Chapter 2
Augh, what a terrible headache. Can't remember how long
it's been since since I slept in a comfortable bed like this. Come to think of
it, I can't remember anything... How did I get here? And, who is that man over
there?
The woman got out of bed and walked toward the old man, who
was standing just a few paces away. "Where am I...?" she asked, her headache
throbbing very painfully in her skull.
"Whoa! And I only just removed the crown!"
"...head...hurts..." the woman said as she knelt there on the
floor, for the throbbing in her head had reached new heights of pain.
The old man turned around, walked a few steps, and reached
down to pick up a strange, metal device, which looked somewhat like mechanical
headgear. "Easy! This is a Slave Crown. The others had complete control over you
while you were wearing it." So it was a sort of mechanical headgear...
"I can't remember a thing..."
"Don't worry. It'll all come back to you... in time, that
is."
The woman said nothing. This was a mysterious young woman,
controlled by the Empire, and born with the gift of magic...
"...my name is... Terra...
"Impressive! I've never heard of anyone recovering this
fast...!
Terra and the old man then heard some dogs barking, and there
was a brusque knocking at the door. A Narshe guard yelled out, "Open up! Give us
back the girl and the Empire's Magitek Armor!" The old man rushed closer to the
door. He's probably hard of hearing. thought Terra.
"Open this door! We want that girl! She's an officer of the
Empire!"
Terra was confused. She approached the old man and stayed a
few feet behind him. "Empire...? Magitek Armor...?"
The old man turned around and rushed to her. "Look, I have to
get you out of here! I don't have time to explain!" He ran over to the back
door. "Over here!"
Terra walked over to him. "Make your way through the mines!
I'll keep these brutes occupied!" he said.
She exited through the door, which led from behind his house,
behind another building, and onto a catwalk-bridge that passed over the main
street-way. Funny, that street looks vaguely familiar.
As she walked over the bridge, Terra heard someone yell,
"She's up there!" Startled, she looked left, and turned around to look on the
other side of the bridge. There were two white-clad guards on either side of the
bridge. They quickly realized that they couldn't reach her, and turned and ran
quickly away, presumably to find the stairs that led up here. I hope I'm not
a criminal or anything... I sure wish I could remember something, anything,
besides my name. She then realized that there was a sword, sheathed in a
scabbard, hanging from her purple-colored belt. Where did this sword come
from...?
She walked across the remaining piece of the bridge, and she
saw the entrance to, what appeared to be, a mine shaft. No where to go but
in.
The dimly-lit cave was rather frightful, but as she wasn't
quite sure what she could be afraid of, she moved on. Probing the depths of the
cave was not difficult. The ground was fairly flat, and there were lamps hanging
from the walls every few meters apart.
After pushing on a little further, Terra came to an old
wooden bridge, which crossed a steep ravine. The bridge had no handholds, so she
was nervous at first, but only at first. She crossed the bridge, not wanting to
think about what might happen to her if those guards caught up with her. Upon
reaching the other side, she heard a strange squeaking noise. Probably just a
small animal. She walked a few steps further, and saw the source of the
squeaks.
It was not a small animal. It was a large, ugly, rat-like
creature, with snaggly teeth and... red hats? Maybe it won't hurt me if I
don't hurt it. It looks familiar, like so many other things here. I'll try to
just pass it by. But the creature did not think too much of that idea. It
charged straight at her, baring it's teeth. Reflexively, she drew out her sword
and cut down the beast before it could touch her.
Where did I learn to do that? Maybe I was a warrior before
I lost my memory. No matter, at the moment. Hey, what's that? Terra spied a
treasure chest on top of a small rise in the cave. She went up close to it and
opened it; it was not locked. Inside was a strange glass orb, filled with
glowing red feathers. I wonder what this is? Oh well. It probably won't harm
me. I'll just keep it, for now.
She went back down the stairs and further into the cave. A few steps further,
and she came to another rickety wooden bridge. Except, this one was different.
After you went a few feet onto it, it made an abrupt right turn, and also one
that kept going forward. Terra decided on the path straight ahead first, so she
went across, and there was another treasure chest on a small platform. She
opened the treasure chest, for this one wasn't locked either, and she saw a
small blanket, like a blanket-bag or something. It could be useful. I'll keep
this, too.
She went back across the bridge, this time turning, and went
got onto the other side. There was another beast-rat there, and she cut him down
with her sword. Terra pushed on further until she came to some stairs. She
walked up these stairs, and saw a door to her left.
"Got her!" a voice cried out from the deep. She turned around
in time to see two guards ascending the stairs that she herself had just
climbed. Time to run.
She ran towards the door near her, but then two more guards
jumped out of the door. Terra was cornered, with no way of escape. She backed up
to the corner of the wall, and the floor broke up beneath her...
