VG Rumble

Oh he's certainly coming back. I just think he needs a situation where he can feel good about himself again.

Raven

"If you ever change your mind..." Raven smiled sadly as she dismounted her horse long enough to reach up and hug Warren.

"Goodbye, Warren. Don't forget us," Karana urged.

"I wont," Warren promised.

"Good luck," Ilum added, as they shook hands and then Izuki spoke softly -

"You'll always be a hero, even if you're not a God." Warren clearly didn't know how to respond but he smiled at the girl and waved as the group turned their horses once more and rode out of sight.

"Do you think he'll be okay on his own?" Raven wondered.

"I think he'll be fine," Luke replied.

(Just because I want the story to move on, I'm going to fast-forward to when they arrive at the Mage's Guild.)

They arrived at the Mage's Guild three days later. Along the way they fought strange monsters they had never seen before. Luke concluded that it must have been due to the black sun.

The Guild was a large hall built in a clearing surrounded by a giant garden. But, just like all the rest of the plant life they had seen, it, too, was withering away.

A group of mages stopped them at the entrance. One of them asked, "What is your purpose for coming here?"

"We wish to know more about the eclipse and how to stop it," Luke told him. "We have traveled far in hopes of finding a way to stop Ethric Vanhiel's plot."

The mage's eyes widened. "This is all the Dark Knight's doing?" he asked. Luke nodded. He motioned for the other mages to take their horses. "Please, come inside."

The mage brought them to their guildmaster, an old sage with a long, white beard. Many people have heard that the guildmaster was over 100-years-old. The mage spoke to his master. "Lord Merlin, these travelers have come to seek the cause of the black sun. They say it is the Dark Knight's doing."

"Tell me what you know," Merlin said. Ilum recapped everything the Dark Knight had mentioned to him when he was captured. "I see, so the Soul Forge is real after all, and the first to find it wishes the destruction of the world..." He rubbed his beard in contemplation.

"Do you know how we can reverse what he has done?" Karana asked.

Merlin raised his hand and used magic to pull a book out of one of the many bookshelves that lined the length of the great hall. The book levitated in front of him, opening to the desired page. "Yes, here it is." The book rotated so Luke and the others could see it. There was a picture of a tall crater in a dark cavern, energy flowing out of it like a volcano. Above it was three objects, they floated within the stream of energy.

"The Dark Knight has disrupted the energy flow of the Soul Forge. Now, instead of generating life, the Soul Forge is slowly sapping life away from everything in the world."

"But, how do we return it back to the way it was?" Luke asked.

"The three objects above the Soul Forge are stones. The Sacred Azure Stone, the Sacred Burning Stone, and the Sacred Teal Stone. They are also know as the Aqualith, the Pyrolith, and the Aerolith. Each of them controls the forces of water, fire and wind. Once you find all three stones, the way to the Soul Forge will be made clear."

"Where do we find them?" Raven asked.

"The Sacred Azure Stone is at the top of Mt. Gigazet, at the top of the great waterfall that runs down the side of the mountain. The Sacred Burning Stone is in the depths of Drokonia, the great volcano island. The Sacred Teal Stone is in Wind Tower, the floating castle in the sky." The book slammed shut. "You all have traveled a long way. You may rest here and depart first thing in the morning."

*Bows down and apologises*
I'm sooo sorry for the twelve day post delay... My internet got cut off, and then my brother put a password on the computer... Then i went to this bible holiday thing... Then... okay no more excuses.

<Izuki>

I squatted down and observed the room whilst the others listened to the latest task. It was probably better that I didn't know.

There where shelves lining almost every wall. Some where packed tight with old books that I could bet held spells that I could never dream of. Others where filled with mystic objects. Somewhere near the top of one of the shelves was an ornament made like a garden gnome, its beady eyes staring down at me, nose wrinkling every so often. A green stone that looked like some form of crystal ball, guarded by small bronze knights and tiny tin soldiers. My eyes fell onto a toothbrush balancing on the end of one shelf, making me laugh slightly.

'You may rest here and depart first thing in the morning.'

'Do we get to eat?' I asked. The old man looked down as if acknowledging me for the first time. 'Do we? I haven't had a decent meal in ages.'

'No, please,' Luke said. 'We don't-'

'Please.'

'Who are you?' The old man asked.

'Izuki.' I rose to my feet and bowed as I had done a thousand times on stage. 'Acrobat extraodanaire.'

'From the Dujan circus?'

'You remember us!' I cheered.

'Perhaps you could entertain us after dinner.' The request startled me a little and excitement quickly bubbled inside me. I nodded enthusiastically.

Step one to Izuki's circus: Get audiance with well known person - complete!

(Who's turn is it to post?)

*I guess I will. I haven't posted in a while...

Karana and Ilum exchanged glances, and Karana shook her head. What was Izuki thinking?

"Think she likes her old job?" Ilum mumbled.

Karana nodded vigoroursly, stifling a giggle.

"Let's just hope this works. I'd hate to see her humilitiated!"

(I still don't have an idea of what to post right now. Kitty, you haven't posted in a bit.)

Sorry about the brief absense, my teachers currently hate me. I'm going on a nine day skiing trip tomorrow and sadly will have no internet at all so please try to keep this going. To help, here's that post I promised -

Raven

Merlin beckoned for an attending mage to come forward and I watched her advance with high respect. She was beautiful and she floated gracefully across the room, her foot-steps feather light and her silvery locks rippling with the natural current of the air. As she reached Merlin, she bowed - a rapid, fluid motion - and bent close to hear his words.

"Cerise, could you show them to some rooms? And let the cooks know they will be staying for dinner?" It was a veiled command and yet, at the same time, Cerise appeared to consider the request at length before nodding.

"Yes, a good idea," she murmured absently in a soft, airy tone. "Come travellers. Dinner is not for another hour and I'm sure you'll want to wash." I guiltily considered my rather tangled hair and rumpled clothing before nodding slightly. Cerise did not speak again as she led us up a flight of stairs, actually floating, her gown just brushing against the steps. I watched with interest as the air around her shifted a light film of dust away.

"If Warren were here, he'd call her a show off," Izuki whispered, a small smile playing across her lips. I repressed a laugh.

"Your rooms are through here," Cerise said a moment later. "Someone will bring you down for dinner. It is... not advised that you leave these quarters before then."

"Thank you, can you tell us..." Luke's words trailed off as Cerise descended the stairs, not looking back, not appearing to have heard.

"How strange. Shall we go inside then?" Karana rested her hand on the handle and cried out in alarm, pulling back but unable to free herself.

"What is it?" Ilum demanded worriedly, trying to pry her fingers from the handle.

"Stop," I said. "I can feel her. She's just around the corner... listening to us... she feels amused... this is a test perhaps?" A flicker of startlement ran through Cerise's emotions and then I experienced something I had not before - "I think she's trying to block me out."

(I can't think of anything to post right now. Man, I finally get rid of my cold and a week later it comes back...)

Karana felt Ilum's annoyance. He was trembling slightly against her, and the glare he shot down the hall was not one of mere warning.

"Ilum, it's okay. Don't get upset..." Karana told him, trying to coax him to calm down. "If she wants to play games, I'll play. Doesn't mean I'll play fair, though..."

She had let that sentence drift off on purpose. Ilum and the others stared at her, half in caution, half in amusement.

"No one messes with me without getting paid back."

I let some of my fire magic seep into the handle of the door. It wouldn't burn me, but if Cerise had some kind of control over the metal, it would burn her.

They all heard a shriek of pain from around the corner. Cerise had felt the magic, that much was certain. But she didn't release her hold on Karana's hand.

Playing hardball, are we? Karana thought as she poured more magic into the handle.

"That's enough!" Karana stopped the flow of magic as her hand suddenly let go of the door handle. Cerise came back into view. "You pass," she said.

"Pass?" Karana asked. Part of her was confused, the other part was angry.

"Please forgive me, but Merlin wish me to test you to see if you really did have the strength to succeed in this journey. I see now that I have underestimated you, miss Karana."

"Gee, thanks." Karana's voice was thick with sarcasm. Ilum gently squeezed her arm, silently begging her to behave.

Cerise looked at everyone else. "I assume if you are all traveling together, you must also be as strong, if not stronger than her."

"So, we passed the test," Luke said. "Are there anymore tests we should know about?"

Cerise shook her head. "No, I believe you are all capable of complete the journey that has been set before you, and I am sure my master would agree." She bowed. "I must leave now, preparations must be made for dinner." Cerise left them so they could wash up for dinner.

<izuki>

I could definately get used to assumptions like that.

When we finally got taken to dinner we where sat at a table with a silk tablecloth. Silk! A banquet enough to feet twenty men was set before us. Rich meats, bowls of sauces and gravy. Foreign herbs, crunchy vegetables, spices that tingled my nose. I bet if I knew the names of half of these foods, I wouldn't have been able to pronounce them anyway.

'Wait, wait!' I said as the others reached for their knives and forks (whichever of the several placed around us we where supposed to use). 'We have to say grace.'

'Since when?' Ilum asked. I shrugged and leant in to whisper.

'It's a posh place, we have to.' I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together. My father used to say grace at special times, and I thought that knowing what to say came instinctively. Dad, I wonder what he would think if he could see me now. I squinted my eyes open slightly, hoping something would come to mind. 'Luke you do it,' I decided bluntly and closed my eyes again.

Luke nodded and closed his eyes. He thought of something to say.

"God, we thank you for this bountiful meal you have placed before us, and for each other. Tomorrow we leave on a journey to protect this world you have created for us. We pray you give us your blessing so we may succeed in stopping the dark knight and returning the Soul Forge to its original state. Amen."

Everyone else echoed him, "Amen."

Luke knew that if the Soul Forge was real God didn't exist. But he kept that to himself. If this lie would help the others get through this he would let them believe it.

(All I can think of at the moment.)

*I have no idea what to write...*

(How about we just wake up the next morning and get the quest going again? Does everyone want to do that?)

How about a yes?