HOME | DD

Description
Chapter One
In the city of Talga, two orphans sit in a dark alley.
\"I think they\'re gone.\"
\"Me too. We got them good, huh?\"
\"Yeah, yeah. Let\'s get some light, eh?\"
\"K. Sarta litoe!\" A great light burst out of the fingertips of one of them, revealing both of their figures. The caster of the light is Ryan Trelas, a blue-eyed, messy haired blonde, and poorly dressed teenager. Across from Ryan, the emerald eyes of Cid Daenagard sparkle from they\'re recent theft.
As the light began to fade, Ryan and Cid left the alleyway and walked down the street. They turned into an old, deserted alleyway. It was a complete wreck from the many years of wear.
\"Hurry up Ryan, let\'s get inside!\" yelled Cid. Ryan turned halfway through the alleyway.
\"Aurore Apen!\" The secret words made the wall start to move apart. A secret passageway was revealed. The two quickly scurried through, and shut the gateway behind them.
As they reached the inner chamber, Cid yawned. He walked over to a side of the room with beds. \"Wake me up in a few hours,\" said Cid.
\"Sure.\" Ryan walked to the other side of the room. He pulled out a necklace from under his shirt. On it was a small diamond. He closed his eyes and tried to visualize his lost parents, to no avail.
Ryan sighed and tucked the necklace back under his shirt. Why did they abandon me? Ryan walked over to his bed, and laid down. I wonder if they were important people... thought Ryan while he drifted off into a slumber. * * *
Where am I? thought Cid. This doesn\'t look like our pad... He was at a crossroads, one leading into a dense forest, the other leading to a long desert. Guess I\'m supposed to choose a path? He took a step towards the desert, then remembered about the blazing heat. He turned into the forest. He walked down the path. A silhouette jumped across his path. The next second, Cid found a dagger inside his chest.
Cid jerked suddenly upright, just as quickly as the figure had wiped Cid from existence. Damn dreams...
Cid looked over and saw Ryan in his bed, and then went back to sleep.
Chapter Two
\"AH!\" a teenage girl screamed as she sat up. She was on a rocky pedestal, and she was wearing a white loincloth. She had eyes that shined like the sea, and her hair was as fragrant as the skies. Where am I? She thought.
She looked around and started trying to remember things. Let\'s see here...my name is...ugh...what\'s my name? Oh yea, it\'s Tiara. Tiara what...I dunno... Oh well. I\'ll worry about my last name later. Hmm... I remember a bright light, a strange bright light... It was a deep light...
As she was thinking, a man around the age of 30 wandered in. He was wearing dignified clothes, and had a sword with diamonds and rubies decorated in its hilt. The man noticed her and politely asked, \"Who are you?\"
\"Who are you?!\" Tiara yelled back.
\"Aren\'t we feisty today?\" the man politely responded.
\"Just tell me who you are, or I\'ll burn you to pieces!\" Tiara yelled back threateningly,
\"I am Count Mesas Borinar, a highly respected archer and mage of the Mages\' and Archer\'s guilds,\" responded Mesas. \"Now that I told you who I am, would you kindly tell me who you are?\"
\"My name is Tiara,\" she told him calmly. \"So you\'re an archer?\"
\"Yes, I am, but that doesn\'t really change the current situation we\'re in,\" he replied.
\"Situation?\"
\"That\'s right, a situation. I woke a few pesky monsters when I blew down a wall. They looked like a few wolves, a few giant spiders, and a Notetsu giant.\" In the distance, Tiara heard a sudden crashing noise.
With a loud CRASH, the east wall broke apart and crumbled into billions of tiny pieces. In the hallway were five beasts. Two looked like wolves, only with horns protruding from their heads. Two more looked like giant spiders, only giant spiders looked much more comforting than these beasts. The last one appeared to be a leader, a one eyed Notetsu giant.
\"It seems there are only five left...I suppose they ate their wounded,\" Mesas commented. He pointed his sword at one of the wolves and muttered some inarticulate words. With a big flash, a burst of lightning blasted at one of the wolves, electrocuting it.
\"Wow, a magical sword!\" exclaimed Tiara. \"Hmm...let me try a spell I think I know...Ica Seare!” As she chanted these words, dozens of icy water droplets formed in front of her. They launched themselves at the spiders with deadly speed and accuracy.
As the \"Ica Seare\" launched toward the spiders, they tried to get out the way. They weren\'t fast enough, though. They ended up toppling over each other and taking the brute force head on.
The Notetsu Giant roared in anger, and charged at Tiara with a giant club. The remaining wolf launched itself at Mesas. In response, Mesas tossed his sword aside. He drew some daggers from his belt, and threw them with superb accuracy straight at the wolf. The wolf cried in agony as it was fell to its doom. Mesas quickly dodged out of the way of the dead wolf that was still shooting like a missile.
Meanwhile, Tiara was repeatedly dodging the strikes of the Notetsu Giant. However, Tiara grew tired as each strike came. Mesas saw what was happening and drew out his bow and arrows. \"Burn,\" he uttered and shot an arrow at the giant. The arrow lit on fire as it shot to the giant, and pierced the giant\'s thick skin. The giant fell, and the threat ended a few minutes after it had started.
\"Thank you,\" huffed Tiara wearily. \"You saved my life.\"
\"You saved mine first,\" replied Mesas thankfully. \"If you weren\'t here, chances are I\'d be dead.
\"No problem.. Err... Mister Borinar.\"
\"Haha...Just call me Mesas. Everyone does.\"
\"OK Mesas. Can we leave this place?\"
\"Sure. Follow me.\" Mesas took Tiara\'s small hands and lead her away.
Chapter Three
Raven Djinn was just an ordinary knight out to patrol the streets of Talga. He was just looking for anything suspicious. In particular, he was searching for Ryan and Cid.
Raven was walking down a market street. As he passed a food vendor, he saw a boy about the age of seven pilfer some bread. Too young... he thought. As he continued on, he stopped at a jewelry vendor to buy a diamond for the queen. As he purchased it, he noticed a man about the age of 30 take a necklace. Too old... he thought. As he continued on, he was more stealing events take place. Only one did he stop to investigate. It was because the thief in suspicion looked strongly like Cid Daenagard.
\"Halt!\" shouted Raven. The 15-year-old boy, who happened to be stealing some weapons, started running away. Raven used his mediocre support magic to summon a wall to stop his escape. The boy was knocked unconscious as he ran into the wall. Raven went up to him, took a long, good look at his face and determined that he was not Cid Daenagard. He turned the thief over to the vendor he had stolen from.
It\'s going to be a long day... he thought.
* * *
Ryan and Cid were walking down a market street in their cloaks. Ryan\'s was a ruby red. Cid\'s was an emerald green. They had more sets of cloaks back at their hideout, but these were by far their favorites. They didn\'t wear them all the time, however, because it would give away their identities.
\"Well, where should we go?\" Ryan queried quizzically.
\"I have an idea. We should really get out of this town,\" Cid told him. \"The vendors, shopkeepers, and the Royal Guard are all catching on to us.\"
\"What about all our stuff?\"
\"We try and sell as much of it as we can, then get out of here.\"
\"Right.\"
Cid and Ryan continued walking down the market street. Ryan glanced behind him constantly to see if anyone was trailing them. Cid had his quicksilver daggers ready if danger popped up.
\"Hey, look! A food stand!\" exclaimed Ryan as they came to a food stand with banabobs, tomurrows, and costries.
\"Welcome to Brianna\'s Bakery? Would you like to order anything?\" asked the female vendor. She had splendid blonde hair, amazing green eyes, and wore a beautiful emerald dress, which was peculiar for a vendor.
\"I\'ll have a strawberry tomurrow.\" Ryan told her.
\"I guess I\'ll get a watermelon costry,\" muttered Cid.
The vendor grabbed the tomurrow and the costry from the oven. \"That\'ll be 6 bronze pieces,\" he told them.
Cid reached into his pocket and brought out a silver spatula he had found the other night. \"How bout I give you this, and you give us these foods, and a bag of banabobs?\"
\"Lemme see that,\" she replied impatiently. She inspected them then gasped in surprise. \"This is an impeccably wonderful spatula! I\'ll take it!\" The vendor hastily pulled out a bag and filled it with banabobs. \"There ya go!\"
Cid and Ryan went off with their newest supply of food. As they rushed off, Ryan brushed against a knight. \"\'Scuse me,\" uttered Ryan.
* * *
Raven was walking on the same market street as Cid and Ryan. He just didn\'t realize it. Where is that scoundrel... he thought.
As he was thinking about where to look for Cid next, a young man about the age of 16 brushed against him.
\"\'Scuse me,\" muttered the man.
Whatever...wait a minute...That looked like Ryan Trelas! Cid Daenagard\'s right hand man...Rather, his only man.
\"Stop!\" he yelled at Ryan.
Ryan looked back and saw Raven. He immediately whispered something to Cid and they started trudging faster.
\"They never learn...\" he muttered. \"Go forth, magic wall!\" A wall popped out in front of Ryan and Cid, and they ran smack dab into it. Ryan jumped up, and cast a magical de-spelling spell to get rid of it.
\"I can\'t catch \'em in this armor...Oh well, I can catch \'em anytime I want now that I caught the sense of their auras.\" Raven rubbed a sparkling white gem in his belt.
Chapter Four
Tiara and Mesas were riding in a cart headed for Tresas, the magic city. Mesas was driving the cart, and sitting in front. Tiara was in the cabin, shielded from sunlight and Mesas by red curtains.
\"Perhaps there we will find knowledge of who you really are in my hometown,\" Mesas had told her earlier.
Maybe... she thought. On the other hand, maybe I just don\'t have an identity. Maybe I\'m just one of those unknowns who will never know who they are, where they came from, and what their purpose in life is... Maybe...
\"Tiara! Are you listening to me?!\" Mesas yelled over the curtain.
\"Huh?\"
\"I\'ve been trying to tell you we\'re at my hometown for about a minute now!\"
\"Oh. I\'m sorry,\" Tiara replied. \"I\'m gonna come up.\" Tiara crawled through the curtain onto the carriage and sat herself in the seat next to Mesas. As she did this, the great city of Tresas came into view. It was beautifully decorated with buildings of diamonds and sparkling emeralds. The window curtains were shining deep jade and aquamarine sapphire colors. The corners were hemmed with sparkling pearls and the purest lapis lazuli.
\"It\'s so beautiful,\" Tiara commented dreamily.
\"It is. It\'s my home,\" Mesas replied. As they went through the town, they passed many market stalls and buildings. Among them were the Magic Academy of Garlana and the famed mages\' shop, The Golden Wand. A few minutes later, they stopped at a three-story house and stood out and was the greatest of all the rest. It was known as the Diamond House. Standing next to it were the Emerald and Sapphires Houses, which were only slightly less outstanding than the Diamond House.
\"Welcome to the Diamond House, or as I call it, Home,\" Mesas told her.
Tiara stood speechless as this amazing marvel captured her heart with its great glory. \"Wow.\"
Mesas walked up and unlocked the door with what looked like a Celestial Key. He led Tiara inside and to the guest bedroom. \"You can stay here as long as you want.\"
Mesas then left the room, leaving Tiara to herself. This is amazing! I can stay here as long as I want, he said... OK! I guess I will.
Chapter Five
\"We have to get out of here!\" Ryan was urging Cid to get all his stuff so they could leave the city of Talga. \"We should head for Minaret City! I have a friend there who can help us!\"
\"No offense or anything, but what other friends could you possibly have besides me?\"
\"None taken. Anyway, it\'s my dad\'s old friend, supposedly. He took care of me for a few years, before I came here. Anyway, that knight looked dangerous!\"
\"I dunno... Are we really in danger from one knight?\" Cid was sitting thoughtfully on a couch and planning what they should do next.
\"He was from the Royal Guard! Anyway, I don\'t wanna leave without you, but if I have to, I will!\"
\"OK...sheesh...lemme get my stuff.\" Cid sat up and got off the couch, then headed to the kitchen to collect his belongings.
A half hour later, Cid was ready. \"Let\'s go.\"
\"Right! To Minaret City!\"
The two headed off to the north western town gate. As they approached, they noticed the guard was sleeping, so they slipped by as quietly as possible. They took the high road leading to Minaret City.
* * *
\"We\'ve been walking for hours now,\" Ryan complained sleepily. \"We should get some...\" Ryan yawned widely. \"Sleep...\" Ryan went off the road in search of a place to sleep.
\"Come on...this was YOUR idea...\" Cid muttered softly. Cid followed Ryan off the road and into a slight circle of trees.
\"This place is perfect...\" Ryan told him. Ryan and Cid set up camp, and they went to sleep without so much as another noise.
* * *
Cid was facing a crossroads again. Only this time, there were three paths. One to the desert, one to the forest, and one to the newly added ocean. Not this again...Let\'s see...Not the forest, that wurm would trample me again. Cid looked left and right to decide which path to take. Let\'s try that new path; the ocean.
Cid took the path leading towards the ocean. As he neared it, he noticed something stir in the water. Not another big animal... In fact, it was not a big animal. Rather, it was a small human girl. The girl ran up to him. \"Mister! Mister! There\'s something in the water! Help!\" The girl got behind him.
OK...This is getting creepy... he thought. He drew his daggers anyhow and walked up to the water, when a shark the size of a whale jumped up. He flinched and lost his balance. He regained it after about five seconds, then he slashed at it. He grazed the shark\'s fin, but the shark managed to bite him in half at the same time.
\"AHHH!\" Cid awoke with a scream.
\"Huh? What\'s going on?\" Ryan queried him.
\"Huh?\" Cid thought about his answer for a short moment. \"Nothing.\" he decided to respond.
\"Like that\'s gonna fool anyone.\" Ryan muttered quietly under his breath.
Cid told him to get ready to leave. A half hour later, they set off again for Minaret City. After a few hours, they finally arrived there. To their surprise, the city was as empty as a pharaoh\'s tomb, and it was wrecked even more than a town that was destroyed, rebuilt, then abandoned again. It looked like some force had occupied the town, then left after ripping, breaking, and vandalizing everything in sight.
\"What happened to this place?\" Cid thought out loud.
\"No idea.\" Ryan responded. Ryan walked up to a building cautiously. He opened the door and found the inside was as bad as the outside. Jars were broken and the glass shards were left on the floor. Decaying food was on the counter. The walls were crawling with bugs. Ryan immediately backed out of the building. \"This is bad.\"
\"Yea.\"
The two headed for the central plaza. Miraculously, there were people there. About five scattered around the plaza searching for food.
\"Hey! What\'s going on here?!\" Cid shouted. The people looked at Cid curiously then walked over. One of them, a child the age of 12, spoke to him. \"The Mages\' Guild, attacked our town to get some Flaming Ruby. They didn’t find it, so they put a plague on our village. It’s killing off the weakest of us and making the rest of us weak. They lose all their senses, then die. If you head to West Plaza, you can see some of the most infected people.\"
\"The Mages\' Guild would never do that...would they, Cid?\" Ryan asked.
\"I dunno.\" Cid told him. \"We could give you some food. We have a lot.\"
\"Thank you!\" the boy responded. \"I’m Tito! Tito Mechalore! I’m a swordsman. The ravaging animals are scared of me cause I killed a bird a few weeks ago. We could really-\"
\"Well, we can help you! I\'m a decent magician, and Cid\'s a great fighter! Isn\'t that right, Cid?\" Cid nodded his head dubiously.
\"Thank you!\" Tito replied thankfully.
* * *
The three headed for West Plaza, to look at the infected people.
I hope I can help, thought Ryan. When they arrived at the West Plaza, the few healthy people there looked up sadly.
\"Did something happen!?” cried out Tito nervously.
\"Old man Gamgee has passed away.\" responded one of the women sadly.
\"Wait!\" yelled Ryan. \"Let me try something!\" Ryan ran up to the old man the lady was tending to then chanted some words. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes.
\"Where am I?\" the old man asked. \"Wait...I can talk! I can see! I can hear myself! It\'s a miracle!\"
\"Honey! You\'re alive! Thanks to this young man!\" the lady yelled joyfully.
\"Thank you,\" the old man told Ryan. \"Wait...Ryan, is that you?!\"
\"That\'s right, uncle Gamgee. It\'s me,\" Ryan replied.
\"Thanks, anyway, Ryan! I know this might not seem much, but over in that shop there, with the red roof and sword on the door, is a safe. The combo is 3-26-2. Open it and you\'ll find the object your father and I found on our last hunt; and why the Mages’ Guild attacked us: The Flaming Ruby.\"
Ryan gasped. \"Wasn’t those destroyed?!\"
\"No, just hidden. But I think you should have the Ruby,\" the old man told him. \"I don’t need it anymore, but I have a feeling you will.\"
Ryan went in, opened the safe with the combo the man gave him, and found the magnificent Flaming Ruby. The Flaming Ruby was one of the Ten Gems, the most powerful gems in the world. Among the others were the Shining Diamond, the Flowing Sapphire, the Living Emerald, and the Bursting Lapis Lazuli. Ryan exited the building and went up to the old man. \"I don\'t know what to say...\" started Ryan.
\"Don\'t say anything. Just take it.\"
\"Th-thank you,\" Ryan stammered.
* * *
Ryan and Cid stayed up all night talking about the Ten Gems.
\"The Flaming Ruby...I remember my dad told me that each of the gems had its own power,\" Cid started telling Ryan. \"The Living Emerald has the ‘essence of healing’. The Flowing Sapphire controls the seas. The Shining Diamond manipulates the effects of light.”
“Whoa,” Ryan answered absently. “What else is there?”
“Your Flaming Ruby can unlock the secrets of fire, from casting an extremely powerful fire spell, to just making a spark barely strong enough to make a candle. That\'s all I know about them. The others, I\'ve never heard of, except the Bursting Lapis Lazuli which you told me existed a few hours ago.”
\"Wow,\" Ryan said. \"I wish I knew my parents. I\'m sure they\'d have lots of stories to tell.\"
\"Don\'t worry,\" Cid told him. \"Hm...I just had a brainstorm! Let’s get all ten Gems!\"
\"OK! Let\'s do this!\" Ryan responded excitedly.
Chapter Six
Tiara awoke up from her sleep with a giant yawn. That was a really great sleep! It seems so long ago that I actually slept on a real bed. As Tiara remembered when that was, she got a flash of her true identity.
\"Mommy!\" yelled a younger Tiara.
\"Yes sweety?\" responded a woman who looked around the age of 35.
\"There\'s a scary looking man at the door!\"
\"Honey, just go lie in your bed while I see who it is.\"
\"OK.\" Tiara went to her room about thirty feet away and got into her bed. In the distance, she heard a conversation.
\"Does Tiara Carpona live here?\" she heard a grumpy male voice ask.
\"Yes, she does. And who might you be?\" responded Tiara\'s mother.
\"I\'m here to take her to a special training school for children such as her.\"
\"No... NO! YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO ONE OF YOUR SCHOOLS TO BRAINWASH HER! YOU WILL NOT!\" shrieked Tiara\'s mother suddenly, yet madly.
\"You leave me no choice. BURSTING LAPIS LAZULI: ENERGY BLAST!\"
\"AHHH!\" screamed Tiara\'s mother.
\"AH!\" screamed Tiara as she jolted out of the memory.
Mesas rushed up into her room. \"What\'s going on?!\" asked Mesas.
\"I thought I remembered something...Something about my identity...\"
\"Do you still remember it?\"
\"No. It was one of those fading memories that you could grasp, then disappear.\"
Mesas patted her back. \"It\'s OK. I will find out who you are, even if I have to go to the top of the Mages\' Guild!\"
\"Thank you, Mesas.\"
* * *
As Mesas left the room, he started thinking about the Mages\' Guild. I remember something that the White Minister, former holder of the Shining Diamond, said. \'We failed to get the girl, Tiara Carpona, from her home. We had killed her mother, but she wasn\'t in the house. We searched the entire town!\' What if she is that girl...What if she is \'Tiara Carpona\'...
While Mesas struggled with the thought, he walked to the living room, where he had two guests. One was the White Minister, former holder of the Shining Diamond, Diana Tremas. The other was Rakas Sona, the Red Marksman, and former holder of the Flaming Ruby.
\"You look troubled,\" Diana spoke. \"Is there anything wrong?\"
\"Do you remember that girl you were trying to recruit eight years ago? Carpona?\" Mesas asked her.
\"I remember her,\" grunted Rakas. \"She escaped under her noses, that lady. Escaped from us like a rich woman would lose a tiara.\"
\"I remember as well,\" said Diana. \"Her name was Tiara Carpona. She had extremely powerful potentials and was believed that she could become the next Blue Mistress, and holder of one of the three remaining of the Ten Gems. She had blue hair, blue eyes, and green eyebrows.\"
\"Yes.\" Mesas responded absently. So she is the one who was believed to be the next Blue Mistress. thought Mesas.
\"Anyway, about the market on magical gems...\"
* * *
Tiara got dressed in an emerald green skirt, with a beautiful topaz colored top. She also put on a purple feather hat. She walked down the stairs and saw Mesas talking with a woman and a man. She turned into the kitchen and asked one of the cooks what was for breakfast.
\"Anything you want, Mistress Tiara,\" replied the elderly female cook.
\"Mistress? Just call me Tiara.\" Tiara laughed.
\"Anyway, can I have some pancakes, eggs, and a cup of orange juice?\" asked Tiara.
\"Of course.\" The cook got to work on what she had asked for.
Chapter Seven
The next day, Ryan awoke behind the front gate. Oops...I guess I feel asleep while guarding the town...Oh well. Ryan stood up and headed for Uncle Gamgee\'s house. When he stepped inside, he noticed that Cid was up talking with Tito, and that Gamgee\'s wife, Carmen, was making breakfast. Tito turned his head and saw him.
\"Hey, Ryan!\" yelled Tito. \"Come over here! There\'s something I wanna show you!\"
\"What is it?\" asked Ryan as he walked to the table where Tito and Cid were sitting.
\"We have a lead on one of the gems, the Living Emerald!\" Cid told him.
\"Where?!\" Ryan yelled with sudden enthusiasm.
\"In the ruins to the northwest of here.\" Tito replied. \"My father once told me about an amazing gem there, and he also said something about the power of an Emerald gem.\"
\"Great! Can you show us the way?\"
\"I could...but what about the village? What if it gets attacked?\" queried Tito.
\"I can protect the village,\" Cid told them.
\"Really?! Thanks Cid!\" Ryan cheered.
\"Let\'s leave in an hour. That should give me enough time to gather my things.\"
\"Gotcha!\" Ryan watched as Tito left Gamgee\'s house.
* * *
Gamgee was watching them talk about gems and the Bursting Lapis Lazuli.
\"Kids...I remember when I was that young...bursting with energy as the Blood Mage...\" muttered Gamgee to himself. He started to remember how he got a hold of the Flaming Ruby.
It was a stormy day at Tresas, and the Red Marksman was wandering the streets. Gamgee, or the Blood Mage, was watching him, poised to attack and grab powerful gem held by the Red Marksman..
The Red Marksman stopped at a corner, and took out a map. He seemed to be searching for a place to stay. That\'s when Gamgee attacked. \"FLAMING BUSTER!\" A huge fireball launched out of Gamgee\'s hands at the Red Marksman. Something moved under the cloak. What is that? thought Gamgee.
The Red Marksman\'s cloak caught fire, and out came running a child. The Marksman turned and shot an arrow at Gamgee, who swiftly shot another fireball at him. He dodged it, then noticed that it was going to hit the child. He tried to jump in its way, but failed, and dropped the Flaming Ruby.
Mercilessly, Gamgee came and took the Flaming Ruby, leaving the Marksman in tears. He mourned the child\'s death, and yelled some words at Gamgee. Gamgee walked away without looking back.
Gamgee shook himself back to the present. It wasn\'t for another week until I felt that child\'s death...I dedicated my life to helping people after that incident...How I wish I could change time. Then he heard something. He poised himself for action, and listened intently.
\"Honey! GAMGEE! ANSWER ME!\" Carmen was yelling at him.
\"Huh? What?\"
\"All I want you to do is get some water! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!\" Carmen scolded loudly. In the corner, Tito was laughing as silently as he could, and Cid was staring at him deadpan.
Gamgee gulped.
* * *
Ryan and Tito set off for the ruins, waving goodbye to Cid, Gamgee, Carmen, and many other inhabitants of Minaret City. According to Tito\'s information, the ruins were approximately 3 miles north-northwest of Minaret City. They walked for about an hour with no disturbances, when Ryan noticed a silhouette moving about in the shadows. He motioned for Tito to stop.
\"Sun to moon, dark to light, dream to day, shadow to sight! Revealing Light!\" Ryan used his Revealing Light spell to call the sun\'s rays to cast upon the silhouette. revealed a ninja.
\"Who are you, and why are you following us?!\" questioned Ryan.
\"I am Nincak, the ninja. I am here upon request of an unknown benefactor of yours.\" replied Nincak.
\"Unknown benefactor?\"
\"That\'s right.\"
\"You expect me to believe that?!\" yelled Ryan.
\"Of course we do,\" an unknown voice suddenly answered. Then a girl stepped into the light. She was oddly familiar to Ryan. She even resembled the...
\"You\'re the vendor from Talga!\" Ryan yelled.
\"That\'s right. It\'s me, and my name is Riana. This is Nincak, and we\'re here to help you.\" said Riana.
\"Really?\" Ryan turned red like a beet.
“That’s the general idea,” muttered Nincak.
Chapter Seven
A few days had passed since Mesas had discovered a faint notion of Tiara\'s true identity. The only problem he could think of was whether to tell her about it or not. If I tell her, she\'ll become frightened, for I am part of the organization that had destroyed her family. If I don\'t tell her, she\'ll be extremely disappointed and sad.
Mesas kept wrestling with the idea while he ate his lunch in the parlor. Tiara stepped inside.
\"Mesas?\"
\"Yes?\" responded Mesas.
\"There\'s someone here to see you,\" Tiara replied. \"Should I let him in?\"
\"Certainly.\" Tiara left and came back a few moments later, with a man following behind her.
\"Well, I\'ll be! Guile! How are you?\"
The man named Guile was dressed in archer clothing. \"I\'m fine.\" Guile grunted. Tiara left the room to leave them alone.
\"So, how\'s the great ‘Living Arrow’ doing?\" queried Mesas.
\"I told you already, I\'m fine. I\'m here on business,\" responded Guile.
Mesas became alert. \"Business?\"
\"It\'s about the Gems.\"
\"Right...Let\'s head into my private room.\" Mesas stood up, and led Guile to a painting of himself. \"Gemini.\" The painting disappeared and a doorway was revealed. Mesas and Guile walked inside.
There were four chairs inside an elegant room. Mesas and Guile sat down. “Aries.” The doorway closed.