#amair

I kept my eyes on the sky. I always wondered why the sky in this region is constantly covered in dark clouds. Is it because of the volcanoes? They haven’t been active lately have they? I snorted lightly, of course they haven’t, I would’ve known by now if they did.

“It’s okay,” Selenite mumbled, lightly placing his hand on my arm, breaking me out of my thoughts. “I’m sure she won’t be too mad.”

“I’d like to hope,” I sighed, grabbing ahold of the door handle and opening it. The hinges let out a terrible screech while the wooden door slowly moved.

“Why this house?” Selenite asked, walking in after I held the door open for him. The floorboards creaked and groaned under his feet as he moved across them.

“Looks like the power went out,” I said, walking past Selenite. The creaking of the floorboards getting even worse from the weight of my leg. I frowned. “It looks like she isn’t here.”

“Maybe she gave us the wrong house?”

“I doubt she would.” I reached into my pocket and took my phone out, checking the messages. “Yeah, this is it.”

“Maybe she left?” Selenite asked, walking back to me.

“Let’s just leave,” I breathed out, “I’ll ask the guards if they’ve seen her.”

“Alright,” Selenite whispered, exiting the house quickly before me. I shut the door, the creaking of the door causing my ears to ring. “That… was creepy.”

“Yeah,” I said, my heart sinking slightly. I started to wonder if my sister was okay. She wasn’t shot was she? Did an oojack soldier get to her when I sent her here?

“Platinum,” Selenite said, touching my shoulder. “It’s okay, we’ll find her.”

“I hope,” I whispered, walking down the dirt path. The red gravel and dirt picking up whenever I placed my right foot down. I always hated this region for its staining dirt, I just hope we find Ravvan and get back home as soon as possible.

“Hey!” I shouted when I saw one of the guards walking by, my voice echoing down the street. He turned to me, an offended look on his face as he glared at me with his dark green eyes. “Platinum Uriborle. I’d like to know where my sister is if you’ve seen her.”

“Sorry, I don’t know you or her,” he shrugged, he had his hand resting on the hilt of his blade sheathed around his waist.

“You haven’t seen anyone by the name of Ravvan? Long dark hair, tall and thin, icy blue eyes?”

“No,” he frowned. I could feel the frustration radiating from him. “There’s a group I can take you to who might know. Is there any specific place she was in?”

“That house at the end of the street. She told me she was there.”

“I… That house hasn’t been used in years,” his brows furrowed. I started to hear my heartbeat in my ears. Has fear returned to me? “We can… let me take you to the others, see if they’ve seen your sister.”

I nodded, Selenite linking his arms with one of mine as we followed the guard down the road. The dark red sky haunting my vision, it looked like the gods themselves bleed here. Maybe that’s why this land seems so upset. Or at least looks that way.

I am no god of nature or whatever, but I can feel whenever part of a land is haunted.

“You don’t look from here, where you from?” The guard asked. I remembered when the lands were riddled with guards, but I believe all the soldiers we had retired after the war. I wouldn’t be surprised.

“Rak’our,” I answered simply. My home region of Rak’our… there are many things wrong with that region, riddled with monsters and whatnot but at least they’re not as bad as Krescent where the Uro-Kuro lives. I began to wonder if that region’s hunters found a way to repel that beast.

“That’s far from here, eh? What’s it like?”

“High mountains,” I responded, “I myself live on the highest mountain in the main city, Ark’dor. It’s known for a high population of small wyverns. They’re pesky beasts that get in the way. They’re like stray cats, give them a small tray of food and they’ll be at your doorstep everyday of your life.”

“Sounds fun,” the guard snorted sarcastically.

“Where are you from, Selenite?” I asked, truthfully wanting to know.

“I came from Aletar in the Krescent region,” he answered, looking up at me.

“How was it?” The guard asked. He must be native to this town we walked in.

I remember visiting Aletar when I was younger with my mom and sister. I wonder how it’s doing now so close to Krescent’s hunting grounds and in Uro-Kuro’s territory. Part of me knew it wasn’t fairing too well because of that. The Uro-Kuro really isn’t the only beast that lives there, in fact that region is very diverse in its species, I just know the Uro-Kuro is probably the most dangerous one. Unless they have a new crew of monsters I don’t know of yet.

“A small town,” I mumbled, getting a confirming hum from Selenite.

“Here we go,” the guard said, before I got to say anything he shouted for the group of guards in front of a large building. The building itself looked like some gathering hall of sorts, maybe something a group of hunters would meet in.

“Oh no,” I breathed, knowing exactly who he brought me too when I saw him.

“Oh… Hey, Platinum,” a Hunter spoke, his arms crossed. He was the same race as I, just the height of an oojack like the guard. His dark skin bringing out his fiery eyes and red armor and his fiery red hair tied in a ponytail.

“Hey, Tacci,” I bowed my head to him and his brother beside him who resembled him almost like a twin, although I’m aware he’s much older, probably by a few years. His brother was more silent than him yet his red hair was let down, straight, and reached past his shoulders. His armor wasn’t as heavy looking as his brother, it’s white and gold and seemed to resemble one of the light-weight weapons you can make from Uro-Kuro‘s hide, but who knows, he’s not as much as a hunter as Tacci is. In fact he looks like he belonged in the coastal regions but I wasn’t going to complain.

“What’re you looking for?” Tacci asked me, his lips turned in a frown when I explained our situation.

“I think she left a couple days ago,” Tacci’s brother said, his voice quiet.

“Where?” I asked, frowning.

“I’d assume back home, but she never really said. She’s as cryptic as all the gods are honestly. You’d have more luck asking our leaders here,” he nodded his head to behind him. “But who knows.”

“This is annoying,” I groaned lowly.

“Come on,” Tacci said, turning to walk up the steps with his brother and opening the large doors. Unlike a lot of the houses, nothing was wood. It seemed like some kind of marble or granite. The floors are unpolished and stained with the red dirt in the shape of bare footprints and bootprints of different shapes and sizes.

I ignored the unclean floors and focused on Tacci’s hair while he walked in front of me. I also focused on Selenite’s touch as he continued to keep his arm around mine.

Tacci’s brother, his name unbeknownst to me, pushed one of the big doors open, allowing us to enter a large and almost empty room. Of course this room is much more clean than the hallways, the floors made of polished dark granite and a long rug leading to a throne.

Even I don’t have a throne and I know that whoever the leader of this region is doesn’t need one.

“Welcome,” a woman spoke, her voice radiating the false sense of security. I felt chills run down my spine when I looked up at her. She sat in her granite throne, holding a long staff that could easily be used as a weapon. Her free hand moved to comb through her long black hair out of her face and pushed behind her ear as she stared down at Selenite and I with her crystal white eyes. She wore armor like a hunter but it was light enough to know she wouldn’t be hunting anything big soon. Or at all. “State your name, business, and rank.”

“Platinum Uriborle,” I responded, “God of The Mountains. I’m here to find my sister, Ravvan, and was brought here to see if you could help.”

“God of The Mountains…” she repeated. “Do you fool me, Platinum?”

“No. I am Platinum Uriborle, God of Thunder and Wind— thus the mountains.”

“I see… I’ve never met a god before,” she smiled, her white eyes boring into my own while she rested her chin on the back of her fist. “What’s it like?”

“We’re here for Ravvan—” Selenite’s ears flattened threateningly, “—not to get comfortable.”

“Of course. I’m Laliya Altmare,” she stood from her throne, holding her staff tightly beside her, “Leader of Ragnor.”

“You’re the only leader?” I asked, “What happened to the others?”

“They died in the war,” she frowned, staring at me sternly. “They didn’t obey the orders of our gods, so they paid their price.”

“Orders of your gods?”

“Platinum,” Selenite whispered, trying to get my attention. It sounded almost like a snap, but I ignored him because now I’m interested.

“Yes,” Laliya smiled, “we were very keen under the name of your kind, but only a few actually wanted us to serve them. They are the reason I’m as powerful as I am.”

A rumbling came from Selenite’s throat. “You didn’t ally with the gods…” he sneered.

“Then what did they do?” I asked him in a whisper.

“You killed them!” Selenite shouted, his voice breaking. “You killed the gods to receive your rank! You are no god, you’re a murderer!” I quickly unhooked my arm from his to hold him in a tight embrace. I didn’t need him getting hurt.

“Why must you assume?” She asked, portraying mock pain.

“Where’s Ravvan?” I asked.

“Gone. She left a few days ago to the Krescent region.”

“She better be safe,” Selenite snarled.

“How should I know,” Laliya shrugged, “She’s not in my territory anymore.”

“Thanks,” Selenite said flatly, glaring at Laliya with his pastel eyes. I loosened my grip and we both left the room. I wasn’t going to deal with Laliya and whatever she wanted, and I knew exactly that Selenite would’ve probably done a lot worse than what I could ever do.

“I might be able to call Alpha,” I said as we exited the the front entrance of the building, “see if he or Lance saw her. Or maybe Amair did… haven’t spoken to him in a while.”

“Alpha might still be upset,” Selenite said, “I know he was before he left for home when you fell in a coma.”

“Makes sense.”

“Lance might be forgiving,” Selenite said, “but getting him to answer his phone is a feat not worth attempting. So I’d say Amair or Maia might be the best options.”

“Oh there’s Dairien, too, he’s a guild leader so he might’ve saw her too.”

“True.”

“Maia might be busy. Amair is… he might be hunting. He’s one of the most active hunters. So Dairien might be the best option since he has almost nothing to do.”

“That’s… also true. We can try that. Does he have access to a teleporter?”

I stopped in my tracks, thinking and watching the gloomy sky. “Not sure. Maiatan might.”

“Hopefully,” he sighed and rested his head on my shoulder.

“Thank you, Dairien,” I spoke lowly while Dairien reached for the doorknob to the basement door.

“Of course, anything for a friend and member of the family.” Dairien chuckled, turning to Selenite, “I see you have a new friend.”

“Indeed,” I smiled, “Selenite.”

“Good evening,” Selenite bowed his head.

“Evening. No need for formalities. Now…” he paused, “what’s the problem?”

I watched his dull amber eyes as they watched the both of us, his arms crossed over his chest while he waited for one of us to answer.

“My sister disappeared,” I explained, “I sent her to Ragnor a few years back and I couldn’t find her when I had returned.”

“A shame. I’ll see if I can do anything about it.”

“Laliya said she came to Krescent,” Selenite spoke.

Dairien cocked his head to the side. “Laliya?”

“She’s Ragnor’s new leader. In fact, she’s the only leader left.”

“She is? What happened?”

“She killed the previous leaders—” Selenite cleared his throat, “—I’m assuming.”

Dairien hummed, the noise rumbling in the back of his throat. It sounded almost like a growl from a medium-sized wyvern in Ark’dor. He furrowed his brows and headed for the front door, he opened it and held it, nodding his head off towards the outside.

I nodded and walked out, the warm concrete making an annoying, ear-piercing, noise when my right leg stepped down. I frowned but went with it, I’d have to get used to this sooner or later. I can just ignore it. The feeling the the metal grinding against what’s left of my femur, I can ignore that. The feeling of the muscle contracting whenever I take a step or whenever I reach out my right arm… or whenever I stretch my fingers to grab or feel something…

Yeah. I can ignore that.

“I’m sure Aeregele or Karmen will do something about Laliya,” Dairien said, “Or maybe I can ask Alpha when he’s free to see if his dad will do anything about it.”

“His dad scares me,” I admitted quickly, watching Dairien while he stopped walking. Selenite close the door behind him.

“How come? He’s pretty cool,” Dairien chuckled. He started to walk down the light concrete path.

“Pretty cool, yeah,” I shrugged, Selenite and I following him, “but he’s big and burly and just… I don’t think he likes me.”

Dairien snorted, “I don’t think you’d have to worry about that. The most anger he’ll let out will probably be towards Laliya if he’s the one to deal with her. Actually I wouldn’t be surprised if he had to, Ragnor is part of his territory as well. At least I’m sure it is.”

“Yeah, if I know who you’re talking about, I’m pretty sure Crimson rules both Undin-Jayle and Ragnor, he just lives in Undin where his temple is,” Selenite stated, smiling when I glanced at him.

“He’s got a good memory,” Dairien chuckled.

“He has many great qualities,” I smiled, receiving a playful punch in the arm. “It’s true.”

“Cute,” Dairien shook his head. We walked up the steps to the gathering hall where Dairien’s post is. His job is usually qualifying hunters to go hunting, normally if they have enough coin or even a stamped pass with them. If they have neither, they either have to negotiate or earn the money another way.

“Amair,” Dairien called out to one of the hunters sitting down. Amair lifted his head from the table tiredly. He was stripped from his armor I knew he usually wore during hunting. He waved weakly when we walked over and sat with him. “What’s up?” Dairien’s eyes narrowed, he held out a hand to him but didn’t touch him.

“I’m fine. Just exhausted,” Amair muttered, “I came across Uro-Kuro during my hunt and had to abandon it. I’m glad I spotted him when I did else I wouldn’t be here.”

“You’re here now,” I said, “and that’s all that matters.” Selenite nodded.

Amair hummed and sat up, bending back to stretch his back. He still wore his skin-tight bodysuit the hunters usually wore under their armor, it was padded with bulletproof padding throughout the whole suit and I knew (having worn these at some point when I was younger) that the suit was also cold resistant… although not heat resistant. Unless that was something they fixed.

I knew the tired bags under his eyes were there despite the darker markings on his skin that should’ve hid them. I wondered where he originated from that have him these markings, but I didn’t dwell too much on it.

He sighed and grabbed his dark and messy hair, combing his fingers through it and parting it to the other side of his head. “So what’re you doing here, Platinum?” He asked me, looking down and moving his hand to place it over Dairien’s. I’m glad they figured out their relationship.

“I’m here to find my sister, Ravvan,” I answered, “I was told she came to Krescent.”

“Oh! Yes! I saw her!”

“You did?” My heart skipped a beat. Have we finally found Ravvan? Is she okay? Is she safe? “Where?”

“I saw her on my hunt, I helped her head black to town and away from Uro-Kuro. I think she went to the hospital though because she might’ve… broke a leg… literally. She broke her leg.”

I didn’t wait any longer before I stood and ran out of the gathering hall, my ears ringing from the clanking of my foot against the pavement. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and feel the blood pumping in my veins.

I busted through the front doors of the hospital, getting a few glares from a few staff and visitors. I didn’t care because my breath stopped when I saw Ravvan sitting in the waiting room. I immediately joked over to her, lightly shouting her name. With a clank I fell to my knees and embraced her, resting my head in her lap with my arms around her waist.

“Platinum! You’re safe!” She laughed, having jumped slightly when I fell to my knees, and hugged me back.

“Ravvan. Oh my gods, Ravvan. I was so worried for you,” I said, lifting my head and looking up at her. I quickly stood and sat on the armrest of the couch, she turned herself in the seat to face me and I moved my hands to cup her face after brushing some of her hair out of the way.

“Platinum…” she said, her lips pulling down into a frown. “What happened?” She raised a hand to touch the right side of my face. I blinked and let my arms drop.

“I… when I left the house one of the soldiers shot me.”

“That’s what that was?”

“Yes. He shot me in the eye and ran for it. I lost him and… well later it turned out he was part of an experiment and ended up becoming some… filthy beast,” I growled out, the memory of that soldier haunting me. “Because of him I’m like this.”

“Because of you… you’re like this,” she spoke sternly. “You’re the one who let him know.”

“You know I’m impaired. I can’t sense people as well as you. I didn’t know where he went.”

“I see,” she frowned.

“I’m… glad you’re safe, Ravvan.”

She smiled and hugged me, whispering, “I’m glad you’re safe too.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ravvan,” Selenite spoke as he helped my sister sit down and put her leg up on a rest as to not stress it.

“I’m glad I could meet you as well, Selenite,” Ravvan smiled, “I never thought I’d make it to see the person my brother fell for.”

I grunted when Ravvan smiled at me. “You’re safe now. That’s what’s important.” She nodded in agreement, watching me with her icy blue eyes.

“I’m glad everyone’s okay now after that war,” Amair hummed, “especially after so much had been damaged from it. A big piece of our own race was extinguished and even the oojack lost a big chunk of theirs as well. So many towns and cities destroyed.”

“How come this region didn’t seem like it was effected?” Selenite asked, sitting down on the sofa across Ravvan with his hands on his lap. Dairien, Amair, and I all stayed standing.

“Krescent is… I Believe a war-free zone?” Dairien said, raising his voice slightly at the end.

“Yes,” Amair nodded, taking a seat next to Selenite. He still looked pretty exhausted. “Krescent and Ragnor are both war-free. Neither region has gone through war and the leaders plan on staying like that. But with the news of Laliya taking over in Ragnor, I feel like they won’t stay like that for very long.”

“Fun,” Ravvan frowned, “I’m glad I got out of there when I did, else Laliya would’ve killed me. I’m lucky she didn’t.”

“What did she do to you?” I asked, turning to her. If Laliya did do something to her I’d come over there myself and rip her head off.

“She didn’t do anything. But she has some kind of dragon. I don’t know what it was, though, as soon as I heard its roar I ran off.”

“I’m glad you did,” Dairien said, I nodded in agreement. If anything happened to my sister I… I wouldn’t want to know what I’d do. “Dragons aren’t creatures you want to mess with.”

“I think I want to go there,” Amair said, “I’m sure Maia wouldn’t mind either. I wanna see what beast she managed to tame and why it’s so dangerous. I’ve been getting news from fellow hunters that there’s some black dragon flying around attacking people there.”

“Have you?” I asked, turning to Amair, “when? Where?”

He shrugged. “Hunting for supplies and foods. Just the usual when I’m over there.”

“Is your leg okay to walk?” I asked, setting Ravvan down. She stood on her bad leg, her arms still on mine as she tested it out.

“I think so,” she blinked. “I don’t know how fast I can recover but I think I’m good now.”

“Good, let’s go. Stay beside me, I don’t want you hurt,” I frowned and started walking.

“Smells worse than usual here,” Dairien scrunched his nose after sniffing the air. “How recent had these volcanoes went off?”

Amair shrugged, “I don’t remember them going off. I think they might sooner or later though. Let’s just hope not anytime soon.”

“Agreed,” Maiatan spoke. She started ahead of us, having turned away to walk in the direction she felt was right. She always went with her gut. I guess that’s something she got from her father. Her boots clicked against the red gravel of Ragnor and her white armor shined against the darkened skies. Her pink hair shining like it held a nebula in it. Quite an odd yet beautiful sight. “I’m sure Crimson won’t mind us doing his job for him.”

“Technically you’re above him,” I said, getting a sideways look from her.

“How so?” She asked, adjusting the strap across her chest that held her battleaxe in place on her back. She held a small smirk on her face. She knew exactly why, she just wanted to hear it from someone.

“You were chosen specifically by The Elder for your status, meanwhile Crimson got it from genetics,” I said. The look on her face told me that… wasn’t exactly what she was expecting. “I don’t know what you want from me, Maia.” Maiatan smiled slightly again, briefly turning her head to me to look at me before looking back toward.

“Is this the house?” Amair asked, having stopped walking.

“Yeah,” I said and turned to Ravvan.

“I lived here for a couple days after being threatened by Laliya,” Ravvan explained, “I was hiding here hoping she wouldn’t find me, but had to leave because I just didn’t feel safe.”

I didn’t say anything, I just started walking again. I don’t think I could say anything. I just hope Ravvan understood how I felt. That I was sorry for what I did.

Part of me was angry at myself for doing this to her, for putting her in danger. She almost died because of me. But the other part of me that still exists, from before the war, before I met Selenite, that tells me I shouldn’t care. Death is just another mortal problem that isn’t necessary to dwell on.

But I can’t think like that. She’s my sister and I love her. I can’t leave her like this. I can’t do something like that. What sick monster would just shrug it off if his sister, the only part of his family left, just… died?

“Are you okay, Platinum?” Selenite whispered to me, having caught up and stopped me in my tracks.

“No. But I can’t dwell on the past,” I answered, “we need to take care of this… whatever is going on. I don’t need this world falling apart again.”

“Makes sense,” Amair huffed and ran on, making his way quickly to the center of town. Maiatan quickly followed, her boots clanking on the gravel.

“Again?” Selenite asked. Dairien and Ravvan standing beside us. I knew Dairien wasn’t a fighter, so I’m not surprised he would stay behind. Same with my sister.

“It’s a family thing,” I said, “I’m glad it just wasn’t passed down to me,” and walked away.

I found Amair and Maiatan crouched by the centerpiece of the town, sort of like Rak’our’s with the fountain. Although there was no water. It must’ve dried up a long time ago.

Amair has his head leaning back, he seemed out of breath, his chest rising and lifting, while he held his gun. I was wondering what he was planning when we left because he normally has a big hunk of a gun back home. He must’ve thought it would be better to bring something small this time.

Maiatan on the other hand was staring at me, or at least through me, with her glaring purple eyes. I froze when I saw a large, dark figure move behind the dried fountain.

I think we found it, Maiatan’s voice rung in my head, it doesn’t seem to big. But from what Ravvan had told us, I feel we might need to be more cautious.

I’ll warn the others.

They already know. I told Selenite, and I trust that he sends the message. And I trust that Dairien sensed this beast. She explained, will you be joining us, Platinum Uriborle?

I haven’t fought in over five years. And even then my last fight, with that creature, wasn’t entirely the best. I’m still pondering over that, how that thing got me so quickly. Yes, I nodded and shook my right hand, causing sparks to flare from my fingers. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the heat of my magic running through my veins.

Maiatan nodded towards Amair who stood and faced the centerpiece, his gun at the ready. He huffed and glanced at me with his orange eyes. Maia also stood and grabbed her battle axe from her back, swinging it low and hitting the centerpiece fountain with a great bang.

The noise resonated throughout the whole fountain, seemingly made of some metal with its structure being hollow. The bang disturbed the dragon on the other side, a low grunt coming from it.

I frowned when it stood, it’s long neck raising above the centerpiece, head turning towards us and staring at us with its bloody red eyes. I noticed how it’s mouth hung open, almost like it’s jaw had been broken or rotted off.

Is this thing dead?

It walked— or more like limped— around the fountain. I was familiar with its breed, seemingly a Firal with its strong back legs and smaller, weaker, front legs, along with the long thick tail to balance out the weight between the body and the neck. And it’s large wingspan as it unfolded them, showing off the deep red coloring in the shredded leather. With the sky so dark it almost seemed to be pitch black, but how it’s scales almost radiated a small bit of color I knew that it’s skin and armor had rotted and turned a sickly green. A large gash in its chest showed it’s muscle and ribs while one of its arms had been peeled off almost. It’s throat wore a similar gash as it’s chest, the flame sac in that region leaking a colorful liquid that I knew if I or Amair shot it it would combust into fire.