The village of Figments was a handcrafted marvel, perfected to inhabit all creatures alike who were deemed worthy to enter. The village's crystalline walls were meticulously crafted to pay respects to the Figment theme, while its abundance of vibrant red hues of its grass and leaves bled through the ground like an parallel dimension. The bustling settlement roads were brimming with Figments differentiating from all shapes and sizes: some were rounder, taller, and shorter, and each seemed to reflect a certain shade of mineral or rock as aether brimmed from their bodies like blood to a human.
Not everything was created out of shining rocks. Some of the local trees were stripped of their white bark to construct their buildings and furniture, which were neatly organized and stationed throughout the three-lane roads of D'Avuzel. Located directly in the center from where the group entered was a help desk with a purple female Figment reading an ancient slab text with its presumed smaller baby Figments dueling each other on top of the desk. As Alfaic entered, his eyes were set on this desk while the others were speechless over the fine details of D'Avuzel's crystal settlement. But while he stepped inside, he sensed immediate embarrassment over his previous time here, and transformed back into a sword to hide within Lyn's armor.
"Blade?" Lyn called. "What's wrong?"
"Just... a little bitt paranoid to show myself for what I did here in the past," Alfaic confessed. "I think it's better to find my friend and speak to him one-on-one instead of putting myself out here."
"I thought we went over this a while ago. They might have forgotten about it."
"I'm not willing to take that chance. Let's just head to the help desk and I'll tell you what to ask the Figment."
Claire pointed toward a small musical event where several tall Figments danced with tambourines to a beat. They all danced perfectly and elegantly, as if it was the same Figment multiplied to three. She rushed toward Lyn and pulled her sleeve as Ardine approached from behind.
"Let's check it out, Lyn!" She joyfully requested.
"Only for a short while," Ardine said. "We don't want to be dawdling here for too long without reason."
"Without reason? We all need a break from everything! Let's go and explore!"
Lyn looked down at her chest, prompting Alfaic's response.
"I guess it'll be okay, for now," Alfaic accepted. "But we're heading to my friend's place as soon as we receive information on his whereabouts."
"You should go with Ardine." Lyn suggested, beckoning her hand toward the musical event. "Have fun."
"Come on, old man! Let's go!" Claire called, rushing toward the scene with Ardine behind. He shook his head in denial, not wanting Claire's infectious and glorious energy to affect his gritty exterior. But he couldn't help but follow after it.
Lyn and Alfaic focused their attention on the help desk. She didn't imagine the Figments to be as friendly as C'olette, so she anticipated the worst responses to come, especially with their poor translation to their language. She approached the desk and the Figment children plopped off of the desk and hid behind in worry over the humans' presence.
"All right," Alfaic began. "Ask her if Sixth Command is still here. If so, where is he?"
Lyn cleared her throat and placed her hands on the white wooden table. "Hi," She greeted. "Can you help me?"
The purple Figment refused to place its ancient text slab down, cocking its head toward Lyn with hovering crystal mask that resembled a sleeping female. "Human, are we?" She asked. "Help with something? What you need?"
"I was wondering if Sixth Command is still here." Lyn recited what Alfaic proposed.
"Sixth Command!?" The Figment's voice cracked as its pitch indicated she was shocked that Lyn would even ask such a question to her. "Position disbanded years ago. Changed multiple times. No good. One only live in Dead-Man's Den in Ice Shoal Cave in the south."
"Ice Shoal?" Lyn repeated.
"You go south," The Figment said. "Past worshipping temple. Take long path along. But be warned. Last one left do not want disturb. Why see?"
"Just... wanted to leave an important message behind for him. But, thank you." Lyn said.
The purple Figment children leaped on the table and started babbling an ancient gibberish language, assaulting Lyn with words of nothing. The Figment mother swept her palm across the table, knocking them down while berating them with incoherent insults. Lyn stepped back with Alfaic and moved to the side, searching for the southern cave locations past a crowded bazaar.
"Ah..." Alfaic's voice echoed in Lyn's ears. "Still rotting away in the same place I left you in. The only imperfect Figment..."
Lyn chose not to comment on it. Instead, she headed for the performance and found Claire frolicking through the crowd and goofily dancing amidst the other Figments. She watched Ardine keep his distance, observing from faraway with his face tucked away in second-hand embarrassment. Lyn stood by him, nudging his elbow with hers.
"She seems to be having fun," Lyn said. "Why don't you join her?"
"With all due respect," Ardine said, scoffing. "I'd melt from embarrassment. A imperfect person calls for an imperfect dance."
"Don't think too much of it." Lyn chuckled.
"I'll pass. Although... it is nice to see her just being a kid again. She hasn't had that opportunity in ages."
"You should try being a kid again, then. Go join her."
"Let's not get too carried away," He changed the subject. "Anyway, did you two learn anything?"
"Ice Shoal Cave... Dead-Man's Den." Lyn repeated after the Figment.
"Such depressing terminology for a place," Ardine pointed out. "Alfaic, what the hell did your family do to these people?"
Alfaic didn't respond, and after a while, Ardine respected it. Claire eyed Lyn and Ardine as she finished the last steps of her goofy dance, returning to the three to progress through the village. Most of the village's eye candy were completely fixated with Claire in the mix, wanting to leave the group to explore on her own. But after a few reprimands and scolding from Ardine and Alfaic, she chose to opt for the main objective and to enjoy the delight at another time, granted if they would stay for long.
The further they reached south from the bazaar, the lesser the Figments were in the area. As perfect they were, signs of their noble reputation were more apparent, as the architectural design and care they had utilized near the entrance where the markets and homes were. The decayed appearance and poor maintenance of the south was something that was heavily disregarded.
Signs and buildings were razed to the ground, filled with beast and blade scratches of battle marks from the past ancient historical battles. The temperature began to drop the further down they strayed toward the southern caves leading into Dead-Man's Den, which resulted in frost permeating toward every battered and broken debris on the battleground. Even the sounds of the lively markets with the Figments whisking away as they pushed forward. It was an unsettling environment that made them ponder if the Figments were hiding anything.
In reality, all of it were just remnants of the past that were not discarded. Lyn guessed as much as despite what perfectionists would go through, the memory of their close demise could never be forgotten. She guessed that Dead-Man's Den was a solid reminder of what the Figments believed should never happen again, and leaving such a memory behind would kill them on the inside. The Figments were smarter than she had anticipated.
"Such an eerie place..." Claire commented.
Once the group managed to brave their way through Dead-Man's Den, they found themselves in a wide open clearing leading outside in the bitter winter cold. Located in the center of the den were several tattered tents set up without main usage. As Lyn, Ardine, and Claire explored the den's destruction by examining every nook and cranny, they noticed Alfaic established a solemn poise to his stance and demeanor, seemingly aware of what was to come.
Alfaic transformed back into human form in front of them and turned to face the group, who gathered around him.
"Okay. He's here. Exactly like I remembered," Alfaic said. turning to face Lyn and Claire. "There's a specific way we need to go about this, and you two are my bargaining chips."
"What?" Lyn exacerbated with how strangely he acted.
"My bargaining chips! Okay, here's the plan. Follow my every move. I'll be the one to handle the bulk of it, but you need to listen for the 'signal word.' I'm not going to know what that signal word is, but you'll be able to hear it in the tone of my voice. And when I do, I want you two to step out, okay?" Alfaic planned aloud, sounding ridiculous in the process to the three.
"This is crazy. Why can't we just stay?" Claire asked.
"Just trust me. I'll see you two in a bit, okay?" Just listen carefully!" Alfaic reinforced.
Lyn exchanged awkward glances with Claire before looking at Alfaic as if she was talking to an insane individual. Claire gave off the same feeling. "Whatever you say." Lyn said as they entered the tent. She couldn't help but gaze outside the small slit of the tent to ensure she wasn't being duped, but Claire blushed in embarrassment over the "plan," as not knowing the plan made it worse for her.
"And as for me?" Ardine asked.
Alfaic smacked his shoulder with his palm and dove his head in casually. "You have the easiest job of them all," He began. "I need you gone. Have fun, enjoy yourself, go back to the village. I need you back in ten minutes, tops though. Go get your cuts sorted out. OH! Actually, why don't you go find the humans living here?"
"Okay," Ardine said, turning away to leave. "You better know exactly what you're doing."
Alfaic sighed as soon as Ardine left before turning back around. He moved closer to the center where a small slit of sunlight expanded from the top of the den, setting down upon his entire body like a spotlight. He held in his breath before turning toward the multiple entrances to other separate dens high up where ice walls were formed, hoping to spot his ally.
"Arisz, my old friend!" Alfaic's voice arose as he shouted at the top of his lungs, referencing his ally's true name that he kept secret all this time. "Still hiding in the same den I last saw you years ago, I see. Never forgot now, did you?"
Claire peeked her white eyes outside the tent along with Lyn, curious at Alfaic's behavior. Lyn patiently waited as well.
"You and I have some unfinished business, friend," Alfaic continued, spinning around to locate Arisz, the Figment he dearly sought for support. "Come on down, now. I'm getting lonely down here."
A gust of wind blasted against Alfaic's white hair as a swishing sound broke the silence in the den. A silver wavy flash of light blurred through his eyes as he caught movement in one of the high altitude dens, but there was no one there. Yet Alfaic knew that his presence was known, and it was only a matter of time before he would get what he wanted.
"You and your little deception," Alfaic chuckled, grinning toward the air. "Time's ticking, and I'm not leaving here without you, my friend-"
Suddenly, a strikingly silver-tipped spear struck down in front of Alfaic's feet like a flash of lightning, sending ripples through the frostbitten floors he stepped upon. Claire gasped and held in her breath, wondering if that was the signal to come out, but Lyn held her back with her palm. Alfaic smirked, looking up at the sky as a blurry figure rained down beside the spear in a finesse of style of dramatic proportions. As soon as the haze cleared up from the figure's descent, its body was apparent.
A silver Figment that was not as tall as most tall Figments, yet still considered by many humans to be tall by a milestone, descended with their knees rooted next to their spear. Unlike most Figments, this Figment was much more burly and well-built, having the body frame of an supremely armored warrior. The most notable feature of the figure was its tattered jet black cloak that wrapped around its neck to shroud most of its torso and abdomen, along with its completely different masks from other Figments. Instead of a gem-entrusted mask imitating either a sleeping male or female in an artistic style, the figure's mask was uniquely simplistic, resembling a pearlescent full-faced visor. The menacing Figment known as Arisz kneeled down and swept its translucent silver feet to void it of dust before creaking its head toward Alfaic. Despite not having any sign of facial expressions from its visor-like face, Lyn and Claire could still sense disappointment in his movement.
"You always knew how to make such a grand entrance." Alfaic commented.
"The nerve of you returning so soon after what you did." Arisz mocked. His voice was classified as a deep and gritty croak that sounded like a hardened warrior who aged well after every single battle.
"Look, it wasn't my fault! And... it has been a couple of years, give or take," Alfaic's face lit up over his friend's arrival. He held up his initiation test bracelet. "I'm still allowed here, aren't I?"
"Having an initiation bracelet doesn't make you king of this castle," Arisz pointed out, pulling his spear out of the frosted floors. He stood upright, placing the butt of his spear on the ground to level and balance himself. "Your title and honor died alongside me those few years ago."
"My family was responsible for it, though!" Alfaic pointed out. "Yes, some Figment lives were lost, but you made things right aft er-"
"Do you know how much EFFORT it took to resecure my position?!" Arisz's voice arose in volume, agitated by how Alfaic was downplaying the situation.
"A day, like I said-"
Arisz sobbed, covering his face with his large jeweled hands. "A day spent in reprimand was worth ten years of your sorry life," He pointed out. "Now I'm retired and I see no reason to even speak to you. That is why you and I will never be friends ever again."
Alfaic watched as Arisz turned around, embarking back to his isolation in the Dead-Men's Den. "Hey, hey," He called, rushing toward his old friend in worry. "Arisz, just listen to me. I need your help just this one last time-"
"What makes you think I'll ever help you again after what you did?" Arisz exclaimed. "Haul your foolish and sorry pucker hole back to the boat you once came from."
"Pucker...hole?" Claire gasped, placing her palms over her mouth.
Alfaic shook his head and stepped forward, laying down the reality of the situation. "What about the Rot Mother?" His voice echoed through the den.
Lyn and Claire watched how those two words transformed Arisz's demeanor instantly, although he still sounded hesitant among it all.
"What about the Rot Mother?" Arisz asked.
"I've got a solid lead... on how we can put her to rest for good," Alfaic said, pulling out the blue fragments from his back pocket. He held them up to Arisz's face, letting him examine them up close. "Look at these! Do you know what these are? This may be our only chance! Now, you know these lands more than anyone else, and I need your help finding the rest of these-"
"You're chasing a broken dream, Alfie," Arisz stated, denying his request further. "All those times in the past, searching for clues on that damn boat, and it's gotten us nowhere. What makes you think these will change?"
"Because I believe in you, and myself. I know for a fact that things will change, I can promise you that. But this is something that I know I can't do without you."
Lyn mouthed out the nickname that Arisz called Alfaic: Alfie. She realized that he was coming to a stand still with him, hoping that he would bite the bullet. But his intimidating pressure and presence made it almost impossible to assume the best possible outcome. It seemed as if their friendship and time were coming to an end.
"Goodbye, old friend." Arisz concluded, turning around to return to his den.
Alfaic coughed rapidly and unconventionally, sounding like a jester in the process. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes to the side, eyeing the tent where Lyn and Claire hid. The tone of his voice fluctuated into a more joking tone, as if he was poorly rehearsing a line to a dramatic interpretive scene. "Okay, well, I guess there's absolutely no way to convince you otherwise," He voiced out, nudging his shoulder toward the tent. "You hear that, guys? He doesn't want to come. So you two might as well come on out."
Lyn and Claire moved the flap of the tent with their hands and stepped out into the wide open. Arisz turned around and viewed the two like a snapshot before immediately hovering himself toward the back of Alfaic's head.
"I'm in." Arisz agreed.
Alfaic's face grinned so widely at the sight of Lyn and Claire's aghast faces at his absolute perfunctory attempt to recruit him. Claire sagged her shoulders while Lyn blinked rapidly, turning away in embarrassment.
"That... was it!?" Claire exclaimed over how ridiculously easy it was.
"Ugh..." Lyn scoffed.
Arisz flipped his spear with both of his hands, performing a soldier's dance with it to show off his talented abilities. "Oh, what sweet-smelling females," He began, pacing around Alfaic in a circle as if they were an official posse once more. "Alfie, where'd you find these lovely ladies?"
"Lovely... ladies!?" Claire gasped in horrendousness at Arisz's behavior.
"He's trying to be nice," Alfaic pointed out. "Give it some time, he's just a Figment."
Lyn realized what Alfaic had just said, and wanted to attempt at being as friendly as possible from Arisz's complete switch-up. She stepped closer to him, noticing how tall he was in comparison to her. "Arisz, was it?" She began, referencing Alfaic with an extended palm. "He was telling the truth about everything regarding the Rot Mother. You do seem knowledgeable in these parts, considering how you lived here for many years, after all."
"Yeah, that's true." Arisz said.
"So... what do you say?"
Arisz began sniffing the air out of the blue. Lyn's eyebrows curled down in confusion, wondering if her request even made it to his ears to begin with. Instead of responding, Arisz curved his head around Lyn's shoulder, setting his eyes upon Claire and her folded blade holstered on her left hip. "Ahh..." He began. "You have the scent of battle on your fingertips. A skilled fighter, I sense within your spirit."
"Me?" Claire pointed to herself. "Well, I-"
"She is," Lyn finished her sentence for her. "Had to fight her for the initiation test, and lost fair and square."
Alfaic smirked, glossing his eyes toward Claire as if he knew what was about to happen.
"Interesting..." Arisz said, rubbing the bottom of his chin with his fingers. "Give me a good time, will you?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Claire rejected. "I'm not going to fight you."
"Oho, not a fight," Arisz clarified, pacing around her in a circle. "You look like someone who has the mark of war and battle engraved on your face. You just might be worthy enough to learn my secret special art. Do you think you have what it takes?"
"Uh-" Claire stuttered, unable to even respond to his remark.
"LIKE THIS!" Arisz roared, extending his left hand and positioning it in a claw-like form. Lyn and Claire watched as his hand suddenly glowed a neon electric blue, flaring around his fingertips in a cyan fiery aura. He slashed this hand outward, tearing a large rift in front of him before entering it with a swan dive inside. The rift remained midair, prompting Lyn to wonder what kind of sorcery was at play here.
"HAHA!" Arisz's voice bellowed behind Claire, causing her to yelp and jump into the air in surprise. His visored head peered from below her from another rift tear made on the frosty ground, peeking his head through. He then dove down, causing the lower half of his body to appear in the initial rift he tore. He then rapidly peeked up and down like a mole burrowing and reentering, showcasing his special art to flaunt his talent. "BEHOLD! My PRIDE AND SOUL!" He joyfully shouted out.
"He's having fun." Lyn commented, chuckling at Claire to lighten the mood.
"You all just really love getting a reaction out of me..." Claire commented, distancing herself from the others. But she seemed intrigued by it, as she leaned forward to take a closer look at the rifts Arisz tore. She looked at Alfaic. "Hey, how is he doing that?!"
"It's his specialty," Alfaic said. "He calls it-"
"DECEPTION!" Arisz interrupted at the top of his lungs, jumping out of the rift with his spear in hand. The rifts closed at the same time. "This kind of ability can be taught and mastered only with those with a spirit bound with warrior blood, and you have what it takes." He said to Claire.
"Wait, why me?" Claire asked.
"He senses aether in all living things," Alfaic stated, pulling out the blue fragments from his pockets. "That's why we need him. These fragments contain immeasurable amounts of aether that he can sense in the air."
"So, the more aether a place has in the air..." Lyn began.
"The better chance we'll find the rest of these fragments." Alfaic finished.
"All in all, Alfie's using me," Arisz said, turning his back against Alfaic. "I want nothing to do with him. But the thought of teaching Deception to humans is intriguing on its own. I'll join you... only if you promise me that you'll let me experiment with you."
Claire eyed Lyn, who encouraged her to accept with a smiling nod. While hesitant originally, Claire nodded back at Arisz, with acknowledged his offer with amiable kindness. "Just don't get too close to my left hand," She said, extending her aether brimming palm. "You might regret it."
"Little one," Arisz said, bowing in respect. "You have my full understanding."
Lyn and Claire came together again and spoke to each other about their opinions on Arisz, while Alfaic backed up with Arisz after pulling him back to separate each other to prevent eavesdropping. Alfaic's eyes were stern instead of lighthearted, as if he wasn't speaking as a friend, but a person posing a question with intelligent thought.
"Didn't know you were such a good actor. You know her, don't you?" Alfaic asked, eyeing Lyn for a brief moment before turning back to Arisz.
"I do," He replied with a sorrowful tone. "I did not expect you to bring her in like this."
"So why aren't you speaking to her? You're going to jeopardize everything-"
"No, you are," Arisz denied. "This... has always been about you, Alfie. Have you told her?"
"I've told her enough," Alfaic's hushed voice wanted to hold back his words immediately. "I won't say anymore because I just can't let her get distracted anymore. We've done that enough, already."
"So how will you go about doing this without her learning the truth?"
"I'm working on that," Alfaic said. "But you can't tell her, no matter what."
Arisz chuckled at Alfaic's foolishness, turning toward the entrance to his den with his spear sheathed behind his back. "What kind of man are you, Alfie?" He croaked. "Always running without a single care in the world for what happens to those around you. You've always been so selfish."
"Not selfish enough for you to get rid of me in your life. I guess that's where I get my charm from," Alfaic jested. "And what are you here for, Arisz?"
"Don't turn the question on me. You already know the rules. I was made to protect her," He finished off with the last word. "Remember; I'm here for her, not you."
Alfaic's eyes sunk in admission over his own thoughts, watching hopelessly as Arisz grouped together in-between Lyn and Claire. "Hello, ladies." He heard Arisz say in a flirtatious manner, but he drowned out the voices of their conversation with the haziness clouding his mind. He knew Arisz was right, but to him, it didn't matter what the far distant future held as long as the goal of ending the Rot Mother was successful. Everything else was considered a fallacy to him that he chose not to dwell on.
Before he would regroup with the others, he set his eyes on Lyn, whose smile and energy seemed much brighter than usual.