Koran's Trials

The stallion drudges on, coming upon the seemingly abandoned, Cursed City. All the doors are open and wind rustles down the streets. On one side of the town are the Volcano Ranges that lead to the Black City, where the Black Gate leads into Black Mount. On the other side lays the Sacred City with the Golden Gate leading to White Mount and Thyme's Prison.

~If i'm right, i have to deal with this place before going to see Mal then to the Sacred city and into Thyme's prison~ Koran thought, looking around the city. The place gave him a creepy vibe but he suddenly felt something rush back into his body, his energy boosted. That was a good sign, if anything.

Suddenly color floods back into the city and people are bustling around. Everything is different but there is an enormous barrier around the city, invisible but obviously there and unbreakable by godly powers. But even though everything seems to suddenly be alive it seems strange and otherworldly.

"What an odd little place. Now then, what to do?" Koran muttered, looking around as the city came to 'life'. It did feel mysterious but it wasn't the first time he'd had that creepy feeling.

People bustle around the city, seeming normal and happy. A large temple sits on the the hill and many people seem to be coming and going.

Koran slowly dismounted and led the horse towards the temple, guessing that something might be in there, given the nature of his mission and all.

Suddenly the village is dead again but the barrier is still up. The temple is there but almost falling over, the large doors closed and locked.

"That was odd but i better keep going." Koran muttered before he turned his attention to the locks.

The lock is in the shape of a protector god and goddess, clasping hands. It glows slightly with protective and yet dark magic.

Koran thought he recognized the two deities and began trying to remember the names, muttering them aloud as he went over the list, which was rather short in terms of actual love but long in counterparts.

Suddenly the locks fall off and turn into dust as the doors open. Suddenly color floods in once more, people suddenly around him. And in the temple sits Thyme, sitting with men, women, and children, dressed exactly like them and eating a simple meal, laughing and playing. These 'memories' were from before her imprisonment. Above her, on the wall is a large diamond which is shimmering, memories held within it.

Upon seeing the memories, Koran felt his heart tighten slightly. "Why does it hurt? If i simply want to get this over with, why does it hurt to see her like this, so beautiful and voice so joyous?" he asked himself, a tear running down his cheek. He recomposed himself before looking up at the diamond, eyes focusing on it. He slowly began walking towards it, knowing something had to be in it our about it that would make him understand even more.

The diamond shimmers and suddenly everything becomes even more solid and real. The memory Thyme's eyes suddenly snap to Koran and she smiles, gesturing him over and seeming to recognize him. "Hello Turnin," she says, using the name of one of Koran's distant ancestors, the one who originally took Thyme's powers.

"Thyme..." Koran said, looking her right in the eyes before he walked over her. He knelt before her and smiled as best he could.

Thyme chuckles, "Why are you giving me that look Turnin. You're looking at me like I'm a ghost. You *know* I'm always here. I love this place," she says and pats him on the back, turning to a bunch of children with a loving expression as they climb onto her lap.

Koran stood up and tentatively placed one hand on Thyme's shoulder, a gentle smile on his face. He didn't say anything for fear of breaking the illusion too quickly but he did seem to enjoy being there.

Thyme takes his hand frowning, "Are you ok Turnin? Is there something wrong?" she asks but suddenly another god, a hard looking one walks up along with a tall dark skinned man, Mal, and Thyme's sister Akiko. Akiko and Mal sit next to her, both looking happy. The hard man pulls Koran aside, also believing he is Turnin, and Thyme looks at them with a frown before everyone distracts her. The man pulls him to a corner and begins speaking.

"What are you doing Turnin? Being friendly with the enemy? Or are you having second thoughts about the plan? Don't you want her powers?" The man growls, finally becoming recognizable as the long time dead Oblak, former God of Thieves.

Koran didn't respond, looking at the diamond. He reached up as if something was calling him to it and he broke free of the illusion before touching it. "This could be part of the tasks." he muttered, using his powers to fortify himself against the dream like visions.

The diamond stops shimmering and falls out of here it was, filled with images and memories from centuries. The barrier around the city falls as well and everything is dead once more.

((Is he supposed to take it with him?))

Koran picked the diamond up and examined it carefully. He was beginning to understand Thyme and feel something.

(He can if he wants. It contained memories and images from the past. It can allow him to either live the memories as someone closest in blood relation to him in the dream or just watch.)

The diamond shimmers and an image of Thyme sleeping in her tower appears in it, her face innocent and beautiful. It suddenly goes dull, only able to show so many images at a time.

When Koran saw the image of Thyme, he felt a tear run down his cheek and blushed slightly but he slid the diamond into another one of his hidden spaces. He then left the temple and mounted the horse again, heading towards Black Mount [or wherever the next location is].