Tales of Mancia, Book One: Beyond the Frozen Grove Options

[redsrock]

Tales of Mancia

Book One: "Beyond the Frozen Grove"


CHAPTER ONE

"I thought you said you didn't believe in magic, Verick? What happened to all that talk about magic being a myth and nothing else? Now all of a sudden you've changed your mind?"

"I know what I said, Arvus, just shut up for a second, alright? Damn, you can be annoying sometimes!"

Verick and Arvus Junson were freelance adventures as well as brothers, working for no one in particular. They simply hunted for treasure and sold it to their favorite merchants in the many large towns the country of Haven had to offer. Haven, ruled by King Leonard Fervine, is the "power region" in the world of Mancia, sort of the capital of the world in a way. Haven hosts Mancia's largest largest army, largest population, and richest country as well.

The two had been searching through a small cave when Verick had mistakingly kicked a tiny stone box hidden within the many rocks on the cold hard floor. Upon opening the box he found one green heavy stone. The gem itself seemed to glow with importance, though neither of the men recognized it; that is until the more intelligent of the two, that being Arvus, had whipped out his massive book of gems and stones. The two searched for what seemed like hours until on exactly the five hundredth page they came across what looked dead-up like the stone Verick had discovered by sheer luck.

The book claimed the stone (which had no "official" name) to have magical powers that held the key to a whole other dimension. Obviously no one had yet to discover such a stone, and the authors of the book heavily suggested that the story of the stone of was a hoax and nothing more. Now it appeared as if all of that was about to change.

"I mean...just look at it, Arvus," Verick said with a tone of extreme awe and waving his exited and shaking hands through his medium length set of black hair, and then across thinly-trimmed beard. The two brothers were the same age of twenty-nine, though they were not twins. Throughout their many adventures they had come across plenty of mystifying artifacts, but nothing could match the stone Verick had discovered.

"Okay, fine. We found a rock that looks quite similar to what the book describes," Arvus said with his arms folded and rolling eyes. The book of stones had been put back into his large leather pack. "But that doesn't mean the story is real, or if this stone really is what the book says it is. If anything I think it is a simple coincidence."

Verick threw his hands up in the air in frustration and then yelled, "Wow, how ironic this is! You've always been the one reading books about magic and all that crap, and now that we're face to face with something that could really actually have magical properties you want to dismiss it!"

"I read the material because it is interesting and entertaining, Verick," Arvus replied, his tone rising defensively. "That does not mean I think it is all real. True, I think there is some kind of basic magic out there in the world, but do I think a mere stone holds the key to a whole new dimension? Certainly not! Think about for a second, Verick, and then maybe you'll see how ridiculous all of this is. The 'gem' you speak of is probably nothing more than a simple rocked painted green, and planted here to make a fool of someone like you."

Verick was really getting angry now and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to strike his brother in his hairless chin with his fist. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time the two had fought. But when Verick eyed a tiny pond of water in the far corner of the cave he ran straight to it, motioning for Arvus to follow and forgetting about pounding his face in for a moment.

"Alright, Arvus, we'll have it your way." Verick then pulled a dirty piece of cloth from his pocket and raised it in the air for Arvus to see. "I will dip the stone into this puddle of water and scrub with the cloth. If the paint comes off and it really is only a stone, I will wash your boots with my tongue."

Arvus began laughing histarically, his long blonde hair moving irratically, but when he saw that his brother was actually telling the truth he tried his best to calm down, even if it was fairly difficult to do so. "But if I am right about this stone, and it does have magical powers, then you are going to tear that particular page out of your book and eat it right in front of me."

Arvus was no longer laughing, and was now looking rather offended but at the same time extremely confused. What in the world is he thinking? Does he really actually believe that rock holds the power to another world? He must be out of his mind... "Fine, I agree, Verick. However, I think you are making a big mistake," he replied towards Verick, again starting to laugh a bit from the silliness of the situation.

"We'll see," Verick whispered, just before sinking the stone entirely into the puddle of water. He began scrubbing it vigorously with the cloth, back and forth, back and forth. This went on for some five minutes until at last he brought the stone back up. What he said at first made him cringe, and Arvus laugh with amused joy.

"Look, you idiot, I told you it was paint! You sure hope you like the taste of-"

But then it was Verick who was jumping with joy and happiness, for he saw something that Arvus couldn't because of the fact that he was standing about ten feet away. It was true that the green-ness of the rock was something like paint and beyond the paint was regular stone, but carved into the stone was lines spelling out numerous words and phrases of a language Verick could not understand.

"Come here, look at this! There's some kind of scripture carved into the stone!"

Arvus quickly arrived at his brother's side and the two of them studied the stone closely, trying to figure out what kind of language it could be. Of course with Arvus being the intelligent one, Verick asked him if he recognized the carvings.

"No, none of this looks familiar to me at all," was his immediate response. "For a second it almost looks of the Tijion...or maybe even the Pantor...but no, that's not it. I..I don't have a clue what it says," he said perplexed and scratching his head in confusion.

With the stone in hand, Verick pumped his right fist high into the air and began to mock Arvus for not believing him. But Arvus quickly silence his brother with a raise of his hand and said, "But that doesn't mean the stone is magical, Verick. The book said nothing about a scripture of any kind."

"Did it speak of how to open the dimension?" Verick asked eagerly.

Arvus just rolled his eyes. "No, Verick, it said it was a hoax.....remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I think the book is wrong and I am right!"

"No, you are wrong, Verick," Arvus said, starting to get agitated once more. "Either way, at least we've found something of value. Let's go ahead and head back to Crestwood so we can ask the jeweler how much he thinks it's worth."

"ARE YOU NUTS?" Verick yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring the daylights out of Arvus. "We are NOT selling this thing, you idiot! This is our key to another world, brother! Can't you see? We will be famous!"

Arvus was now beyond agitation and instead almost to the point where he could no longer take his brother's ignorant immaturity. "Give me that!" He said to Verick while snatching the stone away and picking up its stone container from the floor, and placing the stone in the box. "We will-"

Suddenly his two hands began to shake violently and both he and Verick immediately noticed that the box was glowing with a bright green haze, almost of a bubble of sorts. Arvus dropped the box to the ground in fear, and the top broke off. Inside the stone was in the middle of the container, and it too was glowing a green haze. But now four rods from all four sides of the square container had somehow been stabbed into the stone, holding it in place.

"What in the name of-"

Before any of them could do anything the bright light first engulfed them, and then the entire room of the cave they were standing in. For a moment they were blinded by the light, until finally the brightness began to calm down. But something strange was happening. Arvus suddenly found himself suspended in mid air above the box, along with his brother right beside him. The strangest part was that when he looked down he could see his own body still standing next to the box with his hands shielding his eyes. His body looked like a frozen statue, and then he noticed that Verick's own body was doing the exact same thing. The 'suspended' Arvus looked at the 'suspended' Verick and the two of them were simply at a loss for words. The glowing of the stone again picked up and then the two found themselves swirling in a fast circle in the air, with green bubble also circling around them. The spun faster and faster, lower and lower, until the two of them were just inches away from smacking into one another mid-air.

But right before they could make contact everything went black, and neither of them felt anything but a rush of cold air.

[redsrock]

CHAPTER SEVEN


Sure enough, as Verick had hoped after walking out of the Ibis's castle, Arvus was indeed having a look through the vast garden the Ibis had mentioned. While Verick neared the plants he noted how different the they were compared to those back in Vagon. There were all sorts of colors and various shapes and sizes as well.

"See something interesting" Verick asked his brother while creeping up behind, who in return jumped with fear. "Did I scare you?" He said with a laugh, but Arvus didn't return the favor, and rather simply stood there looking at Verick with an expressionless face. "Arvus, it's time for you to speak with the Ibis now."

Arvus didn't say anything return and instead walked right past his brother. Verick, appalled at how immature his brother was acting, grabbed his shoulder forcefully and turned him around. "What is up with you, Arvus?"

"Don't touch me!" he replied angrily by shrugging his brother's hand away. "I don't even know who you are anymore, Verick!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that here we are in an unknown world and all you can think about is your little adventure!" Arvus said mockingly. "You don't even care how I feel, it's all just some game to you!"

Verick crossed his arms and said forcefully, "Fine, Arvus, fine! What's wrong? Just tell me already!"

"I shouldn't have to say anything! We're in another world, Verick! My feelings should be self-explanatory! I want to go home, I don't want to dabble in all this nonsense!"

"Arvus, just go and talk with the Ibis and maybe then you'll understand what's going on. When all this first started I had the same opinion as you, I really did. But now I see this as an opportunity. Besides, life at home wasn't a grand time in itself. We barely made a living scouring through caves day in and day out."

"BUT IT WAS WHAT WE WANTED TO DO!" Arvus yelled loudly, causing a few little yellow bird-like creatures to flutter away from a nearby tree. "That was our life and we enjoyed it, Verick. Sure, it was hard keeping a decent life but it was the adventure that hooked us, I just wish you would remember that."

"This is an adventure, Arvus, it's-"

"No, Verick, this is different. Don't give me any of that. Back home we knew what to expect and our lives didn't depend on anything in particular. Before they died Mother and Father wanted us just to be happy. Do you remember what father said, Verick, because I sure do. He told us not to worry about anything but each other and look out for one another. We did that back in Haven. We had a nice small house in Crestwood, the capitol of Haven even! Everything we ever wanted was there. And now look at us, stuck in some odd world with a bunch of green people and other strange creatures. But yet you walk around as if this is all fun and games. I just don't see it that way. "

He then shrugged past Verick and walked inside the castle, too quick for even Verick to give a brief response. For a moment or two Verick stood there and watched while his brother entered the castle, an angry man like Verick had never seen before. This damn place is tearing us apart! Sure, we argued like normal brothers do back in Haven, but this is getting ridiculous. Then again, perhaps I should just sit down and have a nice talk with him later on. Something must be done.

Verick looked into the sky and he saw the same bird-creature he had seen earlier in the day. The orange and red creature swooped down from the air and landed no more than a few feet away from Verick, its hairy snout digging into the ground and likely sniffing for some food. Verick was astounded that the creature was calm even when a total stranger like himself was a few feet away. And now that he had a close look Verick noted the creature's body, and now that he thought about it it was much different than a regular bird. It's neck was very long, but was more hairy than feathery like a regular bird. Its body was also just as furry as its neck, as well as its talons that it had for feet. The only thing feathery about the creature was its wings, which was also the only orange part.

Suddenly the creature's snout come up from the ground with a mouthful of tiny bug-like creatures that were all unfamiliar to Verick. The creature gulped the food down in one swallow and then licked around its snout with a long pink tongue. Its face reminded Verick of a bird in some way, but it was the furry state of it that threw him off. As Verick stood there and studied the creature, the creature did the same back.

"Beautiful, isn't she?"

Verick was startled by whoever had spoken the words behind him, though he could tell it was a female by the soft and soothing tone. He whipped around quickly and saw that it was the Ibis-in-waiting, or rather Brina. "Oh, hello. You startled me," Verick said with a weak and embarrassingly squeaky laugh.

Brina giggled in return, putting her soft hand up to stop herself. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's alright, I was just off in another world." Verick found this quite amusing and ironic, but Brina didn't seem to catch on. "But yes, she is beautiful. What is she?"

"Her name is Gaafa, and she is a Fringeta. We like to call her the Faajel ona Sie, which translates to 'Eye of the Sky.'"

"Wait, what language is that? You and your people speak me and brother's language. I just figured that's how it worked."

"Well," she said with a charming smile that to Verick seemed to light up the area around him, even if it was sometime in the late evening, "It is based off of an old language we Ibisarions used to know long ago before we settled into our own. To be honest I am not sure what the name of the old language is for sure, because you see we do not use it daily anymore, or at least not many of us. My mother uses it from time to time, but not much."

Awkward silence for a few minutes, and then Brina asked a question that immediatly lit up Verick's day and causing his dispute with Arvus to temporarily disappear. "Say, would you mind taking a walk with me through the garden?"

"Ser," he nervously mumbled, then corrected himself with a quick laugh, "I mean sure."

Brina giggled once more and the two entered the dense garden through the back entrance. It was hard for Verick to explain his attraction to the girl, other than that it was just there. Her beauty was extraordinary to Verick despite the fact that she was an Ibisarion. Though it should also be noted that Brina doesn't look the same as the others. Her skin was a much, much lighter shade of green."

"Do you like it here in Tagroth so far?" Brina asked as they rounded the first corner of the massive garden. "I know you've only been here for a little less than a full day, but surely you have some idea of how this place compares to your home world."

"It's not bad to tell you the truth, and I won't try to hide it. I miss my own world of course, but this place seems alright I guess. It's too bad my brother doesn't feel the same way," he replied with an obvious hint of sadness in the last sentence, even if he was trying to be subtle. "More than anything I'd have the say I love the garden and just how things are brighter here. This garden is amazingly beautiful."

Like the arena where Verick and Arvus had first been greeted by the entire city, this garden was vastly bigger than any he had seen in Haven as well. The plants themselves were larger than normal ones in Vagon, and the colors were of a much brighter and wilder variety. Not to say Verick didn't enjoy, but rather he did. To him the colors brought out the good in things, rather than normal green shrubbery back in Mancia.

"Yes, we take pride in nature, especially the trees and other plants. They really are a thing of beauty. We try and uphold their looks as best to our ability. But about your brother," She said, her tone changing to a more serious one now. "I couldn't help but overhear you and him arguing earlier. Please forgive me if I sound intruding."

"Oh no," Verick responded while stretching his arms in front of him. "Arvus and I should be the ones apologizing. I'm sorry we made a scene back there. He's just not at all used to everything just yet."

"And he shouldn't be honestly. Quite frankly I am surprised that you yourself are so laid back and relaxed. Why is that?"

"I don't know...I guess I just like it here for some reason. Arvus argues with me that we had fun back in Haven, and I suppose there's some truth to that. But the more I think about it the more I realize how that really isn't the truth. I mean, that's what I've been forcing myself to believe all this time, but really I was getting sick and tired of working every day, finding lots of junk and making little off of it. It was getting old quick, and you know once we came here today, it was just like a relief. I don't know, it's stupid-"

"No, it's not stupid at all, Verick," She said affectionately, touching Verick's left shoulder with her soft and delicate right hand. "I'm glad you like it here. I really am." She was smiling widely again, but Verick didn't see it as he did the other Ibisarions. To him Vaalvier's smiles had almost been cynical in a way, and the Ibis's in the beginning were as well. But during the meeting with her Verick didn't feel that way at all, and in fact most of her smiles were more of the proud and hopeful kind.

They walked around another corner and began their way down a long pathway that seemed to Verick to stretch for miles. Most of the plants in the garden had long and leafy vines, mostly either orange or red, though here and there one could find a darkish yellow vine. Verick knew it was going to be one hell of a walk and as the two started on that walk Brina asked a question of her own.

"I'm sure my mother explained the role of Savior of Mancia, in full detail of course. However, I seriously doubt she told you of how we Ibisarions act and live. Is that so?"

"Well, no, she didn't actually," Verick responded, not really thinking about it until then. "She told me that after she spoke with my brother one on one then all three of us would have a meeting at once. She didn't really talk about your way of life at all."

"In that case, would you like to know? I mean, it's only fair for you to receive a glimpse of how things work around here."

"Sure," Verick said with a happy tone. The two walked further down the path until Brina suddenly stopped, in which she then asked Verick if it would be okay for them to sit down why they discussed matters and of course Verick obliged, at the moment ready to do almost anything to please the gorgeous Ibisarion.

"First off, ask me some general questions and I'll try and answer them to the best of my ability. What is it you would like to know."

"Umm, I guess what do you all do for fun around here?"

She smiled again, her bright teeth shining even brighter than before, or at least to Verick that is. "Fun is something of a luxury for most people around here, other than the children of course. Once an Ibisarion is inducted into the adult stage, which is the exact age of twenty-five, they are immediatly thrown into the work-world, where they find a job. By this time an Ibisarion has usually found their mate, and for the most part they've already born children as well. From this point on they work, work and work, in order to help support their family and provide them with the everyday essentials."

"And what are those essentials?"

"Well, water first and foremost, and that is actually a very important aspect of our lives. But before I delve into that, has my mother already mentioned to you about our god, Zer, creating us long ago?"

"Yes, she mentioned it," Verick said, knowing that was of course an understatement.

"Alright then, perhaps I can put more detail into what she's already told you. Yes, Zer created us long ago shortly before defeating the physical form of the Zervigei leader, Shando. However, Zer did not simply grasp the clouds from the sky and form us into what we are now," She said with a laugh. "Oh no, it is a bit more complicated than that I'm afraid. Before I move on, take a guess at what we were created from. It shouldn't be too hard for you to decipher."

"Err...a fish?" He said hesitantly, not wanting to sound rude of offensive.

She giggled and said, "Yes, exactly! More so the Ibivars to be exact. They were a small fish that swims in the deepest depths of a large and lengthy river that runs a few miles north of here, and extends all the way into a mountain in the north. A massive lake is where the river starts, in case you'd like to know. And ironically that is what I would like to speak of next.
"The lake I speak of is of course located just a few miles to the north of us, and it is our main source of water. Being somewhat of a 'fish-people' we rely on the substance greatly. In fact, if we were to go a mere three days without water we would shrivel up and die, to say the least. When Zer created us he did so with many modifications to which we would be able to survive out of water."

"So, when an infant is born, what does it look like? And more specifically, how is an Ibisarion born?"

"An infant looks exactly how an adult Ibivar used to look, and I sau used to simply because they have died out, no doubt from Zer's creation of us. So like I was saying, an Ibisarion infant is born through an egg, which of course comes from the female Ibisarion. She and her husband simply mate and whatnot, and then the egg comes roughly three weeks later."

"Three weeks is all?" Verick asked with shock. "Wow, it takes a lot longer where I come from, but of course we don't come from eggs."

"Oh yes, I am well aware of that. My mother has given me the opportunity of reading through your home world's history. Zer himself knew of this land and wrote many aspects of it down into his various scriptures, something I'm sure my mother has already spoken to you about as well. I must say, Verick, Vagon sounds like a very interesting place."

A stick snapped behind Verick and he jumped, causing Brina to giggle again. Verick blushed and quickly said, attempting to cover up him being startled, "It is an interesting place, but it's nothing compared to here," he said, looking up into the sky.

"Yes, Mancia sure is a wondrous place. Now, I never really got to telling you what we, or the children rather, do for fun. Have you heard of the name, Jindle Graveth?"

"Yes, Vaalvier explained to my brother and I that he created the design of Tagroth's buildings."

"He sure is. But he is also the avid story-teller, spinning many webs of creative stories that he excitingly tells the young ones in the evening, in the shade of a large tree that is located in the northern part of the city. The children flock there daily to hear Jindle's many tales. Even some adults have stopped to listen from time to time, even if they won't admit it. For the most part that is what children do around here, other than helping around the house and other chores of course. Work is something we Ibisarions pride ourselves on. However, the males and the females differ in terms of work."

"How so?"

"The males make up our military, and they start training for the military at a very young age, usually around fifteen or so. Most of them make it through training and are admitted into the military at the age of twenty-five in which they are also inducted into adulthood. Those that don't make it usually start a small shop in the city somewhere. But most do make it fortunately."

"What do the women do?"

"The lucky go through certain trials in order to be admitted into my mother's Council of Faala. You see, unlike your world, women rule Mancia, or at least Tagroth I should say. The lucky women who are chosen by my mother make it into the Council. There they have various jobs, including judges, advisors, so on and so forth."

"That's strange, no offence or anything. It's just something I'll have to get used to I guess. I-"

Suddenly something sharp nipped at his Achilles Tendon from the ground. He yelped and then turned to see a small and red leaf-like creature right beside his foot, it's mouth dripping with blood. Verick tried to stand up but he felt to the ground, clutching his right foot that was also dripping with blood.

"That thing bit me!" he yelled in agony. The pain was hurting him immensely.

"I am so sorry," Brina exclaimed. "It is a Gringle, a tiny but violent little creature that finds its home within many of the plants that reside in this very garden. I should have known it would go after you. They don't normally bother us, but you of course are a bit different to say the least."

Brina took her hand and hovered it over Verick's wound. A shining silvery white light erupted from the bottom of her hand and zoomed down onto Verick's foot. It staid there for a few seconds, until finally it disappeared. And as Verick soon realized the wound on his foot and the pain had disappeared as well.

He looked at Brina gratefully and said, "Man, this is definitely something I can get used to."

She helped him up and the two continued down the long path.