Pop Pop Erra

They started to approach the lodge up the hill behind the lake. It has grand, wide windows, large doors, and ample shrubbery along the front. They began to walk up the path to the front of his lodge, and Wyzsta started to reminisce.

"This is exactly how it was all those years ago…just a lot more smothered with snow-" 

He lets out a chuckle, and Kali follows close behind him. She looks out behind them to the big open lake, and it's frozen over. The blizzard can still be seen along the far side from where they came from. 

"Those Leaftin are wild creatures, the fact that they can live in this climate was one thing, but a blizzard? They are something else." She blurts out loud.

Wyzsta responded between breaths, "I'm still surprised how I never met them. I know Pops mentioned them, but still, it's wild how many there were!" 

They finally make it up to the lodge's front gate doors. They were fully built out of the Sprucna wood, a native tree to Belio. Wyzsta walked to the center and did the signature four-knock pattern his father taught him. Two knocks back to back, a short pause, and then two knocks again. This was their traditional family entrance to their households, so they knew it was a family member. They waited a short while, and there was no answer, and they began to grow worried. 

"Hmm…gramps always responds to the family knock…maybe something is wrong…" 

Wyzsta began to panic in his mind as they waited. Kali began to wonder as well and looked around the area. Wyzsta grew too impatient and announced, 

"All right, we gotta go in and see what's happening!" 

As he placed his hand on the front gate and was about to push forward, a noise from within the house became apparent. Before they could react, the door opened on its own, and a mysterious man stood in the doorway. Kali was confused by this strange man and his composition. 

"Is this guy even human?" Kali thought while looking at him. 

Wyzsta gained his breath and yelled with glee, "POP POP! IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!" Wyzsta then ran and hugged him in the doorway. 

Kali was confused and warned Wyzsta, "Um…Wyzsta, I don't think that's him…" 

The feeling of fear washed over Wyzsta's happiness, and he let go of his hug. He then looked up at the man, and he dissipated and vanished. 

"I don't understand…" Wyzsta said with complete confusion.

"Good thing I'm here to explain, hahaha!" A voice said at the top of the main staircase. 

That voice was none other than Pop Pop Erra. Wyzsta and Kali were in shock as they looked up at him as he walked down the stairs. Erra had on a brown overcoat with patches all along it that had a language they couldn't understand. He wore long, roughed-up black corduroy pants with slick brown boots. His long grey hair was majestic with how it fell upon his shoulders. He partnered with a beard that's been well overgrown and a cane that matched his coat. He finally reached down to the lobby where the two of them stood at the door, and he then spoke to Wyzsta, 

"It seems that this girl had caught on to your old gramp trick, ugh, she's a smart one, all right. She is wearing a lab coat, after all, so she must be a smartie!" 

Kali smiled and nodded as she walked in completely and shut the door behind them. Wyzsta was so glad to see his Grandfather, but he already had so many questions, 

"Pops, what was that? Was that a clone?" He smirked and put his hand on Wyzsta's shoulder.

"That's exactly the case! It has taken me a while, and I still need to iron out a few problems, but yes, I can make clones. I usually have them do chores that are work-heavy and busy work. The one you hugged only disappeared because you came into contact with it. If anyone interacts with them, they vanish like ghosts and resett elsewhere." 

Wyzsta, blown away by his grandfather's intellect, hastily said, "That is incredible…you gotta show me how to make them like you!"

Erra was flattered but stated, "As I said before, I haven't fully perfected them, so it would take time. Your friend here was able to detect them, which proved that they are detectable as fake. It takes several forms of magic to master, so it's very complicated. When I polish them, I definitely will show you how!" 

Wyzsta appreciated his grandfather's consideration. "Who might you be, young lady?" Erra asked Kali.

 "I'm Kali Ckollison, a scientific assistant from the Central Hold. I'm here with Wyzsta under Dr.Censia's orders, Sir!" 

Erra shook her hand and replied, "Well, it's very nice to meet you, I hope you two have been getting along, haha!" 

Erra led them farther into his house, showing them the luxurious kitchen. The cabinets were so full of food that the doors could barely shut. His grandfather was living a pretty lavish life even though he was away from everybody else. 

"We ran into Leafins on the way here and heard that you taught the Leaftin people?" Kali said as she looked around the kitchen. 

"Why yes, I did. When I first met them, they spoke a language I had never heard, so there was a language barrier. Their language, Leaftano, is what I have stitched into my coat to remember where they started. They would accompany me on my journeys to Snarville and when I would go down to the lake. Once I could teach them our language, everything became a lot easier, and they helped me around the house and protected me." 

Wyzsta and Kali both nodded along to Erra's story and continued with questions. 

"We also met this guy named Sk'noru, and he mentioned that he would always see you in Rondaru's Rocks. He said you were fascinated by crystals and rocks, is this true?" Wyzsta asked him as they all made their way to his lab. 

Erra swung open the door to his lab and walked over to a table with a few blueprints scattered across it. He waved them over to stand around the table as he went on to explain, 

"Oh, Sk'noru! He's such a sweet young fellow, but yes! I have lived here for many years, and my fascination with minerals and crystals began when I was finishing up the construction of my guest room downstairs. It was a very stormy night, and I cracked a few windows open because I loved the sound of soft rain. I will admit, it does make me pretty sleepy…but can you blame me?" 

Wyztsa and Kali giggled and nodded so they wouldn't interrupt the story. He then continued, "-Anywho… my slumber was cut short when the loud crash of lightning struck outside this very lodge. I threw on my rain gear and went to investigate, I traveled a bit and found where the lightning struck. That's when I discovered this crystal called Fulgurite; it formed after the lightning struck a cluster of nitrogen-rich sand. Coincidentally, this was the same sand I was smelting to create windows for my guestroom. After this observation, I looked around the area, and it seemed that the lightning bounced off of this crystal as it was being crystallized, and it hit some surrounding rocks and trees-" 

"Lightning…just like what happened to me…I wonder…" 

Erra continued, "-I quickly took it back to my lab, and I realized that this crystal had properties that constantly illuminated it. Whenever I would try to touch it, it would react by emitting light blue electricity and releasing a miniature shockwave. It was a liability to have within my home, so I did experiments on it within a special casing that I made that would control the arcs of lightning-" 

He then pointed over to his adjacent table, where he had a glass container with two entry points for gloves to enter. Erra walks over to and then cites, 

"This very containment unit gave me enough information to understand this crystal and its true power. Wyztsa…I know your father sent you here because of what happened…and I'm very sorry about your injury. At the same time, you also know of my prediction that I had many years ago…"

Wyzsta then pulls his hood back a bit to show his grandfather his bandaged eye. Wyzsta then says, "Yes, I know of your prophecy…The one where I get struck by lightning. When I got struck by that lightning, it hit my right eye, and I felt as if I went blind instantly. But before we got here, I had a weird sensation in my eye almost like it was static… it hard to explain…" 

Erra's whimsical brown eyes sparkle at what he has just heard from his grandson. Out of pure excitement and curiosity, he says, "Wyzsta…I know exactly what you mean. When I was handling this crystal, it gave off that same static feeling, and I couldn't shake the feeling. It would take me all day to get rid of the static feeling in my hands, even with insulated gloves. How many times have you felt this?" 

Wyzsta is taken aback that his grandfather knew of this feeling, so he elaborated, "I first felt it when I got struck, and it disoriented me to the point where I wasn't able to fight at my full capacity. The second time I felt it was when Kali and I just finished a battle we had with Batwalkers. But when I got this feeling, it lasted for a few seconds, and it went away." 

Erra seemed very intrigued and was questioning all of the different possibilities. The Fulgurite gave Erra difficulties constantly when he would try to inspect it or experiment on it, so the fact that Wyzsta didn't have constant pain bewildered Erra. While Erra was in deep thought, he walked over to a case in the very back of the room and urged them to follow. He picked up the rectangular case and brought it over to the main circular table.

"I've been waiting so long to show you this-" Erra says as he opens the thick case to reveal the crystal. 

The light blue fulgurite pulsed within its casing, slightly shaking the case. It seemed to react to Wyzsta being nearby. The crystal gave off that same static feeling that they had just spoken about, proving Erra's story. 

"I knew that my prophecy would lead to something…I just didn't know what. I'm not entirely sure of how this crystal can benefit you, but you have a connection to it." Erra spoke as he looked over to Wyztsa. 

Wyzsta looked down at the crystal and could see the pulsing electricity surrounding its main body by the otherworldly current that ran through it. 

"I feel the connection towards it. If I can harness this somehow…I could be stronger. I want to help cleanse the world of its evil, and maybe this is how I can. I always struggled with controlling magic, and I even failed tryouts for the Alliance after months of training. I wanted to prove to Dad that I was strong, but I ultimately couldn't pass the test. But this…this could give me that edge I need." Wyzsta claimed as he pointed down at the crystal. 

Erra and Kali both smiled, hearing Wyzsta's commitment to helping this world. Erra then closed the case and asked Wyzsta, "I know you have heart, Wyzsta, but maybe too much. The problem is just that this crystal could be dangerous if not handled properly." 

Wyzsta pulled his cloak back slightly to reveal his sheathe on his waist and then said, "I specialize in swordsmanship. It might be simple, but I'm willing to learn more about this crystal to gain more power."

"I've seen him take down enemies as if it was a flash of lightning. He truly is a master in his craft, from what I've seen. Within the short time that we have known each other, I have seen him take down enemies with ease that I have struggled with, even with my fire abilities." Kali exclaimed while nudging Wyzsta on the arm, smiling. 

Erra was delighted by what he was hearing, and he crossed his arms and began to think, "My grandson is living up to my prophecy…If he can control this crystal…It could change everything…But how…" 

At that moment, you could see Erra's gears turning in his head to finally form a lightbulb. "If you are already proficient in your sword skills and you have an affinity to this crystal here, I think the best thing we can do is somehow implement it into a blade of your own." Erra continues to rub his beard and think about the possibilities of this. 

Wyztsa and Kali both spoke amongst each other while Erra tried to conjure up an idea. "Zzzzt…kshhh...This is…zzzt…Storm Station Two…zzzzt…within the Qualand…kshhh…region…we are reporting massive…zzzt… seismic activity happening…Demon…zzzr…monsters….Send-it…Backup…" Kali's radio alerted the whole room to the announcement. 

"Looks like you two have another adventure on your hands, haha! Don't worry, I'll figure out a plan for that blade of yours, Wyzsta…just get out there and help the best you can. The same goes for you, Kali, I believe in you two." 

Kali Cherished this moment and spoke, "Thank you, Sir, I'll make sure to accompany Wyzsta to the best of my ability!" 

Wyzsta smiled and moved his cloak back into place as he placed his hand back on his sheath. "Thank you, Kali, it means a lot, and Gramps, I will try my best for you. When I get back, we will get to the bottom of this. I promise."

Wyzsta then hugged Erra for the first time in years. Happiness flooded his body, and as he let go, he fist-bumped Kali. They began to run out of Erra's Lodge and head back down the walkway that led them onto his lodge. With Wyzsta's determination to solve this crystal mystery and Kali's fiery passion for the protection of this planet, they set off. The brisk and mountainous region of Belio was a sight to see for the two of them. Murky caves, avalanches, Snarveer Village, the Leaftins, and, of course, Erra's Lodge. Now, these two must travel off to Qualand, a flaming wasteland covered in volcanos, geysers, and overflowing lava. Quite the opposite of what these two have been used to so far on their journey. With the smallest population out of any region, it may be a while before they see people again. The few natives that do occupy the land deemed Qualand as The Second Hell.