Ryka and A Hard Place

Ryka an A Hard Place 2

2

A part of Terry wondered how the Wine Cellar AI did not respond to anything that happened. Even if it did bother with his decision to not take the wine at least it must have heard that ridiculously loud concrete door moving. How could he be walking so confidently in complete darkness? How can this tunnel not show up on the mansions building plans when he saw them last week? Was this Rykan Magic? Where the hell was Luxar when he needed him? And most importantly, Where in the name all that is sane was he going? At the end of the tunnel was a ladder, which of course he climbed so confidently one would think he built the place himself.

Terry surfaced on the top side of the tunnel, through a very cleverly concealed trapdoor that bore an uncanny striking resemblance to the floor around it. The hole he was stepping out of didn’t even look like a hole. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense.” said half-whispered voice. Terry almost flew out of the not-a-real-hole, “Show yourself!” he demanded.

“Not yet time my boy but very soon.” it crooned. Silence.

Terry was staring at the point in the floor where he came out from; there was no trapdoor outline just…floor, polished wooden floor. There had to be some clever trick to it. He would have to ponder it later, the urging in his mind had grown even more insistent. He would have a talk with Terra, his brother’s urge must be what he was feeling right now, being a twin is overrated. He didn’t care how but it had to be Terra’s fault.

He was in a small square featureless room with no furniture, or windows. There was a door, a double door, which was blue with a giant black symbol on it. It parted sideways as he approached it. He stepped into a corridor; its end was to his left, a blue wall with the same strange symbol engraved on it. He walked the other way he couldn’t see the end of it, or he couldn’t focus on it, he kept looking away at the wall or at the floor or simply blurring everything. The air seemed to pulse and the insistent urging seemed to intensify tenfold. Terra was nearby, he would have some serious explaining to do.

3PM, Wednesday 20th (Kyoto, Japan)

A woman worked in the kitchen, her deep black hair packed up in a bun. Other women worked in the kitchen, preparing different meals, she checked on everyone, tasting dishes and lashing out instructions. When she was satisfied that everyone was generally working in the right way. She moved over to a free counter in the vast kitchen, she started on the special dish.

“Fedora, er have you perhaps seen the twins?” asked a tall long haired man.

She normally doesn’t let any man enter her kitchen but even he knew the times he could disturb her. The man was her husband. “Shuhei be a darling and fetch me that basket of radishes by the end of the counter”.

He knew the drill, he sent his mind questing for a basket of radishes…found it. He then focused his mind and lifted the basket through the air and set it gently on the counter.

“The idea was that you would go there and pick it up for me like a gentleman…not furrow your brows and send it floating through the air.” she complained.

“The twins!?” his patience was wearing thin.

She loved needling him, “I saw Terra leaving the main room running from that nice Brenna Chalava, shortly after Terry left the main room too. I think to the wine cellar. Now I need to complete this special before dinner so…?”

“Why now? Always running around.” He sounded exasperated.

“Do stop grumbling dear, you don’t want to be like Grandpa Ricardo.” She said absently

He snarled and stomped off.

3PM Wednesday 20th(Kyoto, Japan)

Terra stared in disbelief, the door at the end the passageway opened at his approach. Now he was standing in a cavernous room that looked like it was too large to be in the Mansion. The room…no hall had rock walls, slightly larger than soccer field, on a far wall a big blue banner with a black symbol, a lightning bolt set in a circle, behind the circle a katana crossing a dragon. It looked like a modified version of the current Kashimi Emblem. The entire cavern was sectioned with colored floating orbs marking different areas, some filled with weapons, some with armor, some just had furniture and books others had strange-looking equipment. Two giant statues placed in opposite ends of the room as silent sentinels.

“So what do yoeu think?” said a man in a black suit.

“W-Who are you?” asked Terra, more shocked than ever.

“Ah, the memories in this place.” The man drank from a cup that materialized instantly. “This is some strong stuff!” he exclaimed, peering at the cup.

“How did you do that? Where am I?” His eyes started assimilating his new environment. “You’d better answer me?!” He was losing his temper.

“Cool it kid, er all your answers will be questioned in time.” He frowned. “Or some other Asian mumbo jumbo.”

“I am Terra Kashimi II, you must know your place. You have-“

“No right to keep information from us!” Terry was fuming as he was walking into the cavern-hall.

“Luxar, why is the other one this upset? The empathy link shouldn’t be that strong.” asked Black Suit Man.

“I might have toyed with him a little” said a blue-suited man that just stepped out of a nearby wall. “His brother’s anger only amplified it.”

Terra was appraising the Black Suit Man, he wore a very well-tailored black suit that looked seamless. When the man moved they were almost no creases, and some parts of the outfit seemed to glitter and gleam. The black emblem was on the breast of the suit.

“Now that we are all here…, let’s begin.” Black suit Man stood. “We have never had a formal introduction, but I’ve known you all your life.”

“Lies!” Terry snarled.

The man turned to Terra, “You call me ‘Blu’, and my real name is Bluzarka Prince Guardian”. The air shimmered around the man, as though it had been there since, Terra’s pet was now perched on the arm of the settee. Wasn’t his pet perched on his shoulder when he came in? When did it leave?

“H-How? You…” Terra was too shocked, words failed him.

“I suppose you have a surprise for me as well.” said Terry, who was staring pointedly at Man-in-Blue.

“Hah! I like your spunk kid. I am Luxar Prince Guardian, you call me ‘Lux’.” As quick as before a wolf cub that was no doubt Terry’s Rykan pet was sitting on its haunches returning Terry’s gaze.

Bluzarka reverted to his black suit form. “I know it’s a lot to swallow but we don’t got time to explain everything”

“We have only one request… Forget your rationality. Most Rykan pets belong to Masters like your Aunt Rayen, and even they have reached a certain power level before they showed that side of their abilities. Your pet could always fly and Terry’s pet could walk on air.” Luxar said. “You never found that odd?”

“We are gonna be here for a little while… Put these on.” He handed them some instantly materialized robes.

“Welcome back your Highness’ to the Rykan Hall of Duality.”