Chapter 232
"Now listen," Serena said as she was roughly grabbed by several figures. "I'm..."
"You listen," the woman said. "Until I know who you are for sure, I have to take precautions. Tie her up."
"There's no need for that, I'm really a weakling," Serena said.
"Shut up," the woman said as Serena was dragged to another side of the cave.
"Sorry about this" Sy said.
"Sy..I want to see you," the woman said.
"Uh..right," Sy said and followed her.
"Not that tight," Serena muttered as several people tied her up and sat her on a rock.
"Wonderful," she muttered.
"Are you sure we should be so rough Visara?" Sy asked pulling the leader aside.
"Sy..you know our policy," the woman replied.
"Listen Visara, can't you tell she's not from around here?" Sy said.
"That doesn't matter Sy. We need to be careful."
"She was running from the Martorian army."
"That could be a trick to insert a spy into our midst."
"A lot of things could be a trick to do it. You're right it could be, but we can check. Listen, aside from it being the right thing to do for me to help someone in need, she could be valuable, if she's one of the ones from another world."
"Hmm..you're right. Still..if you were all about helping people you could have taken her somewhere besides our headquarters. We could have met you somewhere else."
"I felt this was urgent. I thought you would need to see her immediately. Besides with both sides getting ready for battle, no where seems really safe."
"All right, but we have to learn more about her," Visara said. "I can't let her have the run off and reveal this place until I know she's not a spy."
"Does she really need to be all tied up?"
"For the time being, yes," Visara said. "If she's an outworlder I don't want her using her powers on us."
"I saved her life."
"That may not mean anything to her," Sy said.
"Can I at least have some food!" Serena was yelling across the cave.
"Feed her Sy," Visara said. "I have some tactical plans to make. When I'm finished we'll talk to her."
"Yes Visara," Sy said.
"Just what is this made out of?" Raye said staring at a plate of food.
"Oh..interesting things," the guy said. "Though you probably wouldn't know of them from where you're from."
"You don't know where we're from though." Raye said.
"Yes, but I know you're not from here," the guy said.
"Enough talking Raye, this is good," Mina said between bites.
"I'm not really hungry, especially for this," Raye said.
"You don't know what you're missing," Mina said.
"We are well known for our culinary delicacies. Even in a low rent section of the city like this you will find good food," the guy said. "So..since you aren't eating," he said turning to Raye. "Why don't you tell us about yourself."
"How about you tell us about where we are first, then we'll return the favor," Raye said.
"Fair enough," the guy said. "You ladies have arrived in the protectorate of Zaiesk. We are the leading military power on this continent."
"I'll bet," Raye said. "I haven't seen any troops."
"Of course you wouldn't, our navy patrols the water. You've arrived in the northern tip of our country. This is the city of Uistor," the guy said.
"I see," Raye said. "So how many countries are on this continent?"
"There are four and the zone of course," the guy said.
"The zone?" Raye asked.
"Yes, that's what we conventionally call it. You see it's a disputed area of territory that Martoria and Lucoratorium have been fighting over for several years," the guy said.
"Lucoratorium?" Mina muttered. "What kind of name is that."
"I don't think much of it myself," the guy said. "However, they do make a great Isrioszos stew."
"A what?" Mina asked.
"Never mind Mina," Raye said. "So only four countries huh?"
"How many would you expect their to be?" the guy asked.
"That's unimportant," Raye said. "What's the fourth country called?"
"Oh you mean Jasoriko? Nasty bunch they are,"the guy said.
"Really?" Raye asked.
"Very aloof, indignant, they don't get involved in anything they don't absolutely have to," the guy said.
"I see," Raye said.
"Well..what about you. Where are you from?" the guy asked.
"Japan," Raye said.
"Japan..huh..it must be on another continent."
"That is certain," Raye said.
"You got that right," Mina said and took another bite.
"So you're visitors from another continent. We don't get many of them," the guy said. "And most of the time they don't just wander in."
"Well..we're a little lost," Mina said.
"Oh?" the man asked. "Where were you trying to go?"
"We don't know, we just arrived," Raye said. "I guess our ship must have sunk."
"What ship?" Mina asked.
Raye glared at her.
"Oh that ship. I hated that thing, didn't really consider it a ship, it was such a mess," Mina said.
"Uh..yes..well..." the guy said. "It must be hard being hear knowing no one and having no currency anyone recognizes, however, I think once you are introduced to the government things will work out."
"I don't know about that," Raye said. "It might be best for us just to keep looking around."
"But...looking around for what? The government will be glad to help you,"the guy said.
"Uh..say.."Mina said. "This government of yours, do they use magic or something?"
"Well..all governments do. Don't yours?" the guy asked.
"Mina, I don't think you should be asking these kind of questions," Raye said.
"Relax," Mina said. "Sure...sort of. Anyway..see..the thing is we think it was some magic that uh..sank our ship. And we're trying to find out what caused it."
"Hmm..we have no idea," the guy said. "That's best taken up with the government."
"Uh..just where is the government then?" Mina asked.
"To the south, a days ride by horsk," the guy said.
"What's a horsk?" Mina asked.
"Four legs, tail.?" the guy asked.
"Oh..you mean horse," Mina said.
"Is that what you call them in your country?" the guy asked.
"Uh..yeah," Mina said.
"Interesting. I'm sure we can find someone to take you to the capital," the guy said.
"Mina..I don't think I want to go to the capital," Raye said.
"And how else are we supposed to find out what's going on in this country?" Mina asked.
"I'm just not sure we should," Raye said.
"Raye if you don't want to go fine,"Mina said.
"We can't split up," Raye said.
"Well if you're not coming we will," Mina said.
"Mina.I'm in charge."
"Why?"
"In Serena's absence, I'm the leader."
"You are not. Who says?"
"That's the way it's always been."
"It has not. I have seniority," Mina said.
"That doesn't matter," Raye said.
"Yes it does, I'm more experienced then you are," Mina said.
"You are not, you were still helping the police catch bank robbers while I was fighting off the negaverse."
"So what..I was a scout longer then you were!"
"That doesn't matter!"
The guy just watched them.
"Uh..ladies..just what is the problem?" He asked.
"Nothing," the two said.
"Stop being so stubborn Raye," Mina said.
"I am not being stubborn, I'm in charge, I say we go our own way."
"I don't," Mina said. "I don't care about leading, I just know we should go south. Just where else are we supposed to go?"
"I think we should find out more about this country first," Raye said.
"I'm leaving."
"Mina don't be foolish."
"No..uh..can you find someone who can take me to the capital?" Mina asked.
"Don't do it," Raye said.
"I'm afraid I should, they government. best equipped to handle it," the guy said.
"Fine..fine..go..I'm staying here," Raye said.
"You're welcome to," the guy said.
The two girls stared at each other angrilly.
"So.. "Ariton said. "Do you understand now?"
"Yeah I guess. So this one country tries to open this gateway to Earth hoping to fulfil some prophecy. The only problem is that the other countries also wanted to get in on it. Then the school and everyone in it was transported to this planet. But, because my friends and I had power, we were drawn outside of the school and most likely scattered across the continent," Rick said.
"That is correct. Each of the four countries had an interest in getting some of this power. Jasoriko's interest was in keeping as many magical people from the others. For defense of course."
"Yes..that's good, but wouldn't it be better for everyone just to be sent home?"
"Ah..now that's the problem," Ariton said. "You see...there are many prophecies involved. You see to the other three countries, this is the beginning of the fulfillment of a prophecy."
"But not this one?"
"No. Our country had no stake in this prophecy. The best we can hope for is a resolution."
"So what are these prophecies all about?"
"I am not completely sure. You see the prophecies are in the sacred books of the various countries. Our sacred book only hints that the prophecies exist and are dangerous."
"But they involve who?"
"People from another world. The arrival of them is said to bring major changes to the continent. Now the other countries tend to believe this will mean good things for them. We believe in the status quo. Our sacred book describes your arrival as a danger, that must be resolved."
"Uh..you're not going to kill me are you?"
"No..listen..it's good that your here. I meant in general. Because if everyone has magical people the status quo is preserved," Ariton said.
"That's true, but we can't stay. We have lives at home."
"Also true, but you see once each country realizes they have equal power, we'll all send you home because there was no point in keeping you right?"
"Yeah."
"So..it's just a matter of everyone figuring everything out. In the meantime, you will stay here. I'm afraid we can't send you out to look for your friends at the moment though. This is a tense political situation."
"So there's a war going on between two of the countries?" Rick asked.
"Yes, Maritoria, and Lucoratorium. They've been fighting for decades. The Zaiesk to the north will eventually get involved, they always do. We prefer to avoid the conflicts. See the problem with these wars is no one dies."
"No one dies?" Rick asked.
"Yes you see, an agreement was reached centuries ago when the countries still wished to fight, but could not take the bloodshed, instead of the logical course of peace, they instead planned to use as much magical energy as necessary to develop weapons that could stun, but not kill. So they fight each other. People are stunned, they reawaken after a few years."
"I see...I guess that makes war a little easier to take," Rick said.
"Yes it does, and thus none of them see a good enough reason to stop," Ariton said.
"Oh..I guess..."
"But those are just details, I will tell you more later, you are probably a bit overwhelmed."
"Yeah I guess I am..still..uh..there's that little matter with the girl earlier."
"Princess Sakuro. Don't worry we'll sort it out," Ariton said. "In the meantime, we'll get you a room here at the palace."
"I've never stayed at a palace before," Rick said.
"Well enjoy it. Soon we'll introduce you to the ruler of the country. And we'll go from there."
"Uh..sure..on thing..I ran into a guy Tijiro.."
"Tijiro, the personal knight of the royal family. He is the best warrior in all the county."
"No wonder he beat me with one punch."
"He is very skilled, I wouldn't be embarrased," Ariton said.
"That's what he said," Rick said.
"Our guards are quite skilled too, you're ability to surprise them shows you have skill of your own."
"Compared to a lot of guys on my planet..I'm nothing."
"Still..they aren't here," Ariton said. "Now..let's get you a place to stay."
Guardian Saturn meanwhile was having a hard time dealing with the bigers. Another group of them were chasing him down the mountain. He turned and fired his sword at them. Two fell, but a third leapt at him. He slid under it and swung his sword through it. It let out a grunt and fell to the ground. Another leapt in front of him. He turned and swung his sword again. The biger fell right towards him. He jumped out of the way and kept leaping.
"Jeez..this is getting tiring. They've been after me for a good mile," he muttered.
If this keeps up I may have to blast them with more power. Then again. There'd probably be more of them.
He noticed the forest was ending up ahead and the ground was beginning to slope down into level.
"I must have reached the bottom," he said. A biger leapt at him from the forest. He barely dodged it recieving a scratch across his right arm. He winced and kept going running into a grassy area. He looked around, but the city wasn't in site. Still he had a general idea of where it was and he hurried towards the river he had seen from the cliff.
At least the bigers can't surprise me. He thought. A biger leapt up through the ground and landed in front of him. He leapt over it.
"And just how are they doing that!" he shouted in a rare bout of anger.
"We finally lost them," Guardian Neptune muttered.
"Yeah..I know," Guardian Pluto said. "But now we're transformed. They won't be able to take us on now."
The two were sitting in a tree in the vast forest they had been chased through.
"So..what do you think we should do now?" Neptune asked.
"Good question," Pluto said. "Find the others?"
"Yes that's the general idea, but I meant over the short term."
"I'm no tactician."
"Me neither."
"We could use one."
"Well duh," Neptune said.
"Don't get testy with me Mikey, I'll push you out of this tree," Pluto said.
"Hey..who was it that got us into this mess?" Neptune replied.
"You," Pluto said.
"Hah!" Neptune said and jumped out of the tree.
"Where are you going?" Pluto muttered.
"To find the end of this accursed forest," Neptune said.
"How do you know there is an end?"
"I just do," Neptune said.
"All right, wait for me," Pluto said and jumped down.
"Can't you loosen these a little?" Serena muttered struggling against the ropes.
"Sorry," Sy said. "It's not my idea. I've got some food though."
"That's good," Serena said. "What kind?"
"You like greenberries?"
"Never had them. What are they?"
"Green berries.." Sy said holding them up.
"What do they taste like?"
"A little like red berries, but tangier."
"I have no idea what you're refering to," Serena said. "Just let me taste them."
Sy put some in her mouth.
"These are good," Serena said. "Give me more."
"Uh..okay," Sy said.
"More.."
"Trust me, you don't want more."
"Oh..why?"
"Just trust me on this one."
"I trusted you before, and now I'm bound hand and foot on a rock."
"It could be worse. Now..let's try the butte pie."
"THE WHAT!" Serena shrieked. Her cry echoed throughout the room.
"Shut up or I'll gag you!" Visara shouted from the far side of the cave.
"Sorry!" Serena said. "Now what is butt pie?"
"It's just this..." Sy said holding up a pie shaped dish with some greenish red material in it.
"Just what is that?" Serena asked.
"Uh..well it's."
"No..I wouldn't understand. It's embarrasment. What else have you got?"
"We have Oisters."
"Oysters. I don't like sea food?"
"Sea food? No these are ferns," Sy said holding up a plant.
"Oh..okay.." Serena said.
Sy stuck some in her mouth and she chewed.
"That's not bad," Serena said. "Not really good either."
"Sorry," Sy said.
"And dessert?" Serena asked.
"What's that?"
"You know the good food after a meal?"
"Never heard of it."
"What kind of primative society is this!" Serena shrieked.
"That's it!" Visara said and walked over and tied a cloth in Serena's mouth. "Now keep quiet."
Serena moaned.
"Sorry.." Sy said.
My mouth doesn't usually get me into his much trouble. Serena thought.
Still..the food wasn't bad. But no dessert. I have a right to be angry. Or at
least surprised. Don't I? Though I guess they don't agree.
"Mina this is Gial," the guy said introducing a well built man. "He'll take you to the capital. He owes me a favor."
"It would be my pleasure," Gial said.
"Thank you," Mina said. "Last chance Raye?"
"No," Raye said. "I'm staying here for a while."
"Fine..see ya," Mina said. Gial lead her to a horsk and they got on.
"Yep..this is a horse all right," Mina said.
"It's a horsk," Gial said.
"What's one letter?" Mina said. "So are you married?"
"No the law does not allow marriage."
"It doesn't? What about romance?"
"That's the woman's choice."
"Oh..I see..strange, but I'll run with it," Mina said. "So..tell me about yourself."
They were soon galloping off towards the capital of Zaiesk.
Several hours passed.
Guardian Saturn had finally gotten away from the bigers. He hadn't seen one
for a good half hour. He made his way along the river and he could see the city
in the distance. It was evening so there were many lights on. It was quite
beautiful. A central tower was illuminated with several different colors of
light. Saturn wondered how they had managed to do it, and was hoping he would
find out. It still looked like it would take him some time to get there. He was
getting quite hungry, but didn't exactly know if anything was edible. He hoped
that he would get there before the hunger pains got too annoying.
"Great it's getting dark and we've got nothing to eat," Guardian Pluto said.
"We'll steal something," Guardian Neptune said.
"Oh..that'll help. We've already got the countryside looking for us."
"Not true. They're looking for Mike and Steve."
"Hey..that's a good point. But you know what I wonder. Just how long can we stay as scouts? I mean doesn't the power need to regenerate?"
"Sure..but I think we've got time," Neptune said.
"I hope so. I mean we haven't gone very long as scouts before," Pluto said.
"That's true. But hopefully things will work out."
"And just where are we? This forest could go on forever," Pluto said.
"True," Neptune said. "Still..we can't go back the way we came."
"That's also true. When you think about it, those guys might come after us just because we looke dfiferent."
"Good point," Neptune said.
"I'm hungry."
"We've been over this."
"I know," Pluto muttered. "But I am."
"Are you pleased with your accomadation?" a court steward asked.
"Yeah.." Rick said staring at a luxurious room.
"That is good, you will have access to food at anytime."
"Uh..could I have some now then?"
"I'm not sure. It's almost dinner time. You might want to wait till then."
"Oh..dinner? You mean with whoever runs this palace?"
"Uh yes, the King."
"Uh..if I'm meeting with a king maybe I should be a little better dressed."
"He wouldn't mind considering the circumstances. Still..there are some clothes in the closet."
"I..don't know about your sense of fashion," Rick said. "I'll manage."
"Is everything in order then?"
"Yeah."
"You can call for service with the bell," the servant said and headed out.
"Sure," Rick said.
"This place ain't bad," he said and grinned.
"Now...listen. I'm going to take this gag out, but if you whine, it goes back in understand," Visara said.
Serena nodded. The gag was pulled out.
"Now let's get down to finding out just who you are," Visara said.
"Can I have some more food?" Serena asked.
Visara sighed.
"You just ate a few hours ago."
"I know," Serena said.
"No..not now," Visara said. "What country are you from?"
"Uh..Japan."
"Japan? Where is that?"
"The pacific ocean."
"The what?" Visara said. "There is no such ocean."
"That's what I thought up till a year ago, but really there is," Serena said.
Visara sighed.
And in the country of Zaiesk
"So how long till we get to the capital?" Mina asked.
"We never will," Gial said whirling in the saddle and grabbing her.
CHAPTER 231 CHAPTER 232 CHAPTER 233 CHAPTER 234 CHAPTER 235
CHAPTER 236 CHAPTER 237 CHAPTER 238 CHAPTER 239 CHAPTER 240
CHAPTER 241 CHAPTER 242 CHAPTER 243 CHAPTER 244 CHAPTER 245
CHAPTER 246 CHAPTER 247 CHAPTER 248 CHAPTER 249 CHAPTER 250
CHAPTER 251 CHAPTER 252 CHAPTER 253 CHAPTER 254 CHAPTER 255