Welcome to Gaia! ::

Verdis nodded politely in response, still feeling completely confused by the matter. Staring down at the chain wrapped around her wrist, and the amulet attached to it, she couldn't help but feel as though she ought to feel something or another, and felt both deprived and guilty when she didn't.

How the hell am I supposed to speak to this thing? Damned if I know. She mentally grumbled. Dropping her wrist back to her side, she barely felt a vague pulse of burning heat by her hip, where her wrist rested, and dismissed it as her imagination.

((Aside from the fifty-seven other random party members we have tagging along? sweatdrop Y'know, if there's anyone else who needs to be NPCed, I'll gladly take them on in the same fashion as Naoko and Cid have semi-appropriated Sion and Shu.))

((Well, I hadn't heard anything at all from Gwyn, and I only heard from Kel at the outset of her adventure. As for the player of our metrosexual grenade afficionado, [ biggrin ] I'm not quite sure what's keeping her. Perhaps The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the most delectable game since D&D?))

((As far as I know, Gwyn took the month of May off due to finals...not sure when he'll be back, though))

A shock ran through her body that sent her blood running cold. She had never felt this before. It felt as if someone ran into her body, tore a piece of her soul out, and stuck it back in a different place. Naoko tried to refrain from shivering, but unfortunately it caught the attention of the person next to her.

"Naoko...you okay?" Gwyn asked, his eyes brimmed with a touch of concern.

"Fine," she tersely replied, making sure that she wasn't directly looking at anybody. The last thing she needed was for someone to catch her off guard during this time to prepare.

Her mind was spinning, though. Surely, it wasn't from her illness. She didn't feel as exhausted as before when she passed out in Halconia. This...this wrenching pain felt different.
~~~

Gwyn hadn't been the only one who noticed Naoko's strange reaction. Sion eyed the cloaked woman curiously from his position towards the back, reloading the clips to his weapons.

Huh, I wonder what's with her...

The rogue glanced around their unusual surroundings, trying to get his mind off of things. Something in the back of his mind felt that something was out of the ordinary, but without communication with his guardian to tell him what was going on outside, Sion felt uninformed. It annoyed him a little, but the Lilandre local shifted it back deep inside his mind. There wasn't anything else to do during these ten minutes since he restocked, so he resorted to observation. It was one of the many things that got him into his position at Demetrie, as he had a good memory when it came to his environment.

The only thing that kept on nagging him was that strange feeling that they were all being watched.

Dammit.

She cursed her body for not obeying her orders, she cursed herself for falling for such a simple trap. Of course it was possible for Layla to turn without any warning -- even if the priestess showed a simple bit of hesitance to herself, then it was easy for Ryden to take advantage. The b***h was a former magic genius, after all, so it wouldn't be hard for her to send Layla back to sleep.

Her own blood continued to pool around her as she struggled to move. The Mistress of Fire had to grudgingly admit that Ryden was right -- if she moved even more without closing her wound, she would surely die.

But Reika was prepared for this. She had been prepared for battle all her life and as the soldier side of her, she was also prepared to die. However, it wasn't what she quite imagined...especially at such a critical time as this. She couldn't help but chuckle despite the pain, despite the growing coldness that was coming around her. She could just imagine her funeral, her tombstone engraved in the marble that she loved from the city.

Dammit.

It was not the time for her to go yet. There were people who still needed her, and she was determined to live through it. But her body wasn't listening, and the growing cold from losing warmth was beginning to surround her. Her hands curled into fists as she struggled to stay awake, stay warm.

She was the Mistress of Fire. A person who was supposed to not only set the world on fire, but also to provide comfort to those who needed the warmth. It didn't deem possible for her to die.

And as her vision began to fade, she could sense another being in the room, rushing hurriedly to her prone form and wrapping the cloak of darkness around her.

The last words she could hear were from the deep voice of the unknown stranger: "Everything will be fine, Reika."

It's time.

Okay everyone, let's get a move on.

We've got people waiting for us to finish. I just hope I don't screw it up.

It's a little late to be having doubts. You can do it. Quit worrying if you want to succeed.

*Bryce led everyone up the stairs of the main part of the temple, to the large door. As the others stood behind, sparsely gathered on the stairway, he closed his eyes and placed a palm to the door. The edges glowed green for a second, and with a slight creak they opened slowly, revealing a large, open space. The room had high ceilings, and column-lined walls lit by torches spread around. In three spots, one opposite the entrance and one on either side, in the center of each wall there was a ten to twenty foot wide "window", although it looked more like a place where there should have been wall but they forgot to put it. Bryce could feel a breeze circulating through the area as he stepped forward with Daewyn close behind. The others followed, observing the new surroundings, with Baikasu lagging behind and taking up the rear behind Shuichi.*

"Wow...it's so huge!" Daewyn gasped.

"I figured it was going to be impressive...but..." Sion seemed to be at a loss for words, as did many others.

*A few seemed a tad bit on edge, namely Gwyn, Naoko, and Baikasu. This suprised nobody, especially with the temples from before. Bryce moved forward again, this time with eyes set on an object in the center of the room. A low-lying table of sorts - the temple's "altar". He'd been here before, and he didn't like the feeling he was getting at his return.*

Something's not right...

*Shaking off the boding feeling, since Narya had no response, he stepped up to the altar and looked about. He then realized why he was so nervous and uneasy - there was no sound. One would think that a temple like this would have something inside for them to deal with, but you could hardly hear the wind outside, much less any sign of life other than their group of travelers. The others came upon the altar, and some cirled around it. They stood in silence in some time, looking about for some sign of what to do.*

Make the spirits aware of your presence and intentions.

Shouldn't they know I'm here?

They do. But they're waiting to see if you are prepared. I will speak with you again.

*Bryce took a step forward, now inches away from the altar, and spoke in a clear voice. A slight rustle stirred up around his feet as he did so.*

Spirits of the Wind, I am Bryce, Bearer of the Wind Amulet and Narya, its Guardian Spirit. I have come to claim the Four Winds and embrace my power. I am ready for the tasks you have for me.

It was as if someone suddenly turned up the volume. Suddenly, the room was filled with voices, some laughing, some chaniting, some whistling. Green runes lit up all over, just as before. They came to life and began dancing around the altar, making a bizzare, fluid column. Everyone was taken aback at the quick change, and most were staring wide-eyed. Few were calm; in fact, Naoko seemed to be the only one unphased.

*Bryce felt as if his heart was going to pop out of his chest with the speed of its beating, but he kept his outward appearance calm.*

I have to be brave and not let them think I can't do this. I can, and I will. I must not fail!

By this point, all the "runes" had developed life-like characteristics; many actually looked like spirits. They had also stopped all the side chatter and laughter, and concentrated on a single, steady chant. The chant began a crescendo, and with a single, piercing note, all the torches went out. This left only an eerie green glow at the center of the room, and a very small amount of light streaming in through the "windows" and door. The very magic in the room was preventing the sun from entering more than a few feet inside. After the outburst, the voices had returned to a lower note and began a different sort of chant. One that felt welcoming, almost.

In fact, Bryce felt himself moving forward and upward at the same time. The spirits were calling to him, summoning him.

I am ready.

The voices stopped, and the spirits went out. Darkness. Then a new sensation. Each almost felt as if wind was moving through them. Daewyn thought she heard laughter. Shuichi, who was standing nearly across from Bryce, could have sworn that he saw Bryce's eyes glowing green after the spirits vanished. Someone gasped. And then, it was if the floor dropped out from underneath.

((YAY!!! Time to pair up everyone!!!! Let the Wind Temple's Trials BEGIN! -finally-))

Freefall. The thought registered as Verdis felt the pleasant sensation of air whipping her hair in front of her face.

s**t. The idea of the fall itself wasn't bad, but then she remembered the ground that she would inevitably smash into. Hemophilia and impacts were rarely a good thing, if ever. Peering through the slits of her mask, she cast her field of vision around, looking for some way to lessen the impact, but could only see darkness beneath, not to mention the walls were no option, less she wanted to hang herself.

I can't die now, not with ... Her eyes closed behind the mask, and she inhaled until her lungs were full, holding her breath. Come on, think. There's got to be a way out of this. Mind clouded by thoughts of her own incompetence and uselessness, her shoulders tensed in frustration.

Well, this certainly was an original experience. Gwyn had fallen from high distances many times before, but those had been times that he had jumped on purpose. Those times, he knew that he would have ground underneath him. As a Dragoon, he had receivec extensive training on learning how to cushion his falls by landing on the ground in a certain form, and by using magic ever so slightly to lighten the impact. As a result, Gwyn's fear of heights was nonexistant. However, even he was feeling slightly nervous at the moment. He could only imagine what his companions were feeling. Of course, with as focused and slightly boring as some of his comrades tended to be, they might be faring better mentally than he was. Not being able to do anything else, Gwyn merely braced for the inevitable impact, hoping his training and luck would see him through this ordeal.

ooc: >_>; Yo! Yeah, I'll try to get on more... I'm lazy sweatdrop


And whats that supposed to mean D: