Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Alright. Here we go!" Snow said, smiling warmly. He reached out and groped for the handle, finally catching it in his grasp. Turning it, he pulled the door open as far as he could without abandoning his position on the shelves. When it was open part way, he pushed it outwards, the door swinging slowly through the oozing goop. He leaned outwards to look within the room, and nearly fell off the shelf at what he saw.

"That's!" Mag cried in suprise.

The room, following the general theme of the temple, was indeed a mess. Piles of papers were stacked up waist high around the room. Bookshelves lined the walls, but most of the books had joined the paper in stacks on the floor. Hanging from the ceiling were dozens mobiles, strange amulets and trinkets hanging from strings.

At the far end of the room there was a desk. The cause of Mag's outcry was currently draped over it, snoring away. A young woman was sitting in a large leather chair behind the desk, and had apparently fallen asleep during whatever she was doing. Hot pink hair fell over her face in gentle waves, matching the rest of her outfit, which was made of various other shades of pink. Strapped on her back were a pair of fake plastic fairy wings, the type young children wear on Halloween. She smacked her lips in her sleep a few times, and turned over on the desk, a goofy smile on her face.


"Well, I guess we've found her," Mag said, getting rather pissed off.

"Hell, yeah, we're waking her up!" Mag cried, snorting derisively. "She calls us all the way out here, to face ooze and moving junk piles, and then falls asleep on us? Uh-uh, no way!"

"Mag, don't you think you are overreacting just a tad?" Snow said, trying to calm his guardian's raging temper. "We did take a long time to get here after all..."

"You're just defending her 'cuz you have a crush on her, don't you?" Mag yelled. Snow's eyes narrowed.

"That was a long time ago! I've gotten over it!" he said, spitting out the words angrily. Mag just humphed.

"Ever since we arrived, it's been Lady Perla this, Lady Perla that. Pretty damn suspicious if you ask me!" She drawled.

"Oy..."

"You stay out of this!" Mag and Snow both yelled at the same time. Lady Perla blinked, not fully awake, and looked at Myu and Nyx.

"Is there some sort of problem?"

Snow sighed shaking slightly. Myu was right this wasn't really a good time. Besides, it was such a foolish arguement to be having at any time.

"I'm sorry Mag. I didn't mean to yell," he said softly. "I think it is just the stress of being in such a dangerous place that is irritating me."

"Keh. You know I'm always in a bad temper," Mag said, chuckling slightly. "I don't mean half of the things I say. I shouldn't have baited you like that."

"Yes, Mag," Perla said smiling brightly. "Don't rub salt in old wounds."

"Shut it, you," Mag grumbled, "We're having a moment." Snow began to laugh, Mag chiming in soon after.

"Well now!" said Perla clasping her hands together happily. "Now that we're all friends again, I should probably introduce myself to the newcomers!" She bowed dramatically, sweeping one hand behind her back. "My name is Perla, also known as Perla the Sage, or Perla the Questmaster. Age, unknown, height, unknown, weight, unknown, and if you really wanted to know, you'd probably have to stalk me," she said in a chirpy, happy voice, smiling broadly the whole time.

"Now, what's up?"

"Ah! So very forward, aren't we," Perla said, smiling at Myu. "That'll get you places in life, but be careful someday, or you might learn something you may not want to know." She then giggled, dismissing her own words. "And hello to you, Miss Guardian Spirit. No need to call me 'Lady', that's just something little Snowy picked up because he's too polite," she said laughing. Now, I think that your feeling was caused by me. I was brewing up a new potion in order to attract newly born Zahdl here, so that they could ask me about things. After all," she said, holding up one finger, "better safe than sorry all around."

"A potion..." Snow thought aloud, considering her words. "You wouldn't have, by chance, been creating it in the adjacent room, would you?"

"Bingo Zingo!" Perla said, snapping her fingers. "You must have passed it on your way in!"

"You idiot!" Mag yelled. If she could have slapped her forehead, she would have. "That damn concoction of yours has flooded the whole damn room!"

"Ehhhhhhhhh?" Perla exclaimed, eyes widening. "That can't be! I only fell asleep for a second, right after I sent your letter!"

"That was days ago, you blundering airhead!" Mag all but shouted in frusteration. She didn't dislike happy people, but airheads were a bit more than she could stand. Especially from her experiences with them back home.

"Oh no..." Perla murmered, face downturned. "If the potion overflowed, then a hugemondous amount of magical energy must have flowed into the surrounding area. Who knows what kind of strange effects it might have caused on this area?"

"Whatever has happened I will fix. Whatever I am capable of creating, I am also capable of destroying," Perla said, unusually serious expression on her face. "There is a balance to everything in the world, and although my powers are little in comparison, I will do my best to right what has been wronged." Then, her serious look vanished, to be replaced by her usual smile.

"Hmph, yeah, now that the whole countryside is crawling with chaos..." Mag grumbled under her breath.

"Oh, please don't worry!" Perla said. "The walls of this place are so thick and magically sealed that none of the magic can seep outside! The effects of the potion spill should be limited to the inside. Now, can someone tell me what seems off?"

"This temple was originally dedicated to a godess, before that particular religion's followers broke off. It was a dedication to her benevolence and kindness," Perla stated. "An attack of any sort is unusual, and does not belong in this place. Even now, I have dedicated this place to helping new Zahdl, so there shouldn't be anthing dangerous in here. Therefore, that monster is definitely a product of this magic."

"Broke off? Are you refering to the rift between the two churches of Lunais and Seana?" Snow asked, remembering an earlier encounter with representatives of the two.

"Yes. There was a great deal of debate between two sects of the original religions, and thus they separated, each founding the two churches that are present today." Perla waved one hand idly, sighing. "There are still members of the original religion left, but most worship in secret. It's a darn shame."

"As interesting as the religious history is, would you mind telling us how we're going to stop the mass of maliciousness in the main hall?" Mag drawled impatiently. "It can't fit into the hallway, I don't think, but what's to stop it from breaking down the wall, or something?" Sounds of crashing from the larger room could be heard echoing down into the current room, increasing the serious nature of her words.

"Oh, you can just leave that to me," Perla said, a mysterious smile gracing her lips. "First, however, we should clean up the mess in the other room, before it causes any more problems."

"Oh, please let me handle it!" Perla said laughing. Reaching into a pocket of her skirt, she pulled out a slender golden chain with several different pendants hanging off. Pulling off a small dark jeweled pendant with ornate black casing, she walked over to the door, where the muck was beginning to ooze in.

"It's times like this when I'm glad that people owe me favors!" she said, twirling the jewel between her fingers. Then, she faced the door and held her arms outstretched, one palm touching the back of her other hand, jewel hanging from the tip of her middle finger. Powerful magical energy crackled around her body, and the jewel glowed with a strong amythist light.

"Sevanet! Master of the seventh door! I invoke thy favor to clear this room of its debris!" Perla yelled, eyes closing as she charged its power. A magical seal of purple light formed at the tips of her fingers, before racing towards the ooze filled room. It hovered over the muck for a moment before rotating horizontally and expanding, covering the room in complex swirls and whorls of magic. The whole building seemed to shudder as the spell took hold, the ooze being sucked upwards into the seal, dissappearing as it hit.

After a few moments, the room was spotless, as if the potion had never overflowed. Perla admired the results for a few moments before turning back around.

"Well, I doubt you are as impressed, Snow, but that was pretty impressive, eh, Mag?" She asked, smiling as though she hadn't just caused a miniature black hole thing. Snow looked vaguely put out, and Mag sputtered for a moment.

"Bull s**t!" Mag finally came out with.