🗡️ Rogue, Disintegrator of the Lost City ☀️

Chapter 1: A City Lost to The Shadows

I fled my city in horror. An oppressive darkness seemed to suffocate all light and life, the eerie silence broken only by the screams of those who'd fallen prey to the dark magic of the Shadow Hats.

My father, the city's chief defender, had fought valiantly against the encroaching shadows. But even his bravery couldn't stem the tide of malevolent force that sought to claim our world as its own. The Shadow Hats, those masters of dark and twisted sorcery, had unleashed a power so terrible it seemed to warp reality itself.

As I ran, I caught glimpses of the horror unfolding behind me. An army of hundreds of Shadows, led by the demonic Shadow Goat, showed no empathy or remorse as they left a path of destruction and chaos. And at the heart of it all was the ever-approaching Quantum Shadow, that accursed realm from which the Shadow Hats had emerged.

I was one of the few who'd managed to escape their all-consuming darkness. The entire city was laid waste, all for the sake of some abhorrent ritual. Our home, forever lost, engulfed within the dark depths of the Quantum Shadow.

In the aftermath, as I stood alone in the wasteland that had once been my home, I made a vow. I would reclaim what was taken from me. The shadows became my enemy, and the light my guiding star. I set out into the world, seeking a power that could vanquish the very essence of night itself: the radiant energy of the sun.

Chapter 2: The Shop of Otherworldly Goods

Across the Runivese, I searched for hints of legendary arms that could match the Shadow Hats' dark prowess. Whispers of ancient artifacts imbued with solar potency reached my ears. Some said they lay hidden in the depths of The Fetid Fire Canyons, guarded by the detestable spawn of the Nightmare Imp. Others spoke of secret sanctuaries hidden deep within the clouds of Cuckoo Land - where the forces of nature itself were distilled into a bottled tempest, accessible only to those deemed worthy.

Assuming myself worthy, I set out on a path that I hoped would lead me to these artifacts. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. As I made my way through The Fey, traveling towards the Hue Master’s Path, I stumbled upon a shimmering portal - an iridescent gateway that pulsed with colors both familiar and strange. A serpent with large, round eyes started with a glance, its gaze seeming to pierce my very soul. It beckoned me closer with a voice as smooth as honey.

"Ah, you must be Rogue," the serpent said, its forked tongue lashing out in greeting. "I can sense your determination resonating across multiple realities, attuning itself to the harmonics of possibility. I am Spinor. I've heard you're seeking something we may have in store at the Shop of Otherworldly Goods. We have artifacts, whispers of the sun's warmth - things that might just awaken your dormant potential."

My heart leapt at the prospect. With slight hesitation, I stepped through the portal.

We arrived in a wooden cottage, its shelves overflowing with curiosities. Delicate glass vials containing ethereal essences sat beside mysterious devices that seemed to defy explanation. An assortment of stuffed dolls with large, sparkling eyes stood watchfully on a shelf, their sweet smiles at odds with the cluttered, eccentric atmosphere of the shop.

But it was the sheer proliferation of mushrooms that first caught my eye - fungi so vibrant they seemed to hold their own light within the dim interior of the cottage. They sprouted from walls and floorboards alike, some even shifting and morphing colors in patterns that made it seem as if they were breathing.

"Those are for sale too," said an airy and somewhat monotonous feminine voice. My focus quickly shifted to its source. A young woman with blue hair sat on the floor at a coffee table amidst this fungal tapestry, wearing a purple wizard hat that itself was also growing mushrooms.

My mind reeled at the sheer strangeness of it all. I instinctively reached for my sword, feeling a surge of unease as I wondered if I was walking into some kind of trap.

The moment my hand touched my sword hilt, the witch raised her hand and chanted something under her breath. Before I could react, a cloud of green spores wafted towards me, bathing me in their strange glow. The room seemed to breathe around me, a kaleidoscope of colors forming a border around my vision. It felt as if my soul had left my body.

She spoke to me, her voice calm, but I couldn't hear the words she was saying. And yet, despite being unable to hear her, I felt the meaning behind what she said resonate from somewhere inside my own head.

"Ah, I didn't mean to startle you. My apologies for the spell, but I can't have you drawing your weapon on me. Don't worry, you're not in danger. That spell does no harm and only lasts a few moments. Or hours? I forget. But in any case, you'll be fine. I'll explain everything once the effects have subsided."

Gradually, I felt my senses return. My vision stabilized, and I felt a sense of warmth as I "returned" to my body. From where, exactly? I'm not quite sure, but I know that I was happy to be back in my body again.

"Alright. I get it. You won’t hurt me," I said, dejectedly moving my hand away from my sword. "Sorry for that. I don't have a good history with magic folk."

I felt disheartened in the face of my own weakness. If I could be so easily subdued by this wizard, how could I ever hope to face a force as powerful as the Shadow Hats?

The witch seemed to sense my dejection. "Spinor was supposed to explain everything to you before bringing you here," she said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "This certainly isn't the first time he's neglected to do so…"

As she spoke, Spinor slithered up her arm and rested upon her shoulder, seeming unbothered by the comment. The witch didn't appear particularly angry at him either. I guessed she was used to this sort of thing by now.

"In any case. I'm Wizard #6001," she continued, her tone softening. "This is my Shop of Otherworldly Goods where I collect various artifacts from across different realities. I've heard you seek powerful items that can harness the power of the sun."

Chapter 3: The Eyes of Shamash

"You have solar weapons?" I asked, unable to keep the desperation from my voice. "I’ve followed so many tales, and all of them lead to dead ends. I was just on my way to Cuckoo Land wh-"

"Cuckoo Land?" she interrupted, her eyebrows raised. "I see. You're quite lucky Spinor caught wind of you when he did. All you'd have found there would have been empty pipe dreams. You'd have been trapped in a cycle where each step forward feels like it's the last one needed for your goal. The distance between hope and reality can be incredibly small, yet almost impossible to cross. It's a feeling I'm very well acquainted with."

She paused, staring solemnly at me. I couldn't tell if she was lost in thought or waiting for me to reply. After a brief, uncomfortable silence, she broke her gaze from me and casually got up from her coffee table.

"In any case…let me see what I have for you…"

As she moved through the cluttered shelves, her familiarity with the shop became apparent. It was a chaotic mess, but to her, it seemed to have its own tidy order. Her eyes landed on a large vase, nearly as tall as she was, filled to the brim with various potions and trinkets. With a flourish, she extended her arm, creating a makeshift ramp for Spinor to slither down and into the vase.

After a brief moment, Spinor emerged, his tiny body wriggling as he clutched a tag in his jaws. "Hmm..no no. Not that one. Or…maybe?..." she mused, her finger drifting up to her chin as she scanned the tags.

With a subtle smile, she tapped the chosen tag, and Spinor slithered back into the vase. He emerged carrying in his jaws a sword. It looked dull and unremarkable, with its only noteworthy trait being what seemed to be a crude decoration of an eyeball adorning its worn hilt. Yet Magus Devon nodded in satisfaction at the sight of it.

Next, Spinor disappeared into the vase once more, only to reemerge with a silver shield that had been buried within. Its edges were rusted and it seemed unassuming, but Magus Devon’s hands moved with reverence as she took it from Spinor. The faded eyeball iconography embedded in its center seemed to match the one on the hilt of the sword.

"I believe these are what you're looking for," she said, waving her hand to beckon me over.

"Are you sure?" I asked, trying to hold back my disappointment as I inspected them more closely. "These look like they've seen better days… Sure, what I was looking for was said to have been ancient artifacts, but how powerful could these be in this condition?"

"Yes, I'm certain," she replied, her voice a shade softer as she nodded. "Don't worry about their appearance – they're not meant to be used without first infusing them with the power of the Sun." Her gaze drifted to the symbols on the equipment.

"These eyes…do they mean something?" I asked, tracing the faded iconography with my finger.

"How perceptive of you," she said with a quiet nod. "The markings on these artifacts are indeed eyes, but they're also Sun runes. In this case, they're a symbol of power and protection associated with Shamash, the Babylonian god of the sun, justice, and law." She paused, her gaze lingering on the symbols. "It's fitting that you see them for what they truly are: the remnants of the Seven Eyes, created by Shamash to watch over and safeguard his people. These two artifacts are among those seven."

Chapter 4: The Price of Power

Now feeling more intrigued, I picked up the sword and shield. I don't know if it was just placebo or not, but something about wielding these items felt so…right. Still, a part of me remained doubtful. After all, she was a shopkeeper. What if she was just trying to swindle junk onto me?

"What's the price?" I asked, getting to the point. If she was trying to cheat me, now was the time to make it clear I wouldn't be taken for a sucker.

In response, the witch clapped her hands together and perked her lips. "The price," she said, as her eyes subtly began to glimmer, "is the story of your origin."

I blinked, not quite understanding what she was getting at. "What do you mean? Is this some kind of magical wizard deal where you take something immaterial from my mortal soul?"

She laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to lighten the air around us. "Oh, definitely not. I'm not one to make Faustian bargains, though I know there are certainly shopkeepers who would ask something of that sort from you."

As she spoke, she made her way back to her coffee table and pulled out a thick brown hardcover book. "The Book of Lore" was embossed onto the cover with gold lettering. As she laid it down, it opened on its own to a blank page. She lifted her hat and, from beneath it, pulled out a mushroom with a pointed edge.

"Now, your name was Rogue, correct?" she asked, pressing the mushroom against the page. As she did so, its tip became coated in ink. She was using the mushroom as if it were a quill.

"Er…yeah, I'm Rogue," I confirmed, still bewildered. "You just want to hear about my story? That's it?"

"Yes. That's it," she nodded. "You're on this journey seeking these artifacts with such intensity that you almost traveled all the way to Cuckoo Land. I'd love to know what motivates you. What set you on this path?"

I hesitated, a sudden suspicion flaring. "And…this isn't some magical book that steals my memories once you write them down or anything, right?"

She covered her mouth and giggled slightly - that's perhaps the most expressive I'd seen her my entire time here. "That's the first I've heard of such a thing. I wonder if such a tome exists… In any case, I'm not that kind of witch, honestly. Your memories themselves have no value to me, just your lore. Besides, if I stole your memories, I wouldn't have a chance to learn the conclusion of your tale when you inevitably return."

If that was all she wanted, then I supposed even if she was just pilfering a bunch of junk to me, there was nothing I was really losing from it. I took a seat across from her at the coffee table and began my tale.

As I spoke of how my city was destroyed at the hands of the Shadow Hats and their vile minions, I could almost feel myself being transported back to that fateful night. I recounted the terrifying cries I heard, the overwhelming darkness that seemed to suffocate all light and life. I spoke of my father's bravery, of the friends and family I had lost, of the home that was now nothing more than a memory.

The memories were painful, but they still haunted me every night in my dreams. When I finished my tale, Magus Devon offered me a cup of mushroom tea, but I declined. I couldn't say I'd ever really liked the idea of eating fungus.

She put her writing mushroom down and read over her notes. "I see. A tale of vengeance and hope. The eyes of Shamash are quite fitting for a warrior like you," she said, looking content with what she had heard and closing the book.

"This will suffice. I look forward to hearing the conclusion of your battle someday. For now, I'll have Spinor return you to The Fey. If I were you, I'd avoid going to Cuckoo Land as you initially planned."

Chapter 5: Into the Light

She gestured behind me, which prompted Spinor to slither down her shoulder and open a portal in that direction. I was glad my story was enough to satisfy her, but I'd be lying if I said I wanted to stay in this mushroom-filled store for any longer. Besides, I wanted to try testing these weapons out as soon as possible.

As I picked up my new shield and sword, the weight of them feeling strangely comforting, she called out to me one last time.

"Oh, and one last thing," she said, her voice low and mysterious. She pointed to the visor on my helmet. "That...visor of yours is perfect. You'll want to keep it on when using those artifacts."

I nodded, grateful for the advice. I'd been wearing this visor helmet since my journeys through The Sand, not just for protection from the intense sunlight but also because it helped defend against other threats. If it somehow synergized with my new equipment, then all the better.

I grinned, a sense of excitement and anticipation building within me. Testing these artifacts out would be crucial to understanding their capabilities, and I couldn't wait to see what I could accomplish with them. I could feel that I had finally made the first real step towards my ultimate goal - defeating the Shadow Hats.

With that thought in mind, I stepped through Spinor's portal, leaving the strange store behind. As the shimmering gateway closed behind me, I found myself back in The Fey, but I was no longer the same person who had left it. I was ready to bring light back to a world threatened by shadow.

The real journey, I realized, was only just beginning.

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