Aura of Creation and Destruction

Chapter 2

Always keep your heart open, even when your mind tells you to shut everyone away.

The town of Alabastro was open to the world; welcoming to creatures of all kinds. Locals were free to come and go to and from town's many destinations, so long as the on duty guards kept track of the populous. Under veil of night, town would turn pitch black, illuminating cosmic clouds alongside starry skies. That however was many moons ago. These days the town was somewhat civilized, illuminated with lanterns burning oily liquids: berry rinds, sugar and fermented alcohols. This invention tamed the skies above and allowed the local businesses to flourish. Mid summer brought bounties of fruit, berries and resources for the townsfolk to feast on, all carried over by fledgling entrepreneurs hoping to make a quick deal for coin. Going hungry wasn't something the locals believed would happen anytime soon, but ample supplies were prepared if that situation were to ever come to light.

The town's library stood quietly at night, while across the street the bar was behaving much the opposite, with hustle and bustle and no end in sight. It held a shanty sign that shook in the wind's breeze. It towered five stories high and held housing and food stores, which naturally was a sight to behold for the numerous foreigners and locals. In the distance were a few less than savory spots down south, converted homes running the trimmings of inventive ideas. The town's bar had little competition with these places which made it the perfect mainstay hub for all who saw it useful. Many tourists and passerby's simply stopped in here and there, made friends, and forged bonds through that venue.

Gaito and Faosha had begun their long walk back into town. It was as winding as it was straightforward, the sun had already set in that time. In the nearby woods, what seemed like 2 or 3 dozen Volbeat and Illumise firebugs started to appear from out of the woodwork. Each of them floating peacefully through the air. Not one was taller than a few feet. The bright red males bore a blinking tail light. These beings were sentient; communicative, they sure could talk you out of your seat over a good meal. Known for combat however, they were not. The females of the species had had no offensive potential whatsoever, leaving them in need of protection. They relied on their mates to defend them with harsh flashing lights and other means of protection from wild predators.

The woodlands stretched on, rivers flowed and created their serene scoundscape, the landscape shifted with wildlife every so often. The pair slowly followed their path back into town on their guided intuition. Gaito begun to feel boredom set in. He allowed his mind to wander back to Faosha's past lessons. She had left Gaito lost in the thickets of the woods, forcing him use calm thinking to utilize survival tactics in order to find his way back home.

He spoke up about the memory as they were walking through the foliage, rustling and shifting beneath with each footstep. "Say Faosha, somewhere in these woods I made a rope bridge to cross a chasm, do you suppose its still up?"

She answered in her usual self-centered way. "Well nature gives and takes back its gifts. Its likely, but usually it would be swallowed up by the wood. Maybe not in an instant, but over a long stretch of time. Wooded areas aren't my thing anyway."

Finally after an immeasurable time walking, Gaito and Faosha had reached the town's lit exterior gates. Gaito felt particularly exhausted, munching in his palm on a Sitrus treat as they were greeted by the on site guard.

An awkward, grizzled, amphibious voice greeted them. "Good to see you here again, sonnies."

They had met many guards of the town through their wooded excursions. Most of the ancient turtles got to play their roles for this. He looked to be 200 years old. His face was typical for his species and his voice's natural bellow came off as protective. His shoulder cannons could fire off barrages of aura energy at would-be invaders.

Gaito casually greeted the guard as he took another bite of his handled fruit. "Hey Tut."

Faosha gave the turtle a polite waive and a smile. She was personally familiar with Tut's great great great grand kids. They came in to the temple for some simple aura lessons a few months back. Their aura did not manifest in a harmful manner thanks to the knowledge she passed down. As a village bathed in the ways of aura, they were a people long in need of a teacher like Faosha, and while family hand me downs could get the villagers far, she could bring outsiders in. It's most unusual for the aura of destruction's users to become something they weren't before, but a new generation needed welcoming and warmth, not shunning to be left out in the cold. With their greeting concluded and past the gates, they headed west to the temple.