New Beginning 17: Souls of Intellect

[Celadon's Penultimate]

No. No she is not.

She's not on right now.

[ParallelanPrincess]

Dang it. *sigh* Better luck next year!

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Nice try. She may be on later.

[Philote]

The first to come after me is Dryad and her companion, and I call upon the last remaining Core, Soul's Core, the master of mirrors, and combine it with with the Core Guardian's energy as well as Uncreation. Creating a reflective force around me to destroy all those that attack.

Next is Zale's forces, who assault me from all sides with their respective masteries of the arcane and Wulf blasting me with his Aether power. Lastly, twin blasts of Ultimus and Miscreant energy are added to the assault.

Under the combined pressure of the five energies, my defenses can not hold, and I am consumed by the force as the dimension crumbles around us. When I finally fall, the entire area shimmers for a moment as the game dimension closes down. With the first round of the game finally finished, we all reawaken in my manor at Haven, fully healed.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 *phew*

That was somethin' else, huh?

I think that was a good one, guys! What do you guys think?

[ParallelanPrincess]

I can't believe this! I've been planet hoping and I still can't find Wulf-senpai. I teleport to a new place. A large manor looms in the distance. Giant manor? Gotta be there. It's so far I decide not to walk. Instead I focus and plant a seed in the ground. With a little power it turns into a giant beanstock. He's got to see that!

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 I look into the distance from my telescope.

"Oh, snap! A beanstalk! Must be my old friend Jack."

I hurry downstairs and alert the guards to let down the drawbridge.

Then I cup my hands and shout across the expanse with sonic power.

"C'MON IN, JACK! I GOTTA CUPPA TEA WAITIN' FOR YA!!!"

[Philote]

I believe I put up a pretty good match for you guys. What say we start round two after Christmas, any volunteers.

I notice something growing out in the space around the manor, "Who could that be?"

[Philote]

(Guards? Drawbridge? When did my manor get those )

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Yours?

It was MY manor, silly!

[ParallelanPrincess]

The force nearly shatters my eardrums? Who the kliostu is Jack? No denying that voice. Senpai. SO here's where he;s been hding. Must be partying with reality benders. AGAIN. Honestly, he calls himself the Penultimate. I  hold up my charm bracelet to the sky." Lead me to Wulf-senpai" It starts tugging me west. Time for answers.

[Philote]

Were just at mine two seconds ago

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Combat sims are great and it gave us all a chance to see how well we can all utilize our abilities. As for whose house? So, glad it wasn't mine."

[ParallelanPrincess]

I arrive at the manor. I see guards doing their guard thing and a moat filled with....piranahas? No, something that looks a lot more deadly. Perfect. I walk to the drawbridge.

"HALT!" A guard demands. Halt? Really? Did I travel back in time? I ignore him and keep strolling.

"Stop, civilain!" Guard dude # 2 orders. I roll my eyes. Civilain? Moi?  As if. I hold up a hand as they approach me. I inhale deeply.

<SENPAI! SHOW YOURSELF BEFORE I OPEN UP A CAN OF CLOVER FU OUT HERE!> I yell in Parallelan. The guards stop mid-stride.

"What speak is that?" Guard #1 inquires.

<Para- I switch to English. "Parallelan."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The guards fall silent, and march back to their posts with glazed-over looks in their eyes. When they clear, there I am standing, with a frown.

"Hey, you're not Jack!" I put my hands on my hip, "Shame on you, Mimi-ko! You tricked me!"

[ParallelanPrincess]

"Did not" I pout. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in two years! Do you know how many gods I had to ask for favors to track you- Who are all those people?" I look past him to see a group of people standing in the hall. I wave and smile to be polite.

"Yo! I'm Savior. I'm Penny Dude's most awesome pupil!" Senpai flicks me on the forehead. I guess he still hates his nickname.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Hello, Savior. I am the Archdruid Dryad Knotwood. My teachers were Aurum Umbral Spellcaster and the Lady of Butterflies."

My eyes notice Savior's bracelet. Hmmmm, this would be interesting.

"Bracelets  are often items of power where I come from that usually have protective enchantments. What does yours do?"

[Philote]

"Oh, this must be the student I've heard so much about, Welcome to my manor.....er what used to be my manor, I believe Wulf has teleported us. I'm Philote, or Phi, from Aeon."

[ParallelanPrincess]

I smile. What doesn't it do. I get a warning glance from Senpai. Okay, I can't tell what the powerful ones do.

"Hey, Dryad. The name's Savior NineOhEight. I'm one of the Penultimates's...better students. I'm also thegoddessTyche, my favorite colors are teal and green. As for the bracelet. It's good for growing plants and it's a good luck charm of sorts. It helps me perceive luck if you can believe it." I pray to Zeus no one caught the bit about me being Tyche. It's not exactly a secret...but somethings are best left untold. Anyway, it's not like I lied. I shake Dryad's hand. Her grip is firm, steady. She's gotta be a fighter. Hmm.... Have I been replaced?

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Why, yes. Yes I has."