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DD:ToM - Chapter XIII

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Dragon's Dance: Tales of Manavalia
Chapter XIII: Always Bring Your Wits


-A-

I don't get it.  This thing's nigh invincible.  What haven't I tried?

Aaa was seriously frustrated at the Caster Jewel now.  It was practically taunting him with its invulnerable inanimateness.  He walked up to it and slapped it crosswise with the palm of his left hand.

-C-

And was tossed backwards again.

-A-

Oof... this calls for a little experimenting.

Aaa walked up to the Jewel again.  This time, he simply tapped the surface with his right index finger.

-C-

It shoved half-heartedly against his hand.

-A-

It repels me no matter what I do.  Well, I didn't earn my reputation as a hero by giving up in the face of the impossible.

Aaa stepped back again and fired a few shots from his Sure Crossbow at the Jewel, prepared to dodge in case it sent them back at him.

-C-

They melted instead.

What WOULDN'T he use?  No doubt the one thing he would never think to try would be the one to work.

-A-

Right... but... what would that be?  Hmm... I wonder...

Aaa stepped close again.  He cast a minor healing spell on the Jewel.

-C-

It shivered, but still did...

The fish.

-A-

The fish?  Oh, you HAVE to be kidding me.  That doesn't even make sense.  Why would... well, I might as well try it and see what happens.

Aaa hesitantly drew out the fish, not entirely sure how to use it against the Jewel.

Finally, he decided to throw it.

-C-

The fish hit it, splattering fish-juice all over it and slid down disgustingly, leaving a trail of slime.

The Jewel trembled again before shattering.

-A-

Aaa stood back again.

For the life of me, I'll never understand how I was supposed to think of that without checking a strategy guide.  Using a fish to destroy a Caster Jewel?  There's counter-intuitive, and then there's that.

So... now what do I do now that I've destroyed a stubborn Caster Jewel that wasn't even spawning anything?


-C-

But then the shattered pieces shook briefly before all shooting back together; and forming a glassy white Rune.

-A-

I guess that answers my question.

Aaa stepped up and examined the Rune for a moment.  Finally he brought out his hand and grabbed it.

-C-

The faerie appeared, nearly falling out of the air in excitement.

"Well, you know how this works by now!"

-A-

Aaa turned around after taking the Rune into his hands.

"I most certainly do.  But seriously, a fish?  What logical line of thinking would have led to that conclusion?"

-C-

"I tried the manual, but it didn't have an answer," shrugged the faerie, "Maybe there's a glitch."

-A-

Aaa said nothing.

He took out his spellbook and opened it to the page with the elemental ring, with the four normal elements and the two blank spots.  He gently eased the Rune towards the page.

-C-

He swivelled it, and it sank into the offered place with a satisfying snap; the Ice Rune was rhombus shaped.  The Earth one was square, the fire one diamond, wind oval and water round.  The one remaining was in a five-point star shape.

-A-

The way that ring is constructed, you'd almost think they didn't even want to hide the fact that there were two more elements.  Well, better try it out.

Aaa took his book back and chose a worthy practice target: a small rock.  He aimed one hand at it and pronounced a brief incantation.

Freeze 1.

-C-

It turned to ice, and then shattered impressively.

-A-

Perfect.

Aaa knelt down and picked up the fish again.

I think I'll hang on to YOU for a little longer.

-C-

Even if it was starting to smell.

-A-

Let's hope it doesn't stink up my inventory too much.  Maybe I'll pack it in ice.

Aaa glanced at his spellbook again.  Now only one empty spot was left... lightning, was it?

-C-

He was looking forward to that one.

-A-

I suppose that'll come in due time.

Aaa turned and began to head back to the campsite.

-C-

But then a rim of brightly yellow light encircled the area; trapping him.

"I think this is a boss!" called the faerie; just as a very large, house-sized, armoured scorpion rose from the ground, snapping its claws savagely.

-A-

Aaa jumped back and took his fighting stance, weapon out.

Unusual time for a boss fight.  I bet I know the occasion, though.

Aaa opted to open by attacking the scorpion with a sample of his new ice magic.

-C-

The scorpion took it on the armour, where it froze briefly but ultimately dealt little damage.

-A-

Hm.  High defense... better scan it for weaknesses.

Aaa hung back for the moment and analyzed the scorpion carefully, searching for flaws in its armor.

-C-

It seemed to have a weak spot on this belly, but how to get to it?

He tried lots of different attacks, until he mis-aimed and the globe of ice hit the floor; the scorpion nearly slipped, struggling to find grip.

-A-

Aha!

Aaa knelt slightly and cast another ice spell, aiming to freeze up as much of the ground as possible.

-C-

The scorpion stabbed at him with its stinger, and he lost some HP; but it slipped again.

-A-

Now!

Aaa charged in and thrust at the scorpion's head with an uppercut of his blade, hoping to knock him over.

-C-

It hobbled, off balance, and he struck again; it flipped.

-A-

Ha!

Now that the scorpion's weak spot was wide open, Aaa leapt into the air and plunged his Assassin's Sword into its belly, stabbing again and again.

-C-

It shrieked before finally going limp.

-A-

No problem.

Aaa swung his sword around before stowing it, then made a quick spin that ended in a fine victory pose.  You could almost hear the victory fanfare.

-C-

His MP, HP and stats adjusted accordingly.

-A-

Okay, that's done with.

Aaa decided to head back to camp, that little issue now taken care of.

What was the last one?  Lightning?  The all-powerful element... that I would find in time?

-C-

"In time!" chirped the faerie, "In time.  You just worry about your other little riddle; it's much more important."

-A-

Aaa turned around.

"The one about the source lying within?  What am I supposed to do with that?"

-C-

"Think about it."

Then the faerie was gone.
Chapter I: [link]
Chapter XII: [link]
Chapter XIV: [link]

The thirteenth chapter, wherein our hero finally gets his new magic element and puts it to use.

I'm not sure whether we have enough material for the fourteenth chapter yet or not. We have plenty of material in Innocent Recluse and Technically Unsound, though.

Yay roleplays. :dummy:

Dragon's Dance universe © :iconxx-amaramis-xx: and me
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Tori-the-Sand-Cat's avatar
Yay roleplays. :dummy:

The best line I've gotten from you in a while. :iconimhappyplz: