Before me they stood. One. Tye. Three. Locke…

The city was new but old. Only a few generation’s stories had passed since the schism. Enough to separate but not that much time at all. Nora was of a generation past the great battles and theatrics. Barbarism you’d call it. Fighting to the death. For land, honor, glory?

She knew in her heart the truth of it. This world. There were others. That place she’d been. What she’d seen. It stung her to her core because no one is prepared to experience truth so profound as to find yourself before absolute undiluted truth. It was toxic for anyone and anything. Makeup words, distill it. Just waisted time really. Thinking too close. Too full. Too true. It was like water too pure it’d pull in what it could. Disguise itself and become invisible again to those unable to see…

_________________________________________________

Nora-

The estates and homes and businesses all sprout out from the statue figures carved out of the solid marble edifice. Smoothed and refined into homes and things while also being what makes up the statue of their fallen leader.

The fog had begun to leave as they sit at a particularly prominent point. I freeze in acknowledgment when I notice where we are. The sun in our sky seems to have grown in power and in doing so has it begun to melt away the fog in such a way to reveal the entirety of Jousle. It was beautiful, tragic, awe inspiring, it reflected the light as if made not in stone but of gold. 

“This is amazing” Corin declares aloud standing at a ledge overlooking the view.

“We’re about mid buckle down. My families estate is by the feet of her lady.” Nora notes a bubbling of pride perhaps returning? Returning… A focus fell upon her, entangled her heart as she calculated from memory her steps she’d so drunkenly taken. It’s strange while she does feel the haze of being drained it never seems to grow deeper. Every point at which you might think you’re supposed to succumb it returns to a just manageable amount. As if a beating of a heart has once again begun to start.

“I’m okay, I think..” I reply.

“You think, huh?” Tye responds with a peculiar look on his face as I grasp his hand. He pulls me up to measure our surroundings as it reveals itself. “This all is pretty strange I’ll give you that but I’m looking for some more confidence from you… uhm lord summoner?”

The group looks to him with the same perplexed expressions each maneuvering their limbs in calculation as we descend down the vine locked pathways. Marble broken to floor. Which has been buried under debris. The soot and soil we stand upon can only be what remains…

“I mean, is there like a certain way I’m supposed to address you or something bad might happen?” He finishes.

“I…” I catch myself, the thoughts of tragedy pouring through my mind are forced back before I can continue. “I am a Lady, thank you and am to be addressed with the proper respects.” I acknowledge him. Our eyes catch for a moment and I’m forced to look away from that torrent of saturated blue. Every time I try to lock eyes onto the creature I feel a hypnosis kick in. Strong magic. undeniable. I’ve no idea how to repel it. All I can do is not look directly into those eyes. “This is my people’s home, the great metropolis city built within a goddesses’ garden. An oasis of salvation. She took my people in when we were cast out during the schism.”

“That sounds really complicated.” Tye exhales. 

“Schism?” Locke interjects.

“My people were slaves to a mighty race of Deities. They bent the elements to their will and us too. My great ancestors fought alongside our saviors Lady Olcan and her warrior king to free us.” I point to the cliffs above to our lady’s chin carved out of the cliff face. “She was a summoner like me and with her strength they were able to flee into the untamable lands beyond their reach.”

“That’s all grand, well and fine but this isn’t some small cottage by the lake it’s a fuckin metropolis carved into the side of a mountain.” Tye states looking upon Jousle from his choice view.

I can’t say I know what a metropolis is but I can admit from this vantage you can see Jousle in all it’s lost glory. It was a vast city. Every part of it built into the stature and cliffs. What was not overgrown by vines and covered in burned debri that is… even still.

“I’ve never actually seen it I’ve only heard stories and what the scrolls and codex tell me it was like. I am as taken aback by all this as you.” I confessed. “The fog hid everything beyond our walls and gates and only the stories we held knew the truth of it. Passed down from my elders.”

“So you’re kinda in the same boat as us huh?” Corin spoke up with a chuckle. “It’s all new to you too, this world?”

“Don’t you fuckin start talking.” Tye lashes out. 

“What did I do?” Corin demands.

“Are you really Corin? I’m not so sure…” Tye accuses turning his back to her. 

“Dude, I’m me, I promise. I can tell you something only the both of us would know if you want.” Corin replies as she grabs Tye’s arm. Tye looks as if he’s disgusted by the contact and squirms away.

“Alright, then what happened when the car hit..” Tye demands but is cut off by Locke and restrained by Brent.

“Tye that doesn’t prove anything that’s not how you ask those types of questions. Idiot.” Locke says as he steps between the two. Looking Corin in the eye for a moment he leans in and whispers something discreetly into her ear. Corin for her part turns pale and then hangs her head before replying back her answer in a whisper.

“Mmmmhmmmmmm” Locke acknowledges as he shakes his head and pretzels up in visually deep thought. “Yes, interesting… I knew it.”

“Wait. What? Locke what did she say?” Tye demands trying to squirm out of the giants grasp. Brent appearing to be just as intrigued to hear himself. 

“She said she was the one who threw the milk jug at Brent’s face and ran into Gwen. So it’s her fault we got blitzed at the bar.” Locke finishes pushing his glasses back into place.

“Cretin! Chaos! Shenanigans!” Tye lashes out as he shouts these words at her circling her. I’m tempted to step in to calm things but hold my tongue. “You know what you are!?”

“No?” Corin replies

“An idiot.” Tye exclaims

“Why?” Corin complains as she spins in circles.

Tye’s outstretched hand landed on Coirn’s shoulder stopping her.

“Because, you should have told me.” 

“Common, I don’t even know what’s going on you’d of thought I was a crazy person. you’d of sent me to a ward or something. Handed me over to the government so they could do experiments on me. Or worse, you’s send me home to my mom.” Corin complains.

“No. We’d of known dude. We know you. We’d of figured it out.” Tye replies. 

Locke places a hand on Corins head and messes up her hair roughly. “Secrets are for demons, little girl.” There is a darkness coming off him when he says this. A pull. I don’t think anyone else sense’s it. These are my summons. I need to know them. They sound like a family but this one. He troubles me. 

“Stop all this talk, it’s a distraction.” I commanded. “I am a summoner and with my eye I can see who you are.” I declare with confidence.  

“Yeah, but like, are you sure?” Tye complains. 

“I know you by your name. You are bound. There is no possibility that she is someone else.” I will my intention for them to kneel and they do. “See, this is only possible because I know you true. You are bound to me. I to you. Phasing sickness is a symptom of jumping dimensions. I’ve told you this. I haven’t met the male version of Corin yet but I hope him and your female version of Tye will be more agreeable.”

“Fuck I knew it! No!!!!” Tye screams lashing out on the ground. “I know who I am. This isn’t fair!”

“Stop being such a baby!” I demand. “I need soldiers for what must be done. Not some babbling idiot.” I push my will upon him sending his chest to the ground. “You’ve no choice but to serve me so serve me.”

Everyone is taken aback by the display. I am myself taken aback. I’m not this aggressive but this human thing is so annoying. Man child. 

I release my will on them as they all exhale and break their poses. All of them breath deeply it’s as if I was strangling them.  There is a fear in their eyes of me. Maybe that’s a good thing. Let them know it is impossible to go against me. I have the final say. They can’t hurt me. 

“Fuck.” Tye cries.

“That’s intense…” Locke exhales.

Corin exhales deeply shaking while the giant remains silent and unmoved. It is he who collects himself before the others and follows me. There is an uncomfortable silence between all of us as we pass through the metropolis. Following the cutting path of the stream which runs through it and to my estate.

Obstacle 18 - Those that remain