“Jaival?” she called, hoping that this time, he wouldn’t be delirious.
Jaival tilted his head toward her, his green eyes peering into hers.
“Can you hear me?” Arya tried again.
Jaival nodded.
A whiff of excitement rushed through the princess’ head.
Can it really be?
“And you remember who I am?” she checked.
Jaival weakly reached for her face, caressing a streak of her long, blond hair.
“Arya.” he struggled to say.
The princess beamed. It was the best news she had in days.
Jaival groaned. The pain hadn’t worn off, only sedated.
“Easy, easy. You need rest.” Arya calmed him.
“What happened? Where are we?” he whispered, looking around the foreign surroundings.
“We are in Veria, on route to the Shrine of Wisdom to break the Seal of The Witch.”
“Seal of The Witch? Sorata? She’s alive?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. She said she can cure you, and she seems to have the Starlight Blade as well. At least that’s what the old trickster led me to believe.”
“What of the others?”
Arya bowed her head in regret.
“I see,” Jaival took the cue. “And what of you?”
“Me?” Arya cocked an eyebrow.
How can he still care for me when he’s like this?
“Yes, you. Are you okay?” Jaival went on.
“I- I’m fine. You need not worry about me, it’s you we need to be concerned for.”
“With you at my side, I think I’m fine.” Jaival smirked.
Arya shook her head trying to fight off a contagious grin.
“You are crazy,” she teased. “The sedatives are taking their toll.”
“Oh, they certainly are. And they’re showing me all kinds of things.”
“Like what?”
“Like how much you really mean to me.”
Arya froze. Her heart went racing.
“Thank you for looking after me.” Jaival confessed.
The princess smiled, caressed his face, and looked deep into his eyes while her cheeks turned red.
“Get some rest, our journey is not yet over. There is still much to do.” she said.
Jaival nodded with a half grin. Maybe he was drugged or maybe he found a deep respect for Arya stepping up to the plate after everything that happened. Either way, he was grateful for her tenacity. And beyond that – grateful she stuck it out with him.
“As you say, princess.” he said before falling asleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Son and The Shrine
THE NEXT DAY, JAIVAL AWOKE to a lonely bedroom. Alerted, he looked around for his caretaker.
“Arya?” he called.
No response. She was gone.
The moon elf crawled out of bed and noticed his new garments. He was in Verian wear; a colorful and revealing set of clothing to match the festive culture. He reached inside his shirt and felt around his body, observing the damage he had sustained. Though his scarred wounds were healing, the dark tattoos remained. It pained him – like a pulsating grip that came every now and then. He moved to the nearby mirror to get a better look at himself. A new scar ran across his eyebrow.
Jeez, he sighed looking at his scars.
Looking at the mirror made him feel uneasy. He didn’t want to stay inside, he wanted to free his mind from the damage – get a better understanding of where he was. Not to mention, where was Arya?
“You’re awake.” The door cracked open and Mara walked in with a fresh meal.
“Hello.” Jaival greeted her.
“How do you feel? I brought you breakfast.”
“Fine, thanks.” Jaival paid close attention to Mara while she placed the meal on the bed.
He remembered her face during his in and out states of consciousness.
“Thank you for taking care of me.” he said.
Mara smiled. “It’s the least I can do for the Knight of The Princess.”
Jaival playfully scoffed.
Is that the title Arya’s given me?
“You sure you’re fine?” Mara asked.
“I’m better. Where is Arya?”
Mara blinked. “Err- do you mean The Princess?”
“Oh, right,” Jaival scratched his head. He had forgotten the traditional customs. “The Princess, yes. Where is she?”
Mara blushed, thinking on the way he called for Arya. She imagined the two of them together. It reminded her of her younger days with her husband.
“She went ahead to scout for some archeological ruins at the outskirts of the village. No need to worry, she is in safe hands with the finest of our guards.”
“I must get going.” Jaival turned for the door, took a step forward and collapsed.
Mara bolted to catch him.
“I don’t think so, young man.” The innkeeper’s wife scolded him.
“I’m fine. Arya needs me.”
“I’m sure she does, but in one piece. Come, sit. You’re in no shape yet.”
Jaival gave in to the older woman’s request. She sat him on the bedside and gave him his breakfast. For some reason, she reminded him of Julith.
“You really have it for her, don’t you?” she teased.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” Jaival took a bite of bread.
“It’s in your eyes – the way you feel about her.”
“Maybe.”
“Typical denial, you can’t hide it from me! Ha! You know, you remind me of my son.”
“Do I now?”
“You must be about the same age as him. He went off to pursue a life in Eira. I’ve been worried about him though – he stopped writing us back months ago. Able boy. He has a heart made for justice.”
Jaival paused his eating. Something about the way Mara was talking about her son made the moon elf all too uneasy. “What was your son’s name?”
“Danzul.” Mara replied.
Jaival’s heart sank. He saw flashes of his friend in their last moments together.
I should’ve never told him to come.
“Is everything fine?” Mara noticed the distress.
“I-” Jaival hesitated. He didn’t know if he should tell her. “I need rest. My head is splitting.”
“Of course.” Mara acknowledged as he slipped into a fetal position, leaving the tray of food behind. That was strange, she thought, very strange.
***
At the outskirts of Veria village, a little way into the nearby woods, Arya, and a round of Verian guards stood outside an ancient, stone shrine. The guards were uneasy. The suns were setting and it was the nature of village folk to avoid being out late. Arya, however, was busy studying the place and the activation runes that lay in a trail, dormant and waiting.
“The suns fall, Princess. We should be on our way.” One of the guards suggested.
“Just a moment.” Arya kept focus on the runes.
A mystical light glowed from them. It seemed alien; otherworldly.
“When was the last time this place was active?” she asked.
“That was a time before any of us were born, your highness. Not since the Ancient War, centuries ago. They say the memories of the sages of old linger in the shrine.”
Arya rose to her feet, locked in thought.
So, this is where they banished her. Is the Starlight Blade really here?
“Alright, so be it. Let us fall back to the village. Tomorrow I will return.”
***
Arya returned to her stay with Jaival where she found the moon elf awakened, writing on some paper on the nearby desk.
“Hey.” she greeted him.
“Hey, you’re back.” he greeted her warmly.
Arya walked over and checked his temperature.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Where were you?”
The Princess sighed and sat on the bed, ex
hausted from the long day.
“Trying to find The Shrine of Wisdom.”
“And how did that go? Did you find it?”
“Yes. We will make way for the Shrine in the morning. Get it over with.”
“Sounds well, although,” Jaival looked around the room. “Where are my weapons?”
Arya snickered. “You’d have to forgive me for leaving them behind. It was too much weight to carry with you on my shoulder.”
“Fair enough. But I will need weapons of some sort. How else can I protect you?”
The princess shook her head, appalled and amused, yet impressed at his vigor.
“Even in your state you still wish to protect me. You are out of your mind, you know that?” she came closer to look at his writing. “What are you working on?”
Jaival clutched his pen.
“It’s something for Mara. A promise.”
“A promise?” Arya raised an eyebrow.
Jaival glanced at her, his eyes heavy.
“Mara is Danzul’s mother.”
“Oh.” Arya dropped her head.
“It’s the least I can do. Danzul’s fate was because of me. I’m the one that convinced him to go back.”
Arya rested her hand on Jaival’s.
“We can’t afford to think like that. It’ll drive us into the ground.”
Jaival grew tense, but underneath, he was thankful for the encouragement.
“It’s not over yet. We’re still alive. There’s still a chance.” she continued.
The moon elf nodded at her. She was right. It wasn’t the time to hold one’s head and cry. Despite what had happened, they had to find the strength to press on.
“Arya, I saw some things in my dreams. I’m not sure how to explain it.” Jaival partly remembered his visitation from The Dark Lord. It was still foggy.
“What happened?” The princess quizzed.
“I don’t know. I saw some things that I haven’t been able to understand. Legions of demons; armies beyond number, savage beyond measure. I don’t know how to explain it.”
Arya thought of the way her father dismissed her own late visions.
“There might be more to it. Take your time to assess. For now, I need you in one piece. Tomorrow we have an arduous task ahead of us. Are you with me?”
A sharp ferocity shimmered in Jaival’s eyes. “All the way.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The Shrine of Wisdom
THE MORNING SUNS GREETED Arya, Jaival and a group of Verian guards at the entrance to the Shrine of Wisdom. Before they arrived, Arya had Jaival outfitted with local Verian armaments at her request while Jaival left Mara his goodbye note on the way out. It was a new day. The two were prepared to test fate once more. Just as they were ready to figure out how to enter the shrine, a projection of Sorata appeared.
“By the stars.” The Verians wobbled when he saw the ancient witch.
“That is far enough. The shrine will only activate for the ones I have chosen.” Sorata said.
Everyone looked among themselves, wondering who would be her chosen.
“And that honor belongs only to The Princess and her Hero.” The sorceress continued.
The Verians muttered in their language.
“It’s alright,” Arya calmed them. “Remain here and we will return shortly.”
“It may be dangerous in there your highness, are you certain of this?” They asked.
“I am.”
Sorata smirked, used to getting her own way.
“Wise.” The witch said as she laid her hand on the runes and they sprung to life. A mysterious light glowed from the runes leading to the entrance. The shrine’s doors opened and an elevator waited. Arya peered to Jaival and he, back at her. They nodded to one another then walked to the elevator.
“Good luck.” Sorata said.
The doors closed, blocking the light from outside and encasing the couple in darkness. The floor beneath them moved and the elevator descended. Glowing lights spawned from ancient writings engraved on the walls. At first, Arya didn’t recognize the writings, but upon further inspection, it seemed familiar.
“Only the wise are chosen,” she squinted her eyes reading. “And only the wise remain.”
“You understand it?” Jaival inquired.
“Partly. I’ve seen these writings in my studies before. They say these places; these shrines, originated long before the old wars. The Ancient Goddess and The Ancient Titan had created a new world after the purge. They laid monuments of technology that our civilization later used.”
“Interesting.” Jaival studied the writings with her. “I wonder why?”
“I’m not sure. After the Dark Lord was sealed, Star World and her Moon were barren. Perhaps the Two from the Stars left these behind to help rebuild and protect the world, long after their departure?”
“Argh.” Jaival gripped his chest. A convulsing cramp began getting the best of him.
“You okay?” Arya noticed.
“I’m fine, let’s get this over with.” he downplayed the severity.
***
The elevator stopped at a deep, underground layer and the two walked out – at first, into darkness, then a moment later, into a spacious area filled with lines of blue, softly pulsing light. There many monuments around, some –rows of armored statues that ran parallel to each other, leading to a central statue at the end of the room. Jaival and Arya identified the statues. They were not of knights, but of sages – Ancient Sages, and the one at the end of the room was none other than the likeliness of the ancient witch herself.
“Arya,” Jaival nudged her. “Is that-”
The two looked ahead at Sorata’s statue. There, laying a few feet before the stone effigy, the Starlight Blade awaited. Jaival ran toward it, Arya close behind. Suddenly, he smashed face first into an invisible barrier that sent him back flying. A second later, a projection of an ancient sage appeared.
“Who disturbs those that rest in slumber?” The old one asked.
His face could not be seen. He was covered in a long, armored kilt and wizardry headdress which resembled wear of an era long gone. Jaival drew his sword, uncertain if the sage was friend or foe.
“Those who need your aid.” Arya spoke to the wizard.
The ancient one peered at her, carefully studying her body language.
“And why would we aid you? Our task is long complete.”
“Because the Dark Lord is on the verge of returning once more.”
The sage glanced at Jaival.
“That seems to be true. Is that why you brought his spawn here for extermination?”
Arya grew horrified. “What?! No!”
“Why else would you bring one who is marked by the Curse of Strife?”
“Sorata sent us here. She said she can cure him.”
“Argh!” The sage wailed. “That name. That cursed name. Still, she thinks she can best our traditions?! Surely you must know, she too was afflicted by the curse.”
“Yes, I am aware. It is why you banished her – is it not?”
“It is so, and for good reason. Those who are afflicted by the curse either die or become a demon – a champion for Malstrife.”
“But Sorata never became Malstrife’s champion.”
“And how would you know that, young one? Were you there in ancient times like us?”
Arya stayed quiet pondering his words.
“Then deal with me,” Jaival sheathed his sword and confronted the sage. “Give her the Starlight Blade and what has to be done to me must be done.”
“Jaival, no.” Arya assumed the worst.
“Intriguing,” The sage thought aloud. “A cursed one with a heart of gold. And here we thought we had seen it all. The Ancient Hero was right. A new hero would come – one we wouldn’t quite expect.”
“The Ancient Hero? Mikael? He was here?” Arya gleamed.
“Before he moved to the other side, he left the Starlight Blade in our care that we keep it such
time as the new hero comes. And lo, you come to us, darkened by your journey yet inside, a heart of light remains. Intriguing indeed.”
“Will you help us?’ Arya asked.
“Hmph, not so easily. I am sure you are aware that there is only one who can stabilize his takeover, and to get to her, it would require us to break our pact against her.”
“The seal.” Arya realized.
“We have no desire to break the seal. Sorata should never be allowed in this world again, but the two of you challenge our ideals and The Ancient Hero trusts you. There is only one way to settle this.”
The sage raised his hand. A beam of light shot into Jaival’s chest, forcing him on a knee.
“What are you doing!” Arya snapped.
The sage ignored her and continued. A dark apparition sprouted out of Jaival and took his shape, flipping some feet ahead of him, behind the sage. It was his other half. The dark side; mirrored with its own sword and shield.
“You will have to prove it to us, hero. Behind me is the aspect of your darkness. The ego of man, his pride and his emotions, his lusts, and his desires and his failures. If you are to defeat your darkness, then we will allow you to retrieve the blade and contact the one you seek.”
“The world stands at a possible end, and you stand to test us like this?” Arya raised her voice.
“Sorry, but we cannot blindly trust you, especially one who is afflicted by our old enemy. This is the only way. Take it or leave.”
“This-”
“I’ll do it.” Jaival flexed his sword.
Pain circulated in his body. He really wasn’t at peak condition.
“Jaival, we don’t have to do this. There’s always another way.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got this. Trust me.” he assured.
Though his words were laced with reassurance, Jaival himself wasn’t so certain.
“Then step forward, hero.” The Sage announced.
Xenosaber: Fury of the Stars Page 14