LU 83 - Shadow 6

The boat creaks as it rocks in the water. Ophello pulls the boat ashore, and flips it upside-down to let it dry. The sky is gray, filled with clouds as if warning that it will rain, yet the mask continues to float idly. Turning to face away from the ocean, Ophello gazes upon the purple-ish island, lush with tall fungi, and purple mycelium. The land was as flat as plains, as far as the eye could see, and within that view was a village, candles lit, but an eternal silence. Getting closer wasn't much better, however the silence proved that the village was a ghost town. There wasn't anything to look at really, other than the mushroom styled structures that resembled the village. As soon as Ophello took a step into the village gates, whispers could be heard all around him. But.. they were distant. Everywhere he walked, it seemed as though he wasn't actually getting closer, rather the whispers got farther. Here and there... it felt as though he was being watched. Eventually he was stood a bit a ways from a colossal structure, its color abnormal to the fungal surroundings. The base and body of the structure started as a curve, slowly swirling up to the top, the arms branching out in a multitude of directions. The leaves that sprouted from the arms grew in a similar, swirling fashion. A large jungle-like tree, in the middle of a mycelian island... something doesn't seem right here.

> *"Beautiful, isn't it?"*
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Ophello turns his head, glancing to his right, startled. He figured the village must have been vacant, but this one seemed to be hiding.

> *"Who are you?"*
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> *"Better yet, who are*you*"*
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> *"I'm Ophello, I happen to stumble across this tree traveling after rumors I've heard from a town far away."*
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> *"...Some call me the Wanderer. I've lived here for some time. A long... long time actually."*
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The Wanderer looked rather short to the tone of his voice, and stocky build. The young-looking man wore a gray and dark-gray patterned flannel, black jeans, and white shoes to fit the occasion. The most interesting part of his features was more on the face. Ignoring his middle parted hair, one of his eyes glowed a bright aqua, contrasting to the golden eye that glowed with a harsh light. Starting from the top left of his forehead, a deep scar trails down to the right edge of his mouth. A stern, cold hard face that makes any other feeling that may come forth is shielded by this look. He walks up beside Ophello as they both turn their gaze to the tree. For a while they play a little questionnaire, apparently an accident happened in the tree, a man decided to explore the tree, and never returned. Hence, is why no one else decided to go into the tree, according to the Wanderer anyway. Ophello was warned to never explore the tree. The question of why was provoked in Ophello's curious mind, however turning towards the man to prompt him the question, he wasn't there. He vanished into thin air, which left Ophello one thing to do. Ignore the warning, of course.
Ophello approached the oversized tree with caution, with his newly gained knowledge, and collided with an invisible force that prohibited his gait towards the tree. Screams. In his mind. All around him the whispers rushed in, the noise increasing with the distance covered. Above in the tree was a dark figure, in which was hard to make out. Ophello put his hands to his head as if to block the screams, but to no avail. He closed his eyes, and yelled.

> *"Who are you?!?"*
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The screams stopped. When Ophello opened his eyes, in front of him the figure stood, tall and mighty. Armor floated as if containing a vessel from within, yet seamlessly presented empty. A symbol from behind the armor glowed a bright gold, a halo.

> *"I am Slumber, guardian of the tree. I presume you are Ophello?"*
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After somewhat of a stalemate conversation, Ophello and Slumber have come to the agreement of... a trade. Ophello of course did not gain much knowledge from the tree, however he would gain more if he brought someone. A "young" woman by the name of **Edelle**. The halo glowed, and span once, and stopped glowing. Slumber got what he wanted.

> *"I'll see you later, Slumber."*
> *"Farewell mortal, may we meet again... when you return with what we've agreed upon."*
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Ophello turns and walks back to the boat, thinking. Those thoughts would however be answered later. Slumber floats back to the top of the tree, to gaze upon the horizon. Planning. Calculating. And... laughing.

> *"The longer you run, the shorter the time you have, Zinnia. Keep playing your game you enjoy so much, you can't run forever, not from me."*
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