Later that night...
It was already past midnight. The inn was quiet, save for the distant chirping of crickets. And the gentle rustle of leaves outside.
Reina lay in the soft bed. Her breathing was deep and even. Resting in a peaceful slumber. In the adjacent room, Aella was tucked snugly into her own bed. She was similarly lost to dreams.
Jack, however, was wide awake. Unlike other humans, he didn't need much sleep. Only an hour of rest was enough for him. And he had one thing he needed to do...
Activating his [Incarnation Shift], Jack's form shimmered. Instantly, his human skin dissolved into a swirling mist. His muscle and bone also disappeared. Transforming into eerie mist in the dimly lit room.
The transformation was swift, silent, and seamless. In a second, Jack Night, the man, was gone. In the place where he had been, now stood Jack Mystery, the mysterious specter.
His spectral top hat sat impossibly straight above his featureless mask. And a billowing cape of woven shadow drifted around his incorporeal form. He was now a specter. A creature unbound by bones and flesh.
Beside him, Rune, had also transformed. She was now a faint wisp. One who was emitting curious purple glow. The silent guide had perfectly attuned to Jack's transformations.
Without a word, Jack Mystery and Rune activated their innate invisibility power. Turning into nothing in others' vision. Then, they phased through the inn room wall. The sturdy timber and plaster offered no resistance to their ethereal forms.
They drifted through the common room. Past the deserted reception desk. And out into the cool night air. The transition from the warm indoors to the crisp outdoor chill was barely perceptible to Jack. His phantom senses could register the change, but it produced almost no impact to him.
The town was a patchwork of shadows and faint moonlight. Jack Mystery moved with clear destination in mind. North. Towards the rumored ruins of Grancho Ranch.
The journey was swift. Marevale's northern edge gave way to unkempt fields. And there was a distinct zone where skeletal trees clawed at the night sky. The air grew colder here. The silence was also deeper. It was as if the land held its breath in apprehension.
Soon, the silhouette of a dilapidated homestead emerged from the gloom. Broken fences. A collapsing barn. And the skeletal remains of what was once a big manor house. This was Grancho Ranch.
The decay was visible. Putting a physical weight in the air.
Weeds filled the ground. Growing unnaturally tall and twisted. Their tendrils were reaching out like grasping claws.
The moonlight from the two moons in the sky was usually a comforting balm. But, it seemed to falter here. Casting long, distorted shadows that danced with unseen terrors. It was an eerie place where a suspicious supernatural phenomenon seemed to lurk.
Rune, with more focused point of red and golden light, darted towards a particularly overgrown section. Near the collapsed foundation of what might have been a warehouse.
Jack followed. Floating over the creepy earth without making any sound.
As they drew closer, Jack could see a faint, sickly green luminescence. The glow pulsed from beneath a tangle of thorny bushes and dark vines.
Jack focused the telekinetic aspect of his [Mysterious Anomaly] power. The bushes parted. Triggered by his sheer will. Revealing a crude, circular carving on the cracked earth.
It was a magic circle. A rough and simple one. Etched with ancient runic symbols that pulsed with corrupted energy. The runes were crude. Likely, the twisted versions of a known spatial magic. It was interwoven with symbols of necromancy and binding spells.
This was a strange seal that should not work. Jack had learned numerous magical theories. He could immediately recognize the seal's nature. It was a ritual circle that was either designed to be unconventionally deviant to the standard, or one that was made by a complete amateur.
He could see that it sealed a spatial rift. Or a stable pocket dimension. But the problem with the runes in the ritual circle produced heavy degree of corruption. A thick, evil miasma was clinging to every symbol.
He knelt, or rather, hovered low near the circle. His spectral fingers were tracing the faded lines.
Rune flew close. Her wisp form flickered between a deep gold and a fiery red, indicating both fortune and danger were there.
Jack deciphered the ridiculous set of runes. Piecing together the archaic language and the twisted intent behind it. The core function was clear, a spatial lock. The unlocking functions, however, seemed to involve a temporal trigger. The circle, he realized, was designed to open only at precise moments.
"Midnight or noon, huh?" Jack's low voice echoed slightly in the oppressive silence. "A temporal gate, tied to the sun's position. So simple, yet this corruption level... Damn! The one who made this was either insane or terrible in runes."
He checked his internal clock. It had already been a couple of hours after midnight. The moment for activation had already gone. A fleeting sense of frustration rippled through Jack. But he quickly quelled it.
An immediate solution was unobtainable. He had to wait. Only until the next noon. This wasn't a failure. Just a temporary delay.
With a thought, Jack turned. Rune zipped up to his phantom shoulder. Her purplish wisp glow formed a silent question.
"Not tonight, Rune." He whispered. "We'll return later with Reina and Aella, when the sun is high up there."
They phased back through the ruined ranch. The eeriness of the place faded further as they put distance between themselves and the corrupted circle.
The journey back to the inn was as swift and silent as their departure.
...
The next morning broke with the cheerful chirping of birds, and the gentle clatter of breakfast preparations from the inn's kitchen.
Jack sat with Reina and Aella at their small table in the ground floor of the inn. A steaming cup of coffee was in his hand.
"Ladies!" He said. "I paid a visit to the Grancho Ranch ruins last night. Here is what I found..."
He then recounted his findings... the desolate atmosphere, Rune guiding him to the hidden, corrupted ritual circle, and his subsequent decryption of its temporal lock.
"It only opens at midnight or noon." He explained. "I was too late for midnight, but noon is within our grasp today."
Aella, munching on a piece of bread, looked up. Her sky-blue eyes went wide. "So, there's a secret place there? Like a dungeon?"
"Potentially." Jack confirmed. "I suspect it holds the key to the disappearance of [Crystal Grassland Shard]."
Reina nodded. She immediately understood Jack's plan. "So, we return today, at noon. What about before then? We still have time."
Jack pointed outside. "Marevale is known for its ranches. I propose we spend the morning exploring them. There might be more to this town than just the missing shard and the promise of a dimensional rift."
Aella cheered. Eager for an adventure, especially one involving animals. Rune also pulsed with an excited pink glow.
After a hearty breakfast, the trio, accompanied by Rune, stepped out into the bustling Marevale morning.
The town, truly, felt like a world apart from the industrial taint of Lonestone, Grandmoon, or Sapphire Cities. Here, the air was crisp and clean. Carrying the scent of rich earth and fresh grass.
Wagons trundled down cobbled streets, pulled by sturdy draft horses. Farmers in practical clothing greeted each other warmly. Their voices were carried easily in the open air.
They wandered through the town. Admiring the rustic architecture and the vibrant local market. Then, following a sign depicting a horse-like creature, they ventured towards the sprawling ranches. Places that dotted the landscape within and around Marevale.
The first few ranches they visited were typical ranches. Housing strong, healthy livestock... robust cattle, nimble sheep, and powerful horses. But as they continued their exploration, they found a wonderful place called 'The Enchanted Pastures'.
This ranch was different. A whimsical archway of gnarled, blooming wood marked its entrance. And soft, melodic chimes tinkled in the breeze. The air here felt charged. Imbued with a subtle, vibrant energy.
Jack could sense that like his fairy guide, Rune, this place was also enchanted to be invisible to non-transcendent people. The enchantment didn't work for them though. They were all transcendent ones after all.
Inside, the usual farm animals gave way to more supernaturally gifted creatures. A mythical livestock of magic and wonder.
"Oh, wow!" Aella gasped. Her eyes were wide with childlike wonder as she saw the animals there.
The first one they encountered were Starlight Horses. These tough horses had their coats shimmered with ethereal light. Their manes and tails were flowing and glowing like misty aurora. Yet, they grazed peacefully in sun-dappled paddocks.
Then, they saw Mighty Stags and their Pure Does. They were almost as big as the horses in size. The stags' antlers were golden colored. And their furs were adorned with glowing moss and tiny, crystalline flowers. They moved with regal grace through a small grove of ancient trees.
The Cloudmilk Bulls and Cows came next. Their hides were as white and fluffy as summer clouds. The cows' udders were heavy with what promised to be incredibly rich, magical milk.
And there were also Rainbow Chickens. Their feathers were iridescent and constantly shifting through every hue imaginable. They pecked at the ground. Leaving trails of sparkling dust.
There were even smaller creatures. Glowing rabbits that seemed to be docile pets, tiny hummingbirds flitting among flowerbeds, and three-tailed squirrels that playfully chased their own luminous reflections.
"These were incredible." Reina murmured. Her eyes were scanning the fantastical menagerie with a rare, open appreciation.
Jack felt a surge of desire. These weren't mere animals. They were mystic beings, that likely possessed inherent magical properties or even latent abilities. Ones that could be cultivated.
Starlight Horses and Mighty Stags would be great mounts for land exploration. Cloudmilk Cows and Rainbow Chickens should be able to provide great sustenance for the crew with their magical eggs and milk.
He approached a wizened old rancher. A transcendent Beast Tamer. His face was lined with laughter and sun. He stood by a fence, observing a young Starlight Colt playfully bucking.
"Good morning!" Jack greeted in friendly tone. "These creatures... they're truly magnificent. Are they for sale?"
The rancher squinted at him. A kindly smile was on his face. "Aye, Lad. All creatures born within these pastures carry a touch of the old magic. We breed 'em, care for 'em, and sell 'em to those who appreciate their majesty."
He gestured with a gnarled hand. "A Starlight Horse will outrun any gales and never tire. The Cloudmilk Cow's milk can heal minor wounds and lift spirits. The Rainbow Chicken's egg can boost energy recovery very well. The Mighty Stags, they were both great mount and incredible guards."
Jack's enthusiasm grew. "I'd be interested in purchasing a few."
He mentally calculated the space needed. The Silent Mermaid had no space for animals. But Mirror Mansion might be able accommodate a few of them.
Reina, however, quickly interrupted. "Dear, we are on the way to Sweetmoon City for the tournament. Purchasing them should wait until then, shouldn't it? We can swing back here after the tournament for a purchase."
The rancher chuckled. "The lass is right, Lad. It's not wise carrying these magnificent creatures to the tournament. Just come back here after it ends. This place won't run anywhere."
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