|
Qualis: Shadows of Genus Chapter Two: The Second Piece A loud growl from an ‘unknown’ source left the market place with an uneasy atmosphere. Daeual had realized Naoko’s stomach was the source, but many of the merchants and traders had yet to figure that out. She would scamper ahead, leaving people looking around cluelessly for the source. Several times people would look to the sky and remark that it was looking a little cloudy, perhaps a thunderstorm was brewing. Daeual adjusted his cloak's hood over his head to better cover his face. He didn’t like being in public areas with so many questionable characters dealing and trading. He knew most of them who were from the city, but people from other areas were strangers to him. With this weekend being the time where so many high ranking people were gathered; he worried if anything was planned against them all. The thought of another brush with death in such a short time period wasn’t the most pleasant thought. The pain in his back was gone now thanks to Averi, but a dull aching reminder passed though him. As usual, the central market was elbow-to-elbow, push-your-way-though, filled. It was nearing mid-day so the crowds were out. Nearly every race known to the province was around. Taurynn, various elven types, Gnomes, Halflings, Humans, and a few others. The occasional nekomimi female dressed up by their ‘owners’ could be seen guiding thought the mobs with ease. Not all captured nekomimi were hell against their will, though. Some, though few, were well treated and cared for, and didn’t mind being ‘pets’. The humans who looked after them were often laughed at for being the nekomimi’s pet. Anything the cat wanted, they had a way to outsmart the lesser intelligent human to buy for them. “Dae-miiyuuuu” Naoko whined, tugging on his sleeve. “I need fishie…” He looked down at her crouching on the ground holding her stomach. He noted the direct request for ‘fishie’, while there was a stand nearby selling fresh baked fish. The smell of the stand was all he could make out, the amount of people were blocking out any visual connection to it. The many conversations were also blocking out the calls of the merchants yelling out their products and deals they were offering. “Why fish, isn’t there something else you’d like?” He was hoping to hold off having to buy anything until he found Surinya. A passerby’s gossip had caught Daeual’s ear a short time before. The news seemed to indicate ‘that elven cleric at the south gate’ was near the town square not long ago. He suspected she was doing a service in name of her goddess by helping people in need. A god's powers were proportionate to the amount of followers they had, so clerics were almost seen like salesmen to some people, unwelcomed. Humans especially disliked healers from other races. The forms of magical healing done on Qualis weren't unique to the moon, however there was no written recognition of there ever having been clerics on Genus, or much magic at all until its downfall for that matter. Even to this day, Daeual couldn't think of a single human cleric who followed the human gods. Another growl, louder than before, rumbled through the crowd. Naoko scampered behind Daeual. “Anything is fine… I can wait a lil more…” she was embarrassed by the noise drawing attention to her. The tattered clothes she’d come with had since been replaced, making her less of a target for people to stare. Daeual had rummaged through the house, knowing many older clothes left from previous owners and guest were often placed in guest room closets. There were few items made to fit a small, lanky nekomimi but he’d managed to find a pale-purple dress, presumably from a child, which fit her nicely. They continued through the crowd, finally passing the traffic congested area. It was now possible to see the stands and merchants as well as the road. Not far ahead was the central fountain, a pure silver and gold set of statues. Composed of 3 people, the high elven man in the middle holding a staff high in the air was the first Kaeshiar of Genovra. The two on either side of him, a human man and taurynn woman were the co-founders who helped fortify the alliance between the cities of Genovra Province as well as the races. The only item which wasn’t made of silver or gold was a simple ruby egg like shape. The item was the top of the Kaeshiar’s staff. Pure silver blue water poured down from it spraying light rain over nearby people when there was a breeze. The fountain’s water was blessed and holy, making most people view the rain as a blessing rather than an annoyance. Several people treated the fountain as a church, coming to pray or ask forgiveness for crimes. It was believed by many elves the central figure was a son of their god, Lucaitus, bringing his father’s message of peace to the land. Several performers were present, as was typical of every day life. However some of them seemed more interested in watching something else, while others appeared annoyed at the lack of an audience. A small gathering was rapidly growing around the fountain. People were stretching to see over each other, the smaller races squeezing past the larger ones, to see what was happening. Daeual knew the big attraction they all wanted to see was Surinya working her magic. Mystic elves were normally a very reclusive race, except for their kinder cleric. He stopped behind the crowd waiting to see if he could catch a glimpse of her, or get her attention without having to send to her. If there were any psions in the area, especially Astral Elves, they would possibly be able to pick up the sending, making him paranoid of any type of communications. A small jet of magic sparkle shot into the air from the fountain side making many of the people clap and begin to chatter with the person nearest to them. Daeual was able to catch a glimpse of Surinya holding a small human child who looked awestruck. The child’s mouth hung open while looking at their own hands. His lips looked as if he said ‘How did I do that?’ But the crowd’s rumble was too hard to tell. It was clear she was too busy playing with the children to notice anyone in the crowd. Daeual looked down to where Naoko had been standing with him, but she was gone. He assumed she went back to the fish monger, and then realized she had no money. His hand reached for the sac which had been tightly tied to his belt. Gone. His eyes blanked for a moment, the cat had removed it so carefully he didn’t even feel it? ‘Surinya’ It was time to stop being paranoid and catch her attention. He’d deal with the money loss later. He knew Naoko would come back to him or Surinya, it was either that or be thrown back in a holding cell if a guard found her lose again. Surinya stood abruptly, still holding the child; she placed him on the fountain’s edge and kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry everyone, I’ll be back later.” She said over their voices. The gathered people began to disperse, the bards, dancers, and other showmen resumed their acts, catching people’s attention now with their songs and tricks. Surinya swiftly made her way towards Daeual, he could see something was bothering her though. With no warning, she grabbed his sleeve; hurrying, pulling him along. He didn’t ask why, he knew it was because of people watching, and some of those people likely working for Jemai’yu. She guided him into the remaining crowds and finally into an alleyway. She flattened her back to the wall looking around the corner to see if anyone had seen them. “You shouldn’t be trying to talk to me.” She warned in a hushed yell. She turned to face him, her face showed how worried she was. “Didn’t Nao tell you? Jemai has people out there making sure no one lays a hand on me in any way he wouldn’t approve of. And you know how he feels ab-“ The world seemed to stop for a moment. Daeual didn’t believe he had worked up the guts to do it, but he had. He silenced Surinya with a kiss. Not only silenced, her eyes became a blank stare, her body unmoving. He slid a hand around her side, holding her close while his other hand reached up to caress her blushing cheeks. He pressed his lips to hers once more before pulling her tightly to him, both arms now around her waist. Tension slowly left her body; she rested her head on his shoulder. She was still dazed but able to speak. “Don’t do that again…” She pushed him away and turned her back to him. “You know why.” “I’ve no regrets.” Daeual’s voice was firm but his heart was pounding like a hunted animal. If Jemai’yu knew what had happened Daeual would be slaughtered on sight, witnesses present or not. “I only pulled you aside to warn you, you know.” Her voice shook as she spoke. “Naoko was late, wasn’t she? I saw her in the crowd and knew you were near. I was ignoring you for your own safety...” Tears were streaming from her eyes, she turned back to face Daeual. “Even since that letter was written things have changed. Jemai’yu is here in Genovra, he’s just in hiding. He brought a full army worth of guards with him but they’re not in the city. He knew there was no way to conceal them inside the city walls. They’re camped outside the city limits within the forests. “Genovra has the next artifact he needs. And he’s going to take it by for-” She swiftly moved forward, pulling Daeual down next to the ground with her. A soft whisper passed her lips. Daeual felt a small surge of magic but was unable to see the effect. She placed a hand over his mouth and held his head from moving about. A shadow began to pass over them without any apparent source causing it. He realized someone was nearby possibly using magical means to conceal themselves. Surinya likely had cast an illusion stronger than the one being used by the nearby person to conceal herself and Daeual. He realized his suspicions were correct. Her voice came from the end of the alleyway where a perfect illusionary copy of her was now standing. “He was trying to find me, I had to run.” The illusion said to the invisible stranger. Daeual watched closely. Surinya was able to see the person because of her knowledge in illusions. Her mind was too powerful against illusionary magic to be tricked by the spells easily. Daeual attempted to focus his eyes where her illusion was looking, however he couldn’t break past his mind telling him nothing was there. Fortunately for him, the cloaked figure unveiled himself. He had been wearing a cloak of invisibility, with a very strong spell placed within it. The man was a taurynn male, a very large and very strong looking one at that. Daeual recognized him as one of Jemai’yu’s personal body guards, Yokaiu. The old Taurynn was missing his right eye, and part of his left horns. The battle wounds made him look more frightening than the overall size and hunched posture he had. His hair was black with greying patches, very short, and cut to the same length as his fur. Even his roan red fur was greying, showing his age. Most Taurynn never lived long enough to even begin to turn grey due to their passive-aggressive tenancies. Many were known to pick the wrong battle and end up dead. “You should be careful, m’lady.” Yokaiu bowed and spoke gently as his deep gruff voice could. Something was in his mouth, he was chewing. He stepped forward to the illusionary Surinya with his bull-like ears twitching. He seemed to notice a sound Daeual couldn’t make out or perhaps and error in sound with Surinya’s illusion. “Weren’t you talking to someone?” His nostrils were flared out sniffing the air. “To Naoko,” she smiled. “She got lost trying to chase me here; she was lonely at the castle. You scared her though, she heard you coming.” “Is that so…” Yokaiu snorted, a small puff of smoke dispersed around his face. “M’Lord’s been looking for you. ‘E doesn’t want you wandering around alone out here. Y’know, in your condition and all…” A devious smirk crossed the old bull’s face making Daeual’s blood run cold. “I’ll go to him soon,” Daeual felt the real Surinya moving slowly while Yokaiu’s attention was shifted. She was slowly standing and moving towards the illusionary version of herself, keeping close watch on Yokaiu. ‘Go, now, RUN away before he can catch you.’ The distress in her send couldn’t be clearer; the bull knew something was up. By sound and by smell, something was giving them away. Daeual had done more than enough running for one day but it was obvious he’d have to at least once more. Yokaiu was lifting the side of his non-illusionary cloak, his hand slowly withdrawing the sword from the sheath concealed beneath his clothing. Rocks flew off the ground as Daeual began to run; he knew that blade was going to be swinging in his direction any moment. Thoughts of a spell to use to slow or halt the overpowered beast quickly passed though his mind. He concealed his ability to cast magic from most people, telling them he was just a humble priest, without any magical or combat skills. After this day though, he didn’t care if it was concealed as long as he made it away. He needed a spell without material components. Naoko had not only stolen his money but the sac with his materials as well. “Ignite!” He yelled the spell as he turned back to Yokaiu. The bull’s mouth erupted into flames; he’d been chewing tobacco Daeual realized. That was how he knew someone was near, the smoke reacting to his location. The taurynn’s sword now lay on the ground as he spit furiously trying to rid his mouth of the flaming tobacco. The howls of pain would soon draw a crowd. Fast as he could, Daeual ran off to the market area to blend into the crowds. He knew an attack on Jemai’yu’s strongest and most loyal warrior would be the beginning of a war to the end. He wished for once Averi’s nagging voice would come from over his shoulder and tell him what to do. It wouldn’t happen. He told her to keep out of his business this time; it was something he had to do on his own. Unfortunately, doing this ‘on his own’ quite possibly just condemed Genovra City. He needed to consult with the other leaders; he hoped they were still in the archives. He had a long run if he was going to get there on foot, but he knew his body couldn’t hold up that long. The only thing keeping him going was adrenalin. The rush of fear as the sword swooped down behind him, the panic knowing he left Surinya behind, not knowing what was going to happen to her. She’d lied to try to conceal him being there, Yokaiu would have realized that by now. The one thing Daeual couldn’t understand was what did Yokaiu mean when he said Surinya had a condition? Had something happened to her because of Jemai’yu he wondered. The expression Yokaiu had done still made Daeual’s blood freeze when he thought of it, but didn’t give him any clues as to what it was. His pace slowed as the mobs of people began to thicken. It wasn’t nearly as crowded as it had been earlier. Most people had gotten the items they needed for their lunch and returned to their homes or to work. Naoko was likely still among the market crowds, he thought. He hoped she was, he wanted to be with someone, even if it was a thieving nekomimi. The familiar fish smell began to fill his senses as he walked. This time he was able to see the stand where the fish seller was. Naoko was perched on the edge of his display with a large, freshly cooked fish, gnawing away at it. The vender was screaming loudly about ‘fish so good even the nekomimi can’t resist’. Daeual never knew the cats to be picky eaters when it came to fish, so he wasn't so sure that slogan was a good idea. All Type of local and a few exotic fish were laid out, fresh and cooked variations. A sign hung from the stand saying ‘You pick it, I cook it”. Daeual wasn’t normally in the market during the busy times so he wasn’t sure if the stand was frequently available. He stepped up to the stand, Naoko’s eyes were locked on him but she continued feasting. A collection of fish bones, from her previous fishy victims, were beginning to pile up at her side. A vision of his money floating away passed Daeual’s thoughts, he never knew nekomimi were such heavy eaters. Perhaps that was something Surinya had written in her letter that Naoko made him skip. “Dae’l-miyuuu!” Naoko purred, she finished her last fish and threw the bones into the pile. “Are you done talking already? I thought you wouldn’t mind I borrowed money, you promised food. ~” Daeual noted the money and spell component sacs were sitting on her lap, as well as she had acquired a belt and bag for herself. He sighed and pointed to them. “Give those to me please, and come along.” He rubbed his forehead; he could feel a headache coming. Not only from Naoko’s dense nature but the excessive amount of running he’d been forced to do. Naoko handed him his items as he requested. Keeping the bag she had bought for herself. “Where we go?” she asked, jumping off the fish marketer’s stand. She waved back to the seller as Daeual guided her off. “I need to meet with some people,” he replied, not knowing how to explain things to her. “Just follow me.” Darkness surrounded her, the windows were covered and door locked. Surinya rubbed her arms, the air felt cold and dead in the room she was placed in. She knew this was the place Jemai’yu was hiding out, but didn’t know where he was now. Her elven vision allowed her to make out a few things in the room. It was a fully furnished room at one of the central inns. Jemai had paid off the inn keeper to keep him quiet about ‘everything’. Surinya recalled the moment clearly. She had arrived in Genovra with Jemai but he was disguised as a high elf at the time. He didn’t show his true self to the inn keeper but made sure no word of anything said by him or his body guards would leave the building. After paying a hefty sum to keep the entire first level of the inn for himself, he threatened the Halfling in keeper's life. In an instant he’d withdrawn his sword from his belt and had it pressed against the small man’s throat, barely a hair’s width from his skin. The frightened cry he made gave Surinya shivers down her spine. She had tried to step forward and stop Jemai only to be thrown back by one of Jemai’s guards. When pushed, Surinya had injured her arm from the impact of landing. The guard, however, was now dead. The large taurynn, Kaumau; Yokaui’s younger brother, was struck down by Jemai for injuring his beloved wife. She was fortunate enough to not witness the entire murder. The sight of Jemai’s cold eyes, staring down heartlessly at his once trusted follower scared the life out of her. His sword pierced the bull’s heart making his death swift. The only words he spoke showed he felt no remorse. ‘No one hurts my wife and unborn child, no one.’ A click behind her startled her out of her recollection. She rubber her stomach lightly, releasing the illusion of her normal size. She was pregnant, roughly seven months along, and showing slightly. She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds behind her. The door creaked and opened slowly. She heard the sound of footsteps as someone entered. It wasn’t the sound of hooves on the hard wooden floors as had been earlier when Yokaiu brought her here. Rays of light temporarily shined into the room while the person moved inside. The light faded swiftly once the door closed. Footsteps resumed moving closer to Surinya, she knew it was Jemai from the way he was walking, a slight scuffle on the left foot fall. Yokaiu had attacked Jemai once the realization of his brother’s death set in. Jemai’s reaction was only a moment too late to the charging bull. Yokaiu’s horn missed its target, his Lord’s chest, instead grazing the side of his left leg. Jemai retaliated with an incantation which Surinya countered. She’d refused to allow Jemai’s blood rage continue. She was the only person who was ever able to calm him down. “You were with him? Why…” The darkness waived. A light began to glow nearby. Surinya opened her eyes to see Jemai pushing one of the curtains covering the windows aside. He stared out the window solemnly. His voice had no anger in it as she had expected, it sounded more as if he was concerned. His pure black skin, hair, and leather clothing made it seem as if he were a living shadow. His waist-length hair flowed slightly from a breeze passing the partially open window. The leathery ‘cloak’ around him she knew was no cloak. It was a pair of black leather dragon wings. Ironically those wings, the same wings which nearly caused his race to kill him at birth for being a 'deviation', were indirectly the reason she was also alive today. Ever since they first met, something about them seemed famliar, but so different. “I…” she stopped, not sure how to answer. He turned to face her, his blood red eyes were not his usual hard cold stare, they were soft. Never did he show any emotion beside cruelty, dominance and hate when around others, but with Surinya it was different, though she never knew why. Her gaze shifted to the floor. She inhaled to speak but the words wouldn’t come out. She couldn’t force herself to lie to her husband. “I warned him… that you are here in Genovra.” She admitted. “…And about the force outside…” Silence passed over the room. The only sounds faint noises of horses outside the inn, waiting for their riders who were inside the bar. Jemai’s sigh broke the stressing atmosphere. He looked back out the window, watching something passing by. “He came to you first? Or you to him.” His calmness amazed even her. She chewed lightly on her lower lip as she often did when nervous. “H-he came to me. I was at the fountain like I said I’d be…” She stood up, walking slowly toward him. She was curious what was outside he was watching. The curtain was thrown shut as she neared ability to see outside. Though unable to see well now that it was again dark, she could hear and feel Jemai’s movements. He walked around to behind her and placed his arms around her waist, slowly rubbing her rather pregnant tummy. “You do know I wasn’t going to hurt him, because you asked me. I only had the guard with me incase of trouble. Everything was planned to happen tomorrow while he was distracted with his little meetings.” Jemai kissed her neck softly, and then rested his chin on her shoulder. “What shall I do now, my love?” Before she was given time to reply, she was startled by his sudden movement away from her. He circled around to her front and kneeled before her, placing his ear against her stomach lightly. “Have you been over exerting yourself with magical use again?” The calmness in his voice was wavering, beginning to show mild irritation. For being a reknown tyrant, his actions around his wife would make people think he had a split personality. Ever since she became pregnant, he had become very protective and possessive of her, yet calm and caring. Surinya wasn’t about to tell him about the spell she casted to save Daeual’s life earlier that morning. She was surprised Jemai hadn’t yet heard of the news himself. However, she was preparing herself for an ear full if she told him or not. He always could tell if she was casting large spells or several small in the run of a day, her unborn child was almost like a magic meter by how lively it was. She knew she had to keep her magic use to a minimal; Mystic Elven magic relied on using small amounts of life forces from all nearby creatures. Unfortunately, the flaw to it was a pregnant caster often inadvertently used small portions of their child’s life-force. The child could recover easily with a days rest, however too large of a spell or too frequent castings had been known to cause the child’s death. Surinya was already pushing her daily limits in Genovra by keeping her illusion active so long to conceal her pregnancy. “I’ll assume you were doing as you normally do helping the less fortunate.” His annoyance faded. “Your desire to help people will be what kills you. You know that’s why I protect you.” She placed a hand on his head, playing with his hair as he listened to there child’s movements. “Perhaps I can help avoid conflict…” she said softly. “Tell me where the piece you need from Genovra is hidden. I’ll recover it for you.” Jemai slowly stood, his faintly glowing eyes locked onto hers. She knew he could see her clearly with his type of vision. His right hand caressed her cheek lightly. “Would you really bring it to me or would you take it to him?” “If you promise me no harm will come to anyone in this city then I can swear I’ll have it handed to you, my husband.” She didn’t want to be playing ‘deal with the devil’, however she also didn’t want to see more innocent people hurt as had happened under her own leadership. Jemai lifted her chin, and kissed her lips softly. “You have my word then, no harm will come to anyone once it's delivered to me.” he whispered. Scrolls laid haphazardly around the private area of the archives. Phipo busily scribbled down notes as he was translating the last scroll Daeual had been unable to previously read. Both Daeual and Myriu hung over his shoulders reading as he wrote, Shaesu had been asked to go on an errand to keep his chatty self occupied. Meanwhile, Naoko wandered about the room ‘reading’ things as well. She was jabbering to herself in nekomese, since no one else was able to understand a word of her language, it was assumed she was talking to herself. The scrolls had been an older dialect of a human language, explaining Daeual’s inability to read them. Many of the 'elders' and scholars who cared for the archives were of human decent, oblivious to the fact some non human’s ability to read older versions of their native language may occur. Unfortumately, human's life spans were very short compaired to all brances of elven races. Humans generally lived to a maximum age of 85, where the shortested lived elven race lived to be 600, aproximatedly seven full human lifespans would pass before a single elf died. “There.” Phipo said, dotting the last period and back tracking to cross an uncrossed ‘t’. “That should be the just of what this says in a more modern form.” Phipo moved aside to allow Daeual to sit and read the pages, Myriu kept her spot now looking over Daeual shoulder picking up the spot she left off once he had seated himself. “Hmmm, ‘this seems to mention locations but the names aren’t familiar to me.” Myrui commented. She reached forward to point out the part she referred to. “Some of these names look like familiar places only the spelling is different than their current day names.” She moved her finger to point out the familiar names. Daeual nodded as he followed her train of thought. “Phipo, is there any way you could translate the names to what they are currently? We may be able to use this as an advantage and warn the cities about this.” The old man placed his hand on Daeual’s shoulder and sighed heavily. “I’m afraid I can’t, m’boy. That language is much older than I am, you’d need a rather old mystic elf to help you there I’d say. They’re probably the only race which lives long enough to remember. Trouble would be finding one. You know how they are, blending in, hiding as other races as they age.” An idea struck as Daeual scratched his chin, thinking. He looked at the names and quickly scribbled them down on a new piece of paper. He neatly folded it and placed it in his pocket where Surinya's letter was still tuckd away. “I know someone who can probably help now that you mention Mystic Elf.” He trained away from his thought as he started to read again. His mind was racing, all the new info before him was too much to process all to once. Some of it contradicted old articles he read days ago. “You’re thinking of Surinya, aren’t you?” Myrui’s words were a signal to him he was about to be scolded yet again. “You can’t be around her now.” He felt like he was the only one who didn’t know anything about what happened with Surinya and Jemai’yu. Even Myrui knew what had happened. She was ready to send her own people to defend Cupa province if need be, but Surinya had denied any help, giving in to Jemai’yu’s demands. “She isn’t miserable as you’d think. He treats her well.” She added trying to reassure him. Daeual didn’t care if Surinya was treated like a goddess or a slave; he didn’t like the woman he wanted being with the person he hated the most. “Drop will you just it, please.” He slammed his hands into the table with such force the lose papers flew into the air landing out of order. He pushed Phipo back, stood up, and turned away. He held his forehead as he thought aloud. “I wasn’t thinking of Surinya. I was thinking of her father, Masaki Touka. She told me she left him in charge of Cupa while she was absent, so we know where to find him... She’s a pureblood Mystic Elf so therefore he must be as well.” “Masaki?” Phipo seemed to question the choice of people made. “I’m not very sure his memory is… Reliable.” Daeual turned just in time to catch a glimpse of Myrui and Phipo exchanging concerned looks. “Dae-miyuuuu.” Naoko’s voice came from under the table where she was reading one of the scrolls that had fallen to the ground. She crawled out with it and pointed to a section on it. There was a drawing on it of several pieces with an inscription at the bottom, ‘Flaera y Pheonos’. “These wings here,” She pointed the the upper portion of the paper where a pair of mechanical wings were sketched. “I seen these before, in Melvana, my home land. Well, Melvana is what you sillies call it, it’s Mauvainae to Nekomimi.” Daeual, Myrui, and Phipo all had the same thought stirke them. “Wasn’t Mauvainae one of the places mentioned?” Myrui asked, unable to consult the page they had due to Daeual’s emotional outbreak. “I believe so…” Phipo concured. Daeual removed the folded paper from his pocket and looked it over; indeed the name was on this list. He held it out to Naoko. “Do you know any other of these places?” She snapped the paper from him and looked at it upside down, gradually turning it around to the proper direction. They watched as she carefully looked over the listing, nodding to herself occasionally. “Lord Raishuo had this list too!” she suddenly exclaimed and clapped her hands together. “Lemme think, lemme think… hmmmm…” she paced back and forth looking at the paper again, leaving the others worried. If Jemai’yu had a copy of those names it meant he was after the items. Daeual looked over the scroll with the drawings on it Naoko had discovered. He didn’t remember looking at it too carefully before. The pictures meant nothing to him without understanding the words that went with it. “What does Flaera y Pheonos mean…” Daeual asked, noticing even Phipo hadn’t translated the words. Naoko’s ear twitched as she continued to stare at the paper. “Phoenix flames.” She replied instinctively, not even aware she spoke. “Oh, this one here,” she pointed to the name ‘Laushira’. “That’s Lokima. I overheard Lord Raishuo when eaves dropping for Lady Touka!” Just how much does she know… Daeual wondered, astonished that for such a stupid outer appearance, Naoko was a very intelligent cat. “He said he was going there to get… get…” she scratched her large white ear while thinking. “…ggeeeet…” The paper with the technical drawings was swiped from Daeual’s hands, she pointed to a cup-top object that looked wine glass with a gemmed crown trimming at the top. “That thing.” “So he’s trying to assemble the ‘Phoenix Flames’?” Phipo asked. Daeual began counting the objects on the paper. 1…2…3… hmm 6 pieces… Wait a moment… “It’s a staff.” He realized as he looked over the parts. “This,” he pointed to an egg shaped item, “looks like it can be put into the piece Naoko said Jemai’yu has. The wings attach to the bottom of that, and then this long pole piece is the handle. The other parts look to be the bottom pieces to the staff, or maybe they attach to the top area too somehow.” “Phbbbttt, you just figured that out?” Naoko rolled her eyes. “Do I have to explain everything? Too bad! I’m not allowed to! I already said too much…” Her pride quickly shrunk as she realized what she had been telling them. Daeual patted Naoko’s head, and then looked to Myrui and Phipo. “Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone.” He cautioned. “Surinya said Jemai’yu is after one of these pieces in Genovra, I need to find it and make sure it’s moved before he can get to it.” Phipo’s eyebrows rose, making his winkled forehead push up under his floppy hat. “Do you even know what piece is here in Genovra?” Daeual reclaimed the papers with the drawings and list of place names. He realized there were many more names than parts. Perhaps it was a way to throw people off, or there were more than one artifact that needed to be assembled. “The egg.” He explained, pocking the scroll and refolding parchment. “And it’s in a very obvious spot.” He dreaded the thought of running again; maybe it wasn’t necessary this time. He beckoned for Naoko to come with him. With any luck he’d be able to trick her simple mind into giving up more info she had hidden inside her. Naoko bounced to his side; her tail wagging around happily more like a dog would do than a cat. The nekomimi circled around Daeual trying to make direct eye contact. It seemed as if she could read what was going on in a person’s mind by watching their eyes, she always knew what he was feeling when she stared into his. Daeual intentionally avoided her gaze, looking straight forward as he walked down a long corridor heading outside. Shaesu was returning with an arm load of small bags and boxes, likely the late lunch, almost dinner, the other two had asked him to retrieve. Daeual was reminded of the pain in his own stomach but fought it off. The stumbling halfling tried to wave as he passed, causing him to drop one of his items. His attempt to bend over and pick it back up simply the rest fall to the ground as well. Daeual stopped, and looked back to his size impaired friend. Daeual opened the spell component sac on his hip and removed a tiny feather. He motioned for Shaesu to step back for a moment. “Oh my, um, I should really pick it up before-“ Before he could finish a circle of light slowly began to draw on the floor around the items he had dropped. Daeual released the feather and simple spoke one word. “Levitate.” The items began to float a few feet off the ground, exactly Shaesu’s carrying height. The small man applauded at the magical display and quickly began to stack the floating items and push them along again. “Thank you!” he called back, leaving Daeual to continue on his way. A small tug on his belt signaled Naoko was trying to take something from him again. He waved his hand to knock her away. The curious kitty was interested in his spell components now that she knew what it was. “Do not touch.” Daeual warned, continuing his walking. “I remember hearing stories of nekomimi and magic not mixing well. Like little kitties reading scrolls and exploding themselves.” Naoko quickly backed off following a fair distance behind him. He lied about the cats exploding themselves but needed to give her a mental image that would stick. They reached a set of tall hard wooden doors, engraved with various magical protection runes and images of magical creatures. Daeual stopped a moment to look at them in a new light. One of the images had what appeared to be a human with a staff similar to how he imagined the Flaera y Pheonos to look if it were assembled. Other images of other magical instruments such as crowns, necklaces, robes, were illustrated as well. He wondered if the staff was only one component to an entire set that was depicted before him. “Mmm, you see now don’ you…” Naoko pondered aloud. She was hovering at his side flapping her stubby feather wings as hard as she could. She was giving herself some leverage to read his eye movements. Daeual frowned, he wanted to ask her about the other items and if she knew what the drawings meant but didn’t want to stall just yet. If Jemai’yu was aware of Surinya telling about his plans he might push to get the item quicker and sneak out from the city walls before anyone was even aware. Daeual opened the doors, exiting the private are of the archives. The area was now more like a traditional library. Bookshelves lined the walls and were placed in neatly lined rows. Signs hung above listing the categories and languages of books available. He hurried down one of the rows, reaching the exit and slipping outside quietly. He realized he should alert his guards to keep tighter watch on city limits, and have lookouts for the incoming Illicitian warriors. He thought how suspicious he must look, sneaking around the town, and was puzzled why he wasn’t yet stopped by anyone even though he personally asked for tighter securities. It wasn’t his place to take everything onto himself like he was doing; other’s lives were at risk, especially now. It was his job to protect the people within his city and province. The low guard attendance was likely how Jemai’yu had managed to get in safely; it seemed almost as if the Kaeshiar’s Guard were taking his request to heighten the security for this weekend as a joke. Qypris, the send was risking interception due to distance, but Daeual had to risk it. I need you to have a lookout at all times over the forests, I’ve been alerted there may be a hostile attack impending. I need all guard you can spare on alert as well, do not make it publicly known or obvious to the citizens, we don’t need a panic. I’m attempting to defuse this issue before it gets out of hand. Daeual didn’t expect a reply. Qypris was half elven, and not very skilled in sending. He was one of Daeual’s most trusted supporters, and only living person he really thought of as a ‘close friend’ in Genovra. He knew his friend would see the importance in the message and not risk trying to reply just yet incase of information slip. The streets were now mostly bare as it began to darken. They had been in the Archives longer than he thought. The single light source of the restricted area was a large magic dome that acted like a diamond window in the top of the room, letting the suns shine down and fractioning the light so that it shone throughout the entire room evenly no mater how much sunlight was available to the outside. He looked to the sky; it was the time of year despite being warm and bright in the mornings, mid day until late evening Genus would cast a shadow over Qualis making the entire moon a pit of darkness. This was a natural tri yearly occurrence for it to happen in the warm stages of the weather. These years were always the hardest on the moon making it difficult to grow and cultivate plant life due to shortened sun exposure. He lowered his hood, letting the gentile breeze blow his hair as he walked. Naoko was at his side, the opposite one of his spell components. She was rummaging in the bag she had purchased earlier; he remembered he hadn’t yet asked her what she had bought to put in it. Now wasn’t the time to pry, he reminded himself. He kept a steady but quick pace, as he guided Naoko down a side alleyway. There was a shortcut to the middle of town he used to use to try to beat Averi when he was younger. She would bring him to the archives for his lessons then he would always want to go to the fountain to watch the performers and feel the water spray down over him. Though it was years since he did it, he remembered how hard it was back then to run there, he would almost always make himself sickly for days or weeks to a time after repeated running and over exhausting himself. He could feel the pain in his lungs still from the earlier running he’s done, most of it for reasons he now found to be stupid and selfish in retrospect. The alleys hadn’t changed much over the years, at least those in the core of the city. The metal ladders and stairs hung from several windows and building sides, most of them now rusted beyond use. The surfaces, like the bricks being cracked and crumbling, may have changed, but he could still navigate the central city, from end to end, walking, in roughly thirty-five minutes. But from archives to the fountain should only take him fifteen with this route. They exited the allies, a large building; one of the most modern looking ones within the city was now in sight. It was very new, and still partially under construction. The exterior was sleek and rounded like a dome, made from a type of stone which had been magically coloured to be semi transparent. Pillars of varying heights and widths surrounded the building and uninformed distances. Artisans had designed it quickly externally, but the design had magical meanings. Each of the Pillars represented a ‘Portal Point’. A Portal Point was a place where another building of similar design, with the same purpose, was located elsewhere on the moon which enabled teleportation to different locations. Many of the capital cities of each province already had one installed or under development as an easy way of travel. Each building allowed a connection to all the others, allowing a new form of trade and community among the moon’s races and distant regions. Many people were against the idea of having one added to Genovra, most reasons lead to paranoia of enemies storming the city. After time the idea was accepted and construction began, the only major component lacking at Genovra’s point to make it operational was a wizard of enough power to enchant the portal points and enable the permanency spells needed. The building passed his peripheral vision as they entered the last alley which would lead to the market. Naoko was on all fours now, Daeual’s pace had quickened into a light jog. He didn’t even realize it at first until the stabbing pain in his chest began. He stopped suddenly, kneeling to the ground as he doubled over, clutching his chest. The pain was nowhere near as intense than even what Naoko had done to him before. He’d never gotten pains that badly before, but the ones he suffered naturally were still excruciating. It felt as though his heart was going from a dead stop, to trying to beat free from his chest. His lungs acted as if they refused to hold air, like it was poison to them. Naoko hovered near him; he felt her hand at his shoulder lightly to get his attention. He couldn’t reply, he could barely breathe. He needed Averi. She was the only one who had ever been able to stop the pain when it struck. He had to force himself to speak no matter how bad the pain to get Naoko to go tell her. “G-get…” he gritted his teeth together attempting to inhale enough air to at least speak one word to a time. “Av-Av-eri…” Naoko wasn’t moving away from him. She was kneeling down at his side now, pulling something from her bag. He could hear her movements but the lack of oxygen from hyperventilating was starting to make him dizzy and unable to focus his eyes. Something metal, cold, and slightly damp was being placed on the back of his neck. He had no idea what the crazed cat was about to do. “Hold still…” As the words passed his ears he felt a surge of electricity pass his body. The sound of a coin falling to the ground beside him passed his left ear as his body seized up and twisted. Everything below his neck numbed. He was breathing deeper now, although still quickly. The pain had stopped… He lay on his back now, staring at the sky, Naoko looking down at him with a wire in one hand, her old collar in the other. Her wide eyes were hidden behind plastic orange-tinted ‘glasses’. Small sparks passed through the collar, the surge from it had destroyed any active circuitry in it. “Nekomimi junkies like to shock themselves for the paralyze effect the collar gives…” she explained. “It shut down all pain below your neck on a lower joltage… It only temporary, the paralyze and numbness, but it usually make all pain go away, kinda like a drunk!” If it hadn’t been for the reason she had to do it, he could almost see the pleasure potentials in it. No feeling but ability to move. He lifted his right hand and moved his arm around to ensure he was able to move. A collar packed the ability to kill a person; he was curious how Naoko knew how to calibrate the shock power. Now that he thought of it, he wondered why she had a collar at all. He knew Surinya would never have collared a nekomimi, yet Naoko was hers. The more he thought of the day's events, things weren't adding up. “Lady Touka warn me that you had problems with that sometimes.” She began to explain to him, interupting his supicions. She packed the wire and collar back into her bag, as well as various other tools which seemed to be used for human made items like the collar’s technology. “She told me you usually have Averi to help you but she ain’t here!” she seemed almost annoyed. “So, you leave to me to fix the problem.” He was thankful for Naoko’s quick thinking, but she was right about one thing. He needed Averi around almost all times because of things like what just happened. He slowly up righted himself. He would be bedridden for a week after this, giving the angel plenty of time to yell at him. Still, he idly tried to piece together why Naoko would have been collared to begin with, and why she screamed she was free when she came into the city. The Egg was close now, he needed to get it and keep it with him. Even if he were bedridden he felt safer knowing it would be in good hands, and not Jemai’yu’s. The numbness would hopefully last long enough for him to obtain the item and return home, where he would happily collapse. Bed would give him plenty of time to interally wrangle everything that was troubling him. Naoko’s ears perked up, she was listening to something. She started to say something but quickly halted and looked to the sky trying to throw Daeual off. He was now standing, and lightly leaning on the building to the left side of the alley. He was thankful he hadn’t collapsed in the middle of the town square just a few meters ahead. He could see people still gathering for small social groupings. The Alley would have been too dark for any of them to witness what had happened. Especially now that the first sun had began to be hidden by the eclipse. “What did you hear?” Daeual asked, slowly making his way to the central fountain. Soon the egg would be within sight. Naoko didn’t reply, and wasn’t following him. He looked back to where she had been standing, she was gone. He was confused what could make her run off so quickly, but would worry after he was home. He remembered she would go to his home when she was in trouble. His walking was stiff. The lack of senses was making it hard to feel his feet hitting the ground. He took a moment to try to compose himself then walked out of the alley. Several people were pointing to the fountain and talking in distressed voices. He realized many of the people around weren’t actually civilians but guards who where interrogating them about something. Was he too late… He looked to the top of the fountain as the second sun began to hide behind Genus. The red sphere atop the staff was impossible to make out with the sun shining in his eyes. He looked away waiting for the planet to hide it, leaving the skies a smoky violet. A few of the people gathered realized he was there and gathered near him trying to each tell their story of what had happened. He blocked them out as he looked again. The final sun was the only light left, allowing him to see. Guards were encouraging people who they had spoken to, to return to their homes while they pushed them back from the immobile Kaeshiar. The egg was gone. Qypris was pushing his way past the civilian crowd. He grabbed Daeual by the arm, pulling him off to the alley he had just exited from. “I don’t know what someone wants wit’ that ruby but we have worse problems.” Deaual’s stupor passed, his eyes finally moving from the spot the ruby once shone. The worry on the guard’s face made his heart sink. He’d never seen worry cross Qypris’ face unless it was an urgent, life threatening matter. “The force you warned me about, the Illicitans.” He pointed out to the western gates of the city. “They’ve been spotted outside the city, like you warned me. Who knows how long they’ve been preparing, but they’ve enough people to take out our forces and destroy the city. We need to get the people out of here, now.” |
|
 | ||
Qualis: Shadows of Genus