[ooc] Um...sorry, I got a little carried away with this one, but it should explain a lot.
Ruben stared, still dumfounded at the power of such a simple thing. As Glyure pulled the rod back out of the weapon he mulled over what he had learned so far. So he was a soldier, and a well trained one at that, if he was to believe the Elfess. He used a weapon that could surely kill, and a sinking feeling in his gut told him he had before. Glyure was helping him, had lied for him, even seem to like him. But something still nagged his mind.
"You didn't answer my question, Glyure. Why would I kill you?"
Glyure put the weapon down on a nearby table. Her expression was sad this time, her movements slow. "I knew I was going to have to face this again one day. The past is never completely buried."
She began walking towards the forest behind the targets. Ruben had no choice but to follow. She cut into the trees on what he realized was a very seldom used and overgrown path. Glyure's steps seemed reluctant ahead of him, yet she never slowed until they entered a small clearing. At its center rested a small stone building only a pace to a side. Not a building, but a shrine, he saw as they came closer. Glyure stopped and opened the door after a long breath.
"This is your answer," she said quietly and stepped back.
Ruben took her place at the door. Looking inside, he saw a thing as odd as any he had in the last few days. A sword. It was a beautifully crafted thing with a wide blade and hilt long enough for two hands. The crossguard held a few markings in some type of rune he couldn't comprehend.
"It was my fathers, all this was," Glyure said, emotion heavy in her voice. "But not that," she continued, pointing at a metal box on the floor.
The metal looked familiar as Ruben bent down to study it. He tipped back the lid and saw why. Resting on some neatly folded clothing identical to the ones he had woken up in yesterday, was another Biolance. He felt compelled to reach out, to touch it. As he did, a face flashed in his mind, a memory, a name. Dragun.
"This was his...Dragun's," Ruben said, his head spinning. Another memory flashed in his head, drawing his eyes back to the sword. But this was not a new memory, it was the one he had woken up with, that damp day. What could it mean?
"How did you know that?"
Ruben turned at the slight sound of fear in Glyure's voice. Her eyes were unsure as she looked upon him. Ruben shook his head. "I don't know, it just came to me. Who was he? Is he the reason?"
"No...yes...I...it is not so simple. I thought you...were here to kill me because he failed, and because of who I am."
"Who are you, Glyure?"
"I am your enemy."
"Why?"
"Because of what is in the bag at the bottom of the box."
Ruben slowly lifted the clothing aside to see the tied bag. He took it up and untied the neat knots that spoke of a feminine hand. He then closed the box's lid and spilled the contents of the bag out on it. Six objects fell to the lid. Six shapes and six colors, with a different symbol on each.
"What are they?"
"Glyphs. One for each Way. The creations of Talad, and all that is left of the old world. We brought many of them with us when we left, thinking they would aid us, but instead, they have become a curse. They don't work in this world, nothing from the homeland does. The magic is gone. Even from the piece of the legendary Crystal that brought us here."
"Stop, I don't understand any of this. What ways? Who is Talad? What is this crystal?"
"You truely don't remember, do you? Very well, I shall start at the beginning. It is written that our ancestors all used to live in a world called Yliakum, a world of old magics ruled by gods and power. This power came from a giant crystal. One day, a piece broke from the Crystal. It was not as powerful as the whole Crystal, so they were able to approach and study it. After generations, they found a way to use the piece to power a tremendous craft that had the ability to leave their world. Gathering a great many people, they left their home behind. Another many generations lived and died on that craft as it traveled the stars. Then it came here. This planet was different than the others somehow. It canceled out the power of the Crystal and Glyphs, and the craft crashed. Without magic, our people had to rely on other means to survive. But they found very few resources in the rock of this world. It was then discovered that certain plants excrete a very powerful substance when threatened. Your Biolance runs on a super refined variant of it. They called it Bion. Bion changed everything, every aspect of life, some say for the worse. Many wanted to go back to the old ways, and cast off the Bion way of life. My Great-grandfather was one of those. They lived peacefully...until something was discovered that would shake the entire world of the Bions." Glyure paused, whether to be dramatic or just to get her breath, Ruben didn't know. Or perhaps she just didn't want to speak the next part.
"What was that?"
Glyure took a deep breath and held out her hand. "This," she said. A ball of pure light appeared over her hand, colors swirling in and out of its depths. It was beautiful.
"What is that?"
"Magic," Glyure answered. Ruben almost laughed before he saw that she was serious.
"But you said it wasn't possible."
"I said the Crystal's magic didn't work here. We found out why. It is not because it didn't work, it was smothered by this world's own magic. A magic that follows a different Way altogether. The old way could not survive, or maybe was just absorbed into this world. But either way, we thought it was gone until we relearned how to use it. It doesn't even need Glyphs to work. And so the Magus were created."
Ruben began to understand where this tale was going. "So you brought a new power into the world. The world of the Bions."
Glyure smiled, but it was a sad smile. "You see it, don't you? The Magus did not bring a new power, but awakened an old. Hate, fear, and war. At first, they were open about their new knowledge, and the majority of Bions ignored them. You see, it took dedication and hard work to master this new magic without the aid of the Glyphs, and most Bions had grown content and lazy with their power. But then some people began to realize the wonders the Magus could achieve, and began coming in greater and greater numbers. Then the Bions took note. They saw the Magus as the fall of their way of life, and it frightened them. The first attack came without warning. Many Magus died, for they had only used their powers for peace. They didn't stand a chance against those," she pointed at the Biolance, "Even though they were still in their early stages, they were still a devastating weapon. The war had started. That was two generations ago. I was born into this war, just as you were. Most Bions don't even understand how it started, being lied to by those in control. Much can be forgoten in just a few generations. They call us demon worshipers who gave their souls for power. Tales are told of us to frighten children, and those tales work just as well on adults. But perhaps we are a thing to fear now." Her ball of light flashed red, and suddenly flashed out of her hand to strike a tree stump a ways away. The stump exploded in a fury of splinters. "You see, we learned peace from this world, but we were forced to learn war from the Bions."
Ruben felt like he needed to sit down. It was a lot to absorb in such a short time. Was I ignorant too? Did I know the truth before this day? Which would be worse, fighting out of ignorance, or knowing the truth...but fighting still. He hoped he was the earlier. He did not know if he could live with himself being the latter. "So I am your enemy." It was not a question.
Glyure looked at the ground. "You were. I had hoped..." she trailed off.
"Dragun knew the truth, didn't he?"
Glyure turned her face away, but not before he saw the look of pain. "I don't wish to speak of that now. Please?"
"I won't speak of it again." Ruben said just as his stomach growled loudly. He hadn't eaten yet that day.
The Elfess turned back to him, a little smile quirking at her lips, fighting the saddness. "Some food may raise our spirits." With that, she began walking back to the mansion.
============
Little rehash, so we don't forget what was above.
Inventory:
Well tailored trousers (at the house)
Good quality, berry stained white shirt (at the house)
Leather boots
Dark green shirt
Brown leather jerkin
Slightly loose trousers
Equipped:
Leather boots
Dark green shirt
Brown leather jerkin
Slightly loose trousers
and wearing his boots of course
Status:
Healthy, knows a lot more of his past, but still doesn't remember it as his own.
Company:
Glyure... An Elfess with a whip and one less secret
