Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Respite and Beginning
As Jasmine and Leshin approaches the town, Jasmine sees 2 elf guards standing in front of the gate of Vale. "Hail traveller! What is your purpose on Vale?" one of the left said while blocking the gate with his spear. The guard on the right looks upon Jasmine and inspects her outfit. "A clothing of crimson red and ocean of blue for her waist? What kind of traveler are you?" says the guard on the right.
Jasmine sees the guards are wearing clothing made out of leaves. The leaves looks bright green and brown that are woven together to make a light armor. Their ears give away their race as elves, their waists are also cover with assorted of leaves and their feet are bare but their shins covered with leaves. Those leaves look sturdy enough to block an arrow but Jasmine is wondering if those armors can block a direct blow from a sword.
Leshin approached the guards and states that he and the girl will stay for the night, for they are weary travellers that came from the Great Balete Tree. "Not so fast Annani warrior. I know your kind but this. . . thing you bring with you is not of elves. What is this? Where did "she" come from?" asked the guard on the left.
"Hey! I am right here and I can speak for myself. I am a human and my name is Jasmine. Can't you see that?" she says as she eyes the two guards. The guards just stood there and look at each other.
"A human? The Annani elf drag something from the Great Balete Tree." says the guard on the right.
"A slave? Perhaps from the Godfrey Alliance. Those bastards fight for freedom and yet enslave their own kind. Poor thing" the guard on the left says while pitying Jasime.
"Chronicler, please show the book so they will know it is you" said by Leshin as he his retract his spear back to a small stick and showing it to guard as showing he means no harm. Jasmine withdraws her book from the sling bag showed it to the guards.
"AH! The White Chronicle and its Chronicler is here! We didn't know!" says the guard and proceed to bow, apologizing with the way he treated the Jasmine and Leshin.
"Please, accept our apologies Chronicler. We are just defending the Vale as it is nearing sunset as the aswangs can infiltrate the Vale anytime especially at night." The other guard says as he bow down as well.
The guard on the left opens the gate while the right one runs towards into the town. Jasmine put the book back to her make shift sling bag and started walking inside Vale. Leshin walks behind her and gives a sigh of relief.
Monsters of all shapes and sizes filled the town: market full of vegetables and fruits are being sold by large horse men called tikbalang while their customers are mix of elves, dwarf, and large towering men with cigars on called kapre roam the area. The center of the town also hosts a balete tree but this one is small and is tall as a full grown man. The right side of the town got rivers teaming with elves fishing and children running across the town playing tag. Large ships that fly upside hull their anchor on a mango trees and docks, later elven folks with armor made of leaves descend.
The buildings inside the Vale range from wooden nipa huts to building made of clay and stone. Large tree houses are also present that can easily fit 50 people are a standard on this place. There are mermen by the river, trading their pearls for fruits and other precious land materials.
Jasmine can't believe what she is seeing, she thought that she seen everything that this world can offer but community of monsters that her grandparents used to tell her are here and they are living normally like human beings. They are not savages or aggressive creatures who are protective other their land, they are civilized and well mannered.
As they are walking towards the inn, beings around them began to notice her book. Soon creatures began shouting praise. "Hail the White Chronicle!", "Chronicler, the Chronicler is back!" "Winds guide you Chronicler!" and such are being thrown at Jasmine. Eventually a large crowd gather and centered on Jasmine and Leshin while yelling their praise and throwing flowers as greetings.
A Kapre emerged from the crowd and offer Jasmine the largest tobacco cigar the kapre clan can give. The trees above shakes and a sky elf jumps from it and lands in front of Leshin and Jasmine. She declares that represents herself and the crew of the SkyGrove, her ship, and offers Jasmine a ride to anywhere she needs to go. Then a lot of group from different races also come forward with their own offerings.
Leshin is irritated by the crowd. He tries to push them back and tells them not to gather around them. "Can you please give the distinguished one some space? We just need to make way to the Inn. We need to rest. . ." he says but the large crowd with their praises overlaps with Leshin's voice. Leshin is losing his footing as the crowd begins to surround and close on them.
Jasmine is abit overwhelmed by the praises she is receiving. She receives pearls from the mermen, fruits from the laborers and farmers of dwarves and crops from the tikbalangs.
"What in tarnation are you doing?!" a large voice emanates from the center of the town. The crowd gives way and dispersed while the guards enter the scene. "Are you animals or not? Please give the Chronicler and her guardian some space."
From when the crowd dispersed and left the area Leshin and Jasmine are now surrounded by guards. Jasmine looks around the area to see where the sound of a large deep voice came from. Later she sees the same guard from the gate carrying a mound of dirt in his hand towards them. In the dirt, a man no larger than a mug is standing there with his cane and old ragged clothes and torn but silky robes of brown. A nuno sa punso – this dwarf like being is called.
"Greetings Chronicler and guardian, this is the Vale. My name is Nicanor, the mayor of Vale. I do hope the rowdy crowd did not gave you a negative expression of us." the old dwarf says as he stroke his beard.
Leshin gets up while cleaning the dirt on his armor. "Not at all Mayor, but it did give me a hard time to speak up. Vale is still the same as the last time I was here" as he finishes dusting his armor and looking at the scenery.
"The last cycles was kind to this area and preserving the beauty of Mother Nature gives to this area" said the mayor as he signals the guards to return to their posts.
"Well, I am curious why the Chronicler and her guardian are here. Every time the Chronicler is here, trouble follows you. When I was a young lad Chronicler instructed her guardians rode to battle as they fight off the invaders from the sea. Later when I grew older and I was a man, the Chronicler and her guardians returned and gather the forces of light to fight against the Swarm of Aswang" the mayor said as he looks with his old weary eyes on Jasmine and Leshin.
"Sadly, I wasn't able to participate during those fights. I was born at a later date and as I grew older, joined as the guardian that represents the Annani. I participated in the fight against Swarm and partook on the aswang's term of surrender at the Great Balete Tree" says the guardian as he moved closer to the mayor.
Jasmines just watched and listen as the two talks about the past event of the land. Every word and new event that Jasmine hears, she feels the book rumbling as it records new entry.
"That's enough chitchat. I am sure both of you are tired. I'll let you go on your way now." The mayor says as he signals the guard carrying his mound to walk away. Leshin nods and waves goodbye to the mayor as he and Jasmine walks towards the inn.
"You do realize that I am still confused about this Chronicler thing right? I am not the owner of this book and I am no commander of guardians as the mayor said." Jasmine says as she follows Leshin. "I do believe that you are just experiencing some draw backs. Sometimes teleporting can cause some mental strain. I believe good grub and some rest will allow you to job your memory" as Leshin state and points towards the inn.
Before they can approach the building, they can already hear laughing, singing and chatter from the outside of the inn. Jasmine hears the most beautiful sound of guitars, flute and voice of a woman synchronized in a harmonious performance.
As they swung the door to the inn, Jasmine sees tikbalang and kapre arm wrestling on a table. Some collection of nunos are talking on a table – no less than 10 nuno are talking as they are drinking with their small mugs. Human shaped fire elementals are dancing in the air while giving light to the interior of the building. "Come, let us talk to the innkeeper and buy some rooms for us to rest and food to eat." as Leshin says while Jasmine just nods while taking in the scene see is seeing.
As they walk towards the innkeeper serving drinks at the bar, the flutes from small floating fairies and singing of mermaid stops. Whatever activities they were doing, they stopped and started murmuring. Eyes followed them as they walked. Leshin just walks forward and Jasmine cautiously follows him.
"Um, Leshin. . . why are they looking at me like that?"
"Cause you are here, Chronicler. I bet they are bewildered to see you, ecstatic even. "
"Cause the Chronicler saved this world before?" asked Jasmine as they continue walking towards the the innkeeper.
"Yes and guided us towards peace" as the guardian placed his hand and sat on a chair in the bar. "Greetings innkeeper, my name is Leshin the guardian of the Chronicler. I would like to reserve two rooms for the night."
The innkeeper is a large burly merman with a hook on his sharp teeth, using it as a tooth pick. His blue green scale and body full of scars gives an in impression that this innkeeper is tough guy who seen worser times. The innkeeper looks at Jasmine intensely in the eye and asked "The book. Show me the book".
Jasmine at first does not follow; why does she need to show the book but Leshin just looked at her and nods in agreement. She reluctantly agrees, fearing that another mob will ensue for her fame as the Chronicler.
Then as she show and raised the book, the whole tavern roars in excitement. The innkeeper leaps and stands on a top of a table "Everyone! Looks like the rumors are true! The Chronicler is indeed in Vale and have grace us with the presence of the White Chronicler. Let us celebrate; free beer, ale and rice wine for the whole night!"
Everyone raised their mugs and made a big toast for her. Big splashes of alcohol are everywhere as the song and flute resumes their music and the dancing fire elements begin to dance even faster than usual. High praises are being sung by all of the patrons to Jasmine as they merrily drinks to their heart's content.
The innkeeper leaps down and gave Jasmine a firm handshake. "It's an honor serving you Chronicler. No need to pay for your stay and if you need anything, just tell me and I'll make sure you have it."
Leshin smiles underneath the horned deer mask as he asked order some food for the both of them. Fruits, steamed fish and veggies fresh off the farm was served; Jasmine chomps down enjoyed the food. Jasmine didn't even recognized that she was hungry; since she fell thru the house and onto a balete tree, meeting Leshin, fighting off the rabid corpse like dogs and entering a town full of monsters – eating her breakfast is the last thing on her mind right now.
As Jasmine is still eating, Leshin stands up after eating just eating and handful. "Are you eating those?" asked Jasmine. "You may have them. Please excuse me for I need to inform my brothers and sisters that you have arrived." As Leshin stands up and moves his plate toward Jasmine. Jasmine happily finish his meal.
Leshin walks toward the center of the town and notices the guards begun to light some torches for it nears nighttime. As he stands before the small balete tree at the center of the town, he grabs a protea and placed it in the hollowed middle part of the tree. He claps his hand together and proceeds to chant a spell. After finishing the spell, he placed his hands on the flower and it began to glow with an indigo glow and starts to shed its bulb and proceed to bloom further.
Leshin whispers to the flower "To all my brothers and sisters who hears this: I have found our Chronicler. To who can leave their post, proceed to the town of Vale for we shall discuss Chronicler's prophecy of an impending doom".
Jasmine is almost finished finish eating her meal and noticed that Leshin haven't come back. She feels that her only protector has left her vulnerable and alone on this tavern as joke to tease her. "Maybe this is just all a dream and once sleep I will go back to my world" she tells herself as she is eating some of the grub on her plate.
Her mind is deep thoughts on how she can escape this world: maybe with magic? Or maybe go back to the Great Balete Tree and maybe she can crawl her way back to her world? "Whatever it takes, I will go back." She thought to herself.
Then an elf with green torn tattered shirt made of leaves and leather pants approached her. His eyes are being covered by the shade his straw hat and he got a small black and yellow colored frog leaping from his shoulder on to the other side of his body. His attire seems rugged and dirty; as if he is a farmer who just had done his work for the day. And his sandals seem worn out.
"Excuse me? But is this seat taken? I would to eat and seat beside the famous Chronicler" the elf in green says.
"Sure by all means, please seat but I am not one to chat while eating" Jasmine says as an excuse to prevent a fan from asking her about her experience as the Chronicler.
"Ow come on? Why not? I mean you're the Chronicler right? I wanna hear some adventures and tales" the elf says as he excitedly jitters beside her. "Look! At this stick! I found this on my way here from my farm. Looks cool huh?" he smiles as he placed this brown stick on the table.
The stick looks ordinary but Jasmine sees some weird scribbles, scribbles written in gold. "I don't know what they say but it looks cool! I wonder who owns this" the elf says as he leans to Jasmine while shoving the stick nearer to her.
Jasmine leans back away from the elf. "Hey man. Please I don't know you and I don't know why you are so fascinated by this stick but please have some privacy".
The elf removes his hat and placed it on his chest. Jasmine sees this elf got slanted eyes and freckles on his cheeks. His demeanor from an enthusiast person changed to a solemn one. "Well I do apologize for offending you, but are you sure you haven't seen stick?" the elf asked.
Jasmine was mildly irritated by this elf and looks around for Leshin for help. Then she felt asmall thump on the table. A frog leap from his shoulder is near her hands and was leaping about. Jasmine felt disgusted by presence of a frog near her plate, this irritates her further and she started to demand the elf to leave her alone. Jasmine voice becomes loud and some of the patrons saw what is happening and a commotion starts to happen between them. The innkeeper steps before things get out of hand and ask the elf to leave Jasmine and eat on a table away from her.
"Yeah I think I'll do that" he says as he stands up and started walking outside of the inn. The frog leaps out of the table and just leaps about the inn. As the elf left the inn Leshin steps in and joined Jasmine.
"Thanks to the innkeeper, he was able to persuade an irritating elf guy to leave me alone. He was not bothering me until his frog just leaps around so much near my plates." Jasmine says as she relay what transpire while Leshin is gone.
Leshin silently nods and thanks the innkeeper for looking out for her while he was out. Leshin asked the innkeeper if there was a large table and a meeting room where he can use. "I will be having some guest tonight" he says.
Sometime later, the innkeeper and his staff finished arranging a spacious room for at most 10 people can seat. Leshin asked the innkeeper if anyone is looking for them, just point them to this room.
Jasmine is just seating on the end of this long rectangle table. She sees Leshin walks back and forth while deep in his thoughts. "Hey Leshin, what is this about? Who are we waiting for?"
"I have summoned all of the other guardians to this place. I know not all of them are available since some of them are not available due to their own wars and issues within their respective lands. . . but I come all of them can come and discuss about the prophecy you gave us."
"Look Leshin, I told you. I am just a girl who fell thru her old grandparents' house and I just find myself at the right time at the right moment. I just want to go home and return to them" Jasmine says as she slides the White Chronicle back to Leshin. "I am no Chronicler. As you can see I can understand this book and I'm sure you can read this as well. This plain English"
Leshin looks confused and grabs the White Chronicler. "You claim you are not the Chronicler? This is easy to dispute. You are the only one who can understand the language of this book. And not only that you can read this." Leshin opens a book placed it on a page.
"I didn't understand a word on this book but except for this passage on how to find you. You deliberately write this in elven language. You wrote this and even detailed when and where to find you" he says as he carries the book back to Jasmine.
"You can read this can you? This book is bound by magic and you are the only who understand it. Remember when were attacked by the Sigbin? You used the book to find information and read it out loud for me."
Jasmine paused. She never had the difficult reading any of these pages as these are all written in English using the alphabet. She is frustrated about this revelation. He feels like she is being played by fate for its entertainment. She held the book and skimmed to the page where the said instructions to find her; as she skimmed to it. It's all in alphabet and written in English.
"It's written using the language you made called Alibata. For the longest time I held your book, it's all written in Alibata. And again except for the passage on how to find you." Leshin insisted.
Leshin grabs a knife and etched some Alibata signs to the wooden table. "Read it Chronicler and I'm sure you will understand what kind of word I written." The signs he wrote just looks signs and nothing was working, then after a few moments the signs morph in front of her and she understand it. "Maya, the signs you wrote means Maya"
"Ha! So that was it meant. I always saw that sign on the drawings of birds on the book. So it is the word of the bird in the area" Leshin says as he smiles proving he is right about Jasmine.
Jasmine was taken back about this revelation. Her eyes are wide open and started to read the passage about how her arrival to this world.
I will be back my friends. It will take some time, but after 40 cycles after I am gone, on the 14th day of SunDance, I will be back.
I shall be waiting on the Great Balete Tree of the Antrian region. I shall be wearing clothing out of this world.
I will be wearing a cloth red as the sunset and blue as the ocean. I will be back for I must guide this world to prevent itself from another conflict.
"I didn't write this but I am sure this passage talks about what I am wearing and where I was" Jasmine says to Leshin as she lean back on her chair. Slowly realizing her life is getting a turn for the worse. "I must be a leader to this world but how? I am just a girl" she thoughts to herself as she lays there ponding more as she reads more from the White Chronicler.
Some moments later, a blinding flash of light was seen and loud thunderous crack as heard. The innkeeper knocks and opens the door; a man of distinguishable looks and short black wavy hair entered the room. He wears brown and black leather clothing and a cloth that spirals outwards from his shoulder to his hands. Like a spaghetti noodle when being spun by a fork. His eyes sparkles with joy and Jasmine looked at him as her hear skips a beat.
Following him is a woman following behind him. The woman wore similar clothing and got a straight long black hair up to her shoulders. Her presence is like the opposite of the man beside him as her gaze pierces Jasmine heart with fear. Her eyes are so heavy as like she is the definition of a woman seen hell and lived to tell the tale.
"Ha-Ha! Leshin, my how are you? "says the man. As he shakes Leshin's hand his head sways toward Jasmine and in a blink he is infront of her.
"My lady, how are you? It's been a long time since we see each other and my you haven't aged a bit!" the man says as he bow to Jasmine and kiss her hands. Jasmine heart beats faster and swipes her hands away from the man. "Oh? Am I too forward?" asked the man.
The woman walks toward Leshin and hugs him. "Leshin. It's good to see you again." Then the woman began to kick the man away from Jasmine and bows. "How are you Chronicler? Please excuse my idiot brother."
The man rolls away as the woman begins to stomp toward him. "Hey. Sis, chill! I was just being friendly to our Chronicler. I just missed her so."
The woman began to position her finger for a snap. The man gets and up stops her sister from snapping her finger in an instant. Jasmine can believe her eyes, it's like this guy is the Flash from the DC comics. "Come now sister, I was joking. No need to use your powers when there are innocent near us." the man says in a jokingly manner.
The woman clearly isnt laughing and still rest her straight face. "This isn't a laughing matter. Remember what Leshin read on that passage? Another disaster is about happened and we need to find and prevent it." She pulls her hand from her brother as she walks toward a chair and sits.
"Yeah and we will stop it just like the last swarm of aswang, easy." The man confidently says as he sat beside his sister. "So Leshin how many are we here today?" asked the man.
Leshin grabs a lit candle and showed it to them. "Once the candle ran out, let us proceed" as Leshin says this he placed it on the middle of the table. Later, a powerful gust of wind opens the window and from it, a scantily clad dressed elf dropped in. "Hey guys. I came as fast as I could"
"Amihan. You arrived just a bit early. There is still abit of time" says Leshin as he moved a chair for Amihan to seat. Jasmine sees her hair is long, longer than the woman before as it reaches her bum. The armor she wore is similar to the guards that one guards the gate. "Chronicler" she says as she bows before taking her seat.
As they wait, with the candle halved from being burn out, a small fire fly flew from the same window. The fire fly that enter flew towards an empty chair and glows bigger and bigger. Then a pink light showered the chair and a diwata is sitting in it. She nods to the Chronicler and pulls her wand. She notices her pink clothes are starting to tear. "Ugh, spiders might bite this when I saw fleeing." Then she cast a spell and fixes her broken clothes.
Moments passed and they hear a commotion outside of inn. The guards of the town are yelling, informing the other guards to gather by the river for something unnatural is happening. A large school of fish is swimming upstream on the River of Crocs. The school of fish stopped swimming and begins to gather. Then an arm emerged from the center of the school of fish, then a body, then a foot, until a merman merged from the school of fish and swam up the riverbanks. The nearby mermen and mermaid who was fishing by the river stopped and gave salute this merman. The merman enters the inn and proceeds to the room where the other guardians are staying. This merman is fashioned with decorated armor across his chest – it is shaped like a stingray and it is made from green emeralds. His knee caps and shoulder also have this same green armor made from emeralds and he stinks . . . like a fish.
"I do apologize for the appearance. I came from the depths and was battling some invaders from the Godfrey Alliance. Once I repelled those bastards, I let my crew handle the rest and swam fast as I could. How are you doing my brothers and sister?" the merman asked as he took a seat near the diwata.
The diwata is angry for the smell of fish is strong and will not waste a moment no longer enduring this smell. She pulls her wand and cast a smell to the merman soon smell of orange and grapefruit emanates from the merman.
"Really? Is it that bad Diwata Tala? That is the smell of the sea! You will get accustomed to it once you get to know us merman better" as the merman laughs as he grab some pair of ale from the bar. "AH! I really miss this taste. The land dwellers food is really something else" the merman says as he drinks more of the ale.
"Please Gil, other merman who trade here at the surface knows proper hygiene. You should pay attention to your smell. Ugh" as Tala rolls her eyes and swings her wand to conjure a vial with yellow substance inside it. She moves the vial toward Gil.
"OH! Honey! The most spectacular food of the gods. Land dwellers are so lucky to have this!" says the merman as he proceeds to suck every honey out of it.
As Leshin and the other guardians are talking, the innkeeper and the patrons of the bar is shouting. "Get out of here, you!" "We don't serve your kind here!"" Go back to the Alliance you barbarian!"
The commotion is getting louder; Leshin and Gil steps out of the room to see what the fuzz is going on. They see a large man standing in front of the innkeeper. He is wearing blue tunic and brown chiton. His appearance is not from here as his clothing signifies he is a foreigner on this land. He got large muscular built, like his hands that can cover the entire face of a man, and his feet that is large a tree stump.
"Please, I mean no harm. I was instructed to go here and. . ." he was cut off by the innkeeper and was demanded by the innkeeper to pay up before he can be served at the inn. The large man hands the innkeeper some drachmae.
"What kind of rubbish is this? We only accept gold, silver, pearl and bronze. Not cooper." the innkeeper says as he threw the drachmae coins back to the large man. The man then collects the drachmae on his hand and squeeze. He squeezed so hard that dirt and mud is flowing from his hand. As he opens it, the cooper drachmae are now gold.
The innkeeper was bewildered and was speechless. The large man leaves the gold at the innkeeper then proceeds to walk towards the Gil and Leshin; the two didn't move as they are not familiar with this man. "Ah, yes I am new. Please forgive my forgetfulness. My name is Atlas and I am a guardian from the Land of Origins. I am looking for the guardian meeting? I can sense large magic is present to that room, perhaps you will let me join?"
The two looked at each other and was not budging to let this large man to pass. The man then flow his fist to the two, there the same Alibata marking that the White Chronicler used – a proof of him being a guardian. The two reluctantly agree to let this large man with them.
As the large man sits on the table he noticed all eyes is on him. "My word . . . have you forgot? I am a guardian too. This marking is the proof that I am one of you."
The man with dashing looks looked at his fits and asked "Well, when where you turned into a guardian? Because most of the guardians are exclusive to work and live here at Antrian. Yes there are other members who are from other continent that join us to defend this land but this is the first time we saw your face and none of us knew you."
The large man then shows his fists for all to see. "I take you knew what this means right? For I do not know where these signs came from but I know what they mean." All of the guardian room agreed. Every guardian is given inscriptions on their weapon as a proof of their allegiance to the White Chronicler. Only the guardian know what those inscription means to them.
"I part take on the ritual to become a guardian ten cycles ago. I am fairy new and I began to travel the world since. I was at the Lake of Clarity when I heard the call." The large man retorts as he began to look at the other guardian. He is clearly happy and excited about this with his grin and expression begins to lighten up.
Leshin sees the candle was burned out and proceed to close the door. "Let us begin the meeting. Firstly I would like to inform you that whatever magic the Chronicler used to travel from the Great Balete Tree made her loss her memory. Even the White Chronicle began to write entries about me."
The whole room came with a collective gasp. "Yes, I know but I am sure she will remember it soon enough. Since our Chronicler forgot who we are and since we got a new guardian in our midst, let us introduce ourselves. My name is Leshin, from the Annani tribe. Guardian of forrest"
The two siblings stand up. The man first raises his hand to the air and moves it in rapid succession with extreme speed. He winks to Jasmine and states "My name is Kislap, from the tribe of lighting. Guardian of lighting." he stops waving his hand a showed to the team that his hand is now sparking with lighting.
His sister then slaps his hand away from the other guardians. "Kislap stop showing off, we are all guardian with powers here. I am Kulog from the tribe of lighting. Guardian of sounds". Her steely eye looked shudders Jasmine again. And she sat down her brother is still showing off his power in front of the other guardians. She made a clicking sound from her mouth and a quake happened at the footing of his brother and making him loose his balance and fell back to his chair.
The elf with the long black hair laughs and stands up. "Good evening everyone, my name is Amihan. I am the guardian of the eastern winds and I am an elf from the wind elf tribe." She waves her hand and a gust of air floats some leaves and from the window to their table.
"Ha! Two can play that game!" Gil shouts as he reaches his hand to the sky. Then water from the river began to splash and floats its way to the window. The water is floating in midair as Gil controls it with his hand. "Gil, guardian of the ocean. A merman and a warrior from my kingdom."
Tala and the Atlas began to stare at Jasmine without any of them speaking or moving. Leshin seems to notice Atlas arms began to form a fist while the fairy slow draws her wand from her sleeves. Gil, the siblings and Amihan noticed it took.
"You two what is the matter? Especially you Tala, why are you angry towards our Chronicler?" Leshin ask. Then Atlas stands up and began to ran towards Jasmine at top speed. Jasmine saw this as a giant bull charging towards her; she tries to get up from the chair then within a blink of her eye, Kislap moved her towards the end of the room. Atlas was caught by Amihan by her magic wind blowing him backwards.
"I knew this guy can be trusted!" Leshin shouts as he transforms his stick to a spear.
Kulog stood there as she is looking at Atlas wondering and why Atlas attacks the Chronicler. Her eyes advert to Tala as she noticed the fairy is chanting a spell. Kulog then looks where they are looking at, her eyes now looks toward Jasmine. They made eye contact then Jasmine felt Kulog is looking at her with ill intent. And then Kulog began ran at the girl as she withdraw her stick from her satchel and transforms into a metallic rod.
"Not you too!" Kislap shouts as he catches her sister and pinning her to the ground.
Leshin tries to get thru Tala then she hurls a spell toward Jasmine. Gil uses the water floating and transforms it into a divider – a water wall in middle the room. The water catches the spell in time and the spell implodes inside the water wall creating a splash of water inside the room.
"Why? What did I do? What got into you?" as Jasmine began to sob and shakes from fear, the people who supposed to protect her wants to attack her now. Leshin tries to reason with Tala. Gil now joins Amihan on Atlas; he uses his water to push back Atlas. Atlas seems not being affected by the element pushing him back. He begins to pick momentum as he began charging towards Jasmine again. Amihan now summon more wind as she is trying to blow Atlas out of the room. Then Amihan and Gil realized Atlas's body is heating up as Atlas began to resist their power, spewing hot air from his skin. "LET ME THROUGH!" Atlas yells.
The siblings began to squabble as they began to wrestle. "You fool! We are not attacking her!""
Tala began to channel her spells to her wand and yellow fireballs are formed and began throwing it to the water wall. "You idiots! We need to get it before it gets her!" Tala shouts as her fireballs began to despite hitting the water wall.
Leshin raises his spear and slam it to the ground. Vines began to grow around Atlas, Kulog and Tala. Jasmine is confused and doesn't know what to do. She covers her ears. I don't know what I do. What did I do? She repeats it over and over again.
As the commotion is still going on she sees a frog in front of her. A small black and yellow colored frog that looks familiar. Then she heard a faint sound "Hey kid, wanna see something cool?" Jasmine swears she can't hear a thing with her hands on her ears so she is wondering where this sound came from.
"Come on. I'm taking you somewhere nice. Away from trouble." The voice in her head says. She nods then the frog croaks. Then it leaps away from Jasmine and toward the table.
Jasmine gets up and sees the world stop. Literally the world stops to a complete halt. Leshin stopped moving, the water is motionless, and the fireball is still flying midair. As if the frog and her are the only one who can move themselves in this stopped time world.
The frog looks at Jasmine and skips toward the door. Jasmine follows the frog outside of the inn. Then the frog leaps back to the shoulder of a familiar elf. The elf in green and straw-hat is standing there and petting his from. "Well, at least now you can tell me your stories now, Chronicler "the elf says.
Jasmine is crying from all of this things happening at once. The elf infront of her began to walk and then Jasmine felt a gust of wind behind her, the elf teleported behind her. "Don't move! Any sudden movement will result in an unfortunate result. Do exactly as I say, okay?"
Jasmine nods as she tries to fight her tears. The elf extends his hand and from it the stick. He showed his stick again to Jasmine as he did back at the inn. The stick began to form to a dagger then the elf holds from behind.
"Read it. All guardians got this writings all over their chosen weapon when we partook on the ritual. Tell me child what is the inscriptions. Read it wrong and I will kill you."
Jasmine tries to hold her tears more. She tries her hardest to concentrate reading the inscriptions on the dagger. The inscriptions look fuzzy and worn out but she tries her hardest to look and later the writing forms and she spoke out loud what she makes out of it: "To the one who fools the fool"
"HAHAH! I can't believe it! You are real! You are back!" as the elf began to jump in excitement and laugh. Jasmine is very confused as she wipes her tear. "I am sorry for threatening you, Chronicler. I thought you are a fake one since you didn't notice the writings on my dagger back at the bar."
With a snap of his finger, his clothes changed with a green light. He is now wearing a checkered green shirt, brown pants and a slipper. "Let me apologize, my name is Juan Pusong, the trickster guardian. You know, you really forgot about us huh? So all of my jokes you forgot about it too?" the elf asked as he squats down and pouting.
"Yes. . . I think I need to tell you again from the top. But I am more concerned about the other guardians as they attacked me out of nowhere." Jasmine says as she began to wipe more of the tears in her eyes.
"Oh. That was me. I asked my friend here to investigate the inn and observe what is happening with you. I heard it all through his ears. Then for a little bit of fun I release some aswang aura from my friend here." The frog croaks as if he is speaking to the frog.
"Oh come on. It was funny! Look at them fighting one another to defend you. Hahahh! I mean, they should chill out! Atlas, Tala and Kulog just rush into battle. That will do no good."
Then Jasmine rush towards Juan and slaps him so hard. Then the world began to move again as she hears the inn being lively again. "Do you think that's funny? A threat to my life and making them fight against me?" Jasmine angry declares as she prepares another slap.
"Oh shoot! Hold on a minute!" Juan then claps is hand together then the world stops again except for him, his frog and Jasmine. Then he dodges the slap from Jasmine by leaping backwards. "Sheeeeeesh lady! Chill out. Alright let me make up to you. I know why you're here, the so called 'apocalpyse'. I got a clue. Wanna know it right?"
Jasmine stomps her way to Juan then she stops. She thinks on what Juan just said.
"Yeah I promise. I think I know what the 'apocalpyse''. So here let me spill out the details I know." Then he claps his hand twice and a tree stump formed underneath them. "Please take a seat. This story will take a while"
"If this is one of your tricks again, I will slap you so hard that you will forget who you are." Jasmine angrily sat down.
"Right, right... I mean look that slap made me lose my power for a while" as he rubs his cheeks.
"Alright, so I've been traveling the world since you were gone. Travelled to a land where a brother and his sister plunged a sword to the sea and created a land. Another region where I saw this dude came out of a cave and then created a big island for him. Oh! And another dude who fought off a horde of giants with his family, that's where Atlas. With those travels, I found a lot of entrances the underworld and eventually I travelled there too. Gloomy place but there are folks there. Some so glum, some are weird that likes to party a lot and some are just plain creepy" Juan tells as he is using his magic to illustrate the worlds he seen thru his eyes to Jasmine.
"Here's the issue: Last cycle I visited our old friend, Masiken, guardian of the dead from Yumogyog. Masiken and other undead are in an uproar. A lot of them are working overtime to welcome more souls the usual" then Juan claps his hand and the magic disappeared.
"So that's where my story ends. I left the undead world and returned here. And now I just remembered your prophecy from the book. Leshin told about that when he deciphered it." as Juan summons a stump and seats as well.
"So the issue is, there is a lot soul entering the underworld more than usual. Is that right?" Jasmine asked as she opens the White Chronicle. She skims and began to look for clues regarding the dead. Juan just sits there looking at Jasmine and plays with the leaves that are stuck in motion.
"Here! The book says the underworld got their respective 'keepers'. Like me who got books but they record the dead. They might have answers about this. If you want, let's investigate it with the others." Jasmine says as closed the book and put it back to her sling bag. She began to stand up but she felt a tug. Her shirt is entangled with the branches of the stump that Juan summoned.
Juan smiles and yells. "YES! Let's investigate now! Let's go!" Then the stump's branches grow and entangled Juan and Jasmine. "My lady! Fasten your tree branch as we are taking a ride to the dead! WOOOHHOOO!" the guardian then snaps his finger and then the stump root began to unearth and formed to legs.
The stump began to run towards the woods away from the inn and into a section of the Vale with a lot of dead trees. Jasmine yells for Juan to stop but Juan treats this as a race between the stump of Jasmine and his. Juan then points out to the tallest tree in the middle of the dead forest. "First one to the tallest tree wins. If you win, I will bring the other guardians with us. If I win, then we both investigate the undead without the other guardians, deal?"
Jasmine then grabs her stump and tries to redirect her way towards to the middle of the tree. "Oh yeah? I will not lose to someone like you!" Then the stump she rides picks up the pace. Juan then orders his to run faster.
As they race Jasmine forgets her worries and enjoys the moment. She remembers her time spending her weekends with her dad while riding bumper cars in the fair. As forgets her struggles in this world for a moment and just live in it. She smiles as she passed Juan. Juan figures out that he will lose this race since he is much heavier than the little girl. And Jasmine outpaced Juan until her stumps reaches the tree first. "Ha! Take that Juan. Who reached the tree first me? Me! Who bettered the trickster guardian in racing? ME!" as Jasmine laughs and the stump where Juan arrives seconds later.
"Well now. You are kind of correct" Then he snaps his finger then Juan's body slow turns into a smaller frogs and leaps out of his clothes. Jasmine was surprised by this revelation that Juan can turn into small frogs.
A figure inside the dead tree emerges – its Juan. "I've always had been here, so I won. And yes, you did outpace me but I outsmarted you." Juan laughs as he and Jasmine enter the dead tree. In it a hallow hole with steps leading towards the underground.
Juan bows his head as he says "After you."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone