~Chapter 5- A Mask~

Morning came for the Lands of Ranuulo. Valr, Corri, Diva, and Vos left Petri's woods for the Link Temple. They traveled through the temple and came out the other side.

When they stepped out it was night in the Lands of Ralosia, a full moon was visible above them, as well as a myriad vibrantly colored stars. It was beautiful. Vos and Diva dreamt of returning here for over 15 years. They relished the feeling of being free.

Valr and Corri sat near the temple together, "There's still something I don't understand," Corri asked.

Valr turned to her, "What is it?"

"You were born in the Lands of Ranuulo, but you had to have gotten out somehow." Corri said.

"That's right," Valr pulled off the bag that was slung over his back and trifled through it. He pulled out a white full-face mask with no distinct features, aside from the sharp holes for the eyes, "I escaped with this."

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Valr grew up in the Lands of Ranuulo. His parents would often tell him of the wondrous place that the Lands of Ralosia was, but such a place seemed like a fantasy. He learned how to survive in the harsh world he was born in. The people of that land were much stronger than that of the Lands of Ralosia. Perhaps it was out of necessity. Those that didn't become strong enough would simply perish.

When Valr was young, he learned he had the ability to levitate and fly, just like his mother. She taught him to masterfully move through the air, while his father trained him to be powerful and use Focus.

In Age 987, Valr was wandering through the wastelands outside of Petri's Woods when he saw a figure with its arms folded behind him. It was a red-haired man wearing a featureless white mask. Valr approached him and could see the man's eyes were closed, yet he behaved as if he could see. He appeared to be Ralosian, but as far as he knew, he and his parents were the only Ralosians in this world.

"Hello young man," The masked figure said politely, "My name is Emitt. Who are you?"

"Valr," He answered, uneasy around this strange man.

"You're not of this land, are you?"

"No... that's what my parents told me at least."

"Would you like to leave this world?"

Valr thought for a moment before honestly answering, "Yes."

The figure tapped the mask ,and it fell to the ground. The man had a simple smile on his face. Without opening his eyes, he picked up the masked and extended towards the child

"Take this... Efilon's Mask will help you escape."

Valr took the mask in his hand, "How?"

"You know of the barrier don't you? It will allow the one who wears this mask to pass from this side of the barrier to the other, no one else. But it won't let you come back," The man explained, "But... I must ask. If you decide to pass through, I want you to find a way to destroy the barrier permanently. The Lands of Ralosia and Ranuulo were never meant to be separated."

Valr looked down at the mask, "How can I do that?"

Valr received no answer. When he looked back up, the man was gone.

He returned to Petri's woods and showed his parents the mask. Of course they were skeptical, until they tested it. When Valr put it on and approached the barrier, it opened for him. But if anyone else tried to go through with him, it sealed up immediately.

They thought for quite some time, but Vos was the one to finally say, "I think Valr should go. When you find a way to destroy the barrier, we can see each other again."

After some preparation and goodbyes to his parents and all his friends in the Lands of Ranuulo, Valr donned the mask and walked through the barrier. Just as the man had told him, he was unable to go back.

Life in the Lands of Ralosia was as pleasant as his parents said, and not so difficult to survive in. Valr wandered aimlessly around the Lands of Ralosia for months.

It wasn't until the mask he wore sprouted tendrils which wrapped around his head and wriggled in reaction to something. They acted like a dowsing rod to vibrantly colored orbs scattered across the land. After some research, he discovered that they were called power orbs, and might give him the strength to destroy the barrier.

Valr's hunt for the orbs put him on the path that inevitably led him to Aero, Lunahreim, and ultimately Corri.

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Valr and Corri looked at the bright white mask, "I don't know why that Emitt guy gave me Efilon's mask, but it's what got me out of the Lands of Ranuulo."

Corri took the mask from him and looked upon it. It was a little unnerving, "Well, I'm glad he did. I never would've met you otherwise."

Vos and Diva were walking through the desert, free of any worry. But a group was coming towards them at high speed. Corri couldn't make out who it was though.