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 Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:00 pm
::Now it would take a while. No one is standing on the other side of their door waiting for someone to knock. But he'd get there. Ruuvan would hear him coming way before he saw him. He'd hear the click of several doors, and even the rythmic tapping of feet on stairs. And then, the door would open.
Now, as it opened, a large tuft of that purple have poofed out the door into Ruuvans general direction. Infact it seemed a constant billow of that liquid was ever exiting that room. It was like a smoke stack, heavily pumping out the smog. But, thankfully he would be able to see through it and inside the doorway to the man standing in it and stepping forward.
The man had stark white hair tied into a small pony tail behind his head. His face seemed aged, like a man in his later 50's and early 60's. And in his right eye sat a monacle. Despite his apparent age, he stood a full 6ft 5in tall and he stood with pride and honor. His back was straight, the age really didnt seem to slow him down. He wore a white buttoned dress shirt with a black vest over it, and long black dress pants with pleats. The pants led to a set of black loafers, and served to contrast the white gloves covering the entirety of his hands. Every article of his clothing was perfect ironed, pressed, and kept in perfect order. As he stepped into the light, he spoke.
As could be expected his voice was old, yet soft. It was spoken just a bit above a whisper at all times. He had an accent. And while D would think it was funny, Ruuvan might recognize it. It was the accent that Aria nobility spoke with. Something similar to formal british.::
Ahh, Master Lassenger, Master D. I've been waiting, breakfast is almost ready. Do come in.
::He would turn, placing his back against the door,and slightly bow extending his arms into the entrance for the two to enter.
D, didnt think. He just buzzed in. Ruuvan might be a bit more mature when the scent of bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, pancakes, seriel, fish and chips, and a few other tasty morsels struck his nose. When Walter cooked, he cooked.
The inside of the windmill though...was pitch black. I'd take Ruuvan a few minutes, but strangely, he'd adjust. His new right eye was able to had him perfect Dark Vision, while his left eye was sort of left in the dark. Though he'd be used to the feeling of seeing through one eye. He'd see that directly before him, were stairs spiraling downward.
Walter would sit patiently, and quietly.::
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:59 am
It didn't matter how long someone took to get to the door, Ruuvan was just happy his hand didn't get absorbed into the black shadow flowing from the cracks.
As the door opened to show the old-looking gentleman with a rather sharp dress sense, Ruuvan bowed his head when addressed and had another one of those flashbacks. Just like when Maximos talked about his true form being an Undead warrior, Ruu remembered listening to the Aria Nobles speaking, though he rarely talked to any of them himself, and smiled when he recgnised the man's accent; things were coming together. So, as the man moved to the side to allow the scent of freshly cooked food to waft through the doorway, sending D into another frenzy as he ran inside, Ruuvan returned to bow and made his way into the Windmill after D.
A brief thought washed through his mind as the room darkened and then lit up, though only his right eye could see, but he had learnt to use one eye only this time it was the other one in the dark, but how was this eye able to achieve this level of lighting without any machinery inside it? Sure, Elves had extremely good vision and could see in the dark, but why could only one of his eyes do this? Ruu shook his head of this thought as he sat down at the table across from the man and next to D, smiling as he placed the bags on the floor and looked over the array of food.
"You know my name, but I'm afraid I do not know yours: What should I call you?" It was at this moment he prayed that this dark figure was not as cocky as the previous people he encountered and he would get straight answers from them, but he was ready for anything.
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:04 am
::The man quietly followed behind Ruuvan, down the stairs, these stairs seemed to go on forever and ever. And finally, as he stepped out from the tube-like stairwell. It looked almost as if it was carved out of the very rock of the islands base. All Ruuvan would see for a good few minutes, was stairs and rocks.
And finally, the two exited the stairwell, before him now was a structure, several stories high, and yet more extravagant than Johnny K. Gambino's home. There stood a mansion, it looked like a beautiful gothic fusion of a castle and a modern day manor, but it was expertly kept, Ruuvans eye would let him see even the smallest detail. And even in this darkness Ruuvan would see a similar purple haze being emitted by the house. About 50ft in front of the duo were two massive double doors, this is where D waited.
The doors were carved with very odd symbols, they looked like a series of circles each with a line, or quarter line, leading into a more circles, they were shaped like some sort of magic rune and it seemed from the very carvings even more purple mist was being emitted.
It was at about this point in the journey, that the keenly dressed man took the initiative to step ahead of Ruuvan and peel open the doors to the manor.
Inside, was a massive table extending at least 120ft, and it was aligned from end to end with different breakfast foods. Some foods didnt even seem humanly edible, others seemed like the most exquisite foods known to man, yet still others...looked like something mother would make. And some of the foods seemed to have more strange mists coming from them. Why was no one else reacting to this!?The dinning room itself was huge, some peoples entire houses arent that huge. And carefully hand designed in an ever flowing black motiff.
As he peeled open the door, he bowed. And gently spoke again.::
Welcome, to Shadow Manor. It has been in the Masters family for several generations. Though previously held in the Shadow Realm, it now finds Shadow Island to be its home.
:: D had already found his seat, most children tended to themselves. For Ruuvan however he pulled out a seat, and as Ruuvan asked his question, Walter was straight and honest to answer.::
Walter Worthington, the 3rd, at your service Master Ruuvan. I am the butler, and general caretaker of this establishment. The Master asked that I prepare this for you, your plate is garnished with Elemengal Leafs, a delicacy amonst the Arian Elves. Master D's place is garnished with...sweeter fare. He said you'd traveled a long distance and would be hungry. I hope it is to your liking.
::With a hand towel drapped around his right forearm, and his forearm held up even with his chest. Walter stood directly beside Ruuvan, and fell into silence. Such was the place of the butler, the background. He would not speak unless spoken too. Such was his way, one never knows what information a book holds, until they open it.::
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:28 pm
It took Ruuvan a while to get his head around the concept of a mansion underneath a Windmill on a chunk of island, but his mind started to waver as the door was opened and he was lead into the large hall with a table laden with food; a gourmand's paradise. Ruu however, was not a gourmand, but he did find the Elemengal quite delicious, even if he had no memory of eating them before. It wasn't until mention of Arian Elves that Ruu truly believed that this Mansion could be Maximos', but you only find out by asking such things.
"Would I be right in assuming Maximos is your master, Walter?" It could've been a stab in the dark or it could've been an accurate guess, Ruuvan was enjoying the food too much at the moment to give his full attention to the answer, what with the fall and near-death wearing him out, but he'd listen as best he could.
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:37 pm
Ruuvan Ruuvan was enjoying the food too much at the moment to give his full attention to the answer, what with the fall and near-death wearing him out, but he'd listen as best he could. ::Its always when we're least expecting it that life smacks us across the back of the head. Ruuvan was here, after risking life and limb, quite literally. He had let his guard down physically, but worse...emotionally. Here was rest, peace...Or was it? From his standing position beside Ruuvan, Walters face grew somewhat grim, his eyes shifted down to the floor...he spoke and as much as he tried to hide it, his somberness seeped forth.:: Yes Master Ruuvan, the late Master Maximos did infact own this estate...::And there was silence.::
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:59 am
What happened next could only be described as a classic moment of a 'double-take' on Ruuvan's part. He continued to munch through the leaves, smiling and nodding his head as he got the guess right, but once he mulled over the sentence again and picked out the key word, something inside him changed.
"What?" Ruu pushed himself up from the chair and turned around to face Walter, clearing up the last few bits of food from his lips. Now, one might not find someone standing up to be that scary, but the glint in his eye told a different story; Walter would be safe when he repeated the question, but Ruu needed confirmation of what he just heard... surely Maximos wasn't dead. Any psychiatrist could tell you that this would be the calm before the storm.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:47 am
Oh dear...sir didnt know...
::The look on his face was unmistakable. Sadly, the only made the grimace on Walters aged face, even sadder. He paused and took a deep breath, looking Ruuvan in the eye. Denial is the first stage of accepting loss, and he needed Ruuvan to know by just the look on his face, that he was entirely serious.::
I'm afraid its true....
::Another pause, as he had to force out those most difficult words again. Each time he said them, he was strained to remember that with Maximos's death, and with the Shadow Warrior not spawning any children...Walter had no job, no purpose left in life. He couldnt believe he was stupid enough to not assume Ruuvan had no way of knowing...or to hint at it at least just to get a feel for wether Ruu knew or not...But none of that changed the cold, hard, facts.::
Master Maximos...has passed away...
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:15 am
Once Walter stated those words, the words Ruuvan didn't want to hear, the hall fell silent once again and was replaced with nothing but dark empty space. If someone had come in at this moment and looked at the two, they would see a sad-looking elderly chap and a relatively calm-looking Elf, but that was about to change.
A slight crunch bounced around the walls of the wall, the type of sound made when someone cracks their knuckles before a fight, but this was no boxer limbering up. Ruuvan's face slowly changed from expressionless to gritting his teeth in order to keep the anger inside, his fists clenched causing the sound that was just heard.
"When did it happen?" It was still the same voice as before, but this time the face didn't match the tone. Still, it took but a moment for the news to sink in causing Ruu to forget what he had just asked and turn back to the table, placing both hands shoulder width apart on the wooden top, "How did it happen?!" Then he snapped.
Both hands lifted from the table and clenched into fists. Ruuvan tilted his head back slightly and screamed into the empty room, slamming both hands onto the table and sending some of the food spinning around; a terrible thing, anger. He only hit the table once, his shout soon slowing until he hung his head and fell to his knees.
"All this searching comes to an end and I have found nothing." Ruuvan closed his eyes and slumped back onto the floor, tears seeping from the ducts of his new and old eye, soaking his cheeks in the silent crying.
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:16 pm
::Silence, was Walters responce. Deep breaths helped the Butler keep his eyes from welling up. He knew that Ruuvan needed to know, no...deserved to know, the truth, but in the swirling maelstrom of emotion he likely wouldnt even hear what Walter had to say.
On the outside he was calm, but Walter could sense his calm being torn to shreds.
Silence. Even D stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face the two men. He didnt hear what was said, but even he could tell this was going to be bad.
And then it happened. The slam, sending platters and utensils across the room. The scream, it echoed through the empty halls, bellowing down through chambers...the whole manor knew Ruuvans pain.
The tears....D, almost instinctly hopped off his chair and ran to try and comfort Ruuvan. He had no words, but maybe a hug would help...maybe not. But he would try.
The silence was broken by sobs, and Walters solemn voice...He knew these words would hurt, but they had to be said. He couldnt wait, one must rip the whole bandaid off at once. He would start, one question at a time.::
...It was about a year ago, during the disaster at the Leviathan Stadium...The Destroyer broke free from the Masters control...he began to kill again...A young man, and a young ninja did their best to try and subdue him...but the beast knew no reason...a woman, named Lucind risked her all to dive into his mangled soul and repair it...the Master was healed...he had no more ties to his plane, it was his time...and his spirit passed on...
::There was a pause, in responce to Ruuvans last weeping comment. His voice was calm, consoling, as much as he could make it so.::
I cannot begin to understand how you feel...I know that to the Master you were family...it was that, that kept him going. I once asked him if he feared death...he quoted to me a promise he had said he made years ago...he said..."If Death isnt a boundary now, I wont let it be one, ever! If one of my family is lost, I will hunt across the world worlds to find them. Because...thats what family does....". I know in his heart, he believed his family...felt the same.
::It might be painful to present Ruuvan with this glimmer of hope, it seemed like nothing more than a shiny sparkle in the bleak black.::
You've ventured far...perhaps...Master Lassenger...this is not the end...? Perhaps now...you only fully understand...where your journey must go...
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:15 am
Ruuvan was laying in silence on the floor of the hall as Walter started explaining what happened, his eyes closed for fear of opening them and seeing nothing but images of the times he had with Maximos. How could he have missed those significant events at the staidum? How could he not be there to help his friend fight back the demon inside? What was his meaning now that his journey rested on finding someone who was no longer on this earth? All of these questions needed to be answered, but Ruuvan felt imobilised on the floor as Walter finished, a sharp pain tearing through his body upon those last few words.
Maximos "You've ventured far...perhaps...Master Lassenger...this is not the end...? Perhaps now...you only fully understand...where your journey must go..."
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Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 7:33 am
Ruuvan "What do you mean, Walter?" ::The Butler paused, and took a second deep breath, millions of years can build ones strength against the physical forces but the heart...Walter could level mountains with a punch, but at a sight like this, his heart crumbled like anthill. But duty, duty was the tower which kept him going. He had a duty to Master Ruuvan. And he meant to fulfill it.:: In this ones, humble opinion, Master Ruuvan, skates the edge of death and life daily...at one moment an Elemengal Elf, at the next, walking corpse ex General of the Army of Light...I can think of no one better to try and breach the expanse between the two worlds...and no better reason than for family.::Walter said that last bit with confidence across his breath. Confident that anyone would and should do what they can for family. His stance straightened, his eyes dried, and he tried to pick a few bits of leaf from off his vest. The time for sadness of was done! For Walter it was the time for action! Ruuvans promise to Maximos was on a far larger scale, but it was in the same vien as Walters oath to Maximos's family. Ruuvan faced life and death...Walter faced the perils of...a messy kitchen. And a messy floor, and a general mess from things being sent flying when Ruuvans fists collided with an over-filled table. Walter smiled. Maximos would have wanted him to smile.::
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Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:18 am
The tears had subsided and his anger went with it, but that didn't remove the fact that his oldest friend had been dead for a year before he knew about it. So, whilst listening to Walter put his opinion forward, Ruuvan sat up to return the hug D jumped on him to give, patting the child's back before breaking away and pushing himself to his feet.
Walter was right. Ruu could switch between both realms of life and death in an instant, even if the shock of breaching that void still existed, but how would he be able to utilise this in order to find his friend and fulfill whatever life had planned for him.
"I have changed between realms to many times, Walter... I just don't know how I can use it to find Maximos." Walter seemed to hold the answers and be straight with them, so atleast it was a fresh change from riddle-type answers. Ruu remembered the promise he had made, seeing the flashback from the Hummer as if it happened yesterday, and he would keep that promise if it meant breaking the void; he just needed to know how.
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Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 8:32 am
My deep apologies Master Ruuvan, I do not know.
::With all of his age, with all of his experience, the fact still remained...Walter was newer to Gaia than even Ruuvan was. His feet hadnt trotted on soil that wasnt Shadow Island in nearly a year. It was safe to say he had no internet access and no television. He was cut off from the world, he simply did not know all the answers...but he knew some.::
I know, that Master Maximos was spared the payment for The Destroyers deeds do to his self sacrifice in choosing to die, rather than to risk the Destroyers release. He was sent to Heaven. And I know that their have been rumors of demons pouring out of a firey eye in the Northernlands...some believe the eye is a gateway to Hell itself...
::There was a pause as Walter picked up a few pieces of broken China which had been shattered after performing a triple summersault in mid air and "landing" on the wooden floors.::
Perhaps, that would be a place to begin? If Heaven and Hell are related, perhaps...
::He paused as he realized he was suggesting that Ruuvan, go to hell. But he stifled the smirk.::
...well I'm sure Master Ruuvan can understand my meaning.
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:39 am
Even though Ruuvan had died once and must've gone to one of the two realms before being brought back, he could not remember which one he was in nor what it was like on the other side of existence, but the prospect of going into Hell in order to get to Heaven seemed a strange concept. Even to one as open minded as he was, fighting his way to the eye on order to enter a realm filled with pain and death was beyond comprehension.
"Enter the firey depths of Hell in order to get to Heaven... such a strange concept." Ruuvan had moved out of the way so Walter could clear up the things he spilled in anger, but his mind was too busy thinking of Heaven and Hell to feel sorry for what he did; even if it was only knocking a few things over, it was still bad, "If I am to venture towards this eye, how could I get to the Northernlands from here?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:16 am
Strangely enough...
::Walter said, standing up and sliding the last few remnants of meaty bits of breakfast into his hand towel. And he continued.::
...The Northernlands are south of here they sit on the northern end of the main Gaian continent. As for how one ascends into a firey eye in order to enter Hell...
::A pause for a moment, and then a flat revelation.::
...I have no clue. But, look on the bright side!
::He said as he gestured widely toward Ruuvan::
Master Ruuvan has Lady Arian, and it seems the Elemengal Eye has returned to him as well. At least Master Ruuvan is well equipped!
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