The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo (Books 1-3)

Three Deities Chapter 6- Ruben & Seraphi

~Chapter 6- Ruben & Seraphi~

Two masses composed of stones rolled across the grey-scale Platt Mountains at high speed, bouncing up off the ground whenever there was a bump in the rocky terrain. The two masses were racing through the mountains. The larger one was able to build up greater speed as it went, but the smaller one had greater control. They were Densius, beings comprised entirely of rocks These ones had learned how to roll along the ground.

The two passed into a mountain cave. Small cracks in the cavern's frame served to provide them with light as they sped through. They began to approach a dead end, and rather than stop, the two burst through the rock wall back outside.

A series of rocks were set together, serving as the endpoint of their race. The two continued to roll towards them with increasing speed. The smaller of the rock beings evaded the outcropping of rocks in its way, but the larger one simply burst through them. The smaller one's tact served it well, reaching the endpoint of their race first.

The smaller stone being skidded to a halt before extending its four rocky limbs and head. The Densius stood, its ruby red irises fixed on its incoming friend. The larger of the Densius stopped. It stretched its hulking rock arms and legs and stood as well.

"Beat you this time, Seraphi!" Ruben, the smaller of the Densius said.

Seraphi looked down at Ruben with bright blue irises. It shrugged and nodded. Its way of saying it was a good race. Seraphi understood everything that Ruben uttered but still hadn't learned to speak. It usually took about a decade until a Densius could speak properly; it had only been two years since Seraphi's Heartstone ritual.

Seraphi looked to the stones that composed its shoulder - one of them had cracked during the race. The hulking Densius picked at the ground for a stone of comparable size. It pulled the cracked stone from its body and held the new one in its place. In moments that stone bonded itself to Seraphi's body.

Ruben walked along the eastern part of the mountains with Seraphi, looking out to Challenger's Lake - The eye-shaped lake which rested to the southeast of their mountains. A small circular island sat at the center of the lake, Challenger's Isle.

"See that over there, Seraphi?" Ruben pointed towards the lake. Seraphi nodded its head.

"Every three years, a festival is held on that island, where people all over the world meet. The last time I was there, my friends and I entered a fighting tournament. I'll get to see them all again next year."

Ruben thought back to its friends, Jirro, Corri, Aero, Nout, and Temp. The boulder child had traveled all around the land with them, seeing things that it never imagined existed. It was the most exciting time in its life.

"Can-..." Seraphi managed to utter.

Ruben looked at Seraphi.

"Can-..." Seraphi struggled to get the words out, "Can I-"

"Can you go?" Ruben said, guessing at what Seraphi was trying to say. The large Densius nodded enthusiastically, "Of course, you can. If you entered the tournament, you'd probably do very well."

Ruben curled its arms, legs, and head around its round body, as did Seraphi. They began to roll back to their settlement further up the mountain. Emer would be awaiting their return.

Dozens of other Densius lived there, each with varying body types and eye colors. At the top of a hill nearby sat Elder Dimon, a 425-year-old Densius with silver eye stones. It had been meditating for over a week in search of enlightenment, assuring everyone that it was close.

Only one living Densius was known to have reached enlightenment, to see beyond the rocks that formed its body and control the earth around them. The strongest of all the Densius, Amethi. At over 700 years old, it was considered to be among the world's four strongest individuals.

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An individual climbed the mountain up to the Densius settlement, a young Ralosian boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, and rugged clothing. Ruben smiled as it saw him, "Jirro! About time you showed up!"

Jirro looked at Ruben and smiled back, "How've you been, Ruben?"

"Pretty good," Ruben said with a rocky smile. Seraphi walked up behind him, "Do you remember Seraphi?"

Jirro looked up at the hulking Densius with squinted eyes. It took him a moment to recognize it, "You're that Densius that we found in the tunnels! I knew you were familiar!"

Seraphi simply nodded, the stones forming its mouth curling up slightly.

Ruben said, "Seraphi hasn't learned how to speak quite yet. But he remembers you too!"

Jirro walked with them into the Densius settlement, "Are my cousins or any of the others here?"

Ruben shook its head, "Nah. I haven't seen Nout and Temp since we all split up. But Aero dropped by with his girlfriend. Corri's been... everywhere. She stopped by here and went to see Nout's new home in the Ralosian isles. Apparently, they've been exploring the ocean around there."

"That's good to hear," Jirro replied. He continued, "Mind if I stick around for a little while? I've been busy and could use a break!" Jirro asked.

"You never have to ask. Of course, you can stay!"