LOST

Chapter 6

The sound of swords slashing and swinging through the air could be heard a mile away. If we weren't all clumped together in a tight space trying to battle our way outside. Outside where the power generator is and where we would all hopefully meet up with Jason and Jerome.

But we can't do that because the mobs just keep spawning!

"Seto! Now might be a good time to explain why the sudden increase in mobs just started happening," Mitch hissed through gritted teeth.

"N-now!" Seto squinted as he blasted yet another squad of zombies at close-range with his purple balls of fire, "You really want to talk about this now?"

"Well, no... but answers would be nice." An arrow came in from the left, I dodged and swung my sword to the zombie horde to the right. Arrows whizzed by my head as I noticed Ian make quick shots to the surrounding skellys that were getting to close. Adam and Quentin were banding together, moving closer to the door, trying to fight their way through and hopefully free the way for us.

"There's a shift in balance, the rules that support our word are beginning to crumble. If this keeps up the world will keep changing, days will grow shorter, mobs will live longer, memories may get altered."

"Wait our memories may get changed!" Adam shouted then quickly ducked at an incoming arrow, "how do we know?"

"I don't know! Do I look like I have all the answers?" No one answered Seto's question, "Forget it, just get outside."

The mobs were beginning to thin out and at last we made it outside. I breathed in fresh air and let out a relieved sigh, their rate of spawn seemed to have stopped altogether for now.

"Where's Jason and Jerome, we should hurry and find them. Then we can scavenge for leftover supplies."

Mitch shrugged his tired shoulders and sat on the ground for rest, a bright red flare was shot into the sky. No more than at least hundred blocks from us... insanely close, yes, need for flare, no. It hardly mattered now as Quentin and Ian raced over towards the flare.

I walked over to a laying Adam and a standing Seto, "How are you holding up Seto? It was really dark, I couldn't tell if you were doing ok." I was just trying to hold a conversation but I could see it would lead me no where since there was not a single scratch on him.

"I'm fine, nothing to worry about, when we gather the team we can all rest and I can take first watch." Seto wasn't even looking at me as he spoke, he only gazed up into the sky.

“You sure you’re not tired, you’re the one using the most energy,” Adam lazily sighed.

“I said I was fine, I don’t need to rest!” Seto’s fist flared with a purple aura and Adam’s scrambled up his eyes wide.

“Whoa, calm down Seto!” I edged closer to him and tried calming him down, I was about to grab his shoulders when he glanced back at me and moved away. The flames from his hands died down and the light of the moon was our only source of light now.

“I’m fine, don’t touch me…” he growled and walked away, leaving both me and Adam here in shock.

“Jezz, I forgot how moody Seto gets,” Adam huffed and flopped back down on the grass closing his eyes to the night.

“That’s not how Seto normally acts,” I countered, “He’s much more mellow and playful, not moody.”

Adam immediately shot up, “Ha! I’d like to meet that Seto!” he laughed at me like I was joking, but I wasn’t, we remember two different Setos. Just like I remember Seto having different eyes, but Mitch said they were normal.

“You ok?” I felt a gentle tug on the leg of my pants and responded to Adam with a quick nod, “Alrighty then, if you’re good then let’s go help Mitch set up that fire.” Adam hoisted himself up using me as support, I wobbled on my legs as he did so. In the near distance Mitch was huddling around a small pile of sticks and logs and gentle smoke was rising.

“We both know Mitch is horrible at starting a fire! He’d sooner fight an army before he starts a fire!”

We both slowly walked over and I mentioned to Adam, “It’s smoking Adam, he may have succeeded.”

“What!” His eyes almost literally popped out, “No way! I have to see this!” Adam rushed over to Mitch who was quietly cheering around his fire which was now steadily glowing. Adam high-fived Mitch and the cheered together.

I laughed from a distance as I watched Adam’s leg catch on fire and he and Mitch started to panic. Mitch took a stick and beat the fire out of Adam who was screaming in protest but in the process kicked the fire pit.

The fire spread to the log seats that Mitch had set up and there was panic at the site. I couldn’t stop laughing at the sight and I fell over. I heard a thump and stopped laughing. The book with the Seto’s family insignia was lying on the ground, sitting up I reached over and picked it up. Dusting it of all the dirt and grass and I gazed at it.

I didn’t know what to do with it, maybe read it? Gently opening the cover I flipped through a few pages, seeing the familiar tongue of Mythr and the smooth handwriting of Seto’s. I sighed, why is everything so complicated, now the fate of saving the world rest on me trying to be a sorcerer. If Seto couldn’t beat whatever it was why is he depending on me! If these notes were so important he should’ve kept them with him.

“You’ll find that most of my important information is labeled in the far back corners of the book," a voice behind me whispered.

On instinct I jumped up and screamed, spinning around I turned to face Seto, who just stared at me quizzically, "Don't do that!" I hissed.

"Don't do what?"

"J-just appear out of nowhere!"

Seto rolled his eyes and stood up, "I didn't, I walked."

I stared at him confused, "Are you ok, you've been acting strange?"

"Me strange? You're strange, you act like I've got magical powers of some sort, that's you. Not me."

My eyes widened and my jaw literally fell off. What in the world is he saying! Oh god this must be what he was talking about earlier, our memories are being altered, so why am I not affected, or am I the one with messed up memories. I felt myself start to shake as I clutched myself tightly, I can't do this, I can't!

"Ty, you ok, are you cold, here let me make a quick fire," Seto scooted closer and held his hand out in front of me. I stared at it quizzically and watched as a small purple flame poofed into existence.

"W-wha, how'd you do that?"

"Ty you must've hit your head, come on you know I'm a sorcerer..."

I scooted backwards away from Seto, "What? What is going on! You just claimed not to be, everything is changing, what's real and what's not!" I seething with anger not at him but just at everything in general, I just wanted to scream, but instead I cried. I curled over and cried.

"Seto I can't do this, I must sound ridiculous, we've only just started our journey and I already want to quit."

A quick gust of wind pushed me backwards, I lifted my head and saw Seto glaring at me.

"Yes you can! The Ty I know never gives up, he has a determination that rivals all. So are you going to sit there and give up or fight through it like you always do?"

Sniffing I muttered, "How do you know that's  the Ty you actually know, how do I know that's was even me?"

Seto crouched down to my level and smiled, "because no amount of magic can get rid of what the heart knows. Stay strong Ty. What's in your gut will help all of us persevere, because while you may not think it, you can do this."

The tears stopped flowing and I was left in shock, Seto stood up and gestured for me to. I quietly did and we walked silently towards the fire. In the distance I saw four people making their way around our base, they found Jerome and Jason.

"Let's see what they've got going on over there, k?" I nodded and watched Seto dash off happily laughing and looking back at me as I slowly walked. He gestured for me to hurry up, so I jogged over to him.

~~~~~

Everyone was just sitting by the fire, on the slightly charred logs might I add. No more accidents with fire, but it was still funny. Ian and Quentin came back with Jason and Jerome as aforementioned. Both are fine, only scrapes and bruises, and they even came back with some food and supplies.

The crackling of the fire made the night feel less ominous. I opened the book and flipped to the farthest sections letting the familiar runes drown my thoughts and focus only on the writing. I decided to read the pages that were marked, they seemed important.

Day 89

Discovered more information around this curse. This force of destruction will awaken in only a couple of years. I need to work faster, I'm running low on time.

Day 167

I've been working all night, nearly ran into Ian trying to grab a snack through my secret passage. Heh... I wish the days of my childhood were still here, at least I was still ignorant of these evils. Just playing in the woods with Ty again...

I'm not cut out for something like this, if I hadn't been so foolish and let my curiosity bind me to this task I would still be fighting mobs and criminals with my team. I know they're  all worried and feel left out but I cant burden them with this.

I have to be strong, strong like Ty. Always fighting through everything, never giving up. He's the reason I can do what I do. The reason I have to fight this, for him, so he can go on and live out his days cherishing his new friends.

I was in shock, I was why Seto worked so hard to learn magic, the reason why he took on this task to save the world. I was about to cry for how strong Seto has been but I pushed it aside, I had to read more.

Day 320

I've done it!

Well actually not quite, but I'm  getting closer, I can feel it. I've found several references to this curse in a few of my books, mainly lore, but there are plenty of matching statements. I just have to work out the facts.

Most of the stories mention the alternation of reality, longer nights, stronger mobs, anything that defies the laws of our world really.

On a less grim note, Ty just came in. We're going out as a team to a near by village, lately theres been an increase in mob attacks.

Oh Notch... I've turned this into a diary... This is supposed to be a journal of research.

Day 358

Dead ends!

Dead ends!

Dead ends!

No where! I'm getting nowhere, I'm exploring all the options but they all lead to the same thing. Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

I can't discover any sound details on the curse except reality being altered, is this really a curse to end the world? Or just one to change it.

I need sleep.

Day 556

I've lost count of the days. I dont even think this is the 556rd day I've been at this.

I've been awake for the past week, no food, no water. Just living on magical energy.

I've barricaded myself in here, no one can get in. Not even Ty.

Why is this so hard, I can't stay awake, must sleep.

The last sentence was barely readable, just scribbled on paper. But I remember this day.

Seto nearly died, he got really sick from starvation, we barely got to him in time. It was only because his magic wore off and we were able to break down the door. Now I know why he did it.

Day 701

Made a small breakthrough. But not a useful one, this one only dampens fate. Like the many others I've discovered...

This curse isn't just a manifestation of magic, its a creature of old.

A dragon.

I managed to connect some lores to this curse, found out they're the same story.

On to brighter news, if it isn't a manifestation of magic but a living creature, then it can be killed. That has to be the way to end the curse or stop it. Preferably stopping it.

Only problem dragons are highly resistant to common magic, meaning I have to find an uncommon spell to kill it.

Should be easy enough... Just have to work on deciphering the many 1000s of forgotten languages in hopes of something strange.

Day 894

Everything is useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!

D@mn all of this! I can't find anything useful, everything I discover is incomplete.

There's nothing I can, nothing!

This entry was riddled with signs that tears were shed, but the entry continued on.

I need spells, protection spells. ANYTHING! Something, my friends, they can't die. I'm being selfish, but I don't care anymore.

I have to save them at least, they've done so much for me, especially Ty.

I WON'T  LET THEM DIE!

The rest of the page was scribbled on, I can only assume Seto gave up. He was at a loss, confused, angry, of course these we're only speculations, but to imagine his pain... I only wish I was there for him.

There was one last entry that was marked, I breathed out a sigh and flipped to the next section.

Day 898

This will be my last entry in this infernal book. After this I will never be the one to open it.

I'm leaving.

For good? Maybe, I hope not. I don't want to image his face when he... he finds out I'm gone.

I'm letting them all down. I can't face them, the only way I can, is if I do this.

I'm going in blind, I know but does it matter anymore. I might as well try, who knows how many other people realize something is going to happen.

There's no time to find out though. In two weeks time I plan to leave, I plan to leave this book here. All my useful research is kept in a different notebook, this is more of a log.

...

Afternote:

I guess I lied, I did open this book again after writing my note. But for a different reason.

Ty, if you're reading this, then that means I failed.

I left this notebook for you hoping you'd never have to read it. Nothing good will come from what lies ahead.

Please keep this journal safe, I'm sorry to leave this burden on you.

Head home, that's where I plan to set up base.

Sorry,

Seto M.

I closed the book silently and stared off into the sky. None of it made a lot of sense, the only thing that I found useful is now I  know we're fighting a dragon.

Ha how hard could it be... not like its a giant scaly beast that breathes fire... Ha! I snickered silently to myself but stopped abruptly when I felt the gaze of the others on me and the night go silent.

"You... ok there?" Jerome slowly spoke.

Looking up I nodded and laughed, "Yeah I'm fine, don't  worry just thought of something silly.

"Mind sharing?" Adam asked suspiciously.

"Sure, I was just remembering you and Mitch panicking at the fire and you being smacked with a stick." I snickered at Adam's embarrassed reaction.

"Whoa, when this happen, why weren't we informed?" Ian asked slyly.

"Errr," Adam went silent and Mitch butted in.

"Ha, ha very funny Ty, that never happened." He was trying to cover up their embarrassing mishap, but I wasn't going to let it slide.

"Then explain why the logs are all charred."

When he didn't answer the rest of us broke out laugh, "Oh Notch you got them good!" Said Quentin in between laughs.

When the laughter died down Ian served up dinner, a simple meal of pork.

"Come on, just one bite," urged Ian.

"I'm not hungry, I'll eat when I am," Seto pushed away the food.

"That's what you said earlier, all the fighting must’ve left you hungry!" Ian was starting to whine a little bit, he doesn't like wasted food.

"Leave him be Ian, he'll eat when he wants, he'll just have to miss out on a freshly cooked meal," Mitch called out to Ian, at last he gave up and sat down closer to the fire.

Seto sighed, and whispered something inaudible. I left him be and let the night take over.

Wow, its been awhile huh. Well now I'm on spring break! No more pneumonia, no school just spring! :D I want to get another chapter out before the break ends but I'm working on a lot of overdue drawings. 

Also, DoR I'm currently at a loss, I don't know how to finish, if I should finish or if there should be a book 2. I need you guys opinions and suggestions, I'm still at a major writers block.

On the plus side, since DoR is currently on hold, that opens up a free spot for another story until I get DoR settled.

I have this swell idea, :)

*And yes it's another TC FF, but I like using their characters, ^^;*

If you guys are interested I can give you all a sneak peak on some stuff, like the cover, which I finished drawing just a few days ago.

Please let me know, I'm really excited. I hope you all are!

P.S. The title for the new story is Falling to Rise. 

~WrittenDarkness