Complete Eastern Brisshal Lost Runes

[Crimson Ruby]

Struggling, Ruby was already bracing herself for the worst. Her fingers were tired, and the only plan she could have to avoid certain death was to let the ledge go and fall into the pit, hoping she would survive and that there would have some exit down there.

But before she could decide to take this ultimatum, Kyra appeared, stumbling and using every inch of her remaining strength to reach Ruby.

Her eyes grew wide. "Wh-What are you-?!" Her words were once again cut short, with the grip on her hand making her shut her mouth before she was pulled back to safety, landing on top of Kyra and wincing.

The muscles of her fingers were burning from enduring her weight, and while her landing was soft enough thanks to Kyra, she couldn't stay on top of her forever.

Ruby's cheeks grew rosy at the words, pursing her lips before retorting. "Not... Not really used falling on top of beauties either..." Despite being the same, Ruby's words came out a bit more sheepish, and she rolled next to Kyra, getting off her and breathing heavily, closing her eyes and trying to recompose herself before turning her face to look at the other beastfolk, having her ears flattening against her head.

"Never do that again. You could've died trying to get me out of that hole." Ruby said with a serious expression, frowning her lips before adding:

"Thank you for saving me." She sighed, remaining down on the floor for a while. It seemed like they were safe, and she needed to recover a bit of her energy before they kept going.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

She closed her eyes as the other responded, the sheepish, shyness coming to both of them, apparently. Kyra could feel her face flush, the entire situation far beyond anything she had experienced before. She felt the other get up, leaving her laying on her back, wondering what to do next. Then came the lecture.

"Well, yeah, but you could have died too so it was only right to come and - oh...oh you're welcome...but still! I wasn't just going to leave you behind...besides, you're the adventure guide...guide whistle...adventure whistle...whatever! It's your job to map this place and find the way out, right?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, still lying flat on her back with her eyes closed, and her ears twitching. She doubted it was a very compelling pose, but she figured it went well with her point. Giving in, she sat up a few seconds later, opening her eyes and looking around once more. Darkness still surrounded them, but she could see what appeared to be some sort of doorway, or exit, up ahead.

"Speaking of ways out, do you think that's one? Or are we going to walk into some other fun trap meant to cause us nightmares for the rest of our lives if we don't quite make it out - however short those lives must be! I almost regretted choosing the realistic feature, a moment ago. I mean imagine how much it would hurt to get crushed by that wall! That would certainly be a rude awakening, for real life me!"

She shook herself, a shiver running down her spine and to the tip of her tail as she considered it. For the first time, she felt a modicum of regret at her choice - but it didn't last long. She had taken up this game because they had promised realism, and what was more realistic than having to avoid pain?

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Once again she had barely escaped from death, and once again she was grateful that someone had stepped in to save her from it. Though this time she was in a spot where she was trying to save the girl in the first place, so perhaps this one was a situation where it was a mutual save.

"Yeah, thank you." She nodded gratefully again.

"I was just going to come back to rescue you whenever I got to respawn," Ruby said, looking at Kyra with a faint smile before she forced herself to raise her upper body, sitting with crossed legs and twitching her ears.

The gentle flame appeared to surround both of them again, and Ruby glanced to where Kyra pointed at, tilting her head.

"It can be anything... This place is pretty much an endless labyrinth. There are probably many exits, just as many as there are entrances and dead ends too." Ruby breathed a sigh, getting herself back to her feet, feeling a tingle on the muscles of her legs as she turned to offer a hand to Kyra.

"... There is only one way I know to find things out. And it is the way of the death's torchbearers." She smiled.

"Shall I go in front of you this time?"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

She turned on the spot, her torso bending forward at the waist as she leaned in close to Ruby, a look of embarrassed shock on her face. Whispering, she pleaded with the other girl.

"Ohkay so...don't laugh, but...I may or may not have forgotten that you can respawn...this game is just so realistic! And you can't tell anyone that, ohkay?! I mean I'm sure it's happened to others, right? Forgetting about the whole...you know, game thing? I can't be the only one!"

She stepped back, waving a hand towards the glowing area in the distance. She'd learnt her lesson. It was not leading, it was following, and if she could help it - she'd keep it that way.

"How about you go ahead this time. That way, if the floor starts to give way or anything I can rush forward and pull you back or something. Besides, you're the explorer, so maybe you being up front would help us avoid things like crushing walls and disappearing floors and stuff like that!"

She beamed another smile as she waited for her companion to take the lead. As soon as she did, Kyra fell into step behind, staying within arm's reach, but just far enough she could react before running into Ruby's back - should they suddenly need to stop, or backpeddle.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Kyra's words made Ruby chuckle and give a soft pat on her shoulder. "It is fine, we all forget this." Her ears twitched, once again reminding herself that perhaps the other girl wasn't aware of the true dangers of this game.

"I will go ahead this time then." Ruby nodded, taking her sword out once again before moving as a vanguard and into the distant glowing area, with the flame following her along.

As she guided the girl, the feeling continued to bother her heart, especially knowing there was some hint of naivety on the other girl, something that made Ruby turn her head to side glance Kyra from behind.

"... Well, there is a limit of how many times you should respawn. You do know, right?" Ruby left those words to sink in before adding... "About the third death." Ruby spoke, returning to be attentive about the path she was taking, making sure to be aware of pressure plates or anything of the sort this time.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Something about the way she said it felt off, to Kyra. For while, she followed along silently, not confirming nor denying her knowledge of any limitations to the deaths. She'd heard nothing about this previously, although she could understand why they would want that, if the game was going for realism. Still, there was something odd about the fact that they would allow three deaths, and then stop the ability to respawn.

Finally, when she was able to hold back her curiosity no more, she found the words leaving her lips. Although she whispered, the words seemed to echo back towards her, as if the very concepts carried a weight to them that she couldn't hold down.

"I mean...the game goes for realism, right? So it would make sense that you can't just keep coming back...although, I figured it would be one death and then done - if that was the case, at least...it would kind of make sense with the whole 'this is real' theme, then, right? Three seems a bit odd..."

She let the question hang in the air, unsure if the other would catch it, but not wanting to come outright and ask. She figured it would make her look too oblivious, too naive, if she wasn't at least somewhat subtle about it. I mean, that's how people do these things, right? They just hint at the question, and wait for the other to pick it up so they can explain it all in detail?

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby halted any step she had prepared as soon as Kyra slipped her questions.

The silence was already very suspicious on its own, and honestly the way the girl just recklessly saved Ruby's life was already a sign that something was wrong unless she bore overwhelming altruism.

Turning to face Kyra, Ruby took a few steps to look directly into her eyes, giving her a firm gaze.

"This game goes for a realism beyond you can imagine." She said. "Many should be grateful you even have the three deaths, to begin with... Because... When you die for your third time, there is no logging out anymore." Ruby went straight to the point, contrasting with the moment she was just testing waters to see if Kyra was just unaware of the danger or if she was just like Ruby, facing the danger regardless of it being there.

"When you die the third time, you are what we call 'UI Locked'. You cannot access your UI anymore, thus you can't log off anymore, and you are almost no different from the NPCs of this game... As for your real body? Dead." She revealed, not softening the blow or anything. After all, the girl couldn't stay logged in if she feared any of this.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Face to face. The moment that Ruby's nose was mere milimetres from her own, Kyra knew something was wrong. What, she wouldn't have been able to guess. Nor would she ever have come to the conclusion that Ruby had just presented her with. Thoughts flashed through her mind, fears, worries, even excitement. But what she spoke, was not what she - nor likely Ruby - would have expected.

"You...mean you can stay here forever? That this becomes your world, until you eventually die again...?"

Her second thought, and verbal question, was much more in line with what Kyra figured should've been one of her first reactions - albeit, likely not one that most people would have.

"Do you mean that there's some people in this game who can never go home? Who are stuck here, forever? Who, if they die, die for good? How do we know who they are? Is there a way to protect them? We should think about setting something up! Reaching out! Offering services! How is this not something being tackled, and brought up to new players? And..."

She realised she'd been shouting into the other's face, and immediately fell silent, waiting to see what they would say. Almost in response to the unspoken words she knew were likely coming, she mumbled her apology.

"...sorry..."

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby allowed Kyra to speak, to shower her with questions and concerns she may have. Mostly, she remained unflinching at the reaction of the girl, waiting for reactions that would give her proper answers and explanations of how she truly felt about all of it.

"Stay here very forever. Yes." Ruby said, averting her gaze for a moment, before turning back again to look at her eyes.

"There are a lot of people that are like that, yes. They can't and will never go back home, because their body is dead, and the only thing that remains of them is what exists in this game. You can call it a ghost, you can call it data, you can call it anything, but that's the only glimpse of memories that are still alive." Ruby said, looking at Kyra's apologetic expressions and words.

She offered a small smile, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"I've heard many are working on it. Veteran players, and Lion's Arms too. You were just unlucky to not be found by them... Or well, at least I don't consider myself a veteran." Not like the others, at least.

"... What I mean to say, is that there is still time for you to leave or stay if you want," Ruby said, standing still and waiting patiently for her, with her hand giving Kyra's shoulder a reassuring rub.

"Just don't regret it."

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Hesitation. There was a warning in the words that the other spoke. A subtle one, maybe, but a warning to truly consider involvement here. She could feel it in the way they spoke, the way they looked at Kyra, the way that they seemed to try and drive the point into her. The warning was clear; stay here long enough, and you could become like them - dead outside, trapped here until even your memory fades.

Yet, there was something else that bothered her. Something that she voiced an opinion on, before she could even truly consider the implications of it; the impact it could have on her if the worst was to occur.

"Leave...the game? Or the people who are all trapped here, suffering? They may be dead in the real world - as you say - but they're still alive in here, which means they need help. How many of them are lost, scared, needing guidance? How many of them are just kids, who got caught up in a game...and now suffer for it? No. I can't turn my back on people in need...I can't."

Her ears twitched as she spoke, but her tail remained rigid, unmoving. A fierceness had come over her face as she spoke, disappearing only once her words had finished. Almost as an after thought, she spoke a final sentence, before moving past Ruby.

"Besides, who's to say that this is any worse than what I have in the real world?"

She made it all of seven steps, before turning back to look at Ruby, a slight smile on her face, and a soft, caring look in her eyes. She reached out a hand, before tilting her head to the left again.

"For now, how about you lead us out of here?"

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby listened attentively to Kyra's words, and of course watched the expressions that came along with them. She hesitated and that was clear at first, but Ruby didn't blame or judge her for it. The idea was so grim, so dire, to die because of a game. Sometimes Ruby wondered why she did that.

She had no passion to save others, no other motives aside of feeling like she had... something in the game she didn't in real life.

Kyra's answer said everything about herself though, and Ruby traced every single inch of this new resolve. "Seems like you have made your decision." Ruby smiled, reaching for Kyra's hand and holding it with a gentle squeeze, looking just as caring as she neared the fellow beastfolk.

"I will protect you and lead you out of here." Ruby said firmly. "And then you can start understanding even more about this world... together too, if you want." She said, tugging Kyra to urge her to speed up her steps along, moving closer to the incoming brightness.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Kyra nodded at the rhetorical question. She'd made her decision, that had been simple enough. There were people here who needed her help, and she wasn't about to turn her back on them - no matter the cost to herself. She felt that tingle of fear, mixing with her determination; a feeling that she'd come to notice in her normal career when she felt herself heading down the right path.

"Thank you. And...thank you. I'm hoping we can at least help some of the people in this world, no matter how little it may be. But for now, let's find our way out!"

She let the other lead her further along the pathway, towards the brightness that Kyra hoped signified an exit. She felt her eyes squinting closed as they came closer, suddenly happy she hadn't decided to enhance her vision. She could only imagine how painful the transition must be.

"Do you...hear water?"

She twitched her ears in response, trying to hone in on where the sound was coming from. She could be mistaken, but to her senses she could have sworn she heard the sound of running water, as if someone had left a tap on, ever so slighty.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Every single thing you do to help someone will get you closer to your objective." Ruby nodded, reaching Kyra's hair with her free hand, ruffling her hair and ear gently before moving it away.

"The reasons that will give you the strength to keep playing this game are noble, and while they aren't the same as mine, you can always count on my blade dancing to assist you." She said, lingering the gaze on her for a bit before averting her eyes forward, with her ears twitching slightly at the sound stimuli.

"It is water..." Ruby's nose twitched.

Her enhanced smell felt something akin to- "Wet earth..." She muttered, curious as the dripping sound became less and less vague. With something louder coming from afar, the sound of water impacting on another... Perhaps a waterfall of the sort.

Soon, the source of the first sound of water appeared, being a small trail of river on the narrow tunnel they were walking on.

Ruby glanced at Kyra, giving her hand another tug. "Let's go?" She smiled determined, hurrying her steps so they could reach the light soon enough-

As the brightness blinded both of them for a moment, a wide area would be revealed. Seeming to be ancient structures with runes of all kinds carved on them, the place was grandious and lost, having a mysterious hint on them.

By the far from reach ceiling, an opening could be a hope of exit, if it wasn't just above one hundred feet above their heads, making it nearly impossible to be reached by normal means that wasn't just flying.

In the center of the giant area, a large lake covered the ground, allowing the waterfall from above to fall on it, echoing its noise across the labyrinth they were in.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

She followed along behind her guide, taking in the running water, the sound of crashing that could only signify a waterfall up ahead, and...something else. Something she couldn't quite pinpoint, but that sounded so familiar.

The lake, when it came into view, was beyond anything that Kyra had expected to see. She'd known underground lakes were a possibility - they existed in the real world, so why not here? - but it was more spectacular than she had ever imagined it could be. For a moment, she found herself standing at its edge, simply staring in wonder across the expanse.

"Isn't this wonderful? Look at how the waves slowly diminish as they make their way towards the rockface, only to slosh back! It's just like a real lake...even the sound of it drawing back on itself at the edge, that softness..."

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the water for a moment, a calm smile on her face that bespoke her relaxed attitude. After a brief moment, she turned her attention back to her companion, knowing that they needed to move on.

"So, mighty adventurer and guide - where's our exit? Which way do we go, to bring this secret to the world beyond, and maybe introduce an entire...expidition? Is that a thing?...to this wonderful place? Have you figured out all the secrets yet?"

She punctuated her final joke with a large grin, the humour plainly written on her face as her tail swayed behind her. Something about the area had put her in a good mood - she couldn't quite say what, but it felt calming here.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Truly wonderful..." Ruby muttered, having a small smile crossing her lips as the grip on the other girl's hand softened as she relaxed a bit more. Certainly, the sight was stunning, but there didn't seem to have any nearby exit or entrance aside from the top one, which was so far that even her dynamism would find issues to deal with.

Her eyes shifted to Kyra, allowing a giggle to escape her lips. "All the secrets? We still need much more to say we have found all of them. We have barely started, to be truly honest." Ruby said, resting her free hand on her chest.

Before Ruby could say any more, however, a rumble made her stagger for a moment, making it hard to keep her balance for a moment before she managed to stand still with Kyra...

Then, there was another rumble, and with a frown, Ruby lifted her eyes to see something appearing from the corner of one of the many stone walls and pillars--

But turned out, the danger was much closer than both of them expected.

Spoiler: Battle Theme

Colossal and imposing, the minotaur's rock figure towered over the two girls with ease, growling deeply and exhaling a noxious green smoke from its nostrils while not wasting a single second raising its gigantic stone blade.

"W-Watch out!" Ruby exclaimed, pulling Kyra along with her to evade the first strike, rushing behind one of the many structures in the area before laying her back on the wall, breathing heavily and glancing at the monster.

"A-As expected... A minotaur for a labyrinth-!" She frowned her lips, casting a glance at Kyra to see what she wanted to do about it. Run? Stay? Fight? What would it be?

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

The creature rose up before Kyra, almost as if it somehow leaked out of the stonework around it; calm, yet rumbling as it arose to geet the two explorers. She stared in disbelief at the creature as it towered overtop of them, seemingly a pillar brought to life.

Ruby's words were what broke the spell - Kyra's focus pulled away from it as the other's voice rang out against the otherwise empty room. At the same time, the creature turned its attention away from the void of whatever it had been considering, and focused on the two of them instead.

"I may not have the most experience with this game...but that thing looks dangerous...maybe we shouldn't carelessly engage it? Although..."

A quick glance behind her, confirming that their exit had been sealed off - the hole they had come through seemingly covered over by a wall that hadn't been there before. Her eyes cast about for a moment, finding one way forward, behind the minotaur itself. Something that she was not too thrilled about.

"...it doesn't look like running is much of an option either. Unless we want to split and try and circle around it...I just worry that its reach is far more dangerous than either of us can dash through..."

She felt her grip tighten on her scythe as she considered their few options - growing fewer by the minute as they waited, contemplating their next actions.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"I think this monster needs a heavy hitter. I can deal some damage, but it is over time..." Ruby felt her heart tightening just as much as her hand held the other woman's. They needed to do something quickly, and her eyes trailed to Kyra, then to her scythe, then to the lake.

Her lips pursed at the thought, it was risky but not riskier than waiting for the creature that made the cave rumble at each step it took toward the pillar they hid on.

"Kyra... I am very fast... You can make things faster... So you can be a bit faster yourself." Ruby frowned, trying to think on something before turning to look at her eyes, holding her shoulders.

"I can bait that thing with my speed. And... it is made out of rocks, right? Maybe we can make it sink in there. And if it goes wrong... We can try to run away." Ruby kept a firm gaze, even if the steps became louder, the tremor stronger, enough to make pebbles near them jump.

"We just need to make it trip into it... You need, I mean. I will be catching it's attention... can... can you do it?"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Her eyes darted between Ruby, the lake and the minotaur. The stone giant seemed determined to lay its claim to their deaths. It tilted its head backwards, letting loose a howl that cause Kyra's ears to bend down against her head, as she tried to consider the idea that Ruby was presenting.

"You lure it in...I can make it fall...just need to get it to the water's edge. As close as you possibly can. I...have a plan here, I think."

She turned towards the far side of the creature, before giving a wave of her hand and a whispered word. She released the magic - hoping it would distract the thing long enough for her to disappear, before rushing across the open grounds to the shadows. She doubted her blood magic would be any use here, but...perhaps it would work.

She slid behind a pillar, before calling out to Ruby - knowing the danger of making noise, but also aware that the other needed some kind of sign. Her scythe in her hand, she heard the chain rattle slightly as she shook - the adrenaline causing as much of a shiver in her body as the fear itself.

"Ready! Go for it!"

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Alright. I will do it... I believe in you," Ruby said with a smile, concerned for the girl's well-being, but also sure that there was a chance for them to win that combat if their hearts and focus were in the right place at the right time.

She waited for Kyra to take her distance, watching the girl disappear from her sight while feeling her chest tighten in fear. The one thing she didn't tell was that if things went wrong, the only person that would have a way out was Kyra.

After all, Ruby's energy was already pretty much below 50% after that long sprint with the other girl in her arms.

She believed in Kyra though, she truly believed in her.

At the signal, Ruby turned around, clenching her fists as she took the first, second, and third steps before speeding up, already trying to circle the minotaur for a moment.

The giant monster didn't waste a second to try and crush the girl with its enormous weapon, which was quickly evaded by a side step just at the right time, allowing Ruby to slip past the monster and run under its legs as a taunt, that was enough to make the monster roar enraged, charging toward her recklessly.

A small smirk crossed her lips.

Perfect.

Without hesitation, Ruby blasted off toward the lake at an overwhelming speed, just like in that narrowing corridor, there was no way she would be able to stop from braking before she got to the lake, making her action look like suicide when being chased by the minotaur.

But she had Kyra and the trust she gave to her by her side.

On top of a small trick.

As she neared the edge of the lake, the minotaur was already approaching enough to raise its weapon once again, already expecting the girl to lose speed when sinking her legs into the water. It was a dead end-

Except, Ruby didn't lose speed.

The bells of her outfit rang one more time, and for a moment the world seemed to slow down for a few seconds before everything suddenly accelerated in an unintelligible blur.

❰ SONIC BOOM ❱

Just as the minotaur's weapon went downwards to slam and sink Ruby and everything in its path, the cat girl exploded at a speed so strong that it ripped the sound barrier, making her feet brush against the water as if running on sand, lifting water like dust as she erupted in a straight line, gaining a sudden distance from the monster while her energy dangerously dropped.

Now, it was all down to @Kyra Vashtana.

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

She waited, listening for the sounds of the minotaur moving towards Ruby. She gripped her scythe tightly in her hand, the chain rattling slightly at the shift in movement. She glanced around the rock pillar that she had hidden behind, trying to figure out where the distraction was at. She could see Ruby, moving around and underneath the minotaur, the creature's attention entirely on the other beastfolk.

I hope this works...Ruby's life may depend on it. She rushed forward, her scythe gripped tightly as she called forth her magical prowess, placing a boost of speed upon herself in order to quicken her feet and momentum. The distance between the minotaur and herself shrunk, far quicker than she had expected.

The sudden boom caused Kyra's ears to twitch, but her focus was entirely on the beast in front of her. She needed this to work. It would be the single chance they got. Lowering her head, she pushed herself the final few steps, before launching off the ground.

A quick shift in her weight, and her shoulder rolled forward, allowing her to spin her scythe downwards and hook onto the left foot of the minotaur. Her momentum carried her forward, causing the scythe to yank from her hand. The chain, still held in her right, suddenly pulled taunt. She felt her momentum stop suddenly, the minotaur's weight holding her in place for a brief second.

Suddenly, she began moving again. Something shifted, and she felt herself falling towards the ground. Her shoulder slammed into the ground, and she rolled to the side, groaning slightly. Her eyes widened as she saw the minotaur turn towards her, its weapon rising as it prepared to strike her.

Without thinking, she released another spell, enhancing her own strength before tugging on the chain in her hand. The scythe pulled against the leg of the minotaur, causing the creature to shift slightly - then suddenly fall backwards into the water. There was a moment of sloshing, as the creature seemed to attempt to fight against its destiny, before sinking below the surface; leaving nothing except waves to signify what had occurred.

From the ground, she glanced around, looking for her companion. Weakly, she tried calling out.

"Ruby? Ruby...? Ruby are you...?"