Chapter 3: The Cervix

Silvacivi: the city of elves, Arbory forest

Sophie

"Lady Sophia, lady Sophia!"
A 10 cm high elf flied towards Sophie, and sat down on her shoulder. The little elf had short green hair, and a orange dress made of petals. Her glass- like wings sparkled in the sunlight, but her little face, with in proportional enormous pupilless eyes, looked worried.

"What's wrong Undecim?"

"There's another injured unicorn!"

"Again? Quick Undecim, bring me to it…"

Sophie followed Undecim until they reached a little open spot in the woods. There was the unicorn, lying in the grass, which was red from its blood.
Sophie gasped, this time it was even worse. Someone had cut of the unicorn's wings.
A wave of anger came over her. It was impossible a wolf, werewolf or other predator had done this, this was human- work.
Next to the unicorn sat another elf, with long curly purple hair. She was crying.

"Dixie, have you seen who did this?" Sophie asked friendly.

"Y-yes it- it were two evil man wearing a black gear, and- and they also had black horses…They were laughing, they've done this just for- just for fun…"

Sophie sighted of frustration. That awful black riders again, someone should stop them… oh if I ever see one of them I swear…!
Suddenly she realized the unicorn was still there, and in incredible pain. She walked towards him and laid her hand on his head.
"Don't worry, I'll heal you." She whispered, while softly caressing its snow-white hair.

She held her hand above the bleeding wound, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and started muttering a spell. Her hand started to glow up with a white aura, and slowly the wounds started to heal.

She opened her eyes and smiled, when she saw the unicorn standing up carefully.

"Well done Lady Sophia, as always." Undecim said relieved.

"Thanks, but unfortunately I can't turn back his wings… He'll never fly again."

Major Gugenheim's office, Caput

Lok

"So how are we going to Nubes? Are we going to fly on unicorns?" Lok asked enthusiastically.

Tersley chuckled. "You're not very smart aren't you? Unicorns can't fly that high. And besides, Nubes is hidden between clouds and impossible to find."

"Oh…" Lok said, a bit disappointed.

"Don't worry Lok, we'll go through the golden gate, that's a gateway that will teleport us to the sky- palace." Dante said.

"Wait... everybody can just walk through that gate?"

"No of course not, the gate- keeper has to open it first, and therefore we have to show him a official document that consents us to go."

"Wow what a bureaucratic hassle…"

"It's easy, cause luckily for you, I'm allowed to give you permission." Guggenheim said, while he walked towards his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a fancy document.
He took a feather, dipped it in the ink, and started to write. After a few minutes he was done, and he handed the document to Dante.
"This will do. Now, go to the hall of the gateway, it's not far from here. Good luck"

Dante nodded. "Thanks Guggenheim."

The hall of the gateway

Lok, Dante and Cherit stepped into a giant marble hall with big windows of stained glass. The hall was almost empty, apart from the wooden visitor- benches on the left, and a big altar with the golden portal on it at the end of the hall.
Within seconds an old man with a long beard, wearing a long white attire, approached him.
"Welcome in the holy hall of the golden gateway. Can I help you?"

"Yes, we must visit the counsel for advice. And we have permission." Dante said. He took the document out the pocket of his coat, and gave it to the man.

He studied it with a frown.
"Hmm well that seems to be all right…. Follow me."

They followed him towards the portal. The old man took off the little golden key that was hanging on a necklace round his neck, and opened the gate.
"You can go now."

Lok looked at the gate. This looks like an ordinary gate to me…
But he followed Dante, and stepped through it.

Suddenly there was a blinding golden flash, and they disappeared.
When Lok opened his eyes again, he saw to his great surprise an enormous temple- like palace. It was white with lilac columns, and subtle golden decorations.
Suddenly he realized that they were standing on clouds.

Dante saw him looking and smiled.
"No worries, we won't fall through."

A blond women, wearing a long white attire, approached them.
"Welcome, My name is Sade, the counsel knows of your advent, and are ready to welcome you. Follow me."

She lead them through the palace, until they reached a half- round chamber. It was almost entirely made glass, so the clear blue color of the sky was everywhere around them.
Lok's mouth fell open, it was really overwhelming.
In the middle of the room was a long white table, with six persons, who were also wearing long white attires, sitting behind it. One by one they introduced themselves.

The brown- haired man at the left started.
"I'm Sir Metz, the delegate of the seekers."

"I'm Lady Invidia, the delegate of the underworld." The thin women with incredibly long black hair, who was sitting next to Metz, said.

"I'm Sir George, the delegate of the human." A big man with gray hair and a mustache said.

The pale blond man on Sir George's left was the next to speak.
"I'm Sir Letum, the delegate of the undead like vampires and werewolves."

"I'm Lady Mare, delegate of the mermaids and other creatures of the sea." The women with a slightly grey skin, and purple hair said.

"And I'm Astrum, delegate of the elves and other creatures of the woods." A little red- haired elf far right said, with a very high and almost inaudible voice.

Although they all were at least two hundred years old, they still looked the same as the day they formed the counsel.

Lok had never seen a mermaid or a elf before, and couldn't help but stare at them, until Dante, who kneeled down, looked at him with a warning glance.
He realized it was polite to kneel and quickly did the same thing.

"Welcome, please introduce yourself, and tell us the reason of your visit." Metz said.

Dante stood up. "I'm Dante Vale, and this are Lok Lambert and Cherit, we're here because one of Lord Rassinov's Generals, Wind, has attacked Caput, and terrorizes the whole world with his black riders. I… believe that he's acting on behalf of Lord Rassinov, and I think that Rassinov's planning something. Something big."

Lady Invidia frowned. " That's a serious accusation, do you have any proof?"

"No… just my instinct. But that's always almost right."

She smiled a bit mockingly. But before she could react Metz spoke.
"It is clear that General Wind must be punished. He must be arrested and then we'll judge him. I suggest every Kingdom sends some knights to catch him and his riders." He turned himself to Sade.
"Sade inform all leaders of this."

She nodded and quickly left the room.

"But what if Dante's right? And this is something bigger?" Lady Mare asked.

"I agree with Lady Mare, I've got a bad feeling about this, there's no way Lord Rassinov is unaware of what his General does." Astrum said worried.

Sir George suddenly stood up. "I say, let those three travel to the underworld. But the expedition will be incredibly dangerous, so I say they must go together with King Earl's best soldiers!"

"No! No soldiers, we don't want to cause a war, they better ask some powerful allies to join them." Metz said.

Sir George snorted. "And who do you suggest?"

It was Astrum who answered. "They can ask the three other cervix!"

Now Lok was confused. He had been able to follow the discussion, but now he was floundering.
"Ehm… who or what are the cervix?"

Dante answered. " The cervix are four people who possess great magic, based on the four powers of life; nature, ice, fire and darkness. Every generation has its own cervix, and Lord Rassinov is one of them."

Lok chuckled. "Let me guess, he's the one of darkness?"

"Precisely." Astrum said. "The other three are Lady Sophia, Queen Zhalia and Queen Scarlet."

"I think it's a wonderful idea to ask them. Who agrees with me?" Metz said.

All other wise (Sir George a bit reluctantly) raised their hands.

"Than it's decided. Dante, Lok and Cherit, you'll travel to Silvacivi, Snowland and the Siccitas- desert. Try to persuade the cervix to join you on your quest to the underworld. Find out what's going on there, and then come back to report us.

Arbory forest

Dante, Lok and Cherit were walking through the beautiful Arbory forest. Every tree and bush seemed to flourish, and little forest animals and flowers were everywhere.
Thank god I have no hay fever…

"Dante I've got a question, you said all cervix are people, but now we're going to the city of elves?"

"But Lady Sophia is no elf. She just lives in Silvacivi, because she's an orphan and raised by the elves, but furthermore I know nothing about her, except she's about sixteen years old, and the cervix of nature."

"You think she'll want to help us?"

"I hope, otherwise I don't think we're going to survive our little quest." Dante said with a smile.

Oh god, whathave I started?
Suddenly he realized he'd totally forgotten about his father.
But I can't leave Dante now, he needs me..

Sophie

Sophie was sitting against a tree, reading a book. Reading was one of the things she loved to do the most. He favorite books were history books, about old legends and strange worlds and cultures far away. One day, she wanted to leave Silvacivi, and go on a world trip.

"Lady Sophia, there are visitors who want to meet you!" Undecim said.

"Ehm okay… bring them here."
What visitors? I've never had visitors before…
Sophie tried to remain calm, but from inside she was death nervous.

After a minute Undecim returned, followed by a long, strong looking man who was wearing a long brown coat and had red- brown hair, and a younger man, with sweet blue eyes and blond hair. He was wearing beige pants and a dark- green shirt.

Lok

"Welcome, I'm Lady Sophia, but call me Sophie… ehm… what brought you here?" A beautiful girl with a pale skin, long reddish blond hair and big green eyes said. She was wearing a short pink dress, with a big white flower on the right strap.
Lok hart jumped a bit.

Dante explained her everything. When he was finished she looked at them doubtfully.
"I don't know… I've actually always wanted to see something more of the world, and help other people, but it sounds a bit dangerous and I can't leave the elves and the animals alone, they need me…"

"Sophie, please come with us. Together we're stronger, I'll make sure nothing happens to you." Lok said tough.

Undecim mingled herself in the discussion to. "Lady Sophia, We'll be fine, you must go, Wereld needs you. And don't you want to take revenge on those awful black riders?"

Undecim seemed to have persuaded her.
"You're right Undecim, but… I'm going to miss you so much!"

Undecim cave her a kiss.
"I'm going to miss you to, but I've always known you'd leave someday, you don't belong here. Just be careful."

Sophie smiled.
"But don't worry, I'll come back, but with some amazing travel- stories."

All the elves waved goodbye, when Sophie, Lok, Dante and Cherit left.

"So, where are we going to first?" Sophie asked.

"Our next destination is Snowland, to visit the cervix of ice, Queen Zhalia, and after that we'll go to Queen Scarlet." Dante answered.

Sophie snorted. "I think that's a waste of time. I don't think they'll want to help us. One sais that Queen Zhalia has a piece of ice instead of a hearth, and Queen scarlet is a dangerous witch."

"I've heard all those rumors to, but still we have to try it. We'll need all the help we can get."

-
Sorry for so much Lok- pov, next chap that will be different… cause then they'll meet Queen Zhalia… =D