Chapter 5

The singers and the Sky Killers were making their way down to the bay; the sea was barely visible below them through the fog and dark. The stars were still covered in the sky, but Trellia preferred not to look up again. She had the worst experience in her life from the great red and black entity in the sky. She didn't talk for the entire trip.

Ecco was keeping pace, but he felt he should stay near Trellia; to make sure she has no more breakdowns. "Trellia, please tell me what's wrong. If it has something to do with the Glyphs, it may help us." Ecco pleaded to Trellia, but she only responded with a swift "No" all the way down. Ecco thought her senses would come back soon enough.
This was to be Trellia's personal nightmare.

Finally, the moon illuminated a dark ocean below. "That, my friends, is the Cape of Archeo," said Teo, "When we land, my pod and I will keep watch above you. Look for what you want, then call us when you are done. Good luck, Jewel Brow."

Ecco felt safe with the flying Orcas above them. Trellia was still quiet. "Come Trellia, we should search here." All she gave in response was a low mournful whistle.

The bay was indeed forlorn; after so many years, the bay where Atlantis once stood proud even underwater was empty. Nothing was left in the water save a few colored fish and feeding Hungry Ones. Ecco kept his sonar weapon ready, but the sharks were filling themselves with the vast schools of fish; too busy to notice the singers.

Nothing was left here to remind Ecco of Atlantis. The Marble Sea, the City of Fish, the City of Forever, all gone. The time machine was found covered with algae and encrusted with various shellfish; the machine was always pulsating with energy even when off. Now the technology of a long forgotten race was forgotten itself. Atlantis was a ghost town, a hallowed place on a normal sea floor.

Ecco looked as far as his sonar combined with Trellia's could take him; nothing was left in the cold sea. The waves were quiet above, as if the ocean was too sad for this area to not bother with tides. Soon, Trellia was in need of air, and they both surfaced.

"Is this what Atlantis looks like in your time?" asked Trellia. Ecco was grateful once again for the broken silence, but he chose not to show it.

"No. Back in my time it was a beautiful underwater city. Passages lined the walls that could trap one under the surface. Golden fish swam every single one. You should see it; even sunk, it was still breathtaking."

Trellia smiled at the image and forgot about her nightmare for a second. Ecco was surprised that after what she must have went through, she could have smiled at all.

"Come, we should search the whole bay, there must be something here or the Asterite would have never sent us."

Trellia's smile evaporated. "He lost his memory of this place, remember. Who knows if this place will show anything to us."

They searched for hours, the bay was so big. Ecco was entranced by the eerie silence, for Atlantis was usually teeming with life. The days of happiness were over for it.
Then, just when Ecco wanted to give up on this Atlantis, the stars on his forehead began to shine brightly, as did Trellia's star. Ecco gazed up at the sky; Delphineus was visible again, and the great sky cloud had started to retreat for the night.

Ready to terrorize again the next.

"Trellia, come on up and look! The sky is clear again." He called to Trellia.

"It is? No, I won't" she insisted.

Ecco was about to scold Trellia about coming to her senses when something in the shores caught his eye. A few feet away from them, in a rock niche, was a faint glow. Delphineus must have led them to the glow, it seemed.

Ecco squeezed through. Trellia stayed near the surface in case the niche had no air bubble within. "Trellia, come in here; I feel air here. You may be able to breathe." Trellia did just that, and was surprised she could breathe. However, it was what they saw in the cave pool that caught her eye.

There was a giant Glyph in the cave; it glowed faintly, and Ecco immediately wondered why this Glyph didn't break like the others. Trellia helped him search for the answer by lifting him into the air bubble. They floated around the Glyph for a while until Ecco stopped them in one spot. "Trellia, look! I don't believe this!"

There, right in front of them was a figure trapped inside the Glyph.
It was a dolphin, trapped in mid-leap. He didn't breathe, he didn't move, he didn't even blink. The Glyph had the dolphin trapped inside like a prison. The dolphin's eyes were still open, but frozen in another time. This sent chills up both Ecco's and Trellia's backs.

Under closer inspection, the dolphin was shaped just like Ecco, but a little bigger than Trellia. He seemed regal, of great respect. But what caught Ecco's attention was the mark on the great dolphin's chest: an arrangement of stripes in the shape of a crystal.

Suddenly Ecco realized why the Glyph stayed intact while the others were gone.

"Trellia, this...this is the legendary Glyph Caller."

The two dolphins could not believe their eyes. Here in front of them, hidden from all, was the ancient Glyph Caller; frozen in time within the great sea crystal. Ecco's gentle ebony eyes, usually beaming with selflessness, were agape with awe. As was Trellia's.

"Ecco, the Asterite spoke the truth. Here lies the Glyph Caller, after all this time. Do you think he is dead?"

Ecco kept his eyes on the great dolphin as he answered. "No. From what the Asterite has told us, the Glyph Caller holds the power of immortality within. He may just be under sleep."

Trellia wasn't that sure, but she knew to trust Ecco's intuition.

"I wonder...perhaps we could try singing to the Glyph," Ecco suggested.

Trellia whispered her response, for she felt she couldn't disturb the calm and peace of the ancient underwater cavern. "I wouldn't try it. The Glyph is perhaps on the last stronghold. Disturbing it may make things worse."

Ecco shook his head. "It may be our only chance, Trellia. We found the resting-place of the last Glyph, as well as its guardian. If we stand even one chance of hope, we must sing."

Trellia knew better to disagree with her ancestor, for it was his instinct that guided him through foreign seas. No one doubts a pure heart and lives without regret; except for evil ones, who don't live longer afterwards.

Ecco seemed satisfied and turned in midair with Trellia towards the Glyph. He then let out a gentle, communicative blast of song that echoed in the cave with great ease.

Nothing happened.

Then, this time with Trellia, their songs echoed louder; a melodious blast from the sea.

After the rhapsody of echoes, the Glyph still held strong; defiant.

"Perhaps he is dead..." Ecco started to say, when suddenly the cave was hit with a blinding light. It seemed to give life to the cavern walls, and it even illuminated the empty floor outside. Teo, who was still out at watch, saw the light and had to wonder what it was.

When the singers' eyes had gotten used to the light, the Glyph gave off an ethereal glow, white as pure as an albino blue whale. The light was soothing, and even when it surprised the singers; it didn't hurt their eyes afterwards.

And, to their great surprise, it spoke.

Which entity has awakened the Glyph of Power?

Trellia was trembling with great respect, and let Ecco do the talking. Because Ecco was the hero, he had the first right to speak.

"We have awakened you. We are singers, sent here by the Asterite to find help."

The Glyph's voice filled their minds as well as their thoughts. Its song quivered the cavern walls.

You have been identified through your songs as Ecco of the past, and Trellia of Trella Bay. What trouble brings thee forth from so far?

Ecco let Trellia speak next. "We have come by order from the Asterite. I brought Ecco from my time to deal with a problem with the Glyphs. If you can help, then why have the Glyphs all failed?"

The light from the Glyph was more intense now.

The Glyphs are held by my power, the power of the final resting-place of the Glyph Caller. I have no knowledge of their failure.

"I do not think you are telling the whole truth," accused Trellia, "We saw the Glyphs fail with our own eyes, and I saw one Glyph call out to the Glyph Caller."

I must guard the Glyphs...

"Tell us! We must know why the immortal Glyph Caller is held in bondage within you. The Asterite sent us, after telling us the whole story." Ecco's determination was heard clearly in his words.

The crystal finally gave in when it heard the Asterite's name. The Asterite has sent you? Forgive me for not listening, great Ecco and Trellia. This Glyph is actually my speaking form. I cannot speak to you as I am now, so I am singing through the last Glyph.
Ecco and Trellia comprehended this.

"Wait...you mean you are..." Ecco stammered.

Yes, chosen one. I am the Glyph Caller. I was held within this Glyph for centuries. Long ago, when I sealed myself deep within Atlantis, I was weakened beyond healing. Because I was immortal, I could not die. So, the Glyph held me asleep and lowered my suffering. I cannot be released again without my persona.

"Your persona?" asked Trellia.

My soul, my spirit. Without a persona, no one may live, as they should. Mine was lost eons ago, during the last battle with the Vortex. The blast that eventually sunk Atlantis had broken my last defense, scattered the Glyphs, and thrown me back. When consciousness came back to me, I was weak and far into exhaustion. Immortality saved me from death, but I was denied a final rest. I sealed myself into bondage with hope for death, but it never came. Now, though, with the Glyphs' power faltering, I am glad for no death, yet. Now, tell me of the past events if you are able.

Trellia and Ecco both told their sides of the story. The only thing that was left out was Trellia's ordeal in the cloud. When they finished, the Glyph containing the great dolphin let his light die for a moment in thought. When it came back, the dolphins were awaiting their answer.

I cannot come up with an answer as to this event. I had a slight sense that chaos was thrown up when I let my attack loose on the Vortex army. I do know I have a descendant in this time that carries the Glyph Caller legacy within. Tiderider, I believe. There is no doubt as to why he was captured.

Trellia's eyes were now wide open. "Now I remember! Tiderider was to be the leader because the Asterite told us the tale of the Glyph Caller. The others thought he was selfless and brave for his actions, so Tiderider was chosen at birth to be the one!"

That is true. But the singers do not know the significance of the ability to call power itself. You may know, so you may be of help to me. I want you to go back to your own time and find Atlantis. It is good that you did not destroy the time machine when you had the chance. It may prove useful.

"We will, thank you. But how do we get back? The Asterite can't help, and neither can the Glyphs." Trellia listened to Ecco as he said this; but she wondered why he said "we".

I can send you back. Go say goodbye to Teo and the Sky Killers, then come back and I will tell you what you need to do.

The Glyph was going to fade, but it gave Trellia the answer to her question.
Yes, you are going with him, Trellia. You need to accompany him, for it is your love held in bondage within this cloud of destruction.