“So, unlike this ring where seasons are yearly, on Tellus they have a tropical climate year round, and on Terra we have all four seasons plus tropical climate happening at once in five different sectors,”
“mhmhmm
Interesting, very interesting…” Pinoki murmurs listening to every word Shiryu lectures with,
“What else do you want to know,” Shiryu smirks quite pleased that there was someone willing to listen to his babbles
“Tell me more about this ocean,
How long does it span?
How deep does it go?
Is there treasure to be found?”
“Err, well, I’ve never been myself, all I know is what I was taught.”
“You do know a great deal as is and to think there is probably so much neither of us know,
Gahh! Why am I so cursed to be trapped in places, first Soterra now here, an adventure awaits that I so desperately yearn.”
“Aren’t you being a little too passionate?”
(There’s nothing really special about general exploration)
“Of course not, if you loved something then it’s a given that you be incredibly passionate about it.”
(Love)
“How does one love an act or concept?”
“Your asking me? I would have thought that out of all the many things you know that particular subject would be one.”
“….
They don’t teach love…”
“Well I can’t either.” Pinoki shrugs becoming disinterested in the conversation now,
(Great, another piece to add to large jigsaw puzzle that is love….)
…
“Are you two done?” grumbles Aki who is still drained and hobbling behind tiredly, along with Claude…
“Sorry, I forgot about you.” Shiryu slips into her arms
“You know what to do by now…”
….
….
….
“Is there something else I need to know about you two?” Pinoki side eyes the pair as they detach from embrace
“No,” Aki replies blankly
“It’s a ritual of sorts….
My strength is restored anyway, how close are we to your base?”
“Close.” Pinoki says while casting a glance in Claude’s direction
“Shiryu tired to do that with me as well, but it didn’t work, I don’t really get it either.” The young man answers
“Ok…..” the little man mumbles
….
And with that the talk ends, and the group pushes through the fog back to city’s center and then south west
This section of Furlheim although not as damaged or missing buildings like the others, is naturally bland and rugged tall ugly unpainted brick structure come into view as the foursome trudge quickly through,
“Your hideout is in order territory?” Claude familiar with the city identifies it at once
“Its the safest place in this city,”
Graauugghh!
Some menacing growls come from a building they pass
“Safe?” inquires Shiryu alluding to the zombofied growls
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Most of the buildings in this part of Sweepstake are prisons, regular cells and magic holdings, the order is the faction that use to be responsible for maintaining the peace here…” explains Claude
“We, well I tried my best to lock away as much ‘turned’ people as I could,” Pinoki takes over
“But you don’t have to worry about what’s in those,
Here we are finally…”
Looming into sights through the fog are massive steel spiked gates, with tall, also spiked, iron plated walls, the stretch long and far off into a fog,
At the top of the gates is a named cured into the steel itself
Furlheim Asylum
“This is your base, an asylum?”
“It’s the most fortified building here that wasn’t taken into the sky,
Don’t touch the gates, they’re laden with lighting crystals that will paralyze you on contact,” informs Pinoki while conjuring a shadow hand to push the steel barrier open,”
The four quickly slip into the spacious grassy compound in which at it’s rear a large school-like building stands,
Rays of light stream out of it’s windows, basking down onto the grass below,
Bongg♪
A bell sounds off the moment the gate closes behind them and a beam light shines down on the party
“What is all of this?” Aki who has some blades out uses them to shield her face,
“Relax miss Aki, these are just security measures not an ambush,” assures Pinoki leading them up the path and to the asylum…
......
…..
…
“Took your sweet time to get here chief.” A familiar voice speaks, the person exiting the building to meet the group about to enter
“Surprised you’re not dead Natsu,” Aki finally puts away her weapons
“If I died then you would have lost your strongest warrior,”
“Are the others well?” Aki ignores that statement
“If you call this powerlessness being well, then yes,
Ah, I see the beast and my student has survived also,” Natsu spots Shiryu and Claude
“Master Natsu I never skipped a day of training even under these conditions” Claude informs with a respectful tone
“Good that’s the passion I want from all my me–”
“–Out the way,” Aki shoves him, as he stood directly in front the doorway
The group enters an uninviting room of bland unpainted colonial brick, walls that are chipped and cracked, white lights of magic crystals on the stone ceiling illuminate the faded dark red stains of blood, and chains hanging off the walls,
There is—
Fwickk!
An arrow comes whizzing across the room to Shiryu’s skull!
“awa–what the hell!?” The projectile hits it’s target but has no effect on his tough scales,
“What are you thinking bringing that beast in here!“ a unfamiliar voice barks
“Get that monster out of here right now!
Are you trying to compromise the safety of everyone in here!?”
…...
…...