Trouble in the East
Chapter 31: Directions
The time for the group to return back to Nicholas's home then came. And by now, his wounds and those for the others that had been obtained at the last place had pretty much healed up. "Looking good there," Miura told Nicholas while seeing the Anuban take off his wrappings and that the wounds were all but gone.
"Yeah I think the hot springs and rest has helped a lot," the male agreed.
"Looks like same for me," the Drauk stated, seeing the same thing for her when taking her wrappings off.
"Yeah, at least now I can get to becoming stronger. All of us so the next time we run into her and them, we'll be ready."
"Yeah, I'm not going to be beaten that badly again."
Nicholas looked to his girl with a smile. "Well-spoken honey. C'mon, let's get going." Holding her hand in his paw, the two left for the vehicle that would take them back to his home after getting into their clothes.
The group was soon back on the flying vehicle and to Loft Ereborn. "I guess it didn't go bad with getting the crystals," Levi said, looking at his.
"We all managed to get one each," Tethi added, also examining hers.
"And we've helped out each place," Tethu stated. "It's certainly a good feeling."
Nicholas wasn't saying anything. The guy was just doing some thinking. Miura noticed since she was sitting behind the Anuban and touched his shoulder with a hand. "Honey, are you okay?" the Drauk asked with concern.
"Yeah, just thinking babe," he replied.
"What about?" Levi asked.
"Mainly training to get stronger and a couple other things."
"Yeah, that last fight we had could have ended badly," Sol said.
"And I'm sure the rulers at Loft Ereborn will want to hear about it," Tethi added.
The group then began to talk about a couple other things as Nicholas got the vehicle safely to their destination. Once the ride came to a complete stop, the group got out and began to make their way to the palace. Ajihad and Natasha had been alerted of their coming and were waiting. But then came a pleasant surprise before that. "Welcome back all of you," went a familiar voice.
Looking showed it was Saki, the wind spirit who lived here. But her face was appearing in a small sphere of wind. It still operated like the orb Esna and Lanayru used. The two water spirits came out to say hello.
"Doing alright now?" Nicholas asked with a smile. "How have things been since we left?"
"The same as last time. But I can sense you guys have helped the rest out."
"Yeah, and there was some fun with this guy here!" Esna added, looking to her guy Lanayru with love.
"It was love," he agreed.
"All the same, we need to talk with Ajihad and Natasha," the Anuban in the group then said. "The situation against the enemy has become much more complicated. You might want to join us for that."
"I can do that." The group were joined by Saki and they went into the throne room of the ruling Anubans.
They made it and found Ajihad and Natasha waiting for them. Everyone bowed in respect to the rulers as a form of greeting like always. "Welcome back to Loft Eerborn," the male ruler told them kindly.
"I can feel something is different, like you guys have become much stronger," his queen and wife stated with a smile.
"Thank you," Nicholas replied and then the group got to their feet. "But… it might not be enough."
"What do you mean?" Ajihad asked slowly.
"We had some trouble." The group then went into full detail about the freeing the last spirit and the fight that had occurred.
The rulers listened the whole time and when the tale was finished, Ajihad spoke. "That is troubling. If this is true with the enemy using attacks like that and being that strong, we might all be doomed. But there's got to be a way to combined the crystals gathered. But the myths and stories don't go into detail. Only that the items had to be gathered and combined together."
"There's got to be more to it," Esna stated with a frown. "Isn't there anything at all?"
Lanayru then spoke up. "Actually… I think I have an answer."
"And I have a guess to," Saki added.
"Both of you?" Tethi asked, surprised like the rest. "What are you two talking about?"
"Ever since you guys have been freeing the others and gathering the crystals, I've been thinking something over in my mind," Lanayru replied. "And it's only now that I think I might know what it means."
"You mean… that riddle the rest of us spirits have heard?" Saki asked and the male water spirit nodded. He then spoke to the others.
"Long ago, me and the other five that have been rescued were given a vision. And during it we all heard two voices speak. They were clearly a male and a female. And it was such a powerful vision, none of us have forgotten it. At first I thought it might have just been a dream. But after talking to the others who all had the same thing, there was no doubt it was something more."
"Can we hear it?" Tethu asked. "We might be able to help."
Lanayru nodded and cleared his throat before speaking. "When evil rises, an ancient one, gather the power to beat it. Then when all six are, come together in a place high up. Open the pathway to the other two of power to obtain the key to save all."
The rest were silent after hearing that. "So… what does that even mean?" Tethi asked.
"I'm getting an idea a little," Miura said.
"Really?" The Drauk nodded.
"Well we know the name of the enemy mentioned by Ajihad and Natasha right? And we've gathered the crystals which has to be the power mentioned and we've got all six. Now the place high up could be a number of different places but it seems if we gather there we can go to wherever it is, it's where we'll be able to find how to get to the place the key is mentioned to beat him."
"My thoughts exactly," Nicholas agreed with a smile to his girl.
"Sounds right, but where should we go for that high place?" Tethu asked.
"Maybe the other spirits could know? Can we contact them?" Ajihad asked the two males ones here.
"Yes, it shouldn't be a problem," Saki replied.
She and Lanayru led the way for the main group to the place they had first accessed the area where the wind one usually stayed at. The ruling Anubans joined them as well. Everyone stood back as the two spirits that had been rescued closed their eyes in the center of the stone circle while in their orbs. "We need your help, all of you," the male water spirit then stated.
In a flash the rest that had been rescued appeared in their own orbs, each being tied to the element that spirit was. "So, what is it this time?" Naboris, the female spirit of earth asked. "It's been a very long time since we were all gathered like this."
"So… what is it now?" Kyoji asked, pretending not to care.
"I think it's now time," Lanayru told them. "I think it's time to see if that riddle holds any truth."
"The one we've all been told?" Nami asked.
"Yes. And I believe it might also have to do with two more spirits." The male water one looked to the rest of the group. "I've always suspected there were two more which is what I meant by saying the other seven when I first met you. Now it's time to see if they really do exist."
"So how do we contact them?" Nicholas asked.
"Let's start with you guys getting your crystals out," Lanayru stated.
The six who had them did so and these then floated into the center of the circle in front of each spirit with their orbs. Then it happened with each starting to glow the color of their element. In a blinding flash of light, six beams from each came out to merge into a beautiful blend of the elements. These then formed a kind of circle, like the kind one could communicate with another after it rose up. "Wow, look at that," Sol said.
The circle like object had the colors moving and rippling like waves on the ocean. Then there was a static, crackling like sound. The kind of a frequency being picked up through an old radio. "Hello?" a different male voice then asked, but distorted.
"Can they hear us?" a female voice went, a new one that nobody had heard.
"Are those…?" Tethu began.
"I believe it is," Lanayru answered and then spoke up. "Are you the ones that the riddle spoke of in the vision me and the others got?"
"Yes, we are," the new male replied. "And we're the ones who sent it to you six."
In the circle that now acted like some kind of screen for commination two figures began to materialize. One appeared to be made out of plasma and light with the definite look of being a male. The other pulsed with purple and black, like the individual was made of shadow. In addition, the body was definitely the shape of a female. "So… there are two more," the Anuban in the group said, amazed. "And hidden all this time…"
"Yeah, but why?" Esna asked. She wasn't the only one who wondered that.
"It was to protect the knowledge, the key to defeating him," the female spirit replied. "Just how he was beaten so long ago."
"But now the time has come for us to emerge again," the male spirit stated. "Us and the areas we watch over."
"So… how will you two help?" Tethi asked.
"As the crystals are now, they aren't at their full potential," the new female said. "Only we can help them reach that."
"And we will do so by using our powers to help forge them so your weapons will become more powerful along with allowing you six to truly access the power needed to defeat Neltharion."
"So that's how we'll do it," Nicholas stated. "But will it be enough?"
"No one can say for sure," the new male spirit replied. "But if there's a chance, we must take it."
"Then let's go!" Levi said with a grin. "Let's head over to them like the others!"
The rest of the group nodded in agreement. "So should we split up to go to these areas?" Sol suggested. "We might be able to help them out faster."
"Normally I would suggest that," Nicholas said. "But I don't think it's a good idea considering how badly I got beaten at the last area."
"So we all go to one location at a time?" Tethu commented. "I guess we can do that."
"Sticking together would be better as well," the new male spirit added. "In order to access the areas you will need all six crystals at points. So by splitting up, your group wouldn't be able to make it all the way."
"Fair enough."
"So where should we head to first?" Miura asked. "The one closest?"
"If that is your choice, my area is," the new female spirit replied.
"Sounds like a good idea," Esna then said. "I'm kinda excited to meet you and him even if we'll have to go through stuff to get there."
"Yeah but we don't even know how to get there," Nicholas pointed out. "There's no map or anything."
"That is why we will give you this," the new male spirit stated.
The circle he and the other were using to communicate to the others glowed and something came out that was caught by Tethu. The male Seedling held it up and everyone took a look. It appeared to be in the shape of a fancy looking compass made of white and black material but also gold to. "This will help guide you on the path needed to get to us," the new female spirit told them. "Try it out by holding it in your hand."
Tethu did so and saw that it began to slowly glow on and off. "So the closer we get the more it will do that?" Nicholas asked.
"Yep and to start to get to my place you guys will want to head south," the new female spirit stated.
"Then we got a plan. Let's do this."
"Ready for action!" Levi added with his usual grin.
"What about the others here?" Nicholas then asked the ruling Anubans.
"We will alert everyone including the other rulers what is going on," Ajihad replied. "It wouldn't hurt in case the enemy decides to attack again."
"And the rest of us spirits will watch and keep an eye on our places," Saki added.
"I guess you'll be going with them?" Nami asked Lanayru.
"I will," he answered before looking to Esna in her orb. "I'm not letting the one I love go at it alone."
"Awwww… you're so sweet!" she cooed to her one and only.
"Looks like we got a plan," Nicholas stated. "Let's head out." The connection was then turned off.
The next hour or so was packing up and making sure the group had everything they needed once they got to their next destination. "This is a bit exciting, isn't it?" Miura asked her guy as they were making their way to the flight vehicle that would take the group as always.
"It is," the Anuban agreed. "We might not know exactly what lies ahead but considering nobody has been to these places in ages, it's like discovering something new again."
"Yes. Then after we get to them, we can finally end this. It's been good to adventure like this but I've had enough to last a lifetime if I'm being honest…"
"I hear you babe." He found her left hand and gave it a squeeze. The Drauk smiled up at the Anuban and squeezed his paw back. "Well as quiet and normal as it does here."
"That I can live with," she stated. "Just staying and living here with you sexy…"
"Yeah and me making you the happiest…" He nuzzled her and the Drauk giggled happily.
"You know I love you right?"
"I love you too babe; I always will."
"And that goes for me when it comes to you…" They had a loving kiss and made it to the vehicle. It didn't take long for the rest to join the two. With a nod, they all got on board with the Anuban at the controls. It was time for the next phase of this adventure and definitely was going to be the toughest part so far.