Chapter Twenty-Six: The Gold Mystery

"WHAT HAPPENED TO US?" Beau roars. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"You are asking me? How can I tell you? Easier to figure it out yourself." Iymp looking at Beau flattening his long tendril ears.

Mali and Stein walk into the study where they stood and stared in silence.

"What..." Mali whispers under his breath.

"How is this possible?" Stein says as he slowly walks up to Beau.

Mali walks to Aaron smiling. Jumping onto the table where Aaron sits. He grabs his chin and playfully shakes Aaron's head.

"I really thought you were dead boy!" Mali says happily as he quickly hugs Aaron. "Huh?" That is all Aaron could muster. Mali has never hugged him before... Mali then lets Aaron go and smiles as he looks into Aaron's eyes, his expression changes. His cheeky grin disappearing into a stern face. A rare sight.

"Stein!" Mali shouts. "Look!" As he moves Aaron's face in Steins' direction. Aaron's golden eyes glowing brightly.

The room remains silent as Stein looks to Aaron and then to Beau. Looking side to side repeatedly.

"What happened?" Stein finally asks.

Aaron clears his throat as he explained what happened inside the ether.

"So Iolene is alright?" Stein asks.

"Yer, she used powers to get us out... Has she awakened?" Aaron urgently.

"No still asleep..." Stein says quietly.

"Can we see her?" Aaron asks with a soft tone.

Stein, Mali, Iymp, Aaron, and Beau enter Taos' main bedroom where Iolene rests.

Lexi is there brushing her long blonde hair. It takes her a moment to notice Aaron and Beaus' transformation. "By the phoenix..." Is the only words she can muster.

Fred is staring at Iolene from the other side of the room. Only quickly glancing at Aaron and Beau shrugging them off. Lei is eating a few dumplings at the small side table near Fred.

"Aaron! Beau! You are alive!" Lei shouts dropping his bowl of dumplings on the floor. "I thought you two were dead! Beau what happened to you!?"

Beau sighs and looks down at his claws. He had no idea what to expect now. He can't go home... What can he do now? Beau remains quiet as he thinks to himself while looking at Iolene sleeping. Iolene... What did you do? Why did you do this?

Aaron walks over to Iolene as she sleeps. Still and only heavy breathing. He holds her hand and hasn't said a word. We were little when we met... Remember when you escaped from your room? I had to help you get back before your family realized you were missing. That time you snuck me food from the royal dinner. Always Reading me stories that we both can enjoy... Aarons hand clenched harder on Iolenes hand. As he thinks back at their time at Watersgate. "Come on... Wake up..." Aaron whispers.

A slight groan can be heard from Iolene. She tilts her head to the side.

Everyone quickly surrounds the bed as Iolene shifts and her eyes open. Her eyes glowing brightly. Aaron quickly lets go of her hand as she places her hand on her forehead.

"My head..." As Iolene looks around at everyone.

"What is your favourite meal?" Lexi asks.

"Chicken soup..." She hesitantly answers.

"What is the name of your father?" Mali asks.

"Aelius..." Iolene rubs her head as she sits up.

"Welcome back!" Lei says with a large smile.

Iolene looks around and sees Aarons eyes. She grabs his head with both hands and pulls him close. Aaron didn't expect it as he almost fell over. It was a few minutes until she lets him go.

Aaron then points to Beau. She gasps and gets out of bed. She lays her hand on his snout. Staring into his yellow eyes and seeing the sadness.

"How?" As Iolene turns around hoping to get an answer from Stein and Mali.

Iolene, Aaron and Beau then discussed in detail to everyone what happened in the ether.

Iymp then coughs to get everyone's attention.

"Yes Iymp?" Lexi asks.

The red dragon begins pacing the room as everyone looks at him. "I have a theory... The mirror exploded and shattered. It was made out of pure gold draconium. Beau and Aaron took the main explosion as we left the room. They would have been pierced with pure gold draconium shards..."

Stein rubs his chin as he nods at Iymp in agreement. "That is part of it... Iolene also had a huge part in it. She purified your souls in the void..."

"It's the ether..." Iolene quickly says.

"What is the ether exactly? Kenneth never mentioned anything like it to me. I don't fully understand it." Lexi asks Iolene crossing her arms.

"It is the world's consciousness. Where all the souls reside after death. I spoke to Erastus, the seer of the past before me." Iolene wraps her arms around herself like a self-hug. "The world is alive and thinking... Only seers like me can communicate to it."

"Erastus? That is a name I haven't heard in years." Mali says as he looks down and sighs.

"Can you sleep and enter the ether whenever you like?" Lexi asks.

"No... Epithymia's and my soul were literally pulled out of our bodies to be there... Erastus did say there are parts of the world I can enter the ether. But I don't know where they are. Epithymia was cursed so she was stuck in the ether. However, seers like me are unique and are guardians of the world. Epithymia is not a seer... She couldn't see anything and couldn't summon anyone. She must have been so lonely..." Iolene still hugging herself sits on the bed. Heavily breathing she is still exhausted after her ordeal.

Then all of a sudden she bursts out crying. Covering her face with her hands.

"Iolene..." Aaron whispers.

"Iolene why are you crying?" Lexi says seriously as she sits next to her and pats her back.

"I'm sorry..." She whimpers and wipes tears from her eyes. Her body trembling as she then tries to warm herself up. "I'm sorry for being stupid... It was so scary... I thought I was never going to escape..."

"Well, you did escape... So, stop crying... You are such a cry baby." Lexi then pokes her side waist. Iolene laughs as it was her ticklish spot.

Stein stands in front of Iolene folding his hands and sighs. "What are we going to do with you? But there is one thing... You will be guarded twenty-four seven."

Iolene sighs knowing full well she has blown her chance of full freedom.

Mali takes out a bottle of sake and fills his clay cup to the top. "Yes... What are we going to do? Beau is now a gold dragon... Aaron is purified... Iolene the prin-"

A loud snore can be heard as everyone turns their heads. Fred is sleeping on the floor.

"Who is that?" Iolene asks.