Aveyond Storyline

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

By : cvhyen A powerful deity, Ahriman, has opened the Demon Portal and dark creatures now threaten the great isles. Rhen must stop the destruction and destroy Ahriman before it is too late. The Sword of Shadows is the key to her redemption. She must find it in the mystical isle of Aveyond and use it to seal the Demon Portal and stop Ahriman.
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Table of Contents
Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream Chapter 2: Strange Encounter Chapter 3: Kidnapped Chapter 4: Enslaved Chapter 5: Enrollment Chapter 6: The Trial Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded Chapter 8: The North Isle Chapter 9: Aveyond Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer Chapter 12: Mount Orion
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream

It was a dark, windy, snowy night at North Isle. Over the howling of the blizzard, there were the sounds of running footsteps, fast breathing and magic casting, echoing throughout the whole Isle. A priestess had just reached the top of a cliff. Danger and death called upon her. "Looks like I don't have a choice." The priestess thought. She gasped as soon as she sensed something's heading towards her. "Ichnihoe, Vamil, Shezraj!" She casted and energy barrier. In the nick of time, she deflected a fireball that coming straight at her. BLAM!!! FFLF~~! The priestess was exhausted from the battle between her and the stranger who casted the fireball. Suddenly she heard a voice echoing in her head. "Mua Ha Ha! Looks like I got you after all." A figure came out as the voice stopped. The figure was wearing a blue battle armour, an ox-skull helmet on it's head, holding a bone-made sword, walking slowly towards her. "Why do I have the feeling that I've met this man before?" the priestess thought as the man stopped a few feet in front of her. "Who...What are you?" she tried to speak calmly, but failed. "Some knows me as the daeva Agas, priestess." The stranger replied. "Agas is sealed in the demon realm as are all of the daevas! You can't be him." "You have mistaken priestess. Our master has set us free, we are now home" "Your master?" "Ahriman." "That's not possible! He was defeated long ago! I defeated him!" The priestess exclaimed. She didn't noticed something's coming after her. "Azra, Miteo, Shintos!" Agas mumbled and summoned a fireball and targeted her. She is defenceless. BLAM!!! FLFF~~! Agas laughed, watching the priestess' body lying on the ground. "Good night priestess. Ha Ha Ha!" And he walked away. After a while lying on the snow, she gained consciousness.
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "I...am...not...dead...yet..." She finally got up. "All...is...not...lost..." She used her last bit of energy and called a butterfly, said: "Find the child, little one. Bring her to me." She collapsed as soon as the butterfly flew into the cold night. ~~~ Chapter 1: ~~~ "Where am I?" Rhen wondered, shivering as the chilly wind flowed and passed her body. She got up and discovered that she was in a dark and windy forest. It was new moon, so the forest felt eerie, not a soul in sight. The swishing sound of the leaves stirred up by the cold breeze, bats flying to feed, deep howling of a lone wolf, all of it made her goosebumps. When she was about to faint, a glimpse of light got her attention. "What's that? Some kind of orb?" Rhen thought as she moved nearer to the unknown sources. Finally the forest grew totally dark again. And a beautiful, melodious voice rang throughout the forest. "You must come, my child...The time has come...Prepare yourself..." "Who are you? And what do you want from me?" Rhen yelled, uncertainly where the voice came from. "Follow the dreamer...she will tell you what is to be done..." And the voice stopped. "What dreamer? What is it that I have to do? And who are you? Where are you?" But it seems that she was just talking to herself. Suddenly the forest vanished, and she realised that she had woke up, sweating and noticed that she is in her room. ~~~~~ Rhen looked around her room blankly, it was just a few hours after dawn. A speck of sunlight shone through the curtain and into her eyes. Sweats flowing down her forehead and soaked her clothes. "It wasn't real, it was a dream. That's all," said Rhen in relief. ~~~~~ "Rhen, are you alright? Hello?!? Anyone there?" Nina shook Rhen's shoulder as they walked around the park. It was a cozy, sunny spring afternoon in Clearwater. Cool breeze swept across the highland of the West Isle. Flowers were blooming from their bud, trying to show off their beauty to their friends. Birds were singing their melodious songs to their partners, chirping happily high up on the trees. Squirrels came out of their "house" and having fun, squeaking loudly like a group of playful children. "Wh-What? What happened? What's the problem?" Rhen snapped off from her day-dreaming and realised that her friend was staring at her. Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream 4
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "The problem is you, Rhen. You hadn't talk since this morning. You didn't even touch your lunch. Are you feeling well?" Nina asked, worried about her. "It's okay. I'm fine. I was just thinking about something just now." Rhen reassured her. She was trying to get some sense out from the dream that she had. "Are you sure? Oh my!" Nina gasped. "You look pale, Rhen! Do you want me to bring you home?" "Nah, I'm alright. There's nothing wrong with me. Could you help me pass a message to Ma that I'll be back home late?" "Err...Sure, I guess. Take care of yourself, and don't get home so late, okay?" "Mmm..." And without a word, Nina left. ~~~~~ "I wonder what happened to Rhen today. She's not her usual self at all." Nina thought as she was on the way to Mr. Darzon's house. "She's not like her old self: a talkative person, an apple of everyone's eyes, and seldom...or I should say...never feel troubled before since the day I met her. I wonder what's going on?" She reached the porch and knocked on the door. "Oh hi there, Nina. What a day. What can I do for you today? Come in and have a cup of tea." said Mrs. Darzon, standing by the opened door. "Well good day Mrs. Darzon, thanks for your offer," Nina stepped in and sat at the dining table. "Here you go..." Mrs. Darzon putting the cup of tea on the dining table. "Thank you very much." Nina said and took a sip. "So what can I help you with at this moment, dear?" Mrs. Darzon asked, as she prepared dinner. "Oh, it's just Rhen. She wants me to tell you that she'll be coming home late for dinner. That's all." "Oh okay, thank you. Please make yourself at home, you must be tired." She said with a big smile on her face. There was a long pause and Nina decided to break the silence. "Umm, Mrs. Darzon?" "Yes, sweetie?" "There's something I want to talk to you about." Mrs. Darzon put down her cooking knife, took off her apron, and sat down beside Nina. "Well dear, what's that you want to talk about?"
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Well...I don't know where to start...It's about Rhen actually..." And Nina had a longest talk with Mrs. Darzon or anyone else in her life. ~~~~~ "Who's voice was that? And what has come? Most importantly, who's the dreamer that I need to follow?" Rhen was still thinking about the dream as she strolled around the park. A butterfly flew past her and Rhen stopped to take a look at it. It turned and fluttered around her. It ended in front of her. "Oh my! Where did you come from? Why, you are the strangest thing I've ever seen!" Rhen exclaimed. She stretched out her hand and the butterfly flew lower and landed on her palm. Suddenly, there was light glowing from it and Rhen found out that she was not at Clearwater anymore.
Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Rhen's eyes flickered, then open like she has just woke up from a long sleep. She was in a pile of snow, the only thing she saw was snow, snow and more snow. She cupped her hands at her mouth in an attempt to keep herself warm. "Brr...Wh-What a wea-weather!" She walked around, exploring the land of snow. "Wh-Where am I?" She talked to herself. Suddenly she was taken by surprise when she heard a voice. "Hel...Help...Me..." Rhen followed the voice and she saw a woman, lying on a side, near a cliff edge. She wore a neat, gothic-like dress with a white hood. "Wh-What is th-this place? Wh-Who are you?" Rhen tried to speak properly but her tongue got numb by the cold chill. "P...Please...We must go back through the portal..." "P-Portal?" Rhen asked as she didn't see anything there, besides them. "It will t-take us back..." The woman pointed South and Rhen finally saw it. "Come...Let me help you." Rhen held her shoulder and brought her to the portal as the woman leaned heavily against Rhen. A second ago, they were in the cold, snowy land. In a blink of an eye, they were back in the cozy, warm, spring Clearwater. "Pa! Pa! Come quick!" Rhen yelled as soon as she saw her dad. "Rhen! My dear, are you okay? Ma and I have been looking for you all over the place. Where have you been? I'm worried sick about you." Pa stopped a few feet away from her as soon as he saw a stranger standing beside her daughter. "Who is this stranger?" Pa asked, sternly. "I don't know daddy, but she is hurt." Rhen replied as Pa noticed that the stranger was wounded. "Is that you Tailor? I have come...It is time..." The priestess (who Rhen don't know that she is) spoke weakly. "Daddy, you know each other?" Rhen questioned Pa, curiously. "...I must get her back to the cottage." Pa didn't know how to answer her. He helped Rhen to carry the priestess back to their house and laid her gently on Pa's bed.
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Her injuries were serious." Pa mumbled, and then faced Rhen. "Rhen, go get the herbalist and bring her over. Quick!" Pa said, urgently. "Erm, okay. I'll be right back dad." And without delay, Rhen rushed to the herbalist's house. On the way to herbalist's house, she saw all the town folks were preparing for the festival. Ribbons over here, posters over there, all the decors had been prepared for tomorrow can be seen everywhere. "The spring festival is tomorrow, how could have I forgotten about this?" She finally recalled this event at the very moment. On the herbalist's house, she knocked the door and a reply came from inside of the house: "Please come in." The herbalist's house was neat and clean, all her herbs were put into the jars accordingly on the shelves, medical books arranged alphabetically on the bookshelves, and an elderly woman was making some kind of potion. Rhen was overwhelmed by the smell of herbs. "Rhen! How is you mother and father? Can I get you anything?" the herbalist asked when she finished the potion on the alchemy table. "Hi Dyonna. Do you think you can come by our house now?" "Is anything wrong dear?" the first thing she thought is Rhen's Ma or Pa. But she felt relieved when she was wrong. "No...er, sort of...I found this woman. She is hurt badly. Pa is watching over her, and Pa asked me to come and get you." And Rhen mumbled: "Moreover, she's from nowhere." But she spoke so softly that Dyonna did not hear her. "oh dear, we should go then." Dyonna followed closely behind Rhen as they went to her house. ~~~~~ Tailor was sitting beside Talia, the priestess who was with Rhen. He was holding her hand, touching her forehead, trying to figure out who had done this serious damage to her. "Tailor...Are you there?" Talia asked, softly. "Yes I'm here, Talia. How are you feeling?" "Not good at all..." Talia gave him a weak smile. "Who did this to you?" Tailor crossed his eyebrows. "It's the demon Agas, one of the daevas who was rescued by his master, Ahriman." "...So he's back, doesn't he?" sighed Tailor. "Yes...I'm sorry Tailor...I shouldn't been here."
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "It's not your fault. What we can do now is to protect the last heir of Pendragon family from him." "Yes." Talia agreed. "Looks like I can't keep this a secret anymore..." Tailor sighed again. "We'll eventually tell her the truth somehow in the future." There was a short pause and the priestess continued: "I'll protect the child at any cost." "No, No. You won't be able to until you recovered." Tailor teased her. "You haven't change abit, don't you?" Talia asked, sarcastically. "Yep, nothing's changed. Just like old days." He rolled his eyes. ~~~~~ Rhen and Dyonna the herbalist stepped in to the Darzon's residence and go upstairs. "She's up here in Pa's bed." Rhen pointed the way as they reached the second floor. The herbalist went beside the bed and examined the woman carefully, then said: "This is a serious injury but I can fix it in no time." Rhen and Pa let out a sign of relief. "Dyonna will help our guest get better." Pa spoke as they watched the herbalist do her "magic". "Who is she Pa?" Rhen wanted to know the truth between her dad and the woman. "...She is a priestess from a faraway land." "A real live priestess! You two know eath other?" Rhen said, surprised. "Yes...A longtime ago." "Oh...Erm Pa?" "Yes?" "Why would someone - a priestess - from a lifetime ago come here to see us?" curiously getting the better of her. "..." Pa didn't know where to start. "Should I tell her the truth, or maybe some time later?" Pa was struggling with his mind. Finally, he sighed. "We will talk about it later dear. Go find your mother, I believe she has things for you to do." She stopped a while and carried on: "The festival is only one day away, there is a lot of work to be done." And without a sign of complain, Rhen walked out. "Take a rest." Rhen heard her dad's voice when she was in the hallway.
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest ~~~~~ "Dear, your little friend Nina stopped by while you were out. She told me she was going to the meadow to gather flowers for the festival. I need you to take this basket and bring me some flowers as well." Ma told Rhen in the kitchen. "Do I have to, Ma?" Rhen started to complain. "Oh, it won't be that bad! Now, fine me Marionbell flowers, and then you can play." said Ma with a smile. "Humph! Oh, I mean yes, Ma" And without another grumble, she headed for the meadow. ~~~~~ "Oh hi Rhen. Good to see you again." Nina yelled as soon as she saw Rhen. "Oh hi there." Rhen replied with a grumble under her breath. "What's wrong Rhen?" "My mom 'forced' me to get flowers for the festival." "It's not that bad, is it?" Rhen stared at her for a while, then sighed. "Well ya, I guess." "Great, now let's prepare for the festival!" Nina was getting excited about the festival tomorrow. ~~~~~ "Well, that's the last." Rhen plucked the Marionbell flower and put it into her basket. "Wow! What a time. Looks like dusk is approaching, it'll soon be night. You don't want to be late getting home again, do you?" Nina reminded her as she carried her basket full of colourful flowers. "I'll see you tomorrow." "Bye Rhen!" and she rushed back to the village. A few minutes later, she realised that she was in the front porch of her house. "Time flies, doesn't it?" Rhen asked herself. "Here are your Marionbells, Ma." Rhen handed over the basket to her mother. "Why, they are lovely! Well thank you my dear. Oh my, how quickly days has slipped by!" Her mother checked the time. "Time for your bed dear." Her mom ushered her to her bedroom. Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter 10
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Good night Ma!" "Sweet dreams, my dear." Rhen walked into her room and noticed that Pa was still sitting beside the mysterious priestess, the herbalist was nowhere in sight. She shrugged and get ready for a long night's sleep.
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Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Somewhere far away from Rhen's house, from Clearwater, from the West Isle... Ahriman is sitting on the throne, filled wit hanger and hatred. He wore a dark leather cloak, the hood hid his demonic face. "AGAS! WHERE ARE YOU?!" he roared. "I'm here, sire. What can I help you, sir?" Agas ran across the hallway and kneeled down on his knee in respect to his master. "I wanted to ask you...Where is the priestess daeva?" "She's dead, Sire" "You lie! I see her in my dreams." "But sire, I st-struck her down!" "FOOL!" the roar echoed throughout the castle and it made the general overwhelmed with fear and goosebumps. "But perhaps it's for the best. I've changed my mind. I would prefer her to live." His voice subsided to a low rumble like a hungry beast. "I don't...understand, sire." Agas stammered. "Death is but a swift excape. I want the priestess to suffer. A slave suffers a lifetime." Ahriman let out a wide wicked smile. "So you shall have her enslaved, sire? But how?" Agas looked at him curiously. "I have a new servant who wishes to become a daeva, he knows the land where the priestess had fled to." "He wishes to be one of us, Sire? He must be dark, indeed." "What a dumb fool you are..." thought Ahriman while looking at him. After a while, he roared in a commanding voice. "Dameon, show yourself!" At the same moment, a man walked out. He wore a beautiful, snow-white robe with a sun engraved on its back. The man bowed to his master and turned his face to Agas. "It's a sun priest!" Agas hissed. "Better. Sun druid. A sun guardian." Said Ahriman proudly. "Better? How can this be better? Aren't you afraid that he will destroy us?" Agas argued. Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped 12
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "The sun god has betrayed me, I work for him now." Dameon bowed to Ahriman again. "I know a slave trader who will find the priestess a harsh master. My mother will get what she deserves!" he continued. Agas grunted and growled under his breath. Ahriman laughed. ~~~~~ It's the spring festival in Clearwater. After she got out of bed, Rhen dressed and prepared herself to start this festive day. When she was on the way to the front porch of the house, she noticed the priestess was standing in the living room, as if waiting for her. "Hello ma'am. How are you feeling today?" Rhen smiled brightly. "Good morning, Chosen One." "Er, whatever." Rhen rolled her eyes. "This woman is obviously a nutter." she thought. "So, daddy says he knows you." Rhen tried to be friendly to her as much as possible. "Your father...Yes, we know each other from a long time ago." The priestess asked for her hand: "Child, I have something for you. Take this, it will offer you protection." And she gave Rhen her priestess ring. Rhen received the ring unwillingly. "Please child, keep the ring on at all times. This is very important." The priestess pleaded her. So, Rhen followed her "request" and put the ring on. "This strange woman's request is silly but compelling." Rhen thought. "Who are you?" she asked. "I'm a priestess from a land far away. I have come to protect you." "But I don't need protection. I'm not a four-year-old child." Rhen complained. The priestess decided to tell her the truth but her instinct told her not until the time has come. "We shall talk more tomorrow. Remember, keep the ring close." And she went into her bedroom and rest. Rhen left the house as nothing had happened before and headed for the festival. ~~~~~ "Good morning! Are you enjoying the festival?" Pa saw Rhen when she was buying cotton-candy. "Yes dad. I enjoy the festival very much!" Rhen said with a mouth full of cotton-candy. They walked around as the mayor called out them. "Hey Tailor! Oh hi Rhen!" he wore a tuxedo with a grey bow-tie. "Good morning Mr. Mayor." Rhen and her dad greeted in unison. "So Tailor, where is that strange woman you'd brought into town? We're all eager to know more about her!" Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped 13
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Err, she's just a friend of mine from..." And they carried on the conversation and Rhen stood there looking around the village. She noticed a red-haired guy waving at her. She slipped away from the crowd and walked to the entrance of a nearby cave. She noticed the guy standing beside it. It was Peter, one of her classmate. "Psst! Rhen!" Peter whispered. "Peter, what are you doing?" "Me and Nina are going to chase Billy Harper's sheep! Wanna come?" "Of course!" Since she was kind of bored with the festival, Rhen nodded. "Great! Meet us outside the village by the old sheep pen at the half mark. Bye!" Rhen was about to say "Okay!" to him but he vanished into the cave. "Oh well." She shrugged. ~~~~~ Rhen was walking in the cave and she noticed a big guy looking around. "I think he's lost." She thought. She stopped in front of him and try to be nice. "G'morning sir, are you looking for the village?" "Yes, is it far from here?" The stranger looked at her suspiciously. "Not far at all, just up that way." She pointed towards the cave entrance. The ring the priestess gave her sparkled eerily in the darkness. "Oh my, that's a lovely ring you are wearing there." He exclaimed. Rhen put her hand back to her pocket. "Well, thanks for the nice compliment." Rhen forced herself to smile warmly at him. "Say, for being such a kind dear, I would like to give you a gift." "Wow! A gift? Are you sure?" Rhen was wondering why she was so lucky today. "For one more look at that beautiful ring, you can have anything." "If it means that much to you..." And Rhen showed the stranger the priestess ring again. "Yess, that's a beauty. Would not want to lose that." He sounded deeply. "Looks like I've found her, Lord Ahriman." He thought. The stranger grabbed Rhen puts a slave bracelet on her wrist. Rhen struggled to get free, but the man got a strong iron grip on her. "Ouch! Let me go! What's the meaning of this?!" She yelled in shock.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Don't play games with me priestess, I know who you are. My master sends his regards." The stranger snatched the priestess ring out of her finger. "Priestess?! I'm not a priestess! Who are you?" She's frightened. "Ts'k, Ts'k! I'm a slave trader, and you can't fool me. I recognise your ring." "It's not my ring!" She protested. "Right, you're going to tell me you borrowed it? A priestess would never take off her guardian ring. Even a fool will know that." "Well, er, taker off this slave bracelet or I'll...I'll...Blast you with holy power! Yeah!" "Ha! How is that bracelet fitting, my dear? Snug I hope? My master assured me with that on, your powers would be useless!" He sneered at her. "Time for you to face your new destiny as a slave! Ha Ha Ha." "Noooooo!" Rhen yelled with all her might but her voice was lost in the noise of the festival's going on. The slave trader threw Rhen in the rap-sack on his back and ran deeper into the cave, into the unknown.
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Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Enslaved

Rhen was put on a ship and taken to the Eastern Isles where the slave trade was flourishing. In the eastern city of Ghalarah, Rhen is sold as a slave. Her belongings were stripped from her. All but the slave bracelet... ~~~~~ "Wake up! You lazy scum!" Miss Rona roared at her in her little room. It had been three months since Rhen was enslaved. "You better get up and do your chores or they will be no meals for you!" Miss Rona yelled and stepped out of the room. Rhen's new "house" was in a big mansion. But her master let her slept in a small filthy, dusty storeroom (which had been cleaned to make a bedroom). Rhen got herself ready, wore her slave cloth (which was ragged, full of stitches cloth) and prepared to work. She looked at her daily what-to-do list which had been prepared by Miss Rona since the first day of her staying. "Need to get Master Lar's clothes from the town tailor and need to deal with the spiders in the attic, again." Rhen sighed and started to work. ~~~~~ "This is the last of your life, spiders!" Said Rhen as she finished with the spider-in-the-attic- problem. "I've killed the spiders, Mistress." Reported Rhen with disgust when she saw her in the living room. "Stop dragging your feet, slave! Go do the rest of your chores!" Miss Rona scolded her like a lazy god, roaming around the house. So Rhen headed for the tailor shop. "Hello Rhen, what can I do for you?" Terlin the tailor welcomed her with a wide smile on her face. "I've come to pick up Lars' travel clothes for Mistress Rona. Are they ready?" "Oh yes! Here they are dear." Terlin gave the clothes to Rhen. ~~~~~ "Here are Lars' traveling clothes, Mistress." Rhen handed over the clothes as she was in the mansion. Miss Rona snatched the clothes from her as if she will get the clothes dirty. "Stop standing there you scum! Go do your chores!" Miss Rona scolded Rhen again. "But I've finished all of the chores, Mistress. May I go out and play?" she had not playing with other children in the city for three months (Wow, poor girl). "Of course not!" Rhen's mood dropped as she heard the answer. Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Enslaved 16
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest Miss Rona looked around the house and said: "Ugh! Where is the son of mine? Go find Lars, you lazy girl, and tell him to come home for supper." "Yes Mistress." Without a complain, Rhen headed out of the mansion. ~~~~~ "What a cozy night." Rhen talked to herself as she walked around while searching for Lars. The night sweeps across Ghalarah, owls hooting in the trees. It's a full moon tonight, the moonlight shone on the city, enlightened the darkness in the night. And there Rhen noticed Lars playing with his friends in a corner of the city. "Lars, Miss Rona said you're to come home and eat supper." Then told him, ignoring his friends. "Was that a command? I'll go when I feel like going. No slave is going to tell me what to do." Said Lars proudly. He was mean to Rhen since the day she came to their family as a slave. Ylitta, one of Lars friend, looked at Rhen and said: "After three months, and the girl is still too dumb to understand her place. Look how she talks to you!" "Hey, what's that thing on her wrist?" Lars' other friend, Hector, asked. "Her bracelet, I guess" Lars replied. Ylitta looked at the bracelet on Rhen's wrist for a while and grunted: "Ha! My mom would never let one of our slave girls wear something so nice." Lars scolded Hector for messing around with him: "Shut up, Hector! The only reason she still wears the stupid thing is because we can't get it off of her." "Oh c'mon, let us pry if off of her!" Ylitta suggested excitedly and it made Rhen shuddered. "No, wait, I have a better idea." Lars grinned and he faced at Rhen. "Slave girl, come here." And Rhen followed. "What is he going to do with me?" Rhen thought, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "Why? What do you want?" Rhen asked. "I want to show my friends a little magic trick I've learned." "Magic? Even I know that you're forbidden from using magic till the emissaries from Shadwood Academy take you away." "Ha! Who is going to tell them? You? I'll have you flogged for a day straight!" Lars teased. He and his friends were laughing badly at Rhen, who was trying to slip away from these "weirdies", but Ylitta grabbed her arm tightly. She had nowhere to go now. "Hey! Let me go, you ugly---"
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest Suddenly, a flash of light jumped from Lars to Rhen. SMACK! The slave bracelet snapped off Rhen's wrist. "You...You could have killed me!" Rhen scolded Lars fueled by the anger stored in her body since the day they went. "But I didn't. Anyway, you're but a lazy slave girl. Who could care?" he snorted. "Argh! My name is RHEN!" she yelled. But they ignored her, laughing again at her silly behavior. Ylitta stopped and said: "Guys, you know what? This slave girl reminds me of a foolish puppy I used to own whose name was Peta. She seems to want a name, Lars. Maybe you should give her one?" Lars agreed with her suggestion and considered. "Hmm, Peta. If it's good enough for a dog, it's good enough for her. Slave girl, I hereby name you Peta!" "Whatever..." Rhen grumbled under her breath. "Hey Peta. Help me get a newspaper" "Hey Peta Peta. Go and fetch the stick." Lars and his drones laughed out loud. And Rhen left them alone, walking back to the mansion while grumbling all the way. ~~~~~ "You lazy scum! Where is my son Lars? It's almost supper and he's still not home yet!" Miss Rona questioned impatiently. "Lars is on his way now, Mistress." Rhen lied. "Hmph! Did I hear you just talk back? NO supper for you! Go to bed!" "But I'm starving..." Rhen started to complain. "I said, go to sleep!" "But---" "NOW!" Miss Rona roared and the whole house shook. Afterwards, Rhen went to sleep without a complain anymore.
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Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment

It was Sunday morning and Rhen woke up late, without being shouted at by Miss Rona ("It's unusual." Rhen thought). After brushed her teeth, bathed squeaky clean, wore her slave cloth, she went downstairs and asked for Miss Rona's permission to let her have a day off. "Mistress, can I have a break for one day? Since it's Sunday, maybe I can going out and have some fresh air ---" Rhen almost finished her request but her mistress looked at her sternly. "Of course not, you sloth!" She said as her face reddened. She stood at the flight of stairs and called: "Lars! Are you there? You better hurry up pack your things! They're coming at any moment now!". But no reply came. "Where could he have been at this very moment?" mumbled Miss Rona as she went upstairs. After a while, Miss Rona rushed downstairs, her face turned pale white, and said: "Oh dear, oh dear! Where is Lars?! The emissaries will be here at any minutes!" She yelled at Rhen who was staring at her expressionless. "Don't just stand there, go and get my son. You lazy worthless slave!" "Yes, Mistress." Rhen replied and sighed in a soft voice before she went out. ~~~~~ "Where is that idiot? The envoys are about to pick him up soon and now he's nowhere to be seen. Ugh!" Rhen talked to herself as she was on the way to the city marketplace, looking for Lars. Suddenly, there was a scream followed by a sound from a corner of a shop. SMACK! "Ahh! Ahh!" "What the heck?" Rhen thought. She ran to the source of the sound and she noticed Lars was doing some willy-maggly-magik-thinggy to one of the slave. The slave boy saw Rhen, standing behind the big bully. "Rhen! Help me, Rhen!" Eddie the slave boy yelled. "What do you think you're doing to that poor slave boy, Lars?" Anger flowed over Rhen. "Ha! And who's going to stop me? You?!" Lars shoved Rhen, laughed at her and turned back to bully Eddie. "Stop! Stop bullying me! Please..." Eddie's eyes was swollen and Rhen noticed his face was soaked with running tears. "How dare him?! He should learn a lesson for that!" Rhen thought, anger and hatred bubbling up in her. She picked up a stick which was lying on the ground and crawled to her feet. With all her might, she unleashed and thrusted the stick at Lars. Out of expectation, a bolt of lightning emitted from Rhen.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest ZHRAZZM! Lars was surprised what Rhen did. "Ouch!" That's all what he can blurted out. "How?" "I don't know..." Rhen said in a weak voice. "Am I doing this? What happened just now?" She thought, who was also shocked. "You're going to pay for that, you brat!" Lars yelled at her. Rhen dropped the stick, bewildered. Eddie ran away, back to his master's house, yelling all the way home. Rhen gulped. "This is bad..." She thought. ~~~~~ Two strangers walked into the city of Ghalarah. Ghelda (who wore a green mage robe, blond hair) was trying to look for a student here. She was accompanied by his colleague, Lorad. He had a red wielder robe on, a long sabre-like sword strapped to his waist, looking around the city. "Are you sure this is the place?" Lorad asked his colleague. "Yes, I'm sure of that" Ghelda replied. "But what if ---" A sound of lightning caught his attention. They looked around and noticed a girl, wearing ragged cloth, did some magik-thinggy to a green-haired noble-like guy, hand holding a stick, smokes coming out of it. The girl dropped the stick afterward as the guy bullied her. "Should we help that poor child?" Lorad asked. "Yes. We'll try to sort things out." Ghelda nodded and they approached the kids. Ghelda picked up the stick that was dropped by the purple, long-haired girl. "Interesting." She said while examining the stick. The green-hair guy faced them and said rudely: "This is none of your business, strangers!" "This must be Lars. Harald said the child had a fiery temper." Lorad spoke to Ghelda softly. "Yes. I thought Master Harald exaggerated, but apparently not." Ghelda replied and turned his head to face Lars, cleared his throat, and said: "I'm Ghelda, and this is Lorad ---" Who nodded his head to the kids " ---we are the envoys that has come to take you to Shadwood Academy, Lars." Lars turned red, while the little girl giggled in a corner. He pointed his finger to the girl and talked to the envoys: "That slave tried to kill me. You saw her!" Ghelda examined the girl and the stick which he's holding and told Lorad: "I can't feel her gift, but I'm sure I saw her use magic." The girl surprised and exclaimed: "Magic? Not me!" Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment 20
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "That slave doesn't have the gift! She can't!" Lars spat. "She doesn't have your gift, Lars. She hasn't have the gift of sorcery. If she did I would have felt it." Ghelda reassured him. She turned his head and told Lorad: "Did you felt it, sword singer?" "I did, but it doesn't make any sense. She used a stick to draw power." replied Lorad suspiciously. "That's impossible!" "No, not impossible...improbable." "Very odd indeed. I thought your kind only used metal to wield the power." "Yes and no. We have no one who is strong enough to draw from a stick, of all things." There was a short pause and he continued. "There have been strong ones on generations past, but no one alive..." "Until now." "Yes. Until now." Both of them nodded. ~~~~~ Rhen was watching blankly at the strangers, who was called Lorad and Ghelda. She did not get what "sword singer", "sorcerer" and "magic" meant. A pause came and both of the envoys turned and faced Lars and her. The red robe guy, Lorad, cleared his throat and asked her. "Girl, what's your name?" "She's a slave, a nobody!" Lars interrupted. "Rhen, Sir." She replied as Lorad and she ignored Lars. "Is it true? You're a slave?" "Yes. Yes, sir, it is true." "Very well. You must travel to Veldarah where you can train at Shadwood Academy. You must present this token to obtain admittance." Lorad gave Rhen a gold token with an initial "L" at the back, and a picture of an old school at the front. "You belong to the empress now." Lorad announced. Lars spoiled the conversation again. "What? You said it yourself, she doesn't have the gift!" "The girl has sword magic, foolish boy. Like all magic wielders, including yourself, she now belongs to the empress." Ghelda reassured him. She faced Rhen and said: "You're free, girl. A slave to none but the Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment 21
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest empress." "I'm free? I'm free!" Rhen said with delight. "NOOOOO!" Lars protested and fainted. "Ghelda, please take Master Lars home. I'm sure his mother is waiting for us. I'll stay here to answer any questions the girl may have." Lorad said. Ghelda rolled her eyes and took Lars home. Lorad faced Rhen and asked: "So, do you have any questions so far?" "Erm, may I know who are you?" Rhen asked. "I'm Lorad Rethwell. I'm an emissary from Shadwood Academy and a sword singer, just like you will be one day." spoke Lorad calmly. "My companion is the emissary Lady Ghelda Gentrie. She's a sorceress." "What's a sword singer?" "Sword singer use motion to draw magic. Most can only do this through metal. I'm amazed that you were able to draw from a simple stick, untrained and unaided." spoke the emissary slowly. "I believe you will be very strong one day, if you survive the training." "Am I really free?" Rhen asked the question again, just to make sure if this wasn't a dream. "Slaves who have gifts are, by law, decreed free." "But I thought you said that I belong to the empress now? So, am I not still a slave?" asked Rhen, raising her eyebrows. "Child, all citizens of the empire belong to the empress. Slaves, peasants, nobles, and even sorcerers and sword singers," Lorad laughed. "So, when do I leave?" "You can leave at any time. MIstress Ghelda and Lars will leave tomorrow morning at dawn. If the guards give you problems, show them your token," replied Lorad while looking at his watch. "Oh dear, I'll be late soon. Here, take this bag of pennies, you'll need it to pay for a night in Inn, since you don't belong to anyone. Tomorrow we'll set off after sunrise, so please get ready before that time. I've got to go Lars' house now. Remember, keep safe and sleep well. You'll need it tomorrow." And he ran to the mansion without saying goodbye to Rhen. "Stupid slave! Today was to be Lars' special day, not yours!" roared Miss Rona at Rhen while she decided to report back to her mistress. "Get out of my house and never come back!" "Am I free to go?" asked Rhen innocently. "The empress own you now! Are you too stupid to realize how lucky you are? Oh, and you're not welcome to stay the night here." spatted Miss Rona. "Now that you're free, you can find your own place to sleep," Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment 22
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Oh well." Rhen shrugged as she went out from her ex-mistress's house. She rented a room in the town inn and fell into a deep sleep, but strangely, no nightmares occurred. ~~~ "Where's Lars?" Rhen asked while she was on the way to Veldarah with Lorad beside her. "He's with Ghelda. They set off before dawn." "Oh." And they didn't talk anymore on the rest of the walk. After a twenty minutes walk (which was a long time for Rhen), they reached their destination. It was a grand city in Veldarah. Buildings situated tightly together. A overcrowded place, the ringing of the bicycles, the barking of the dogs, folks having their conversation, playful children playing tag, and the music from the environment spiced up the place. After walking down a few row of streets, they stood in front of a wooden double doors. It was a thousand-year-old-like traditional academy, some paint were peeling off, vines creeping up along the walls. "I guess it must have been a long history for this building." Rhen thought as she followed Lorad into the academy. It was a big contrast from the inside of the school compared to the outside. Chandeliers hanging on the ceiling, sparkling and refracting the light to make the academy more lively, voices of lecturers teaching their students echoing around, some old and worn-out statues standing along the hallway, as if the building was like some kind of an ancient museum. Lorad snapped his finger in front of Rhen and spoiled her sight-seeing at the academy. "This is the headmaster's office. That's all I can do for you. Go inside and talk with him. He'll help you with the accomodations." spoke Lorad. "And don't forget to give him the token. You'll need it to enroll." "Thanks, Lorad." "It's Master Lorad. That's what you'll be calling me for the rest of your training here. I'll see you tomorrow." "Yes, Master Lorad. Goodbye." Rhen was about to reply but the emissary had gone. She looked at the door in front of her, took a deep breath, and entered the room. Rhen had never been in such beautiful room, and for this she felt lucky. The room was large and filled with expensive-looking sets of books, their spines immaculate, as though they had never been read. Most of the room was occupied by a large, imposing desk and a few chairs. "Hello there. How can I help you?" Rhen jumped someone was talking to her which she didn't noticed that just now. "W-Well, g'day sir." Rhen stammered. "So, you want to be enrolled, don't you? Well then, token please." The headmaster stretched out his hand, smiling brightly at her. "I'm sorry?" Asked Rhen, who was still don't know what is the situation now. Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment 23
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "If you don't have a token from an accredited sorcerer or sword singer, you'll have to leave. This academy is for gifted students only." Rhen realised just then and stuffed her bag and gave him her token. The token examined and said aloud: "Ah! So you're one of Lorad's wards. It has been a long time since he has signed for anyone. You must be special some how." Rhen blushed as she heard the compliments. "Well anyway, take these." Said headmaster as he handed her a bedroom key and a schedule over. "By the way, I'm Master Harald. And I'm here to declare you officially as a novice sword singer in Shadwood Academy. The key is to your room, where you can keep your things and rest. You'll also find your student clothing in a wardrobe in your room. Please change into your new uniform as soon as possible." There was a short pause followed. Harald cleared his throat and continued. "The schedule has your classes for this year. Don't miss any of them or I'll have your hide. When you're promoted from novice to apprentice, you'll get to choose your classes. That is, if you're not destroyed before hand." Rhen stared at the headmaster blankly, although the "speech" finished. Harald noticed her expression and asked: "Is there any questions so far?" "Well, I might have one. How can I be promoted from novice to apprentice?" "You'll need to undergo a test with your tutor in order to become an apprentice. That's all that I can tell you. Any other questions?" Rhen shook her head. "If that so, please get ready for the class tomorrow and have some sleep. You must be tired from the long journey." Harald went to the door and sent her out. ~~~ "Uh oh. I think I'm lost." Rhen talked to herself as she was looking around at the corridors,indecisively where to go. Fortunately, she saw a girl walking along the hallway. Without a second thought, Rhen ran after her. "Excuse me? You there!" Rhen yelled. The girl came to a stop and looking at the direction where the voice came from. "I'm so...Sorry. Can you bring me...To the girl's dormitories?" Rhen panted. She took a deep breath and continued: "Please? I'm kinda lost." ~~~ Rhen tried to unlock the door with her bedroom key, and the door unlocked. CLICK!
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest It was a simple, small room. A single bed occupied most of the area. Sun ray shone through a window at a side. While unpacking her suitcase, Rhen found a student outfit in the wardrobe situated beside the bed. She put on her student outfit. With disdain she tossed out her slave clothes into the trash bin. "I better get some sleep." Rhen yawned, brushed her teeth, and headed off to bed to get a good night's rest.
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Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial

Miles away, in Ahriman's Lair. The dark daeva sitting on his throne, awaiting an answer from his "servant". Hoping the priestess had suffered for good. Then, someone knelt before him and pulled him back to reality. "What news have you, sun priest?" Asked Ahriman, waiting for an answer to please him. "None good, sire. The slave trader captured the wrong woman, a girl actually." Dameon spoke softly gradually till it came to whisper. "He paid clearly for his mistake, I made sure of that." "And why would the fool make such a mistake?" Spoked the dark daeva impatiently. "The priestess gave her guardian ring to a girl. A priestess never removes her guardian ring, not for anything." Damien replied, without the guts to look at his master's expression. "We could not have guessed that this would happen." "Interesting. Why would a priestess do such a thing?" "I don't know sire. But I do think it's ironic that the woman would give her most valued possession to a peasant" Dameon stopped a while, thinking for solution. "Should I send assassins to dispose of the girl?" "Don't you dare tell me to waste resources on a girl of no importance! Find the priestess and kill her! No more mistakes!" Ahriman roared, face became reddened. Dameon bit his lip. After a while, Agas approached them and bowed before Ahriman. "Sire, the demon portal has been opened, the daevas are arriving as we speak." Reported Agas. "Excellent. Has Indra passed through the portal yet?" Agas was about to answer as a soft, hissing voice interrupted. "I'm here, Sire." Spoke Indra. She wore a sky-blue silk-made gown, pale-blue hair stood until her waist, crimson-red eyes shone in contrast with her pale-blue face. She slipped past Agas, kissed Dameon's hand and that made him twitched, and greeted the dark daeva. "It feels good to be on the other side. So much destruction to spread in so little time. What need have you of me?" "Who's this girl the sun priest speaks of? Can you read her part in the apocalypse?" Ahriman asked. "Who is this girl you speak of sun priest? What more can you give me?" Indra asked with her hissing accent. "Her name is Rhen. A slave trader gave me a lock of her hair. Will this help your reading?" Dameon spoke as he handed Indra the lock of Rhen's hair. She sniffed and examined it. After a while her eye opened widely and hissed and cursing in a different language, as if she'd been under a curse. "What do you see, demon?" Ahriman asked as his curiosity took hold of him. "She'll destroy you." Indra said with a devilish grim. Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial 26
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Then she dies" Said Ahriman sarcastically. Dameon grunted and Agas rolled his eyes, but Ahriman ignored them. "But if you destroy her, so shall we also be destroyed." Continued Indra. "No more riddles, demon! How do we survive?" "The sun priest is the key. He must turn her to our ways, she must become one of us." "So be it." Ahriman nodded. After the conversation closed, a few daevas came out from the demon portal. "We have all arrived, Sire." One of the daevas spoke. "Excellent. Now that you're all here, it's time for you to destroy the Isle." Said Ahriman. "Sire, I would like to make kind suggestion for the good of us all." Dameon interrupted. "Speak sun priest!" Commanded Ahriman. "Attack the druids, take their shrines." "The human is right. The druids are inherent to our destruction. We should eliminate them first." Indra added, pleased by the thought of destruction. "It shall be done...Release your darkness upon the foreign lands, children! Show this paltry world the power of the daevas!" Roared Ahriman. Cheers and roars followed like thunder as the daevas stepped back into the portal, eager to release hell upon the world. ~~~~~ Meanwhile back at the academy...Time flew like a small pile of sand slipped past your finger. A year had gone, and Rhen excelled in her swordsmanship. During this time, Lars had made her life miserable. He spread rumors that she became a slave because she was a thief. To her dismay, he kept up with her progress every step of the way. He had already passed the trials and earned the status of apprentice. Today, Rhen had been summoned by the teachers to perform the trials. If she succeeded, she will rise from the status of novice to apprentice. She woke up earlier than usual on the trial day. She had a hard night's sleep, too worried by the trials the next day. After she had buckled up, Rhen "marched" out of her room and went to see her tutor, hoping for the best, praying word. Along the way, all students came and cheer her up. "Best of luck, Rhen!" "We'll waiting for your good news, Rhen!" "Don't be nervous during the trials!"
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest And some of the "jerks" that Rhen hated bumped onto her and teased. "Hey, hold the sword with the hilt facing your nose!" "I don't want to miss the moment to see the loser!" They laughed uncontrollably at her. Even worse, Lars was one of them. Nevertheless, Rhen walked past and ignored them. In a distance away, she saw Master Lorad waiting for her in the trial dojo. "Good morning Rhen! I can see that you had quite sufficient of sleep yesterday, don't you?" He looked at her, waiting for her expression. Rhen bit her lip, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Lorad continued with a serious tone. "Anyway, the trials are a serious matter, not to be underestimated. Are you ready for this?" "Yes." Rhen spoke with confident, covering her nervous tone. "Well then, let the trial begin!" ~~~~~ Lorad was waiting for Rhen, trying to read her moves. She ran forward, trying a downward slash at his arm but he dodged away swiftly. Rhen only succeeded in hitting the ground, putting her off balance. While Rhen tried to get a grip of herself, Lorad took the opportunity, trying to strike her on the back with the hilt of his sword, finishing the trial. But Rhen seems to know his move, out of a sudden executing a perfect side spin, missing him, barely. While they were fighting, sound of cheers echoed throughout the dojo. But both of them blocked the sound, as if they were fighting in a deep forest. "Well, well, well. Looks like our little friend here had improved quite a hit. Haven't you?" Lorad teased, happy with her performance. "And I should thank you for teaching me all the way here." Rhen replied sarcastically. "Let's see if she can avoid this..." Lorad thought. He lifted his sword, positioning it to his abdomen, and started chanting spells. "Iqneo, Astao, Flisva, Holivaq, Raknu!" He targeted his sword to Rhen's direction. He swung his sword at a distance. "Trinity Fury!" Yelled Lorad. A magic holy cross, burning with bright white flame, released from the tip of his glowing sword, the shot aimed at Rhen's chest.. "Dancing Swan!" Rhen yelled suddenly in the nick of time, dodging his attack and the cross hit the wall behind her. Rhen ran towards him again, leaping side to side, lashing out with her sword, balancing on a foot every time she leap like dancing Swan Lake. "How did she do that? I'd never taught her that skill before!" Thought Lorad, astonished. Rhen suddenly appeared behind him while he was deeply in his thought.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Master, you shouldn't let your guard down." Rhen teased. "Slide Thrust!" She yelled, thrusting her sword with all her might. ~~~ Rhen panted after she did the final blow. Her sword broke when the tip of blade stroke the ground yet again, off balanced. The trial dojo broke into silence suddenly. No one cheered or making noises. Lars and his cronies were looking whether Rhen was defeated or not. After a short while, Master Harald appeared from nowhere, accompanied by Master Lorad. They exchanged glances and looked at Rhen. Lorad cleared his throat and said: "I'm impressed and pleased with your performance today. Excellent." "Brava, novice. Or I should call you from now on - the apprentice sword singer." Added the headmaster. Rhen blushed like a red rose on a spring day. She didn't know what to say, still dazed by her moment of glory. Cheers and Hoorays roaring from the spectator stand. "Well anyway congratulations, girl. You deserved this new class schedule." Lorad praised and handed over the apprentice schedule to Rhen. "Because you're an apprentice now, you get to choose your classes. You must take the schedule to the class you wish to enroll in. If the instructor thinks you're suitable enough for the class, you'll be able to attend it." Then Lorad excused and leave Rhen with the headmaster. "Congratulation, child! You're one step closer to becoming a sword singer. You should be very proud of yourself. Do you have anything before I go on with my other business?" Said Master Harald with a smile on his face. "I might have one. How am I become a full ledged sword singer?" "To become a sword singer, you must do a deed of great bravery and return to us with proof of the deed." "Hmm, a great, bravery deed..." Rhen thought. "Well, go and get some rest now. You must be exhausted from the trial just now. I'll see you tomorrow." And so Rhen walked back to the girl's dormitories (she got a lot of cheers and compliment on the way) and hit the bed like a dead fish. That night she dreamed again.
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Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

This time she was back in the forest again. Some of the landscapes are similar to the forest before but this time there was an eerie silence, as if all the critters in the forest are in hibernation. No bats, no swishing sound, no howling wolf. At this moment, the same melodious voice echoed through the forest. "Rhen...Put on the ring...I can't find you...Put on the ring..." The voice faded afterward. "Who...Who are you? Priestess?" Rhen asked but heard no reply. "Are you there? Anyone?" Before she realised something she had already woke up. The blazing sun lightened up the whole room, to the depths of her dream as she woke up, dazed and a little confused. ~~~ "What a strange dream, was that the strange priestess I saved so long ago?" thought Rhen while she was getting herself dressed. "I think I should go find the priestess ring that the slave trader stole from me." She went into town to do some detective work on the stolen ring. "From what I've heard, he sold it to a junk dealer in Veldarah," said Rhen to herself after her research on the slave trader. "I think I better go there and see if he still has it." without another thought she ran to the junk's store a stone's throw away. ~~~ "Good day, ma'am. Feel free and have a look, and you might have something to buy from me." the junk dealer welcomed Rhen with a smile on his face, fit for a jester. Rhen explored the shop and noticed most of them were useless to her: a broken wand, a glass for nerd, a malfunction compass, etc. Until something caught her attention. "How much does this birdcage and the mirror cost?" asked Rhen as she saw the fancy mirror and the birdcage with an empty bowl in it. "There will be 400 pennies at least." "Wow! That's a highway robbery!" "Well, take it or leave it." And without bargain Rhen paid him rather unwillingly. As she was on her way out, she saw a lovely, beautiful silver ring with a sapphire engraved on it. She gasped as she saw the ring that the priestess gave her when they met in Clearwater a year ago. "Sir, how much does this ring cost?" yelled Rhen, excitement getting the best of her. "The replica of a priestess ring? 10 gold pennies at the very least!" "Wow, that's expensive! I can't imagine how much an original priestess ring would cost!" said Rhen, wondering if it's actually a replica or not. Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded 30
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "An original would be priceless thing to die for, ma'am." And~ so Rhen paid the junk dealer for the ring as soon as possible, to her last penny. "What a luck." thought Rhen. She wore the ring back on her finger. When she was about to leave, someone appeared in front of her. "You! It's you! The woman! The priestess!" exclaimed Rhen in shock. "I have finally found you." spoke the priestess with a hushed but sweet tone. "How did you find me?" Rhen barely managed to get a hold of herself from excitement. "The ring. While you wore it. I knew where you were, but shortly after I gave it to you, you disappeared from me." there was a pause and she continued. "Now that you've touched it again." "I was supposed to meet Peter by the sheep pen. But right outside the village, a slave trader caught me. He took the ring and sold it," explained Rhen while she was trying to recall that fateful incident happened a year ago. "He sold me too, as a slave." "Sold you? You're a slave?" "No. Not anymore." "Where is this place?" "This is a city called Veldarah. Other than that, I'm clueless." "So, you're in the Eastern Empire." "I suppose so, ma'am. Can you take me home?" "Home's a long way away, Rhen. You're safer here." "Is something wrong?" "..." Again, the priestess stayed silent, unwillingly to tell her the truth, yet. "I must leave you now. I will need my ring back for the time being." And Rhen took off the ring, passed it back to the priestess. "Wait! Where're you going? And who... What are you?" Rhen made a move to stop her as the priestess was on her way heading out of the shop. "I'm going to see the empress. We have much to talk about. Meet me there in a span." reassured the priestess. "Oh, and my name is Talia. That's all you need to know for now." and just like that, she disappeared from the doorway, on her way to see the Mighty Empress. ~~~
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Is this the child, priestess?" asked the empress of Veldarah. "Yes, empress, she's the one." replied Talia. "Hmm. The lost daughter. She does resemble her mother, has her mother's eyes," "And her father, beautiful child she is," "Yes. Her teachers tell me she'll become a powerful sword singer. Traits coming from both her parents." "what are you talking about? My father's a shoemaker and my mother's a seamstress." Rhen didn't know what were they going on about. "So, she doesn't know of her parent's past," said the empress as she examined Rhen. "It's for the best." replied Talia. "Know what?" asked Rhen, feeling left out like a lone puppy. "It's not important. Have you made sure priestess? That she's the one? You can't deny the incident that happened to you when you were young." the empress asked Talia. "We tried to stop the prophecy in her infancy, but it was not to be. I believe that she is the one." "Prophecy? What do I have to do with any of this?" asked Rhen again. She was trying to make some senses from them but no avail. "Girl, you must talk to the oracle. She'll know if you're the chosen one." the empress told Rhen and she cleared her throat and she yelled. "Oracle, show yourself!" Just then an old woman appeared beside the empress. She wore a green silk fabric robe, silvery hair on her head, like a snake her eyes were alert and darted around, daring anyone to come closer. "Telin De' Baron, you have summoned me?" asked the oracle, using the empress's name but the empress didn't seems to wind it. "Yes. We need your guidance, wise one." the empress ushered the still puzzled Rhen to the oracle. The oracle touched Rhen with a bony finger, a wave of dizziness came over Rhen as she was filled with the oracle's aura. "What's this I see? A child with a strange aura?" asked the oracle while examining Rhen. "The priestess says that the child is the prophesied one." replied the empress. "Indeed." agreed the oracle, lifting her finger off Rhen as Rhen steadied herself against the wall. "Dreamer, is that you? How be it that you have left the dream?" She saw Talia when she turned and asked. "That can't be! Priestess, you're the Guardian of Dreams now?" the empress exclaimed.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "I was summoned by the oracle for the position many years ago." replied Talia calmly. "The Guardian of Dreams can't walk among the awaken ones! How do you came out?" "'Beware lest the dreamer wakes'. I'm the guardian, and I'm awake. Ahriman's demons have taken the dreamland over, empress." "So, Ahriman's minions have arrived." spoke the oracle, deep in thought. "Yes. I came for the girl as soon as I fell." Talia answered as she gave Rhen a quick wink. "You have done a good job, for the girl is the one. However, her future seems uncertain for me...like a shadow in a foggy night." "Now that she's here. What should we do?" "She must gather all of the druids and bring them to the sun temple in Aveyond." "Can't you call them yourself?" "I've tried. But I'm still bound to the dreamland as the guardian heard." "Ahriman." said the empress suddenly. "I must go now. Dreamer, you must come to the temple surely. Rest does not come easily to you, Dreamer. Come to me soon. The nightmare is just starting. Sad to say, truly sad." the oracle vanished into thin air and silence in the palace came in with a few of curious glances and muffled speech. "I'll inform your teachers of your departure." spoke the empress. "I have to leave?" asked Rhen as she snapped from the hypnotic silence. "Yes. But I don't think you should travel alone. Find a companion to take with you." "I'll go with her." Lars came out from his hiding place and bowed to his cousin. It made Rhen jumped as she bumped into a palace maid carrying a glass of water to the empress. "No please, empress, anyone but him!" Rhen begged. "You're still a student, Lars." the empress raised her eyebrow. "I'm one of the strongest magic wielders in the empire, even if I'm sill an apprentice." said Lars proudly. "It's true. Well then, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. You can company her," she approved. Rhen groaned. Talia gave her a sharp punch to her arm stopping her from bellowing. "What the elitist brat could be up to?" Rhen wondered.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Thank you, Exalted One. I must go pack now. I'll be waiting in my room, Rhen" Lars flashed a toothy smile at her and walked away. Rhen rolled her eyes, not wanting to do anything with him for now. "Good luck on your journey." ended the empress. Rhen in pace with Talia while she off to pack her things for the journey ahead. "Rhen, you must find the druids and take them to Aveyond. The druids are Daena the Wise, Vata or Father Time, Rashnu the Dark, Eithera the Strong, Vouh Manah the Bard, Armaiti the Green, Daemon the Sun Priest, and me of course. I'm Talia the Dreamer. "Oh dear... I suppose you're having hard time memorising the druids now." teased Talia. "So... There's eight druids to be escorted, including you. All right then, I'll go and pack now." she was off again down the hall as she made a mental note of the druids' name. ~~~ "Ready to go, Peta?" asked Lars when Rhen came to pick him up. "Stop calling me that!" answered Rhen with a nudge to his shoulder.. "Why did you offer to come with me? Insist, actually! You hate me, remember?" "Poor Peta, you just don't understand, do you? I couldn't let a slave girl complete such an important quest unaided." teased Lars and Rhen scowled. "When I become High Sorcerer of the academy, I'll make sure that no slave trash ever gets into the school again." mused Lars. "And when I become High Sword Singer, I'll make sure that slavery is banned. Now let's go. We have a longer journey ahead of us, unfortunately." And so both of them look at the academy for the last time before they embarked on their journey. "Let's meet Talia at the front gate of the city." said Rhen. "You're not the boss of me," teased Lars with a chuckle.
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Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle

"Aww, how long we have to wait for her anyway? We've been waiting here for almost half an hour, and there is no sight of that priestess yet. I'm getting mouldy here now, and my patient is very thin. You should know that..." Lars complained while he was standing at the front gate of Veldarah. "Would you please cut it out? You're driving me crazy now." snapped Rhen, irritated and annoyed by her companion. "Besides that, I think she will be here right---" she stopped abruptly as she heard swishing sound nearby. "Shh! I think I heard something's moving, and it comes from that direction." whispered Rhen as she pointed at the nearby bushes. Lars stopped whining and turned into his serious state. The bushes shook unnaturally like a shining hreen sheep standing on a block of ice and suddenly a pair of bloody-red eyes shot appeared and glared at them with a pair of dagger like fangs to go with it. "Brace yourself." Lars whispered as he sensed a mysterious aura around that creature, a long black oak staff gripped tightly on his hand. While Rhen took her apprentice sword (which was a gift from Master Lorad for passing the trial) and calibrated to the center between her eyes, facing the source of the deep growling sound. Just then, the eyes vanished and a beast leaped out. It stank of rotten fish on dried blood. It scratched her arm, who hasn't prepared for an attack yet. She groaned as blood drip on the road. The beast was on four while looking at its foes, razor-like teeth bared at them. It jumped again after a little quick rest and pounced at Rhen's direction. As it was about to finish its first prey, Lars stood in front of Rhen and conjured a spell. "Lytrik Shocke!" A jolt of lightning emitted from the tip of the staff and hit the beast on its massive head. It's body stiffen suddenly and fell onto the ground, motionless. "Excellent job, young sorcerer." Talia dropped out from one of the trees behind them and gave a hefty pat on Lars' shoulder. He grinned with glee and again Rhen rolled her eyes, imaging his head swelling up with self-praise. She mouthed "show off" at him which made him grunted. "Would you escort me to Aveyond?" asked Talia. Then with a flick of her hand, the creature staggered to its feet and proceeded to whine while feeing into the bushes, tail between its hind legs. "Yes, and why would you bring a beast here? It almost cut my arm clean off, you see," Rhen crossed as she show the priestess the wound. "I just want to test you guys whether you can deal with some situations or not...and it seems that our little sorcerer manage to protect himself but you as well," answered Talia as she healed Rhen's wound. "Heale Minora!...Here, as good as new." "Can we go now? I'm tired standing around here." Lars complained, cursing each time a mosquito stung him. "We must leave the Eastern Isle and travel across the northern sea. Aveyond lies beyond The Mists," explained Talia and they set off to the North Isle. After a few minutes walk they reached a small dock. It was situated a few miles West from Veldarah. The weather was nice and the sea was calm, perfect time to do some travelling for the fellow friends.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "And now what?" asked Lars, irritated by the smell, a mixture of rotten garbage, sweaty sailors and a hint of putrid fish oil. "Maybe we can looks for a boat to sail across the sea," spoke Talia. "And maybe the boat man can help us," said Rhen as she pointed at a guy not far from a edge oof a pier. "Oui travellers! Would you like a boat ride to the Northern Isle? It'll cost you 20 gold pennies for the ride," the handsome boat man spoke with a heavy French accent to his voice. He saw Rhen and winked at her. They ignored him and gave the gold pennies and got on the boat. ~~~ Vohu Manah was laying, facing the cloud-filled sky on the lush green grass. As usual, he was playing a sweet melody on his favourite golden eight-strings harp. The melody flew along with the cool breeze as it swifted all across the Mount Orion area. After finished playing, he went back inside the temple. At the doorway to the throne's room, he noticed someone sitting on his throne. The stranger smiled at him. And before as usual had the chance to ask the curious stranger who he is, he had turned into a stone, standing motionlessly in the Harmony Temple, with an expression of fear on his face. ~~~ "Tous a bord!" yelled the boat man abruptly. "We will be departing in two minutes! so you all better get your sea legs on." "Wow! What's this? Some kind of speed boat?" Lars exclaimed. He tried to draw his apprentice sorcerer cloak to him closer as the boat cut through the Northern Sea as easy as a hot knife to butter. "I customised this old plank with a Turbo Jet 3000 Engine," answered the boat man proudly. "Just hold tight, we'll reach the Northern Isle in a jiffy." "Nous sommes ici! We're here," the adventurers woke up at the sound of the French-accented boatman. "I'll be here, in case you guys want a ride back, which will cost you another 20 gold pennies," Lars scowled at him as he fished out the pennies for it. The boat man refused it, "Just a joke to lighten up the mood. Please don't mind with my sense of humour. I bit you farewell, monseiur and madame." ~~~ "Oh my! It's s-s-so c-cold! Brrr!" commented Rhen as they were venturing across the field which by now was filled with a foot-deep of snow. Snowstorm hailed abnormally across the North Isle landscape. All the trees, rocks, and even dead logs were covered with a blanket of snow. All the animals headed home, sit out the dreadful weather of blizzards and snowstorms, although they were use to the normal snowy weather in North Isle. "Here, let me help you guys keep warm," offered Talia. "Touche Warme!" suddenly Rhen and Lars were covered by a transparent energy heat cloak. "There. It will take some time for the spell to wear off, it should keep the cold out." As they explored further into the hail storm, suddenly the earth shook vigorously. The explorers tried to grabbed onto something to prevent them from falling heads over heels. A few seconds after the sudden quake Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle 36
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest the earthquake subsided slowly, much like someone burping, who had just ate all his breakfast, lunch and dinner at once. "What was that?" asked Lars, trying to stop his legs from shaking. "I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this," Talia glanced around. In that instant, a rumbling sound sounded in a distance. And they saw snows falling down from a mountain, rushing at their direction. They all turned their head to the rumbling sound. Just in time to see a wave of snow filled with debris heading their way, swallowing up anything in this hungry for destruction. "It's an avalanche! Quick, run!" shouted Rhen and they ran with all their might, the avalanche was 400 metres wide and about two-stories high, it was monstrous. As they ran they came to a slippery halt at a fork road. They panic as they decided which path to escape to. "Which way now?" asked Lars, his pride and dignity lost in the sound of the avalanche. As Rhen was deciding a safe route to follow, she saw a flock of black smoke, spilling out from a chimney in a distance. And she got an idea. "Come on! Follow me!" and without a doubt, the others followed Rhen. ~~~ There was full moon in the town of Ghed'ahre, the dark druid stood at the temple balcony, enjoying the night view of the town. When he was about to head to the church, which was situated below a floor of the Dark Temple, and play the organ, Rahsnu suddenly sensed a presence in the temple. Putting not much as a thought about it, he ignored it, got to the church and played the organ, it helps him to calm down after the work done in the day. After done with his organ, Rahsnu went back to his temple. Then he saw a parcel at his throne. He got the parcel and noticed that there was no address of the sender. He shrugged and tore the parcel, ignoring all the work has been put into the parcel. He saw a mirror, reflecting his own reflection. In the mirror, he too saw a figure with darkness aura surrounding it, who was "floating" behind him. Before he had time turn around, a darkness surrounded him as all his senses became limp and turned into stone, like being frozen in a block of ice. ~~~ "Welcome to the Stubborn Mule Inn," said an Innkeeper to the adventurers. "I'm amazed that you made it this far into the mountains with all of the fighting between the Mountain King and the Snow Queen. You must have Mithra's luck to be alive." "So what's with the snowstorm? And the earth shaking around here?" asked Rhen. "And we're almost got burried by the avalanche, thanks to the stupid eathquake," snorted Lars, trying to shake the numbness in his fingers as the heat spell wore off. "Well, I don't know much about the details of the war. But all I know is that when the Mountain King and Snow Queen fight, it's dangerous for all," the Innkeeper spoke. "When the Mountain King is angry, the ground shakes. When the Snow Queen is angry, blizzards howl across the land," he continued. "If only they could see what their pretty fights do to their people..."
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Do you know what they are fighting over?" asked Rhen. "You should ask the Mountain King that. He lives up north of the village," the innkeeper ended the conversation and invited the adventurers to warm up by the fire place, which had a chimney puffing black smoke the whole day long. ~~~ After staying a night at the inn, the explorers went to get supplies for the journey ahead. Some food, water, a box of matches and a coil of rope which the innkeeper was kindly enough to trade for a few gold pennies. Then, they went to the Mountain King's lair where was situated at the top of the hill of Thornkeep. His palace was a cave, instead of a majestic rock palace. As they went inside the lair, they saw a man sitting on a pile of rocks which turned out to be a throne. He wore a earthy-brown tunic with a belt which was made of bear's fur. His long sandy hair down to his shoulders like a hill of sand. "Welcome to my kingdom Southerners," the King regarded them with open arms. "Your Majesty,sorry for interrupting. But I would like to know the news in this kingdom," spoke Rhen after they greeted majestically. "There's little news to share of these parts, except for the wrath of my wife, the Snow Queen," "Did something happen?" asked Talia. "The abominable woman had the nerve to disagree with me about the existence of fairies. She says fairies exists; but that's preposterous! Everyone know that the creature are of myth. I told her she was being a fool, rightly so, and she stormed out of my palace, with a shriek," explained the king with a stern tone, anger filling like lava, ready to erupt. "So your wife, the Snow Queen, was connected to the strange weather here lately?" asked Lars. "My wife sends blizzards upon me in revenge. She's sorely mistaken to believe a little snow can change my way of thinking," "Is there anything that we can of help, Your Majesty?" offered Rhen. "Ha! Prove to my wife that fairies don't exist" blasted the King, loose rocks dropped around them from the ceiling. After they bid farewell, Rhen, Lars and Talia set off and continued their journey.
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Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond

"Now how can we go to Aveyond with all these snow all over the place? It's as thick as yak's fur," mused Rhen as they headed out the entrance of the town. "Wait a second, when did you became leader of this team?" snorted Lars. "Since I got the prophecy. As the Exalted One, I'm the rightful one to lead the team," "Hmph! If you were coming as a slave, I shouldn't have ended up accompanying with you in the first place," Lars grunted. "Then why did you offered to accompany me in the palace of Veldarah?" "Because I said that I wouldn't let all this work and glory to be done by a slave, Peta!" "Now cut it out you two! We shouldn't quarrel over this little kiddy problem. The evil is drawing near, and we should have save the druids and escort them to the Sun Temple in Aveyond," spoke Talia calmly. "Save your energy, keep warm." "Sorry, Talia. C'mon guys, lets move on," Rhen apologised, taking the lead. "Yeah sorry, Talia," mumbled Lars. "I'll not let this slave Apprentice take all the glory." "Huh, what did you say?" asked Rhen, glaring at him. "Nothing. Simply nothing," said Lars with his innocent look. "Maybe the man sitting on the mule cart can help us," suggested Talia as she pointed to a mule cart not far from them. So their journey continued on a mule express that is heading to Sun Temple for handsome price. ~~~ It was spring in the Western Empire. Armaiti, who was also known as the druid of agriculture, was enjoying the beauty of nature in Highland. Out of a sudden, a cracky, raspy voice interrupted his thought, and he hate that when someone did that. "Ah, Guardian of Agriculture. At last, I've found thou." Before he had time to answer, Armaiti found that he couldn't move a single bone as if he was petrified. In the end, a skeleton warrior with a broken gladius at one hand and an old scrap matal shield at the other, walked away with a sinister grin on its face, leaving the statue of the druid with a frown on his face. ~~~ "Wow! What a magnificent artwork!" Rhen gasped, enthralled by the Sun Temple.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "It has been built for a hundred years," added Talia. "And I've never been here since I become a guardian." Lars standing beside the girls, kicking dirt on the grass, leaving them admiring the grandeur of the temple. An old woman was standing by the entrance as they headed into the temple. Rhen saw the familiar fabric robe that the elderly woman wore just when she was at the Veldarah Castle. "It's the Oracle!" gasped Rhen. "You have come," spoke the Oracle with a melodious tone, welcoming them with an elderly smile on her face. Then she laid her eyes at Talia. "Dreamer Talia, how was your journey?" "Uneventful, thank the gods," sighed Talia "What's the quest again?" asked Lars suddenly, though he knew the answer. "You must bring all the druids here. When all of the druids have been brought here, the door to a room of great importance will open," said the oracle as she pointed to a sealed door behind them. "What's behind this door?" asked Lars. "An artifact of great importance. The Sword of Shadows." "What's with the doors at the basement?" asked Rhen as she noticed there were six locked doors in the basement in the temple. "Items of great power lie beyond the doors beneath this temple... items guarded by the druids until now. Until you." "Where's sun priest?" asked Talia abruptly as she noticed that only four of them in the temple. "The sun priest will be back soon," replied the Oracle, hiding her worry with a smile. "Okay. Now Talia's here. We should proceed our quest now," spoke Rhen as she was getting bored staying in the temple. "Oracle, I would like to stay with the children a while longer," spoke Talia calmly. "Are you not staying behind?" asked the elderly woman while raising her eyebrows. "No, Oracle. I think the children may need my advice for a while. I'll be back soon." "I shall be as your wish, Dreamer." "Come, children. Let's go," spoke Talia as she motioned Rhen and Lars out of the temple. ~~~ After having a talk with the Oracle, the trio decided to take a break in a town nearby. Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond 40
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "No wonder the town-folks named here Teacup Towns. Look at the Teacups here!" commented Lars as they looked at the teacup-shape buildings all over the place. "And the cats live here. This is ridiculous!" "Help! Help!" a squeaky voice echoed in a distance. "Let's check what we can help," without a second thought, Rhen and the others went to the source of the voice. "Is there anything that we can help?" asked Talia calmly. Rhen and Lars exchanged glances. A talking kitten asking for help?, thought Lars. Shut up, Lars! Rhen shot him an angry look after she got his message. "My brother, Morsel's voice box was stolen by a wicked harpy. Now he can't talk," meowed the bini whose name was Tidbit. "Do you know where this harpy is?" asked Rhen urgently, excited to have a battle. "She ran off north to the west of the village," answered Tidbit as he pointed his paw to a small hill behind the town. ~~~ The harpy was flying around with her new-found music box. She sang happily along with the music. Just then, something tied around the box and a force pulled it. But she tugged it firmly in the nick of time. She looked around and noticed some annoying human beings interrupting her happy moment. "You there, harpy! Are you responsible for the theft of a young bini's voice box?" shouted one of them with the purple hair. She was holding a sword and swinging around in the air like a crazy chicken. Behind the girl was a green-haired guy who was holding a black-oak staff and a weird book on each of his hand. And a priestess who was standing between them, murmuring while controlling the magic rope to pull harder. But it wont budge as the harpy took a hard grasp at her precious box. "And if I am? What are you going to do about it?" she taunted at the trio. In the just instant, the purple-haired girl running towards her and started murmuring something. She jumped on the air and waving her sword at her. "Firefly Ballad!" yelled the girl as she was waving the sword ferociously and quickly around, making her unable to deflect her attack. The harpy fell on the floor and noticed that her wings were broken. "How dare you! How dare you hurt my wings! Now you're gonna pay for that!" roared the injured harpy, filled with pure anger. She rushed and bare her sharp-and-pointy claws at the girl but she stopped suddenly in the midway as if she had been frozen. She looked around and saw the green-haired guy casted a spell. "What's the rush?" teased the mage. "Let me chill you down," he murmured and a pale-blue mist formed and swirled around him. The surroundings went absolute zero abruptly, and the harpy felt her heart was frozen. "Aiz Sickle!" a bolt of ice conjured from his hand and hit the harpy. The harpy wailed and landed her knees on the floor. Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond 41
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Argh! Take the confounded voice box and leave me alone!" squarked the badly-injured harpy, who threw the box at them and walked away briskly. ~~~ The bini opened his mouth but nothing came out. He appeared to have lost his voice. Rhen gave the bini his voice box. "My voice box! How can I thank you?" spoke Morsel the bini gratefully. "It was nothing," replied Rhen who was feeling happy for helping him. The happy bini sang and hopped around. "Thank you for getting my brother's voice box back from the harpy," spoke Tidbit. "I wonder if you should let her keep it. My brother won't stop singing," added the bini, who was getting annoyed by his brother's singing.
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Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist

The adventurers decided to spend a night in a tavern in the town. The smell of lavender mixed with lily attacked their nasal cavity as they stepped in the Teacup Tavern. A feel of relaxation swirled over them. After checked in and put their belongings into their room, they headed out to enjoy the night scenery of the bini town. There's a flea market having in the town center. They strolled while took a look at the item sold there. Spices, potions, spells, junks, food, and much more. "Allo travelers! Wanna have a look at my finest?" called out one of the traders to the trio, who had window-shopping for a while. The adventurers noticed a black, tiny bomb. The trader noticed their glances and took out the bomb and showed them. "This is a special-made smokebomb. It can be used to get rid some typical bees live in Aveyond." "Why do you sell such a smokebomb here?" enquired Lars. "There's a rumour said that the beeswax in Aveyond can be used to prevent you from being heard from the music of the hind. But the problem is you cannot simply taking away the beeswax from the beehive. They'll stung you to death for sure." explained the trader. "You're not from the Northern Isle, do you? I presume that from the voice of yours," asked Talia. "And can you tell me more about the hind?" added Rhen. "I'm from the Eastern Empire. There's a news that I've heard about a cursed hind in Eastern Isle. It plays a special harp that charmed people around her. After the prey fell for her, she'll use a stone curse to turn them into statue," lectured the trader. Then he broke down into a whisper, "In order to defeat this cursed hind, you need two ingredients: a hand mirror and a lump of beeswax. "From what I've heard, you can get the mirror at the junk shop in Veldarah, while the beeswax can be collected in Aveyond." Rhen grinned as she can felt one of the ingredients was in her backpack. She had bought it when she was a slave, along with the priestess ring. "From the way you wear, I guess you're adventurers. Well here's a special promotion from me. You can have the smokebomb for free," said the trader while handed a smokebomb to Rhen. "Use it wisely and good luck in your journey." After they bid farewell, they headed back to the tavern and had a deep sleep from the journey they had. ~~~ The next morning, they started to find the beeswax. After a while travelling in The Mist, they came across a cavern. They headed in the Memory Cavern and carry on their expedition. Here, an interesting event happened. Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist 43
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Grrrgl!" "What was that?" asked Rhen. "Nothing, simply nothing. Maybe it's the sound of the creatures inside the cavern," guessed Lars, though they didn't came across any beasts in the cavern so far. Just the sound of the dropping waters, their walking footsteps, their breath and their voice. "Grrrgl! Grrrgl!" "Are you sure about that? I think it's from your tummy," spoke Talia. "Okay, fine! I'm hungry, happy now?" said Lars while waving his hands in the air. "We've been venturing for a while without eating anything! Don't you guys hungry at all?" "Stop complaining like a baby! Just go on for a short while and we'll set a camp," nagged Rhen. "Hmph!" at the same time he saw a mushroom growing not far from there. He ran and picked it up without any thought, which was filled with "hungry" only. As he was about to eat it, the mushroom shrieked and casted a spell on him. "Oh my! Lars was charmed by the magic mushroom," said Talia as she looked at the charmed Lars doing the magic mushroom's bidding. "Let me handle it," offered Rhen as she slashed the mushroom into a thousand pieces. "Where am I?" mumbled Lars after Talia performed the Cleanse Spell. "What happened?" "What happened?! You almost ate a magical creature here. It put a charm on you. Luckily I slashed it into tiny bits in the nick of time. Or else you'll be asked to be the mushroom's husband," snorted Rhen. "It wasn't my fault! I was hungry, that's all!" protested Lars. "If it wasn't your fault, then..." Rhen was about to have a row with Lars she realised that her lips had glued together, and so was Lars' "If you guys keep quarreling over these tiny problem, how are we able to stop Ahriman from spreading the evils?" lectured the Dreamer after she Silenced them. After a few words of apologies, they continued their expedition. Soon, they reached at the foot of a hill with a beehive at it's peak. Rhen reached out to touch the beehive and get stung. "That's not going to work. Do you want to be stung to death, silly Peta?" teased Lars. "Let's see if the smokebomb will put them to sleep," Rhen rolled her eyes as she watched Lars threw the smokebomb at the beehive. Soon the bees fell asleep. Rhen then grabbed a large chunk of beeswax and put it gently into her backpack. "hen, have you noticed those sand piles on the surface when we are exploring?" asked Talia as she was pointing a lump of sand. "Just like this one here."
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Yeah, maybe I can dig it out," she contemplate digging up the hole with her fingernails, but can think of no rational reason to do so. Hence she gave up. "Maybe we should find a shovel," commented Rhen. "In the middle of nowhere?" protested Lars. "Maybe someone can lend us his or her shovel, if 'were lucky to meet them," said Talia calmly. After got themselves ready, the trio rode on mule express, heading back to Thornkeep. ~~~ Indra let out a evil laugh after she stole the soul of Daena, the Druid of Wisdom. Leaving the statue in the Moon Temple, she went back to report to her master. On her way out the Snow Queen Castle, someone appeared in front of her. "Hold it right there!" spoke the stranger. But Indra had no intent to obey her, instead she casted Ice Storm Spell at her, but no avail. "Aiz Sheeld!" a blue ice barrier swirled around the stranger. "Looks like you fight with a wrong person, daeva," spoke the opponent, ignoring Indra's hiss. "Let me finish you off!" the stranger closed her eyes, waved her ice wand and drew out a spell. "Aiz Preezon!" Indra was trapped in an ice cube. She used all her might to break it but the cube didn't seem to crack. "Hahaha! No matter how hard you tried, it won't break. No one can escape from the Ice Prison Spell, especially the Snow Queen's," spoke the Snow Queen proudly. "Let me out! You filthy queen! You're gonna pay for it!" cursed Indra. "We'll see about that..." In the end, Indra was thrown into a basement dungeon, locked by the Snow Queen under her castle. ~~~ "Let's take the other path that we haven't travel yet," suggested Rhen as they were back at the fork road, which had been cleared by the town-folks of Thornkeep after the avalanches. After a few minutes walking, a castle lied in front of them. The castle was made of pure ice, from the base of the drawbridge to the top of the castle tower. When they stepped inside, a queen sat on her ice throne, as if she was expecting them. She adored herself with a snow-white polar bear gown, an ice tiara on her head, holding an ice wand. "I'm amazed you found my castle, mortals. What brings you here and speak quickly!" spoke the queen with a fast tone, as if she had an urgent work to do.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "What's the relationship between you and the Mountain King, Your Majesty?" it was Lars who asked the question first. "The Mountain King is a stubborn man who thinks he knows the answer to everything. Even things he knows nothing about!" commented the queen. "He's also my husband." "What's with the strange weather here?" asked Rhen, though she knew the situation. "That stubborn husband of mine makes the earthquake. He's angry over an argument in which I clearly won." "What argument?" asked Rhen again, though they knew the answer. "The existence of fairies. The foolish man is convinced that they don't exist, but I told them he was wrong," explained the Snow Queen. "He had the audacity to laugh. He shall pay dearly for shunning me." "Is there anything to stop the argument between the two of you?" offered the Dreamer. "Of course! Once he concedes and admits that fairies exist. I shall return to his side. Until then, I shall make his life miserable with the fury of my blizzards ." "Your Majesty, I heard that the Moon Shrine is also in here, isn't it?" asked Talia politely. "Indeed. The Moon Shrine is beneath my castle. The druid who lives here is frozen solid," the queen noticed their disappointed expression. "I suspect that the demon I trapped is behind it." "Since we're on a quest, would you let us go into the basement and help you get rid of it?" "I'll think about it after you helped me." After the conversation, the trio left the Snow Queen's Castle and headed back to Eastern Isle to solve the mystery of the cursed hind.
46
Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer

"Hey, there's a rowboat over the shore," pointed Rhen as they were at the south-east of the isle. "Maybe we can ask the boat dealer about the price of it." "We noticed you had a rowboat out front. Any chance we can buy it from you?" asked Talia politely when they were in the shop. "Sell my rowboat? Never!" the boatman, whose name was Remlak, roared. It made the three of them jumped. After that Remlak's mood turned sour. "Is there any problem?" asked Lars rudely. "Well, it's just that... It's lonely here by myself. If only I had a wife." said Remlak softly. "What sort of woman are you looking for?" asked Rhen. "Hmmm. I'm looking for an exotic woman with a mean bite," described Remlak. "If we find you a wife, will you sell us your rowboat?" "I'll think about it." "We'll keep an eye out for you," after the talk, the trio headed south into the Wildwood. ~~~ Eithera was badly-injured. Scratches and cuts all over his body. The opponent was walking slowly towards him, trying to torture him slowly. The druid summoned numerous spears, arrows and swords and shot towards the daeva. But the demon finished them off with a blaze. The horn-headed daeva, who was known as Saurva, started murmuring, and the druid can't fell himself anymore. After that, Saurva stood in front of a door, which was sealed by the Druid of Strength years ago, and started chanting. "Just wait for a while, Sire. And you'll be free," whispered the demon while performing a dark ritual. Just then, Eithera sacrificed his last willpower to summon a genie lamp. "Ginee, I Summone Thee!" The lamp then dropped at the back of Saurva. It opened its lid and sucked the daeva into it. In the end, Ahriman failed to escape from his lair. But unfortunately, the druid turned into statue, standing motionlessly beside the genie lamp. ~~~ Rhen, Lars and Talia stood in front of a cave. Along the cave lies a few people, all turned to statue. Many of them had the same expression. Sad, angry, frowned, shocked.
47
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "So here we are, the hind's whereabouts," whistled Lars. "Well, let's go." While they were exploring the cave, they heard an ethereal melody. The party plugged their ears with the beeswax they found back in Aveyond. After that they continued to explore, unaffected by the Charmed Song. They saw a hind standing at the end of the cave. She had a body of a human and a body of a horse. The hind was playing its Golden Harp. The hind's beauty was so unearthly that the adventurers forgot to breath. Awe washed over them and their limbs began to stiffen. Oh my, she's using the Petrification Spell! Only if I can reach it... With her remaining strength, Rhen pulled the hand mirror out of her backpack and thrust it to the hind. A wail followed and the hind turned into stone in the end, a victim of her own curse. "Rhen, we should take the hind's harp back to Veldarah. Master Harald said we had to accomplish a noble deed and bring back proof to Veldarah," suggested Lars after the Petrification Spell wore off. "You're right, Lars. The Legendary Harp of the Hind should be the proof that we need to be raised," agreed Rhen after they unplugged the beeswax. She took the hind's harp and went out from the cave. ~~~ "Why haven't I noticed there's a cottage in the forest?" asked Rhen when they saw smokes coming in a distance. They knocked the door and a voice replied. A man was sitting by the fireplace. He saw the trio and welcomed them with a big smile. They had a sit and the conversation followed. "I like the quiet out here, no one to bother me but my memories," said the woodsman. "What memories could be so terrible to bring you so far away, woodsman?" asked the Dreamer. "I know this voice, a voice from another lifetime. No, I must be mistaken. All who I've known are gone," he sighed. "Stop moping, you wooly-eyed-buffoon! This pitiful self-declared misery does you no good!" nagged Talia. "So it's you. My dear friend, Talia Maurva," he smiled. "You're so dramatic, Devin Pendragon! What has become of the spirited young man I once knew?" scowled the Dreamer. "The boy who could not wait to leave his tiny village to venture the great kingdom of the west!" she continued as she was recounting the events years ago. "Ha! Look what good it has done to me. A ruined man, a failure of a king, a nation destroyed, all hope destroyed." "Is that so? You act as if all is lost!" "My wife... my daughter... my people..."
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Er, where did you say you were from?" asked Rhen suddenly as she felt that she and Lars did not belong there. "Thais...I am... was Devin Pendragon, King of Thais. But Thais is no more," answered Devin hopelessly. "Thais lost? What would make you think that foolish thought?" snapped Talia. "Don't deny that you saw it fall." "You really are a buffoon. Thais still exists. But how did you get here?" "I... I don't know. I thought I had died, but when I awoke, I was here. A fitting punishment for my mistake," sighed Devin, again. "Devin, this place is not good for you. Why don't you come with me to Aveyond? You can think out your plan there," offered the Dreamer. "I don't know..." "Devin, no squabbling!" snapped Talia to his "emo" friend. "Hah! You always could make me do things that I never thought I would. For you, Talia Maurva, old and dear friend, I'll go anywhere." "Children, you have convinced me that you're capable of taking care of yourselves. I'm going to take Devin to Aveyond. We'll meet you there," said Talia after Devin accepted her offer. After bid farewell to Rhen and Lars, Talia and Devin left the cottage, leaving them standing like a pair of scarecrows. "Let's get back to the academy and get raised," offered Rhen, who was as lost as Lars' at the previous conversation. ~~~ "We have brought you the Harp of the Hind in hopes of being raised to Sword Singer and Sorcerer," spoke Talia to the headmaster when they're back to the academy. "This is indeed a noble thing you've done. The golden hind has haunted the Wildwood for years," nodded Master Harald. He cleared his throat before he started the great moment (For Rhen and Lars, of course). "Rhen Darzon, Shadwood Academy recognises you a Sword Singer," said the headmaster as he gave her a Sword Singer outfit. "Lars Tenobor, Shadwood Academy recognises you as Sorcerer," he continued and gave him a blue sorcerer robe proudly. "Please change into your new outfits soon. Since you're no longer students you should not dress like them," the headmaster smiled at them, who were over the cloud nine.
49
Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion

After changing their new outfit, the duo started making preparation. The sorcerer went shopping at the marketplace and looking for something useful for their quest. He even fancied himself a new orb staff to replace his old black-oak staff from a necromancer store. No one is able to buy things from the necromancer shop, only the full-leagued sorcerer can be granted access. "What's this?" Lars asked the necromancer who owned the shop after a beautiful aqua-blue sphere caught his attention. "It's a flood orb. It can fuse into the orb staff to enhance your weapon," explained the necromancer as nudging the staff that Lars held. "I'll buy it," and so Lars paid a handsome price for his equipments. Before heading out, he saw a dull pendant with a socket in the middle. As he came near, the shop owner halted in the nick of time before the pendant pulled him into it. "Don't touch that, you fool! That's an empty Soul Pendant." "What would happen if I touched it?" asked Lars, who was shocked at the necromancer's sudden booming. "Your soul will be sucked into the pendant," the shop owner explained. "Only an undead creature can safely touch that thing in its current state." "Oh, I see. Thanks for the warning," after that Lars went away. "What a fool. I can't imagine what will happen if I warned him a second later?" mused the necromancer. And so Lars went to their meeting place and wait for Rhen, who was in the academy. ~~~ Meanwhile, the sword singer stayed in Shadwood Academy to retrieve some information from her headmaster. "Can you tell me more about the swords of power?" asked Rhen. "Swords of Power are magical swords that enable a sword singer to wield incredible amounts of power," explained Master Harald. "Each Sword of Power contains sword knowledge. When a sword singer equips a Sword of Power, this knowledge passes to the Sword Singer. When this sword is unequipped, this knowledge is lost. "Swords of Power are rare, and the skill to create then was lost a millenia ago. If you find one, count yourself lucky." "Is Sword of Shadow one of them?" asked the sword singer eagerly. "Yes. But I heard that it was well kept in the holy place of Aveyond," nodded Master Harald.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "What about the magic orbs you mentioned minutes ago?" Rhen threw a question again. "Orbs effect the power of a sorcerer's spells. If a sorcerer has a fire enchanted orb equipped, the sorcerer's fire spells will be more powerful," lectured the headmaster. "Of course, if a sorcerer passes the wrong spell through an orb, the power of the spell will actually decrease." Master Harald stopped a while and continued after he noticed Rhen was lost. "For example, if a sorcerer has a fire orb equipped and the sorcerer casts a fire spell on an enemy, the spell will do extra damage." "So if a sorcerer casts a water spell on an enemy, the spell will do little or no damage, right?" guessed Rhen, who was getting sense now. "Exactly. If you want to use an orb, you must attach it to an orb staff. The necromancer who has a shop of Veldarah sells empty orb staff." "Thanks, Master Harald. I better get going," spoke Rhen gratefully after she noticed that time didn't wait her long. "Very well, good luck on your quest. You'll need it." Thus Rhen went out and met with Lars at the city gate. ~~~ On the way to the Land's End, which had been rumoured that a demon activity was happening there, the adventurers met with a fancy lady. She had a tan skin as if she had her sunbath moment ago, glamoured herself with a cotton gown, hand holding a whip, accessories like earrings, bracelets and so on dangling around her. She stood at the edge of a cliff, observing the Wildwoods Forest from above while deeply in thought. Until a voice interrupted her. "Hello there, are you lost?" piped Rhen, who guessed she was a damsel in distress. "Waiting. Are you going to the Wildwood Forest?" the stranger spoke with a southerner's accent. "Yes." "I don't recognise your dress. But you look to be of noble blood," presumed Lars at the stranger's exotic way of dressing. "You have a sharp eye northerner. I'm from the noble house Lithir de Aramati in Veldt," complimented the southerner. "What brings you to this place, m'lady?" asked Lars politely. "I'm looking for a new husband." "A new husband? You were married once?" asked Rhen, who was shocked at her answer. "You shame me! I'm not so silly as to have lost my other husbands! They're on the southern isle awaiting my return," explained the southerner. Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion 51
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest Lars faked a cough, "Husbands?!" "You look shocked, northerner. Have I said something to offend?" "How many...husbands...do you have?" stammered the sorcerer. "Only three. But I shall find more," answer the southerner calmly. "I'm sorry young man, but you're not the type of husband I'm looking for. I hope this doesn't offend you." she added. "Offend me! Err... Hey! What's wrong with me! Hundreds of girls want to marry me!" protested Lars, waving his hands in the air. Rhen rolled her eyes. "Lars we really don't have time for this," snapped Rhen, ignored Lars' sign of protest, then turned to the fancy lady. "What's your name, southerner from Veldt?" "My name is Elinidana 'ter 'Lithir, but you may simply call me Elini," addressed the southerner. "Do you know anything about the Wildwood Forest?" requested Rhen. "Only few return alive. This is whay I wait here. It's best for adventurers to travel together in that place." "Would you like to travel with us, m'lady?" offered Lars sincerely while stretching out his hand and knelt down. Elini took his hand and Lars stood back up. "I accept your offer. Before we go, tell me what skills you offer. Best we know what each of us can do to ensure our survival." "My name is Rhen and this is Lars--" who rolled his eyes at Rhen, "---I'm a sword singer and he's a sorcerer," introduced Rhen. "A sword singer and a sorcerer? Interesting company indeed," mused Elini, who gave them a brief look. "I'm a demon summoner. With our abilities combined, we may survive." In the end Elini joined the company and ventured to Wildwood Forest, heading to the Land's End. ~~~ Aesma had reached the Memory Cavern. He was sent by his master to retrieve the soul of Vata, the Time Guardian. When he reached the foot of the temple, fairies appeared out of nowhere and circled him in a blink of an eye. A tiny voice echoed among the troupe of fairies. "Begone! You're not allowed to enter the Time Temple, daeva." "Let me passss...or you'll regret!" hissed the demon. "You can't overpower us. You're outnumbered." "Hehehe! We'll see about that..." after that he vanished into thin air. "He's vanished! Brace yourself everyone! Don't you ever let your guard down!" it was the general of the fairies who spoke. Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion 52
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest After a second, Aesma appeared behind a group of fairies and slashed them with his vicious-looking claws, then he disappeared again. The general and some of the fairies started chanting a barrier spell, hoping that it trapped them in it along with the demon. Then he waited for the right time for the demon to appear. Anon, Aesma showed up in front of another troupe and launched an attack. "DImon Slashe!" Aesma took advantage of his claws to slash the fairies in front of him in seconds. But unfortunately for him, it was enough time for the general to stop him. "NOW!" boomed the general in the nick of time. Vines uprooted from the earth and entangled the daeva's limbs and all over his body. Aesma tried to struggle with the intensity of the vines but no avail. "It's no use demon. This is the Legendary Fairy Entangling Spell. You won't get away from this easily," said the fairy general. "Hmp! Do you think this little trick of yours can hold me? Silly pixies!" snorted Aesma, followed by a cruel smile. Demonic auras circling around him, the vines started getting dehydrated. Few seconds later all the vine entangling around him shriveled and destroyed in the form of dust. Now the demon stood in the middle, surrounded by the fairy armies. "Now it's my turn to finish all of you!" Aesma closed his eyes for seconds and looked at his company with blood-shot eyes. "Clawe Fiery!" he spun himself like a tornado went lunatic, spinning across the fairies who blocked his way. He stopped then when he reached the front porch of the temple. "Weaklings! Worthless, useless moths!" taunted Aesma, followed by a snort. Most of the fairies lying on the floor like a dead body, started to fade away in dusts, some of them were lucky enough to survive the final attack. "You won't get away from this! You filthy monster!" yelled the general, who was one of the survivor. He flew across the field and heading to the temple through the Rainbow Bridge, which was built to link the cavern to the temple. But the demon waved his claws and wrecked the bridge pillars, and the fairy general fell into the bottomless pit out of his discover. "General!" cried some of the fairies, trying to hear the voice of their general, trying to believe that he was still alive. But all they had was the hollow sound of the pit. While the demon ignored their sad moment and went into the Time Temple. Long story short. In the end, Aesma Flew away from the Memory Cavern with a feeling of delight, hands holding the soul of Vata, hoping dearly that his master would give him a raise. ~~~ Rhen, Lars and Elini stopped and took a break under a shady tree in Land's End. It was a large plain in there. The lush green grass paved the whole area. Birds' joyful chirping can be heard but couldn't be found, as if the sound came from heaven. Rhen took a glimpse around and saw a small farm in a distance, she suggested that they could split up for a while and met up at the same spot later. Elini agreed and went to have a slow walk, Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion 53
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest while Lars went off, without even cared what Rhen was talking, to train his new-learnt spells on the wyverns and the earth spirits around, especially his Tornado spell which had bought at a scroll shop in Veldarah. ~~~ Rhen walked along the narrow passage that went to the farm. But she was blocked by a fierce dog. She kept a nice distance from the dog that bared its razor-sharp teeth and growled at her. "Best I look for something to get its attention," said Rhen to herself and turned back to the meeting point. ~~~ Elini was strolling along the river, enjoying the breath-taking scenery of the place. Waterfalls storming down and hit the rocks beneath it, creating splashes all over the water, ripples formed along with it. She looked around and noticed a grand temple from the corner of her eyes. Silence flew over her as she neared the entrance of the temple. "Well, look at this..." Elini picked up a bone at the staircase before went in to the Harmony Temple, which was known on a signboard outside. She gasped at the horrible sight inside. She was welcomed by a frozen figure stood in front of his throne. The shocked expression faced at the entrance. "It seems that the intruder took the soul from him," the summoner presumed as she took a brief look at the poor statue. "I better inform what I've found to the sword singer." And so Elini ran off and rushed back to the meeting place. ~~~ "Winde Whip!" "Squark!" Lars was enjoying bullying the creatures there with his new spells. As his training was about to come to an end, a flock of wyverns flapping their wings above him, but Lars finished them off with his Tornado spell. "Huh, piece of cake," snorted Lars while removing dusts on his hands. Then he came into a mutter, "Uh oh." More and more wyverns and earth spirits spawned. So he pulled his legs and ran frantically until he saw a small cave few feet in front of him and hid into it. He then gave out a sigh of relief as the monsters had lost him. "Wow," he whistled as he took a good view at the cavern. He noticed a sign and it said "Mt. Orion". He went in deeper till he reached a river. He tried to swim across it but the current was too strong for him to do. So he peered around instead and noticed a boat floating across the river. An altar stood not far from him as he was rummaging his mind on how to cross the river. He examined the altar and saw a metal plate with words carved on it. |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| | For what you seek. | Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion 54
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest | This offer meet. | |Worthy for the gods. | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I suspect that something must be placed on the altar to get onto the mount," mused Lars. Then he left and headed back to the meeting place. ~~~ The trio met together and reported on what they had discovered. Rhen talked about the dog at the farm, Elini's finding of the bone and the investigation of the frozen druid, and Lars' finding at Mount Orion. "I also found this seed on the way here," he said while handed them to Rhen. "It must've been dropped by the creatures that chased me." "It's a promegranate seed," popped Elini before Rhen came out an answer, who was examining the seeds attentively. "Maybe we can ask the person at the farm to help us plant it." "Great idea, let's go," agreed Rhen. They went to the farm and stopped dead at the guarding dog. "Watch out everyone, the dog looks angry," spoke Lars. "Let's give it the bone we found," suggested Rhen. "Good idea, northerner," praised Elini as she was looking at Rhen giving the bone to the dog, which ran off later, along with the bone. "Welcome to my enchanted garden, dears," welcomed and elderly woman who appeared to be the person-in-charge of the farm. "What's this place?" Elini felt embrassed for asking such a silly question, as she knew what's the answer. "It's a magical garden, of course! Anything planted here becomes enchanted, regardless how common or how rare the seed it is. What can I do for you? Or do you need me to plant something for you? By the way, my name is Eldredth, at your service," she addressed Lars and gave him a wink. "We saw an altar at the entrance of Mount Orion. Do you know what offering the gods will accept?" asked Lars. "Hmm... I would offer a promegranate. It's the fruit of the gods," mused Eldredth. "We found these promegranate seeds. Can you plant them for us?" requested Rhen. "Sure, child. Give the seeds to me," and so they gave the seeds to Eldredth, who then planted them. "Off with you children! The seeds won't grow if you watched them," shoved the old farmer. ~~~ "I think we should put the promegrante on the altar. It's the fruit of the gods," suggested Lars when they were back at the entrance of Mount Orion. Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion 55
Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Let's give it a try," spoke Rhen. Seconds after they put the full-grown promegrante on the stone altar, a weak rumbling occurred and the boat floating inches before them. They hopped into the boat and rode across the river, then started to explore the mount. After some fight with the cave spirits, wyvern kings and some fire griffins, they were exhausted. But when they were about to reach the peak of the mount. They saw someone standing on top of a cliff. Their exhaustion faded and a new energy burst into them instead. After they reached the summit they look at their company, who had a strong dark aura around him. The stranger wore a dark cloak and adored himself wit ha golden circlet above him. "Hissss! The chosen one! I'm the demon Nanghaithya and I shall see you perish before you leave this mountain," hissed the daeva at the sight of Rhen. "Ahriman will rewarded me well for your death." "Brace yourself. Looks like we'll have a pretty fierce fight," whispered Lars, who was gripping tightly on his flood-orb-socketed staff. "I'm game," said Elini, who took a good hold at her leather whip. "Talk to my sword," taunted Rhen, sword's on, couldn't wait to slice him into bits. At the battle began in a flash with a brewing thunderstorm. ~~~ "Look out, everyone!" yelled Rhen at the incoming thunder, she dodged gracefully with her swan dancing at the demon's attack. "Trinity Fury!" a series of holy crosses shot from the tip of her sword to the demon. Too bad, he parried. "I summone thee, wyvern!" flock of ferocious wyverns appeared in front of Elini as she chanted the spell, they flew straight at the daeva and produce a hurricane at him, who had successfully brought away with the wind, but he landed safely on the mountain. "Motion Freez!" chanted Lars. Nanghaithya stopped moving all of at once, as if his feet was stuck in quicksand. The trio took their chance to finish him. Out of the sudden they were hit by a huge rock wall, which was rising from the floor. "Muahaha! Do you think that little tricks of yours can defeat me?" taunted Nanghaithya, who then made the earth shook energetically. "Earthquake!" The earth obeyed the daeva's order and split widely open like a basking shark. The others fell into it. But fortunately they landed on Elini's summoned wyverns. "We should try harder," encouraged Rhen, and the other nodded. But unfortunately for Nanghaithya, who thought they had died for good, watched the wyverns storming out from below.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "What?! How did you managed to escape alive?" gasped the demon as soon as the wyverns hovering above him, but the only reply he got was a tornado coming from above. "Let's finish this!" yelled Rhen. She jumped down and hit her sword hard at him, but he dodged away, just as expected by Lars. "Fyreballs!" the fireballs showered like meteor at his direction, in combination with the help of Elini's imp-summoning spell. "Argh! It's burning hot! I'm hot! Help!" wailed Nanghaithya. "Oh shut up, demon," teased Rhen. "Syren Call!" she leaped around him and Silenced him with her not-really-a-finishing blow. "Now you're finished," said the summoner. "I summone thee, Succubus!" A succubus appeared from thin air. It slithered like a snake and went to the Silenced demon and gave him the final touch --- The Kiss of Death. "NOOOOOOOOOO!" wailed the demon terribly and he was burnt to ashes. Rhen retrieved the soul of Vohu Manah which was left by the demon, while Elini felt happy right away. "What's so happy, m'lady?" asked Lars politely. Elini explained to Rhen and Lars that whenever she defeated a demon, she could learn to summon that demon's soul to help her. Besides that, she continued, that will made her stronger along the journey. The two of them found it interesting and asked eagerly about Elini's background. ~~~ Back to the Harmony Temple, Rhen touched the frozen statue with Vohu Manah's soul... Poof! Colours gaining back to the druid, and he was alive again. "Ugh! I feel so tired..." that was the first thing he complained on. "A demon stole you soul," explained Rhen. "We must get you to the Sun Temple in Aveyond. There's little time left." "Yes, the oracle will need me now," said the druid of music, who realised that he had work to do. "Wait! Before we go, can you tell us if you've seen anymore demons like the one who stole your soul?" asked Lars. "You must go to Ghed'ahre. My druid brother who resides there is in perilous trouble." "Ghed'ahre? Where's that?" asked the chosen one.
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest "Ghed'ahre's in Halloween Hill," answered Vohu Manah. "The way to Halloween Hill lies in Wildwood Forest, south of the tavern that we've passed," explained the summoner. "Druid, last we were up that way, the passage was blocked," said Rhen. "You'll need the key to unlock the passage to Halloween Hill. I'll give you mine," and Rhen received a quaint-made human skull sculpture from the druid. "Now, let's go to Aveyond."
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Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream

Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream

Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream

Chapter 1: Prologue + Chapter 1: Ahriman's Return + Strange Dream

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Strange Encounter

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Enslaved

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Enslaved

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Enslaved

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Enrollment

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Trial

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: A Quest Unfolded

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The North Isle

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Aveyond

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Beyond The Mist

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Sword Singer and Sorcerer

Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Mount Orion