Desert Dragon, page 33
Luna: "Now that Rusty's awake, wat's the plan?"
Nathan: "We'll be heading to Concern's Gate tomorrow morning. It'll take us the whole day to get from Surpreon to Concern's Gate."
Luna: "So rest up, Rusty. It's the arvo and we got a big walk ahead of us."
Lezard: "How exciting." *He giggled and wiggled his bottom.* "Another adventure! Bwarharh."
Trevour: "In that case, I better get some shut-eye, heh heh." *He chuckled and leant back into the bed, making his head comfortable.*
Rachael: "Hehe, alright. It's good that you're okay, Trev."
Luna: "Wateva." *She grunted and smiled, as if she was happy for Trevour's well-being.*
Destiny: (You're happy, so why did you say whatever-?)
Luna: (He doesn't need to know that, aye.)
Trevour: *He watched the guild all walk out of the room, causing him to look up to the ceiling.* (Heh heh.. They all came for me-)
Karol: "Twevour." *He spoke in an innocent-like manner and nudged the sheets to Trevour's bed.*
Trevour: *He slightly jumped in fright.* "Little meister, you need to get to sleep."
Karol: "Uhm..." *He looked down, nervously twiddling his fingers as if he wanted to say something.*
Trevour: "Nightmares?"
Karol: "..." *He silently nodded his head in a child-like manner, trying to hide his fear.*
Trevour: "Get in." *He sighed and watched Karol jump over the bed, making himself comfortable.*
Karol: *He rolled onto his side with his back facing Trevour.* "Fanks, Twevour."
Trevour: "Heh heh, no problem." *He placed his hands on his stomach and closed his eyes.*
Karol: "I always feel safe wiff yooh around." *He mumbled his words in a half awake-like state.*
Trevour: "..." *He listened to Karol begin to snore, causing him to open his eyes.* (He must've been exhausted!)
*Trevour slid out of bed and silently put on his boots, stealthily walking out of the room, listening to his armour rattle.*
Trevour: *He glanced across the room and noticed the guild all sleeping around a small couch.* (Heh heh...)
*Trevour scanned across the room until he noticed the door and started to walk towards it.*
Trevour: (I'm very thankful I didn't miss the anniversary.) *He opened the door and gently closed it behind him.*
*Trevour took a deep breath and looked up, enjoying the stars which twinkled in the night sky.*
Trevour: *He took several steps forward.* (I need to hurry-)
?????: "Trevour?" *A woman spoke from behind him.*
Trevour: "Boss?" *He turned around, startled, noticing Rachael and Karol standing at the door.* "What are you two doing here?"
Karol: "Uhm.." *He looked down to his feet.* "You left and I got sckared."
Trevour: "Oh, my apologies, little meister... I should have waited a little longer." *He sounded apologetic and looked at Rachael.* "And boss?"
Rachael: *She smirked to herself.* "You were quite eager to leave and suddenly became submissive. Then you slept on your back."
Trevour: "Slept on my back? What of it?"
Rachael: "You usually sleep on your stomach."
Trevour: *He looked surprised.* "Wow, you noticed that?"
Rachael: "What's happening?"
Trevour: "Pardon me?"
Rachael: "Seriously?" *She sounded worried.*
Trevour: "Well.."
Karol: "Yheah?" *He also sounded worried.*
Trevour: "Today is..." *He paused, as if he didn't know how to speak.*
Karol: "Twevour?"
Rachael: "Trev?"
Trevour: "Well..." *He looked awkward.*
Rachael: "Hehe, let's get back inside, Karol." *She smiled in understanding, as if she just realised that it was probably personal.*
Karol: "Bhut?"
Rachael: "No. Come on-"
Trevour: *He deeply exhaled.* "Will you two escort me to Gasher Hills?"
Rachael: *She looked confused, focusing back on Trevour.* "But we're heading there tomorrow?"
Trevour: *He shook his head.* "I need to do it today. It's fine if you two don't want to come. You'll be very tired tomorrow."
Karol: "Nah uh! You're my friend! I wanna see what's speshial about tooday."
Trevour: "It is past your bedtime-"
Karol: "No!" *He stamped his foot like a child.* "I'ma man, and men stick up for their manly fwiends!"
Trevour: *He smiled at Karol and glanced at Rachael.* "And-?"
Rachael: "Hehe, you had to ask? Of course I'm coming." *She formed a fist with a smile.*
Trevour: "Heh heh, let's go." *He started to walk around an expensive looking footpath, enjoying old-fashioned lanterns which lit up the outer parts of the dome-shaped city.*
Rachael: (Trev really isn't mucking around about getting there soon.) *She thought to herself, as she observed the city.* "Not as big as Silver Wind Island, but it's sure more fancy looking."
Karol: "Nee hee, yheah!"
Trevour: *He walked past several empty markets and noticed two guards, standing by either side of a door shaped marking on the wall.* (Almost there..)
Guard: *He noticed the guild walk up to the entrance, causing him to step to the side.* "We've been instructed to forewarn all travellers of the dangers of walking outside at night."
Trevour: "Thank you for your concern and warning, sir."
Guard: *He looked surprised at Trevour's kindness, causing him to smile.* "Thank you, sir. It's not usual we have a nice warrior."
Trevour: "Understandable." *He smiled back at the guard and motioned his hand to walk towards the wall behind the guards.*
Rachael: *She watched Trevour walk through the wall, causing it to ripple like water.* "Let's not slow him down, Karol." *She spoke in a caring-like manner and quickly followed Trevour into the wall.*
Karol: "W-Whait for me!"
Trevour: *He stepped on tiny white pebbles and looked into the far distance, noticing a slight orange glow in the sky.* "It's been a while since I've been to Gasher Hills."
Karol: *He stepped onto the pebbles, squinting his eyes into the distance.* "Why is it still owinge?" *He pointed at the orange glow in confusion.*
Trevour: "Due to the heat expanding the Astragons in the air." *He walked onto grass and motioned his hands, showing the expansion in the air.*
Rachael: "Wicked." *She spoke with a smile and continued to walk with Trevour across the grass towards the mountains.*
Trevour: "Today is the anniversary." *He spoke out of character, as if it was a hard thing to say.*
Rachael: (Anniversary?) "You were married?"
Karol: "Yooh were? What's her name?"
Trevour: "It wasn't a wedding.. Or anything in such a manner, boss, little meister."
Rachael: "Then what?"
Trevour: "Today is the anniversary of my parent's death."
Rachael: "I..." *She choked on her words, as if she didn't know what to say.*
Karol: "Yooh.. Don't have your parents eiverh?" *He spoke in sadness, as if he could relate.*
Rachael: "Is that why you've been a little distant lately?"
Trevour: *He looked surprised once again.* "You're really good at picking up on little things, boss."
Rachael: "Hehe, you don't make it hard to hide it."
Trevour: "I don't?" *He spoke with obvious sadness.*
Rachael: "Trev, you don't have to continue."
Trevour: *He shook his head.* "I haven't told anyone this.. I trust you both.. I'd really like to tell someone."
Rachael: "Of course. Shoot."
Karol: "Shoot what?" *He looked around, slightly startled.*
Rachael: "Just a saying, Karol."
Karol: "Ohh!" *He listened to the sound of their footsteps and Trevour's metallic rattles.*
Rachael: "Did they pass away together?"
Trevour: "Yes."
Rachael: *She silently nodded her head, bracing herself to ask another question.* "This is awkward, but if you don't mind me asking-"
Trevour: "It was because of me.."
Rachael: "..."
Karol: "T-Twevour?"
Trevour: "I tried to save them.. We were looking at the rare Crystalline Blossom blooms."
Rachael: "What are Crystalline Blossoms?"
Trevour: "They are rare crystals that have the power to store and view memories."
Rachael: "Wha-? Memories?" *She sounded unconvinced.*
Trevour: "Heh heh, it's true."
Rachael: "You're bluffing!"
Karol: "He's not! They turn red when they got a memorwy."
Rachael: "They turn red? What do these crystals look like?"
Trevour: "They're usually blue crystals. Once you touch them, they respond to your memories. I'm not sure how exactly it works, but it's due to the reaction of your Neurons."
Rachael: "I can't understand it, hehe. I just can't fathom crystals storing your memories."
Trevour: "I couldn't imagine a world without Crystalline Blossoms or Membranes."
Rachael: "What's the difference between Crystalline Blossoms and Membranes?"
Trevour: "Ah, good question, boss."
Karol: "Bwossoms are when the crystal haven't absorbed the memorwies, and Membranes are when they already contain a memorwy."
Trevour: "Excellent, little meister." *He smiled in a proud-like manner.*
Rachael: *She smiled at Trevour and suddenly felt her feet cushion, causing her to look down.* "Sand?"
Karol: "It's ghetting hot?" *He started to sweat, as he dragged his feet through the sand in a child-like manner.*
Trevour: "This is Gasher Hills. The Neurons embedded in the air's Astragons are not very forgiving in this region."
Rachael: (A desert-) *She stared at enormous brown-red coloured rocks in fascination.* "This entire landscape changed really drastically."
Trevour: "You two can go back if you wanted to?"
Rachael: "We're fine, Trev-" *She stepped over several rocks, watching them crush into sand.* "You don't need to pamper over us."
Karol: "Yheah!"
Trevour: "It's not that. It's just.. I care about you two, and I don't want anything bad to happen."
Rachael: "Trev, we're pretty strong. Even Karol is amazing."
Karol: "Nee hee."
Rachael: *She bent down and picked up a handful of dirt-like sand.* "Besides, I don't really like being babied. I'm independent."
Karol: "Yheah! And I'ma man!"
Trevour: "Heh heh, sorry guys. I didn't mean to offend you." *He stopped and looked up, staring at a massive spiral hill.*
Karol: *He looked up, slightly bending back with awe.* "Whow! It looks funny!"
Rachael: "What an unusual shape. Was this Rostical made?"
Trevour: "Negative. This was naturally made." *He started to walk up the spiral path, which circled around the hill.*
Karol: *He listened to Trevour's armour rattle before skipping up the hill.* "Where are we going?"
Trevour: "Right to the top, little meister."
Rachael: *She formed a fist as hard as she could around the ball of dirt-like sand.* "What happened up there?"
Trevour: "It was, this time, several years ago, that my parents died."
Rachael: "This day? As in-.." *She shook her head in realisation.* "Oh, you already said it was the anniversary-.." *She mumbled the sentence in realisation.*
Karol: *He glanced at Rachael, as if he remembered what Trevour said before.* "T-Twevour.. You didn't really kill your mummy and daddy?"
Trevour: *He started to bend his knees which each step, as the path started to grow steeper.* "I practically did."
Rachael: *She looked up, staring at Trevour's back.* "Does this location hold sentimental value to you?"
Trevour: *He walked on top of the hill, feeling strong gusts of warm wind.* "Yes, boss."
Rachael: *She walked to the top with Karol and watched green sparkles light up the area.* "W-What is this?"
Trevour: "These are Crystalline Blossom blooms."
Rachael: "The word bloom. That's what we call an action used by flowers or plants."
Trevour: "Of course." *He stared at a certain part of the hill, ignoring the small patches of glow in the dark crystals.*
Karol: "They grow like plants." *He bent down, admiring the bush-sized crystals.*
Rachael: "Do these crystals usually grow around here?"
Trevour: "In these areas, only a few nights a year.. They grow out of the ground to absorb the Neurons in the air before withdrawing back to the ground."
Rachael: "Oh?"
Trevour: "This synthesis-like process causes these crystals to glow a green-like colour."
Karol: "I fought Neurons were red?"
Trevour: "Yes they are, little meister. Perhaps it's the natural colour of the blue crystal which mixes with the red?"
Rachael: "Wouldn't that make purple?" *She spoke with a smile.*
Trevour: "This is where my parents..." *He spoke with no emotion and stood on the spot with his head slightly tilted down.*
Rachael: "H-Here?" *She sounded shocked and took a step back, while staring at Trevour's back.*
Trevour: "I feel a little awkward telling you, but-"
Rachael: "Don't be awkward, Trev. This is one of the beautiful things about friendships, always being there." *She continued to form fists.*
Trevour: *He stamped his foot, causing a small bush sized crystal to shatter and spiral towards him.* "Here-"
Rachael: *She watched Trevour catch the crystal, causing a red liquid-like dye to fill it up.* "What's he doing?"
Karol: "Giving it his memorwies."
Trevour: "Boss-" *He threw the crystal over his shoulder without looking back.*
Rachael: *She raised her arm and focused, causing the crystal to unnaturally spiral into her hand.* "Got it."
Karol: *He quickly stood up and skipped towards Rachael, touching the crystal in her hand.* "We just have to add Neurons to view it."
Rachael: "Oh?"
*Karol and Rachael closed their eyes, triggering a flashback.*
Trevour: *He glanced over his shoulder, watching the crystal glow in their hands.* (It was easier to show them, then to speak it out loud-)
----------
Rachael: "Amancio.. Cecilia..." *She whispered with her eyes closed.*
*Cecilia and Amancio bent down and inspected each Crystalline Blossom bloom.*
Amancio: "Judging by the Neuron residue, this specimen is at least five hundred years old-"
Cecilia: "This one's six hundred years old, heh heh." *She chuckled and admired a human-sized crystal in astonishment.* "These blooms are beautiful."
Amancio: "With the information we collected, we could create our own Rostical."
Cecilia: "That would be amazing!"
Amancio: "A Rostical, not of ground or lava." *He spoke in amazement, as he continued to analyse a nearby crystal, which glowed green inside.*
Cecilia: "It's very fascinating how the crystals are still dark-" *She glanced to the side, staring at a bush-like bunch of glowing crystals.* "While the others have almost finished feedings on the air's Neurons."
Amancio: *He nodded his head in agreement.* "I think there're some blooms still under the ground-"
Trevour: "Hello, the best parents a son could ask for, heh heh." *He jogged up the hill and adjusted his brown coloured clothing, smiling at Cecilia and Amancio.*
Cecilia: "My little pebble!" *She spoke to Trevour like he was a baby.*
Trevour: "Mum!"
Cecilia: "Sorry, L-P, heh heh."
Trevour: "Heh heh." *He shook his head with a smile.*
Amancio: "How's my little man going?" *He sounded distracted, as he waved his hand over a crystal.*
Trevour: "I jogged ahead, the others will be here shortly."
Amancio: "Now, let's see how many are still in the ground-" *He mumbled to himself and stamped on the ground, causing everyone to look to one side of the hill.*
Cecilia: "You were correct, my boulder." *She spoke in amazement.*
Amancio: "Wow."
Trevour: "What did I just see?" *He spoke in confusion, continuing to stare into the direction.*
Cecilia: "That looked like the biggest yet-" *She spoke in excitement and staggered towards the ledge, glancing down.*
Trevour: "Anything?"
Cecilia: "You can see part of the crystal from the outside."
Trevour: "It's like an iceberg?"
Cecilia: *She took another small step towards the ledge.* "That's exactly right, my little L-P."
Amancio: "My rock, please be careful."
Cecilia: "I'm fine, Amancio." *She spoke with a smile, while continuing to admire the crystal.*
Amancio: "Can you get a specimen?"
Cecilia: "No, it's too far down." *She bent her knees and stood in a sturdy stance.* "I'll-"
Amancio: *He walked over to Cecilia and placed his hand on her shoulder.* "I'll do it. I've always been better at adding Astragons into the ground."
Trevour: *He stared at his parent's backs.* "Can I help?"
Amancio: "Just ensure nothing serious happens."
Trevour: *He smiled in a proud-like manner.* "I won't let you down."
Cecilia: "Try and break the crystal structure and I'll attract it with a positive Neuron signal."
Amancio: "Too risky. I'll just force it up through the dirt."
Cecilia: "Could you do that?"
Amancio: "This will also prevent damaging its structure."
Cecilia: "Excellent-"
Amancio: "LAVA BURST" *He punched both arms to the side, causing the crystal to suddenly suck into the hill.*
Cecilia: "It's in-"
Amancio: "Herh!" *He punched both arms up, causing the entire crystal to erupt out of the ground, followed by a wave of lava.*
Trevour: "Wow-" *He watched the crystal sparkle green, purple and orange.*
Cecilia: *She noticed Amancio's sweat covered face.* "Don't push yourself too hard."
Trevour: "Both of you please be careful. You have been focusing and using your Neurons all day to test the Crystalline Blossoms."
Amancio: "Heh heh, sure thing-" *The ground just around him cracked, causing it to suddenly slide off the hill.* "Ah-?!"
Cecilia: *She gasped in shock and quickly punched to the side, causing the hill to stop sliding.* "Amancio, get off that now!"
Amancio: *He looked slightly startled and quickly stepped off the deep, noticeable crack.* "I didn't realise how weak this structure was-"
