Aria entered the second room. As soon as Aria set foot into the room, the doorknob behind her disappeared. It was the opposite of the first room. This was grand. A little bigger that the previous one, more spacious too. Four walls were pure white. And in the center of it stood a golden statue. There were no lighting whatsoever, except for the brightly glowing figure in the middle. Aria drew closer to the statue as she started examining it.
It was a beautiful one. It was shaped out of pure gold-well, that was what Aria assumed-and the lining on its golden robe was carved with precise accuracy, as if it was formed by the world's finest hands. It was so detailed that even Aria had problems looking at it whole. Aria admired the statue, somehow thinking that how much would this cause back in Rouldon. Well, MY Rouldon, she thought.
'GREED!'
Aria jumped backwards, falling to the smooth, cooling marble floor. The sudden break of silence shocked Aria.
'Who are you? Show yourselves!' plead Aria, still sitting on the floor.
'CURIOSITY'
Beads of sweat began to trickle down Aria's face from her temples. Aria wiped them off with her finger as it gathered at the bottom of her chin. They were cold.
'FEAR!'
Aria did not ask further. She looked around, finding the source of the trembling voice.
'DO NOT FEAR ME, YOUNG ONE. I WILL SHOW THEE THE PATH TO THE NEXT ROOM. AND I WILL NOT DO SO UNTIL THE FEAR IN THYSELF HAD FADED.'
Aria looked at the statue, thinking that THAT might have been the one talking, but shook her head as she recalled that the voice came from everywhere except the statue. She took in a deep breath and tried to suppress her fear. She thought of the moments she had with the one she loved most.
'Come on mommy! Run faster!' Aria was in the park, and this was nine years ago, when she was five. It was winter, too.
'No you don't!' shouted a woman in her late thirties. She was pretty. Her skin was as fair as snow, as smooth as marble. Her eyes were big and beautiful, just like Aria's. Her long, straight hair brushed across her face as she ran. She was Aria's mother.
'Yes I will! Haha!' Aria replied with a wide grin on her face. Being together with her mom was one of the happiest moments in her life.
THUD!
The loud noise woke Aria from her flashback. She realized that she was smiling.
'THEE HAVE A STRONG HEART, YOUNG ONE. BE WISE TO USE IT. MAY THE LORD GOD WALK WITH THEE.'
Aria realized she overcame her fear just by reminiscing about the happy moments with her mom. And that made Aria smile. She walked through the gap in the wall which had been unlocked. As she approached the gap, the voice spoke again.
'WHAT THEE HAD WITNESSED, WAS MAGIC. ONLY THE ONES WITH TRUE COLORS MAY WELD ITS POWERS.'
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Cp 4.1: The First Test
Aria pushed open the wooden door. The room was empty. A small box-like room was before Aria's eyes. There was nothing in it, except a cross in the center of the left wall. The cross wasn't like those in churches, it was more...complicating, as Aria puts it. There were two snakes intertwining the silver cross, as between the two snakes' mouths there was a tiny hole. Aria stepped into the room and the door behind her slammed shut. Aria tried twisting the doorknob but the door just wouldn't budge. Soon, Aria gave up and shifted her attention onto the small, dim room. The air was musty as Aria held her breath several times. The four walls enclosing the room was dry and rough, despite the damp air. Moss grew on the wall, giving it a touch of green.
Aria touched the cross, but it gave no respond. Suddenly, a voice spoke.
'Gaze into the serpents' eyes,
Feel into its' scaly skins,
Find out within what it lies,
Figure out what it really means.'
The voice subsided. Aria stood in front of the cross and concentrated onto the snakes' eyes. There was only one on each creature, so Aria focused on the left one first, then the right one.
'Click!'
It sounded like a gear just moved. Soon, both eyes of the snakes' were gone! All left was its' scaly body. Aria remembered what the voice said. 'Feel into its' scaly skins.' Aria lifted her arm and pressed her finger against the snakes. To Aria's amaze, her finger sank into the wall! She ventured the small space with her finger and she felt something cold. It shaped like a small lever. She pulled it and a second 'click' was heard. Now, the snakes in the wall began to slither away from the cross, forming an arc over Aria. The cross gradually faded and the only thing left was the tiny hole. Aria touched the small opening and something, perhaps fire, burnt her finger! She jumped back as a stream of fire escaped from the hole. It wasn't normal flame, it was white in colour. It wasn't sparks, just fire. Aria examined her skin and noticed the part where the fire had burnt her did not have any sign or mark of injury, but the area around it was burnt to black.
Soon, the flame ceased. Aria stood up and approached the wall, maintaining a gap between her and the wall as she does not want any more surprises.
A golden doorknob was slowly formed in the wall. Aria touched it. It was cold. She turned the doorknob and pushed open the wall.
Aria had just passed the first test.
Aria touched the cross, but it gave no respond. Suddenly, a voice spoke.
'Gaze into the serpents' eyes,
Feel into its' scaly skins,
Find out within what it lies,
Figure out what it really means.'
The voice subsided. Aria stood in front of the cross and concentrated onto the snakes' eyes. There was only one on each creature, so Aria focused on the left one first, then the right one.
'Click!'
It sounded like a gear just moved. Soon, both eyes of the snakes' were gone! All left was its' scaly body. Aria remembered what the voice said. 'Feel into its' scaly skins.' Aria lifted her arm and pressed her finger against the snakes. To Aria's amaze, her finger sank into the wall! She ventured the small space with her finger and she felt something cold. It shaped like a small lever. She pulled it and a second 'click' was heard. Now, the snakes in the wall began to slither away from the cross, forming an arc over Aria. The cross gradually faded and the only thing left was the tiny hole. Aria touched the small opening and something, perhaps fire, burnt her finger! She jumped back as a stream of fire escaped from the hole. It wasn't normal flame, it was white in colour. It wasn't sparks, just fire. Aria examined her skin and noticed the part where the fire had burnt her did not have any sign or mark of injury, but the area around it was burnt to black.
Soon, the flame ceased. Aria stood up and approached the wall, maintaining a gap between her and the wall as she does not want any more surprises.
A golden doorknob was slowly formed in the wall. Aria touched it. It was cold. She turned the doorknob and pushed open the wall.
Aria had just passed the first test.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Cp 4: Jobs
'I must be dreaming,' muttered Aria under her breath.
There she was, standing in front of twenty two tables made of black, rough wood. And among these tables, sat many, many unusual creatures. There was a hog-looking beast, sitting next to a petite, fur-covered creature. Aria's jaws hung out wide. She couldn't believe herself.
'Follow me,' said Giselle.
Giselle pulled Aria's arm along and Aria followed behind. Soon, they were at the centre of the building, where a tall, dinosaur-like creature stood.
'Hey Zel, what's up?' questioned the unknown creature. He-or perhaps 'it'-had a long, sharp horn protruding from his forehead. He had a muscular physical shape and a scar which was dragged from his left chest until his back. He had big eyes and they examined Aria like hungry jaguars looking at an innocent deer. His ear was sharp just like Giselle's.
'Nah, just the usual. But I found something very interesting, Kines,' Giselle gestured at Aria, who was feeling the awkwardness.
'Err...hi,' Greeted Aria airily.
'Hi there, friend,' said Kines. 'A friend of Zel's is indeed a friend of mine!' Kines grabbed Aria's hand a shook it vigorously, leaving Aria no choice but to shake along.
'I want you to classify her, Kines,' requested Giselle with a serious look on her face. 'And this time, no mistakes.'
Kines smiled awkwardly and nodded towards Giselle, then Aria.
'W-What do you mean by classify?' Asked Aria.
'Don't worry, my dear,' Giselle patted Aria on her head. 'Old Kines here will group you into your jobs accordingly.'
'To?'
'Your ability and capability, of course! You have to start learning and earn your own money here, my dear!'
Aria had no choice but to nod and go with the flow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The noise from Kine's gradually faded away behind Aria as she was brought into this narrow, gloomy hallway. The air was heavy as Aria fastened her breathing. There were wooden doors along the hallway. The hallway seemed like some sort of underground dungeon. The sides were lit with small, fragile torches which hung on the brick wall. They gave the hallway an eerie, gloomy appearance.
As they traveled along the narrow road, the creature escorting Aria-known as a Urukk-stopped at a door. The door was like the others, except it had a carving of a little vial producing bubbles.
'Here...magic...' muttered the Urukk.
'Magic?' Aria responded.
The Urukk nodded and gestured for Aria to enter the room. Aria hesitated, and turned the doorknob.
There she was, standing in front of twenty two tables made of black, rough wood. And among these tables, sat many, many unusual creatures. There was a hog-looking beast, sitting next to a petite, fur-covered creature. Aria's jaws hung out wide. She couldn't believe herself.
'Follow me,' said Giselle.
Giselle pulled Aria's arm along and Aria followed behind. Soon, they were at the centre of the building, where a tall, dinosaur-like creature stood.
'Hey Zel, what's up?' questioned the unknown creature. He-or perhaps 'it'-had a long, sharp horn protruding from his forehead. He had a muscular physical shape and a scar which was dragged from his left chest until his back. He had big eyes and they examined Aria like hungry jaguars looking at an innocent deer. His ear was sharp just like Giselle's.
'Nah, just the usual. But I found something very interesting, Kines,' Giselle gestured at Aria, who was feeling the awkwardness.
'Err...hi,' Greeted Aria airily.
'Hi there, friend,' said Kines. 'A friend of Zel's is indeed a friend of mine!' Kines grabbed Aria's hand a shook it vigorously, leaving Aria no choice but to shake along.
'I want you to classify her, Kines,' requested Giselle with a serious look on her face. 'And this time, no mistakes.'
Kines smiled awkwardly and nodded towards Giselle, then Aria.
'W-What do you mean by classify?' Asked Aria.
'Don't worry, my dear,' Giselle patted Aria on her head. 'Old Kines here will group you into your jobs accordingly.'
'To?'
'Your ability and capability, of course! You have to start learning and earn your own money here, my dear!'
Aria had no choice but to nod and go with the flow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The noise from Kine's gradually faded away behind Aria as she was brought into this narrow, gloomy hallway. The air was heavy as Aria fastened her breathing. There were wooden doors along the hallway. The hallway seemed like some sort of underground dungeon. The sides were lit with small, fragile torches which hung on the brick wall. They gave the hallway an eerie, gloomy appearance.
As they traveled along the narrow road, the creature escorting Aria-known as a Urukk-stopped at a door. The door was like the others, except it had a carving of a little vial producing bubbles.
'Here...magic...' muttered the Urukk.
'Magic?' Aria responded.
The Urukk nodded and gestured for Aria to enter the room. Aria hesitated, and turned the doorknob.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Cp 3: Explanation
Aria walks out into the living room, or whatever it is, right after she washed up. Questions and questions which requires answers and explanations filled her head. It was difficult for Aria to walk in a straight line as the headache wasn't all gone. She nodded slightly towards Giselle and landed onto a soft couch in the corner.
'Where am I?' Aria broke the silence.
'Why, you're in the giant city of Renoa my dear!' Giselle answered.
'Renoa?'
'Oh my, did the Helt Forest gave you amnesia?'
'Helt Forest?'
'My, my... This is serious. Looks like your memory faded faster you can say Jeeblers!'
'I...I just know that I came from Rouldon.'
'Rouldon? That's the capital of Renoa! You don't even remember your city!'
'Capital?', Aria wanted to faint. These sudden news weren't easy to absorb.
'Yes, my dear,' explained Giselle. 'Let me bring you to Kines, perhaps he'll know what to do.'
Aria nodded and laid her heavy head onto the soft couch.
'By the way, I'm a Drann.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aria walked as fast as she could alongside Giselle, but soon noticed that her full speed wasn't half of Giselle's. Giselle's long legs allowed her to move extra swift.
'Wait up,' requested Aria, panting.
Giselle turned behind and smiled.
'Come on,' Giselle grabbed Aria's arms and dashed forward, travelling at blinding speed. Wind brushed through Aria's hair and the velocity produced that hollow sound in Aria's ears.
It wasn 't long till they arrived at Kines. It was something similar to Hiller's, just that this was bigger in size. Aria was standing in front of an unusual building, covered in thick moss and tree branches. The sign was seemingly visible. KINES: VENUE 4 HANTEERS
'Where am I?' Aria broke the silence.
'Why, you're in the giant city of Renoa my dear!' Giselle answered.
'Renoa?'
'Oh my, did the Helt Forest gave you amnesia?'
'Helt Forest?'
'My, my... This is serious. Looks like your memory faded faster you can say Jeeblers!'
'I...I just know that I came from Rouldon.'
'Rouldon? That's the capital of Renoa! You don't even remember your city!'
'Capital?', Aria wanted to faint. These sudden news weren't easy to absorb.
'Yes, my dear,' explained Giselle. 'Let me bring you to Kines, perhaps he'll know what to do.'
Aria nodded and laid her heavy head onto the soft couch.
'By the way, I'm a Drann.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aria walked as fast as she could alongside Giselle, but soon noticed that her full speed wasn't half of Giselle's. Giselle's long legs allowed her to move extra swift.
'Wait up,' requested Aria, panting.
Giselle turned behind and smiled.
'Come on,' Giselle grabbed Aria's arms and dashed forward, travelling at blinding speed. Wind brushed through Aria's hair and the velocity produced that hollow sound in Aria's ears.
It wasn 't long till they arrived at Kines. It was something similar to Hiller's, just that this was bigger in size. Aria was standing in front of an unusual building, covered in thick moss and tree branches. The sign was seemingly visible. KINES: VENUE 4 HANTEERS
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Cp 2: Where Am I?
Aria dragged herself into the shadows, allowing it to consume her whole. Her foot landed on something, then sank in it. Aria missed her footing and tripped over. Her face landed on a cushion of unknown substance-as soft as cotton-and at that very moment, she knew what it was.
'Snow?'
She immediately stood up as the frost pierced her skin. She looked around, hoping for and answer. She quickly spun around, no door or portal was there. Everywhere she looked it's just white, white and more white, and of course a forest of fir trees. These trees weren't the same as those in Rouldon, these were more...ferocious as Aria puts it. Suddenly Aria felt a tingle, her hands wrapped around her head. The minor tingle has now mutated into some kind of headache. The pain grew. It was cold. Aria's vision turned blur and it was only a matter of minutes before the agony knocks her out. Her knees fell to the floor, then her torso. Everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'...are you fine, my dear?' came a voice.
Aria moved her fingers slightly.
'Are you awake?' the voice grew louder and clearer.
'........huh..?'
'Ah! You're awake!'
The sudden scream woke Aria up, inside out.
'...where am...I?' Aria tried to form a sentence.
'You mean you do not know where have you been?'
Aria still couldn't make shape of the face of the person. The voice sounded gentle, comforting. She forced her mind to concentrate onto the figure. The silhouette soon became a lady. A lady with a pair of graceful eyes, pointy nose and snow white hair. Her ears were slightly sharp as well. Aria was stunned by her extraordinary beauty. Her skin was too snow-coloured and it was as smooth as marble floor. Her fingers were unusually long. It took Aria just a few minutes to notice that she herself wasn't afraid.
'My name is Giselle, Giselle Earthheart. You can call me Zel, it's fine with me,' Giselle smiled.
'Oh, hi.. My name is Aria. What happened?' Aria asked.
'We can talk about this right arter you washed up. The fresh clothes are on the Marwood table over there.'
'Thanks.'
'Snow?'
She immediately stood up as the frost pierced her skin. She looked around, hoping for and answer. She quickly spun around, no door or portal was there. Everywhere she looked it's just white, white and more white, and of course a forest of fir trees. These trees weren't the same as those in Rouldon, these were more...ferocious as Aria puts it. Suddenly Aria felt a tingle, her hands wrapped around her head. The minor tingle has now mutated into some kind of headache. The pain grew. It was cold. Aria's vision turned blur and it was only a matter of minutes before the agony knocks her out. Her knees fell to the floor, then her torso. Everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'...are you fine, my dear?' came a voice.
Aria moved her fingers slightly.
'Are you awake?' the voice grew louder and clearer.
'........huh..?'
'Ah! You're awake!'
The sudden scream woke Aria up, inside out.
'...where am...I?' Aria tried to form a sentence.
'You mean you do not know where have you been?'
Aria still couldn't make shape of the face of the person. The voice sounded gentle, comforting. She forced her mind to concentrate onto the figure. The silhouette soon became a lady. A lady with a pair of graceful eyes, pointy nose and snow white hair. Her ears were slightly sharp as well. Aria was stunned by her extraordinary beauty. Her skin was too snow-coloured and it was as smooth as marble floor. Her fingers were unusually long. It took Aria just a few minutes to notice that she herself wasn't afraid.
'My name is Giselle, Giselle Earthheart. You can call me Zel, it's fine with me,' Giselle smiled.
'Oh, hi.. My name is Aria. What happened?' Aria asked.
'We can talk about this right arter you washed up. The fresh clothes are on the Marwood table over there.'
'Thanks.'
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Cp 1: Hillers
Gina stepped through the soft, white floor. She gently pushed open the rusty, fragile swingdoor. It was warm, despite the cold weather. The place was crowded, as the glacial surroundings brought almost everyone together in this small, warm cabin. Hiller's was a cabin located in the near streets of South Rouldon. Hiller's was named after the founder, Krato Hiller. He is the one who started this place, this small-but-well-knowned place. Everyone in South Rouldon knew about Hiller's, including Aria and Gina, who are regular customers. Gina had been close to Hiller's son, Jais, a regular senior in Irist High.
'Gina!' came a shout from nowhere.
'J!' Gina answered the call without having to know who and where. 'I'm here!'
'Be right there!'
A tall and semi-bearded lad walked toward them. His neatly combed hair glimmered under the baby blue lighting. Aria was stunned for a couple of seconds, dazzled, more likely as this was the first time Aria saw J, not knowing his real name.
'Meet J, Aria!' said Gina, smiling broadly as she tied her arms around J's.
'Err.. Heya..' Aria spoke softly.
'Hey..' J smiled back. 'You came here to drink?'
'Wha.. No, not at all! I don't drink. I came here because of Gina.'
'Oh, that's...awesome,' J looked at Gina. 'Why not we sit over there?'
'Okay,' Gina was happy as ever. 'If Aria don't mind..'
'Oh, no, no.. I can take care of myself. You two go on ahead,' Aria forced a smile.
'But-'
'Alright!' Gina winked at Aria. 'Thanks Aria!'
Gina dragged J across the room and chose a table in the corner.
'Sigh... Guess I'm all alone again..'
Aria walked around the building, squeezing her way through the crowded room. Suddenly, Aria saw a room behind the plastered wall where Mr. Hiller hangs his paintings. Aria looked at the paintings. There was nearly ten of them, but only two caught Aria's eyes. One was a gigantic cross nailed on a triangular building, more like a church. The cross was gold in colour, and on top of it was a small statue of a white bird, a dove. Aria then shifted her attention to the other painting. A young girl, carrying a bulky bow, falling off a horse. And behing them were two masked figures carrying blue and black staffs. Aria liked the paintings very much, wondering who could've such a masterpiece.
Aria then approached the room. The room door was wide open, yet no one noticed it. Aria reached out her hand and emerged it into the shadows. It was cold inside.
'That's weird...'
Aria stepped into the room and immediately her jaws fell. Her eyes was fixed onto the view. It wasn't the world she's in now. It was different.
'Gina!' came a shout from nowhere.
'J!' Gina answered the call without having to know who and where. 'I'm here!'
'Be right there!'
A tall and semi-bearded lad walked toward them. His neatly combed hair glimmered under the baby blue lighting. Aria was stunned for a couple of seconds, dazzled, more likely as this was the first time Aria saw J, not knowing his real name.
'Meet J, Aria!' said Gina, smiling broadly as she tied her arms around J's.
'Err.. Heya..' Aria spoke softly.
'Hey..' J smiled back. 'You came here to drink?'
'Wha.. No, not at all! I don't drink. I came here because of Gina.'
'Oh, that's...awesome,' J looked at Gina. 'Why not we sit over there?'
'Okay,' Gina was happy as ever. 'If Aria don't mind..'
'Oh, no, no.. I can take care of myself. You two go on ahead,' Aria forced a smile.
'But-'
'Alright!' Gina winked at Aria. 'Thanks Aria!'
Gina dragged J across the room and chose a table in the corner.
'Sigh... Guess I'm all alone again..'
Aria walked around the building, squeezing her way through the crowded room. Suddenly, Aria saw a room behind the plastered wall where Mr. Hiller hangs his paintings. Aria looked at the paintings. There was nearly ten of them, but only two caught Aria's eyes. One was a gigantic cross nailed on a triangular building, more like a church. The cross was gold in colour, and on top of it was a small statue of a white bird, a dove. Aria then shifted her attention to the other painting. A young girl, carrying a bulky bow, falling off a horse. And behing them were two masked figures carrying blue and black staffs. Aria liked the paintings very much, wondering who could've such a masterpiece.
Aria then approached the room. The room door was wide open, yet no one noticed it. Aria reached out her hand and emerged it into the shadows. It was cold inside.
'That's weird...'
Aria stepped into the room and immediately her jaws fell. Her eyes was fixed onto the view. It wasn't the world she's in now. It was different.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Prologue: In The Snow
White snowflakes came pouring like powder. This isn't Aria's first time experiencing snow since the day she and her dad moved to Irist, the coldest town in Rouldon. Since the death of her mother-who took good and impeccable care, Aria's life was shattered to pieces. It took her dad ample of time to comfort her.
'Snow...', sighed Aria. She never liked snow. The snowflakes which melts once it comes in contact with something warm reminds her of the relationship she had with her mother. Wonderful, but temporarily.
Aria shifted her frozen bottom a few inches to the right, allowing her closest friend, Gina to take a seat on the cold wooden floor. Aria was in school. The ten feet building doesn't seem much to pedestrians, but this very building taught Aria the principles of life-be realistic and face reality. It was after class. Aria often lingers around the school compound as she doesn't have any things to do at home.
'Ria..', started Gina who's suffering from a flu.
'Yeah?' Aria answered in a low tone.
'Why don't we drop by at Hiller's?'
'Hiller's? What for? It's not like we could get much entertainment there...'
'Oh..come on..' Gina nudged Aria's right arm. 'It'll be fun.'
'I don't know..'
'I'll take that as a yes!'
Gina immediately stood up and pulled Aria's arm, leaving her no choice but to tag along.
'Snow...', sighed Aria. She never liked snow. The snowflakes which melts once it comes in contact with something warm reminds her of the relationship she had with her mother. Wonderful, but temporarily.
Aria shifted her frozen bottom a few inches to the right, allowing her closest friend, Gina to take a seat on the cold wooden floor. Aria was in school. The ten feet building doesn't seem much to pedestrians, but this very building taught Aria the principles of life-be realistic and face reality. It was after class. Aria often lingers around the school compound as she doesn't have any things to do at home.
'Ria..', started Gina who's suffering from a flu.
'Yeah?' Aria answered in a low tone.
'Why don't we drop by at Hiller's?'
'Hiller's? What for? It's not like we could get much entertainment there...'
'Oh..come on..' Gina nudged Aria's right arm. 'It'll be fun.'
'I don't know..'
'I'll take that as a yes!'
Gina immediately stood up and pulled Aria's arm, leaving her no choice but to tag along.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What's it about?
Everyone likes fantasies, right? Magics, monsters, battles, earning experience points, leveling up... Who doesn't? We're living in a dull world, you see? We people need to lighten up! All these years, mankind have been waiting for someone who is genius enough to bring some colors into this world. Well, so far there haven't been any progress.
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