We had been hurtling through space, aimlessly, for a good three hours when we got our first sign of Rykros. The Aero-prism, resting in Chaz's lap, started to glow and hum with an almost annoying drone. Chaz picked it up in his and hands and yelped, before dropping it to the seat next to him, "Yeow! This thing is hot!" Rune got up and approached the seat containing the ancient artifact and with his gloved hands, picked it up. Almost as soon as he had raised it to his face to get a closer look, Wren spoke through the intercom, "I think you all need to come to the cockpit." We all got up and hurried, Rune with the Aero-prism in tow, to the front of the Landale.
The sight we saw when we reached Wren was something I can never forget. Materializing out of empty space before us, was a planet. "Whoa!" Chaz screamed. "Is that Rykros?" Wren punched in some information into the computers of the Landale and came up with the answer, "Based on my calculations, it has to be." Now completely emerged from the dark shelter of deep space, hovering before us, was a green, almost crystalline entity. It was beautiful.
Wren, realizing the he no longer had control of the Landale, announced that we were now under the power of some sort of tractor beam, from which he could find no source, either in space or on the new planet. We glided smoothly towards the planet, and started out descent into its atmosphere. There were huge monoliths of crystal everywhere. The whole planet, it seemed, was made of brilliant, shining crystal. We finally landed in a clearing next to a giant tower, made of gleaming golden crystals.
LeRoof had much to tell us. We learned of the great battle that went on millennia ago here in Algo, between the Great Light and the Profound Darkness. The Light, after winning the battle, banished the Darkness from this dimension. To make sure that it would never escape, it placed a seal over the portal it traveled through: Algo. We learned that when Parma was destroyed, a rift was formed in the seal, and the Darkness started its escape. We then learned of our true mission: To once and for all annihilate the Profound Darkness, and rid Algo of it forever. Chaz was a little more than apprehensive about the new mission and even took it upon himself to counter the Great Light. After a little talk with Rune, he finally realized that being a "Protector" was the greatest honor in the Universe. LeRoof was not without its surprises though, and sent us off for a series of tests, to prove that we would be a good choice for the mission.
We were sent to two separate towers: Strength Tower and Courage Tower. There we would meet the two guardians of the towers, De-Vars and Sa-Lews, respectively. The towers were complex and labyrinthian, but not without their rewards. While scouting the buildings, we found new weapons and armor. Chaz was the first to receive a new weapon, obtaining the shimmering Guard Sword. Rika followed by finding two Guard Claws. We also found two sets of Guard Mail as well as a Guard Robe for Rune. My armor, handmade by Bindo himself, was woven Laconia fibers, mixed with silver, and was strong enough to handle anything the Darkness may have thrown at us.
After the first battle with De-Vars, we obtained the first three of five Circlets, or Rings of the Stars. They offered the best protection to the wearer's mental and telepathic powers, as well as protecting the head. They were also the proof LeRoof needed for our Protectorship. We opened the three small boxes and obtained the Palma, Mota and Dezo rings. Wren took the Palma and placed it on his head, while Rika took the Mota. Rune grabbed the Dezo, and for a moment, turned to me and started to twirl it around his fingers, all the while smirking. I removed the Circlet from his hand and placed it on his forehead. "Let's not start that again, shall we?" I quipped.
We then headed to the Courage Tower, where we battled Sa-Lews, whom Chaz nicknamed "that big blue bastard." As Sa-Lews vanished into oblivion, he left us the last of our prizes: the Algo and Ryrkos rings. Chaz took the Algo, while I received the Rykros ring. We returned to LeRoof, who accepted us, as true Protectors. It told us that the Darkness was stirring dangerously close to Algo, and would strike at any moment. I took Rune aside as our companions were conversing and said, "Chaz is the one you choose to be the fighter, isn't he?" He took my hand in his and spoke back, "Yes he is. We need to return to the Esper Mansion, Chaz needs to meet with Elsydeon." My heart sank when my husband said the words "Esper Mansion." I knew that we would be so close to the children, but could not see them. To do that would only complicate an already delicate situation. Rune explained to the party that there was something he needed to give to Chaz, although he made no words as to what it might be, and said that we needed to return to Dezo and the Esper Mansion right away.
