Randomness

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Each joint slowed as the surrounding temperature fluctuated between the freezing rime and the molten heat of the liquefied internals of the golem. Even so, the ice was holding, the golem making obvious efforts to use its limbs, the ice straining or cracking, but not breaking, yet. Forced to lean on the near bookcase for stability, the golem continued routing mana. Fia wasn’t too bothered to find a purpose, as she moved from joint to joint to further immobilizing the ancient construct.

The stream of ice halted as the crystal within the golem’s head shattered, even if partly. The clatter of stone against stone echoed across the floor, yet the golem persisted through the injury. Despite the damage the construct sustained, it was still operational, if otherwise immobile. Fia’s eyes gazed to the fire where she instinctively kept her distance. The orb that glowed off white and blue changed to that of red as Fia started to channel her magic once again. Then the color faded, and the orb stopped glowing.

With a barrier now erect within view, and Vesemir retreating into it, Fia got a sense that something was wrong. It certainly wasn’t helped by Gray Flame’s shout as well. Whatever they suspected was going to come, perhaps thread armor would not be enough protection. Instead of channeling magic into her orb, she focused on herself. In moments, Fia was no longer there replaced with a humming bird. Like a dart, Fia flew around the golem along a leftward path and into Roxas’ barrier. Thread armor alone probably wouldn’t. But barrier that looked as sturdy as Roxas’ in addition in case her view was wrong might be enough.

Into the Land of Twilight

Fia Blackfire

---

Fia barely moved as the golem was charging forward. She saw it pivot as it ran her direction. Fia had something prepared for when it got close, but she also had clear view of everyone else reacting to the construct as it ran by. Each martial fighter still on the ground leapt into action. Everyone was a road block in one form or another. Engelbert attempted to stall it. Gray Flame used his arrows. Rezello swooped in at its back, bringing the golem to its knees. Fia stood still as the golem caught itself barely a few meters in front of her. Her hair rustled as the slight breeze from the falling mechanism crashed. And then to finish it off, Nanashi arrived, driving the golem into the ground with his one attack. Furthermore, the eccentric man of few words managed to make the stone bleed. Fia was impressed.

“My dear Gray. Can’t you see? Our artificial friend here is having a heat stroke. The poor boy cannot even speak properly.” said Fia. She started to walk around the machine, closer to the bookshelves. As she moved, the icy fragment she had prepared started to dissolve into a condensed cloud of shifting particles. At the same time, the orb wandered near that hand, the particles starting to orbit the magical glass artifact. “Perhaps I can ice those wounds of yours. You don’t seem to be in good shape.”

The icy collection of particles was released as a stream. Fia targeted the joints of the machine directly. With its knee as busted as it was, she had a better chance of landing her focused attack. She went for the already iced leg, rapidly building ice around the joints as exothermic magic seeped into any crevices the joint might have. The temperature might not mean anything to the construct, but to have several layers of solid ice fill in each gap and crevice around the joint, it would add continuous resistance making bending the limb that much harder if not impossible.

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.