(16) The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo: The Sky Bandits (9.5k words)

The story of the Sky Bandits is revealed.

With the shattering of the barrier between the two worlds, Corri and Valr pass through the Link Temple into the Lands of Ranuulo. There they come across Vos and Diva, Valr's parents. Corri discovers that these two were once part of the Sky Bandits, immensely powerful outlaws who once terrorized the people of the Lands of Ralosia. Meanwhile, Razan and Lucar tell their sons of their history as the Sky Bandits, explaining how they were separated from their childhood friends Vos and Diva.

After over 15 years, the Sky Bandits reunite.

(2/6/22) Self edited, audio edited, and peer edited.

Peer edits by Mikrokosmostae

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~Chapter 1- Diva & Vos ~

~Age 991 B~

         Diva looked up at a turbulent red, purple, and black sky. Occasionally lightning would flourish from above and strike the ground near her and the Arachna people she hunted with. While the others hurried away from the point of impact, Diva simply levitated off of the ground.

         For most of her time in the Lands of Ranuulo, she and her husband, Vos, lived among them. Diva had short brown hair and dark clothes to help camouflage her in the treacherous landscape. Vos was broad shouldered, muscular, and had wild brown hair that extended to his back.

         The Arachna people had humanoid shapes just like them, but had four thin, insect like limbs protruding from their backs. They had large eyes, and pedipalps over their mouths, with tiny pincers at the tips. There were thin hairs across their bodies to help them cling to surfaces. A red and blue Arachna named Petri was the leader in this region.

         The Arachna formed a web trap in the middle of a valley. They expelled webs from their arms into a sort of cocoon, with great pressure holding it together. Petri flourished his hand and fired webbing near Diva and Vos, and pulled himself through the air by the strand of web. The other Arachna followed his lead and left the valley.

         They waited. Diva could feel the ground tremble as a stampede made its way through the valley. A group of beetles, horned insects several times larger than her, charged through the valley. Diva's stomach growled as she watched them pass.  One of them made impact with the web trap; the high pressure built inside of it was released and webs ensnared the beetle. As the beetle struggled to get out of the trap, the others quickened their pace and left it behind.

         Petri and the Arachna fired webs at the beetle, forming several strands to it to act as tethers. Vos used his sheer strength to pin the beetle to the ground. Diva flew to the creatures' head, pointed her finger, and a thin beam of purple light emerged and struck the creature in its cranium.

         Diva kept the beam on the beetle as it burned through its shelled exterior. The beetle seized up before finally ceasing all movement. She killed it. It would feed them for some time.

         What little light the sun provided the Lands of Ranuulo began to dwindle away. Diva, Vos, and the Arachna hurried to the woods with the beetle's body in tow. They didn't want to be caught in the pitch darkness that was night in these lands.

         They entered Petri's woods, a haven from the harsh world they lived in. The thick trees had blue leaves and black bark. Canopies and homes were made from the webbing.

          Night provided no light, so they had to create their own. The hunting party flourished their hands, and bright orbs of light formed at their fingertips. Focus Lights.

         The beetle was torn apart and distributed to the hungry members of the Arachna, as well Vos and Diva. When she first tasted beetle many years ago, she found it disgusting. But she grew to like it.

          Diva flew to the edge of the woods and perched on a tall tree to look up at the sky. At night she could see fireflies, a bio-luminescent insect which was several hundred times larger than her. She would tell her son Valr that was what stars looked like in the Lands of Ralosia. When he was here.

         Vos climbed up to Diva's position, "What're you doing? It's dangerous to be out at night."

         "It's Valr's birthday. He should be sixteen today," Diva muttered.

         Vos sighed and wrapped his muscular arms around his wife to comfort her, "It was for the best. You know that."

         "I know... I just hoped that we'd be able to see him again."

         Diva looked out into the darkness, to the north. There was a temple there, one called the 'Link Temple'. The only bridge between these lands, and the Lands of Ralosia. But a barrier barred all entry. They discovered a mask that would allow an individual to pass through. They decided to let their son Valr go with the hope that he would find a way to shatter the barrier.

         But Diva and Vos knew that might not be possible. At the very least, they gave their son a chance at a better life than he could ever have here. Its been nearly four years since Emitt gave them the mask and they had to say goodbye to their son.

         Diva felt reverberations through the air, and Vos felt it as well. She saw a glint of light from the Link Temple.

         A beam of white light rocketed from the temple, illuminating everything around them for all in the land to see. It reached an apex in the sky and burst apart. That light spread across the entirety of the Lands of Ranuulo. Everyone and thing was engulfed in pure light, and the world became quiet.

         In moments that light dissipated from the world until it returned to its normal, pitch-black state. As if it never happened. Diva's heart quickened, "He did it. He really did it!"

         Diva threw herself from the tree and flew through the air, "Come on Vos! It has to be Valr!"

         Diva flourished her hand and formed an orb of purple light so she had some semblance of where she was going. She flew in the general direction of the Temple, with Vos following from the ground. They went as fast as they could, ignoring the roar of beasts in the darkness.

         They came upon the temple and could make out a figure with their own orb of light.

         "Valr?" Diva spoke hopefully. She drew closer and saw a young man with uncut brown hair and dark clothes, just like the ones she and Vos wore. He was taller and more muscular, but there was no mistaking it. It was her son.

         "Mom!" Valr flew to his levitating mother and they embraced, slowly drifting back towards the ground. As soon as they touched down, Vos wrapped his arms around both, the three were brought to tears.

         "I knew we'd see you again," Vos said tenderly.

         As Diva held her boy in her arms, she noticed another figure standing behind him. A teenage girl with bright red hair wearing gauntlets. She looked simultaneously confused and shaken.

         Valr wiped his tears and turned to the girl, "Mom, Dad, this is Corri. I never would've broken through the barrier without her," Valr walked to Corri's side, "Corri, these are my parents."

         Corri smiled nervously, and Diva couldn't help herself. She rushed to girl and hugged her tightly, "Thank you so much Corri. I'm Diva."

         "I don't how you managed it, but thank you! I am Vos!" Vos beat his fist against his broad chest as he introduced himself.

         Corri nodded, but was still visibly shaken, "It's nice to meet you. But where are we? Is this-"

         "This is the Lands of Ranuulo," Valr said. Corri took in the red and purple sky and pitch-black landscape around them.

         "I want to see that destroyed barrier!" Vos looked to the weathered temple behind Valr and rushed in, and everyone followed behind.

         They walked through the debilitated temple, vines tearing through its once sacred walls. They used their Focus light to illuminate the way. Oddly enough Corri didn't create a Focus light. Perhaps she didn't know how.

         They came to a circular gate within the temple. For years, a barrier blocked their way at this point, but it was gone now. Whatever Corri did had destroyed the barrier completely.

         The four went through the circular gate. While they had only taken a few steps, they had been transported to the opposite side of the world, to the Lands of Ralosia.

         They continued down the corridors of the temple. Diva glanced at Corri. She looked familiar.

         "I'm sorry if this is odd to say, I feel like I should know you in some way," Diva said to Corri.

         Valr spoke up, "She's Razan and Bonnie's daughter."

         Both Diva and Vos stopped in place and looked at the girl. They saw the resemblance. She looked especially like Bonnie, the same red hair and light skin tone, but possessed her father's brown eyes.

         "That explains quite a bit," Vos remarked.

         Corri looked at them, "You know my dad?"

         "We knew him. I can't say I ever want to see him again. Tell me, did he ever talk about us?" Vos asked.

         Corri reluctantly answered, "No."

         "Of course not," Vos gritted his teeth and continued through the temple.

         "What happened between you?" Corri asked.

         Diva walked alongside the red-haired girl, "It's a long story."

         "I'd want to hear about it. My dad doesn't tell me anything."

         "That does sound like him," Diva remarked, "Well, I ought to start at the beginning."

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         In Age 960, the eight-year-old Vos and Diva lived in a small village in the Lands of Ralosia. The two black haired brothers, Razan and Lucar, aged seven and five respectively, lived there as well. They had simple lives, and when their parents allowed them, the four would play with one another.

         But one day a terrible fire overtook the village while the four played outside of town. It was no one's fault; it was simply a tragedy. When the four returned, their homes had turned to ash, right along with the people.

         The four orphans did whatever they could to survive. Razan and Lucar stole from various shops for food. At first Diva and Vos were against theft, but when their stomachs began to grumble, they did what they had to.

         They were forced to endure harsh rainfall one night, and Lucar grew sick from it. It spread from him to Vos, then to Razan. Finally, Diva caught that sickness.

         The four kids surely thought they would die. No one was there to care for them. Diva didn't give up though, while the boys could hardly stand, she forced herself to ferry water from a nearby lake for the four of them.

         Diva stumbled towards the lake before falling to her knees, completely out of strength. Her vision went blurry. But before she passed out, she saw a figure cloaked in black robes approach her.

         When she awoke, she and the boys felt the comforting heat of a campfire near them and shelter over their heads. There was the smell of meat being cooked over the fire.

         She looked across the fire and saw him. A figure with a pale white chest and face, with spotted ebon arms and legs. His eyes were a luminescent orange. Whatever he was, he was certainly not of the Lands of Ralosia. Behind him was a crow, a black winged bird of great size.

         "Go ahead, eat kids," The strange man said as he passed each of them chunks of meat from whatever beast was being cooked over the fire. Razan didn't hesitate and prodded his little brother to do the same. Vos and Diva followed their lead.

         Diva remembered her manners, "Thank you, sir."

         "I couldn't let you die," The figure nodded, "You were too weak to care for yourselves... but how would you like to be strong?"

         This peaked the children's interest. Vos asked, "What do you mean?"

         "In my life, I have helped many to discover what they're truly capable of. To know true power. You won't have to be afraid anymore. I can make you strong."

         This excited the children to no end. Diva asked, "Who are you?"

         "I am the Ranuulan known as Lunahreim."

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         "Lunahreim raised you and my dad?" An astounded Corri asked.

         "That's right. You've met him?" Diva asked.

         "Yeah, he always seemed so... evil!" Corri remarked.

         Diva chuckled, "Yes, he does come across like that."

         They came to a large staircase, and at the top Vos and Diva could see light. The true light of the sun. They could hardly stop themselves from charging out there, but Valr stood in their way.

         "Hold on! You shouldn't go out in the daytime! When I first came through, I wasn't used to how bright it was. It blinded me for a while," Valr explained, "You should come out when it's nighttime on this side of the world."

         Vos and Diva bitterly looked at each other but shrugged. They waited over a decade to return to the Lands of Ralosia, they could wait a little longer.

         "We should head back to Petri's woods then. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you again Valr. We can show Corri around as well," Diva suggested.

         Corri said, "I still don't understand why you're so angry with my dad."

         Diva nodded, "We can tell you more back at Petri's Woods."