Chapter 16: Not-So-Hidden-Temple
If there was one thing in this world that Claire hated in this world, it was a liar.
But following after that was probably the idea of her being in the dark about some important information.
And right now, she felt her heart beating so hard that it felt like it was trying to break free of her chest.
What was happening to her?
Claire had heard Y'shtola angry before, but never like this. The way she was yelling at Urianger…? And the worst part was it was about her. Claire didn't know what to think or what she could possibly say to this… only that she now felt as if she were about to be sick when she heard her say 'it may be too late' or 'she has been infused with their light'. What were they trying to say? What was wrong with her?
She gulped down, trying to keep herself from thinking the worse and instead pressed her head so that her ear was flat against the door when she heard Y'shtola then demanded why Urianger pretended not to notice that something was wrong. So… Urianger knew from the beginning that something was happening to her because of her defeating the Lightwardens? Did he just think that it was nothing to be concerned with and that was why he never brought it up? Yet, Urianger had seemed concerned for her wellbeing… but never had she thought that he would purposely ignore it if her victories were causing her harm…?
But what really got her was when she heard Y'shtola demand to know if the 'vision' that Urianger had of the Eight Umbral Calamity was real… he didn't answer her. That, if anything, sent a wave of cold throughout her entire body.
Why?
She wanted to burst in there and demand answers for once… but she didn't have time to think when one of the villagers came limping into Slitherbough, crying for help. She felt as if her stomach dropped when she heard him cry out about Eulmorans, understanding immediately what was going on.
She stood back in time for Y'shtola to come marching out, looking thoroughly put out, as she all but kicked the door down, but headed straight to the villager and demanding to know what was happening.
Urianger followed much slower, and seemed a little taken aback when he almost ended up walking right into her… but Claire couldn't even look him in the eye as she followed after Y'shtola. Fearing that she would snap at him, she instead focused on what was going on outside these walls. As they tended to the wounded guard, he quickly told her about how he and another were ambushed while on patrol and that a representative of Eulmore was here, demanding to speak with them. He explained that they were in the company of a few of the Children of the Everlasting Dark and were now holding onto their friend as a hostage until they were granted an audience.
Understanding at once, Y'shtola nodded, promising to handle this before she turned to her and the other Scions and instructed them to stay hidden.
"We can't risk them knowing that you are here, though I think that it's safe to say they already figured out that much," she sighed.
There were a few feeble sounds of protest from the other Scions, but they soon agreed to let her handle this, and at least go and see what these 'demands' were going to be about. Runar came running up, his eyes wide and fearful; yet determined to accompany Y'shtola outside with her, for he wanted to be close at hand should they try something against her.
Y'shtola thought it over for a moment before agreeing to allow him to accompany her, and the two of them made for the entrance. She and the other Scions accompanied them in silence until they could just make out the entrance and fell back to the shadows of the tunnel as Y'shtola and Runar walked on.
Fearing that their negotiations will turn sour, Claire crouched down low, almost anxious to hear the sounds of fighting break out so that she would have an excuse to vent her frustrations.
Ran'jit's voice suddenly spoke up and Mifnilia cowered next to her. She reached out to place a comforting hand on Minfilia's shoulder to steady the younger girl, but her own eyes were narrowed at the entrance.
"You speak for the Night's Blessed?" she heard him demand.
"I do," Y'shtola answered back firmly. Ran'jit then gave her a warning when Y'shtola demanded that they hand over their hostage.
"By Lord Vauthry's decree, Rak'tika now falls under the governances of Eulmore," Ran'jit informed them formally, "You will henceforth answer to us."
Under who's right? Vauthry may think that he is this world's master, but he has no right to force the Night's Blessed to bend the knee.
"Is that so?" Y'shtola demanded coldly before addressing someone else, "And the Children of the Everlasting Dark have acquiesced to this madness?"
"We have reached an accord, yes," Ran'jit answered back, "Too many times have the Night's Blessed shunned Eulmore's overtures of friendship. The risk that you harbor hostile intentions has grown too great to ignore. Therefore his lordship has claimed dominion over this forest, and bestowed executive authority upon the Children of the Everlasting Dark."
"In his wisdom, Lord Vauthry has agreed to recognize ours as the only permissible expression of Dark worship—its one true faith," another voice spoke up, one of the Children from Claire's guess. "You and your false creed are a blight on these woods! A foul, unholy corruption that must be cleansed. Little wonder the Warrior of Darkness visits both Lakeland and Il Mheg, yet shuns Rak'tika. Your perverted teachings hold blessed shadow at bay!"
Her fists curled up tightly and she so badly wanted to hit someone. How dare they? They use her as an excuse to do what they want? Using her as a threat?
"You have accepted the yoke of Eulmore to spite us, then?" Y'shtola asked with a frozen voice, "Fools. Darkness will never return to these skies while they hold sway."
But Ran'jit seemed to have grown tired of this and left them an ultimatum.
"Those of you minded to obey his lordship are to make for Woven Oath with all haste," he warned and it was clear that this was not up for debate, "We will leave, that you may have time to prepare."
"Woven Oath?!" Runar's voice gasped, speaking at last, and unable to believe what he was hearing, "Are you suggesting we abandon our faith to join those zealots?!"
"What has your 'faith' afforded you thus far?" the speaker for the Children demanded, "Nothing! We will guide you along the righteous path."
Y'shtola was silent for a moment, but Claire didn't need to see what was happening to know that their friend was outraged about this. And this was confirmed when she asked, her voice still calm, but she could detect the cold fury there, "And should we refuse?"
Ran'jit was silent for a time before he finally answered, "Anyone found here upon our return will be considered a traitor to Eulmore, and dealt with as such."
She then heard them leaving, once their footsteps faded away, she stood up, walking out with the others right behind her. Runar was already at the side to the injured Blessed, with Y'shtola watching on with a grim look. When she heard them appear, she turned back to speak with them and stated, "We will discuss these developments after I tended to our casually."
They agreed and made a quick retreat back into Slitherbough as she and Runar helped carry the wounded man to their healers. Offering up his services, Urianger joined them to see if there was aught he could do to help—while she gathered with Minfilia and Thancred in Y'shtola's chambers to see if there was anything they could come up with to help.
"Why are they doing this?" Minfilia asked, clearly upset, her eyes filled with tears. "Is it because of me?"
"Of us," Thancred countered with a sigh, leaning up against the wall with a frown. "They want to bring you back to your cell in Eulmore, but they clearly want us all dead as well. It's clear why they're doing this. They suspect that we're here and so they're making the Night's Blessed pay for harboring fugitives."
"But they didn't do anything!" Minfilia gasped.
"They don't need to," Thancred shrugged, "Those excuses are just that… excuses. Vauthry is using whatever he can to his advantage… and I doubt that they will think twice about killing everyone in this forest if they think it will help."
He looked up to Claire, and they shared a silent understanding. Vauthry wanted to make sure that they didn't find and slay the Lightwarden here in Rak'tika like with what happened in Il Mheg when his men were forced to retreat. Therefore he was resorting to desperate actions.
"That Eulmore has gained a foothold here in these woods bodes ill for the Night's Blessed," Thancred sighed.
"Surely there's something we can do to help the Night's Blessed… isn't there?" Minfilia asked, looking from him to Claire, as if hoping that the answer would magically come to them.
Claire wasn't sure what they could do. After all, even if they left the woods, that wouldn't stop Eulmore and the Children. They want to rid the forest of the Night's Blessed and her heart ached with guilt.
The doors suddenly opened and Urianger entered, looking grave, and informing them that Y'sthola would be along in a moment to discuss what they were to do next. When Claire asked him about the guard, Urianger heaved a sigh.
"The guard hath been affected with a most terrible and efficacious poison," Urianger said solemnly, "We have attempted all manner of healing incantations. Alas, his condition remains unchanged. At present, we can but slow the poison's advance. I pray it will afford us sufficient time to find a cure."
Poison?
A fate that could be her own, along with the rest of the Scions and countless others, if they fail here. Remembering that, and seeing how far Eulmore was willing to go…? To the extent of poisoning innocent people? Anger boiled under her skin and she wanted to tear both Ran'jit and Vauthry apart for this.
She took a deep breath, allowing her anger to fall away; reminding herself that this wasn't going to help anyone if she lost control. Why was she so angry these days? It took nearly all her self-control to keep such thoughts at bay but with time it just seemed to be growing worse.
A second later, Y'shtola and Runar entered, both of them looking as grim as she felt and Thancred pushed himself off the wall to approach them.
"How fareth the young guard?" he asked, clearing wanting a second opinion. But they confirmed with what Urianger said.
"The poison spread throughout his system long before he was brought here," Y'shtola said with a miserable shake of the head, "At present, there is naught we can do but try to ease his pain."
"Do not blame yourselves, my friends," Runar said bracingly, which—if anything—made Claire feel even guiltier about this whole situation, "All that can be done has been done. Even had we reached him sooner, it would have made little difference. The Children employ countless poisons. Finding a suitable antidote is a night impossible task."
Ah, now she understood. That was the reason they were so protective over their spider nests… they were breeding them for this poison.
"What of the rest of the Blessed?" Thancred questioned, "How have they taken the news of Eulmore's generous proposition?"
Runar lowered his head, his eyes cast to the floor with a kind of despair.
"With anger and dismay," he confessed, "We cannot hope to oppose both them and the Children. I considered a convocation of all the Night's Blessed that we might consider their ultimatum, but I know how they will answer."
He then turned to Y'shtola, and his eyes were now shining with a faint fondness and concern.
"Master Matoya… I am truly sorry," he told her regretfully. "We will not—cannot—abandon our faith. But there is no reason for you to suffer for our decision. Your work is not yet done, and you still have time to flee."
Run? Y'shtola wasn't the type who would turn tail and run for it. And sure enough, Y'sthola folded her arms as she seemed to think it over.
"Flee?" she finally asked, "I am not wont to run from my troubles. In fact, with Claire's arrival, I am minded to take the offensive. The Eulmorans' presence here partly stems from a desire to protect the Lightwarden. I say we seek it out and slay the creature before they return. Were darkness to fall over Rak'tika, they would have no cause to remain."
That was the reason they came here, but so far they had no idea of where to even find the damn thing. These forests were huge and they didn't have much time to search for it when Eulmore was now breathing down their necks.
"All of which is rather easier said than done," Thancred said, fully agreeing with her train of thought, "Unless, of course, you've finally deciphered that tablet?"
"I have, as a matter of fact," Y'shtola nodded, "And with it we can prepare everything we need to enter Yx'Maja." She glanced at them all and asked, "What say you all? We will need to act quickly, but I believe it can be done."
They all looked at each other, and she didn't need to ask how they all felt about this. They were all nodding in agreement and she wasn't the type to run from a fight.
"For the Night's Blessed!" she said and that earned grins from everyone.
"Good," Y'shtola said as she turned back to Runar and informed him, "I leave the Blessed in your capable hands, Runar."
"Very well," he moaned out and he shook his head in his hands much like how he did before when he worried for Y'shtola, and Claire couldn't help but smile at that as he promised, "I see there is no changing your minds. By all that is dark, I swear to keep the Blessed safe."
He left them, returning to discuss what they should do to prepare for the Eulmorans when they returned—leaving the rest of them to discuss what their rolls would be now.
Y'shtola told them what the tablet contained, how they would first need to obtain a seal used to identify the allies of Ronka in the past. She explained that one such seal should be waiting for them in a complex of underwater ruins not far from here. Only problem? They were at the bottom of Lake Tusi Mek'ta.
Which was then that she turned to Claire, fully aware of her ability to allow her to dive for underwater exploration without fear of drowning. Claire nodded, and set off at once with her while leaving, Urianger, Thancred, and Minfilia to help shore up Slitherbough's defenses. While it wasn't sure to stop Eulmore and the Children for long, it would give them time.
Claire glanced over at Y'shtola from the corner of her eyes as they walked on… unable to feel anything other than worry for what was waiting for them.
"Nay, do not blame yourself for this," Y'shtola told her, taking her by surprise, having a guess to part of the problem that was tossing about inside her like a storm, "The Children have loathed the Night's Blessed long before even I arrived here. They would have launched an attack against us sooner or later. And from what I hear of Eulmore, especially of their Lord Vauthry, I doubt that he needed much of an excuse to rule over these woods… they have been trying for some time now. So, you need not feel that you are responsible for this."
Claire nodded, knowing that Y'shtola wouldn't be saying it if it was true, but she could not help but feel responsible. The only comfort she had was when she reasoned that if they could stop the attack and slay the warden, thus returning the night sky; that would be her way to make up for it as well as repay them for their kindness.
She just said they should hurry and they quicken their step towards the water's edge of the swamp and Y'shtola pointed out over it.
"The seal we seek should be stored in a chamber somewhere inside the ruins beneath the lake," Y'shtola declared. "However, the entrance is seemingly protected by a subtle locking mechanism rooted in the symbolism of Ronka culture."
Claire tilted her head in confusion, and perhaps she realized this wasn't much of an explanation other than 'dive underwater and mess around in the ruins until something happens' and tried again.
"The Ronka sought to live in harmony with nature, and considered certain animals to be sacred," Y'shtola explained, "Foremost in their pantheon was the snake, portrayed as the protector of the wood, and arbiter of life and death. Below it were four others, each equal in rank: the coeurl, the colbri, the opo-opo, and the wolf, characterized as the bringers of liberty, words, enlightenment, and harmony, respectively. To open the chamber containing the seal, the tablet states that one must pay due deference to three of these beasts by placing one's palm on monuments wrought in their image, and that this must be done in a specific sequence. If my interpretation is correct, the order can be discerned from the tree commandments which follow."
She cleared her throat and recited:
"Give praise unto the snake. By its strength do our lands prosper.
Be as the opo-opo, rival thy kin. As all parts seek betterment, so too does the whole.'
Be as the wolf, move as one. Peace comes to all who seek harmony in their kin."
Well, that was as clear as the mud that they were currently ankle-deep in.
"The tablet says naught of the placement, size, or appearance of the monuments, alas," Y'shtola finished, "Hopefully all will become clear when you reach the bottom of the lake. Go safely."
So she wasn't sure exactly what it was she was supposed to be looking for except that they were in the shape of a snake, the opo-opo, and the wolf… and she was supposed to find their monuments underwater and just hope that they still worked after several thousand years?
Well, she had been given tougher jobs.
So, with a shrug, she walked out into the water until she was deep enough for her feet to leave the shore behind and she dove downwards. The water was extremely murky, unlike the crystal clear water of Longmirror Lake. She could see massive plantlife growing in abundance all about her, as well as several stone pillars that were almost completely buried in mud… how was she to find anything like this?
She dove down deeper, casting her eyes over the gloom, glad that she did have enough light from the sky above to get a decent glance around. As she went further and further into the lake, skimming along the bottom, she could make out stone bricks that were set up in the walls were surprisingly intact—at least compared to the ruins of Veoburt.
She followed the wall a little deeper and after a time, she found that it led to a stone door set up right in the side. Eagerly, she swam into it and found herself in the middle of what looked to be a sort of hall with a pedestal set up right in the middle. She examined the walls around her to find the ancient carvings and carefully laid stone bricks… many of the images that were cared were worn off from time, but the structure itself was remarkably intact.
That was when she spotted the large stone doors behind the serpent and she swam over to try and open it… but she may have been trying to pull at a solid wall for all the good it did.
She then glanced up to the statue once again and drifted upwards to examine the fading carving of a serpent. She remembered what Y'sthola said about the serpent's monument and raised a hand to touch the head, moving her hand down its entire body… before it began to glow. All at once, she felt something stir close by and she looked back out to the way she first entered and decided to see what it was. She didn't know how she could sense it, but she just felt as if there was a strange vibration that moved through the water to reach her and she knew herself enough to know when her instincts were telling her something.
She paddled back out into the lake and began to search more through the ruins. Were she not on borrowed time, she would have liked to take her time to explore these ruins as she kept an eye out for more of those monuments.
Through the gloom, she did find a couple more doorways, even resorting to having to swim the length of the lake to find them. She did remember spotting several other monuments during her search, but those were in the form of different animals and so she chose to ignore them as she set her gaze about for the opo-opo and the wolf. Eventually, she did come across the image of the opo-opo, which had several large cracks in it, and she touched it to feel another strange sensation stir elsewhere in the lake.
As she swam back to the other side of the lake, she looked down in time to see a great hole below her that went even deeper, with more stone blocks set up neatly, signaling more man-made structures. She poked her head in to see that this part of the ruins clearly led to a room that had been built underground, with her being able to poke through the ceiling. And there was the last monument she needed though the wolf was now covered with green plantlife, and so worn that it was hard to tell the shape it had been at all.
But nevertheless, she touched it like how one would pet a dog in real life… and that was when she felt the walls around her tremble so slightly that she wasn't sure if she just imagined it or not. But perhaps this was a sign that the chamber containing the seal was open and so she began to swim as fast as she could back to the hall which contained the serpent.
When she did return, at first, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, at least until she noticed that the great stone doors had indeed opened and there was another pedestal waiting for her, only much smaller. Excitement burned inside her as she drifted over and found what looked like a medallion resting upon it. She took it in her hand, about the same size that Seto's had been, and knew that this had to be their ticket to finding the Lightwarden. She took one look at it before carefully tucking it safely down her front—not wishing to lose it on her way back—before she began to make her way to the surface.
When her head broke the surface of the lake, she spotted Y'sthola pacing from the shore anxiously, though she broke into a wide smile when Claire returned, feeling surprisingly drained from that little exploration. Y'shtola asked what she found and Claire took the medallion out from under her armor, wiping off some grime so that she could look at it properly in the light. A small, golden medallion bearing the elaborated image of an owl that was so realistic that she almost expected it to hoot at her.
She handed it to Y'shtola, who ran her fingers over it in examination.
"This medallion… it bears the owl insignia of the empire," she said, "There can be no doubt—this is the seal of Ronka."
She then gave her a beaming smile and told her, "Well done, Claire. We can begin our preparations to enter Yx'Maja in earnest. Bearing this seal, it should be possible to enter Yx'Maja unmolested by its guardians."
Claire nodded, about to head, but swayed slightly, giving her head a shake from the sudden dizziness that took hold. Unfortunately, Y'shtola noticed this, and sternly told her to catch her breath and that she would go on ahead to inform the others. When she was ready, they would be meeting her in the cavern leading east of the village. Claire tried to reason she was fine, but Y'shtola was having none of it, merely telling her that she would have to speak to the Blessed anyway when she got back, and that she could rest here until she was ready.
Claire could only shrug and agree as she sat down at the water's edge once Y'shtola walked off, knowing that she didn't have much of a choice in this case. She sighed as she decided that she would at least dry off first before following, knowing that it would make them happy. But still, now that she was above water and gazing out at the lake, she found her thoughts racing through her mind once more.
What did Y'shtola and Urianger see that was such a cause for concern? What was happening to her? Was she in terrible danger? If so, of what? Could it be that she was becoming…?
"I remember this place… though it's been awhile…"
She looked up to find Ardbert had just arrived. He walked until he stood right at the water's edge before sitting on the forest floor with her. She gave him a faint smile before looking out at the water with him. They sat like that for only a minute before he went on, "We spent a great deal of time exploring the woods and even these ruins. Time was you couldn't go one foot into the forest without tripping over a ruin… the empire of Ronka must have been enormous."
He glanced down at the water and sighed before adding, "When last I stood here, these ruins weren't yet underwater. I guess the Flood caused enough damage and change in the land to drown it."
"You spent a lot of time here?" she asked him.
"A fair bit of it," he admitted, "Had quite a few adventures here. In fact, this was where we first met with Brandon and Renda-Rae."
"Renda-Rae?" Claire repeated as her memory was cast back to the other Warriors of Light she met in the Source.
"She was the bard you met before," he reminded her, "Though, she went by the name of J'rhoomale at the time."
"No, I remember her," Claire nodded as the image of the miqo'te bard from before appeared in her mind's eye, as well as with a stab of annoyance as she added, "She was the one who shot a poisoned arrow into Alisaie."
He winced at the reminder.
"Right… sorry about that," he confessed, "To be fair, she did feel terrible about it afterwards."
He sighed as he rested his arms on his knees and watched the water ripple up against the edge of the shore. "She actually cried a bit after that… saying that it didn't feel right. But at the time, we were all convinced that you were enemies, so…?"
"Why not explain to us before what was going on?" she asked him suddenly, "Told us what you were going through…? We may have been able to help…?"
"Back then, if we told you that we came from another star that was in danger of being swallowed by light and that we didn't know how to save it, what would you have done?" he shrugged and she found herself unable to answer.
"It wasn't anything personal," he added sadly, "And we all hated ourselves for it. But what else could we have done? We were desperate, and didn't know what else to do. So we listened to the Ascians and allowed ourselves to journey onto the Source in the faint hope of sparing our people a worse fate."
He looked down at the ground and she watched as he tried to touch a flower that grew between them… but his fingers passed through as if mist and her heart clenched at the sight.
"She was so scared… we all were," he said softly. "But when we arrived in the Source… it was both strange and miraculous at the same time. We were all eager to explore this new world but we had a job to do. I'm sure you can understand that."
She nodded grimly and he sighed.
"I didn't want to do it," he told her quietly, "I really didn't want to. I just kept wishing that there was something that we could do without causing innocent people to suffer. And when Minfilia appeared before us, offering to help, I thought to myself… 'finally'. I was prepared to offer my all if it meant making up for all our mistakes. But in the end, she refused me and left me to wander."
"Wait," she said, looking at him sharply, "It was Minfilia who…?"
"Yeah," he admitted, closing his eyes. "I remember that day so clearly. We had just returned from the Source, and we appeared as the Flood was ready to swallow up Norvrandt. She and my comrades halted it in its tracks and she used her powers to stop it while my friends all sacrificed themselves to lend her their strength. I was the last… but as I was about to make my sacrifice… she stopped me. She said that they would hold it back and the next thing I knew…?"
Claire stared at him, not truly sure what to think of that.
Suddenly the faded memory of when she first crossed the rift to come to Norvrandt appeared in her mind's eye. When she was flying through those crystals of memory… she saw another image. She wasn't sure about it at first, but thinking back now, she knew that it was truly Minfilia—their Minfilia—that time. And she remembered her words…?
'Your time has not yet come'
She thought that it was a message from Minfilia to her or even some sort of strange dream. But could it be…?
"Why she stopped me I can't say," he said and she blinked as she focused on him again. "I would love a chance to ask her why she condemned me to this fate without at least explaining…?"
"I assume Hydaelyn told her to stop," she said softly. What other explanation could there be? But still, why? And why was she the only one who had been able to see him? Minfilia had to have known something… she had to have a reason for what she did. Perhaps she hoped that he would be able to protect this world? But how can he if he was trapped as some sort of spirit? Which was another question… why did his soul linger here like a ghost rather than fade into the lifestream?
"Minfilia being the mouthpiece for the god probably gets some insider information," he agreed grimly, but she could see the sourness in his face.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. She wasn't even sure why she was apologizing, but she could not help but feel that Minfilia would say the same thing where she here.
"You don't have to apologize, nothing you've done is your fault," he said, and he seemed a little less upset now, "I'll admit that it was a living hell forced to just wander all these long years, but I can't help but feel that there must be a reason. Though, I don't know what it could be about."
She didn't know either. But she felt that he was right. Just like how her instincts had told her before where monuments had been in the lake… those same instincts are now telling her that there was a very important reason that Ardbert survived until now.
"Do you have any ideas to what this… could be?" she asked softly and he shrugged.
"Believe me, I've thought of every theory under the sun," he sighed, "Hells, I even came up with some that would be on the borders of insanity. But nothing I could do could bring me closer to figuring it out."
He suddenly looked her in the eyes and she felt that he was staring straight past them and into her soul with how sharp his gaze was.
She was about to ask what he was doing when he suddenly spoke again.
"Though I have to ask, I'm not that bad of company, am I?" he asked and she actually laughed, which caused him to smile. "There we go… you've been looking so grim lately that I was starting to wonder if you forgot how to laugh."
She stopped at once and turned red as he looked at her with gentle eyes.
"Of course, I understand why you would feel that way," he said, "But you know… in a way, you're really lucky. You aren't here in this dying world alone."
But was that true…? She thought about her friends and wondered how well she truly knew them. They were all determined to do whatever it took to save this world and prevent the Eighth Umbral Calamity, but at what cost would they be willing to go? Especially if it turned out that this 'light' that was infused with her turned out to…?
She didn't want to think about it.
"Did… did you ever feel that you were being used?" she asked him suddenly, "As if you were just a weapon?"
She thought more of what the Children said, using her name—or rather her title—as a weapon against the Blessed, saying that it was because of them that the 'Warrior of Darkness' had not yet come. Then again when she thought of whatever secrets Urianger was obviously hiding. Did even those she consider friends think of her as nothing more than a tool to be used? A weapon to be honed and polished before pointed at a foe and fight? Why else would he not speak of any possible danger she could have been in?
The two looked at each other for a long moment, but an understanding passed between them. Of course he felt the same way… knew what it was like to be used by others. It wasn't a pleasant feeling just too even think about. She wanted nothing more than to just forget what she overheard. She wanted to curl up in a dark place where this cursed light would never found her and just be left there for a time.
"Renda-Rae," she said instead, breaking the silence, "Tell me about her."
He blinked, but then he smiled faintly and said, "To put it simply… she was like a breath of fresh air."
Claire sat there with Ardbert for a good while as he told her of the trouble-making Renda-Rae. Of her incredible hearing, her clumsy nature and how she could even drink Brandon, who was twice her size, under the table half the time. She found herself laughing at his stories and even shared some of her own stories, making him grin at how ridiculous they were such as the adventures she had with a certain bumbling inspector. He was roaring with laughter at some of trouble that he had gotten into before she realized her clothes had long since dried. She had to get back. When he saw her stand up, he seemed to understand that quiet time was now over and he stood as well. She had just pulled her greatsword onto her back and was about to ask if he would be following the entire way…? Only to turn around and find him gone.
Well, she was sure that he would be following after her at his own pace, and she began to walk back to Slitherbough, hoping that their defenses had been better secured should the Eulmorans come back; especially since they didn't know when they would return.
Still… now that she was reunited with all her fellow Scions, she realized that no one else could truly see Ardbert. A part of her thought that perhaps Y'shtola would be able to with how she was able to sense where aether was… but it could not have been any clearer that she truly was the only one who could see and hear Ardbert. Why? What was her connection to him that allowed her, and her alone, to see him?
Again, she would have to save that thought when this was over. She wasted enough time resting, and she was sure that the others were waiting for her.
She found her way back to Slitherbough quickly enough, and she found them in the tunnel that led to the eastern part of the forest… a part that none of them had ventured to before apparently. The others were waiting and they pushed aside her apologizes for keeping them waiting.
"We just finished doing what we could with the defenses," Thancred reassured her, though he added that they could only hope that it would be enough.
Minfilia's bright blue eyes gazed up at her, and she smiled warmly as she told her that she was just glad she was safe and that they were ready if she was. At that, Y'shtola and Urianger, who looked to be in the middle of a quiet argument finally looked up to see that she had arrived.
"Good, you're here," Y'shtola said urgently, shooting Urianger another annoyed look before addressing her like he wasn't even there, "Runar opened the gate for us but moments ago. Beyond lies Yx'Maja, and presumably the Lightwarden. It did not take long for the wood's protectors to find me when last I came here, and I expect them to fall upon us just as quickly this time. Though we carry the seal, that is no reason for us to let down our guard."
She nodded and so they headed down the pathway… though she paused for a moment as she looked back… and sure enough, there he was. Ardbert just gave her a cheeky smile as he faded from view once more, but she was grinning back, finding a strange comfort in knowing that he was watching over her. Feeling a tiny bit better, she stepped up with the others and followed them through the gate and right into a patch of azure flowers.
*Y'shtola*
It was hard to leave the Blessed behind, with her only promising that they had a plan to drive the Eulmorans back. Even though she knew that there was no guarantee that it would work… well, she was sure it would, but only if they could do it before Eulmore returned.
So the people that she had become so fond of, who had opened her up into their home as if she were one of them, were now in terrible danger, while she was heading off with the dearest of friends to hunt down a Lightwarden—with her angry at Urianger on top of it all…? Needless to say, she was close to tearing out her own hair in frustration.
After Claire found the medallion for her, she made sure to have it cleaned up so that none could miss the emblem of the owl upon it. When they waited for Claire to join them in the tunnel she had allowed Thancred and Minfilia headed ahead of them as she strayed back. When Urianger about to follow, she reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. He looked back in surprise, but froze at the sight of her deadly serious face.
"Don't think that we are through with our discussion from before. We will talk about this later," she said in warning, "I am prepared to hear your side of this. I will give you that much to try and defend your actions. But I am going to make sure that she is aware of the possible danger she is in. Do you understand?"
He did not speak for a moment, and for that split second of silence, she thought that he would come clean and confess something… but then he seemed to change his mind as he lowered his head.
"Understood…" he acknowledged.
She frowned at him, still irritated, but she let it go for the time being as she followed after the other two. Thankfully, less than ten minutes later, Claire had joined them and they stepped out into the eastern part of the forest. She had only been here once or twice before… and needless to say that it didn't end well. She almost got an arrow between the eyes for her trouble, and she knew that she didn't stand much of a chance on her own.
They walked out among the shade of the trees, and soon enough Minfilia cooed at the sight of the pretty blue flowers.
She wished she could see them other than just their shapes in the aether. But that wasn't important now and she kept her senses on high alert for trouble. And sure enough…?
Three arrows suddenly were shot from the trees, barely missing Y'shtola by inches… she could feel the wind when they brushed by, as well as hear the whistling they made as they flew through the air. She looked up to the direction that they came from, and sure enough, she could see the faint outlines of three figures standing among the branches. Judging from their size and shapes… she could tell that they were Viera… or Viis as they were known in the First.
"'Twould seem we have found them," Y'shtola said, slightly amused at how quickly they found the protectors. And judging from the arrows, she could tell that their weapons were drawn.
"You trespass upon sacred ground," one of them called in warning, and she heard the sounds of a bow being pulled back as she warned, "Begone."
Without hesitation she fired another volley of arrows and Y'shtola moved back to avoid it. Thancred pulled his gunblade and knocked aside the few that flew at him while defending Minfilia and Claire pulled out her greatsword so that a couple arrows bounced right off it as effectively as any shield. Arrows were falling like rain now as another of the figures was rushing at her, with a lance firmly in hand… and heading right for her.
"Wait!" she cried, "We did not come to-!"
Too late, the warrior slashed at her with the spear, almost impaling her, but able to sense the movements she was able to dodge them… though she could feel the wind from how close the weapons came. As she dodge them, Y'shtola then pulled her staff and held it up in time as the spear clashed with her. She could feel the strength behind the spear as they were locked in a stalemate.
Urianger defended her by throwing a few of his cards, forcing the Viis to leap out of the way and hop through the air.
"Stop! We mean you no harm!" Y'shtola cried out when she felt the Viis rushing at her again. But this time, she was ready, and she quickly pulled out the medallion and held it up so that their attackers could not hope to miss it. At the sight of it, the spear-wielding Viis skidded to a stop and she could feel that everyone was staring at her. She could even hear traces of conversations being murmured to each other from the two still up in the trees.
She didn't care though. Now that she had their attention she announced with fierce determination, "We are allies of the empire of Ronka. As is customary, we come bearing the seal of the emperor."
She was breathing hard as everyone seemed too shocked to even move. Finally, the spear-wielder, who had been ready to continue attacking her, began to examine the seal from different angles and paces away—as if trying to determine if she was seeing things correctly. After a few moments she heard a gasp of delight and began to spin about happily as she called up to the others, "It appears to be genuine!"
The two on the branch spoke to each other for a moment, clearly discussing what they should do. Y'shtola did not dare lower her arm and the medallion until she heard the woman, who appeared to be their leader, call out, "We acknowledge your seal, but we must be certain of its authenticity." She gestured to the path of blooms beneath their feet and called, "Follow the azure flowers to our village. There we will judge if you are friend or foe."
"Try not to stray from the path, alright?" the spear-wielder called tauntingly as she ran on ahead after the other two Viis and Y'shtola could not help but feel put out.
"Follow the flowers," she grumbled under her breath. "Would it kill them to escort us?"
Oh gods… she just realized how similar she sounded to Master Matoya and she quickly shook her head. Her worst nightmare was coming true… she was becoming like her mentor. Fighting the urge to go and jump in a lake or a river, she put the medallion back into her pocket and grumbled, "But… if it affords us an opportunity to investigate Yx'Maja… fine."
She led the way down the trail, following the trail of aether that was left behind in their wake. They walked on for a fair distance to the north before they came across some wooden steps that led up into the trees and, what Thancred called, looked like a city of giant treehouses. They were high up in the branches, dangling over a massive cliff with the forest floor directly below them that was so far down that the others had trouble trying to see the bottom. Meaning that if they wanted to, they could toss them over the ledge and be rid of them all in one go.
But she held her eyes forward and held high as they walked up the steps to be greeted by the three sentinels in the forest.
"You outsiders are a strange lot, aren't you?" the staff wielding one said as the spear-weaving one waved happily in greeting. But the bow-wielding one was all business as she held out her hand and asked about the seal to confirm it was authentic. Y'sthola handed it over as the three examined it from every angle before they had to confirm that it was the crest of the royal family of Ronka.
"For three thousand years we have waited for this moment, and now you are finally here," the bow-wielding sentinel stated respectfully, "I bid you welcome, allies of Ronka. I am Almet, chieftainess of Fanow."
"Uimet, her younger sister," the spear-wielder said gleefully.
"Cymet," the staff-wielder added, somewhat shyly, "A pleasure. We were beginning to lose hope that you would come."
"I beg your pardon?" Y'shtola asked in confusion, wondering what they were talking about whey they said that they were expecting them?
"These are troubled times for my people," Almet answered, "Though I can but imagine what compelled you to venture into our woods. You must be tired after your journey. Come, take your ease."
Uimet was kind enough to take them on a tour through the village while the rest of the Viis looked at them with amazement. Though she did find some amusement when Cymet and Claire were having a conversation right next to her. When Claire told Cymet her name, she could sense the light irritation coming from Claire when Cymet questioned it, asking if it was a rally common one and that times certainly have changed.
Claire fell silent after that as Cymet then began to ask the others for their names.
"You ok?" she asked and Claire sighed, suddenly whispering that she was wishing that her mother had given her a different name because of all the grief she had been given and Y'shtola could not help but snort at that.
"It's a pretty name, but I can see why you would be made fun over it," Y'shtola teased as they climbed up to the top steps and tried to ignore the shocked expressions from the other Viis, "Why not change it if it bothers you so?"
Claire shrugged and merely said that it was a family name and could never find the heart to change it. She let the matter drop as they arrived outside one of the structures and were greeted by the three sisters once again.
"As bearer of the seal, you have a right to know what became of the empire, and my people's purpose here," Almet told them and then she explained their story. That they were actually descendants of the palace guard, who served under the last emperor. To this day they carry on their duty, the final decree from the Emperor before Ronka fell, that they must protect the ruins and the secrets of Ronka until their allies arrived. Only then could they share the mysteries of Ronka with the rest of the world. But their duty had grown difficult since the Flood for many of their settlements were destroyed afterwards until only Fanow remained and their numbers dwindled every year.
"Before long, there will be no one left to honor the emperor's wishes," Almet finished bitterly.
"And you believe we are the allies for whom you have waited?" Y'shtola asked, finding it somewhat ironic that they were the Viis waiting for all this time.
"You have the seal, do you not?" Uimet asked as if it was obvious, "After three millennia of waiting, that alone is nothing short of a miracle! Truth be told, I had begun to think you would never come!"
"Sister!" Cymet scolded her, which caused Uimet to look down, taking on a mournful face and sulked.
"We are glad of your presence here in the Greatwood," Almet said professionally, ignoring her sisters antics, "The wisdom of Ronka is yours should you wish it. You need only ask."
They thanked her and Y'shtola then took control as she quickly summed up the reason they were here, to hunt down the warden.
"You come in search of the Lightwarden…" Almet said slowly. "My apologies, but I do not know where it makes its lair." She looked to her sisters and asked, "Uimet, do you recall any sightings of this creature?
"Hmmmm… not these past thirty summers," she said cheerfully.
"Thirty?!" Minfilia gasped, her eyes wide and unable to keep quiet, "But that would mean… how old are you, exactly?"
They all looked to her, who was turning red when she realized how rude that sounded, as Uimet grinned and answered in a good-natured way, "Young enough to remember!"
"With age comes knowledge," Almet answered, as Minfilia mumbled a quiet apology, "There may yet be one among us who has seen or heard of the abomination you seek."
So they split up and began to look around. In the name of Ronka and the late emperor they vowed to assist in any way they could. But after a little while of questioning villagers, she had yet to meet anyone who had even seen the Lightwarden… let alone know where to find it. She thought of the blessed still back at Slitherbough and refused to just accept that no one here could help them. Thankfully, when she regrouped with the others, it was Claire who had come through. She told them about how she spoke with a couple Viis who gave her a clue to where the warden was. The Viis told her how her mother talked about it... though she only got a glimpse of it. Before coming to Fanow, she lived in a village near Rak'tika Falls—until it was destroyed by eaters. While out on patrol, she spotted a large eater that towered over the others of its ilk and how they seemed to revere it. After that, this seemed confirmed with another Viis mentioned that she had seen lesser eaters hunt in packs near that location and carry their victims off rather than consume their aether, signaling that they were bringing food back for the warden.
"Near Rak'tika Falls?!" Almet demanded, startled at this, "Why was I not told of this?"
"I think I see now why it has never been spotted on our patrols," Uimet said thoughtfully.
"I have never heard of this Rak'tika Falls," Y'shtola said to them urgently, "I can but assume it lies deep within the woods of Yx'Maja."
"Just so," Cymet confirmed, "But the tunnel which leads there collapsed after a rather bloody battle with the eaters, and has not been passable for many years. We have made several attempts to clear away the rubble, yet each time we were driven back. In the end, we were forced to give it up as lost."
"Thereby making it a suitable place for the Warden to take sanctuary," Almet finished in understanding, "There is perhaps one way to enter. Though it would be at great peril to you and your companions. It has been sealed for centuries, but within is a path that leads to the falls."
So it looks like the path would soon be opened then. At least she hoped so, and so she asked, "Can it be opened?"
Almet nodded and reassured her, "For the allies of Ronka, it can. First we must go to K'mul Astropolis. Once the flow of magic is restored there, the path through the Qitana Ravel can be opened."
"This may sound a simple task, but there are certain… obstacles which prevent us from attending to it ourselves," Uimet added in.
Well, surely they could aid them by explaining how to move pass these obstacles. At least until…?
"The emperor never granted our forebears leave to look upon the secrets we are charged with protecting," Cymet explained, "That we might not be tempted, the means to do so were withheld from us. We can but show you the way. The rest will be up to you."
Of course things weren't that easy. Still, she had to admire the Viis and their dedication to their duty. Looks like they were to head in completely blind and hope that they weren't killed by some three thousand year old traps. What better way to spend the afternoon?
She looked to the others as she decided on their best course of action. While she was willing to bet that this was where the Lightwarden was, she had to cover their ground on the chance that it wasn't. The last thing that she wanted was for them to spend so much time and effort into opening up a way only to get in to find that nothing was there.
"It would seem we have our work cut out for us, then," she said, "Shall we?"
"Did you have to ask?" Claire asked and Y'shtola grinned back, recognizing a woman after her own heart.
"Let us be about it then," she said.
"If that is your wish, it is my duty to escort you," Almet said and Y'shtola thanked them for that as she gave out the orders of what to do now. In the end, while Y'shtola, Almet, and her headed to the K'mul Astropolis, Cymet and Uimet accompanied Urianger and the others to look around and learn what they could of the woods should it turn out that the Lightwarden isn't at the falls.
It was decided and they set about their tasks, ready to continue on with this next step of the plan. As they headed off to the ruins, Almet explained a little more about where they were going, to the heart of K'mul Astropolis. But thousands of years ago, it was sealed shut by powerful magicks by the last emperor and if they were to open it they first had to head to the Morning Stars.
They left the treetops behind and moved deeper into the forest where they could see many more ruins.
"Looking upon these structures, I cannot help but be reminded of ruins in Gyr Abania," Y'shtola told her quietly as she ran her hands across the stones as the towering structures stood above them all, "Yet the manner in which they appear to be suppressing the natural flow of aether is more akin to the Allagan pillars of the House of the Crooked Coin."
She was so happy having this chance to look around such a valuable part of history. Almet, who seemed impressed they were able to keep up, pointed to the four pyramid-like structures and explained that these four monuments were the Morning Stars that were built in tribute to the guardians of Rak'tika. While the largest pyramid behind them was the Great Pyramid of Ux'ner, where the flow of magic must be restored if they were to safely pass through. Apparently the monuments are the keys to opening the pyramid though Almet had no idea how to do such a thing.
"Another puzzle," she groaned out, "Wonderful. I would have a closer look." And without another word, Y'shtola began to look around the remains of Ronka.
"It is indeed another puzzle, but for a blessing, it appears to be similar to the one we encountered at the lake," she told Claire after a few minutes of basic studying. "These statues are all depictions of the divine beasts mentioned on the tablet. No doubt they will open the way into the pyramid in like manner. We have but to discern the correct order. Let's split up and search the area for clues."
"These ruins are covered in ancient inscriptions," Almet explained, "The answer may well be hiding among them."
"Indeed," she agreed, "It may be best to transcribe them if they are as numerous as you say. Better that than risk overlooking something." That was when she remembered something and added to Claire, "Though transcriptions would prove impractical for you, not being versed in Ronkan script… no matter. You will employ a different approach: impressions."
She then gave her several small clay tablets to record any imagery she found and that she was just to bring them to her so that she could translate them. So they separated and began to examine the ruins. In truth, were the situation not so rushed, she would be savoring this chance to explore the ruins and explore each piece one at a time.
With so many inscriptions, she didn't even know where to start. She managed to learn a great deal though with what little she did read though, but so far she didn't find any clue to ow to actually get into the pyramid.
After nearly an hour long search though, she met up with the other two at the entrance to the great pyramid, eager to see what they found.
Almet did manage to find some very interesting pieces, but of course it was their very own Warrior of Darkness who pulled through and showed her the impressions she made of the inscriptions made at the very top of each monument.
It took her only a few minutes to translate them, but when she did, she learned something very important.
"Nothing we saw at the base of the pyramids gave any hint as to the solution of the puzzle, focusing instead on how to proceed having solved it," she said, "Your findings, on the other hand, appear to form a riddle. Once assembled, it reads as follows…"
She then held up the clay tablets and read out:
"Come together, share despair.
Go thy ways, dread burdens bear.
Mark the crown, heed its call.
Avert they gaze, forever fall."
Just what they didn't need. She shook her head and sighed, "I had assumed that the puzzle would involve a sequence, but from what Almet and I were able to gather, it is but a matter of suffusing one of the statues with aether."
They looked down between the four great monuments to see the smaller statues that flanked the road and the images of a creature carved atop of each. She looked to see that there were six: the serpent, the coeurl, the colibri, the owl, the wolf, and the opo-opo.
"The question being: which one?" she sighed. "Well, there's nothing to it, I suppose. Claire? If you would be so kind as the decide which one?"
Claire jumped at that, and asked, "Why do you wish for me to choose?"
Y'shtola shrugged back and teased lightly, "Give your talent for finding solutions to vexatious problems, I think it best that you choose the statue." Claire raised her eyebrows at her, and Y'shtola grinned back as she asked, "What say you, Claire?"
Claire thought it over and decided she would look over each one first, and she wandered off to have a look at each statue. When she returned, she said that she made up her mind and she nodded, ready to find out if she was right. After careful examination, Claire decided to place her faith in the owl statue. When Y'shtola asked why she picked that one, she answered that the riddle mentions a crown and the owl was the symbol of the royal family, as well as seeing how the statue of the owl was the only one of the statues that was staring directly at the temple—for the others were looking in other directions.
"All right," Y'shtola nodded, "I pray this works."
She put her aether into the statue and she felt the ground shake before being swallowed up into the statue. Ah, that worked out better than they had hoped.
"The aether has been absorbed…" she said before grinning at her and added, "You really do have a talent for these things. Mayhaps when this is over, you can join me in my research here?"
Claire blinked before laughing, whispering she would give it some thought. Right, first thing first… they had to take care of the sky. Y'shtola made to move, but she wheezed, realizing just how much more taxing than she first thought it would be.
She reassured the others that she was fine, ready to move on, and brushed off their concerns as she made towards the pyramid.
"The way should be clear now," Almet said, "Come, let us…" But she stopped dead, her eyes widening, and her head turning sharply back towards the forest as she cried, "Someone approaches!"
They all drew their weapons and spun around, but it turned out to be Cymet racing towards them. "Sister!" she cried, panting as she doubled over to catch her breath, "Sister!"
"Cymet?" Almet demanded as she sheathed her bow and they relaxed, "What are you doing here? What has happened?"
"Eulmoran soldiers," she answered urgently and Y'shtola felt as if her blood had freeze when she heard, "They have entered Yx'Maja!"
No, they couldn't have… there was only one way to get through to Yx'Maja and that was through Slitherbough! Which means…?
"Eulmoran soldiers!?" she demanded, "And what of the Blessed?"
"Nothing specific, but it seems the Eulmorans had little interest in Slitherbough or its people," Cymet answered, "According to our scouts, their general and his men made all haste for the gate to Yx'Maja upon finding it. Together with Thancred, Ulmet and some few others have engaged them at the border."
"You are to return and assist Uimet at once," Almet commanded, "They are not to set foot near the ruins or Fanow. We will see to matters here and return as quickly as we can. Understood?"
"Yes, sister," Cymet said in understanding, "Be careful!"
She raced off as Almet and Claire looked to her, wondering what she would want to do. She wanted to rush back to Slitherbough and tend to the people—make sure that everyone was alright. But she knew that they had their duty here… for it was their only chance of being able to save them.
She shook her head and said bitterly, "Though I knew time was short, I did not expect the Eulmorans to move so swiftly… but we have come too far to turn back now."
"You sure?" Claire asked, and Y'shtola recognized that tone. Meaning that Claire was prepared to go back with them to Slitherbough if that was what she wanted. She appreciated it, but she knew that this was their best option. They just couldn't waste any more time here. She nodded and reassured them that this was the best way forward. But as she walked on, she growled to herself, making a silent vow, "I swear, if the Eulmorans harm so much as a hair on the heads of the Blessed…"
And she meant it. She would curse each and every single soldier if any of the Blessed were harmed.
"Quickly, into the pyramid," Almet said, and they reached up the giant vines and to the front where they saw that the doorway that had been there before had magically disappeared and they were in the middle of a long tunnel. After knocking some bats aside, they came to a series of rooms filled with statues of owls. They looked about curiously, trying to avoid the beasts that lurked inside, and through the twisting tunnels and up flights stairs, they searched, though she wasn't sure she even was convinced they were looking for.
But at last, in one of the rooms, they found an impressive stone doorway, and she was sure that this was the way in.
"Our way has been barred… again," Y'sthola hissed, "I am beginning to lose my patience."
They searched about desperately for a couple minutes to try and either force it open or find a switch, but Almet shook her head and explained that this was the way they needed, the Confessional of Toupasa the Elder, yet she didn't understand why it wouldn't open for them.
"Magick appears to be flowing through the walls, but it's being obstructed as it approaches the door," she explained as she examined it. She then noticed the two small pedestals in front of it, flanking the doorway. One of them held a small statuette of an owl, but the other was empty.
"Is it not strange that only one of these pedestals bears an owl statue?" she asked, and as the other two looked, Almet nodded.
"Strange indeed," Y'shtola agreed, "The second statue was likely hidden to keep the door sealed."
And so they quickly spit up, looking all over for the owl statue the same size and shape as the one they left behind. But, of course, it was their Warrior friend who was able to track it down inside one of the other rooms, and was still intact and in good shape.
"It looks light enough," Almet said glancing at the statue, "We need but return it to the other altar, no?"
"One might assume so, but nothing about these ruins has ever been quiet so simple," Y'shtola warned before they moved it from its place. "I sense a strange energy emitting from the eyes of the statues in the corridors of this place. Should this figure be moved, it would not surprise me for them to suddenly stir to life."
She then asked that Claire be the one to carry it back to the chamber. She would have done it herself, yet she was having difficulties trying to see in this place for the magic flowing through the walls. Claire, on the other hand, would be able to see where the traps would be while she and Almet guarded her on the way back.
Claire agreed in the end, and she heaved the statue from its place as Y'sthola warned, "Beware the stare of those statues, Claire. I dare not think what will happen should they catch sight of you."
At the end of their delivery, Claire was able to properly see which direction that the statues were facing and was able to avoid the trouble long enough to ensure that it was returned to the altar in just one go.
"The statue has been returned but was that enough?" Almet asked worriedly as Claire set it back onto its rightful place.
"I believe it was," Y'shtola confirmed, her eyes now able to follow the magical flow from the walls and straight to the doorway as if it had been unblocked, "I can see aether flowing to the door now." No sooner did she say it did the doors open, taking them all by surprise and jumping slightly as the stone doors slowly creaked open. She took a deep breath and sighed, "I pray this means an end to the tricks and traps of these ruins. Well done."
But Almet didn't seem convinced, for they were so close now to entering the Qitana Ravel. And this last step should be the most perilous yet, without question. Which caused Y'shtola to shake her head again in despair and she wanted to know if the emperor always take pleasure in wasting the time of his allies. But they couldn't afford to wait any longer.
"Before we enter, I would tell you of the trial that awaits you," Almet warned as they helped the doors move a little bit wider so that they could step inside, "The chamber is said to be filled with all manner of devices to keep trespassers away from the switch. The most potent being wards of displacement. They may very well force you into danger. Should we become separated, please use these."
She then handed them each a strange type of a flowering weed. Y'shtola examined it in her hands for a moment before Almet explained what these were for.
"Whisperweeds," she replied as she showed them how to tuck them behind their ears, "They will allow us to communicate no matter where we may find ourselves."
Ah, like a more natural version of the linkpearl then? Alright, this should help make things easier for them.
"I think Claire and I can work out how to use these well enough," Y'shtola reassured her as she tucked it inside one of her own ears, and was now practically begging to get going. But not enough that her manners suffered as she added quietly, "Thank you."
At last, they stepped inside and immediately found themselves in another room flanked with owls on either side of them.
"We must hurry," Y'shtola said, pressing forward, "Before the Eulmoran soldiers gain any ground."
But almost at once, their way was blocked by giant moving stone sentinels—identical to the ones that they saw wandering about the outside among the ruins. They were pacing around the room and they had to stop at once to see what was going on.
"They are made to curse any who enter the pyramid," Almet explained in a whisper as the giant security system lumbered back and forth, "It is said to be seen by them is to be seen by death. Beware their gaze."
It took a minute, but Claire was able to time when to move. She then led them around, right behind the statue until they came to another door and were able to break away safely. At the foot of the door, they found what could only be described as a magicked knot, and simply by pouring some aether into it, it faded and the door opened.
As they were about to move forward though, she heard Uimet's voice cry in her ear, "Sister! Sister, can you hear me? Two soldiers have broken through our defenses!"
What? Already? They had just barely begun making their way through the temple!
"Follow them! They are not to reach this temple, understood?" Almet answered back before looking to them and warning them of the danger.
They had to hurry. But the next room had two of the sentinels and they had to time it once more to be able to get around them without being seen by those stone eyes. They slipped by without much trouble, but the problem got big when they came to an enormous room with now four giant sentinels, larger than the last few, and all looking directly at the door—and judging from their lack of movement, they weren't going to be as easy to slip around.
"They are massive… how are we to get around them?" Almet asked, pointing at the other end of the room where they could see that the hall continued on. All they had to do was slip past the guards to get there… and that was when an old memory came back to her. When she was much younger and still under the strict tutelage of the real Master Matoya, she had often liked to take walks outside and get some fresh air away from that dank cave. So, she would sometimes cast a glamour of herself, making it look like she was still sleeping in bed or quietly studying, before slipping outside.
She remembered how hard she had worked to ensure that her glamour's were perfect copies of her, and was incredibly proud of them… only for her to now seriously doubt that any true master of magic could have been fooled by those for long. And, the more she thought, the more she could remember the amused look in her mentor's face when she did return from her little 'walks' and quickly hurried to her corner of the cave and pretended that nothing happened.
Ah, how homesick she was suddenly feeling.
"I will draw their attention with a glamour. It will not last long. The moment they are distracted we must run with all haste," she told them, and returned to the matter at hand. She pulled out her staff and quickly cast the four perfect images of herself and sent each one out into the room and got their attention.
The three of them ran past them all and straight to the room at the other end of the hall where there was another Magicked knot waiting for them. But as soon as she touched it, the platform began to glow with a very specific type of magic. Now she had seen this spell enough times to recognize what it was and warned her friends, "A teleportation device? This should end well…"
But they each stepped up to it and allowed themselves to wash away upon its current for there was no turning back now. It was much smoother than a regular teleportation spell, which she suspected since this was not going very far and had a very specific destination in mind; even though she did not know where that would led her to. The first thing that she felt when she stepped out was her throat burning and she struggled to breath. She couldn't really see what was going on, but she could smell a strange smell in the air that was making her cough and choke as she struggled for air.
"Claire? Almet?" she called through the Whisperweeds as she clawed at her neck, "Can anyone hear me?"
"We have been sent to…" Almet's voice began before she was also coughing, "…separate chambers. This mist…"
"Poison," she finished for her, as she then heard Claire also starting to cough. Y'shtola reached deep inside to find her familiar spells of healing… only to realize that her own magicks were nullified by this damn poison.
She was lost for a moment until Almet pointed out the strange images on the floor and that they may hold the key to escaping from this. She then looked down and could see the aether flowing through a certain pattern on the floor and she promised to follow it there and hoped she would find the others afterwards. As soon as she stepped onto the tile, it carried her along the current of aether until it came to a stop and a certain kind of crossroad and she had to pick another path to continue on from there. It was twisting and turning, and once she was teleported back to the beginning again, before figuring out how to reach the end. She came out into a steep slope that headed down a long hallway so long that she had trouble making out where the aether went at the end of it.
But the air was free of the poison and she coughed and gagged until the poison was out of her system.
"Finally, fresh air," she wheezed as she wiped her mouth and waited. Soon enough, Almet joined her, followed by Claire, both of them coughing desperately to get that disgusting poison out of their lungs. One would have hoped that was the end of their troubles… but oh no. No sooner did they start making their way down the slope did another statue of an owl began to glow and a large door directly behind them opened up. She looked around, not liking the sound of that deep rumble that reminded her of the footsteps of Titan and her spirits sank when she guest what was coming.
"What was that noise?" she asked in dread, and sure enough…?
"By the gods…!" Almet cried as an enormous boulder began to roll towards them. "RUN!"
She did not need to be told twice and they all bolted down the slope, but the boulder was faster and unless they figured something out they would soon be flattened. There was no way that she could cast a spell in time to shatter the boulder, and it wasn't like they could punch a hole through it—though she had a feeling that if Lyse were here, she would be willing to try. It all looked bad at least until she spotted a crevice in the wall and she cried to the others who dove for it. It was small and they were barely able to squeeze inside with all three of them together, but they were out of the way of the boulder as it rolled past them. She sighed in relief… but then the rumble started up again and another boulder came immediately afterwards.
"We have no choice! We have got to move!" she cried, not willing to wait around for the rocks to simply run out.
So they bolted after the next boulder to roll past them and sprinted downwards again. Thankfully, they found another crevice for them to duck into when the one right behind them threatened to roll over them. They kept this up until they reached the end… when she felt the bottom of her stomach drop when she saw the massive cliff.
"We have to jump!" Almet cried, with yet another round stone almost on top of them.
So with a quick curse to the gods in her mind, they made a desperate leap right off the ledge and fell… and fell… and fell. And then they came to a splash when they hit a small waterway beneath them. It broke the fall for them, but she felt as if every bone in her body had threatened to break under that massive drop and she almost past out. She nursed her aching legs as Claire checked on Almet, who was catching her breath.
"You sure you are alright?" she asked Claire, who was as stoic as ever. If she was hurt at all, she was handling it very well, and merely nodded to show that she was well enough.
"Well, there is no going back now," Almet said once her lungs were filled with air again, "I pray it is not much further."
That made two of them. Yet as they were getting ready to go, they heard Uimet cry over the Whisperweeds once more.
"Sister!" Uimet cried urgently, "They have reached the temple! If ear they are too fast for us."
Almet froze at that before giving her head a hard shake as if to snap her out of any shock.
"Be careful of the traps inside," Almet warned, "We are nearly there." Once she finished, she looked back to them and said, "It is unheard of for anyone to outpace the Viis. What is this man who comes after you?"
She couldn't be sure, but there was one in mind. She had heard more than her fair share of rumors of General Ran'jit, and no small amount of complaints from Thancred as he told her what they knew of him. If there was anyone out there who would be capable of this then…?
"Could it be Ran'jit?" Y'shtola asked, "If so, we have precious little time."
They ran down the waterway and through another stone door that led to a hallway. But that was when another stone door opposite them opened and two appeared figures appeared and she wanted to cry out with fury.
"There you are!" Ran'jit cried as he and another of the soldiers with him charged—with both Cymet and Uimet racing behind them to catch up.
"Impossible!" Almet cried before it suddenly broke into a fight between all seven of them. She battled the second soldier while with both Cymet and Uimet while Claire took Ran'jit head on with Almet. It was a bitter struggle as both sides were struggling to get anywhere.
"My lord demands retribution!" Ran'jit cried and she could feel the strength in some of his blows when she wasn't even the one battling him. Oh, she was now close to losing it here. They were so close and she was not going to be stopped by an old man who seemed determined to make himself a pain in the arse.
Gods… why was she becoming more and more like her old mentor with every passing second?
"Uimet! Cymet!" Almet cried, "You know what to do!"
At once, both sisters leapt into action and they created a series of aetherial chains to bind their foes up. Both her and Claire were taken aback by this, but the girls clearly had this trick up their sleeves and were now bravely holding them off.
"We will hold him here," Alemt cried urgently to them, "Quickly, make for the Heart of Toupasa."
Right, they would be back to help them once they finished what they started. They turned and ran down the side corridor where there was another door waiting. This time, they had to force them open… only to find two more sentinels waiting.
"More sentinels?" Y'shtola demanded in a shriek, but spotting where the aether coincided at the other end of the room and knew that they found the right place. She held her staff high and got the stone guards attention before yelling at her friend, "Go, Claire, I will draw their attention."
She led the two guards away, leaving Claire time to race by them and up to the pedestal at the other end where there was a glowing sphere waiting for her. It only took her a few minutes to battle with the sentinels before the magic holding them faded and they fell to pieces. She did not expect that, but it was a welcomed relief as she replaced her staff upon her back and sighed in relief, glad that they had finally made it. her eyes then looked around them quickly, and she could see the aether having been opened once more and flowing freely much like it did when they first opened the door.
This had to be it and the way through the Ravel must be opened now.
"It seems to be working," she smiled. Now it was time to make a hasty retreat and then plan their next move once she was sure that the Blessed were safe. Just then, they heard screams and they looked up in time to see Ran'jit had just knocked all three sisters down, having broken free of his chains, and he was now standing over them.
"Leave them alone!" Claire cried out, who so rarely shouted, and showing her just how angry she was at that moment. The woman had barely ever shouted in all the time that she had known her, after all—so it seemed that she was not the only one who was put out by what just happened. Her cry certainly got Ran'jit's attention as he turned his cold empty eyes to her now. Y'shtola could sense what was happening before actually 'witnessing' what he was doing. With a great burst of strength, he was rocketing towards them, his hand outstretched, as if waiting to wrap around her friend's throat.
Like hells she was going to let him get away with that.
"I think not!" Y'shtola cried as she stood protectively in front of Claire and cast a barrier… an old favorite, and blocked him. But just barely. She could feel the raw power behind his punch as he clashed with the barrier, determined to break it, and it was all she could do to keep him out. The only other time that she sense something even remotely similar was when Zenos shattered her barrier with his blade and she was suddenly hoping that would not happen again for she was still carrying around an ugly scar from that event. She held her breath, standing strong, but she could feel her barrier starting to crack like glass.
"General! Hold on!"
The Eulmoran soldier who had been with them was racing inside the room to help and she gritted her teeth. This was the last thing that they needed. She was preparing to tell Claire to run when he went and did something that was both very distracting and exceedingly stupid and stepped onto a tile that was now beginning to glow.
It seemed that not all the traps were deactivated the moment that the aether was flowing again, in fact, it seemed that this was the last trap that the Emperor of Ronka had planned for them should they have managed to make it this far. The floor began to rumble and cracks began to form before it broke open. She could feel the floor falling away from them in giant pieces, forcing them to move back farther and farther to the wall and away from danger as the floor soon opened up to a massive hole below them. It wasn't until the soldier made a wild leap and made it to the ledge that they were on in time did the trembling stop. But now, here they were, all four of them stuck on a tiny ledge on the opposite side of the room with a massive gap between them and no way out.
Now angry, she marched forward as the soldier slowly got to his feet, panting hard in panic. She just folded her arms and scolded him, "Expertly done."
"How was I to know that that would happen?" he demanded, his voice cracking, "It looked like any other part of the floor!"
Great, now what were they to do? It wasn't like they could continue fighting on this tiny space, and so they were now stuck here until help arrived. The soldier seemed to realize this right away as he gazed down into the hold, but she didn't need to physically look to be able to tell that it went down far… very, very far. So far that she couldn't even find a bottom that it leveled out to.
She heard the man gulp and turn back to them.
"Might now be an opportune time to strike a bargain?" he asked hurriedly, and then he explained, "We poisoned a number of villagers in Slitherbough with a toxin brewed for us by the Children."
Her heart stopped at that as she remembered the guard whom they were unable to find a cure before and thought of how many others were to soon die because of these cowards. She was all about ready to push him into the hole for even daring to say such a thing when she saw him suddenly pull out a large bottle from his belt and held it up for them to see as he illuminated, "This is the antidote. I daresay you know how potent their concoctions are—and the futility of trying to counteract their effects."
Alright, she will take the bottle and then tear him limb from limb before tossing him over the side then. She took a step closer, all but daring him to try something when he held the bottle over the ledge in warning.
"Now, now," he warned, "Try anything here and we're all likely to fall. Eventually, someone will come to our rescue. Or yours. Promise us safe passage and we'll give you the antidote! Do we have a deal?"
She thought it over.
It could be that they were lying… that the bottle was filled with nothing but water or something unless like that. But if not…? She was prepared to take that chance if they were willing to hand it over to them, but before she could say anything, Ran'jit interrupted. He was now glaring at his soldier as if disgusted that he would make such a deal.
"We do not negotiate with the enemy," Ran'jit said bitterly, "The villagers' lives are forfeit. As is yours…"
And to their shock, he went and kicked him off. The man just stared at him, too stunned to believe what was happening as he asked, in a voice that was more surprise than fear, "General?"
But as he fell over the side, the bottle was flung out of his hands and she was focused entirely upon it. She acted purely on impulse after that. Didn't even think about what she was doing until it was too late. She leapt off the edge and made a wild grab for the bottle. She felt its weight in her hands for a moment and decided to place all her bets on this and spun about to throw it to Claire. She heard Claire catch it as she gazed at the blinding light that was trapped inside her… which had once brought so much joy and comfort to her. She didn't know what was going on with all that light trapped inside her, but if this was to be the end…?
"Do not fall…" she whispered, placing all her trust into her friend to get the bottle to the Blessed and to slay the Lightwarden.
She smiled at her as she heard Claire's voice scream out, "Y'SHTOLA!"
It would be alright… she trusted her… she never failed them before. She knew that she would make sure that the antidote was brought to the Night's Blessed and they would recover. And with that, she closed her eyes as she gave into her impulse and muttered the one spell that may be able to save her… she felt a mighty wind rise up around her… and then she was gone…?
She would never be able to explain where she was or what was happening… only that she was everywhere and nowhere all at once. Like the deepest of connections, the most intimate of embraces with all of everything…?
(Claire's got some issues that she's struggling to come up with. Just so much happening at once, only to hear that her friends—or maybe just one—may be hiding secrets about her? That would be enough to make anyone second-guess themselves. Especially when they are feeling sick and tired all the time with constant headaches. The stress is really starting to build inside her and she is now struggling with the weight of expectations. Ran'jit is now determined to make things even more difficult for them by even willing to attack innocent people all for the faint hope of being able to get to them. She is feeling tired, short-tempered, and guilty all at once while her emotions are being stretched to the breaking point. And now she just watched a friend fall seemingly to her death… how will that affect her now? I had planned on this chapter being much longer, including the run through the Ravel, but it got to be so long that I just had to break it up into two chapters. But good news is that most of the next chapter is already done and it will be going up before next weekend, as well as a very special bonus chapter after that in honor of Little Ladies Day. Can you guess who it will be about? No, sadly, no sweet Alphinaud/Claire moments yet. But pretty soon the two of them will start to press certain boundaries. Look forward to it.)
