The Obsidian Tale
Episode 29
[Opening 3 music]
~ Hollow Cavern – upper cape ~
Lydia and Rina returned to the
entrance of the Hollow Cavern, and Forrest also made his way back to the group
with Jess. When the group banded together, Spencer and Sydney begged to see the
upper cape at the other side of the short cavernous walkway. Everyone agreed as
a few minutes would not hurt Leo and Hazel. [Music 8.2]
Sydney pointed at the bed of purple,
pink, and yellow flowers in front of them. “Hey Forrest, Spencer, race you to
that field! Hehe!”
The three children made their way to
the flower bed. Felix took a step forward. “Jess, you’re not going to join
them?”
“It sounds fun to, but I like the
view up here already. I want to look over at the ocean a bit more. Care to join
me?”
Felix laughed. “Sure thing!”
Lydia and Rina stood next to Warren.
Well, Rina had to limp around actually.
“Lieutenant, you’re not going to
view the ocean?” Lydia asked.
“That would be wonderful, but my
duty is to protect all of you from anybody outside of our group. I will stand
here and watch the entrance to the cape, anything for those who have set me
free from the Bafuulian prison.”
Lydia examined the cavern. “Hm, we
don’t always need to protect ourselves from people outside of our group. You
should have fun and relax too, lieutenant!”
“Then I will. I already enjoy the
breeze out here anyway, madam.”
A Game of Tag
By the edge of the cape, Jess said to Felix, “Remember when I first saw you, I thought you were an enemy towards my friends?”
“Yeah, eheh… You almost tackled me.”
“You’ve become much braver since
then,” Jess complimented him. “I think Forrest has grown a bit too, and I thank
you and the others for that.”
“No problem!” The two of them
continued to look at the ocean. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”
“Hm?”
“How come you’re very mature for
your age?”
Jess sat down at the edge with her
legs swinging in the air in front of the hilltop. “It’s simple. No one else is
willing to take care of them. I was subtly forced to become the leader of the
group. I knew I had to do something to protect them all for the next few years,
so I went ahead and snuck into the library every morning to read books and
learn civil lifestyles. I have to tell you, it was easy for me to learn because
I was quiet and already calm seven years ago when I met them all. My parents
offered to do yoga with them almost every day, and it certainly helped.”
“Where are they now?”
“That, I do not know. All eight of
our parents disappeared during the same event seven years ago, and I doubt that
they are alive. I just never wanted to tell my friends, and I never spoke of
it.”
Felix sat with her. “Why would you
think they are gone for good?”
Jess turned to him, “They are not
like your father. Our parents were incapable of fighting on their own. During
the event of their disappearance, I saw a few Gammel soldiers in South Ouli
Brye. Wouldn’t you find that a bit strange in a Lennox territory? I don’t think
the kids here remembered or noticed it. They haven’t put the pieces together
yet.”
Felix gasped. “Wait a minute, if
they took your parents…”
“Yes. I believe the Gammel
government had abducted as many parents as possible to make them test subjects
on Obsidian energy. The reason why I think they are gone from this world? It’s
simple. We have yet to meet any civilians like them who have turned into
ravaging beasts.”
Felix thought about the scientists
who turned into monsters back at the Troiyan laboratory. “O-Oh… I’m sorry to
hear about what happened to them. You are right. If they were alive, we would have
at least seen them as monstrous beasts…” [Music 20.2]
Jess closed her eyes. “But, that was
all seven years ago. It’s okay now, but I am afraid to tell the truth to the
children. They will find out someday if they keep meddling around with the
Gammel army.”
“Don’t worry. On the way to Vector,
we will take a visit to my hometown and I can ask my mother if she can take
them in. Are you also good with this idea?”
Jess agreed with him. “Why, of
course! I would take Spencer and Sydney along with myself. I can be the
supportive daughter to your mother if she ever needs help. Mrs. Wolfram was her
name?” She began to chuckle.
“Yeah! That’s awesome! But what
about Forrest? I wanted to bring him back to the village too.”
“I mean… you can try. He’s just hard
to persuade. I wanted Forrest to find Bailey.”
“We can persuade that Bailey kid to
come with us the next time we find him!”
“Are you sure about that?”
“It’s worth a shot. I just don’t
want Forrest to get into more trouble, and I promised him he would only join us
until we find a place for him.”
“I see… then I cannot fight back.
Safety is stronger than pushing the matter.”
Felix thanked her for being
accepting of his offer, and the two of them sat quietly together, still looking
out at the ocean.
Lydia's Inner Demon
Meanwhile, Sydney began throwing dandelions at the two boys. “Hehe! If I were to fight in an army, I’d use daggers! Hiya!” She threw another flower at Spencer.
Spencer began crying. “Stop it,
meanie!”
Lydia stared at them. “Umm… is this
a good influence for them?”
Rina shrugged. “Who cares. We’re
never getting them involved in the government again.”
Lydia shook her head. “That sounds
like a better idea. Felix told me he wanted to take them to the village.”
“For once, I would agree with
Suspenders.”
Warren also agreed. “It is certainly
nice to have them around, but it is quite dangerous.”
Rina nodded. “Let them have their
fun for now, and then we can tell them later.” [End music]
~ Grandine Hillage – inn - lobby ~
After about thirty minutes, the
group made their return to the inn at the Grandine Hillage. By then, Rina was
feeling a lot better and more energetic to pick on Forrest in particular. Hazel
gave a slight knock onto Felix’s forehead, blaming him for taking their time at
the Hollow Cavern. [Music 4.1]
Leo came last to the inn and two
women were giggling behind him.
“Oh my, see you later, Leonardo~”
Leo blushed. “Um, sorry!”
Hazel turned to him. “What the hell
is this?” She gave a threatening glare.
“What the hell just happened?” Rina
questioned him with her snarky personality.
Leo laughed. “I see you’re feeling a
lot better, Rina! I assume you were at the Hollow Cav-“
“Don’t change the damn subject with
me! Those girls were flirting with you, weren’t they?!”
Leo scratched his head. “Ah… You
see, what had happened was that I went to look for you and I ended up trying to
find you in a bar. Then I asked this drunk group if they’ve seen you, and the
women ended up following me.”
“A ladies’ man?!” Sydney yelped.
Suddenly, a thought bubble appeared above her head, imagining Forrest becoming
a ladies’ man. Well, in her imagination, Forrest’s body was a lot taller,
built, but with the same exact childish face he has now. The thought bubble
suddenly popped and Sydney turned red. She hid behind the couch while
whispering to herself, “I will never let that happen!”
“Hazel,” Forrest said, “you didn’t
show us the bar yet.”
“Yeah, and it’s clearly because I
was touring a bunch of children.”
Warren panicked. “H-Huh?! Even me,
madam?”
“Yes, you too.”
Rina interrupted them. “Hold on,
hold on, hold on! What the heck? If you were looking for me, and then you
somehow ended up at the bar, that means you thought I would be resting up in a
bar! Just who do you think I am?!?!”
Felix began laughing out loud.
“Haha! It’s great to have the old Rina back!”
Rina blushed. “Wh-What? Oh shut it,
Suspenders!”
Lydia began patting Rina by the
shoulders, indicating that it was their way of appreciating her presence. Rina
tried to calm down. [End music]
Hazel tightened her bandana.
“Alright then, shall we head to Vector?”
“Wait,” Felix commanded. “I have a suggestion
first.” The group became quiet. “Can I take a visit to my hometown? It’s on the
way and it’s just southwest from here.”
Hazel unraveled the Rhadessian map.
“Sure, but you do realize that we have to go through a tunnel called the
Mago’Ria Fey, right?”
“Yeah, but what’s it like there?”
“Not much but a dark tunnel. It’s a
bit hard to see, so I advise some light with us.”
Rina smiled. “Sweet, I got fire
magic for this. I’m strong enough to use a small light sparingly throughout a
huge tunnel if I could!”
“Are you sure?” Lydia asked with
concern.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I
know my limits this time.”
Hazel headed towards the exit to the
village. “Good, then it is settled. We will pay a visit to the village south of
the Mago’Ria Fey. I have already said my goodbyes to the elder at the inn
earlier, so we are ready to leave. Any objections?” The group nodded their
heads left and right. “Alright then, let us go.”
~ Mago’Ria Fey – entrance ~
It was almost over an hour
throughout their walk after waving goodbye to the crashed airship. For the time
being, they had to leave the airship at the Opel Plains since nobody was able
to clear it out of the way, but in time, they could someday make a request to
take it away so that the animals would have more room to prosper. [Music 29.1]
Halfway through their walk, the
plains were no more and this time, there were more streams and rocky roads in
comparison. There were a lot more trees than there were earlier, causing a
sound of monkeys and other strange birds calling out to each other. It was
definitely noisier than the plains, just like any other place they have
traveled to before.
“Gee,” Forrest said, “it’s kind of
weird having to leave that quiet village after such a long time, huh?”
Sydney was walking next to him. “I
agree!”
Spencer coughed. “I’m so tired…”
Hazel placed one leg on a giant rock
in front of her beside the entrance to the Mago’Ria Fey. “We are almost there.
After this, we just have to cross a small river and we are at the village!”
As she reached the cavernous
entrance, Jess began to speak.
“Might I ask why this place is
called the ‘Mago’Ria Fey’?”
Spencer held onto Jess’s shoulder in
fear. “It’s such a weird name too…”
Forrest pointed at the strange moss
all around the cavern. “But how can you say no to a blue cave?!”
Hazel answered them, “Many years
ago, there was once a huge dragon that lived here with its babies. Soldiers
have killed the parental dragons and left the blue-blooded stains all over the
cavern to show their victory. But, nobody has ever crossed through this cavern
because rumors have it that their ghostly figures still exist within.”
The three children shrieked as they
hid behind Jess.
“I-Is that really true?!” Forrest
panicked.
Rina rolled her eyes. “Now hold on a
minute, dragons were never real. That story is crap.”
Hazel shrugged. “Alright, you got
me. I was just kidding.”
Lydia and Felix sighed together.
Warren had his arms crossed. “The
true story is that this cavern was used as an escape route for the village
twenty years ago. Do you know about the rumors of the poisonous goods being
shipped out of the village?”
Hazel added to his story, “We
eventually found out that the village was smuggling out poisonous crops, so
every city ended their trade with the village. The only open spot left was the
Mago’Ria Fey in which we stand on today.”
Leo also chimed in, “From the books
I have read at the royal castle in Ouli Brye, the Mago’Ria Fey is a type of
special blue-like poison used to ferment crops. It was spread throughout this
cavern, and someone with the power of magic helped seal it all away. You cannot
inhale the poison as the blue essence is blocked by a very thin shield of ice
that can never be melted away.”
Rina gasped. “You said someone could
use the power of magic like me?”
Hazel glared at her. [End music]
“I forgot the reason why,” Leo said,
“but there used to be a lot more magic users just twenty years ago.”
“Where did they all go?” Felix
wondered.
Hazel interrupted them, “Well, that
remains a mystery.” She gave an abrupt wink towards Rina. In return, Rina made
a quick gasp. “But,” Hazel continued, “I’m sure you want to head to the village
as soon as possible, no?”
“That’s true… I guess we should
hurry. I can’t wait to see my mom again!”
Lydia, Warren, and Jess gave a
smile, happy by the fact that Felix still focused on his mother. After that,
they decided to finally go through the cavern which was only about a good
thirty minutes of peace and quiet - kind of... Nothing went wrong, as expected from a
sealed cavern.
Too Many People!
~ Mago’Ria Fey – southern exit - riverbed ~
Warren sneezed behind everybody else.
He usually found caves bothersome, but at least not as bad as bunnies. This
wasn’t just a cave to him, however.
“Did anybody else sense some weird
energy coming from that cavern?” Warren asked.
Forrest and his friends were totally
not listening because they were in awe from the riverbed in between the cavern
and the village. Felix was excited, already seeing a windmill behind a bunch of
trees.
Hazel turned around. “It must have
been the blue poison that is plastered all over the cave from the outside.”
“My mistake,” Warren said, “that
must be it then.”
Lydia crouched down closer to the
water. “Rina, remember when we were washed up into the village from the Meadow
using this riverbed?” [Music 5.1]
“Yeah,” Rina responded in a
nostalgic manner, “it was before we met everyone else.”
“Hehe, and look how far we’ve gone!”
Lydia said happily.
“Back to where we are, you mean?”
Lydia pouted. “I don’t mean
literally. I mean the adventure and the shards we’ve received!”
“Well, we still need one more
shard.”
Lydia stood up and then she shook
Rina’s shoulders. “Don’t you worry about that. We will get it in time!” She
giggled. “You know, I remember you used to be in such a hurry for those shards
and you always got mad at Felix for being so slow.”
Rina blushed. “Wh-What? I’m still
like that! I just got tired of complaining because he never leaves. And
besides, we have a bigger group now, so I can’t just easily ditch them all at
once.”
“I see,” Lydia continued to smile.
“I believe you~”
“No you don’t. I can hear it in the
tone of your voice!”
Forrest tugged onto Leo’s coat. “Hey
look, Leo! That ship is from the Donzo parents!”
Rina said from the other side of the
group, “It’s D’Alonzo.”
Forrest continued while ignoring her,
“I really wanna see them again! They were so cool!!”
“I’d have to agree. They are quite
some characters.”
Felix jumped on a few rocks up
ahead. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go! I can’t wait to come back
home!!”
Forrest followed him after. “I’m
comin’ too, Mr. Felix!!”
Sydney squealed. “W-Wait for me,
Forrest!” Spencer followed as well, and Jess took her time.
Once Rina, Lydia, and Leo headed
over, Felix became impatient to see his hometown. Warren insisted that he
should go ahead first and Hazel followed up with his suggestion.
Felix turned around as he hasted
towards the village. The closer he got to the village, the miniature fog
cleared and a few more trees were in his sight. Forrest, being his usual
energetic self, was right behind Felix throughout their race. Sydney and
Spencer were already tired.
“I’m home!!!!!” He yelled out.
Suddenly, he made an immediate stop.
Forrest crashed into him, falling on
his back. “Hey, what’s the big idea?!”
“What… what is this?” Felix question.
He was shaking and his eyes were wide open. He couldn’t move his body.
From what he saw, the entire upper
village (from where the group came from) was covered in ashes. Most buildings
had shattered rooftops and you could probably see the sunlight from inside the
house. It was quiet. It was like the eastern portion of the village when Felix
left: abandoned, just like how he remembered it.
“Mom, where’s mom?!” What if Lionel
really did murder her? He ran up ahead and Forrest pleaded him to slow down.
His shorts have gotten dusty from the fall.
Hazel, being the last of the group
to arrive at the sight of the village, said to them, “Oh my, is this what the
poisoned village has turned into?”
Lydia took a step forward to defend
the village’s honor. “No. Felix’s village was happier than this. When we first
got here, there were people proud enough to live here and they traded their own
crops with each other. Where is all that noise?”
Rina sighed. “The Gammel army. They
took over right before we left. It sucks to find out that this had to be the
result.” [End music]
Forrest turned around as he called
out to everyone, “We should follow him! It could be dangerous here for Mr.
Felix!”
~ Village of Saradeli – north district ~
“Mom!!” Felix arrived at the
backyard of his home. The trees nearby were charred down and totaled. The
entire garden was already in ashes and all you could see was dirt and blackened
vegetables. “No… Mom, please be okay!”
He jumped over the short three-foot
fence and then he rushed into the back door.
Entering his home, he noticed that
his mother was lying in bed. Felix barged into the living room and his mother’s
eyes opened in surprise. She had just finished taking a nap. [Music 14.1]
“You’re okay!” Felix was almost in
tears. He hugged his mother who looked slightly sicker than before. Her brown
hair had a few gray strands and it looked as if she barely had any sleep,
despite her having to take a nap a few seconds ago.
“Oh, dear! Felix, is that really
you?! Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine, mom. I’m just glad you’re
okay. What happened after I left?!”
Mrs. Wolfram gave a familiar giggle.
“Oho, you would not believe it. Half of the villagers… perished, and the other
half is still moping in their homes like I am, dear. We have lost the will to
grow our crops anymore and it seems most of us have given up. We are living off
of the remaining crops that we had before the intrusion.”
“I’m sorry for leaving. I’m so, very
sorry!” He started to wail into her small coat.
“Felix, it is okay. I wanted you to
leave, away from the dangers of the Gammel army. Halfway through the time you
were gone, two precious neighbors came for a visit.”
Felix quickly sat up. “Wait, the
D’Alonzo parents are here?!”
Mrs. Wolfram laughed. “You would be
surprised! They dropped by after the end of their voyage with some food and
material that they were willing to share with the rest of us. They… became
furious that we lost the will to work hard, so they’re somewhere in the village
right now, probably still thinking of ways to restore the village on their own.
I was the only one to try and help them, but I fear I have used too much
energy. So, they told me to take a rest for a few hours, and here you are.”
Felix stood up. “I want to help too!
We have to fix the village!”
“That would be wonderful now that
you’re back and staying.”
“W-Well, actually…”
His mother interrupted him,
“Speaking of the D’Alonzo parents, where is Clyde and the two beautiful young
girls that were with you?”
“M-Mom!” He blushed. “Those girls
are my friends, and they’re on their way here. I just ran off because I
couldn’t want to see you. As for Clyde,” He began talking slowly, he’s not with
us. He is still with the Gammel army right now.”
Mrs. Wolfram frowned. “It is a
shame…”
“Apparently, he has turned his back
on me and my friends, but I really feel that he has consumed Obsidian energy. I
learned so much on my journey, mom! The Obsidian energy is a risky source that,
if not mixed with chemicals properly, can mutate your mind and even your body!”
“Is that so?! Then Clyde…!”
“That’s what I’m worried about! That’s
why I feel like I shouldn’t stay for too long as I need to find him and then I can come home.” [End music]
Mrs. Wolfram was silent at first,
but she had to make a rough decision. “Felix, if you feel the need to go
especially to save your best friend, then you must. I want to stop you, but I
feel that I can trust you now. After all, my dear boy survived throughout a
long journey.”
Felix raised his fists. “Thanks so
much, mom! I promise I will come home in one piece!”
“I really hope so…?”
“Hehe, OH YEAH! There is something I
need to tell you about dad!”
~ Village of Saradeli – road to north district ~
After several minutes, the group
made their way to the homes at the edge of the village. Lydia tried to remember
which house was Felix’s, but most of them looked similar and Rina could have
cared less about his home when they first arrived, so the both of them could
barely remember.
Forrest pointed at one of the larger
gardens nearby. “Whoa, look at that land!”
Jess grabbed onto the grayish fence
that was once a lot whiter. “The harvest seems quite harsh. What exactly
happened to this village?”
Sydney agreed with her. “Yeah, it’s
like this place got burnt down. Look at those trees!”
Rina made a loud gasp as she
remembered back when she first left the village with Lydia and Felix.
A
large ball of flame flew past Lionel and it hit the trees behind the garden.
“Oh
crap!” A girl screamed from the rooftop. “I missed.”
Rina examined the harvesting field
with a grim face. She said to Lydia, but loud enough for the group to hear, “I…
did all of this.”
[Ending 3 music]
~~~
Next time on The Obsidian Tale, it's great to be back in the village! In this new mini-arc, we will have lots more character bonding. This time, we will get to see the revival of the village, at least the beginning of it. Felix, Lydia, and Rina seem to be doing well. Hazel and Warren continue to feel nostalgia about their past journey. And lastly, Leo, Forrest (and his three friends) are helping the D'Alonzo. But wait! There is a surprise character making a return? Find out who it is on the next episode!
~~~
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