Randomness

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia’s comment was more optimistic than probable as she watched the mechanical armor power up. It wasn’t very long since she and a few of the others exited combat, and now it looked like some other magical being was engaging them. With heavy steps, the golem was steadily approaching the group. Engelbert stepped forward to intercept, and Tillius looked to be ready to intervene himself. While everyone else repositioned themselves, Fia hardly moved. She was already behind everyone. With such capable soldiers and/or ex-soldiers in the front line, Fia considered herself well protected.

However, just in case, Fia right hand was moved to rest just before her face. Holding her thumb and index finger together, she brought her hand down in front of her resting it before her abdomen. As she made this gesture, hundreds of threads barely perceptible began to weave around her figure, intertwining into a covering made of magic. Though her hand stopped at her stomach, the threads continued to weave down to her feet. With the spell finished, Fia was covered entirely in a mystical armor that barely glimmered in the crystal light.

“Well, it has the power, is awake, and is angered. Clearly, time had no concession to the elves of old.” said Fia. As she was speaking, she slowly walked to her side so that she was less in direct in the golem’s current path. Her hand drifted to her shoulder bag. She slipped her hand under the flap. From underneath, the fabric rustled as the glass ball contained inside once again was exposed to the air outside. Floating slowly, the starburst orb eventually came to rest near her right forearm, following it as she moved her arm back in front of her.

Fia lifted her left arm. At the same time, the starburst within her glass sphere started to glow a dark orange. Perhaps if she created a pitfall of sorts? Fia’s gaze quickly went over to Tillius and Engelbert, and the infrastructure. She thought better not risk a collapse. Instead, the sphere glowed light blue with off white highlight. “Carefully, darlings. I’m going to immobilize it.” said Fia. The glass sphere transferred sides from her right to her left, as her right hand seemingly threw a crystal shard of magic at the floor beneath the golem. Much like her pillar of light from before, this one would spawn a column of ice. The ice would attempt to envelope anything above it like an animal frozen within a glacier. She then prepared another. A small bit of concentrated mana forming over her right palm, readying to cast another spell of ice.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia kept pace with Carnatia as they continued on their venture. Though the phantoms remained present, they didn’t attempt another mindjack. It was an odd sort of peace. The ruins were silent, but malevolent entities still remained in the shadows just outside the reach of the lantern’s light. Whatever kept the road in pristine condition before seemed to be doing the same to the ruins. Even after so long, thin walls and trampled fences remained in the sorry state they were left since the events the phantom enlightened Fia to. In a way, it was disturbing to see such ancient evidence of long lost history continue to tell its tale.

Fia turned her head to Carnatia as they walked. “I have to speak with him, huh? Given how little he has said through your persistence, I might have better luck waking the ent again.” Fia sighed. They continued their journey in relative silence. Despite the respite Vesemir mentioned, they seemed to be on guard in case the phantoms attempted to envelope them again. Knowing the last time Fia fell into their influence, Fia was especially careful to not stare at any of the shifting shadows.

It was only a bit, but the group had arrived at the municipal building. Everything seemed to be smooth sailing once they were inside. Everything was eerily preserved and quiet. No surprises there. Fia looked down the hall leading to the archives. She really didn’t expect to see anything, but she was curious to see whether it lead to another staircase. Perhaps another underground area. Fia followed the group north and soon they were within the library.

While everyone observed the armored construct near the door by the hall, Fia wandered closer to a bookcase, carefully examining their conditions. After so many years, Fia expected the books to have deteriorated to the point of being unreadable, if in tact at all. Maybe like the road and building, the books survived the test of time.

Fia looked up at the ceiling as the crystal lamps reflected the lantern’s light, illuminating the room entirely. She blinked her eyes a little as light pushed back the darkness they waded throughout the night. Her gaze followed the handle down to Vesemir and then to the few others talking about the golem. Fia wandered close as Gray Flame asked a question involving golems. Fia looked at the armored figure, the crystalline eye inside the helm. Motionless as it was, it was imposing.

“I have experience with them as well. Not exactly first hand, if I’m being honest.” said Fia, “I know this sweet kid who travels with one. It looks nothing like this though. It's pretty strong despite how it looks. If this one is as impressive as it looks compared to his, then we should be careful not to anger it, darlings.”

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia sighed as she watched the two soldiers lets out their last breath, a faint fog escaping their lips. Frozen in place, what remained of the soldiers were two sculptures of ice, blackened flesh beneath, their expressions preserved, at least only for the moment. Fia guided her orb back into her palm, magic no longer being channeled through it, and carefully stashed it into her bag. She turned to see that everyone else, including Rezello had easily dispatched their challengers. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be much harm among them. The same couldn’t be said for the soldiers. Alone, the scene was gruesome, but compared to what Fia had seen, this was nothing.

Fia’s eyes shifted as the setting shifted. The fires faded. The blood and corpses did as well. The light the group had been making their way towards brightened, as the cool evening air washed over Fia. Whatever that realm was illusory or not, it seemed she had escaped. Gray Flame and Carnatia were close, and near the lantern Engelbert. It was like she had not moved at all since entering that nightmare. Fia shifted into a more rested stance as Vesemir appeared, checking on her. It was then Fia realized how faint she was feeling. She shook her head.

“I hope you will enlighten us to what exactly that was, and why it hasn’t been dealt with when we get out of here, darling.” said Fia. She said this to no one in particular, but her posture had her facing Gray Flame and Vesemir’s general direction. Fia saw the shadows still around them, but this time those visions they shared before seemed at bay. Getting to the vault, or at least at a place where the phantom influence wouldn’t get another attempt was more important. Fia kept up with everyone as the group reformed ready to move forward.

Fia jogged a little to catch up with Carnatia. Between her, the lantern, and Gray Flame, the light flame shared between them held something familiar. “That light. What is it? How are you radiating it?”

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia’s left hand glided across her hair as it rested on her shoulder, brushing it back so that it draped behind her. Her head followed the motion guiding the strands to be out of the way. Fia let out a short but audible sigh. The two soldiers were struggling to keep their balance now. The bits of loose teeth they probably had after their tumble wouldn’t have helped either.

Fia held out her right hand, the orb resting just above her palm. The starburst within began to shift into the pale blue and off white color as Fia stared down at the struggling men. She didn’t have any sort of expression of her face, just letting her magic come together. She moved her hand in front of her and the orb glowed just slightly before two streams of centralized ice beamed out, one towards each individual soldier before her. This ice was concentrated. If the earlier cone was cold before, this ice was penetratingly frigid.

“Even if this isn’t real, I hope this brings some peace to you, darlings.” said Fia to herself. She said those words intended for the elves who suffered in the display of carnage. Fia hoped her spell would be enough to end those soldiers. She wanted to give them just a taste of what Fia witnessed in this nightmarish realm.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

With Tillius leading the way forward, it left Fia and Roxas to deal with the other soldiers as they surrounded their flanks. Fia could hear the rapid twang of Roxas’ bow behind her. So it definitely wasn’t for show. Roxas was quite skillful at not only bring a magical medic, but in combat as well. Fia didn’t doubt her ability, of course. She was glad to have such a capable ally in this weird world of non-illusions.

Trusting Roxas to watch her side of the enemy assault, Fia focused more on the soldiers that were attempting to surround her. The glass orb continues to levitate near Fia as she channeled her magic again. This time the starburst embedded inside the sphere glowed a pale blue and off white. She could see the enemy soldiers were cautious, and keeping some distance. The men were sure to keep their weapons poised.

“How rude.” Said Fia in response to their comment. Fia swiped her hand horizontally in front of her. Fia had to think quickly. She wanted to stop the soldiers but she also didn’t want to cut off Rezello and Forbann who were still behind. So as she cast her magic, a wave of pale ice flew a cone shape. If the soldiers were caught, it would freeze them in place, encasing them in frozen water. If they dodged, the ground would be covered in slippery ice, making hasty traversal hazardous. In either case, the soldiers would be halted from advancing quickly if at all. At the same time the area behind Fia was unaffected, keeping a path clear for her melee focused friends. Besides maybe a wind chill, the spell was not in the path of any of her nearby allies.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

“That’s the fierce Roxas I know.” said Fia as the elven archer broke free from Fia’s grasp. Fia couldn’t see exactly what happened, but Roxas was enveloped in a new light that brought about vigor that she wasn’t displaying before. But the elf was right, Fia could see that the phantoms started to hone in on their position. Perhaps the light that invigorated Roxas also made them known to the phantom. Fia took a step back to give both her and Roxas room. “Hear that, big guy? The party is starting.” said Fia to Tillius.

Fia started to channel her magic when an odd sensation completely different than what she was used to washed ove rher. It wasn’t exactly something she felt, but she could tell that her aura had gained a new light. Fia looked at her hands, front and back, and then around her person. All she could see were Roxas preparing her arrow, and Tillius steady his shield. Fia couldn’t see her benefactor that provided the aura of light, but she could tell it was of a similar kind to what enveloped Roxas. Fia reached to her bag and removed a glass sphere. The sphere fit in the palm of Fia’s hand comfortably, a starburst pattern inside mixed with swirls of color. A color that did not remain long. Within the starburst embedded inside, a light began to glow and soon the multiple colors that made up the starburst was pure white.

“I think we should worry more on our side, dear.” said Fia. While Roxas had eyes on the horse riding captain charging Rezello and Forbann, Fia could see the other five soldiers bearing down on the three of them. The Sphere began to float before Fia as she used her hands to craft a starburst made of light in her palms. With a flick of her wrist, the light beamed forward towards the ground in just front of the five running soldiers. It would erupt into a five foot wide column of white light. Fia attempted to time it so that by the time it erupted, the soldiers would be just over it “I wonder if we share the same flavor of light. Let’s see how effective this is at stopping our nightmarish foes.”

The soldiers were too close for comfort, and Fia hoped Tillius would reach in time in case her spell was not effective. These phantoms were still new territory. They were not like the djinn or the elves she had spent years dealing with. This felt like an entirely new realm, and the extent of their power was still unknown.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

It was as much as Fia expected when the talking chestnut tree remained silent. Still, Fia had some hopes it would speak again. Fia waited for Carnatia to leave before the sorceress finished collected the remaining ingredients the ent graciously allowed her to gather. A couple small pouches and a vial of sap were safely tucked away in her bag before she trotted over to the others. Despite half listening to the others, Fia was able to pick up on part of the mission. There was a library and a vault some other caster had processed. That probably contained the artifact Vesemir was after. When that was done, Fia rested by the fire in camp, awaiting to leave for Lasse later that evening.

What exactly the phantom was never came up. And the only information they received was to not look at it. Do not touch it. The vagueness of the fate of Lasse and the ominous tone of the advice made for a sinister image in Fia’s mind. The outcome of that war over a millennia ago would have normally been erased by now. Eaten by the forest and the earth. If its past still haunted those ruins still today, Fia could not imagine further.

As the darkness fell over the expedition, there was some shadows that poked through the light. Like a haze, the horrible aura of a war long ended crept up on Fia. Don’t look at the phantom. A warning that was unlikely to succeed. The light from the lantern was ever present, but the ruin of Lasse and the phantom that beckoned was overbearing. Fia’s eyes could not help but wander. Even if her gaze were to graze these phantoms, her mind was pulled. Images of brutal acts done upon those still trapped in the city assaulted Fia’s eyes. This was more than just looting, warmongers taking their share. The soldiers took great pleasure in the carnage they wrought.

“How cruel.” Fia whispered. The sorceress was losing sight of the lantern. Not purely because she stopped paying attention to it, but because she grew ever curious as to the events unfolding before her. “So this is the darkness that masked elf was warning about. A window into the fate of Lasse, and a display of the atrocities these people endured. Fia stopped moving, fixated on the scene. Gleeful soldiers hoisting up the dead, and the yet living in an obscene show of brutality.

Fia’s hands clenched. These images. They were more than illusions. If these were the shadows of the people who actually lived through the time, they’ve been suffering endlessly for centuries. Souls unable to escape their torment, and their captors still relishing in their barbarity. A dark mist started to condense around her fists. Maybe there was a way to free them. As far as Fia could fathom, the only reason no one else has was because of how secluded the twilight lands became after that war. It was almost like the elves just planned to forget Lasse existed, damning their kin. Fia’s eyes gazed over to where the light still pierced through the darkness, shining the way out of the reliving nightmare. Then again, maybe they did try, and were unable to end the torment. Gray Flame, as enigmatic as he, was familiar of twilight lands. This probably was not his first venture into the land. Optimistically, Fia thought that perhaps that elf also considered a means to dispelling this nightmare.

Fia was brought out of her thoughts when Tillius shouted out. His voice boomed with short and concise instruction. Fia remembered that there were others. Tillius was probably aware of what was going on as well. Fia also saw Roxas who seemed to be taking in the sight worse than either of them. Fia watched as the arrow the elven healer had was loosed, ricocheting back into its agent. Fia immediately sprinted over, the dark magic dissipating from her hands.

“Are you alright, darling?” Fia asked. As the sorceress approached, Roxas was tossing away the fletched end of her arrow. Fia stood next to Roxas, one arm reached around the elf’s back. Both her hands gripped Roxas’ shoulders. “We should get you out of here.” Fia looked up at the tree. As much as Tillius’ blocked the view in front of him, he couldn't block it all. Everywhere they looked had evidence of horrors long past. “We should all get out of here. Where is that light? We need to get to Vesemir’s light.” Fia swiveled her head to look about. She didn’t see Carnatia or Nanashi. Hopefully that was a sign they made it out and were with the other elves.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia eyes lit up when the ent didn’t object to Fia’s request. Remover her knife, Fia went to work carving off bits of bark. No guarantee any of the materials she was gathering would do anything in her alchemy, but there was only one way to find out. She was so engrossed in what she was doing, she barely payed any attention to Carnatia or Gray as they continued to speak. The bark, and seeds were easy to collect. But if anything contained the power of such a entity would be it’s blood. Or in the case of the tree, sap. It was getting darker, and canopy of the forest continuously blocked the sun, but Fia knew it would still be hours before it became truly dark. She was not worried about time.

After a short time, Carnatia returned to the tree. Fia was behind it at the time, slowly carving out a means of pulling sap. It was the last thing she was collecting, so as it slowly budded at the surface of the tree, Fia noticed Carnatia’s return. Fia stood up from where she was kneeling, dusting off her knees and the front of her dress.

“I guess it was wishful thinking to hope you came to see me.” said Fia with a smile. She walked around the tree to meet Carnatia. “I’m just waiting for now for the sap to become thick enough to collect. It sounded tired before, so I don’t know if you can get it to answer, but I would love to listen to it speak again.” Fia could only guess that Carnatia was going to speak with the ent again. What and why she couldn’t guess, but Fia was truthful in wanting to hear it speak. Fia listened as Carnatia asked the tree the questions. Beyond the supposed phantom, Fia didn’t know what could be waiting for them within the city. Those were some pretty valid questions, and given the supposed reach the ents had from among the roots of the forest, seemed very likely to know. Assuming the ent would awaken again to answer.

“Perhaps you could explain this phantom.” added Fia to the end of Carnatia’s questions. Fia did’t hear the explanations from Vesemir or Gray Flame. And since Carnatia was here asking the ent, Fia imagined that not much useful was said when she went back to the other earlier, either.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia watched Carnatia leave with a sideways glance. Her lips curled slightly as she returned her focus to the map. Between Carnatia and Forbann, Fia felt that she would get something from this adventure. At least the endeavor was going to be entertaining. Fia waited patiently for her time in the bath, having a chance for her clothes to properly dry before the next leg of the journey.

The next morning, clothes dry enough to travel, Fia waited as the caravan was prepared to leave again. The horses were guided from the stable to be mounted to the wagons, and the helping hands packed up what was removed for comfort within the house. Fia walked to Roxas as she offered her bag, placing her hands upon the elf’s. Fia told Roxas that it was okay, that no one suspected her of such, and there was no need to go so far. At the same time, Fia noticed that Carnatia went up the stairs some time after Roxas descended.

For the couple days they traveled from the abandoned homestead, Fia rode with the others in the wagons, watching as the prairies turned into woods. The lingering clouds from the storm still floating in the air, white and fluffy. The air tasted clean as the smell of the fallen rain wafted through Fia’s nose. Her eyes were closed as Roxas played the flute. It looked like the elf’s mood shifted since that night, seeming much more calm and pleased with herself. If not the flute, then it was whittling away at some scraps of wood. Fia graciously accepted a one to one likeness of her hairpin.

“Thank you, darling. It’s lovely.” Fia tucked the charm away in her bag, careful not to put it somewhere it could not be broken. Fia returned to admiring the scenery and she spoke with Forbann about this and that. Mainly focusing on him as he walked next to the cart the few times he wasn’t riding.

As the hours passed, Fia noticed the roads were surprisingly well maintained. She would have expected some erosion or decay after so many years. Actually, she would have expected them to have been eroded beyond use. Even if there were small expeditions inside the lands of twilight, sanctioned or otherwise, there was no one really capable of maintaining them for so long. It was small, but it helped convey some of the mystery the twilight lands could contain.

Nearing dusk the group had finally slowed to a stop. They were prepared to make camp when their patron Vesemir was excited to continue onto the first ruined city not that much farther. Fia spent most of the time relaxing in the wagon, if not napping in it so she was ready to go further despite some questions from the others. She stayed with the others as Carnatia and Gray went off on their own to investigate the trees. To be honest, Fia barely minded the trees themselves, keeping her attention with Forbann, or listening to Roxas’ flute.

It was only a matter of time. In the land barely more than a day, and the group found something marvelous. The tree Carnatia was examining turned out to be sentient. It wasn’t a tree, and it wasn’t an elf in disguise. It was something genuinely mythical. Fia got up and swiftly made her way over as soon as it became known to some of the others Carnatia’s discovery.

“Oh. How lovely.” said Fia as her eyes gazed over every inch of the speaking tree, “I’ve heard of the ents, but was never able to find one. A create so in tune with the forest, can guide people with their roots. Helped lead the evacuation leaving the land free from further influence from the elves.” Fia walked closer, even resting her hand upon the bark of the tree, “Would it be possible for me to have some of your bark? Perhaps even a vial of sap?” Fia continued to fawn over the tree, wishing to harvest different parts of it short of cutting it down.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia stood close to Forbann as the others continued conversing, awaiting his answer. Though the seriousness of her proposal could be questioned, it seemed to have made at least one of the others blush. Fia turned her head to look back at the noble knight. Seeing the young woman flustered, Fia couldn’t help but slowly smile.

“Are you perhaps a little envious, my dear Carnatia?” said Fia coyly. Fia continued to smile at the orange haired spellsword, tilting her head as though adding pressure. Fia’s turned to look again when Forbann shifted and spoke up. Using pure logic, Forbann turned down Fia’s request. Fia looked up at the ferromancer and frowned, but it didn’t seem to affect Forbann’s attitude toward the situation in general. Fia took a step back,

“I guess there isn’t a way around it,” sighed Fia. “I’ve had my time in the rain. I think I would rather wait for the bath. At least our silent fellow will replace the hot water, won’t you dear?” said Fia, raising her voice so that the man who initially offered the bath could hear. Fia walked around the table towards the spellsword who took Fia’s place in line for the bath. She reached out and rested her index finger and thumb under Carnatia’s chin and cheek, pulling the two of them closer. “If size is the issue, then perhaps we two would be a better match.” Fia looked into Carnatia’s eyes for several seconds. Before long, Fia cracked a smile and her eyes closed shut as she chuckled. She pulled back dramatically and sat down onto one of the loose chairs strewn around the table. Fia moved one of her hairs that got stuck on her face out of the way.

“Go ahead dear. I don’t mind waiting a bit longer. Just so long as the water is hot when it’s my turn.” said Fia sweetly with a smile. Fia then turned in the chair to look at the map ahead on the table, void of trinkets but instead replaced with a pouch of coins. A detour? Fia wondered to herself what was in these places mentioned. Did something in the house reveal a need to venture further south?