Loomian Legacy Veils of Shadow

A Lesson in Power

Thane didn't know what to expect when he approached the old man, and he was hesitant to enter his home when he ushered him in, but his Loomians provided some comfort. Thane barely had time to take a seat at the table before the old man opened his mouth. "Young man, are you a Loomian Trainer by any chance?" Thane glanced at his team before looking up at the man. "Yes, sir." He said with a nod. "Good, then maybe you can help. My name is Marco." The old man introduced himself. He sat down across from him and offered him and his Loomians some tea, which Thane felt bad refusing.

As Thane and his Loomians sipped on their drink, Marco explained his situation. "Earlier today, something crash-landed in the forest. I don't know where it came from or what it was, a stone chunk I think, but I didn't get a good look at it. It landed in the Pink Grove deep in the woods." Thane's interest was peaked, this could only be a piece of the tablet. "When I went to check to see if Duskit was alright, it, it was different. It had changed, and it attacked me. I think that stone had something to do with it." Marco must have seen Thane's confusion and explained further. "Duskit is the town's Guardian Loomian. But something had happened to it, and because of that stone."

Marco sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I wouldn't task this to a greenhorn, but I'm desperate. The police won't help, and I don't have any Loomians of my own." He stared hard into Thane's eyes. "You and your Loomians are my best hope." Embit and Twittle looked at each other uneasily and waited for Thane's answer. "I'll do it." He said with determination. What other choice did he have? There was no way this wasn't the tablet, and if it was doing something to the Loomians, then he had to do something about it. That's why he was here, wasn't it?

Marco nodded before getting up. "Before you go." He said as he pulled out an old wooden box. He set it on the table while Embit and Twittle watched curiously. He opened the box and with shaky, bony fingers, he pulled out a clear vial containing a clear blue liquid and pressed it into Thane's open hand. "In case you need an edge in battle, if it comes down to that." Thane turned the glass vial in his hands and regarded it with suspicion. "What is it?" He asked. "It's a power booster. When a Loomian drinks it, its power, defense, and speed are enhanced, and it isn't a temporary boost, it's a permanent one, but only use it as an absolute last resort." Marco warned and Thane raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's the catch?"

Marco took a deep breath. "Once, once a Loomian drinks it, it will never be able to evolve in its entire lifetime."

Embit and Twittle shrunk back behind Thane. "The Loomian will still have a normal life span." Marco continued, ignoring the shocked expression on Thane's face. "It just won't evolve." Thane placed the vial in his pocket. "Thank you, Marco, but we won't be needing it." He turned to leave, but Marco stopped him.

"Wait, if you encounter Duskit, don't even bother with the Loomipedia. We have never let a researcher near Duskit, so there isn't a Loomipedia Entry for it. But here's what you need to know about it." Thane listened closely with a hard stare. "Duskit is a Spirit and Mind type. Many decades ago, a boy and his Loomian went into the forest, and they sadly perished. The family buried the boy under a cherry blossom tree, and the Loomian's spirit has watched over his resting place, and the rest of the forest and the town ever since." "So you want us to fight a ghost then?" Thane asked. Marco shook his head. "Not fight, just see if there's a peaceful way to end this."

Thane nodded and made his way to the front door. "As soon as we figure out what's going on, we'll come back." He assured and Marco nodded gratefully. "Thank you! Good luck!" He called out as Thane and his team stepped out of the house. "Don't worry guys, I won't make you guys drink it," Thane said once they were out of earshot from the house, much to the relief of his Loomians.

The forest felt, off. Forests were supposed to be lively, but everything was still, and quiet, too quiet. A dark aura surrounded them, it was suffocating. There were no Loomians around, and not even the trees swayed in the wind. Embit and Twittle must have sensed how wrong everything was, and they stuck closely to Thane. After walking for some time, with nothing but trees all around, they stumbled upon something different. A small meadow with pink flowers, and in the center, a cherry blossom tree. But that wasn't what caught Thane's eye, it was the purple stone piece that lay in front of the tree.