Garden Of The Abyss

"Caelia, is everything prepared?" Liam asked as he marched into the chamber.??

It was vast in its own right, reminiscent to Sora of the metallic chamber that the sage used for summonings, except it didn't discard its lavish, noble style in exchange for being used for magecraft.??

Liam's question had been pointed to the man standing in the center of the lightly illuminated magical seal that bore a complexion that resembled the cosmos.??

"It is ready whenever you command, Boss," Caelia answered.??

Like the rest of the Reid members, Caelia wore her umber uniform reminiscent of military garments, decorated with silver buttons set down in a clean, organized pattern. Though a unique, violet accent ran along her umber uniform.??

Though, her uniform couldn't quell the eccentric, flowing, curly locks that mixed with a black primary as her roots remained magenta.??

The lecherous part of his brain couldn't help but focus on the two, standout "assets" placed on the woman's chest.??

Double Ds, at least, he thought with a quiet chuckle.??

"Good," Liam nodded, turning to face the three members waiting near Caelia, "you've two got all of your things in order, right?"??

He's pretty on it for it being so late at night...Sora thought.??

"Yup!"??

The slender, youthful-looking boy with snowy-locks held his packed bags up with a frivolous smile.??

"All set, Boss."

--In complete contrast to the lithe boy, the burly, red-haired man held his bag up with a gruff confirmation.??

"...I'm ready???"??

With complete meekness, the short, hazel-haired girl wearing large, circular-rimmed glasses nodded in response.??

Liam nodded his head, turning back to look at Sora, who was caught with a fit of silence while being around the unfamiliar faces, "Ah, that's right. You aren't quite acquainted with the task force yet, are you?"??

"Can't say I am, no," Sora smiled wryly.??

Following this answer, Liam snapped his fingers as the four guild members standing close immediately stood tall, keeping their arms tucked to their sides and their expressions taut with diligence.??

Man, they're pretty serious, aren't they? Sora thought.??

Stepping forward first, the lithe woman weaving the seal held her hands behind her back, "Caelia Lavinia. Spatial specialist of Reid; a pleasure to make your acquaintance."??

It was only when she was brought closer to his gaze did he notice the beauty mark below her crimson lips--a feature that invoked a speedened beating of his heart.??

She's sexy, he thought.??

Next, the thick-bearded, burly man took his step forward,"Gerard Armstrong. Enforcer of Reid; let's kick some ass together!"

Differentiating from the others who seemed to lack any visible armor, Gerard wore a broad cape that seemed layered with chainmail--allowing the large cape to wrap around him for constant protection.??

Okay, not so formal, Sora thought.??

With the glasses-wearing girl's turn being next, her entire body seemed to tremble with the attention falling on herself, opening her mouth a few times as she had to lure the words from the bottom of her gut.??

"...C-c-clover Maisraugh," her fingers shook as she adjusted her glasses,"rookie of Reid. Please accept my assistance???"

It was difficult to get a good look at her eyes that sat behind her lenses as she constantly averted her gaze, but they seemed to take on a lavish, amber tinge.??

Unlike Caelia, who wore the same umber pants natural to the Reid uniform, Clover wore a scarlet skirt that seemed too short for a girl lacking in forwardness; that much was obvious as she constantly rubbed her legs together.??

Though similar to Caelia in one regard, her uniform had a special crimson patch on her chest; a sigil that resembled a four-starred shield.??

Holy crap, she looks like she's about to pee herself! Talk about shy...He thought.??

Last, but not least, the small, snowy-haired boy who remained smiling hopped forward with his hand raised high, "Charles Yuvelion! Vice Leader of Reid! Let's get along!"

It was only when discovering the position Charles held that he noticed the special design of his uniform that set him apart; the feathers of an avian, running along the sides of his dark breeches.??

Vice leader???? He thought, him???

After a moment of silence, being on the receiving end of all their gazes, he realized it was his turn to introduce himself; standing still, he gave his most welcoming smile.??

"I'm Sora, a member of the Outlanders...I hope we can work together!" He gave a thumbs-up.??

--They only looked at him with wordless gazes for a few, dreadfully slow moments as he stood there without a further word himself.??

Crap, was that too casual for them? He thought.??

Finally, the silence broke with splendor as Charles skipped forward, "Wow! I've heard rumors about the Ivory Knight of The Outlanders! You're even bigger than I expected! Hey, hey! Are you bigger than Gerard? Want to try arm wrestling him? What type of food do you like? Is Gaia's food better than your worlds?"??

The barrage of questions from the hyper, young-seeming vice leader of the guild came from extremely close proximity; Charles' dazzling, silver irises glistened with joy as he spoke.??

"I, uh, hmm???" Sora found himself at a loss for words.??

Charles was promptly pulled back by Gerard tugging on his umber cape, "Cut it out, would you? How many times have we told you to stop harassing people with your endless questions?"

After reprimanding Charles, who seemed to be a higher rank within the guild, Gerard turned his eyes to the Outlander, extending his hand that was clad in a thick, black glove.??

"Glad to have you on our team, Sora," Gerard spoke with his rough voice.??

He looked at the man's hand for a moment, still feeling his mind fumbled by Charle's array of questions, but smiling warmly as he accepted the handshake, "Yeah, glad to be here."??

He seems easier to get along with than I expected, he thought.??

"Me too! Me too!"??

Not wanting to be left out, Charles placed his hand atop their embraced hands, looking up at Sora with an innocent, gleeful smile.??

Clover hesitantly moved her hand towards the joined group, but began to withdraw it before Liam assisted her, guiding her hand to the others as her hand atop Charles'. With her hand joining the others, a blush that overtook her entire complexion set in as she lowered her gaze.??

"...I guess this is our official declaration of our team, is it?" Liam spoke.??

It was unusual for the stoic guild leader to hold a smile; an expression that lifted his fair, prince-like face to a warmness it presented naturally as he placed his hand atop the other four.??

"Are you joining in, Caelia?" Liam looked back.??

Caelia was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh, "Guess I have no choice."??

With all of their hands met in the center, the formation of the special task force readied for a quest of the highest order was officialized.??

"Let us commence our journey," Liam declared, "to briefly review our next step, we were given special coordinates to warp to; it'll bring us directly to Jinyue, and bring us to meet our assigned guide."

"Guide?" Charles tilted his head.??

Liam nodded subtly, "Jinyue is an isolated region, as you may all know. It is completely foreign to anyone outside of it. Not a single map has left its border; that's why it is essential we have a guide accustomed to the land."??

"Oh, okay!" Charles nodded fervently.??

Does he really understand? Sora thought.??

They all gathered within the seal, making it slightly claustrophobic as Sora's large frame called for a sharing of space between the four of them and all of their belongings they decided to bring on the journey.??

"I'll ask only once more: are you all ready?" Liam asked, shifting his determined, hazel eyes to check on the others.??

Looking at the five others present within the lightly glowing seal, he could see in their eyes none of them contested moving forward.??

"Then let's depart," Liam announced,"Caelia."

"On it, Boss," Caelia accepted.??

With a raise of her hand wrapped in jewel-studded leather, Caelia's movements allowed the inscribed seal to illuminate with a radiant, orange hue as mirror-like refractions of the now spinning seal lifted, creating a soft barrier of magic around the members.??

"O'Gaia: Transport!"??

As it was already formulated to completion beforehand, all it took was that simple call for the spatial specialist to invoke the teleportation magic--engulfing all members in a beautiful array of light.??

On the opposing spectrum of things, the rival of Liam Reid--Nikko Jim--stood atop the Unbezwingbar, a mythical tool in the form of a colossal, metal-clad vehicle.??

The tank-like, windowless tank etched with primordial magic was already stationed at the summit of the Hollow Foundation's colossal, sable tower, sitting alongside a bed of clouds as Nikko kept his hands in his pockets while the high-altitude winds pressed the tail of his sable coat behind him.??

"It's about time we head out ourselves, isn't it?" Nikko spoke to himself with a smile.??

Knocking the bottom of his boot against the roof of the mammoth of a vehicle, he gave the signal for the members of the Sky Dragon Conglomerate present inside of it to start their journey. With a hum of its mystical propelling-device, the Unbezwingbar began to propel through the sea of clouds while the eccentric leader of the guild continued to stand tall atop its roof.??

Flicking his glasses tinged with a complexion that showed the world to him in gold, his stance remained unmoved despite the incredible velocity he traveled, allowing his fluffy, brown tufts to be fluttered in the rampant winds.??

"To Jinyue we go," Nikko smiled, "let's see who wins this battle, Liam."??

His smile persisted, laughing as his enjoyment was carried by the wind and to the heavens, "To pass on this view from the top...I wonder how you can claim to be some sort of "Uncrowned King", Lia. This view--it's everything; the skies, the heavens, the world below--this is complete, unrivaled freedom. My view is of the world, from a throne riding above even the clouds!"??

A magical reinforcement was placed on the soles of his feet as the vibrant winds tugged on him, but he only smiled with glee in return.??

If you plan to be on top, you damn well better know what sits below, he thought, someone who turns their eye to it can't hope to find their fingertips even within reach of the summit. Without any fear in your heart, you must spread your arms out and welcome Gaia, even if the winds lacerate your skin or the world pulls you back down into an early grave. That's the difference between you and I, Liam: I'm not afraid to be a little crazy.??

One day, I'll rule the Hollow Foundation's most powerful guild, and with that rule, I'll conquer the Continent of Titans; I'll turn that hell upside down once and for all, at last--for humanity.. That's my duty, as the inheritor of "Nikko".??