The Golden Apple ((Open))

[Ira]

The golden sphere had been lost in dirt long ago when construction broke near the edge of Hallowton, it had simply been tossed aside despite its calling. Tossed and lost, away from most of Hallowton itself, time slowly attempting to claim the artifact again. And the artifact simply idle and quiet, its whispers too quiet and far away for those within Hallowton to hear. Should they roam the outskirts of it though, away from the buildings, its soft calling could be heard; everything their hearts desired in exchange for obedience. The same calling offered so long ago to everyone.

Grass had grown near it, and now wrapped around the Apple of Eden. It's golden exterior now dulled and dimmed, not by time's passing itself, but rather the dirt which had accumulated as well as the moss attempting to grow on its outer surface.

[Saasha]

Melany had once again wandered outside the city to train in the quiet of the forest. Her mind had been cleared as of late from the distress of the knowledge that she may never return to her own world, but the knowing that as long as she remained alive that the demons of the past would not return kept her drive to keep trying. As long as she remained, they would stay dead, thereby protecting those that she loved. And so day after day she would pick up her blade and retreat to the woods, awaiting the time when she would find a way to break the lingering curse over her family and those of her past.

And so she had stumbled across the orb, it's off golden color catching her eye as it peeked through the interwoven grasses. She knelt next to the object, her hand on her left hip over her sword as usual. Such a curiosity... She used a single finger to clear the weeds from its surface, revealing it's beveled surface and dulled sheen. What was this thing? Her fingers curled around it carefully and she stood to examine the lovely sphere. What was it?

[Ira]

Its whispers became loud and clear as Melany drew closer to the sphere, its promises being carried to her - one of those it was meant to control - with the demand for obedience in return. At her touch, the engravings began to glow a bright white light. First one line, then another, until slowly all the lines were aglow upon the surface. As the light began to appear and travel about the sphere, the dirt and moss and leaves were forced from the sphere revealing its brilliant golden coating, hidden for such a long time by the nature and time working together.

A blinding white light flashed from the orb and it seemingly hovered just an inch or so above Melany's hand. As the light faded though, it came to rest in Melany's hand once again. Though more weight was applied to it. A larger, yet still feminine, hand rested on top of the sphere which added the weight. The tall woman stood silently, looking down towards Melany, her white cloth fabric drapped around and over her body loosely fluttering in the gentle breeze. The woman's grip on the Apple of Eden tightened and she slowly began to move to pull the Apple away from the girl without a word.

On the back of the woman, the top of a staff could be seen, silver in color with prongs spread out to the side, serving to be nothing more than decoration. A single sheathed sword rested on her left and right hip, held in place by a folded white cloth - if one looked carefully it looked as if a hand print could be seen on it. Also hanging from this piece of fabric though was an orante ankh, engravings of her people decorating it.

[Saasha]

Melany flinched as the flash blinded her sensitive eyes. When it was over, she lowered her free hand from her vision and realized that she was not alone any longer- a beautiful woman stood with her hand over the sphere. As the newcomer withdrew the orb from her hand, Melany kept her palm open so that she could take it. She was still in slight surprise and confusion as to what had just happened... But it would not be wise to simply stand and stare. She took a small, respectful step back accompanied by a half bow in greeting. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the woman just yet but even still, it would do no good to do nothing.

"My apologies, my lady. I was not aware that the orb belonged to anyone. It is a beautiful piece, however." She rose back to her full height and looked over the woman out of her peripheral vision, her eyes never leaving the woman's face. The first thing she noticed was the size of the woman. It was not that she was large, she was just tall. Large for a human. But then again, something tugged at Melany as the woman's scent hit her. The smell was not human, but she couldn't place what it was.

[Ira]

Minerva was silent for a moment as she raised the Apple of Eden, seemingly examining it. Finally, she reached over her shoulder, Apple in hand still, and easily set it onto the staff which showed over her shoulder, pieces of the staff moved to secure the Apple into its place. "The owners of the Apple of Eden have been lost in the sands of time," Minerva explained, as her hand slowly was brought back down to her side. "I have been waiting for you, Melany, to touch the Apple, there is no reason to apologize," she said softly. "Despite it being unknowingly done, I thank you for your help."

The hand which had once held the Apple of Eden reached behind her back and took hold of the staff which rested on her back. Minerva pulled it and brought it to her side, resting the end of it on the ground. Silent whispers still coming from the pieces, still silently demanding obedience. However, these whispers were lessened now that they were in Minerva's possession. And within a moment's time longer, the whispers would cease entirely, the glow fading away from the Apple altogether.

[Saasha]

This took her aback. "You are very welcome but... " She thought about her words carefully for a moment, trying to asses the woman. She could just be pulling her leg with all of this, but something told her that it would be alright if she listened. Or maybe those were lingering thoughts from the apple. "What do you mean by you have been waiting for me? And how do you know me?" Melany was rather skeptical about this whole thing, but she was also very curious. Who was this woman? And could it be possible that that was the actual... no it couldn't be. But then again could it?

Melany was patient however. If she waited, she might get her answers without having to ask them. There seemed to be mysterious forces at work here and Melany was intrigued by them. The thirst for knowledge had always been her vice.

[Ira]

Minerva practically loomed over Melany as she stepped closer to the girl, speaking softly, yet her voice clear and each word clearly spoken.

"I had foreseen you being the one to touch the Apple to allow me to be fully awakened from my slumber. I do not expect you to understand or know how I know such things, after all, the sense that lets us see such a thing was the one thing we kept from you. But again, that is a tale lost in the sands of time. One that I do not expect you to know at all. Curious, of course you would be. That much I have seen as well." Minerva stepped around Melany. If one watched her feet carefully, it could be seen that her feet did not touch the ground despite the grass bending as if she had stepped on it. Instead, she was merely an inch or so above the ground itself.

"Long ago when my kind lost sight of things, I knew our world would be lost. Or at least, assumed as much. I took precautions to travel elsewhere, in hopes of avoiding the disaster and perhaps find a means to stop it for when it comes time for it to happen once more. Since that time, I have been waiting. The gift we held back from you, showing me how to wait as I have and allowing me to know that it would be you to touch the Apple." Minerva studied Hallowton, the gentle breeze toying with the white fabric of her clothing and her long dark hair which had been fed through the headpiece she wore. She smirked slightly and gave a forced chuckle.

"So many questions you won't ask, but I know they are there. Who am I? My kind made you? And what do I mean by that? And you've been caught up in stories of the Apple of Eden, with Adam and Eve, passed down through religions which have hidden the truth about the Apple. What I've called the Apple surely could not be the apple spoken of in those stories." Minerva shook her head slowly. Did she truly wish to tell this human the truth behind it all? Or no? No. For now her ignorance would be better.

"Perhaps in time, you will learn the truth."

[Saasha]

"I suppose I shall. But as you are seemingly the only one who knows the truth, than unless you supply me with the knowledge, I shall never know. It is up to your discretion. If you know my thoughts then you know that I am curious but also not inclined to keep you any longer than you wish to be kept. I came out this far into the woods to train, and train I shall once we part ways. But if you have any need of my assistance for a reason, please inform me. In the meantime," These words fresh from her lips, Melany lighted her hand from her sword and tugged at the zipper of her jacket, pulling it from her shoulders and gently tossing it to the base of a tree. Underneath was a plain, grey, long sleeve shirt, the neck a modest V that fell off of her shoulders but was held up by two back crossing straps. "In the meantime, I welcome you to Genesis." A bright smile lit her face and she held her palms open at her sides in a gesture of peace.