Rocks galore! -K-

---Karusa's View--- --8:15PM - That Day--

These last 20 minutes of travel by aircraft have been so enlightening! I have learned absolutely nothing new from these people and get this, even LESS from the Shadow who calls himself the 'Tower of Chastity'!

They don't have any useful information for me at all!

Who would've thought? Certainly not me.

The only thing they did give me is privacy, by privacy I mean putting a blanket/cloth, whatever that is, over the birdcage they put me in. In which they didn't even remove the part for the bird!

"Oi. Tower of Chastity." I say with a mocking tone.

"What." The shadow responds with a somewhat careful tone.

"I need my rocks."

"What?" They all simultaneously speak.

"Obsidian, Bauxite, Granite. I have my rocks in the bag you took, I want them." I say while staring at the cloth waiting for an answer.

"..."

Awkward silence, great.

The grey cloth lifts off the silver bars of the cage ever so slightly and a brown gloved hand rolls five rocks into the cage.

I hurriedly walk over to the rocks and turn them over, inspecting them with an obsessive, motherly gaze. Granite has a few cracks but is quite common and I can permit that. The Bauxite, Obsidian, Rhyolite and Basalt are all okay, minimal damage.

[Skill: Mineral Knowledge [Lv: 1] Obtained]

Ooh, nice. Can you get skills that easily?

'Mineral Knowledge'

[This skill permits you to inspect Crystals, Ores and types of Rock integrated into 'Earth' from Metztli. Information gained increases with level.]

Metztli? The hell is that. Integrated into... did a world overlap ours? What exactly is this.

What if. Inspect 'The Crescent System'

[Insufficient Knowledge]

This is too confusing...

I relax my shoulders and lay back against the marble floor of the birdcage with silver bars. Who uses marble for a birdcage‽ Isn't that a waste? At least they gave me a 'pillow' that somewhat helps.

The grey cloth that covers the cage is actually quite detailed, there are small gold threads embedded in it. The shapes form Ursa Major and Minor from this side. I can see a few other constellations too, Aries, Sagittarius and even Cetus is there.

Well, at least the kidnappers have taste.

Why am I complementing them... they took me from my, well I suppose I was the one in the bag. Oh well, might as well take a nap or something.

---An Hour Later--- --Location Unknown--

"Kid, the copter's landing soon. Prepare yourself." Emmet's echoing voice speaks out.

I respond "How would I prepare myself, I'm in a birdcage."

'A' Lifts the cloth slightly and I see his thin hand with a piece of tape.

"What's that for."

"You."

'A' tapes me to the bottom of the birdcage. Why? Because I had to open my big mouth.

"I wonder who has more sass, me or you lot."

"No idea, I think probably you." 'B's voice responds.

"But then you do have an idea don't you." I counter.

"..." - 'B'

"Would you just—"

*BOOM*

The helicopter lands and I can hear creaking. As I concentrate I can hear waves crashing against something. The creaking is what I think is some kind of metal enduring the helicopter landing on it. We're probably on some kind of oil rig or something of the sort..

The usual echoing voice sounds out "We're here."

[You have entered the 'King' of Lust and Chastity's domain. Stat de-buff of 25% given.]

What?

[Domain de-buff nullified. Title effect triggered: {Absolute De-buff}]

I don't want that effect.

"Kid, be careful, you get de-buffed if you aren't a subordinate of the 'King'. So, we'll get you cleared from that when we meet the 'King'. She can help you be rid of the domain de-buff." 'B' spoke with an underlying tone of, concern?

The cloth is taken off by 'A' and I'm given full view of the inside of the helicopter. There are a total of six brown leather seats in between the two grey sliding doors. Other than 'A', 'B' and Emmet I can see three more people. My cage is latched with a leather belt to the middle of the seats that 'A' and 'B' are sitting on.

*CLICK*

'B' unlatched the cage and is now carrying it. I look and see the other three people. The one I deem 'C' would look like a normal middle-aged man with a stubble and messy brown hair if not for the feathers attached to his neck and on the back of his head. He seems to be some kind of hippy what with him wearing a psychedelic patterned shirt and khaki shorts. It might be a stereotype but it's what I can see.

As for 'D' and 'E' they look like twins with their wood-like brown skin and mossy green hair. What's worse is that they both have light blue eyes with dark blue trench coats and black shirts, pants and shoes. What are they, the same person?

"Who's the shrimp." A rough voice sounds from 'C' as 'B' steps off the helicopter holding my cage.

Eyebrows raised I stare back at 'C' with an obvious annoyance shown in my eyes.

"Just shut up. We have a job to do. What will be done with the girl will be decided by Inyene." Emmet speaks out.

The three others eyes widen and look to each other with obvious disbelief in Emmet's declaration. How important is this 'Inyene' and why are they surprised about the fact that I'm going to meet this person. Are they some kind of tyrant or emperor?

As the others start talking I go back to my rocks and think about my progress.

'Status'

[Status:

Name: Mori Karusa.

Level: 1

Race: Shae [Race Bonus: {+3} to all stats per level.]

Title: [One who did not choose.]

Effects: [-95% Stats for 252,265,201 Seconds.]

HP: 5/5 [100] + {0}

MP: 5/5 [100] + {0}

Stats: # (True Number)

Strength: 8 [160]

Constitution: 8 [160]

Dexterity: 8 [160]

Intelligence: 8 [160]

Wisdom: 8 [160]

Charisma: 8 [160]

Skills:

Inventory[Lv: --][Capacity: [0/10], Mineral Knowledge[Lv: 3]

Race Skills:

Engraving[Lv: 1], Enchanting[Lv: 1]

Equipment:

None

Accessories:

None ]

Two levels isn't bad for now. At least I get more information. I glance back at the obsidian.

'Mineral Knowledge.'

[Obsidian]

[Origin: Earth {Volcanic Activity}

Description: Obsidian is usually formed through lava flows and is a type of igneous rock that is categorised as a type of volcanic glass due to its crystalline form and structure.]

Accurate enough, I wonder what would happen if I used the skill on something from 'Metztli'. Doubt I'll get anything from there anytime soon though.

As the carriers keep walking we eventually get to a staircase leading down and there I see it.

One of the Seven Temples in the news.

The indigo sky coats the white buildings and silver-grey roads in a purplish colour. The black window frames seem to shine like obsidian in the light, the purple colours of some of the buildings seem alive and the shadows of the taller buildings grow as the sun falls behind the looming temple.

The temple itself has an outer wall with a large fence that looks like the outside of the Parthenon in Athens but lower. Each of the mini-pillars are purple along the middle and then turn white and end with a gold rim along the top.

Inside the wall there are gardens of thousands of lilies in ponds as well as lilacs and tulips in various places and pots. There is a courtyard made up of grey stone flooring that I think is a type of andesite. In the middle of the courtyard there is a fountain that seems to be made of a pearl-white material, it seems to be something from Metztli as there is definitely nothing from earth with that kind of structure. Along the edges of the courtyard are black and violet benches that look like coloured birch or some other type of wood.

The entrance to the temple can be summed up in three words.

Grand and purple.

No, not glorious. Purple.

The entire entrance to the temple is a huge purple and black arch with white lines snaking along the pillars of the arch. The inside of the arch is a huge purple door that is surrounded by an inner layer of purple material with black lines along it.

Slightly above the arch is a large violet and black clock with white second, minute and hour hands with gold lining along the numbers, however, it doesn't move at all. It's as if it's completely frozen in time.

"Hey Emmet." I ask with a voice trembling from trepidation.

"Right kid, prep yourself. We'll be going straight to the main temple." Emmet answers with a know-it-all tone.

"Not what I wanted to ask..." I say, not losing my excitement.

As I turn and see Emmet's shadowy face his eyebrows scrunch up and he asks, "What then?"

I ask, with a sparkle in my eyes and a grin creeping up, "Am I allowed to study these rocks?"

As soon as my words left mouth all six of the people slap their foreheads and let out a muffled but audible groan.