Chapter XI
Mind, Body and Heart.
- "Are you going to keep avoiding me?"– The voice of the wizard resounded like a thunder in the room. The situation was upsetting him.
- "What do you mean?"– Medea said, cold voiced.
Little by little he approached her to stand face to face, like a hunter seeks its prey.
- "Please, tell me. What did I do? It has been a few days now that you've been very elusive."– He softened his voiced. If he showed he was displeased, he was going to start a fight again.
Medea was about to run into his arms, her heart wasn't made out of stone and his words moved her; however, what right had she to obtain the happiness her sister wasn't able to ever have?
- "I have nothing to reproach you for. It's just that what happened the other day never should have happened. I'm just asking that for your own wellbeing, and mine also, don't get close to me."-
Her voice was unhurried but without nuances, without emotion. She turned around and slowly walked away while she squeezed her eyes shut to avoid crying. Clef stood there, watching her walk away. That same scene had been repeating itself over the last few days. He couldn't understand her.
Meanwhile, a braided brown haired girl walked silently down the hallways. In her mind she carried the words she had heard by coincidence.
- "Maybe it's time to go back home".-
She slowly opened the door and discovered her sister surrounded by a magic force field.
- "Are you coming to rescue me?"– Playfully asked Celaeno.
- "No, sister, we will summon the Trial of the Gods to find the Key."-
- "I think it's an excellent idea."-
Liz crossed the barrier with no effort. In her hand she carried an olive tree crown, she held it over her head and her sister got close to her to take the other part of the crown. Both of the recited the holy summoning in their native tongue
- Señor Heracles, hijo predilecto de nuestro padre Zeus. Te invocamos, precede El Desafío Divino.-
"Κύριος Ηρακλής, ο αγαπημένος γιος του πατέρα μας Δία. Εμείς επικαλούνται προηγείται Θεία Πρόκληση"
Her other two sisters were doing the same thing outside the castle. The olive crowns started to shine and a glow filled the whole castle.
ºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
From pillar to pillar there was some sort of crystal that allowed the view to the ruins of an old Greek temple. The place seen through the crystals was without a doubt somewhere on Earth, that mystical distant world to all Cephirians, of that she was sure. She carefully stood up, not knowing what happened. The last thing she was able to remember was she talking with Umi and Fuu in Umi's room and how badly they wanted to go back…
- "Are we on Earth?"-
The redhead looked at her inquisitively and looked around. Everyone was there, all of her friends from Cephiro were there.
- "We're not in our asteroid, and you've not abandoned the dimension you were in."-
Thus spoke Aello as the rest of them were standing up. A tall and buff man came out from behind her. The guy was even more impressive than Lafarga.
- "Are you the chosen ones for the challenge?"– His voice was low but friendly.
- "That is right, Lord Heracles."– Ocypete said.
- "Wait a second! What's going on here?"– Umi grumbled.
- "It's a test…"- Aello didn't finish her sentence, she couldn't tell them they had planned this in order to find the Key and if they refused to participate, they were going to be able to force them to. – "If you win, we will stop looking for they Key, but if you lose, you won't interfere with what we do." – She thought that in the last minute, but it probably could work.
The Cephirians and the girls from the Mystical World looked at each other and the decision was made: they were going to accept the challenge.
The man called Heracles spoke then.
- "The Trial of the Gods is a dangerous challenge. You will have to face the Gods and pass their tests so they can show you the road that leads to the Cauldron of the Sacred Fire. There you'll have to go through the sacred fire and take the Olive Crown. The team who is able to obtain it will be declared victorious and will receive the favor of the Gods. It is forbidden in the games to use magical powers. Also, the first team that reaches the goal will win. I will be the judge."– While he spoke, he made his hands to glow more and more until everyone was blinded by a big flash. He then added:
- "Cheating will be punished with death!"-
ºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
For a second time she woke up in a place she didn't know, she was a little dizzy as if she was just waking up from the deepest sleep. She quickly checked around, she wasn't hurt which was good, and she was by herself in the middle of a forest with huge pine trees and a thick fog. Hold on, she was not by herself, she discovered two figures lying by her side.
- "Liz, Lantis. Are you alright?"-
Not only the tall man but also the girl were fine. Fuu checked around again. Why were they three put together? It was a somewhat strange situation, at least for her that didn't really know Lantis, she only knew what Hikaru told her about him, and she had barely talked to Liz a few times. It was obvious that they weren't going to be the most cheerful and talkative team. It was going to be a long road. Wait. Where did they have to go? Where were they? How were they going to get there? Lantis started to walk in the fog, Liz followed him, and Fuu with a gesture on her face followed them. Didn't they know it was dangerous to step into the fog like that? They would surely end up getting lost.
- "I hope you know where you're going, Lantis." – She muttered.
- "He does know." – Liz defended him immediately when she heard Fuu. – "Don't you see that light in front of us? It could be a torch or a bonfire; in any case we might find more people."
As they got close to the place, they realized that it was a big white marble temple in which entrance was a bonfire burning with a slightly pink flame burning. However, they didn't find anybody in it. Then, she heard a very subtle whistle coming and felt how the air was increasingly getting heavier so she dropped to the ground, letting an arrow hit the tree where she was leaning seconds before. Thanks to Lantis she didn't get hurt, he helped her to stand up. She blushed a little; she could think anything about Lantis personality, but she couldn't deny that he was a complete gentleman.
- "What are you looking for, mortals? What has brought you to my forest?" – said a silver haired girl who was only wearing a light white tunic that covered her well-shaped body, and was aiming at them with her bow.
- "We are participants in the divine test."-
- "Oh, well, in that case, please forgive my rudeness; many mortals come here to steal deer from me, even other gods. Let me introduce myself. My name is Diana, the huntress, daughter of Latona."-
It seemed that she was used to deal with highly ranked people, so they answered in the same manner.
- "My name is Fuu Hououji. I'm the Magic Knight of Wind. It's an honor to meet you." – By then she had realized that they were on Olympus, the Abode of the Gods.
- "I'm Liz, and I can't remember anything from my past; please forgive me for not telling you more about me." – She bowed gently, for she was also an educated girl. She knew that Diana liked that. After all, she had been her maiden long ago.
- "I'm Lantis, second in command of the guard of Cephiro and Magic Swordsman."-
The goddess of the Moon smiled, for she liked him.
- "Could you tell us how we can get to the Sacred Cauldron?" – He asked, now understanding how the Magic Knights felt when they were newcomers in Cephiro.
- "That's why I'm here" – she gently smiled – "but before, you have to beat a test before I can tell you the way."-
- "We will." - answered Fuu.
- "You have to beat me with the bow. I'm the best archer in Olympus, and until now there has been nobody that has beaten me."-
- "I'll try." – The blonde was a bit worried, she was good but she was going to have to beat a goddess and that place was not Cephiro, where she could do it by willing it.
- "Well, let's begin."-
Diana put her hands over the fire pit on the entrance and from it she pulled out two bows and two arrows. Immediately she entered the temple and signaled them to come in and follow her. The entire temple was made of white marble and stood on Ionic pillars; it was both very beautiful and simple. In the center there was a long candlestick with only one candle lit. The goddess stopped about 50 meters away from the candlestick and gave Fuu the bow.
- "Do as I."-
The huntress pulled out a piece of cloth and folded her eyes; she drew the bow and tensed her body, and released the arrow. The candle was blown out at the moment the arrow flew right over the candlelight without being even close to the candlestick.
Fuu alleviated released a sigh, for it didn't seem too difficult. She did as the goddess did, folded her eyes, focused for a few minutes, drew the bow, and then released the arrow. She did it! She blew the candle out without being close to touch the candlestick.
- "Very good! You're an excellent archer."-
- "It was just luck." – Modestly Fuu said while she uncovered her eyes. – "Now, will you tell us how to get to the Sacred Fire?"-
- "I'm sorry, dear, that just gave you the right to take the test."-
- "But you said…"- Complained Liz. Lantis showed an unpleasant face.
- "I just said that we would begin, but first I wanted to see if you were worthy to take the Test."-
- "Of course, I had forgotten. The Gods testing the worthiness of Mortals." Iris thought.
- "This is your test!" – As she raised her voice, a dozen of guards surrounded them, and four of them held Lantis and walked him to a pillar on the far back of the temple. Fuu and Liz stood on guard.
- "Calm down. This is just part of your test." - Said the goddess with a smile on her face.
- "Then what do you want us to do?" – Liz said, notoriously irritated.
- "You? Nothing, dear. She is the one who has to demonstrate that she is an excellent archer. Fuu has to split in half an apple that will be sitting over the man's head, and like the candlestick, if she deviates just a few centimeters, it will be him who will suffer the consequences. It is a test of concentration."-
Fuu didn't say a word. She covered her eyes again, raised and drew the bow, and aimed. What did she remember with this? The competition with Princess Aska? No, it was further back, in the Forest of Silence.
Ferio was about to turn into a creature, and the only way to save him was to shoot an arrow to a rock that was over ten meters away. She had barely made it with the will of her heart.
But this was not Cephiro, the will of one's heart had no power, and they weren't 10 meters but 50. She couldn't see clearly. If she missed the shot, she could harm Lantis. The danger didn't only reside in bad aiming, but also on a small gust of wind that could change the course of the arrow completely. A drop of sweat ran down her forehead, her arms trembled.
- "What's wrong, archer? Are you afraid?"-
- "No." – Answered Fuu, as she firmly held the bow.
- "Do it, Fuu!" – commanded Lantis, making his voice echo through the entire temple of Diana.
- "Don't you want to the Sacred Cauldron? There you will be able to meet your friends again."-
- "Yes, but not at any price." - Said Fuu, lowering her bow.
- "Are you sure of this?" – Diana asked her, tempting her.
- "Yes, I'm sure. I can't risk Lantis' life just to please you. I believe I have lost." – Said Fuu, letting the bow fall to the ground.
- "No. You have won. You have demonstrated to be wise, noble and determined. You have very good qualities and you weren't willing to kill in order to win. This is something I have rarely witnessed. You may continue your path."-
Diana raised her hand and a door by the end of the Temple opened, showing a path that looked like a ray of moonlight going through the darkness.
- "Follow the path and you won't have much trouble to reach your final destination. The Moon will protect you."-
ººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
- "Presea! Presea! Wake up! What in the world happened to you?"-
The tanned dancer shook the blacksmith's head while Lafarga carried her in his arms.
- "This is your test, mortals. You have to take her out of the Netherworld, but if you at any moment dare to look back, your souls will never leave this place."-
- "Who are you?" – Said Lafarga with a defiant voice as he unsheathed his sword and left Presea under the car of Caldina.
- "I'm Hades, god of the Underworld. It's not expedient for you to defy me, mortal! Just do as I say and continue your way!" –
His storm-like voice resounded in the entire place they were. Lafarga sheathed his sword and picked Presea, and turned away from that mysterious man, pale as milk, who also had black eyes filled with cruelty, and sleek black hair which fell over his shoulders, like a wild horse. He wore only a black tunic. He fixed his eyes upon the silhouettes that were walking away and delved into the great cavern that was supposed to work as the way in… not the way out.
- "You'll be back, everybody is always back… - and he turned around to continue minding his businesses.
Caldina and Lafarga ran down that dark cave and, as they advanced, they started to hear voices claiming for help that were coming from behind them. For a moment, Caldina doubted and was about to turn her head back.
- "Don't do it, Caldina!"-
Thus commanded Lafarga and the dancer didn't think about it again. They reached a lake covered in a mist as dense and dark as a moonless night. They were able to see a torch in the distance by the shore of the lake. Caldina and Lafarga (with Presea on his arms) continued until they found a light boat and a curious hooded hunchback.
- "Take us to the other side of the lake."-
- "That's a very unusual petition, sir. Only one person has made the journey back."-
- "We'll be the second ones, then."-
- "Very well. If you made it up here, surely my lord Hades must have allowed you to do so. I will carry you, but as with everything, my services have a price."-
- "Ugh! Pay you? Can't you just take us to the other side?" – exclaimed Caldina (we all know how Caldina feels about money) as she complained in front of the hooded man, who hadn't noticed her before, but when he saw her he stared at her for a while and then said:
- "I will take you to the other side only if you give me a kiss."-
Lafarga gave him a menacing look, like a stabbing dagger, but Caldina only smiled.
- "I think I won't have a problem in paying you."-
Caldina continued smiling; Lafarga complained, but Caldina as usual persuaded him, and the three of them jumped into the boat. The hunchback guided them through the dense, dark waters. Every now and then some hands would grab the boat, but the hunchback would hit them with his oar. They didn't take a long time to reach the other side. Lafarga jumped out of the boat and Caldina did the same.
- "Wait a second. We made a deal."-
- "Right… here's your payment."-
Caldina threw a small purse with golden coins that fell on the small boat.
- "We agreed that you'd give me a kiss."-
- "I never said I'd do that. I said I didn't have any problems in paying you. There's your payment. Besides, your 'lord' Hades forbid us to look back." – Then Lafarga and Caldina ran swiftly from that place.
- "You never stop surprising me."-
- "Did you really think I was going to kiss him? Yuk!"-
The dancer shuddered at the thought. They did have much time to laugh when a fearsome growl was heard right from the place they were heading to. Both of them stopped right where they were.
- "What was that?"-
Lafarga's question was immediately answered by a devilish, 2-meter-high and three-headed dog that jumped over him. Presea fell to the ground still unconscious because of him trying to keep the beast away from them. Caldina tried to help him by stabbing the creature near the loins but she couldn't pierce the skin, and the animal shook violently making her fall to the ground. She immediately stood up and tried to attack again, just to see how her beloved Lafarga was being swallowed with only one bite by one of the three heads of Cerberus, guardian of the gates of the Underworld and the one in charge that no one would get in or out of that place.
Caldina got pale and fear-frozen, the guardian was coming full speed to devour her. In this type of situations, adrenalin gets flowing in the bloodstream to give one energy and strength to scape, but in her it caused no effect, for she was still there, frozen like a statue, as another of the heads approached her to eat her.
-"Rrraaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwrrr!"-
The painful howling repeated itself over all the black walls of the Underworld. The beast shivered on the ground as a light started to emanate from its belly, and kept howling until Lafarga came out of it drenched with Cerberus' blood. That didn't matter to the dancer, who ran to hug him.
Moments later they picked up the sleeping blacksmith and were able to walk out of the depths of the earth. It was until the sunbeams touched Presea's face that she finally woke up.
- "I didn't remember how beautiful the sun was."-
- "What are you mumbling?"-
- "Nothing, Caldina. Nothing…"- she said, while she smiled naughtily, that old smile that Caldina knew when they met back in the day.
ºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
- "Didn't we already walk through here?" - Ascot said, notoriously bothered.
- "Do you think you could be a better guide than Guru Clef?" – Umi put her hands on her hips and turned around to let Ascot see her wrathful face.
- "Maybe!"...-
- "You can't even find the tip of your nose!"-
- "Oh yeah? WELL, YOU DO NOTHING BUT GRUMBLING! YOU ARE A STUCK-UP SPOILED BRAT!"-
- "WELL, THEN YOU ARE…!"-
- "DON'T START THIS AGAIN!"-
According to Clef's calculations, they already had spent an entire night walking through that maze garden: they had already passed 52 times in front of the white roses, seen the same rock 87 times, walked through that same stone path tons of times, and since about midnight time Ascot and Umi would start to argue pretty much about anything every twenty minutes. The only thing they had agreed was to sleep in order to wait for the sunrise and, maybe with the light of the day, get out of the labyrinth. But two hours had already passed since sunrise and the youngsters had started their arguments all over again.
- "I'M COMPLETELY FED UP WITH YOU TWO! JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTHS AND KEP WALKING!"-
In that moment, Clef wished he had his staff with him to give both of them a good hit in the head.
The two of them remained silent like two children who had just been scolded; but, like kids who don't easily obey what they're told by grownups, twenty minutes later they started to fight again.
- "I REMEMBER YOU BEING A GENTLEMAN!"-
- "WELL, I REMEMBER YOU BEING QUITE A LADY!"-
The girl was about to slap him in the face, but stopped her hand in the middle of the air. What was happening to them? They never got on that bad before. Ascot had turned out less shy and a bit aggressive. It was true that she controlled herself more than before, but she couldn't stop being a bit explosive at times, and Ascot seemed to have fun by making her angry. Both of them had changed but never realized it until they were forced to spend that much time together. Though it was fairly logical the fact that she, Ascot, and Clef were that irritable after walking so many hours without eating a single thing.
A strange noise brought her out of her thoughts.
- "Did you guys hear that?"-
- "What?"-
- "I think you just went full delirious."-
- "I'm dead serious, Ascot! It was like a neigh."-
Ascot and Clef stared at her as if she was speaking some weird language.
- "Never mind."- Umi touched her temple.
They kept walking and a bit further ahead Clef, who was in the front, stopped.
- "Now I did hear something."-
- "I didn't hear anything. And you, Umi?"-
The summoner turned around, but found nothing at where the Magic Knight was supposed to be… nothing… only a few leaves that were slowly falling to the ground.
Both guys were alarmed and started running around calling her.
- "Umi! Umi!"-
- "Umiii! Umiiiiii!"-
- "AAAAAAH! LET ME GO, YOU BEAST! DON'T YOU DARE TO PUT A HAND ON ME!"-
They didn't doubt it was her so they followed her screams. They reached the center of the labyrinth and saw how the girl wrestled with a creature, mostly with human body and a bull head, who had her against the floor and tried to kiss her.
- "This is what we will do, Ascot. Ascot?"-
- "LET HER GOOOO!"-
The boy already had gone on to attack the Minotaur and had jumped on his back. He would never allow him to touch Umi. He was like that, much more impulsive, different to Clef who always handled things more carefully and always had a plan. Soon, the poor Ascot was thrown against some bushes and right after that he was charged on by the beast. He was barely avoided it, but the Minotaur grabbed him by his feet and threw him against the floor.
Umi had already stood up and was next to Clef.
- "We have to help him!"-
- "Let me think first. We are in great disadvantage if we have a hand to hand combat."-
That was a great truth. Clef had never raised his fists against anyone, and his physical condition wasn't precisely an athletic one. Both of them were sorcerers and never thought that one day they wouldn't be able to use their magic to fight or defend themselves. While Clef thought about all this, Ascot was being beat by the Minotaur.
- "HE IS GOING TO KILL HIM!"-
- "We have to catch his attention, it's the only thing we can do now."-
- "How?"-
- "Uhmm..."- Clef stared at Umi in not the nicest way precisely.
- "Don't even think about it! I'm NOT going to flirt with that monster!"-
Clef frowned.
- "Grrrrrr. FINE! I'll do it!"-
She walked until she was somewhat hidden in the labyrinth and started to call the Minotaur.
- "Hey, you big bull! Have you forgotten me that fast?"-
The Minotaur raised his ears to hear where the voice was coming from, and after hitting him for a last time against the ground, he left him to seek the girl out. Clef came to help the boy.
- "How are you?"-
- "I think one of my toes remains unbroken."-
- "CLEF! ASCOT!"-
- "Now we're just like in the beginning."-
Both guys were once again guided by the voice of Umi, who got stuck with the branches of a rosebush and couldn't run away anymore. The Minotaur walked slowly towards her as if it was only a game. Ascot rushed to try to do something but in the middle of the way he tripped with something and fell to the ground.
- "I think I just broke my last unbroken bone."-
Clef approached the scene and saw that Ascot stumbled into the handle of a sword. Both of them pulled with all their strength and got it out of the ground. Ascot wielded it and tried to attack the Minotaur but he rejected him with his horns and threw him away. When he fell on the floor, he hit his head against a rock, which left him unconscious. After this, the man-beast started to walk towards Umi once again, who was still stuck with the bush.
Clef grabbed the sword and attacked. The Minotaur waited to have him in front of him and charged against him. Clef let the sword go after being hit.
When Umi saw this, she pulled her clothes with all of her might and, leaving half of it on the bush, ran to pick the sword from the ground. Furious, she charged against the creature thrusting her sword many time, until she made him step back and later fall to the ground, where she put the edge of the sword against his neck.
- "Ok, darling, you win. You have passed the test."-
- "What? You can speak?"-
- "Yes."-
- "Why didn't you do it before?!"-
- "I didn't have anything to say."-
- "Aaaargh! I should cut your tongue out for that!"-
- "Be careful of what you say. Don't forget I'm the son of a god."-
- "Great! A bull with superiority complex."- She mumbled.
- "You have defeated me, so you have the right to continue on the path that will lead you straight to the Sacred Cauldron."-
Umi had already thrown the sword away and went to check that Clef hadn't received the smallest sign of harm. The Minotaur went to help Ascot.
- "You were very brave. You must love her greatly."-
- "Yes, I do."-
- "You risked so much for her. Why is he the one that receives her care?"-
- "It's always like that, my friend… always…"-
Umi, Ascot and Clef soon got out of the Labyrinth guided by the Minotaur, and once outside of the maze they were able to see in the distance the Sacred Fire, and continued through the forest.
ººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
- "Where are we?"-
The surrounding darkness didn't allow Aello, Ocypete nor Celaeno to distinguish the place where they were.-
- "You're at home."-
At the same time the voice was heard, the place was filled with light. In front of them they saw an old man of penetrating blue eyes wearing a blue tunic embroidered with exquisite golden threads.
- "FATHER!?"-
The three faces went pale as they saw their father in that old man. He was much older than the last time they saw him; his strong and wide forehead was now crossed by wrinkles, his black hair faded away behind his now gray hair, and his powerful and buffed body had weakened and decayed. They barely recognized him.
- "It's been a long time, father."-
- "That's right, Aello. And you all haven't changed much."-
- "Not like you."-
- "Time doesn't go by in vain, my daughters. Where is Iris?"-
- "Carrying out her part in our goal."-
- "She has to be brought here. In that way, we will be together once again."-
- "Haven't you forgotten that Hera swore to kill us?"-
- "She has aged as well. She won't oppose that you stay. She has already forgiven you. You're daughters of Olympus and it's been many centuries since we abandoned the world of mortals. We weakened and we all have come back here. We have nothing to do in other worlds."-
- "I'm sorry, father, but we have other plans."-
Aello turned around and walked towards the exit of the Temple of Poseidon. Celaeno and Ocypete wavered; if Iris would have been with them, they would have run to her father's arms, and they could've gotten much closer to him as well. But she was not there
They turned around and followed her sister.
- "Sirens! Be careful!"-
- "We will, father!"-
Many memories ran through the sisters' minds when they heard that counsel. When they were girls and went out to play in the sea, their father used to give them that warning. Now, they were not children, they were three women trying to be free, though none of them remembered what they wanted to be free from.
ººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
- "Presea, does this place reminds you of something?"-
- "No."-
- "Something like what?"-
- "It looks like the Forest of Silence."-
- "That's true." – Said the boy as he gazed at the leafy trees.-
- "I think it does, a little bit."-
Medea had to lie again, for she had never been to the Forest of Silence. She didn't like to, but it almost had become routine.
- "Hehehehe you almost killed us."-
- "Did I? Why?"-
- "Because Mokona messed around in your study room and you thought it was us. Don't you remember?"-
Hikaru looked at her with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
- "Oh, that's true! What a bad memory!" - She lightly touched her temple and kept walking as the others looked at her a bit weird.
- "By the way, where's Mokona? It's been a while since I saw her." - Ferio said.
- "She appears and disappears whenever she wants, but I haven't seen her since I came back from Autosam. Do you know anything about her, Presea?"-
- "No, but I think she might have gone back to the Forest. Maybe she is paying a visit to Primera." –
The girl just smiled, though she had not even the slightest idea about where Mokona was, but she didn't want Hikaru to get worried. She could get worried for them two.
They arrived to a meadow that had a big tree stump which served as a table for a golden apple. It started to glow and three women appeared behind the stump.
- "Greetings, mortals. I'm goddess Hera, Mother of the Gods."-
- "I am Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty and Love."-
- "My name is Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Battles."-
- "What are your names, mortals?"– Hera asked.
- "I'm Hikaru Shidou, and I'm a Magic Knight."-
- "My name is Presea, and I'm the blacksmith of the planet Cephiro."-
- "I'm Ferio, future King of the Planet Cephiro."-
The three Goddesses smiled, pleased.
- "Your test consists on giving the apple to the most beautiful Goddess of us three."– Hera spoke.
- "You will thus solve a dispute that has lasted many centuries."- Athena added.
- "If you choose me as the most beautiful, I promise to give you immortality."- Stated the authoritarian Hera
- "If you elect me as the winner, I will make you wise and your names will be written in history."- Remarked Athena.
- "If I win, as I should, I will grant you the love of the fairest mortal in the world."- Persuaded Aphrodite.
Presea and Hikaru decided that Ferio had to make the decision, since they as women weren't going to give a fair judgment.
- "But, why me?"-
- "Because you're a man."-
- "And I can't think of another way to get out of this problem without getting the other two Goddesses mad."– Presea smiled at him as she pushed him to the front.
The boy looked at the three women in front of him. Hera had a mature look but she was immensely beautiful. Her skin was white as milk, and her eyes, blue as the sky. Her hair was like a cascade of golden locks that fell graciously over her shoulders, and her attractive body was covered by a light gray tunic with decorations of gold and precious stones.
Athena was an alluring young woman of jet black hair, light brown skin, penetrating and mysterious black eyes, tall, and well-shaped. Her thin waist was dressed with a cuirass with gems on it, and her body was covered by a light red tunic.
On the other hand, Aphrodite was a captivating girl of white skin and green eyes, which had a charming glow; her hair was between blonde and brunette like the sun on the sunset. She had a stunning slim body, and her whole being emanated an alluring grace with every movement.
It was certainly a big problem, because all of them were of an entrancing beauty. Putting it in the way a man like him could see it, he was greatly attracted her sweet green eyes and the grace that surrounded Aphrodite. He also liked Hera's golden hair and her white skin. He also liked the waist and that penetrating stare which denoted security and wisdom, which Athena had.
The boy smiled to himself; he wasn't sure of what he was going to do was going to work, but no one had a better plan.
- "Respectable ladies, I have decided that the apple must be cut in three portions. The beauty which the three of you possess cannot be compared with anyone else."-
- "Very clever, young prince, but we are not satisfied."– Athena sounded indignant.
- "I think that what you want is to receive the three of our gifts. You are too ambitious, and that will become your ruin."– Wrathfully said Hera; Aphrodite just smiled.
- "You couldn't be more wrong, my fair ladies. Wisdom sounds like a very attractive gift to an inexperienced prince like me, but I think that you must gain wisdom by yourself, or at least that's what my master and life itself has taught me. I do not want immortality, because that would mean to remain alone in my existence and I would witness the death of my friends and the one that I love, and that would be the worst of my tortures. I do not want the heart of the fairest woman, because I already have her, and to my eyes, no one can compare to her."-
- "Are you trying to mean that a mere mortal is prettier that three Goddesses?"– Hera growled.
- "My fair ladies, for a man who has fallen in love there is no one more beautiful than the woman he loves, and I have to admit that your delightful qualities you possess reminds me of her. That is why I cannot choose any of you. The three of you are the most beautiful women I have ever known."-
The boy bowed before the three Goddesses. A glow of fury shone through the eyes of the three of them for just an instant. Aphrodite was the first one to speak with her sweet voice.
- "I proudly see that you were born under my protection. You are charming. Despite the fact that I can't accept that a mortal is prettier than me, I approve the test."-
- "I don't agree either with a mortal being equable to a Goddess; however, you acted with intelligence to answer our demand. I foresee that you will have a prosperous reign. I agree with the judgment as well."-
- "Very well, then. I also grant you my approval. You have become worthy of the Road to the Sacred Cauldron, and you have passed the hardest test in Olympus, one that has made even Gods fail. You may continue."-
The apple split in three equal pieces that levitated into the hands of the Goddesses. When they caught them, the Goddesses vanished, and in their place a road appeared that went over the foliage and through the woods. The three of them were about to resume their journey and get into the forest when Aphrodite appeared in front of Ferio once again.
- "I just want to know who's the girl that has defeated three Goddesses for being the only one in your heart."-
- "I'm sorry I cannot fulfill your wish, but she is not coming with us now."-
- "Well, it's a shame. But, I'm the prettiest of us three, right?"-
- "You're the one that looks the closest to my angel. That's the only thing I can tell you."-
- "Is he always like this with all the ladies?"-
Hikaru and Presea answered in unison.
- "Yes!"-
That made Ferio to go full red face.
- "Ha ha ha ha. Again, there's no doubt now that you were born under my protection. You are a gentleman and a naughty boy at the same time. So, listen very carefully to what I have to say: If you ever meet a woman named Helen, no matter whom she is, turn around and run away as fast as you can." – She winked as she laughed. – "Farewell, future King of the planet Cephiro."-
Waving goodbye, she vanished into the air once again.
ºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº
The blue sky reminds me of the sea. The waves hitting against the marble walls; the stairs that went down to the coast; the sand under my feet; the races; the tantrums; the joys; the games; my sisters running behind me when I tried to go out with the sirens at midnight, when the moon gave enough light to see them singing over the rocks. Ocypete loved to listen to them, that's why we ran together towards the coral reef. Aello and Celaeno used to get so mad about it. They used to say that they didn't understand the obsession we felt for going out into the cold of the night in order to hear the fishes howl. Back then, they were adolescent and had other things to think about. That's why they never told our father about our nighttime escapes. They had their own secret: running around the forest with the nymphs and watch the youngest sons of Olympus sleep. It was our secret…
That was my home, and now that I'm here I can't visit it. How would dad be doing?
After all that WAS my home and I don't think we will have a place like that here. This place that once was my home is nothing but childhood memories.
- "Isn't it beautiful?"-
- "What?"-
- "The sky. Wasn't that what you were looking at?"-
- "Yes, it's just I think that it brings back memories."-
- "Memories? Your memory is coming back!"-
- "It seems so, but they're very vague memories… of a house."-
- "It must be yours. Cheer up! Soon you will bring back the past!"-
- "Fuu, you're not from Cephiro, right?"-
- "Don't you know? … It's true. You might've known it, but you can't remember it right now. We the Magic Knights are summoned from another world."-
- "You're planning on going home, right?"-
- "Yes, we had agreed on that… but right now I don't know if I want to leave."-
- "Why?"-
- "Well… in my world, people say that home is where your heart is, and part of my heart is here in Cephiro."-
- "With the prince?"-
The blush didn't take a long time before showing up in Fuu's face. She was getting a bit upset, that conversation was getting a bit too intimate. Those were not things to talk about with a stranger. But surely Liz wasn't doing it on purpose. She looked truly interested, not like as if she wanted to get the latest gossip.
- "With my friends from Cephiro and… yes… with him."-
- "You two are very close to each other."-
- "Is it that notorious?"– Now her whole face was completely red. Lantis hastily walked in front of them, without hearing their conversation (or at least, that's what it looked like).
- "No. Don't worry, I just know (like everyone else in the castle ^_^). But I don't understand it."-
- "You don't understand it?"-
- "No. I do not understand it. You two look so happy together, look after each other…"-
- "Have you ever been in love?"-
The girl said no with her head.
- "Don't worry, I didn't understand as well. When you feel it, you will know."-
- "Is it like what you feel for your friends?"-
- "Well… yes, it could be said that it is so, maybe with a few variants. (Wow, this girl is getting me in more trouble than Hikaru ñ_ñ!)."-
They kept walking down the silver road without talking. Both girls had plenty to think about.
- "Fuu… can I be your friend?"-
- "Of course. I'd love to."-
Fuu smiled and Liz hugged her.
- "Thank you."-
- "Why?"-
- "For talking with me."-
- "That's what friends are for."-
- "I think we're there."- Interrupted Lantis.
Finally they were in front of the Sacred Cauldron. A circular wall of white fire protected the Crown of Victory, an olive crown that would end with the struggle they were dealing with.
ººººººººººººººººººººººº
- "I SEE IT, I SEE THE SACRED FIRE!" – The redhead started to run.
- "Wait, Hikaru, we saw it too." – Medea tried to reach her.
- "It's useless to try and reach her." – Ferio said, slowly walking after them.
- "WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?!"-
Hikaru stopped a few centimeters away from the flame. The view was desolating. Lafarga charging with his sword at Liz who defended herself pretty good with her spear; as soon as the swordsman lowered his guard a bit, she attacked in places that, if it were not by his speed, would be deadly hits. Caldina ran from one place to another with her daggers in hand trying to avoid Ocypete's attack, who was wielding a small sword, like some sort of dagger. A bit further she was able to distinguish Lantis trying to defend Fuu from Celaeno's chain, and finally, Umi was having a heated confrontation against Aello and her trident. What had happened? Where was everyone else?
Ferio and Presea got the same feeling of shock when they reached Hikaru, for they just stood there and witnessed the scene. They didn't understand a thing either. Presea was able to see Clef's body lying on the ground a few meters away from Umi and Aello, so she ran towards him. That made Hikaru and Ferio react, who following her example, ran to aid Fuu in order to get her out of the battlefield.
Hikaru wanted to help Lantis to defeat her opponent, but she would be only a burden in that moment, since she didn't have her sword and wasn't able to use her magic powers. She only helped Ferio in getting Fuu out of there.
Presea finally reached Clef. His body was face down, with someone under him; it seemed that he had tried to protect that person but the sword wound had pierced him a little bit under the left shoulder, and had wounded the other person as well. Presea turned him around and checked for his vital signs. He was alive! She then went on to look for the other person.
She turned her face around to see her, but in that moment she stood away because of the surprise she felt. Then, she got close to her again. She was having difficulties to breathe and she went pale. It was… was… a woman… a blonde woman… with long hair… with white skin… a woman… a woman that looked just like her.
Her eyes went white and felt how she wasn't getting enough oxygen. Her body felt heavy and within seconds she fell to the ground.
The wounds didn't seem alarming, but they hurt a lot and were bleeding. How long had he been unconscious? He tried to stand, and by moving from side to side a bit he made it. It wasn't too long ago since Celaeno attacked him with her chain and left him unconscious. He figured it out because Lantis was still fighting with her. The next thing he saw was Umi being tired of fighting with Aello, and Hikaru and Ferio helping Fuu, so he ran towards them. He was really angry, because for Ocypete it had been child's play to defeat him and leave him unconscious. He couldn't do anything to help in the battle.
- "Where does it hurt?" – Ferio asked.
- "Everywhere." – He complained.
- "Fuu, what's going on?" – Hikaru asked.
- "Let Fuu rest, I'll tell you."-
- "Ascot! You're wounded, too!"-
- "Don't worry, Hikaru, it's not as serious as it looks."-
- "Then tell us. What happened?" – Ferio said as he put Fuu on the ground.
- "When we got here, the battle had already begun. I believe Fuu and Lantis got here at the same time than the Harpies, and they attacked them in order to prevent them from crossing the holy fire. We got here after Caldina, Lafarga and Presea."-
- "Why is Liz with them? Is she under a spell?"-
- "No, Hikaru. Liz was a spy. She is Iris, the Harpies' youngest sister."-
- "That figures, that's why she looked so familiar. I saw her with the others in Fahren."-
- "Well, we have to go through the Sacred Fire and get the Olive Crown. Thus we will stop all of this."-
- "It's… not… that… easy." - Fuu said, with great difficulty.
- "I'm afraid she's right. Minos warned us that only a person with noble heart, mind and body can go through the Sacred Fire and obtain the Crown. There has to be a complete balance in his or her entire being in order to get through the fire, if not, that will be the end for that person."-
- "It doesn't matter, I will try! I CAN'T CONTINUE BEING HERE WHILE EVERYONE ELSE KEEPS FIGHTING!"-
Hikaru started running towards the Sacred Fire, for she hated seeing others fighting without not being able to do something to help. Ferio and Ascot watched how she ran away; she had taken them by surprise.
- "Ferio… go and stop her… She won't make it. She's too stouthearted."-
At first Ascot and Ferio didn't understand Fuu's petition. Wasn't Hikaru the most powerful of the Magic Knights? Wasn't she the one with enough power of will to abolish the Pillar System? Knowing Hikaru, she was going to make it, she always did. Surely she had the balance to go through the Sacred Fire. Balance? Balance between body, mind and heart… her heart, her emotions… she was driven by her feelings easily. She was not going to go through! Both guys looked at each other.
- "I'll go for her, you take care of Fuu."-
When Ferio wanted to switch roles by the logic of Ascot being wounded and not him, it was already too late. The boy ran through that battlefield to reach and stop Hikaru.
Then, everything happened so fast, in just a few seconds…
The battle between Umi and Aello was astonishing. The Magic Knight wasn't going to let her be defeated, and Aello was going to push her to the very limit, for only in that way they were going to discover the owner of the Key. When her weapon hit Umi's sword, she pushed her in order to make her fall to the ground, just like Umi did. Then, she saw a redheaded girl trying to reach the Crown; if she succeeded, they'd never know who the Key was, because the Trial would end before that. Pushing forward at the same time she put her foot behind Umi's foot, she made her fall and ran towards Hikaru.
The Magic Knight stood up, and realizing what was going on, she ran as well and passed her opponent. Aello threw her trident at Hikaru, who was about to jump into the Sacred Fire, but Umi pushed her away and she remained in her place. The sharp pointy trident was now flying towards her. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact…
The first thing she felt was how her body was pushed backwards and then fell heavily on the ground. She felt how a light warmth surrounded her and then a thick substance running over her chest. She felt very heavy as if something was over her. The weird thing was that she was feeling no pain at all. She opened her eyes and found herself in the midst of the Sacred Fire, with the magnificent Crown of Olives over an Ionic pillar just beside her. She tried to stand but it wasn't only till then that she realized there was someone over her.
She was stroke by horror.
She pushed him and sat with the same impulse.
She discovered that, once again, she owed her life to her friend Ascot, who then was bleeding in front of her…
- "Does it hurt? Yes… yes… it hurts.
My body is losing strength… I can't feel my limbs… they are numb… my lips won't obey… they don't want to move… if only I could tell her… I wouldn't be afraid of Death…
She's saying something… I can't hear her… I don't understand what she's saying…
I'm on her arms now and that's what only matters now… her face will be the last thing I'll see… then I can die happy… it's ok… I can die in peace…
My wounds are not hurting anymore… I think I'm floating… I see her… she's hugging my lifeless body… my breathless body…
I see my friends… the battle has stopped… everyone's waiting to see what happened…
My friends… I'd have liked to thank them all for being with me always… I'd have liked to say goodbye…
I feel a soft warmth around my body… a luminous tunnel has opened before…
I believe it's time to go… I'm not sad nor regretful… living this life was worth it… just for having met her… my memories come to my mind… many are sad and it hurts to remember them… others are happy and it's nice to relive them again…
The tunnel is dragging me… I want to see for the last time… I want her to be my last memory… she, for whom I've given my life…"-
She held him in her arms; she couldn't believe it, he was not responding. She leaned on his chest and listened. Nothing. She heard nothing. His heart wasn't beating. His heart had stopped. That meant he was dead…
- "His heart's not beating anymore… he's gone."-
Her sight became lost. Her mind was traveling and bringing to her remembrance all the moments she had shared with her friend… he who had always been there… to take care of her… to protect her… when she needed it the most…
But he was not going to be around anymore… never again…
- "NOOOOOOOOOO!"-
She cried with all the pain of her rent soul, while she hugged Ascot's bloody and cold body.
A tear after another sprung out of her eyes to fall over Ascot's face. Both of them were surrounded by a warm blue energy that started to expand and put out the Sacred Fire.
All of them were standing and watching the scene. Umi's energy kept expanding until it had touched all of her friends, and when all of them were inside of it, it flashed and they all appeared in Cephiro.
First of all, I'd like to thank you for reading this translation I'm working on. You're all a motivation to continue translating. As you probably know, authors have reading stats for their stories. Seeing the numbers of people reading it is motivating ^^
Also, I want to apologize for the 'internetlessness' I have been through during the last few months (besides, I just went through the most disconnected summer I have lived in my life). It has been incredibly frustrating not having being able to solve my connection issues with my ISP. It's why I waited to go back to college to upload a new chapter.
As a quick note, I have NO IDEA if that line in Greek is accurate, so if someone could help me out with that, it'd be awesome. If you ever come to Chile, I can cook some awesome stakes for you, that's the only thing I can promise for helping me out :P
James Birdsong: thanks bud for putting up with me since the very beginning! What have you liked the most thus far?
Just a girl: Thank you for the suggestion. I took your suggestion into account now that I've been revising the story. It does look better J.
Needless to say, feel free to share, read and comment! Thank you ^^