Friday, September 26, 2008, 8:50 PM
FLASHBACKS [1]
Flashbacks [1] : Shanique
Author's Notes:
A new chapter has begun - Enjoy Flashbacks.
Though the Kingdom has experienced the rise and fall of dynasties, every one of them shared a common goal - to restore the Kingdom of Repran, which existed as a superpower nation before the Great Neosteam Disaster.
The land was split into three parts - Rogwel, Elerd and Taxzn. And in the centre, there was a small island - Rear Land.
- - - -
Central Altar, Dimension Crack
Rear Land
William's Year 638 [Elerd Calendar]
Steam Year 1872 [Rogwel Calendar]
Set 4 years before Episode I
It was there, right before her eyes - the burning red gem was in flames, but frozen in ice. The altar was partially submerged in the river of lava, with a smooth and flat stone surface. A red piece of cloth with yellow trimmings at the side was laid across the centre of the altar. The burning yet freezing piece of gem was placed on top of the cloth.
The altar was the only thing that remained in one piece in that realm.
And it was right there, before her eyes. But she couldn't get to it. She would melt if she stepped into the river of lava. And she'll get burnt by the hotness and coldness if she tried to reach for the red gem. These two problems prevented her from accessing the gem.
Shanique looked around for clues, and found a rock with words engraved on it:
The gem is a key. It unlocks a key that unlocks the gem. The bringer of the key will be protected from what is known as 'hot' and 'cold'.
So, that was it. She was the key to the gem. The gem will unlock her past and present. And that was the reason why she was here - to find out about her past and present.
Shanique dismounted her summoning and approached the bank of the river of lava. She could feel the heat. Taking a deep breath, eyes closed, she took a step forward bravely.
She didn't feel anything, just normal. She opened her eyes, and realized her leg wasn't molten.
She started to feel more confident, and took a step forward again. Gradually, she reached the middle of the river, and stood before the altar.
As her fingers touched the red gem, she heard a roar, followed by several others. She turned around.
They were creatures that were alien to her. Shanique grabbed the red gem and slid it inside her pocket, and escaped a powerful thrust of the creatures' axe.
"Sabre, help!" she cried.
Her summoning rushed to her and she mounted it, making her way to the dimension crack in order to get out of that realm.
But the crack was closing up - at a very fast rate.
- - - - -
He watched her from behind a rock pillar. She was being surrounded by the creatures who had been guarding the altar since long ago.
He had a strange feeling towards this girl. A feeling, that couldn't be explained. She was stunningly beautiful. He could tell that she was a person of high self-esteem.
But there, she looked so feeble and weak.
He was going to fail his mission.
- - - - -
Shanique was being overwhelmed by the numbers of those creatures. She could not cope with the fierce attacks that came charging towards her. She was injured, tired and weak.
Her vision before her blurred and finally, blacked out.
But before that, she saw a young man, handsome and suave. He withdrew his daggers and slashed the necks of the creatures in one clean sweep. She gave a weak smile and thought to herself, "So... cool..."
And collapsed.
- - - - -
Wail Lakeside, Ganedine Town
Republic of Rogwel
Steam Year 1872
"Jou vokex jup?" he asked.
Shanique didn't quite understand what he said. She was gaining consciousness of her surroundings. At the same time, she wanted to get up.
"Hej, son't move aroune too mucp" he said with concern.
She then realized that she was in Rogwel. "Get away, Rogwel! You're my enemy!" she said in English, the invented language which was to be used when both nations wanted to communicate.
"Hey, I mean no harm," he replied in the same language.
"Lies! All of you, are all liars!" cried Shanique, who then scurried to find her precious red gem. She dug her pockets and felt the shape of it. She took it to check whether it was for real, that it was still with her.
The red gem shone light in her face. And she heaved a sigh of relief, and cried, with the red gem held closely to her face.
Shanique calmed down and looked at the man again, and said, "You're the one... You're the who saved me back there..."
"Yes, I am," he replied.
"Why?"
"I..." He paused. He smiled, and continued, "Well, you looked like you needed help..."
"Why were you there? It was a dangerous place. And... how did you get me out of there? The crack was sealed up..."
"The crack sealed up because you took the gem, a totem of that place. To unseal the crack, we had to kill the guards."
"But you still haven't answered me - why were you there?"
He turned away and looked up on the ceiling. He pondered, and decided to tell her.
"I was sent by the Republican military to asssassinate you and retrieve the gem. Since you were the only one who could gain access to the gem, I had to wait till you got it."
Shanique's eyes widened.
"Then... You're gonna kill me now?"
"No..."
"I will not let you!" screamed Shanique anxiously. "It is my everything! My foster faster died... I no longer have anything left... He told me that the gem will tell me of my past and present..."
And she broke down in tears once more...
- - - - -
The both of them sat at the lakeside, enjoying the scenery. The reflection of light from the Sun made the surface of the lake glitter like gold. Shanique gazed into the lake, thinking of her life.
"How are you getting along? Any better?" he asked.
"Yep, definitely better... Thanks for taking care of me these few days..." she said.
"Oh yes... We've been knowing each other for a few days now, and we still don't know each other's names..."
"You don't know mine? I thought your superior sent you to kill me."
"Well, yea... But they only mentioned 'a girl who was able to unlock the gem'. That's all... No names."
Shanique laughed. "Ha, I see... I'm Shanique. You?"
"I'm Julian. Nice to meet you. And wow, you've got a beautiful name, just like how you look!"
She blushed and was embarrassed to face Julian for a while. He, too, didn't realize what he was saying.
"Oh erm... The flower's there are beautiful! Wanna go...." Julian was interrupted as Shanique suddenly turned to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
Julian was stunned for a moment. Shanique giggled, and asked, "Friends?"
"Oh.. erm..." replied Julian, recovering from his shock, "Sure, I'll be very glad to!"
- - - - -
[ to be continued... ]
Episode II
Flashbacks
Posts!
Author's Words [1]
Road to War [1]
Road to War [2]
Road to War [3]
Road to War [4]
Road to War [5]
Road to War [6]
Author's Words [2]
Flashbacks [1]
Flashbacks [2]
Flashbacks [3]
Flashbacks [4]
Flashbacks [5]
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