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Year 64

  Year 64

  *Emma and Keya are talking as they walk toward the gate out of the city, carrying large bags. They notice Isabelle talking to Shreiker, who rests on her arm as a smaller bird.*

  Keya: I brought a surprise!

  Isabelle: Emma?! But what about work?

  Emma: I asked Seraphina to only give you time off that she would allow me to also have off.

  Isabelle: *Irritated* That’s why she wouldn’t give me a break? *Deep breath* Well, I’m glad you decided to join us. I would’ve offered, but.

  *Emma hugs Isabelle.*

  Emma: It’s weird for me too. But I don’t hate you.

  *Isabelle smiles and hugs Emma back.*

  Isabelle: Thank you.*Pause* Now. Let’s get moving. I want to reach the lake before it gets dark.

  Keya: *Gasp* The star lakes?!

  Isabelle: Yup. The sky should be clear so we can watch the stars.

  Emma: The Star Lakes are the ones that look like constellations on clear nights right?

  Keya: *Excited* Yeah! I’ve seen paintings and I’ve been begging Mom to take me since she told me about them.

  *Emma’s eye twitches as Keya calls Isabelle, Mom.*

  Emma: *Forced smile* It sounds fun.

  *The three elves begin walking down the road, heading north. Keya begins telling Emma about all the previous years, and where the two of them went camping.*

  Keya: My favorite spot would be the Magicstone caverns.

  Emma: I’ve never been. My favorite place that we stayed would probably be. Hmmmmm. I really enjoyed the Summer festival in Inferna. As well as when Kimmy and I watched the water show at the Oasis.

  Isabelle: The Oasis? I haven’t been there in centuries. It was just a small caravan town back then.

  Emma: It’s kind of become a halfling haven. More than half the people there are halflings. We passed through on our way north when she was a child.

  Keya: We can all go after the borders are open again.

  Isabelle: Maybe Your dad will join us and we can all go as a family.

  Keya: Yeah!

  *As they reach the twin lakes, Lily runs ahead with Lazarus and they play in the water.*

  Isabelle: Hey, Emma. Would you want to help set up here or go find dinner?

  Emma: I can help set up here while Lily hunts.

  Keya: Can she take Lazarus? I’ve wanted him to learn how to hunt in case of emergencies for a while now. But stealth isn’t something I’m good at teaching.

  Emma:*Giggles* Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

  Isabelle: I’ll have Shreiker keep an eye on them so they don’t just play.

  Emma: That shouldn’t be a problem. I Sightshare while Lily hunts. It helps me scout the area for danger.

  Isabelle: What kind of monsters did you face underground where that’s normal for you?

  Emma: We’ve spent a lot of time traveling with people. So when it became just the two of us.

  *Lily runs up and hops on Emma’s shoulders, almost knocking her over, she laughs a little.*

  Emma: We wanted to feel connected even when apart. So we started practicing sightshare all the time. We don’t do it all the time anymore, but that’s because we don’t need it to stay connected. It’s hard to explain.

  Isabelle: Sarah was like that with Grace. You never saw one without the other. She said it took her decades to master though.

  Emma: Well it might’ve been the constant threat of Tarbeasts as well. They hunt by sensing vibrations in the ground.

  Isabelle: Hate those little fuckers.

  *Isabelle’s tone turns brash as she talks. Emma looks at her in confusion.*

  Keya: When Isabelle is more relaxed her tone changes.

  Emma: But she never talks like that around Dad.

  Keya: She does though. All the time when you’re gone.

  *Isabelle rubs the back of her head with a guilty look on her face.*

  Isabelle: It’s not intentional or anything. I’m just scared of the Seers if I’m being honest. I’ve only ever met you. I don’t know how strong they are.

  Emma: I’m stronger than the other scouts. I’ve never fought one of the soldiers or mages.

  *The three start setting up camp while Emma talks about the Seers. Lily and Lazarus return as night falls, both carrying two Squox each. Lazarus hops around with a giant smile on his face.*

  Emma: I’ve heard we explode when we die, but I’ve never seen it. I’ve also heard we open a rift to the Devils.

  Keya: Couldn’t it be both?

  Isabelle: Well, that’s what we’ve been assuming.

  Emma: Yeah. Ariella said that maybe the explosion “Is” what opens the rift. Gareth told me there was a large explosion when they killed my friend. But it was later described as more of a shockwave.

  *As the stars begin to sparkle across the lake, Keya stands up in excitement.*

  Keya: Look! Look!

  *Keya points to the lakes as she starts running to the shoreline, racing Lazarus. The others follow and look out at the lakes, the still surface looks like a giant mirror, reflecting the sky above. As they watch, more and more stars become visible and a shooting star shoots past.*

  Keya: Dibs!

  *Keya closes her eyes and begins mumbling to herself. Emma and Isabelle both chuckle.*

  Emma: You can’t call dibs of a Shooting star.

  Keya: I just did.

  *Keya sticks out her tongue and Emma shoots a small ball of water at her sister.*

  Keya: Hey!

  *Emma turns to Isabelle while the lake fills with millions of twinkling reflections.*

  Emma: I don’t hate you for dating Dad. I’m a little upset, but that’s because. He’s my Dad and she was my Mom. It always felt like you were a replacement…

  Isabelle: *Sigh* Emma, Your Mom asked me to stay. Goren and I did date once upon a time. We broke up for a year, and in that time he started datin Sarah. I was pissed. I still am, but that’s because she left us before I could give her a piece of my fuckin mind.

  *Isabelle lets out an exasperated sigh.*

  Isabelle: I never meant to replace her in your life. From my perspective. The love of my life left me for five minutes, now he has two daughters from one of our old friends. I had no intention of letting him get away from me a second fucking time. Maybe I should’ve talked to about it more. But Like Keya said. I was afraid of what you might really be. You’re a Veil Seer What little info we had at the time told us you were to bring upon a new world order and ultimately the destruction of our race.

  Emma: So you chose to follow some old story instead of helping raise me better?

  Isabelle: Yes. *Sniff* And I fucking regret it. Okay?

  *Emma looks at Isabelle, Isabelle’s face is full of anger and sorrow as she scowls through the tears.*

  Isabelle: All these years with Keya taught me that I fucked up. But you were out, fuckin, trainin an explorin. When you finally came back home. Once again it was too late. *scoffs* And you even came back with a daughter. You’re so much like your mother, it terrifies both me and your Dad.

  Emma: Thanks. I think?

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  *Emma’s face scrunches up as she looks at Isabelle with both appreciation and confusion.*

  Isabelle: I can’t have kids. So I was always angry when he quickly came back to tell me he had kids. “Hey, Bell. I know things between us are weird. But I’d like to ask for your help with something.”

  Emma: You said they were together while you adventured though.

  Isabelle: Goren always spent time with Sarah publicly, but they weren’t a couple until the party separated. Which was because he slept with her. *Smiles* I never minded the playing. Because he would always come back to me. But one night, Sarah had too much to drink.

  Emma: No offense. But I get it.

  Isabelle: *Laughs* Sorry.

  Emma: It sounds complicated. But that’s been my entire life. After this is over, I plan to go explore all the ruins.

  Isabelle: There can’t be many left.

  Emma: I know. But maybe I’ll learn more about our past. And a way to help the other races forgive us.

  Isabelle: That kind of magic is Taboo now.

  Emma: Yes, I know. But that doesn’t mean, learning about it is dangerous. As long as I don’t cast any of the spells. We should be safe.

  *Keya, who’s been playing with Lily and Lazarus along the shore. Runs over to Emma and Isabelle.*

  Keya: Wait they didn’t find any Taboo spells did they?! The Seers?!

  *Keya’s facial expression slowly begins to change to panic.*

  Emma: No. No. *Laughs* I was just saying that learning about them is one of the safest ways to protect ourselves from them.

  Isabelle: It’s also the best way to get someone fuckin killed.

  Emma: I’m not planning on letting others learn it. But someone needs to and I think most would agree I’d be a safe person.

  Isabelle: Maybe among the elves. But we also know the ruins we have today are incomplete. We probably only have a quarter of what there was before the Collision. And as far as we know, The elven ruins have been limited to the border of Sylvndor.

  Keya: I know it’s Emma’s first trip. But the rules that “You.”

  *Keya pokes at Isabelle.*

  Keya: Decided on. Clearly state, No Political talks. This is supposed to be a fun-only zone.

  Isabelle: I only made those rules so you’d stop talking about your “Stories.”

  *Emma laughs.*

  Keya: I challenge you to a Debate!

  *Isabelle stands up and takes a drink from her now full mug of ale. *

  Isabelle: I guess it has been a while.

  Keya: And Emma needs to learn all the rules of camping too.

  *Keya and Isabelle's arm wrestle, with Isabelle quickly winning. Emma looks at the two in confusion.*

  Isabelle: Whenever she wants to debate the rules of camping, she can challenge me to arm wrestling.

  Emma: I think I’ll be fine. As long as calling you both muscle brains isn’t an issue.

  Keya: I’d take offense to that, but I don’t like reading if I’m honest.

  Emma: I remember. Every day you could skip your reading, if you could beat Isabelle in a duel.

  Isabelle: I only let her win on her birthdays.

  Keya: And on days after you and Dad went on a date.

  Isabelle: Yeah.

  *Isabelle smiles with a look of slight guilt. The girls look at her in disgust.*

  Emma and Keya: Ew.

  —----------------------------------------

  *The sound of screams and wood burning. The smell of blood and ash fills the air. Emma opens her eyes, laying on the ground, in a cold sweat. She looks over to Keya and Isabelle, both sleeping. Emma stands up and climbs into the branches of a nearby willow tree. She watches as the ripples glide across the surface of the lake. Lily hops into her lap and yawns as the two get comfortable.*

  Lily: What was it this time?

  Emma: I was fighting someone. I was winning, but when I looked around me the capital was in flames again.

  Lily: The same black figures as before?

  Emma: Yeah.

  *Emma notices Keya sneaking off, She follows her in stealth. Emma hides above Keya in a tree, and Keya squats down.*

  Emma: Sorry, this spot’s taken.

  *Keya screams, waking up Isabelle. As Isabelle reaches the two, Emma is holding her sides from laughing and Keya follows behind, yelling at her.*

  Isabelle: What happened?!

  Emma:*Laughing* I scared her when she went to pee.

  Isabelle:*Laughs* So you scared the piss out of her?

  *Isabelle bursts into a fit of laughter.*

  Keya: Ha. Ha. Ha. Real funny. I’ll remember that the next time you go to relieve yourself.

  Isabelle: We all know you’ll never be able to sneak up on Emma.

  Emma: I don’t know. I’d have to see her as a threat to have to worry.

  *Keya scoffs with a smile.*

  Keya: Well I’m glad my suffering can make you two get along.

  Emma: Hey We get along. I don’t think I’ve ever hit Isabelle.

  Keya: Exactly! You two need to spar. So you can get out the inner you.

  Emma: *Confused* What are you spouting on now?

  Isabelle: I mean, I’m down after we eat something.

  Emma: Wait, why are we fighting?

  Keya: To learn about each other.

  Emma: Arie and I get along just fine without fighting.

  Keya: So you two never fought one another?

  Emma: Well. Not recently.

  *Emma thinks back to her training with Ariella, growing up and challenging one another.*

  Emma: Okay, fine.

  *After eating, and as the morning sun rises, Emma and Isabelle stand twenty meters apart, along the shoreline of the nearest lake. Both using just their fists, they wait for Keya to tell them when to begin.*

  Keya: When the stone hits the ground you can begin!

  *Keya throws a stone into the air. Emma studies Isabelle while waiting for the sound of the stone landing on the others. The instant the stone touches the ground, the earth reachers up and longs Emma’s left leg. Isabelle runs up and lands a blow to Emma’s stomach. Emma falls back, breaking free, and kicks back at Isabelle while flipping away. Keya struggles to keep up with them both. Eventually, Isabelle lands another blow, slowing Emma down again. Emma submits, beaten and bruised, she sits back to catch her breath.*

  Isabelle: *Exhausted* You could’ve used magic too.

  Emma: I’m more considerate of the environment.

  *Emma points to the small cater left by Isabelle, and Keya runs over toward them excitedly.*

  Keya: That was amazing. I could barely keep up.

  Emma: Okay. You get the winner.

  *Emma waves her arm at the two.*

  Keya: Yeah!

  Isabelle: Let me catch my breath first. *Laughs*

  *Emma sits at the base of a nearby tree with Lily and they watch as the two spar.*

  Isabelle: Okay, Same rules as always?

  Keya: first one to make contact, and you won’t use any magic.

  *As soon as the fight starts, Isabelle flinches as one of Emma’s punches from earlier cramps up. Keya quickly takes advantage and gets a hit on Isabelle. Keya then begins jumping up and down, cheering.*

  Keya: I won! That means I get to pick the next trip!

  *Emma walks over to Isabelle as she stands back up.*

  Isabelle: That’s the last time I take on you sisters in one day.

  Emma:*Smiles* But you’re okay, right?

  *Isabelle rubs her sides where Emma landed a few punches earlier.*

  Isabelle: Yeah. I was going to let her win anyway. *Whispers* Don’t tell her.

  Emma: *Laughs* Okay.

  *The next couple of days Emma and Isabelle talk about some much-needed topics. As the family returns home, Goren is resting on the sofa as they enter. Goren jumps up awake, startled awake from his nap.*

  Emma: We’re back Dad.

  Goren: How was it?

  *Goren looks to Isabelle.*

  Isabelle: It was great. We had a family spar day.

  Goren: You mean Spa right?

  Emma: No. Keya and Isabelle convinced me to spar. Then we talked about Mom.

  Goren: Oh? Like what?

  Isabelle: You have nothing to worry about. I told her the whole truth.

  Goren: Oh..

  *Goren turns back to Emma, nervously.*

  Goren: And?

  Emma: I mean, I didn’t realize my Dad was such a man whore.

  Keya: Yeah. Did Mom know?

  *Goren looks at the girls, flabbergasted. As he looks at Isabelle, she shrugs.*

  Isabelle: You told me she doesn’t like lies.

  Emma: Yeah, but some details I didn’t need. Like how often you guys “messed around.”

  Keya: At least now I know where I got my whore phase from. *Laughs*

  Emma: Then I clearly took after Mom.

  Goren: *Nervous* Okay, I’m learning both great and disturbing news about my daughters and wife.

  Emma: It’s okay Dad. I’m still a virgin.

  *Goren watches as each of the girls heads to their rooms. He turns to Lily, who has climbed up to her spot, and Bubba, who is lying below in his bed.*

  Goren: I think I need a drink. Maybe? I don’t even know anymore.

  *Inside Emma’s room.*

  *Emma lays her bag down, then turns to a journal on her side table. She picks it up and sits next to her bag. She opens the book and reads about her Grandmother.*

  “ It’s been a little over a decade since we were brought here. Sarah’s spirit, Grace, hatched today. She’s a soft grey, mobile type. We’ve also concluded that the world we’re in now is a combination of multiple planes. The plant life seems to be from the Elves but the landscape reminds me of home. We received word that both our fathers are now working together to fix things since the spirits have been vanishing. Aurora and Glen are fine, but I’m worried every day could be our last day together.”

  *Emma slowly drifts asleep reading the book, before her, stands the figure in an open field. The figure stares off into the distance. Emma looks as she sees the ruins of the Elven city. The Veiled Glade is covered in thorns. Emma turns to the figure and sees tears.*

  Emma: You’re not like the others. You haven’t given up hope. You don’t want to be evil. Like the Devil said. You are kind and caring.

  *The figure turns to Emma and nods. The pressure from her presence shrinks at the mention of the Devil.*

  Emma: Was he always a Devil? He mentioned a system before what is that?

  *In the blink of an eye the two are brought to the room with the table and chairs.*

  Emma: Is that just what you all called yourselves before?

  *The figure nods.*

  Emma: So, was it like your party or something? I saw what I think was your past before. It’s fuzzy but I didn’t see any of them when I was there.

  *Suddenly all the chairs become one. The decorations fuse and become adornments on the chair. The table becomes something closer to a desk in size.*

  Emma: I don’t understand. What I saw was before them? *Gasp* Did you create them from a part of you?!

  *The figure shakes her hand as if saying “Close but not quite.”

  Emma: *Sigh* I Wish you could just speak.

  *The two sit in silence for a moment.*

  Emma: Are you going to help me? Protect my family that is.

  *The Figure looks at her and hesitantly nods.*

  Emma: And I promise, at any sign of the others. I’ll look for them. But I don’t know much outside Bubba. And “He” is looking for them.

  *The figure shows a lone tree sitting atop a hill, and the sound of an afternoon bell tolls as the sign beams down. Under the tree sits the Devil's chair. As Emma focuses on the tree she notices it is a Spirit tree, With Lily’s face in it.*

  Emma: That looks like the hill where I take Lily to train. But there’s no tree there. Is that supposed to be my tree?

  *The figure nods and a wrapped gift appears next to the tree. With a cake like Ruddy would make for her birthdays.*

  Emma: Are you saying I can see him on my birthday?

  *The figure nods*

  Emma: Okay. I’ll ask him how I can help. But I can only do so much right now.

  *The figure nods and Emma notices a faint smile as she awakens the next day.*

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