• Lost of Leberai




    Part lV: A Visitor




    Shakily she puts her hand to her face... water droplets... from no where... not tears... from above. Completely shocked she stares up at those gloomy clouds. Smoothly these rare droplets flow down her face onto her lips. Their taste is exquisite, so light and sweet.

    "From whence did these jewels fall? Nigh from the Heavens."

    Unknownced to Rakashael; in those very clouds watches a circle. Her circle of friends. In the heavens no pain do you endure, but that circle weeps. They weep in sorrow for their friend.

    "How? How could we just sit and watch this? How could we walk away from this; knowing it is here?" Joe bob shivers.

    Speechlessly the others stare down at the red-headed wonder.

    "My children, so much sorrow beholds you. What troubles you so?" Gently the God questions.

    "Our friend... down there... how could I let this happen?" Tanya begins to cry.

    "There, there my precious ones. Your companion is contented to know that you are all happy. It was by her free will that her soul be sacrificed for your cause. Besides... I have plans for her still." Instantly reassured by that kind touch, the circle disperses to enjoy the Heavens.

    Meanwhile, down below, Rakashael struggles to keep this moment. Soon, however, that familiar energy creeps up from behind her. Slowly she turns to see Amoranth.

    Biting her lower lip, Rakashael holds back her anger, "W-why did you... transform like that?"

    Expressionless, Amoranth gazes at her silently. "You're so naive. For one so powerful... you are very weak." Immediately Rakashael's soft gaze turns into a glare.

    "Spare yourself from madness and relinquish all these petty feelings. You will soon tire of them anyway." Stoically she puts her head down. No reassuring words are spoken as Amoranth turns around coldly and leaves.

    How much further can Rakashael bury herself? Surely there is a limit to how much someone can endure. The tall burly figure of a man strolls the hills of Leberai. Amoranth, as we understand him, is the leader of Leberai. He has been here the longest. No one knows quite how long, or what he used to look like. Everyone knows Amoranth is a force to be reckoned with; his ability to command respect without a word, and strike great fear into any one's heart with a simple glare. However, no one knows exactly how powerful he is. Many would describe Amoranth's personality as cold, hostile, and strict. Describing him as that is untrue; Amoranth lacks personality. He has no heart to bleed for anyone; he may as well become a demon. He is not cruel, he would never strike unprovoked, but he is not even close to kind. Emotionless and eerily calm, Amoranth only ever seems angry; but isn't. His mind is an impenetrable fortress; not even Hallendria dares to guess his thoughts. The energy he emits is overwhelmingly powerful. Some believe that Amoranth's aura feeds Leberai's gloomy atmosphere. As a result of being here so long, Amoranth's past is particularly mysterious. No one knows what world he hails from. It seems Amoranth is in deep thought as he stops at the top of a hill. In his eyes... is that.. sadness?

    "Master Amoranth!" Very irritated Amoranth glares up at the one who interrupted his thoughts: Guilderek and Rekuro.

    "There is, at the Latoropai Well, someone who wishes to speak with you.",

    "So you left your post unguarded?!" Instantly Guilderek and Rekuro fall to their knees spouting apologies.

    Whilst Amoranth deals with with his unintelligible guards; Rakashael by chance comes upon the Latoropai Well. Cautiously she looks around to see no one is at this post. Shrugging, Rakashael takes over the guarding of the well.

    "Rakashael..." Whispers a voice from inside the well.

    Swiftly she turns and looks down the well.

    "Who goes there?" The green-eyed guard asks.

    "I've come to speak with Amoranth. It is urgent." Replies the voice.

    "Aye, you've stated your business, but who are you to speak with him?" Suspiciously she questions.

    "If you must know... I am called Kukunochi."

    Swiftly taken aback, Rakshael stares down the well, "Reveal yourself and I shall fetch Lord Amoranth."

    Gently she touches a small stone on the well and whispers, "Erifen." The bottom of the well is illuminated to reveal a charming creature in a vest and a bowler hat.

    "How am I to know you are Kukunochi?" Rakashael nervously asks.

    "How else would I know your name love?" Her eyes narrow and she tries to disregard his words.

    She believes that this creature is indeed who he claims to be: Kukunochi, the Forest God.

    "I shall send a rope down for you. Then I shall take you to Lord Amoranth." Nodding Kukunochi sits upon the golden rope Rakashael has cast down.

    She is having a bit of trouble pulling him up. Then a dark, shadowy hand takes hold of the rope as well. Rakashael turns her head to see Amoranth. He easily pulls Kukunochi to the brim of the well. With Amoranth is Guilderek and Rekuro with their heads down.

    "Welcome Kukunochi-sama, come, shall we discuss?" Amoranth gently ushers the forest god down the path.

    Softly Amoranth turns to her, "Thank you Rakashael."

    Deeply he gazes at into her eyes. She gazes back; a rare thing for her. In his eyes she begins to melt; he turns and walks away with Kukunochi. Rakashael seems frozen,

    "Wh-what is this?" She thinks to herself.

    Upon her cheek, a sensation unlike anything she's ever felt. Cold, yet warm, and tingling... did he... caress her?

    "You're pathetic and weak." Suddenly taken from her daze; Rakashael looks at Guilderek.

    "You couldn't even pull someone up. Sickening how they ever let you become a guard."

    Calmly Rakashael glares at him, "It wasn't I who left my post unguarded. Nor was I incapable of raising that passenger. Lord Amoranth's aid was kind, but unnecessary." Then she walks off,

    "You're weak Rakashael! Weak!" Guilderek yells in frustration.

    As Guilderek and Rekuro grumble to themselves; Amoranth and Kukunochi walk to the Mead Hall in the south of Leberai.

    "From what I understand, their was a battle the other day?",

    "That is correct Kukunochi-sama; we suspect humans were attempting to open a portal." Amoranth and Kukunochi step into the modest hall.

    "The battle was won; as we believe, there will be at least two more attempts." Amoranth adds as him and Kukunochi sit down.

    "Let me tell you what you are to expect of these next few weeks, Amoranth. The Wall has been weakened. You see, in one of the worlds is raging a war. So desperate has this world become that is has stolen spells from shrines. Among those spells is the power to summon The Twelve."

    Amoranth becomes still. "The Twelve? Do you honestly think that they would be powerful enough?",

    "If they can get hold of the proper creatures. Something tells me that Leberai will soon become a very dangerous place. You are best to bulk up your guards."

    For a moment all is silent. "May I have a look at your guards, Amoranth?" Kukunochi requests.

    Nodding, Amoranth summons Hallendria, "Gather the Selegania, close all the portals. Tell them to meet at the Enilai."

    Bowing, Hallendria goes to Guilderek at the Latoropai Well. "Go thee to the Enilai. Before ye do, goeth and find Rakashael; bringeth her with ye."

    Swiftly Hallendria moves her hand over the well, "Esolcai eth Latoropai. Ekamae ti efasai." She utters; the well's mouth is then covered with a black boulder.

    Hallendria leaves to tell the others. Still disgruntled, Guilderek beckons Rekuro with him. They go straight to the Enilai, and make no effort to tell Rakashael. Meanwhile, Rakashael perches at the Northern edge of Leberai. Her hand is to her face, where Amoranth touched her.

    "Why, did he do that? What was that in his eyes?" She rests her head on her knees,

    "My pain... it... its... I don't understand this. I don't understand this at all." The gentle breeze freezes her heart.

    Whilst Rakashael gazes emptily out onto the worlds, the rest of the guards line up on the Enilai; the meeting square.

    "These are my troops. Selegania! This is Kukunochi: Kami no Mori."

    Everyone bows as Kukunochi walks down the line. Each Selegania introduces them self,

    "Drielgala.", "Tralla.", "Atallar.",
    "Leirdala.", "Lalegadrie.", "Thigil.",
    "Remosara.", "Retemar.", "Ostilai.",
    "Hamayaden.", "Crusnic.", "Rekuro.",
    "Hallendria.", "Guilderek.", "Azmos."

    Amoranth instantly glares at the empty space,

    "Where is Rakashael?" Angrily Amoranth growls.

    He looks to Hallendria; she stares at Guilderek. Amoranth then glares viciously at Guilderek who swallows hard. Approaching Guilderek, Amoranth stares him down,

    "Where is Rakashael?",

    "M-master Amoranth... where... well, uh, you see... Rakashael didn't want to come. I tried to make her, but she just wouldn't listen. She said she was too sad and angry to even look at you."

    Swiftly Amoranth grabs Guilderek by the throat.

    "Release him Amoranth. Worry not; I should like to speak with her alone anyhow."

    Immediately Amoranth releases the trembling guard. Almost curious, Amoranth looks at Kukunochi. The noble forest god carries on to where Rakashael buries herself in painful thoughts. For once she has managed to hold a small memory, and she intends to keep Amoranth's touch. Unexpectedly, a sweet and unfamiliar energy sits next to her. She snaps her head up to see yet again someone she did not expect.