[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/mnxxOJe.png?1[/img] [b]Mecca, Green Sahara[/b] [b]BGM[/b]:[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiFm3Ta5vk]The Hidden Truth[/url] [sub][@Tenma Tendo][@Double][/sub] [/center] And with that, the beast was gone. Audry lowered her weapon, eyes blinking on in amazement. It really was gone right? No more of her eyes playing tricks on her? The man from before now knelt in distress. Sobbing in a time of victory? Audry did not understand. While the man was emotionally hurt, that much was clear, he seemed physically stable. The woman's green eyes drifted lazily to the side, to catch a glimpse of her charge, the person she was sent to protect. Unfortunately, it looked like Capella was putting herself under great strain to so much as stand up. No sense in storming Mecca now, in this state the best they could hope for was local guards having enough mercy to aim for a vital organ so their deaths would be quick. The rifle in Audry's had faded away into the same flash of green mist as the shotgun, as she moved to step forward. But as the foot came down, the sand swallowed it, prompting the unstable woman to tilt forward and be met with the excruciating feeling of hot desert sand against one's bare face. Not even a yelp escaped Audry's mouth as she felt her body tense up rapidly, painfully even, as every muscle seemed to contract and relax over and over rapidly. She struggled to force air in and out of her lungs as the spasms continued, each one growing more and more unbearable until she felt herself slowly slip away. The spasming seemed to stop as her psyche finally snapped, eyes rolling back into her head as she lay limp in the desert sand. [center] [b]Unknown location[/b] [b]BGM:[/b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hHpSlEz73k]The Brink Of Time[/url] [/center] A pleasant warmth radiated in the air, not quite hot yet not cold. Audry awoke to the feeling a soft breeze carrying a lock of her hair and dragging it across her face. This triggered a sneeze, prompting the woman to awaken, only to find herself face to face with [url=https://artfiles.alphacoders.com/110/110878.jpg]someone else[/url]. [color=aba000][b]"You're awake!"[/b][/color] Audry's eyes widened as she lept backward at the unsolicited musical, sitting up and pushing her hands out in front of her. The strange woman only looked on in confusion. [color=aba000][b]"Did I scare you..."[/b][/color]the woman inquired, the tone of voice suggesting genuine concern and regret. Audry simply stared back, her eyebrows furrowed, her mouth agape unsure of what to say. Without prompting, the strange woman threw herself upon Audry's lap, weeping as she did so, Audry only having time to let out a small sound of confusion as the woman began her long tirade of repentance. [color=aba000][b]"I'm so sorry, miss. Please please please forgive me. I didn't mean to scare you I promise. I was just sent here to get you!"[/b][/color] Like a child, the woman kicked her feet up and down as she lay on her stomach, face down, buried in Audry's lap. Audry was lucky enough to still be clothed in the Arab's disguise she had "borrowed". Even though the pants the wetness of the woman's tears were seeping through, and she could only imagine how disgusting the feeling of skin wet from tears and whatever else was coming out of her face against her own skin would be. Audry grabbed the young woman's head, lifting her off, her face red and puffy, soaked, and more tears still coming from her. [color=00a651][b]"You're fine, you're fine. I just got a little startled, it's okay."[/b][/color] The woman sniffed as she looked at her [color=00a651][b]"What was this you were saying? You came to get me?"[/b][/color] The other simply nodded her head in agreement, not yet saying any other words. Audry tilted her own head to the side in confusion. Who would be expecting her? And most of all, where were they? [color=00a651][b]"If there's someone waiting for me, I don't think I should keep them waiting. Let's go~!"[/b][/color]. Audry let out a small smile as she said this, singing out the final part as she did so. The other woman smiled, her crying ceasing as she helped Audry to her feet. [color=00a651][b]"But if you don't mind me asking..."[/b][/color] The other woman let out an inquisitive [i]hmm?[/i] [color=00a651][b]"Where are we?"[/b][/color] [color=aba000][b]"Oh!"[/b][/color] The woman beemed with happiness as she got the question, her teeth flashing as she gave a wide smile. [color=aba000][b]"We're in Neorxnawang, silly!"[/b][/color] Audry's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. [color=00a651][b]"Neorxnawang!"[/b][/color] [hr] [center][b]BGM:[/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcf_FBbIRpM]Corridors of Time[/url][/center] [color=00a651][b]"But I don't get it,"[/b][/color] Audry spoke, biting into an apple she picked off of a tree along the walk to this mysterious host. The woman, who had informed Audry that her name was Roxanna, was enjoying an orange herself. [color=00a651][b]"I thought only dead people went to Neorxnawang?"[/b][/color] Roxanna looked back at Audry in confusion, [color=aba000][b]"Aren't you dead?"[/b][/color] Audry's eyes widened as she mulled over the possibility. [color=00a651][b]"Well, I was poisoned..."[/b][/color] Roxanna smiled at the answer, [color=aba000][b]"See! You are dead!"[/b][/color] She flashed a look of anger over to her guide. [color=00a651][b]"You shouldn't celebrate someone's death! And why do you sound so happy about that?"[/b][/color] [color=aba000][b]"It's just that I've never had anyone else come here besides me and the master.[/b][/color] No one else? Well, Audry surely wasn't the only person to have died, and this was supposed to be paradise, wasn't it? [color=00a651][b]No one? But isn't this the afterlife?[/b][/color] Roxanna shrugged , [color=aba000][b]"Maybe you're the only one who's ever been good enough to get in."[/b][/color] [color=00a651][b]"If I am, that's pretty sad."[/b][/color] Roxanna giggled. [hr] [center][b]BGM:[/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tybj0RZoGks]The Lyrist[/url][/center] Before long, the two had made their way to the final stretch of the pathway. [b][color=aba000]"There he is, the master!"[/color][/b] Roxana quickly ran over, full of glee as she went over and sat on the ground beside a figure. The cloaked individual turned himself around, and Audry's expression quickly fell into that of annoyance. It was the man from before, who had met her in the desert. [color=00a651][b]"You're Lord Odin?"[/b][/color] she remarked sarcastically. The cloaked man smiled, quickly teleporting from his location over to that of Audry. [b]"No, I can't say I am, though you'll find that I am just as capable as he is, if not more."[/b] [color=00a651][b]"So, tell me, am I dead? If I am it would be quite interesting that, if what your errand girl says is true, I'm the first person in all of history to enter into Neorxnawang."[/b][/color] [b]"Hmm, so you have not considered that you are special, perhapse even a, dare I say, [i]Chosen One[/i]"[/b] Audry smirked, [color=00a651][b]"I'm not that remarkable."[/b][/color] [b]"Oh, a modest one, aren't we?"[/b] [color=00a651][b]"No, just realistic."[/b][/color] The man laughed at that, [b]"Well, you are correct, you are not special, just conveniently useful to me. I will tell you, no you are not dead. This is a realm I created myself, existing in my own subconscious, for the purposes of secure meetings, away from a certain individual who will not be named as of yet. We weren't properly introduced in Hijaz. My name is Belthazar, though I already know who you are, Audry. That Rago character helped me out quite a bit, I must say, I was trying to pull you in here before, but you're a bit too stubborn to just pluck your mind out of that skull of yours. But when you're poisoned like that, well, you're will is just broken enough to take whatever I'd like."[/b] [color=00a651][b]"Well, Belthazar, care to explain why you felt the need to violate my cranium?"[/b][/color] [b]"Oh, It's really not too difficult or obscure, you're fighting against a certain someone who is an enemy of mine as well. A certain Emmanuel, and his henchman, Malachi. I've been wanting to get rid of them for some time, though, as I am currently,"[/b] Balthazar said, gesturing to his body, and to the artificial environment, [b]"I am a bit too sleepy to get out there. But, you will have a chance if you are able to help me out with finding my two associates?"[/b] Audry raised an eyebrow, [color=00a651][b]"Associates?"[/b][/color] [b]"Yes, you see, I was in a position of great importance long ago, and I shared this office with two others. Together, we would have enough power to help you put a permanent end to your little problem and to help you deal with its ultimate root."[/b] Ultimate Root? What was he talking about, was the False Messiah not the ultimate source of this all? [b]"My two associates are Melchior and Gaspar, they, like myself, have been placed into states of catatonia, but unlike myself, they are unable to control their mental faculties while in such a state. And so, you must help me to awaken them.[/b] [b][color=00a651]"And what if I say no?"[/color][/b] As the last word existed from Audry's mouth, she felt her own skin begin to burn like fire, as she saw her flesh bubble up like boiling water, steam rising out as the pustules on her skin burst, with blood flowing out. [b]"Well, then I simply destroy your psyche, and leave you to die, while I find someone else who will help me."[/b] Roxanna looked over at her master in concern, as he caught sight of her glance. [b]Oh fine,[/b] he sighed in displeasure as he released Audry, the blisters and wounds healing over. [b]"So will you help me?"[/b] [color=00a651][b]"It's not like you're giving me much choice..."[/b][/color] Balthazar smiled, [b]"Excellent! Well, I can tell you the locations where they sealed themselves away. You will find Gaspar in the mountains of Abyssinia, that is to say, Ethiopia."[/b] Audry groaned [b]"As for Melchior, well, he had sealed himself away in Anatolia, however, after those Ostrogoths invaded, they decided to sack and raid his tomb, and well, they traded him off to some barbarian tribe, the Franks I believe they are called."[/b] Audry groaned again. [b]"I suggest you take to it as soon as possible. Now, go back to your companions and inform them of what you will be doing after you deal with that little Mecca problem."[/b] [color=aba000][b]"Bye Audry!",[/b][/color] Roxanna shouted out innocently as Balthazar snapped his fingers, and Audry's vision went to black. [hr] Audry awoke to the horrible feeling of total fatigue. Everything was back, and she wasn't even able to feel anything around her. It would be a while before she was back at her full faculties.