User blog:Akasha1908/Fall of the White Lotus: Part 3

White Lotus Chapters:

 * Chapter 1 - http://ayakashi-ghost-guild.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Akasha1908/Fall_of_the_White_Lotus:_Part_1
 * Chapter 2 - http://ayakashi-ghost-guild.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Akasha1908/Fall_of_the_White_Lotus:_Part_2
 * This one.  Released 13 Aug 13

             “What do you know about the God’s Stone?”   Joruri sat on the edge of the table, looking from Yokkun to Kazu.

             “The what?”   Kazu replied.

             “That’s just a myth.”   Yokkun said.

             “How do you know what it is?”   Kazu asked in surprise.

             “Mom used to tell us the story, back when we were still… never mind. You were probably too young to remember anyway. I don’t recall most of the story, but I do know the stone is thought to be a gift from the old gods. It’s supposed to be the source of all the magic in the world.”

             “According to the legend.”   Master Daze began. “The god, Byak, looked down on humanity and saw how deprived and primitive we were. Taking pity on us, he pried the jewel stone from his ring and placed a part of his magic inside. He cast the stone from the heavens, and when it collided with the earth, it released a portion of the magic held inside; thereby introducing magic into the world.

             “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”   Kazu muttered.

             “It does sound a bit silly, but even the most ridiculous legends are rooted in truth.”   Joruri exchanged a look with Master Daze before continuing. “Whether the stone was given to us by the gods remains unknown. And to be completely honest the limits of it have never been tested. The only accounts we have are from centuries old documents written by members of the White Lotus when it was still in its infancy. But if what is written is true, then it’s quite possible this stone is indeed the source of all magic.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Wait.”   Yokkun said, sitting up in his chair. “Are you saying the God’s Stone is real?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Yes.”   Joruri replied.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun shook his head in disbelief.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “That’s what’s in the box, isn’t it?”   Kazu asked. “That’s what Rei wants so badly.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Joruri nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Well, where did it come from? How did you get it?”   Yokkun asked, looking from Joruri to Master Daze.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “The White Lotus obtained it during the final battle of the Great War.”   Joruri answered, standing and pacing the length of the table. “The first Grand Sorcerer to ever walk this earth was a man called Valek. During his lifetime, there was famine and disease, and only those with great power had access to food and healers. When Valek saw the people of this world dying before his eyes, he realized he needed to use his tremendous power to put an end to the suffering around him. So he created the White Lotus, and began preparations to take down the man behind it all. Ryuu Wolfskar.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By all accounts, Ryuu was nothing more than a mid-level sorcerer. There was no logical explanation for how he could wield so much magic. But because he did, he was able to rise to power. He proclaimed himself Emperor of this world, and for nearly 20 years he ruled unchallenged. It wasn’t until later the White Lotus realized the source of his power. He’d found the God’s Stone and was using it to supplement his magic.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Where did he get?”   Yokkun asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We don’t know?”   Joruri replied. “And the White Lotus never got the chance to ask the question.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“How is it possible for one person to rule the entire world? Unchallenged for that matter?!”   Kazu asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Fear.”   Master Daze replied, his eyelids drooping a little as he leaned back in his chair.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “But why didn’t the people have fight back?”   Yokkun countered. “Surely they didn’t just accept their subjugation.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “They didn’t, not at first.”   Joruri replied. “Tell me, did Master Daze ever teach you about the country of Atlantis during your lessons?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Atlantis? There is no such country.”   Yokkun replied.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Oh, but there was.”   Joruri said with a heavy sigh. “It was the wealthiest and strongest country at the time, and it was the first to openly defy Ryuu. He destroyed it in one blow. He killed every man, woman and child, and sank the entire country into the depths of the ocean.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Impossible.”   Kazu whispered.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I wish it was, but it happened, and we have the geographical evidence and skeletal remains to prove it. Ryuu murdered over 20 million people in a matter of seconds. After that, every ruler in the world surrendered to him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Well, that certainly puts things in perspective.”   Kazu said, glancing wide-eyed at Yokkun.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “It was a terrible time.”   Joruri said. “Under Ryuu’s reign, the people starved; all their money and food taxed to the point there was nothing left. Men fought in the streets over worm invested bread just to feed their families. And mothers drowned their babies, unable to provide for them. They believed it was more merciful then having to watch their children starve to death in their arms.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu gasped, covering his mouth with both hands.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “But despite the fear and hopelessness.”   Joruri continued. “There were those who still had the courage to fight. And they joined Valek in order to find a way to take Ryuu down. Slowly and strategically, the White Lotus began rebelling against Ryuu’s regime. But no matter what they did, Ryuu could not be defeated. He was too powerful and no one could get close enough to deliver the final blow. Until…”   Joruri paused, looking at Master Daze.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Until he came.”   Master Daze said, picking up where Joruri left off. “A man without magic and one who could not be touched by it. His name was Aldo, and he was the key to winning the war against Ryuu. During the last battle of the Great War, Aldo delivered the final blow, killing Ryuu and cutting the stone from around his neck. It remained in Aldo’s possession until the day he died. Since he had no magic, leaving the stone with him posed no threat. He kept it safe and hidden. And in the years to follow, the White Lotus fought to subdue the remainder of Ryuu’s forces and bring peace to the world.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “According to our records.”   Joruri added. “Aldo lived a long life. Even outliving Valek. But when the time came, and Aldo lay on his death bed, the new leader of the White Lotus had to find a way to keep the stone out of magical hands. He could not, in good conscious, allow this to happen again. So he created the box to lock the stone away. A box that could only be opened by someone without magic. It was the perfect fail safe to keep the stone out of enemy hands. The odds of another person like Aldo ever being born again were slim to none. And even if such a person did come into the world, surely they, above all others, would understand the importance of keeping the stone’s power locked away.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “And you all have had it ever since?”   Kazu asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Yes, until Kuro tried to steal it.”   Joruri replied stiffly. “We don’t know how the Black Lotus managed to find out the key to opening it. That information is sealed and only privy to the eyes of myself, the Council and the Seers.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Master Daze said something about there being a spy within your walls.”   Kazu said.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “There is.”   Fera answered harshly. “I just haven’t been able to locate them yet.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I get you’re trying to keep us safe, and you have our thanks for that.”   Yokkun said gripping the edge of the table; sweat beading on his forehead. “But it seems like too much of a coincidence for my brother and I to end up wards of the former leader of the White Lotus. Of all the billions of people who could’ve taken us in, Master Daze just happened to be the one.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “That’s because it wasn’t a coincidence.”   Master Daze began, his voice hesitant and uncertain.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             A wave of nausea and dizziness hit Yokkun as a sense of foreboding, dark and suffocating, descended upon him. He could feel the blood draining from his face. His chest tightened, each breath becoming more and more painful. He placed one hand over his heart, which was beating so fast he feared it would explode. With the other, he reached out for Kazu, suddenly struck with the need to make sure his little brother was still there.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Nii-san!”   Kazu shouted, jumping from his seat and catching Yokkun just before he crashed to the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Water, Akasha!”   Fera snapped, helping to get Yokkun back into his chair.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Akasha rushed to pour a glass, handing it quickly to Kazu. He put the glass in Yokkun’s hands, but they were shaking so badly Kazu had to hold them still and help raise the cup to his lips.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “There you go, Nii-san.”   Kazu whispered softly. “Slow sips, ok?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun tried to sip the water, but soon his whole body was shaking violently; his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“What’s happening?!”   Kazu cried.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Master Daze raced to his desk, frantically searching the drawers.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Get him on the table!”   Joruri commanded.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Fera picked Yokkun up, laying him on the tabletop. Suddenly, Yokkun stopped shaking, every muscle in his body becoming completely rigid. His back arched off the table, his mouth locked in a silent scream. He stayed like that for several seconds, before whatever it was released him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No!”   Kazu screamed, grabbing Yokkun’s limp body and shaking it frantically. “Wake up, Nii-san. Wake up!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Fera snatched Kazu back, locking his arms around him. Kazu screamed and fought to get back to Yokkun, clawing and biting at his captor’s arms.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Joruri ripped Yokkun's shirt open, placing her ear to his chest. “Daze, there’s no heart beat!”   She yelled, her voice panicked. “Akasha, bring Tobi here now!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Akasha flew from the room, the sound of her footsteps fading as she raced down the hall.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Looks like we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”   Pushing her sleeves up, Joruri climbed on top of Yokkun, straddling his waist.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “What are you doing?! Get off of him!”   Kazu shrieked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “She’s trying to save him!”   Fera hissed. “Now be still or your brother is going to die!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Kazu’s body went limp at Fera’s words, his uncontrollable sobs turning into soft whimpers. As he slid to the floor, Fera was forced to kneel with him; his arms still holding him tightly.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Joruri placed her hands, one on top of the other, over Yokkun’s heart. She started pressing down repeatedly on Yokkun’s chest, counting softly under her breath. She paused, dropping her head down to see if his heart had started beating again, then when right back to doing the chest compressions.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Hurry up, Daze!”   She yelled.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I’m trying!”   His voice desperate. “But I can’t find it! Of all the times…. Wait! Here it is!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Master Daze raced back to the table. As Joruri continued to try and get Yokkun’s heart beating, he filled a large needle with some sort of strange fluid from the tiny vial in his hand. He turned Yokkun’s head to the side, plunging the needle deep into his neck.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Come on, boy, open your eyes!”   Master Daze pleaded.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Joruri stopped the compressions, sitting back on her heels.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">              “Is that going to work?”   She asked anxiously.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I don’t know.”   Master Daze replied fearfully. “But since magic won’t work on him, this is the only option we have!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             The silence in the room was deafening, all eyes focused on Yokkun. The next second, Tobi burst into the room, Akasha right behind him. Both were laden with bags they set down on the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I’ll take it from here.”   Tobi said, helping Joruri off the table. “What’s happened?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We don’t know! We were talking and all the sudden he collapsed.”   Joruri said.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Using one of his strange devices, he placed the end over Yokkun’s heart and the other to his ear.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “There’s a heartbeat, but it’s faint.”   Tobi pulled off his coat, gesturing for his bags to be brought over. He was searching through them when Yokkun suddenly sat up on the table. His eyes glowed white and when he spoke, the voice was not his own.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I am the sword and he is the shield 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A sacrifice made, for the strength to wield 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal">''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A life for a life? A price to be weighed ''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Know, to bring balance, the debt must be paid 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">  

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Yokkun fell to the table, the color flooding back to his face. Though he appeared to be breathing normally again, his eyes remained shut and his body completely still. Fera released Kazu who scrambled from the floor, over to Yokkun.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “What the hell just happened?”   Joruri said in a hushed voice.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I don’t know.”   Master Daze replied. “Did you get all that?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I’ll never forget it.”   Joruri said

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Me neither.”   Master Daze added.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “We need to find out what it means.”   Fear interjected.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I’ll go consult the Seers.”   Joruri said.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No!”   Master Daze held up his hand. “I’ll speak with them. You need to go see Sol.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Joruri closed her eyes, her body slumping over as if the weight she had to bear was suddenly too much.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Jo, maybe I should go with you.”   Fera said, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “You can’t.”   She said, moving out of his grasp. “Especially now.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “I agree with Jo.”   Master daze said to Fera. “With what just happened here, we need to be smart about our next move. Jo can handle Sol. You and I need to find out what those words mean.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Then I’ll leave this to you.”   Joruri said, adressing both Feran and Master Daze. “I should be gone no longer than 3 days. If I can’t get Sol to drop the barrier, then that’s 3 days we’ll all be completely cut off. Try not to make any moves until I return, but if anything goes wrong, Fera’s in charge.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Everyone in the room, with the exception of Yokkun and Kazu, bowed to Joruri. She nodded once, then disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Master Daze.”   Fera said, spouting out orders. “I need you to go to the Seers and tell them what we've just heard. This is their top priority. I want answers before my wife returns.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “What about you?”   Master Daze asked. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “No, I need to check in with Epo first. I’m going to make sure the entire castle is locked down until Jo returns.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Master Daze nodded, then disappeared as well.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Tobi.”   Fera said, turning to the doctor. “Take Yokkun to his room. Akasha and Kazu will help you. Whatever you need to find out what just happened, let me know, I’ll get it to you immediately.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Yes, sir.”   Tobi replied with a bow.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             Fera turned to leave the room, but Tobi stopped him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">             “Lord Fera, before you go. I think you should hear the results of the examinations first.”