tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26668107535788487692024-03-14T05:13:28.253-07:00VaelA World of DreamsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-89899957323371911032020-05-24T22:27:00.001-07:002020-05-24T22:27:38.356-07:00#StayHome, Save Lives (Facebook Frame)<span style="font-size: large;">I made a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=174249197335868" target="_blank">#StayHome, Save Lives frame on Facebook</a> to help encourage self-isolation during the pandemic. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=174249197335868" target="_blank">Check it out!</a> 😊❤️💧</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=174249197335868" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="782" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7exebOdry2koCeNtgvGPHW34PIiz1JK8oeyr8arLqPLjk9YoBBabqAhBRMMxq9gOx-McRe7JWwqAAaPtQrWEOLDtXNqV-xI5Ke9yhkItoGF4LcW83Kd-PpU5-B8YcCewawNxDivG-qOY/s320/100087552_10220079742736094_4498423032137646080_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-56689920738596281382019-02-27T00:03:00.001-08:002019-02-27T00:22:49.963-08:00I'm Still Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Listen here: </span></div>
<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/582062727&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe>
</br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The creative process can be a fickle thing. But I'm still writing. I don't plan on giving up anytime soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The plot formation and world building is taking time. I need to ensure that Vael has a solid foundation before I write even a word of the book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't write as often as I should, but I'm trying to put it into my routine more often. It's daunting sometimes looking at the scale of Vael, how much material I have to smooth out, and remembering that I have to keep all my info consistent. When one thing changes, I have to go into all my documents to make sure everything lines up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For instance, one of my characters was named "Shadow," but I recently changed his name to "Fade" since I had too many names starting with "Sh" and the word "Shadow" was already used by the "Shadow Mark," which is a major part of the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Simply changing his name to "Fade" meant that as I continue my writing, every instance of "Shadow" in my documents needs to be changed to "Fade" so I don't get names mixed up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The world of Vael, to me, is grand and beautiful. It might take an omnipresent god seven days to create a world, but I'm merely a writer... for me it could take one, ten, maybe even fifty years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm writing this thing even if it takes a lifetime. Though, I hope the time-frame is much shorter. Maybe a year. I want at least two books planned out if possible, so it could be longer. I'm not sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you enjoy fantastical worlds saturated in magic, colorful culture and quirky characters, you might like Vael. Check out this great description of the world written by my friend and fellow writer Harrison:</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The continent of Vael is a beautiful realm at its soul, but due to a tragic earthquake the land finds itself plagued with darkness to the south where the north is far brighter. The world itself is filled with magic and its effects. The people of the realm are a mystical folk, with numerous races populating its borders. The northern kingdom of Avael is ruled by King Utakaru who is descended from the first Moonish king of Avael. The race of Moonish are a people who draw their racial roots from a life on the moon. They are a fair folk, with highly intuitive and sensitive personalities. Historically, the Moonish have been mistreated by the other dwellers of Vael."</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b>Lushiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419945755332779470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-27289141741032036352017-11-05T21:13:00.002-08:002018-03-02T03:47:35.801-08:00"Behind the Glass" - A Vael Short Story<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 30.6667px;"><i><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19iPi5j7n48jcXqDvXOSrSwWD4m2MZv3q/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">> Download this short story here.</a></i><br /><b style="font-size: 20pt;">"Behind the Glass"<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">By Alyssa Huber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img00.deviantart.net/1e30/i/2015/120/b/3/fear_by_akirakirai-d37teev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="800" height="336" src="https://img00.deviantart.net/1e30/i/2015/120/b/3/fear_by_akirakirai-d37teev.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fear" by akirakirai on deviantART</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> She felt it coming again, and she couldn't hide from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <span class="SpellE">Lushia's</span> vision blurred. The Shadow Mark was taking her over, crawling across her skin. Her head was throbbing. Her heart was pounding. She felt desperately afraid. The burning, constricting, spreading pain was intense, but she would endure three times that pain if she didn't have to succumb to the sinking feeling inside her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> It felt as if she was looking at <span class="SpellE">Mikio</span> from behind a glass wall, unable to speak or be heard, gradually drifting farther away. <span class="GramE">A blurry image of <span class="SpellE">Mikio</span> <span class="SpellE">glitched</span> in front of her, his concerned eyes looking malicious in flashes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <i>It's not real...</i> she thought to herself. <i>It's just an illusion...</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> It was hard to convince <span class="GramE">herself</span> of that when it looked like her friend wanted to kill her, or worse. Whatever was worse than death, that's what his face looked <span class="GramE">like.</span> Brown eyes flashing to red. They became bloodshot. Then they disappeared into white nothingness. He <span class="GramE">grinned</span> a grin too wide for a human face, revealing layers upon layers of sharp teeth. Blood dripped from his hairline, his eyes, and even the walls behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> The moment <span class="SpellE">Mikio's</span> eyes <span class="GramE">disappeared,</span> <span class="SpellE">Lushia</span> couldn't tolerate it any longer. She held out her arms in front of her protectively, wishing it would go away. Her efforts to resist only made it worse, evoking a feeling of being smothered on all sides. <span class="GramE">Too much pressure.</span> <span class="GramE">Too much nausea.</span> She shrieked and fell backwards at the sensation of a thousand tiny insects crawling on her arms. It didn't help that she couldn't ignore the luring susurrus of secretive voices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> A warped voice spoke to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "<span class="SpellE">Lushia</span>..." it came from what was left of <span class="SpellE">Mikio</span>, and sounded like three voices at once<span class="GramE">. "</span>Die" said one, "here" said another, and the third whispered "useless."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Frantically, <span class="SpellE">Lushia</span> rubbed her arms to be rid of the insects. But there was nothing there, even though she still felt it. Trying to block out the sensations were futile. She looked at her arm carefully. Something wasn't right: the Mark wasn't there. Did she get better? No, that couldn't be... not if she still felt what she did, and if the twisted creature in front of her was still there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Focusing on her nightmarishly warped, labored breathing, <span class="SpellE">Lushia looked closer at her arm</span>. The crawly feeling was still there, but no insects. No insects meant this wasn't real. The creature in front of her meant this wasn't real. It only felt real. <span class="SpellE">Lushia</span> took a deep, shaky breath, and looked up to face the monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "<span class="SpellE">Lushia</span>..." the monster uttered through its layered teeth, with only two voices this time. It sounded more human...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> The gruesome features of the creature were starting to melt away. When she saw a glimpse of brown eyes beneath the monster, she felt like she could <span class="SpellE"><span class="GramE">breathe</span></span> again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "--here." said <span class="SpellE">Mikio</span>. "I'm here."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <span class="SpellE">Lushia</span> glanced down to see his hand held out before her, noticing the worn threads of his leather gloves sticking out from the seams. He was offering his hand.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecJmuOAv0n6wVYkMQpZlvfARsl9WrXydjhkOninJUr1XF4ishwC15bIviQdToMSfNuiK02NPKwEgA8RWRMIT1RFZyBPgSf9mFm3s3eQQxZvH7vAayfV7J9FYXvFS6sNFarkROWi18fAAH/s1600/glove+texture+done+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecJmuOAv0n6wVYkMQpZlvfARsl9WrXydjhkOninJUr1XF4ishwC15bIviQdToMSfNuiK02NPKwEgA8RWRMIT1RFZyBPgSf9mFm3s3eQQxZvH7vAayfV7J9FYXvFS6sNFarkROWi18fAAH/s320/glove+texture+done+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span>Cautiously--as she still felt sick and uneasy--she weakly placed her hand in his. She focused again on his gloves. The smooth-but-rough feeling, the smell of the earth, the tickling of the threads. Mikio was here, and he wasn't a monster. Lushia felt safe. And yet, she felt a twinge of guilt rising in her; she could barely speak as she swallowed it back down, trying to focus on her gratitude. Mikio was here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19iPi5j7n48jcXqDvXOSrSwWD4m2MZv3q/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">> Download this short story here.</a></span><span style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-764309879630078482017-11-05T10:55:00.001-08:002018-03-02T03:48:02.060-08:00"Like a Child" - A Vael Short Story<img src="https://www.wallpapermaiden.com/image/2016/06/25/hatsune-miku-child-version-white-hair-vocaloid-smile-anime-1687-resized.jpg" style="display: none;" />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 30.6667px;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Jde788fABvqUikUBNuPrO4DUq_kGWzrc" target="_blank">> Download this short story here.</a></i><br /><span style="font-size: 20pt;">"</span><b style="font-size: 20pt;">Like a Child"<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">By Alyssa Huber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <br /> Lushia's hand sparked as her heart beat desperately in her chest. She might have magic, but she couldn't magically whisk away the anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "Focus, Lushia." Seamus said to her gently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Lushia choked on her words before she could speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <span class="GramE">"How can I control my magic if I can't even control what's going on in my head?"</span> Lushia asked, more of herself than Seamus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "You can." Seamus replied. "It just takes practice, and patience. I need you to be patient."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "I can't..." Lushia said hopelessly, dropping to her knees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <span class="GramE">All this drama over trying to zap a target dummy.</span> She felt so stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "You say that, but it's not true." Seamus said, leaning down to her level. "I know you can. Thinking that you can't is a self-fulfilling prophecy--"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "I know." Lushia responded firmly, annoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> She didn't want to hear it again. Seamus had already explained the "self-fulfilling prophecy" concept on more than one occasion, and it echoed it a thousand times more in Lushia's head. If she could think differently, she would have by now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Seamus sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "I'll leave you alone for a while then." said Seamus. Lushia could tell he was trying to hide his own impatience. She wished he wouldn't; then perhaps they could relate better, and she wouldn’t feel like a freak with her heart on her sleeve. Seamus was always so controlled, so elegant, so... perfect. More perfect than her...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> As soon as Seamus was out of sight, she buried her face in her hands. She couldn't even do simple magic right. How could she possibly think she could be a contributing member of the Celestial Emissaries? She felt silly for starting this futile pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "Why you hiding your face, Lushy?" said the charmingly baby-like voice of a young girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Oh... oops. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Lushia thought, and she looked up to see little Shira, the moon fairy. <span class="GramE">standing</span> in front of her with her hands behind her back. She was leaning towards Lushia curiously, her small frame not much taller than Lushia when she was hunched over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "Uh..." Lushia stuttered, not sure if Shira would understand. "No reason. <span class="GramE">Whatcha doing, Shira?"</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "Flower hunting!" said Shira. "Just like Daddy, 'cept he hunts aminals. I got these for you!"<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.wallpapermaiden.com/image/2016/06/25/hatsune-miku-child-version-white-hair-vocaloid-smile-anime-1687-resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://www.wallpapermaiden.com/image/2016/06/25/hatsune-miku-child-version-white-hair-vocaloid-smile-anime-1687-resized.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Shira held out a handful of flowers of various colors, some stems bent and others upright. It was the cutest smushed bouquet Lushia had ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> <span class="GramE">"Aww, thank you, Shira!"</span> Lushia said, accepting the flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> After Shira skipped away, Lushia carefully set the flowers down on a stone brick of the ruined wall that lined the training area. Lost in thought, she resumed her position a few yards away from the dummy. She took a deep breath and focused again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 24.5333px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Lushia noticed the tension in her shoulders, so she stopped to relax and think for a moment. The tension swiftly left her as she gazed at the trees. Moon fairies like Shira live hundreds of years, and Lushia wondered how old she was. Hiro was her adoptive father, on top of being the king's son and captain of the Celestial Guard. He explained to Lushia that moon fairies never "grow up" like we do--that is, they always retain a childlike body and nature. Shira's age was unknown even to her, and there was no way Hiro could figure it out.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 24.5333px;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 24.5333px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; line-height: 24.5333px;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">However long Shira had lived, she w</span></span><span style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">as like a child, unburdened by the world and its expectations. Why couldn't Lushia be like that?</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Maybe it's because Shira didn't have any responsibilities, at least none Lushia knew of. As for Lushia, it felt as if the entire world was depending on her. But when she dug deeper, she realized that was not the case. No one cared what she did, and perhaps her intentions were selfish. If she didn't have the Shadow Mark herself, would she even bother to look for a cure for others?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> A feeling of dread clouded her vision. Out of the corner of her eye, Lushia noticed her Mark spreading down her arms again. Letting out her breath, she gazed at the trees again, trying to clear her mind with the luscious branches dressed in green, swaying in the wind. She forgot how easy it was to unknowingly spiral into her rabbit-hole of desparate thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Be like Shira.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Lushia thought to herself. <span class="GramE"><i>Carefree; natural.</i></span><i> I don't have to be perfect.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Instead of thinking first, she lifted her hand in an elegant, relaxed motion. Looking at the dummy--and not expecting anything--she allowed herself to feel whatever came to her. A mix of fear, desperation, and self-loathing passed her by as the Mark slowly reversed direction and disappeared from her arms. A sort of calm euphoria followed, tingling up her spine and ballooning in her head. Her heart fluttered in controlled excitement as a dull blue glow began to halo her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">Her gaze shifted from her hand to the dummy, and she flicked her wrist swiftly, palm facing forward, willing her energy towards the target. A luminous blast was forced from her hand and knocked the dummy over, snapping the wooden pole that held it in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> Lushia smirked and pumped her fist victoriously, and it sizzled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> "Ow!" she flinched as she loosened her hand, shaking it around until it stopped burning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "bell mt" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"> A few moments passed, and she suddenly burst out laughing. Now that she finally got her magic to do what she wanted, not even a sizzling fist could put a damper on her excitement.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Jde788fABvqUikUBNuPrO4DUq_kGWzrc" target="_blank">> Download this short story here.</a></i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-58390125948520182342017-10-26T21:10:00.001-07:002018-03-02T03:48:35.941-08:00"The Power of Frost" - A Roleplay That Inspired Vael<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: orange;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>This is one of a series of "episodes" or roleplays by Alyssa and Ed, two long-distance friends (</i></span><i>continents apart) </i></span><i><span style="color: orange;">who built the foundation of Vael. </span></i><i><span style="color: orange;">You can <b>read it below,</b> download this <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K1soEPx-w9MNbs4ltuJ9vEajPCRsSS3c" target="_blank">as an RTF document by clicking this link,</a> or see the <a href="http://world-of-vael.blogspot.com/p/writings.html" target="_blank">Writings</a> page for more information.</span></i><br />
<u><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u>
<u><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">VAEL - EPISODE 2:</span></u><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>The Power of Frost</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN">Summary: </span>Mikio and Lushia
have recently completed their first mission, and are currently awaiting orders
from King Utakaru. While they wait, they decide to take a little trip to the
farming town of Rovistark to buy some fresh produce, as well as simply relax
and enjoy the scenery.<span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio and Lushia are at the farming
village of Rovistark, which is bustling with activity. Harvesters are moving in
and out of the fields with armfuls, bags, and even wagonloads of vegetables and
produce. The two friends are sitting in a small grassy area under a tree, a few
yards away from the food market, enjoying a midday snack of butter-smeared
corn-on-the-cob, fresh milk, and some sugarloaves.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>I think we should get
ourselves some gommelfruit to take home after this.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sounds like a good plan.</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b>VAEL DICTIONARY:
"Gommelfruit - A round, bumpy red fruit found commonly growing throughout
Avael/Devael. Since it grows abundantly in moist areas, it's especially common
in Blackwater Rainforest and Wood Marsh. It has a very tart flavor."</b><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Mikio, do you want to go get
a bushel of 'em? -Hands you a few coins- Three copper should be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-leans against the tree and
bites into a sugarloaf- I'm too lazy to get up... ;P</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Not coming with me then? Lazy bones?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Yep. -pats my belly- Too
fat. Sorry. ;D</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ha! Like I believe that. Come on, let's go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> Aw, do I HAVE to?? I'm really enjoying this
shade...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio raises an eyebrow
expectantly.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Just kidding. I'm coming.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia pushes herself up and
wraps up their food, putting it into a sack.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Lead the way. I wanna see if
you can find your way to the fruit stall. You're a big boy now, you can find
your way around, right? ;D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> We shall see, I'll blame you if we get lost.
;D <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Grrr, fine. </span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio walks with Lushia into the center of
the town, the markets bustling with people, locals and adventurers shopping for
everything and anything. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia is walking beside Mikio, not really
paying attention, and she ends up bumping into a rather large rorc, who drops
the armful of wheat he had been carrying.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b>VAEL DICTIONARY: "Rorc -
Rorcs are basically the same as orcs, big, muscular, and strong, and tend to
have more brawn than brains. Also like orcs, their skin color ranges from
shades of brown to green.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Rorc: </b>Hey! Watch where you're
going, elf!</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Sorry...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Rorc: </b> "Sorry" doesn't cut it! Pick up the
mess you made!</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Umm.... umm...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Okay... -starts picking up
the wheat-</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lushia, it's okay. *to the rorc* Sorry, fella.
*helps Lushia pick it up* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Rorc: </b> You clumsy weakling. You need to learn to be a
little more careful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -ignoring the rorc- Thanks, Mikio.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>While trying to hide her
embarrassment and anger at this rorc's harsh words, she hands the bushel of
wheat back to him.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -hands the bushel of wheat back to the rorc-
Here.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Rorc: </b> Thank you. Now beat it!</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia scoffs and walks away
in a huff.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Be careful, Lushia. We don't want to annoy the
wrong people.</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-turning red- Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> It's okay, dont worry about it. *stops
outside a shop and browses for a few minutes* See anything you like?</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Not really...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Let's just go home.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You sure? We still need
gommelfruit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: lime;"><b>Lushia: </b>You can get them if you want
them. I'll just wait over by that tree.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you want? I may need you to
help carry the crates of fruit.</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Alright then.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thanks *smiles and leads you to
a grocery stall*</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>And we only need a bushel,
not a whole crate.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even so, I think they're
discounted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Alright then. We could
always give the extra to the Temple kitchens.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio talks to the vendor and orders two
crates. Lushia helps him carry one.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Thanks Lushia. You okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>I'm fine. Let's just get
back to the Temple.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia starts walking toward the
stagecoach just outside of town, and Mikio walks with her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red;">Sure you don't wanna talk about
it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>....</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Ignoring Mikio, Lushia pays
the driver and puts the crate in the wagon. She climbs up and sits down,
patting the spot on the wooden bench next to her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Come on.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio climbs up, sets down the other
crate, and sits next to Lushia.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Yah! -whips the reins-</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The horses pull the wagon as
it begins to bump along the road.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>After some thought, Lushia
turns to face Mikio.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Mikio...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, Lushia? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-sighs and looks down-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>I want to be stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Stronger? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>I know we've only recently
gone up in rank, and we shouldn't rush it, but...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> I wish I could at least stand up for myself.
Like when that rorc was being a jerk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>And well... it's not only
that, I've been thinking about this for a while now...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>The incident with the rip in
space. I got stuck in the portal, remember? The physical fighting skills I
learned at the Temple were no match for a rip in space... those things tend to
mess with your mind. So when I say I want to be stronger...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>I guess what I'm trying to
say is... I want to learn some kind of skill beyond the physical. I always hear
about people using magic, and I've seen a few instances of it when the more
gifted ones at the Temple use it. And not just healing magic, like in the
medical unit. Fire, ice, lightning... things like that. I want learn something
like that.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Are you sure? Perhaps we could talk about it
with one of the Temple mages when we return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> -nods- That's what I was thinking.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The driver stops the wagon at
a boarded-up gate.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Looks like we'll have to go
the other way! We gotta stick to the road, and this is the only road around
this area.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>What's going on?</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Probably construction or
something. Either way, we'll have to go 'round the back of the village and up
north on the road to Snowtop. From there, the road leads back through the
Hallowed Forest by the Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Is that alright? I won't
charge any extra for the detour.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia glances at Mikio in
question.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That should be okay, thanks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>They arrive near Snowtop at
dusk. It's beginning to get dark.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia looks around the quiet
environment as snow gently falls to the ground. They've wandered into an area
completely covered in white snow, which is beginning to look more dull as it
gets cloudy.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>It's awfully quiet out
here...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Snowtop doesn't really get
many tourists, unfortunately.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Shame really, this place is beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Yeah...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>In a very strange and
dreamlike moment, everything around them seems to become lost in a fog so thick
that they can't see where they are, and the air is getting increasingly colder.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-hugs my arms to my sides-
What... what happened? Why is it so cold??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Mikio! I can't see you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Driver?! turn us around! Get us out of the
fog! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>I can't! This fog isn't
natural... and we can't turn around, not up here! I don't want to risk tumbling
down these heights!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Mikio, it's getting
colder...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Driver: </b>Heck, yeah it is! I don't
remember it being these cold in Snowtop! This is... unbearable...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The driver shivers and wraps a
blanket around himself.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> It'll be okay. The get us out of here ASAP,
please.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Silence.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hello?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The driver still doesn't
respond, the only sound being the gentle whistling of the northern winds.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*whispers* Lushia, stay quiet...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-stays silent-</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Some of the fog clears, just
enough so we can see the driver, who's hunched over with his blanket as if he's
very cold.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-whispers- He's still
here... he probably just didn't hear us.</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia reaches out and puts
hwe hand on his shoulder to get his attention. She gasps as ice crawls across
her hand, sticking it to his shoulder-</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Ahh! What's happening?</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia tries to pry her hand off, but
instead pulls the driver so he's laying back with his head over the seat,
revealing his frozen, blue face.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia shrieks.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Mikio: </b>Shhhh!</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio tries to pull Lushia's hand off the
driver's shoulder. The ice cracks and breaks off as he pries her free. Mikio
pushes the driver off the cart and examines Lushia's hand; there is still a
remenant of ice on it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia's eyes widen as the ice seems to
expand and crawl up her arm, and she presses her other hand over her mouth to
keep quiet.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>It's cold... it hurts...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It's okay Lushia, I'll get
something, just hold still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio gets out of the cart and searches
for the torch on the front of the vehicle. The torch is no longer burning, and
it's frozen over along with everything else on the wagon.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio starts to feel overwhelmingly cold,
the frigid air clouding up his thoughts and awareness.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh f-fff...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>He returns to the cart, looking into the
storage for a match or something to help them. Lushia grabs him and weakly
pulls him over to the seat.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>It's no use, Mikio,
everything is frozen, and I already tried opening the storage trunk... besides,
this weird ice stopped spreading... maybe it'll melt off eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Lushia grabs the driver's
blanket and wraps it around the both of them while hugging Mikio close, being
careful not to touch him with her icy hand.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>We need to stay alive until
this fog passes... if it does...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*hugs you and reaches for the
reigns* Perhaps the horses are still okay...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">One of the horses snorts, and Mikio starts
steering the wagon, driving it slowly along the road. Everything seems to be
moving along just fine for a while, but then one of the horses slips, bringing
the other down, as the whole wagon tips over and rolls down a steep incline.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Lushia yells and clings to Mikio. Mikio
waits for the cart to stablize and tries to escape it with Lushia. They both
jump out before it hits a large boulder that smashes it to pieces.</i> <i>They
roll a ways in the snow before they finally stop at the bottom.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*crawls over to you* Lushia...
are you okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-rubs my head- Yeah... I'm
alright. You?</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah... I'm okay...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-looks at my arm- At least
the ice is gone. -looks up- It's still foggy, though. I can't see beyond the
few trees around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That's good... what's the plan
now? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> I dunno, just to-- huh? -sees a shape in the
fog-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> What... what is that? -scoots backwards a
little-</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>A human shadow, from deep
within the fog, approaches them, its long clothing flowing with the wind.</i><i><span style="color: #a5a5a5; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>A figure in the shape of a
woman appears before them, her skin a light, icy blue, her eyes white, and her
coverings being only long, white veils of cloth wrapped around her, appearing
to be made of sparkling crystal snowflakes. Her hair is long and white, and put
up in a complicated style and adorned with more ice crystals.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>The sounds of eerie whispers
surround her along with a light jingling, as she holds up something that looks
like wind chimes made of icicles. The fog begins to get thicker.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Lushia grabs onto Mikio the
first chance she gets so she doesn't lose him.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>Mikio... listen...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">Though they can't see anything
through the dense fog, they listen as the jingling becomes more audible as the
figure gets closer.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> I hear it... we need to get out of here...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Before they have the chance to
move, an ice barrier is placed around them</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Huh? -knocks on it-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -bangs on it- Oh no! We're trapped!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lushia... shh... we'll get out of here...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Yeah, but we have to break this thing! -pushes
on it-</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">Lushia's resistance causes the
barrier to get smaller and shrink around them.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b>-drops down and covers head-
Ah!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> The more we struggle, the more its going to
shrink...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -sits there-</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hmm...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -fiddles with my moon crystal pendant- Hmm...</span><span style="color: #004dbb;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i>Lushia glances at her pendant,
and then at the ice barrier.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> What are you thinking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Lushia's flashback--</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: #c08c14; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Utakaru: </span></b><span style="color: #c08c14; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Remember, Lushia, that this pendant you found
is now yours... so whatever powers it once had are also yours. However, because
it is a moon crystal, it contains not only your power, but the key to your
Sanctuary. Lose this, and you cannot return to your part of Bliss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b>Back to the present...</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -to myself- That's just a risk I'll have to
take.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> What?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">Lushia </span><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">jams
the crystal into the ice barrier, causing it to crack. The crystal begins to
glow, cracking the barrier even more.</span><span style="color: #262626;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> Mikio, stay down! </span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lushia throws herself over
Mikio as the barrier shatters, both of them diving out of the way. Shards of
ice drop around them. Mikio looks a somewhat surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: #cccccc; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sitting up, Lushia looks
around quickly, assessing the damage, which is minimal. She spots her pendant
and picks it up, but frowns as she notices a crack down the center from having
shoved it in the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> What happened...?</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BHrHVvnAeDY?rel=0" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar for ambient music. Title: "Aura Mage of Frost" by Alyssa Huber (Vael OST)</i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #cccccc; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i>
<i>A mysterious figure steps
forward, holding her icicle wind chimes in her hands. She
lifts them towards Lushia as she clutches her necklace.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lushia flinches, expecting
something bad. Rather, the moon crystal pendant magically becomes mended due to
the power coming from the chimes.</span></i><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> Huh? Wha-- -looks at my pendant-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> Why did you do that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Mysterious Figure:</b>
You sacrificed a treasure of yours to protect both you and your friend. I know
what that pendant means to you. You have proven yourself worthy of my power,
Lushia.</span><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> But, wait, how do you know my name?</span><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Mysterious Figure: </b> I am the Aura Mage of Frost. When someone is
seeking me, I know who they are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lushia stands there,
speechless, before kneeling in respect and motioning Mikio into the same
position. Mikio appears slightly dazed by the mage’s appearance, but kneels
anyway.</span></i><span style="color: navy; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> Thank you for gracing me with your words,
Mage. But I have to ask, why would you say such things over a small little
thing I did?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost: </b> -raises an eyebrow- You are wise to be
suspicious of that mercy, elf. And that was only a test, so you passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost:</b> Now the real trial begins. Since you
obviously have the knowledge and respect of us Aura Mages, I'll give you two
choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> I'm listening...</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost:</b> Either you will face me in a one-on-one
battle in order to gain the power of the frost, or I will allow you leave here,
unharmed, with no memory of our encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> Screw the latter. I'll take the battle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost: </b> A bold, but wise decision...</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> It's decided then. Mikio, could you wait for
me until this is over?</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> That depends... do we even know what power she
possesses? You’re bargaining your life and you don’t even know what for yet…?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> But I do know. When I took those classes at
the Temple while you were in soldier training, I read quite a few books about
the Aura Mages, and the author of these books were people who met them face to
face and gained their power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> The Frost Mage is one of the more merciful and
trustworthy ones. So she won't deceive me the way the Mage of Shadow or Fire
might.</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Perhaps... but she still won’t give up her
power easily, and she may not give you any of use... is there any way of
knowing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost:</b> If Lushia passes these tests. I will grant
her my power. She has my word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> What powers are these...? I will not have
Lushia walking into a deathtrap over an Aura betting game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Aura Mage of Frost:</b> The power of Frost, what else? Simply put,
it's the ability to create, manipulate, and alter ice and frost. </span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> I've always wanted this, Mikio. I was trained
for this.</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well then... *smiles slightly, hesitantly*
what are you waiting for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> So what are you gonna do when I'm battling
the Frost Mage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well... I don't know. I'm here if you need me.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia:</b> It's awfully cold out here, though... tell
you what, there's a little cabin west-southwest of here. It used to belong to
Seamus... I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you stayed there for a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Okay, I'll be there if you need me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio heads off for the cabin.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>Lushia: </b> -waves at Mikio- Wish me luck!</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio:</span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> -turns back- Good luck! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">Once Mikio
leaves, Lushia turns to the Aura Mage of Frost.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">Lushia: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">I'm ready.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura
Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #999999;">Very well.</span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">The Mage draws
her arms upward distorting the mist. It clumps together forming shards of ice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">Lushia:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">
o.o<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Aura Mage makes a throwing motion towards Lushia and
the shards shoot out towards her. Lushia blocks the shards with her daggers,
and the Mage steps backwards to gain a little more distance and extends her
arm. Blue auras swirl and create a large icicle in front of her, and she
presses it forward to propel it at Lushia.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Lushia rolls to one side to dodge it, then swipes at the
Aura Mage's ankles with her daggers as she is still facing the other way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Easily sidestepping the attack, the Aura Mage reaches upwards,
forming sharp icicles around her fingertips. She flings her hand downward,
sending the icicles plummeting down at Lushia.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Lushia raises
her arms, along with her daggers, to block the barrage of icicles, but many of
them cut her and a few get stuck in her arms. She winces, pulling them out and
quickly smearing on some ointment she pulled out of her belt to stop the
bleeding.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">-mutters quietly- Clever girl... </span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: red; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio makes his way across the
cold, snowy landscape to the cabin by the northwestern shore of Avael. There
are very few signs of life... that is, until he reaches the cabin.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The cabin comes into view as
Mikio approaches it. A light is coming from the inside, though it's just barely
visible through the wooden shutters</i><i>.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio crouches by the window and listens
cautiously. Talking and laughing is heard from
inside.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Stranger: </b>-muffled- Ha! Tell us about
the time you fooled that rich old lady into handing over her gold!</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio approaches the door to the cabin
carefully, one hand on his sheath, the other reaching to knock on the door.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Stranger 2:</b> We'll have to save it for another time, Dank.
I've had far too much <u>ale</u>... gettin'
a bit sleepy now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Stranger 3: </b>Aww... the boss needs to go
beddy-bye...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Stranger 2: </b>Shut up or I'll kick you out
and you'll be spending the night out in the cold!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Stranger 3: </b>Sorry, boss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b>You heard the man. Let him
sleep. Let's go play cards or something to pass the time...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Boss: </b>-still annoyed- Thank you.</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>A few minutes pass as the cabin dwellers
remain silent. Mikio knocks on the door.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b> Who's there??</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> A wanderer... simply looking for a warm bed
for the night. May I at least be granted shelter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b>No! Go away!</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Perchance... do any of you know of Seamus?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank:</b> Seamus? Seamus who?</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Mikio: </span><span style="color: #f4cccc;">*</span><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Enzeru. I'm sure you must have
heard of him...</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #f4cccc;">*Seamus' original last name, a Japanese word meaning "angel." I've since changed it to Endyrs since it sounds more elven.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b>Nope! Don't know 'im! Now
get outta here!</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well then, I'm afraid that’s your mistake. You
see, this is his cabin; and if you don’t know him, that makes you unlawful
tenants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b>-laughs- What else is new?!?
Don’t mean nothin’ to us!</span><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It means... * kicks down the
door, drawing my katana as I enter the cabin* I'm here to evict you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Dank has fallen backwards, and
he is sitting on the floor looking up at Mikio in surprise. There are three
bandits playing cards in one corner, and the "boss" is sitting on the
bed, awakened by all the commotion.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> All of you. Out. Now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>One of the bandits playing cards looks
over at Mikio.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Bandit 1: </b>What’s it to ya?!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Boss: </b> The time for talking has ended. –tosses a
dagger toward Bandit 1-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Boss:</b> We’re not leaving! -grabs an axe lying on the
floor and charges at Mikio-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Bandit 1:</b> -stands up and lunges at Mikio with the
dagger-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b>-unsheathes his own dagger
and comes at Mikio-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio rolls toward Bandit 1, away from the
other two as his katana glides gracefully towards Bandit 1’s midriff. Bandit 1
slumps to the floor, bleeding.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The two other card-playing
bandits stand up to aid their companion and attempt to fight Mikio with their
fists.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio parries their attempts with his
katana and skillfully swipes at their legs, disabling them for now.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The two bandits fall to the
ground, clutching their bleeding legs in pain, as the third lies on the floor,
unconscious. The "boss" and Dank are the only ones remaining. They
continue in their attempts to kill Mikio with their mediocre weapons.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*stands, ready to defend their
attacks* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Boss: </b>-swings at you with my axe-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">*<u>ducks</u>
under the attack and lunges my katana into your stomach* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Boss: </b> -drops my axe and shakily clutches my abdomen
in pain-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b>Dank: </b> -swipes at your back with my dagger, leaving a
long, deep cut-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> F***! >.< *turns and swings wildly,
catching Dank’s neck by sheer luck with my blade* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Dank slumps to the floor, his
neck spraying blood. All the bandits are now dead, leaving quite a mess in the
cabin.</i><span style="color: #a5a5a5; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio drops his katana, staring at the
mess.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mikio: </span></b><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">...Sorry Seamus...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Mikio starts to clean the cabin, dragging
the bodies out into the woods.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: .1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #365f91; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">~~~<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-right: .7pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Again the Aura Mage forms small shards of ice and launch
them towards Lushia, forcing her back. Lushia dives to one side, out of the way
of the attack. She sheathes her daggers as she rolls, then she takes out her
bow and readies an arrow in less than a second.</span></i><span lang="EN"> <i>She holds her breath, then fires the arrow into the
Aura Mage's leg.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Aura Mage
stumbles a little as she attempts to regain her balance. Wisps of vapor start
to flow from the wound, and water droplets begin to condense around the arrow.
She grasps the arrow in her hand and a puff of fog lifts from the arrow as it
freezes over. She snaps the shaft and tosses it aside. Bringing her attention
back to Lushia, she reaches out, forming a throwing spear of ice as she takes a
hold of it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Mage hurls
the spear at Lushia in hopes that it would distract her as she begins to form
spheres of ice and send them outwards forming a circle around the two of them.
Lushia crosses her daggers right where the spear was going to land, blocking
the blow. The Mage forces the spheres to move inward as they begin to erupt
outward, sending ice shards everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Lushia covers
her face once again with her arms, getting small cuts everywhere but her face
and neck. The Aura Mage turns the remaining shards into mist, making visibility
more difficult. Lushia gets down on her hands and knees, where the mist is the
thinnest, and searches for a stick of some sort.</span></i><span lang="EN"> <i>She finally finds one under a frozen tree, and pulls
out some flammable cloth from her pocket, wrapping it around one end of the
stick. Taking out a match, she lights it and sets the end of the cloth ablaze.
She swings the homemade torch around to evaporate much of the mist.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Mage
retreats slightly backwards, away from the blaze. Since the mist is still
clouding her vision, Lushia listens for the Mage’s movements, and then sets the
torch between a forked branch of a tree (once that's far enough away from other
branches so they don't catch fire). Then she takes out an arrow, wraps
flammable cloth around the head, and aims in her enemy’s general direction with
the torch directly in front of her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The arrow is
ignited as it’s released through the torch, hissing as it flies. It evaporates
the mist it passes through, including the mist around the area where the Mage
stands. It whizzes past her ear, just missing her head.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">In a split
second, Lushia has another arrow readied and aimed at the Mage. She releases
it, this time a bit more accurately, since the previous arrow gave away her
enemy’s position. The arrow hits the Aura Mage in the shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Frost Mage
lets out a short gasp of pain as steam immediately rises from her shoulder.
Almost immediately after she is hit by the arrow, she rips it out, tossing it
on the now damp ground.</span></i><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Lushia fires
another one, hitting her other shoulder.</span></i><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Mage
hurriedly tears the arrow out of her shoulder and retreats behind a few trees
to avoid giving Lushia any more direct shots.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">-shouts-
You give up yet?</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura
Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">I do. Enough with the inferno.</span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">-smiles
victoriously- Alright then. -puts my arrows away-</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Aura Mage of
Frost steps back into the open, steam streaming upwards from her shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">So. Am
I worthy of the power of Frost?</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b><span lang="EN">Aura
Mage: </span></b><span lang="EN">Yes. You have earned the right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;"> -rests her hand upon Lushia’s head- I will now
bestow upon you the power to harness and manipulate Frost. Do you accept?</span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">I
accept.</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><b><span lang="EN">Aura Mage:</span></b><span lang="EN">
Then I bequeath my power to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Mage’s hand
begins to glow and Lushia feels a coolness drape down upon her as the power
within Lushia is unlocked. A sharp chill fills the air.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia:</span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">
-shivers- o_o</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura
Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Now all that’s left is teach you how to harness your new
powers. Your training shall last three days. Are you prepared?</span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Lushia: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: cyan;">Yes, I
am. But first… is there any way to let my friend know that it will take that
long?</span><span style="color: #365f91;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">The Aura Mage presses her
hands together, then slowly draws them apart, generating a sheet of ice and a
pen that resembles an icicle. She reaches out and hands these to Lushia.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Aura
Mage: </span></span></b><span lang="EN"><span style="color: #999999;">Write what you wish to tell him here, and I’ll send a
messenger to deliver it.</span><span style="color: #595959;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">Lushia takes the icy pen and
sheet and starts writing. To her surprise, her message is etched onto the ice
as easily as a pen on paper. She hands it back to the Aura Mage once she is
finished. The Mage holds the sheet up to the sky, and a translucent bird made
of ice swoops down and snatches it in its beak, carrying it off towards Seamus’
cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">They train for three days.
Each day they focused on a different aspect of using Frost magic. On the first
day, they concentrated mainly on the inner harmony between Frost and the mind of
the caster.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">On the second day, they
worked on the connection between the caster’s state of mind and the actual
manipulation of Frost.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN">On the third day, they
practiced the generation of Frost from the air.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .05in; margin-right: .7pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN"><b>Thus ends the story of how
Lushia gained the Power of Frost.<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-82422923895957116052017-10-24T06:55:00.000-07:002021-12-14T01:06:26.470-08:00Rose-Colored Dream Lenses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>This short story focuses on Lushia's affinity for dreams and dreaming. It is based on a dream I actually had--though with camera lens filters; there are no cameras in Vael so spectacles had to do.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.historiceyewearcompany.com/historiceyewear/imgs/552_for%20home%20page_%20colored%20lenses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="552" height="243" src="https://www.historiceyewearcompany.com/historiceyewear/imgs/552_for%20home%20page_%20colored%20lenses.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
A table stood before Lushia, with 6 pairs of spectacles lined up. Her gaze drifted around the room, noticing the deep blue walls of the comfortable living room. There was a cushy-looking couch with three pillows, the one in the center a large black fluff monster with innocently curious eyes. She looked back down at the table, and picked up the first pair of spectacles.<br>
<br>
Instead of a deep blue, the walls appeared purple through the rose-tinted glasses. Everything else looked the same.<br>
<i>Huh...</i> Lushia thought. <i>This is kind of cool.</i><br>
<br>She picked up a green-tinted pair, through which the walls appeared teal: one of her favorite colors.<br><br>As she eagerly held the next pair, she heard a muffled voice echoing. But there was no one in the room but her. There were no doors. Perhaps they had come from the roof, by using a bullhorn to echo their way through the walls? Or maybe the room was paper?<br>
<br>
Lushia's dream bubble silently popped as Seamus' voice rang. The contrast of dreaming--with that sensation of her brain being massaged regardless of its (sometimes weird) content--was highlighted by the clarity and heaviness of being awake.<br>
<br>
Seamus was peeking his head through her bedroom doorway.<br>
<br>
"Come on Lushia, time to get up." he said. "Training starts in one hour."<br>
<br>
Lushia rubbed her eyes. She'd much rather be dreaming.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-21181903576570613112017-09-06T21:51:00.001-07:002021-12-14T01:07:20.847-08:00Clouds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://opengameart.org/sites/default/files/cloud4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="512" height="229" src="https://opengameart.org/sites/default/files/cloud4.png" width="320"></a></div>
<br>
Shira, a little white-haired fairy girl, looked up at the sky with her big blue eyes. The clouds drifted by like pillows on a steady ocean. Shira's heart fluttered with excitement--those clouds were just what she was looking for!<br>
<br>
She plodded across the patchy yard in her bare feet towards an old shed, the edges of her short periwinkle gown waving in the wind. With enthusiastic force and a satisfying "thunk," Shira shoved the shed's sliding wooden door open. Using all the strength of her three foot height and spaghetti arms, she dragged a rusty ladder across the shed floor and into the middle of the yard.<br>
<br>
Climbing up the ladder, she stood clumsily at the top as she groped her little hands at the clouds.<br>
<br>
"Not high enough!" she exclaimed in frustration.<br>
<br>
She looked down at the ladder, and positioned herself carefully. Looking back up at the clouds, she bent her knees for one enormous hop to reach them. In horror, she felt her foot slip as it landed on the ladder, but she felt strong arms catch her before she could shout.<br>
<br>
"What are you doing, Shira?" asked her guardian Hiro, with a chuckle.<br>
<br>
"Catching marshmallows!" Shira replied. "I wanted to make s'mores..."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-64950161754381788542017-08-23T23:27:00.001-07:002017-08-24T14:20:58.252-07:00Lushia's Sanctuary<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Zu3vZSVNGuah48ZPWG38nAbGizdSx8vknDptzeOneyANPXxJQAt31Uf6lFwuIXg23l1zaBCO3xUC5i2JKNfsKjRGQUbdvuO7S98Py3nIF4B5dR-0zx8oANxUNumrrFr8XPzpkiEzlof/s1600/09132eddbf4cc6e66858ce65e002eb7a.jpg" style="display:none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar below for ambient music.</i></span><br />
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QsTezaWM2BY?rel=0" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqpqdbXqaBn0sYLpUjevQLkVoyg8FCR7n-3lnCV88mwfDsDuXw51UgVl01uuUpDe2H8JrvsATee4lJVDxVgshrMt0zjKih_6Gb9pWX9QZEk9jPa-BkG50G3U1ewJ1Ev6DbrYoJ-P2MJDm/s1600/854a30d22f913b48cb63537c877d64cd--eye-art-beautiful-eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqpqdbXqaBn0sYLpUjevQLkVoyg8FCR7n-3lnCV88mwfDsDuXw51UgVl01uuUpDe2H8JrvsATee4lJVDxVgshrMt0zjKih_6Gb9pWX9QZEk9jPa-BkG50G3U1ewJ1Ev6DbrYoJ-P2MJDm/s400/854a30d22f913b48cb63537c877d64cd--eye-art-beautiful-eyes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Lushia stopped pacing, but her heart wouldn't follow. It fluttered uncomfortably like a bird in her chest, and she felt disorientingly light, as if she might float away and get lost in the dark sky. She felt scared, and she wish she knew why.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuKk-nduz_8-uSMWd2-zML8TZ9BkECx7Y7Hod-fZ5NdNNPuaUQPLCr_SNdlwq1KN1hmJbEZ4QTz-7N2qSkn9Lftd-iIdX7SklqiZ4pf2jRXWGs01KZeKl45nBOdQu_kCKj-zUdeXaZHi9/s1600/looping+tunnel.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="499" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuKk-nduz_8-uSMWd2-zML8TZ9BkECx7Y7Hod-fZ5NdNNPuaUQPLCr_SNdlwq1KN1hmJbEZ4QTz-7N2qSkn9Lftd-iIdX7SklqiZ4pf2jRXWGs01KZeKl45nBOdQu_kCKj-zUdeXaZHi9/s320/looping+tunnel.gif" width="320" /></a>Something in her mind finally clicked, and she laid down on her bed instinctively. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths to slow her heartbeat. Her muscles relaxed, one by one, and the world started to fade away as she felt a pressure between her eyebrows. It felt as if she was speeding smoothly down a narrow tunnel in her head, leaving her worries behind for a higher realm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sound of a gently flowing creek was her anchor, and she focused calmly on the sound as the rest of her senses returned. She felt wet dew and prickly grass on her skin, and the cold earth beneath her. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fz2CZaCR7TmA1u_ZlVeT2-d2Sb1EiilarYiTUHYa1LkZIgC-y5B5r_t9xKBT0SJKGGDwbmPe09L0JQJ3deTW9gKdxChRwxGLG5fwqIYxtXZ9J-F8ltE_6I6s4AoqdoU4svz1AeVwW4cT/s1600/861225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="730" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fz2CZaCR7TmA1u_ZlVeT2-d2Sb1EiilarYiTUHYa1LkZIgC-y5B5r_t9xKBT0SJKGGDwbmPe09L0JQJ3deTW9gKdxChRwxGLG5fwqIYxtXZ9J-F8ltE_6I6s4AoqdoU4svz1AeVwW4cT/s400/861225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The air was crisp and fresh, and the smell awoke a primal feeling within Lushia. She opened her clear blue eyes to gaze upon a thousand stars draped in whispy scarves of violet and sapphire.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB5iDlhL1__tw9rim1U1DsNd21Wj8gcdWovXFT8Tv8tDQXBeQxUYDkEvdfzM5wsStsWntB6GKTF0fFRmFd9LHgEV6ySYCCOvNWojGPrlQxl8U7gvUp8gzAmxkqT2PEQRbzJjlzNmZ1O1I/s1600/Beautiful+night+sky+purple+blue+violet+sapphire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB5iDlhL1__tw9rim1U1DsNd21Wj8gcdWovXFT8Tv8tDQXBeQxUYDkEvdfzM5wsStsWntB6GKTF0fFRmFd9LHgEV6ySYCCOvNWojGPrlQxl8U7gvUp8gzAmxkqT2PEQRbzJjlzNmZ1O1I/s640/Beautiful+night+sky+purple+blue+violet+sapphire.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
She coaxed herself up gently, vividly aware of her breath and the softness of her body. Propping herself up with her hands behind her, feeling the grass between her fingers, she marveled at the feeling of preciousness and clarity. This was where she wanted to be.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Zu3vZSVNGuah48ZPWG38nAbGizdSx8vknDptzeOneyANPXxJQAt31Uf6lFwuIXg23l1zaBCO3xUC5i2JKNfsKjRGQUbdvuO7S98Py3nIF4B5dR-0zx8oANxUNumrrFr8XPzpkiEzlof/s1600/09132eddbf4cc6e66858ce65e002eb7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1024" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Zu3vZSVNGuah48ZPWG38nAbGizdSx8vknDptzeOneyANPXxJQAt31Uf6lFwuIXg23l1zaBCO3xUC5i2JKNfsKjRGQUbdvuO7S98Py3nIF4B5dR-0zx8oANxUNumrrFr8XPzpkiEzlof/s640/09132eddbf4cc6e66858ce65e002eb7a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-65546728355606940422017-07-19T22:14:00.000-07:002017-07-19T22:14:48.869-07:00The Goddess of Pain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The door opened, streaming light into the darkness. No sound was heard but the ambient hum of silence. The room smelled like blood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the edge of the light, I spotted what appeared to be iron bars. I opened the door a bit further and saw a tall iron cage, with a top that came to a lavishly embellished point. Masks of many expressions hung from nails all around the cage.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99wPRnLC2PFt3vMEKusTnuULEECsNRYQ13gkoy6_F0ocEOCWzW8jByx2s5oaC2g6_BB-jQeyjF383xyu0NRd1b2Hufcf3LRqBvLKSfofmexCmNYGtk2vQsFTPjAyctL1Vr7rUkfsoD368/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="932" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99wPRnLC2PFt3vMEKusTnuULEECsNRYQ13gkoy6_F0ocEOCWzW8jByx2s5oaC2g6_BB-jQeyjF383xyu0NRd1b2Hufcf3LRqBvLKSfofmexCmNYGtk2vQsFTPjAyctL1Vr7rUkfsoD368/s640/Untitled-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Inside the cage was a pale young woman, her thin black hair draped over her shoulders and flowing down to the floor. She wore a tattered dress of pale blue, and she sat upon an old wooden box with a worn out word I couldn't quite make out.</div>
<br />I was greeted by a smiling, pleasant mask as she turned to face me. Her hair was flat against her head, framing her delicate face. She placed one bony hand over the mask and started to slide it downwards.<br /><br />I caught a glimpse of piercing golden eyes, which seemed to burn like the sun's fire. <br /><br />Her face was revealed as she removed the mask, and my heart stopped. Her mouth was wired shut, bloody and crusted over as if she hadn't opened it in years.<br /><br />I sensed fear in her, but her strength was even louder. The room rumbled as she attempted to smile, her eyes shining with confidence. <br /><br />Curiosity overriding my caution, I slowly approached to get a better look at the word written on the box.<div>
<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUA_D1yV4VtbR5ijLVCQthDbsaqGNjntKLd_Rs3O7hwJqQ2xeB9whZ6zrDWqh0ESKJP3u1p5mVim5-PlH0gbqQdP09vbibYIY_btD6VJyM4MfInKVVUlk77PpRpwg0q9P5xZt1o-EIuA/s1600/Resolve+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="800" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUA_D1yV4VtbR5ijLVCQthDbsaqGNjntKLd_Rs3O7hwJqQ2xeB9whZ6zrDWqh0ESKJP3u1p5mVim5-PlH0gbqQdP09vbibYIY_btD6VJyM4MfInKVVUlk77PpRpwg0q9P5xZt1o-EIuA/s640/Resolve+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Resolve"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-32183132547079920242017-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:002017-07-12T21:50:11.342-07:00Otis the Lotus - Just for Fun[A work in progress, for my silly mood]<br />
<br />
The grass was green--almost too green. Breathing in, Mikio gasped silently at the volume of the air; it felt cleaner than any air in Vael. Was he still in Vael?<br />
<br />
He looked behind him, surprised to see an enormous pink flowerbud the height of a sapling and width of a chubby bear. Its leafy green base was rooted to the grass, pointing in all directions like a compass. Behind it was a pond bordering a cliff face and a waterfall.<br />
<br />
<i>Lushia would love this place... </i>he thought.<br />
<br />
But to Mikio, it looked like a cheesy backdrop.<br />
<br />
Mikio flinched and drew his katana as the flower began to bloom like a lotus. He focused sharply on its center, ready to strike, because who knows what might be in that thing?<br />
<br />
Loud scratchy laughter pierced the air as an old bald man with tiny round glasses turned to face Mikio. He was hovering just above the ground in the lotus position.<br />
<br />
Mikio froze in shock, sword still drawn, his eye twitching.<br />
<br />
"That dream was hilarious!" said the old man, his voice cracking, seeming to not notice Mikio. "I need to write that down--"<br />
<br />
The old man froze and plopped to the ground as Mikio's presence broke his focus. He sat there for a moment, the two of them gawking at each other, and the old man's mouth dropped open as he spoke again.<br />
<br />
"WHO ARE YOU??" he screeched, his spectacles bouncing on his nose.<br />
<br />
Mikio pointed his katana at the old man as he stood up straighter, regaining his composure.<br />
<br />
"I should be asking you the same thing." said Mikio. "Who are YOU, and what is this place??"<br />
<br />
The old man put up one arm in defense.<br />
<br />
"That's not a toy, child!" he shouted at Mikio. "We're not playing Poker so put that poker away!"<br />
<br />
Mikio's eye twitched again. <i>Who the heck is this guy?</i><br />
<br />
"Fine..." Mikio replied, cautiously lowering his weapon. "Who are you?"<br />
<br />
The old man cleared his throat and returned to his hovering lotus position.<br />
<br />
"Otis." he said simply. "Otis the Lotus."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-63647388110245806832017-07-12T19:25:00.001-07:002017-07-12T19:25:36.002-07:00LUSHIA'S CHARACTER - "There's Something About You" - The Natural HealerLushia's presence is very quiet and calming. Because her energy is self-contained, it does not mingle with other people's auras in an intrusive manner.<br />
<br />
Lushia has a positive affect on people who take the time to notice or appreciate her. An agitated person can be calmed by her presence. While she may say awkward or unhelpful things sometimes, her attitude and intentions can affect others positively.<br />
<br />
She is sometimes told that there is "something about her" "something different" or "something unique" about her. But it is never outright explained as it is not specifically defined.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeBIFfSOnQzhIrxVQLILCBeAecnYchBCDzjncgAHYV94nKg2vcVk41t30_5WUYv7RRVkHBiR4EacAK_-J7IvUoHMYTaWuKasBrZh7zh4rKEGMEMNg6Vly2cPiP0Zgh13prxeHThDTQNI1/s1600/hiResSnapshot1_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeBIFfSOnQzhIrxVQLILCBeAecnYchBCDzjncgAHYV94nKg2vcVk41t30_5WUYv7RRVkHBiR4EacAK_-J7IvUoHMYTaWuKasBrZh7zh4rKEGMEMNg6Vly2cPiP0Zgh13prxeHThDTQNI1/s640/hiResSnapshot1_4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Lushiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419945755332779470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-65618905027460990982017-07-11T22:06:00.001-07:002017-07-11T22:06:18.019-07:00The Pale Goddess on the Rock<i>[Description of mental image]</i>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar below for ambient music. Song: "Moon Through the Branches" with vocals by Alyssa Huber/Lushia Kyobi</i></span><br />
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEi15yEzIq8?rel=0" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<br />
On a small rock in the sea stood a bare goddess, her skin pale like ice, her arms wrapped around herself. The ethereal being, though appearing human, revealed no features of human nudity.<br />
<br />
She crouched low, the mist from the tumultuous waters lapping upon the rock, brushing against her knees. Her white-blonde hair floated and twisted about her face as if it had no gravity; it was unaffected by the wind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://galeri12.uludagsozluk.com/513/albino_919422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://galeri12.uludagsozluk.com/513/albino_919422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Her face remained stoic as she held her damp knees to her chest, watching the waves. The pale goddess felt completely serene on that small rock in the sea.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-85846404921258201272017-07-03T22:09:00.000-07:002017-07-03T22:12:35.673-07:00Shadow: Learned Helplessness[Character development and concept exploration]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/38/e4/d2/38e4d2c091ca928a0df818a858bc9768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="734" height="640" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/38/e4/d2/38e4d2c091ca928a0df818a858bc9768.jpg" width="585" /></a></div>
<br />
Shadow awoke on his cot to the feeling of being submerged underwater, yet there wasn't a drop of it nearby. He lifted a pale hand from his side, palm up to feel the air. Nothing was off. But why did his hand feel so heavy?<br />
<br />
His hand started to shake, his vision blurring as his breath quickened. His chest felt as if it was collapsing from the inside. He took a deep, shuddering breath to bring his senses back to normal. He stopped shaking, and while the sinking feeling in his chest ceased, his heart was still pounding.<br />
<br />
Shadow slid his legs over the side of the bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor. He walked over to the windowed wall that overlooked the city, the pattering of his feet echoing slightly in the large room.<br />
<br />
A glass prison. That's what it was. Shadow lifted his hand to place it on the window in longing, but soon let it drop to his side again, silencing the feeling. He felt numb, and yet he wanted to scream, had he the will to.<br />
<br />
There was a creeping feeling of something being bound around his mouth, though there was nothing there. He did not react--it wasn't anything new; he was used to it. Shadow stood there at the window, cloaked in his darkness, no longer seeking an escape.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-20142980761629744302017-06-27T20:48:00.000-07:002017-06-27T20:48:23.532-07:00Shadow - "To Find Rest"[Stream of Consciousness writing exercise: based on current emotion/thoughts]<br />
<br />
Shadow trudged along the landscape, bereft of emotion. He was tired, so very tired, and yet he could not rest. Looking up at the smoky horizon, he could barely make out a silhouette of the town he had been searching for.<br />
<br />
Through his blurring vision, he got a glimpse of the gate before he finally collapsed. As he sank into unconsciousness, he felt his limbs being softly lifted up, his limp body carried.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD7XRZMK3OoPzMZUE0jWGf0B_dg6Am9jz72LBtxiAEZt7gkoHRLazexAOLpHOlbfPlgx8mfoLSaA-HVS5CZOuHTfc_qoGB6UR7LQMklTYhfyutGutAjKQOR3ent1i8HurwW2W3itDmid0/s1600/TESV_Gate_To_Cyrodiil.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1360" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD7XRZMK3OoPzMZUE0jWGf0B_dg6Am9jz72LBtxiAEZt7gkoHRLazexAOLpHOlbfPlgx8mfoLSaA-HVS5CZOuHTfc_qoGB6UR7LQMklTYhfyutGutAjKQOR3ent1i8HurwW2W3itDmid0/s640/TESV_Gate_To_Cyrodiil.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-17448407224863913672017-06-19T21:30:00.001-07:002017-06-19T21:30:29.460-07:00Lushia and Seamus - "Shopping in the Avaelian City"[Character Development Practice, a work in progress]<br />
<br />Seamus glanced at his list one more time before slipping it back into his pocket neatly, and turned his attention back to his surroundings. Left, right, front, back--he checked all angles as a safety measure. It was business as usual in the market district, bustling with people of every race and background. While the vibrance and diversity of the Avaelian City catered to Lushia's endless curiosity, Seamus was always on alert in case of an encounter with unsavory types.<br />
<br />
Lushia stopped in her tracks when something sparkled at a jewelry stall. She floated over to the stall mindlessly to the dismay of several passerby whose path she disrupted. The world around her seemed to fade away as she spotted a blue crystal butterfly pendant on the table. Lushia couldn't take her eyes of it, in spite of the other shiny charms and necklaces around it.<br />
<br />
The stall owner, an old gypsy woman adorned in jewels similar to the ones on the table, took notice of Lushia and smiled up at her from behind the book she was reading.<br />
<br />
"You like that one?" she said in a pleasant voice. "It will bring you tranquility. It's on sale today, too."<br />
<br />
A few moments passed before Lushia responded, her mind transitioning from the deep blue of the butterfly to the sound of the lady's voice.<br />
<br />
"It's pretty..." she replied. "But I'm just looking."<br />
<br />
Lushia felt someone grip her wrist gently, but she wasn't startled. She turned around to see that it was Seamus, his lips downturned slightly in a frown. Anxiousness filled Lushia as she looked at him; his face gave away nothing, equal parts worry and irritation.<br />
<br />
"Don't run off like that." Seamus said firmly. "Stay close to me."<br />
<br />
Lushia wished he would explain what was bad about her stopping at a stall. After all, they stopped at stalls all the time, and he didn't seem angry then.<br />
<br />
"Our first stop is the fruit stall." Seamus told her. "We've gotta get there early, or the reduced produce will be gone."<br />
<br />
While Seamus sifted through the bins of ripe fruit, Lushia focuses on the exotic fruits in the imported bins. One of them was sized and shaped like a carrot, though it was white and swirled like a wet rag being wrung out. It was covered in seeds and had a green stem and thin leaves atop the wide end. It was marked "Faehorn." She didn't know where it came from or what it tasted like, but she was content to just look at it.<br />
<br />
"Do you want a faehorn?" she heard Seamus ask her.<br />
<br />
"Not really." said Lushia. She set it back into the bin.<br />
<br />
"You sure?" Seamus asked. "I can get it for you if you really want it."<br />
<br />
Lushia turned around and shook her head. Why did Seamus think she wanted the fruit after she told him she didn't want it? She looked at Seamus, who glanced down at the two crates of fruit in his arms, then at her. After an awkward silence, handed her one crates.<br />
<br />
"Next is bread, then meat." Seamus said. "Walk in front of me so I can see you, okay?"<br />
<br />
Lushia turned around, but wasn't sure where they were going. She clutched the crate awkwardly and froze up, feeling rushed, and wondered if Seamus was mad at her for not wanting the fruit.<br />
<br />
"That way, towards the big bread sign." Seamus said, pointing to a hanging wooden sign with a loaf of bread painted on it. "Do you see it?"<br />
<br />
Lushia made a beeline for the bread sign, but bumped into someone because she wasn't looking in front of her.<br />
<br />
"Hey!" shouted a gruff voice. "Watch where you're going!"<br />
<br />
Lushia barely processed the face of the orcish merchant before he continued his stroll back to his stall. She felt her face heat up as the crowd in front of her came into focus, and she marched through it towards the bread counter. She took a step back so the merchant wouldn't notice her and speak to her, and waited for Seamus to catch up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-1818796400797616182016-09-25T20:29:00.000-07:002021-12-14T01:17:22.194-08:00The Ascent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A girl with medium length blue hair is curled up in a ball floating in darkness.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar below for ambient music.</i></span><br>
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Yy3wBni08U" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Suddenly, white streams of light wrap around her in a cocoon, warmth spreading, a feeling of opening up, being able to hear again.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHleCzAw5oYS6hlPdu5YWxw73_WWx7mSaKgooX6G1u-NSakMCap3f3rhNeZMRtSu_JWQLbnM5eGzh3qNXkKrnXSbwzlZvYhnitwpxTJKXH0Kj2XsFIZFA2bnLM47e8WE2sc1QAd3gNIs5/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHleCzAw5oYS6hlPdu5YWxw73_WWx7mSaKgooX6G1u-NSakMCap3f3rhNeZMRtSu_JWQLbnM5eGzh3qNXkKrnXSbwzlZvYhnitwpxTJKXH0Kj2XsFIZFA2bnLM47e8WE2sc1QAd3gNIs5/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The girl's wings, once shrouded in the dark, sheds its blackened scaly layer and the pieces fly off into the dark, revealing crystal feathers.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEcBZ-ju87q-wMWsLm7sSsxaq9mHS0VwP5-VSIXoaW2N_VcaqPw4t73XTZxsxVeAacmy4HEJZJJvc5zz6bGlFykvqi6uYpnlMQEWxxH_KC0-C5kvKaLDz9UoAXvvllXhxKL2w6y1wLqPx/s1600/AnimeAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEcBZ-ju87q-wMWsLm7sSsxaq9mHS0VwP5-VSIXoaW2N_VcaqPw4t73XTZxsxVeAacmy4HEJZJJvc5zz6bGlFykvqi6uYpnlMQEWxxH_KC0-C5kvKaLDz9UoAXvvllXhxKL2w6y1wLqPx/s320/AnimeAngel.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
She sobs, her cries like a beautiful melody, her tears covering the darkness with fractured images of nature and daylight ballooning into view as she floats upward, carried by the streams.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-78622575314271094652016-07-02T20:52:00.007-07:002016-07-03T07:10:31.529-07:00The Queen of an Empty World<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am a Queen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know it, because in quiet moments, I can feel my wings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have an inner serenity. But it's sometimes hard to find, because this world wears me down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are so many people, and so many wonderful things on this Earth, but I still feel empty sometimes. I feel lonely and anxious. Nothing satisfies me. Not even time with my love... I wish I knew what to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will my life always be this way? Will there always be a heaviness upon me? I hope it's not true...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to be a Queen again. I want to go back to my world. But as long as there is a single tiny task, anything to grab my attention, I am stuck here. I keep reaching for things on this plane of existence, grasping them as if my life depended on it, and yet they keep slipping through my fingers. I can never fully be aware in this reality. My origins are far away from here.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiz63q3ZZSX0E5yDecYwlVC6XdgbSsmifv09rWlIJvIjz5xwZuCbrYGOdu7HDT4wSAp5sOmhb_Bi73OyA3GUfLa0fdZoHoW6_zaBgppO2ISYcsxgapYkJ4waETl70zDlVRKspMsW_dmci/s1600/hiResSnapshot1_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiz63q3ZZSX0E5yDecYwlVC6XdgbSsmifv09rWlIJvIjz5xwZuCbrYGOdu7HDT4wSAp5sOmhb_Bi73OyA3GUfLa0fdZoHoW6_zaBgppO2ISYcsxgapYkJ4waETl70zDlVRKspMsW_dmci/s320/hiResSnapshot1_5.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Roleplay between Queen Lushia and her Knight Odvocar, immediately following this piece of writing:</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia
Kyobi: Let's go to Vael.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: Okay, Love.</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia
Kyobi: -holds out my hand towards you, my hair turning blue, my eyes reflecting
the glow that appears around us-</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: -takes your
hand in mine, and smiles slightly at you.-</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-everything fades to white in a flurry of feathers, and we suddenly appear in
the ruins of the Angel's Temple-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar below for ambient music.</i></span><br />
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FM9l0ceIbKA?rel=0" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzq3_sX1Qs0sWP7pBwLPtUCmr-rp5UPmUJmHoqCL1GqyrtBXdd_T6s8erkto-rIzbwuj2_kuX2yzL8wO6E08ymE_wtex5znHJuBYVjbpcP4Qmpep-7Pau7ge6GkL3KpAy7TVn-Mu8dqom/s1600/Sanctuary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzq3_sX1Qs0sWP7pBwLPtUCmr-rp5UPmUJmHoqCL1GqyrtBXdd_T6s8erkto-rIzbwuj2_kuX2yzL8wO6E08ymE_wtex5znHJuBYVjbpcP4Qmpep-7Pau7ge6GkL3KpAy7TVn-Mu8dqom/s640/Sanctuary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />Lushia:
I have to hold on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">-our
surroundings glitch a little-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
This world is stabilized only by my energy. It has to be particularly focused,
inspired, and free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-walks across the chipped stone tiles that make up the floor, towards a
crumbling throne, my long blue dress rustling behind me.-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-the pale blue of the weathered dress, with an ivy-like layer of fabric over
top of it, shines dully in the moonlight through the ceiling as I reach the
throne, and sit down, my movements being the only sounds in the empty hall-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: -Approaches
the throne quietly, not wanting to disturb you, and kneels before you.-</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-You are adorned in a suit of armor fitting to your spirit, the colors of the
earth and your aura, with the strength of steel. I look upon you favorably, yet
my face is without expression-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-Releases my aura and allows it to travel down my arm, towards you slowly, its
blue glow illuminating the hall lit by moonlight. My aura reaches you, touching
your shoulder gently, and it slowly wraps around you in a loose embrace,
glowing brighter in approval-</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar -looks up at
you protectively, but ultimately powerless.- I wish I could do more for you,
milady.</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
Do you swear to always be by my side?</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: Always, my
Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
Then you do enough for me. Your loyalty, your service, and your love is all I
need from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
I want you to be my protector, and my lover.</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: Yes, my
Queen. Your wish is my command.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-holds out my hand, my aura leaving you to beckon you closer-</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: -approaches
you slowly, and takes your hand.-</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-our surroundings flicker, as if beginning to wake from a dream, and I hold
your hand as I pull you close to me, close enough to whisper in your ear-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
My heart is yours.</span><span style="color: #558ed5;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Odvocar: And mine is
yours...</span><span style="color: #77933c;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Lushia:
-I place my hands on your shoulders, and kiss your lips gently, as the Temple
hall begins to fade away.-</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2666810753578848769.post-86484930131777840402016-04-27T22:00:00.001-07:002016-04-29T14:55:29.567-07:00Time Doesn't Stop for UsAs I make plans to write Vael as a book, I will try to put some of my writing snippets on this blog. They may or may not be from the actual Vael stories... sometimes I like to just write my thoughts in short story form. Anyway, this is one I wrote just now.<br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click the black bar below for ambient music.</i></span><br />
<div style="height: 25px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 267px;">
<div style="left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -276px;">
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXJOu61U9Do?rel=0" width="300">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<br />
"TIME DOESN'T STOP FOR US"<br />
<br />
Lushia stepped carefully across the smooth stones of the stream, which were cold against her bare feet. She hopped to the other side, landing on the prickly grass, and let out a soft sigh. It was a nice day; sunny, warm, and slightly breezy.<br />
<br />
"Lushia." a gentle voice uttered from nearby.<br />
<br />
"I don't want to go yet, Seamus..." Lushia replied, turning around to look at her friend.<br />
<br />
To Lushia, Seamus appeared strong, yet gentle. His skin was a tad darker than hers, and it gleamed in the sun. His brown hair floated about in the breeze.<br />
<br />
"I know, Lu..." said Seamus, his green eyes flickering with empathy. "But time doesn't stop for us. We have to keep going."<br />
<br />
He held out his hand. Without looking back, Lushia took it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAwpdwu3LS9VZjVL6vWh6UT_8o_vQEirW8eaOu-ifdL0ypKg7Wn5SWQaJzytjHNYpDkjwLNDA2dkJjgoBcZHsyoZ_PhQi7baD2nAo2eW63cujECriZZEm3ZeEiVXdKtmihK_qF_EpW4LM/s1600/Fantasy+%252820%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAwpdwu3LS9VZjVL6vWh6UT_8o_vQEirW8eaOu-ifdL0ypKg7Wn5SWQaJzytjHNYpDkjwLNDA2dkJjgoBcZHsyoZ_PhQi7baD2nAo2eW63cujECriZZEm3ZeEiVXdKtmihK_qF_EpW4LM/s640/Fantasy+%252820%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0