The Requiem of the Sheltered [Ipos - The Necropolis]

It seemed they had reached the tower, although only Solomon would know how long they had been riding from inside the bubble. The musical that was played for them distracted Tenma from the boredom as he was enjoying every second of it, although his mind would still wander to think about Noir situation now.

The swordsman would then walk beside Zubaidah along with Amnet and Rui Li, following the group. Although he would be going to climb up towards the gate, only to hear the last part of the song. With all the tragedy foretold in the song, the swordsman wondered if it was the story about the owner of this realm and if Ipos was their name. Tenma would sigh softly as he walked upstairs, wondering where that gate would take them this time.

It was surprising that the Janitor pushed them towards the gate, forcing them to leave him with the nothingness alone... but that made Noir wonder. What if they had invaded his home and all he did was pleading for them to leave and let him rest alone? That might be one of the probability, however a frown would stay on the magician's face for another few minutes and she would furrow her eyebrow, wondering more about the theory that she had regarding The Janitor.

Eight's voice would snap her out to the reality and the frown would disappear from her face. She looked around to see the others were safe and she would nod, "Yes, are you okay?" The question that the man was asking would be reversed back. There was a sense of relief instead of insatiable curiosity the moment she saw that everyone was safe from The Janitor, however since Diana was having a trouble, the magician would help to sustain her healing spell.

The song kept going as the man listened while the bubble drew closer. He found the part about a staff interesting, what kind of staff where they talking about? They would eventually land at the base of the tower expected to climb the stairs in order to reach the gate he assumes. He would sigh at seeing all of these stairs and wished to keep his muscular form a secret still so he had his sumo companion named shou carry the old man on his back as shou runs up the stairs. "Hurry along children! More fun waits us" The old man would shout to the rest of their group.

Ah, freedom! Zubaidah had felt cooped-up within those bubbles, she had to admit. Being close to Tenma, however, she found a reasonable pay-off. Indeed, she sidled up and took his hand within her own - oh, how she missed fun like this. If he saw her teasing smile, he would know that she was playing with him. Amnet rolled her eyes, thinking that even she could be more subtle. And, well, she was no stranger to quick romance. But she kept quiet, her focus upon writing down the song, and kept up the pace with her purple-haired companion.

So this was the Tale of Ipos, tragic indeed, but an enjoyable story nonetheless. Nonetheless, it was time to set the storybook aside. Now before this auspicious tower, its height most impressive, did he ascend in pace contrary to his hasty acquaintances. These heavy queries that bogged down his mind barred his muscles to inaction, all save for one; that errant tongue tucked in his cheek. It sought to purge this idle decay from its form, and gain regain insight on this uncharted journey.

So, he looked for Lir and strode side by side with the music man towards the tower's peak. "Lir, you've been here for a while now. Tell me fellow, has anything struck a... chord with your memories?" The waggle of his index fingers gestured to an imaginary drumset he conjured from the aether; complete with sound effects made in real time.

For the Amnesiac musician, the world around him had disappeared just as his memories as he was listening to the song and even singing a soft tune to himself before he was suddenly caught off guard by Khalik who was asking him questions as they were all ascending.

"Well not really, to be honest, I think I came here for a reason, but that seems a bit obvious," Lir spoke as if it was a bit painful trying to remember but before he could say anything else he was shut up as he quieted down to listen to the last verse of The Tragedy of Ipos.

"I hope you've been paying attention, I hope you know where this is has been going

In her act of desperation, she had temporarily saved her nation, given an asylum amongst armageddon

with her people in awe of what their sorrowful queen had done, they watched as she flew off into the war

everything she had done was for her wish to rule well, her people were her heart and she was their arrow

and she flew ever so true, the fight would last for hours and she would give more than she had in all of her years

they thought the world to be saved, but if that were true you would not be here today

we have told you from the beginning, this story is not just any story, this a tragedy

so we must remind that even as they fought in valor, this story must end in sadness, for it is what happened

so let us remind you, that her world was not saved, for all of her wisdom and all of her planning

it all came to an end, as you walked through the city of the dead you learned of this tale

will skill, luck, or knowledge prevail or is it out of our control, we might never know

she found her folly and accepted it then, but still even then, she could not stop it in the end

for it was her story, it was choices, and it was her own fate, it had been The Tragedy of Ipoooooosss!"

As the first party rose to the top they would hear the song at its peak as they were confronted with the site of the final gate before them. It was all at once the most complex, yet the most simple of the gates with its design. It was a massive door of a woman's weeping face, while it was obvious and easy to tell, her features were made and carved of intricate designs, knotted patterns linked in neverending bands would wrap around the frame. The eyes were shut, but how the lids hung low like the moon in the summer sky and the tears that curled up past its peak gave away that it was a somber weep. Every last etch was intended to bring across the woman's sorrow, not out of pity, but out of an obvious regret. It was a daunting and possibly foreboding last image for them all as they would see it as they were within reach, able to touch the gate as they wished.

"How wondrous." Lir had spoken, he had walked a bit ahead of them and was trying to examine the art of the gate up close when he accidentally touched it and was warped through

However, below them was the other group that had been ferried along in their own sound bubble, which had gotten them caught up with the other group as they would find themselves at the base of the tower now. Once they would walk in they would be able to see that the others were at the top and it would take them just a bit to catch up. As they would find themselves there they would find themselves in the second last verse while the others listened to the last in front of the gate.

OOO this song was definitely getting interesting. He still wasnt sure of tons of details of this song. He was not big on history knowledge yet he had never heard if this queen or a kingdom disappearing underground, or wherever the dungeon took them. He had found himself at the top of the tower now seeing a massive door that was shaped to look like a weeping woman. This was definitely interesting. This was probably the last door so all he would have to do is touch it and he will finally learn what all of the excitement is about. The old man and shou would jump to the gate in unison slapping their hands on the gate.

After he heard all he needed to hear. Ghost was in a state of mind. That one would call ever thinking. As he got closer and closer to the gate. His heart beat started to beat faster amd faster until it finally slowed down. Ghost would look on as the tale of Ipos was over but a new one was about to begin. As he looked on he would see others there as well. Each person here wanted what was behind that door. Ghost himself could not even think straight. But one thing was for show and that was he was ready to meet this Ipos. Soon he would make it to the door. He would see Lir touch the gate and go right through it. Still he would think that he has something to do with this Tower. Just then he would touch the gate. Just like that he was pulled right inside.

Note
Touched the gate.

It was interesting, the mechanism, the story that they heard while they were floating inside a bubble. Noir would quietly looking around, curious on everything just like an excited children with her sparkly eyes. It was as if she had forgotten about the Janitor, but that was not the case, she was just distracting herself.

By the time they arrived and the bubble popped, Noir would notice other people were already there, climbing up the stairs towards the gate. Some if them had touched the gate and warped to somewhere else, possibly new area. So it was clear on what they had to do for now. They got to follow and climb the stairs as well while listening to another verse of the musical treats.

The one eyed man would feel that his purple haired companion touched his hand and he would let her do it, there was no harm on holding hands together. However Tenma would find Zubaidah's smile as an amusing scene, there was a hint of playfulness that the swordsman admit was pretty entertaining. So he smiled back to the woman as he entwined their fingers together while listening to the last part of the song. Well it felt like a date so far with a minimum danger, but he couldn't help but to wonder if there might be anything lurking and hiding under the peaceful situation.

The swordsman who was looking at Lir would raise his eyebrow, it seemed that the song had triggered something within his memory. But before he could observe the man more, the bard touched the gate and he got warped to the next area. It would be followed by Silva and that guy who were trying to blinded them before. So once they had arrived at the top, right in front of them gate, he would still hold Zubaidah's hand and with his free hand, he would touch them gate with his other companion.

Khalik returned a nod to display his attentiveness, yet found Lir's answer quite dry. Everyone had came here for a reason, though some understandably better than his. However, press on he would, for it wasn't quite time to call the curtain, and he planned to milk every second of it for all its worth.

On top the tower, he beheld Ipos in mourning and was left to peruse the painter's artistical liberties to the backing of the final verse which seemed to fade like a spring breeze. How refreshing and how bittersweet, it seemed this tale would have one final effect as it tangled his mind in regrets not of his own. After all, the sadness captivated in the architecture sparked an inquiry in his chaotic psyche: If every choice only fostered more remorse, just like Ipos, would it have been better to have never been given a choice in the first place? Only the click of his sharp tongue signaled the notion mute.

The beat of his drum had never once pounded to such sobriety, nor would it ever, so he marched forward in light of clarity often missed of him.  

One by one, they had crossed the boundaries: Lir, Silva, that dastard, and Ten-out-of-Ten(ma); and soon he too placed an hand upon the weeping Ipos.

The final act was about to begin.

The song continued on in to, what Menat was beginning to hope, was the final verse. The redhead continued to jog along, oblivious to the others heading up the magical stairs alongside. Her goal was in sight and all the stopped her from reaching it was a simple matter of how fast she ran towards it. She didn't need to listen to the formless voices to have pieced together everything from, at the very least, this last leg of the dungeon. They only confirmed what she had suspected once they explained how she attempted to protect her people and their kingdom. They had just traveled through it via bubble. This tower they had been racing up had to have belonged to Ipos herself if that was the case. And of course the story would be one to have ended in sorrow.

If Ipos had gone so far as to pour her own power into encasing her entire kingdom in a sphere floating in the sky it was bound to have burnt her out rapidly, much less than if she herself had gone off to fight an approaching apocalypse. It really was a tragic tale for the young girl to have had to listen to, especially with how much her own mother reminded her of the kind of Queen Ipos had been. If she could recruit the djinn she would make it her top priority to help her mother avoid the same kind of downfall as Ipos had. She would be a second set of shoulders for the Empress to carry Meridia and its future on, no matter her age. Over halfway through the stairs Menat made the choice. Her legs pumped harder, the natural speed of the young Fanalis being released to its full potential. She shot up the remaining stairs and halted only when it came time for her to place her palm against the door framed in golden light. She was ready for what was next to come.

Notes:

Oh, how she had been enjoying their little date! It may have been inside a Dungeon, true, but cut her some slack. She had been alone for the past month, after all. She needed this time together with the handsome Tenma, even if it was only for a short while.

    So let me remind you, that her world was not saved… She was taken aback, it must be said, when this was mentioned. It was like she was solving a half-formed puzzle, the cogs in her mind whirring at breakneck speeds. It all came to an end, as you walk through the city of the dead… The heavy-duty machinery known as her mind ground to a sudden halt here. She was certain that she found a long-sought piece for one part of the puzzle.

    What picture had the puzzle formed? Well, she was sure Ipos would clarify. So she kept things to herself and she joined her handsome partner, placing a hand upon the gate. After all, it is usual for the detective to question the witnesses, right?

The confrontation with the Janitor that seemed to be holding back was also a defeat. While Hyperion has risked his life at every corner, the dungeon would spare him time and time again. Now, he'd be travelling with Noir and he would catch wind of some lyrics, his mind somewhat distracted to truly appreciate it. Until he glanced at Noir and Diana, where he began to zone in to the matters at hand. Diana would point out the people ahead, letting Hyperion understand where they should be heading. It seemed as if they were to climb towards the gate.

For Hyperion and Noir it must've been a frustrating experience as they finally reached the top and heard the last of the song just as the others had and were disappearing in front of them as they got up there, and now could finally talk if they wished to say anything before they went on. They were met with the weeping gate and there was the soft background music that decorated the background as they were left with their thoughts and the intricate gate.

They had been behind at most parts of this dungeon due to their decision, but they were finally at their destination, all they had to do was touch the gate before them just as they had three times now, they had made many decisions and now there were only so few left it might make them wonder what choices were left in this place, though they would soon find out.

He would take the time to show his appreciation to his allies. He didn't know if another action of his would finally cost the group their lives. He had stayed true to himself and his decisions, but each setback made him more and more weary of his path forward. But the people who had supported him, would give him enough strength to push forward. "Diana, Noir." He would bow his head as he held onto each of their hands. "I know I wouldn't be alive right now without either of you." He would let go of Noirs hand and give Diana a warm embrace, patting her between her shoulder blades. After releasing her, he would squeeze Noir and kiss her on the cheek, showing his affection and caring the best he could after seeing his life flash before him.

"Let's go."

This being the first time he would not overstay his welcome in a section of the dungeon as he placed. Curiosity begged him to stay, but with these other lives in his care, he would want this situation over as quickly as possible.

The tragedy of Ipos, the song that was accompanying them as they climbed up towards the gate. The magician would wonder if the name that kept being mentioned would be the name of the Djinn, the owner of this realm. She frowned for a second, what a tragedy... either the corpse...the janitor, or even Ipos, all of them seemed to have a story of their own.

Noir would be surprised when Eight hold both of her and Diana's hands before expressing his gratitude. "It was nothing, we are a comrade." But the man wasnt done with his thing, after he embraced the blonde magician, he would squeeze Noir and gave her a kiss on the cheek, which of course, confusing her. A kiss could be the form of gratitude from someone apparently.

With a nod, the magician would walk beside Eight, along with Shousui, Haku and Diana. Then together, they would touch the gate.