(11) The Lands of Ralosia: The Cursed Amulet (9.5k words)

Jirro, Ruben, and their friends are traveling through a canyon on their way to the desert, led by the former bandit Temp. They come across a gulch with a foreboding legend. Despite the warnings, the children make their way into the ever-changing landscape.

(11/23/22) Self edited and peer edited, and audio edited

Peer edited by Mikrokosmostae

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~Chapter 1- The Duchess's gulch~

~Age 988B~

West of the Weld Mountains was a rocky terrain with little greenery to be seen. Paths were carved out of the mountains for travelers. The sun was high in the sky as six youths trekked through the winding passages of the gulch.

From the group, three boys broke away from the others for a race - two thirteen-year-old Ralosian boys, and a twelve-year-old Phantine with a pink tint to its skin. The two Ralosian boys of blonde and black hair never turned down an opportunity to push themselves, and the Phantine figured it'd be fun.

The three boys sprinted through the winding path, moving at speeds that no normal individuals could. The Ralosian boys' hair flew back as they ran. The Phantine kept its trunk wrapped around him like a scarf as he raced, his circular feet stomping the ground hard each time.

They found themselves running on a road with a small ravine to their right and the town visible across it. The black-haired boy began to smirk as he saw the town.

"Don't do it, Aero!" The Phantine, Nout, warned.

Without another word, Aero jumped from the road over the ravine. It almost looked like he was going to clear it, but he began to fall before he made it to the other side. Rather than fall to the bottom, Aero dug his hands into the rock face of the ravine and clung on. Then he began to climb.

The blond-haired and blue-eyed boy, Jirro, looked across the ravine. He remarked, "If he can do it, so can I!"

Jirro took a running start and jumped across the ravine. But he could tell immediately that he wouldn't make it all the way across. He kicked in the air, and suddenly a blue light emerged from beneath him, propelling him through the air. A Focus Burst. He landed on the other side of the ravine just as Aero had climbed back up, and the two sprinted towards town.

Nout watched to make sure the two had safely made it across and began to run down the proper path. He wasn't going to take the same risk as those two.

Aero and Jirro were shoulder to shoulder all the way to town, with neither holding first place for very long. But Jirro was starting to struggle; maybe using Focus wore him out. His stamina began to give out and Aero inched ahead of him, skidding into town first.

Aero placed his hands on his knees and caught his breath, "I-I got you!"

"This time!" Jirro countered.

The two looked around town while they waited for the others to catch up. A dry little community with a few homes, an inn, and a lazily spinning windmill to the side.

A carriage being pulled by goats, large fluffy animals, strolled into town. It was packed to the brim with supplies. It seemed that a decent number of travelers passed through this place.

Jirro noticed there were two paths to the west. One was a wide-open path with rock faces on each side, and the other was a winding path deeper into the terrain. But he noticed that no one seemed to travel the wide-open path, and there appeared to be warning signs nearby it.

Nout entered the town at a leisurely pace and found Jirro.

"Interesting looking town," Nout commented.

"Yeah. Where are the others?"

"They're catching up," Nout replied.

High in the sky, a red sparrow, a sizable bird, flew through the sky with a red-haired little girl riding on its back. Jirro's cousin Corri and her bird Rojo. They descended near Jirro and Nout. While the rest of the group walked, she flew.

"Who won the race?" Corri asked as she jumped off her bird. Rojo flew to the top of the windmill and perched there.

"It doesn't matter."

"You lost, didn't you?" Corri teased.

"I'll get him next time!" Jirro declared.

The rest of Jirro's friends entered the town, led by a young Mecarne with purple-tinted flesh and sharp eyes. Eyes that Jirro was never sure whether he should trust. At seventeen years old, he was the oldest of their group. His name was Temp, and he agreed to take them home. He rode a hyena, a large and unruly canine beast that few could tame. Temp had named him Kelvin.

Following behind him was the Densius, Ruben. It had a round and boulder-like body, red gleaming eye stones, and one arm comprised of many rocks of various colors. Ruben saw a bright orange stone from the ground, plucked a rock from its arms, and placed the orange one in its place. After a moment, the new rock bonded to its arm. Ruben waved its arms to greet Jirro and Nout.

Temp stopped by the nearby inn and dismounted from his hyena.

Jirro walked up to him. "Should we stay the night here?"

"No, we'll rest at the town after we get through the gulch. We could restock on supplies while we're here though," Temp replied.

"That's a good idea."

Temp beckoned to his hyena, and the canine followed him through town. People gave them a wary look as he went about his business. Hyena riders were known to be criminals, but Temp claimed to put that life behind him.

"I'm not sure I trust Temp yet." Nout said as he took a seat in front of the inn.

"I do," Ruben said simply, knitting its stone fingers together, "He could've abandoned Jirro and I back in Weld Mountain, but he came back for us."

"Did he really do that?" Nout asked.

"Yeah," Jirro said, "But if we weren't paying him, I'm not sure if he would have. It's hard to say."

Jirro and Aero entered a shop and began to peruse supplies for their travels. Aero removed the bag from his back, peered in, and winced as he looked at what remained of his money. He had a decent amount but would still need to help pay Temp once they got them home.

"I got this, cuz. I still have a decent amount of my tournament money," Jirro said. He paid for a few things before regrouping with the others.

Temp looked at the group of kids, "Ready?"

He was met with a series of nods, and they went on their way. Temp walked them through town towards the wide-open yet empty gulch rather than the winding path through the canyons.

Both Nout and Ruben halted when they saw the series of warning signs posted outside of the gulch.

"Cursed?" Ruben read aloud from the sign.

Temp said, "It's nothing to worry about kids."

"I doubt they'd have put all these signs out if it was safe. Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! Come on!" Temp urged.

Before the six youths could enter the gulch, a man ran out of the inn after them; It appeared to be the innkeeper. He was short of breath by the time he reached them, "Kids! You can't go in there!"

Temp grimaced.

Jirro asked, "Why?"

"People who go in that gulch don't come back. It's haunted!"

Corri raised a disbelieving eyebrow, "Really?"

"Yes. Long ago, a duchess and her family lived in a luxurious manor within the gulch. But one day, a terrible landslide came upon her home, killing her and most of her family. They say her spirit persists, punishing anyone who dares disturb her home."

"Spooky!" Aero said with a smile.

"I think it sounds silly," Corri said.

"It's true! You should only go through if you're accompanied by one of the Four. I know Amethi and Therma should be around soon."

"Amethi is coming here!?" Ruben giddily asked. The innkeeper nodded.

"Who's that?" Jirro asked.

"Why, Amethi is the greatest of all the Densius in the world!" Ruben exclaimed.

Temp spoke up, "And Therma is the strongest of all the Mecarne. But I've seen how strong you kids are. We don't really need their help."

The innkeeper urged, "Please don't go in there on your own. It's not safe! Just wait for one of them to come."

Temp asked, "How long should that be?"

"Maybe tomorrow."

Temp sneered, "Pah, you just want us to stay at your inn for the night! We'll be fine on our own!"

Temp turned confidently towards the gulch and walked in. Aero and Corri followed him without fear. Jirro was about to go with them but noticed that Nout and Ruben hadn't moved.

"Aren't you coming?" Jirro asked.

"The innkeeper said it's not safe."

"Sure, but Temp is right. All of us have gotten a lot stronger recently. I'm sure whatever is waiting for us in that gulch, we can handle it. Come on!"

Jirro beckoned the two of them to follow him. Nout hesitantly followed. Ruben pouted its rocky lip as it began walking and uttered, "...But I wanted to meet Amethi."

As the group ventured further into the rocky gulch, Jirro glanced back. He saw the innkeeper watching at a distance, too scared to follow them.