“Are they, who I think they are?” Ravaen asked.
“Yes, Mystic King. They are the dead, who were killed by the rampage of the Trasidian Prince,” Lyo answered then she made them disappear again.
“Why show us this, Lyo, and why bring us here?” Sevidon wondered.
“My dear Prince. The Animos’ summoned you here for a different purpose,” Lyo said as Evangeline.
“Prince? How can he be the prince of the Venis?” Aderon asked and some were dumbfounded too. Sevidon stood still, unfazed by the maiden’s words.
“Those questions will be answered in time for everything has its time to be revealed. One must be patient to be able to find and know the answer. But now is not the time. You are here for a different purpose,” Lyo explained and the question was quickly forgotten.
“What is this purpose then, great entity?” Evangeline asked as she knew this was also everyone’s question, rambling in their minds. They waited patiently for an answer from the mystical being. Lyo walked away for a moment then faced them again.
“It concerns your mission to kill the Trasidian Prince,” Lyo answered.
“Yes, kill the Prince, for he is a threat not only to the Trasidar Empire but, to the peace of the Arumar continent, am I right mystic being?” Aderon answered with a grin.
“I am sure that your father will be pleased if that happens. But I am instructed by the Gods and Animos that you shall not do such thing,” she said.
Everyone was surprised and Aderon jolted.
“What? But that is the instructions of the Prime Minister! Hell, you even showed us the extent of what he has done! How can they cross if the killer is still walking alive?” he shouted. Sevidon and Graveloth tried to hold him but his face suddenly turned grey and he instantly calmed down. Everyone didn’t know what happened. He just went silent.
“I’m sure the High Prince is very emotional about this for the Eagles. Once given a mission, they will follow it through,” she said as she walked towards them. “The reason, I cannot tell you. But I tell you this. This comes from the holy beings themselves so you should know better to follow it.”
“But what about what Aderon just said? I’m sure the Gods and the Animos know that we need to stop this?” Graveloth asked.
“You will know in time, Descendant of the Living Wind,” she said. “But for now, I am but relaying a message to you from the Gods and Animos. Even at times such as this when another dare mock them by ruining their world. But for the benefit of everyone here, know this – the Gods and Animos have a greater song to play. And for that to continue, Tamiron must live. Or the Orchestra of the Heavens will be disrupted resulting to songs of chaos and destruction. Bringing the end of all that is and all that will be.”
Everyone was dumbfounded, awestruck and confused.
“You have been summoned here for you are not prepared to face the power of the Trasidian Prince,” she said and turned to Graveloth who was deep in thought. “Graveloth, pay attention. What I’m about to say will shed light on things.”
“Tamiron has become a Criesmenster, a being that holds the power of both light and dark, the in-between. There is no winning against such being, but only death,” she said.
Evangeline came forward and said, “Then how can we defeat such a threat if we are weak compared to him?” Evangeline asked quickly.
“I will unlock and bestow upon you the powers of the Eldemensters. This in turn will help you in your upcoming battle, especially yours, Grand Sage,” the maiden said.
Evangeline’s eyes widened for she recalled the name, but doesn’t know why she was called as such.
“Upon leaving this realm, all of you will be bestowed of the powers of the six Animos, and will stay with you until the time has come for it to be taken back,” she continued as she walked towards the curious Graveloth.
“You, Graveloth Demio, last Descendant of the Living Wind, are important to this world. You are the last of the ancient race of the Kra’en’Ur.” Then she turned to the Elves, “The language of the Gods is still used by those of the ancient Elves. Did you not know, Prince of the Viris and Venis?” she asked. She looked at both of them as they glanced at each other. Lyo looked again to Graveloth and continued.
“You are the last of the Canines of Arumar, Guardians of the Wind. Having power to harness it and wrap your body with armor of wind. A tornado, but upon leaving this realm of mirror, you will have the full power of your race,” she said in a loud voice.
A hidden smile on Graveloth’s face put smile on the others. Lyo turned her eyeless gaze to both the Elves. They slightly backed away as Lyo approached them slowly.
“Brothers of the Elves. Your skills will be enhanced, Viris Prince,” Lyo said and Glaivel listened closely, “among the other Viris Elves, you are the only one who is capable of unsurpassable true-sight that even can beat those of the Falcons. You are rare to the extent that only two of you exist that has the same capability, yet you still have your own uniqueness. You’re different because of your true-sight, strength, agility, dexterity and stillness allow you to shoot arrows from great distances. That is all the things the Gods and Animos have already given to you, as a gift.” She stops in front of him.
Glaivel stared into her when she touched his head with her illuminated fingers and the touch left a glow on his forehead then slowly disappeared. And then, his body glowed of green and was showered with wind flowing throughout his body then it slowly dissipated. He examined his hands and body and exclaimed with amazement.
“You, Venis General, or should I say Viris Prince of the Venis. Having wielded the knowledge and skill of almost every weapon in the living realm, and having great speed, strength, sharpness of mind and reflexes and you have somehow adopted a certain trait of the Venis Elves. The ability to call weapons at will only exists in you. This is given also to you, just like your brother received his. Use your skills wisely,” she said and did the same to him. Sevidon’s body glowed in bright red then it dissipated. He grabbed his sword, wielded it but nothing changed. Surely everyone would ask why Lyo called him Prince and he and Glaivel would have to tell them.
Lyo moved to Ravaen. Evangeline laughed shyly as she knew he anticipated something. Something that he never had.
“My King, I am only going to enhance your skills,” Lyo suddenly said as she approached Ravaen and he sighed in disappointment.
“Your race are blessed with speed, you will acquire greater. Your line of sight is also greater than those of the Eagles so you will have new abilities that will involve it.” A smile grew in Ravaen’s face. His wings suddenly appeared without him summoning it and it glowed brightly before it disappeared once again.
Lyo now approached Kaira who was beside Evangeline. They moved away a little as Kaira held her stand and waited for the words from the illuminating maiden.
“Young Tigress, descendant of the Great Tigris, your race was blessed with unchallenged speed that surpassed even those of the Elves. Your swift and graceful moves make you deadly to your opponents. You will be pleased with what you will find out after you depart from this realm and I know you will enjoy it as well,” Lyo said as she slowly stroked Kaira’s hand towards her. A yellow circle appeared below her feet and it slowly spun around her head. Her body glowed dazzlingly in golden light from her foot and to her head.
Lyo then moved towards Aderon. She gave him her cold eyeless stare like winter in the mountains. He was calm but with an unknown element to it. He remained where he stood with his arms crossed to his chest. Lyo stopped in front of him and they both stood wordless. The others felt the intensity of their stares. Lyo tried to reach for his face but he suddenly slapped it back. Everyone gasped.
“Do not even dare lay your finger on me, immortal one,” Aderon said harshly, but Lyo remained calm.
“High Prince, growing in the arms of your father made you strong and your heart as stubborn as your will,” Lyo said. Aderon didn’t show a single reaction as he kept his deathly stare. “Your will i
s as corrupted as that of your father’s.” Aderon’s brows crunched and he immediately exploded.
“How dare you talk about my father like that? You do not have the right to talk to him like—”
“The death of your mother,” Lyo suddenly said, interrupting Aderon that left him speechless, “the death of your mother during your birth, Young Prince. The event that took your father’s most precious jewel. His heart. Leaving all the blame on you. The icy daggers of his stares stab you in the heart. That wanting to follow this mission through might give you back his affection and the one thing you crave from him. Love,” Lyo continued.
Lyo leaned down towards the crestfallen Prince and reached for his chin. Aderon gazed emptily into space. Lyo wiped the tears that fell from his glittering blue eyes.
“Time heals everything, My Prince. Some may take longer than one can bear. But everything will heal,” Lyo said as Aderon slowly stood up.
“To be honest, My Prince, there is nothing much to give you, but I do say this. Everything will be enhanced as well. Strength not only in the land but in the air. Speed that will compliment your strength given to you, a gift from the Eagle Animos,” Lyo said.
Lyo walked away from them when she said those last words and left everyone to wait.
Evangeline anxiously waited for Lyo to come to her, but it did not happen.
“There is something else that I have to tell you. Everything rests on you now Eldemensters. From here on out, everything rests on your decisions. I know that my words are not enough to stop you from your original intentions. But remember, every action comes with a burden either be bearable or regretful. Be wise.”
Evangeline knew that beings like her spoke in riddles. She felt suspicious and frustrated because she couldn’t read between the lines. As her hand rested on her chest, she felt the being looking at her, staring with those tantalizing, eyeless stare. She felt that everything around her slowed as Lyo held her stare. Everyone around her chatted with each other. She seemed fixed, hooked to Lyo’s eyes. Her hands dropped down and her breathing got deeper and deeper. Eventually, everything stopped around her and blurred into darkness.
“Grand Sage, do not think for a second that I have forgotten you. I am now talking to you privately. No one will hear us,” Lyo said, freaking Evangeline. “I will unlock half of your power, the power that you should have possessed already. But it turned out that you were trained a little too late. The other half of your power will have to be unlocked by yourself and yourself alone. Your race was called to this world for a purpose. It is time for that purpose to be served now.”
“What do you mean?” Evangeline stuttered, concerned by Lyo’s tone. “And why are the Gods and Animos that concerned about this? They didn’t even bother lending a helping hand during the Great and Old Wars. Why now?”
“As I have already told all of you. The power Tamiron now possess is far too great for you to handle—”
“That is not enough,” she protested. “If that is the reason alone, then you should’ve helped us bringing the Trodonar Empire down back then. There has to be a deeper reason.”
Lyo only stayed silent and looked straight at her, “Your thirst of knowledge is really astounding, Grand Sage.”
“Why do you keep calling me that? I am not the Gran—”
“I will tell you later. For your prior question however, I feel that you have every right to know. What is currently happening shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The Gods and the Animos themselves are already worried and this is the only way they know how to put things back to where they should be,” Lyo said.
Evangeline was overwhelmed. Why was she there in the first place, now the Gods and the Animos have spoken. Now she was most afraid of the overwhelming responsibility, and from a deity of all things.
“Grand Sage, I will make this short. What I said a while ago, was all for you,” Lyo said and Evangeline’s breath got deeper. “You will have to pull all the strings from here on out, but be sure they will not know anything about what you are about to do. You will make everything happen according to how it should be. You will have a link that will connect us both.
“Upon leaving the Mirror Realm, you will be experiencing some changes that will help you do the task bestowed on you by the Gods and Animos. Grand Sage, you will gain visions of the future. Glimpses of what is to come. Everything that will happen no matter how everything turned out, those visions will not change.
“Grand Sage, everything rests on you now. What I said to all of you is true. But the biggest part of it will rely on you and only you are capable of making all of it to happen,” Lyo finished as Evangeline’s eyes glowed bright maroon and they were back to the mirror realm.
Evangeline was standing beside Kaira when she collapsed. Kaira rested Evangeline’s head on her lap and Ravaen rushed to her side. Lyo had not moved an inch.
“What happened to her?” Graveloth looked deep in her as he asked Lyo.
“She is the Grand Sage. Her gift comes with a price that you all must bear during your journey to the ruined city,” Lyo said.
He approached Lyo closer and asked, “Ruined city? What? Are we going to face Tamiron there?”
Lyo ignored him and turned back, moving away from the warriors.
“When you leave this realm, the gifts given to you will manifest. And there are some others that I choose not to mention as early as now. Those are left for you to find out,” Lyo said.
“What? Why would you not tell us? We have the right to know what those are,” Aderon shouted as he stood in front of the unconscious Orderian. Lyo extended her right hand and the group was surrounded by a white pulsing circle.
“Good luck on your quest and remember we will always be with you,” Lyo said. Then they were swallowed by another blinding light.
End of chapter XVIII
XIX: VAGUE SHARDS
KAIRA SLOWLY OPENED HER EYES and found herself on the side of the road. She slowly stood up and saw her comrades at the same state. She looked around to see an unfamiliar road.
“Not again,” she said. Her comrades started to rise as well except Evangeline who was still unconscious and on her back.
“What happened to her?” Graveloth asked as he walked towards them.
“I don’t know. She just dropped awhile ago in the — in the — where were we awhile ago?” she asked.
“I — don’t remember. But I do remember what we talked about and who we talked to.”
“Legend says that whoever came back from that realm can never ever tell the name unless Lyo herself allows the people to speak of it,” Glaivel said as he checked himself if he was fine. And he was, but in a weird way.
“What are you doing?” Graveloth asked.
“I feel — lighter, actually,” he answered then carried on.
Kaira worried about Evangeline, though she appeared to be asleep.
“She will be a burden,” Aderon suddenly said as he did what Glaivel did.
“Shut up, she is an asset. There is a reason why the Empire chose her,” Ravaen defended Evangeline.
“Oh look, the pet comes to rescue another pet,” Aderon smirked.
“Both of you stop it. I mean it,” Kaira said. Both of them just glared at her then Aderon flew away.
“I’ll carry her. We need to bring her along,” Sevidon said.
“No, I’ll take care of it. I can carry her,” Kaira pulled on Evangeline and put her on her back and walked towards Aderon’s direction.
What now? Kaira thought. She didn’t have the slightest clue. Too much had happened and now this. She was worn out mentally already and would like to have a break. She was tempted to go straight to Tamara.
“Hey, are you alright?” Ravaen suddenly spoke behind her, snapping her attention back.
“What are you doing? Stop that. I’m carrying Evangeline,” she scolded.
“Wait, you didn’t know I was flying to you?” Ravaen asked.
“Yes, now stop it and go find Aderon,” sh
e said.
“I am not following that prick,” he answered.
“You will because I told you so. Now go,” she said when she instinctively pulled Ravaen out of the air with one hand and threw him forward.
“Okay, you don’t have to do that,” Ravaen said then finally obliged.
Kaira was surprised of what she just did. She paid no attention to it, and just kept walking, her eyes on her hand, trying to make sense of what just happened. She lifted her head and saw both Aderon and Ravaen flying back. Ravaen flew down and ran towards her as he desummoned his wings. “Why? What is it?” Kaira asked curiously.
Ravaen panted and pointed in the opposite direction. “There is a border checkpoint post over there. We are still in the Empire,” he smiled stoutly at her as the others stopped and took a peak.
“Okay. So we are not that lost then. Let’s go,” Graveloth said as he patted Glaivel on the back and lead the way. Sevidon and the others soon followed. Aderon gracefully landed on the ground as Ravaen flew near the post. The others stopped and waited for Ravaen to give some sort of signal that it was okay to move in closer.
Ravaen was talking to two of the soldiers. One glanced at them from the distance and headed to the forest on the other side. Kaira wondered why Ravaen took so long but he suddenly waved at them. Kaira was relieved and went to the guard outpost. Aderon came last and the other guards were wary of his presence but Ravaen had told them not to mind.
“Where exactly are we?” Kaira asked the guards. The guards saluted first then one of them answered.
“This is the border checkpoint between the capital region of Barceneim and the southern region of Francesno’ir, Your Highness.”
The other quickly followed. “We have been expecting your way here, Your Highnesses and Majesties, for days now and finally you are here.”
“Wait, how did you know we are coming this way?” Kaira asked, struck by confusion. The soldiers looked at each other, seemingly surprised themselves.
“A woman just passed here saying that they saw you pass by her house,” the soldier said.
The Red Prince (1) Page 19