2 days before evac: morning
Author's P.O.V.: Somewhere not on Earth
"What do you mean you can't find them?"
"Exactly what I said: There are no elementals of high calibre to be found!"
"Then contact the other side and have them maintain it from their end! We'll just open the damn thing by force!"
"Lords, please, be civil!"
The soldiers hurriedly resumed their duties as silence fell over the tent where 3 of the Kings of Empuier held council. The Kings of Ethos, Rethollia, and Surra had amassed a small section of their armies and all capable Enchanters and Sorcerers to aid the Evacuation from Earth to Empuier. However, 2 days before the last scheduled portal opening, all the elder Elementals had gone missing, taking their apprentices with them.
"My brother and father are over there, on that time-bomb. They are counting on us to finish what we started," Lord Erebus of Rethollia stated, his fist gripped tight on the table before him.
Octurem, King of Surra simply sighed at his hot-blooded neighbour, "The elementals are required as catalysts to open the portal between worlds. Without them we cannot continue with the current plan."
"Precisely," interjected Akhnamkanun, "Why we should consider a new course of action. I personally think that, given all the arguments the 2 of you have put forth until now, Erebus's last suggestion is our only option."
Lord Octurem pinched his brow and sighed again in surrender, "Very well, I shall attempt to send a notice however the enchanters that are required will be taken off duty. Remain ever vigilant," he said as he left the tent, "Do not forget where we have dared to camp."
With that he departed. Erebus simply huffed, as if anyone could forget where they were. The Prek-kadoram, Emptied platau, was the place where the veil was thinnest. It was easy for Octurem, the King of Retholia thought glancing at his old friend across from him. Octurem wasn't the one with family on a planet that was no longer stable.
"What a terrible set-back," Akhnamkanun slunked into his chair, his fingers wringing the chain around his neck.
Erebus's hand twirled his family ring unbidden and could only silently agree as they awaited news.
Returning to the Isles: afternoon
Author's P.O.V.:
Kisara huffed in frustration. Not only was she unable to contact her mentor through the communication crystals she'd borrowed from Siren but it was proving impossible to find either Yugi or Seto after searching the entire Island. She was just about to give up and head to her room to nap when a small shout caught her attention.
"Aunty Sara!"
Kisara turned to see Jaden running down the hall to her. She scooped him into a hug and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "What's up, rascal?"
He pouted at her for a moment, upset at being called a rascal, before grabbing her arm and dragging her in the direction of the garden. "Come quickly, quickly. Mommy said to come quickly!"
Kisara tilted her head curiously and allowed herself to be pulled out of the house to the infirmary by the small brunette. She still couldn't get used to the sterilised sell of the infirmary. Rein was sitting on a bed in deep conversation with Rebecca and another girl with Scarlet hair wearing a nurse's outfit.
Jaden ran over to his mother, who scooped him into her arms and placed him in her lap before smiling over at me. The other two didn't look up from their conversation, or give any kind of acknowledgement to my entrance. I walked quietly to the bedside and sat on the side table before tuning into their conversation.
"But surely there must be other ways to channel energy?" Rein was saying urgently, running her hand through her hair. "Magic is diverse and there's always more than one technique for any kind of manipulation."
The woman in the scrubs shook her head lightly as she finished bandaging Rein's other arm, her red locks waving behind her. "To open a passage of that magnitude and hold it open for the time required for so many people to make it through to Empuier, a great amount of magical energy is needed. The magical conditions on both planets have to be similar and an immense amount of energy needs to be constantly channelled into the passage," she explained. "Even if there is another way, there isn't enough preparation time to get the resources or people required and we can't be sure of the amount of magic that can be manipulated that way."
She finished her bandaging and looked up, blinking as she registered my presence in the room. Our gazes locked and I started. I would notice those crimson eyes anywhere. Lillienne Krevasque was a close friend of mine at the Academy and had been a fellow apprentice at the Ethosian court. However only confusion met my wide eyed stare.
"Um, I'm sorry but who are you?" Lillienne asked, raising an eyebrow.
I blinked slowly, she didn't remember me? "I'm Kisara, a Guardian of the Ethosian Royal Court," I answered, hiding my bewilderment.
"Oh," her brows crinkled together. "I'm afraid I don't recall seeing you; you must be the one that was sent to protect the Princes here on Earth. I'm Lilly, formally Lillienne Krevasque, a nurse from the Ethosian Palace."
I shook her hand. A nurse? Well things just got a bit weirder. Lillienne – Lilly stood from the bed and dusted herself off. "I'm afraid I have to leave now. I need to relay this to the Ancients. Please explain the situation to Kisara, Rein."
Rein nodded as she moved her arm a little. Lilly curtseyed and hurriedly left the infirmary, heading towards Galleus Elda's home. I looked at Rein expectantly, pushing the issue of Lilly from my mind.
Rein sighed before she started explaining, as if bracing herself, "Lilly got word from somebody on Empuier that the Elementals that were aiding in holding the passage open went missing this morning. They can't open and maintain a passage between Earth and Empuier anymore and want us to open it from here because, as you know, many members of the council of magic are here so tere will be less preparation work required."
"But," Rebecca interjected, "why can't they just get more elementals to help?"
I mentally slapped myself. Of course they didn't know, Earth knowledge of Empuier was scarce. I was about to explain but Rein beat me to it.
"Elementals aren't a common occurrence," she began. "While it's true that element manipulation is common, it's just an expression of magical ability. That's why most people can't control more than 1, 2, or with effort 3, elements at a time, like mages and sorcerers. However an Elemental has the ability to manipulate multiple elements at once and can actually feel the flow of energy and magic in their surroundings. They can draw it out, increase it, decrease it, channel, and absorb it and then manipulate it again in a completely different form. With no catalysts and minimal effort.
"It does take quite a few years of study though. The elementals that went missing have been studying for decades, to find just as experienced elementals on short notice is pretty much impossible."
Rebecca pursed her lips, "So… how could we open from this side?"
I decided to answer her, "It's because when evacuation hit a peak, more than half the Council of Magic came here with the Ancients, the Highest magical authority, to make sure things went smoothly on this side."
"What about Dimension jumping?" Rebecca asked, as Jaden hopped out of her arms and went to sit with his sister who was building blocks.
Rein snorted, "Oh yes, it's all well and good for Siren to jump dimensions whenever she felt like but that's essentially tearing a small hole through dimensions and slipping through. Young elementals can't do it at all. It takes ages of study and sorcerers use all kinds of catalysts and make weird preparations." Rein smiled cynically, "I guess Siren is what you'd call a prodigy. A rarity amongst rarities."
We lapsed into silence. Now that I thought about it, Siren's abilities did seem strange even amongst elementals. Hamthar must have known. She was his daughter after all. Ever since her childhood he'd worked to develop the machinery required to halt technology to buy time if there was ever a tight situation. And the machinery needed to prime the atmosphere with magical energy to open the portal. And Siren? The little elemental prodigy grew up surrounded by nature energy on the most magical place left on Earth guided by the Ancients themselves. She was groomed to those purposes and saved to not waste her talent.
"If you can hear this, please come to the Garden of the Ancients immediately," I jumped slightly at the sudden voice in my head. "We have entered a state of emergency."
Rein and I stood up immediately and Rebecca started in surprise. "We have to go, the emergency meeting was called," Rein explained as she walked around the bed.
"O-oh, ok then," she said waving us off, as we both left the infirmary. I saw her move to where her children played before I walked out the door.
It was a bit abrupt but we didn't want to miss anything important now. As we approached the garden, we caught a glimpse of Yugi and Seto hanging around the outskirts of the circle. As we approached Yugi smiled and waved us over. We got to where they were and I gave each of them a punch in the arm.
"Where the heck were you guys?" I demanded.
Yugi smiled sheepishly, rubbing his arm. Seto just petted me on the head, probably ignoring the pain in his arm from being punched by a dragon.
"We were with Galleus Elda in his attic," Seto said.
"Huh?" Rein and I both chimed.
But before they could answer us, Galleus Elda spoke from the centre of the Garden. As he greeted everyone I did a quick scan of the Garden and noted many of the faces I'd seen before in meetings Lord Hamthar had dragged me to. Lord Hamthar himself stood behind his father, absently twisting the family ring around his finger, something I'd noted him do plenty of times before.
While everyone waited for the last few people to enter the clearing, Macarm Elda jabbered happily to those few council members closest to him. I heard bits of the conversation but it was mostly formality and bits of small talk. Lilly entered the Garden area, hanging near the entrance and I watched her for a moment before she turned to look in my direction, and I quickly averted my gaze to the centre again.
Finally Galleus Elda spoke again in a grave tone, "I'm afraid we have some urgent news. The Elder Elementals who were aiding in the opening of the passage between here and Empuier as well as heir apprentices have gone missing." Some murmuring roke out but Galleus Elda continued over the din, "There is no time to gather the materials and people required to replace them in the next 34 hours. Since all the people with the required experience and ability as well as the materials are all present here on the Isles –"
"Surely, you don't mean that we are to open the passage ourselves?"
"But if we don't we'll all be stuck here, not to mention the citizens left!"
"Not to mention there will be more coming in with the recue party sent –"
"There hasn't even been any news from them."
A string of arguments broke out amongst the council members. Galleus Elda's voice could barely be heard amongst the clamour of voices. Rein tsked beside me aand put her fingers to her lips. Yugi suddenly sticking his fingers in his ears was the only warning before a shrill, high itched whistle vibrated through the garden, followed by a sudden, stunned silence.
"Thank you, my dear," Galleus elda nodded in our direction. "Yes, I believe that the current plan is for us to open the portal ourselves. It will be tricky but it is doable."
Before anyone else could say anything, lord Hamthar spoke, "There are also a few elementals here who were part of the Eldaer sect of Elementals on Empuier, as well as their apprentices. There is a collection of catalysts and poltices, as well as enchanting material and rune stones available here on the Isles. We have all the materials, we WILL be able to do this and get the citizens to safety."
"However," Lord Callan said, his tone grave. Before he could continue his brother Kallan Elda entered the Gardens hurriedly. Daren coming up beside him.
"I have an update," Kallan Elda said once he'd caught his breath. "The Lords on Empuier have managed to gather enough supplies to open the passage. But," he continued before more talking could break out. "They will still require us to hold it open from this side. They will do their best to support our efforts from that side but they are unable to hold it open for long on their own."
More talking broke out. The Ancients allowed it in order to have a discussion amongst themselves, their carers and children gathering around them.
"I don't really get it," Seto admitted with a small sigh of defeat.
Yugi smiled, "I think it's like more like a mathematical problem really." Seto raised an eyebrow at him sceptically and Yugi continued, "You need to stop seeing magic as something separate from reality. If you need 50% energy to open the passage and then 100% to continuously pass into it to keep it open then you need somebody with experience or specialised material to work it. The other side can provide 50% to open and can continue pouring 50% into the passage. So we need to put in 50% to hold it open in order for the enrgy going into the passage to be 100%."
Whoever was close had heard Yuig's explanation. One man, whom I recognised as an Elder Elemental nodded and smiled in approval, "That is very accurate, if a bit simplistic." He stuck his hand out in greeting to Yugi. "I am Ghislayn, Second High Elemental of the Council of Magic."
Yugi shook his hand, dipping his head in greeting, "Yugi Aslain Motou."
I saw Lord Ghislayn's eyes widen at that. His eyes darted to me and I nodded once to him. He then looked at Seto as he comprehended that we were officially the Ethosian representatives on Earth. Before we could continue our pleasant exchange Lord Galleus started to address the clearing again.
"Now that we have had some time to digest this sudden overload of information I need to bring an urgent problem to your attention. I have realized that this has not changed from before Kallan Elda came forth with the new plans. Whoever is holding the passage open may not be able to pass through whilst channelling magical energy, or else the entire passage may collapse."
A sudden and terrified silence enveloped the clearing. "As such," Lord Galleus continued, "we will only take volunteers for this task."
The silence continued as everybody digested this. It was not an easy decision to make. The planet would not be inhabitable for those born to the light. Attempting to stay on would result in death or worse.
"I'll help!"a girls voice suddenly chimed
"And Me." "Me as well." Two more male voices added
Everyone turned to face the source of the voices of the brave fools. I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my face when I saw them. Siren, Atem, and Alex were making their way to the garden to join the congregation.
Our Heroes return to the Island! Yay! And a strange glimpse into the world they're going to. YAY! Also this chapter got pretty long so, um, forgive me, the next one will probably be shorter.
We near the End! The End is nigh! ETC! No seriously! This story got a lot longer than i expecteted it to get. So Chapter 25 or 26 will be the last. LOL Yeah i know I made it longer in a fit of midnight inspiration.
Tell me what you think, if you'd like. Till next time, the flower petals fall away...