Part One - Third Year - Chapter [028]
After we reached our next destination - it seemed the captain managed to calm down a little bit, and the tension I was feeling before had dissipated. All seemed well.
"So shall we get started getting to know both your CPs then?" The captain stated.
I remembered everything that had transpired up to this point - for some reason, this exact moment had seemed to be avoided all through my sign-up process with the red lions guild.
"Is CP some kind of special metric?" I asked not sure
"It is indeed the most special metric," the captain was quick to respond.
"How so?" I asked.
"Healers - Minders like yourself - must be especially wary of just accepting a CP test. You never know what's lurking behind the veil," the captain stated, he sounded ominous when saying that.
"I'm not sure I follow - " I said a little shy.
"It's very unlikely that would happen," said Arslan suddenly holding my hand, reassuring me that it was all going to be okay.
"Very well - let's continue," said the captain. He fumbled across some boxes only to pull out a crystal ball, it had its little stand and everything, and it was crystal clear.
"This is the aura reader - " the captain stated.
"It's a sort of communication device," the captain retorted.
"Communication with who?" I asked.
"Just follow me," said Arslan, taking my hand he was holding, and placing both mine and his on top of the orb.
It took a moment before a green and blue haze appeared from within the orb.
It wasn't evil green, more like peaceful, like a green that you could see in an open grass field, and a blue that was so pure it was like a giant sky, tones of white like clouds shone through.
A scene started forming, indeed a grassy plain with a light breeze and a day sun that shone on it, reflecting on the water ponds that formed after a light rain.
"Hmm," the captain started as he stared into the orb.
"Azure Blaze of the North Sky -" he commented. I had no idea what that meant.
I sudden smell came through me, it was the smell of fresh-cut grass, and the smell of mud after a light rain.
It reminded me of the time we first met.
"I see - " said the captain. The scene had finished forming, and just as it had formed, it curved itself back deep inside the orb. The feeling of peace that had washed over me, was suddenly gone. But then I remembered - Arslan was like a person I could place my comfort in. Someone I could let my anxiety wash away and just be.
The captain was serious.
There was no number - just the image.
"Is there usually a number or something?" I asked not sure why. There should be some kind of specific number, right? I mean per normal RPG tropes, there's usually something like that.
Or at least the room should fill with light and things should move on their own. Wasn't this an assessment of our magic? I mean what even is our combat power?
"Not usually - this image is a representative of your divinity achieved through the inamorato bond - the image we just saw is what we reffer to as your Kingdom Evolution." the captain said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"A power only given by the divinity - the orb provides a preview of what that will be - we've only seen Azure Blaze once - long ago - in a tale only told through whispers in the wind - in a tale of lore -" the captain stopped. Like he had more things to say.
"What is it?" asked Arslan.
"If memory serves correctly - that tale speaks of a warrior with hair like the sun - and a minder with hair like it's burning core." Explained the captain as he sighed and looked out the window.
He looked back at us.
"History only repeats itself -" he said cheekily.
Then a sigh and he asked something completely unrelated.
"Do you know why we name inamoarto crowns and hearts?" he asked.
Arslan shook his head - he didn't know. Neither did I.
"Not only is a way to distinguish the roles within the relationship - it's also because much like the earth - the sun has a crown surrounding it's core - or it's heart. The crown is always meant to protect it's heart - it's told through legend - lore and folktale alike." the captain explained.
That was weirdly beautiful.
"Azure Blaze of the North Sky is a power unlike any other - capable of turning day to night - capable of clearing any type of evil - it's a power both of you will obtain - it's a power both of you will use," he said as he looked out into the field.
Outside the sky was perfectly blue - the mountains cleared the clouds with perfect song and dance.
"It's not if - but when - you both have a big responsibility - you're journey will be hard and perilous - but be strong - for you both are inamoarto's of the brave guild - you're both Lions of the Red Sea - so when you're faith wavers - be sure to remember that - for many will try to take this power from you - but you must make sure they don't."
The captain finally turned around to face us.
Why is it named Kingdom Evolution?" I asked naively.
"Ah - that's because power like this - will bring an evolution to the whole of Eldoren -" he said oh so casually.
"Now - Is that understood?" he asked.
We both agreed - and looked at each other - sharing a sheepish smile.
"Now if you please - let's continue, enough talking from me -" said the captain and pointed back at the orb.
Arslan looked at me, looking for permission to go first.
I nodded.
So he placed his hand on the orb - and almost immediately a number flashed on it.
Now this is more like it - this is what should normally happen.
CP - 80/100
Inamorato - Present
"Nice job!" Said the captain.
"Ten more points than last time!" Arslan just rubbed the back of his head and smiled giddy.
"You're turn," he said grabbing my shoulder.
I did just like him - but for a brief moment nothing happened. Then a couple of seconds passed - still nothing. My anxiety started rising, I was getting worried. Then a whole 30 seconds passed and nothing.
"Am I doing this right?" I asked the captain.
"That's weird - " but before the captain could finish that sentence.
The orb filled with red with sea waves crashing in on the beach.
"Shit!" Said the captain.
"Shit!" Said Arslan.
"Aiden take your hand away!" Said the captain reaching out for me, all seemed to stop, it was all happening in slow motion.
From inside the orb came a presence, a malevolent presence. I could feel how the air suddenly damped, and the smell of rotten flesh filled the air.
From beneath the Red Sea suddenly a face appeared covered in red, like it was covered in blood.
Then it spoke - a raspy deep treble voice. With ancient tounges to back it up, and almost like a slither of words.
"You're the Shepard!" It spoke, it smiled. But a smile so creepy it made my hair stand on end.
Then before any one of us could react - the sea washed in on itself and retracted.
Just like that it was gone.
Captain, Arslan and I all stared at each other, for a good second.
What happened next was something not even I in my wildest nightmares could have come up with.
"We need to get out of here!" Said Arslan with little to no explanation.
I looked out the window, the sky started to darken, and a cloud of red started to cast its shadow over the town outside.
"Take one of the horses, from the stable, quickly! Take the fastest one,"
"Yes captain," said Arslan, not even seconds later he was tugging at me. We were running towards the stable.
The captain issued a command into a pin on his left side.
"All troops, code Red, I repeat code red, this is not a drill! I repeat code red, code red, this is not a drill,"
I was out of it, I couldn't concentrate, like a spell had washed over me. I could move my body, but my brain felt like it was dissociating - like I wasn't here or there.
Arslan knew how to run fast, we arrived at his room - I had little time to take it all in, but it was kind of messy. He grabbed what he could and just threw it in his backpack.
"What's code red?" I asked in a sort of mumble.
"Demon Invasion -" he said haste in his voice.