Shroud Arcanum

As Liam and Aric conversed, the soft hum of a high-tech floating car filled the air. Slowly, the sleek vehicle hovered into view, settling gently a short distance away from them. Its polished surface gleamed under the sun, and intricate patterns of neon blue illuminated various parts of its structure.

Aric looked up and remarked, "They've arrived."

As the car's door slid open seamlessly, two figures emerged. The first to step had a porcelain-like complexion skin. Standing at a height where her head would be level with Liam's shoulder, she possessed an almost otherworldly charm. Her large, almond-shaped eyes possess no discernible pupil and are a deep shade of violet, flecked with gold. Giving her gaze an infinite depth. 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑐𝑜𝘮

From behind her, a hint of delicate, dragonfly-like wings could be seen, currently retracted yet shimmering with an iridescent glow even in their hidden state.

Her silvery hair flowed behind her like a waterfall, ending in gentle curls that brushed against her back. Every movement she made was filled with a grace that left an impression of her ethereal beauty.

The woman donned a form-fitting jumpsuit that seemed to be woven from light itself. The material shimmered iridescently, transitioning from a deep midnight blue at her chest to a radiant gold as it descended to her feet.

Intricate patterns reminiscent of advanced circuitry sprawled across the fabric, occasionally pulsing with an inner glow, hinting at sophisticated technology embedded within. A streamlined silver belt cinched at her waist, from which dangled a few compact pouches.

As she stepped out of the car, with a gesture of her hand, the vehicle began a rapid transformation. It compacted and reconfigured, diminishing in size until it was no larger than a small cube. With grace, she stowed the cube effortlessly into one of her pouches.

Liam watched in awe, marvelling at the technological prowess displayed. It was also his first encounter with an alien race bearing such distinct differences, making Aric's differences seem subtle in comparison.

Behind the silver-haired maiden stood a tall figure with a commanding presence. Her skin, a gentle hue of muted lavender, contrasted beautifully with her jet-black hair, which was chopped short and was adorned with hints of blue at the tips. Adding to her exotic appearance were her cat-like eyes, which glowed a fierce amber, radiating an intensity that could captivate anyone who dared to meet her gaze.

An intricate tattoo assembling an arcane rune spiralled elegantly around her right hand, emanating a faint glow in shades of teal and pink, seemingly pulsing with life.

She was dressed in an outfit that seamlessly blended the protective nature of armor with the comfort of fabric. The armored segments, crafted from a material that resembled polished obsidian, were strategically positioned to safeguard her vital regions, such as her chest, shoulders, and shins.

Underneath, a flexible, mesh-like fabric in a rich shade of deep purple hugged her form. Notably, the patterns on her armor bore a striking resemblance to the tattoo on her hand, suggesting a deeper connection or perhaps a source of her strength.

As the two began to speak, the sounds that emerged were entirely unfamiliar to Liam. The fluid cadence and melodic rhythm of their speech left him puzzled, causing him to furrow his brows in concentration.

The realization hit him suddenly - why could he understand Aric earlier but not them? Noticing Liam's confusion, Aric reached into his pouch, pulling out a sleek headset. With a swift motion, he tossed it towards Liam, explaining, "Put this on. It's a portable universal translator. Once you wear it, it will auto-calibrate and translate any unfamiliar language for you."

Liam caught the device with ease, studying it for a moment. Turning his gaze back to Aric, a question formed. "How come you don't need one?"

Aric tapped the side of his temple, a slight grin on his face. "My soul gear comes with built-in translation capabilities."

Liam quickly adjusted the headset, and as it calibrated to his ears, he suddenly heard the rich cadence of the conversation as if it were in his native tongue.

Irys's voice rang clear, a hint of amusement in her tone. "Wow, Aric, it seems you've got your hands on a unique specimen."

Aric responded with a knowing grin, "Well, he's one of those fortunate misfortunes, but I think he's more of a lucky charm. You know how many years I've spent in this area looking for a trial? I found it right after I met him. Anyway, his name is Liam, a human from Earth, and I can vouch for him."

Trick's voice, playful and dripping with sarcasm, echoed within Liam's mind. "Oh, naturally, he's the fortunate one. How many can boast about returning from the dead?" A subtle twitch tugged at Liam's mouth, but he decided to let it pass without comment.

Zalya stepped forward, extending her hand graciously to Liam. "I am Zalya Lirethel from planet Zephir, and this is Irys from planet Valandra. Please forgive her direct remarks; she's quite straightforward but has a good heart."

Accepting her hand with appreciation, Liam responded, "Liam Rainer, from Earth."

Irys interrupted her voice containing a hint of mock accusation tinged with mirth. "Well, since the scoundrel over there," she looked at Aric with a playful yet pointed glance, "is the one introducing you, let's hope you won't pull any disappearing acts."

Aric feigned an exaggerated expression of offense. "Hey, that was ages ago, and for the record, I am trustworthy. Look, didn't I call you immediately when the trial appeared?"

Liam raised an eyebrow, casting Aric a skeptical look. 'So, he contacted them without notifying me,' Liam thought, processing this revelation. He felt a touch of suspicion.

Noticing Liam's wary expression, Aric hurriedly justified, "I didn't withold information on purpose, you know. It just felt easier to introduce you to them once you met. Especially considering you lacked context about this realm."

Before Aric could continue, Irys interrupted with feigned exasperation, "Classic Aric, always skirting around the topic. And speaking of 'ages ago' - it was literally yesterday. You still owe us, remember? Let's see, there's the Nova Grenade, Molecular Crack Bomb, those Healing Salve, and don't get me started on the bread. Do I really need to go on?"

Upon hearing this, a sense of indignation bubbled within Liam, feeling slightly duped of the gratitude he once held for Aric. Pulling out the healing salve he had been given, he held it aloft, questioning with a raised eyebrow, "This one?"

Irys squinted at the item, nodding affirmatively, "Yes, that very one."

Liam's gaze shifted to Aric, his tone carrying a hint of accusation, "Didn't you mention this was a specialty from your hometown?"

Aric, slightly flustered, cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure, "Ahem, indeed, it is a specialty of my hometown. However, I ran out of my personal stock and had to purchase this from the market. So, technically, It's true."

The mention of 'purchase' seemed to touch a nerve with Irys, and her eyes flashed with renewed vigor, seemingly ready to launch into another tirade.

Observing the unfolding drama, Zalya sensed the need to intervene before things escalated any further. With a gentle clearing of her throat, she remarked, "Enough, Irys. We both know Aric might have his quirks, but when stakes are high and lives are on the line, he's always had our backs."

Irys exhaled, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "True, he's dependable in dire situations. However," she said, turning to Liam with a teasing glint in her eyes, "for anything else, especially financial matters, I'd advise you to be tenfold more cautious. He has a knack for letting others pick up his tab."

Offering her hand to Liam with a confident gesture, she introduced herself, "Liam, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Irys Valandrae, a Gladiator." As she pronounced 'Gladiator', her eyes sparkled with unmistakable pride, hinting at the weight and respect that title carried.

Grasping her hand firmly, Liam replied, "Good to meet you as well, Irys. Just call me Liam; I'm your everyday human from Earth.

Zalya locked her eyes with Liam. There was an innate tranquility in her gaze that had a soothing effect on him. "To shed some light on the situation," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "Aric never intended to deceive you by not mentioning our imminent arrival. The three of us formed an alliance a few months back, each with our individual objectives for venturing into these crystal fields. Aric, as you've heard, seeks the ancient method hidden here. Irys is on a quest for a sword artifact, while I aim to discover a venerable technique that could further amplify my inherent abilities."

She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before elaborating further. "My race possesses an innate ability to sense the flow of energy around us. It's like an intricate move of waves and currents, only perceptible to those of my kind. I am in search of a method to not only amplify this sensory gift but to transform it into a formidable weapon. That is my objective."