I awoke from my dream with Syaoran feeling happy and somewhat giddy. I had
a feeling in my heart, I did not tell Syaoran, but it was that feeling that
would keep me going; that feeling that would keep the demon from killing
me. It came again, that pungent smell, I did not understand why, but the
demon did not seem as if he wanted to kill me, he kept bringing me food. I
was very confused. I cursed quietly under my breath as I thought about
what the Lady of the North put Syaoran through in that dream; and then what
Syaoran said about that other man and the other priestess. I had believed
I knew all about the chest and the jewels, but it appeared that I did not.
I sighed deeply, this would take a bit longer than I expected. Half of me
wanted to have the demon kill me and get it over with, but another half of
me longed to be held by Syaoran. I blushed, what was going on in my head?
----
Syaoran followed the path of the stream until the sun went down over the mountains and then he set up camp. The sound of the river was soothing, it reminded him of Sakura. He wanted to hold her, to help push away the memories of the demon; he wanted to know what it was like to know her as a person rather than a priestess.
He stared down at his reflection in the water; he was a little pale, he had not had any decent food since he had stayed at the Lady of the North's cottage. He shuddered as he remembered what she had wanted him to do. He looked back at the water and he saw the priestess face when the demon had kidnapped her.
"Why?" he asked the air. "Why did I just stand there?"
"Because if you had attempted to save her you would have been ripped to shreds," his conscience replied.
He sighed and walked up the small rise to his camp. It was not much; just a small gathering of leaves pushed together forming a bed and a small fire. It was relatively warm near the river, which was a surprise because he was still near the Frozen North. He settled down to sleep but found none. As he lay there he looked up into the sky, asking over and over again, the question that he had not asked the Priestess. Where was the chest?
The stars started to reel in the sky and Syaoran sat up suddenly, watching closely. The formed a mountain range, encircled by a desert. It clicked. The chest was in the Southern Mountains; the desert, and the people that lived in the desert surrounded the mountain range. Desert, wasteland, sun, dirt, he would need a vast amount of water. It clicked again. The River Severen was the only fresh water river. The Lady of the North, though she was angry with him, had helped him with his journey. She knew where the chest was, though 'how' was a different subject.
Syaoran sighed and lay back down again. He resolved to find some food in the morning and maybe get some fir for trading so that he could get proper supplies in the town that sat outside of the desert. He could not remember the name for his life, though. Syaoran vaguely wondered why before he fell asleep.
----
The next morning, Syaoran got up slowly and stiffly. It had been a while since he had actually slept on the ground; being cooped up in a dungeon did not count; and he was sorry that he had not brought a bedroll. He sighed, reasoning that he could either get a room in the city or get used to sleeping on the ground. He then climbed a tree and hid all his equipment except for his sword, and set out to go hunting.
Hunting did not go as well as planned, he had caught very little and it only temporarily quenched his hunger. After he had eaten what he had caught he packed up his campsite and set out once again to follow the stream.
"Sakura, stay safe... I will rescue you," he said out into the air.
"Are you sure about that?" a voice came from a group of bushes near the water's edge.
Syaoran drew his sword. "Who is there?"
"Put your sword away, I will not hurt you. Do all of your kind assume that anyone, or anything, that approaches them is set out to destroy you?" the voice asked.
"Answer my question first," Syaoran said.
"Impatient are we. Ah well, as you wish," the voice said.
The bushes shuddered and a lean figure stepped out. "My name is Takano. I am of the river folk here. Though, I seem to have lost my way back to my village. Would you mind if I went along with you for a while?"
Syaoran stared at the figure. Its ears were pointed, its skin held a soft blue hue to it, and its hands were webbed.
"Are you by chance related to the mermaids?" Syaoran asked slowly putting his sword down.
"Oh heavens no, mermaids are such tricky creatures. We, the river folk, are much kinder and honest. To tell you the truth, it was a mermaid that led me here and then vanished." Takano explained. "Mermaids enjoy leading unsuspecting creatures to their doom."
"Dare I ask?" Syaoran thought.
"I hear that you are out to rescue the Priestess Sakura," Takano said.
"Yes, I am," Syaoran answered.
"Then I regret to inform you that the mermaids hold one of the thirteen jewels that you need," Takano said and looked at Syaoran with sparkling sea- green eyes.
Syaoran did not answer for a while only turned and started to walk towards his destination. After a while, he asked, "Do you have any tips for me, then?"
Takano pursed his lips. "Merfolk value cunning and intelligence. Physical strength and determination mean little to them unless it is coupled along with wisdom. Beware: they will not give the jewel up willingly."
Syaoran nodded. He walked on. "I'm afraid I do not think that I am very intelligent," he mused. He then sighed. "Maybe the Priestess will help me, as she has done before...."
Takano shrugged. "If she has helped you before, she most likely will do again. That is, until she starts to grow weaker..."
Syaoran looked at him quickly. "Weaker?
"Good and evil are always battling each other," Takano said. He was thinking. "When two strong sources are with each other, each strives to outdo the other. However," he continued, "the Demon's powers are much stronger than the Priestess's." He held up a hand to Syaoran's protest. "Young warrior," he said, "no power is as strong as the Demon, except for the creator gods, and they do not walk the earth."
"Sakura is the embodiment of Bridgit," Syaoran said, slightly sulkily and defensively.
"Embodiment or not," Takano said, "The Demon is a creator god cast out from the heavens. No mere human can kill him, only seal him away."
"Then Sakura and I will seal it away then," Syaoran replied.
Takano sighed. There was no getting through to this warrior, he was very determined and it appeared that he was not thinking very clearly.
"Do you have the Chest?" Takano asked.
Syaoran did not reply.
"I say, do you have the Chest?" Takano asked and put a webbed hand on Syaoran's shoulder.
"No! No, I do not have the Chest, I was on my way there right now," Syaoran replied a bit haughtily.
Takano put his hands up defensively. "I am sorry that I asked."
"No no, I am the one that should be sorry. Your news of the Demon's strength has discouraged me from my journey," Syaoran replied.
Syaoran slowed his pace down and stopped by a small cove.
"We will rest here for now," Syaoran explained. "It is getting late and I am not good with directions when it is dark."
Takano nodded and sat down on a rock with his webbed feet in the water.
"I say, the village that I belong to has... been a bit upset with me lately. Would you mind if I accompanied you on your journey?"
"If you are up for a journey through the desert," Syaoran replied.
Takano looked down into the water that his feet were in. Syaoran looked at him intently. He did not mean to change the creatures mind, he just was not sure if he could take the journey through the desert. In all actuality, Syaoran wanted the creatures company. There was something about him that Syaoran was drawn to. He could not really pinpoint what it was, but he offered a presence that Syaoran enjoyed.
"I believe I can do it. I am a bit of a magic user myself, I can create water when I need to," Takano replied.
Syaoran smiled at the creature.
"Very well then, I am Syaoran," Syaoran replied. "It is good to have your company, I deeply appreciate it."
Takano smile back. "Now, I am not sure about you, but I am ravished."
Syaoran stretched. "I hope you are a better hunter than I am, my friend," he said. "I have not been very successful."
Takano looked up at Syaoran, then back at the water. "I think I can manage to get some food. You stay here and start a fire." With that the water creature dove into the river and disappeared with an expert kick of his legs.
Syaoran sighed and looked around him. "I suppose I will have to start gathering firewood," he said.
Two hours and several fish later, Syaoran and Takano sat by the fire, Syaoran notably closer than the river-man.
"Why is your village upset with you?" Syaoran asked him. "If you do not mind answering, that is."
"I do not," Tanako said. "I was always a curious person," he said, after a pause. "This time I found out something that I was not supposed to, and let it slip."
"I see," Syaoran said, imagining the endless things Takano could have found out.
Takano sighed. "It is a long walk to the town ahead," he said. "We should get some sleep."
"That sounds fine to me," Syaoran said. "Who should take the first watch?"
"I will," Takano said.
Syaoran nodded and rolled himself up in his cloak, and fell immediately into sleep.
----
They set out about half an hour after dawn, deciding to eat later in the day, once they were closer to their destination. The walk was silent and swift, as the land by the river Severen was flat and not too spongy. They had fish again for breakfast, resolving to try to get some proper food in town by doing menial tasks. Takano offered to stop by his village and collect his money, but Syaoran declined, observing that it was better to stay away from a large group of people who were angry with him. So, the two arrived in the river town penniless and very hungry.
"Excuse me," Syaoran asked the first person he saw as soon as they got into the establishment. "What is the name of this town?"
The person, a young man a few years younger than Syaoran told him that it was called Meviran.
"Meviran," Syaoran mused as they walked away. "The name is so familiar..."
"I understand that it is a key trading point," Takano said. "It is a bit strange that the town is not bigger than it is."
Syaoran nodded and looked around him. The town was obviously wealthy; he did not see very many shabbily dressed people. Perhaps they discouraged people moving in. The two men headed for the docks, knowing that a few extra pairs of hands would be helpful. They found work easily, as a ship was unloading at the docks, preparing to take on a shipment of goods from the nearby desert. Syaoran found the sailors to be fairly talkative and was involved in several conversations, unlike Takano, who was fairly shy and self-conscious. However, he was not an uncommon sight in the town, so most people did not look at him twice.
"Ye hear about the kidnapped priestess?" one sailor asked Syaoran.
"I hear she was a village princess," another man popped into the conversation.
"She was a priestess!" the first sailor insisted. "She was captured by that demon!"
"Yeah, sure," the second one said skeptically.
Syaoran was silent, guilt filling up his body. He hoped that it was not seeping into his face.
"Anyways," the first sailor continued on, this time to Syaoran, "Some shaman up th' river was pretty concerned about it. Said that this priestess was starting to break already, and if the demon ate her, all would be over."
Syaoran dropped the load he was carrying, his face turning white. "Already starting to break?" he whispered.
Takano turned to him, concerned. "Are you alright, Syaoran?" he asked.
"'ey! What was that all about?" the sailor demanded.
"How do you know?" Syaoran asked him urgently. "How do you know this?"
The sailor looked taken aback. "Well, this priestess is pretty famous. Most powerful on this side of the sea."
"Oh, gods," Syaoran said and put a hand to his forehead.
"Do ye know her?" The sailor enquired.
Syaoran did not reply. He only muttered something about wasting time.
The sailor looked to Takano with curiosity written all over his face.
"Ahh....," Takano replied. "Well... Syaoran is the nobleman's son and he is on a journey to rescue the priestess."
The sailor's eyes widened. "Ye... yer a nobleman's son? Why did ye not tell us? We would have just given ye the money if we knew ye were out to save the priestess."
Syaoran, once again, did not respond.
"Syaoran, if you are not going to continue working, I suggest we move on. If what they say is true, we really need to get to the priestess before getting the next jewel," Takano suggested.
"Ey, Syaoran, take this," the sailor said and dropped a medium sized pouch into his hand.
"No, I cannot take this," he replied, trying to give the money back.
"I ain't gonna take it back. Now, get goin'" the sailor said and took a few steps away from Syaoran.
Syaoran looked at the sailor with a small smile on his face. He said his "thank yous" to the sailors and then left the docks.
"Takano, after we get the Priestess back, we need to get the chest," Syaoran said.
Takano nodded. "I say, where does this demon reside?"
"In the mountains to the west of my village," Syaoran replied.
"How far did you travel when you arrived near the river?" Takano asked.
"I am not sure. I had traveled to the Witch of the North to fight for one of the jewels, then she transported me to the river," Syaoran explained. "But, I had a dream with the priestess in it and see appeared fine."
"Perhaps she appeared to you fine, because that was they way you last saw; in perfect health," Takano suggested.
Syaoran moaned is depression. "How could I have been so stupid? I should have gone after the demon the night it too Sakura, whether I came back alive or not."
"Syaoran, do not say that," Takano said and placed a webbed hand on his shoulder, "it is not your fault that she was taken."
"Oh, but it is! I just stood there, watching the demon take her away," Syaoran replied, his mood getting ever more gloomy by the minute.
"Buck up," Takano said. "The situation is not going to get any better if you obsess over it."
Syaoran nodded, but did not change his expression.
"Do you know your way to the village from here?" Takano asked him.
Syaoran paused in his walking and considered. "Not exactly. We might as well buy a map, if we have to go anywhere that is farther than either of us has traveled."
Takano nodded. "Makes sense to me," he said. "Now to find a map."
After questioning several townsfolk, the two were able to obtain a decent map for only a few copper pennies. Before they left the village, they poured over the map, finding the Demon's den and tracing the best route from where they were to it. Syaoran did not want to stop back at his village, for he feared to loose any time.
"What do you plan to do when you get to this den?" Takano asked Syaoran, a few days after they had been traveling.
Syaoran's dreams of taking Sakura to safety were suddenly shattered as he was faced with the reality of the situation. "I.... do not know," he said, disappointed at his lack of insight.
"Well, we had better make a plan soon!" Takano said.
Syaoran sighed. "You really do not have to go with me to the den," he said. "It is extremely dangerous, and you really have no reason to risk your life."
"Ahh, but I do!" Takano said. "I have decided that you are my friend. I won't let you go into danger alone. Anyways, if this Demon is really as terrible as everyone says he is, we can't let him rampage for long, can we?"
Syaoran smiled slightly. "You are right," he sighed. "Now, how do we go about defeating a demon that can't be defeated?" he asked, his voice light.
Takano pondered that. "Well, I have a bit of an idea," he said slowly. "If you do not mind taking a detour..."
"How long will it last?" Syaoran asked.
"A few days," Takano said. "But, I think that it will be worth it."
Takano changed their course a few degrees south from their original northwest route. On the way, he told Syaoran what would help him out so much. They were headed for the Great Wood, the only forest left in the land in which spirits called the trees home. It was no small forest, either. It spanned for thousands of miles to the south from its northernmost point and was at least three hundred-or-so miles wide. It was rumored that the Forest God roamed there still, watching the trees and keeping the magic alive. It was the only place in which the Demon could not enter. However, Takano had discovered a ghost in there, one who had been a powerful witch in her life, and still retained her powers. He did not know her name, but he promised Syaoran that the witch would help in every way that she could.
The first day of their journey, Syaoran was not absolutely sure they should take this long of a detour, but he did trust Takano. And if it would help him battle the demon and get Sakura away easier then he would do anything that was possible.
That night, Syaoran did not sleep. He could only think about Sakura's safety and whether or not she was lying somewhere already dead and the demon was coming upon her to eat her. Whenever sleep he did get, whether it be during short breaks that they took in their journey for food and such, was plagued by nightmares. Even though the priestess had told Syaoran that what the witch put into his head about her blaming him for his death was a lie, he still could not push it from his mind. He asked himself again why he just stood there and watched at the demon took Sakura away, and again his conscious told him that he would have died.
He sat up and looked into the sky. Everywhere he looked he saw Sakura's face, he could not get away from it. He prayed and prayed that she would be all right and that nothing ill fated would befall her before he had the chance to get her out of the demon's den. He thought about all the situations that the demon could put them in, from threatening to kill Sakura that instant to making himself kill her. Every possible action that he could take was to charge at the demon at any open angle.
The sun started to rise and Takano woke up and looked at Syaoran.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" he asked, looking at Syaoran with a worried face.
Syaoran shook his head. "We had best be going now, we need to cover as much ground as possible."
Takano rose up quickly and gathered the few supplies that they had.
"If we continue heading in this direction," Takano said, "we should be at the forest by midday tomorrow."
Syaoran nodded and strapped his sword to his side. A day and a half; if Sakura was starting to break as he had heard from the sailor, then she might not last that long, but if this witch could help him save her, it was worth delaying her rescue.
Takano looked at Syaoran wearily. He knew that this journey was taking a toll on Syaoran's emotions. So far he had seen almost every aspect of Syaoran's emotions, except for happiness. He had seen anger; he had seen sadness, depression, and most of all, guilt. What was he supposed to do to convince Syaoran that he was not at fault for the Priestess's capture? Would he have to leave that part up to the priestess herself? He feared that was what he had to do, but in the mean time, he was going to try any means to cheer Syaoran up. But his attempts so far had resulted in failure.
As they continued, the sun bore down on them, making the whole landscape appear to be covered in water from the heat waves.
"It is much too warm for spring, is it not Takano?" Syaoran asked.
"Spring? It is not spring Syaoran, it is the beginning of summer," Takano replied, a bit confused.
Syaoran stopped walking. "It is summer already? When... how... oh gods." Syaoran put a hand to his forehead and grimaced. "Sakura has been with that demon for four months now, no wonder she is starting to break! Takano, we must hurry, the Witch of the North kept me far longer than I had realized. I had thought that I only left my village a week ago."
Syaoran began walking again and quickened his pace and Takano followed after him.
The realization that four months had passed instead of about a week shattered Syaoran's hopes. He had wondered why Sakura was breaking so easily, he had thought she would be stronger than to start failing after a few days in captivity. Now he knew that she was strong enough to resist the Demon for a while. He cursed himself again, wondering how horrible it was for her to be trapped there for four months. Once again, her capture paraded before his mind's eye, and guilt washed over him. He did not even bother to compare his capture with Sakura's; he could not place them together in his mind, it seemed too selfish to him. He only began to berate himself on not trying to escape sooner.
Tanako noticed Syaoran's expression getting to be more and more dismal. "Buck up!" he said and clapped his friend on the back. "There was not anything you could do. I'm surprised you even got away from the Ice Witch, from what I have heard about her."
Syaoran shook his head. "I could have tired harder," he whispered. The young man quickened his pace.
"Hold on a minute," Takano cried. "Do not go hurrying in this heat! It is foolish!"
Syaoran was going to ignore him until he remembered who was speaking to him. It was a friend, who did not deserve to go through all of this. He slowed down to let Takano catch up to him.
"Do not worry," the river-man assured Syaoran. "The woods will be much cooler and we can go as fast as you like then."
Syaoran nodded and returned to his thoughts.
The next day the two arrived at the forest. It was obviously ancient, for the trees in it were much larger than Syaoran had ever seen. Takano was not impressed, however, for he had traveled to the forest many times. A few yards away, they could hear a stream tinkling merrily along.
"Ahh, water!" Takano cried. He hurried forward towards the sound. "Water is always sweeter when it travels through the Great Forest!"
Syaoran doubted this, but, then again, he was no water creature, so he hurried to catch up with his friend. He found Takano splashing happily in the water, sitting down to immerse himself as far as he could in the small stream. Syaoran smiled and pulled off his boots, sticking them in the stream. His feet were covered with scars and calluses, and remnants of popped blisters. He had never traveled this distance before, and most certainly never at the speed they had been traveling.
"I say, food would be nice right now!" Takano said.
Syaoran nodded and pulled his pack off of his shoulder and rummaged through it, bringing out some bread and cheese.
Takano took his share and gobbled it down. Syaoran smiled. His friend had been displaying quite an appetite for the several days they were traveling together, but he never complained about the small portions that they had to eat. Syaoran had to eat less than he usually did, but, after he found out that Sakura was in danger, his appetite had decreased significantly. Takano had noticed this, no doubt, for whenever they stopped, he ordered Syaoran to eat something, which, depending on how much he ate, went anywhere from three to five times a day. However, Syaoran felt a bit better now that they were in the forest, and he ate his entire portion easily.
Takano sighed happily and wiggled his webbed toes. "It is going to be a wrench leaving this stream," he said.
Syaoran said nothing. He had long since given up trying to convince Takano to leave him at a safe place. He stared back at his submerged feet, and enjoying the feel of the cool water running over them.
At the tree line a white form shimmered into the image of a girl in what looked to be her early twenties. Neither Syaoran, nor Takano noticed her. The ghost floated out to them and stood behind Syaoran, examining the two people that had come into her forest.
"Takano? Is that you?" the ghost asked.
Syaoran jumped and turned around, unsheathing his sword in the process.
Takano looked up. "Ahh, hello hello! Syaoran, put your sword away, this is the witch I was telling you about."
The witch peered at Syaoran closer. "Syaoran...?"
Syaoran looked at the witch and slowly lowered his sword. The ghost before him sent a tingle down his spine. She looked so familiar to him but he could have sworn that he had never seen this person before, dead or alive.
"Ahh... Miss Witch, we were wondering if you could help us with a task that has been set up us," Takano said.
The ghost turned to Takano. "I will do my best to help you. What is it that has been placed upon you?"
"A very powerful village priestess was captured by a demon and is being held in its den. We have received some news that she is beginning to break and we are heading in the direction now to rescue her," Takano explained.
"If there is anyway you can help us, we would be very grateful," Syaoran added.
The spirit turned to Syaoran. "I am afraid, that there is nothing I can do for the priestess directly."
Syaoran fell to his knees, he knew this spirit would not help them, and they had just wasted two days in getting her that could have been towards rescuing Sakura from the demon.
The witch looked down at Syaoran. "There is one thing that I can do for you. I can awaken a power you have sleeping in your body, it is directly tied to your sword. I can sense that you have used it once before but have not mastered it."
Syaoran looked up into the spirits face. The fire that lanced down his arms, that was the power of the sword? How could he have not have seen that when the witch was startled?
The spirit glided over to Syaoran and put her hand on his face. They were cold, like that of the Frozen North that he had fought in. He slightly recoiled but the witch pulled him back to his original place.
"You must remain still," the witch commanded and closed her eyes. "Agor 'ch dendio a 'ch asgre. Cerdd 'r cerrynt chan yn dysgu, achos heb yn dysgu mae na adnabyddiaeth, a ag adnabyddiaeth comes allu."
Syaoran felt something open in his body, he felt a serge of warmth, coldness, wetness, and dryness; but as soon as the witch let go of his face it all disappeared.
"You will have to learn how to master it on your own, but I have awakened you your mind and body to it. That is all I am able to do for you and I wish you the best of luck on your journey," she said and disappeared.
The Witch's Incantation translation:
Open your mind and your heart. Walk the road of learning, for without learning there is no knowledge, and with knowledge comes power."
This incantation is in Welsh.
Author's Notes:
Sakura: Whoosh!!!! Look at that! Finally chappy 3 is released!
Naoko: Yeah, it only took us over 4 months to get it out!
Kuri-chan: You guys are really slow typers...
Sakura: sweatdrops Uh... that's not why it took so long...
Naoko: Heh....
Kuri-chan: Then what was the reason?
Sakura: quickly binds and gags the cat Well, we'll see you next time!
Naoko: Though Kuri-chan may not be joining us.... glares at the cat while setting up a large alter with manacles
Kuri-chan: =oo!!!=
Sakura: laughs evilly
Naoko: chains the cat up and grabs a feather AHHAHAHAHHAH!
----
Syaoran followed the path of the stream until the sun went down over the mountains and then he set up camp. The sound of the river was soothing, it reminded him of Sakura. He wanted to hold her, to help push away the memories of the demon; he wanted to know what it was like to know her as a person rather than a priestess.
He stared down at his reflection in the water; he was a little pale, he had not had any decent food since he had stayed at the Lady of the North's cottage. He shuddered as he remembered what she had wanted him to do. He looked back at the water and he saw the priestess face when the demon had kidnapped her.
"Why?" he asked the air. "Why did I just stand there?"
"Because if you had attempted to save her you would have been ripped to shreds," his conscience replied.
He sighed and walked up the small rise to his camp. It was not much; just a small gathering of leaves pushed together forming a bed and a small fire. It was relatively warm near the river, which was a surprise because he was still near the Frozen North. He settled down to sleep but found none. As he lay there he looked up into the sky, asking over and over again, the question that he had not asked the Priestess. Where was the chest?
The stars started to reel in the sky and Syaoran sat up suddenly, watching closely. The formed a mountain range, encircled by a desert. It clicked. The chest was in the Southern Mountains; the desert, and the people that lived in the desert surrounded the mountain range. Desert, wasteland, sun, dirt, he would need a vast amount of water. It clicked again. The River Severen was the only fresh water river. The Lady of the North, though she was angry with him, had helped him with his journey. She knew where the chest was, though 'how' was a different subject.
Syaoran sighed and lay back down again. He resolved to find some food in the morning and maybe get some fir for trading so that he could get proper supplies in the town that sat outside of the desert. He could not remember the name for his life, though. Syaoran vaguely wondered why before he fell asleep.
----
The next morning, Syaoran got up slowly and stiffly. It had been a while since he had actually slept on the ground; being cooped up in a dungeon did not count; and he was sorry that he had not brought a bedroll. He sighed, reasoning that he could either get a room in the city or get used to sleeping on the ground. He then climbed a tree and hid all his equipment except for his sword, and set out to go hunting.
Hunting did not go as well as planned, he had caught very little and it only temporarily quenched his hunger. After he had eaten what he had caught he packed up his campsite and set out once again to follow the stream.
"Sakura, stay safe... I will rescue you," he said out into the air.
"Are you sure about that?" a voice came from a group of bushes near the water's edge.
Syaoran drew his sword. "Who is there?"
"Put your sword away, I will not hurt you. Do all of your kind assume that anyone, or anything, that approaches them is set out to destroy you?" the voice asked.
"Answer my question first," Syaoran said.
"Impatient are we. Ah well, as you wish," the voice said.
The bushes shuddered and a lean figure stepped out. "My name is Takano. I am of the river folk here. Though, I seem to have lost my way back to my village. Would you mind if I went along with you for a while?"
Syaoran stared at the figure. Its ears were pointed, its skin held a soft blue hue to it, and its hands were webbed.
"Are you by chance related to the mermaids?" Syaoran asked slowly putting his sword down.
"Oh heavens no, mermaids are such tricky creatures. We, the river folk, are much kinder and honest. To tell you the truth, it was a mermaid that led me here and then vanished." Takano explained. "Mermaids enjoy leading unsuspecting creatures to their doom."
"Dare I ask?" Syaoran thought.
"I hear that you are out to rescue the Priestess Sakura," Takano said.
"Yes, I am," Syaoran answered.
"Then I regret to inform you that the mermaids hold one of the thirteen jewels that you need," Takano said and looked at Syaoran with sparkling sea- green eyes.
Syaoran did not answer for a while only turned and started to walk towards his destination. After a while, he asked, "Do you have any tips for me, then?"
Takano pursed his lips. "Merfolk value cunning and intelligence. Physical strength and determination mean little to them unless it is coupled along with wisdom. Beware: they will not give the jewel up willingly."
Syaoran nodded. He walked on. "I'm afraid I do not think that I am very intelligent," he mused. He then sighed. "Maybe the Priestess will help me, as she has done before...."
Takano shrugged. "If she has helped you before, she most likely will do again. That is, until she starts to grow weaker..."
Syaoran looked at him quickly. "Weaker?
"Good and evil are always battling each other," Takano said. He was thinking. "When two strong sources are with each other, each strives to outdo the other. However," he continued, "the Demon's powers are much stronger than the Priestess's." He held up a hand to Syaoran's protest. "Young warrior," he said, "no power is as strong as the Demon, except for the creator gods, and they do not walk the earth."
"Sakura is the embodiment of Bridgit," Syaoran said, slightly sulkily and defensively.
"Embodiment or not," Takano said, "The Demon is a creator god cast out from the heavens. No mere human can kill him, only seal him away."
"Then Sakura and I will seal it away then," Syaoran replied.
Takano sighed. There was no getting through to this warrior, he was very determined and it appeared that he was not thinking very clearly.
"Do you have the Chest?" Takano asked.
Syaoran did not reply.
"I say, do you have the Chest?" Takano asked and put a webbed hand on Syaoran's shoulder.
"No! No, I do not have the Chest, I was on my way there right now," Syaoran replied a bit haughtily.
Takano put his hands up defensively. "I am sorry that I asked."
"No no, I am the one that should be sorry. Your news of the Demon's strength has discouraged me from my journey," Syaoran replied.
Syaoran slowed his pace down and stopped by a small cove.
"We will rest here for now," Syaoran explained. "It is getting late and I am not good with directions when it is dark."
Takano nodded and sat down on a rock with his webbed feet in the water.
"I say, the village that I belong to has... been a bit upset with me lately. Would you mind if I accompanied you on your journey?"
"If you are up for a journey through the desert," Syaoran replied.
Takano looked down into the water that his feet were in. Syaoran looked at him intently. He did not mean to change the creatures mind, he just was not sure if he could take the journey through the desert. In all actuality, Syaoran wanted the creatures company. There was something about him that Syaoran was drawn to. He could not really pinpoint what it was, but he offered a presence that Syaoran enjoyed.
"I believe I can do it. I am a bit of a magic user myself, I can create water when I need to," Takano replied.
Syaoran smiled at the creature.
"Very well then, I am Syaoran," Syaoran replied. "It is good to have your company, I deeply appreciate it."
Takano smile back. "Now, I am not sure about you, but I am ravished."
Syaoran stretched. "I hope you are a better hunter than I am, my friend," he said. "I have not been very successful."
Takano looked up at Syaoran, then back at the water. "I think I can manage to get some food. You stay here and start a fire." With that the water creature dove into the river and disappeared with an expert kick of his legs.
Syaoran sighed and looked around him. "I suppose I will have to start gathering firewood," he said.
Two hours and several fish later, Syaoran and Takano sat by the fire, Syaoran notably closer than the river-man.
"Why is your village upset with you?" Syaoran asked him. "If you do not mind answering, that is."
"I do not," Tanako said. "I was always a curious person," he said, after a pause. "This time I found out something that I was not supposed to, and let it slip."
"I see," Syaoran said, imagining the endless things Takano could have found out.
Takano sighed. "It is a long walk to the town ahead," he said. "We should get some sleep."
"That sounds fine to me," Syaoran said. "Who should take the first watch?"
"I will," Takano said.
Syaoran nodded and rolled himself up in his cloak, and fell immediately into sleep.
----
They set out about half an hour after dawn, deciding to eat later in the day, once they were closer to their destination. The walk was silent and swift, as the land by the river Severen was flat and not too spongy. They had fish again for breakfast, resolving to try to get some proper food in town by doing menial tasks. Takano offered to stop by his village and collect his money, but Syaoran declined, observing that it was better to stay away from a large group of people who were angry with him. So, the two arrived in the river town penniless and very hungry.
"Excuse me," Syaoran asked the first person he saw as soon as they got into the establishment. "What is the name of this town?"
The person, a young man a few years younger than Syaoran told him that it was called Meviran.
"Meviran," Syaoran mused as they walked away. "The name is so familiar..."
"I understand that it is a key trading point," Takano said. "It is a bit strange that the town is not bigger than it is."
Syaoran nodded and looked around him. The town was obviously wealthy; he did not see very many shabbily dressed people. Perhaps they discouraged people moving in. The two men headed for the docks, knowing that a few extra pairs of hands would be helpful. They found work easily, as a ship was unloading at the docks, preparing to take on a shipment of goods from the nearby desert. Syaoran found the sailors to be fairly talkative and was involved in several conversations, unlike Takano, who was fairly shy and self-conscious. However, he was not an uncommon sight in the town, so most people did not look at him twice.
"Ye hear about the kidnapped priestess?" one sailor asked Syaoran.
"I hear she was a village princess," another man popped into the conversation.
"She was a priestess!" the first sailor insisted. "She was captured by that demon!"
"Yeah, sure," the second one said skeptically.
Syaoran was silent, guilt filling up his body. He hoped that it was not seeping into his face.
"Anyways," the first sailor continued on, this time to Syaoran, "Some shaman up th' river was pretty concerned about it. Said that this priestess was starting to break already, and if the demon ate her, all would be over."
Syaoran dropped the load he was carrying, his face turning white. "Already starting to break?" he whispered.
Takano turned to him, concerned. "Are you alright, Syaoran?" he asked.
"'ey! What was that all about?" the sailor demanded.
"How do you know?" Syaoran asked him urgently. "How do you know this?"
The sailor looked taken aback. "Well, this priestess is pretty famous. Most powerful on this side of the sea."
"Oh, gods," Syaoran said and put a hand to his forehead.
"Do ye know her?" The sailor enquired.
Syaoran did not reply. He only muttered something about wasting time.
The sailor looked to Takano with curiosity written all over his face.
"Ahh....," Takano replied. "Well... Syaoran is the nobleman's son and he is on a journey to rescue the priestess."
The sailor's eyes widened. "Ye... yer a nobleman's son? Why did ye not tell us? We would have just given ye the money if we knew ye were out to save the priestess."
Syaoran, once again, did not respond.
"Syaoran, if you are not going to continue working, I suggest we move on. If what they say is true, we really need to get to the priestess before getting the next jewel," Takano suggested.
"Ey, Syaoran, take this," the sailor said and dropped a medium sized pouch into his hand.
"No, I cannot take this," he replied, trying to give the money back.
"I ain't gonna take it back. Now, get goin'" the sailor said and took a few steps away from Syaoran.
Syaoran looked at the sailor with a small smile on his face. He said his "thank yous" to the sailors and then left the docks.
"Takano, after we get the Priestess back, we need to get the chest," Syaoran said.
Takano nodded. "I say, where does this demon reside?"
"In the mountains to the west of my village," Syaoran replied.
"How far did you travel when you arrived near the river?" Takano asked.
"I am not sure. I had traveled to the Witch of the North to fight for one of the jewels, then she transported me to the river," Syaoran explained. "But, I had a dream with the priestess in it and see appeared fine."
"Perhaps she appeared to you fine, because that was they way you last saw; in perfect health," Takano suggested.
Syaoran moaned is depression. "How could I have been so stupid? I should have gone after the demon the night it too Sakura, whether I came back alive or not."
"Syaoran, do not say that," Takano said and placed a webbed hand on his shoulder, "it is not your fault that she was taken."
"Oh, but it is! I just stood there, watching the demon take her away," Syaoran replied, his mood getting ever more gloomy by the minute.
"Buck up," Takano said. "The situation is not going to get any better if you obsess over it."
Syaoran nodded, but did not change his expression.
"Do you know your way to the village from here?" Takano asked him.
Syaoran paused in his walking and considered. "Not exactly. We might as well buy a map, if we have to go anywhere that is farther than either of us has traveled."
Takano nodded. "Makes sense to me," he said. "Now to find a map."
After questioning several townsfolk, the two were able to obtain a decent map for only a few copper pennies. Before they left the village, they poured over the map, finding the Demon's den and tracing the best route from where they were to it. Syaoran did not want to stop back at his village, for he feared to loose any time.
"What do you plan to do when you get to this den?" Takano asked Syaoran, a few days after they had been traveling.
Syaoran's dreams of taking Sakura to safety were suddenly shattered as he was faced with the reality of the situation. "I.... do not know," he said, disappointed at his lack of insight.
"Well, we had better make a plan soon!" Takano said.
Syaoran sighed. "You really do not have to go with me to the den," he said. "It is extremely dangerous, and you really have no reason to risk your life."
"Ahh, but I do!" Takano said. "I have decided that you are my friend. I won't let you go into danger alone. Anyways, if this Demon is really as terrible as everyone says he is, we can't let him rampage for long, can we?"
Syaoran smiled slightly. "You are right," he sighed. "Now, how do we go about defeating a demon that can't be defeated?" he asked, his voice light.
Takano pondered that. "Well, I have a bit of an idea," he said slowly. "If you do not mind taking a detour..."
"How long will it last?" Syaoran asked.
"A few days," Takano said. "But, I think that it will be worth it."
Takano changed their course a few degrees south from their original northwest route. On the way, he told Syaoran what would help him out so much. They were headed for the Great Wood, the only forest left in the land in which spirits called the trees home. It was no small forest, either. It spanned for thousands of miles to the south from its northernmost point and was at least three hundred-or-so miles wide. It was rumored that the Forest God roamed there still, watching the trees and keeping the magic alive. It was the only place in which the Demon could not enter. However, Takano had discovered a ghost in there, one who had been a powerful witch in her life, and still retained her powers. He did not know her name, but he promised Syaoran that the witch would help in every way that she could.
The first day of their journey, Syaoran was not absolutely sure they should take this long of a detour, but he did trust Takano. And if it would help him battle the demon and get Sakura away easier then he would do anything that was possible.
That night, Syaoran did not sleep. He could only think about Sakura's safety and whether or not she was lying somewhere already dead and the demon was coming upon her to eat her. Whenever sleep he did get, whether it be during short breaks that they took in their journey for food and such, was plagued by nightmares. Even though the priestess had told Syaoran that what the witch put into his head about her blaming him for his death was a lie, he still could not push it from his mind. He asked himself again why he just stood there and watched at the demon took Sakura away, and again his conscious told him that he would have died.
He sat up and looked into the sky. Everywhere he looked he saw Sakura's face, he could not get away from it. He prayed and prayed that she would be all right and that nothing ill fated would befall her before he had the chance to get her out of the demon's den. He thought about all the situations that the demon could put them in, from threatening to kill Sakura that instant to making himself kill her. Every possible action that he could take was to charge at the demon at any open angle.
The sun started to rise and Takano woke up and looked at Syaoran.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" he asked, looking at Syaoran with a worried face.
Syaoran shook his head. "We had best be going now, we need to cover as much ground as possible."
Takano rose up quickly and gathered the few supplies that they had.
"If we continue heading in this direction," Takano said, "we should be at the forest by midday tomorrow."
Syaoran nodded and strapped his sword to his side. A day and a half; if Sakura was starting to break as he had heard from the sailor, then she might not last that long, but if this witch could help him save her, it was worth delaying her rescue.
Takano looked at Syaoran wearily. He knew that this journey was taking a toll on Syaoran's emotions. So far he had seen almost every aspect of Syaoran's emotions, except for happiness. He had seen anger; he had seen sadness, depression, and most of all, guilt. What was he supposed to do to convince Syaoran that he was not at fault for the Priestess's capture? Would he have to leave that part up to the priestess herself? He feared that was what he had to do, but in the mean time, he was going to try any means to cheer Syaoran up. But his attempts so far had resulted in failure.
As they continued, the sun bore down on them, making the whole landscape appear to be covered in water from the heat waves.
"It is much too warm for spring, is it not Takano?" Syaoran asked.
"Spring? It is not spring Syaoran, it is the beginning of summer," Takano replied, a bit confused.
Syaoran stopped walking. "It is summer already? When... how... oh gods." Syaoran put a hand to his forehead and grimaced. "Sakura has been with that demon for four months now, no wonder she is starting to break! Takano, we must hurry, the Witch of the North kept me far longer than I had realized. I had thought that I only left my village a week ago."
Syaoran began walking again and quickened his pace and Takano followed after him.
The realization that four months had passed instead of about a week shattered Syaoran's hopes. He had wondered why Sakura was breaking so easily, he had thought she would be stronger than to start failing after a few days in captivity. Now he knew that she was strong enough to resist the Demon for a while. He cursed himself again, wondering how horrible it was for her to be trapped there for four months. Once again, her capture paraded before his mind's eye, and guilt washed over him. He did not even bother to compare his capture with Sakura's; he could not place them together in his mind, it seemed too selfish to him. He only began to berate himself on not trying to escape sooner.
Tanako noticed Syaoran's expression getting to be more and more dismal. "Buck up!" he said and clapped his friend on the back. "There was not anything you could do. I'm surprised you even got away from the Ice Witch, from what I have heard about her."
Syaoran shook his head. "I could have tired harder," he whispered. The young man quickened his pace.
"Hold on a minute," Takano cried. "Do not go hurrying in this heat! It is foolish!"
Syaoran was going to ignore him until he remembered who was speaking to him. It was a friend, who did not deserve to go through all of this. He slowed down to let Takano catch up to him.
"Do not worry," the river-man assured Syaoran. "The woods will be much cooler and we can go as fast as you like then."
Syaoran nodded and returned to his thoughts.
The next day the two arrived at the forest. It was obviously ancient, for the trees in it were much larger than Syaoran had ever seen. Takano was not impressed, however, for he had traveled to the forest many times. A few yards away, they could hear a stream tinkling merrily along.
"Ahh, water!" Takano cried. He hurried forward towards the sound. "Water is always sweeter when it travels through the Great Forest!"
Syaoran doubted this, but, then again, he was no water creature, so he hurried to catch up with his friend. He found Takano splashing happily in the water, sitting down to immerse himself as far as he could in the small stream. Syaoran smiled and pulled off his boots, sticking them in the stream. His feet were covered with scars and calluses, and remnants of popped blisters. He had never traveled this distance before, and most certainly never at the speed they had been traveling.
"I say, food would be nice right now!" Takano said.
Syaoran nodded and pulled his pack off of his shoulder and rummaged through it, bringing out some bread and cheese.
Takano took his share and gobbled it down. Syaoran smiled. His friend had been displaying quite an appetite for the several days they were traveling together, but he never complained about the small portions that they had to eat. Syaoran had to eat less than he usually did, but, after he found out that Sakura was in danger, his appetite had decreased significantly. Takano had noticed this, no doubt, for whenever they stopped, he ordered Syaoran to eat something, which, depending on how much he ate, went anywhere from three to five times a day. However, Syaoran felt a bit better now that they were in the forest, and he ate his entire portion easily.
Takano sighed happily and wiggled his webbed toes. "It is going to be a wrench leaving this stream," he said.
Syaoran said nothing. He had long since given up trying to convince Takano to leave him at a safe place. He stared back at his submerged feet, and enjoying the feel of the cool water running over them.
At the tree line a white form shimmered into the image of a girl in what looked to be her early twenties. Neither Syaoran, nor Takano noticed her. The ghost floated out to them and stood behind Syaoran, examining the two people that had come into her forest.
"Takano? Is that you?" the ghost asked.
Syaoran jumped and turned around, unsheathing his sword in the process.
Takano looked up. "Ahh, hello hello! Syaoran, put your sword away, this is the witch I was telling you about."
The witch peered at Syaoran closer. "Syaoran...?"
Syaoran looked at the witch and slowly lowered his sword. The ghost before him sent a tingle down his spine. She looked so familiar to him but he could have sworn that he had never seen this person before, dead or alive.
"Ahh... Miss Witch, we were wondering if you could help us with a task that has been set up us," Takano said.
The ghost turned to Takano. "I will do my best to help you. What is it that has been placed upon you?"
"A very powerful village priestess was captured by a demon and is being held in its den. We have received some news that she is beginning to break and we are heading in the direction now to rescue her," Takano explained.
"If there is anyway you can help us, we would be very grateful," Syaoran added.
The spirit turned to Syaoran. "I am afraid, that there is nothing I can do for the priestess directly."
Syaoran fell to his knees, he knew this spirit would not help them, and they had just wasted two days in getting her that could have been towards rescuing Sakura from the demon.
The witch looked down at Syaoran. "There is one thing that I can do for you. I can awaken a power you have sleeping in your body, it is directly tied to your sword. I can sense that you have used it once before but have not mastered it."
Syaoran looked up into the spirits face. The fire that lanced down his arms, that was the power of the sword? How could he have not have seen that when the witch was startled?
The spirit glided over to Syaoran and put her hand on his face. They were cold, like that of the Frozen North that he had fought in. He slightly recoiled but the witch pulled him back to his original place.
"You must remain still," the witch commanded and closed her eyes. "Agor 'ch dendio a 'ch asgre. Cerdd 'r cerrynt chan yn dysgu, achos heb yn dysgu mae na adnabyddiaeth, a ag adnabyddiaeth comes allu."
Syaoran felt something open in his body, he felt a serge of warmth, coldness, wetness, and dryness; but as soon as the witch let go of his face it all disappeared.
"You will have to learn how to master it on your own, but I have awakened you your mind and body to it. That is all I am able to do for you and I wish you the best of luck on your journey," she said and disappeared.
The Witch's Incantation translation:
Open your mind and your heart. Walk the road of learning, for without learning there is no knowledge, and with knowledge comes power."
This incantation is in Welsh.
Author's Notes:
Sakura: Whoosh!!!! Look at that! Finally chappy 3 is released!
Naoko: Yeah, it only took us over 4 months to get it out!
Kuri-chan: You guys are really slow typers...
Sakura: sweatdrops Uh... that's not why it took so long...
Naoko: Heh....
Kuri-chan: Then what was the reason?
Sakura: quickly binds and gags the cat Well, we'll see you next time!
Naoko: Though Kuri-chan may not be joining us.... glares at the cat while setting up a large alter with manacles
Kuri-chan: =oo!!!=
Sakura: laughs evilly
Naoko: chains the cat up and grabs a feather AHHAHAHAHHAH!