A Glimmer in Frigid Caverns - Chapter 1

 The farther in you went, the higher the frozen spears rose, reflecting the occasional, faint trace of light. Glemme hid only here, awaiting any who dared to challenge her might. She had been defeated many times, seldom winning against those who braved the path, but it didn't matter: she was a Guardian.

Now, a red Tectowl waited for her return from the inky blackness, which barricaded all except she within the small confines. Nocturne had spent the last two days exploring this place, easily banishing the weak creatures that confronted him; they posed little threat after spending so long waiting for a fight against Antis.


“Come on, Glemme,” he urged quietly while eying the crystalline ceiling, watching it for signs of movement. Suddenly, the smudged form of an Ice Dolf skulked behind the stalagmites, most likely hoping to get a preemptive attack. He only scoffed, throwing his Scythe and Ring of Beta.

It yelped as the blade slashed across its side, revealing frozen innards, chunks of ice splintering from its form. It fled, whimpering as it dropped an amulet in its hastiness.

“Should fetch a good price,” he mused, placing it in the bag hung lightly from his neck. Its only contents were the few weapons he carried, and the occasional Item.


He continued to pace from one end of the corridor to the other, still staring above all the while. Flowing water was visible, sustained by mere inches of its frozen kin. Legend said that this place had once been one large block of ice, until Glemme hollowed it into her home.

Several of the walls had ancient symbols etched into their surface, none of which had yet been translated. They evoked a strong feeling of pride, most likely a remnant from the days when this style or writing was the norm. He had spent many hours feeling the delicately carved tablets, admiring their unseen meaning.

Momentarily entranced by the mystic indentions, his mind snapped back to attention as a distant, feminine laughter rang in his ears, amplified by the minuscule space. He looked every which way, dashing to the hallway's other end. No unusual sight greeted him — Glemme wasn't there; anymore, at least.

He growled in annoyance, arms crossed. “So, I suppose you're going to turn this into a game, eh?” Another laugh sounded, this time louder; and also closer. She hovered out of the shadows before him just barely, her frame encased by a ghastly aura of chilled air. Winking once, Glemme retreated back under the cover of darkness.

“Well, this is just one big game, now isn't it?” Her echo–less voice was both strong and tender, sentence spoken with a tone that implied she was stating the obvious. Disregarding safety, he dared to step into the unknown after her, feeling the ground take on an unusual feel. No light could brighten this black, even as a lone streak hit it directly.

“Ugh. Idiot,” Glemme mumbled to herself, surrounding him within a thin barrier. It would keep the Dungeons at bay, for at least a moment. Still hidden, she shoved him forcefully back into the clarity of day.

He yelled, crashing to the ground with a dull thud. She slapped a hand to her face, silently groaning. Apparently, keeping this Tectowl from harm would be harder than first predicted.

“What's the deal, Glemme?!” he yelled; “Trying to keep me from finding you before the masses charge in?” He rushed back in the shade, only to be tossed out for the second time. She narrowly resisted the urge to send a biting retort to the arrogant bird.

“Come out and face me!” he challenged, rising. Concealed behind their protective spears, dozens of various beasts looked on in amazement. Few had ever been so bold in their attempts to fight their “mother.”


Silence reigned dominant for well past a minute as his temper cooled to match their surroundings, Glemme watching with a tired expression. To her, it was all foolish courage that none but a select few deserved, fueled on by falsely–achieved strength; she believed real strength was gained through more means than just brute force.

He lowered to the floor with a defeated sigh, resigning to failure before the fight had even begun. This action piqued her curiosity about his true intentions. Looking to her side, Glemme flew deeper into the umbra, hoping to find where Octovan and Octelvani lurked.

————

The darkness that surrounded this world revealed the truth, the two had found: the universe was shattered. Only small–sized bits and pieces remained. Octovan and Octelvani were supposedly the oldest beings still in existence, and they resided in the oldest place: Clockwork Tower.

The mysterious void was the only connection between each given zone, new ones being spewed out at random intervals. Why the world was in its current state was unknown, but the two Tectowls were constantly researching in the hope of solving the puzzle.


Glemme glided free of the all–consuming black, through the only entrance to her destination: a warp disk suspended in mid–air. She lowered slowly, landing on a well–hidden grate. Taking a moment to check — and then double–check — she stomped on the one bar that was thicker than the others, a doorway opening several feet away when she did, creaking noisily. Just behind it, Octovan and Octelvani stood, staring straight forward, as if they were expecting her arrival.

“Come in,” they both greeted in sync, gazes emotionless. She nodded, always slightly disturbed by their odd behavior.


“I need to ask you something,” Glemme said, eyes exploring the massive study they were in; “about this one Tectowl,” she hastily added, remembering the last time she had been so vague: they had retrieved a hefty encyclopedia, and read from it for nearly twelve minutes before she interrupted.

“Ask away,” they calmly replied, sitting on either side of the room, in chairs positioned exactly opposite of the other. Everything seemed to be set–up in such a manner that any unsuspecting guest would think them controlled by the same mind; Glemme still believed they were.

She sighed, pushing the thought from her mind. “There's this one Tectowl in my cavern, who seems full of himself, but unlike all the others who were the same way, his bravado is easily extinguished. I want you both to tell me what you know of him.”

“He is a red Tectowl. He is a male. He has an Ichie called Saplett who is —”

“No, no, no,” Glemme interjected impatiently, waving her hands, “just… You know what I want to know, and I suck at wording things, so just tell me already.”

Octelvani alone nodded, now standing. “He is a good soul, who may be of importance to us later. Although hot–headed at the current time, that will slowly begin to change once his skirmish with you is over. The fight will not last long, even if you attack him with all your power; he prepared long and hard for this.”

At last, Glemme thought, a broad smile on her face, they finally answer my question without a thousand useless facts firsts.

“Thanks!” she said with a wave, running out of the dark, circular room. The two reciprocated her action, Octovan then pulling a thin book from the shelf behind him without checking what he was taking.

“History of Ichua, Volume XXXIV: over twenty-five thousand words, all compacted into the span of thirty–five pages. Amazing, is it not?” he mused, turning the dust–ridden cover to reveal the scrawled signatures of eight different beings.

Octelvani sighed contentedly, retrieving a red, apple–shaped book from her coffee table. At first glance, it gave the impression of a children's picture book. “Yes, it is, but not as amazing as Unexpected Facts, I am sure you agree.” Carefully lifting it open, the name she had just mentioned was printed in large, bold writing.

Octovan had a simple reply: “Indeed.”

————

Glemme's return was rushed. If the Tectowl agreed to never facing her now, the results would surely be dire for many, many lives. Once she saw him, still sulking in the same place, a relieved sigh flew free of her lungs.

She was about to simply leap out and initiate the fight, but froze as soon as she recalled how she was meant to act when facing an opponent: mature, sophisticated, and powerful. Scoffing, Glemme re–created the pointless blue glow, then floating masterfully out of the dark.

“Congratulations, Tectowl,” she began in her ever–regal voice, “it is now time to test your power against my own.” Nocturne jumped upright, only now noticing her.

“Do you mean it?” he asked excitedly, hopping. Glemme nodded, restraining laughter as best she could — seeing her next challenger like this made it, at the very least, tricky to maintain her facade.

Regaining his composure, Nocturne drew his Scythe and Ring of Beta, Glemme then forming two elongated spears of ice, gripping them firmly once fully shaped. He charged forward, throwing both weapons at once.

Glemme had no intentions of evasion, instead letting them score direct hits. She put on a show of acting injured, weakly throwing her weighty projectiles with less than wonderful aim. The process continued twice more before she was truly defeated, Nocturne throwing the same objects as she pretended to be mortally wounded, hardly bothering to return fire.

She fell to her knees, exhausted from the continuous strikes. Her own attacks had only a small impact; her counselors had been right.

“You have bested me,” she admitted, slowly and unsteadily standing, “and for your resounding victory, I offer you my skill whenever you request it.”

At this, Nocturne tilted his head in confusion. “What?”

“I'm giving you my Summon!” Glemme yelled, disregarding her otherwise elegant speech pattern; “Isn't there some sort of manual for you guys to read before you come and fight us?” Not bothering to catch herself, she instead crossed her arms, a smirk slowly spreading across her lips at his shocked stare.

“O-oh,” Nocturne stuttered, momentarily stunned at her sudden change, “thank you, then.” She nodded, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah yeah yeah, you're welcome, kid. Now get out of here — and don't drown in the lake! Drago wants someone still living to fight.” Winking, she tossed him a small amulet with her face carved carefully on one side.

“Use that whenever you need my help.”

As she turned to leave, he called, “Wait! I need to ask you something!”

Glemme paused mid–step, turning with an exasperated look on her face. “Ask whatever you want, except getting my Battle Card. Come back in an hour, and we'll discuss that.”

He cleared his throat, standing as tall as possible. “What do the markings on these walls mean?”

She quirked a brow, not expecting him to ask such a simple question. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Glemme wondering how to answer it, until the perfect idea struck her.

“You'll need to ask Drago, I'm afraid. He'll lead you in the right direction,” she said as innocently as possible. Just to ensure he didn't see her grin, she turned to away, biting her lower lip.

“Great,” Nocturne replied, easily fooled by her deception,  “I'll do that.” He then left, certain that she had said to him all she had to say.


Once he was out of sight, all of Glemme's “children” swarmed to her side, pushing any sort of restorative treats they had within reaching distance. She chuckled, taking a small vial of orange liquid while patting one on the head. “How kind of you, little ones.”

————

The young Tectowl departed the frigid mountainside, now beginning the trek to Drago. Much to his delight, the Sun was quick in warming his cold, feathered body.

The stone now hanging from his neck would serve as a constant reminder of the first time he had met Glemme, and the first Summon he had ever been gifted with. The next destination would prove to be a challenge for both he and she, but only two knew this…

        Fin.