"What the...." as the morning lights filled her eyes, May Eve woke up with a full view of Justice feet at her face, almost touching her nose. Pushing it away in disgust, she is delighted to find that the morning is bright and not as scary as last night.
Notice that the magical hut seems to shimmer and getting more and more translucent, she found Shinee sitting at a corner, munching some bread and reading, what seems to be a large book in big red bindings. "Good morning. Our protection is going off soon. We should get ready".
CT woke up and saw that Shinee and May seem to be chatting away, starts to stir everybody up. "Alright, get up guys, its time to roll on!". "Whats for breakfast..." groan Justice and he pulls his lazy ass up. "All you know is eat and get naked!" Snares Sei Mei, wearing her pieces of armor.
"Where do you think we should go?" CT asks in concern.
"I don't know this Princess Eeyer. There isn't a princess to King Richard as far as I know. But she does wear the royal insignia of StinkSpore. Maybe we can go to Cibidee and find out?" Shinee said.
"Maybe we should stop by a nearer to replenish?" CT concerns of getting rations, not sure if the hut is gonna be presenting nice food the next time. "I knew a town nearby. Yikes town. Basically mining and smithy. Maybe we could get some stuff". "That sounds like a good idea!" exclaimed Shinee, "And of cause, the finest Yikes beer!"
The group set out flying, while CT rides and May's broom, and Justice clinging onto Seimei. The rest spread their wings and fly, with Nishe wondering, did that naked hug in the caves sparks something?
As the group approaches 3 miles away from the mining town, the found the town being swept by a ruthless war, to their dismay. The body of Orcs, mostly small, a few big and also the body of the local militias. "What happen?" Seimei cried out in shock, "It seems like a war had just ended. Even the civilians are not spared!". With everything in flames, Shinee notices the town somewhat looked a bit different from the last time he drops by. The buildings, although burned and smashed, look very different now. it just seems like many many years had passed since he last came, but he is sure, that all it was was just months ago where he arrived with Little Seagile, a fellow student of the Tower in Cibidee.
"It doesn't look like we can get anything out of these rubbles now. It probably be better we flew straight to Cibidee" Nishe inform the group.
As the group prepares to start their journey, Nishe notices that the orcs are wearing some kind of insignia, a morning star but instead of a ball spike, its a skull spike. Neither Shinee nor May ever sees this insignia before. "Orc ain't even common in our island kingdom, we have them occasionally swim across from the straits of StinkSpore, trying to loot. But there is a Woodlund Fort up north near the shores that keep watching. I have never seen so many orcs in my life!". Justice found some very funny looking footprints, much like a gorilla but bigger. "They don't appear in these areas, maybe out of this kingdom probably. The last time I have seen a gorilla is the Baltus Brother Circus who traveled around" laughed Shinee. Remembering the old times where his fellow apprentice would laugh at how Seagile look like the gorillas, when the school brought them to the circus.
The group of Adventurers started their journey, flying down towards the south of the island, where Cibidee is located. "I have a map! My dad gave it to me, who told me that his father gave it to him and his father's father too". They flew right above the forest canopy, not wanting to attract the attention of other dangers. As the noon approached, the sun gets very warm, which is too hot for them other then Shinee and May, who are used to the humid weather in Cibidee tropical sunshine. They took a rest by the side of the King's road rest station, a makeshift clearing in the forest with logs for resting.
Ass they continued their journey and towards 3 miles away from Cibidee, Nishe could hear the faint sound of war coming ahead. May turn white at the news and the group haste on their flying. Upon emerging from the forest, the group found Cibidee under sieged by what seems to be an army of Orcs with catapults and what seems to be giant gorillas. 2 Wyvern flys around carry a rider on each of them, to what seems to be a bigger stronger size Orc who are better armored. They decide to fly around and approach from harbourside but to their dismay, it is also under siege by ships, who are also the same type of magical flying ship that is steered by magic, instead of wind.
Stealthily, the group decides to approach the palace, since they are responding to the call of Princess Eeyer. The roads are quieter, not out of expectation as the city os under siege, but the guards at the palace gate seem relaxed. "We are looking for Princess Eeyer, in response to her request" CT proclaimed as they approach the guards. Without much hesitant one of the guard when in to report, as Shinee and May showed their NRIC, a piece of metal with the Insignia of Cibidee, to prove their citizenship of the City Kingdom. About half an hour later, the guard runs back, seems to be a little hasty and shocked "The Princess is missing! Dear sir and madam, you are summoned by the royal butler!" a Dwarf in a well-suited armor greeted them, who declared himself as the captain of the royal palace.
The adventurers followed the captain into the courtyard and to the door of the palace, where readily opened and a tall human stands by it, with a group of 6 robed humans, and all of them smell traces of magic, Shinee detected. "I am Gong, head Butler of the royal palace. We found the Princess missing. She appears at the dining hall at breakfast and declined her lunch when it was sent to her. But when you approach responding to her request to seek audiences, we found her 'missing'. There seems to be a note addressing to you, hence we decide to bring you in and take a look for yourself. Perhaps it will give us clue, while we search thru the palace, which will take up one day at least at this sheer size." Gong said, as he leads the group to the Princess room, looks like an Eastee who is taller than the other of the Eastern race, with a will-not-miss yellow hue to their skin and proud look with dignity on their face.
"Dear adventurers, thank you for responding to my call. This is urgent and I have to leave first and you should catch up me. Please look for O.R.D." the note says. "What is O.R.D.? I have never heard of it" May said in amuse. "The kids on the streets have been singing a folk song that talks about the heroes that save the poor against tyranny and monsters. I am not very sure what does the acronym stands for." Gong introduced. "Perhaps, the Princess's teacher will be able to enlighten you people." Pointing out of the window, at a tower.
The City of Cibidee has been a fabled city in much of the lands from the west to the east, known for its magical sailing ship and advance system of flying creatures that could take passengers up to 3, to different cities across Auria. But Shinee and May had notice, that the city had looked different from their knowledge since both of them grew up in Cibidee. Shinee being a student at the fabled National University of Sorcery, which had a sister tower at the city and May has grown up in the City, busy with mercenary works and free-lance projects. The homecoming wasn't as familiar. there seems to be more tower that rose up, the city looks more organized, although King Richard is not bad a king, but lack 'management skills' as he practices into arts of the sword. Expertise at the arms is the making of a good warrior, but the king would need to be more caliber in his dealings in management and politics, often rings in the ears of the citizens, who are glad that the king is somehow malevolent.
"Dear sir, may I know what is the year now?" May ask Gong respectfully, knowing not the stir up trouble with the royal statues. "Why? It is Gordon 35." to May's dismay, she remembered the day to be Richard 35, yesterday. "Whoever in your dreams brought you here, had also brought Shinee and me forward into the future" May whisper to Nishe. "May I ask who is the Teacher of the Princess?" Shinee asked. "Why? Master Seagile of cause." Shinee groan....
"It is not the tower i have known of, at least not so vulnerable!" Shinee exclaimed, as the group found themselves in front of a locked tower gate, where it usually opens and welcome anyone who is studious in the arcane arts. "I mean, the gates are always opened, but the magical protection is not here anymore. How long did you say we travel into the future May? 100 years? Only 100 years and the tower is in this state?" Justice wonders what the fuss is all about, "You can always teleport in there you know? We could climb. and for god sake, more than half of us could fly!"
As the group flies into the compound, Justice, and Seimei decides to stay at the gate and marveled at the sight of the city beauty but emptied streets, its wartime anyway, thought Seimei, I would not hang around too. The rest of the group move into the tower but the means of an unlock window, to Shinee amused at how easy it is to get in now. The walk up a long flight of stairs which brought them to a door that, in Shinee's memory, should be the dwelling of the master of the tower. Looking at the name tag on the door which says "Master Seagile", Shinee is deep in thoughts. "Hope he doesn't recognize me", remembering the days where his fellows and himself would bully the newly apprenticed boy, and had what they called 'fun' that would send the boy crying to his room.
Shinee knocks on the door.
There seems to be no response. Suddenly, Nishe caught hold of a faint scruffed from within that seems to sound like fighting and struggling. They opened the door and found and large hand extended out from a glowing circle, grappling an old robed man. May Eve swing out her crossbow and sent 3 bolts aiming at the hands which pushes it to release the old man. The hands disappear.
"Why thank you very much, young lady! You have very sharp shooting skills there!" The old man, look in his 60s, coughed and sat down on an armchair.
"What happens? Master Seagile", Shinee asked. "You guys knocked, and as I get up from my seat, this portal appears out of nowhere and the hand grabbed me! If not for this young lady, I would be drag off you who-knows-where!". The old man looked at Shinee "By the way, you looked very familiar, have I seen you somewhere?", "Erm... nope" Shinee tries to hide and look away. "By the way, we are told you would have to know the where about of Princess Eeyer. The palace found her missing when we looked for her, seeking an audience as requested thru a very remarkable way of messaging". Master Seagile look and think "I don't have any idea". "We are told to look for O.R.D. You know what is that?" Nishe followed.
"Well, the kids in the city had been singing a folk tale of god-knows-when-it-starts. O.R.D. is actually Order of the Rogue Dragon. In the kids' song, this order have been fighting against evil and saving ordinary folks like us!", Master Seagile murmured as he took out a very old looking book from a shelf. "Let me help you find her". waving his hand, Master Seagile verbalized a very strange language which Shinee finds comfort in knowing it has to do with divination. As Master Seagile rub his hands together, he then expands and stretches it further and a ball of glowing white light appears in the space between his palms. A vision appears and 2 figure, back facing, was walking towards a jungle hastily. One seems to be a lady in a royal dress while the other seems to be a dwarf in armor and carry 2 sack.
The group saw what they are looking for and slowing, Master Seagile hands close together as the vision and glowing fade. "I believe you have got your answer. Their location would be somewhere here, it seems" pointing at a location on the map, which is a thick jungle 5 miles off the city, which May Eve showed Master Seagile. "By the way, you know of a guy call Shinee?" Shinee asked Master Seagile. "Why yes, a fellow of mine when i am very young. But he disappears, along with a number of missing books and items from the tower one day. Master George says that he is a betrayer! I never believe it."
"Thank you for your help Master Seagile," Shinee said, sweating, and with bright expecting eyes "It seems like a very interesting spell. May I learn from you?". "I'm afraid it would not be of your level at this point of time, but in times to come, my lad. Here, this would show you one vision of what you wish to know, but once a day only" Master Seagile hand over a colorful gem, the size of a walnut. "Do keep it safely, there's not many of those nowadays you know. By the way, you sure we never met before? I really find you very familiar", "nope, I am sure this is the first time I met you, sir!" Shinee grabs the gem and quickly pulled Nishe and May towards the door. "Thank you very much, we got to be going to find Princess Eeyer. She needs us urgently" as he slams the door close.
The old man looked out of the window, "Hahaha, me and my memories. Glad you make it back." Shinee lets out a sigh of relieved, "Hmm... did we miss anything...".
As the group gathers at the gate, Justice seems to be engaging in a grapple competition with Seimei and no one is able to tell who is grappling who and who is on the winning side. "Yall back finally!" Exclaim Justice, letting go of Seimei and tidy up his messing clothing "Where are we going next? You found the princess?". The group discussed and decides to rest for the night. Looking around them, they realized the armies are heading back into the city and towards what seems to be a barrack.
"What happen? The enemies retreated?" Seimei caught up one soldier and asked. "We both retreat. The orcish horde blows the retreat horn and so did our commander. I guess we are all tired. We fought 3 days 3 nights and no side is winning! I am glad the walls are strong and the armies are high morale. Long live King Gordon! Long live Queen Sapphire!" As one soldier shouted, it sends the whole army in cheers for the king.
"Maybe it's safe to stay out of the city?" CT said. "We have our home, we could always....wait a minute. We are 100 years away, I don't think it's gonna be there anymore. Sigh... good thing I have all my important stuff with me." May sigh in sadness. "We should find a spot outside the city and rest for the night and continued to search for Princess Eeyer tomorrow morning. I don't feel safe already as the orcs retreated back to the forest." Shinee claimed.
The group agrees and flew off to a clearing location west side of the city, beside the King's road. As they approach and start to camp for the night, Nishe had a feeling that they have been watch. As he was about to tell the others, an arrow flew and barely misses her shoulder. Justice dash, jump and prone to the ground as one misses him barely by inches at his legs. Shinee, standing at the middle of the group, lift his hands and sway in a weird pattern of the arcane ways "Nurombaaa...ni~ puuuuuuuukkkeee....!" and a flow of green heavy fog extend out of his robes stretching outwards and covering the whole clearing. Nishe swings his crossbow and releases it as the pointing end aims at multiple figures surrounding them, loading and shooting as his aim passes every figure that appears. one by one, the figures drop like dead logs. CT takes aim at a figure behind her and releases the tension of the strings of her crossbow and the last 2 figures fell.
"Oh well, that's it I guess. Orcs!" a little shaken that he wasted his spells, but glad that all are safe, Shinee continued into a trace and muttering of arcane chanting again and a translucent hut shape began to form. "You are all welcome, the room is for all, so long you show the sign of heart" holding his thumb and index fingers of both hand together to form a heart shape.
Justice groan...
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