Fan Fiction ❯ The Mana Knights ❯ Light of Lumina ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Once again the Mana Temple was quiet.

"....RRNNNNGGGHHHHHHHH..."

For a moment.

Alan spasmed violently in his bed, searching for something, anything that would nullify his hearing. He grabbed his pillow, wrapping it tightly around his head as he fell back onto his bed facefirst. He briefly thought of getting up and forcibly relieving Ryuen of his snoring, but the passages of the temple still had a nasty habit of changing at the spur of the moment in the occaision that he ever wanted to get up and do anything at night. It was probably best for him, he thought - from what happened the day before, Alan did not find the prospect of crossing Vinsfeld's path at least at the time being very pleasant, without any kind of external support, especially without a conscious Ryuen to remotely aid him.

Oddly enough, the blows he had taken from the ancient being and the pain they brought had quickly subsided. It was probably one of Djinn's special powers, Alan thought to himself as he rolled over again, grinding his teeth as the seemingly omniscient snore proceeded to annoy him into submission.


********


Alan slumped into the kitchen, stumbling and just about flying onto his face as he made his way onto its raised floor. "...mornin'."

"Morning." Ryuen said sternly.

Alan was snapped awake by Ryuen's tone. "...uh.. so.. what's happening?"

"I'm cooking..." he suddenly became quiet as a familiar plume of black smoke erupted from in front of him. Alan couldn't make out exactly what he was heating on the stove from where he was standing - not that it particularly mattered anymore. "...and Slyphlid's recouperating."

"From what?" he glanced back as the spirit walked in slowly, in as almost a stupor as he had. It stopped in front of Alan, turning up to him and letting out a dull, pained squeak. Its color seemed somewhat less radiant than the day before, and it had a giant bandaid on the side of its head.

"Vinsfeld." Ryuen mumbled.

"That's why I felt no pain this morning, not like I had last night - the armor, Slyphlid took the brunt of it." Alan sighed. He shook his head, bending down to Djinn. "...sorry, little guy." the spirit gave a slow, affirmative nod before hopping off the floor and onto one of the chairs at the table.

"In battle, both of you take damage, but Slyphlid is the one to show it out of battle. This is the degree to which you were beaten yesterday. Alan, it was foolish for you to think that you could compete with Vinsfeld directly. Why did you challenge him?"

"...because.. he was there."

"I understand your resolve, but you must keep in mind that defeating Vinsfeld will require a joint effort on behalf of ALL the Mana Knights. There was no possible way you could have stood up to him then... you are extremely lucky that Vinsfeld had mercy on you at that point."

"He told me... what was it?.. that I had fine swordplay." Alan droned.

"That's no excuse." Ryuen sighed, dumping the ashes from his skillet into the garbage pail next to him.

"...alright..." Alan reached forward, grabbing the coffee pot from the center of the table. He slowly poured a tall mug full of the dark substance. "...I'm sorry. I'll try to exercise a little more sensibility. For now." he sipped gingerly at the hot brew. "...so... uh, Ryuen, what's on the schedule for toda..." he paused as a thin pamphlet fluttered down onto the table in front of him. "...what's this?"

"Something I found on the streets last night. It's quite interesting." Ryuen moved to the sink, adjusting the taps to generate a stream of warm water.

Alan raised an eyebrow to Ryuen, reaching forward and dragging the flyer towards him with a finger. He picked it up and shook it, causing two more pages to cascade out of the bundle. His eyes traced it for a moment before he looked back up. "...you're kidding me."

"It seems that Vinsfled isn't content with conquering this world, but now he needs to make a spectacle of it. From what I've heard these flyers are appearing all around town, announcing Vinsfeld to be the new heir of the entire Earth. As you might expect, some people are confused, some are concerned, and some are amused."

"There's a print shop on main street, I imagine Vinsfeld would've commandeered that pretty easily."

"If you look closely, there is ancient languauge running along the bottom of each page."

Alan glanced back at the flyer, squinting to make out the tiny type at the bottom. "...you're right. Do you know what it says?"

"It just repeats the above message."

"This doesn't make sense though." Alan placed the open paper back on the table. "The print shop here is just a small business, how were they able to get the prints necessary to write something like that? I'm thinking ancient text tables aren't exactly commonplace."

"That's the question the police are asking. They're assuming that whatever's going on here is clearly organized and not just some kind of prank, and they're on standby should any presumed cult activity take place within Heronburg. They know that the print was from that shop, but no one who works there has been seen there since late last night."

"...hey..." Alan pointed to a picture on the last page. Where the creators of the pamphlet were, at least on most varieties of such prints, was simply a picture of a woman with long, flowing purple hair and cold blue eyes. She was dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans. "...who's she?..."

Ryuen leant in. "...those eyes. Those eyes... She may not appear it, but she is in fact another of Vinsfeld's generals. Her name is Daina - and she is a vastly experienced time mage. She truly is a sly one - it doesn't surprise me the least that she'd have a big hand in coordinating a public campaign such as this."

"...so... what do we do about it?"

"There's not much that can be done until she decides to show her face."

"Like that?" Alan gestured to the small television on the counter, which continued to play on in obscurity and low volume. Another news broadcast was being played, focused on a sidestreet where some kind of massive, barbed insect lumbered. It didn't particularly matter at that point what exactly the live newscaster was saying, both Knights were focused more on its rider, and the crowd of people gathering dangerously close to the behemoth.

"That's her, alright." Ryuen rubbed his forehead with his hand. "...what in the hell is she doing rummaging through town on that thing?"

"Maybe she's doing door-to-door." Alan muttered.

"We don't have much time," Ryuen growled. "Alan, you need to intervene, to drive the crowds away if nothing else." he sulked, watching Alan leap for the kitchen door, Syphlid in pursuit. "...do you know where to go?"

"Do I?" Alan shouted from outside. "I used to go on that route every day to school!"

"...be careful!" Ryuen shouted after a brief pause.


********


Daina raised her hand, yawning into it as she stood atop a massive insect. She rested the butt of her staff upon the beast's scaly carapace, letting its ornamental end stick into the air. She glanced down, finally starting to notice the large crowd growing on both sides of the street. Some stared at the emerald-shaded mantis with awe, but more were beginning to express a growing concern.


--------
PREYER
Size: Large
Endurance: Medium
Hostility: High
Threat: Medium
--------


"Well." Daina huffed. "...I didn't expect to get such an audience just taking the Preyer for a morning stroll... but if you are all willing to listen..."

"Can I touch it?" a child yelled out from the audience, breaking free of it and running towards the Preyer's stalk-like legs. A woman shrieked, diving forward and knocking him out of the way as in a flash the leg raised and lowered, drilling into the hard concrete with surprising force. The gaggle gaped in fear, beginning to recede.

"By no doubt you've all caught wind of the run of flyers heralding the return of the mighty Vinsfeld... well... you know but an inkling of his power. This creature alone could lay waste to your homes and jobs, feast on your friends and loved ones and destroy all it comes in contact with... but should you all declare your allegiance to my lord, I can make some concessions, I suppose... and ensure none of this happens." her grin twisted. "...meh.. I think."

"What do you take us for?!" another man charged forward, breaking through the crowd. "...what are you all, some kind of cult?! I think someone needs their head checked!!"

Screams rang out as the giant mantis let out an ear-piercing cry, lancing forward and in one lightning quick motion impaled the man. The mob lurched even further back than before as the insect drew its arm back, raising it slowly to Daina's eye level. She reached forward, pulling the corpse forward as blood spilled out over the lance-like appendage. She smirked as she knocked on his pale forehead. "Yeah. I see the problem right here." she stepped back, raising her hands. "Do you get it yet?! Do you all really want to end up like this? Eh?!"

With a loud howl, the sky was covered with leaves - no one was able to turn in time to find out what just had rocketed out of nowhere. A spinning Alan let out a yell, driving his sword into the Preyer's thick hide at hypersonic velocity. Alan stopped dead, planting his feet against the creature's carapace and prying his blade from it as he flipped down safely to the ground. Daina let out a shriek as the Preyer let out a shriek of pain, beginning to wobble. Daina finally lost her footing, generating her own shrill noise as she fell a near 15-foot drop. She landed hard on her side, rolling away as the mantis turned its attention to Alan.

Alan, however, had his sights set elsewhere. He knelt down by the wounded man, checking over him. "Is he going to be alright?!"

A short, fat woman was on the other side, conducting more worthwhile tests on the body. "...he's alive, but he's in serious trauma... but he's losing too much blood! Someone call an ambulance!" Alan twitched as he heard the sirens in the distance. Apparently the group hadn't wasted any time to begin with.

He stood again, another several people charging in and bandaging him with their clothing - afterwards he was quickly ported into and out of the rapidly diminishing crowd. Alan growled, swinging back to face the Preyer - beyond he could see Daina beginning to raise herself from the ground - and someone else further back. A girl stood, twitching as she reached down for a long shard of concrete. Alan's eyes caught on the mostly-sealed wound on her arm. His mind went off like a siren.

"That girl..." Alan raised his sword. "YOU! Get out of here, now!!"

Instead she let out a garbled cry as she lunged forward, barreling down upon Daina as she swung her blunt weapon. Daina's staff appeared in her hands in a flash of light, blocking the blow. Both weapons edged both ways as they fought for control. Alan looked up at the Preyer as it let out another cry, but instead leapt forward, his Eagle Wings flaring out as he dove between the Preyer's legs. The mantis had already begun to bring its two front legs down, smashing the road just behind him to pieces. He sheathed his sword as he halted above the two, starting to wrestle Daina's stave from her grip.

"GO!!" Alan yelled, keeping his eyes set on Daina's.

"But... I..." the girl shivered, still staring down at Daina - not so much out of rage, but of fear.

"Just LISTEN!" Alan glared up at her. Their eyes locked.

"...YOU?! B-but.. you.. you..."

"We'll talk about this later!" Alan muttered. "Just get to safety!"

She finally snapped out of her trance, letting the stub of concrete fall to the ground. Alan spun around as the Preyer let out an ear-piercing hiss. Alan grit his teeth as a pound echoed across the ground. In a flash a scaled appendage lashed out, stopping inches from the girl's face.

Alan half-sat, his arm out and up to one side, his sword the other. There was a brief pause before the front three feet of the mantis' arm fell to the ground with a dull thump. A trickle of green liquid fell from what of the limb remained in the Preyer's control, as the rest of it thrashed in pain. Alan leapt from the ground, disappearing in another flash. He stood on the other side of the Preyer, sheathing his sword. He turned back to watch the other two arms on that side slither from their joints, falling from the main body - also causing the Preyer at that point to crash to the ground on that side, now standing on three right arms.

"...hmph." Daina let her hands fall in front of her, tilting her staff in either direction from time to time as she watched Alan quickly immobilize the beast. "...maybe... I should've used a bit more Dark Matter... I just guess I'll have to keep that in mind next time..." she threw her open palm up. "...RETURN!"

Alan was reeling back ,ready to strike a blow at the Preyer's stationary body when it suddenly turned pitch black. Alan froze midswing, watching as the massive body of the Preyer slowly began to bake away, decaying into almost ashlike flakes that floated up into the air before returning quickly to Daina's hand. It slowly began to form a large orb in her hand which she stuffed in her pocket. Alan made another dash, this time for Daina, but found himself stuck halfway through - he simply hung in the air midstep.

"Did Ryuen tell you nothing?" Daina let her staff fall back to her side as she slowly approached Alan. "I AM a prominent time mage - no amount of reflex would work against me. Just be happy that I couldn't attack you in this state without breaking SOME form of space-time law. If you'll pardon me now, I think I'll just make my leave..." Daina turned, snapping her fingers - a large portal opened in front of her, which she quickly stepped through. The gate closed again as quickly as it had opened. As it did, Alan continued his lunge forward, slashing the empty air, and landed facefirst against the hard road. He blinked, rubbing his nose as he felt other hands roll him over.

"...bleh." Alan coughed.

"Alan!" the girl continued to shake him back and forth, each rock more violent than the last. "...Alan!! How did you... I mean, how could you... uh..."

"What are we talking about here?" Alan slowly sat up, rubbing his hand against his face. "...what happened? Where's Daina?"

"...who? Oh... you mean... yeah... she's gone."

Alan threw his arms up. "This entire eradication-of-Vinsfeld thing might be a little more work than I thought."

"The what of who?" she shook her head. "...that's not important... did you hit your head on the way off that cliff? How did you even SURVIVE a fall like that? Why-"

"Whoa, whoa..." Alan sunk again. "...for one thing, that information is highly confidential... and two, I don't even KNOW you, save for that little run-in on the way to school..."

Her face immediately brightened. "You DO remember something!"

Alan frowned. "...uh.. yeah, yeah I do. I don't seem to recall your name, though..."

"Rena Lanning." she stuck her hand out, trying desperately to drag the armored Alan back onto his feet. After several tries, Alan heaved a sigh, slowly standing up. "...what's with the armor?... and why do you have a sword, and how did you actually manage to cleave apart that thing?..."

"It's a long story..." Alan mumbled.

"You need to come with me," Rena tried desperately to drag along Alan's externally heavy armor, to no effect. "...I've already gotten in contact with your friends, and your parents, and everyone... everyone would go ballistic if they knew you were alive!"

Alan shook free. "I've been specifically ordered NOT to reveal that."

Rena glared at Alan. "Is that so? By whom?"

Alan sweatdropped. His secretive stance was quickly becoming not-so-secretive. "...that would be my business, no offense."

"Moreso than your parents?" Rena tilted her head.

"Well, no one would believe me if I DID happen to tell the truth," Alan muttered, leaning up against an adjacent building.
"But I guess there would be no way in particular to avoid telling you everything to the letter, am I right?"

Rena nodded dully.

Alan sighed, tapping his feet. "...if I DO happen to tell you, can I trust you to tell NO ONE?"

Rena visibly thought for a moment and nodded again.

"...you're not helping." Alan took a deep breath. "...alright. You heard about all the flyers going around town lately, right? And the traffic disruption on the outlying freeways the other day? That cult they have in the papers... that Vinsfeld guy they keep referring to IS out there somewhere, and that cult DOES have a purpose... to serve Vinsfeld and help him destroy this world. This hasn't been his first appearance, though, apparently he's appeared throughout all of history. He shows up every 10,000 years, if I'm not mistaken. Every time he's sealed by a select group of magically augmented knights harnessing the earth's elements, blah blah blah, he keeps breaking free in each beforementioned timeset upon eight new Mana Knights serving the Mana Goddess are appointed, blah blah blah."

Rena blinked. "...can I check your head again?"

"I'm telling the truth." Alan growled.

"Magically. Augmented. Knights." Rena sighed, shaking her head.

Alan shook his head. "Armor Revert." he sighed.

Rena was about to turn to walk away when he saw the sword sink back into its owner's hand. With a loud squeal, Alan turned into a bright silouette of his former self, a pudgy djinn splitting from his lower midsection. Its feet touched the ground as both it and its host faded into their former selves. Alan was back in his regular clothing, and Syphlid looked as equally disgusted as Alan.

Rena's attention was back, albeit due to utter confusion. "...tell me more."

"You see what happened here today, and what happened on the freeway? That's going to keep on happening until the rest of the Mana Knights are rallied and Vinsfeld is trashed. And I for one can't do it... believe me, I've tried. If I had the choice of wrestling either him or the mantis, I would definately choose the mantis."

"...tell me more."

Alan scratched his chin. "...I COULD... but it would cost you your social life." Rena seemed to sulk at the remark. "...eh.. did I hit a bad chord there?"

"I'm seriously wondering..." she turned, after a while glancing back to Alan. "I bet it's bugging you... what could compel someone like me to rush into a life-threatening situation like that pretty much unarmed."

"...somewhat." Alan shrugged.

"...that person that who was attacked by the mantis earlier... you saw, they shipped him off to the hospital as fast as they could... he is my stepfather. I've never actually seen my real parents..."

"I'm getting the air that he's an alright guy."

Rena nodded. "...that breaks the evil stepparent stereotype, alright." Rena turned away again. "...but when he rushed out flailing like that, and sustaining as heavy an injury as he did..."

"You'd hate to have to part ways with him." Alan reeled back as Rena heaved a sigh. "...alright, THAT'S the bad chord."

"I've never been this afraid in my life. What if something were to happen to him?... he's the only person left that would take care of my brother and I... if I didn't have him, where would we turn?"

"...what you're trying to say is, you would definately hear me through if you that WERE the case?"

A low rumble sounded from a short distance away. Syphlid quickly hid itself behind Alan as he dug his hands in his pockets. Rena turned shortly thereafter. A small sedan drove up to them on the street, both passenger doors flying open. Another girl and a taller boy leapt from the vehicle, running in their direction. The girl latched onto the boy, trying desperately to drag him back. Instead he broke free, running towards Alan and Rena. As he met up with Rena, speaking in breathless gasps, Alan was able to quickly piece together the obvious.


********


Alan was leant up against the same wall, staring off into space. Every moment or so he would glance at Rena, checking on her composition. He looked her over again before heaving a sigh, wrapping his arms behind his head as he spaced himself from the wall. He walked forward a bit onto the road, staring up into the sky. It had been hours since the news had been broken to the two - stars already dotted the normally cloudy sky of Heronburg. Alan sighed again. Any other day his parents would have drug him in by the ear from wherever he had run off to at this time of night. He bowed his head, glancing again over his shoulder. "...Rena... tell me the truth... what happened back there?"

"...they had lost him by the time he hit the emergency doors." Rena said blankly.

"...damn it..." Alan growled. "...this is all my fault... if I had gotten here sooner..."

"It's not your fault." Rena interjected, her tone still monotonous. "...it wasn't the wound that killed him... it was the shock from the wound being inflicted... he didn't have a healthy heart to start with... and a blow like that just shut everything down..." Rena shook her head, straightening herself. "...poor Diaz..."

"Was that the other guy with you?" Alan asked.

"...he's my brother... I only imagined it would be a while before dad would leave us... but he's been harder hit by it by me... I know that much already. Right now he needs companionship... all my friends have been really helpful... one family's already taken him in... that's a relief..."

"And what about you?" Alan shot a glance to the side.

Rena shuffled her feet. "...this situation... this is just going to keep happening again and again, right?"

"Huh?"

"With Vinsfeld. That last attempt on the freeway, that was planned to kill more people, wasn't it?"

Alan remembered back to the giant flying ball of Rabites trying to tear him to shreds. "...I don't know whether to laugh or cry at that one."

"Was he or wasn't he?"

Alan paused, kicking a stone across the ground. "...well, I'm assuming..."

"You and me are the only ones who really understand the severity of what's going on here! When you said you'd tell me more about the Mana Knights but it'd risk my social life, what did you mean?"

"I meant you'd have to swear fealty to the Mana Goddess and leave the civilized world to covertly battle the forces of Vinsfeld, that's what."

"Then tell me how I can be like you."

Alan glared back at Rena. "Are you sure your place isn't here? I'm sure Diaz could use every bit of help he can get..."

"I understand that losing another member of his family would be the last straw... but I need to find out what's going on here, with Vinsfeld, and what he plans to do to Heronburg, for the sake of my brother AND everyone else! Please, take me to your boss... I want to learn everything I can about the Mana Knights!"

Alan sulked, taking a deep breath. "...we're going to the bay temple. Once I take you there, you'll have no way off unless you try to swim out of the bay. Oh, yeah, it's surrounded by cliffs as you obviously know, and the tides down there can tear people apart if you get too far away from the island."

"One way ticket?"

Alan nodded.

Rena paused, biting her lip as she glanced over her shoulder. "...well, then by all means... let's go."

Alan and Syphlid exchanged tired glances. With a shrug, they both fused once more, Alan's armor sprouting its wings. "Hope you don't get airsick."


********


Two hours later, Alan was relieved to find himself back within the confines of the temple, far away from sight of the public, relaxing in a large recliner, and above all else, not in mortal combat with some breed of ancient beast and/or general. As a matter of fact, Alan couldn't seem to recall even seeing this chamber before - it was a small library packed full of books, with three recliners set up symmetrically around a small fireplace. A dull blaze crackled within, the flames dancing just slow enough to fully distract Alan. He suddenly jolted as Rena entered the room, taking the seat across from Alan.

"So?" he leant forward. "How'd it go?"

"...well.. he told me what you had earlier... I guess you're not making this up. And... I DO seem to recall this room being the foyer a second ago..."

Alan shrugged his shoulders as Ryuen walked in. He pivoted his seat, standing up. "...hey, how are things..."

Ryuen nodded. "Good... and you? I see you managed to dispatch Daina's animation fairly easily... we're lucky it wasn't a fully powered one, it could have been quite devastating with the proper enchantments..." he turned to Rena, bowing. "...well, I've been talking your ear off for so long... I don't think I've introduced myself. I am Ryuen, the caretaker of this temple."

"Rena Lanning." she nodded. "...what you told me, and what Alan told me... is it true that an ancient superhuman is what's responsible for all the chaos in Heronburg?"

"That is so. Thankfully, though, we've been able to supress his activities in the short term. Or, should I say, Alan has been a huge contributing factor in such events. Anyways, from what I hear you had many places you could have stayed this night, what brought you to come here with Alan? Revenge, I'm not entirely sure if that's the reason, I DO sense some sort of malice about you but it's nowhere severe enough to contribute fully to such behavior."

"So..." Alan murmured.

"So what?"

"You're not particularly mad for me telling her about the Mana Knights in the first place?"

"Hey, if you got her out to this island, where she knows full well there's no way she can escape here alive in her current state, she's kind of pacified in regards to spilling the beans, hm?"

Alan sweatdropped. "Ah."

"Anyways..." Ryuen turned his attention back to Rena. "I'm sure you're fully aware that by coming out here you've subjected yourselves to my will?"

"I want to learn about the Mana Knights and help in any way that I can." Rena nodded. "...though... if this is all over eventually, we'll be able to return to Heronburg, right?"

"That's for you to find out." Ryuen shuffled his robes. "...anyways, you said that you wanted to help us... when you say that, to what degree do you mean it?"

"I've lost a loved one to him. I have nowhere else to turn that won't lead me into a dead end."

"Ah. That'd explain a lot. So what you're saying is you'll do whatever it takes to defend Heronburg and your loved ones from Vinsfeld?"

"I know it's within your power." she glanced to Alan, smiling for the first time that night. Alan immediately felt his face warm.

"Alright, then." Ryuen reached within his robes, claiming a small sack. He carefully undid the twist tie on it, emptying a small bundle of jawbreaker-sized gems into his hand. Alan quickly recognized them, but Ryuen shot him an annoyed glance. Alan let himself sulk back, watching as Rena stared slack-jawed at the assortment of flawlessly carved gems. "...you're going to have to make a decision first. I'm not exactly sure if this kind of thing interests you or not, but by all means, pick one to call your own."

Rena slowly drew a diamond from the stack, holding it up to the room's dim light. The room seemed to brighten almost instantly. "...wow.. are you sure this is alright?..."

Ryuen nodded. "By all means. Now, if you don't mind, will you come with me for a moment?" Alan stepped forward. "...Alan, can you wait here?"

Alan sighed, throwing up his arms. "Whatever." he fell back into the chair, which emitted a loud squeak. Alan stood up again, dragging Syphlid out from underneath him. Alan scowled, dropping him into one of the adjacent seats. He turned back, watching as the den's door closed again with a loud thud.


********


"Wh-AAAT?!?"

Ryuen scratched his head. "...that's odd, I do recall you saying a moment ago that you would do whatever it takes to defend Heronburg?"

"Short of pledging allegiance to a PAGAN GOD!" Rena sputtered, glaring back up at the Mana Goddess' fountain. Light still poured in through the stained glass high above, and the intricately carved statue of the divine figure loomed over the pool of water below with open arms.

"Hm?" Ryuen raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe in the old gods?"

"I think the credibility's taken a slight hit!"

"Especially when one is destroying your world?" Ryuen tossed the diamond up and down in his hand. "Pardon my blasphemy, but if you're so adamant about any previous arrangments, perhaps you could tell me where your God is during all of this? Hm. I've never totally understood this entire Christianity thing. Reading the scriptures, time and time again, I seriously wonder how one can say that this God supposedly created man in his image when I perceive the opposite. What I see these days is little more than a crutch and/or a commerical enterprise. A spectacle."

"How can you tell me such things about what I believe in?!"

"I'm not," Ryuen folded his hands behind his back. "I'm just telling you to broaden your horizons. Before you start ridiculing me, ask yourself, how did Alan perform the feats he did today? Obviously that's something not emphasized by your holy book. But we are fighting for peace and our loved ones. Is that such a sin?"

Rena blinked. "Well... I..."

"Will you not join us?"

"...I made a promise to my friends, to help stop what was unleashed on Heronburg..."

"Are you going to ignore your friends for your beliefs?"

"I can't."

"Then step into the fountain." Ryuen tossed the gem to Rena as she slowly stepped over the boundries of the pool of water. She sighed, lifting up her jeans as they soaked in the enchanted waters. "...now, you must renounce yourself for your friends... provided you are willing to do so. Stand tall as a Mana Knight and declare your service to the Mana Goddess."

Rena sighed, holding the jewel up. "...alright, alright... Mana Goddess... I beg of you to bestow your powers upon me, the abilities to defend Heronburg and my friends from the evils of Vinsfeld... please, answer my call..." Rena opened her eyes as a single ray of light refracted through the diamond. The shaft gradually increased in density and width, which was only multiplied further as the prismatic gem absorbed and transmitted the light again - some kind of invisible barrier surrounded the fountain, containing the light and causing the entire open area of the fountain to appear as a massive beam of blinding light that covered the entire surface of the fountain.

Ryuen squinted, waving his arms to beckon Rena out as the light began to diminish. She stepped out awkwardly, rubbing her eyes furiously. "What the hell are you trying to do?! Augh... I'm blind..." she raised her hands to rub her eyes, which made Ryuen flinch as she proceeded to clobber herself in the face with the massive lance she was unwittingly carrying. Ryuen sighed, dragging her back onto her feet. "...what.. what the?..."

"Please, take care when swinging that thing around."

"Whatever it was, it was light, but it hurt like..." Rena finally glanced down, and caught sight of the lance. It was easily as long as she was tall, with a massive metal arrowhead that took up its top half, which gradually narrowed to a laser-fine point. It was clear even the sides were sharp enough to be lethal. There was a small, hollowed-out section at its centre where the shaft could be gripped. Her other hand lied further down the thick ornamental shaft, from which a gold chain hung. Her upper half was wrapped in dense scale armor, with a thick, greatly polished breastplate on top. Below her waist, held in place by a tightly-woven belt and, partially, the breastplate, was a long skirt that hung down to just below her knees - while the fabric itself appeared new, the pattern that circled around its bottom was decidedly ancient.

"Mana Knight of Sky and Light. By all means, welcome." Ryuen rubbed his palms together. "...well... tell me.. how does it feel?"

Rena jogged in place, still looking about herself in amazement. "...uh... wow? I... don't know what to say... this weapon feels like it weighs nothing... I feel light as air!"

Ryuen continued to watch blankly as Rena continued to prance. "There's still some things I need to tell you about your Mana Spirit, if you'll bother yourself to stand still for a moment."


********


"It's about freaking time you got out of there." Alan stood from his chair, yawning. Syphlid propelled itself from its own chair, falling back to the ground as Rena walked back in. She was back in her own clothes, now flanked by a small white flame floating in the air with small black eyes. "...that your Spirit?"

"Ryuen told me that its name is Lumina... the Spirit of Light."

Alan stared at the little wisp. Sure enough, its core was giving off enough luminescence to make his eyes burn after a short while. He glanced away, rubbing at his eyes. "...it sure fits the bill. I must say, all that light makes you look even more-"

"What?"

"What what?" Alan turned, quickly turning back to Rena.

"...is that Ryuen?" Rena dug out her ears.

"Yes, yes it is." Alan slumped himself against one of the shelves, staring dully at Rena. "Don't expect to get any privacy outside of your room."

"Wow, we even get rooms." Rena sulked. "What other wonderful perks do we get?"


********


Two plates piled with chars sat in front of the two.

Ryuen scratched his head, staring downwards. "...well, everyone needs a little carbon in their diet, don't they?"

Alan continued to glare, producing a pizza box from under the table. "I come prepared."

"Why could I not have seen this..." Rena buried her head in her hands. "...with knighthood... comes a Spartan life." she continued to shake her head, only to look up to find Lumina nibbling on the burnt remains - in the process reigniting it. "HEY! You little... that stuff's probably poisonous! Now... cough that up..." she reached up, clasping her hands around the floating flame - and igniting HERSELF.

Alan blinked as Rena ran screeching from the table, tending to her smoldering hands. "Was she that fast in her armor?"

"To tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure."

Alan heaved a sigh, leaning back. What was Earth's last hope was quickly turning into a display of dysfunctionality to the nth degree.

As his chair fell over backwards, Heronberg had peace.








--------
Comments? Queries? Death threats?

Neodammerung
chandk@stu.augustana.ca

Eric the Fanitic
gameboyeric@aol.com