(You need to be Level 10 or higher before you can participate in the first B.O.X. event in Wizard City. It involves a series of boss fights which are around the level of Grubb, so it's best if Initiates have a group when coming into this.)
“Amy Pond, there’s something you’d better understand about me ‘cause it’s important, and one day your life may depend on it: I am definitely a madman with a box!”
— The Doctor, Season 5, Episode 1
"What's a Musuth Berserker doing here?" said Grace.
"Oops," I laughed. I dispelled the costume. "Sorry... long story involve vampire veggies. So... why are you two here? I thought you would wait for me."
"Remember that Professor guy I told you about?" said Christina. "He contacted me and said he needed my help."
"I got a similar call," said Grace.
"Then I'm not crazy, for I got one in Wizard City!" I said.
"He must have used that cosmic caliburn thingie to broadcast a call to every Wizard in the Spiral!" said Christina. "We'd better find him."
"He's over there," said Grace, pointing to a tree by the pond.
"Uh, excuse me," said Christina. "I gave you back your Cosmic Caliburn thingie and you helped me get my kick-butt minion! Forget that already?"
"Sorry, you must be talking about my past self," said the Marleybonian. "When you are in my line of work, you forget things very easily. Ha ha."
We shrugged. Eccentric to the Extreme. We introduced ourselves."
"Sierra, Grace and Christina, pleasure to meet you," he said. "Would you girls like a jelly baby?"
"I'm on a diet," I fibbed. "Why did you contact us?"
He got to business. "I need your assistance at once, I'm investigating something peculiar in Olde Town, something with sinister implications. Please come and find my Telegraph Box at Olde Town. You can't miss it. I'll be inside, waiting for you!" He walked off.
"Telegraph box..." I then recalled a strange booth in Marleybone's Regent's Square. "Let's check it out. I'm curious. But be wary... he could be working with Morganthe to distract us."
"He may seem odd, but I've seen worse, Mma," said Grace. "Besides, as you know, I am a private detective..."
"I get it, you HAVE to follow investigations," I smiled. "Very well, but the instant I get wind of foul play, I'm pulling the plug."
Sure enough, the telegraph box was standing smack dab in the way to Cyclops Lane. (First time we have sigils surrounding something. If you know by now, this is a dungeon instance.)
I was stunned speechless. This place was HUGE!
"This is impossible," said Christina. "How could it be bigger on the outside than the inside?"
Grace shrugged. "We can think about all that but it won't help us with this investigation. Let us go and find the Professor."
"What do you need our help with, Rra?" said Grace.
The Professor nodded. "There is a sinister force threatening all of us. He, she or it is tampering with the building blocks of history."
I gasped. "You mean they're re-writing history?! But how..."
"My instruments have detected a major change in Ravenwood's past. Something could destroy our future." The Professor's word made me react and I saw my friends - they all felt the same, as if a cold dagger had been driven into our hearts! Someone was changing the history of our school, the place we all started our lives as wizards!!! "I have configured a time portal to take you to old Ravenwood. Go through and see if you can figure out what's been changed in the past! Let me know what you discover in old Ravenwood and we'll work up a plan to restore things to their natural order."
I pulled the girls aside. "This is bad... if something changes in Ravenwood..."
"It might not exist," said Grace. "And then..."
"We won't become wizards and we won't meet!" gasped Christina. "This is bad! But time travel... how could..."
"We've traveled before," said Grace. "In Dragonspyre."
I gasped. How could I forgotten that trip we took back to Dragonspyre's past during the Titan Army's attack to get the key to the vault which Vasik had held! "Well, I hope the Professor is skilled in time travel as I think he is."
He hurried through the portal, but not before I found the Professor's assistant, who sold me and Christina some cool crafting recipes. (This is the first recipe set that lets you craft permanent mounts! If I had known about this, I could have saved crowns on that Gold Eagle! The mounts... are pogo sticks. LOL. They also require rare fish so expect a lot of frustration. Also, these mount recipes require a single Sonic Spring, a reagant which is extremely rare - in fact, you can ONLY get it as a 10% drop from the bosses in any of these event dungeons! I was lucky and got a few.)
"I hope we know we're doing," said Grace. "This is new to me."
"New to all of us," I muttered. I was curious - would I see Sylvia Drake alive? Would I see Malistaire as a nice person? Would I see Bartleby with both gems in his eyes?
We ended up in a dorm room. "Well, that sucks," muttered Christina. "I thought I'd get to see Bartleby with both eyes!"
"I think the Professor sent us to the source of the change," said Grace. "But..."
"Excuse me?" said a familiar, ableit younger, voice. "Are you the tutor? I only asked for one."
I was stunned - this was Professor Falmea! "Uh... well... nice place you have here."
"Thanks," said Falmea. "I haven't been here long. When I first arrived, I was very nervous about taking the Book of Secrets test. I heard it was scary." She sighed. "You have no idea how happy I was when a helpful stranger told me to skip it and just enroll in the Ice School."
 |
| (Don't own this image) |
I recalled the Book of Secrets... it was sort of like a sorting hat for new students. It asked questions to the apprentice and told them what sort of school they were best suited for. I know it gave me the Myth school and Grace the Storm school, but even though we are opposites in magic, we are friends. I don't know what caused it to place Chris in the Balance school but whatever.
"But I can't master the Ice spells," sobbed Falmea. "And I don't understand the theories! If I fail my next exam, I'll be expelled, I just know it!"
"Excuse us," I said. I huddled with the others. "This is Professor Falmea..."
"We must be in the time when she was a student like us," said Christina. "But..."
"She was told to study Ice, and thus she won't become the Professor we know today..." Grace said.
"And she's affliated with Fire, so no wonder she's struggling with Ice!" said Christina. "Those two elements are polar opposites!"
"I think we found the major change in Ravenwood's past," I said. I was expecting something else, like Sylvia being cured and living, but this was just as dangerous. As much as I wanted Sylvia to live, making that happen would mean Wu wouldn't have become professor of Life. Some things have to be consistent, and tricking Falmea, who was destined to be the professor of Fire, into joining the polar opposite school, would threaten the present day - Sailor Mars and Amy would be different! No, this had to be fixed. "Let confer with the Professor, he'll know what to do."
"Yes, we all know she's Fire so studying Ice won't work for her," said Christina. "I bet this 'helpful stranger' wanted her to get kicked out of Ravenwood! If we don't change this..."
"She'll never become the Professor of Fire magic," said the Professor. "And she won't arrange the exchange program to... never mind."
"You don't need to say it," said Grace. "I was supposed to help that exchange program until Morganthe got in the way."
"Oh dear, my condolences," said the Professor, tipping his hat. "I know what happens to her... but I can't tell you, that would violate the laws of time and get me in trouble with my peers. I'll set the portal to the Ice Tower. You need to help Falmea with her exam!"
"But how will that help?" asked Christina. "If she succeeds in her exam..."
"We'll do it," I interrupted. "Come on."
"You won't fail, Mma Falmea," said Grace. "We are here to assist."
"Will you help me fight the Frosty Walker?" asked Falmea. "Thanks! Professor Greyrose sent me here for my exam. If I don't defeat Frosty Walker, I'll be expelled for sure."
"We'll help you out," I said, smiling. "You just cast your Tower Shields to protect us, we'll do the heavy hitting." I winked.
"Ha, you have an Absolute Zero chance of passing my test!" laughed the evil snowman.
(For those of you who were in Khrysalis, you'll recognize the new mechanic which I call the Dark Cloud 2 mechanic because there is something similar in the PS2 game Dark Cloud 2, one of my favorite classics - the character gives you a passive buff. Falmea gives each of the girls a 10% boost to damage, similar to the Sky Iron Hasta's boost.)
(Not like the girls need it - the enemies are laughably weak for their level. The Walker has the most HP in this instance and it falls to a unboosted Colossal Medusa. ;) The snowballs are easily one-shotted. HP? The Frosty Walker has 1120, the Malformed Snowballs have 530.)
"Yes it is," I fibbed. "We are her tutors." I winked to the others to play along.
"Glad we could help," said Christina.
"But I have years of school work and Ice spells ahead of me. There's no way I can manage without your help..."
I approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Dalia... Professor Greyrose told me something when I was starting out. 'Ice is not for the flighty or faint of heart', and you fit both of those criteria. You are not suited for Ice magic. Switch schools."
"Switch schools?" Falmea was nervous. "Is such a thing possible?"
"Gamma can help us, he's Ambrose's right-hand owl," I said, nodding to the others to leave. "Let's go see him." I hoped the portal wouldn't be there. It vanished and I smiled. The Professor knew.
"Oh," said Falmea happily. "Let's go see him! I bet I'd excel at the Death School! I love black!"
I sighed. This would be difficult.
"Please don't be too hard on her," I said.
"I don't think the Book of Secrets has ever erred before," said Gamma.
I nodded and Falmea scuffed her foot on the rug. "I... skipped it."
"What's that?" gasped Gamma. "You skipped the test! No WONDER you're struggling. Skipping the test should only be done if you are certain about your choice."
"Someone TOLD her to enroll in Ice, knowing she would fail," I said.
I laughed.
"Changing schools is unprecedented..." muttered Gamma.
"Let her do it," I said.
"Hmmm," said Gamma. "This once I'll allow it, as long as the Headmaster doesn't object."
"He won't," I said happily. "I know he won't force any student to stay in a school she hates."
"May I suggest we consult the Book of Secrets this time?" said Gamma.
"But..." Falmea said before I stopped her.
"Look, I know Myth sucks. I am with Myth myself." I smiled and made a fib. "I was once a student like you, Dalia. The Book put me in Myth and I hated it at first. But you saw me summon the Medusa, right? I had to undergo many hard tests to get there but I pulled through and look at me now! I'm sure the Book has its best interests out for you when it chooses your calling."
"You... you're right," said Falmea. "Thanks Miss.."
"Sierra." It came out. I should have been careful - I was from the future and saying my name might change history. But it came out, I couldn't lie about my name.
"Thank you, Sierra... I'll try it," said Falmea. She opened the book and took the quiz. I hoped that the Book didn't put her in any school but...
I needn't have worried. In the original timeline, she took the test and got placed in Fire. This 'stranger' messed things up by asking her to skip the test.
"Your family are Pyromancers?" I asked.
"We live in a village of fire elves in the Wild in Avalon," said Dalia. "I was born and raised there."
I was a bit stunned but I smiled. "Well, good luck! I'll leave you with Gamma to handle the switch."
"Please, Sierra," said Gamma. "Dalia, do not tell anyone that I let you do this or I'll be FLOODED by requests, whoo!"
As soon as I left, I was back in the B.O.X.
"Yeah, I agree," I said. "You mind if I do this alone, guys? I think Falmea would 'warm' to me." (No, I did not intend that bad pun.)
"Be careful," said Grace. "We will be behind you if you struggle."
"I'll set the portal to a few months hence," said the Professor. "There's another disturbance there."
I admit, I was a bit jealous, I didn't have many Crowns! (Fourth wall breakage!)
"But I have to confess, Professor Memphis intimidates me a bit," said Falmea. "Would you mind coming with me to talk to him?"
I smiled and nodded. "Okay, but you need to get friends of your own. I can't help you all the time."
I was in awe at seeing the former Fire Professor, an aged Krok. Well, I was sure that the Kroks also followed the ways of Fire, Ice and Storm like the Manders. It was very hard for a culture not to bleed into another culture when they co-exist. "Yes, I am not studying Fire, I am studying Myth," I said. "Falmea asked me to tutor her."
"I see," said Memphis. "Well, I will let it go this time, even if you are not of the Fire School." He turned to Falmea. "I'm thrilled to have you join the ranks of the Pyromancers. None burn brighter! But you must ensure you don't sputter out. As a welcome, I've set a challenge for you in the Tower of Fire. Convince the Fire Spirit, Kasai Baku, how much you want this."
"Okay!" said Falmea. "Let's go Sierra."
Oh, a Helephant and a Firesnake.
"Please..." Falmea said, suddenly losing her nerve.
"We'll get through this," I whispered. "I'll handle the demon, you handle the snake. Do you have Fire Prism?" She nodded. "You're good to go. Just use that and it'll turn your fire attacks into ice."
(This is not hard at all - Kasai has 950 HP and the Firesnake has 400. Both are fire, so Pyros will need Prisms for this battle and the next two. Falmea's passive buff is now a 30% damage boost.)
I smirked as Falmea's Sunbird filtered through the Prism and became a Frostbird that destroyed the snake. I clapped. "Good job!"
"I'm so happy for you!" I cheered. "Let's tell your professor the good news!"
I can't tell you anything about my visit to old Ravenwood, save that Bartleby had both eyes and the Death School stood spookily on the place which I knew would be a gaping chasm in the future. I made sure to squelch any temptation to explore - Falmea needed me. (And I didn't want to risk changing history any more than necessary to fix the current disturbance. The past should not be tampered with. Still, my travels with the Professor were amazing.)
"Thanks," said Falmea.
"I have sent Grimsnes Burntblack, my assistant, ahead to prepare your next lesson," said the Krok. "Go back to the Fire Tower when you are ready."
"Are you ready for this?" I asked. Falmea nodded. "Let's go."
I almost had deja vu of Kol Shadowsong when I saw who Grimsnes was. A RAVEN. :( (I had a very dim view of Fire Ravens after my tussles with the Coven.)
"So THAT is who that stranger was," I snarled. "You should know better! I smell a rotten raven."
"Gah!" cried Grimsnes. "I must retreat to inform the Maestro! These Fire Wraiths will deal with you!" He teleported away as four fire wraiths emerged. Falmea hid behind me.
Suddenly the Jade Oni rose up and attacked one of the wraiths, destroying it. "Yo, carrot fairy!" said a voice. "You didn't tell me there was a party going on here!"
I laughed. "Chris..."
Grace annihilated the remaining wraiths with her Tempest. "We had a feeling you would be in danger, Mma, so we came."
"Grisnes fled down to the lower level!" said Falmea. "Let's stop him!"
I nodded. "We were ambushed by that Raven."
"A freaking Raven?" groaned Christina. "I thought we had gotten rid of the Coven!"
"This is more than just the Coven, we just found the one messing with time," I whispered to her.
"Who is this Maestro?" demanded Christina.
"Ack, cinders and smoke!" cried the Raven, shutting down his communication channel. "Well come on then and face my fiery feathers!"
"Bring it," I said hotly. (Yes, I totally intended that bad pun. :p)
I began to summon the ninja pigs but they refused to come. (First fizzle in a long time.)
"Allow me, Mma," said Grace. Jove rose up and punished the foul Raven and his minions with wrath of storms. "This needs the power of storms."
"Ack! I'm put out!" choked the bird as he fell lifeless and exploded into embers.
"Thank you!" said Falmea. "We need to report this to Professor Memphis."
"A shame," he added. "Here Grimsnes had so much potential. I thought he might become the Fire professor himself one day, when I retire. I suppose I'll have to look for some new young fire blood to train now, won't I?"
I sighed. So that was it - Grimsnes must have tried to do something radical and got removed from being the next Fire Professor, probably a plot which Falmea had stopped and thus made HER the Fire Professor when Memphis retired, and this guy, the Maestro, had tried to get Falmea removed from Ravenwood in one way(changing her into a Thaumaturge and getting her expelled) or another(getting her killed). He hadn't expected on US getting in the way!
"Thanks again for all your help," said Falmea. "Fire seems like the perfect home for me. See you again soon, I hope!"
"We will, Mma Falmea," said Grace, smiling.
"Oh, you bet we will..." laughed Christina.
I hugged her briefly. "Just listen - a Pyromancer I know told me this: Do not seek to destroy that which you protect." I winked, not letting her know that it was HER that told me this when I was starting out in Ravenwood; she told me this when I first met her.
I saw Christina whispering to Memphis. "Chris..." I growled.
"Hey, calm down, I just gave a sugg---" she winced as I shook my head; it was dangerous to give suggestions to people in history, you might cause more damage than you fix. But I knew what Christina had whispered to the old Krok: "Keep a sharp eye on Dalia, you might be surprised!"
We returned to the B.O.X. and told our success to the Professor.
"I think he's a time traveler like you, Rra," said Grace. "He might be responsible for changing history. I have a feeling that we haven't seen the end of his mischief."
"Well then, I may have to call on you girls again," said the Professor. "In the meantime..."
"No, we don't need Jelly Babies, thanks," I said politely. I pulled the girls aside.
"I think this Maestro person might be a dangerous foe," I said. "We should check him out."
Grace glared at me.
"AFTER we stop Morganthe," I said with a sweatdrop. Chances are she already had the Swords.
(You get the Fire Starter badge for completing this quest, and I got a seven-day mount drop from Grimsnes... ^_^)
[To be continued...]
No comments:
Post a Comment