Chapter FOURTEEN: Falling Sky-TALIA

...

When Talia got back from the Tear Shrine, the sun was already rising. Aydan had insisted on staying with her and had taken the opportunity to teach her useful healing spells and teleportation techniques; though, she still had a lot of trouble getting a hang of them.

He left in the middle of the night only because she told him to get some sleep, even though he probably would have stayed all night and avoided going to his shrine in Aveyond the next day. But he complied with her request and left hours earlier.

Now walking into the castle's corridor, Talia was surprised to see Leana waiting for her in the shrine gallery so early in the morning.

"G'morning, Dreamer! I suspect you had a busy night?" Leana said graciously.

"Leana, you're up early," Talia said as she yawned softly under her breath. "Yes, I did have a long night, but the Dreamworld is an amazing place. I never imagined..." Talia yawned again unable to finish.

"I see that you are tired. Yes? I was asked to show you to your room by the Oracle. It is in the western tower," Leana said as they headed towards their destination.

"Is Trin up, too?" Talia wondered.

"Hah! Trinity, well, is not in the best mood lately to be courteous," Leana rolled her eyes and smiled.

Talia hesitated for a while before she continued, "I couldn't help but notice that Trin well..."

"Does not seem to enjoy your presence?" Leana finished her sentence, flatly.

"I mean you two are so different! But I think that she-"

"Hates you?"

"Well, not exactly. I suppose, hate is such a strong and horrible way of putting it. I mean "hating me" is a little too soon. It's impossible...we hardly even know each other!"

"Well, yes, considering you prevented Ahriman from returning, she should be at your feet, or may I say, both of us should be."

"What are you referring too?" Talia asked puzzled by Leana's vague words. But at the same time, they reached a beautiful white door in the castle corridor and stopped.

"Well this is your room, Talia. I think it will be to your liking. Trin and I live down the hall if you ever need anything. The Sun Priest lives in the eastern towers and you can call upon the Oracle if you need her as well. You will find it to be very pleasant and serene since there are only the four us and the Oracle living here at the moment. Many of the other druids live either in the world or in shrines as she told you...Otherwise, see you in some hours..." Leana said rushed seeming to have forgotten Talia's question.

She hurry away as soon as she finished, leaving Talia pondering.

"Leana, wait!" Talia suddenly called catching her attention again.

Leana stopped and turned her head. Talia realized she had tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

"Did I say something to offend you?" Talia asked, uncertain if she should continue. Leana walked towards her again, opening the door to Talia's room. They both went inside.

It's practically a manor inside, Talia quickly thought, but then focused her attention immediately back to Leana, who had wiped her face dry.

"I'm sorry, but you being here...especially what you accomplished during your journey, brings back many horrible memories for me and I believe Trin as well.

"You see, before we became druids, our mother was the Moon Priestess and our father was the Star Priest. We lived happily in the High Realm, until one day my parents were summoned by the Oracle. Nearly 600 years ago, she sent them on a journey to kill an evil warlock in the world, name Belthazel, who had cursed an enchanted queen and kingdom to sleep, for what we believed at the time, for all eternity. Little did they know that he had become a powerful demon during his reign of destruction and terror. As history has a way of repeating itself, the demon was the first to attempt summoning the wicked-emperor-of-so-long-ago, for control and power. He was almost unstoppable, or so did everyone think at the time.

"Our parents fought hard against him. They did it out of fear because they had been around when the great emperor ruled the kingdoms, and had felt his grip of pain and suffering. The Oracle prophesized that they would succeed someday, but the demon killed our poor father first...

"At the time, Trin and I were a few years younger than you are now; and at times it feels like we are still that age... A consequence for immortality, I suppose... However, Trinity took on the duties as the new Star Priestess. Mother then vowed vengeance towards the demon that killed father and soon bid us farewell in her quest to stop him," Leana stopped and breathed in deeply. For the first time, Talia saw an angry expression full of rage on Leana's face; one that she thought her impossible of ever showing since meeting her.

"...She left us to the Oracle's cares and was gone for about a year. One day we received word that she had succeeded in killing Belthazel with the Sword of Shadows..." she paused again and placed her hand over her mouth seeming to regret her words. "...However, she died in the process. I soon replaced her as Moon Priestess to remain here with my sister. And the emperor, or shall I say demon, that you fought against..." she trailed off now with a blank expression on her face.

"Ahriman..." Talia finished certain of her answer. She had never taken much thought about what Ahriman had done in the past when he was alive; all those that he corrupted as a demon; or what he could have done had they failed to stop him. In a sense, she had taken for granted the fact that stopping the demon helped save countless lives and brought justice to those who had been lost.

"Yes, it is a very old prophecy that of Ahriman's. Despite the unpleasantness of resurfacing these memories, I thought you deserved to know the truth. I am more grateful to you than you could ever imagine. However, I believe that part of Trinity's attitude towards you, and anyone else for that matter, is due to the hardships of our past. Although we may appear to be similar on the outside, we both coped very differently from our parents demise. Trin has always been the fighter of the two of us and the heroine in many cases. And like our mother, she can sometimes be insensitive and difficult. But I have...well, you can say, I have learned to deal things with patience and time," she said now smiling tensely at Talia. "Hmm, though, to be honest, there is more to Trin that I cannot say at this time," Leana blushed light-pink as she ended again not making much sense, but Talia decided not to press for more.

"Leana, you mentioned a Sword of Shadows? I was wondering, what it is?"

Leana looked away before she began, "I am not the one who should be discussing this with you. Normally, the Oracle in time will tell you about the Sword of Shadows, especially in your case, having just arrived here yesterday. But since I mentioned it, I guess I will have to explain...

"There really is not much to say about the sword in a sense. For it is regarded as lost by most mortals. The sword is an ancient artifact secretly hidden deep within the Sun Temple in Aveyond, guarded by Druid Aydan. The sword is filled with the souls of the most powerful demons that it traps, once struck with its merciless blades. However, it is said that the sword is cursed. Although it has the potential of saving many from the tyranny of the demons it holds, for if any reason it were broken or placed in the wrong hands, the sword may in fact destroy us all.

"Mother was the last one to use the weapon..." Leana stopped and stared curiously at Talia.

Talia never imagined that such a powerful weapon existed. She believed Agea's relics to be of utmost magical value, but the Sword of Shadows made Agea seem almost trivial.

"Umm...Thank you for telling me all of this. Perhaps, Trin and I will eventually find common ground," Talia spoke as Leana got up to leave with nothing more to say.