Lake Re'anram

The Quest has begun . . .

Lake Re'anram

Seven years has passed since she began to sing the chant that she was assigned to sing, she was weakened within those seven years and finally, the day came that the chosen six fell into the lake.
Each splash had given her a small time to smile before her body collapsed upon the rock she had situated herself on. Her body was fragile in her state and would need rest for just one night, her eyes were halfway closed yet she was sill able to
move the strand of her hair to the side, tucked in behind her ear as she turned her head towards the people who have walked out of the water. Her face continued to glow and the smile continued to appear wider each time she saw them reach the dry land and stand upon the pebbles in front of her. Cheyl glowed a bit brighter as she pushed herself to sit upon her bottom, her hands shook as they tried to balance against the curved rock, but she was of the size of a human hand and she was capable of balance.

"Welcome."

Her voice had been shaky, she swallowed and tried to get them to be quiet as she weakly flapped her wings to levitate at eye level to them, and to feel rather equal than inferior because of the size.
Cheyl cleared her throat and spread her arms open, she
had struggled to do so and struggled to keep a balance in her wings. Cheyl opened her lips and welcomed them again.

"Chosen ones," She titled them. "All from different areas of our beloved Sumacai'a, you have been called upon by Engrant the Great to go on a Quest for his safe return from him," She began to explain before she fell down and crashed back onto the rock, her body curled to a ball as she shivered, her red glow dimmed and her skin grew pale. "I-I am Ch-Cheyl the Red Sprite," She managed to introduce herself. "I am the one who is to guide you through this, but first..."

The weak Sprite pushed herself back up once more, her wing flapped and she levitated up in the air, she spin quite in a fast speed that her figure turned to a blur and soon dust scattered above them, it was giving eah person their granted ability. She had spun around and round for quite a while before she lowered herself opposite of the chosen Staff Keeper.
A man who dressed oddly. He wasn't from there, Cheyl was told that before she was to judge.
"You are the chosen on to hold," Cheyl turned and pointed towards a staff that was stabbed into a few rocks, she slightly exhaled heavily and added, "That is your task. You are to protect that from anyone who dares to touch and take it for their evil deeds. Enabling the spells is our first task to retrieve before we go deeper into the shattered lands tainted by Vercelis."

Water rushed around Vyse as he sank through the cold water and the longer he waited to get his bearings, the deeper he was pulled into the dark lake. Upon making impact, the shock of it was just like a big slap in the face for him and he was surprised to find himself in the water considering that he was never a fan of dunking himself into a lake while wearing his favourite coat. How did he end up in this mess anyway? The young man was perfectly content on travelling the world just for the fun of it and maybe to make himself a little coin in the process. Vyse wasn't sure of the latter but he may as well pay for his supplies while he's at it. Legs kicking and arms clawing, the young man swam for what he assumed was the surface. He gasped sharply for air as he emerged, looking around and noticing that there were others here, not just him. Great. Now how did I get here? Vyse thought as he swam for shore. It wasn't a long swim but he was slightly troubled as he contemplated on how to get his coat dry in the shortest amount of time possible, not wanting to catch a cold. Either way, he drew his coat tighter around himself and checked to see if his pendant was still around his neck before shoving his hands into his pockets.

The pebbles shifted beneath his weight with a deep crunching sound as he made his way forward and stopped as a small young woman levitated in the air. She had a dim, red glow around her and kind of reminded him of a pixie. Vyse would have said something about the size but the last thing he needed was to be outnumbered so he just watched on with a nonchalant expression as she greeted them. He raised an arm to shield his eyes from the dust as Cheyl spun, clenching his teeth in annoyance and looking away until the dust had settled over him. The young man took a voluntary step back and stared at his hands in expectation of something to happen, not concentrating on the words being exchanged though he did catch one sentence that made his blood run cold and his jaw go slack. "What did you just say?" Vyse balked, wanting a clear confirmation to make sure he wasn't just imagining the event. "What do you mean by 'go deeper into the shattered lands'?" The young man couldn't believe his rotten luck and as he stood there staring wide eyed at the sprite and those around him, he began to think that maybe there are those who would go on this journey regardless. Vyse was curious to what ability he had gained but was sensible enough to not set the bar too high least he finds himself disappointed by the results. Yeah, that and I wasn't planning for this to happen either. He thought bitterly Whoever mentioned that I should get involved is a giant buzz kill... A killjoy! Heaving a sigh, Vyse folded his arms and spared a cautious glance at his surroundings. When push comes to a shove, he can always make a run for it.

"Shouldn't we be going in the opposite direction of the taint, not towards it?" The incredulity in his voice was detected along with a hint of emotion that wasn't quite frustration but was very close to it. He grunted and ran a gloved hand through his wet hair, "Miss 'asks-a-lot' does have a good point though I do not know about the last thing she said. Besides," Vyse casually shrugged, agreeing with the shorter woman who had spoken. She had already asked many of the main questions that mattered and he was grateful that he didn't have to rage on. "You don't look so grand yourself so why are you telling us to dive headlong into danger?" Since he was caught off guard by falling through thin air and into a pool of freezing water, he was more than slightly annoyed that he had no idea of how he had gotten himself involved in the first place.ults. Yeah, that and I wasn't planning for this to happen either. He thought bitterly Whoever mentioned that I should get involved is a giant buzz kill... A killjoy! Heaving a sigh, Vyse folded his arms and spared a cautious glance at his surroundings. When push comes to a shove, he can always make a run for it.

"Shouldn't we be going in the opposite direction of the taint, not towards it?" The incredulity in his voice was detected along with a hint of emotion that wasn't quite frustration but was very close to it. He grunted and ran a gloved hand through his wet hair, "Miss 'asks-a-lot' does have a good point though I do not know about the last thing she said. Besides," Vyse casually shrugged, agreeing with the shorter woman who had spoken. She had already asked many of the main questions that mattered and he was grateful that he didn't have to rage on. "You don't look so grand yourself so why are you telling us to dive headlong into danger?" Since he was caught off guard by falling through thin air and into a pool of freezing water, he was more than slightly annoyed that he had no idea of how he had gotten himself involved in the first place.

Mana made a gurgling sound of surprise as her ankle was violently tugged and pulled under the strong currents. Her entire body was submerged in the darkness as she struggled to keep her face above the great lake. Failing greatly, Mana inhaled a mouth full of water in a desperate attempt for air and rescue, although she knew it was pretty much hopeless; She subconsciously released the basket of lilies she had been busy collecting near the water's edge and exhaled slowly, allowing the air bubbles to rise upwards as she was drawn into the unknown by a peculiar force. Her blue eyes flickered weakly as she continued her descent and failed to keep them open as she lost the will to remain rebellious towards her "attacker". Mana reached for the rays of brilliant light that had managed to permeate through the water's body; Her vision grew dark as her body went limp from fatigue.

* * *
Mana, irritated and drenched in cold water, awakened as she opened one eye in irritation at the voices. The girl had been listening to the unclear voices for quite a while now, although she appeared to be half-conscious while laying in the lake. She shook her head beneath the shallow water and sat up, squeezing the liquids out of her golden locks. Her delicate features bore an expression of surprise as she surveyed her surroundings; The girl felt slightly out of place and hastily stood, her white tunic dripping all over as she stumbled her way to shore, loudly stomping over the pebbles in an ungraceful manner. She took no notice of the 2 others standing there and focused her attention on the tiny, pixie-like creature. "H-hey.." Mana began clumsily. She grasped the red sprite, completely unaware of her selflessness, and held the creature in the palms of her hands. "Hey.." she repeated, louder and clearer this time. The bluriness that had burdened her mind gradually lifted, allowing her to think more rationally. "That was quite rude of you to call us out here like that! What about our families?!" she demanded, glaring at the sprite indignantly.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet and green, leafy vines sprouted from the ground. The plants grew upwards, rapidly expanding and circled around Mana's waste, ankles, and wrists, contorting in various shapes and sprouting new vines from the original roots. Shocked, Mana drew away from Cheyl and grabbed the elegant rapier that was hanging from her waist. She proceeded to hack off the roots with no luck, as they seemed to be attracted to her. The girl shook with anger and growled dangerously to no one in particular. The vines responded to her growing emotions by blossoming exotic, purple flowers.

"Please, everyone, calm down," Cheyl waved her hands about in front of her, she was bombarded with questions that half of which she couldn't answer. She wasn't Engrant, her Master's needs were something far too big to handle and she didn't know the answers to everything only the instructions for their tale. Cheyl brushed her radiant red hair to the side as she looked all around. "I do not know these answers, I do not know why you are chosen out of everyone else in Sumacai'a, but I do know that it is my duty to take care of you all as we travel to Vercelis and restore Sumacai'a, I know it sounds too good or too bad to be true, but I cannot do anything. I am just a mere red Sprite of whom was created to be the one to guide you." Cheyl explained as she flew over to the strange male, her eyes very focused into his as she instructed, "That staff is never to be touched by anyone else, but yourself." She then pressed her hand on the male's forehead and she closed her eyes, a small glow on her small hands as she had given him the rest of then power and a spell to enchant something from the staff. "It's not a lot in terms of spells, but it is something to begin with, it is a spell to cast a shield on either one of these people here, that is all I can provide as we do really need that book. The book will enhance the spells while you hold the staff, you will have to chant the words though as they won't work without the chant, it has so many spells I would probably not be able to count it."

Cheyl turned towards another, the one they called Healing Water. Instead of the forehead, she sat onto his hand, she closed her eyes and once again glowed. That time her hair was getting shorter, she inhaled deeply as her eyes reopened to simply smile at the human male. "You are Vyse, am I correct?" Cheyl wasn't sure who was who, but she was given the names of the people of which she has to predict who and what power Engrant has entitled them to have. "You are the Healing Water, your ability is to control water and heal the people of this world. Those who have fallen to the plague and cursed to be doomed the same as Vercelis' people, horrid and having to be slaves and forced to killing those of different towns." She released a small smile before she pushed herself from being on the palm of the Healer, she flapped her wings and wandered over to the Flame Breather.

"Flame Breather," Cheyl sounded more comfortable with the Nymph Female. "Being one who breathes fire is the one I possibly can help to pushing your abilities as I am a Red Sprite," She pressed her small hands on the female's lips, her eyes closed as she felt her hair shorten a bit more while she glowed. There was something wrong in the process that she was pushed away from the woman, the Sprite's eyebrow lofted as she reopened her eyes crying, her head shook in denial. "Please do not tell me that you are someone whose heart changes whenever she thinks it is right to do so? You cannot move to the other side, the Flame Breather is a hard power to hold as it is occasionally incontrollable, that is why I was created red and not the others," Cheyl shook her head as she wiped the small drops from her cheek, she released a small sigh as she added, "I do hope you are one of those people who were given a talent and crossed to the other side to betray Engrant."
Cheyl was more afraid of having allow the Flame Breather to have her power than to just let Cheyl hold it for herself, but Engrant requested for one of the chosen six, and from all the possible candidates, Engrant chose a woman that appeared to be one of those who cannot handle the power.

The Sprite then transferred herself to the Half-Elf female who may have one of the most important roles, she floated down and touched the feet of the woman, her eyes closed and eventually her hair was reaching the jaw line. It seemed that each time she was using her powers and she was already weakened, her hair was growing shorter and her glow had slowly dimmed down. Cheyl shivered the moment she finished her chanting, she weakly flew to an eye level to the Half-Elf. "I granted you the power to be the Mother of the Earth, Engrant had instructed me to tell you that you and the Father of the Sky are best to work with one another, you abilities are stronger and both of you have similar tasks. You, Mother Earth, have the abilty to be one with Sumacai'a, the trees, ground, rocks and it's creatures are your children, you control them and it is also your task to cure them from the pain they suffered from Vercelis' cruelty. When we travel
further to the shattered lands, you are to heal Sumacai'a with the help of the Father of the Skies."

Speaking of the Father of the Skies.
She flew over to him and landed on his shoulders, she chanted once again as she felt her hair get more shorter and her power getting weaker than it was supposed to. But that was what happened when one had chanted for seven whole years in order to retrieve those chosen six, Cheyl didn't think badly of them for making her weak, but she had felt bad that their lives were forever changing once they are fully granted of their powers.
"Father of the Skies," She stood up on his shoulder. "You have the ability to make it rain, to make lightning storms and blizzards. Whichever suits the moment, and your powers will aid Mother of the Earth in the quest to heal Sumacai'a from the pain." Cheyl cleared her throat and tried to fly to the last one, she was unbalanced in her flight and she wobbled as well as fly up and down towards the Light Keeper. Cheyl landed in the hands of the Light Keeper, she was pantif and she was nearly out of the glow she had after summoning them. "Light Keeper," She called her. "Close your hands around me as I chant."

In her sight, everything grew dark and everything no longer existed as she was held between the hands of the Light Keeper. Cheyl closed her eyes and felt a strong glow around her, it was red like usual, instead it was a yellow light that brightened the whole dark space, she shut her eyes tighter to make sure she would no see as she muttered the chant from between her lips, her eyes shed tears of red liquid and she began to feel the pain on her body.
By the end of her chant, Cheyl the Sprite was on her side, lying down and panting. Her hair was short, about ear length and her glow was no longer visible, her wings flopped weakly into the hands o the one that carried her. Cheyl exhaled weakly. "Light Keeper, your foe is the one who holds the Shadows, he held the Shadows after being granted by Engrant many years ago, and now he is stronger with Vercelis the Dark Spell Caster allowing him to regenerate each time he takes a life in this war. It is you, Light Keeper, who must shine a light inthe darkness of the plagued lands, once the Mother of the Earth, Father of the Skies and the Healing Water has finished healing, you must shine a light over the lands in order for Vercelis' army to never return."
With all her strength, Cheyl flew to the rock she sat on when she summoned them, well she crash landed and her eyes closed.

"Be warned, Vercelis and the Shadow Keeper is after your powers, do not let them capture you." She flinched and she muttered, "Rest, by Dawn tomorrow, we leave to the Mountains to retrieve Engrant's book."

Cheyl the Sprite fell unconsious after that.

As the sprite left Brandy's hands, Brandy stood in utter shock. She had never felt anything like this. The glow which had begun in her hands had spread over her entire being. For several minutes, all she could do was stand focus on experiencing this odd sensation. Then, she was surprised to realise that she somehow new how to control the light.

For the next few minutes, she practiced concentrating the light into a smaller area, moving it from one area of her body to another, changing the color and intensity of the light. She was completely fascinated by even the most minute properties of the light. Before this, she had never concidered the concept of light as a physical thing. It was merely the result of creating flame, or a product of the risen sun. Now, she understood it as a seperate concept.

After playing with her new ability for a bit, seeing just how much she could fine-tune her control, she moved off a bit from the others. She did not wish to endanger them while testing the upper limits of her abilities. She quickly learned that she could make her light brighter than the sun, and that she could shape the light to her will. She also learned that she could manifest the light away from herself, on an object, or even in the air, as long as she could see her target location.

As night fell, she discovered that even the smallest amount of light, such as the light of stars before moonrise, could be amplified for her eyes. This meant that anywhere there was even the faintest lightsource, she would be able to see as well as in full daylight. Before returning to the group, and finding a spot to sleep, she practiced creating a glow so faint and widely dispersed that only her eyes would be able to detect it. Having thus explored her new skills, Brandy felt confident that she would be able to survive whatever the next day might bring.