Myths of Ardonia: Blood of Humanity (Part II)

Zythuseus walked through his yard, watching the vibrant, multicolored flowers on it sway in the light breeze. The air was humid and the thick clouds above were pitch black. The air smelled sharp and metallic as the sky roiled in anger. *Looks like a storm is coming tonight.* Thunder boomed overhead, and Zythuseus jumped as it startled him. *It was just a bit of thunder*, he scowled at himself. Then, shaking his head, he entered the tree path.

The brown trees towered over him and blocked what little light wasn’t choked out by the clouds. Shivering with unease, Zythuseus pulled a lantern out of his inventory and held it up as he walked. Unfortunately for him, the path was on uneven terrain, and the lantern could only illuminate so far. This led to tripping on Zythseus’ part, something he found quite annoying. *What are the chances that, on the one day I try to do something major, the weather and path conspire against me and make me look like a klutzy fool?* With a sigh, Zytheseus would stand up and continue on. Along the way, he pulled out the ancient scroll and began to read as he walked.

Oᓵᒷ╎↸𝙹リ ╎ᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ℸ ̣ ╎ℸ ̣ ᔑリ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ↸ᔑ∷ꖌ ↸ᒷᒷ!¡ᓭ, !¡∷𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒷᓵℸ ̣ ╎𝙹リ, ᔑリ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ᓭ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⚍リ╎⍊ᒷ∷ᓭᒷ. Lᒷ⊣ᒷリ↸ ⍑ᔑᓭ ╎ℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ⍑ᒷ ∴ᔑᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ 𝙹リᒷ ∴⍑𝙹 ᓵ∷ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ g⚍ᔑ∷↸╎ᔑリᓭ ᔑリ↸ eꖎ↸ᒷ∷ g⚍ᔑ∷↸╎ᔑリᓭ ╎リ 𝙹∷↸ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 !¡∷𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒷᓵℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵ⍑╎ꖎ↸∷ᒷリ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ℸ ̣ ╎ℸ ̣ ᔑリᓭ, ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ 𝙹リᒷᓭ 𝙹⎓ ᓵ𝙹ꖎ𝙹∷ᒷ↸ ∷⚍リᒷᓭ. Hᒷ ╎ᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ 𝙹リᒷ ∴⍑𝙹 ⍑ᒷꖎ!¡ᓭ ⚍ᓭ ⊣⚍ᔑ∷↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ∴⍑╎ᓵ⍑ ᒲ⚍ᓭℸ ̣  ʖᒷ ꖌᒷ!¡ℸ ̣  ᓭᔑ⎓ᒷ, ᔑリ↸ ╎ℸ ̣  ╎ᓭ ⍑ᒷ ∴⍑𝙹 リ𝙹∴ ᔑᓵℸ ̣ ᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 !¡∷𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒷᓵℸ ̣  ⚍ᓭ ⎓∷𝙹ᒲ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ∴𝙹∷ᓭℸ ̣  𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ t╎ℸ ̣ ᔑリᓭ ᒷ⍊ᒷ∷ ᓭ╎リᓵᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ⊣∷ᒷ∴ ᒲ𝙹∷ᒷ ⎓∷ᒷᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒲᔑリ╎⎓ᒷᓭℸ ̣  ╎リ 𝙹⚍∷ ∴𝙹∷ꖎ↸ᓭ.

Eventually, the presence of light other than his own brought Zythuseus out from his scroll. With immense effort, he tore his eyes away from the scroll and to the scene around him, though his mind continued to ponder his readings. *So, that is who Cynthia is. Interesting.* Before Zythuseus a yard was spread out. It was the kind of yard that screamed years of misuse. Everywhere, weeds choked out the pathetically small population of flowers. The grass was dry and overgrown. Zythuseus tsked at the sight. *Man needs to take better care of his lawn. I always told him so, but he wouldn't listen.* Narcissus insisted that his lawn was perfect, but clearly he hadn't seen the monstrosity it had become. Zythuseus bet that, if Narcissus stepped out and looked at the lawn, even he would be repulsed. The porch of the small oak cottage in front of Zythuseus was hardly better with its cobwebs. Zythuseus strode up to the door and knocked. Instantly, a new Ardoni appeared in front of.

Narcissus Nestoris was tall, even by Ardoni standards. His skin was dark gray, and his yellow runes looked like skeletal ribs on his chest. His ears were long since he was only a couple decades younger than Zythuseus. Narcissus sighed as he saw who his visitor was, but waved him in nonetheless. *It has been a while, and I haven't always been the best of his friends.*

Inside was much better than outside with rich cyan carpet covering the plank floor. The room they were in was the living room. The only other rooms were currently shut off by wooden doors. In the center of the living room, a small table stood with chairs on each of its four sides. The two old Ardoni sat on opposite sides of each other, and studied the other. Zythuseus was surprised when Narcissus cleared his throat and spoke first, though Zythuseus made sure he didn’t show it. “I looked into it like you asked.” Narcissus’ sigh seemed endless. “I looked…and I saw it. I will help you, but only because of what He did to my daughter…it was unthinkable. All she was trying to do was help.” At this point, Narcissus’ voice broke as his expression turned heart broken. Tears streamed down his face as his body shook, and Zythuseus regarded him sadly. *It is true,* Zythuseus lamented. *She was so young, so innocent.* His fists clenched as he remembered it. *The tragedy that Narcissus had to face, the end Electra had, it was horrific. I just hope someday that Narcissus can make it through having his heart shattered.* Zythuseus nodded his understanding and got up to pace around the table. After the third pass, he placed his hands on Narcissus’ shoulders and looked deep into his cousin’s eyes.

“You do realize that, at first, there will be no fighting? Before we can take on Herobrine, we must find out how to weaken him. We cannot, after all, beat a Titan at full strength. He must be weakened, and for that we need more knowledge.” Zythuseus pulled out his scroll and waved it. “This scroll is incomplete. While it has given me interesting knowledge, we must find others of its kind if we are to succeed.” Narcissus looked at Zythuseus with fury smoldering in his eyes. *He’s still thinking about the past.* “Zythuseus, as long as I get my chance to avenge my daughter, I don’t care what it takes. Plus, who says Herobrine is the only thing we’ll face? You’ll need my help. You aren’t, after all, known for your fighting abilities.” Zythuseus chuckled at this. “True, I am known for my ability to use songs instead. Well, if you are sure, we should plan how to get where we need to be. I already know of one place where we might find more scrolls.”

Narcissus nodded and went through one of the doors. When he returned a few minutes later, he was holding a map. Placing it on the table, Narcissus remained standing. Both Ardoni bent over and studied the map, which showed all of Felden. Zythuseus pointed to a spot fifty pixels northeast. “There is what I believe to be the location of another temple of the Ancient Ones. We should be able to find at least one other scroll there. We could follow the roads and go through Fort Zuka. But that would be slow. However, it is the safest of our options.” Narcissus shook his head. “If what your messenger bird said all those weeks ago is true, then we don’t have time to waste. We need to follow the quickest route.” When Zythuseus nodded reluctantly, Narcissus plowed on. Pointing a few pixels away from Fort Zuka, he highlighted the ravine there. “That is the fastest way. We should go through the ravine here, the dark wood of the underground.” Zythuseus, shock written all over his face, was about to protest before Narcissus cut him off with the sharp wave of a hand. “I know it’s more dangerous because of the remaining Illager and Undead presences there, but it’s the best route. Between the two of us, we can handle it. Plus, I know a friend there that can give us invaluable help. He knows everything about the region, and can give us the exacts.”

Zythuseus wished he could argue. *It’s very risky! But…we’re running out of time fast. We need to get there quickly, and we do need some exacts if we are to find that scroll.* Zythuseus grunted in annoyance. *We have no choice.* “Alright,” Zythuseus grumbled, “But this had better not get me killed.” For once, a little bit of Narcissus’ old self showed as he grinned with a glint in his eye. “I had better go get my stuff ready. I’ll meet you outside.” Zythuseus nodded and walked out to the porch. Standing there, he looked out to the sky, which was now pouring down rain. Lightning flashed and somewhere in the far distance, Zythuseus could just make out a burning fire. He tapped his foot with impatience as he waited. When Narcissus came out, he had his sax blade slung over his back and a diamond chestplate on his torso. Narcissus patted his chestplate to signal that he had everything that they needed. Sadness crept up inside Zythuseus but he shoved it down. I need to focus. As the two stepped out in the rain, Zythuseus spoke, his voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. “Just like old times, huh.” Narcissus shrugged, but a smile still broke out on his lips. “Just like old times Zythuseus.” Narcissus’ voice then changed to a whisper as he spoke, this time to himself. “Just like old times.”