The Rostical Guild - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Rachael: "Just in case. I'm already taken."

  Lezard: "Naww, it won't stop me from trying-"

  Rachael: "No, seriously."

  Lezard: "And stopped I have." *He coughed, as if he knew Rachael wasn't kidding around.*

  ----------

  *Luna slowly woke up with no vision and felt the ground around her with a dropping jaw.*

  Luna: "W-Where-?" *She spoke on her breath, listening to moving chains and distant shouts of agonsiing pain.* "A-Am-...?"

  ?????: "Looks like one of you finally woke up."

  Luna: "Gah-?!" *She screamed in fright and quickly squirmed away from the man's voice, hitting the back of her head on metallic poles.* (What are these-?)

  *Luna reached behind her, feeling the poles in confusion.*

  Luna: (They feel like bars to a cage-)

  ?????: "Don't scream, you'll just bring unwanted attention."

  Luna: "C-Come near me and I'll call the police!"

  ?????: "Police?"

  Luna: "D-Don't play dumb." *She shivered in terror, as she blindly looked to each side.*

  ?????: "Even if I wanted to, I'm in a bind." *He moved his arms, causing thick chains to rattle from his wrists and ankles.* "I'm a prisoner too."

  Luna: "P-Prisoner?!"

  ?????: "You were captured by a warrior right?"

  Luna: "Warrior?" *She frowned in frustration, suddenly triggering a flashback of Cindy punching her with a fist of flames.*

  ?????: "They finally caught me.."

  Luna: "W-Who..?" *She trembled in fear, as if she didn't know what was happening.* (Am I dreamin'? I-I can wake up now-)

  ?????: "What happened to your face? Those wounds look fresh."

  Luna: "... W-Wake up, Luna."

  ?????: "Luna?"

  Luna: *She whimpered and started to tear up, causing blood to seep from her eyes.* "Why can't I see?"

  ?????: *He gritted his teeth and tried to pull his arms, causing the chains to dig into his wrists.* (Damn!)

  Kerry-Anne: "G-Gah-?!" *She screamed into consciousness, instantly noticing the area around her.* "W-Why are we in a prison cell?"

  Luna: "K-Kerry?!"

  Kerry-Anne: "Luna?!" *She ignored the black make-up which was smeared across Luna's cheek and neck and eagerly crawled towards her.* "Kylie! She-She died from a creature!"

  Luna: "A creature?!"

  Kerry-Anne: "It looked like a weed and its eye opened up with teeth?!"

  Luna: *She looked in the direction of Kerry-Anne's voice, revealing her damaged eyes.* "Teeth?"

  Kerry-Anne: *She silently covered her mouth in disgust, staring at Luna's eyes with a dropping jaw.* "Y-Your eyes."

  ?????: "Sounds like your friend got attacked by a Scoldrant."

  Luna and Kerry-Anne: "Scoldrant?"

  ?????: *He chuckled, as if he couldn't believe their confusion.* "You're kidding me, right?"

  Luna: "Who'd be jokin' around with something like that, dipshit!" *She screamed in anger, causing the man to look intrigued.*

  ?????: "You aren't so stereotypical?"

  Luna: *She started to frown.* "Shut the hell up, aye."

  Kerry-Anne: "I can't.. I can't do this.." *She looked at her fingers, noticing dried blood and dirt.* "Where the fuck are we?"

  ?????: "Wow, language."

  Kerry-Anne: "Who the hell are you anyways?"

  ?????: "Nathan.." *He spoke in disrespect and looked away, as if he didn't care for Kerry-Anne.*

  Kerry-Anne: "So, where are we?" *She looked up, staring at a mouldy ceiling.* "What kind of police station has no lights?"

  Nathan: "I don't know what you're talking about. We're in Sorrowprax, in an underground facility." *He listened to grunts and moans from other people in singular jail-like cells.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Why are we here? We didn't do anything wrong, aye!"

  Nathan: "..." *He looked towards the bars, as if he was listening to something.* (More warriors are coming-)

  Luna: "D-Don't ignore her!" *She screamed, catching Nathan's attention.*

  Nathan: "It's obvious you girls got Neurons in the brain."

  Luna: "Wat a lame assed payout."

  *Two warriors walked down thick stone stairs and into a massive underground facility, glancing to each side at the cells.*

  Prisoner: *He grabbed the bars in each hand, splitting at the ground towards the passing warriors.* "You scum!"

  *The warriors with the numbers twenty-two and twenty-three stopped in response.*

  Twenty-Two: "What did you say?" *He raised his arm, grabbing hold of a sword's handle which poked over his shoulder.*

  Prisoner: "N-Nothing." *He grunted and stepped back, as if he was afraid of the warrior.*

  Twenty-Three: *He stared at the prisoner, watching him cower over a large rock which acted as a seat.* (I agree, most of these people are bad-)

  Twenty-Two: "Twenty-Three." *He looked at the slightly chubby faced man, as if he was waiting for him to move.*

  Twenty-Three: (But what I've witnessed.. There are innocent people-)

  Twenty-Two: "Twenty-Three?"

  Twenty-Three: (Justice.. Are we doing it right-?)

  Twenty-Two: "Trevour!" *He grunted in a frustrated-like manner, catching Trevour's attention.*

  Twenty-Three: "Sorry, boss." *He snapped out of his train of thought and continued to walk forward.*

  Twenty-Two: "We're here to interrogate two suspects that wear unusual garments."

  Twenty-Three: "Ah, the same people the triplets brought back?"

  Twenty-Two: "Yes."

  Twenty-Three: "What did they actually do?"

  Twenty-Two: "Not that it's any of your business, but apparently they assaulted Cindy."

  Twenty-Three: "How temperamental."

  Kerry-Anne: "Why have you gone all quiet?!" *She grunted at Nathan with distrusting eyes.*

  Nathan: "Shh." *He listened to the approaching warrior's armour.*

  Twenty-Two: *He stepped into Kerry-Anne and Nathan's sight.*

  Twenty-Three: "What one should we take, boss?"

  Twenty-Two: "Herm?" *He closely inspected Kerry-Anne and Luna, ignoring Nathan chained up to the wall.*

  Luna: (My eyes... I can't see anything, not even darkness..?) *She waved her hands in front of her face, shaking her head in failure.*

  Twenty-Two: *He looked at Luna in disgust, causing him to focus on Kerry-Anne.* "Take that one for interrogation." *He pointed at Kerry-Anne, causing Trevour to step forward.*

  Twenty-Three: "Roger." *He took a step forward, observing the bars.*

  Twenty-Two: (If everything goes well.. I'm only two seats away from being promoted to vice-captain level!)

  Twenty-Three: (These are always tricky. You can't by shy with the amount of Neurons you output and you can't be too generous either-) *He placed his hand on a lock with glyphic symbols engraved on it and focused, causing the bars to suddenly open.*

  Luna: "Gah-" *She collapsed to the side, as the bars overlapped past her.*

  Kerry-Anne: *She stood up, frowning at Trevour as he stepped into the cell.* "What do you want?!"

  Twenty-Three: "We will be asking you a few questions, madam."

  Kerry-Anne: "Madam? What the-?"

  Twenty-Three: *He jumped towards Kerry-Anne and placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her entire body to go limp.* "There-"

  Kerry-Anne: "What have you done to me?! Why can't I move?!"

  Twenty-Three: "You don't have any Neurons or Astragons, so I touched you with a concentrated blast of Neurons, overloading your body-"

  Thirty-Three: "This isn't battle academics! Just take her to the interrogation centre!"

  Twenty-Three: *He looked over his shoulder, nodding his head at the warrior.* "R-Right, boss!"

  Kerry-Anne: "No! Leave me alone!"

  Luna: *She shivered, frozen in fear.* (I don't know what's happenin'. I can't see anything.. I..)

  Nathan: "..."

  Thirty-Three: "Don't worry, Nathan. We still haven't extracted enough info
rmation from you." *He implied he would be back shortly.*

  Nathan: "As I keep telling you. I'll never expose the Scoldrant Users."

  Thirty-Three: "You have been tough to break, so-" *He grunted with a widening smirk.* "The Consultants have boosted the extremity your sessions."

  Nathan: "Boosted the extremity?"

  Thirty-Three: "It will be a captain asking you the questions this time."

  Nathan: *He grunted with widening eyes.* (A captain?!)

  Twenty-Three: "There we go, madam." *He stepped next to Thirty-Three and placed his hand on the lock, causing the cell to close behind him.*

  Thirty-Three: "See you shortly." *He spoke with a confident smirk and started to walk away, causing Trevour to closely follow him.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Let me go!" *She tried to bite into Trevour's arm, causing her teeth to scrape against his armour.*

  Twenty-Three: "Please stop struggling, madam-"

  Kerry-Anne: "Go fuck yourself, Rusty!"

  Luna: "K-Kerry-Anne?!"

  Kerry-Anne: "Help!-"

  Thirty-Three: "Shut her up."

  Twenty-Three: "Please forgive me, madam." *He quickly covered his hand over her mouth, effectively masking her screams for help.*

  Luna: *She crawled into the corner of the cell, listening to Kerry-Anne's fading mumbles.* (Wake up already!)

  Chapter 3: Sorrowprax

  *Twortz walked into the city and listened to her footsteps change in tone, as she waddled on a smooth clay-like cemented ground.*

  Twortz: "Huh?"

  *Twortz stopped and noticed the city's houses and structures were the same texture as the ground.*

  Twortz: (These towers.. Are we in London? Is that why we can't recognise any of these landmarks?)

  *Twortz continued to walk further into the city, noticing unusual glowing spheres on some walls.*

  Twortz: (What kind of lights are those-?) *She stepped into a small courtyard with an artistic water fountain and noticed people, failing to notice their strange old fashioned clothing.*

  *Twortz sighed to herself in relief and quickly walked up to a nearby woman.*

  Twortz: "Why hello."

  Woman: *She turned around and noticed Twortz's professional appearance, causing her to smile.* "Hello."

  Twortz: "May I please ask you a few questions?"

  Woman: "Of course."

  Twortz: "Do you know where I am?"

  Woman: "Pardon me?" *She sounded unsure, as if she questioned Twortz's mentality.*

  Twortz: (My question has seemed to have startled her?) *She coughed, placing her hands behind her back.* "I'm not from around here, you see."

  Woman: "Oh." *She spoke in understanding.* "Well, this is The Sanctuary."

  Twortz: "The Sanctuary?"

  Woman: "It's a city highly protected, so people usually come here for refuge."

  Twortz: "Refuge from who exactly?"

  Woman: "Scoldrants, natural disasters, or just to escape from Backwater Villages."

  Twortz: "..." *She stared at the woman with a blank facial expression and shook her head, as if she didn't know how to respond.* ".. Who protects the city?"

  Woman: "The warriors and Consultants of course." *She spoke with a smile, as if Twortz was silly.* "Your protection is guaranteed, all for just a small tax fee."

  Twortz: (I've never heard of these warriors before? Is it just her way of saying police?) "Ahem. There aren't many people outside the city. You'd think there would be more people."

  Woman: "That's because of the growing aggression of Scoldrants."

  Twortz: "Scoldrants?"

  Woman: "Are you okay?"

  Twortz: "Why, yes?"

  Woman: "No matter where you're from. Everyone knows what a Scoldrant is."

  Twortz: "Hmm, enlighten me?"

  Woman: *She shook her head and stepped to the side, pointing at a large tower in the middle of the city.* "You might want to look through some of the Rosterology databases."

  Twortz: "Rost-erol, what sorry?"

  Woman: *She ignored Twortz, continuing to point at the tower.* "You might find the answers to your questions there."

  Twortz: ".. Much appreciated. Thank you." *She smiled and started to walk towards the tower.*

  Woman: "Of course."

  Twortz: "Wait-" *She quickly turned around, looking at the woman.* "Do you know where the closest payphone is?"

  Woman: "Pay.. Fone?"

  Twortz: "What about a mobile?"

  Woman: "Mobial? Is that the name for a Rostical or Azure Burst?"

  Twortz: "Err.. Never mind." *She fake smiled and turned back around.* (What on Earth is happening here?)

  ----------

  *Rachael and Lezard slowly walked down the road-like path, as if they were waiting for Twortz.*

  Rachael: "How come you're travelling with you dad? Is it a vacation of some sort?"

  Lezard: "Bwarharh, no no. We're searching for my mother."

  Rachael: "Oh?" *She sounded surprised, as if she wasn't expecting that answer.*

  Lezard: "Every time we get close to finding her location, she'll move away."

  Rachael: "So she doesn't want to be found?"

  Lezard: "Not exactly.. It's hard to explain."

  Rachael: "Fairo."

  Lezard: "What about you? What's your life story?"

  Rachael: "Hehe. I was celebrating Sceldrant's Comet and I suddenly passed out." *She shrugged her shoulders.* "Then I woke up in who knows where?"

  Lezard: "Hmm? It definitely sounds like something happened."

  Rachael: "So, what is this place called? What's the closest city?"

  Lezard: "The closest city? Well, you got The Sanctuary over there." *He nudged his head towards the city Twortz entered.*

  Rachael: "I'm so confused." *She face palmed at her lack of knowledge.* (I hope you call for help in there, Twortz.)

  Lezard: "Now, now. Don't get all flustered. Just ask away, okies?"

  Rachael: (Okies?) "Uhm, okay. Start with, why are you wearing such strange clothes?"

  ----------

  *Kerry-Anne was chained up in the middle of a darkroom, standing under an eerie light which glowed in from the outside.*

  Kerry-Anne: "What am I doing here?"

  *Thirty-Three and Three stood side by side, observing Kerry-Anne from within the darkness.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Hello?" *She rattled the chains around her arms and looked up, squinting her eyes at the light above her.*

  ?????: "Shhh, people can hear you from outside." *A woman spoke from the darkness, as her footsteps echoed into the room.*

  Kerry-Anne: "W-Who's there?"

  ?????: "Not that it matters."

  Kerry-Anne: "Untie me, you freaky bastard."

  ?????: "Fufufu, I'm a member of The Black Brigade, I'm no bastard."

  Kerry-Anne: "The Black what? This is kidnappin'! Let me go!"

  ?????: "Fufufu." *A woman dressed in tight red and black leather with a long ponytail stepped into the light.* "I will ask, and you will answer?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Piss off, bitch."

  ?????: *She smirked and placed one hand on her waist.* "Where are you from?"

  Kerry-Anne: "..."

  ?????: *She noticed Kerry-Anne twitch in fear, causing her to chuckle in understanding.* "If you answer my questions, I'll let you go."

  Twenty-Three: (Not many people know, but that's Tara. A member of The Black Brigade, second in charge-)

  Kerry-Anne: "..."

  Tara: "I promise?" *She smirked, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder.*

  Kerry-Anne: "I'm from Dee Highs."

  Tara: "Dee Highs? Where exactly is that?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Are you jokin'?"

  Tara: "Do I look like I'm joking?!" *She suddenly screamed with an echo, losing her calm collected attitude.*

  Kerry-Anne: *She spoke with growing fear.* "It's a few suburbs away from the city."

  Tara: "Is this Dee Highs on this continent or the other?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Continent?"
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  Tara: *She sighed with growing frustration.* "Is it near Surpreon or Silver Wind Island?"

  Kerry-Anne: "I-I don't know either of those places."

  Tara: "I shouldn't have expected less from someone who assaults a warrior."

  Kerry-Anne: "I don't know what you're talkin' about! How on Earth are you so stupid?!"

  Tara: "Earf?"