A Most Troublesome Situation
The ground shook violently as several rounds of mortar shells hit the ground seemingly feet away. The shockwave from the explosions caused bricks crack and fragments fall from the roof. An elderly woman fell to the ground, unable to get back up again. People were making their way further into the Eldieme Necropolis, trying desperately to get into safety.
The battle between the Allied Forces and the beastmen had reached a peek in the past few days, and it was no longer safe to wander around in Batallia Downs. People from far and near had come here to take shelter from the beastmen attacks, but many hundred lives had been lost on the journey to get here. The allied forces had suffered numerous losses on the battlefield as well, and the shortage of troops was alarming at best.
I was exhausted and could no longer remember how long it had been since my last decent meal. I hadn’t slept for two or three days, but my will to continue helping these people never wavered. There were many wounded people inside, but me and the other healers had already tended to most of them. «There you go,» I said to a little boy, smiling as I sent him back to his parents. It’s just a light sprain, but it should heal in just a few days,
I explained to his parents. Goddess bless you, adventurer.
I bowed respectfully before the group of people before I walked toward the inner parts of the catacombs.
So tired,
I thought to myself as I walked down the long hallways. The whole place was in a bad shape, but it was the safest place short of Jeuno at the time. The gates to Jeuno had been barricaded and all entries to the city long since restricted, leaving thousands of people to fend for themselves. People in these parts were bitter about the decision to close the gates, and some were not afraid to share their anger.
I found Erlene at one of the junctions leading further into the catacombs. I waved to her as I walked toward her. Nyaa~,
I said to her. She looked at me for a few moments, smiling. Thank you for your hard work today, Kimiko,
she said. I nodded to her, trying to wipe a yawn off my face. I was beyond tired to say the least, but I knew she had been working day and night for weeks, getting little sleep. I was in no position to complain around her.
Erlene looked at me, worried. Do you have a moment,
she asked me. I nodded again. It may be unwise to speak here. Come, follow me,
she continued, showing me the way to a more secluded area. We entered a huge hall, filled with flowers in memory of those who had succumbed to this pointless war.
Perhaps you have heard, but the educated and wise mages of the Allied Forces have been disappearing as of late,
she explained. I asked her if they could’ve fallen victim to a beastmen attack on the battlefield, but she shook her head. In many cases it is happening right at our very own bases and encampments,
she continued. I was startled by her answer, and worried about my fellow mages’ well being. She explained how this wasn’t isolated incidents and that all three nations had begun to investigate the matter further—with no result so far. I would like to ask you, Kimiko, to assist our colleagues in the investigation. I fear that it may be a somewhat dangerous task, so I will understand if you refuse,
she continued. I told her I’d be happy to help, asking her where the meeting between the scholars participating in the investigation was scheduled.
<<<<<>>>>>
It was early morning by the time I made it to the beautiful city of San d’Oria. My feet ached as I walked across the street paved with stone setts. I much prefer the feel of a meadow or the soft ground found in say Windurst or Kazham.
As I reached the plaza I was greeted by a group of Scholars standing by one of the food stalls. Hello there, ummm…new…pupil,
Ulbrecht said, waving to me. I sighed, feeling like a total idiot. Machudiaux, an elvaan scholar standing in the back, fumed at his colleague. I do say, Ulbrecht, the least you could do is attempt to remember some of the new pupils’ names.
The tarutaru scholar, standing on top of a crate, didn’t seem surprised at all. Oh, he’s just doing it on purpose. I believe he enjoys coming across a bit aloof.
I didn’t really know what to make of the situation, but listened carefully to the scholars discussing the situation. They were worried that one of their friends, Fhen, may have fallen victim to the beastmen’s attacks as well. Ulbrecht tried to calm them down, explaining how she was the professor’s best student. I would gladly put my gil on her, should any beastman be foolish enough to cross her path.
Everyone nodded their head, agreeing that it was hard to believe that something ill could happen to her. So, what do you propose we do,
Machudiaux asked. Ulbrecht looked at everyone, thinking for a moment. The main roads between Windurst and here should be scoured with a fine-toothed comb,
he explained, telling us that would be the best place to start.
The meeting ended with everyone going their separate ways, searching an area each in hopes of finding their lost colleague. I thought it would be best to talk with Erlene about the meeting, so I asked a representative of the Allied Forces to teleport me to Eldieme.
<<<<<>>>>>
The sun was setting in the distance, and it was already beginning to get a little chilly outside. A faint breeze swept through the Sauromugue countryside. I really enjoyed the fresh air as I had become all too familiar with the stale air inside Eldieme. A simple thing like fresh air can put a smile on my face, and the calm I felt made me purrr. I was still really tired, but I tried not to pay any attention to it.
Dozing off, are we?
Ulbrecht said, welcoming me. The scholars I had met in San d’Oria earlier had already gathered together, only short of Machudiaux. Ulbrecht explained that he was simply making sweeping the area and would be back shortly.
Machudiaux explained that the soldiers watching the area had found Fhen’s tracks up until she arrived in Sauromugue. We’ve taken into account all possible routes from Windurst. And checked every questionable area along the way. And still we found nothing,
he explained. In all likelihood, she was somewhere here in the champaign when she went missing.
Ulbrecht asked everyone to begin searching for their feline colleague. I expressed my concern with everyone searching individually and proposed that we search together. Ulbrecht shook his head and told me it would be far more efficient to split up and commence the search for Fhen.
A little worried about my own well being, I started searching for Fhen. I searched high and low, trying to stay clear of the beastmen forces in the area. I prayed that she would be safe and sound, but I had an eerie feeling that something bad was happening. These parts are dangerous even for the most experienced adventurer, so I hoped that her confidence hadn’t gotten the best of her.
Suddenly, as I was running up a little hill, I felt a weird sensation. I looked around me, trying to find the cause of the disturbing feeling. I walked over to some suspicious rubble. A faint light was shimmering from the ground, and I could feel it make my whiskers tingle. What’s this,
I asked myself, examining the light further.
The light suddenly expanded, growing bigger and bigger. I was stuck, unable to move even the slightest. I panicked and quickly tried to cast a teleportation spell. Suddenly everything went black…
<<<<<>>>>>
When I came to again, I found myself in a dark cavern. I looked around, but the place looked unfamiliar to me. What happened,
I thought to myself. I couldn’t see any exits, and I was too weak to attempt to cast another teleportation spell.
… Kimiko. I should have expected as much.
It was Ulbrecht’s voice. I gasped in horror as I saw Ulbrecht standing over Machudiaux’s body. Well, despite your record of punctuality, it would seem this time you are a tad late.
I hissed at him, expressing my rage over his actions. Allow me to bid you welcome to Ghoyu’s Reverie. Final destination of all those missing magi that you so relentlessly seek.
Suddenly Ulbrecht turns toward me and casts a binding spell unlike any I have experienced before. And while I’m at it… I suppose you would make a fine addition to that select group!
He walked toward me, but I was unable to move. My body was terrorized, unwilling to move. I’m not really sure what happened after that as the rest of what happened is still a big blur. I found myself outside again, unharmed but shaken by what had happened.
I quickly made my way to Erlene who was still in Eldieme. What is it, Kimiko? Your expression does not bode well,
she asked me, worried sick. I explained to her what had transpired, and she was appalled by my findings. But that cannot be! All the pupils,
she cried out. I showed her Ulbrecht’s hat which was lying beside me when I came to again. What has that fool gone and done now,
she asked, disturbed by the mere thought.
