Migrating Vale

[Apollymi]

Everyone she left behind seemed to be finding their own form of amusement. She couldn't really wait to see what they gleaned from this experience. But for now she had to find her own path and this path lead to the sealed cave. Strangely, this place was where she'd started her adventure, and in coming here, she could undertake the Trial of Interpretation or she could simply deviate and interact with her Dragon Hourglass. Her first time here, she'd chosen just one of these options, but being here now she had to choose both. She approached a cave which seemed to be rather ominous appearing from the outside. Within no light shown through and it seemed to be a bit void of all the energy which funneled around the whole of the Migrating Vale. 'Hm, this place is a lit creepier than I remember...' she thought to herself. Regardless there was a certain depth she had to reach in order to find the spot which housed her Dragon Hourglass and a certain amount of movement through the cave, she needed to accomplish in order to have access to the abilities she wanted. Given this she floated forward before allowing her feet to touch the floor of the cave. As soon as this had happened with her hand firmly grasping the pillow, the whole of the cave went dark and the light behind her disappeared.

"Great, its super dark and scary now... whatever. At least I don't have to worry about that weird guy popping up in my vision if I can't see anything," she muttered as she walked forward. This cave seemed void of anything for quite some time. She had no sense of her own depth within it, but soon she felt a characteristic hum. A glowing warmth and a slightly fluttering buzzy feeling. A breeze of warmth moved by her face, trying to guide her towards something. As she turned fully to her right. She felt it. Two cave entrances within a large gap of opening. One, with a visible glowing with warmth seeming to be inviting. The other, still dark and thus unknown. From here she had a choice to make. Follow the warmth and finish here, or follow the darkness and continue searching. She turned to the opening at her left and continued hearing a voice lightly protest. "Oi, we could have been done already. I know you felt me... why do you want to stick around in this cave anyway..." she heard from the voice with the utmost impatience. "Gomen... I know its difficult, but patience is necessary. Not all things can happen instantly..." she murmured. This was fine, and that little bit of warmth let her know she was on the right path. Spirits of Fire were impatient and happily served those scared of the Dark, only if they had the power to face their fears. Though she could not see it, she could at least hear it, and that was a start. Having done this the whole of this cave seemed to have a bit of its fog lifted. It wasn't an all consuming darkness, she could make out the shape as she headed further down what appeared to be a very narrow passage way. Was the next leg of this trial just around the corner? And what of the green haired man she'd seen when trying to enter the Migrating Vale, was he part of this somehow?

[Bloodedge]

Miki's mention of the 'weird guy' she'd seen twice since arriving at the arch, as if on cue, heralded his appearance once more. He could have been visible even in this darkness, yet he wasn't at all. That is, until Miki stepped along the narrow passage toward her next milestone. He was out ahead of her, facing the direction in which she moved. In previous moments, he had turned to face Miki. This time, he did not. His appearance had adjusted once more, skin lightening again, and the green roots of his otherwise white hair spreading further. His eyes went unseen this time, but there was a bit more green in them as well. Stepping forward into a darker path, he vanished once more.

[Apollymi]

Her thoughts of the green haired man brought him back into her vision. She jumped backwards, taking note that he looked somewhat different than he had the two times previous. She couldn't see his face, but even in this narrow space she saw him. Within the Migrating Vale nothing truly malevolent could properly enter. At least that was the lore. 'Maybe, I'm still just seeing things...' Miki thought to herself. She said pausing and rubbing her eyes. She was trying not to be afraid, but it was hard to keep calm while things you didn't understand where happening around you. Once more the lad disappeared from her vision. 'Alright, get it together!' she thought to herself, slapping her cheeks soon after until she felt she'd knocked out any residual fear and she could continue forward into this darkness.

This narrow path lead twisting and turning down this corridor until it reached another open space. This one was much smaller than the previous one and was quiet. No dripping water, no shifting rocks... simply nothing. She'd almost forgotten what she was here for. The appearance of that strange person kept dragging her thoughts. 'Maybe, he'll be able to tell me what that is when I get there,' she thought of the man who oversaw these trails. In this small space she turned with her eyes closed and her calm returned. She was waiting for something, anything to hint to her the right way to go. "Tehehehe~" A small giggle could be heard. Carried, echoing down one of the pathways. But which one? 'Concentrate. Only one path will lead to the next one... how do I figure out which one it is...' she tried to think through the situation. It wasn't exactly clear, the noise had stopped completely but then from her right side, she felt it. A gentle caress of the wind. 'This way?' she questioned turning in place until she was facing the right direction, her eyes still closed to allow her other senses, including her magical ones to try and decipher the right direction to go in. But there was nothing. "Oh, I get it..." she did an about face, turning in the exact opposite direction of the one she was facing. The sound itself was traveling down wind. "Tehetehetehe~" the giggling returned hinting that the lass had taken the proper direction.

"Hai hai, here I come." and with that she traversed a path that was technically to her left when she entered this room, walking down walls which were almost slotted, with small gusts of wind coming in and out and the entirety of this path sounding like the inside of a musical instrument. But here she could feel this new breeze against her skin and understood exactly what it was she was looking for, by the time she was allowed to make another choice, it was very simply right or left. To the right, was full down wind, and take her to the place which housed all of the wind based power she'd been feeling. But to the left there was nothing once more. "Hm, I guess it's for the best," she turned left and began to walk a swift breeze chasing her down and caressing her face again. "You don't have to keep going, I can help you. Aren't we enough?" asked the spirit which danced around moving locks of the lass' hair about as she fluttered about her hair. Still Miki couldn't see this entity but she could hear it clearly. "Well, I have a lot to do. The challenges ahead are still uncertain. Bare with me..." she asked politely. The air of this place felt immediately less dense. And though everything was still somewhat numb, Miki could feel Mana again a bit more finitely than before. Wind Spirits were gentle creatures who knew goodness from evil and good intentions from negative ones. They respected those who pushed ahead, even in the face of uncertainty. How much did she wish to gain from this journey? How many times would she avoid stopping? The ground down this path was unusually soft... each granule seemed to shift even under Miki's gentle steps, such was the difficulty of the next phase she would undertake.

[Bloodedge]

Another path complete, another spirit of nature met for the young Druid undergoing her second trial of life. The overseer was quite interested by this leg of her journey. Many Druids of her age and exposure would have ended this trial with the wind spirit, if not earlier. Would she be one of few to go the distance? He wondered...

Onto the path of loamy soil. What would a new trek be without another visit from a dear friend? Yes, the lad with his shifting features became clear again as the ground around him shifted, almost as if it wished to react to his presence even though it couldn't truly do so. The figure wasn't standing during this appearance. No, instead he was crouched low as he reached out to the soft soil beneath his bare feet. His expression was forlorn, tears just about producing to the point of cascading down his face. Again, he didn't look Miki's way; he instead turned his head to look farther down the path ahead before he faded.

[Apollymi]

This softer soil was harder to move across. Miki's steps became measured and she tried to concentrate on moving her weight about and not letting herself sink too deeply nor shift too suddenly. 'Alright, I know there is no one else here, but still don't fall...' she thought to herself. After all, the Overseer of this trial was still watching, she didn't want to make a fool of herself.

And yet, she would.

As she walked along this new path, in the loamy soil the green haired man she'd been seeing was stooped over. He wasn't looking at her this time, but he was still creepy nonetheless. He seemed to be on the verge of tears, and though freaked out, Miki still didn't like seeing someone so upset. "Hey, are you..." this figure looked out into the distance and then, disappeared. 'Fuck me. Why am I trying to talk to a ghost or imaginary creature, whatever the fuck he is. It's fine. It's cool. I'm fine.' She muttered to herself. But she'd stood still too long and sank into this loose soil up to her ankles, she moved once more, pressing onward. She wondered what kind of thing she should be looking for but felt nothing. Upon entering the next opening there were literal dozens of tunnels leading out from here. How was she to decide? Some were stacked high upon others, some so low to the ground they needed to be crawled through. What was she supposed to do to know which way to go? 'I guess it can't hurt...' she murmured as she got down on on the ground. Here she sat her legs crossed and eyes closed. She placed her hands and bare skin against this constantly shifting surface. And there were a few moments still of silence. Deep unknowable silence but then she felt it. Not the breeze or warmth against her skin, but the vibrations across her person. Sitting so still her body began to hover just over the ground and turn of its own accord.

Only when it stopped did she open her eyes. Her hands pointed towards a low tunnel. One which could have been missed if you were walking. It lead not straight ahead, but down, into the depths. More loosely shifting loamy soil to be traversed. Miki had no choice. Here with no one else around, she crawled forward on her hands and knees, her bottom up in the air as she magically dragged along her spear. 'Ugh this would be really embarrassing if anyone else was along.' she thought a red tint coming to her face. Still the more she moved this way the more comfortable her movements became. The softness of the soil in her fingers reminded her of building sand castles and playing on the beach as a child. 'Actually, it's pretty fun though,' she thought as a simple slip of her hand left her to tumble down what was built almost like a slide. There was no increased friction only a giggle or two once the shock wore off. "Hahahaha!" her laughter rang out as she stumbled to a stop. More stand followed a path straight forward of where she'd come out. And she could feel it. The magnetic pull towards the end. Something she could tangibly be done with. Behind her, more darkness and unknown things. She giggled and turned standing and ridding herself of loose soil, it had been fun. "One more then, huh?" she asked aloud as she stepped towards the more adult sized opening. "Aww, we could stay and have more fun. You really don't have to be such a drag..." she heard the words of a new spirit and chuckled. "There is always fun to be had... it's even sweeter when all the work is done," she said truly meaning it. This spirit seemed to be a bit impish, but the earth spirits favored fun and toil. They liked to see the fruits of their labor and enjoy the simple things. They had no problem with anyone who did both. With that in mind Miki moved on, assuming one more challenge lay ahead of her as she headed down into a new space which seemed to drip with water.

[Bloodedge]

No apparition would reveal itself to Miki as she trekked onward to the water-related section of this trial. At least, there would be nothing of the one that had been 'haunting' her for the duration of her Migrating Vale visit thus far. She did have an attempted visitor, though. A purple-haired knight from the land in the sky, had finally arrived at the end of his trail. He landed at ground level some time ago, and had only just reached the forest outside. Alas, he could not bear witness to the arch which gave way to the Migrating Vale itself. As far as he could tell, his target had simply vanished upon reaching the forest. Where could she have gone? "Tch! Trail's dead," he mumbled. "Yare yare. Am I going to have to scan this entire forest like some sort of hunter? Should've brought Tristan..."

[Apollymi]

Miki went on, unaware of the Knight who trailed her path. At the very least, at least the forest he'd find himself in was peaceful and without blemish. Whatever the case, Miki's own path took her along, the constant drip of water being something she was now dealing with. Every step or two, a single drop would land on her; on her face, in her hair, and when she looked up once, even in her eye. 'Ugh, that's going to drive me insane...' she thought. But there were worse things she supposed. As she made her way down this dank pathway she'd eventually find herself in a strange place. There was no where for her to go. No path for her to follow only a room round and airtight aside from the way she came in. 'There was only a straight path and this was the only way to go... why?' she question. Still the dripping, but in this room it was more plentiful. It felt like a gentle rain shower below ground. How was she to sort this exactly? Where was all this water coming from? There was only one real answer, and it'd been looking in her face the entire time. Directly above her head in this room there was a large pool of water. She looked up into it, and it seemed most endless. This was apparently the only way she could go from here. Beyond the darkness she could see but a single sparkle.

"Hm... I guess this is the big plunge one. Water is a pretty frightening element. It's also in everything. It would be really easy to back down now..." she said softly. Noting that even though she'd come all this way it was still possible to go back. "It figures that people get scared a lot and don't want to drown. But I don't think they'd really give us a trial we couldn't pass," she thought through gently aloud, beginning to pace even as she began to be rained upon. "Yosh! I understand," she said. Her spear in her hand she willed it upwards along with herself. Though she didn't have to swim at normal speed, the weight of this water as it tried to flow downwards was oppressing. Still she went forward. More and more, as her face went red from the struggle to breathe. Still she had faith but what was this out of the corner of her eye.

A sparkle, she turned herself towards it to find an air pocket. A grin spread cross her face as she took a much needed breath or two and then she continued. Up further and further stopping at each of these little glints even as the water flowed ever downward. Until there were none left to find and she finally broke the crest of the water. What she found here, was strangely the part of the cave she'd first spawned in when she'd come here. A deep watery crevice which she'd been told was too swift moving to traverse. Now was all but calm given all the water which had spilled below. She pulled herself out up onto the shore and stood wringing out her hair and tilting her head from left to right as she approached a small bubbling pond. She peered into it, but still it bubbled but she could hear a rushing sound in her ears. Closer and closer she leaned until her face was almost parallel with this glowing pool and then, "Pppfft!" A splash of water right in her face as a small crystal landed beside her. "That's for you, a gift for coming so far to see me. Is it enough?" she heard the words of this timid spirit. And strangely felt better after being splashed by these waters. "Hai, water is in everything with you I am complete," there was a certain amount of hubris in this, as she pulled the crystal into her hand. It was a strange thing and seemed to be kindled with Spirit Energy, though not particularly water.

Upon taking hold of it the bubbling water, moved flowing over into what looked like a pipework meant to hold it. As water touched crystals and traveled forwards Miki was led into a forest like clearing. Once there the water surrounded the outer edges kicking up which which broke open the ceiling. Sun rained down from above in an opening just big enough to properly illuminate the area. Here she assumed she'd find two things. The first of which was the Overseer of this trial and the second was her Dragon Hourglass. Here was the only place in the Sealed Cave to receive natural light, and it'd taken quite a bit of work to make it so. Apparently, the flower in the middle of this room was in the lore as one which did not bloom very often. It always seemed to be closed up aiming to reach new heights probably waiting for more light. The first time she'd seen it, Miki had wondered if there was a hidden treasure within, and maybe she'd find out soon enough.

[Bloodedge]

At long last, Miki reached the end of her first - or technically, second - trial. At the very end, or even the beginning, the girl came across a flower that would not bloom under any normal circumstance. Rather... it would bloom for one reason alone, and Miki had produced that reason! Larger and larger that flower grew, spiraling upward until its bud unfolded. Within it was no treasure, but instead the form of a man whose shoulder-draped hair shared the same pale green as the flower's stem. He wore a red robe which, paired with his cross-legged meditative stance and elongated earlobes, made him look similar to a Buddha. His eyes were even closed, only opening ever so slightly to set their dark irises upon Miki. "You have done well, Little Flower. Soon, you will bloom into a magnificent flora the likes of which our vale has not seen in generations. You can go far, young one. Will you continue along this path of enlightenment?"

[Apollymi]

Soon enough Miki received the answer to her mental question. That flower bud grew and grew until it opened. When it did, it revealed a green haired man in red robes. He looked a bit like a skinny statue of Buddha. it made the lass wonder if that was what this man was based on. Regardless he had nothing but congratulatory statements to share with the blonde lass, who seemed a bit sheepish even to the praises offered by this strange man. "Hai. I mean... thanks. Yeah, that's the one," she stumbled through this reply but it was really nerve wracking. She really wasn't used to dealing with this sort of praise at all. Still, apparently there was much she could do with a build like the one she'd started on. It was claimed by the man she could go far indeed and he asked her if she intended to continue along the path. She smiled looking up to meet his eyes which though barely open were indeed about as comforting as she expected them to be. "This path may have chosen me, or I might have chosen it. Either way... I will continue until I see its end," she said seemingly pleased with the whole of the experience. Her eyes soon traced the room expecting to find her Dragon Hourglass. When she'd visited this place in game, it'd been right beside the flower, though it hadn't bloomed that time, she still expected it to be here. This was her starting room after all. 'Where did it go?' she wondered with confusion moving across her face, souring her expression quite a bit.

[Bloodedge]

This man had no need of thanks, nor did he acknowledge Miki's gratitude at all. He had one purpose here, and it was a sworn place among Druid kind. All he needed from Miki was an answer, and he received it in due time. The lass stated that she intended to follow through with this journey. There was one particular thing noted by her that he took interest in, though. She spoke of how the path may have chosen her, or perhaps that she had chosen it. This way of thinking was interesting. Some small semblance of a smile crept onto the older Druid's face as he took in these words, readying himself to send Miki on her way again, should she need nothing of him right away. "Then your next trial will begin. Do you seek knowledge before embarking on this journey, Young Flower? You seem troubled."

[Apollymi]

It seemed that Miki's troubled expression had once again given her away. Maybe that didn't matter so much though, this time around. Instead of harping over this fact, she tried to think of a good way to phrase what she had to say. "I started my journey from this place, right in front of this very flower. My Dragon Hourglass should be there," she said pointing to an empty space to the right of where this flower had bloomed. "But I don't see it... I am just confused..." she said honestly. It was a bit problematic to not be able to find and interact with the monument considering she was currently stuck at level 30 until she found it. It would be more problematic if it had moved. Especially seeing that she couldn't share this information presently with the other person she'd taken the first leg of her journey with. She supposed while she had this man's attention she could ask him about the other beings she kept seeing. "Also, I keep seeing a vision of someone, but no one else can see them... is that normal?" she asked. Since he offered knowledge she figured he'd either know what was going on with her, or he wouldn't and that would be a bit frightening. Either way, some answer was better than walking blindly through all of this. She'd calmly await an answer while trying to fight off her own obvious confusion.

[Bloodedge]

"Your hourglass has never been here, Young Flower," he said, speaking with absolute certainty. For a moment, he wanted to question himself. For just a fragment of a second, he did believe that there was once a Dragon Hourglass within this very area, but no, such a thing never existed here. At the very least, one could have never belonged to another Druid younger than himself. "I do not believe you are mistaken; there are no lies coming from you. However, perhaps yours is not truly of this world..." His statement was left open, not intentionally, but because the man himself did not fully understand. Miki seemed something like an anomaly among Druid kind, and he couldn't quite place the reason. Her missing hourglass may have been connected to this. As for these visions she claimed to see, he was no less lost for a proper answer. "I do not understand. What you see here, should be seen by all who can reach this realm. There are no secrets among our kin."

[Apollymi]

Miki's eyes widened at this man's response. According to him, her Hourglass was never in this place. But it absolutely was, she knew this as a fact. That was beyond confounding. Where could it have gone? "Kuso! I'm going to be stuck at level 30 forever," she exclaimed pouting an exceptional amount for someone who normally took care of herself. Whatever the case, after her outburst she was quiet again. And after his pause he claimed that perhaps hers was not here because she didn't truly belong to this world. She supposed that would make sense, but that didn't solve her problem. Still it was strange that this was a problem she was encountering such a problem. If he couldn't help her with this problem perhaps he could help her with the strange being she was seeing.

No. No he couldn't.

Miki's eyes widened at the claim that this Druid about her confusion. Apparently, he didn't know what she was talking about. Maybe if she explained a bit it would clear it up. "Ah, well. I keep seeing this green haired man, not you. But he keeps disappearing before he can talk, but he keeps appearing," she said softly. "It started in the forest on the way here, but... he was in the cave a bit ago too," she said earnestly. "My friends didn't see him before but..." she paused needing actual confirmation. "You really didn't see him at all while you were observing?" she asked. This was very problematic, if the other Druids didn't know what she was talking about, she might actually be crazy.

[Bloodedge]

Sadly, Miki being incapable of advancing in level was of no consequence to the male she faced. So long as she could complete her development as a Druid, the extent of his concern could not stretch to anything else. It was concerning though, that she seemed to be suffering multiple issues all at once. There were only two problems here, but the largest of them by far was this phantom figure Miki spoke of. No one saw it but her, and in spite of observing her entire journey, he had not seen it either. It was quite disturbing that this figure even made it into the Migrating Vale. Perhaps... there was more to it than one could realize without additional knowledge of the situation. He could make a few assumptions, but nothing so solid. "You speak of an impossibility. If I cannot see it here, it should not exist. Enlighten me, Little Flower... What truths has your journey given you thus far? The things you speak of, they have no place in the Old Ways."

He had become infinitely curious. There was a potential explanation, but that which made it possible was... not something generally accepted by the Druids as a whole. Whether he accepted it as reasonable or not, was hardly a matter of importance. At this point, he simply needed to know if he was to be of any assistance to the lass.

[Apollymi]

Miki was now without the ability to level herself for the foreseeable future. 'Alright. One problem at a time...' she thought to herself. She could deal with this. Technically speaking her build was functional as it was, not at maximally efficient though. No to reach that tier she needed to be at least level 45. Or all the work she'd just done with the Spirits was completely worthless. Alas she had to put such thoughts to the side, obviously there were more problems with her right now than she knew how to deal with, strangely she was looked at by the Druid from the flower and asked about her truths. When speaking he made it sound as if he was looking for some anomaly in her build, one which would justify her seeing things he couldn't see. "I didn't really do too much out of the ordinary. I leveled regularly, took the rogue and manipulation skills," she said thinking about in order. "I learned Rune Inscription from the master in Dwargon, got the pieces for my Lance from the Sacred Tree in the Fairy Forest," she said softly. "Beat that Necromacer Shaman Lizardnewt, raised a Filolial. Went to Atlantis... Realigned the Rune Stones there and protected their Leylines, picked up a smidgen of Holy Magic... I've hardly done anything that should be a problem. Definitely nothing that should have me seeing people that aren't there," she said seeming to miss something important. She'd beaten Sharrkan, true enough but she'd also been collecting the pieces of the Lich King's Crown. She had advanced Necromancy. So advanced, in fact that she had Divine Rebirth.