Subterranean Wonderland

Per the map from the memory stone, we were guided to a discreet building in the Shadow District, aptly named for the fact that a giant hardwood tree shrouded the entire sector. Save for a mysterious triangular marking at the bottom left of the door, the building appeared to be a typical warehouse.

We were instructed to knock five times in quick succession, followed by answering a question with ‘Project A’.

“Do you think it’ll actually work?” I asked Eleanor as we loitered outside in the sweltering heat.

“Of course! Although, come to think of it, we should have stopped by for a treat. Maybe some refreshing desserts or drinks…” Eleanor replied, saliva drooling underneath her mask.

“Hey! We’re on a secret mission, not vacation!”

“Oh? Then why are you yelling out loud?”

“I—Ugh, forget it. Here goes.” I knocked on the door and waited. Behind me, I held my staff under my disguise, prematurely channeling magic. Several minutes went by without a response, so I went to knock again, only for the door to fly wide open. On the other side was a man wearing a white coat smeared in dust and dirt, his gray hair frizzled as if lightning had struck it. Behind him was a collection of beakers, tubes, and other scientific equipment strewn about.

“Ooo, look who we have here! The renowned sorceress Verity! I’ve heard much about you and your accomplishments! Come on in; I made some sandwiches on the counter over there,” the man uttered, twirling his mustache.

Did we have the wrong address?

“Uh… Who are you? And how did you see through my disguise?” I questioned.

“Me? Why, I’m one of the leading Fossiliologists! The name’s D!”

I removed my mask to get a closer look. “Are you serious? ‘D’? That’s your name?”

“Veri, don’t be harsh. D is a superb name!”

Verity, Eleanor!

“Oho! D is indeed a marvelous name! And if you’re wondering, it stands for dinosaurs!”

Dinosaurs?

They were a recent discovery only now being studied by scientists. I was hardly an expert on creatures, let alone extinct ones. What could I possibly have offered this crazed man?

“Hold up, D, you never answered my previous question. And unless you do, I’m—”

Eleanor bolted for the sandwiches, leaving a blast of wind in her wake. As she devoured them, D laughed on, ignoring my question completely. “I wasn’t expecting a second person, so tell me: what’s your name, young miss?” he asked Eleanor.

Just what does he think he’s doing? We weren’t here to chit-chat!

I stuck my staff out between them. “Eleanor isn’t interested, so I suggest you back off and get straight to the point.”

No one moved for a minute straight.

“Verity, don’t speak on my behalf,” Eleanor murmured as she lowered my staff.

“Sorry… I just—”

“I know, but he’s not like them. I’ll be fine.”

Clutching my fists, I stashed my weapon away and apologized to D. Fortunately, he was more than understanding, even going so far as to get right down to business, starting with a tour underground.

The temperature steadily dropped as we descended a series of stairs from the warehouse to a subterranean cavern. Along the wall, luminous crystals twinkled a vivid blue.

“Where are you taking us?” I asked as I surveyed the landscape.

“To the very site where we found your card.”

Thila…

In Fossilium, monster cards were manifested by using fossils. Once the remains were excavated, a skilled magician could then channel their energy to combine everything into a card and, in the process, bind the monster to their very soul. Channelers were used to house and deploy the cards. Such examples included staves, swords, axes, and other weapons and tools.

To think that fossils existed underneath Ragosopolis.

How peculiar…

From my staff, I produced my prize card. “D, this is the card I won after defeating Hubert in the finale. How come it’s blank?”

“Blank? Hm, let me see that,” he replied as he whipped out a pair of gold glasses. His face was mere inches away from the card. “Oh! Oh! Oh! Most spectacular indeed! In all my years of research, I never thought I would lay eyes on such a specimen!”

“Really? Can anything be done about it?” I asked.

“I can’t say for certain, but it’s worth a shot… We can try to find a suitable owner for it. Perhaps a magician as capable as you!”

A magician?

No, that wouldn’t do.

I couldn’t trust just anyone with it.

Except for…

“Eleanor, would you like to possess the card?”

“Huh? Me? Why? I have no magical talent,” Eleanor answered, stopping in her tracks.

“We’ve never tried discovering your true potential; perhaps the card will resonate with your energy.”

“Indeed, perhaps! My latest research supports this hypothesis. As a scientist, I encourage experimentation, so feel free to try. A detour from today’s events won’t hurt.”

“Hmm, alright; let’s give it a shot!” Eleanor replied.

At the bottom of the staircase, I handed Eleanor the card with the hopes that it would lead her to a fossil that matched her energy. Every living being possessed some amount of magicka, regardless of proficiency. Nevertheless, it was an uphill battle given her lack of training. We were practically walking blind in our search.

“Wait, I sense something!” Eleanor called out, running forward. “Over here!”

Embedded in a cliff were specks of brown jutting out from the rock. As we excavated the rock, the true extent of the find was revealed. Bit by bit, we discovered fossils of a bear, possibly an ancestor to the panda, according to D.

“On a count of three, lift! One, two, th—”

“Allow me to use my magic,” I suggested.

“Good point! Silly me, I’m so used to doing everything manually!” D laughed as he scratched his back.

With my wind magic, we were able to propel the fossil to D’s on-site laboratory.

“Who would have guessed that I had it in me?” Eleanor said as she celebrated.

Exhausted, I reclined back on a nearby chair, only able to offer her a limp thumbs up. Meanwhile, D went to work on cleaning the specimen while also concocting a potion. It was supposedly key in testing Eleanor’s innate magical abilities, whatever they were.

“Eleanor, I require a sample of your blood. A few drops will suffice,” D requested, holding a small knife. Without hesitation, Eleanor obliged and extended her arm. As the blade neared her skin, I cringed before leaping forward, knocking the knife away.

“Veri! You’re bleeding!” Eleanor cried out. “Why did you do that?”

Below my left knee was a gash, the blood staining my clothing a deep crimson. “I—I just… lost myself again. Sorry, D…”

“Don’t worry, it’s alright! Take some of this ointment first, then you can help draw Eleanor’s sample.” Underneath D’s coat was a vial containing a lime green liquid. He soaked a towel with it before dabbing my leg, producing a steamy reaction between the medicine and my blood. As it cauterized the wound, I screamed, gripping my chair.

Once the ordeal was over, Eleanor wrapped the area with bandages. “Better now?” she asked.

“I am thanks to you two. Think I can take your sample now if you’re ready.” Eleanor agreed, extending her arm once more. With the blood now collected, D mixed it and a selection of herbal ingredients in a mortar and pestle. The last step was to dilute the mixture with water in a phial over an open flame.

“The elixir is now complete! Once you’ve drunk it, we’ll take a sample of your… bodily fluids in around an hour to determine your magical capabilities,” D instructed, handing the potion to Eleanor, who went on to drink it without flinching.

“It’s a little fruity! Wanna taste some, Veri?”

I shook my head. “We should probably get on with the mission.”

Before we could, the cavern’s ceiling shook violently with bits of dust and rock falling down. “Nothing to fear, this is a normal occurrence down here!” D said. “Dare I say common and—”

The ceiling was disturbed once more, this time accompanied by intense rumbling, almost as if from explosions.

“Eleanor, let’s investigate. D, stay down here where it’s safe. We’ll be back soon enough.”

“Wait! You can’t just leave me here! I want to come too!”

Ignoring his plea, Eleanor and I made haste for the surface.