Chapter 19: Gorgons Eye

Celes held her dress down as it blew in the wind, she wanted to take it off, but that would be rude to Lady Amelia. After Listening on the conversation earlier, she wanted to get away, she went for a stroll to clear her mind. Saria, had completely missed her chance to asked the Hero for his assistance. If she apologized wholeheartedly, she could then ask a request, that was the plan anyway. Though it was not to be, the hero caught on and interrupt her. In the process, making asking him seem like a waste of time.

Celes sighed, if only she had said something, but Saria said she would handle it. Luckily, they were stuck in here until the Grassvalley Tribe, opened the door. Though even with that fact, she still felt as though they had loss in the conversation.

Celes suddenly jumped out of her thought, another gust of wind took her dress. She restrained her dress and looked around, she hadn’t realized, that she had walked so far, that she nearly walked right into the enchantment. It wouldn’t affect her much, however she disliked going in. Against Saria’s wishes, she had secretly ventured deep into the area, once before. What she had seen that night, thinking back to it just made her want to scream, if only she could. If she could speak, she could tell what she saw, maybe someone could understand what it is. But there’s no one liked that, at least not until recently.

If she could get him to follow her in there, maybe he could help her understand what she was seeing. Although with all the avoiding she been doing, she wouldn’t be surprised if he hated her. Suddenly, footsteps could be coming up behind her, she instinctively jumped behind some trees. She waited a moment until the figure was in view. It was Nathan, who strolled up to the enchantment and begin looking around, did he come looking for her?

Her question was immediately answered, when Nathan casually enter the danger area and continued, on his way. This was her chance, if she followed him she could ask him to help tell the others what she saw. She stayed to the shadows and as quietly as she could, followed Nathan into the enchantment.

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Nathan: “Alright, so far, so good.”

Nathan walked through the area, every so often checking his status. His assumptions were correct, whenever situation he was in, his ability he was current using, would relocate to his main screen. That was fine, but it would be better if it alerted him of the change, but he thought every little aspect can’t be like a game.

 As he walked along, he noticed that some of the plants in the area still had a little life in them. Others had already shriveled up from the lack of water. He wondered, since his “Legacy”, allowed him resistance would it do the same for plants he grew.

 He closed his palm and then opened it up. A small ball of light had appeared, these were his seeds. He let it fall from his hand and as if the ground didn’t exist, phased into it. A small flower rose from the ground almost instantly and in that same instance died.

Nathan: “Well, I guess that, answer that.”

Celes: “*Gasp*”

Nathan turned around fast, he was surprised to see Celes, but more importantly, she had seen him. How did he not know she was there, its hard to get the nymphs scents, they were basically element incarnate. Thought that didn’t matter, she had seen him. There was no use denying what she saw, he just waited for her reaction. Though, her reaction was not one he was expecting. She smiled a big, happy smile.

Celes: “(Hero, what are you doing in here?)”

Nathan: “……………..I wanted to check out the area, while everyone slept.”

Celes: “I see, wait everyone’s asleep, I didn’t think it was that late.”

Nathan: “Yeah, you’d be surprise.”

This is not the reaction he envisioned, was she not going to bring up what she had just saw, did she even see? Maybe he jumped to conclusion way tooo fast, she could have just been surprised to see someone in the enchantment. Well if she didn’t see there was no reason to stay.”

Nathan: “Well, see ya.”

Celes: “(Ah, wait a moment, please)”

Nathan: “What is it?”

Celes: “(Can I come, with you?)”

Nathan nearly fell over, he wasn’t sure what he just heard.

Nathan: ““YOU”, want to come with “ME”?”

Celes: “(Yes.)”

Nathan: “ALONE?”

Celes: “(Is there a problem?)”

Nathan looked for any signs of deception, she was dead serious. Somethings not right, but he couldn’t think of a reason to turn her away.

Nathan: “If your fine with it, then its fine.”

Celes: “(Thank you.)”

Nathan turned to and continued walking, much to his surprise, Celes ran up and was walking next to him. The girl who had a literal wall between them, who would not even look him in the eyes, who made sure there was always someone, between her and him, was now walking next to him joyfully. She turned to him and their eyes met and smile cross her face once again.

Her smile was like a child who had just seen their parent for the first in years. He was about to ask her why is she so happy, when the wind blew. Several leaves smack him in the face. He wiped the leaves from his face and checked on Celes. Her dress had blown up and Nathan got a quick glimpse underneath. When Amelia gave her the dress, he guesses she forgot the undergarments. Celes got herself together and huffed at her dress, Nathan was on borderline, ready to bust out in laughter. He needed something to stifle his laughter.

Nathan: “………Celes, are you okay?”

Celes: “(Yes, I’m fine, this happens often, I become accustomed to it.)”

Nathan: “No not that, I was just wondering why you wanted to tag along?”

Celes had nearly forgot, after witnessing Nathan grow that plant, her original mission had all but faded from memory.

Celes: “(There is something I want you to see, its further ahead.)”

Celes, began walking ahead of Nathan, who added yet another thing she would never do, show him her back. This was getting stranger every second, what could have cause such a change in her attitude? 

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From a smile refreshing smile to, to a state of solemn, this was the current Celes. Nathan just could not understand her, what is up with her mood swings. Nathan thought himself to be clever, he could tell what most people were thinking just by situation. Celes was something else, the worst part was that he could actually hear her thoughts, most of the time.

 He moved his focus away from Celes, who seemed to be in deep thought and notice there was a really exotic looking plant. It was purple color and pedals that formed a bowl, which held a mysterious purple liquid. This plant was without a doubt poisonous, but it was still alive. It looked like the purple liquid was keeping it hydrated, Nathan reached his hand in.

Celes came out of her thoughts, after hearing a small splash. She turned around horror struck. Nathan currently had hand submerged in the extremely toxic juices, of a “Grimviolet”.

Celes: “(NO, STOP!!)”

Celes rushed over and pulled his hand from the pool, inadvertently splashing herself with the toxic juice.

Nathan: “Whoa, hey, calm down.”

Celes now panic-stricken looked his arm up in down, why hadn’t the poison taken effect. The poison from Grimviolet, usually kills in second, absorbed into the body upon touch. He was showing no symptoms, what so ever, if was as if he was immune.

Nathan: “Uh, would you mind letting me go?”

Celes: “(Ah, sorry.)”

Celes let him go, she must not have realized how hard she was squeezing.

Celes: “(What on Leseres were you doing, that water is extremely toxic.)”

Nathan: “Uh, yeah I know but, the seeds is located on the bottom of the pool.”

Celes: “(You can eat the seed, of a poisonous plant?)”

Nathan: “I can eat almost anything, poison or otherwise.”

Now she was sure, he wasn’t a Dryad. However, he must have been blessed by her “Mother”. Though its seemed as if he doesn’t know himself.

Celes: “(Is this why you’re here, to find seeds she might have missed?)”

Nathan: “No, actually.”

Nathan explained to Celes the reason behind him coming here.

Celes: “(So, if you remove the object that causing the enchantment, it will disappear?)”

Nathan: “If this place is anything like I think it is, that should do it. Like you all said, its odd that only this place has enchantment, there something here that the eye doesn’t want anyone to get.”

Celes: “(That sounds plausible.)”

Nathan: “It didn’t count on someone being able to, enter for such a long period of time.”

Celes: “(If that’s the case, then I really want to help, I’m glad I followed you.)”

Nathan: “You were following me; how did you resist the Lillaby?”

Celes: “(Huh, what Lillaby?)”

Nathan: “Okay, I get it.”

Celes: “(What?)”

Nathan: “Well, you see I kinda accidentally, not on purpose, put everyone to sleep trying to sneak out, I was only aiming for Iris.”

Celes: “(Using Lillaby, that explains why no one’s come to find me yet.)”

Nathan: “Ok, so you weren’t there, when I put them to sleep.”

Celes: “(No I wasn’t, I went for a stroll to clear my head after our conversation, when I saw you enter here, I wanted to ask you to follow me somewhere.”

Her expression change again, this time she looked nervous. She must be afraid Nathan would not lend a hand.

Nathan: “…………..I don’t mind, lead the way.”

Celes “(Really?)”

Nathan: “Yeah it’s not a problem.”

Celes: “(Thank you, it’s this way.)”

Celes turned and headed deeper into the enchantment. Nathan decided to trust her for now. Somehow, he got the feeling her nervous attitude, was about not wanting to go alone.

As Nathan walked along, he checked out all the damage cause by the enchantment. Many of the plants were now dried up from the lack of moisture. Some of the trees were alive, but their leaves were scatter along the forest floor. Every step took, was met with a hearty crunch, as they tread upon the tread onwards.

Even if they were to end the enchantment, how long would it take this area to return to its former glory. The nymphs who made this area would not be able to return for some time. Nathan notice that, he had come to a hill, looking up he realize that Celes had already made it half way up. Lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t realized she had gotten so far ahead. He jog up to catch her, it would be a chore trying to find her again, especially since her scent in the area blends so well, he could hardly tell them apart.

Nathan had caught up to Celes and as they came to the top of the hill, Celes locked her arm around Nathans, as they gaze at the scene. Over the hill were a dozen or so statues, either broken or missing limbs here and there. She squeezed down harder on his arm, she was shaking. With her arm around his, he walked over to one. Upon closer inspection, notice that the shape of the ears.

Nathan: “(Elves)?”

Though the ears and apparel were similar to elves description in his world, the faces did nothing of the sort. Elves were said to be extremely beautiful and graceful, however the facial expression was twisted and warped, either in intense pain or that of horror. As they made their way through the field, he’d would find himself drawn to the faces of each piece.

Nathan was not an art critic or a critic at all, but the sight of these statues with such detail expression of agony, made it feel like they could come to life at any moment. It felt as if they were pleading for help, like they were trapped in a state of constant torment. He didn’t know rather to respect the artist or punch him in the face, for such twisted artwork.

Nathan looked back over to Celes, she was uncharacteristically close, but more than that, Nathan could feel her shivering even more. She kept her head down trying her best not to look at any of the artwork, he didn’t really understand though. Sure, the statues made one feel uneasy, but to Nathan, Celes look as though she was on the verge of collapse, were they that frightening, then why would she force herself to come here?

Nathan: “This artwork, if it’s so frightening, why would you come here?”

Celes: “(Artwork?)”

Nathan: “Yeah, in my world, statues are considered art, it’s not the same here?”

Celes looked at Nathan in disbelief, what on Leseres was he talking about? He couldn’t possibly believe these were statues, but considering his eyes, she understood, he could not tell. She then recalled Iris mentioning that Nathan could not read mana signatures, at all. She grabbed him by his hand and pulled him towards the statue.”

Nathan: “Whoa, what’s wrong?”

Celes said nothing and simply placed Nathan’s hand upon the statue.

Nathan: “Celes, what are you doing?”

Celes: “(Don’t you feel anything)?”

Nathan looked between Celes and statue, trying to figure out what she was talking about, but as his hand moved across the hard gravely surface, nothing. Maybe if he examined it he could get something.

Nathan: “……………What the!?”

Nathan tried examining the statue several times to no avail, that was weird, he picked up a piece of one of the statues. He knew his “Examine” had limits, but the only clear limit was that he could not examine any specific person or creature. Manmade, inanimate objects and plants should be fair gain, so he should be able to examine these. Then as if lighting had struck Nathan had realization, he immediately dropped the piece of the statue and backed away. He looked around, the facial expression made it more apparent, he now understood Celes feelings.

Nathan: “These statues, were……… are people, what the hell happened here!?”

Celes: “This………….this is where the Grassvalley Tribe first confronted the eye creature.”

Nathan: “It turn them to stone, hollee shit, wait……… a fricking “Gorgon”?”

Celes: “(You know what is?)”

Nathan: “It’s not the same exact thing, but my world had myths about creatures like this.”

Of all things, it could have been, it had to be a Gorgon. Gorgons were on a short list of things Nathan never wanted to meet, right next to Behemoths, Berserkers and that green tentacle creature, that could really use a mint. He really did not want to end up like these people.

Celes stayed like to Nathan arm. Nathan started taking in more of the scene. seeing signs of battle, they must have put up some resistance, but it seems like the efforts were futile.

Nathan: “This is why, they haven’t shown up, they all been taken out, but this………. this can’t be the entire tribe, where are the reinforcements?”

Celes: “(The only one who can contact them is Saria, she usually sends a message on the wind, but-”

Nathan: “She has no idea that this happened, because she can’t enter here, why haven’t you told her?”

Celes: “(How am I to do that, I can’t talk)?”

Nathan: “Then, write her a message.”

Celes: “(I don’t know how.)”

Nathan: “What, then draw a picture, dance or something, your telling me that you have no means of communication?”

Celes: “(Until now there was no need to, before the eye appeared they was no danger what so ever, and even if something dangerous did attempt to invade, the “Grassvalley Tribe” would have dealt with it long before we knew anything about it. The most we needed to communicate was saying yes or no.”

Nathan: “THAT’S NOT AN EXCUSE!!!”

Celes was on the verge of tears, Nathan felt bad for yelling, but this was ridiculous. Not communicating with the outside world was one thing, but not being able to communicate with each other was definitely not okay by any means.

Nathan: “Fine, I’ll tell her, but rather you could speak or not you need to find a way to converse, this is absurd.”

Celes kept her head down as they started to walk away, still gripping Nathans arm. To say Nathan was irritated, was putting it mildly. Locked away, few ways to communicate and according to iris, during her fight with them they can’t even coordinate. They leave all theirs trouble to someone else, what did they think was going to happen if their guardians failed?

*Ruuuuuuuuuuuuummmmble*

Celes: “That’s strange we don’t usually get tremors in this area.”

Nathan: “……………………. Get behind me.”

Celes: “(What’s wrong)?”

Nathan: “That wasn’t a tremor.”

Nathan “Threat Detection” was going crazy, something was coming. As if responding to Nathans thought, a huge stone came flying towards them. Nathan quickly grabbed Celes, jumping out the way, avoiding it with ease. Immediately after it passed, its trajectory change and it veered around for a second attack, however Nathan was too fast, he easily avoided that attack, as well the several others.

Nathan: “Enough of this crap!”

Nathan unsheathe the sword on his back and just as the stone ball range, Nathan swung the blade, though his attack connected, he was nearly thrown off his feet. The force of the blow sent the boulder spiraling in the opposite direction, crashing into a tree.

Nathan: “What the hell is that?”

Celes: “(I Don’t know, it was never here before.)”

 As they said, a boulder with spikes protruding from all over its body with a rough rugged surface. Then, its eye opened, black as void, with a pulsating red pupil. A giant floating eyeball, a thing of nightmares. Since its feature were so drastically different from his world description, he decided to call it a “Gorgons Eye”.”

Nathan: “I don’t know the exact definition, but I thought docile meant, doesn’t attack unless provoked, so why is it attacking?”

The Gorgon blinked a few times, then focused its gaze on Nathan. Nathan was positive it was aiming at him, but why was it attacking. Then he noticed, some of the spikes protruding from its entirety had been crushed or broken, also there were a few cracks across it. That must have been cause by the Grassvalley Tribes fight, it must think Nathan has come to finish the job.

Nathan: “Celes, I need you to go hide.”

Celes: “(What!?)”

Nathan: “It’s not going to let me leave and if I try to run, it could come after you.

Celes: “(No, I wish to help).”

Nathan: “You would just be a hindrance, plus while its fighting me you can escape.”

Nathan words came down on her like bricks, it felt like being stabbed. She reluctantly complied and disappeared into what was left of the forest. 

 The Gorgon begin rotating midair, then like a bullet shot off towards Nathan. He jumped to the side and slashed it as it passed, but his attack did nothing. It swung around for another attack, Nathan slashed at it again, but still no effect.

 It tried several more times, but none of it attacks were hitting Nathan, but Nathan felt something was wrong, why hadn’t it tried to turn him to stone? There was no way these slow attacks were going to catch him. Nathan was done dodging, the next attack he stood firm, he was going to hit it as hard as he could, but this was a mistake. Midflight, the Gorgons speed doubled, Nathan was reflexes didn’t kick in fast enough and had no choice but to block.

The force of the impact was like being struck by a car and Nathan was thrown back several feet. He caught himself mid fall, and flip back up only to be met with another blow. This time he took the force hid on, Celes watched in horror as Nathan was smashed in the chest with stone spikes, skidding across the ground, before coming to rest. Nathan lay motionless on the ground for a moment, before slowly rising to his feet. The blow had lowered his health by fifty points, it would have been worse, if he had not taking precaution earlier and equipped that “Chainmail”. Those spikes would have pierced right through his chest.

Nathan: “Damn that hurt.”

Nathan looked over at the Gorgon, it had reopened its eye and its pupil was flashing several colors. Nathan quickly looked away, he understood now, it attacks it foe and when they are recovering, it tries to turn them to stone. Nathan must have recovered to quickly, for it shut its eye again and begin rotating.

 Launching another attack, just as it did before, its speed doubled midflight. Nathan wouldn’t be caught twice and easily dodge the onslaught. Now that he understood the Gorgons strategy, it was simple to avoid. But he still had a huge problem. Nathans attacks did nothing, even with all the cracks Nathan could do nothing. If only he could break through his armor defense.

Nathan: “Oh crap, I forgot.”

Nathan quickly scrolled through his inventory and found what he needed to turn the tide.

Claymore was Withdrawn

Nathan smirked, this was going to turn the tables, or so he thought. Lifting the blade, quickly realized it was heavy. He could lift it fine, but fighting with it was a whole different story.

This was supposed to be the game changer, but in the time, it took him to swing this, the Gorgon would have already dealt him a blow he needed to slow it down. With that thought, he began releasing seeds.