"I said, wake up!" I suddenly hear a peircing war cry worthy of a warrior such as Jayce himself. Too bad it was him, because that meant I had to get up. I open my eyes, light darting from Sol right into my eyes just as powerfully as Jayces cry. It unfortunately makes me fall out of the tree, leaving Hint and the helm under me. "Let me out, Isahia!" I hear a muffled voice from below, so I get up and pull the helm from Paiges elemental soil. After, moving the eyegaurd to let Hint free. "I can breathe! I can breathe!" He spat in exasperation as he hopped around randomly in a blind, once-hidden energy. Jayce walks to me as I get up. "Boy, it felt like you were asleep forever!" "Sorry, master Jayce... its been a tiring ride..." "Well... thats a bit my fault. I went a bit fast when I got excited when we were going to see my grandfathers deathbed." "Its fine... you were doing what was best for our limited time." "Actually, the chariot got a bit damaged because of it. So... it wasn't the best thing to do. But enough talking! I need you to help me over here." He points to our two tamed Budds. I follow him over, petting one of the Budds. "What are thier names, by the way?" He hands me a sealed basket then prepares to respond. "The one you were pettings name is Trinity, and the lead Budds name is Maria." "Lead Budd? Its not in the front." "No, no, no. The term lead Budd is simply because he is the leader of thier pack, and leaves it to be the strongest. Unfortunately, besides these two. All the ones in thier pack are gone." "Why is Trinity the one you chose to be with Maria?" "Thats not our choice. You see, the lead always picks a favorite, and in a primitive instinct will have to be in the same place at all times or else the lead won't function correctly." "I see...ish." "Well, lets get started." "You didn't tell me what we were doing." "Oh, well open the basket." As said I do without question. I open it, leaving a visual of quite a few orbs of myserious aura. I know what they are, but something always seemed so mysterious about them. They glowed white in the middle, but as the light of the orb slowly turns to the edge, it also turns green. This was an item that kept us all alive. It is known to all of us Pepal as Energi. "Do you know what were doing now, your majesty?" "Yeah. Were feeding the Budds." "Exactly!" He said as a finalizing statement, grabbing an Energi and feeding and crushing it in front of Trinity, letting her absorb the mint colored innards of the healing orb into its body like a natural function. He grabs another, crushing it in front of Maria, leaving her light blue body with yellow wings to do the same. "What happened to the rest of the heard?" He responds hesitantly. "Back in thier younger years, the knight and black knight Cecil and Cole led a small party to drive a medium sized heard of Budds to the capital for stabilizing due to a small ruckus they caused in Wolfenhiem. But after, her majesty the queen convinced his majesty the king to keep them as a riding garrison for our Steel troops. Thier leader was Maria... They were released just before Pauls troops reached the capital, but who knows how many escaped unscathed..." "That kinda leads to another question. Why are Cecil and Cole so related and always work together." "Oh... you already know how Cecil came to be, but Cole... Lets just say he had a darker past..." Such words made me curious, but as I was about to test Jayces patience he draws the last Energi from the basket, feeding it to Trinity. He then shuts the basket, taking it from me. He walks to the tent and I assume he places it inside, because he came back out empty handed. "Where is Emylia and Shaw?!" I yell from across this somewhat barren plain. "No need to be so loud! I'm not that old yet." He responds, drawing closer. "I actually sent them on a walk, simply because I needed to be alone with you." Weirdo. "Why?" He draws his axe, pointing it toward the sky! "The Jayce Trials!" "What in the world is that?" He goes out of the dramatic in a split second and puts his axe back up, voice returning to normal. "Basically, a glorified training session..." "Okay, I guess I'm okay with that. I already took my final, but whatever." "Yeah, were okay with that!" A sudden annoyance returns to my mind, and my sight. "Hint?! Can you not just do your own thing for 2 seconds?!" Oh... that was a bit rude of me. "Fine! Sorry!" Hint begins to cry in an overwhelming exaggeration. He then runs off to talk to a tree, somewhat randomly. "That was different. Are you okay, boy? You seem a bit irritated." I try to cool off, but then I realize I need to think about my response. Remember what you said to yourself Isahia. You'lle never let them know your bitter roots. "I'm fine. Lets just get started." "Very well. Follow me to the steps of my grandfathers statue, please." I do as asked by my master. We now stand on the pyramidal stairs that hold a statue of what seems to be a knight of the olden age. But I specifically noticed that none of the actual person is depicted. Instead, it is only armor. "Read the slate just below the statues feet, boy." I walk futher up the steps. Eventually reaching the top, which actually could only be about 8 feet from the ground. I look to his feet, and indeed the slate lies there. But the writing was composed of obsurd shapes, like 3-quarter circles and random upward lines. I couldn't read it, but I knew why. It was the Ancients language. "I can't read the ancients language, Jayce." "Nor can I, but I know exactly what it says: For his majesty, lord Paul I trust. I promise to serve in life, and in death.
-Sir William Scotfree" "That was a quote from your grandfather Jayce?" "Actually. It was a mobility." I look at him in confusion. "What?" "See that slit below the slate?" I look back to it. Its there alright. "Yeah." "You see, whoever places thier sword into that spot will make a bolt of light show itself. It will take the life of the sword placer, giving the soul to grandfathers armor. When it is done, my grandfather will use the blade and the soul to complete the wish of the sacrafice as long as its noble. Then, after the soul of my grandfather banishes the evil you wished so, he will return here, burying your sword under the shrine, then returning the soul so grandfather can rest again. Neat, huh?" "Is it true?" "I don't know. I also won't try. Haha!" "I see..." "Whats wrong, kid? You dont seem like yourself." "I'm fine." An awkward silence follows. "Okaaay... I guess we should start." "Alright." Why do they all seem concerned? I'm not showing it, am I? "Test 1: The test of Bravery!" "Okay..."
"What would you do if the Blach returned to this world and came to target you? You have one day to prepare." I don't even know what the Blach is! I'll just give him the answer he wants. "I would face him alone, so no other is hurt. If I die, I at least know I went down swinging." He paused... "Bravo! I never expected such an answer from you!" No wonder... it was a lie. "Test 2: The test of Wisdom!" "I've already lost." "Don't be so ill confident!" I sit on the step of Restless Shrine in response. He follows after. "If you were on the battlefield and you were carrying a Steel soldier who was on the brink of death to safety from a Copper Shaman and the Shaman was about to use his elemental Energi to send a blast your way, do you take the risk and continue on, or do you release the soldier and run for it?" Hmmm... Wisdom? I think I have a reasonable answer. "You release the soldier who was going to die, and choose to run and fight another day." He looks a bit grimmer to me. Why? "Very well. Next and final question. Test 3: The test of Chivalry!" "Great..." "If you were on the brink of death and a maiden was about to be slayed by a Goldstone Juggernaut, what would you do?" This question... it feels more... open. But, the chivalrus thing to do is save the girl... I guess. "I would... actually, to be honest. I don't know what I would do." "Alright... Then were done!" "Did I pass?" "There is no passing. This test is to determine your most dominent trait." "What was mine?" "It was actually kind of confusing. It was in between caring and... agressive?" "Your right, thats not exactly a corrective response, is it?" "No. Right now your inconclusive... I'll determine sharper later. Lets go for now. Shaws a bit late back and I'm getting worried. Lets head into the thick. Thats where they went." "Alright." I respond blankly. We then both go back to the bottom of Restless Shrine, going behind it into the thick. Just before entering I remember something. "Hint! Your in charge while I'm gone!" "At your service!" He yells back, confidently. Proving my mind clear, free to focus on Emylias and Shaws location.