by Luke DeSalvo
There was nothing but silence at the exchange for what seemed like hours.
“He lives forever through you, you know?” Codiac commented as the moon began its descent.
“Why are you here!?” She questioned with venom in her tongue.
Codiac turned and regarded her.
He said nothing, letting the last comment bite into his very soul. Somehow, when the Guardian said this, it had a more bitter taste than when the scion stated just moments ago. He felt betrayed.
“Don’t you remember Lulali?” He snapped in return.
Suzette stopped her crying and pondered the last statement.
“Don’t you remember us?” He whispered quietly, eyeing her directly.
The guardian bit her lip and mulled around the words.
“It has something to do with my ordeal,” She said at last.
“You’re right.”
“A Guardian?” She questioned softly.
“The best Guardian,” Codiac finished.
The two suddenly looked at each other, transfixed at their appearance.
“Oh Codi, what will we do?” She questioned finally, after she could bare to stare no longer.
“You’ll live a great life with me,” Codiac said with a smile.
He then embraced herm at first then hard and firm as if comfort had been met before, then went soft and gently.
“You and I are meant to change Systralas, just be patient. We’ll find the scion soon, she’ll make things clear for us. She showed me, that she wants us to be together.”
Suzette smiled at this and hugged him closer.
“Mission accepted.”
“Aye,” He whispered back into her ear.
Chapter 15
“My sister? Well she is the most magnificent creature Systralas has ever seen. Both awesome and meek are her names. A desire that listens to no evil.”
Xerrast Aya
A Bounty Hunter
Clairvona Aya, also known as Sleet, her pet name for her deeds in her adolescent years, sat crossed legged in the middle of a rune circle that encompassed her body with radiant red energy. Two lush waterfalls flowed beyond encircling the scion as she sat and prayed in the form of meditation above stood the green branches of Kasal. The room was open and spacious, leaving a wonderful lookout to the forest beyond. There was a table surrounded with chairs and two couches in the room. Empty. Spacious.
Sleet was silent, deep in concentration for hours on end, not commanding a single thought. Focusing on breath. Staying still. Silence, until something dark crossed her mind.
An imaged flashed violently in her mind’s eye, revealing a dark image of a gruesome beast, the same she had seen for the last month. The demon was crowning a little girl in a white dress that she knew only in her dreams.
Lulai, she thought madly.
The vision took her breath away in an anguished fright and she was left breathless and sweating profusely.
Her eyes opened in alarm leaving her staggering to a hunched over position barely looming on her knees.
Codiac was right, this one might be the one to save us, Sleet reminded herself as she sat upright again. The vision was true of its nightmarish nature, but the eyes of the monster were sincere, managing to leave a slight smile from the scion's lip.
Sleet had just been visited by one of her mission operatives a short few nights ago, Codiac, and still felt as if she did not come in to terms with his rude arrival. What he did was forbidden. He should not know these things. Though, she could not put him on trial, she shifted her perspective on the one known as Ildarachi who was the real subject at hand here. He’s the one to walk through the portal not they. He was the only one who could activate the portal’s true dimensions. Either a plane of love or hate would visit Systralas due to his wake.
The scion sighed. She was young, by elf standards, one hundred and eighty did a lot for experience in human years, but for elvish she was a mere child. By now, Sleet was accustomed to soul diving in the alpha state of consciousness with many hours dedicated to such an act. Something was not right though, the neighboring forest, known as the Vael, was calling out to her. It needed healing, but even the scion did not know where to begin with that act. The crown was too well guarded.
The vision of the demon known as Ildarachi could very well be that of a hoax too, she admitted. The Vael was never intended to be so restless and cruel, no matter how quiet it may seem. Somehow it was polluting her thoughts and dreams.
Sleet wiped a drop of sweat from her brow, noticing her present being needed elsewhere in the astral regions and dove back into meditation. Images flared up immediately, showing a display of heroes wondering in the woods. They were all in agony from past sorrows. Desperate. She could feel their pain and it hurt her. All the heroes were overcoming grief from lost ones, deaths unavoidable from the hands of fate. Yet they still marched on, with more death surrounding them only a few short yards away. The skeleton mob was enormous, cackling at their footsteps, always around at night, lurking in the shadows.
The vision dissipated as a presence approached Sleet's meditation chamber.
“Mistress?” A voice came, female and as smooth as silk. She entered.
“You know?” The scion opened her eyes. “You should be joining me, not interrupting, Lolit,” Sleet sounded as she stretched to an upright standing position.
Sleet then turned to meet her apprentice, she had lovely sparkling purple eyes that stared into her emerald inquisitively. Lolit, her disciple, was a charming half elf that was so uncommon to see in these lands. She commanded a wide forehead, midnight black hair, naturally red blushed lips, tan unlike elves, she was young, a baby now turned into a woman. Only nineteen years of age, an adolescent, but still with all her training, her heritage created a knack for dream travel. Her presence seemed divine even before the scion. Lolit's green shrine maiden robes looked hopeful for the future. She would go far.
“I hate to trouble you ma'am,” Lolit began and searching for words. “But shouldn't you be in bed? It’s late. Systralas needs you sleeping.”
The scion carefully considered her words with doubt, a puzzled looked crossed her pretty face.
“I could prepare a mana enchanted brew of honey and tea, if you'd like?” Lolit continued.
Sleet smiled at this and considered sleep, it was her full duty after all, and perhaps it could find more reasonable answers, but there was so much at stake, a hibernation now, could mean their doom if she was not awake to give orders to her many pupils and allies. Then again, deep unconsciousness could be ready for her to attain once again, back to her realm.
“That would be lovely,” Sleet finally replied, respect in her voice.
Lolit bowed, a charming bow, and exited the reflection chamber and entered the interior of a vast temple among the great Kasal tree who's roots dove miles below.
Sleet marveled at the sight once again and then returned to her ritual. If she wanted to dream big, she must create at least one more vision! Sitting back down for one last peak into the subconscious, Sleet suddenly stopped, alert, when she heard a single leaf blow the wrong direction from a neighboring tree.
It was so soft sudden and quick that only one ranger could startle her like that.
“You're getting sloppy,” She said.
A dark figure swooped down into her chamber with a kneel, revealing an elf in black and gold armor, hair mimicking her sandy blond nature.
“Nothing gets passed you, beloved sister,” the elf called, putting his fist over his heart.
“The sending owls did their job, I presume?” She stated more than asked.
Sleet opened her eyes, looking to her twin Xerrast, who was a proud warrior and known as a savior to the wood elves. Renowned legendary strength seemed to burst into her awareness when she saw him, leaving her to wonder who was the victor in their paths? She rose to greet him, who he obliged with a quick and warm embrace.
“It's good to see you well, Claire,” Another pet name for h
er, only he seemed to use it now.
“You too, brother, only it is now I that needs your help.”
The doors opened wide behind them to reveal Lolit with a tray and a single serving dish of mana brewed tea.
“Pardon me,” She said, swiftly placing the tray on a small on an oak table.
Sleet remained still enamored by her brother before turning to regard the young apprentice.
“No, need to apologize, dear,” Sleet simply put.
“Sir Xerrast? Is it you?” Lolit asked in excitement moving her way towards him.
“Yes, ma'am,” Xerrast replied coolly, arms planted behind him.
“This hiatus has gone on longer than usual,” Lolit said with a grin.
“I suppose it has.”
Sleet took a sip of the heating liquid, feeling the substance calm her in a tranquil state. She practically hummed at the warm flavor.
“How’s guild life?” the half elf asked beaming up to him.
“Not at my disclosure.”
Sleet nearly spat out her drink.
“You two will have time to catch up later,” She said regaining her clarity.
“Yes, mistress,” Lolit said bowing to take her leave, she parted them, taking one last look at Xerrast before she left.
“She sure has grown more elegant,” Xerrast said shyly.
It had been several years since he had returned to this sacred sanctuary, she was just a girl then, still a clumsy half breed, he dared to think.
“The owls I sent must have explained the dire essence of our situation,” Sleet said calmly after Lolit’s departure.
“Yes,” Xerrast stated, turning to meet his sister with full sincerity. “Amethyst Divine, No, Avilya, she's not onto the path of life any longer, it leaves me wondering. It’s almost as if she wants to leave this planet more than save it.”
“She's looking to replace entire planets!” Sleet exclaimed, nearly spitting out her beverage again. She analyzed the face of her brother and composed herself.
“She will be dealt with,” the scion said, looking away. “It's our new companions that I'm concerned with. They have special qualities that might save the balance. But oh, how I feel their pain. They need to be rescued.”
“You’ve always been sensitive like this,” Xerrast muttered under his breath. Her elf ears caught it.
“You always feel energy out without feeling your own first. You seem to master it with dreams, but in this plane, you are still very vulnerable.”
There was a long pause as Xerrast said nothing, he halted noticing the Scion looking for approval with her shifting emerald eyes he gave a response.
“You know I don't doubt your powers, sis.”
“I know.”
With that, Sleet left him, turning towards a cushioned couch and motioning for him to sit, he did so, first reluctantly, but instead of joining her stretched out position, he sat straight and rigid.
“My dreams are hazy,” She said, almost too calm, spiraled out on the sofa. “But, so is the entire universe, inner and outer. It's a necessity, a growing pain.”
“How does this affect us?” Her brother replied never keeping his gaze from the ground.
“Let me show you,” Sleet stated, sitting up and placing a single finger to Xerrast's forehead. She whispered a word and channeled energy to his thoughts.
An image appeared of five warriors, a knight and wizard losing their family, two exiles, and a guardian knight who was torn from her master. They all walked through a beaten path in a haunted forest, skeletons beside them, as if waiting to hack them into pieces. The image then focused on one of the individuals, a man, roughly in his thirties, handsome that was until horns pierced through his forehead. In his eyes gleamed a little girl wearing a crown that he once knew.
“Lulali!”
The image faded.
Xerrast left the dream in panic, sweating and breathing heavily.
“Him!” Sleet exclaimed.
The ranger was still frenzied but seemed to take a grasp of reality firmly before returning his stare to his beloved sister.
“How?” He acquired with a question. “I didn’t think it was true!”
“The Emperor made a severe mistake, letting our counter attack squad go straight through the Vael,” Sleet started. “I need you to find them and make it sure they will make it here alive, especially that one,” She mused on the last note.
“Can you find them?” She asked.
Xerrast reluctantly nodded.
“This could be a double-edged sword, Xerrast,” Sleet exclaimed placing her arms around her little brother. “We're either secretly saving the world, or destroying it, this time. Ironic, huh?”
“Yes, sister, it is,” Xerrast said, ending the hug with Clairvona before rising.
“It will be done, as you say, scion. I will bring back the chosen as commanded in a brief time.”
He quickly turned, bowed and left the same way he came in, through the trees, disappearing instantaneously.
Sleet smiled and pondered the brief exchange, she could not help feeling fascinated on the determination on her brother's face an instant ago. The companions needed an elf on their side. This mission still required the ancient race and the minions of the modern to succeed. With the last thought the scion took the last sip of her tea.
“Suddenly there's hope again,” She stated.
A surge of fatigue struck her, and she found herself shortly departing to her own chambers.
Chapter 16
“I never thought that I would be trudging along in the Vael. It was a horror story growing up. To think that our neighbors consisted of ghosts and ogres. One would think that fate did not smile bright any longer.”
Codiac Dalin
Knight Captain of Golden Hearts
Aurora lay flat on her back on a rock panting. She was naked and dripping wet from her morning’s swim. The dip was refreshing, the water was crystal clear and warm, inviting her to the depths even more. She loved swimming, it delighted her beyond belief, ever since she was a little girl she found herself living in swimming pools, the calling of water was soothing her now even as an adult. She felt the height of her mana flowing through her that brought chills down her spine.
Delightful.
It was a beautiful day with the birds chirping in the branches overhead brightened to shimmering greens from the distant sun’s heat soaking rays. An excellent day for swimming and resting after a hard, long stride through the forest. Her goal for now was to simply lay there, working on her tan, before beginning hike through the forest of the Vael once again. It was so peaceful during the day, serene, with the many critters spacing along their path. There were non-too-shy deer that inspected in packs along with the majestic moose and elk. Bunnies danced in the bushes and even the trees were covered with chatting monkeys that greeted the party on their journey telling them where the path leads.
Now, naked and out of breath, but feeling content Aurora quickly placed back to her clothes, gazing at the pools of water many feet below with an everlasting waterfall filling them to the brim. The water was so warm, to her surprise and currently the ripples reflected her image perfectly. She smiled at the image in the water, a movie star in an enchanted forest it seemed. She thought it could be an album cover. If only she brought her camera, she thought out loud, before gracefully putting on her white blouse and wooly leather leggings.
She dressed in normal attire, wishing she had her ceremonial robes, but her and Ildarachi’s exile was sudden and quick, leaving no room to pack. She missed these things, all the trinkets left behind with a new mission at hand.
The work was done though. The party was granted access to the Vael. At night, they would be stalked by skeletal warriors all to their dismay. They looked like they would cut them to pieces if they tarried longer that supposed to, so the party would always hike, even during the night, until Ildarachi, her lover would say it’s safe to rest.
He kept talking to himself most the night wi
th little to no comfort from the enchantress. He kept muttering about something about a city far away calling to him. It had to do with the curse, she knew it.
Ignoring this, Aurora clasped her bracelet on, thinking how she tarried for too long, but then heard singing out in the distance.
It was a hum, enchanting and beautiful. All little else mattered, but this sound to her. It tugged at her very soul and made her disregard all desire of returning to the safety of the camp, the soothing voice beckoned her. She had to find out what beautiful creature was making this sound. It echoed through the trees and danced in her ears, she found herself speaking out loud.
“Who is that?” She said playfully.
It was assuredly not Suzette. Her voice was not high enough to hit those notes. So, who was it?
Aurora, left the beaten path and went further into the forest, following the sound in delight. She found herself twirling her fingers through the ferns as if she was a child, loving the music in her ears. When finally, she stopped.
In the clearing of the woods was a bright light, small and sparkling. It was blinding Aurora’s vision, so she shielded her eyes, but still charmed, she moved closer.
As her eyes adjusted, she saw through the orb of light and there sang a fairy.
The tiny creature was a gorgeous sight to behold. She danced in mid-air, her wings floating her gracefully side to side. Her auburn hair flowed wildly with each note. The fairy seemed to be in her own world, this beautiful creature, singing playfully. Finally, she spun in a circle and stopped her song with a gasp.
Aurora, dismayed, put her hands up in defense and walked closer to the creature.
“No! No!” Aurora exclaimed, coming closer. “Don’t stop, little one!”
The fairy paused and floated closer, it’s ball of light diminishing revealing a white dress and white slippers as her attire.
“A human?” The fairy asked with her high-pitched voice, daring to come closer.
Aurora held her hand out, dumbfounded by the beauty of such a being.
“Don’t be scared,” Aurora voiced concerned, raising her eyebrows slightly.
The fairy did not miss a beat and flew right into the hands of Aurora and danced in a circle.