The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Ashton: "What is this RPG bag?"

  Teresa: "The RPG bag holds limitless amount of items and it never gets heavier."

  Ashton: "Never gets heavy?"

  Teresa: "No matter how many objects you place in it, very convenient for any traveller."

  Lance: "Aha RPG bag? What's next, we go to a dragon's lair to get wisdom advice?"

  Ashton: *He face palmed and sighed.* (Lance, get over the bag.)

  Alicia: "You act so weird sometimes."

  Teresa: *She observed Lance's behaviour with an emotionless face.* (He exhausts such energy, reacting by his insignificant emotions-)

  Ashton: "Alicia, how long do you think it will take us to get to Surpreon?"

  Alicia: "I-I'm not sure-" *A warm gust of wind blew past her, flapping her hair to her side.*

  Ashton: "Oh?"

  Alicia: "I-I've never travelled along this path before."

  Teresa: "Judging from our current pace, it will take approximately several more hours-"

  Lance: "Wut-?"

  Teresa: "Do you all see those huge cliffs?" *She pointed in front of the party beyond the cave.*

  Alicia: "Yep." *She repositioned the bag, as it started to slip off her shoulder.*

  Lance: "That far?" *He squinted his eyes, as he tried to look beyond the landscape.*

  Ashton: *He stared at the cliffs with squinted eyes.* "What is that? Surpreon?"

  Teresa: "That's the entrance to Maserio."

  Ashton: "Maserio." *He mumbled to himself and looked up to Teresa.* "Could you please tell us more about this Maserio?"

  Teresa: "Such an odd question? Surpreon is just beyond Maserio, surely you should know a lot about it?"

  Ashton: "..."

  Teresa: "Maserio consists of three divided areas. One is the Maserio plains, then you have The Unknown Territory, and last is Gasher Hills."

  Lance: "Unknown poop-a-tory?"

  Ashton: "What I think Lance means is, why is it called The Unknown Territory?"

  Teresa: "Self explanatory, it is the five places left on the continent which have yet to be explored."

  Alicia: "Why haven't they been explored? I thought the Consultants would've explored everything by now?"

  Teresa: "The Unknown Territories are either blocked due to natural occurrences, or require some sort of key."

  Ashton: "What do you mean key."

  Teresa: "I am not sure, that is what I read."

  Ashton: "That's pretty cool, what are your thoughts, Lance?"

  Lance: "I admit it seems kool, nothin' more." *He folded his arms and looked away.*

  Ashton: "Alicia?"

  Alicia: "I-I think, it would be amazing to explore something nobody has entered before."

  Teresa: "I concur."

  Ashton: "And what about you, Teresa?"

  Teresa: "Searching for the five Unknown Territories. I have reason to believe, that is exactly what the top notch single digits are doing right now."

  Alicia: "I hope we never encounter another captain."

  Ashton: "I agree-"

  Teresa: "We will be entering the cave shortly." (Hopefully the barrier is not still active.)

  Ashton: "Fascinating." *He inspected the outer layer of the cave with amazement.*

  Lance: "Kool, a cave." *He ran towards the entrance like a child and turned around facing the party.* "Oi! Come on!"

  *The party caught up to the excited Lance, entering the cave.*

  Alicia: "Wow, it's amazing! It's so high up." *She looked up and spun around.*

  Lance: "Oh shuddup, it's just rocks, get over yourself, hideous cow."

  Alicia: "S-Sorry what was that?"

  Lance: "Have a lovely day."

  Alicia: "Tee hee thank you, that was probably the nicest thing I've heard you say."

  Lance: "Wateva." *He sighed and rolled his eyes.*

  Teresa: "Judging by these glyphs-" *She closely inspected the walls.* "They have been activated recently."

  Ashton: "What does that mean?"

  Teresa: "People who can use Rostical can create or remove glyphs."

  Lance: "Who cares, get to the point-"

  Teresa: "Tcch-" *She looked at Lance in an intimidating manner, causing him to look away.* "It is a possibility that we may encounter another single digit."

  Alicia: "O-Oh no."

  Ashton: "Are you certain?" *He slightly frowned and stood in a defensive manner.*

  Teresa: "The Consultants have activated several barriers."

  Ashton: "What for?"

  Teresa: "To repel high levelled Scoldrants away from cities, such as Surpreon."

  Ashton: "So the Consultants are actually helping the cities out?"

  Teresa: "It would seem like that." (Although that is what the Consultants say, they merely wish to monitor who goes in and out.)

  Alicia: "So Mindy was the ninth strongest warrior, Teresa do you know who the others are?"

  Teresa: "Indeed I do." *She continued to walk through the cave with an emotionless face.*

  Lance: *He stared at Teresa, awaiting her answer.* "Well, are ya goin' to tell us?"

  Teresa: "If you wish to know, of course."

  Lance: "..." *He face palmed and sighed.*

  Teresa: "Captain of the ranking eight is known as Wendy, whilst Cindy upholds the title for the ranking of seven."

  Ashton: "Do you know more about them? If so, could you please tell us?"

  Teresa: "Their powers are the same regarding strength and abilities."

  Alicia: "S-So, umm." *She looked down and bit her bottom lip.* "If they're the same in power, how are their rankings different?"

  Teresa: "What makes Cindy stronger is the fact she is able to use Rostical."

  Ashton: "What about the others?"

  Teresa: *She paused and looked at Alicia.* "Before I answer that, I have a question for Alicia."

  Alicia: "Y-Yes?" *She looked at Teresa with a timid face.*

  Teresa: "Your Icicle Edge, what is your capacity of using it?"

  Ashton: "If you don't mind, how come?" *He spoke with curiosity and respect.*

  Teresa: "I prefer to know the information, so I am able to put that into my calculations."

  Lance: "Why?" *He grunted and stepped over several stones on the ground like a child.*

  Teresa: "I will incorporate that knowledge into another plan, if we were to encounter another high ranked warrior."

  Alicia: "U-Umm, I can use it at least three times before I faint."

  Teresa: "I see." (Assuming I do not have to fight. Lance, Ashton and Alicia's skills combined will not be able to fend off another captain.)

  Lance: *He dragged his feet along the ground and moaned.* (This is so tiring, I just want to go home.)

  Ashton: "Have any of you noticed there's nothing here?"

  Lance: "Yea, like not even those Scoldrant things."

  Ashton: "Isn't that an excellent sign?"

  Teresa: "No, this is a bad sign."

  Alicia: "W-What do you mean?" *She quietly mumbled, glancing to each side with caution.*

  Teresa: "Despite being Maserio, there will always be signs of life. So that indicates that there is either a powerful Scoldrant residing in the vicinity, or a warrior massacred the area."

  *The party suddenly stopped and stared at Teresa with confusion.*

  Alicia: "S-Scoldrants." *She whispered to herself with fear.*

  Ashton: "What did you mean powerful?"

  Lance: "Judging by how ya voiced it, ya made it seem there's different levels of Scoldrants."

  Teresa: "Despite a significant amount of research, one of the few things I could not grasp information on, was Scoldrants."

  Ashton: "So you don't know?"

  Teresa: "Negative, it merely means my knowledge is rather limited. Apparently it is said that Scoldrants have their own tier list similar to how the warriors have rankings."

  Ashton: *He continued to walk through the cave, causing the party to follow.* "You mean like, how there's captains and-"


  Teresa: "Precisely."

  Ashton: "I recall Alicia stating that lowest ranking warriors are those who cannot use Rostical, what exactly are the rankings?"

  Teresa: "Well rankings go up to two hundred and fifty five-"

  Lance: "Two hundred 'n' fifty five?!"

  Teresa: "Warrior classes are divided into groups depending on their ranking numbers, for instance-"

  Lance: "I get the feelin' another nerdy explanation is comin' on." *He sighed and rolled his eyes.*

  Ashton: *He nudged Lance on the side, causing Alicia to smile.* "..." *Small rocks crushed under his feet, as he paid more attention to Teresa.*

  Teresa: "Warriors between two hundred and fifty five to one hundred and seventy are the lowest in ranking."

  Alicia: "What ranking do they go in?"

  Lance: "The lowest? Aha, stupid stinky cow cruncher."

  Alicia: "Grottom bottom." *She placed her finger under her left eye and closed her right, poking her tongue out.*

  Lance: "Pssht, wateva with your stupid faces."

  Ashton: "What I think Alicia meant is, in what way are they the lowest ranking?"

  Alicia: "..." *She nodded her head in agreement.*

  Teresa: "Warriors in the lowest group are those with no skills or are newly promoted into the rankings. These warriors are not usually seen in public, as they are forcefully trained inside the facilities of Sorrowprax."

  Ashton: "Sorry, where?"

  Teresa: "Inside the facilities of the Consultant's domain."

  Alicia: "What is the next group?"

  Teresa: "Warriors ranking from one hundred and sixty nine to one hundred, are now strong enough to slaughter a small village."

  Ashton: "Such as AriAri village."

  Teresa: "Indeed. These warriors are usually used as tax collectors."

  Alicia: "Wow, they have such important roles."

  Teresa: "They do." (But in the eyes of the Consultants they are merely fodder.)

  Ashton: "And the next class?"

  Teresa: "Warriors ranked from ninety nine to twenty one are the tax debt collectors."

  Lance: *He placed his hands on his head and sighed.* "So I start to pay attention and now we're talkin' 'bout tax returns? Pssht."

  Teresa: *She ignored Lance and looked at Alicia and Ashton.* "They are the most seen and are the ones that usually cause the slaughtering."

  Ashton: "Why do they take tax?"

  Teresa: "Ironically to protect them from Scoldrants."

  Ashton: "Tssk." *He gritted his teeth and frowned.* (Unacceptable-)

  Teresa: "Now we start to get to the strong spectrum of the warriors."

  Alicia: (I had no idea the warriors had such a complex ranking system-) *She looked down to her pendant, deep in thought.*

  Teresa: "Warriors whom are ranked from twenty to ten are vice captains, which pretty much do anything for the captains."

  Lance: (Vice captains?) *He hid his interest, as he pretended not to listen.*

  Teresa: "Now single digit captains."

  *The party stared at Teresa with serious faces, giving her their full attention.*

  Teresa: "Warriors ranked from nine to two are single digit captains. They possess unnatural abilities and extraordinary fighting skills, toppled with an amazing capacity at using Rostical."

  Alicia: (She knows so much, it's great learning more about them.)

  Lance: "Ahaha, ya forgot number one."

  Teresa: "Negative, number one ranked warriors are the only type of rank that does not get passed down."

  Ashton: "What does that mean?"

  Teresa: "What it means, for example-" *She coughed in a professional-like manner to clear her throat.* "Number seven unexpectedly resigns their number, then number eight would become the new seven."

  Ashton: "Ah." *He mumbled with realisation, as he continued to look fascinated.*

  Alicia: "So, if a number one passes away, the number two won't become a number one?"

  Teresa: "Precisely, I myself do not know the reason for this. But that is how the system works." *She looked forward and noticed harsh sunlight, brightly shining at the end of the cave.* "It appears we have walked almost all the way through the cave."

  Ashton: "Good flaming grief, I can feel the heat already." *He waved his hand in front of his face.*

  Teresa: "It would be in the best interest to cross the path as soon as possible, it appears the sun is at its peek, rising temperatures at an unbearable heat."

  Alicia: "O-Okay."

  Lance: "Wateva." *He covered his eyes, as he led the party out of the cave.*

  *The air warped in the unbearable heat and mountains stood tall on each side, causing the path to look like a canyon.*

  Ashton: *He staggered and stared at the enormous mountains.* (Even in terrible conditions like these, I still seem to admire the environment.)

  Teresa: "We are near Gasher Hills now."

  Alicia: "E-Excellent." *She spoke with no enthusiasm, as a thin layer of sweat covered her forehead.*

  Teresa: "I also believe that the Scoldrant resides around here."

  Ashton: "The same one we were talking about earlier?"

  Teresa: "Indeed, it would be wise to avoid combat with it."

  Lance: "Pssht why? You've seen what the cow cruncha over here can do." *He tilted his head at Alicia and smirked.* "That ice spear, I admit, even I thought it was kool."

  Alicia: *She shook her head and bit her bottom lip.* "I-I had no intentions of killing her-"

  Lance: "Blah, blah, yea, yea, too predictable." *He coughed and deeply inhaled.* "Ooo I don't wanna hurt 'em-" *He spoke in a womanish tone, mocking Alicia.*

  Ashton: *He placed his hand on Lance's shoulder.* "That's unacceptable. Enough, Lance."

  Lance: "Pssht, wateva." *He grunted and sighed, wiping sweat off his face with his shoulder.*

  Teresa: "No need to dwell over the past. If Alicia did not do so, Mindy may have killed us all instead."

  Alicia: *She lowered her head and became silent.* "..."

  Lance: "Fine, give it a prize." *He placed his hands on top of his head and closed his eyes.*

  Ashton: *He nudged Alicia and looked at Lance.* "Don't worry about him, that's his way of saying sorry."

  Alicia: "I-It's too hot." *She whimpered with fatigue, ignoring the sweat which dripped down her cheek.*

  Teresa: *She watched the party walk down the sandy path in thought.* (Perhaps it is due not sharing my time with others, but it continues to fascinate me the way these party members interact with each other-)

  Lance: "I'm tired." *He grunted and kicked the sand like a child.*

  *The party walked into a clearing and they instantly noticed an enormous spiral mountain.*

  Ashton: *He stared at the mountain with amazement.* (Whoa-)

  Lance: "Look over there!" *He pointed to his left in the far distance, with a finger in his nose.*

  Ashton: *He looked into the direction Lance pointed towards with curiosity.* "A large grey sphere?"

  Teresa: (Surpreon has not changed.)

  Lance: "Double-you-tee-eff! Wat is it?" *He mumbled, as he violently picked his nose.*

  Alicia: "Th-That's Surpreon." *She proudly announced with an exhausted smile.*

  Ashton: (We're almost there!)

  Lance: *He looked down and noticed shade.* "Shade!"

  Teresa: "..." *She watched Lance stagger into the shade.*

  Lance: "Gah-" *He collapsed on chair sized rocks and sighed in relief.* "That's better."

  Teresa: "Remember what I said earlier, it would be best to get to Surpreon as soon as possible-"

  Lance: "Can we sit down for a minute woman?" *He lowered his head, causing sweat to drip on to his lap.*

  Ashton: *He glanced at Alicia, noticing her flustered and dehydrated appearance.* "I think we should take advantage of the shade, Teresa."

  Teresa: "It would be wise not to rest in these conditions."

  Ashton: "Look at Alicia, and Lance."

  Teresa: *She pau
sed and glanced at each party member, closing her eyes.* "My apologies."

  Lance: "Huh? Say wat woman?"

  Teresa: "I have been too busy trying to get you all to Surpreon, yet, I failed to realise you all have reached your limit. Humph, something so trivial."

  Ashton: *He waddled towards Lance and into the shade, as sweat dripped off his face.* "Haha it's okay-"

  Lance: "Harh? Wat does trivial mean?"

  Teresa: *She walked over to the party, ignoring their red exhausted faces.* "It means pointless, small, insignificant."