Aura - Holy Power of Mana: Heart of Darkness
Jan 16 02:19:07 2005

The darkness consumed every last bit of light available to her
eyes, leaving only the black emptiness that she was only-too-
familiar with in all the times she'd fallen asleep. But if
such was the case this time...

How.. how am I aware of all this? I -know- I'm asleep..
is this possible? How do people know they're dreaming..?

On all sides, only the inky blackness prevailed. She was
beginning the early stages of panic when the familiar voices
returned, though it was only the voices she heard; everything
else remained blocked from sight.

Because you -not- asleep.. we draw you into own world, so
we have easy time, show you things you not know. Time come
soon, you understand what mean. Power of mana create this
place for us, we only guide you here; leave body behind,
only take spirit, heart, soul with us. Flow of mana strong
there, we take advantage. Listen..!

Awestruck by the mere thought of it all, Aura could only do
as the spiritual voice asked, and strained to hear whatever
it was she was being told to listen for. Though her sight
remained unavailable, she soon heard what sounded like the
rustle of wind against vegetation, the sound of an outside
region. Footsteps pattered back and forth, coming and going
in all directions, the general sounds of a busy gathering
filled with people. A female voice broke out amidst the rest,
much clearer, whereas the others were dull and fuzzy.

"But I don't understand... why do you have to go back? We
need you here, with us! At least tell me it won't be
for very long?"

A second voice was heard, sounding a bit gruff and exasperated.

"It'll only be for a few days, Ramia. The others at the
lab need my guidance there, inept bunch of fools that
they are. Nothing will get done if I don't lend them
my aid."

There was a silence, a small chattering of some female child,
though Aura could not tell what was being said by her. The
first voice sighed.

"She's going to miss you, you know. She'll be nine years
old next week, and you haven't been around hardly at all.
She's going to be all grown up one day, and you'll never
know it, Arthur..."

"I can't just.. abandon my work. I've come too far on this
research already, and if I just throw it away, what then?
I promise, once I'm all done, I'll be home a lot more
often. All I need is a little more time, that's all..."

"I hope so. It isn't so much that she's burden to take
care of, by myself, but she really needs her father here,
sometimes. One of these days, I could..."

Another pause, much more tense than the first.

"Ramia...? You could what?"

"... We've been married for how long, Arthur? Don't you
know anything about this village by now? We of the Mana
Tribe are..."

The male voice cut her short, sounding rather disturbed.

"Enough talk about that subject. You know how I feel about
that silly tree and its affiliations. Nothing's going to
happen to either you or my daughter, and I'll make sure of
it, if I have to."

"Arthur..."

"Now, give me a hug before I go. I'll only be a few days,
then I'll come right home. I promise."

Aura braced herself for another pause before whatever this
conversation was about continued, but instead, the entirety
of what she was hearing drowned out and faded away, leaving
the silence to accompany the darkness. That is, until the
voice of the dryad returned.

Lots this, we not familiar with, either. We sorry if not
help Aura lots, but we doing best we can, too.

A question burned in her mind just then, quickly filing out of
her thoughts and into her mouth.

What is this... 'Mana Tribe'?

She received no answer.