Chapter Text
Time shall compress... ...
All existence denied.
Reflect on your...
Childhood...
Your sensation...
Your words...
Your emotions...
Time...
It will not wait...
No matter...
...how hard you hold on.
It escapes you...
And...
Being captain of your own ship comes with a lot of responsibilities, still Sed thinks it is the best job in the world. Especially on a day like this, the sea is calm, making the ship rock silently on the waves and the sun shines brightly above them.
Sweat is glistering on Sed’s skin, a fishing pole held loosely in his hand. The Nautilus had lowered his anchor in the sea north of Numara were the best fish swim this time of the year. Still Sed has had no luck so far, the fish just wouldn’t bite. His shipmate’s have already given up and have sought refugee inside the ship, away from the hot glaring sun.
But Sed won’t stop. He is determined to catch at least one fish. Staring at his red and white floater he did not notice a beautiful young woman approaching him. The woman was naked but her long blond tresses cover her completely.
She was approaching him, slowly, humming a soft tune. The tune was like the water, very calming and hypnotizing. Before Sed realized what he was doing he was helping this strange but beautiful woman aboard his ship. Holding her hand Sed had lost all control over his own mind, he no longer had a will of his own. He would do anything for this woman.
The woman continues humming, trying to lure her next victim in her trap. Sed is staring in the woman’s golden eyes with the intention to follow her everywhere.
“Come with me,” the woman purrs with her mystic voice. “Come with me to the land of no return.” Grabbing her hand tighter the two of them stand on the side of the ship, ready to jump, jump to his death. What saved his life were the shouts of his crew, “Capt’n Look!”
The spell was lifted, Sed was in control of his mind again and released the young woman’s hand.
A splash is the last thing Sed hears and sees of this young woman, who had returned to the ocean, leaving Sed behind.
Sed is glad because he didn’t know who this woman was and why she had this kind of effect of him, and only to him it appears. His crew didn’t even notice the woman, don’t they have eyes? She was beautiful, but also deadly. He shudders at the thought of what she made him do, I could have drowned.
He no longer had time to wonder about what happened when he walked to where his crew is standing, all of them have their eyes glued on the horizon. Sed squints his eyes, he places his hand on his forehead and looks to the horizon. What he sees is so shockingly he almost forgets about the mysterious woman. Almost.
In the far distance they could see something moving. Something big. A giant wave was heading their way. A tsunami? In front of this giant wave a monster is swimming. A snake? Sed had never seen anything like that. What is going on. This is no coincidence, first that woman and now this snake?
“It’s a Sea Serpent,” one of the crewman shouts.
“What?” Sed is perplex one of his crew even knows the name of such a creature, he certainly had never heard of such thing.
“It’s heading towards Numara!” Another one shouts. Were first the wave was heading their way, the Sea Serpent has turned south, the tidal wave following him.
What the hell? It’s following that snake? Shouting to his crew Sed yells“Lift the anchor, we’ll go to Numara!” Sed rushes inside to his control panel, preparing the ship for takeoff. I hope we are not too late.
In no time the anchor was lifted and the Nautilus had another destination: Numara.
Strange woman. Sea serpents. Tidal waves. The proud captain of the Nautilus really has a bad day.
And I didn’t even catch a stupid fish.
What happened?
Where am I?
Am I…alone?
“Hello! Is anyone here?”
Why is it so dark?
Is that …Light?
“Hello?”
“Hello.”
Ten years since it destruction, Gotzha still is a frozen city. A frozen and dead city.
It was not always empty the last decade, the survivors who lived in Low Town still lived there for some time. It was a hard life for them, but they couldn’t leave their town, their birthplace. Years later, when the population grew in numbers again, they tried to make a living in the higher towns. However before they could life there they had to clean the place up.
The people who died that terrible day ten years ago still stand there, frozen. They do not life, but they are not dead yet either, not completely. They are dead in their mind, but not their body’s. The body’s were preserved by the ice, and still stand there after all those years.
The survivors had a cruel task to perform to free them, free them by destroying them. It was a hard task, mentally and physically. Feeling they killed their brothers and sisters was hard on them.
Afterwards they dared not live there. Whispers of the dead were heard. The voices were angry.
They envied the living.
They haunt the living.
The survivors retreated back to the Low Town. Even knowing the dead could not return, not even as ghosts and knowing it was probably the wind playing games with them, they dared not go back up.
Even with the help of Uhra, Numara and other places they still couldn’t get rid of the voices.
The decision was made, they would leave Gothza, all of them, and nobody was left behind. They could not longer stand the sight of Gotzha. Most of the people went back to the Refugee camp. It really was not a camp anymore, but a small city build in the tunnels. This was not paradise, but it really was not that bad. It could have been worse Juran thinks. From time to time he can’t stop thinking about the terrible thing that happened to them.
Juran is the leader of the refugee camp, which they now call New Gotzha. He is a large, bulky man in his early fifty’s. He once was a general in Gotzha’s army, known as the Just. Which is precisely why the people choose him to lead them, he had a good judgment.
After a long days work Juran is glad to be in his own place again. He just wanted to relax a little when shouts from outside prevent him from doing so. Rushing outside to see why someone is shouting he is shocked to see a monster emerging from the pool. Seeing the soldiers closing in on it he grabs his sword and makes haste to help them. Before any of them had a chance to swing their swords at the monster the stale of their blades had melted. Melted? Juran had not noticed it before but the temperature really had increased massively since the arrival of the monster. Flames are flicking from his claws and soon the first tents are on fire.
Without weapons they can do nothing against this creature, they have no one who can practice magic. The only thing they can do is run. Run hard, run fast. Before they will burn to death, or suffocate from smoke inhalation.
After he has ordered his soldier to help everyone escape, he turns back to watch the monster. He wants to know what it will do. Will it follow them or will it take pleasure in destroying this place, and leave them alone. Spotting the monster he sees he holds a woman in his claws. The woman hangs limp in his claws, dead. Her body is bending in places which should not be possible. The monster drops the body and goes after the next human. He will kill us all. Running back he picks up a child who had fallen and runs as fast and as far as he can get away from this monster. Looking back one more time he sees a path of destruction follows in the monsters wake.
If he waited any longer he too would have been dead. I am sorry, he thinks while he keeps on running.
In the distance Juran could see Gotzha burning. That fiery demon must have been there too, thankfully no one lives there anymore.
Juran looks at the child and sees two brown eyes looking at him, eyes wet with tears. The little boy clings to Juran and the boy begins to sob again. Holding the child tighter against his chest he continues walking in a fast pace. They make their way to the rail road and follow it eastward. The blazing wind and cold slows down their trek, but still they continue on, knowing it is their only chance. Juran worries about a lot of things, they cannot survive this cold with no supplies. There is nowhere to go with Gotzha also in flames. There is nothing they can do except walking.
“A train!” Someone suddenly yells waking the little boy who had just fallen asleep mere moments before and begins sobbing again in Juran's arm.
“We are saved,” another man said.
“Thanks the heavens!” A woman cries falling on her knees from exhaustion.
The people begin jumping and waving and screaming at the train which is approaching. Thinking they are saved from this hell. I don’t have a good feeling about this. Juran’s gut feeling had saved him on more occasion than one. But he couldn’t act on it because there really was nothing he could do.
He locks eyes with the little boy who had finally stopped sobbing and Juran tells the little boy with his eyes, I am sorry. The only reaction the boy gives is clutching his shirt making Juran hold him tighter also, he too knows this is the end.
They people however still had no idea how wrong they were. They see the train approaching but they don’t see that it doesn’t look like any Gotzha train. They don’t see that the train doesn’t slow down. All they see is hope. All they get is dead.
They survived the first demon, only to be slaughter by the next.
Welcome on the train ride to Hell.
“Who are you?”
“We’ve got to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere before you tell me who you are.”
“There is no time.”
“There is no time? We are stuck in freaking Time Compression, we’ve got al the time in the word!”
“Wrong.”
“There is nothing here.”
“Follow me.”
“Great, just great, as if I have another choice. Seeing you have the only light source around here.”
“Move.”
In his shiny gold armor, King Tolten was hard to miss. Especially on a beautiful day like this. The sun was shining brightly from the sky above, reflecting on his armor and blinding people in the crowd.
I really shouldn’t wear this armor on a sunny day, for more reasons than one’, Tolten thinks walking back to the Royal Palace. “It’s unusually hot today,” Tolten said to his advisor.
“Indeed it is, my King.”
“I will be glad when I am out of this armor,” his advisor nods his head in agreement, his official garb are also hot and uncomfortable on a day like this. The two of them walk in a comfortable silence the rest of the way.
Arriving at the palace the first thing Tolten always does is going up to the Ceremonial Amphitheater of the Sky. His father’s statue is standing there, looking over all of Uhra. Every day he goes there to pay his respect to his father. Standing for the statue he prays. Thanking whomever is above for taking care of his people, his family and the entire world. The world had lived in peace now for a decade. Had it been really that long? Tolten often wonders while standing here.
Walking to the edge of the theater he can see his people, smiling and waving at him. This too is a daily occurrence. Every day he just stands here and watches over his people. Once or twice he waves back with a permanent smile on his face.
Like every day after standing there for half an hour he leaves his spot and return inside. But unlike everyday something strange happens before he makes it back inside, something he had seen only once before, in Gotzha. That can’t be.
A cold harsh wind begins to blow. He can see his breath forming little clouds whenever he breaths out. It never had been that cold in Uhra for their breath to condense. If that didn’t make Tolten worry the snowfall certainly would.
There was no cloud in the sky, still Tolten could see snowflakes dropping. It had never snowed before here. Most of my people have never seen it.
Walking back to the railing Tolten sees his people panicking. The weather changing rapidly from hot and sun to cold and snow. It happens so fast that the people don’t know what to do. Most of them gather their belongings and return to their houses. Some of them look up to see Tolten standing there, questions in their eyes. Question to which Tolten holds no answers.
The people have heard about the destruction of Gotzha and how it happened, Tolten made sure they know about what happened in that awful year. But he reassured the people that something would never happen again, especially not here.
Knowing what happened in Gotzha and seeing the same thing happening here is just too shockingly to comprehend. Tolten stands frozen in the theater. He knows he has to do something to help his people, but what can he do? Looking to his people again he is glad to see his soldiers helping them. They will take care of them, he thinks while trying to find a solution for their current problem. But what exactly is the problem?
He doesn’t have to wait long for his answer. Standing in front of his father’s statue is a woman in blue. She is not wearing blue she is blue. Tolten realizes. The woman is stroking the man’s cheek lovingly, before destroying it without remorse. “Stupid human,” she spats out disgusted.
Tolten had no doubt this woman is behind whatever is happening here. Without hesitation he walks to this woman and asks “who are you?” What are you? Cold is radiating from this woman making Tolten shiver. He can feel his temperature dropping standing so close to this woman.
Feeling the anger and fury radiating from this woman he points his sword to her chest. Holding the mighty Age of the King swordwith both hands Tolten is ready to fight for his people. He will defend his people. Even if he had to pay the highest price of all, his own live.
“I am the Ice Goddess,” the blue woman answers his question.
SNAP.
Hell had frozen over.
“Where are we going?”
“How many times have you asked that question yet?”
“Too many..”
“It’s still the same answer.”
“I don’t like that one, give me another one!”
“To the light.”
“Well thank you. That’s so much better. Not.”
Every year the tournament is held. Kelolon’s from all over the world gather here at Kelolon Village. The entire population exists of green little people, much smaller than humans. The only exception of their green skin are the royals, who always have red skin and are much bigger than the other Kelelon’s, they are even bigger than humans.
The tournament had never been that eventful since the humans were competing, the humans who saved the world. Cooke really was something to make it to the final, she had to defeat her brother on the way, but she succeeded. All she had to do then was to defeat the King. If she could defeat him she would get the ultimate white magic, Divide. It was no easy fight, Cooke got some help from her friends, but she won in the end and the magic was hers. She is the only human who knows the Divide spell.
Nobody had ever made it so far since then, he had not fought in the competition since then. Therefore the king was quit bored. He had had no real competition since then. How long had it been? Ten years? I wish they were back. Although that wish was not only referring to the battle. He was quit taken with the ladies, especially Sarah and Cooke, and had a wish to make them his wives. The clear sound of a bell brings his mind back to the present.
Forming a single line the Kelolon warriors presents themselves before their King. The warriors are the same ones as the year before, and the year before that and they year before that. It are always the same and the King knows everyone of them by name. In the back of the line however is one he had not seen before. He is as tall, or short, as them. He too had a green skin but he is certainly no relative of them. In his right hand he holds a knife and in his left a lantern. Who is that? The King wonders. Maybe I got some competition after all.
Giving the signal for the first round to begin he leans back on his throne ready to enjoy the fight. Before he had touch the back of his throne the green stranger is the only one left standing. All the other Kelolon lay scattered around the arena, dead. Brutally murdered.
“Who are you?” He asks. I’ll destroy you. I’ll revenge my people. He stands up to walk to this tiny beast.
The creature waves his lantern back and forth. A purple light emerged from the lantern hitting the Kelolon King in his chest. Followed by its knife, deeply nestled in his heart.
He sure holds some grudge.
“Why are you helping me? Have you any idea of what I have done?
“I know what you did.”
“So why are you helping me?”
“Because it was, it is, not your fault.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
They are late Kyra thinks while standing at the end of the pier, waiting for the Highwind to return. As the captain of The Highwind her father, Cid, is away most time of the year. Her father loves the sea, he wants to sail the seas until the day he dies. One time he came very close to dying. Ten years ago, when Kyra was just a child, her father was with the people who had to go to the Grand Staff. The Grand Staff was a magic engine, but something was wrong with it making the people of Saman sick. A curse was making them act weird. Kyra doesn’t know much what happened then because her parents forbade her to leave the house. For which she is glad. It was so scary, even inside the house I was scared. That truly was the darkest time of their history. But her father returned and so did the light.
Seeing the Highwind in the distance Kyra sprints towards her home, pushing the door open she yells to her mother “Mom! Dad is home!” Not waiting for her mother to follow her, she is already running back to the pier.
Her mother joins Kyra after a few minutes. She too had been anxious for her husbands return. A smile lifts her face when she can see her husband. She expects her husband to be smiling too, but Cid had a grim expression on his face. Nola knows something is wrong. Holding her daughter back she waits for her husband to tell her what is wrong.
It does not take long before Cid walks to his family and greets them with a hug and a kiss.
“What’s wrong honey?” Nola asks her husband.
“Something strange just happened,” Cid replied. “We where on the middle of the sea when suddenly a big dog appears out of nowhere.
“A dog?” Kyra asks surprised, she knows how much her father hates them and would never allow a dog to be onboard. Nobody would dare to sneak one on the ship.
“It was not a normal dog, you see. It had three heads,” Nola gasps and hold her hands in front of her mouth. “That’s why we were so late. He ripped our sail apart.”
Looking to the sail Kyra now can clearly see what the damage on the ship is. Not only the sail was ripped apart, but bite marks can be seen everywhere. A three-headed dog destroying the ship?
“Is everyone okay?” Nola asks.
“Yeah everyone is fine. Scared, that’s all.” Kyra shudders at the thought what this dog could have done to her father and his crew. “Let’s go home.” Her father said, walking away. Grabbing his hand she follows him.
Reaching the central plain Kyra sees a beautiful red ruby lying on the street. Not able to resist such beauty she tries to pick it up, however it is much too heavy for her. She wants to ask her father to help her but the ruby is moving on its own. Taking a closer look Kyra can see a green looking rabbit emerging from the ground. The gem is part of its body. Kyra cannot believe her eyes, it is beautiful. Slowly her hand wanders to the ruby, she just wants to feel it. Her fingertips are grazing the ruby when suddenly it is gone. The creature had just disappeared into thin air. Disappointed she wasn’t able to touch that ruby she turns around only to see a big three-headed dog standing behind her parents.
“Watch out!” Kyra screams. “Behind you!”
Her parents turn their heads and look straight into the dogs’ big mouth. Rows of sharp shining teeth with which he can kill them with one bite. Her parents hold each other tightly, knowing this is their last moment together. “Run Kyra.” Her father said quietly.
“NO!” The heart wrenching scream of their daughter is the last thing Cid and Nola heard.
Kyra begins to run. As fast as she can. Far away from the horrors of Saman.
Don’t look back.
“Slow down old man, I almost died back there.”
“Kaim.”
“What’s that?”
“My name.”
Tender Flora, that was the name Cooke and Mack gave these flowers. Kaim and Sarah call them Lirum’s Flowers, after their deceased daughter. Here on the Northern Cape Lirum’s Flowers are just beginning to bloom. These flower have a nice fragrance, it really smells like spring after some rain. It smells fresh but also sweet.
Kaim is spending the day alone. Once a week Sarah goes to the Village of Tosca to get supplies from the market. Normally he would go with her, but today he felt like staying home, so he did. He did not stay home long before he had the urge to go to the Northern Cape, he wants to pick some flowers. Flowers which he will put on his daughter memorial in their garden. That’s why he stands in front of the Tender Flora, but these flowers are too beautiful to pick and his grandchildren made him promise never to pick these flowers, so he won’t. Picking the next bunch of flowers he lays eyes on, flowers with lovely blue and white petals, he walks back to his house.
Walking back Kaim stops when he reaches Lirum’s flowers again, the memory of his daughter invades his mind. As much as he tries not to think of his daughter he always will. Holding the flowers in the palm of his hand he is grateful for the grandchildren his daughter had given them, Cooke and Mack. Even under the circumstance he met his grandchildren, he was at least glad he could see his daughter one more time. Sharing their last few words he is eternally thankful that she had forgiven him. For she said ‘there is nothing to forgive, it was not your fault. It was Gongora.’ Even after many years the memory of her is still painful.
Cooke and Mack lost their mother but found their grandfather. For it to happen on the same day, that could not be a coincidence, could it? The fact remains if it wasn’t for those two children they would not have saved the world, they would have died at the Grand Staff. It was Lirum’s presence that woke Cooke and Mack, and it was Cooke and Mack that saved all of their lives.
Sitting next to the flowers, when did I sit down? He just continues staring at the flowers, remembering the days his daughter was still a child. That where happy days.
Kaim did not know how long he just sat there when a rush of wind destroy the flowers in front of him. What? Looking around he sees some one standing at the other cliff. Gongora? Kaim wonders. Looking closer Kaim sees that it is not Gongora standing there. But who is? Grabbing his sword, he makes his way to this strange man.
Before he can reach him another wind rush almost blows him away. He had never encountered such strong winds, not even on the Ipsilon Mountains. Bracing himself against the wind he tries to take a closer look at the man, but the only thing he sees is a purple armor. The wind makes his eyes water but he will not close his eyes, he has to see what this monster will do.
After a few more attempts he knows he cannot get any closer, so he will have to make another approach. Before he had come up with a plan he sees a giant bird in the distance. It does not look like a normal bird. It is much larger, it had no eyes and circling around his green body is thunder?
The bird gets closer rapidly, making a dive at Kaim and if it wasn’t for his quick reflexes and amount of experience he would have been a goner. Instead of circling back around for a second strike he fly’s further in the direction of Tosca. Sarah! He wants to go running to Tosca, back to his wife, but he can’t. Turning his back to this monster he is facing now would definitely be bad. Knowing he cannot die, he will do whatever it takes to destroy this thing. It may take eternity, but he has all the time in the world.
After much struggle against the strong wind this monster blows in his direction, he had finally found a weak spot. Trying to take advance of this knowledge, when he blows he moves to slow to dodge. He lifts his sword and strikes down. Only to hit air. Where has it gone?
For minutes Kaim searches for the monster but he cannot find it again. Knowing this will probably be his only chance to get to Tosca, he takes this opportunity and runs. Hoping he is not too late.
Run as fast as the wind blows.
“So you’ve got a lady waiting for you?”
“…”
“Ow come on, talking won’t kill you.”
“There is.”
“What is her name?”
“Sarah.”
“So… Where is she?”
“Around.”
“Two please,” Sarah said to Sansa who hands her two apples. “Keep the change,” dropping some gill in Sansa hand she takes her apples and put them in her bag.
“Thank you,” Sansa says, putting the money away. “Will you come back later and drink some tea with me?”
“Not today Sansa.” Normally Sarah would have accepted her offer and have a drink with her, but not today. “Kaim is home.”
That is all the explanation Sansa needs and she nods her head. Sansa knows what had happened between Kaim and Sarah and how they grew apart after the lost of their daughter. Being finally back together after all these years, they simply don’t want to be apart for too long. “Maybe next time?”
“I would like that.”
Missing Kaim was not the true reason why she had to decline Sansa’s offer. She had the feeling something is terribly wrong, but she doesn’t know what. In the back of her mind something is stirring, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Powerful magic.
Closing her eyes Sarah tries to determine where this Magic source is coming from. Sarah feels multiple sources, coming from all over the world. Most of them are too faint to pinpoint their location. One however is close, too close, the Northern Cape.
Kaim!
Feeling the urge to help her husband, she drops her bags and starts running towards the cape.
Following the steep path she is forced to stop and drop down when a great green bird flies just over her head. Sarah feels great magic coming from this bird, but it is not the same one she felt before. Sarah knows she must make a decision, follow the bird or look for Kaim. Coming to the conclusion that Kaim can take care of himself she makes her way back to Tosca. Following the green bird.
Running back as fast as she can she know she won’t be back in time. The bird is simply moving too fast. Finally reaching the village she can see the damage the bird had already made. The bird however is nowhere in sight.
The marketplace was a mess. Not one stall had survived the onslaught. One bird had caused all this damage? The houses where still intact and luckily nobody was hurt. For how long? Sarah wonders.
Making her way over to the people she tells the people to get into their houses.
“Get inside,” she screams at the people who were still standing outside. “All of you”
Walking to the middle of the village, she stands at the centre of the Village. Looking around for the bird she sees some man coming out of their houses, trying to help her. Each of them is holding a weapon off some kind, from kitchen knives till hayforks. “Inside. Now!” She emphasizes, knowing these weapons wont help.
After seeing that all of the man have returned save to their houses she squints her eyes and checks the sky. She doesn’t see the bird, but she can feel it is still around. Where are you? Closing her eyes she tries to pinpoint the bird’s location. High in the sky, directly above her she can feel the bird. Looking up she opens her eyes and looks directly in the sun, blinding her for a moment.
Realizing what a huge mistake she made she closes her eyes and feels the bird flying at her at full speed. Casting a few protection spells she prepares for the impact.
She doesn’t have to wait long. Thunder is soaring through her body, making her moan in pain. Because Sarah is the only one left, she is the prime target of the bird.
Sarah embraces herself for the next impact, she cannot be killed but she can feel pain. Thunder soars through her body again. Her protection charms are gone, before she has time to cast them again another round of thunder hits her.
Exhausted from the birds continues onslaught she falls on the ground. Knowing she had one last chance before she will lose consciousness she gathers all her magic energy in the palm of her hands. Waiting for the right moment she releases every little bit of energy she had and casts it at the bird.
The bird screech out in pain. He saw the magic spell coming but wasn’t able to evade it completely.
Anger is emanating from the bird. It flies back to Sarah. Ready to strike again. Knowing there is nothing she can do anymore, she is ready to embrace the darkness. She is even glad for the darkness to come, she desperately wants to be put out of her misery.
“Kaim…. Wh…Where are you?” Sarah said through clenched teeth. “I… N…Ne..ed… Y..ou”
Before she loses her consciousness she sees the shadow of a man.
Kaim? …You’ve come.
“We’re here.”
“There’s nothing here”
“Look closer”
“….Hyne, what is this place?”
“The Tower of Mirrors.”
“Hurry Mack.”
“Do we really have to go back already? We just got here.”
“Yes we do.” Cooke and Mack where standing in the Altar of the Abyss inside the Crimson Forrest. The Abyss holds a special place in Cooke’s and Mack’s hearts, this is the place their mother saved them for the first time. Their mother had died just the day before and Mack went to this place to get his mothers favorite flowers. It did not go well and Mack’s life was in grave danger. Cooke with the help of her grandfather and his friends had to save him. If it wasn’t for their mother they wouldn’t have made it out okay.
“One more minute please,” Mack sits in the middle of a field full with flowers. That was a side effect of the magic their mother used to save them. Hundreds of flowers grace this place, including their mother’s favorite. But they never pluck one.
“We aren’t even supposed to be here,” Cooke is getting really agitated. She too doesn’t want to leave but she knows they have to. “Aunt Ming made us promise not to come here without adult supervision,” The last part is spoken sarcastically.
“But you’re a grown-up.”
“For some reason that’s not the same,” that was another thing that really bothers Cooke. She is an adult, but they still treat her like a child. “What’s that?”
“What’s what?”
“Didn’t you hear that?” Cooke asks her brother. Looking around she tries to find the source of the sound. The two of them sit in silence for a few minutes when she hears it again. “There. You heard that?”
“Yes,” now Mack did hear it too. It was a rustling sound, like something is moving through the flowerbed. Standing up Mack follows her sisters to where they think the sound is coming from.
“What’s this?” Cooke asks out loud when she sees a strange little green thing between the flowers. That wasn’t here before.
“A cactus?” Mack had heard of this plants existing, but they only live in deserts. “What is a cactus doing here?”
Cooke shrugs her shoulders. She had no idea why it is here or where it came from. Nor does she really care.
“What are we going to do with it?”
“Leave it,” Cooke said “We really need to go. Like now.”
Both have forgotten the sound they heard prior to finding the cactus. And neither of them think of checking again.
Walking back to the elevator Cooke feels a stinging pain in the back of her neck. “Stop that Mack!” She yells while rubbing her neck.
Mack is confused at his sister’s sudden outburst. “Stop what? I didn’t do anything.”
“Mack!” Cooke is really furious when she feels a sting again. Turning her head she sees the cactus standing behind her brother. “Look out!”
Before Mack realizes what happens Cooke had thrown her brother out of the way, making them falling down, hard. Sitting up Cooke removes something from her arm. A needle?
Looking at his sister he sees she is looking to the Abyss. Following her gaze he sees the cactus standing on top of the Abyss. It has a face? Mack had no time to wonder about that little fact when he sees the cactus holding a needle in his hand, ready to throw it at them.
“Run,” Cooke hauls Mack up and the two of them start running to the elevator. Followed by hundreds of needles trying to hit them.
“Elevator,” Mack nods his head and concentrates on the elevator. Calling for the magic from within, he commands the lift to rise.
The elevator lifts from the ground before the cactus had reached them. Both of them let out the breath they have been holding. “Need some help?” Mack asks his sisters who is busy removing the needles from her skin.
“Thanks,” Cooke really is thankful for her brother, when he begins extracting the needles. “You know we are not out of the clear yet.”
“I know,” Mack said when the elevator stops at the Maze of Gloom. “We’ll have to tell Aunt Ming.”
Checking their surrounding they are relieved that the cactus is nowhere in sight. “Hurry Mack,” realizing the rustling sound they heard before must have been from that cactus, Cooke is really glad to have made it out okay.
Mack nods his head and the two of them make their way back to Numara. Thankfully without any further delays.
We’ve been through the eye of the needle.
“WELCOME”.
“Wh.. Who’s there?”
“A friend”
“You? I thought I killed you?”
“WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.”
“…We?”
“You know them as Guardian Forces.”
A magnificent creature soars through the air above the ruins.
A holy machine waits in the midst of the ruins.
A great dragon lands on the highest top in the ruins.
“This place is filled with spirit magic.” The first one said.
“We must get rid of this remaining power.” The second one said.
“We crash this place together!” The third one said.
Eternal Breath
Holy Judgment
Mega Flare
The Temple of Enlightenment is destroyed.
And so will the humans who fill this world.
“What are the GF’s doing here?”
”TO FIX WHAT THEY BROKE.”
“What did you break?”
“We will explain later, we go now!”
Some distance away from the city Ming and Jansen are at the beach, enjoying a quiet moment with just the two of them.
Lying on a blanket they just finished the last remaining of the picnic. Ming is lying with her head on Jansen’s belly and Jansen’s hand is lying protectively over her abdomen.
After Ming told Jansen the great news, the expecting of their first child, Jansen had been overprotective with her. He had not left her side since she told him, he is always making sure she doesn’t lift or pull anything, making sure she gets plenty of nutriments. The first week this gesture was really sweat, but now it is quit annoying. Still Ming said nothing of this to her love, she simply loves him to much to hurt him with the truth.
Just two days ago they had told their people that she was expecting and that this child will be the next ruler of Numara. She will retire when her child will have the proper age to rule. The people of Numara where overjoyed with the news of her pregnancy, but they were sad with the news of her retirement. The people have relied on Ming for all of their lives, it will be hard to follow someone else and put the same trust on him or her. But Ming reassured that her people will be fine. She will help her child and country anyway she can.
In the end there was a big party being held in the palace, where all the people were invited to come to congratulate the royal couple. Knowing Ming won’t leave for many years, until her child reaches adulthood, the people were really happy. Ming knows they will love her child as much as she already does.
Stroking her abdomen slowly Jansen asks Ming “what do you think it will be?”
Brought back from her thoughts she answers “a boy, and you?”
“Definitely a girl,” Jansen replied chuckling. “No doubt.”
“How are you so sure?” Ming turns her head so she can look Jansen in the eye.
“I had a dream,” and Jansen tells her all about his dream.
A little girl with blond hair put in two pigtails. Eyes as blue as the ocean, shifting to purple when she looks up. She is playing on the beach, building a great sandcastle. Not far away from her stands Ming, a proud and loving look on her face when she watch the little girl play. In the background stands a great light tower.
Shifting her body Ming hugs Jansen waist and starts crying, overwhelmed with emotions she doesn’t know what to say to him. Ming had always believed in the power of dreams, and knows their must be some truth in it. A daughter.
Jansen hugs her tighter and the two of them remain lying like this for some time, neither of them saying anything. The just savor this moment.
Maya hates to interrupt this sweet moment between the royal couple, but she knows she must. Walking to the couple she whispers “my Queen, it is time.”
Looking to her lady in waiting she nods her head and give Jansen a nudge. “We have got to go now love.”
“Already?” Jansen said disappointed.
“I am afraid so.”
“Okay then, let’s go,” helping Ming to her feet, the two of them hold hand and begin the walk back to the palace. Followed by Maya and their guards.
“We should do this more often.”
“I agree,” Ming said while hugging Jansen’s arm.
Reaching the fountain their ways split. Jansen returns to the palace while Ming goes to the harbor. “I will see you tonight love,” Jansen said while pulling Ming into his arms and gives her a sweet kiss on the lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Ming gives Jansen’s hand one last squeeze and leaves Jansen standing near the fountain.
When Ming is out of his sight Jansen turns to look at the fountain. The fountain is one of his favorite places in Numara, he is always mesmerized by this beauty. The sound of the water is hard to miss, even when the plain is crowded with people you can still hear the sound of water, but not today. Why can’t I hear the streaming water? Jansen walks closer to the fountain only to see there is no water in the basin. How is that possible? Making his way back to the palace he intends to ask their ‘handyman’ to take a look at it and fix the problem, whatever the problem is.
Reaching the entrance of the palace he is shocked to see people running out of the palace, all of them have a shocked expression on their face. What’s happening? Confused Jansen makes his wayinside where he bumps into one of his advisors. “What’s happening?” He asked the bald man.
“M.. M… Monsters.” Is all his advisor said, before he runs away.
Monsters?
Gathering some soldiers he walks into the great hall. In the middle of the room two monsters are standing. One big, one small, both wielding large axes. Jansen can understand why his people are running away.
Giving his order to the soldiers they spread out of the room, surrounding the two monsters completely.
“Attack!” Jansen screams and the all begin running to the monsters. However before they were able to reach them the ground begins to shake. An earthquake? Having trouble to stay on their feet Jansen sees the two monsters lifting their axes and hit the first soldier, killing him with one blow.
With the continues shaking of the earth and the rapid loosing of his soldiers Jansen orders for the retreat.
Walking further into the palace he tells everyone he encounters to leave the palace and to get to the harbor. Ming are you alright?
Ming and Maya are walking next to each other in silence when Ming abruptly stops and puts a hand on her chest.
“What is wrong my Queen?” Maya asks.
“Magic.”
“Pardon me?”
“Powerful magic,” before Ming can say more the earth begins to shake. After a minute the shaking stops. “It’s coming from the palace!” Jansen!
Wasting no time Ming runs back to the palace.
The earthquakes are increasing in number, they last longer and they get stronger every time.
I am coming Jansen.
Ming did not see the water coming.
“Do you care to explain what happened? What did you break?”
“SILENCE.”
“This really is not the place, nor the time to explain it all.”
“But….”
“We are almost there. Then we can talk.”
The pirate fortress is Sed’s biggest treasure. He can hold all the gold in the world, but if he had to lose his fortress he would have gone mad. Luckily for him such thing had not happened. Yet, Bran thinks jokingly.
Bran had the bad luck of drawing the shortest straw, which doomed him to stay to protect the fortress. Like this place needs protection. He was forced to stay behind while the others went fishing. At least I don’t miss the real action. Their haven’t been any real action lately. They don’t have any reports of missing treasures or any rumors of where one could be. So to spend his time a very bored Sed had decided to go fishing today.
Still he hates to be left here, especially alone. With no one to talk to he gets bored pretty soon. If it wasn’t for the water stream below, the fortress would have been completely silent. That would have freaked Bran out, if there is one thing he can’t stand then it is complete silence.
Hence why he had have never been left behind in all these years. Serving Sed for fifteen years he had never before left his side. Not once, and here I am. Alone, Bran thinks grimly.
The only bright side about staying is that he finally has some time to clean and polish his gemstones. He has a huge collection of them, gathered in all the years he is a pirate. He even got some of the rarest ones, he is quite proud about his collection. But lately he had neglected them, I can finally make it up to them. Bran grins and makes his way to his cabin.
Climbing a ladder Bran sees two black boots on top of the platform. Confused he said “back so soon?”
There is no response and Bran continues climbing. Reaching the top he sees nobody. “That’s strange. I could’ve sworn I saw someone standing here,” he talks to himself. Shrugging he walks further to their equipment when suddenly he hears a sarcastically voice.
“There was. Now I am up here.”
Looking around he still sees nobody. “Where?” He asks.
“Up.”
Slowly he lifts his head and sees the most terrifying creature he had ever seen. If someone asks him to describe the creature that stands before him the only thing he can recalls is darkness, a black and red demon, with spiky wings.
Making a run for it he jumps down the ladder and is glad he doesn’t hear footsteps following him. After some time he looks back, looking if he can see the demon behind him. Seeing nothing he is both relieved and anxious. Where is it. Turning his head back he sees the demon standing in front of him, their faces apart by mere centimeters. “H… H… How?” Bran stutters.
“Gravity.”
Bran is already running the other way. But in no time the demon stands before him again, laughing his wicked smile. Bran tries running away, but wherever he goes he just can’t escape him. Damn him. Bran is realizing the demon is playing a cat and mouse game with him, and Bran isn’t the cat. I can’t hold on much longer. All the running had made him tired. “Come on! Stop playing! Do what you want to do with me,” anger, frustration and fear slip through his voice.
“You don’t want to play anymore?” The demon said sarcastically. “Have it your way!” Spreading his wings he speeds toward Bran.
Bran just closes his eyes, thinking, this is it, when suddenly a loud whoosh is heard.
A sword sears through the sky, blocking the demons attack.
“No more.” A voice said.
Bran is relieved he is still alive and wants to thanks his savior. Standing on the ledge above him is a man, covered in a red robe from his head till his toe.
“Not you again,” the demon is looking annoyed. “Didn’t we deal with you last time?”
“You did not.”
“I can see that.”
“So you do have a brain.”
The demon is getting bored with this game fast. “Whose side are you on anyway? Ours or theirs?” He said while pointing to Bran.
“My own.”
The demon lets out a low grow and the red robed man grabs a sword in each hand, ready to strike.
The black demon just laughs and stretches his wings. “Bring it on.” Both of them jump in the air, moving away from Bran.
Realizing this is his only chance he will get as long as the two of them are fighting, Bran crawls silently away. Reaching the Headquarters he makes his way to the secret escape route. Not so secret anymore Sed. Sed had told all of his crew of the existence of this tunnel, and of the boat that lies near the end of it. They were only to be used by emergencies. This is a big emergency. Grabbing a lantern he makes his way slowly through the dark tunnel, he proceed slowly. He will not risk making a wrong turn and getting lost in these endless tunnels. After what seems like hours, but was in fact just over half a hour, he sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
After adjusting his eyes he sees the boat lying near the coast. Jumping in the ocean he swims to the boat and climbs aboard.
I’ve got to warn everyone.
“This is it.”
“This is what?”
“We’ll wait here.”
“What are we waiting for?
“Whom.”
“Okay…. Whom are we waiting for?”
“The children of Fate.”