Aruna

[Quantum Rain]

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The peaceful world of Aruna, a massive grassland world, peaceful, calm, harmonious... Until now. A shadow looms over the White Tower, the shadow of Death. Exitium's forces have already begun appearing here and there, a prelude to the counterattack he will launch against Aeon's transgressions into his territory. Already, outlying villages are overrun, and one of them in particular shall serve as the staging ground for the attack on Aeon's fortress.

"We are in position for the slaughter." A dark elf reported to the demon known as Araman. He waved the elf away, looking down at the city below. Exitium's forces waited for his signal, he knew this, and the unsuspecting townsfolk held no chance against superior numbers and power. Though today seemed to be off... different... or he may have been perceiving the ease of this invasion incorrectly. It doesn't matter, he thought, the fires of war will scar this world regardless. He sent out a fire bomb onto the town below, the signal for the attack to begin. The first wave launched, followed close by the second, and already he could hear the panic ensuing...

The first signs of trouble immediately showed up at the door to the room Wynn rented. People panicking, far off sounds of fiery explosions, and screams of death and the likes... they all turned the morning into a red dawn for the approaching horde of Exitium forces, which already moved to surround the city.

[Quantum Rain]

"Probably not. Then again, many others wou-" Orion's sentence is cut short when a soft white glow surrounds him then forces him to pass out cold again. "Wynn, I know you hate him..." Matt started, showing slight signs of exhaustion. "But we need a destination, and staying on this planet is not the best of ideas."

[Wynn]

"Probably not. Then again, many others wou-" Orion's sentence is cut short when a soft white glow surrounds him then forces him to pass out cold again. "Wynn, I know you hate him..." Matt started, showing slight signs of exhaustion. "But we need a destination, and staying on this planet is not the best of ideas."

Wynn would stand there for a moment contemplating what to do. She would take the staff out of his chest and walk away. She would separate the two halves and sheathe the two swords. Then she sat behind a tree out of sight, but within earshot. If you want to be good cop, be my guest. She thought toward him. But if i stay involved, he's not going to survive.

[Quantum Rain]

Matt sighed, his eyes growing somewhat weary. "Fine." He said a little spitefully. He turned toward Orion again, waved his hand, and as soon as he looked up and tried to speak, the knife in his back jerked, sending a silencing shockwave of pain. "Let's keep this simple." Matt said, folding his arms. Orion just looked up at him in response. Oh joy... I trade the ornery fifteen year old for the cranky, hurt thirteen year old... "Seeing as you're obviously one of the general's aides, you've got a bit of information I could use."
"Oh, and what's that I wonder?" Orion replied, somewhat sarcastic.
"I want off this planet, and you're going to help me."
"And what makes you think I can or will?"
"I can either rip it out of your thick skull myself or you can do it willingly."
"... either way I die, right?"
"Depends on you."
"... gee, what a deal..."
"It's the only one you get."
"*sigh* ..."

[Wynn]

Matt sighed, his eyes growing somewhat weary. "Fine." He said a little spitefully. He turned toward Orion again, waved his hand, and as soon as he looked up and tried to speak, the knife in his back jerked, sending a silencing shockwave of pain. "Let's keep this simple." Matt said, folding his arms. Orion just looked up at him in response. Oh joy... I trade the ornery fifteen year old for the cranky, hurt thirteen year old... "Seeing as you're obviously one of the general's aides, you've got a bit of information I could use."
"Oh, and what's that I wonder?" Orion replied, somewhat sarcastic.
"I want off this planet, and you're going to help me."
"And what makes you think I can or will?"
"I can either rip it out of your thick skull myself or you can do it willingly."
"... either way I die, right?"
"Depends on you."
"... gee, what a deal..."
"It's the only one you get."
"*sigh* ..."

Wynn sat there, listening the whole time. She was annoyed just listening to Orion from afar. "That would have sealed his fate." She muttered to herself ate he brought up the fact that he might not say how to leave.

[Quantum Rain]

"I don't have time to waste. Answer now." Matt said, calmly, but impatient as well. "... Getting off-world may be difficult..." Orion replied, equally calm.
"Oh really?"
"The closest portal is in Aeon's fortress, and it is the only one which I would be capable of unsealing and using at this point..."

"How convenient."

"Indeed. Unfortunately, it is also true."

"Hmh. Well, now that we know where it is, we don't need you anymore. I can find it and unseal it myself."

"Are you so confident of that? You've only been in this universe for a week at most, haven't you? Or am I wrong that you and your sister were summoned here?"

Matt forced the dagger to shift, more abruptly and with the intent of damage, silencing Orion with pain again. "I'm asking the questions. How do you unseal a gate?"

"Aeonic White Magic, put simply. I'm sure you know what that is and means, right?"

"Either speak straightly or get slowly sliced in half." Matt replied harshly, uncaring for Orion's vagueness.

"Very well. It means you need an Aeon soldier who knows the correct ritual to open the gate. This ritual is known only to Aeon Archmages or Generals, including their aides."

"Again, how convenient..."

Orion shrugged, unable to provide an answer to that statement. "I can't change how things are, sorry, but I have told you the truth, just as I did your sister."

[Wynn]

"I don't have time to waste. Answer now." Matt said, calmly, but impatient as well. "... Getting off-world may be difficult..." Orion replied, equally calm.
"Oh really?"
"The closest portal is in Aeon's fortress, and it is the only one which I would be capable of unsealing and using at this point..."

"How convenient."

"Indeed. Unfortunately, it is also true."

"Hmh. Well, now that we know where it is, we don't need you anymore. I can find it and unseal it myself."

"Are you so confident of that? You've only been in this universe for a week at most, haven't you? Or am I wrong that you and your sister were summoned here?"

Matt forced the dagger to shift, more abruptly and with the intent of damage, silencing Orion with pain again. "I'm asking the questions. How do you unseal a gate?"

"Aeonic White Magic, put simply. I'm sure you know what that is and means, right?"

"Either speak straightly or get slowly sliced in half." Matt replied harshly, uncaring for Orion's vagueness.

"Very well. It means you need an Aeon soldier who knows the correct ritual to open the gate. This ritual is known only to Aeon Archmages or Generals, including their aides."

"Again, how convenient..."

Orion shrugged, unable to provide an answer to that statement. "I can't change how things are, sorry, but I have told you the truth, just as I did your sister."

Wynn got up and walked back up to Orion. "You're going to open that portal for us, then." She stated firmly.

[Quantum Rain]

"I would, but I have this walking problem..." He replied, again sarcastic. Before Wynn could respond, however, Matt ripped the blade out violently and held it to Orion's throat. "... Provided I can rest long enough to walk again, fine, I'll open the gate for you." Matt replied with a stoney face as he held out his hand and flexed his fingers. Flames erupted from his fingertips and after a short chant, a collar appeared in his hands. It was simple, and made entirely from the same symbols that Matt tends to use for the various spells he performs. "Insurance... lovely." Orion commented, as the collar was put on him. The symbols glowed brightly and violently as Orion grunted in pain. Matt pulled both knives away from him as Orion passed out cold.

"... There." Matt said finally, as the knives floated over towards Wynn. "That collar will make sure he sticks to his deal."

[Wynn]

"I would, but I have this walking problem..." He replied, again sarcastic. Before Wynn could respond, however, Matt ripped the blade out violently and held it to Orion's throat. "... Provided I can rest long enough to walk again, fine, I'll open the gate for you." Matt replied with a stoney face as he held out his hand and flexed his fingers. Flames erupted from his fingertips and after a short chant, a collar appeared in his hands. It was simple, and made entirely from the same symbols that Matt tends to use for the various spells he performs. "Insurance... lovely." Orion commented, as the collar was put on him. The symbols glowed brightly and violently as Orion grunted in pain. Matt pulled both knives away from him as Orion passed out cold.

"... There." Matt said finally, as the knives floated over towards Wynn. "That collar will make sure he sticks to his deal."

Wynn would stand silent for a moment and reply by saying "Is he even worth the trouble? Because that was ridiculous." She would not be scolding Matt, but would be cursing his resistance more than anything.

[Quantum Rain]

"As much as he may find me interesting, I find him equally intriguing..." Matt replied blankly. After a few moments for thought, he turned back towards the treetop. "... There is one issue left, though... how do we get our stuff down from there in our current state?"

[Wynn]

"As much as he may find me interesting, I find him equally intriguing..." Matt replied blankly. After a few moments for thought, he turned back towards the treetop. "... There is one issue left, though... how do we get our stuff down from there in our current state?"

Wynn would respond by turning toward the tree that they had stored it in and climbed up. She would ignore the residual pain she had from breaking her ribs and would reach the top in a few moments. She would throw the bag down first, knowing there wasn't anything inside that couldn't survive a drop, then jumped after it and rolled on the ground as she had done before. She would then lean against a tree and just sit and think in silence.

[Quantum Rain]

Matt sat down, leaning against a tree near Wynn, but still somewhat opposite to Orion, to keep an eye on him. "... He'll be ready to walk within an hour or two. You should get some rest. Something tells me we won't be catching a break for a while..." He stated aloud, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

[Wynn]

Matt sat down, leaning against a tree near Wynn, but still somewhat opposite to Orion, to keep an eye on him. "... He'll be ready to walk within an hour or two. You should get some rest. Something tells me we won't be catching a break for a while..." He stated aloud, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

Wynn would just lie flat on the ground and stare up at the sky, she would not feel tired enough to sleep since she had just woken up not too long ago. The trees would blow slightly in a faint breeze and the birds sang their songs. Other than the normal environmental noises, it was silent.

[Quantum Rain]

Matt was already fast asleep, as he was up all night trying to trap Orion. Orion was laying awkwardly on the ground, and his wounds, though they lay open and unpatched or tended to in any fashion, were not bleeding, but were slowly shrinking away towards nothing.

The forest was quiet now, and Wynn could almost hear the animals so very close to their small encampment, and the breeze was calm, if not soothing. The skies above were blue and mostly clear, though the sun hid away behind the canopy.

[Wynn]

Matt was already fast asleep, as he was up all night trying to trap Orion. Orion was laying awkwardly on the ground, and his wounds, though they lay open and unpatched or tended to in any fashion, were not bleeding, but were slowly shrinking away towards nothing.

The forest was quiet now, and Wynn could almost hear the animals so very close to their small encampment, and the breeze was calm, if not soothing. The skies above were blue and mostly clear, though the sun hid away behind the canopy.

Wynn simply lied there awake for a couple hours and just enjoyed the respite she had since she hadn't had much to speak of in the days before. She would simply wait there until one of them would wake up.

[Quantum Rain]

The next thing Rain knew, he was staring at a high-up ceiling, with a weird tingling sensation overcoming his body's senses. He opened his eyes to see a white mage healing him. "... What... ugh, my head..." He said, trying to stand up, while his hand automatically moved to his head. Now that he noticed it, his entire body was alight with an aching pain that almost pulsed like his heart.

The mage just smiled and pushed Rain back down gently. "I'm not finished healing you, sir." She said politely, returning to her magic weaving. "What... happened?" He asked, feeling a little better with every passing moment. "A group of mechs nearly tore your group apart. You were cast aside, into the walls, when you tried to buy your squad time to run." The mage replied casually. "Oh, is that all...? ... Did they make it?" "Yes, sir, they're all in one piece. The general is impressed with your performance." "The general? You mean that damna-agh!" Rain grunted in pain as the mage punched him in the arm. "Sorry, sir, what did you say?" When Rain went to reply, he noticed that General Reasolles was staring at him one bed over, even worse off. "Oh... of course..." Rain commented unenthusiastically. The general just sort of shrugged as his wounds were being attended to as well.

---

Matt woke up in a sort of fright, as if emerging from a nightmare or something. He was sweating and breathing hard, despite the fact that he hadn't moved since he fell asleep. "... ... ..."

[Wynn]

The next thing Rain knew, he was staring at a high-up ceiling, with a weird tingling sensation overcoming his body's senses. He opened his eyes to see a white mage healing him. "... What... ugh, my head..." He said, trying to stand up, while his hand automatically moved to his head. Now that he noticed it, his entire body was alight with an aching pain that almost pulsed like his heart.

The mage just smiled and pushed Rain back down gently. "I'm not finished healing you, sir." She said politely, returning to her magic weaving. "What... happened?" He asked, feeling a little better with every passing moment. "A group of mechs nearly tore your group apart. You were cast aside, into the walls, when you tried to buy your squad time to run." The mage replied casually. "Oh, is that all...? ... Did they make it?" "Yes, sir, they're all in one piece. The general is impressed with your performance." "The general? You mean that damna-agh!" Rain grunted in pain as the mage punched him in the arm. "Sorry, sir, what did you say?" When Rain went to reply, he noticed that General Reasolles was staring at him one bed over, even worse off. "Oh... of course..." Rain commented unenthusiastically. The general just sort of shrugged as his wounds were being attended to as well.

---

Matt woke up in a sort of fright, as if emerging from a nightmare or something. He was sweating and breathing hard, despite the fact that he hadn't moved since he fell asleep. "... ... ..."

Wynn would turn her head quickly as she heard the breathing and sat up. "Is something wrong?" She asked quickly.

[Quantum Rain]

"..." Matt took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "... Worst... nightmare... ever." He managed to breath out as he slowly returned to a normal breathing pattern. "... I'm fine... have you checked on him yet?" He asked, not wanting to talk about the dream he had.

[Wynn]

"..." Matt took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "... Worst... nightmare... ever." He managed to breath out as he slowly returned to a normal breathing pattern. "... I'm fine... have you checked on him yet?" He asked, not wanting to talk about the dream he had.

She turned to Orion where he was on the ground and stood up. She walked over to him to see if he was at all conscious and knelt down in front of him. "Wake up." She said sharply, hoping that he would jolt awake.

[Quantum Rain]

"... Darn..." Orion muttered, now moving, but still in pain. He didn't show it, but it took him a while to get onto his feet. Time in which Matt spent regathering his mind, now that Wynn's attention was devoted elsewhere for a short time. "I was almost hoping it was a bad dream..." He muttered again, sighing, then looking around the forest floor.

[Wynn]

"... Darn..." Orion muttered, now moving, but still in pain. He didn't show it, but it took him a while to get onto his feet. Time in which Matt spent regathering his mind, now that Wynn's attention was devoted elsewhere for a short time. "I was almost hoping it was a bad dream..." He muttered again, sighing, then looking around the forest floor.

"No, you really [censored] up." Wynn replied with a harsh, low tone. She stood up and crossed her arms. "Now if you would like to keep your head, you better not make any more of your remarks."

[Quantum Rain]

"... You didn't happen to find my daggers, did you?" He asked, still looking about the forest floor for them. Matt sighed, finally steadying himself. "Can't you just call them to you or something? We need to get going now." Orion just shrugged his reply. "They're daggers, not magic swords. Oh well, I guess. I can just make a new pair on our way." He said turning back to Wynn. "... I'm taking point, aren't I?" He asked unenthusiastically. "Might as well make him carry everything while we're at it." Matt muttered loud enough for Wynn to hear.

[Wynn]

"... You didn't happen to find my daggers, did you?" He asked, still looking about the forest floor for them. Matt sighed, finally steadying himself. "Can't you just call them to you or something? We need to get going now." Orion just shrugged his reply. "They're daggers, not magic swords. Oh well, I guess. I can just make a new pair on our way." He said turning back to Wynn. "... I'm taking point, aren't I?" He asked unenthusiastically. "Might as well make him carry everything while we're at it." Matt muttered loud enough for Wynn to hear.

Wynn would take the bag and throw it at him as he suggested it, welcoming the idea. "You're also going to be our pack mule... try to run with our meals, and we'll make YOU our next meal." Wynn said, leaving him to wonder if she was being serious or not. She continued to stand there, glaring at him with great intensity.

[Quantum Rain]

Orion sighed, knowing that this was likely inevitable. He could care less of the threats of two kids, in his eyes. The only thing he regretted so far was having gotten himself so damaged as to already despise the idea of having to carry anything besides himself. ... Maybe I should have gone to war school instead... He thought as he caught the heavy bag, nearly falling over due to the unexpected weight.

"So we're going to the White Tower, correct?" Matt asked, remembering the earlier discussion about a portal off this planet. Orion nodded as he shouldered the bag, and almost regretted it when his shoulder replied with a outburst of pain. He ignored it though, and grabbed two, thick, sticks that fell off of nearby trees. "... Got a knife I could borrow? Doesn't have to be too sharp..." He requested.

[Wynn]

Orion sighed, knowing that this was likely inevitable. He could care less of the threats of two kids, in his eyes. The only thing he regretted so far was having gotten himself so damaged as to already despise the idea of having to carry anything besides himself. ... Maybe I should have gone to war school instead... He thought as he caught the heavy bag, nearly falling over due to the unexpected weight.

"So we're going to the White Tower, correct?" Matt asked, remembering the earlier discussion about a portal off this planet. Orion nodded as he shouldered the bag, and almost regretted it when his shoulder replied with a outburst of pain. He ignored it though, and grabbed two, thick, sticks that fell off of nearby trees. "... Got a knife I could borrow? Doesn't have to be too sharp..." He requested.

Wynn stood there for a moment, highly suspicious of him. Then, she drew a throwing knife and threw it into the ground. The blade would sink itself only inches from his foot. She would draw one of the short swords, preparing for him to try and turn on them.

[Quantum Rain]

"Thanks." He said, grabbing the knife and beginning to carve into the wood. He started walking idly in the direction of the White Tower, silently carving out a shape from the wood.

"The Tower is several miles from the city we were just in... I know where it is, but I wouldn't go near it myself..." Matt stated, walking quietly, and keeping a distance between him and Orion. He still eyed Orion cautiously every now and then, but he just kept carving in the wood without care.

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