Thanks for those who reviewed! Here comes chapter four of The Land of Argonia…
The Land of Argonia
Chapter 4: The Fairy and the Snake
Later that afternoon, Eriol took Tomoyo to the waterfall park (sort of, It doesn't seem to appear on the map). It was a very beautiful and tranquilizing place. The bird's song intertwined with the warm flowing scent in the air. The sun's rays added to the charm enclosed within the park. The water in the falls smoothly glided within its range sparkling like stars in the cloudless day and the spirit's presence were alive among all living things which makes it an extraordinary world.
"Did you know this place ever since?" Tomoyo asked him.
"Yes. It once belonged to the age of neverness. However, it refused to disappear with them.
They stood near the falls. Tomoyo stared at the oak tree. Somehow, she didn't understand why he speak so mysteriously. "I lived in Eastmound all my life, yet I never knew this place.
"It takes a great deal of concentration to enter such worlds," he looked at her and continued. "but that won't be arduous for you." Tomoyo stared at him. Then, Eriol settled his eyes on the rock beside the falls. "Tell me what you see." Tomoyo doesn't understand why he was telling her this but the way he looked, she knew he was determined. Gazing around her, she thought, nothing was wrong. There were the birds chirping on the trees, the glittering butterflies fluttering among the flowers, that fairy playing with the crystal water, the fishes - Tomoyo paused. Did she see what she actually see? Or did her eyes just fooled her with their trick of hallucination? No. There wasn't any doubt about it. The fairy was there sitting on the rock with her feet wet. It was so strange though. The fairy's face look very much homogeneously with those of humans. The only difference is that it's diminutive, about the size of a normal palm of the hand. It has wings that glinted like golden dusts and legs that shone like those of diamonds. Tomoyo walked a few steps forward. The fairy grinned noticing her. Tomoyo smiled back as the fairy flew closer. She glided and stopped a few inches above her head.
"You are most blessed young princess." the fairy said. Tomoyo felt the warmth in her voice. The it bent forward and kissed her on the forehead. "May it protect you from every creature behind the black not know to human eye and keep you away from the shadows of those who resides in the place of misery. From this day forward and until the day of reckoning…" Then her body started to vanish. Slowly, then after a few seconds, only sparks compressed to shape like a sphere were left. No sooner, it flew away, up, up and away to the sky.
"It was beautiful isn't it?' Eriol finally spoke. Tomoyo was surprised by his words. "This happened before. You have seen it." There was a few moments of silence then,
"What do you mean?" she asked perplexed.
"I'm referring to the python djiini." Eriol said on Tomoyo's curious look.
"Python djiini?"
Eriol nodded.
"Oh." Then she stopped. "But," Tomoyo thought. How? How did he know that? How did he know when that snake materialized out of nowhere?" she looked away from him. "It's strange," she said to herself. "He's familiar, yet we haven't met each other personally before. It's impossible how he could have known things about me like that."
"How?" she asked Eriol.
"It might sound confusing but I'll tell what is true," Their eyes met and once again, Tomoyo was staring at his dark azure eyes. "I've known you for a very long time," he paused. "We once have been together when the world was clear and all land dwellers were united as one."
"So that's why I feel different whenever I'm with him." she said to herself. "We knew each other before. But wait a minute, how is that possible?"
"I don't understand Eriol." Tomoyo told him.
"I'm sorry Tomoyo. I couldn't explain everything yet. It has to be in the right time." He moved towards her and Tomoyo finally broke their eye contact.
"But perhaps, you could tell me what a djiini is." she said softly.
"They are creatures invisible to the mind less seeing but appears before the eyes of those who has the power with the mind and the heart of imagination. No ordinary human could see them. They differ from other magical creatures because they could pass through the dimension separating the two worlds."
Tomoyo placed her hands together. "So I…" she muttered.
"Yes, you posses that power which is mostly unique among those who dwell in this world. But little does I believe that you originally came here."
Tomoyo couldn't take this confusion any longer. She stared down and walked hurriedly towards where she thought would be the exit. Eriol stared after her but didn't followed suit. This burden was too much for him to bear. His expression turned different. Not one of those which he had when he was talking to her. There was a very long silence then,
"I don't want to do this, but I need to…"
Tomoyo walked past their living room and entered her bedroom. She closed the door behind her and heaved a sigh. The wind rushed through the wide opened window billowing her long golden brown hair. Falling over her bed, she closed her eyes and tried to remove all the worries and anxieties within her. "It was very clear," she thought. "I remember it well…"
Then there was Tomoyo standing near the trees watching the program of what seemed like a dance competition. There were the students, teachers and some parents, all who were so eager and excited seeing some of their friends join and perform in the contest.
Beyond the cherry blossoms, Tomoyo walked closer to get a better view. Her classmates were there, a few friends and persons she didn't know. But what is so outlandish was this person in the middle of the grounds who claimed to be the leader and the star of the dancers - Danice Burcham. It will all seem to be normal if you use the same way of seeing.
However, one person gave the impression of noticing more than the usual. Tomoyo, without knowing, unleashed her magical powers hidden within. Hearts open and spirits raised, her mind entwined along with the wind creating a bond of communication concealing pure courage and great understanding. It was then when her real vision was awakened. That was the start, when Tomoyo saw the python djiini.
Slithering through the grass, the snake moved along, towards where Danice Burcham stood. Unaware of what was happening (for no ordinary human knows except for one), Danice continued dancing along with her friends. The snake was very close now. Head just inches away from the girl's foot. It circled around her as if ready to strike and constrict decisively. Tomoyo, who could see what was really happening apart from the program, dashed towards the center of the school grounds and to where Danice Burcham was. Curious of the peculiar things going on, the crowd turned their heads to where Tomoyo was. She was running and shouting Danice's name at the same time.
"Danice! Danice! Stop! There's a snake. Just inches away from your foot. Stop!" hearing her name being called, Danice looked around and she spotted Tomoyo.
"What?" she asked in a confused tone. "Did I win already?"
Tomoyo stared blankly at her. Don't be a dope at this point of time. She thought.
"There's a snake!" she shouted to Danice but after a few seconds of standing still, she got a bit irritated and pulled Danice by the hand away from the slithering snake. Those nearby who have heard, panicked and started running at top speed crying "snake! Snake!". Momentarily, the whole school was trashing up and down, here and there not knowing what to do. Then after such a weary hour, everybody calmed down. The headmistress, a stout old woman with black satin dress and sharp looking face walked forth and recalled the crowd to stop bickering and just listen.
"There," she began. "now thank you for paying attention." Then she gestured her hand beckoning the lead student to come but he was trying o peek through the heads of the people to see whom he thought was the source of the problem. He heard his name being called and when he turned around, saw the headmistress eyeing him.
"What were you doing?" she boomed at him. "I've called you for about a dozen times already!" By these words, he jogged forward and apologized for his impertinence. "Never mind." she said irritably and whispered something in his ear. The student replied back and she nodded in agreement. Turning her head towards the crowd, she put on the microphone back and said with the same and usual tone, "There are rumors about this - snake you said?" she asked the lead student once more.
"Yes ma'am." he replied with esteem.
"And I presume," she continued, "that none was hurt regarding these hearsays. However, based on my search, there was neither snake nor trace of anything suspicious was discovered." she paused and placed her hand under her elbow. "It is. Nevertheless, an unrightfully deed to spread such lies that shook a hurricane barrage across the school that made it tremble so robustly." her voice raised and she moved closed towards the crowd. "A person has told me that this has something to do with a girl named Tomoyo Daidouji." The people quickly reacted. They turned their heads around and gossips and whispers started out again. Some ooohed and aaahed and some - perhaps those who knew her - gasped and placed their hand over their mouth.
Tomoyo, who was still clutching Danice (now by the sleeves) became aware of what was happening, however, somehow she was confused mostly about what their headmistress said.
"Well," said the headmistress impatiently. "Miss Daidouji, will you please come forth immediately."
Tomoyo knew this was coming the moment she realized something wrong had come up. She asked herself "why?? I just did what I thought was right." still staying calm, she walked towards where their headmistress was excusing herself among the crowds leaving a spellbound Danice to her feet.
As she passed and made her way through the path blocked by the people, some students began eyeing her saying words that really pierced her heart. She was so drowned in thoughts that she didn't realize she has already come face to face with their headmistress. Tomoyo looked up as their headmistress' marine-deep eagle-like eyes stared back. She felt that her tears were left behind for it was courage that overpowered her that time. She was determined. She knew that she did the right thing because she saw what she saw. Never leaving the fact about the snake, she thought, "My eyes don't lie with me. What I saw is true and truth will always be there to save and take me out of harm's way."
As she said these words in the headmistress' office, she somehow felt assuaged for her own for helping her say true words. Her face stayed the same after she told what happened. The headmistress, on the other hand, couldn't start debate with her or even to retort for she felt so sure of herself. Feeling loss for the first time, she let this incident pass insisting the school to forget everything that had happened.
After a few weeks, everything returned to normal even though some students were staying away from her. Tomoyo took no notice of this but just reminded herself, "It is in the past and will remain forever, in it…"
Whew! Finally done! This is my longest chapter yet! Hope you guys drop a review for me coz I really sacrificed my time for this that was supposedly meant for reviewing. Our final exams are drawing nearer and nearer but still and all, chapter five is done! All I need is a more fingers for aid in typing. Anyone whose willing to lend? *joke! He,he,he!* Again, please drop a review!