[IC] The Legend of La Luz Fortaleza [TheMM00s3 and PajkaNight]

[PajkaNight]

Castitas made her way to the edge of the lake, sighing sadly for a moment before trotting off back into the woods. She found the rabbit hole, it was dark and full of spiderwebs, a large black spider the size of her chest lay in the center of it's nest. She picked it up cautiously, not wanting to be bitten by it's venomous fangs, but it was an obstacle non the less. "I'm sorry for removing you from your home, but in order for you to live, you must make sacrifices..." The way the spider moved, it almost seemed like it nodded with understanding, crawling away into the bush. "Did it just-? No, I must be exhausted." She wiggled her way into the hole before eventually getting stuck. Her hips stopped her from moving further nor retracing her steps. "Damn it!" She swore out loud, not caring if it was against her holy rights. "Damn you womanhood! Damn you rabbit hole! Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!" She admitted in her head that she did feel better, but that didn't solve the problem of her current situation; her- ahem- behind was far too big.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus arrived at the lake, slamming his fist repeatedly against a tree, "Damn you father! Damn you to hell!" After a while he collected himself and sighed deeply. suddenly he noticed someone swearing aloud, when he looked around he noticed someone stuck in a rabbit hole. Markus's had a look of extreme confusion as he walked over to the individual and pulled them out of the hole, "Umm excuse me, why were you...." He went silent when he realized who it was, "Hey! What are you doing? I told you to talk to the king!" He sighed and sat down next to the lake, "Never mind, it doesn't matter anyway." The young knight stared into the water and wiped away the mix of tears and blood from his face, "Nothing matters anymore."

[PajkaNight]

"Ser Knight?" Castitas was startled, scrambling to stand up. "I left because I didn't want another city destroyed because of me!" She yelled, but her voice went soft after seeing his bloodied face. "What happened, are you alright?" She went to sit by him, ripping off a piece of her robe to wipe his blood and tears away. "It shouldn't be too bad for me to handle..." She put her hand over his wound, starting to sing a soothing song. As she sung, Markus' wound closed up, ridding itself of the pain he had felt. "I-is that better?" She gave a warm smile. "Now don't think like that, if you thought like that before, I would have been dead or- or-" She shivered, siting next to Markus to look out into the lake. "People who hurt us, want us to give up. So why would you do what they want?"

[TheMM00s3]

Markus was a bit surprised when Castitas healed his wound, placing a hand where his former wound was he spoke softly, "Yeah, thanks." The young knight was silent as the priestess talked, then responded, pain filling his voice, "I've lived so long doing what I was told, forced to be a guard dog and a pack mule. My father never stopped demanding me to live the knights life. I wasn't allowed to care for others, have friends, be a normal person. I was just the silent royal guard who never said no." His gazed dropped to the floor, "So why not do what they want? It's the only thing I'm good at.... Being a mindless slave for the powerful." He pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around his legs. He stared at the ground for a while before looking over at Castitas, "I was forced out of my home today..." He sighed deeply, "I have no where to go."

[PajkaNight]

Castitas looked Markus in the eyes, smiling. "Home is a place where you begin life, but it doesn't always mean it's a place to stay." She looked back to the rabbit hole. "I know where we can stay, at least until I get the information I need." She grabbed him by the hand, lifting him up. "We might need to dig, I'm.." She looks down to her hips. "I'm a little on the bigger side it seems." She laughs awkwardly, stepping over to the hole she previously was. The rabbit hole was small, underneath a large tree. "Through this hole, is a forest... it's dangerous to go since there're strange creatures who live there, and various booby traps... But that should be no problem for us." She smiled optimistically. "We just need a way in, I'm unfortunately not as small as I once was." She twirled her hair, embarrassed by the situation, she remembered, Markus found her in. Though he was handsome, she did not want anyone looking up her robes.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus stood there unmoved, "You don't expect me to believe you, do you?" His voice went cold, "I was just attacked by my father and kicked out of the only home I have, yet you sit here and tell me of some "forest" that lies on the other side of a rabbit hole." He shook his head, "Grow up. This isn't some game, I just lost everything I had when I was disowned by my own father. I don't have time to play with a child minded priestess." His expression turned to one of emotional pain. He was never going to have his old life again, even if it wasn't the best, it was something. "I don't want to be cheered up, I just want to go back to how things were." Markus dropped to his knees and punched the ground, tears weld up in his eyes. He continually punched the ground until he was to exhausted to even lift up his arm. He laid onto his side silently as tears streamed across his face, "I just want to have my life back."

[PajkaNight]

Castitas looked at him, almost annoyed. "Yeah, your world just fell apart when your father disowned you. How tragic." Her sarcasm was harsh. "Don't mind me, I'm just a dazed puppet of the Gods who saw everything she loved ripped to shreds, but of course 'nothing matters anymore'." She quoted dramatically walking to the rabbit hole. She started to dig with her bare hands. "I will get to the temple, I WILL solve my problems, instead of having a tantrum or being a bully."
A small green light floated from the woods around them, resting on her shoulder. "What are you doing?" It asked with a curious tone. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to get to the temple..." Castitas looked back to the little light, doing a double take. "Wah! It's a bug!" She spun around trying to look at it.
"Hold still!" The light flicked as it yelled at the priestess. "I'm going to be sick!"
"Gah! You can talk!?" Castitas' eyes were wide with shock.
"No? Really? Can I?!" The glowing bug said sarcastically, it's little face over dramatically looked surprised. "Look lady, I was tryna be nice and now you think I'm some parasite. Good day to you then!" The bug went humph and flew away through the trees.
"Wait!" Castitas called after it. "I'm sorry, I was trying to go through the rabbit hole!" She found the bug settled on an old stump with windows with curtains and a little door. The bug tapped it's little feet as it's green light faded.
Castitas gasped. "You're a fairy!"
The bugs was frustrated, growling as it screamed. "I'M A PIXIE! Fairies are bad and ugly... I know people always think it's the other way around but Pixies are good... most of the time... Well, my family is good, cus that's just how mama raised me." The pixie gave a smug look. "So sorry if I interrupted you and your husband from rolling in the dirt, but that rabbit hole is blocked off from the other side."
Castitas blushed. "He's not my husband!"
"Little quick to object, honey." The pixie raised an eyebrow.
Castitas looked back to where Markus was, hoping he didn't hear any of that. "W-Why can't we go to the other side?"
"Cus it's dangerous! Fairies, Orks, Banshees and other weirdos live there, the good ones live on this side."
"I'm trying to get to the first Temple of Light, It's urgent!" Castitas pleaded with her eyes.
The pixie rubbed it's chin, thinking for a long time in silence. "Alright... There's another way... But when you're there, you will see a creature... don't think about it, don't talk about it, don't even look at it for too long."
Castitas was slightly terrified. "Why?"
"Don't ask questions! I can't talk about it! Just do. What. I. Say. Got it?"
The pixie pointed below, without looking. A large hole appeared in the ground, leading to pitch darkness.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus watched Castitas from a distance and curiosity took over. He stood up and walked over to her, that's when he heard a second voice. He searched around when he noticed the voice came from a small glowing creature. The young knights eyes shot wide open, "Wait, you're.... you're a... Pixie! The princess use to tell me stories about pixies, but I never believed they existed." Then he realized a large hole in the ground that wasn't there before. Markus looked at the pixie, then looked at Castitas and then the hole again. "You're not planning to enter that are you?" He asked, but didn't wait for a response, "Look, I know I can be an ass and self centered, but if you are planning to go in there I'm not letting you go alone." Markus looked over at the priestess, "I don't know what the hell is going on and really I don't want you to explain, but just know that I refuse to let you go in there without protection, I will not let what happened in La Luz Fortaleza happen again." His expression changed to one of determination, "And I get it, you've been through worst then I have. I'm not the only one with problems, I'll try to remember that.... And I'm sorry, I know my problems don't matter right now."

[PajkaNight]

Castitas listened patiently to Markus, hugging him. "I'm sorry too, I didn't have to say those harsh words." She looked at him, smiling. "I'm glad you won't leave me." She looked to the pixie, he was picking his big nose as they talked but quickly wiped it on his little pants. "I guess you'll be on your way then."
Castitas smiled at him. "Yes, thank you for everything." She said before turning back to Markus."So, Ser Knight, Let's jump in!"
Castitas jumped into the hole falling on something hard. Around them was complete darkness, moist air and a terrible stench. A dot of light could be seen deeper in this cave. Castitas grabbed Markus' hand, shivering from the cold atmosphere. "Alright so there's a creature?" The moment she asked herself that, a deep growl was heard, coming from the light.
As they walked closer to the light, they saw that it was a hole leading into a forest, more like a swamp. "This is the forest as how I remember!" Castitas was excited, though it was dangerous, she had many wonderful memories here. She wandered around realizing that the trees were in a tight circle that didn't lead to anywhere, turning around to see a strange creature that wasn't there before.
It was completely white except for the fresh blood dripping from it's mouth, It had no eyes, only empty sockets looking blankly at Castitas.
She was paralyzed looking at the creature, as it opened it's jaw until it touched the ground. Within it's mouth, it showed the real forest and the temple. The more Castitas looked at it, the more it growled with anger, it's mouth still wide open.

[TheMM00s3]

Before the two jumped in Markus chuckled a bit, "Just call me Markus." When they had jumped down, he could barely see anything. He felt Castitas grab his hand and blushed a bit, luckily it was dark so it was easy to hide. Markus allowed her to guide him as they headed toward the only light they could see. When they reached the small clearing he noticed that the trees were strangely organized in such a way that they couldn't go deeper into the swap like woods. Then the knight noticed the white, eyeless creature which seemed to stare at the priestess, who was frozen staring back. The longer the young girl stared the angrier the creature seemed to get, realizing this Markus covered her eyes, "Listen, I don't know what in the Gods names that is and I don't want to see it get angry. It seems to become hostile the longer you look at it." He was trying to hide the fact that he was terrified of the situation, but it was quite noticeable through his shaking hands. "What I suggest we do, which probably sounds crazy, is enter the creatures mouth. Currently that is the only direction we can go and it seems a lot safer on the other side." He paused for a second, "Unless of coarse that is just some sort of lure tactic the thing uses to con it's prey into entering it's mouth." After awhile of thinking he spoke again, "What do you think?"

[PajkaNight]

"I-I don't know, the pixie couldn't talk about the-" She pause thinking that even mentioning the creature would upset it. "-He couldn't tell us the way without mentioning... You know..." She looked at nothing but Markus' face to avoid further pissing off the creature. "I guess we can try to enter it's mouth... I don't even think the way back is an option anymore." She walked backwards, slowing entering the creators mouth. On the other side of it was the same creature, as if she walked back out of it's mouth. Quickly looking away, she turned to face the temple which was no more that ruins overrun with large spiders like the one she saw before. "Markus," She called out to him. "It's safe, just walk in without looking at..." She made a quick glade at the creature before looking to her feet. "Just get in here quickly."

[TheMM00s3]

Markus closed his eyes and walked backwards through the creatures mouth. Upon seeing the creature as he exited he turned around and saw the temple. He looked over at Castitas, "What happened to this place?" He turned his attention back to the temple. He couldn't believe what was going on. One moment he was sending a letter to a High-Priest and the next he is in, what seems like, a totally different world. "Well, I should probably ask what is this place first. I've never heard a single word about this... this unbelievable place." Markus moved slightly closer to Castitas and looking at her, "I'm getting an uneasy feeling from this place, I don't like it." The knights eyes scanned the area in their immediate vicinity, making sure they were safe.

[PajkaNight]

"This place was hidden from anyone who was not fully devoted to serving the Gods and their child; Light, not even the royal family was allowed to know." Castitas looked around, memories flooding back to her. "I went here as a child until some of Light's followers were attacked by the creatures that lived nearby... I guess that's why the rabbit hole was blocked." She pushed her thoughts away. "This place is a passageway between Earth and the Heavens, giving us a more direct way to communicate with our makers." She smirked at Markus. "Still think It's not real?" She laughed as she jested. She walked towards the temple ruins, the ground where she stepped lit up with a strange glow before fading back into the ground. When they entered the temple, distant voices could be heard, singing softly. Castitas kneeled, praying aloud. "Light, if you can hear me... please answer." She remained silent for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she opened her eyes, that were blank with a white glow, speaking in a strange tongue.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus gazed at the sights as they entered the temple. When Castitas knelt down to pray he watched her silently until she suddenly started speaking a language he didn't understand. "Umm, Castitas? What's going on?" He slowly moved towards her, "Castitas?" Markus was so confused about what was going on, he knew nothing of this "Light" she was trying to speak of, granted he never really learned anything about the Gods. He put a hand on the priestesses shoulder, "You're beginning to make me paranoid." The knight was about to lose it, he has been disowned by his father, thrust into a foreign world he didn't know existed, and now the only person he could trust in this strange place was knelt down with glowing eyes talking in some different language. Markus didn't know how much more he could take.

[PajkaNight]

Castitas grabbed Markus' hand the second it came into contact with her should. "She is my child." Her voice sounded deep and strange, echoing throughout the ruins. "She is my child." The voice repeated. "She cannot know." Her head turned to look at him, her blank eyes boring into his own. She got up, moving as if she were on strings, pointing at him. "When the time has come, she will know how to defeat Him." She falls silent in her pose, her eyes slam shut. She awoke again, falling over Markus, blinking rapidly. "Wha-?"

[TheMM00s3]

Markus quickly grabs Castitas, but trips and they both fall to the floor, "What just happened?" He was trying to process what just happened. That obviously wasn't Castitas talking so who was it, what did it mean by she is my child, she cannot know, and when the time has come, she will know how to defeat Him? Who is this 'Him' that it talked about? And most of all what the hell is going on? The knight was shook from his thoughts, however, when he noticed the priestess was laying on top of him, their faces quite close. "Um, sorry about that." He chuckled nervously trying to hide the slight red hue that appeared on his face. Markus just stared at Castitas unable to move, not from being stuck or injured, but from the beauty that emanated from the young girl. He blushed more when he noticed he was staring and adverted his eyes.

[PajkaNight]

Castitas looked into Markus' eyes, smiling as she thought she was dreaming, but then her eyes widened when she realized that she was, very, awake. "Oh! Umm... no need to apologize, I was just- I didn't mean-" She laughed awkwardly, once again. She changed the subject to avoid further embarrassment. "Light spoke to me, though I didn't understand what he said. he was talking in this language- I think it was a language- it was awfully familiar." She sighs. "I just blacked out I guess. I'm terribly sorry, I must've worried you, I walked out of my physical body for only just a moment." She looked at Markus' feet. "I have a lot to explain don't I?"

Whisper and Murmur approached the Pixie's stump. "Tell us where she is, Bug!" Whisper threatened, his brother laughing. "I hope you won't tell us, just so we'll have a snack, I haven't eaten in days!" The pixie and his family huddle to gather, the one with the big nose stepping forward. "She'll destroy Shadow and that evil bitch; Umbra." The pixie stood bravely at the paws of the hellhounds. "What did you call mother?" Murmur screamed. "YOU DESERVE TO DIE!" Murmur lunged at the pixie and his family, chewing them to pieces. Murmur and Whisper, both howled, saddened and angered by the thought of losing their mistress. "We must kill the bitch when we find her!" Murmur roared. "No!," Whisper stopped his rant. "Mother said she musty be alive, but..." He grinned wickedly, showing sharp and jagged teeth. "...That doesn't mean she won't be missing a limb or two." They laughed maniacally, scaring away any wildlife nearby.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus looked at Castitas, "I would say that there is quite a bit to explain, yeah." He sighed and sat up against a wall to try to collect himself after the crazy events that had happened. He didn't know how he was suppose to react to all of this. Was he suppose to be scared, amazed, in awe, threatened, mortified? Markus ran a hand across his face, but found comfort and peace from just looking at the priestess. He thought it was strange to feel such peace from just the sight of someone, especially someone he has never met. The knight hasn't felt this way even in the presence of the Princess. Markus tried to think of why this priestess was the only one who could give this kind of peace, but just put the thought aside after a while and just accepted it. "So," The young knight spoke up after a few minutes, "What in the hell is going on here?"

[PajkaNight]

"Where to start...?" Castitas sighed, siting on the spot. "It's another 'secret' that has been held among the followers of Light." She noticed that Markus didn't really understand who Light was. She sighed again, resting her head on her hands. "Light is one of the first children, birthed by the Gods, Some consider him as one of the Gods, others think it's blasphemy, either way, he is well known in La Luz Fortaleza. He had a sibling; Shadow, who was jealous that both the Gods and the Earthlings had loved Light for his generous deeds. Shadow tried to consume the Earth, enraged to think Light might be better than him..." Castitas told the story that her master had told her many times. "...I know this might be a lot to take in, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't believe it, I hardly believed myself... until I dedicated my life to Light. We were given the ability to talk to the Gods; a ritual were we would leave our physical bodies to be able to communicate with them. This wasn't always safe. Many of us were unfortunate enough to be possessed by evil spirits or worse." Castitas had a worried look on her face. "It sounds sinister, but you wouldn't understand..." She blushed. She never told anyone outside the temple about any of this. "We need to keep it a secret because if anyone wanted to destroy us, then we wouldn't be able to fight away Shadow and his minions."

[TheMM00s3]

Markus tried to keep up with what she was saying while also trying to process all of the information. After she was done explaining everything, he sat with a blank stare on his face, "Yeah, don't worry about me telling anyone, I can barely understand anything you just told me." He ran a hand across his face. Well he did ask her to explain everything so he might as well just take what he can get and not start nagging the poor girl. The young knight stood up, walked over to Castitas, and reached down, helping her to her feet, "Alright, so you're the one who comprehends all of this information, what are we to do now?" He scratched the back of his head and looked at her smiling, "Sorry if I wasted your time with the explanation by they way. It's just hard to be thrust into a situation such as this one and be able to understand what's happening." He sighed, she probably thinks he has a think skull. That's usually what priests and priestess think of him, just a man who swings his sword at things.