The (Finished) Creative Writing Story 3 - It's all done, folks.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

First, I'd like to say that I forgot about Aleksi in my introduction yesterday. He is a rather important character, and will be in many many additions to come. I also hate him, but in a good way.

New Mora post. This was where we start to see some ties that bind, as Mora desperately attempted linking some other story characters into Guillermo's past so that he wouldn't be such a vacant and displaced character, or something along those lines. It worked quite well, and created an interesting triangle later in the story. Get used to triangles; they plague the story for awhile after this first one gets started. Don't know what else to say, except... enjoy.

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46th Post – Mora 03

*Mora3* - *forty-six*

Guillermo woke up from another fitful night of “rest.” For a while, he didn’t move an inch from his bed. He laid there tracing the wood grain in the ceiling idly with his eyes and thinking upon the revelation of the day before. So Dobbel wanted him to become a soldier, a warrior of some kind? For what? There wasn’t any important military conflict occurring in the world. Not since “the” war. Now there were the monsters to direct people’s hatred away from each other. Then was that it? Dobbel had given him his arm back so that he could fight the monsters like he had in their escape? If this was true, then the old man he had met hadn’t known what he was talking about. This arm could be a gift, something that would set himself above other people. But he also was experiencing the same downsides that man had, as well. He could feel himself becoming more and more irrational. He found it difficult to fetter his rage and when he couldn’t contain it, he wanted nothing more than to tear at the first person that engaged him. He remembered his conversation with Cassidy earlier. The last he ever had with him. As he was pondering all this, he touched his left arm with his right again. There definitely was something slightly… inhuman about the way it felt, the way it made him feel. Yet there was still a familiarity about it. It wasn’t alien anymore to him and the thought of doing what he had done when it was so new and cutting into it, perhaps even trying to tear it off, sickened him. Whatever it was doing to him, he would do anything to keep it. Anything.

*****

Guillermo shuffled off to the galley while they were serving breakfast to the new crewmembers and passengers of The Inspiration. He wanted to talk to Arc and Seek about what he had discovered in his conversation with Shon, but there were so many up and about he couldn’t find them right away. However, there was one person he found that he wished he hadn’t. Sasha was standing against a support beam in the same black clothes that he had seen her in before. She had a serious look to her. When her eyes met with his, she immediately began walking towards him. Guillermo froze. Something about her made him… he couldn’t describe it. It was a feeling that began in his new arm and spread throughout his body. It felt similar to panic, but…

“Oh my goodness,” a female voice behind him gasped, “is that you, Gui?”

He found the strength to turn around and saw in front of him the one person that he never could have been prepared to see at that moment. “You’re kidding. Cay?”

The carefree and confident demeanor that usually defined Cay had all but left her at the sight of Guillermo. “You look… different than I remember, Gui,” she said in a voice that barely hinted at nostalgia.

Guillermo found himself strangely defensive. “Different?” he asked in a voice about two levels too high to be considered polite in a public situation.

Cay flinched at the question, but thoughtfully laid out her answer. “Well… I guess anyone will look different than you remember if the last time you saw him was as a gawky teenager. You look like you’ve matured, Gui.”

Guillermo blushed. She had always been the only one that could make him do that. It was a gift she had used to abuse in their younger days. “You…” he began, “look like you’ve matured, too.”

Cay looked down at the ground and her voice took on a bittersweet quality. “Just to make things perfectly clear, I don’t intend to start up what we had again. ‘We’ are over.”

“I wasn’t assuming anything. We’re just two old friends meeting each other for the first time in a long time.”

Cay looked up and nodded. “Exactly. So, what brings you here, headed towards Anteron? The Gui I used to know would be hard-pressed to leave his hometown, let alone his country.”

“Monsters,” he succinctly answered.

Cay grinned knowingly. “Yeah, that seems to be the answer all around, nowadays. Goddamned things.”

“What about you?”

“After I left, I joined a caravan and sold some of my weavings. Looking back on it, I’m surprised I made it. I was too young. I shouldn’t have done it. But, I guess I beat the odds.”

“And you happened to get on this ship, huh?”

“I met a guy yesterday who got me in.”

Guillermo began to feel his anger welling up inside of him, although he could hardly imagine why. “A guy, huh?”

Cay looked away. “It’s not like that. At least, not yet. I’m not expecting anything to happen, all right? It’s none of your business anyways. I thought I made it clear that we were done with each other. At least in that way.”

Guillermo rubbed his eyes. “You’re… right, of course. Old habits, you know?”

Cay nodded silently. For a few moments, they shared an exquisite silence amongst the white noise of the various other inhabitants of the ship before Guillermo had had enough. “Well, I need to go find my friends. I’ll… see you, I guess.”

“It was nice seeing you,” Cay said so quietly that it was almost lost in the crowd.

Guillermo kept his smile on the inside.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Next up is another Ryu addition. This one has the odd tendency to cover a lot of ground without really furthering the story. The main thing here is that we get a glimpse of Malachai's nature as the captain of his vessel, and some hints at things that may or may not be what they seem. Some good characterization and detail is paid to Malachai and Guillermo, making this a satisfying read.

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47th Post – Ryu 04

*Ryu4* - *forty-seven*

Breakfast probably tasted better that day than that served on the troubled journey of The Swallow. Having made a great impression on the people of Danu by The Inspiration’s unscheduled landing, the sympathy and sensationalism in regard to its passengers’ plight spread like wine spilled over stone roads as the news about its narrow escape from Jaegar hopped from one mouth to the other. An appreciable amount of hospitality burst from the locals, and while its own poverty ensured they could only spare so much of their supplies and most decided only to speak of the passengers’ peril with a worried hush, their concern seemed to be manifest at least in the slightly more bountiful breakfast.

Acacia’s request of Arc to get her on the ship proved not completely necessary, as a combination of the circumstances of The Inspiration’s unscheduled landing and destination, and the wild interest in the ship effectively bombarded the airship with potential stowaways. His meddling simply greatly increased her chances.

“Most of its current passengers did not register to get on in the first place,” “The captain has a duty to help in a state of emergency,” “The normal rates are too expensive for me to pay,” were the various sentiments that seemed to be stamped on the faces of those prospective travelers. Some had hatched plans to graciously bestow gifts of food and supplies to those who had been on board, and upon delivering them to those in the ship, decided to—inconspicuously—hang around long enough for the ship to take off.

It took Malachai only a quarter of an hour to realize what exactly was going on as the reduction of crew members ensured that the ship was not properly safeguarded while the majority helped pick up and load supplies. In a hurry he had rushed about his ship, blocking free entrance to its halls, waiting for his new crewmembers to find him struggling within the chaos and his old ones to finish loading.

Presently, he eyed those eating breakfast in the galley with a grave, grumpy look of suspicion, attempting to remember as he focused on each and every one of them whether he had seen them on board or not before they landed. While some fleeing the destruction had notified him of their intent of staying in Danu, more got on than had left (luckily Malachai’s swift reaction prevented many more from hopping on board.) Yet the ship had not been excessively crowded, as most of its new passengers were young persons without families—much of the sense of congestion stemmed from the commotion of excited conversation of the adventurers who were ‘finally getting out of this town.’ The take off was scheduled for just after breakfast, and Malachai worried if a few would inadvertently be left behind in the confusion. He resented this breach in his air of efficiency, and, with a stern look of silent disapproval that stated in spite of itself, ‘What am I—a taxi service?’ to all who looked his way, also detested how absurdly comical his condition might have appeared. Conflicted with the facts of the safe arrival, the generous donation of extra supplies, and congenial attitude of the locals, he concluded nonetheless that their benevolence had too many strings attached, that their kindness should not have given them the license to run amok in his ship. Yet something also imposed upon him the responsibility of assisting all who wished to leave their homes: with Jaegar smashed like a sand castle under ocean waves, and Danu sure to follow, Antaross was the last epicenter of militarized civilization for hundreds of miles. Malachai’s ponderous stew was suddenly interrupted—Guillermo had run into him.

*****

After the unanticipated meeting with Cay that had summoned up an ecstasy of odd emotions, Guillermo stumbled through the obstacle course of moving human hurdles, straight into a meeting he expected, only not so soon. Guillermo stared at him with a slight tinge of a new reverence on account of Malachai’s accurate information and willingness to share it with him. He wondered what other useful knowledge could be swimming about in that statesmanlike head. Still, as both were subconsciously concerned about appearances, neither made an effort to drop the thin, yet sturdy wall of mutual mistrust that still stood suspended between them. That tension caused Guillermo to wonder if Malachai knew more about that soldier than he let on. Guillermo almost sensed that Malachai now distrusted him for other reasons than his history as an ex-Jaegar militant.

“Well…thanks for the tip about that soldier,” Guillermo muttered, trying to guess how Malachai knew that he might be interested in that information, thus implicitly admitting that he knew the return of his arm had not been the result of advanced surgery. Perhaps it was only his high stature and learning that allowed him to realize his arm for what it was not, but perhaps that was not the whole story….

“No problem. Anything to keep a Jaegarian out of my hair,” Malachai replied. At first the choice of words seemed almost indicative of a grandfatherly joke, but the rigid tone of voice and anxious silence afterwards caused the sincere reality to settle in. Guillermo waited for him to ask if he actually had met him or for what he had learned, but Malachai said nothing more, apparently deeming such questions unnecessary. Malachai had a strange way of not turning his head towards those he shared a conversation with.

“We are going to initialize our departure soon after breakfast,” Malachai finally said, almost as an afterthought, “You might want to get some substance in your stomach during this interval.”

Guillermo utilized this excuse to leave without a word, grimacing at the curt conversation, and absent-mindedly picked up a couple rolls with a light tinge of honey as he continued on his feet in a continuing struggle to find Arc and Seek (while hopefully avoiding the glance of both Sasha and Cay.)

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Me again. This addition is strange in that I wanted to get everyone off the ground as soon as possible, but I also had this idea that there should be some interesting storytelling perspectives during the narrative. So while it starts off with Guillermo, that's actually one of the last things to happen in this addition. I covered all the main characters, and sort of worked my way backwards and then forward again until the ship was almost taking off. I don't know why, but I like to do this sort of thing, and ideas like this show up on rare occasions throughout the story, and you can bet your bottom that I'll point them out along the way. On to the story!

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48th Post – BRC 06

*BRC6* - *forty-eight*

Breakfast ended with no more consequential happenings. Guillermo never did find Seek or Arc; he just assumed they had been in town the whole time, and damned them for wasting his time. Malachai still had not given him a decent room, so he headed back to his ‘broom closet’ to await departure. He wondered how much longer the captain would make everyone wait before setting off. This sure is taking a hell of a long time... Guillermo's thoughts wandered off to Dobbel once again. Where had he gone, and why hadn't they been in contact? Furthermore, what business did Cay have on this ship, and what asshole did she shack up with to get a ride? And why was he scared to meet with Sasha again? He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, that he didn't even notice Seek and Arc walk by his room, followed closely by Acacia.

*****

Outside of the ship, Seek was introduced to Arc's new friend. "So, wait a minute. You two just met outside of a bar yesterday, and already you're staying in the same room?" Seek was flustered at Arc's change of character so quickly. He also wondered why Acacia even considered joining him. Maybe she just desperately needed on The Inspiration. Whatever the reason, Arc had already gotten her signed on the ship. He turned his head to greet Acacia warmly, despite the rude remark. "Sorry. I'm glad you'll be joining us." He forced a smile and shook hands with her. "Well, it's about time to go, I think. Should we head on in?"

"Sure, why not? It's probably gonna get attacked by monsters anyway, resulting in our inescapable deaths..." Arc trailed off when he realized Acacia was giving him a disturbed look. "That is to say... um... let's hurry on, Cay. I want you to meet our friend inside." Arc wasn't exactly smooth-talking her, but he did cover his words quick.

*****

"What's your friend's name?" Acacia never thought it would be Guillermo they knew, but she was soon to be mistaken.

Seek butted in on their way up the platform: "Guillermo Avory. He's an odd sort, and I wouldn't mention his arm; he just recently lost it and um... regained it."

Acacia's eyes grew wide. That’s two surprise coincidences in the same week. she mused. She didn't want them to know he was the one she knew, so she said nonchalantly, "Hmm... guess he's not the one I know." She fumed about why he didn't mention the arm in the first place, and went on her way with her new companions.

*****

Once inside the ship, they made their way through the upper decks and across the mess hall, passing the beautiful woman clad in black that Seek had seen before, as well as the lanky man known as Aleksi that had so surprisingly killed a kronal with simple knives. As they passed, Aleksi stabbed the table and left rather quickly, followed soon by the woman. They then saw Malachai giving orders to a couple of crewmen, and nodded to him when he said, "We're ready to go, I want you three to hurry up and get to your areas. Medose, take care of your friend before you report to Rens in Weapons on the quarter deck. Pembran, you report to Wayne on the top deck to receive your orders."

The three of them nodded with a joined "Sir!" and went down to the crew decks, and upon nearing Guillermo's room, Arc motioned towards his door. "That's Guillermo's room, Cay. I figure he's probably in there, you wanna meet him now, or wait until we set off?"

"No, I'd like to get to our room, if that's okay with you." They walked right past the room, talking about previous events, and Seek filled her in on the whole Jaegar devastation, as Arc couldn't handle telling the story just yet.

*****

Aleksi frowned as he turned towards Sasha in the dining hall. They had already eaten, and Sasha had been patiently awaiting Guillermo’s arrival. In the confusion of breakfast, the only thing she managed to see was the captain running around like a chicken with his head cut off throwing off stows and preventing new ones from coming on. She chuckled at the thought of a highly distinguished man such as Malachai rushing around frantically like that. "Sasha, it's all too boring here, why are we still waiting?" Aleksi was not one to sit idly around while there was anything to do.

"Be patient, Al. Soon we'll be off the ground, and since Guillermo is obviously avoiding me, and is not even aware of you, we can approach him on the deck. Later."

"How many times do I have to tell you I hate that name?" He stabbed the table clean through with a butter knife, a testament to hidden strengths, and stalked away. Sasha only smiled, and walked back to her room.

*****

Malachai and his crew had finally finished preparations, and they were ready for take-off, despite the over-crowded ship he would now be taking on as a result of stowaways. He had plans to make all of them do the grunt work as their stow payment, so justice would be his. He gave orders to First Mates Blake and Henley, and then exchanged words with Seek, Arc, and Acacia. As they went downstairs, he went up to the top deck to ensure departure was ready. After his customary pre-flight check was all done, he gave final orders for departure, and everyone who was not on the ship yet made their way on, making sure not to miss the flight.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

That's a Mora! We have another connection to Guillermo's past in this addition, but not a new character. This got us moving in the airship again, and answered in part some questions about Guillermo's arm and what was happening to him. This is also where the brainstorming came into play in a very large way. Some of my greatest memories are of brainstorming sessions with Ryu and Mora, throwing out ideas and tossing aside the dumb ones. We did this more and more for the next two or so hundred pages until we had the basics of the entire story worked out, but it wasn't until just recently (like the last month) that we've really pinned down the specifics of the finale and the ending. Let's go forth with the story!

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49th Post – Mora 04

*Mora4* - *forty-nine*

Guillermo was feeling restless. What with Acacia suddenly coming back into his life and the mystery of his arm still hanging over his head, he couldn’t relax like he wanted to. He felt like he needed to get some fresh air, so he tried to go on the ship's deck and wind down. As he meandered towards the deck, he glanced around and saw the crew working tirelessly to make sure the ship stayed upright and in the air. They have purpose, Guillermo thought to himself. What do I have?

He squinted as he entered the deck. The sun was shining brightly through a scattering of clouds above. Guillermo listlessly wandered over to the railing and overlooked the edge to see the terrain below. He remembered the promise life used to have for him before the war. He might not have gone on to do great deeds, but he would have had a comfortable existence minding his family’s business after his father passed away. But plans rarely work out. Instead he found himself a vagrant. No future, no friends. A part of him piped up that indeed he did have friends, but his inner cynic scoffed at the idea. How could he call the people he had met friends? Cassidy, Arc, Seek, Avery? They were just acquaintances, really, and two of them were dead. He’d never asked to be their friend. He didn’t know why he had been expected to play nice with them. Ever since his arm had been granted to him, he hadn’t felt much like being around people, actually. But… he knew the only times he’d been happy lately were around others.

He didn’t show it much, but he really had enjoyed the company of the others. It had been painful leaving his town, under the circumstances, and the last thing he thought he’d find on the outside was an ally. Yet here he was, with people that he could call comrades. He sighed. He didn’t know what he wanted anymore. The thought that his arm might be influencing him disturbed him, but the memory he had of having lost it broke his heart. Did he want a replacement, no matter the cost? So far, he’d answered “yes,” but he wondered if it could possibly stay that way. He dangled his left arm over the railing and felt the waves of air caressing it. With his heightened sense, he could barely close his mouth from the awe of the experience. It was like he could feel each molecule bouncing and playing off of his hand. Would he trade this for the way he was before?

“Well, well,” a male voice from beside him declared, “if it isn’t Mr. Avory. We meet again.”

Guillermo was wrested from his reverie and turned to his right to see a very slim, slightly effeminate young man with long black hair tied back in a ponytail and in simple, casual dress. Guillermo squinted. “Am I supposed to know you?”

The stranger’s face feigned offense. “Why, after all we’ve been through, you can’t recognize me? Well, I suppose I do look a bit different-“

Guillermo cut him off. “Look, either tell me who you are or bug off. I’m not in the mood for pleasantries.”

The other man smiled slightly. “I’m Aleksi, remember?”

Guillermo’s face lit up with recognition. “Aleksi? You mean from training? You look…”

“Unhealthy, right?” Aleksi said with a laugh.

“Well, you definitely look smaller.”

“It costs money to eat right, eh? Times are rough all around,” Aleksi said, resting on the railing and looking off into the horizon. “You seem to be doing all right, though. You’ve got your health.”

“I’m lucky, that’s all.”

“I hear you got stationed in Jaegar. Not much to be done there, eh? Pretty soft job, how’d you land it?” Aleksi asked, in an almost leading tone.

“Well,” Guillermo began, obviously embarrassed to explain, “my father was kind of a big shot in my hometown. He pulled some strings, but I never asked him to.”

“A lot of people died, most of the people we knew. I’m lucky I survived out there, but I guess you didn’t need luck,” Aleksi said, with a hint of resentment.

“What’s done is done,” Guillermo said sharply.

“Too true, too true.”

“It seems so weird that you’re here, too.”

“Hm?”

“Nevermind. I was saying that mostly to myself. So, what are you doing here?”

Aleksi stood upright and looked straight into Guillermo’s eyes. “I know about your arm.”

Guillermo was so surprised he couldn’t speak. He sputtered a few sounds and involuntarily stepped backwards a few steps. Aleksi kept his cool and smiled in his own casual way. “I know how, why and when to be precise. You see, you’re a very special person.”

Guillermo tried to communicate the trillion outbursts exploding in his head. “W-w-w-why me?”

“Because you’re one of the few that are ready for what you’re going through. You can survive it, you see. If it had happened to any old person, they’d die, simple as that. You are a survivor, Guillermo, whether you know it or not. Built to last.”

“What’s happening to me?!”

“Ah, the question. The question I knew you’d ask. I’d ask it if I were in your place. This is going to be hard to explain. Ever heard of evolution?”

Guillermo shook his head. Aleksi closed his eyes. “I see. Well, it’s not a very popular theory. In fact, it’s considered to be complete idiocy. But it’s true, as you’re going to find out. You see, people didn’t start as people.”

Guillermo was getting impatient. “You’re talking nonsense. Get to the point!”

Aleksi opened his eyes and frowned. “This is important. I wouldn’t advise you to neglect it. Now, back to the topic at hand. Life on this planet started off much simpler. They were tiny things that merely ate and reproduced. Fairly dull existence, wouldn’t you say? But, fortunately for us, evolution took place. These life forms adapted over eons of time to become more and more complex. People are one of the results of this process of evolution.”

“Fascinating,” Guillermo grunted through gritted teeth, “but what does this have to do with me?”

Aleksi grinned in a not entirely wholesome way. “You’re evolving, Guillermo.”

“What?!”

“Your arm. Obviously you feel it’s something not entirely human. That’s correct. While it may still look human for the time being, it’s not. In fact, by this time your entire body should have shifted from its original genetic basis. It’s changing itself, you see, little by little. What normally takes millions of years is happening in a much shorter timeframe.”

“What on earth does this have to do with my arm coming back to me?!”

Aleksi soundlessly produced a knife and cut Guillermo across his right arm before he could react. “Damn!” Guillermo exclaimed, clutching his arm in pain while blood trickled from the wound. But as he was doing so, he could feel the pain getting more and more numb. He took his other hand off the wound and saw it closing up until not even a scar was left. He was dumbfounded.

“You see,” Aleksi explained, “regeneration seems to be part of your change. Pretty useful, huh? I bet even if you lost a limb, it’d come back.”

“Why?” Guillermo asked with a rage purer than any he had felt before that moment. “Why do this to someone?”

Aleksi became grim. “You do realize the world we live in, don’t you? Monsters, Guillermo. They’re not natural, you know. They’re not meant to be here.”

“You’re saying this… ‘evolution’ has something to do with the monsters?”

“Yes.”

Guillermo remembered how he had been able to survive against the monster during his escape from Jaegar. “Even so, why is this… changing my behavior?”

“Who says it is? With power comes responsibility, Guillermo,” Aleksi said with relish. “Whatever the changes to come, they’re physical. What happens to your mind is your own doing. If you’re changing, I’d suggest looking in the mirror for the real reason. I don’t blame you, though. We all have our dark sides… What interests me, though, is that any other person would have asked for a way out by now.”

Guillermo stared at Aleksi in a silent fury. Aleksi looked so confident, so smug. It wouldn’t take much to show him who’s the boss, Guillermo thought. Just a few seconds and I could overpower him, easily. Throw him over the side. No one’s looking… no one would have to know. As he felt himself tensing up he realized it was really him thinking these horrible thoughts. He nearly began crying.

“You see, I can tell you want power,” Aleksi said. “I could tell so from the day we first met. That’s why you aren’t refusing us, you see. You know you want it. The power to revolutionize the world, right?”

“…What… What am I going to turn into?”

Aleksi smiled broadly. “Ah, that’s the interesting thing. We can’t predict. You’re actually farther along than most, you see. Most of the time they can’t handle the news and either ask us to take it back, or… Well, needless to say, they take matters into their own hands. I must say I’m extremely intrigued as to how you’ll develop, Guillermo.”

Guillermo felt disgusted. “So, I’m some kind of experiment, then.”

“The most important in all of human history,” Aleksi said slapping Guillermo on his shoulder in an inappropriately friendly fashion. “You should be proud.”

Guillermo slapped his arm away. “Don’t you ever touch me! You… you’re not my friend anymore.”

“So, I’m your enemy, is that it? You’re still going along with our plans, of course. It’s not necessary for Sasha and I to be your friends, but we’re hardly your enemies. In fact, we’re the only people who understand what you’re going through. I think in time you’ll come to appreciate that, isn’t that right?” Aleksi said, moving slightly to Guillermo’s right and calling out to someone apparently behind him.

Guillermo turned around swiftly and came face-to-face with Sasha, as oddly entrancing as ever, simultaneously feminine and authoritative. She acknowledged Aleksi with a motion of her arm. “You see,” she told Guillermo, “I told you I knew what you were going through.”

“Well, looks like the weirdoes are popping out of the woodwork now,” Guillermo replied. “Do you always sneak up on people?”

“I said I could be a friend, Guillermo,” Sasha said, ignoring his question. “We still can be. It’s up to you.”

“Let’s give him some breathing room for now, Sasha,” Aleksi interjected. “What do you say?”

Sasha sighed. “All right. Let’s go.”

Before Guillermo could say anything coherent, Aleksi had gone to Sasha, put his arm around her waist and walked towards the inside of the ship with her.

*****

“I see my little speech on patience was wasted on you, Al,” Sasha said walking down the halls with Aleksi.

“I don’t think I queered the deal. I think he’ll actually be quite the obedient servant given half a chance,” he replied.

“What makes you say that? He obviously resents what’s happening to him.”

“Ah, but he can’t give it up. As much as he tells himself what we’re doing to him is wrong, he can’t give up what’s been given. He wants it too much.”

“Let’s hope you’re right. Otherwise we’ll have to find another candidate.”

“I told you when I picked him out, we won’t NEED another candidate. He’s going to make it work.”

*****

Guillermo spent the rest of the day on the deck. He watched the terrain beneath roll silently along as they neared their destination. His mind seemed to buzz with thoughts, but he felt thoughtless at the same time. What had been laid before him made everything he had found out previously seem like child’s play in comparison. His life would never be the same now. He knew the reason he felt alone now: he was no longer a part of the human race. Day turned into dusk as Guillermo brooded. He hadn’t felt hungry enough for lunch. As the sun was making its journey over the horizon, he knew he had to get ready for his job as the night lookout, and that he had better eat dinner, unless he wanted his stomach bothering him throughout the night. He felt the need for some comfort, though. He needed to confide what was happening to him. His brain raced to try to find someone he could talk to, and the first one that popped into his head was Arc.

When he found the door to Arc’s quarters, he hesitated before knocking. Arc was probably at dinner, he thought to himself. He’s probably not even in there. But as long as he was here, he thought he might as well try. He knocked three times in quick succession and waited. He froze as the door opened to reveal the room’s occupant.

Cay rubbed her eyes. “Hello?”

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Omni's first addition, and surprise, surprise! The story made it to addition 50. It was a decent first addition, but Omni had a couple of problems for his part in particular. Where Staffmaster had trouble mostly with grammar and spelling and terrible ideas, Omni had trouble with grammar, spelling, remembering people's names exactly, punctuation, and a vanity fair for his two created characters. He especially fudged a lot of facts, and was staunchly against changing anything in his later additions, no matter how contradictory the facts were to the story. All of this and more has been rectified in the edits, thank God. There's a sweet moment shared between Guillermo and Acacia where Gui finally gets his doubts out in the open about everything. The other scene we see here is the introduction of Elise and Adam, sibling monster hunters who are for some reason out for Dobbel. They start off interesting enough, but Omni later turns the story into 'Adam and Elise are the greatest ever.' More on that tidbit later.

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50th Post – Omni 01

*Omni1* - *fifty*

Guillermo stared vacantly at Acacia’s form inside the door. Beads of water dripped from her moist brown hair, indicating she had just finished taking a shower. Her expression turned to one of sheer shock when she noticed that a very taken aback Guillermo was standing less then a foot away from her.

Guillermo wasn't sure... maybe Arc had gotten a little thinner… grew his hair a bit and had gotten a massive tan, sunbathing on the deck. Maybe, he had decided he didn't want to live his life as a man and had asked Dobbel if he could perform a sex change. Or... maybe he wasn't hallucinating and this really was Acacia standing inside Arc's bunk, fresh from Arc's shower.

"Wha... what are you...?" Guillermo stuttered as he stepped back. Then his eyebrows lowered and his mouth turned downward. “Sorry... I thought… Arc.." he mumbled.

*****

Cay tried to form words on her lips, but none came out. She looked back into the room, suddenly wondering why she felt such a pang of guilt.

"I wanted to talk to Arc. But... I guess he's not here…" Guillermo gazed past her.
Cay looked down at her bare feet, knowing that there was nothing she could really say, but then her face turned to curiosity when she looked up and noticed how downtrodden he appeared. It was as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and had nobody to help support him.

"Gui… what… what’s wrong?" she immediately asked.

"No…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I wanted to speak to Arc," he whispered.

"No Gui. I know something is wrong. I'm sorry, I guess I should have told you about Arc," she said.

But it looked as if he hadn't even heard her. She could tell that the moment of shock had passed and whatever had been on his mind earlier had once again seeped back into his brain. He began to tremble, and Cay, seeing how his thoughts affected him, found herself reach for him.

*****

“Please Gui, please… come in," she coerced. He looked about the hall, stalling for time. He felt her hand take a hold of his new one, and he looked up at her. He could feel every inch of her palm, the damp water that still resided on it, the blood vessels that lie just below her creamy soft skin and the small excretions of sweat as her hand seemingly grew hotter just by touching him. He walked in her doorway as she moved aside, slowly clicking the door behind him.

"Gui… what is it?" she asked again.

I came to talk to Arc, he thought, he could probably understand. But Acacia... He knew somehow that she would understand. Surprise shook her as he whirled on her, grabbing her across the arms and squeezing her. She did not press him away, but slowly placed her arms around his waist, letting him hold her close. Guillermo knew that she understood his need for a friend. He gripped her tighter as he placed his neck onto her shoulder.

"Everything’s wrong, Cay. Everything," he said.

*****

Sasha grinned. She felt that Aleksi was correct. Finally, after all this time searching, they had at last found someone suitable. She had left Aleksi to his thoughts on the balcony and decided to find the mess hall. Even she had to eat sometime. The thought of Guillermo might have made her stomach a bit jumpy with anticipation, but food always worked best when she had things on her mind. That and maybe Aleksi in bed… or maybe a quick workout with her scythe.

It wasn’t until she walked into a hallway that led to the mess hall, that her senses made her keenly aware that she was being followed. She tilted her head sideways to focus on the passage behind her. Her eyes focused on a small, shapely woman with flowing red hair. The woman’s green eyes met Sasha’s stare, and Sasha paused to half face her. The silence was long and deafening. The sound of people laughing and eating could be heard from the entrance of the mess hall. The air was thick and the woman’s brow was beaded with small drops of sweat. The muscles under her white shirt and green pants were tense.

"You. I’ve seen you before. Following people. It’s a very bad habit." Sasha’s words were smooth and low.

"You know him, don’t you? Dobbel," the woman’s confident and serious voice answered back.

Sasha faced the woman fully after hearing Dobbel’s name. "I am not at liberty to say," Sasha retorted.

"That’s the kind of answer that screams ‘yes,’ you know," the woman gleamed, "but… what’s one of his little cohorts doing on a post-military vessel?"

"You presume much, Red…" Sasha answered back. "Perhaps I am just merely a victim of Jaegar’s dismemberment. Perhaps I am just a poor soul, without a home… with only this black cloak as a reminder of my past life? Perhaps I know nothing of what you speak."

"Nope, don’t buy it," Red spoke, "with that getup, you might as well just announce your fully beneficial recruitment plan."

Sasha smiled.

The woman had slowly walked up to Sasha and now the two were both nose to nose.

"Where is Dobbel?" she asked again.

Sasha faked bewilderment, and then sighed, her eyes on the ceiling. “Somewhere."

"So then you want to play games?" the girl asked.

"Most definitely," was Sasha’s answer.

She went for a knife within the confines of her cloak, but the girl was just as fast. She grabbed Sasha’s left hand and pulled her towards her, pushing her elbow into Sasha’s chest, while pulling her right arm up before bringing a closed fist backhand into Sasha’s mouth. The impact just caused Sasha to roll her face with the punch as she quickly grabbed the girl’s fist with her free hand. She pushed the girl into the wall, slamming her back with great force. But the woman was just as strong, using Sasha’s momentum to swing her back and slam her against the very same wall. Then they both pulled at each other, causing themselves to run full force into the mess hall entrance.

*****

People were shocked and stunned as the mess hall doors nearly broke off their hinges as two women crashed into the room, entangled in each other’s grips, before they both let go and fell to the floor. Arc and Seek had been at the nearest table, when Arc nearly choked in surprise on the pork chop he nearly inhaled. They both jumped to their feet as people were backing up away from the scene.

*****

The women were just as quick as Sasha seemed to levitate herself up from her feet. The other woman had rolled with the fall, swinging herself onto her boots and forming a defensive pose.

"Not bad, I suppose," Sasha complimented.

"What would you expect from an expert monster hunter?" the lass shrugged.

"Ah, yes. Do brag. It makes the victory all the sweeter.”

*****

Guillermo sat on the bed, while Cay walked out of the small bathroom. She handed him a glass of water and then sat down next to him. The room was silent as they both sat there, waiting for the other to say something. The ceiling fan hummed, blowing around the dust particles that accompanied them in the small room.

"Gui. What is it? Why are you so…unhappy?" she finally asked.

"I did something. Some things… I think I shouldn’t have," Guillermo answered.

"Like?" Cay tried.

"This," Guillermo said, raising his left arm. Cay glanced at his brownish tan arm and then back at his eyes with a questioning look. "I shouldn’t," he raised his voice, starting to move from the bed.

"No, Gui. Tell me," she encouraged.

He looked at her. He had to tell her. He couldn’t bear keeping a secret like this from her. He wanted someone he knew… he liked… he trusted… to understand.

"I lost my arm in an airship crash a couple weeks back," he told her.

"What?!" she gasped, looking at his left arm. "But…"

"It’s a new arm, Cay. A man approached me in Jaegar saying he could fix it. His offer was something I just couldn’t fathom passing up."

"Wow… not even a scar," Cay had placed her hand onto his arm. He felt her soft hand as it ran along his skin.

“I know. And sometimes, it feels strange."

"Strange?" she questioned.

"I don't know, it just feels... different," he trailed.

"Now that you mention it, your scrawny friend… you know.. Saki... Suki..." she fumbled.

"Seek," he corrected.

"Yeah, Seek. He said you lost your arm. I didn’t know what to think before, because you still had both arms when we met yesterday. I mean..." she mused.

"Yeah.”

They paused to listen to the humming of the engine. Guillermo sipped a bit of his water, while Cay pulled her legs up onto the bed to sit in her knees.

“But," he explained, "I think… it’s cursed me."

"Why?"

"The man apparently wants a lot from me. And if I don’t repay the debt… I lose my arm," he admitted.

"That… that’s inhumane!" Cay shot out, moving back in disbelief.

"I think it’s making me inhuman…" Guillermo sank.

Cay was silent as he continued. "There was a guy. A boy, really. He helped me back in the crash. Made me feel like I could live without an arm. But then, soon after I got it, I told him he was nothing to me." Guillermo placed his palms up to his head. "I think dreadful things about people. I shove them away from me. I watch them die…"

"Guillermo…" Cay whispered.

"I told him I hated him right before he died, Acacia." Guillermo let it all go, "It’s my fault. All of it. I’m just… a monster now."

"I don’t think so," Cay disagreed, taking his hands into hers, "Maybe, you made a few bad choices, but you aren’t… a monster."

"I don’t know."

"Gui… I’ve always known you as the type to confront your problems, to make life simpler… and to make things fun. When I saw you again, I knew you hadn’t changed," Cay said, "I still believe you haven’t."

"Cay," he turned.

He noticed then how close her face was to his. His eyes moved downwards, spying her soft lips. He felt his arm start to move across her back until it had reached completely around to her other side. She still felt damp from her shower, and her shirt was clinging to her back from where his arm moved. She breathed heavily as he brought his other hand up to her neck, sliding it down to her collarbone and resting it there. The moment had them, before they even realized it.

"We… we… shouldn’t…" she breathed more to herself than to him.

The door to the cabin flew open with a loud crash. The two of them literally flew across the sides of the bed and whirled about to see Arc leaping through the threshold.

"Cay! Have you se- Oh, Gui! There you are!" he shouted.

The two of them gaped at the very excited but blissfully unaware Arc.

"We need help. Two hot looking chicks decided to use the ship’s mess hall as a gladiatorial arena! The captain’s probably going to need some help in getting those two broads separated."

Guillermo sighed as Arc bolted from the door. Cay was hot on his heels.

"Cay… please… don’t tell anybody what I just said," Guillermo asked.

"What went on in this room never happened, Gui," Cay answered as they both took off for the hall.

*****

"Well, you wanted this fight, did you not, Miss? Then I suggest you learn to deal with the consequences," Sasha announced as she swung her scythe toward the woman. The girl was fast enough to keep out of the blade’s way.

"Oh, I know the consequences. But I suppose for you they include the other unfortunate bystanders you happen to hit while you’re swinging that toy," she answered.

"It is on your shoulders, Red. I would not have drawn this weapon had you just minded your own business," Sasha toyed.

"It is my business," the green eyed girl shot back, dodging another swing from Sasha, "but since you prefer weapons…"

The girl reached back and grabbed what looked like a strong metallic rod. She pointed the ends of the small baton horizontal to either side of her and then pushed in her thumb. The rod shot out at the ends, transforming into a metal staff-like weapon.

"Oh, you are definitely making today fun. I have not enjoyed myself like this in quite a while." Sasha licked her lips.

She charged toward the girl, again bringing her scythe toward the girl’s neck. But the unknown woman was just as fast, blocking the blade with her own rod. She pushed the scythe back and brought the other end of the rod up, knocking Sasha directly in the side. Sasha flinched but again raised her scythe over her head. The girl saw the blow coming and sidestepped just in time. Sasha accidentally embedded the blade directly into a hard oak table and found that the blade had become temporarily stuck. The girl hopped onto the table and then kicked Sasha directly in the teeth. This caused Sasha to actually trip to her knees. The woman had quickly stepped off and gripped her rod, raising it over her head to give Sasha a blow to the back.

Pulling her right arm up towards the girl’s weapon, she felt an unseen force stop her blow in mid swing. "Away!!" Sasha yelled as her arm moved in front of the girl. She felt herself leave her feet as she flew across the floor crashing through yet another table.

"Uhhh," she groaned.

Sasha seemed to levitate herself upright as her eyes squinted with undeniable rage and anger. She reached into her cloak again and pulled out two small sickles.

"You cut my face," Sasha said through gritted teeth, "now I’ll chop yours off." She walked purposefully toward the girl, murderous intent in her eyes. By then part of the ship’s crew had managed to make it into the mess hall. They ordered her to stop but she paid no attention to them. She took both sickles up into the air, and then quickly slashed toward the woman’s petite face. Sasha was shocked when the girl had managed to bring her rod up to block both of the curved blades. The woman’s face was now one of unbridled determination. As Sasha blinked at the fact that her attack was blocked, she heard a loud unsheathing of metal. The ends of the woman’s rod sprouted curved blades on either side.

"I’m through playing," the fiery-headed girl stated. The woman pushed against Sasha’s left blade causing her to angle her own weapon enough to stab Sasha in the thigh. Sasha winced as the girl kicked at her injury. This caused Sasha to back away enough for the girl to roll backwards over her head, land on her feet and again stand.

"I bet that doesn’t even hurt," the girl fumed.

"Not really, no. But finding ways to make you feel pain in places you don’t even know you have will more then make up for it," Sasha threatened.

But just then a tall, muscular man, with short blonde hair, a tan shirt and green pants broke through the crowd and grabbed the short girl by the waist.

"ELISE," he gasped," What in the living HELL are you doing?!"

"LET ME GO, ADAM," she shouted, squirming to break free of his hold.

Sasha’s eyes glinted as she started to step forward. Gripping her blade, she was about to place it into the distracted girl’s ribs when the captain himself appeared in-between both of them.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he bellowed. His face was beet red as his blood vessels threatened to pulsate directly out of his forehead. Guillermo, Arc, Seek and Cay had all come in behind him and were now standing in front of the huge crowd.

"Elise… I TOLD you. I’m not seeing that woman," Adam said.

Sasha side-glanced Guillermo; her face turned from a scowl to a smile and she then lowered her sickles.

"What the hell are yo.." Elise turned to stare in disbelief at the man named Adam, but then relaxed and replied, "oh… I mean… you’re not?"

"No!" Adam glared.

The captain looked as if he was about to lose what little patience he had. "I’m sorry, Captain," Adam said, extending his hand, "my girlfriend here thought I was seeing this girl. She really gets a bit jealous when she sees me even talking with another girl. Please excuse her rather inconsiderate behavior."

"I don’t have any issue with relationship problems this girl might have, except when it involves the whole mess hall of my ship and the lives of my passengers," the captain roared.

"I know. It is my fault also," Adam explained.

"Whose fault is it I don’t care; whose paying for my tables… that I care about," the captain retorted.

"What about my face?" Sasha whispered as she sauntered backwards, massaging her bloodied mouth.

Adam dug into his pockets and pulled out a fat wad of cash. He handed some of the money over to the captain and then gave some to Sasha.

"That should cover damages, I hope," he said.

The captain looked at the money, then at the women. He shook his head in a disgusted display and then walked to the crowd.

"Hand your weapons over to my crew members. Both of you," he nodded towards Sasha, "and DON’T even think about starting any sort of commotion on my ship again. Because if you do, I’ll have you thrown off the ship… and I won’t stop to land."

*****

The captain walked away and the crowd started to dissipate. Guillermo stared at both of the women, wondering why Sasha had looked so evil at the end of that skirmish… and what that Elise girl knew about Sasha. He raised his arm and stared at it, before unintentionally eavesdropping on Adam and Elise’s secret conversation. His hearing had become acutely better, picking up lower ranges of sound than he thought would have been possible.

"My boyfriend, Adam?" Elise whispered to him.

"Sorry, Sis… it was either that or the brig," he replied as they both walked away from Guillermo’s sight.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Next up by Ryu. ... Starting with this addition, the next two story arcs are similar in design, but ultimately and wholly different in execution and storytelling. Obviously Malachai's got some further agenda to Guillermo's end, but this really tacks the tail on the jackass. Nothing with Adam or Elise in this addition, which probably ****ed Omni off, but oh well. The story juts out in a different direction because of this addition, which is another thing that we needed to do. Airships were a good half of the story at this point, and we don't stick with them for awhile for the main group. That's all to come later, though.

Around this time, we were putting out additions at 1-2 every week, and everything was swell, because we had a nice rhythm going and there was a writing plan that we kind of followed so that we knew when it would be our turn to write again. I was initially posting after either Ryu or Mora, and then IRC, Omni, or Karim would go, and then Ryu or Mora again, and then me, and so on. The list changed a lot throughout the months, but we're currently set up in a fashion that goes like this: Mora, Magik, myself, and then Ryu, before it starts over again. We have yet to complete a full cycle as we're waiting for Ryu to get through his current addition. School work and real life get in the way a lot here, and we try to be as patient as possible, but patience is a virtue I find myself without many times with this particular story.

I've done a lot of subject hopping, so onto the story!

_____

51st Post – Ryu 05

*Ryu5* - *fifty-one*

After his talk with Cay, Guillermo sauntered about the deck, pleased that something had occurred that might get Sasha and Malachai’s mind off of him. But now that he had confided something of himself to Cay, he felt that he had added yet another person to a growing list of those concerned in his affairs. In a way, he had been glad that he got the chance to speak to Cay instead of Arc—he knew her far longer than he—but it had been a sudden impulse that he said anything to her. Upon seeing her just finished showering in Arc’s room, a murky loneliness came over him; had she not pleaded for him to stay, he would have left in a meditative haze. She had said nothing about Arc, as if it were some surreptitious game she and Arc were playing with him, and Guillermo’s umbrage towards the fact festered as the distance between their talk and the present grew longer and he got over his sadness.

By now it was nightfall, and the wispy shadows of clouds crawled swiftly over the deck. The air was cooler at night, and things were quieter; Guillermo found this appealing, for as his conversation with Cay had been sweeter than he expected, he leapt at this chance to spend his waking hours alone and undisturbed, safe from his social anxiety—to let her be before he inevitably ran into her and Arc together and became disappointed again. Maybe adjusting his shift entirely to nightfall while having everyone expect him to be sleeping the whole daytime would give him the chance to get the relaxation he so desired. He suddenly decided to see if Malachai was still awake to see if he could arrange this.

Meeting no one on the way, Guillermo soon reached Malachai’s office, which he discovered only recently in one of his aimless strolls. Oddly enough, no crewmembers were around and Guillermo noticed that the door had not been entirely closed. He stole in, finding a small office full of maps and books. A black door with light stretching from beneath it sat on the other side of the room. Guillermo thought it must be Malachai and cautiously headed over to knock, but a dusty-looking brown book sitting in dim lighting over Malachai’s desk caught his eye instead. He paused to listen—whoever was in that room was busy rummaging through something and apparently did not hear him sneak in. Guillermo could feel nobody else coming, and turned to look at the book. On opened pages lay a simple floor layout of the passenger halls with small boxes signifying each of the rooms. Names of the passengers and the date they had joined the ship had been scribbled inside each of the boxes; Guillermo remembered Malachai’s comment about surveying the passengers, but it now became obvious that this was a meticulous habit of the efficient captain. Guillermo started to brush it aside when he spotted a thick, chalky circle scrawled around one of the passenger’s names. He pushed forward for a closer inspection only to find that his name had been the one circled. Unsure of whether the mark had been a whimsical, meaningless scribbling (but the heavy breadth and apparent deliberation of the mark made him uneasily doubtful of this conclusion) or not, Guillermo stared at his name and the ominous indication enclosing it with apprehension—apprehension towards how closely Malachai might have been watching him.

His eyes wandered, searching for something else to fix himself on when he quickly came across Arc and Acacia’s names, surely enough within the same box, Arc’s beside the date of the destruction of Jaegar and Cay’s on the day of the landing at Danu. Guillermo flinched with disgust at both a perceived insincerity of Arc’s emotions for shacking up with a woman—and that woman in particular—so soon after showing passionate grief for the loss of Avery, and Cay’s behavior in giving Arc such license and keeping their acquaintance a secret before him. He squinted through the hazy darkness at her name written so simply on the page: “Acacia Valhas,” as he wondered at what upset him so much about the two of them sharing a room; he felt disappointed—even betrayed—and just wanted to avoid the whole ordeal if it was at all possible.

The log book was proving itself useful as he capriciously shook the thing about, looking for Sasha’s and Aleksi’s names. Somehow failing to stumble upon them he scanned the pages for their room instead. He triple-checked his accuracy when the room’s notation, with the date of Jaegar’s destruction beside the entry, disconcertedly yielded only the names “Miridea Salbanus” and “Alexandre Devenmark.” Guillermo considered the possibility that the discrepancy in the names was just meaningless blunders, but again found it more likely that some mischief was afoot. Sliding the book into the most casual of spots on the desk so that it did not appear to be disheveled or tampered with, Guillermo slipped out of the office and into the network of shadowy tunnels that worked their way through the ship. He had business to attend to.

*****

Guillermo knocked resolutely on Sasha’s door with a look of determination. The inescapable hum of the ship’s massive engines had made his wait seem aggravatingly lingering, although the door opened fairly quickly, as if those inside were expecting him. What the person within did not expect was Guillermo bounding straight in, and a lone Sasha stared with wild eyes at him as he stationed himself in the center of the room.

“Hello, Miridea,” he said with a face that indicated what he was obviously thinking: “So who are you lying to?”

Sasha paused for a minute as if remembering. “Oh, that,” she said nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, my real name is Sasha.”

‘Alexandre Devenmark’ was not in the room. Sasha’s scythe reclined against a corner (Guillermo was impressed by Sasha's defiance and was more than surprised that the captain hadn't come after her by now), and with her heavy, winding cloak sprawled over one of the beds; underneath the cloak she looked rather lithe and limber as she wore black form-fitting clothes and her arms were bare, possibly to allow freedom of movement. Apparently she hadn’t warmed up enough to remove her cloak during that bizarre fight. The blood had been cleaned from her mouth and she didn’t even look scathed. Guillermo was curious but did hear that the fight was all due to a misunderstanding and so decided it wasn’t his business to ask about it. Sasha looked so calm now that he thought he must have imagined that sinister glint her face had acquired while fighting.

“Where in the hell did you and Aleksi come up with those names?” Guillermo said with a wry smile.

Sasha ignored the question and answered another in anticipation: “You don’t really expect us to trust that old captain with our real names, do you? That would be stupid.”

“… It depends how secretive your business is,” Guillermo stated in a voice with a dull luster.

“Or how meddling the captain is,” Sasha countered.

“What do you mean?” Guillermo thought instantly of his name portentously encircled in the captain’s log book.

“I mean the old fool knows about you—we saw where you went when we stopped in Danu, and none of us tipped you off. My bet is that he had a suspicion about you and your interest in his information confirmed it.”

Guillermo said nothing. Without noticing, he sat down onto her bed. Sasha sat next to him.

“Have you heard of the Zephyr Gate?” Sasha asked him after a time. The question at first seemed off the subject.

“No,” Guillermo said, unsure of the point of the question.

“Nature abhors a vacuum. It’s a 40 league long stretch of unending wind that rushes straight into Antaross. We’ve changed course and are heading straight for it. In fact, we’ll be in it by tomorrow night, traveling four times our normal speed through its chamber.”

“So?”

“So… why do you think that is?”

“Maybe the captain just wants to get to Antaross and away from monsters as quickly as possible.”

“Please. The Gate is of extreme turbulence and monsters powerful enough to weather its storm make their home inside. A seasoned captain like him is more than aware of such risk; if safety was his concern we’d all stay quite far from the Zephyr Gate.”

Guillermo again said nothing. Sasha continued as if the silence had not occurred.

“No, I think it more likely that the wily creature has some… precious cargo… that he desperately needs to get to his friends in Antaross.” She eyed Guillermo up and down. “A person like you would be more than useful for his purposes in protecting Anteron against the relentless monster strikes and returning it to its former glory, and he is well aware of this… you’re not safe here, you know.”

Guillermo flinched at the suggestion. He thought of Aleksi’s words in despair—if he was now the person Aleksi said he was, all he could foresee was endless persecution by groups desiring him to be a slave to their designs, the number of parties growing as the word got out about his existence. And in all of the fleeing he would have to cease caring for anything, as the next flight would only force him to leave it behind.

“Listen…” a change came over Sasha’s face as if she suddenly felt a deep sympathy towards him, “Aleksi is right. You are special. A gnat has very little freedom to choose anything for itself. A fish has more freedom, a dog still more, and a human even more so… but a superhuman has the greatest. Yet as that level of freedom escalates, the more the true masterminds yearn to crush that freedom and reform that will to their interests.”

Guillermo thought suddenly of Dobbel at the words “true masterminds” and shuddered. It was then when Guillermo could fully recall some of the things Dobbel had said to him, all of which seemed to have a cruel design behind them that enjoyed seeing him suffer. Strange thoughts still careened through his mind. He felt wonderfully bonded to his arm, yet could not escape the recollection of Dobbel’s otherworldly void of a stare whenever he tried to embrace it.

He was till shaking when he asked in a heartrending voice:

“What should I do?”

He felt like crying; in fact, his eyes were already moist.

“Well, if you would like, Aleksi and I can show you how to embrace your new nature before others can get to you and shape your evolution to their selfish purpose. You need to condition your mind to resist these forces and then you’ll have the ability to do whatever you wish with your newfound strength. Aleksi and I have looked for many months now for a person such as yourself from whom we can learn much. All you have to do is meet us on the deck tomorrow night while the ship is in the Zephyr Gate and come with us—our small aircraft is scheduled for a landing.”

Guillermo looked up at her with intense suffering in his eyes, at which point she whispered, “We know what you are going through,” and bent over to put her arm around his neck and her head against his shoulder. Amazed, Guillermo hugged her back, finding the exchange to be nowhere near as awkward as he thought it would be if expecting it. The embrace felt wholesome, like hugging a little sister, and Guillermo felt appreciative—even flattered—by her coming off from her cold apathy toward him, especially after he had sensed a hidden rejection in Acacia’s effort to hide her relationship with Arc, despite her apparent concern in their last encounter.

Feeling a little more comforted, Guillermo slowly got up to leave—sleep seemed rather appealing to him at his point. As he lumbered out he turned towards Sasha, still sitting on the bed.

“… Just one question. Why all the secrecy—why weren’t you and Aleksi more… up front with me?”

“We had to wait until certain… conditions… were met. Had to confirm the preparations for our ship and the like,” she said with a wave of her hand. Guillermo nodded and hesitated at the door.

“Good bye, Guillermo,” Sasha said after a time.

“Good bye, Sasha…” Guillermo said dreamily as he closed the door after him.

*****

The following day had been difficult for Guillermo as he mulled over what he was about to do. Leaving The Inspiration meant leaving Arc, Seek and Cay behind, perhaps forever. But it also meant finding some answers as to the nature of his arm, and Aleksi and Sasha, as clandestine as they were, provided him more answers than anybody else. Lastly, it was an escape from the interested watch of the captain and the rejection or fear he might find in his meager set of friends as they learned more of his identity.

His greatest conclusion was that he had had a good run with his friends, and that he had taken it as far as it could last. He thought of the two sailors he hardly remembered befriending and had already almost broken ties with, and a specter of a not-too-distant past, who had once rejected him already and was now already sleeping in the same room with one of those sailors—they really had nothing more to offer him except discomfort, he thought, and all he would end up doing is hurting them in the future. They could never understand what was happening to him and what he felt he must do. Therefore, throughout the day, he rested quietly in his room, not wanting to cause his friends any more pain or confusion with one last good bye. They all would be perfectly happy together without him.

*****

Later that evening, Arc and Cay returned to their room after eating and attending to duties on the ship. The path of the airship gradually became increasingly rocky, and the winds louder as the ship came further towards the Gate, but few thought much of the tremors at first—the passengers were still largely abuzz about the fight that occurred the preceding night. Cay, however, thought only of Guillermo after his visit and her confrontation with the look of estrangement that rolled over his face. She could only dream of what had happened to him and hoped Arc could provide her with some more information about Guillermo’s recent behavior. But first she thought there was something she must do…

“Arc, I think Guillermo knows that we’ve been staying together…”

“Hmmm… yeah, so?” Arc replied inquisitively. He was completely in the dark.

“… Well, I thought you should know this…” She took a deep breath and looked intently at Arc. He had said that he felt better as of late after fleeing from Jaegar, now that he was with her, and he could start taking pleasure again in his daily observations; but he still had a tint of a pale, raw red surrounding his eyes, and his smile was weak. Perhaps that was why she felt such an affinity for him when she first saw him in Danu—his face always seemed to cry out for affection, and she felt a sympathetic duty to help relieve the tinges of pain that checkered his face.

She continued, “Guillermo and I go way back. We knew each other quite well in Renfir, our hometown. In fact… we… we were seeing each other, and even considered engagement.” Arc did not respond, as if he were slowly determining what she meant. Cay was quick to add, “But we’re through now,” in hopes of softening his response.

Arc blinked, and then laughed. “Oh, that’s it? Pretty interesting… I thought old Gui was the more reclusive type. He always acts like he has no time for girls.”

Surprised by his casual reaction, Cay somehow thought that this was not the point of what she had to say.

“Yes, but… maybe, we should… stop sharing a room together? For Guillermo’s sake?”

Arc seemed stunned, as if after this conversation his pain at Avery’s death, and a deeper pain he did not understand, would suddenly resurface with strength tenfold.

“Why… what do you mean?”

“Umm…have you noticed how Guillermo has been acting strangely—maybe you don’t know him like I do? He used to be so joyous and outgoing. Now he seems to be suffering, even acting like he’s insane: talking about some man who gave him back his arm that I didn’t even know he lost and wants him to do something for him. I think he’s telling the truth, I want to believe him, but it all seems so hard to believe—he doesn’t seem like the same person, though I told him otherwise. He seems so lonely… it hurts to see him like this. I, I think it would be best if he didn’t see us together… it’s only causing him more pain.”

*****

Cay was almost crying and speaking quickly. The sight of Guillermo and Cay sitting close together in his room that he sad seen during his excitement over the fight had vaguely etched itself upon the back of his mind yet he never sowed any meaning from it. Now he did a startled double take similar to if he suddenly noticed glass after staring outside for hours through a window. He thought he could see it all clearly now.

“You, you still have feelings for him!” he cried, more surprised than angry. All this time he had been thinking that she was enthralled with him, not still recovering from a relationship for the last untold years. He did not feel incensed at her as much as he did at the seething ache of seeing this illusion shatter. For a few days he had relief from having nothing to think about but Avery and his worthlessness against monster strikes—when he was with someone it seemed like these things no longer mattered—but this reassurance ended in that instant. “… maybe you shouldn’t have sent me the wrong messages, agreeing to stay in here and all, if all it would take for you to have feelings for him again is to see him suffering. He wouldn’t find us in the same room if you hadn’t obliged. All this is your fault—I had no idea about any of this.”

His tone seemed more than accusatory. Cay flushed crimson.

“And you know, I’m suffering too,” Arc added remorsefully, “… The world doesn’t revolve around Guillermo.”

“It doesn’t revolve around you, either,” she said softly. They had been speaking from across the gulf between two beds, and Cay turned over in hers with her back towards Arc. Arc stared at her motionless body for five minutes, gradually feeling more and more despicable for his outburst towards her. He made up his mind to apologize the next time they talked. Then he fell asleep after looking listlessly towards the ceiling.

*****

Cay pretended to fall asleep while Arc had watched her, and lay awake far after he had fallen asleep, afraid he still had his eyes on her. She almost ignored Arc’s explosive reaction and was more than ready to forgive him, but she was still plagued with confusion, unsure of what she truly felt for both Arc and Guillermo. Moreover, she was worried of what strife Guillermo was facing, and if he would have to face whatever it was alone. She eventually decided to visit Guillermo but couldn’t muster the energy to get up from her bed—no time seemed any better to move than the other. Suddenly she received a little help—the ship made a terrible leap at the sound of a loud crash as the low sounds of wind intensified and a strange glow exuded from outside the fogged up windows. In no time, she found herself sitting on the bed with her feet planted on the floor, staring at Arc in a sleep so deep he only stirred briefly in his slumber. She watched him silently for a long twenty minutes to make sure he was asleep before heading out the door to find out what had occurred, and more importantly, to find Guillermo.

*****

Guillermo, fully equipped with his tricorn, flintlock and saber, plus the only amenity granted him by Arguile that he had left, the money pouch, ambled onto the deck and into a world unlike any other. He had fallen asleep during the day, and suddenly roused at the loud crash of the ship to find a dark room all about him. Promptly remembering the fateful plans he had for that night, he hastily gathered the few belongings he had and scrambled out the door, wondering if he was too late. He expected to find the halls crammed with people wondering what the ruckus was all about, but ostensibly all were either convinced it was a dream or were afraid of leaving the proceeding calmness of their rooms. After leaving his room to the sounds of violent winds, he stood poised to knock on the door across the hall, where on the other side he was sure to find Arc and Cay. He lingered there for five minutes, and, hearing nothing, decided to walk away.

Now, as he stood silently at the deck he simply marveled at what he saw. The ship had apparently entered Zephyr Gate—the reason for the loud collision—just as Sasha had said. A massive tunnel of clouds that one could see out of only through certain holes in its miasma swirled and rocketed past the ship at exhilarating speeds, and a long, low ‘Ooooooohhhhh’ of the winds resonated like a chorus of thousands that never lost their breath—an experience comparable to being caught in a gargantuan flute, if such a thing was possible. The blanket of clouds that coiled around the ship were not merged into one tunnel, but all the separate clouds traveled so fast and swirled about past the ship in such a manner that it appeared as if they were in the process of forming a wormhole of some sort. They glowed a pale white as if charged and illuminated by the moon’s light. Vicious stitches of crackling lightning could be seen and heard flashing behind the tube of vapor. Outside the periodic, high-pitched cries of wind were almost deafening. His arm surged with the unbelievable sensations the winds caused as they brushed past.

Guillermo looked ahead to find Sasha standing silently by her lonesome at the foot of the deck. He ventured out into the tempest, fearing the sight of monsters waiting to swoop by and nab him. As the night look-out who was supposed to be on duty, Guillermo was glad that it was he that was sneaking off the ship, for it would have been near impossible to spot anything near the ship unless it entered the exact spot you were staring at. As he slowly journeyed further, shards of ice and other particles raced out from behind him with thin white strips following them, like the tails of a comet, and streamed forth, all looking rather celestial. The further he traveled towards the black figure of Sasha, the more surreal the physics the Gate seemed to display. Although the channel walls of the misty clouds emanated an insipid white radiance, ahead of him and on the sides of the ship a thick, pitch-blackness sat unbreached. The deck itself appeared to glow in harmony with the clouds. The ship, quaking and buckling as it was, seemed to not even move forward as the clouds flashed past faster than Guillermo had ever seen anything move, yet he felt little wind resistance on the deck while one would expect him, considering the pace at which the ship traveled, to be in danger of being blown off like chaff in a heartbeat. Yet Guillermo’s body sustained the presence of great pressure as he very deliberately stared forward, looking through the vortex into a black hole that lied in the center of it, many leagues ahead. But at the rate the whole ship traveled, they all would be in that distance, and close to Antaross, in very little time at all. Guillermo couldn’t help but wonder how “natural” the Gate could possibly be; it seemed more than a natural occurrence. He shuddered at the idea that whatever source from which his arm had been created might also be used to control other forces of nature; with the existence of his arm and this talk of human evolution, the idea certainly seemed more than possible.

Finally, Guillermo reached the place where Sasha stood. His knees were quaking. She slowly turned to him and stated with little surprise, “So you’ve come.” She had said this quite loudly and with great force, yet to Guillermo it seemed like she said it in a normal conversational voice.

“Where’s Aleksi?” Guillermo said once and then quickly repeated himself in a much stronger voice.

Sasha only stared low into the darkness, her eyes moving rapidly.

“There,” she said, pointing down low over the side of the ship into the sea of blackness to a stream of light protruding from a smooth rectangular figure accelerating at a steady rate faster than the ship itself, its features currently undistinguishable in the darkness. Guillermo narrowed his eyes and strained to see that the structure was an aircraft of some sort, able to sit about 5 or 6 people in two rows of open hatches. Though Guillermo could not see it, the aircraft had a custom made, retractable three-pronged battering ram that bent out from under the ship, able to destroy ships much larger than itself with careful piloting. The object began to slow to match the speed of the ship and slowly pulled up to about fifteen feet below the edge of the deck.

Aleksi, piloting in the front of the vehicle, shouted through the torrent, “You’ll have to jump; pulling up to the side of the ship is much too dangerous!”

And jumping off isn’t?! Guillermo thought with astonishment. Sasha, however, wasted no time, and effortlessly leapt onto the smaller vehicle as smoothly as a shadow transferring itself to a lower plane as its domain grew.

Guillermo walked to the edge of the ship and balanced over the side of it, taking a large gulp and hesitating—he could hardly see the aircraft below him.

“What’s the matter, Guillermo? Don’t you trust me?” Aleksi shot out at him, “Or don’t you trust yourself?” Guillermo felt that if he wasn’t meant to die, a little misgauged hop surely wouldn’t be his end. He took a deep breath and began to fall forward.

*****

Just at that moment, Acacia had reached the deck, bracing the wind, eyes widened at her surroundings. Although they all had strict orders not to venture outside that night (a fact that Guillermo had missed while sleeping—Arc was supposed to tell him and absent-mindedly neglected his duty) Cay was convinced that Guillermo was on the deck since he did not answer his door. The first thing she saw upon fully reaching the outer deck was Guillermo, standing at the edge of the ship, poised to jump over the side. Her heart almost stopped.

“What? Oh my god! Guillermo!” she screamed as she raced towards him. But it was no use—even without the wind and the rolls of lightning he might not have even paid any attention. He tipped forth and off the ship. Cay reached the edge after him, convinced for a few awful seconds that the unthinkable had just happened, until she saw an object, about the size of a long patio, methodically veer of to her right, shoot out of the clouds of the Gate, and take off. The craft had been able to travel just the right distance off to persuade her that Guillermo was on that ship. The effect was bittersweet—obviously glad Guillermo wasn’t desperate enough to kill himself, the fact that he would leave unannounced was still rather disturbing. The only thing she could think of was to tell Arc and Seek and the captain that Guillermo had left the ship with some unknown party.

*****

Soon she had gathered Arc and Seek, and after five minutes they were all disturbing the captain from a contemplative rest in his quarters to tell him what Acacia had seen. Acacia and Arc had dropped their hostility and were only concerned with the task at hand. Their common concern for Guillermo helped bring them into fair terms once again.

“What? Impossible!” Malachai said breathlessly. He looked devastated; Arc didn’t think he was that attached to him. He hadn't really seen much of the captain as of late, and he looked busy with something even while he hurriedly intervened during the fight the night before.

“Which direction did they flee? We’re currently due Northwest,” he added, calmly trying to realize the whole situation.

“Northwest? They went off to my right—so Northeast?” Cay said worryingly.

“Northeast? There’s nothing up there but snow and a few inconsequential towns which had minor dealings with both sides during the war.” His voice broke for a second. “… Ah… we’ll never be able to find them now…” He slammed his fist onto his desk and stared at some space just past the side of Seek’s head.

Just then a crewmember arrived, carrying a piece of paper.

“Some guy earlier this morning paid me to deliver this to you guys tonight…” he said as he handed the sheet forth.

Arc snatched it greedily and scanned through it until he recognized what it was. He looked up shakily.

“Guys, you’d better have a look at this…” he said. It was a letter addressed to Arc and Seek, signed by Aleksi. Everyone gathered round, but couldn’t all see to read the letter at once, so Arc took a deep breath and began to read it aloud…

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Here's another one by me, much longer and much more serious than my previous stuff. I don't particularly like this addition, though, because I felt as though I was rushing the story along to fit it within a certain page limit, and because I was uncomfortable with making the decisions on what everyone would be doing now that Guillermo had fled The Inspiration. In the previous addition, for some as of yet unknown reason, I changed the character who reads the letter from Seek to Arc. I'm not sure why, really. At all. In this addition, I attempted to drop some dead weight, but it eventually spins around and negates the parting absolutely. I didn't know what exactly to do with Adam and Elise, and so their destinies become part of the secondary story arc. So like... here you go.

_____

52nd Post – BRC 07

*BRC7* - *fifty-two*

‘"Friends of Guillermo, by now you have no doubt realized that he has cast you aside to come with us. His journey is now one of self-discovery and self-realization. I cannot tell you to where our paths lead us, for we must not have interference in Guillermo's thoughts.

Sasha and I are aware of your interest in what has happened to him and how he regained his arm, and for that we are sorry. We are sorry that we can not give you a better explanation; all I can do is ask that you do not follow us. Consider Guillermo dead, if you wish, but do not seek us out.”

Sincerely, Aleksi’

Arc dropped the letter onto the desk in front of him, wondering how this Aleksi had known so much about Guillermo when he and Seek had known nothing.

"Well, I guess that's that," Seek said, feigning carelessness. "Guillermo wasn't exactly a good friend, but at least it was... interesting while he was around." With that, Seek took leave to his quarters.

"Hey, hold on a minute, Seek." Arc tried to stop him, but Seek disappeared out the door and down the hallway. "Seek, wait..." His voice trailed off as he came to a halt at the doorway. It occurred to him that Seek was acting strangely, almost as if he had given up hope or something. Maybe he’s given up everything...

Arc's thoughts turned next to Acacia. She had sat down in a chair, crying uncontrollably. He couldn't think of anything to say; he just wanted to comfort her, so he said the first thing that came to mind: "Hey, don't think we're going to let him go that easily. I'll talk to Seek, and when we get to Antaross, the three of us can set out to find him." What am I saying? "I know he means a lot to you, and I for one want to know what's going on." Do I really? Is this my interest or hers? He gave Acacia a reassuring hug, and out of nothing more than blind thankfulness, she sobbingly hugged him back. What am I getting myself into? And why?

"Thank you, Arc. I knew I could trust you from the moment I met you." Acacia kissed him lightly on the cheek, and Arc's face flushed red for an instant. He didn't know what was driving him to say these things. He could see Malachai behind Acacia, who had begun brooding over this news.

He whispered to Acacia while still in the hug. "Besides, I'm not so sure the captain is done with Guillermo yet. It's best his friends find him first, right, Cay?" They separated, and nodded to each other in agreement. "We'll discuss this when we get to Antaross, okay? Go get some rest, I'll be there soon." Cay dried her eyes and bid the captain farewell. Why am I putting myself out for her? This isn't me. I'm not like this.

"Captain." Arc now turned to Malachai, who had been reading over the letter profusely in disbelief. "Captain, if I may ask, why are you so upset about his leaving? I mean, I know you weren't too keen on having him on the ship in the first place, him being former Jaegar military and all." He chose his words carefully, knowing he could no longer trust this man.

Malachai interrupted his brooding to cover up his actions. "Well, he was a hired night lookout, Medose. I have to replace a replacement now. You know how annoying it is, always having to hire on new people? No, because you are one of those new people."

"Well, Captain, what about all the squatters that joined the ship since Danu? You can easily assign them a job, so Guillermo was not really that big a loss."

"Look, Medose, I don't know where you're going with this, but I suggest if you want to remain on my crew that you stop meddling in the affairs of busy captains. Now, if you'll excuse yourself, it's late and I don't feel like being bothered anymore." He practically pushed Arc out of his room and slammed the door behind him.

"Well, that was strange. He's definitely up to something," Arc said to no one in particular and under his breath. He chose to give up and headed back to his room. I know I want vengeance on the monsters. That's all I've thought about since Avery's death. Since meeting Cay, that longing for revenge has been curbed slightly. But with Guillermo leaving, I know he's going to die, and that will be devastating for Cay. It's all those damn monsters. They are the cause of everything. And I can't do anything about them! Arc punched a nearby door in frustration, waking up the residents in the process.

"Who the hell is waking us up at this hour?!" The door swung open before Arc realized what was going on. The red-headed woman from the mess hall fight stepped out with a mixed look of sleepiness and rage.

"Oh, it's just you, Red. I'm sorry, I… tripped."

"The name's Elise, jerkoff. Get out of here and let us sleep." She turned around, slammed the door, and Arc heard nothing more from her.

"Gotta stop doing that..." Arc cleared his head and went back to his quarters, where he found Acacia already asleep, tears still in her eyes. With an exasperated sigh, he lay down on his bed and he too soon fell asleep.

*****

Guillermo sat and looked at his arm. He thought about Sasha and Aleksi and how he was 'evolving' into something superhuman or a monster or whatever. Sasha walked in from the door to the bridge, and sat next to him. She noticed his concerned look, and interjected his thoughts.

"I know you're confused, and I know you're scared. You will understand in due time. Trust me." She said it so nonchalantly that it made Guillermo flinch.

"Where are you taking me? That's all I need to know right now."

"There's a village just a few leagues northeast of us. It's small, secluded, and silent. You will begin understanding there." Sasha stood up, and placed her hand on Guillermo's shoulder, and instantly he realized that his arm’s gift was spreading across his body. He was evolving. His left shoulder was not lost and replaced, but it felt just the same as the rest of his left arm. He could feel every pulse of blood, every spot on her hand, the bumps and wrinkles on her palm with extreme detail. He shuddered at the unexpected closeness with which he felt her hand.

"You've already begun changing. It's only a matter of time." A smile was all he saw as she disappeared back into the bridge.

"Wait, what's the name of the town?" Guillermo was still curious where they were going.

'Baines' was his only answer.

*****

Seek and Arc did not talk much about Guillermo in the following days. Seek seemed to avoid the subject entirely. On shift-change the day before arrival, Seek blurted out his feelings. "Arc, I just want to go back to the way things were before. You know, sailing and having a good time. Killing the occasional monster. I don't want to find Guillermo. I hope I never see him again. Everywhere he goes death and destruction follows, and we've let it slide. You know as well as I do that he's trouble, and we'll only die if we pursue him. Do not go after him, please," Seek desperately pleaded.

"I don't know what to tell you, Seek. I would like to go back to the old days, but it’s just not possible. My gut instinct is warring with my desire to believe that the world is all puppy dogs and rose petals. I want to find Guillermo, and figure out what's going on. I want to help Cay. I need to help Cay. When we land in Antaross, Cay and I are going after him. With or without you."

Arc watched as his longtime buddy resigned their friendship in a blink. "Without. I can't do it, Arc. I'm staying on The Inspiration and I'm going to live." He walked away without even saying ‘goodbye.’

I can't believe Seek would just drop me like that. After all we've been through, how could he just turn his back and let me do this alone? Fine. I don't need him. Arc scoffed and went to find Acacia.

*****

"Captain, I'm sorry to tell you that we will have to relinquish our positions on your ship after the landing today." We have business to attend to and we cannot accomplish it on The Inspiration." Arc and Acacia had resigned and when the ship landed, they did not see Seek or Malachai again.

After landing, they had to decide how they were going to travel Northeast. With the small amount of money given to them by Malachai as payment, Arc used it to buy some supplies and they bought their way into a troupe heading to the small village of Quines for trade. "It's not first-rate, but it'll have to do, and it's a good place to start, Cay." Arc was still comforting Acacia about this whole thing. She wished Seek would have come with them, knowing that a second person as protection is always a plus.

"When do we leave, Arc?"

"The group leaves in the morning, bright and early. We'd best get a room tonight and get to sleep." They started to walk towards the business district to find a hotel, when Adam and Elise stopped them dead in their tracks.

"Excuse me, sir." Adam walked up with Elise following shortly after. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, but we have a favor to ask of you. My name is Adam, and this is-"

"Elise, she was the one I rudely awakened a few nights ago. Sorry about that, Miss. My name is Arc, and this is my companion, Acacia," said Arc, flushing beet red at meeting Elise again.

"Good to meet you, Adam. Elise." Exchanging handshakes, Adam got right down to business.

"Elise and I overheard your conversation about heading towards Quines. We would like to accompany you with the troupe as far as Baines. We have business there, but no airships travel that way. The same as you, we require protection from beasts on our trip, and a troupe is the best route for us to take. We already talked to the troupe leader, but we don't have the sufficient funds to join and have protection. If you foot us the part of the bill we need, we will repay you in double upon reaching Baines."

"I don't see why not, you two don't look troublesome. It'll be nice to have a couple on the trip, I think." Acacia didn't even consult Arc before agreeing to it.

"Oh, we're n-" Adam interrupted Elise before she could speak.

"We're grateful to you for your kindness. We will meet you by the troupe in the morning, then?" Arc nodded, and they shook hands once again to complete their 'deal'. "Come on, Honey, we better get a room as well."

*****

After leaving the company of Arc and Acacia, Elise jabbed Adam in the side. "Why did you tell that lie again? They're going to think we're perverts or something if they find out we're siblings."

"Arc was there the night of your confrontation with Sasha. We can't change our story or he'll become suspicious. We know Sasha took their friend, and we know where she is headed. The less Arc and his little girlfriend know, the less they can get involved, right?" Elise decided he was right, and they went on their way without saying another word.

End Chapter 4

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Forgot to mention that yesterday's addition was the end of Chapter 4, and I have so edited the addition to reflect that. Today is the start of Chapter 5 with a longer IRC addition than usual. Oddly enough, he focuses only on Malachai, introducing the political aspect of the story. This side to the story will sit on hold until the 2nd Book is over, when things get more politically and governmentally involved. There are five new characters introduced here, all of which are secondary or minor characters. They form the Anteronian High Council, and IRC created a good mix of political figures for this early political endeavor. I didn't change much besides punctuation and placement, so this is relatively an original.

_____

Chapter 5

53rd Post – IRC 09

*IRC9* - *fifty-three* *chapter5*

Malachai knew that he was in trouble. Sitting outside the main council room in the Anteronian council building, he waited for the Chancellor to summon him. He found his thoughts drifting back to his meeting with Arguile. He had been traveling from Anteron to Kolika when Arguile’s message arrived, asking him to meet him in Jaegar. The only reason he would ever land his ship in Jugere [short of an emergency landing] was at the request of Arguile. And so he had found himself, an Anteron general, walking around the city of the enemy looking for some small hotel in which to meet another old Anteron commander for a cup of tea. The humor of the situation was ignored, but not forgotten, by Malachai. Arguile had explained in his letter the extent of his injuries, a rather large skewer in his torso, and their peculiar nature. The hole in his stomach had stopped bleeding and for all extensive purposes was fine, but it refused to heal over. The doctors he had seen had stitched him up but the wound had refused to scab over and they had no choice but to keep the sutures in and bandage him up. He was furious at the indignity of the entire situation. He had seen the bedridden man before him survive the countless horrors of the war only to be brought down by some damned monster at the bottom of some hole in the desert. Arguile, however, seemed strangely serene about the whole thing. It was as if his wound was completely normal and there was nothing unnatural about its behavior. Arguile was far more interested in some Jugere soldier who had lost an arm in the same desert. Malachai hadn’t understood why Arguile was acting so irrational until he brought up the man called Dobbel.

Just then, Malachai’s thoughts were interrupted by a page boy summoning him inside. Following the boy, Malachai passed through the large double doors. The room had become very familiar to him in the last few years of the war. As he rose in the ranks of the military he began to attend many of the military meetings that were held here; at first as a silent aide for his commanding officer and then on his own behalf. It was a large crescent-shaped room with white marble floors and Greco-style pillars along the walls for effect. The councilmen were seated at the curved end of the room, and in the center sat the five high-council members. In front of them were three podiums set up for those who were addressing the council. To his immediate right and left were a series of four long pews intended for the upper-class citizens of Anteron. He knew they would be empty for this particular meeting of the High Council.

This room held many mixed feelings for him. It was where he learned first hand of the sacrifices made by great leaders. Here, that one of his proudest moments occurred, his promotional ceremony to General of the Arms. It was where he had planned his own stratagems for war, many successful, a few not. This room was where Malachai had also learned of the attack on his hometown. It was in this room too that he suffered his greatest defeat, the loss of his wife and child. He supposed the latter was why he never chose to run for congressman after the war ended, despite the protests of encouragement he had received from his peers. He could hardly imagine spending any great length of time in this room. But for now, he was forced to face all of his memories and then bury them for the moment. There is a more important matter than some old fool and his ghosts, he thought to himself. He walked to the center podium and waited for the Chancellor to speak.

The Chancellor was a man in his early fifties named Benedict Copeland. Malachai knew him as the General of Wars during the Jugere Conflict and he had just recently been appointed to the Chancellor position. Malachai also knew him to have the interests of Anteron in his head, but the interests of himself in his heart. It had been Copeland who had first expressed an interest in the rumors of Dobbel during the war, and it was Copeland who was largely responsible for Malachai’s presence today. To Copeland’s right was a large fat man with freckles and red hair. Armando Carper was another ex-military man who was on the council. He made a better general than councilman and usually lost sight of the bigger picture when it came to things. He was always looking at the battle and not the war. But he also saw things in a very practical manner that was sometimes useful. To Copeland’s left was an older, white-haired man who had been on the council since long before the war. Jarlen had forgotten more obscure laws than the rest of the High Council could recall. Malachai doubted there was a man more by the book than Jarlen Farrell. However, just as quick as he could recall some by-law to save your neck, he could recall one that could hang it. To Armando’s right was a tall balding man named Trenton Darius. Trenton was the most honest of the High Council and worked only for the people of Anteron. However, Trenton was as naïve as he was honest and believed that every other council member was as honest as he was. He was not blind to the actions of others, but merely overlooked things at times. And finally on the far left side, sat Damian Magpie. Damian despised Malachai and Malachai felt no love for Damian either. When Aneas Paxton stepped down as Chancellor and Copeland took his place, it was Malachai that was favored for the seat that Damian now held. Malachai felt that Damian feared the day when Malachai would try and take the seat from him. It was this reason that Malachai regarded Damian as the most dangerous of the five. The fact that Damian was not above bribery and blackmail to get what he wanted did not help matters. And Malachai knew very well that caution was warranted for this meeting.

He had failed to bring back his objective.

After the war and the destruction of most of Anteron by monsters, Copeland had issued a decree stating that all upper members of the Anteron military were to hold one objective higher than all others. Any sign of objects, artifacts, weapons or people which showed an elevated effectiveness at combating the monster threat were to be reported immediately to the high council and measures taken to retrieve the object or person and transport them back to Anteron. It seemed like a trivial matter to most of the captains, but Malachai agreed with it fully. So immediately after meeting with Arguile, Malachai sent word back to the Council saying he may have found something of interest. Upon seeing Guillermo fight the Kronal, he knew he had found something that showed elevated effectiveness. He had even been willing to risk using the Zephyr Gate to get Guillermo to the council as soon as possible. And he had failed.

Malachai continued to stare at Copeland, waiting for him to start, but it was Damian Magpie’s voice that broke the silence.

“I’m sure we all know why we are here today, so if no one objects I would like to skip the formalities and get down to the bare bones of the matter.” When no one objected, he continued on, “So tell us, Captain Malachai, how exactly did your prisoner escape you? I’m sure a man of your credentials would have realized the value of his cargo and taken the necessary precautions in its safekeeping. Am I not correct?”

Malachai’s nostril’s flared but his expression remained calm and collected. “I felt that the best way to keep the target from running was to give him no impression that there was anything to run from. He had companions aboard my vessel that would have started asking questions that I did not want asked, if he disappeared.”

“A rather smart tactic, I must admit,” remarked Darius.

“True,” added Damian, glaring across to Trenton, “but it clearly did not do the job. I see no target before us.”

It was then that Copeland opened his mouth, “Perhaps then we should let him finish his explanation.”

“Thank you, Chancellor,” said Malachai as he continued, “I had arrived at the Zephyr Gate with the target in tow and I thought that once inside there would be no means of escape for him. But I was wrong. There were two passengers who had managed to stow a small private airship in the cargo hold of my ship. They used it inside the Zephyr Gate to escape with the target.”

At this Jarlen Ferrell piped in, “And just exactly how did they manage to secure their ship in your hold?” He stared at Malachai almost accusingly.

“They bribed the Cargo Director into stowing it; they also brought a small wyrm aboard. The wyrm is dead now, of course, and the matter of the director has been taken care of already.”

Now Armando cleared his throat and stated very simply, “I believe the important matter is why did the target leave with the other two if you gave him no reason to run?”

“It is my belief that the two worked for Dobbel.”

At the mention of Dobbel’s name, the entire council began muttering and whispering to each other. Copeland pounded his gavel in an attempt to restore order.

“There has been no sign of him for months now. What makes you think that he has surfaced again?” Copeland asked the captain.

“The word of Devon Arguile. Before he disappeared during the attack on Jaegar, he told me of his journey through the Taber Canyon. During that trek not only did Dobbel accompany him and his crew, but Arguile was saved from a fatal injury he sustained from a Canyon Runner. He also told me of Dobbel’s interest in Guillermo Avory. And although neither Arguile nor Avory stated it specifically, I believe that Dobbel was responsible for Guillermo regrowing his arm.”

“And the connection with the two Mr. Avory left with…?” interjected Damian.

“Merely my belief,” countered the captain, “During the flight one of the two, a female using a pseudonym, got into an altercation with another passenger. The way she fought reminded me of Dobbel and his reported abilities. It’s possible that they are not part of the same group but something tells me they are.”

The muttering began again as Malachai finished speaking. Copeland appeared in deep thought and didn’t bother to try his gavel. Damian was the one who spoke for him.

“Well, thank you very much for this report, Captain Malachai. If no one on the council has anything else for the captain, I think he can leave us to confer amongst ourselves.” He paused to let anyone speak. When none did he continued. “Well then, thank you very much again Captain…”

“Let me go after him,” interrupted Malachai bluntly.

“E… excuse me?” stammered Damian, clearly indignant at being interrupted.

“Give me a small contingent of men and the means to go after him. Their small craft was headed northeast. I suspect somewhere in Joyt. I’ve seen enough of Avory and I believe that he is something special. I lost him. I’ll find him.”

“Thank you for your further, unasked for, input…” began Damian, only to be interrupted again by Copeland.

“Captain, I’ll have to confer with the High Council on this new matter, of course. But I would advise you not to make any further plans for The Inspiration until further notice.”

Malachai turned and left the council room. A small smile played across his face as he went.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Your regularly scheduled program has been interrupted for this important news update:

I posted the wrong addition for this day. I skipped the 54th addition in place of Ryu's 55th. So what I'm doing is replacing this addition with Karim's 54th, and copy/pasting Ryu's 55th into the next addition with an explanation similar to this one. You'll get instructions to read this addition instead of the last in the topic, and I apologize gravely for this. I've also opted to place the geography blurb in this addition, since this is the original time for Baines to actually show up. So there you go.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, onto the story. Couple things to note here: we have a new locale opened up, the snowy village of Baines to the Northeast of Antaross, and somewhere North of Jaegar. Geographically speaking, this is a mountain range that starts somewhere north of Anteronian country in the northeast of the main continent, heads East along a relative coastline from the north, and eventually, the coastline grows out into a larger land-mass in and above the mountains that contains the country of Joyt. This mountain-range also begins to get much larger as it turns South on the edge of Jugerian territory, and it forms the natural barrier of the country of Matra between the isolated Lerandelia country to the far East and Jugere. Jugere is more or less situated directly in the center of the continent. I think that covers us for geography for now.

In this addition, Guillermo becomes flustered by Sasha and Aleksi's hidden motives and actions, and the Anteronian High Council discusses Malachai's request to search for Guillermo, where we get a hint at a new character. I changed the dialogue around a bit for this scene, because Karim apparently got some of the names confused while writing, because several people in a row who were speaking ended up being the same person, that of Damian and Magpie, who is really one person, Damian Magpie. I think everything is smoothed over for this part now.

_____

54th Post – Karim 02

*Karim2* - *fifty-four*

A light snow blew through the cold air. Guillermo had decided to go for a walk, and didn’t think it would begin to snow so shortly. However, the snow did not faze him. He continued to explore his new surroundings, mainly the woods just outside the border of the town.

It had been several hours since they had landed in Baines, and he was beginning to adjust to the small town's serene atmosphere. It was far different than the cities he was used to. He didn’t think much of the town itself; it felt small and boring to him – like home. It was the type of place that never changed, regardless of the time of year. Yet at the same time, however, he felt at home in the surroundings. He felt free, in this open forest, away from the everyday troubles of man, he felt more alive, perhaps more …complete. What was it he was feeling? He knew he may not have been the most sociable person, but he certainly wasn’t a complete recluse. He couldn’t help but wonder, and the more he thought about it, the more he yearned to flee from the village. He knew that if he could keep moving in the woods, by night neither Sasha nor Aleksi would be able to find him; he would be free to do as he wished, free from their games. Free from everything, free from everyone. As he thought this over, he became disgusted with himself. They were going to help him learn what he was; yet here he was on the verge of running off into the woods, on an almost animalistic instinct. He knew just then, he was changing. This overwhelming feeling must have also been part of the evolution.

He had so many questions, for what these things happening to him were, and he knew running from the only people who could answer them would never help. He turned and headed back into the village. He stopped in front of the airship they had ridden in. Sasha was hunched over fiddling at an open panel on the side of the ship.

“…Sasha,” said Guillermo.

She stopped her tinkering and turned to acknowledge him.

“I was beginning to worry you had run away,” she said, smiling at him.

“W-why would you think that?"

Sasha merely smiled back at him. He knew she wasn’t telling him something; or everything. She said she was surprised he didn’t run away… It seemed too similar to what had really been going through his mind just minutes ago. If it had been anyone else, he would have taken it as pure coincidence, but something about Sasha made it believable that she did know what was going through his mind. And with his own ‘evolution’ the thought of her having such powers was not such a radical idea.

“I wanted to ask you… more about my ‘evolution,’” Guillermo said.

Aleksi stepped out of the airship, twirling a dagger in his hand. His eyes focused on Guillermo.

“…And that is just it. We cannot answer your questions without knowing what is going through your mind, Guillermo,” Aleksi said.

Guillermo looked puzzled.

“You …still don’t get it, do you?” Sasha asked.

“Then… why did you bring me here!?” Guillermo retorted.

“So you can find the answers on your own, without others interfering. You have all the answers already; Sasha and I just are providing the keys to the locks in your brain,” Aleksi said.

“And you expect me to believe that load of ****?” Guillermo snapped.

“Yes,” Sasha said, still smiling at him.

Guillermo frowned, and turned, heading off into the inn.

“He wants to know what he is becoming, but he is too afraid to find out for himself,” said Aleksi as Guillermo disappeared inside the inn.

"Do you think his fears will have an affect on his evolution?" asked Sasha. She may not have shown it completely, but she was genuinely concerned about Guillermo’s actions and his future.

"Sasha, that is exactly what we are trying find out, is it not?" Aleksi said in a dismissive tone, and walked back inside the airship.

*****

In the council room, the discussion over whether to allow Malachai to follow Guillermo was taking place. Copeland scratched at his chin, as he looked out at the others for their reaction on this matter.

“I don’t see why we should even be discussing this. We need to go after the man and it is that simple,” Armando Carper shouted.

“The issue is not that we must track him down, it is whether we should trust Malachai with such important matters,” said Damian Magpie, known to be staunchly against Malachai in the first place.

“Even though he has failed us, I do not see him making the same mistake again,” Copeland interjected.

“Hmph. Just because you believe in him does not mean he should be trusted with these matters,” Magpie retorted.

“That is true. But he does deserve another chance. And we do not have any officer that is better qualified than him,” Trenton Darius said, inflecting his truth in the conversation.

“Even if that is the case, is he really our only option for this situation?” Jarlen Farrel asked.

“No, but he has the highest probability of success. While there is risk involved, it is less than that of any other officers we currently have,” Copeland said.

“Perhaps if we simply sent someone else along with him to prevent him from making such a mistake again, it would prevent any possible failure?” Mapgie added.

“That would be a wise idea,” Darius concluded.

“He did ask for men, anyhow. We shall simply have a backup among them,” Magpie said.

“If he fails, our ‘agent’ will have permission to take over his post,” said Farrell.

“We shall hide the ‘agent’ among the men we are drafting to his ship. With any luck, we will not have to fall back on him,” Magpie concluded. Though Copeland didn’t quite trust his motives, he himself had no better ideas, and so agreed.

“Do you have anyone particular in mind?” Carper asked.

“A mercenary, by the name of Cale Ulger,” Magpie said.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

EDITED FOR STUPID REASONS: This is the same addition that I posted yesterday. I skipped Karim's 54th addition and posted this instead, so I changed yesterday's addition to reflect Karim's addition, and the post here is actually the one from yesterday. So you need to read the addition before this one to get the story straight the way it should be. I think that covers it, hope this doesn't confuse anyone.

Time to go back to the program. Everything else was originally here in the post yesterday, so have fun.

I think a certain timeline should be placed here. There was a relatively long gap prior to my last addition where I didn't post any additions. This was due to the fact that I was moving... somewhere. Shortly after, I believe, Mora takes a hiatus for a similar reason. During this time, we had IRC and Karim pulling what I like to call a switcharound, where neither were solidly committed to the story, and so one or the other would occasionally pop in. At this time, Ryu, Mora, Omni, Karim, myself, and IRC are all so-called active writers in the story. With IRC's latest addition, though, we won't see him for awhile. Mora's hiatus will take place directly after his next addition, or so I think.

Last is the actual storyline. Guillermo is the main focus here, for most of the addition, and he begins to glean information from his furtive trainers. We begin to see the relationship that Sasha and Aleksi share with Dobbel, and a glimpse at what Dobbel actually is. Sasha and Aleksi also share a dialogue that shows a small but noticeable dissension among their rank. Good God, this is the longest blurb ever. On with the goods!

_____

55th Post – Ryu 06

*Ryu6* - *fifty-five*

By now Guillermo had formed a habit of taking strolls through the thin coating of snow over the pebble streets and dirt pathways of Baines, as Sasha and Aleksi did not seem willing to talk to him yet, as if they were still settling in and resting upon their arrival. Like a family vacation, Guillermo thought with a smirk. Baines had been built on a wedge of evergreen-covered mountains, and the discrepancies in altitude between the various lodgings and houses that had been built into the ridges were unlike any other town he had been in. Stairs lined the outsides of almost all of the man-made structures. He could not get over how peaceful the town seemed, for he barely saw a soul on the streets and the houses were few and far between. Guillermo felt he could lean against a tree in a patch of snow and fall asleep, but some idea haunted him, causing him to anxiously plod forth up and down the hills. At last he decided to see if Sasha or Aleksi could be coaxed into dropping their riddles and speak to him directly.

*****

Meanwhile, Aleksi reclined silently in the darkness of the inn’s upstairs room in an oxy wooden chair. Shaped rather like a tower, the inn featured two rooms, connected by stairs and hallways, with the top room stacked halfway on top of the other as it receded further into a mountain wall. Aleksi’s bony, gangly arms shot far past the arms of the chair, looking thin and brittle enough to snap over the fronts of them as he slouched, watching nothing in particular through the dusk and listening carelessly to Sasha tend to something downstairs. He seemed lost in thought, yet his mind conjured up only one idea: We cannot lose him....everything depends on it. Just then his ears perked up at the sound of Guillermo entering with relish...

*****

“I have something I need answered,” said Guillermo, addressing Sasha in the bottom room. She had been systematically sharpening her scythe over the kitchen table; Guillermo wondered if she and Aleksi ever ate.

“Yeah?” Sasha looked up from her task, looking as if she were interested in what he had planned to ask her while still having no arrangement to answer him.

“I’ve been thinking about Dobbel...how you two seem so congruous with his plans...finding me shortly after my meeting with him with all of your plans.” He paused. “I suppose I want to know if you are allies with him...and who he is.”

Sasha laid her scythe aside, put her elbows on the table and leaned slightly forward. “We have told you—it will all come in due time. These answers will come to you only when you are ready,” she said with resolution.

Guillermo grimaced—he had been sick of these mind games long ago; they only accomplished one objective: avoiding his questions and leaving him in the dark. Guillermo’s head had been tilted downward, and suddenly he did something he could not remember having done before—his eyes looked straight into Sasha’s. Yet his head was still tilted so that Sasha could only see the bottom of his pupils as they gazed past his brow.

“You will tell me.” He looked ready to take her by the neck if he had to. It sounded more like a command than the apologetic pleas for help he had been compelled to use as Sasha and Aleksi held their knowledge above his head. Sasha, startled, actually moved backwards before his fearsome glare before she checked herself and decided that this was a good sign—his sudden surge of strength seemed indicative of some evolutional development by his unexplained loss of fear.

“Hm. It seems like you’ve made some progress. Well, if you put it that way...what exactly do you want to know?”

“Just as I told you. I want to know if you’re allied with Dobbel, as well as some information about him.” He was speaking calmly, yet firmly now.

“That’s a difficult question to answer, but it seems like you’re almost ready for it. But you’ll have to figure it all out for yourself if you do not understand it. I can only tell you what I know as I understand it.” Guillermo took a seat at the table with his arms crossed and a grim look on his face.

“Dobbel is a strange anomaly that even we do not know much about. By all accounts, he shouldn’t even exist. There are records of an old military general by the name of Sir Robert Dobbel. But....” she paused for emphasis, “...these same records show that he died in action almost fifty years ago.” The blood fled from Guillermo’s face.

“....Then who...what...is the Dobbel who did this to me?”

“That’s a point of much conjecture to the few who have seen him, but Aleksi and I have some clues.” She produced an archaic-looking book from a fat chest that they must have hauled in from their airship. She flipped through the age-worn pages for a few moments, then turned the book towards Guillermo so he could see. A crude drawing of an outline of a glowing human form with a shining eye hovering above a fallen warrior graced the crusty pages. Guillermo glanced up at her as she leaned forth over a folded arm.

“This is an ancient tome written by philosophers and authorities who have seen this same phenomena 1200 years ago—a man dies only to appear in another form with some sort of message to spread. In their reckoning, this was due to some variety of ghost choosing a body in which to possess.”

“And you agree with them?” cried Guillermo in bewilderment.

“Not exactly. They only got it half right. In our conception, something greater and more elusive than a ghost—a spirit of untold origin—has returned to meander about earth once again. It needs a body to obtain a form to accomplish its goals, and choosing flesh from those amongst the recently fallen, descends into it. ‘It’ acquires all of the memories still fresh from the brain of the body it attaches itself to, and ingrains itself so much that it begins to think of itself as that person. Yet it still remembers its purpose, and wanders the globe, erratically fading in and out of existence and thoughts and dreams until it achieves its objective. Each time it appears it brings a message concerning the next stage of mankind. It has done this in other bodies centuries and eons ago and now it is back.”

“And how do you know this?” Guillermo didn’t know if he believed her or not.

“Through a long line of those to whom or remember to whom it has revealed itself and know who it is when we see it by the works it does.”

“So you’re...a cult?”

Sasha looked offended. “A ‘cult’ is just a name the authorities give a following they do not understand. ...No, we’re a legitimate organization.”

Guillermo put up a dissatisfied, suspicious front. “So... you’re his followers...”

Sasha suddenly smiled knowingly at him. “Not exactly. We think of this ‘Dobbel’ simply as a force of nature that can be predicted, read, and utilized. With his recent proliferation of appearances, we simply watched what it was doing, and it led us to you. If someone could predict the weather and knew a storm was coming, and then proceeded to instigate an attack at the right time so that the storm drowned their foes, they would have used the storm to benefit their principles, but the storm couldn’t be considered an ally. He creates the seeds--we simply plant and tend to them to their benefit. The only difference is that Dobbel knows we exist, but he also knows you exist—and you’re not his ally.”

Guillermo said nothing. Sasha added something more: “...And in many ways, Dobbel, like gravity, is a blind, if powerful, force. He does not know who he truly is and all he can think about is performing his agenda, yet he hardly notices who is involved with them. However, he still retains knowledge from earlier epochs—quite possibly from millennia before the dawn of man. And nobody can kill him—that is, unless he wants to be killed, but even then his spirit lives on, free once again.”

Sasha ceased talking. In fact, she hoped Guillermo would not ask for any more than that. Luckily for her, he did not, choosing instead to barrel into the cold once again with a spontaneous “Good bye,” to chew on the information he had been given.

*****

Five minutes later, Aleksi plunged in from upstairs and shuffled straight past Sasha to peer outside the door. He verified that Guillermo was nowhere to be found—he couldn’t be sure that his hearing had not heightened by now. At last he shoved the door closed and turned to Sasha.

“Nice work, blabbermouth. And earlier you were giving me a lecture on patience,” Aleksi said dryly.

“He seemed ready. Plus, we need to appear to be his friends and thus be willing to be frank and receptive—a major complaint of his—or else he will not believe anything we say if he cannot feel he can trust us.”

“That’s beside the point. You have distanced ourselves from Dobbel with all of your rhetoric, which only enforces his apprehensive notion that Dobbel is bad news—since you gave him the impression that we wish that we do not want to be considered aligned with him. We need to convince him, as we believe, that his own fearful reactions are causing him the dread and hostility towards what is happening to him. He needs this more than he needs your comfort. Moreover, the way you acceded so quickly before an act of his vigor makes it look like we’re artificially holding out on him. We don’t want him thinking he can go about demanding responses by force whenever he likes.”

“Do you question my judgment?”

“No, but my input is just as good as yours. What if he finds out where the source of all of our weapons and plans come from? Then all of your talk about getting him to trust us will be all for naught.”

“...Seems like you’re not quite sure he’ll be the obedient servant.”

*****

At this, he started twirling a dagger that had not been in his hand an instant ago. While others may scratch their heads, stroke their chins or tap their foot as a habit of deep thinking, Aleksi always spun his Kunai in finely cyclic revolutions. Sasha’s eyes were much quicker than the average person’s, but even she did not notice him reach for a dagger. This was a habit of his, and since it demonstrated that he could, when he wanted to, move even faster than Sasha could see, it served as a trump card that reminded her of how deeply steeped he was in the source that had given them their powers. And he was well aware that Sasha respected this. She suddenly felt ashamed for losing her calm by engaging in the fight aboard The Inspiration; a point which she knew Aleksi believed, considering the need to ward off suspicion, she should have talked her way out of, even if he had said nothing to her.

Aleksi was the most interesting person Sasha knew, if almost the only person she knew for years. He had never hurt her, and in fact saved her long ago; yet he asked nothing in return and they treated each other as equals. Before they had met and he had shared with her a way of life he had recently discovered that transformed her into the stolid, placid and individual force she was today, she had been a weepy, emotional girl. But this was in a past so remote, it seemed like a past life.

Despite his absurdly lanky appearance and feminine face, his voice was rather deep and magnificently masculine. Sasha was the only person who watched him practice throwing daggers at huge tree targets, seeing the skillful array of techniques he displayed when concentrating. He could fling daggers perfectly straight and parallel to the ground, send them spinning like a throwing star or tomahawk, and could even toss a dagger in a wide arc so that it jutted inward as it struck its target, as if he had used a long invisible arm to swipe and then cut at the last moment. And his accuracy was impeccable. Sasha had developed abnormal powers as well, but she could not get over Aleksi’s occasional exhibition of his speed like the feat he just performed. However, he was typically rather easy-going and lax, as his “slow” was always fast enough, and rarely displayed his true skills. The more you use your powers, the stronger they become. she had once heard him say; she was sure that in a few years she would be more than a match for his swift and precise rate of movement.

The twirl of his dagger stopped abruptly.

“I just wish you would be a little more cautious, and not make a move until we have both talked about each step,” he said after an interval of silence. “A lot is at stake here...” With that, he returned to brooding noiselessly upstairs.

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

I was wrong. This is Mora's second to last addition before his tiny hiatus. More on that once we come to it. Guillermo gets wasted in this addition, and the story develops a flashback syndrome with our first true flashback involving Acacia and Guillermo. This is another staple that will find its way into the story a lot for awhile as we flesh out characters and finish up their backstories. There's some slight triangle action going on here, too, but is later corrupted and spirals out of control until we curb the insanity. Guillermo has like... strength, man.

_____

56th Post – Mora 05

*Mora5* - *fifty-six*

Acacia, bathed in the light of the moons, waited by the side of the dirt path. The dirt had been swirled into patterns by her foot for the past half hour. She sighed. She didn’t know why she had come this early, but it had just felt… wrong to wait. She looked up into the crystal clear night sky that was studded with the beautiful gems that were stars. It was one of her favorite things to do: slip out of her house and go to the outskirts of town where there weren’t any streetlamps to dim the sky. She looked at her favorite constellations and wondered if he would be coming at all.

As if that were the very thought to summon him, she looked over towards Renfir and saw the blonde-headed young man bounding down the path with a smile on his face. She smiled wanly back at him. It was as if that was how Guillermo lived his life, with nothing but confidence and optimism guiding him. She tried to live similarly, but in moments like these she always felt… heavy on the inside.

Guillermo came up to Acacia sweating and panting from his journey to meet with her. “Hey, Cay! Sneaking out to look at the stars again? I thought this was the sort of thing you liked to do alone…”

“Well, usually, yeah. But the reason I asked you to see me out here is… well… personal.”

Guillermo perked up and got a dirty grin on his face. “Ahhhhhh, I see. Y’know, doing this by the side of the road isn’t very private… or is that the whole point?”

Cay laughed. Boys his age, that’s all they thought about. “It’s not that, Gui. You see… we’re getting pretty close to being adults, right?”

“Uh-huh…” Guillermo said with a tone in his voice that seemed to communicate that he had no idea where she was going with this.

“So, have you ever thought about what you wanted to do once you’re a man?”

“I… guess so.”

Cay took Gui’s hands into hers. “And?”

“Well, I’d take over my dad’s business, of course! I mean, I’d be crazy not to. He’s made a lot of money and powerful friends, you know. You don’t just throw that kind of stuff away.”

Cay looked down. “I see.”

Guillermo could tell something was upsetting her. “Cay, something’s up. Why are you asking these sorts of things?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want to go, what I want to do, in my life. Gui, I don’t think I’m going to live here for very much longer.”

Guillermo’s mouth dropped. “What?! You mean you’re going to leave? But… but what about us? I mean will your parents even LET you go?”

“What they want doesn’t matter. Gui, I can’t stand this place. I can’t be one of those girls that lives and dies here and doesn’t know anything else. I’ve lived with one of those women my entire life. My mom, everyone says she was so pretty when she was my age. And bright, too. Then she met my father. I guess they made sense to each other at the time. My dad liked my mom because she was pretty and my mom liked him because he was a hard-worker and would provide for her. I know the town talks about them. I know they see the bruises on her. My mother… she’s so sad… she’s been sad for as long as I can remember. She had to hide me from my father, so he wouldn’t-“

It was here that Cay began to sob. Guillermo hugged her and tried to comfort her. “Shhh, it’s okay. That’s not going to happen to you.”

“Gui, this place is killing her, and I know the same will happen to me. That’s why I want to go… and I was hoping you’d want to come with me.”

Gui finally understood. “But…”

“I found out about a caravan that’s coming near here in a few days,” she mentioned desperately. “I have some things packed, and you’ll have enough time to gather your things, too. I can work as a weaver; I have some experience with that sort of stuff. You can find something to do, I’m sure of it. We can live together, Gui. Just like you told me you wanted to.”

“When I said I wanted to live with you, I thought it would be here… with our families and friends. This… this is all a little extreme.”

“But don’t you love me? Don’t you want to be together and happy forever? What do you want more: your father’s legacy or me?”

Guillermo was silent. She knew that he couldn’t believe she was asking this of him. “Cay, even if I left, they’d come looking for me. You might be able to get away with it, but-“

It was then he knew he shouldn’t have said that. Cay had gently pushed herself out of their embrace and Guillermo could see the tears in her eyes and trickling down her face sparkling in the moonlight. Even though she was crying, her face was emotionless. “Oh. I think I get it,” she said quietly in monotone. Suddenly she began chuckling in a way that didn’t seem very jolly at all to Gui. “I guess I was stupid for thinking it would work. I mean, I knew your parents thought you could do better, but I never knew… I guess I learned something important from this. We were completely different people all along.”

Guillermo began panicking. “No, Cay! It’s not like that! Just stay here with me, okay? I’ll marry you and everything! Just… just don’t go like this! Don’t go away angry.”

“I’m glad we had this talk, Guillermo. If I ever see you again, I hope we can be friends.” Cay began walking slowly back towards Renfir.

Guillermo was desperate. “I’ll… I’ll tell your parents! Then you can’t go!”

Cay looked back over her shoulder to him, standing alone in the moonlight with a breeze playing with his blonde hair, the hair she’d loved to play with after their intimate moments. “If you really love me, you won’t.” And she continued on her way.

*****

Cay snapped back to the present when Arc tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey there,” he said cheerfully, “I guess staring into the fire’s the cool thing to do, huh?” She looked confused, so Arc pointed at Adam who was also sitting by their little campfire they had made, staring into the flames with intensity that came close to being frightening. “Anyway,” Arc continued, “I brought some dinner for you, Cay.”

He tossed her some dried, salted meat. Cay smiled wearily and said with mock enthusiasm, “Gee, if I’d known we were going to have a feast I wouldn’t have filled up earlier on the appetizers!”

“Hey, Adam,” Arc called, “Are you gonna eat, too? Or is Elise getting you something?”

Adam’s muscular frame didn’t move an inch and he responded simply by grunting. Arc didn’t understand these silent types. At least when Guillermo had been wounded he could understand his brusqueness in speech. But Adam seemed to be in great health, and he never seemed to talk unless he had to say something. The only person he seemed to communicate with on a regular, unprompted basis was that girlfriend of his, Elise. And Elise… he had found out the hard way that if you did something she didn’t like, she damn well made sure you knew it. He didn’t know which one was worse. It was then that his eyes wandered over to some of the things that Adam had been carrying with them on their trip with the rest of the troupe and the way some were laying, he could see some of the contents. He saw weapons… lots of weapons.

*****

He silently sat down next to Cay and got her attention by tapping her thigh. She turned around to object to that certain invasion of privacy, but she noted him motioning urgently with his head and eyes in a certain direction. She quietly followed his cue and saw what had gotten him riled up. Adam had made no signal that he had paid attention to any of this. “So, Adam,” Cay began casually, “what do you do to get by in the world?”

“Huh?” Adam asked, being rudely awakened to reality.

“What is it you do?” Cay asked again.

“Oh,” Adam said with a slightly sheepish look to him, “Well, I guess you could call me a Hunter.”

“I see,” Cay said, not really seeing. “So, how did you meet Elise?”

Adam turned bright red at that question. “Well, um, you see, ah… Elise is really better at telling these sorts of things than I am. So, when she gets back, she can tell you, okay?”

Arc and Cay looked at each other in confusion. “Sure,” Arc said, in perplexity. The more they tried to find out about these two, the more evasive and mysterious they seemed to be…

*****

It was cold out, but Guillermo didn’t mind it so much. Coming from a more moderate climate than this, he had thought he’d have trouble adjusting to the weather, but he really didn’t seem to mind it. His boots made a light crunching sound as he walked through what passed for the main street of Baines. He really didn’t have any particular place in mind, as long as it would get him away from Sasha and Aleksi. His mind was reeling from all the discoveries he was making. He had said he wanted answers, but the answers he was getting only served to make him more disturbed than before. So, Dobbel wasn’t really the man he had said he was. He wasn’t even really a person, just a spirit using a corpse as a marionette. The thought that he could be intimately connected to such a thing sickened him. As he was thinking this, he looked up to see the sign for the local tavern. He smiled wearily. He could stand to get hammered.

As he entered the tavern he could see that it wasn’t very busy. Aside from the bartender, all he could see was a table of guys idly drinking and rambling on about provincial goings-on and someone at the bar that was keeping to himself. He just shrugged and went over to the bar. The bartender saw that he had a customer and eagerly went to his assistance. “Hey there! What can I get for you?”

Guillermo listlessly said, “Gimme a glass of your hardest stuff.”

The bartender stood there blinking for a moment or two, then said, “Very well, sir,” and went on his way. Guillermo saw that the back of the bar had a mirror running along it. It had been a while since he’d looked in a mirror and was surprised to see himself in it. He looked pretty unkempt. It had been a while since he’d gotten a haircut and he hadn’t shaved, either. And from the smell of things, he needed a good, long bath. He sighed. Feeling crappy was one thing, looking crappy was another story. The bartender returned with his drink and he took a cautious sip. As it went down he began to cough. Maybe he should’ve asked for their second-hardest drink. He looked in the mirror again and saw that the table of locals behind him seemed to be very interested in him. He didn’t want any trouble, so he looked back down at his drink and took another sip. It wasn’t long until he heard them get up walk over to where he was sitting on his stool.

“S’cuse me, buddy,” a deep (and very drunk) voice growled behind him, “Me and my friends were jus’ noticin’ that you ain’t from ‘round here.”

“No, I guess I ain’t,” Guillermo said, trying to shrug him off.

He heard some mumbling from the group behind him. “We thought s’much,” the drunken man continued. “Yer one o’ those Jugere bastards, ain’t ya?”

“I don’t want to bother you. All I want is a drink.”

“Ya shoulda thought of that before ya came ‘ere ‘n’ brought yer stinkin’ war with ya. Lotsa great buds o’ mine never came back, ya hear?”

Guillermo turned around and tried to reason with him. “Look, you’re drunk and-“

He never got to finish his sentence. Before he could react, the man had punched him square in the face and Guillermo was sprawled out on the floor with a bleeding nose and mouth. However, it didn’t take long for this to correct itself and Guillermo wiped the remaining blood away from his face and looked up at his opponent. He was a burly man that was equal parts fat and muscle. Just the kind of guy that would make a dangerous drunk, Guillermo thought to himself.

He heard gasps of surprise when his tormentors saw that he had recovered more or less from the initial blow. “What are ya?” the big bully asked. “Some kinda freak?”

“Wanna find out?” Guillermo retorted, seething. In a blink of an eye, the big man kicked Guillermo so hard he rolled for several feet. What normally would have seriously injured a man only discomforted Guillermo for a few moments before his new ability went to work. He stood back up and looked defiantly back at his abuser. This only enraged the man even more and he charged at him yelling. Guillermo was punched in the chest and face again, with similar results. After he picked himself up off the floor he noticed the man was laboring with each breath. He obviously wasn’t used to so much exertion with so little to show for it. He was embarrassed and his friends were beginning to laugh at him as much as they were haranguing Guillermo. “Is it my turn now?” Guillermo asked. The man stood silently fuming. Guillermo walked up and punched him in the gut. He couldn’t have been prepared for the reaction he got.

The man doubled over and began vomiting, not just a little, either, but violently. After there was no more for him to heave out, he passed out. Guillermo and the others were shocked. The bartender had long since hidden underneath his counter. They all stood there looking at the sight with their mouths open. Guillermo hadn’t thought he’d punched that hard at all, especially for a guy as big as the one here. Suddenly he had the presence of mind to get the hell out of the bar and ran out without another word.

*****

Guillermo entered his room in the inn quietly. He had looked in Sasha and Aleksi’s room and it had looked like they were already asleep and he didn’t want to wake them up by making so much noise that they could hear from their connection to his room. Guillermo didn’t blame them; it was probably quite late at night. He lit his lamp dimly and as he was undressing for bed he noticed that there was a full-length mirror hanging on the wall. He stood in front of it without his shirt on and thought about what had happened in the bar earlier. There was some blood still splattered on his face. The reflection in the mirror was fit, but hardly muscle-bound. His body couldn’t possibly be that strong. Or could it? He experimentally made a bicep. He was going through an evolution, after all. Could his body be evolving to make him stronger? How long had it been since he’d looked himself over in the mirror? He remembered his surprise about the reflection staring back at him in the bar and shivered at the thought that his body had probably been changing all this time and he hadn’t taken the time to notice. Had he always looked like this?

“You’ll catch a cold if you stand there like that,” Aleksi suddenly said from the connection between the two rooms.

Guillermo swirled around in a surge of adrenaline. Aleksi hadn’t been there a moment before! “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Same as you, I guess,” Aleksi said in a casual tone. “Checking your progress. My, my, our little boy is growing up! Soon he’ll be interested in girls and everything!” he said with a laugh.

“Shut up,” Guillermo warned with a rage in his voice. It was cruel to tease him about this, to be seen exposed like this, vulnerable.

Aleksi wagged his index finger. “Now, now. That stuff may get Sasha to fall in line but let’s not forget you’re the subordinate here. You can’t push me around.”

Guillermo walked up to him and scowled. “And why is that, Aleksi? You’re certainly giving me more than enough reason to.”

Aleksi simply smiled. “Because in a battle of wills, it would take a very weak one to lose to you, Guillermo. You’re trying to put on the daddy pants but they’re still a little too big, understand? No matter what you may look like, you’re still the same whimpering coward you always were on the inside.” Aleksi stared into Guillermo’s eyes and Guillermo could actually feel Aleksi’s presence overpowering him. He acquiesced and took a few steps back, but still kept his gaze on Aleksi.

“If I didn’t know better,” Guillermo said, “I’d say you get off on saying crap like that to me.”

Aleksi sauntered up to Guillermo and patted him on the cheek a few times. “Looks like Junior’s been getting into fights. Is that where you got the idea to check your progress?”

“It really sickens me to think that we used to be friends, Aleksi.”

Aleksi paused for a moment and looked deep into Guillermo again. “You have no idea how much I agree.”

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Another Omni post. I had to rearrange the fight scene in this addition, and train the perspective down to just one person, because it was jumping to every character constantly, and that just doesn't work. I changed small tidbits of dialogue in the scenes involving Guillermo, Sasha and Aleksi, but nothing major or of serious import. Sasha and Aleksi have a small feud, and Guillermo has an inner monologue. Cay, Arc, and Elise discuss the whys for seeking out Guillermo. And Adam begins his descent into gaydom. See if you can figure out where.

_____

57th Post – Omni 02

*Omni2* - *fifty-seven*

"Are you two done with the testosterone display?" Sasha had appeared through the door.

Both Guillermo and Aleksi hadn’t noticed that she had stirred from her sleep and had made it to the entrance of the room. She didn’t look at all groggy or sleepy, for someone who had supposedly been napping. But it was the first time Guillermo had ever seen Sasha without her midnight black robes. She was definitely a pale woman; her skin was white, with a hint of color, her hair black as her robes. Her figure itself looked very delicate but Guillermo knew that within her existed a hidden fortitude. He also noticed a small tattoo on her shoulder. He wasn’t close enough to actually see what it looked like, but to him it looked like some sort of flower.

"Sasha…" Aleksi tilted his head toward her.

"Yes, Aleksi, that is my name," she said rather grumpily.

"I was inquiring about the blood on Guillermo's face," he explained.

"Got into a fight, did you?" Sasha asked.

Guillermo nodded with a frustrated tone. "Yeah. But look. I’m fine."

Sasha smiled and then beckoned Aleksi toward the door. He scowled at Guillermo, and then decided to follow her. Guillermo watched as they both exited his room, and then let out a sigh of relief.

A subordinate… that is what Aleksi had called him. He was starting to wonder… was he actually here of his own will? Or was he an unsuspecting prisoner, free to roam about but not free to leave? And if he was… why did he still want to be a part of this?

He took his left fist and pounded the mirror with his frustrations. The glass shattered, sending pieces of clattering mirror all along the floor. He looked to see if anyone had heard the loud tinkling sounds of the crash, but found that either no one had heard or no one had cared. He looked down at his bloodied hand, watching as the scratches and cuts dripped blood onto the shards of the broken mirror. He stared at part of a reflection that gazed back at him from the floor.

Where is my life going?

He glanced back at his hand once more and saw that the cuts were gone.

*****

Sasha was vehement. There was no excuse for Aleksi’s behavior. She had stalked out of the room all the way to the outside door before Aleksi followed her. They had only just left the inn when Sasha whirled around and confronted Aleksi.

"You need to listen, and listen well. This is neither the time nor the place for some personal vendetta. This is business. Important business. Don’t let your personal interests interfere with the task at hand," she lectured.

"What about you?" Aleksi countered, "What about YOUR feelings? I think you’re letting your attachment to him get the better of you."

"How dare you dare accuse me?!” Sasha glared.

"Because," Aleksi bit back, "you, who doesn’t seem to mind sharing bits of information that he should learn on his own; who constantly watches his every move; is always quick to jump to his defense, are weakening his development."

"I am protecting our investment," Sasha argued. "To totally close ourselves off to him would push him away. And that is not what we want."

"It doesn’t matter," Aleksi ordered, "I’m in charge, regardless, and what I say goes. And I say you need to back off."

Sasha stared back at her counterpart. She saw that he had once again drawn his dagger before she had been aware of it. Her scythe was still resting in their room, but she still had a sickle that she had tucked into her waist belt as she had gone to Guillermo’s room.

"As you wish," Sasha mumbled, backhanding the air towards his face.

She trotted back into the inn, clearly looking defeated. She couldn’t really do anything. Aleksi was more than she could handle, at least physically. But Sasha thought, He is careless, if anything.

"Be careful, Aleksi," she whispered silently, carrying herself down the hallway and emitting a soft smile.

*****

Aleksi’s thoughts dwelt back to Guillermo. He leaned against the outside walls of the inn, and felt his insides start to burn with anger. He gritted his teeth for a minute, but then paused.

"Perhaps, our dear Guillermo, you are ready… ready for this little test," he smiled.

He pushed himself off the wall with his back muscles, straightened his stance and then stepped, disappearing underneath the cold night sky.

*****

"I’m sorry, Arc," Cay said with a soft, saddened voice.

"For what?" Arc tilted his head forward to look at her soft figure.

The night was still young, and the fire burned brightly, illuminating their figures and casting flickering shadows. Elise had still not shown up and Adam had seemingly dozed off, leaving nothing but the empty sounds of the crackling fire and the occasional hooting of the forest owls.

"Well… I guess for leading you on," Cay sank back, crossing her arms and holding them close to her stomach.

There was uncomfortable silence. She could feel Arc’s eyes on her, and wished she had said nothing. Still, she felt she owed him at least some sort of explanation.

"I didn’t know Guillermo was on The Inspiration. Had I known, I… I wouldn’t have charmed my way aboard," she spoke weakly.

"It’s okay," Arc said.

Cay looked up to see him smiling at her. Her heart seemed to warm up a little and she suddenly felt a bit relived at Arc’s reaction. If she had been him, she would have never let the person hear the end of it.

"Well, I guess I sorta used you too," Arc looked away and up to the night sky, "Ever since Jaegar…"

He trailed. Whatever pain he had suffered in Jaegar was still too fresh, too new, and he looked ready to curl up and die.

"Well… I wasn’t really expecting anything to happen anyways. I didn’t really much want to do anything but brood. And then I saw your happy face and I started to realize that maybe I could move on," Arc talked, maybe more to himself then to Cay.

Cay blushed a little at the fact that Arc felt so highly about her.

"I guess I’m even sorrier now… since I let you down," Cay apologized again.

"For being in love with Guillermo?" Arc asked.

Cay’s face flushed to an even deeper red. She tried to speak, to deny Arc’s question, but found none of her voice. Her mouth hung agape for a second, but then she tried even harder to avoid Arc’s eyes.

"I don’t really think that it’s a crime. At least, you were honest about things," he said.

"Gui and I… we’re just friends, Arc," Cay said, finally finding her voice. She shuffled a bit, stretching her legs out and backing away, half hoping it would be enough of a pause to end the conversation.

"So, then why are we following him?" he asked.

He was right, of course. As much as she wanted to tell herself that Arc was wrong, that he had no idea what he was saying, she knew it wasn’t true. She had hated herself for leaving Guillermo so long ago, even though she felt as if she had no choice. Time away from him, she had thought, would make her feelings dwindle and perhaps go away completely. But seeing him again changed those delusions. The way he still touched her, that day on The Inspiration and the way she felt so close and so secure with him had shocked her. She had yearned for it for a very long time.

"Yeah, I guess it is silly of me to chase after him," Cay answered. "I mean, he is his own person. If he wants to go his own way, he should. He’s not obligated to me or to any one of us."

"Maybe…. But the thing is that Guillermo, from the short time that I’ve known him, has been through a lot. He isn’t always exactly the most cheerful person to be around, but I respect him a great deal," Arc lay back onto the hard earthen dirt and looked at the stars. "I consider him a friend, I guess."

"I …I know what you mean," Cay answered.

"But well… losing his arm, regaining another… watching someone die in front of you… it just does things to people," Arc guessed aloud.

"I still… wish he would have told us," Cay whispered.

"He might not have been thinking clearly. Maybe he had his reasons for leaving," Arc replied, "But even so, I do feel the same way."

"I don’t know Arc. Maybe…" Cay said, "Maybe… we should just leave him be. He might want it that way."

"Maybe he does," a strong feminine voice broke into their conversation.

Cay whipped her head towards the direction of the voice and slid back as Arc jolted straight up in surprise. They had turned to find Elise appearing from the outskirts of their camp, carrying what looked like a small bag in her left hand and a whole armful of firewood on the right. They hadn’t even heard her approach.

"Supporting a friend is one thing, but smothering him is another," Elise continued as she tossed the bag into the space between Acacia and Arc. "Here… eat some."

"What do you know about it?" Arc became defensive while Acacia reached out and opened the sack.

It was full of small yellowish orange fruit that carried with them an aroma of sweetness. Acacia took one of the pieces out and examined it.

"I don’t know anything about it," Elise shrugged, "but it seems to me that it’s a waste of time chasing after someone who was too inconsiderate to even let you know he was leaving."

"Well, it’s not your business what we’re doing," Arc argued back, "and besides, it’s not like you’d know about the circumstances."

"And since it’s none of my business, I don’t need to know," Elise said flatly.

Elise’s gaze turned to Acacia while was still looking at the weird piece of fruit in her hand. Elise smirked at them both and then peered over at Adam to realize that he had fallen asleep. Her face suddenly turned deep red and a scowl formed on her lips.

"Adam!! Wake up!" she shouted.

They all looked over to see that Adam had not awakened to her threatening command. He was still blissfully dozing in his sitting position, the fire gently reflecting off of his blond hair. Cay thought it was a shame that Elise was trying to rouse him from what looked like a peaceful sleep.

"Hey! I told you to wake up! You’re supposed to be watching the camp!" she hollered at him again.

His reply came in the form of a half snore. It was then that Elise had had enough. She calmly walked over to Adam and then stood directly in back of him. She gave a mischievous look to Acacia and Arc, sighed briefly and then unceremoniously let go the firewood, dropping all the pieces onto Adam’s head.

Adam’s eyes blinked open as he was sent sprawling all over the ground, covered with pieces of oak and bark. Cay and Arc’s mouths gaped open as Elise calmly placed her hands onto her hips.

"OW!!" Adam yelled," Wha… What the HELL?!"

He rubbed his scalp as he slowly rolled over onto his back, his figure still covered with the chopped branches. A look of immediate surprise was replaced by understanding when he saw Elise towering over him.

"ELISE! What in the hell did you do THAT for?!" he fumed.

"Nevermind that! What are YOU doing? You’re supposed to be making sure the camp is safe!" Elise bit back.

Adam shook his head, though Cay wondered whether he was trying to shake off the grogginess from sleep, or the pain given to him from Elise, or both.

"I dozed off…?" he half-admitted, half-questioned.

"Yeah. So you deserved that.”

"What do you expect? We’ve been traveling for about a week straight, on foot I might add. I think we’re all a bit exhausted," he explained. "Plus it doesn’t help when you’re snoring keeps up half the forest."

"What?!" Elise doubled back.

Acacia and Arc chuckled at that.

"I don’t snore." Elise’s face flushed a little, and her voice grew meek. "… Loud."

"Actually…" Arc intervened.

"Stay out of this," Elise interrupted as she turned back to Adam," and that is NOT the point. While you’re busy dreaming about Go Go girls or winning the Keltings Tourney, the camp could be attacked by a monster. And then you’d be dead, they’d be dead and I… would be wondering why you were stupid enough to let that happen."

"Okay… I’m sorry," Adam apologized, "And I do not dream of Go-Go Girls."

"I kinda do," Arc mumbled.

"Ick." Elise scowled at Arc..

"Hey, you brought it up," he reminded her.

"In any case, Elise, we’re not really alone on this pathway, what with this whole caravan," Adam commented on the other camps scattered about the area.

"You can’t rely on that," Elise argued, "there may be a lot of civilians going this route, but look around… Anteron really doesn’t have much in the way of security nowadays."

"What do you mean?" Arc became interested.

"Well, I counted and there are only about five or six different soldiers here. And I would use the term ‘soldiers’ loosely,” Adam explained.

"What do you mean?" Cay asked, echoing Arc.

"He means that the guards here are more then likely just fresh recruits or those who have never seen real combat," Elise said, taking a seat next to Adam.

"You’re saying that these guards probably have no idea what they are doing?" asked Arc. "But… why would Anteron place inexperienced escorts with travel troupes?"

"Probably because Anteron is more concerned with protecting their cities… not what is outside of them. It’s sad… but it’s really a true case. If you aren’t within a city or an airship, you’re pretty much fair game to whatever is lurking about the wilds," Adam stated.

"Well that’s creepy. Still, I don’t think there are any monsters around here anyway," Acacia said, trying to comfort herself more then anyone else.

It was as if the great power above had heard Acacia and decided to prove her wrong. Because at that instant a sudden crushing of grass and crunching of wood made them shoot onto their legs. The nearby trees seemingly opened up and a huge white dog, with three tails and six legs suddenly emerged. It sniffed the air and then turned its attention towards the four. It growled.

"Um… Cay, I hate to say you’re wrong, but…" Arc stammered.

"We… need… need to run," Cay said between exasperated breaths.

"We’d die," Elise informed her. "That is a Killermutt. It could outrun us easily."

"Oh… well… if that’s the case…" Arc whimpered.

"But… who said running was even an option?" Elise smiled, reaching back into her belt buckle and withdrawing her rod.

The weapon shot out from both sides and the blades on each end opened with a loud clank. Elise grabbed the weapon with both hands and stood in between the beast and the frightened pair.

"You’re gonna fight it?" Arc said incredulously.

Adam had leapt to his feet and ran into the tent. He emerged dragging out the very heavy bag that he always seemed to carry.

Elise slowly stepped forward as the dog rushed towards them. Cay had never really seen a really dangerous monster before and now… she was about to die. She wished Guillermo was there.

"A… gun," Arc said, "I gotta get my rifle."

The Killermutt rushed towards Elise, and surprisingly she bolted towards the monster. Cay thought she had gone nuts and reached out to stop her. But Elise was too far away and she closed her eyes, not wanting to watch her new companion die.

As the dog lunged for her, Elise suddenly dove to the side, front rolling as she landed, standing and then again bringing her staff in front of her in defense. The Killermutt turned to Elise, trying to swipe a paw at her, but she hopped back and landed gracefully away. The mutt growled at Elise and then turned its attention to the camp. Elise charged forward at that split second and swung her staff, slicing the mutt’s right back paw.
It yelped and then whirled it fangs back toward Elise. She was too fast and easily managed to avoid the dog’s bite. She backed away as the dog plodded forward after her.

"C’mon you mutt," she shouted, "Mmm… don’t I look yummy?" she teased.

The dog growled back and again lunged for her. An arrow flew through the night sky and embedded itself into the back of the dog’s neck. Adam had withdrawn a rather large weapon from the bag. It was a huge crossbow capable of holding up to six arrows at a time. Despite its size, Adam seemed to handle it with a deft ease.

"Hey, we should find some place to hide," Cay said.

"I know…but we can’t leave them here," Arc said.

He rushed inside his own tent to look for his weapon.

Elise found herself in a small predicament. She had managed to avoid the dog’s attacks but found that she had backed herself up against a small overhang. She tried to dart to the left but the dog kept up with her. She knew she had nowhere to go but forward and the mutt was not about to let her get that chance. The fangs came down on her but she brought her staff up to catch its mouth just in time. It was her strength versus the dog’s powerful jaws and she tensed, knowing she was no match. She gritted her teeth.

Then, a large whip shot out and lashed the dog directly across the ear. It screeched and yelped drawing back a bit. Elise used the moment of slack to take her right hand off the staff, pulled out a small knife and stabbed the dog directly in the neck. The mutt reared back, however, making her cut only superficial. She dove forward, trying to avoid the dog’s landing and sure-to-follow bite.

"Elise!" Adam shouted, unfolding the whip onto the dog’s back.

The mutt turned upon Adam and growled. Arc came out of the tent, rifle ready.

"Arc… I can’t see but I think it… ate Elise," she sobbed.

"Damnit!" he roared, loading his gun.

Adam continued to throw his whip out at the beast and also paused to fire an arrow. He had succeeded each time in hitting it, but the dog showed no sign of relenting. The blood trickling from its wounds only seemed to make the beast angrier. Arc aimed his rifle at the dog’s head.

Just as suddenly, Elise appeared on top of the overhang. She stunned Arc and Cay both as she jumped from the small cliff onto the dog’s back, swinging her staff across its neck in a choke hold.

"That ***** is nuts!!" Arc yelled in disbelief.

The dog reared up, trying to buck off Elise, swinging every which way it could possibly go. Elise suddenly smiled, as if the whole thing was just pure enjoyment.

"Yahoooo!" she screamed above the commotion.

"Elise!” Adam shouted to her, "could you hurry it up?"

"Okay, spoilsport. Just when my adrenaline is pumping," she shouted back.

She took the momentum of the dog’s next buck to flip herself over its head and land directly in front of it. As soon as the dog had landed onto its front paws it found her staff deeply inside its front throat. It had no time to even yelp or lash out and slumped into a dead heap on top of Elise.

Cay and Arc were still in shock when Adam ran over to pull Elise out from underneath the corpse. She emerged, covered in the dog’s blood but looking as if it was nothing more then a slight annoyance.

"Ugh," she complained to Adam as he grabbed her arms and helped her stand onto her feet. "Damn… now I need a bath."

"Yeah. Not that it would help much." Adam smiled.

"Oh… okay, whatever." Elise smirked and said, "by the way... that's two hundred forty three. You’re falling behind."

"Bragging will... well... make you look smug," Adam said.

"Like you wouldn't do it, either," she smiled.

They both chuckled. It was then that the four were approached by the sentries that had been escorting the caravan. They looked just as shocked as Arc and Cay when they spied the bloodied Elise.

"Are… are you people okay?!" one of them asked, "That… thing… it just came out of nowhere."

"Yeah, we’re okay," Elise turned her gaze toward herself in a sarcastic gesture, rubbing off some of the dripping mess, "No problem."

Arc just stared. They had both taken on a fierce monster and won, completely unscathed

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

Ryu again, and it's a long one, too. Lots of ground covered here, and a new character is introduced! Guillermo feels shame, and Aleksi acts like a goofy moron, while Sasha asserts herself. They will leave Baines and head North to Guillermo's supposed training grounds, a temple that is very important to this Book. The name of the temple is revealed later, but inside this temple, Bastraglon, an ancient member of the cultlike organization, resides. Bastraglon is important now, but overall he falls short after this Book is over. Guillermo's training begins as Sasha and Aleksi argue with Bastraglon and themselves.

_____

58th Post – Ryu 07

.

*Ryu7* - *fifty-eight*

The next day, Guillermo woke with a start. Nightmares he could not remember had beleaguered his sleep. The amount of daylight silently passing through his window revealed it to be the middle of the morning; a delicate snow drifted sluggishly downward. Guillermo got fully clothed (he had not put on his shirt after the preceding night’s scene and did not even bother to pick up the shards of broken glass) and walked outside. He noticed the absence of Sasha and Aleksi’s airship, as it had been parked alongside the inn, but thought little of it. He plodded into town, unsure of his destination. Effectively dissuaded from ever returning to that bar again, he tried to think up a desirable site where he might have more wholesome company—a bakery perhaps. He almost had a mind to visit a church or monastery or something for some solicitude, but had no idea what sort of freakish gods or odd doctrines the locals believed in—considering his dark-clad companions, they’d probably be convinced he was some sort of devil man, anyway.

He continued forth as slowly as the floating snow fell before spying something he usually did not see outside—somebody else outside with him. It was a little girl, dressed for the cold in a little woolen scarf, playing outside her house in the snow not far from where Guillermo stood when he noticed her. He looked on with weary eyes before smiling softly—the girl hadn’t noticed him—and very tenderly approached her.

“You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here,” he said in the kindest, gentlest voice he could think of. The girl looked up at him and stared a bit, as if trying to guess who he was, before her eyes opened wide and she started back towards her door.

“You’re... that diseased man...!” she said in a small voice, recognizing him at last with trembling eyes and a gasping mouth. She promptly escaped to the safety of her house. Guillermo heard, with labored pain, the deadbolt distinctly clamp shut from behind the door. That ringing of iron echoed through the snow-flecked air. As if some unseen jester had kicked him in the stomach and was now pulling him by the sides of his lips, Guillermo stood teary-eyed, taking the teasing to heart. Apparently a host of rumors had spread quickly after his fight at the bar. The little girl looked at him as if he were a monster.

He promptly lost the will to do anything, and mechanically drifted off like timber down a river, mindlessly plodding like a zombie through the snow; he found he had walked himself back to the inn with no idea how long he was gone when he fully came to. Before long he found himself sitting at their room’s table, with Aleksi and Sasha both sitting a long way across from him, only occasionally looking in his direction

Aleksi appeared as if he had been up all night, hunched over in a chair, with red in his eyes and arms resting on his knees; yet he looked confident, and grinned whenever he happened to look in Guillermo’s direction. No one had said anything. Guillermo would normally be eating at this time, and Sasha periodically glimpsed at him as if perturbed that he wasn’t. At last Guillermo barely broke the silence.

“I...I want to leave this place,” he said in despair.

Aleski suddenly came to life and clasped his hands with mock-joyfulness.

“G-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-d!” he cried in an incredibly forced reaction, “Because I think it’s time for your trials. Can’t have Guillermo’s trials without Guillermo, hmm?!” Sasha shot a baffled look in Aleksi’s direction, more at the content of his words than his preposterous tone of voice.

Guillermo looked up in disorientation; Aleksi had produced three great coats from a drawer and threw them onto the table.

“We’ll need these; it’s a little nippy out.” Sasha looked as if she didn’t know what was going on any more than Guillermo did, but there was no stopping Aleksi’s spontaneity, and Guillermo was not impressed with her apparent lack of knowledge on this sudden venture.

Before long, the three of them stood outside the inn with coats on and traveling bags packed as Aleksi closed the inn door and pocketed their room key. With that, Aleksi led them up into the frigid mountainous paths and into the distance.

*****

The eyes of a burly man watched them as they left. It was the same man that Guillermo had fought in the bar. After learning where Guillermo was staying, he had a mind to get some payback after being humiliated the night before. But he stopped short behind a tree as he saw Guillermo and his two companions leaving, wondering what sort of odd queue this was. There was no way he would approach Guillermo now—those other two looked dangerous—but he made a mental note of which direction they were headed as he left.

*****

Guillermo, Aleksi and Sasha had been traveling for hours. The tops of the mountains were covered in snow, creating a soft, wide path on which they could pace themselves. It had stopped snowing by now, but the chilled atmosphere still made Guillermo pull his coat tightly about himself.

“Where are we going?” Guillermo finally asked after hours of travel.

“You’ll see,” replied Aleksi after a short pause. Sasha knew where they all were headed by now, but hadn’t expected to be going to that destination for weeks. She secretly resented Aleksi’s recently developed habit of acting without her permission, but then remembered he had chastised her with the same accusation. She scowled; it seemed outrageous that decisions concerning only one man had so grievously fractured their organized polish.

*****

Their path winded up and down the mountains, and overhead the sun only shined an indistinct yellowish haze over the pasture of grey clouds. Guillermo had lost all sense of which direction they were facing, and was astonished that Aleksi and Sasha seemed to know the way.

“Couldn’t we just have taken the airship?” Guillermo remarked with vindictiveness.

“Getting there is part of the trials itself,” Sasha spoke hastily. It seemed to Guillermo that she was reaffirming her place in the current expedition.

After a few hours more—by now it was late in the afternoon and they had stopped for several breaks—they finally reached an edge in the mountains from which they could look down into a wide frozen pool in the distance below. At the mouth of the waters, a lonely structure of stone pillars rested, carved into the mountains. An endless sheet of substantial mist hovered only a hundred feet over their heads; it seemed that the pool and its edifice would not be safely seen from any higher in the sky than from the mountain on which they stood. The ridges wrapped around the solid pond, slowly declining in altitude as one loop of a corkscrew lead one to the ground-level. Guillermo followed Aleksi and Sasha around the enfolding, preoccupied with the thought that soon enough in time they would probably be inside that temple. Gradually they spiraled inward until reaching a trail of snow-covered dirt that led past the stationary waters and towards the tall shrine, in which a wide, low mouth of an entranceway withdrew into the jagged walls. Eventually the darkness within consumed their small frames.

The innards were practically unlit except for a couple pairs of torches that resided alongside the doors to other chambers. The compartment in which they stood looked bare except for some statues on top of pedestals that projected out of the stone flooring at seemingly random intervals.

“Well, we’re here,” said Aleksi as he dropped the pack he had carried all that way. The words seemed to speak a different, individual meaning to all present—to himself, to Sasha, to Guillermo, and whoever normally dwelled inside.

“Now what?” replied Guillermo in an irritated voice as he too dropped his bundle and threw his great coat on top of it.

As if summoned to life by those words, a shadow of a person slowly lifted from a throne-like seat at the end of a shadowy hall that plunged further back into the cavernous dark to their side. With a cackling laugh, the tall creature shuffled forth and into some of the torchlight, yet even then large portions of its features remained in deep shadows.

“Welcome...” the figure, cloaked in a massive, hooded black robe, said in a bubbly croak.

The being was an old man, as one could tell by the bony, aged face that sat atop the horribly stretched neck that protruded far out from the confines of his cloak and bent forward; the whole combination gave his white, bald head and sinewy neck the appearance in shape of a bent soup spoon. His hood rested over his back and shoulders, so one could see that he had at least some hair: a gnarled mess of dirty, silken white hair that hung off the back of his skull and stuck to his neck and clothes, more like cobwebs than anything else. Most notably, the man was grotesquely emaciated, almost to a degree that made Aleksi look stocky, and black, audacious eyes peered out of the huge, black crevices between his sharp cheekbones and brow. He looked as if he somehow only survived on whatever minerals and moisture happened to be in the dank air that floated into his mouth. A wide, twisted, tight-lipped grin that showed none of his teeth spread across his face, and this combined with the contrasted dark shadows spanning about his white face gave him a ludicrously clownish appearance. His robe was tied at the waste with a piece of rope, and he wore a thin and ornate conglomeration between a chest plate and a piece of jewelry over his torso. In his right hand he carried some sort of magician’s staff that featured two small figures of white, feminine angels reaching up to hold a black orb above their heads. His left fist rested far out from his side in an open, clenched position, as if tightly holding an invisible apple. Guillermo could tell that even if Aleksi and Sasha had never seen the man before, they knew who he was.


“So you’re the new members,” he said apparently to Aleksi and Sasha. Guillermo could only wonder how long this old man had been sitting here waiting, so for all he knew, “new” may have meant over a decade. “But you’re just children-heheh!” The statement was said as if he found this idea hilariously entertaining, not as if it were a real concern of his. Something about Aleksi caught his eye, and he walked over to him. Guillermo could see that the old man wore clog-like sandals over baggy stockings beneath the thick robes as he walked.

The man grabbed a fistful of Aleksi’s long, black hair, and let it rest in his palm and sift through his bony fingers.

“I had hair as black as this....once.” He still had the long smile on his face; apparently he found even this idea amusing. Aleksi stared at him solemnly, looking neither disgusted nor pleased. With that he dumped the hair out like dropping shrimp into a broiler, gave Sasha a suggestive glance, then turned to Guillermo.

Guillermo noticed the man wiggle the fingers of his free hand greedily before he heard a loud whoosh. Unsure of whether the noise had been made by the motion of the sleeve of the man’s robe or merely the speed at which the old man had jutted his arm forth, Guillermo found that the man had seized him by the bottom of his face, and was now looking down slightly into it with a scrutinizing glare. Guillermo would have expected this grip to be as light reeds of grass; instead, he felt as if his head were caught in the jaws of an alligator. Long fingernails, or rather thick and yellow claws, had grown from each of the man’s finger tips; Guillermo tried to avoid touching them as his head tilted back and forth at the old man’s instigation.

“Interesting....” the man merely said before he eyed Guillermo up and down and noticed his weapons, “You’re quite decked out there, sir. Heheh...with a saber as long as that, maybe you’re compensating for something?” Guillermo gave the foul old man a sneer and tried to break free, but the grip around his face only intensified in its stiffness.

“Can it. Let’s just get down to business,” Sasha said in agitation.

“Ha....is she always this feisty?” he commented to Aleksi, and turned back to the specimen who still waited in his hand.

“I hope you have brought more than weapons into this place,” he added to Guillermo and released him from his clutch. His nails made clacking sounds when they collided as his arm returned smoothly to his side, before turning to the nearest stone door around which two torches were lit. He pulled a lever and the door shot up, revealing an opening to a vastly larger chamber.

“This is your big day, Guillermo—the first of the real trials you’ve been waiting for,” Aleksi said with a self-assured grin. The old man made note of Guillermo’s name, as Aleksi put his hand on Guillermo’s shoulder and started to ease him through the door.

“Wha...? I don’t even know what the hell I’m doing here. First you take forever just to tell me anything, and now you’re shoving me through a door in a hurry,” Guillermo cried as he shoved Aleksi’s arm off.

“It’s simple,” chimed in the old man, “Any pupil of ours worth his salt will know what to do. But I’ll give you a hint! Be ready to attack the first thing that moves.” With that he gave Guillermo an eager shove with his open hand that launched Guillermo through the door. Guillermo turned backwards from ten feet inside the room only to find the stone door fall heavily to the ground.

Guillermo then stood up straight and surveyed his surroundings. He was in a huge, dome-like hall held up by large stone pillars, circular in shape, and with a ceiling about 175 feet above his head. The other side of the arena was about 150 feet from where he stood. And small holes at the highest rim of the structure let in a dim, blue light. Spears, shields and other weapons hung on the walls in periodic patterns. Guillermo hesitated: the room was cold with mist that had leaked inside, and nothing seemed to move...until a few moments later.

Something like an animated gargoyle suddenly stirred from the elevated upper ledge. The mist made the room vague, so that it took Guillermo about ten seconds to see that the creature had launched itself from its perch and was now flying—flying in circular patterns and gradually lowering in altitude. After a time, Guillermo could determine that it was a monster of some sort, and remembering the old man’s words, brought out his flintlock.

With two loud blasts that vibrated off the walls, Guillermo attempted to fire on the creature, but the cacophony of the room’s blues, grays and browns mixed with the potent mist made it impossible to hit anything from that distance, and the bullets ricocheted uselessly off the walls a few seconds after being fired. This aroused the creature’s attention and it soon took a straighter course for Guillermo as he slung his flintlock back onto his belt and withdrew his saber. Closer now, Guillermo could see something that he couldn’t make out at first—the beast held a huge trident, about 15 feet long, its end floating in the air, in one of it’s arms. The creature had huge, feathery wings which came out of its back and kept the thing afloat with the occasional flap. Long, bent legs, like that of a wolf or large cat, hung downward into the open air, not unlike the trident. Guillermo was shocked to see that the monster was roughly humanoid in body structure.

At last the creature landed on the floor on the other side of the room from Guillermo, on all fours, with its trident held parallel to the ground. It rose to its hind legs and took a few steps with a staggered lurch before returning to its more bestial crouch, before it suddenly began crawling forth as swiftly as a spider. Guillermo took a step backwards as the beast’s face became more distinct; it had glowing eyes, also like a wolf, but its snout was broad and short, with long slits of nostril carved into it.

The creature came nearer and nearer at an alarming rate. Guillermo’s heart raced. His saber shook in his hand. The creature was closer now. Guillermo brought up his saber to defend, but it was too late. The beast’s trident rocketed forth from its hand as it caught it further down the weapon’s shaft, plunging straight into Guillermo’s stomach with a sickening, soupy noise and a path of blood. Feeling a pain unlike any other he had before, Guillermo screamed in agony. One of the trident’s spikes had driven itself deep into his gut while the wide cross-blade made the other two pointed devices shoot harmlessly past Guillermo’s sides; the trident was much better suited for larger targets. Alarmed that he hadn’t collapsed in death by now, Guillermo maneuvered his saber between middle and right trident spikes and pushed forth with all of his strength. The trident jerked out, releasing more blood from Guillermo’s innards, but he had no time, (or desire) to inspect the wound now—the creature, now determined to thrust its weapon into Guillermo’s chest, dashed forth up its trident and hopped from the ground and flapped its wings in a furious attempt to gain leverage.

Through sweat-coated eyes, Guillermo stared at the monstrosity before him as he engaged the beast in this tug of war: its features were unlike any other monster he had seen: indeed humanoid in figure, it had a spark of intelligence in its eyes, more like another sentient species than just a freakishly-large mutated animal like the monsters that had taken so much from him. The creature had a thick and long tail, like a mixture between a sloth and lizard, and pointed quills ran all the way from its neck, across its back, and down this tail.

With a sudden burst of energy, Guillermo finally deflected this attempt to impale him with a parry to his right, and his opponent stumbled forth. Guillermo swiped his saber at the creature’s head, but only struck the side of its cheek with the saber’s broad side. The creature hissed and swept Guillermo away with the un-pointed shaft of the trident. Having gained some distance, Guillermo shakily reached for his firearm, but a jagged thrust from the beast’s weapon shot it up and over his head as soon as it reached his hand. His days of military training hadn’t prepared him for this. With a frustrated yelp, Guillermo again lashed out with a furious slash, which only clanged solidly against his attacker’s own weapon, almost bending back his wrist. The creature prodded again with a sudden slice that ran up Guillermo’s right arm, cutting away pieces of his coat. Groaning, Guillermo stumbled over in his attempt to dodge the next blow, which shot through the bottom of his coat, pinning him to the ground. His tricorn finally few from his head as he violently tried to unhitch his raincoat. A terrible rip signaled that he had broken free, and he desperately tried to escape, only to get pierced again in the back of the leg. Turning onto his back, Guillermo caught the next strike with his saber, and, struggling against the throbbing aches, got to his feet so that the creature would not drive him into the ground. His legs quivered beneath him as he frantically pushed forth, the nail of the trident inches from his chest. He shoved forth so hard he thought his guts would leak out of the hole that must have been in his stomach. He felt the heat of the creature’s breath as it closed in on him; a heat which made him nauseous. In a last gamble, he released the strength of his push, and used the instant during which the trident’s pin raced dangerously close to his flesh to reposition hit feet and then reapplied the pressure. Luckily the beast was just landing from one of its hops, and caught by surprise as it tried to leap forth again, instead flew backwards after Guillermo’s drive had pushed it backwards and up. The creature did not land, instead retreating through the sky to where rows of javelins dangled from latches high on the walls. One by one, the beast tossed them down at Guillermo like thunderbolts and retrieved another in the time Guillermo spent rolling out of the way. Already exhausted, the agility of his dodges became more sluggish before gazing up in despair to spot that the walls held about four dozen more of these projectiles. In the time it took to see this, another spear zipped downward and stuck into his hip. He collapsed and now could only roll back and forth on his back to dodge the javelins that, like hellfire, continued to pour down on him,

*****

Meanwhile, Aleksi and Sasha rested silently near the door to the arena. Only the loudest screams and most vicious sounds of battle passed through the stone walls.

At last Sasha said what was presently on her mind:

“...Are you sure he’ll survive?”

“If he’s the one we think he is, he has no choice,” came Aleksi’s stolid reply.

“But why are we subjecting him to this so soon?”

“Why are you acting so concerned, as if you care how he feels? Be careful, Sasha, if you keep thinking like this, the illusion will become real.”

Sasha crossed her arms in frustration. “We, or rather, you, had him skip the concentration exercises; such an action is unprecedented, maybe even dangerous. He has no idea how to use his powers.”

“Silence. If he survives this battle, which I count on, he’ll know all he needs to know. I expect him to move on, for this trial is absolutely nothing compared to what is in store for him next.”

“...You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Al?” Sasha said with a powerful, yet subtle glance.

“Ha...I just think it was time Guillermo learned his place. He thinks he’s going to defy us in the end. But after he sees the carnage and violence in store for him, the humiliation of being so close to death, yet never lying down, he’ll have no one to fall back on but us. His cowardice needs to be exposed early.” Aleksi was practically beaming.

“This is unlike you; I’ve never seen you like this. You’re not supposed to hate those who we claim to help,” Sasha replied.

At this, the old man, who had been sitting in a stool he brought over while listening to this conversation silently in amusement, slapped his knees as his face brightened.

“Ha! This is why I chose to work alone when I was in your position—there’s no one to argue with. No one to get in the way,” he cried with glee, raving by now, “Heh; it’s like marriage, you’ve only got two votes and a democracy doesn’t work. It’s her vote versus his, and you’re bound to disagree; in fact, it’s what you live for. It all becomes a massive quarrel—a struggle for power! You’ll argue even when you actually agree, because all you really want is to undermine the other; to become the dominant being and make the other the lesser. There’s no such thing as harmony—only the illusion you create when you want to whitewash your quest to outdo someone and achieve psychological mastery. It’s all a game, you see! And we’ve all been doomed to it from the start! But it created powerful people, whom the world needs. So by all means, sleep together, it keeps the illusion alive!”

Aleksi, genuinely disgusted now, chose to remain silent. Sasha leaned against the wall and started flinching at the loudest sounds of the battle.

*****

Guillermo dodged the last three javelins with disheartened shifts before looking straight up at nothing as if to accept his fate. He didn’t even make a sound as the beast deftly nailed him in the arm from afar. But as he tilted his head back and noticed large shield that rested silently on a nearby wall, shining there like a glimmer of hope; apparently his attempts to dodge the pointed shafts had led him here. Guillermo slowly rose to his feet, pulling out the projectiles that had stuck him and ignoring the pain, while another javelin struck the pavement harmlessly at his feet. He grabbed the shield and hid within its protection. The next toss of the beast’s struck the shield violently, causing Guillermo’s whole body to vibrate painfully, but he now remained relatively unharmed.

I have to… do... something about his wings, Guillermo thought in labored phrases. The creature could stay up there all day if it wanted. Between the hail of javelins, Guillermo picked up one of the javelins that the beast had tossed and threw it as best as he could up at it. The weapon spun about wildly, and the creature had to suddenly drop in altitude to avoid getting its neck chopped. Guillermo hurled another projectile while the beast recuperated, and this one grazed the top of its head. At last it returned to the ground below, looking almost tired of throwing and turned its back towards Guillermo, then awkwardly stood on its head and shoulders with it legs down. Its rows of quills unexpectedly stood on end with a clicking sound, and suddenly a whole patch of the razor-sharp darts flew forth like shotgun fire in Guillermo’s direction. They drove deep into Guillermo’s shield, and whizzed past his shoulders. They continued to fire until Guillermo lost his grip of his shield and had to roll out of the way. Several quills dipped into his calf as he fell, and the creature raced forth with its trident ready.

Guillermo again got to his feet, and his eyes flashed; the creature was about to take to the sky once again and probably attempt to spear him from above. But first it looked posed to stun him with a strike.

I have to get...to those wings, one way or another, sparked through Guillermo’s mind, but the creature’s trident and arms were always in front, blocking the path. With no other ideas left, Guillermo merely gripped his saber with both hands and swung as dramatically as he could at the approaching animal. To his astonishment, his saber cut straight through the metal shaft of the trident and rifled right through the left arm that held it. Not even noticing his attack had also chafed the wing on that side, Guillermo, baffled, cringed with disgust as the beast roared in anguish; the creature had lost its arm at the same spot he had, so long, it seemed, ago. He squirmed in horror at what he had just done, before the outraged beast delivered an outstanding kick to Guillermo’s chest, sending him reeling and landing heavily on his back. The handicapped beast grabbed the broken piece of its trident and shot it forth, pinning Guillermo down by the neck as it stomped on the right hand that now held his saber.

Unable to move, and fearing he was choking, Guillermo’s eyes darted for something to help him survive as he struggled for breathes of air, but the beast had now gripped him tensely by the neck with the sharp claws on its feet and while trying to adjust his positioning to slam the trident into Guillermo’s skull. Guillermo’s eyes rested on his flintlock on the floor to his left—for he now lay near where the gun had fallen previously—for what seemed like ages, as if he didn’t recognize what it was. At last he suddenly reached out to it with a free arm and a wide-open palm; the gun lay only inches from his fingertips. The nails around his neck plunged deep into his throat. The head of a trident and few feet of shaft evened itself out, aligned with his forehead. It all seemed over now....

In Guillermo’s sight, the beast’s face drifted into darkness and looked distant; its warm breath became as cold as the mist. Guillermo stared at his hand like it wasn’t even his own now, still outstretched and desperate, until he could see it no longer. As he drifted into silence, some strange, wordless sensation, as if his body had created it of itself, came over him that told him that it would not let him die; that he would have to keep going. He looked past the beasts horrible claws, down his own chest and, his vision returning, saw that where he had been impaled in the stomach, though it still roared with pain, only small marks and dried blood remained. His head turned to look down his arm, where his hand still looked as determined as ever.

Suddenly, silent blue wisps of unknown origin crept out of his hand; Guillermo almost smiled in wonder as they danced about like pieces of silk in water; perhaps this was just a last hallucination before he died. But a tongue of the strange energy seemed to grab at the flintlock and it dragged into his hand—and the touch of it felt real. Gun in hand, Guillermo pointed it at the creature’s face...and fired. A thin strand of strange energy trailed the bullet, as if the bullet pulled it out of Guillermo’s arm; indeed, he felt as if something was stripping out the muscles of his arm as the energy continued to flow out of it while the bullet cut its way out the back of the creature’s head. The creature bent back, stunned, as the blue trail left by the bullet seemed to pull Guillermo up to his feet like a tethered rope. At this point, Guillermo had no idea if his bullet had killed its target, and instinctively dashed forth, unsure of what exactly was going to happen next.

*****

The three sitting out in the hall suddenly rose from their quiet listening after the sounds of a gunshot, a thirty second salvo of howls, a loud rumbling sound, and then a period of eventless silence. As if this silence were his cue, the old man pulled the lever to the door again, and the dim light of the arena shone into the hall. The three of them walked inside to see Guillermo lying in torn clothes, alive, yet terrified. Only dismembered limbs and clumps of hair remained of his assailant.

“It wouldn’t die...it kept screaming,” Guillermo said from the floor in horror, with glazed over eyes.

“Heheh, very good,” the old man exclaimed, “Not much left to your opponent—always a promising sign!”

The old man eyed Guillermo, then rolled up his pant-leg to his knee and pulled out a quill. He investigated the area from which the quill had been removed.

“Hardly a mark, and these were poisonous quills,” he said as he carelessly tossed the quill to one side and dropped Guillermo’s leg. Guillermo looked over to the open door and wanted more than anything to get out of the arena, but his physical and emotional exhaustion prevented him from doing so. Aleksi stared intently into Guillermo’s weary face.

“Well then, let’s get on to the next trial,” the old man exclaimed as he motioned Aleksi and Sasha to leave while he still stood before Guillermo, who did not want to know what this meant. Soon they were outside again, and the stone wall shut, leaving Guillermo and the old man alone in the arena. The old man peered down into his face with the same warped grin.

“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced—Guillermie, was it? My name is Bastraglon, and I know everything you want to know. I’ve run this operation for decades, training those who have received great gifts to reach their full potential. Hopefully, you do not find our methods cruel, but it’s the only way...”

Bastraglon strolled around Guillermo as he said these words, and then suddenly turned in his direction. Guillermo, still lying on the cold pavement, stared back with notable estrangement in his eyes.

“...I hope you’re wearing clean underwear, boy, because the next trial is quite the journey. You must merely survive in a battle...” Bastraglon’s staff started to burn with a dark red flame as he spoke, “...with me for the next three days.”

Chapter 5 End

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

The start of Chapter 6! By Mora! Almost three revolutions of the writer cycle pass before Mora writes again. There was a part of this addition that really threw me the first time I read it, and it effected the story later on because of this. Adam and Elise have a conversation where, in short succession, they mention both their father and Dobbel. I fell under the assumption that somehow Dobbel WAS their father, despite his body supposedly being dead some 50 years, and he was an old man when he died, anyways. I had to edit a later addition of mine to remove this facet because I blindly fudged it.

Karim and IRC have both been absent from the story for a little while, but they will be back later. They fall under the category of writers who popped in occasionally to write, but didn't stick around for too long. At this very moment, after this addition, three people were controlling the story and the current arc's end. This is also where tensions began to rise over Omni and his lack of proofreading and bad punctuation.

Cale Ulger makes his debut in this addition, as a mercenary hired on to be Malachai's second-in-command for the Guillermo Search. He proves to be a bit more important to the story than other secondary characters later on, and his steadfast defiance of military rules makes him act a little goofy, sometimes, but he's all-around a decent character.

_____

Chapter 6

59th Post - Mora 06

*mora6* - *chapter6* - *fifty-nine*

Malachai sat in his quarters on The Inspiration looking over scores of maps, perfecting his hypothesis for where Guillermo could have headed. He had only just received all of his new crew that had been appointed by the Council (barebones, he wouldn’t waste time or resources on civilians or cargo). In fact, all he had left to do before all was ready for takeoff was discuss his plans with the new second-in-command. Malachai normally didn’t like to be kept waiting but he appreciated the downtime. The time it had taken to assemble all this had severely broadened the possibilities of where Guillermo could have gone with the other two. He looked at one of his maps where he had marked where he had been when he learned of Guillermo’s disappearance. To the northeast were mountains and a scattering of cities. Guillermo could be hiding anywhere by now, he thought. His initial hunch that he had gone to Joyt wasn’t as solid as he had once believed it to be…

Just then he heard a sharp rapping on his door. Finally, he thought. Maybe a little extra brainpower is just was the doctor ordered. He got up and opened it and was a little surprised at the first officer he had been assigned. The man looked to be in his mid-thirties. Medium length, unkempt blonde hair topped his face which held a serious, almost cutthroat expression. He had a reasonable amount of stubble on his face, along with a few minor scars from god-knows-what. His brown eyes seemed to contain a ferocity that wasn’t often found in civilization anymore and his build was rather solid. He was in plainclothes, which rather irked the captain, who had decked himself out in full regalia to meet his new subordinate. “Captain,” the man acknowledged, holding out his hand in what Malachai was sure was an empty gesture. However, he hated to breach etiquette, and firmly shook the calloused hand. “I’m Cale Ulger, your second-in-command for this assignment.”

“You’re no military man, are you, Ulger?” Malachai mentioned with a hint of disapproval.

“You’ll find,” Cale said, half-smiling in a way that showed his slight deficiency in dental hygiene, “that I’m qualified to do anything involving an airship and more. Now, shall we go over the basics? This is a manhunt as I’m told, correct? Where and when was he last seen and which direction was he heading towards?”

Malachai pointed to the clutter of maps on his desk. “A few days ago. Our position is noted on that map in the center there. An eyewitness said she saw him get into a small aircraft and head northeasterly.”

Cale sauntered over to the desk and began lowering himself into Malachai’s chair. “You don’t mind, do you? I want to take a closer look.” Malachai minded, of course, but he wasn’t about to let an upstart like this dent his temper. Cale settled himself into Malachai’s seat and began looking at the map in question in earnest. After a few moments of rubbing his stubbly chin, Cale seemed to make up his mind. “Come here, Captain. You said he left in a small aircraft, right? One that I assume had been smuggled on to the ship. Judging by the size of our cargo hold I can imagine how small it would have to be to go unnoticed by you, so that also means I can tell how far it would be able to go before having to restock and refuel. If your information is accurate, I think he’d only be able to get as far as these towns right here. Do we have a description of the man?”

Malachai, momentarily dumbfounded by the man’s professionalism and resolve, simply nodded.

“Then what I propose we do is go to every one of these towns and give the law enforcement there a description of him. It’ll increase our odds if we can get others searching as well. We can make up a new plan after that. Well? Sound good?”

Malachai was furious. “You can’t just walk in here and begin dictating orders! Do you have any concept of chain of command?! Only I, as the captain, can make decisions like those!’

Cale looked as calm and focused as ever. “Then think up a plan yourself and I’ll follow it. But I don’t think the people that gave you a second chance will give you a third.”

The captain frowned at him. For all of the newcomer’s self-importance, he had to admit; he knew what he was doing. He looked at what would be the last stop on the map: Baines.

*****

Guillermo scurried from one end of the arena to the other. He panted like an exhausted animal. It felt like fire was running through his veins. He had been “battling” this Bastraglon for several hours now, but Guillermo didn’t think of this as a two-way fight. Bastraglon had been using whatever power he commanded with his staff to hurl the elements at him. It was all Guillermo could do to keep them from hitting him. They actually had, once or twice. A fireball had seared his skin, but of course no evidence remained aside from the psychological scars. His shirt had been in poor shape at the end of his last trial and after the punishment he’d received in this one, he had simply torn off what had remained. If this kept up, Guillermo was afraid he wouldn’t have much of anything left at all. He’d tried firing his flintlock at him once or twice, but they always seemed to deflect. Guillermo supposed that he might just have missed (in fact, he would have expected it knowing how frazzled he was right now) but he thought he had aimed directly at the old man himself.

His body was at the breaking point, it felt like. He was tired, so very tired, yet he had to keep pushing himself just one little bit more in order to keep the pain of the attacks away. Sweat dripped from his brow as he dodged a lightning blast this time. Bastraglon cackled. “Nearly got you, that one did! I wouldn’t drop my guard if I were you!”

What Guillermo felt in response was beyond words. His arms, legs, chest and back felt like they were about to tear in two. From the depths of his consciousness he tried to find the strength to stand up to this ghoul and… and what? a part of him asked. And obliterate it, Guillermo’s instinct responded, just like we obliterated the last thing that stood in our way. Nothing is going to make us die, nothing. He reached deep within and found a growl. It grew in intensity as he decided to rush the old man in an attempt to quiet the pain that coursed through his being. For a few moments it looked like he had caught the mystic off guard as he got closer and closer with no punishment in sight. However, within a few feet a detail passed that Guillermo overlooked in his fury. The old man began to smirk. Suddenly Guillermo hit something that caused more pain than anything he had ever experienced. He screamed bloody murder. Little blue sparks flew off his body as he was flung backwards several yards and landed in a miserable, smoking heap. It took a few seconds before Bastraglon noticed Guillermo was breathing again. Guillermo saw the shield from earlier and clambered over the stone floor to hide behind it. He shook with fear as he waited for what was sure to be a salvo of destruction to rain down upon his pitiful shelter, but after a few minutes, nothing had happened. Everything was quiet.

Guillermo tentatively peeked out over the rim of the shield and saw Bastraglon sitting down with his staff across his lap with his eyes shut murmuring something. He felt bolder than he had during the past few moments and asked in a hoarse voice, “What are you doing?”

“I’m gathering my energies to me,” the old man muttered. “You’ve tuckered me out for one day, so I’m getting ready for the next.”

It seemed like a godsend to have this reverie during the most excruciating ordeal in his entire life. But… if the old man was sitting there helpless now, couldn’t he end it all? Guillermo began to sneak closer to Bastraglon, hoping the man was so focused he could simply overpower him before he knew what was happening. Again, at a few feet before Bastraglon, Guillermo encountered an incredibly painful force field deterring him. As he reeled from this latest injury, Bastraglon laughed again. “I wasn’t going to make it THAT easy for you, my boy! Mustn’t have you throttling me in my sleep or whatnot.”

Guillermo waited until the pain dropped back down to a dull throbbing and asked in as controlled a voice as possible under the circumstances, “I’m thirsty. Is there anything I can drink?”

Bastraglon opened the lid to his right eye just a little in annoyance and mumbled some incantation. Suddenly from the orb in his staff water began to pour in a modest amount. Guillermo couldn’t believe his good fortune and scrambled over to the small rivulet that had formed, cupped his hands and began drinking to his heart’s content. Once he stopped, the source of the water seemed to know and it dried back up again. Guillermo shambled back to the shield lying on the floor. He looked up at the ceiling and saw little illuminations on the sides that lit the arena in a dull, ambient glow. He curled into the fetal position and tried to sleep away some of the horrors he had been through.

*****

Aleksi tapped his fingers idly on the stone floor, creating a noise not entirely soothing to Sasha. She was pacing back and forth in what little light was afforded to her by the torches inside the cave. Night had descended, but the last thing she felt like doing was sleeping. Aleksi sat with his back to the outside wall of the arena, head resting back upon it with closed lids. “Would you PLEASE stop pacing like that, Sasha?” he asked in annoyance.

“I can do as I please,” was the equally irritated response.

Aleksi just sighed and brought himself to his feet to go snooping around their packs for some food. “You should eat something. That’ll calm you down; nothing worse than worrying over an empty stomach.”

“I’ll eat when I feel like it, all right?”

Aleksi gave her a quick sneer. “Aren’t we being a bit sullen? You knew how long the trials would take, Sasha. It’s no use worrying excessively about it. He’s doing fine, you know, otherwise it would be over by now.”

“It was too early, Al, too early. He wasn’t nearly ready for the kind of strain this would put on him. You saw him in there, he was terrified. If we… if you had only followed the proper order of events, it wouldn’t be half as risky as it is now. As it stands, I just don’t know how this is going to turn out. Guillermo might not survive. If so, we’ll have lost the best candidate we’ve had in decades. They won’t like that and you know it. And if he survives the trial… that scares me even more. To survive the trial without having at least some rudimentary training would mean he has more raw power than we thought possible. That would also mean that he’s a weapon more powerful than we have any right controlling. Throwing him to the beasts, so to speak, may have eradicated his trust in us. If he comes out and decides he wants nothing to do with us… We’ll have created a weapon capable of unprecedented amounts of destruction, something infinitely more dangerous than those monsters.”

Aleksi had been listening to this speech while lazily nibbling on some salted meat he’d gotten from their packs. “I think we shouldn’t worry.”

Sasha stopped pacing and simply glared at Aleksi with an intensity he’d never seen her use before. “In the morning,” she said, “I think I’ll make a trip back to Baines. I should make it there before noon. I’ll get our ship prepped for travel again and pilot it back here. I think we might need a quick escape, whatever the outcome.”

“Do as you please,” Aleksi said in a dismissive manner. “Just be sure to keep a low profile. After the little tiff Guillermo caused, we may not be the only ones interested in him.”

*****

Adam sat down next to Elise on a bench on the side of the snow-covered main street of Baines with one of his bags slung over his shoulder. He sniffled as the cold made his nose run. He was lucky he had packed clothes for all sorts of climates at the start of their journey. He was sure Elise wouldn’t have given it a second thought. He smiled to himself. Elise might think him a bit thick-headed at times, but he knew he was sharper than he was sometimes given credit for. While he minded the details, Elise focused on the big picture: Dobbel. It seemed like they had been searching for him forever, and only now had they found a real lead. Arc and Cay led to Guillermo. Guillermo led to Sasha. Sasha might lead to...

“The cold bothering you?” Elise suddenly asked.

“Nah, I’m tougher than that,” he responded. Elise nodded and looked down at the snow that blanketed the ground. “Hey, you all right?”

“We’ve never been this close, have we?”

“To Dobbel? You’re right.”

“I was beginning to think that… maybe… I’d drug you into something hopeless. I know that you used to look up to me a lot when we were younger. When I decided to go do this, at first I thought I’d try to keep you out of it, send you to a relative or something.”

Adam smiled. “But I kept insisting.”

Elise gave a strange, nostalgic laugh. “Yeah, you did. You wanted to be with your older sister, no matter what foolish thing she plunged headfirst into.”

“Hey, he was my father too. I can never forgive Dobbel for what he did. If you were gonna kill him, I was gonna be there right beside you. Besides, even if we never found him, we’ve made a decent living, huh? We got pretty good at monster hunting.”

“Adam,” Elise said with a sigh. She looked wearier than he’d ever seen her. She lovingly placed her hand on his shoulder. “I just want to say ‘thank you.’ I don’t think I ever did before. I don’t think I could’ve gotten this far without my baby brother,” she said getting slightly emotional. Adam was a little taken aback. Elise had never been one to show much feeling towards anyone, even her own brother.

“Elise, seriously, what’s bothering you?”

“If we find what we’re looking for, that means we find Sasha, right?”

“Yeah…”

“I know you saw me fight her. She’s tough. I know it looked like I was handling myself in our fight, but just barely. Mindless monsters aren’t a piece of cake, but tackling cunning like that? I think she was just toying with me, really.”

Adam became very concerned. “So what are you saying?”

Elise gave Adam’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’m saying ‘thank you.’”

Adam suddenly turned to face forward and saw Arc and Cay standing in front of them with grins on their faces. “We aren’t… interrupting anything, are we?” Cay said suggestively.

Adam’s face turned red. “Uh… no!”

“Your face tells a different story…” she continued to tease.

This only caused Adam to blush even more. “But seriously,” Arc said, stifling a laugh. “We just came to tell you something. We actually got a lead on Guillermo. Seems he showed up here a few days ago and caused a scene. One of the locals saw him leave towards the mountains with some other people. We won’t be traveling with the troupe anymore, so I’m afraid our little deal has come to an end. Now, I do recall something about payment…”

Desperate not to lose her only connection to Dobbel, Elise hastily patched together a plan. “We can pay you with our service. Let us accompany you further into the mountains. We’ll be your… bodyguards,” she embellished, “against the dangers of the mountains. You saw our skill; we’re the best monster hunters we know. Usually we charge for this kind of service, but like you said, we owe.”

Cay’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe these two. “Don’t you have, um, better things to do than to follow us on what’s probably a wild goose chase?”

Adam puffed himself up in defense. “A promise is a promise. To do anything less would insult my pride.”

I’ll tell you where you can shove that pride, Arc thought to himself. But upon second thought, a little extra muscle would be a good thing. He remembered how easily Aleksi took down that wyrm and shuddered at what he might be able to do to Cay and himself if he insisted Guillermo stay with them. “Fine. We accept. But you pay for your own supplies.”

[Big Rick Cook]

Re: The Creative Writing Story 3.1 (Edited for Your Enjoyment)

60th addition, by Omni. We have a new character introduced here, but only a minor one. The only thing significant about him is that Tumuro and his family are darker-skinned like Acacia. Here's where the beginning of a new triangle forms, but I'm not going to tell you who it's between, because that's the fun part. We had an initial complaint about this addition, because Omni seemed to be playing matchmaker with every character in the story. The good thing is that it doesn't turn out that way, for the most part. I changed a lot of the dialogue between Bastraglong and Guillermo in this addition, removing certain elements that proved that Aleksi and Sasha were once training to be the 'Soldier' like Guillermo is now. It didn't work with the way Bastraglon established that he didn't know Sasha and Aleksi in a previous addition, so I removed it. I also beefed up the descriptions about Guillermo's pain in the Bastraglon fight, because in Omni's original, it was all "Guillermo was in immense pain. The pain he felt was too painful, and the pain threatened to take his consciousness." Other than that, the addition remains true to form, for the most part.

_____

60th Post – Omni 03

*Omni3* - *sixty*

Searing pain jutted through Guillermo’s left hip. He awoke to find the old and seemingly emancipated sage towering over his trembling body, the man’s fingers embedded into his waist. The old man’s toothy grin widened as Guillermo screamed in agony. Guillermo felt the old man’s fingers moving inside his muscles, clutching at sinew and bone and raising Guillermo’s limp body over top of his stringy, gnarled hair.

"In all my years, I have never seen such a stupid boy," Bastraglon coughed, shaking Guillermo as if he were a rag doll.

Guillermo reached down and grabbed hold of the man’s wrist with both hands in an attempt to free himself of the horrible grip. But the bony old hand felt as if it were made of solid steel, incapable of being broken. Guillermo couldn’t help but screech in pain as Bastraglon waved him around in the air.

"Falling asleep during a battle. What are you? So overly confident that you think you can even defeat you opponent in your sleep? Well," Bastraglon shook, "Think again."

"But… you said… we were taking… a break," Guillermo argued through the pain.

"I was taking a break, boy… I never said you were!" Bastraglon laughed with glee.

He spun Guillermo in the air again, sprinkling himself and the floor around him with Guillermo’s blood. He raised his hand and with one backward motion, released Guillermo, sending him flying into the walls of the chamber.

Guillermo took the full brunt of the impact, bouncing off the wall and landing in a small shivering heap onto the floor. The pain in his side was almost too much to bear. He felt as if he would pass out. But the thought of that old man doing the same thing to him again if he did fall into unconsciousness made him struggle to keep his eyes open.

He tried to shut out the pain, clutching his left hip with his right hand and pulling himself up onto his knees with his left hand. He turned his head to find Bastraglon standing directly over him, still wearing that devilish smile. Guillermo balled his fists onto the ground, trying to find the strength to stand onto his feet. This was quickly interrupted by a blow to the back of the neck from Bastraglon’s staff. Guillermo’s hands flew forward and he felt his face smack against the cold hard ground. He lay there for a few seconds, trying to comprehend the amount of pain that he was in. His head was swimming and his vision blurred. He could feel the blood trickling from his nose and his mouth.

Again he gripped the floor with his left hand and pushed upwards. He moved his leg inwards, scraping it against the cold hard stone. He was again on his knees, hunched over with his hands palming the ground.

The staff of Bastraglon whipped through the air and connected with the back of Guillermo’s thigh. The pain jolted his knee out from under him and he again fell on his face. He rolled onto his back, cupping his right leg into his hands. He had no respite however, for the toe of Bastraglon caught him dead center in his injured hip.

"AAAAAAuuuugggg," Guillermo screamed, rolling again onto his stomach.

He gripped the floor out in front of him and started to pull himself forward. Bastraglon looked on with sordid amusement while Guillermo tried desperately to claw away from him. He slowly stepped along as Guillermo crawled, in a vain attempt to find a way out of this torture.

"You are like a bug down there, scurrying about as if to prevent yourself from being stepped on. Well…" Bastraglon stomped on the back of Guillermo’s right heel, "I’m afraid you have no choice but to be squished."

Guillermo squirmed to reach out for his ankle, but found the sage had not taken his foot off of Guillermo’s heel. He just stood there, smile on his face, taking pleasure in the fact that Guillermo had no choice but to lie there and take whatever punishment he was going to deal out next. Guillermo turned to stare out towards the dirt in front of him again. He didn’t want to look at the ugly old man’s toothy grin. He just wanted to find some way to get the hell out of there.

That’s when he noticed that his flintlock lay only an arm’s length from where he now was pinned. He didn’t give it much of a second thought. As quickly as he could, he reached out over his head, snatched the weapon up into his hands, turned onto his bad side instinctively to aim it up at Bastraglon and fired.

He missed.

But the shot had caused Bastraglon to slightly dodge and so his ankle was free of him at the nuance. Guillermo rolled into a sitting position and then aimed the weapon at Bastraglon again. Bastraglon stood completely still as Guillermo finally found the strength to again stand on his own two feet.

"I must say, I am rather impressed," Bastraglon spoke.

"What?!" Guillermo couldn’t believe he heard what he thought he heard.

"Any normal person would have been begging to die about now. But you… you don’t quit," Bastraglon stated. "That’s good".

He had ended that sentence with another one of his sinister smiles. It told Guillermo the old man was once again ready to play serious. Guillermo readied his flintlock, aiming it at the shadowy figure. But the old man just stood upright and solid as if daring anything from human to nature to make him move. Guillermo’s head was still swimming and his stomach began to feel queasy. His injured side had begun to heal, but it ached terribly. His nose throbbed and his teeth rattled. His knees complained as if wanting to buckle and his arms felt like jelly. It even hurt to blink. He again felt the nauseous need to succumb to the pain, that it would be an incredible feeling just to become unconscious. But he had to keep going. Something inside him just wanted to keep fighting.

It was then that Bastraglon raised his staff and threw out a bolt of lighting towards him. He jumped as the lightning slammed onto the concrete making a rather sizable hole. Guillermo fired his weapon again, missing his agile opponent. When he landed, his stomach lurched even more. He paused to hear Bastraglon laughing at him.

"What are… you… laughing… about…" he growled.

"You… you are so very foolish," Bastraglon laughed.

"Why?" Guillermo fumed.

"I’ve not only attacked your body on the outside… but on the inside as well. You are feeling rather groggy… lightheaded… nauseated… am I right?" Bastraglon gleamed.

"So?! Isn’t that natural after being beaten to a pulp?" Guillermo said through grinding teeth.

"And you tell me my theory is correct… another bright move, m’boy," Bastraglon sighed. "You are certainly not a very smart one. Let me ask… what are we doing as of this moment?"

"Well… it looks like you’re beating the living hell out of me," Guillermo answered.

"This is true. That is because you have been allowing me every opportunity," Bastraglon explained. "You have even allowed me to poison your mind and your body. If I had been serious, you would have been dead a long time ago."

"What?! What are…" Guillermo stuttered.

"This is a battle, boy. I am your opponent. I will try to kill you by any means necessary. In a battle, your opponent is not your friend. In a battle, you do not exchange gifts. In a battle, you do not drink the enemy’s water…" Bastraglon hinted, "and in a battle, you certainly don’t tell your opponent anything they might take advantage of. In other words… In battle, you only rely on yourself."

"That….that’s not how…" Guillermo thought back to his days in the army.

"Quit daydreaming, boy!! We haven’t finished yet!!" Bastraglon yelled.

Guillermo looked up to see that Bastraglon had already cast a fireball towards his direction. He had no time to move. In that instant Guillermo felt the skin on his body sizzle in the extreme blast. He found himself being knocked off his feet, his flintlock again flying from his grasp and through the air. He landed with a sickening thud and then felt his skin roar in pain. His breath became thick.

"My…. Char-broiled soldier. Such… such a mess…" Bastraglon sighed.

*****

The group had found that the area was growing colder and the ground rockier by the day, yet they still pressed on. There was still quite a bit of foliage about their path, but every day the mountains grew closer and closer on the horizon. Arc and Cay had grown used to the wilderness and were now able to keep stride with the two monster hunters. But they were still a bit wary about them and so each did their best to keep an eye out. Arc had a funny feeling that these two could easily turn on them and rob them blind as much as protect them on the roads. To him, he felt as though he had left himself and Cay to their mercy.

"These mountains are going to be difficult to cross," Elise spoke out loud.

"Then why’d you come?" Arc glared.

He wasn’t all that happy about their company. He had pressing issues… namely finding Guillermo. He didn’t want any more people involved in this business, even if they were experienced fighters.

"Arc... don’t be so mean," Cay apologized.

Elise gave Arc a cold stare and then turned her back to him.

Adam spoke next. "She’s right, you know… mountain paths are quite steep and perilous. Are you sure this is the way you two want to go?"

"Yes!! I am sure!!" Arc yelled, repeating himself for the hundredth time, or so he would have claimed.

Elise stopped her pace and then whirled about to face the ignorant soldier. She looked ready to say something but then apparently changed her mind. Arc, however, glared her straight in the eye, pushing Elise one step too far.

"What?! Don’t look at me that way," he said.

"That’s it… that is it. I am tired of your whining. I am tired of your complaining. To put it simply, I’m tired of you." Elise’s face turned red.

"Elise…" Adam quietly warned.

"Well, if you’re so tired of me, why the hell don’t you just leave?! I’m sure there are other roads to choose from," Arc argued.

"And all of them are laced with monsters and thieves. I’m sure your girlfriend here would think very highly of your stupidity when she’s being mauled by a monster," Elise shot back.

"Hey! I am not his girlfriend," Cay exclaimed.

"And besides which… what do you know?! We’ve been traveling all these days and I have yet to see any real monsters!" Arc said.

Elise was quick on the return, "Yeah… well… that’s because you’re too stupid to notice. Adam here killed one just yesterday, and earlier this morning I had a bit of exercise as well. If you two had been traveling this road without us you would have been dead by now."

Arc opened his mouth to argue something back but paused when he caught the full meaning of what Elise had just said. Cay tilted her head to gaze at both Elise and Arc, and then asked the question Arc meant to ask.

"Hum…when did that happen? I don’t remember," Cay said.

Adam explained that it had happened when he had decided to let them go a ways ahead of him yesterday. He had thought it would have been in everybody’s best interest if they had been none the wiser about any monster that had been hunting them down. Elise had just happened on another by accident.

"Yeah… so you still want us to go our separate ways?" Elise crossed her arms.

"Somehow, I still think we’re being screwed. This isn’t going to be some deal where we owe you a certain amount of money per monster head you chop off, is it?" Arc mumbled.

Elise again pouted, "Look here, lug nut. We’re monster hunters, not con artists. The deal is you get to your destination and we help you out. Right?"

Arc felt the crimson flush of defeat cross over his face.

"Right," he said.

Just then a rustle of the bushes and a jostling of sticks and rocks on the ground made Arc instinctively reach for the rifle he had been carrying across his belt. He had had no room on his back as he had been carrying the group’s things in a sack on his back. He spun around and pointed his rifle at the noise.

He was shocked when a huge black lizard with four hind legs, and two small arms leaped out onto the path. Its neck extended outwards and then curved vertically up and was about half the length of its body. Instead of a mouth it had a bill but inside its bill, they could see it had very sharp teeth. Its tail was straight, bony and was just as long as its neck. But it wasn’t the lizard that made both Arc and Cay gasp. It was the man riding the lizard.

He wore brown baggy clothes and he smelled like freshly dug ground. His skin was blackened and his hair was a wave of midnight strands. On his head rested a small bandana and his cheeks each sported two white lines across them. He spied the party and then with a quick fluid movement, slid off the lizard. The mount stood perfectly still as the man approached the four.

Arc still had his gun aimed at the man, unsure of his intentions.

"Jun? Puntz… kela bab o la," the man spoke in a deep rich voice in a language unknown to Arc..

"Arc… put your weapon away," Elise commanded.

"What?!" Arc turned his head back towards Elise.

But she had already walked past him and to Arc’s astonishment spoke in the man’s language, giving him a hug. Adam too had walked past and was now shaking hands with the man. They were all speaking in a language neither Cay nor Arc could understand.

"Oh… nupa de je. They don’t speak your tongue," Elise gestured towards Arc and Cay.

The man spied the two and then stepped over, his lizard following him a bit. Cay eyed the massive lizard while the man reached out to shake Arc’s hand.

"Foh give me. I dunt speeek dees langweeg veery weel. I suhrry I guve yuu such a scare," the man apologized.

Cay stared at the large lizard as the animal turned and lowered his head towards her. She gasped, making the man step towards her with a laugh.

"Dunt wuhrry. He dunt bite. He us a Bockorax. They us… very fuhrendlee," the man smiled as he spoke a very broken version of their own language.

Cay shrugged at him and the reached out her fingers while saying, "Oh… alright."

She patted the Bockorax on the head as Elise and Adam walked up behind the man.

"This is Tumuro. He is one of the farmers that live around here," Elise explained, "and fortunately for us, a good friend of ours. We’re going to go to his farm."

"Huh?! Why?" Arc asked at the sudden change of plans.

Adam informed them that Tumuro had offered them a place to stay for the night and also, because they were friends, had offered them the use of some of the Bockorax he had kept in his stables.

"I mean… don’t you want to sleep in a warm soft bed for once?" Elise asked, "because I sure as hell do."

"Well… I could definitely agree to that," Cay answered.

"Uhhh…" Arc nodded, shifting the backpack that was on his back, "Yeah… for once I agree with you, Elise."

Tumuro commanded his lizard to bow down so that he could place his foot over the mount, and then with another command was lifted up into the air. They all followed the mysterious man and his even more curious steed.

*****

Cay walked outside of the house to find Adam sitting on the ground. He had taken out a book and was scrawling onto the pages. The farm they had traveled to was not very far off the main path and had not taken them very long to reach. It was a very wide open place. The house they were staying at was a three story stone house, with a long wooden roof and multiple windows. The house inside was humongous… great for accommodating multiple guests. The foyer led to a small kitchen and dining hall from the right, and the left door led to a den, where many could lounge and talk. Stairs also led up from the center of the foyer, and the upstairs led to many bedrooms and a bathroom for each floor. The house was occupied by a woman whom Cay led herself to believe was Tumuro’s wife. She was a plump woman, with the same darkened skin as Tumuro, and she carried the smell of freshly-made pancakes about her. She wore an apron, often dirty from cooking and cleaning and was often seen about the house doing various chores. The other people there were Tumuro’s sons. One was quite young, about the age of ten and he was seen often milling about the house with his mother or hanging out in the pastures with his older brother. His brother was a very tall teenager, and he seemed to be the busiest of them all. He was seen about the farm doing various things such as feeding the Bockorax that wandered around in the huge pen that covered most of the farm. A field that Cay imagined grew many strange things lay in front of the house and on the other side was another building, a huge red stable in which the Bockorax were penned up for the night.

"Adam, have you seen Arc?"

"No," Adam simply answered.

Cay noticed that Adam was a very silent fellow. He never really talked much so they didn’t know much about him. Elise on the other hand talked too much, but she was no help either when they asked about them personally.

Cay looked over Adam’s shoulder and saw that he was actually drawing a very detailed sketch of the dog they had seen so many days ago. The ink on the sketch looked very fresh and she was amazed at how well he had drawn the Killermutt.

"Wow… that’s very good," Cay commented.

"Oh… this? Yeah…" Adam stopped what he was doing to look into Cay’s bright, insightful eyes.

She sat down next to his right side to get a better view of his drawing. She also noticed several more drawings on the next page. One sketch was of a giant four winged bird and another was a snake with three spiked tails. They were all very graphical and realistic.

"Did you draw all of these?" Cay quizzed.

"Yes I did," Adam smiled at her, "I like to draw when I have the time."

"Well, it’s very good. I for one am impressed," she complimented him.

"Thank you," Adam said in a rather weak voice.

Cay looked at the book again. Underneath the drawings were some writings. It seemed to be the creature’s name along with detailed explanations about the monster. Cay asked if she could look through the rest of the book, and Adam, pleased with the fact that someone had actually taken an interest in his drawings, gratefully handed her the book.

"These are really good," Cay commented, flipping through the pages.

There were wolf-like creatures, winged lizards, shelled crustaceans, things with multiple horns and many with huge, sharp teeth.

"It’s hard to believe… did you actually fight all these monsters?" Cay asked.

"Yeah… it’s a pretty dangerous job. Monsters are unpredictable, but they are not intelligent. I don’t know why people never fight them instead of running away. Sure, they‘re scary, but if we had decided to stand up to these creatures, our cities might still be here," Adam speculated.

Cay pondered aloud, "But they’re said to be everywhere. And unending. How can people fight them when they just keep coming back for more?"

"They just do. It’s better then running and waiting for them to attack," Adam said, "I mean… look what happened to Jaegar. Had the government there been more responsible towards the people and the city and less focused on their own agendas, that city would never have fallen. They would have known about the Kronals long before they had dug enough to get toward the city. If they had known…they could have fought."

"I hear Jaegar was bad. But weren’t they attacked by monsters who could burrow underground?" Cay was full of questions.

"Here… turn over to here…" Adam said as he flipped the pages in the book.

The page rested on an illustration of a Kronal and a description about it. The description read that Kronals were burrowers and were very deadly because they could sense their prey even while several feet below the surface. But Kronals were noisy diggers and also caused vibrations whenever they moved underneath. They also usually charged straight upwards… so attacking them was relatively painless if you waited for them to jump out enough to stab them in their soft throats.

"If the army had done that, those monsters wouldn’t have even had the chance to do anything," Adam shrugged, "Instead…"

Adam looked away as if he had suddenly remembered a painful memory. He shook his head of it while Cay looked out upon the farm.

"What about these people? Surely they are wide open to monster attacks," Cay wondered.

Adam pointed out that Tumuro was also a very skilled person when it came to his encounters with monsters.

"He’s teaching his sons, and they are becoming quite skilled. Perhaps one day they might even reach our caliber," he softly joked.

Cay gave him a weak smile. She wondered about why monsters were so abundant in the world today. Were Adam and Elise right about fighting monsters? Was this a better way? She again skimmed the book until she caught sight of one entry that made her gasp. Adam peered at her, so she flipped to another page. But as soon as he looked away she flipped back.

The sketch wasn’t all that pretty… In fact, it looked sloppy and forced. It was a drawing of a man, with evil eyes, a long nose and spiked up hair. It was a child’s drawing of some imaginary monster or ghoul, but underneath the picture was a description.

"Dobbel”

’The worst monster ever. He took our happiness. He kills what you love. So now….I’ll kill him.’

A sudden sadness rushed over Cay as she slammed the book closed.

*****

Arc had been walking by the stables when he heard a faint stringing of sound. He had wanted to check out the lizards a bit more closely, and so had come to the stables to see if he could find Tumuro or his sons and ask about them. But the faint music had instantly made him want to forget about his intentions. He stood among the cold, whispering air to listen to the soft sounds. The melody he heard was soft and slow… an old tune that he thought he had heard very long ago. He looked around, determined to find the source of the music. He plodded around the outside of the stables first, thinking the sound was coming from them. He knew he was right, but nobody was outside. So he went inside the stables.

The place was dark and musty. Many of the Bockorax were silently eating grass and whatever oats were left inside their huge feeding pails. Arc looked around for the musician, spying at last a place where he could climb up. The ladder on the wall was sturdy and Arc had no problem climbing it. He grabbed onto the rungs and hoisted himself up until he found himself in a loft. There was nobody inside, but a window to the place lead out to a rooftop. Arc trudged through the hay, getting some of the sticky grass into his shoes. He shook it out and finally paused to look out of the window. The music was definitely closer and so he discerned someone had gone out through it. He placed his leg over the threshold and climbed out. He stood on the roof and then turned around to find the musician.

Sitting on the very top of the angled roof was Elise. Her eyes were closed and her expression was soft as she rested her chin on a violin. She held it with her left hand, strumming out the notes with the stick in her right. The sunset behind her illuminated her outlines and trailed around her softly and smoothly. Her hair seemed even redder and Arc choked a bit when he realized how beautiful she looked there.

Elise reminded him very much of Avery… the woman he had thought he loved and had lost not so long ago. He couldn’t help thinking about her now as he watched Elise’s movements and wondered how long it would be before he fully got over the pain of losing her.

"Avery…" he mumbled.

It was enough, however to make Elise notice his presence. She stopped playing and gazed down at Arc, who immediately wore an apologetic look on his face.

"I’m sorry," he said, placing his hands up, "please keep going. It’s beautiful."

Elise gave him a look and then placed the violin on her lap. She looked down on it and seemed to Arc as if she was about to cry. It wasn’t quite the reaction he had expected from her.

"You… you really think it’s beautiful?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Arc answered, carefully stepping up towards her to prevent himself from falling off the roof, "I wish you hadn’t stopped. Where did you learn to play like that?"

"My… mother…" Elise exhaled softly, "she taught me… so long ago. But… I’ll never be as good as her."

"I’m sure you are," Arc smiled, taking a seat next to Elise, "Your parents, they must be proud of you for doing the things you do."

"My parents are dead," Elise said, and closed her eyes.

"Oh… Oh." Arc placed his hand over his mouth, "I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… you know."

"I know. It’s OK. You didn’t know, right?" Elise smiled at him.

"So, you have no family? That must be tough," Arc inquired.

Elise shook her head. "I have a younger brother. But that’s all."

"Oh? Where is he now?" Arc asked.

"I… I don’t know." Elise avoided his gaze.

Arc sat there in uncomfortable silence. But he was not one to let things get depressive. He had come up here for a reason: to hear someone play.

"Y’know… back in my days as a sailor on the airships, I used to play the bugle a bit. I’m sure I could learn to play that tune if you taught me. Then we could play a duet sometime," Arc offered.

Elise looked up at him and then gave him a soft smile. He got the impression that she didn’t share her music with many people, if at all. But, as Arc always said, ‘A kind word makes a fine bird sing,’ and it held even for this girl.

"Do you… want to hear more?" Elise said.

"I do," Arc nodded.

He sat back and listened to her music and pondered the path ahead. His life was changing, but he didn’t know where it was going, or the whys. But at least he could enjoy this brief respite.

"Arc… thank you," Elise whispered after several minutes of playing a more uplifting tune. Arc didn’t know what specifically he had done to garner thanks, but it didn’t matter. She had opened up and let down the walls for a few brief moments, and that was enough.

They both sat there until the stars rose up into the sky.

*****

Guillermo awoke to the immeasurable pain of his skin. It burned with the slightest movement. He groaned as he sat up to spy his surroundings. Bastraglon had once again taken a seat across the arena. He was glaring at Guillermo, a wide toothy smile on his face.

"My my… finally awake are you?" Bastraglon spoke.

Guillermo’s body fiercely complained as he stretched his neck to spy on the old man. He couldn’t believe how much pain he was in. He felt as if he was going to die. He wondered why he hadn't already.

"This is pathetic," Bastraglon stated, "You don’t know how much I’ve had to hold back, what with you falling asleep in the middle of this brouhaha and all. I’ve half a mind to toss you out and never look upon your face again."

"Then why don’t you?!" Guillermo growled through a pain-filled mouth.

Bastraglon only laughed. But then he stood up, clutching the spear in his hand.

"Well you have only been out for two hours. I must say, this second day has gone by pretty slow. I hope you are ready for more." He cackled.

"What?!" Guillermo couldn’t believe it.

"Oh yes… and just so you know, I won’t be going easy on you tomorrow. If you pass out… you don’t wake up," Bastraglon warned.

The old man leapt towards the battered Guillermo, bringing his staff onto every part of Guillermo’s body. Guillermo’s agonizing screams rang out and echoed along the temple walls as he lacked the strength to defend himself.