Round Robin - Eastern Project

Majiya is not a living substance. It can not think for itself, nor can it be made to follow orders. If it is to be manipulated from its already passive stage, it will have to be by a living creature. The only thing that majiya will do on its own is neutralize when it comes in contact with the opposite type. It will even just hang still in the air until disturbed.

Wind can't disturb majiya unless its particles are of very high temperature. Energy is pretty much the only thing that can disturb majiya aside from itself. This is how controllers actually work their own majiya to manipulate what's around them is purely by energy.

Of course, when I say "energy", I don't mean "heat" or "mechanical". I mean the ability to do stuff. Physical kinetic energy.

Lastly, automated objects that move by other means of energy can not manipulate majiya unless it can think for itself. Energy and mental existence; those are the 2 essential factors required for one to become a controller.


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MOUNTAINOUS REGION EAST OF VARROCK - TRAINING HOURS
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It's been 2 days since we caught Dex in the B.H.G.T.T. He has made a full recovery, which surprised even himself. After enduring Psychosis for an entire day and night, I would've expected him to be out for at least a week. In fact, he's been getting more out and about, traveling around and chatting with some of the soldiers.

We were all set for our second line of defense. After several trips back and forth with our flying fortress, we quickly got everyone out of the dark lands and into a familiar setting. We were still waiting final reinforcements from the elves, but it was understandable - they have to travel all the way from the forests of the west. I mean, if we didn't have teleportation, it would've taken weeks to just get everyone gathered up for this battle. A pity the elves didn't like using teleportation as much as we did, or we'd have them now.

One thing I noticed, though, was that Guthix hasn't yet been aroused from His slumber. I almost completely expected a super-war like this would bring Him up from his sleep and cast away all life on the Earth in His fury. It was almost as though Guthix was either distracted somehow or actually scared of Psychosis. Wouldn't blame Him if he was, though.

We all had recovered from the day of fighting, and were keeping ourselves loose with constant drilling and exercises. Gia organized a military-standard training program he followed a hundred thousand years ago for everyone to follow, and put practically everyone to it. I was quite impressed by his effort and dedication to coordinating the forces; it's not every day I walk around and see creatures large and small doing push-ups in almost perfect coordination.

"I was always a soldier." he told me, "This is the first time I ever got to be a sergeant. It gives you more responsibility and makes you feel more reliant and superior. I can actually see why it's worth training to get that position."

Finally, whenever Dex got bored, he would take me aside and attempt to train me in being a majiya controller. He would just come out of nowhere, pull me out of Gia's drills, brought me to an isolated area (half the time the B.H.G.T.T.) and talk about stuff I could only pretend to understand.

"Ok, when you create this anchor," Dex explained, "It magnifies a disruptive field of dark majiya around your light majiya in such a way that whatever you want to have summoned, mainly PureBlade, must break that field to allow the rebalancing of majiya. It takes a rather large chunk of majiya derived from you almost at once. This is why you practically knock yourself out whenever you do it."

"Ok, so why do you want me to try summoning a million wind strikes one after the other as quickly as I can?" I asked.

"I'm trying to get you to experience the feeling of letting your majiya flow out of you rather then being forced out. Once you have that feeling and are able to do it at a whim, you can start training it to the next level." he replied.

"Ok, but I don't know if I can actually do this." I said, hesitantly.

To my surprise, no wind strikes appeared, but I felt the summoning taking place. I felt powerful, yet drained at the same time.

"Took me nearly 3 days to figure out how to best get you to train it like that." he said, almost as though he was proud of it.

And so I practiced it - spell-summoning absolutely nothing. Made me feel very stupid doing it in public.

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INEVITABILITY - THE SECOND WAVE
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They came in greater numbers this time. No more boats, meaning we got to see what sort of land-based weaponry they had.

Not too bad. A few larger ridable four-legged creatures with archers dotting its back here and there. Several small and speedy four-legged creatures dashing between ranks, seemingly going to attack with their own claws and teeth, relying mainly on viciousness to bring opponents down. They had foot-soldiers, and larger ones this time. I imagined whatever dragons we had left would be fair matches against them.

Fortunately, their forces were seemingly thinned and dirty. At least they were not immune to swampiness. Should give us a little bit of a fatigue advantage. I hope.

We were in the air once again. Gia, Dex, and I overlooked the battlefield with careful precision. It was almost exactly the way we planned it. Our enemies was scattered through the mainly smaller passable trails while the larger ones were confined to the larger one, which we walled off as preparation to help slow them down.

Unfortunately, we didn't expect them to have that many flying cohorts.

The air was thick with ... what were they? Bats? Mutant dragons? Strange prehistoric birds? Well, they were "something" that somewhat resembled Psychosis with large talons on all 4 dangling legs, skin-tight boney wings, and heads so small I wondered how they actually ate.

And, of course, Psychosis itself was in the middle of the pack, just floating behind them all with all four of its weapons brandished, waiting for Dex's challenge.

Dex stood on the platform in the doorway that separated him from the inside of the cabin to the open air. He and Psychosis had already spotted each other, and both were waiting for the first move. For a moment, it was a tense silence. I should be used to those now, since they've been occuring so much.

But this one was different. This one was a silence of realization, not aggression. Fate brought these two warriors together with both armies fighting almost pointlessly down below. So long as one of them survives, the other can not do what he desires. Psychosis can't take over Gielinor or the universe while Dex was alive, and while Psychosis was alive Dex couldn't go home.

"Alex 43?"

Dex took his eyes off Psychosis and turned to me. I was sitting at the cannon at the time, so I had to peek above the platform to get a final glimpse at him.

"No matter what happens," he said, "Majiya will never change. As there is evil, there is also good to counter and neutralize it."

And with that, he jumped into the morning sky. Psychosis shot down at him and a blaze of colorful light erupted below the cabin.

"And so it begins all over again." said Gia, turning the wheel and adjusting our wing flaps so we ascend to the left away from the majiya war.

I gripped both cannon-aiming handles tightly, aiming it towards some large Easterner transporters below. I knew I had to conserve ammo, but we had so much that I felt we could afford to assist those below for a while. I fired three rounds down below, listening to the *clank* as the 5 remaining cannonballs rolled down the ammo rack, and watched as my three shots fell at high speed, making contact with whatever was in its line of projectery.

One of them struck the lead transporter creature right in the back. Something exploded, and t was lost in a large black cloud. The second shot pulverized a swordsman who hopefully wasn't on our side. The third shot, however, missed altogether and harmlessly cratered the ground in a feeble attempt to make a difference to the outcome of this war.

I sighed to myself. I hated missing a target when I shot a long-ranged weapon. It meant that an arrow or cannonball with so much potential to make its use known to all backfires on itself due to your own error becomes destroyed without effect. All that craftsmanship and effort for nothing. That's why I prefered melee over anything - because the weapon could miss and still retain its use immediately after the mistake.

Snapping myself back to reality, I watched the two majiya warriors clash away. Dex had expanded a solid field of concentrated atoms all around him to form a seemingly impenetrable barrier and was tackling Psychosis over and over. As a response, Psychosis swatted him away with various parts of itself.

Alien and monster, fighting for the future of Gielinor. It was not just inspirational to all that saw it, it was also soul manipulating. When we first learned of the Easterners, I thought that I was going to be a great hero, leading troops into battle and risking myself against their greater weapon. But all that devotion I foresaw was nothing compared to the reality of seeing another do it for me and so well.

I felt it. It was going to change. This delicate conflicting balance of good and evil. It was inevitable.

One of them was going to die today.

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IN THE SKY
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Well, the battle below has started. Our rangers, catapults, balistas, and mages are felting the Easterners from the cover of the mountains. I'll assume our side only has that advantage for about 5 minutes until the Easterners begin to actually delve into the battlefield.

Yup, Psychosis has also fully recovered. Maybe more. But I have more of a chance now. I haven't spent a moment since out last fight not getting myself prepared for this one. I trained myself, I trained my friends, I discussed strategies.

I even prepared a little trap for you, Psychosis. Might not severely weaken you, but it should help to turn the tables in my favor should I be in a pinch.

"Don't think this will be like last time! I've revised my strategy to best take you down as painfully as possible!"

"Good! I was afraid i was going to have to start hurting myself to make some progress."

Yeah, that got him mad. He didn't even try to retort that time. You know what I'll do to you? I'll do some barrier-tackling. How does THAT sound?

It's only a matter of time now. If legend stays true to its word and I did my homework correctly, I only have to wait for IT to appear and assist me. Once it makes its mark and weakens Psychosis. If it fails, I'll finish it all with the Third Eye.

Perhaps we'll never get home after all. Should it all come down to the Third Eye, we shall both perish, and all who know us shall miss us. Here and there, above and below.

I suppose it wouldn't be too bad. At least I managed to share some of the secrets of majiya to some who were willing to listen. No doubt they'll pass on my teachings and the essence of majiya will no longer be unknown. My only regret would be that I could not solve the mystery of majiya and how it exists in the first place. I mean, majiya had to all come from somewhere in the beginning. Was the big bang really a restarting of time? Will anyone ever know before it's too late?

No! I can't die! Not yet! I DO have regret. I DO have potential. I DO have purpose!

Come on, whatever God of majiya is out there. Let it work! Please!

Majiya does not come out of nothingness. Fountains and drains may have the ability to create and destroy majiya, but the majiya itself comes and goes to a place rumored to be home of all unused majiya. The second world, I call it, where our souls and spirits go when we truly die.


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SWC FLYING FORTRESS B.H.G.T.T. - OVERLOOKING THE PATERDOMAS BATTLE
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I emptied the third load of ammo against a number of those rubbery bony dragon creatures that threatened the blimp. Thankfully, I didn't miss a single shot that time, and 8 out of 8 targets fell with fewer body parts then before they were struck by my punishment. I imagined that Saradomin must be hating all this senseless violence, but these things just have to happen if we are to secure peace and prosperity among the lands.

Glancing at our ammo reserve (a large metal crate directly entwined into the cabin walls), I estimated 4 more full magazines and got out of the seat. Gia heaved the wheel over and steered the blimp to the left of the aerial fight, mainly to avoid a few other dragon creatures. I squatted down to my knees and braced myself for the sharp maneuver, holding in a retort for the inexpediency of his decision to turn. Regaining my footing, I walked to his side and stood next to him, one hand on the wheel in case he had to make another sharp turn.

"I should be down there." he said to me, "I'm no good up here. Someone less able then me should be piloting this."

"I'm afraid you're the only one who practiced it." I assured him, "But no matter. We are playing our role and those down there are playing theirs."

"Yeah." he said, keeping the wheel sturdy. We were shooting through the air in circles around the battlefield, trying to look as threatening to those below as possible.

"By the way," said Gia, "What IS Dex's plan? He told me that he had something of a plan to finish off Psychosis."

"It's not really a plan." I replied without thinking, "It's more of a phophecy then anything."

Gia took immediate interest. Dang!

"What's this prophecy?" he asked.

"I- I'm sorry, I can't tell you." I replied, "Dex made me promise not to tell ANYONE."

"I'm the only one up here with you." said Gia, "You can tell me."

"Yeah, but ... I promised ..." I stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"Tell him."

I jumped and spun around. Gia looked confused, more to me then to the man in the black cap who was leaning on the wall behind us, smiling behind and through his mask.

"How did you get on here?" I demanded.

"Uh ... by the door while it was on the ground." replied Gia, "... are you feeling alright, Alex?"

"There's someone there. A man ... or creature or something." I said, pointing at Knifeslasher and momentarily forgetting that he was actually listening to me, "Can't you see him?"

Gia turned his head quickly, looking towards the spot I was pointing. He didn't have pupils, but I could tell he was looking between the spot Knifeslasher was standing and myself.

"There's nobody there, and I definitely think I would've heard something." he calmly said, turning back to the wheel.

For a moment, I stood there, stunned, looking right into the emerald-green eyes of the stranger and trying to force him out of my mind, proving that he was really just an illusion. But no, he still stood there, as patient as ever, waiting for me to resolve my issues and start asking him questions. I no longer cared how he even got on board.

It was then that I remembered what he told me the second time we met. Only those who wanted to see him could see him unless he wanted to make himself seen.

"Why don't you make yourself seen to my friend?" I asked him.

"What?" asked Gia, turning, but he was drowned out by the stranger.

"Because I don't need him to see me."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I do." I replied.

Gia turned to me once again, "Who are you talking to?"

"OK, listen, Gia. There's someone standing right there, a man, but you can't see nor hear him. You can only experience him if you desire to."

"Um ... OK?" he said, staring at me as though I just thrust my spear down my throat and pulled it out over and over again.

"Come on, you've got to believe me." I begged, "He's short, clothed in black. Wears a black cap and yellow belt. White skin ... face looks artificial ... like a mask. When have I ever lied to you?"

"... never. OK, I want to see this strange man." he announced, glaring at the spot I showed him while keeping one hand on the wheel, "I want to see this strange entity that makes himself unknown to all that don't want to see him. I want to exper-"

And he jumped. I leaped onto the spinning wheel and held it down with my own body weight while he recovered and gripped it with both claws, not taking his eyes off of Knifeslasher.

"You see him now?" I asked.

Knifeslasher was on the verge of laughing, but he held it in with some effort.

"If it helps your mental status, I'll let your friend see me too."

Gia was just as curious as I was, if not, more violently.

"Who are you? WHAT are you? How did you get aboard this ship?"

Knifeslasher turned his eyes to me. His voice alone sounded polite enough to set Gia's aggression towards him at ease.

"Would you like to be the one answering the questions this time?"

It was an offer, not a request. I might as well abide.

"This is Knifeslasher. He's an ally ... at least, I believe he is."

"If I wasn't, don't you think I would've attacked you and stolen your vessel by now?"

"... yeah, he's an ally.' I added, a little annoyed.

"Now that that's taken care of, don't you think you should tell Gia about the second weapon?"

I looked at him sternly, walking across the deck to him.

"Dex told me not to tell anyone." I said.

"Why?"

"Um ... he said that they would attempt it themselves and ultimately render the weapons usele-"

"It's already happened. You can tell him now."

I stood there, stunned.

"It ... it is? How would YOU know?"

"In due time, Alex. First, tell him. Word for word, what Dex told you that night at the Jolly Boar Inn.."

Unable to do anything else, I turn to the confused, though curious Gia, and began.

"It goes like this. That one night, at the Jolly Boar Inn, Dex was awake for some reason. I started talking to him ..."

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SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO - JOLLY BOAR INN
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"So what's the second option?" I asked.

Here, Dex gazed out the window again. It looked like he was searching for something in the sky. For a minute, he didn't say anything, but then, just when I thought he had fallen asleep and started towards my bed, he spun around and caught me as I fell over in surprise.

"It's a weapon." he said, as I was righted by an invisible force around me. It felt like I was being pushed by a pillow.

"Not the Third Eye. Something different." he quickly added.

"I take it you don't have to risk your life to summon it." I hopefully asked.

He shook his head as though I was hopeless.

"No. You don't make it. I don't make it. Not even a general Gielinor God makes it."

And with that, he pointed towards the window, inviting me to gaze into the clearing sky with him.

"... have you ever heard of the God of Majiya?" he asked.

I looked at him, puzzled. He chuckled to himself.

"No, of course not. You have never heard of majiya." he said apologetically.

"There's a majiya god?" I asked.

He took a deep breath. Here we went with the explanations again.

The second world, known to majiya-controllers as the OtherWorld, is said to be a large void filled with so much majiya that one who stepped in it would never age. Their ability to contain majiya would be completely relaxed, and would even start to recover itself. Usually, they are brought in in a state of collapse - namely true death.

It is said that the souls of these majiya containers would become revitalized in this world, but very slowly. Once they are finished with their revitalization, they are let back out into the mortal world, but as another existence. In a nutshell, reincarnation and the afterlife is all involved with this second world.

To govern this world and ensure that order is maintained, there is a God, or rather a Guardian that watches over and controls BOTH worlds - this one and the OtherWorld, which is actually His own. He is the one that takes the dead, and He is the one that sends them out to be reincarnated into a mortal solid body.

It is prophesied that should the world lose its balance due to a creature so powerful that none can stop it, the Guardian will make His appearance. He will create a special weapon from the planet, and use it to strike the creature down. Should that not work, he will fight it Himself, and continue to fight it even if it takes an eternity.

This is to ensure that the world and majiya remains in balance.

He took a breather and I took a moment to try to make sense of all that. In a way, it actually did. A majiya container is practically mental ability plus some very concentrated majiya. How this Guardian actually got all that died up there all at once, I had no idea, but didn't really care.

Finally, I spoke, taking a quick glance around to make sure everyone was still sleeping. Gia made a low groan, but otherwise it was good.

"So you're saying that this Guardian will appear and kill Psychosis FOR us." I asked.

"It's only a rumor." he replied, holding up his book, "Keep in mind these books were written many thousands of years ago. If anything, they're like bibles."

He paused again, taking a good look at it.

"But I believe it. If there is a majiya guardian, He WILL come. We must have faith." he announced.

"And if he doesn't?" I asked.

He gazed into my visor.

"Plan A, I'm afraid." was his reply.

I shuddered to think about it. Something so destructive; I wondered what this Third Eye must have actually LOOKED like.

I asked my final question of the night.

"What is this 'weapon' He makes?"

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MID-DAY - SWC FLYING FORTRESS B.H.G.T.T.
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I couldn't believe the whole story lasted us down to noon. Gia had to pause me 4 times and pull off an evasive maneuver while Knifeslasher and I held our ground, and when I continued, I remembered something else about the story of that one night.

"So there's a chance that he might have to use the Third Eye and sacrifice himself, then?" asked Gia.

"Yeah, about that." I said, then turned to Knifeslasher, "You said that it already has been-"

"There's no need to explain, Alex 43."

He finally abandoned leaning against the wall and invited me towards the large 180 degree windows around the deck, giving Gia hand-gesture directions on where to go.

"Just watch."

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SKY BATTLE
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That majiya signature Valence used. It was like nothing I ever felt before. Was that it? Could he be the-

No, couldn't be. But still ...

Only one way to find out. I have to lure Psychosis towards him. But that's not going to be easy. Instead, he's luring me. Towards Port Sarim and their ... wait, I thought that ship was sunk! Huh, must have been a prototype or something.

At least Alex 43's following me. That gives me a safe ... well, sorta safe place to go should I be in trouble.

Darn it, he's heading straight for that ship! He's entering the hull, intent on having me follow. Probably desires that enclosed space to cripple my abilities. No matter, I'll just wait here or in the blimp for him to come out again. It's his own ship, so he won't be able to harm our forces from inside as much as he can from outside.

Still, it's going to be difficult to lure him all the way back to Valence.

... unless I personally bring Valence TO him ...

This'll only take a second ...

Majiya is all still theory. Though it sometimes can be explained, it is more then likely all by coincidence.

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IN THE AIR OVER PORT SARIM - SWC FLYING FORTRESS B.H.G.T.T.
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Dex shot off towards Paterdomus, and Gia wasn't sure whether to follow or not. I told him to just hold our ground, because Dex would definitely not just leave Psychosis after all that mayhem. He must be getting something ... or someone, to aid in his fight.

"I don't want to lose sight of Dex!" complained Gia.

"Focus more on not losing sight of Psychosis." I replied.

"That's easy enough. He's right there and closing fast!" he replied, almost panicking.

Psychosis zoomed up towards us and Gia forced the blimp to dive to the side. Instinctively, I jumped into the now-reloaded cannon and fired a round at it. It dodged with a 360 spin in mid-air and changed his course towards above the balloon. It was planning on destroying our only means of staying in the air!

I unloaded on it, firing and firing away, causing it to either dodge or defend itself. Fortunately, I was firing too fast for it to use its majiya to send the cannonballs back our way. 6 shots, then 7, then 8, and 9, then- wait, the magazine only has 8 rounds! Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Knifeslasher was tossing cannonballs from the supply load to the magazine chamber. Wow, to be strong enough to toss them so easily with 1 hand made me jealous.

They weren't doing much at all to Psychosis except delay our imminent death, and when we ran completely out of ammo, Psychosis even started laughing at us and taunting. Then he shot up towards the balloon and was blown back by a blast of majiya energy.

Dex had returned and was literally carrying Valence on his back. I thought the idea itself was absurd, but seeing it in action looked just plain ridiculous. What looked even more ridiculous was the weapon that Valence was holding, poised at impaling Psychosis should it get too close.

I could tell by the look on Psychosis' visor that this must've been the second weapon Dex talked about. What was it called again? ...

Never mind, so long as it worked, it was fine.

"Your terror on this planet and universe shall fade!" shouted Dex, "And all shall be saved by this weapon!"

"Don't call me that." argued Valence.

"I wasn't referring to you ..." he muttered.

"NOOOO!" shouted Psychosis, "YOU SHALL NOT DEFEAT ME!"

I suddenly felt faint. It was like I got thrown into a hot spring or something. Psychosis' majiya output had increased substantially. It was now in a pinch.

It struck, a hundred times faster then before. Dex put up a barrier, but it shattered. Again and again, this repeated, majiya barriers shattering and Psychosis hammering away with all four swords.

"Agh!" shouted Dex, straining to keep a surviving barrier up, "You're too heavy for me, Valence! Get into the blimp!"

And with one free hand, he threw Valence with his majiya towards the cabin door. No longer at the cannon, I caught Valence and pulled him in.

Dex was now up against a true Psychosis now. He blasted attack after attack, each one with growing intensity, at Dex. No more strategy; this was pure offense. I couldn't do anything but watch Dex take this punishment.

Suddenly, Psychosis landed a blow, and Dex was flung aside, leaving our blimp in the clear!

"Brace yourselves!" I shouted to everyone. Gia gripped the wheel and held it steady.

Psychosis deactivated one of it- I should call it a 'he' -HIS swords, leaving an open claw, which started gathering a large red ball of unrecognizable energy. Was this majiya? No, it didn't look like it. It exploded into a pulsing ball of energy, and he charged right at the balloon.

The resulting explosion was half the energy ball and half our balloon. Either way, both unwanted forces combined to push us downwards and out of control.

"Mayday! Mayday! We're going down!" I shouted into my mastery amulet, wondering just where I got the term "mayday" from for a second. it didn't matter. Nothing mattered now. We had to focus on surviving this.

Gia pulled at the wheel with all his might, trying to adjust the remaining glider-wings to bring us down to a glide. They only half worked, and we fell at a 45 degree angle towards the only source of ground reachable - the Anti Naic II. But we were going down too fast!

At least we'll take this boat down with us.

"YAH!"

We collided and literally bounced off the hull of the ship, causing the boat itself to rock violently under the weight. The cabin shattered in pieces from the impact, and we were flung off in separate directions all around the crash site. I myself bounced and flew head-first into a wall, coming down to a crippling *thud* on the ground. For a moment, I blacked out, hearing or seeing nothing but a bright flash and the final brilliant moment of our beloved blimp hang-glider type thing emit from the observation tower.

Then, miraculously, I got up practically unharmed. Such an impact would've had me a molten adamantite bar splattered around the deck, but after examining myself, I only counted 3 minor dents on my head and legs, which I knew were from Gia's almost-reckless driving.

How? I flew at the wall at a speed faster then Karl could run, and yet I wasn't harmed at all. I felt my armor, trying to make out SOMETHING; a crack, a broken joint ... nothing. But then I felt again. Since when was my armor so soft and rubbery?

Closer examination revealed my armor covered in a light sort of material coating that took the full punishment of the contact and left me merely shaken. Majiya? But who did this? Dex was knocked aside.

I watched as the coating slowly faded away into nothingness and got up. It was then that I remembered my crew - Gia, Valence, and Knifeslasher. And what about Dex?

I looked up. There they were, fighting once again, but Dex was in between us and Psychosis. He wanted at someone down here but Dex was trying to block him.

Dex was on his last legs. His barriers were flimsy and weak, and Psychosis knocked him away several times, getting closer to us bit by bit while Dex reappeared.

"Alex 43!"

Gia jumped down to my position below the stairwell leading to the upper-deck. He was at my side in a second.

"Where's Valence?" I asked. We needed him.

"In the water." replied Gia, "He's out cold! I was looking for a rope, but I found you instead."

"Well come ON!" I said, "We gotta help him!"

Gia lead me up the stairs and towards the back edge of the deck, past the fallen observatory tower which still had the remains of our cabin embedded into it. He lead me around the remains and to an open area with nothing but deck and ocean water beyond.

We then had to stop - something collided the deck at high speed and nearly missed hitting us.

Dex quickly struggled to his feet from the smoldering crater caused by his last barrier. He was burnt in several places - his clean brown fur with large black patches all over, and yet I still couldn't see his skin underneath it all.

"Where is it?" he asked me with struggling breath, "Where's the weapon?"

I couldn't answer. A loud shriek of anger split the air around us and caused us all to fall, clutching our ears. Dex must've suffered.

Psychosis landed on the deck only a few feet away from us. His visor was cracked all over and glowing blood-shot eyes shone through it.

"You have interfered with my plan for the last time, insect!" he shouted victoriously. All four glowing blades were twirled upwards, poised to strike. I swung my spear defensively at Psychosis, but was cast aside by one of the blades. Same thing happened to Gia, except he actually went off the edge and into the ocean water below. Dex was defenseless now, still semi-conscious and twitching from the shriek attack.

Around me, I saw everyone from the mastery coming up from below deck. Maeteru, Arasa, Jason, Kas'Haran, Tom, Da Devil, and even Skyrate and Timrak, who halted their fight long enough to experience this frightening moment.

Psychosis liked an audience. He made a quick bow before pulling his swords up to strike Dex in four fatal places.

"Now I shall be victorious, and destroy ALL in the universe! Then it shall be made my OWN!"

And with that, he brought down all four blades upon Dex.

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IN THE PAST, THERE WAS NOTHING.

THEN THERE WAS EVERYTHING.

majiYa exIstAnce aLL LifE MuSt baSed ...

MAJIYA, MENIAL EXISTENCE, AND ENERGY, ALL APPEARED AS IF FROM OUT OF NOWHERE.

LIFE WAS CREATED FROM IT, AND DELVED FROM IT, AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL FROM IT.

TO ENSURE THERE WAS BALANCE, A RACE WAS BORN TO KEEP THE BALANCE.

A RACE OF GODS. SEVERAL GODS.

GODS BEYOND WHAT NAMES COULD DESCRIBE.

"Should we lose the balance, the universe shall end, and majiya shall collapse upon itself, which would mean the end of time."

"Really? What would happen then, Papa?"

"Then everything shall cease to exist. There would be no reality."

"What would that be like for us, then? Would it be just like sleeping?"

"No, my son, it would be far worse then sleeping. Even worse then true death itself. No, it would mean you only exist in a big blank space, cursed to remain helpless and vulnerable to it forever. All reality would sink into the third world."

"What world is that, Papa?"

"The world ... of the unknown."

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whY do We eXisT aS WE lIvE? iS liFE alL tHerE is To iT?

"There is constant conflict between the two worlds. The world of majiya, and the world of the unknown. This is why we must keep the balance."

"So why am I here, great ancestor?"

"You are here because you have proven yourself worthy to be one who maintains balance. With true heart and sacrifice to this devotion comes great ability. You now have that ability."

"Wow. It feels so ... so ... life-like."

"This is what majiya is, young one. So powerful, and yet so delicate. Its balance must be maintained at all times, and only by using it can this be done."

"... I accept this responsibility. But how will I know that it's imbalanced?"

"I will not tell you, for you will know on your own."

____________________________________________________


WHAT IS THAT? THAT FEELING?

timE nOT fAir. WaSTIng alL eXisTenCe.

SOMETHING'S WRONG. I MUST DO SOMETHING.

ImBalanCE! IMBaLAnCE!

WHERE? WHERE IS IT? ... THERE. I WILL GO THERE AND STOP IT.

maJiYa ... Is ... eXiStEnCE.


____________________________________________________

DEUS EX MACHINA
____________________________________________________

Psychosis was blown away from Dex by a strange series of majiya rings, light and dark. Something small and dark shot from it, chasing Psychosis as he flew away and slashing away with a dark sword. Psychosis quickly blocked and swung back, but it was countered by another sword, this time a bright white. Each clash of the blade cause another explosion of rings, sending Psychosis flying high and higher up.

"Alex 43 ..." said Dex, pushing himself to his feet.

"What is it, Dex?" I asked, not taking my eyes of this surprising sight.

"Give me PureBlade. I MUST do it. NOW!" he said, clutching his arm in pain. The explosion also knocked him back down and he was bleeding.

"But Dex-"

"Now! While the God of majiya distracts him!"

I had no choice. I poured my energy out and created an anchor right in front of me. In a flash of light, the great lightning outline of the spirit of Pureblade shot down from the heavens and swiftly decelerated until the tip was just floating inches above Dex's nose.

Slowly, the sword began to contract, glowing brighter and more intense as it squeezed itself together. Then, once it was the side of an ordinary long sword, it shone a solid bright pale purple light, burnt itself out, and revealed a solid, handsome-looking sword.

The blade was a pale blue color, the same as its hilt. Its soft, roughed handle was a darker shade of blue, but fit the rest of its color scheme perfectly. In the center of its wing-like blade-guards was an encrusted sapphire glowing a brilliant light blue, like it was holding a lightning bolt. Pureblade was a beautiful sword, alright.

Dex grabbed it with his good hand, to which it then glowed an angry white and zapped him. After enduring the shock that was sent through him by it, the sword allowed itself to be wielded by Dex, and became harmless again.

"Before I go, Alex? And everyone?" said Dex to the gathering crowd of spectators.

"Thank you for listening to me and fighting with me. Help to spread the secrets of majiya around and discover the true mystery behind it so we may help maintain its balance and have forever peace."

And with that, he crouched and sprung up into the air to join the already fighting warrior we knew so well as the mysterious Knifeslasher.

___________________________________________________


The 3 fought for hours, clashing swords and techniques between each other. Dex and Knifeslasher against Psychosis. Rising ever so high up in the air above us and clashing great blades against each other.

If I ever thought the previous light shows were amazing, I probably must not have remembered them to be anything like they were. This light show HAD to have been the ultimate in entertainment. So many complex colors - light and dark, blue and purple - blasting around in spirals, waves, shockwaves, and orbits. Each clash between the 3 swordsmen changed their formations and added new ones to the ever-lasting light.

Something up there was building up. Light and dark majiya, conflicting and neutralizing so intensely that it caused the fusion and fission of the particles all around them. Suns and stars dotted around them and the sun itself seemed to do out around us. They seemed so high up that all of Gielinor could see this massive fight.

The fight between Skyrate and Timrak proceeded, but no one gave any attention to it. It was not as interesting, which sort of bummed them a bit into several stalemates.

Knifeslasher. It was him all along. Dex told me about this God of Majiya, but I never would have thought it to really be this midget in black, fighting with swords almost taller then he was. It all made sense now. HE was the one that gave Valence that weapon. HE was the one that saved us from the fall. HE was the one that blew Psychosis away to save Valence and Karl on the Anti-Naic I.

And he wasn't even on our side. He was just here to maintain the balance. He wasn't here to fight in our war nor to kill our final enemy. He was here to make sure that WE could do it.

Suddenly, Dex separated from the two. Knifeslasher had Psychosis in a hold and they were fighting with unconsciously-made majiya techniques while Dex ... what was he doing to Pureblade? It was glowing black and several glowing lights spun around it.

"What's Dex doing?" asked Maeteru.

"He ... he's sacrificing himself to destroy Psychosis and save us." I replied.

"But he doesn't have to, does he? He's already got Psychosis held back!" replied Maeteru.

"That's not him that-" I started, but stopped. Nah, I won't try to explain Knifeslasher to them. it would just be too complex.

Time slowed down. Pureblade melted into his hand and erupted into a light that nobody could tell is it was black, white, or grey. He shot towards Psychosis and impaled him right over Knifeslasher's head.

And we saw it. We all saw it.

The Third Eye.

Time stopped, and the sky transformed from a dark starry black to a blazing apocalyptic white. In the blackness that became Dex, Psychosis, and Knifeslasher, a sword appeared in Psychosis. It had two separate blades on one long horizontal handle that Dex held in his hand. Although it was black, and the light was cast from behind it, it was the source of all the light that covered the sky.

Energy blasted us all down flat on the ground and rocked the ship. Around us, the ocean, also white now, boiled and white trees burst into flame on shore. An invisible tornado whipped the ocean into a torrential storm and our faces were pelted by flaming hot water. Everything that existed seemed to melt into this overwhelming light, and we couldn't even block a bit of it out by closing our eyes.

This was the power of the Third Eye.

The balancing of majiya.

______________________________________________________


Finally, after what felt like hours, the light quickly vanished and we were all left with a dark spell. Using whatever energy I had left, I looked up and saw them in the sky. Knifeslasher was gone, leaving just Dex and Psychosis just floating there for a minute.

Then they fell.

Both of them fell.

Psychosis hit the deck with a loud hollow *CRUNCH* and all four swords landed around him. He didn't move.

Dex's lifeless body plummeted into the hot, roughened ocean waters below and vanished under the darkened abyss.

It was black. Black all around me. Darkness in every corner of the existence around me. Impossible to tell the perspective.

... where ... where am I? What is this place?

Around, I saw clouds of confusion appear from thin air, swirl around, and cover the darkness up. Were they glowing or was the room just black with a light coming from somewhere behind me?

This ... is this death? Is this what death is like?

It came closer and closer, threatening to engulf me. I think I preferred the darkness better.

Why can't I move? Don't I at least have a spiritual body?

It surrounded me. Felt rather comfortable, actually. Wait, could I still feel? That must mean I still have a body!

Why can't I reach out with my majiya? Has it run dry? Am I all out of it?

I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond. I couldn't even turn my neck to look down and see why it wasn't moving. It was creepy.

Alex 43? Where are you? This is scary. Help me!

My eyes couldn't even move. I could only look straight into that one spot in front of me, which was now nothing but swirling particles of hopelessness.

What am I saying? There's no way he can hear me. I'm all alone now.

I guess this is what death is like, and that I am now one of the uncountable beings that experienced it and said aloud "Oh, so THIS is what it's like". The realization set in.

Why did it have to end this way? Why couldn't it have been different?

It felt good around me, but I still began to hate it. Fear ... boredom ... hopelessness ... un-resolved curiosity ...

This was no heaven.

HELP ME!


___________________________________________________________

?????
___________________________________________________________


Divine beauty. That's what this place is. The most fragile things in the universe and beyond are always the more precious and beautiful. And the way they are so beautiful makes them seem like they are not fragile at all. I can't believe I had to be told that this place was so fragile, because I definitely would not have guessed it.

I don't think I need this mask anymore. Nobody that I don't want to have see me is going to see me here. I'll just take it off and put it away for now.

Every one of them. They used to exist in the first world. But by all methods horrid, unintentional, or purely natural, they all have come here seeking refuge or consequential punishment. They are all going through a stage which I call the "recovery". This is their heaven, their underworld, their OtherWorld, and everything in between as their containers are re-manufactured and their minds cleared. This is a paradise to all who lived sinless, and an eternal horror to those with great regret.

Take this soul for example. There she sits, in her own private encasement some call a "star". She was a wonderful mother, a fantastic wife, and a spotless housekeeper. She had a great job, led a peaceful retirement, and died of old age n her sleep. The perfect life. Let's take a peek at what she is living through now- ahhh, how lovely. Endless beach, rippling ocean-side, an ice-cold fruit punch by her side, served by a dream copy of her attractive husband, and a mighty fine tan, too. Her kids play nearby, converting wet sand to a visually artistic piece of effort and beauty. She's loving her recovery! I think I'd better leave before she decides to go for the giant hot-tub right behind her and turns the place into a disco.

How about this one? He committed some sin, but asked for forgiveness from himself and those around him. ... there he is, with his friends, out and having the time of their lives. No responsibilities, all entertainment. Touchdown! What a game! Yup, even those who do wrong can learn to forgive themselves, and all around them shall forgive as well once it's done.

And how about this one? Ooh, this one was a murderer, killing for money he was too lazy to work for and committing suicide to avoid capture. ... yes, he suffers for it. The same scene, repeated over and over while he cringes, unable to bear the repenting of this sin. He's probably feeling death all over again. It's painful, mentally and physically. Serves you right, wrong-doer. NOBODY should have to willingly end their life for ANY reason except to protect others. ... actually, never mind. That shouldn't have to happen either. Life is an exam, and those who pass it positively get rewarded.

OK, one more, then I'll start distributing those ready to go. ... oh my, what is this? Fear ... confusion ... this one didn't commit sin ... well, not overwhelmingly ... he ended his life to protect his world and another. Wow, what a sacrifice. I would imagine he must be in a state of hopelessness. ... wait a sec. I recognize you. You're the one that called yourself and was called Dex. You helped me to restore balance to the world and took down that abomination with- yes, that's you.

You seem to know quite a but of the mysteries that govern all worlds. I think I shall make conversation with you to help pass the time.

Hello there, young one.

"What? ... who is that?"

Fear not, I'm not an enemy. Quite the opposite, in fact.

"Am I dead? Is this death?"

I'm afraid so. ... not really what you expected, is it?

"No, I suppose it isn't."

Hey, why don't you come out of there and take a walk with me? I do get rather bored being here alone.

"I can't ... I can't move. Am I moving? I can't feel it."

Here, then. Let me help you up.

_______________________________________________________

I felt something like a giant hand grab me by the back, large enough to completely wrap around me, and myself being lifted up by someone and pulled out of the cloud. Slowly, the thick purple cloud fell away to the surrounding darkness, which also for some reason seemed like it was falling away. I still couldn't move, but my holder was turning me around to look at everything around me. Down below, the cloud became clear and unused, and I saw that there was a reflection of it against a faraway spherical wall in the distance.

Then, without warning, all of it vanished and gave way to light, but only for a moment. Blackness once again filled the area as the light shrunk down into a small orb with a tiny hole in the top that was clearly where I was just pulled from. The giant hand had now become an invisible force, carrying me from all parts of my body. Once I stopped moving, I tried moving myself, and was thankful to see that I was once again mobilized.

I was curled up in a ball, my head pointing up to see forward. Slowly, with very little effort, I willed myself to rise up and unclench my legs from my arms. Then I nervously stood on what felt like ground, but certainly looked like open air. Finally able to actually look around, I took advantage of it.

I was at a loss for words!

All around me was stars. Billions and trillions of stars, stretching away into several distant galaxies. An infinite void of small glowing dots, each piercing the never-ending darkness in its own unique way. Some were different colors, some different sizes, some different shapes, and some even looked solid enough to be planets.

"Is this the OtherWorld?" I asked myself aloud.

Yes, it is.

I slowly turned. There it stood, the essence that fought alongside me against my final battle with Psychosis. I could not see it then, but I felt his presence, and trusted it to be my ally. Now that I could see it, my suspicions were confirmed.

And he stood no taller them me, even with that strange cap.

All he was was an outline. A bold yellow outline of individual blackness with highlighted facial features and accessories. He wore a yellow belt and twin armbands and carried a large kite-shaped shield on his back. Welded (or attached somehow) to the shield were two identical swords, also outlined yellow but far more boldly. In a way, at first glance, he was almost like a human.

But his face ... his face was the one thing that made him look truly alien. Two large shining yellow eyes covered half his face with a toothless, but solid mouth set below where the nose would be if he had one. Medium-cut black hair (very thin outlines) covered where he should have ears (he probably didn't have any) as well as the back and sides of his head. When he spoke, his mouth didn't even open, but the sound emitted straight from it.

Welcome to the second world. I am Knifeslasher, the Guardian of this sacred realm and of the universe itself.

"... this ... how is this possible?"

First, before I explain, why don't you take a look at yourself.

I did. Just like Knifeshasher, I too was all black with yellow outlines showing my physical (was it?) body and where it changed color. When I turned my hand, it looked more like the outline melded itself into the illusion that I was actually 3D and that my hand was truly turning, but I had to actually convince myself of that.

"I'm ... a mind presence, aren't I?"

Very good! You're one of the first to actually guess it without any clues. Let us walk now.

"But there isn't any ground to walk on."

Since when has that ever stopped you?

We both grinned at each other. That was silly of me to say, wasn't it?

So we walked. As we walked, the stars floated past us, making the most of their existence around me. Several times, Knifeslasher would reach out and send one flying into nothingness in a random direction with a flick of the finger or twist of the wrist, and several times more one would shoot from out of nowhere and threatened to collide with us if he didn't catch it and place it somewhere nearby.

He re-arranged the second world, putting certain stars here and other stars there. He formed some into galaxies and sent them flying, and he sometimes split some apart as well, pulling them in half as if they were made of clay. All without actually touching them.

And all this time, we talked. His voice was cheerful, wise, and friendly. Reminded me of someone I know.

"You are the God of Majiya?"

I am. Majiya and the universe.

"It is an honor to meet you, my Lord."

Please call me Knifeslasher. I don't want to feel all THAT superior.

"Why did you pull me out of death like that?"

You didn't deserve what you got. You ended your own life and were trapped in hopelessness and confusion. Such a horrible state to be stuck in for all eternity. Plus, I wanted the company, and you already know me.

"Isn't there supposed to be an after-life?"

Of course! However, the only thing I re-use are the containers and potential minds. The actual person's existence and memory behind it all is put away into one of those smaller stars you see around you where they dream and control their dreams forever. But that's all they are now, is just their own existence.

"Wait a minute. What majiya type are you?"

I am both.

"But, that's impossible. You would be neutralized if that was the case."

What makes you think I'm not?

"What? You are- ... huh? I don't understand."

See these two different swords I'm holding?

"Yes, but they look the same."

This one is Twilight, the sword of dark. It is the link between this world and dark majiya. With its existence, both worlds become equal and plentiful of dark majiya.

Its twin here is Genesis, the sword of light. Like Twilight, it is the link between both worlds and light majiya, and regulates the balance of majiya in between both worlds.

And let me show you something. Watch what happens when i join both swords together like this ...

"Woah!"

Recognize it?

"RECOGNIZE it? That's the Third Eye!"

Yup. It is created, by me or another being, should there be an imbalance of majiya and controller. In most cases, the flawed appearance of a ... what do you call it? A Spapper. Such a funny name.

"It was supposed to be the short form of "spirit-trapper, but ... yeah, now that I think about it, it IS rather funny-sounding."

It's always good to have a sense of humor.

"But I still don't get it. How come your swords never neutralize since they're together all the time?"

That's because I have a brother in me. Come on out, Shadow.

From there, the blackness in his outline melded away revealing a pure bright yellow shape that was Knifeslasher. The darkness itself molded into an identical shape, except it was almost invisible in the blackness had it not been for the billions of stars behind it.

The light Knifeslasher spoke.

I am the light, and he is the dark. Together, we are the cosmos.

"In other words, you are a Spapper too."

Yes AND no. Neither of us is a parasite. We leave and re-enter ourselves whenever we choose. Plus, we both require each other to exist.

"No, that can't ... I'm sorry, but how is that possible? There is no technique that allows- where does it fit?"

My friend, you made a little mistake in your analysis of the levels of majiya controllers. You omitted one by mistake.

"Impossible. It doesn't comprehend with what I've read and pieced together-"

Many of those books were written hypothetically. Sure they were fairly accurate, but it was only by pure luck that they were accurate enough to reveal majiya itself.

"You're saying that it's all mostly wrong?"

When you assumed there to be 7 levels of controller and hypothetically assigned each one the main abilities, you accidentally left one out. There are really 8 levels of controller.

"What's the eighth one, then?"

Seventh one, actually. You assumed a level 7 could manipulate time. Only a level 8 can do that. No, a level 7 can manipulate majiya itself. Balance it, pull it apart, manipulate and mold it, etc. How else do you think "magic" was made if none of the controllers could manipulate majiya?

"... you're level 7, then?"

I'd like to think so. My ancestors were all level 7, and they created all the worlds and everything on them straight from this one, which in turn was created by The One who Started it All. A level 8.

"Hang on a minute. Ancestors?!? I thought you could make yourself immortal!"

Life does get rather boring after one lives it for millions of years. You've seen everything, done it all, created, destroyed, and set events in motion. They wanted to step aside and let their children carry on with their work, so they allowed themselves to die and become forever part of the Universe.

"How old are you, then?"

Don't you know it's rude to ask someone their age?

"Sorry, my lord."

That's OK. Actually, I'm only 24 000 years old. Very young, even by our standards. I am perhaps the youngest of my kind to achieve such a status by a long-shot.

"Nice!"

I guess I could be proud of it. At first I thought it was somewhat humiliating, but then i got used to it. Heck, I'm getting older, aren't I? I'll get to adult status soon enough, and then nobody can criticize me about my age ... or size.

"Yeah. ... so explain majiya to me. What is fact and what is fiction?"

You're a smart one, Dex. Most of what you did read and piece together IS, in fact, close enough to the truth to be technically correct. Majiya IS existence, but at the same time, something else as well.

"What?"

... ho boy, how to explain it ... ... OK, I think I got something close enough. You know when you fall asleep and begin to dream, but you never actually remember yourself actually starting that dream? That little bit of mysterious space in between overwhelming fatigue and mental satisfaction?

Well, sometimes when you wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare and you're able to fall back asleep at that instant. You're still too unconscious to feel that state, but you also get a bit of an idea.

It's like falling. Falling into sub-consciousness.

"I've felt that before, but I don't get how this refers to what majiya is."

I'm trying my best, just be patient with me. Anyways, that one space of sub-consciousness. It feels like it lasts for hours, but it really only lasts a second. You almost don't exist in that second. That essence is of majiya, where your mind becomes majiya itself and begins to fade. That's how you age and how majiya ages.

"... I'm sorry, I don't really get it."

That's OK. I apologize, really, but not being as clear as I could, but in time, I'm sure you'll begin to understand.

"I doubt it. I mean, what's the point? I'm dead already, aren't I?"

Eternal happiness, of course. You were left in confusion and doubt. Discovery is the one true way to happiness, as it resolves all questions that may tug at your mind. Happiness, you see, is the purpose of life, the universe, and everything in between.

"It makes sense."

Of course it does. Why does every existing being want to be recognized? Fame and fortune. Why do they want that? To be happy. Why do people invent and explore? Discovery. Why do they want to discover? To be happy. Money makes them happy, as does the increased opportunity money gives them. Fun leads to happiness. Entertainment does too. Don't you see? If someone can't be happy with themselves and the world around them, they will never be, because this place is not one of happiness unless they fully understand and realize it.

You are meant to be happy in life, just as you are to be happy in death. Do you understand me now?

"Perfectly! That's so simple, I don't know why we never thought of it."

You see? You're happy. It doesn't take much. You just have to accept it.

"OK, yeah, but are you also saying that bad people who make themselves happy the 'easy' way get it just as good?"

Of course not. They are the ones that suffer their past. A life full of torment and destroying the happiness of other people does not lead to personal happiness. It leads to eternal guilt and regret.

"How does this all work?"

Another explanation, eh? All right, let's see ... ... OK. Someone with no regrets or guilt at all about anything literally live in a dreamworld, where their lives are redone in their own created way. In other words, a total daydream. One with some guilt, some regret, but nothing too hard to live with will get the same thing, but with some conflicting ideas as well.

Now, somebody who had heavy regret, made lots of people suffer, or ended his own life will have so much conflict in his dreams that he becomes stuck in a rut of guilt, having his horrible actions repeat over themselves depicting ways on how they COULD have been solved to leave him guiltless, but are then recapped as what really happened. Ultimate discipline, I call it.

"My Lord, do you realize that if anyone knew about all this, about what death really is like, there could be eternal peace everywhere?"

I do, actually. Unfortunately, I cannot share these secrets. Again, this is a very vulnerable place, and should the idea and methods behind it become discovered, the mortal beings of the universe could ultimately find a way to access it directly and disrupt the balance by mistake. No, I'm afraid I must keep this area a secret and find another way to do that.

"Yeah. Well, thanks for that conversation. I think I will be able to rest without any more regrets aside from my leaving my friends alone out there."

Yes. Thank you, too. Discovery is just the same when you teach things to others, for you wind up recalling what you have forgotten. It has made me happier.

"Glad to help."

... you know what? I can't do this. It was my fault you had to kill yourself. I was supposed to be a neutral observer, invisible to all but those I wanted to have see me. The reason I threw Psychosis off you was to save you. You have a great mind, and you shared your ideas with everyone, even if you hardly knew them.

"I'm flattered, my Lord, but what can you do? What's done is done. I'm dead now, and I can't go back."

Just as there is dark majiya, there is light, and they do not neutralize each other forever. Sooner or later they are knocked away by other fields of majiya and are transferred to newer kinds. Majiya is always renewing and fresh, just as there are those mortal to it also being renewed when the time comes.

He turned to me, his abnormally large eyes gleaming in the starlight.

I trust you can keep all I have told you and your experiences here a secret, telling not another soul, living or dead, what I told you?

"Of course, my Lord. Why?"

Because I hate mind-wiping. It makes you feel like you taught and explained everything for nothing. Like a bad teacher whose students all flunk out at the end of the school year. All that effort put into teaching, but nobody actually learned from you. You know how that feeling is.

I'm going to do you a big favor, Dex Sonar. A favor I have only done to 2 others out of trillions. Consider it an honor, but remember to NEVER tell ANYONE about any of this. Promise.

"I promise, great Knifeslasher, on my already dead soul."

Then fare thee well, friend. May you find discovery wherever you go.

And the next thing I saw was a never-ending void of light.


_________________________________________________________________

2 MONTHS LATER - SWC HEADQUARTERS - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
_________________________________________________________________

I woke up. Odd, it wasn't morning yet. In fact, the moon was almost in the center of the sky. A very late position for it to be this time of year. That means that I should just get back to sleep.

Strange, though. I never wake up in the middle of the night like this. Is there something wrong that instinctively aroused me? I don't think so. Everything was re-built and cleaned up, and the place was just like new again. Was I forgetting to do something today? No, I don't recall anything important. Was there something burning? No, that smell was just the odor of the past attack still lingering, but only faintly.

Then what was it?

Ah, it didn't matter. Probably just a wave crashing loudly on the side of the building. I'll just go back to sleep.

I walked down from my room on the second floor to our shiny new kitchen and poured myself a small pot of milk from the larder. Lighting the range with a single log, I just stared at it for a long period of time. Something was eating at me, but I didn't know what. I was no longer having those strange nightmares, thank goodness for that, but that didn't mean I didn't have nightmares period.

Oh yeah, now I remember. It was a dream about that one night at the Jolly Boar Inn where Dex and I discussed strategies against Psychosis more then 2 months ago. He told me about the Third Eye and the Sanity Drill - the two weapons of majiya and mentality. Both of them had to be used to finish Psychosis, but at some cost.

Dex's body was never found. Right after the meeting with the Eastern Counsel (they paid in reparations, assisted in reconstruction, opened some new trade routes at their expense, and said they were very very sorry), we searched for it. Gia and I got together the remainder of the dagonnoth tribe we were allied with, including the large one that saved us on the first night of the adventure, to search for it so he may receive a proper burial, but we never found it.

That's probably why I couldn't sleep. I was guilty of the fact that we couldn't retrieve Dex's body and give him a proper funeral aside from a marble grave and some good words out on the rocks. That's probably how he would've wanted it, anyways, so it didn't matter much. I hope he's happy where he is now.

The milk was about to start boiling, so I extinguished the range and slowly and carefully brought it upstairs with me, tipping some into my visor occasionally on the way (it just entered my body and vanished - since it's always covered, no one can see what's really happening to things I eat and drink).

I entered my room, careful not to wake Gia next door. It was sort of strange. Dragons were naturally loud sleepers, snoring loudly as a warning to all aggressors who would dare to approach and hopefully scaring them away. Gia, however, was very quiet aside from some deep breaths and the occasional groan from possible dis-comfort when he slept. White Dragons are very different from regular ones, and it made me intrigued as to the actual ways of their race so long ago.

Draining my pot of warm milk and setting it aside to wash tomorrow, I sat down in my bed. Instantly, images of the War of the Eastern Project flashed through my mind. Shooting my hand crossbow at Psychosis while falling in mid-air, firing my cannon against the first comers of the second wave, crashing right into the Anti-Naic 2, that one bright flash of justice from the Third Eye ... and that stranger in the black cap.

We had 3 meetings with him during the war, and nobody had seen him since. Dex referred to him as the God of Majiya when he asked me for Pureblade ... maybe that was because he couldn't see him. Either that, or he felt his majiya level with the blocking explosion that saved his life for a little while until he intentionally ended it.

Why? Why did he have to die. I lay back, looking up at the ceiling that I painted to look like the night sky with Saradomin symbols as stars and trying to imagine Dex in them. I missed him as well as Manya. They came to us almost at the same time, and then we lost them almost at the same time. I forced myself to just forget about them. It was the past, and I'm sure they would want me to live on without the guilt that I was possibly responsible for their deaths. I wasn't, after all. no, I wasn't. I leaned back and began to fall asleep.

It was then that I found out I was lying on something. A folded sheet of papyrus. Annoyed that it might have fallen of my end-table and because the warm milk was setting in, I pulled it and placed it aside.

I then gripped it quickly and pulled it back to my face to look at it with wide-open eyes. "To Alex 43" it said.

It was in Dex's handwriting!

With hands trembling with excitement and eagerness, I opened the letter and read it aloud to myself, trying to imagine it being Dex's voice that read it to me.

"To Alex 43.

If you are reading this, know that I am alive and well. I have warped back to my dimension with Jakob, who was rather surprised to see me, and everything has returned to normal on our end. How I am alive, I can not tell you. I promised Him.

I would like to thank you for everything you and Gia did for me, for taking care of me and helping me realize just what I am. I am very sorry for those that died to our conflict - it should have happened on our world where everyone is more able to fare with the Psychosis creature. At the same time, I am grateful that everyone DID fight on my side, and lost their lives willingly for my cause.

As my way of saying thanks, particularly to you, I have left you a gift in your armor closet. It took me 2 years to manufacture, using knowledge from my books and theories of my own that coincidentally were accurate enough. I used it to train myself in the ways of majiya, as it helps the wielder to focus on certain areas and boosts efficiency, easily bringing a level 2 controller up to performing level 3 abilities. Since I no longer need it, as I am now training the regular way,

I've entrusted it to you so you may copy its design and help to spread the knowledge of majiya around. Everybody must know the secrets of majiya and how dangerously fragile it is. We can not risk its discovery by fluke and careless experimentation, for it could jeopardize all should something go wrong. Train yourself in the ways and pass on my knowledge, as well as create some of your own theories and techniques. If I was there, I would have loved to see them.

Show this letter to Gia and no one else. I think it's better for all of us if everyone believed I was dead and that Jakob mysteriously vanished from the plane, as we should have have affected it in the first place. Also, everything is fine now. I am very well alive and healthy, so you can sleep much easier now.

Perhaps curiosity will get the better of me and we will see each other again. And don't worry about Psychosis. We took the sanity drill with us so we can guarantee something like what happened 2 months ago will never happen again. And if it should ... well, you know what to do.

Farewell, my friend. All hail the Guardian!

Dex"

I pulled myself out of bed and to the fore-mentioned closet, grasping the carved teak handles and pulling them open. There, sitting next to my spare suit of armor, lay a small purple staff with a clear glass orb at the end. Inside the orb sat a strange-looking crystal, carved into a rather particular shape and suspended by an even stranger carving of metal. It was very well polished, and reflected my symbol light with impressive clarity.

I then turned the paper over just in case there was a PS, as I naturally did. There was.

P.S. Sorry for waking you up.

I lay back down with the staff in my hand and slowly dozed off easily. The milk was at its full strength now, and I escaped the reality of the night to a dream. A good dream.

Yeah, I thought. Everything was alright now.


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Majiya exists everywhere. It's impossible to find a place anywhere in this universe where majiya does not exist at all. Any such place where majiya doesn't exist MUST be thought of as "hypothetical". After all, majiya is existence, so wherever you go, can go, and can dream of, it must exist, shouldn't it?

Majiya also exists in your dreams, taking your soul and existence to a temporary place steered by imagination - yet another way how mentality can directly effect majiya.

So dream on, for dreams are the only way that ANYBODY can use majiya.

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THIS IS THE END OF ALEX 43'S PART OF THIS STORY. PERHAPS THE STORIES OF OTHERS LASTED A BIT LONGER. BUT THEY ARE NOT FOR ME TO TELL.

ALEX 43 AND GIA CONTINUE TO LIVE ON AS SARADOMIN'S WARRIORS, APPEARING ON THE SCENE WHEREVER THERE IS TROUBLE. BOTH HAVE BECOME INSEPARABLE ONCE AGAIN, WORKING AND FIGHTING TOGETHER ALMOST AS ONE.

AS FOR DEX ... LET'S TAKE A QUICK PEEK INTO THAT OTHER DIMENSION FOR A MOMENT ...

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"Thank goodness that's all done and over with. I thought you wouln't return at all."

"Sorry, it took me a little time to persuade Psychosis Jakob to come back."

"I'm surprised you even did it at all. But I'm glad. It was the right thing to do, Dex."

"Thanks. You know, I am rather impressed with how well you concealed yourself all this time. Keeping a robe all over you the entire time, with that one story about the drunken witches in the alleyway ... dang, I wish you gave ME a story as well."

"Sorry, Dex, but they found you unconscious and robeless, and I had to pretend I didn't know you."

"That's OK. At least we're back at home now."

"Yeah ... hey, you wanna go play some lazer tag, Dex?"

"Of course I do! It's been ... what, a year in that other world since I've even SEEN a lazer!"

"Race you there, Dex."

"Oh, it's ON, Manya."

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THE END

OOC: Sorry it took so long. I wanted it to be just perfect as my last post in this round-robin.

I'll be starting another one soon enough. This one will not be Runescape-based, but a world I have completely made up with Karl. That'll lead us to infinite creativity and practically anyone can join it.

See you guys there!