healers to recuperate. Consider that my acknowledgment of your success against such a formidable foe." He stepped back into the tunnel. "Captain's report! Disband the serpentine formation and send each member of the primary team down here equipped with a parcel of the specialized gear!"

"Promptly, Captain!"

"I heard him stutter earlier. He really is amazed with us," Maya whispered to Mathias as they ascended to the surface.
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And then...

Age : 22 Joined : 06 Nov 2005 Posts : 172

"As true as through Her eye, the princess returns to us!" one of the company's scouts exclaimed as Maya and Mathias emerged from the cave. "I should be fortunate enough just to have reunited with my steed!"

"And you should be proud to be his master. He carried us all the way here without slowing for even a yard," Maya replied with a smile as she stroked the delika's head. The reptilian beast trilled softly, fanning its gilded crest in the late morning sun. "I wonder if he'd like a taste of ronquarr flesh as our thanks?"

"Ah, such wit, Princess Maya!" the scout laughed. Her face suddenly grew serious. "So does that mean the ronquarr is actually dead?"

"You must have heard the captain's order passed along, didn't you? But he did omit one significant detail."

"Princess, do you really want to explain it all now?" Mathias interrupted. "Think carefully: if we stop to tell one we'll be telling one hundred."

Maya blinked. "Yes, you're absolutely right. We'd best be on our way; I'm sure the news will begin to circulate soon enough anyway." The two abandoned the perplexed scout and continued towards the caravan. Two cots had already been set up underneath the awning on one side of it, where two healers were waiting with bandages, splints, and salves arranged and at hand. "If Captain Ainquist ordered you to prepare for our arrival, you won't be needing to do much work."

"To see you walk here unattended already dispels much of our concern," one agreed. "But even you seem to have succumbed to some peril." She gestured to Mathias's burnt leg.

"Oh... it barely stings," the boy insisted, noticing that his skin showed through a narrow hole in his pants.

"Even the smallest pain can be improved, Master Mathias. Please sit down."

"I see a small cut under your chin, Princess Maya," the second healer remarked. "Would you like it bandaged?"

Maya paused to think. "For the Captain's sake, at least." She sat down on the other cot, arms crossed in her lap.

"I saw our men unload the special equipment and bring it into the cavern. I'm hesitant to ask, but... did you encounter the ronquarr, Princess?"

"Not only that, but we were the ones to kill it!" Maya smirked, fingering Million Revelations. "It's true they're powerful creatures, but so are magic users. And when you factor in two practitioners of the art..."

"...You might say one ronquarr has a lot to stomach?" Mathias offered.

"That's enough bragging, Master Meioh!" the princess snapped.

"Pardon me, Princess, but I need you to remain still for just a moment. And could you please lift your head?"

"Who's bragging?" Mathias protested. "It was a joke, Princess. I wouldn't defy my own advice by telling the whole story, and I certainly wouldn't deprive you of that honor against your wishes."

"Perhaps you could tell us while you rest, Princess? We would be honored to be your first audience, and it would undoubtedly inspire our medicine!" the healers claimed.

Maya stood up. "Actually, I'd like to see what progress Captain Ainquist and the others have made."

"They've only just started, Princess! Furthermore, remember how difficult penetrating its body was for us? Dismembering it piece by piece is going to take the soldiers a long time, even if they have five times as many hands as us."

"We would reduce that time if we applied the magical expertise we gained from the battle! But I suppose that knowledge is only as good as the arm that wields it." Maya sat down again. "Poor Captain Ainquist, unwittingly sending away his biggest help. I'll let him have his fun for a while, then surprise all of them when I return and slice out that relic with a single stroke!"

Mathias lowered his head in exasperation. "Do we have any more sweetened gharnab?"

The man with the curly, mud-brown goatee knelt before the tent in the center of the encampment. "Our Trusted, I ask for your private audience," he said with his head inclined. "I have a matter to report that begs your wisdom."

"Then enter, Jentris," a proud yet gentle voice replied. He pushed through the drapes and seated himself on the cushion inside, his audience concealed in silhouette by a hanging veil that separated the tent in half.

"It is distressing news, but I feel it cannot be kept from the clan: we have lost our benefactor."

"What do you mean by that?" the voice demanded, turning sharp. "Surely he could not have abandoned us while we slept?"

"No, I would never have allowed that to happen!" Jentris insisted. "I listened to him through the whole morning! His voice was loud, moreso than ever I have heard! And yet, suddenly it faded to nothing. He could not have escaped us, not when I was listening so intently! Our Trusted, I fear that some tragedy has befallen him and he will lead us no longer."

"But what calamity could be great enough to defeat him?" The figure rose to its feet. "Inconceivable fate... it cannot be forgiven! I curse the one who ordained such misfortune! Jentris, you will lead us to where our brother fell! Whoever claims responsibility for this deed shall writhe in the anguish that they have heaped upon us!"

"Thank you for your guidance! For the good of the clan, I shall obey!" Jentris scrambled to leave the tent, the drapes flying open again shortly after.

"My children, we must march!" the voice called out to the far corners of the camp. "Bring only that which will perpetuate a trail, whether one of earth or one of blood!"

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And then...