Directions

Their flag grew closer as it rode atop a smaller wave. Such smaller wave was the size of a regular tsunami, so perhaps it’s silly to call it “Small”. Humanoid creatures covered in scales and gills. I still remember the words the spoke. “This area is now under our domain, surender and have a painless death!”

The water surged through the village, many drowned in the initial impact. Those who survived on roof tops were not given a moment of respite. Merfolk assailed from all directions, spearing any survivors with their tridents.

Father and mother were not spared this fate. It twas mother first. Then father. However, in his last moments, he place you in my arms and sent us away using a clewe. In the next moment, I watched as he was speared through. I saw both of their faces fade as we suddenly found ourselves in a forest.

I cried that day, the most I would for a while. Though not as much as thou Lunia.

-Excerpt from the recovered journal of Absalon Ramorski.

♕♛♕♛♕♛♕

The crowd watched with baited breath as the golden tendrils slither toward the dragon, seemingly imitating their targets movement.

The dragon itself responds by opening its mouth, steam flowing from within. After a moment, a large eruption of water shoots forth, colliding with the gold. The collision causes streams of gold and blue to mix, sending droplets of both towards the ground.

Graaooo

The dragon cries as it retreats further into the sky. The gold had come out victorious against the on rush of water, continuing its ascent towards it.

…

As the battle continued above the crowd, panic spread. Golden droplets of neither cool or hot metal drops like falling stars, shining in the warm light of the setting sun.

“W-What do we do?!” Someone calls out toward the Mayor.

“Do not panic!” The mayor shouts to the crowd, sweat beading down his forehead. “Chryssus will surely prevail! We must hold out until then!”

Roaaaar

The monsters continue to advance, reaching the 4th of the 12 levels of the city.

“This is bad…” A man with silver hair in a dark blue robe says, standing among the panicking crowd. “If we arent able to leave… Astolat will hit me hard! Multiple times!”

“Sir…” A man next to him says, wearing a similar blue robe. His eyes are an unassuming blue with chestnut hair that connects to a similarly colored beard. “What would you like us to do? The rest are guarding the package, but you and I could…”

“No, we can’t just get involved. Ugh!” The silver haired man, Osmond Uzziel, lifts his hands to his hair and frantically scratches it. “The balance between Saionia and the other institutions is fragile! If we just get involved without a reason, it could break it! Then Astolat would actually kill me!”

“If you ask me, she’ll kill you if you dont help…” The man wispers under his breath. “I have a feeling you just dont want to…”

“Hey!” A voice calls out to the two, or more specifically, Osmond.

“Hm?”

A group of teenagers aproaches the two men, led by a chipper black haired boy, and a serious girl with dark brown hair and caramel skin wearing studious glasses.

“So? What should we do?” The girl, Helia asks, looking towards Osmond.

“Eh?”

“Don’t act surprised! Your the teacher! Tells us the plan!” Helia shouts towards him.

“Oh… Uh…” Shes a mini Astolat! This could be bad… “Well, you see-”

Crack

The crowds heads all turn upwards with a sense of deja-vu. Massive pieces of rocks, torn off of the cliff face shoot downwards like meteors toward the city.

The golden tendrils, much like before, shoot towards the rocks, wrapping around them. The golden tendrils slowly bring the rocks toward the trees pinicle. However, the dragon does not miss its chance.

Tsssaaaaa

A torrent of steaming water shoots towards the trees canopy.
The gold moves like whips, throwing the rocks in front of it. The water collides with the rocks, cracking the boulders and spreading the water in a sheet over the canopy. In an instant, the water that was spread transforms into small spikes and shoot toward the inner canopy.

Gold forms a bubble around the central canopy. The spears of water pierce the bubble, causing even further gold to split off and fall toward the ground.

…

“It’s a close fight…” Hiiro mutters.

“It shouldn’t be.” The chestnut haired man says in response.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Normally, a god, especially a mid ranking one, would easily take out a young dragon like that.” The man explained. “However, over the past two months, that dragon has slowly depleted the god pf golds supplies, meaning its at a disadvantage right now.” Not to mention the monsters.

“Mid-rank?” Hiiro asks, perplexed.

“Gods are catogorized by how many of them there are. For example, there are 4 gods of Gold in the world. Meaning this god can control a forth of the worlds gold.” the man explains.

“O-oh… Wait, if it can control a forth of the worlds gold, why doesnt it just do that?”

“Well…” The man awkwardly explains. “Think about it, from teeth, to trains, to the ground itself. Gold is everywhere, if the gold simply wished the gather gold to it, it very well could, but…”

“It could result in a cataclysm.” Osmond finished the mans sentence.

“...”

“Theres most likely not enough gold in the city to make any true difference… And we cant use conjuration magic to make some, since the dragon would simply consume it.” Helia added.

“That is not so.” A voice suddenly cuts in. Turning, the group sees a person draped in a white cloak. The face peaking out only reveals a feminine jaw and a mole just under the right eye.

“Your..!”

“Come!” The girl reaches out and grabs the hand of the silver haird Manako.

“Haah?!” Manako is surprised to have been grabbed, instinctively stepping backwards.

“What are you doing?” Neia says in a neutral tone, stepping forward.

“We can give the god gold.” A feminine and recognizable voice says.

“How?”

“Through magic, of course. A god of gold has domain over it, it can even make that which is conjured by magic real!”

“Then why does it not do so itself?” Hiiro asks.

“A god cannot conjure its own domain. I am not sure the reason.”

“But are you sure you can pull it off?” Osmond interjects. “Even if you can get the god to agree, it will need more power to realize your request.”

“The people shall pray!” The girl responds.

“Still-”

“And if she helps with the ritual, it shall work.” The white clad girl says, raising Manako’s arm.

“As an elf, her connection to the gods is strong. She shall make the ritual work!”

“Huh? I…”

“Come!” The girl pulls manako softly, leading her towards the ornamental central building.

“Are you..?” Helia begins asking the blond haired Neia.

“...No.” They say, looking at the shrinking Manako.

“Well then! I should get started too!” Hiiro suddenly calls out.

“Huh?!” Eris turns toward him.

“Il take the middle! It has the most monsters!” Hiiro runs toward the main street.

“Hey! Wait! I'm gonna get yelled at again!” She yells as she chases after him.

“Hah…” Helia sighs.

“Gotten used to his shenanigans?” The chestnut man asks Helia.

“I just met him today…”

“Haha, I get ya.” The man looks at Osmond, who went silent.

“Okay… Il go the right street, we have to hold off these monsters.” Helia explains. “What are you two planning to do?”

“Us? Well…”

“We wont be moving.” Osmond explains, much to the chagrin of the man.

“Then…” Helia turns to the last person she could rely on. “Neia…”

“...” Neia looks back at her, her motions undernable behind her senpaku eyes. “Il go left.”

…

The two leave in their respective directions.