Внутреннее тестирование Вики/E-XVI — различия между версиями
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<center><span style="color:purple;font-weight:bold"><big><big>'''An 2481 de Jena'''</big></big></span></center> | <center><span style="color:purple;font-weight:bold"><big><big>'''An 2481 de Jena'''</big></big></span></center> | ||
| − | + | {{Quotation|''Belenor Nebius, narrator''| | |
| − | {{Quotation|''Belenor Nebius, | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | ::'' | + | ::''In their flying crafts, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Starving and lonely, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Led by the wind song, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''They found a star below. |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''In the endless night, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Pilgrims and orphans, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Gifted of untold powers, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''They made rising daylight. |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''In their mill of ideas, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Impatient and haughty, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Forgetful of the past, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''They paid the price of blood. |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''In their wavering ships, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Visionaries and torturers, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''Hands reddened with blood, |
| − | ::'' | + | ::''They gave birth to chimeras. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
| − | + | Kneeling on the ground and raising her arms to the sky, Belenor watched with misty eyes the floating ship of the Karavan, whose strange black matter reflected the bright glow of the day star. Its enormous ventral cannons, still in rotation a short time ago, were now pointed towards the Southern Gates. Even where the wave of insects was breaking. Whatever the Karavan was, wherever it came from, and whatever the link that bound it to the hominity, on this day, the Fyros people would forever remember its providential arrival. For in the face of this monstrous swarm, what else but their prodigious technology could stand as a bulwark? The magic of the Kamis, certainly. But who knows, maybe the Karavan's strike force would be enough? Belenor hoped so. As if to sweep away her fears, a gigantic arc of electricity suddenly materialized between the flying ship and the teeming mass of kitins. The vile squeak that then echoed through the city was demonstrating the violence of the shock. During long seconds, the enemy army was struck down in a chain reaction. In one attack, the Karavan had dealt a terrible blow… But this was without the resistance and tenacity of the monsters. For no sooner had the arc disappeared than the horrible, chitin-smoking magma reformed. As if they were one, the surviving kitins mutated into a huge arm that rose into the sky. With the distance and the smoke, Belenor was unable to make out the scene clearly. But he easily recognized the flying creatures that had set Fyre on fire at the beginning of the invasion, this time gathered in a compact swarm. But the swarm was also swarming with walking monsters. And while the larger ones now seemed to be climbing the walls of Dyros Avenue to gain height, the smaller ones were as for them carried by groups of winged creatures. With the aim of dispersing the column of insects, the ship above them launched several bombardments salvos. Unfortunately, this did not prevent the titanic hand from reaching its target and beginning to plow through its black hull with claws and fangs. To prevent it, a multitude of small machines immediately emerged from the ship and opened fire on the attackers. This was the beginning of a terrible aerial battle between the army of kitins and the Karavan fleet. | |
| − | + | Suddenly realizing that his rescuers would not prevail as easily as he had hoped, Belenor felt panic come over him. Then Garius' voice rang out behind him. | |
| − | + | :''"Belenor!" | |
| − | + | Stunned, the Fyros staggered to his feet. Garius? No way. He was losing his mind. Yet it was his friend he saw when he turned around: a giant with a shaved head and shoulders as broad as botoga branches. His friend or Varran, obviously. The Decos twin, dressed in a yellow and black spotted varinx skin outfit, characteristic of the Dragon Tears tribe, was coming from Hempios Square, north of Dyros Avenue. Where a number of Fyros seemed to have gathered. Where several small Karavan machines were making rounds around the Imperial Palace. Varran raised his large arms and shouted a second time. | |
| − | + | :''"Belenor! Melkiar and I heard Brandille screaming! Where is he? And Tisse? And Xynala?" | |
| − | + | At the same time, Xynala emerged from the mass grave of kitins filled by Brandille's scream. Belenor's heart raced. She was alive. He was so relieved. | |
| − | + | :''"Here Varran,"'' Xynala spat, pulling some greenish material from her blonde hair. | |
| − | + | :''"B… Brandille is ri… right there,"'' Belenor stammered, pointing at the crater, not taking his eyes off the Fyrossa. | |
| − | + | :''"And Tisse?"'' continued the colossus. | |
| − | Xynala | + | Xynala exchanged a look with Belenor, then both lowered their heads. The homina unhooked from her back the impressive rifle of the deceased, and walked towards Varran, trampling along the way the carcasses of the insects. |
| − | + | :''"Tisse got run over trying to save me,"'' she said, pointing her gun at the bark grave. I couldn't do anything… | |
| − | + | With a dark look, the colossus lowered his head in turn. Then, he clenched his fists. Enough for Belenor to feel the joints of his fingers crack. | |
| − | + | :''"Shit! Right now, we have to flee, and fast. Some of those monsters didn't take the Karavan as a target, and are trying to reach the Imperial Palace! There are a lot of people there! I'll take care of getting Brandille back! You, hurry to the Palace!" | |
| − | + | And indeed, a few insects similar to the ones under Xynala's feet, but much larger in size, were moving up the avenue in pursuit of the fugitives who were trying to reach Hempios Square. A soldier mounted on a mektoub was busy attracting the attention of the creatures in order to protect their backs. Without waiting, Varran leapt toward the crater as Xynala and Belenor dashed toward the Palace. Just like fourteen years ago during the quarter-coriolis, Belenor was running up Dyros Avenue. And if the memory of this trial of the Academy Games was not among the best of her childhood, the desire to survive this cataclysm was obviously stronger than his aversion to foot-race. | |
| − | + | Focused on their race, the two Fyros raced north. They were soon joined by Varran, carrying Brandille on his left shoulder, whose supple armor and multicolored braids had partly burned. Her buttocks were turned towards the sky and her head hung on the massive back of the colossus. Without losing sight of the debris which littered the avenue, he who was so used to stumbling, Belenor decelerated in order to observe the face of his friend. Eyes closed, Brandille was completely inert. Motionless. Worried about his health, but still feeling the life circulating in his little body, Belenor refocused on his race. He had become aware of the strange bond between him and Brandille as a result of his trip to Fort Kronk. After all, if the Black Kami was his first savior, it was Brandille who, seemingly able to sense his presence from a distance, had led the others to him. From then on, Belenor had wondered about their relationship, and had realized that, as far back as he could remember, a special bond had always united him to his friend. At last, it was only earlier, after her scream, that he had had the confirmation of it. After having felt that Brandille was still alive, whereas her body lay far from his glance, in the small crater. | |
| − | + | The mad dash continued so for a few minutes. Two hundred meters behind them, the mektouber was still trying to bait the huge kinchers and protect the fugitives. Unfortunately, the valiant soldier and his mount could not be everywhere, and some of them had already perished under the paws and fangs of the monsters. When he reached a hundred meters from the Hempios square, Belenor glimpsed some imperial soldiers, accompanied by some Karavan agents. Their strange black suits made them perfectly identifiable. Each of them was positioned under the large root arch that marked the end of the avenue, while a flying machine hovered above. That's what Belenor thought, before realizing that the machine was actually moving in their direction. | |
| − | + | :''"Enor?" | |
| − | + | Raising his head abruptly towards Varran, the Fyros observed Brandille's large mauve eyes. The arms now leaned on the shoulder of the colossus, the acrobat displayed a particularly serious air. Very different from the laughing pout to which Belenor was accustomed. Something was wrong. | |
| − | + | :''"Brandille?" | |
| − | + | :''"Forgive me, Enor, but I have to leave." | |
| − | + | :''"L… Leave? What are you telling?" | |
| − | + | :''"If you want me back, you have to let me go." | |
| − | + | :''"Whoa! You're not going anywhere li'l guy, Melkiar ordered me to bring you back!"'' protested Varran as he tightened his powerful arm around Brandille's buttocks. | |
| − | + | Baffled, Belenor stared again at the Karavan's machine, whose dull roar was gaining in intensity. It was getting closer to them. Then a flash of clarity came through him. Was that it then? The Fyros swallowed and looked one last time into his friend's big mauve eyes. The idea of being separated from Brandille terrified him. | |
| − | + | :''"You'll come back, for sure?" | |
| − | + | :''"Yes, my Bele nice, I promise. As sure as the wind will ever blow." | |
| − | + | :''"A... All right. Then fly." | |
| − | + | :''"What the hell is going on?! Stop your bullshit, we stay together and keep running!"'' exclaimed Xynala. | |
| − | + | And for any answer, Brandille began to sing, without leaving Belenor of the eyes. Instantly, her singular voice reflected in echo around the Fyros in a strange hypnotic effect. | |
| − | + | ::''In their wildest dreams, | |
| − | + | ::''Impostors and dictators, | |
| − | + | ::''They made your knees bend, | |
| − | + | ::''They defeated the Depths. | |
| − | + | ::''In the sidereal cage, | |
| − | + | ::''Her shaped and him growed, | |
| − | + | ::''Of their untold powers, | |
| − | + | ::''They engraved my destiny, | |
| − | + | No sooner the last verse sung, the acrobat slipped down along Varran's back. Not understanding how he could have escaped him, the colossus braked and tried to seize the little being. But it was without Brandille's athletic abilities who rolled on the ground, did a few somersaults and landed on a high block pulled off from bark. Unable to react, the three Fyros watched the acrobat in silence. And if Xynala and Varran shared the same bewildered look, Belenor smiled: at last, Brandille's face had recovered its jovial pout. Gratifying him with a last wink, her friend raised her arms high in front of the Karavan's machine, now very close, and howled : | |
| − | + | ::''And then I cry out, I wake up! | |
| − | + | ::''In their clutches, I marvel! | |
| − | + | ::''Then I flee, I fly in the wind! | |
| − | + | ::''She am alive, he am alive! | |
| − | + | Without wasting another second, Brandille leapt over his friends. The black vehicle, which had begun to accelerate, immediately swerved into the air and dashed after the acrobat, who was now gliding at breakneck speed towards an alley adjacent to the avenue. At this point, Belenor was able to watch in detail the Karavan's vehicle, whose shape reminded that of a teardrop. It was a vehicle about fifteen meters long and five meters wide at its most rounded part. And if it was provided with a multitude of strange technological excrescences, of which Belenor did not know the use, the Fyros guessed nevertheless some guns and the system which, probably, allowed the machine to overcome the gravity. On the side of the machine, the open side doors also let glimpse several soldiers in black suits, armed with strange spears and guns. Soldiers ready to intervene. Belenor's heart sank as he realized that the machine was faster than Brandille. Luckily, its size worked against it, and too wide, it had to gain altitude again just as the acrobat disappeared with a roll down the small winding alley. The machine did not give up, however, and ran up the hundred meters of the bark wall at a fast pace before continuing to stalk its prey low over the Backbone. | |
| − | + | The three Fyros watched at each other for some long seconds. What had just really happened? Why was the Karavan pursuing Brandille? Undoubtedly, it had to do with her supernatural scream. But more importantly, was it possible that anyone, no matter how cunning, could escape the Karavan's omnipotence? With his eyes closed, Belenor raised his face to the sky and gritted his teeth. He had absolutely to think of something else. As if to help him do so, a shout echoed in the distance behind him. That voice. It was that of General Euriyaseus Icaron. | |
| − | + | :''"Varran, it is really you? Xynala? Help these civilians join the Palace!" | |
| − | + | In unison, all turned their heads to the south of the avenue. Fifty meters below, the general was busy fighting two three-meter high kinchers. She was the mektuber they had seen earlier below. Between her and the group of friends, a female homina and two children, visibly on the verge of exhaustion, were running towards the Palace. Without missing a beat, the three fyros rushed towards them. Xynala grabbed the girl, Varran the mother and the boy. Belenor, for his part, slip on his pair of amplifiers and supported the mektouber with his healings. The armor of the venerable Fyrosse, as well as that of his mekboub, was chipped all over. The mount even seemed seriously injured. However, this was not preventing the brave animal from carrying the body of a homin with the help of its powerful trunk. Finally, thanks to the magical support of Belenor, the general managed to finish off one of the two monsters with a well-placed pike. And as the group finally arrived at the entrance to Hempios Square, a strange hissing sound was heard. A flash of light later, the last kincher collapsed in the sawdust, his skull pierced. Not understanding what had just happened, Belenor turned back to the great root arch. In front of him, a Karavan agent was pointing his right arm at the creature's carcass. The light projectile had been emitted by the strange device that equipped his forearm. | |
| − | + | It was the first time that Belenor had observed a Karavan agent so closely. Measuring about one meter sixty, the hominoid was dressed in a full-body suit that revealed a feminine form, but did not reveal a single square inch of skin. To this tight clothing was associated a veil hung at the level of the basin and a hood covering the helmet of the individual. A helmet consisting of a large white visor and what appeared to be a breathing mask. Next to the agent, several other ones, some of them with a more masculine build, were silently scanning the celestial battle. The Fyros gazed upon the mysterious beings for a few seconds and then suddenly felt a strange psychic pressure. The shooter had turned towards him and seemed to fix him from now on. Immediately, Belenor turned gaze away and stepped under the arch. As Melkiar and Brandille had once told him, Karavan agents gave off a supernatural aura, both terrifying and fascinating. Now he understood. And without a doubt, the sensation was like to the one he had felt the seldom times his eyes had rested on Emperor Thesop the Fratricide, like that time on the winners' stand after his victory at the Academy Games. Imagining his friend constrained by several of these agents, the Fyros felt panic assail him again. At that moment, all his thoughts were turned to Brandille. Alive, Brandille was. He could feel it. But was his friend free? She had to be… Her promise had to be kept. | |
| − | {{Couillard}} | + | {{Couillard}}▼ TO TRANSLATE ▼ |
La place Hempios tirait son nom du premier fils de Dyros le Grand, qui, près de deux siècles auparavant, était devenu le second empereur des Fyros. Un empereur qui, suivant les enseignements de la Karavan, avait encouragé les alchimistes d’État à continuer l’étude des propriétés pyrotechniques de certains matériaux. Grâce à cela, la fabrication d’armes à feu fut généralisée, ce qui permit à l’Empire de s’imposer face aux tribus dissidentes, mais aussi d’exister un peu plus sur le plan international. Par ailleurs, depuis cette époque, la maîtrise du feu était devenue une caractéristique forte de la civilisation fyrosse. | La place Hempios tirait son nom du premier fils de Dyros le Grand, qui, près de deux siècles auparavant, était devenu le second empereur des Fyros. Un empereur qui, suivant les enseignements de la Karavan, avait encouragé les alchimistes d’État à continuer l’étude des propriétés pyrotechniques de certains matériaux. Grâce à cela, la fabrication d’armes à feu fut généralisée, ce qui permit à l’Empire de s’imposer face aux tribus dissidentes, mais aussi d’exister un peu plus sur le plan international. Par ailleurs, depuis cette époque, la maîtrise du feu était devenue une caractéristique forte de la civilisation fyrosse. | ||
