(13)The Lands of Ralosia: Three Deities (11.5k Words)

The Masked One seeks out an orb in the hands of the Fighting Academy. Hita's older brother Emil returns, appearing to have been reformed. Aero discovers that some of the hunters around Lupine Lake have become overzealous, and comes face to face with the Earth Deity, Ramesses. Jirro has taken up bounty hunting in his search for his father. Nout and Temp travel to the edge of their world and encounter the Water Deity, Tortus. Ruben and Seraphi prepare for the coming tournament. Corri comes across a temple of the Goddess defended by the Sky Deity, Ool. The Three Deities convene.

(3/28/2021) Self edited, Audio edited, and peer edited.

Peer editing by Mikrokosmostae

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~Chapter 1- The Masked One watches~

~Age 989 B~

A Masked Boy was crouched over the edge of a great tree, overlooking the landscape - the blessed lands of Ralosia, which was both bountiful and beautiful. Lush green plains extended in every direction, with small towns sporadically placed around him. The people of this land knew few worries.

He hated it. He hated how fortunate the people were here, how unappreciative they seemed to be born in such an amazing world. The place the Masked One came from was a harsh place, a place he would still be trapped in if not for the featureless white mask he wore, concealing his entire face. But his family was still trapped there.

The fourteen-year-old dug around in his pockets and pulled out a series of conjoined orbs of yellow, green, and blue. If he was able to complete this set, perhaps it'd grant him the strength to rescue his family from that unforgiving world. He pulled a weighted hood over his head, concealing the tendrils emerging from the mask which wrapped around his brown hair. Only his green eyes could be seen behind the mask.

He stepped off the tree. Rather than fall from the great height, he slowly drifted down. He flew over the landscape, air breezing past him.

The boy's stomach growled as he flew. It was a feeling he was used to, but ever since he entered the Lands of Ralosia, it never lasted long. Unlike the lands he hailed from, these lands yielded much sustenance; perhaps he'd hunt one of the nearby animals. Maybe a fish. The boy flew down to a murky lake and landed on a tree hanging over the water.

In the water he saw a small shadow swimming around. The boy flexed and pointed his finger, and a purple beam of light emerged from it and shot into the water. Moments later, a fish floated to the surface, lifeless.

The boy prepared to swoop down and pick up the fish, but a beast's jaws emerged from the lake and devoured it whole. How disappointing! The beast's scaly body sat at the top of the water and waded across it towards the tree the Masked Boy waited on.

It swam directly below where the boy sat before lunging out of the water, jaws agape. It chomped down on the boy before dragging him down into the lake.

If it were an ordinary person that had found themselves in the crocodile's jaws, then that would've spelled the end for them. But this boy gripped the jaws of the beast and parted them open before flying out of the water. He wasn't hurt, merely annoyed that he was wet.

The crocodile erupted onto land after the boy, showcasing its immense size. Its jaws could swallow him whole. The boy effortlessly glided over the beast, avoiding its snapping mandibles. He considered using the beast for food, but it didn't look very appetizing. Besides, killing such a large creature would be wasteful; he wouldn't be able to eat all of it.

The boy eyed the tail of the crocodile; that might do. He flew through the air behind the beast and gripped its tail firmly with a single arm. With the other, he readied a chop of his hand. With a single swift motion, he tore clean through the crocodile's tail with his hand.

The beast let out a terrible wail before scurrying back to the lake. The boy took a bite out of the fleshiest part of the tail and slowly munched down on it... It didn't taste very good. But the Masked One had ate much worse.

The boy flew through the skies over a large town. A series of wooden buildings surrounded a larger complex which served as the town's center. He heard the place was called the Fighting Academy, a place where those deemed to have fighting potential learned under a woman named Dama, a hero of the land.

As he drew near to the Academy, the tendrils of the mask wriggled intensely, just as it had whenever he came upon the other orbs. He circled the building from above, landing on its roof. The mask's reaction only became more vigorous as he grew closer. There was no doubt - another orb was inside.

He peered through a sunroof of the building. Inside, he saw a series of Fighting Academy students sparring with each other on small stone rings surrounded by water. Then he saw the orb, a pink one floating at the center of the room.

The boy was tempted to break in and take it for himself, but some exceptional combatants attended this Academy. Storming inside would be foolish. He would have to wait until it was undefended.