VI. Upon the Summit

The peak of clouds

Have crumbled into fragments –

The moonlit mountain.

Basho

From the library balcony overlooking the Nipponese garden, Celena observed Van and Hitomi. They walked around hand in hand and went inside the rotunda. The large umbrella roof of the wooden structure lent a slim view of Hitomi leaning her head upon Van's broad shoulder. Celena smiled.

Behind her, in the library, Orion stumped in with a huge sack of fruits in his hand. "There you are!"

Celena beckoned him to the balcony. "Look at how happy they are…Van hasn't smiled ever since the incident in Aleph. Sometimes I think that the reason why the Fanelian court is free from political conspiracy and intrigue is because of them."

Orion hugged her from behind. "How so?"

"Well, people hate, fight, concoct schemes, and thirst for power, all because they do not have love. A palace can be so lonely…that's what Chid told me. He said that in misery and loneliness, people will do anything to get out; they will devote themselves to evil because there is nothing else there to devote to. He said that was what happened with certain lords in his court. I was so worried about him when he said that, but I believe with this young lady he has met, his sense of helplessness has been alleviated."

Orion grinned, "When I was little, I used to always gaze at the palace from the hills, and I imagined that it was full of happiness, eternally gleaming, but it was only after I knew Van that I came to understand how nothing can be that simple. Look at them now! That's how it's supposed to be for all times…but it can't…" he suddenly became sullen.

"Why do you say that, sweetie?"

Orion was silent. Celena turned around and looked at him in the eyes; she ran her hand across his brow bone down to his cheeks. "It's just this look, this sadness. I remember when I first took a good look at Van; it was just before he nearly killed me, and my brother intercepted. There was such rage in him, and I was trembling with fear, but for just a second, I think I understood his pain. I connected with Van, and perhaps it was the feeling that called me back to my brother. I've felt that pain all my life…the pain of impermanence."

Orion hugged Celena tighter. "My love, I fear that even we must face the day when Eternity and Time clash."

Below, Van and Hitomi still sat in the rotunda. Looking pass the short shrubs in the garden, Van could steal a view of the Fanelian Valley, seemingly unchanged for the past fifteen years. But beneath the surface solidity, he knew there was something stirring, like the rain clouds rolling in to alleviate the drought, and perhaps to bring a deluge. It was as if he could feel lava flowing under the rocks he stood upon.

"Hitomi, do you remember the Mind Machine?"

"Yeah, it uses the separation of a binary Atlantis particle to create enormous energy."

"I will see to it that it is never made. I hope that we will never be like that particle. These particles flow all around us, we can't see them, but sometimes I think I can feel them. Like now, I feel them streaming around us. They seem to flourish whenever I'm with you."

Van held Hitomi closer to him, and inhaled the fragrance of her hair. For some unknown reason, the aroma invoked a bizarre image he had never seen before. He expected her scent to remind him of their ventures together, their marriage, their pain, but instead, what he saw was a nebulous cluster of bright points clad against an immense darkness, like stars in the night sky, except denser and more alive. Van confusedly closed his eyes and tried to rest.

Hitomi suddenly awoke and gasped. "Van…Did you see that?"

"What's wrong? See what?"

She frantically gripped his shoulders. "I saw it, I saw something! I haven't had my visionary power for fifteen years! It's impossible, it's impossible! Did you see it?"

Van caressed her. "Hitomi, calm down, tell me slowly what you saw."

"It was so blurry, I'm not even really sure…There was a triangle, yes, with a flame in the middle, and there were lights everywhere, but there was also darkness. I felt like there were living beings there too, but I couldn't see them. Things were coming out from the central flame, but I couldn't see those either."

Van frowned. "That…sounds like something I sensed just now. Except, mine was more like a cluster of stars in the night sky."

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Just like that! You saw the same thing then! And it seems familiar to me somehow, I think I must have seen it on Earth during my studies in Greece…I must go find a picture of it!" She thus sprang up, ready to run into the palace.

"Wait!" Van pulled her arm and detained her. "Hitomi, calm down…"

She walked slowly back to his side, but rapidly ripped open the shirt she had made for him. Hanging against his chest was the crystalline pendant, faintly radiating a roseate light.

"Look, Van, the pendant…it's glowing."

Van stared at her incredulously, then put his hand on the pendant without looking. He quickly pulled off his hand as if it were burned. He looked down slowly. "What? Why? It has not glowed since we were in the prison of Basram, fifteen years ago!"

The wind lifted the limp hair off Hitomi's forehead, and she saw all the more clearly the increasing greyness of the garden. "My visions, the pendant, fifteen years, has it all come back to haunt us?"

Van held her. "Don't worry, my love, it'll all be okay. Remember that we've surmounted greater fears and dangers. Even if Branimir has returned, and the Fireans are coming, I have courage to face them once again."

She looked up at him and wiped away the single tear that was on his cheek. "Oh Van, you don't have to say things like that to comfort me. How can I not know you after all these years? We both know that it is coming, whatever it might be. I should go in to the library now, I want to do some research about the vision."

She got up, and Van called after her. "Hitomi, I…"

"Don't say it, Van, it is not your choice. There is no permanence." With those last words, she stepped out of the rotunda. She looked up at the sky, and held her hand up, "Look, it's beginning to rain."

…………………………………………………………

For the rest of the day, Hitomi buried herself in the library, and Van remained in his room. Rain fell on Fanelia. The citizens rejoiced as the heat abated and water once again irrigated the dry fields. In the palace garden, the children ran out to receive the refreshing shower. Hermione and Endymion circled around a fountain and threw rocks into the water. Droplets ricocheted everywhere, seeming to fill whatever gaps of air that supported life.

Amadis stormed out yelling, waving a branch in his hand and chasing Hermione around. When Persephone came out, daintily holding her face up to receive the falling rain, Amadis aggressively hit her across the leg with his branch. In retaliation, she began throwing stones at him. Turmoil started as all four youths rampaged across the garden, stumbling over bushes, splattering water, and slipping on mud.

Valorick stood on the doorstep, looking out at them. He laughed as he saw Hermione trying desperately to tag Endymion, or Amadis nearly choking on rain. Yet when his gaze fell on Persephone, who persisted in chasing Amadis, his smile faded into confusion. He felt an inexplicable anxiety when he looked at her. In the throne room, when she cried, he ached, like remembering a horrifying event. As he watched her run and glisten in the rain, he felt all the more her oozing coldness, bleeding into the bitter wind.

However, he could not help but find her beautiful. There was beauty in Fanelia, in the form of prettily attired girls who giggled and bowed to him in shyness; but there was no beauty of her kind. Hers was a loveliness that defied expression and hymns, and he was convinced that not even the greatest poet on Gaea could capture her in words. She was thus impregnable to him, ravishing precisely because it pained him to look upon her.

Valorick did not forget that Persephone had saved his life. Everyone witnessed her miraculous power on the following week during a sword training session. Upon Van's request, Allen had hurried from Asturia to meet the mysterious girl. When he arrived, Van had been practicing with Orion near the temple. After Van explained the situation, Persephone was summoned.

Allen looked at Van amazedly. "If she can revive the dead, would that mean that she can heal herself?"

"We don't know. There is a possibility. Perhaps she is impervious to harm. Over the past week, she has been watching us practice, and has wielded a sword on her own. So far, she has not been hurt."

Orion laughed. "That girl has talent, I'll tell you that much! Some of those young soldiers would not last long with her. But to say that she cannot be cut by a sword…. that's a little farfetched."

Allen pondered for a while. "Hmm…there is only one way to find out. Van, let me duel with her."

"No!" Van refused right away. "We cannot be responsible for her learning the way to kill! I've only allowed her to watch. Without actual battle experience, I doubt she's really be able to fight anyways!"

"Yes, but you cannot keep her like this forever! She will want to return to her home with the knowledge that she has come here to seek…you cannot deny her that, Van, especially not since you were pretty much the same way when you were young."

Van glared at Allen. "Do you always have to bring that up? In any case, we cannot be rash!"

Allen sighed. "This is just all too odd. We have to prove one way or another whether or not she is a pure bred Atlantean like you say. If she is, then she could be advantageous to us."

"Advantageous? Are you insane, Allen? She's connected to the Fireans! I know you don't believe me about this ancient grudge and a past that you somehow can't remember, but you must understand that these are fierce enemies we're dealing with! We cannot just fight head-on like we always have."

Just as Allen was about to retaliate, Celena came in with Persephone behind her. The latter remain composed and poised, bowing to the kings and seated herself against the wall. Valorick and Endymion slowly entered the room and observed in silence.

Allen came forward and greeted her. "I have heard of your miraculous skills, Miss Persephone. Is it true that you can resurrect the dead?" she nodded. "Can you be harmed physically, for example, in a fight?"

"Your Majesty, my people knew of no illness or death before the arrival of the Fireans. While others have lost their healing abilities, I for some reason have regained mine upon landing in Gaea. There is reason to believe that I can still escape whatever physical damage directed towards me."

Van stepped forth and grabbed Allen. "You can't do this! I know what you are going to ask, and I won't let you! Allen, don't ruin her!"

Persephone stood up. "King Van, if there is anyone willing to duel with me, for the sake of understanding the limits of my healing capabilities, then I am willing. I know you do not wish for me to kill, but as you've said, I must understand the nature of war if I am to change my mind. How can I understand war if I have never fought?"

Van looked at her confusedly. She had not the belligerence he himself possessed in his youth, nor was she ignorant of others' suffering. He thought perhaps it really was because she never felt the power of the sword that she was perplexed by the violence of the Fireans. Thus Van loosened his grip on Allen and nodded.

Allen gave Persephone his arm and led her to the edge of the duelling arena. "To know the horror of war," he said, "Is to be one who is within it."

Persephone laughed. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but by your logic, Lord Branimir would be knowledgeable, for it is he who has created wars. There has to be a difference between inflicting harm and defending oneself."

"Yes, of course there is. Sometimes the line between the two blurs, so you must always keep your mind clear. In our case, we're giving you knowledge of swordsmanship, with the hope that you will use it for self-defence only."

"I won't let you down, milord. Let us begin."

Allen looked over at Van, who stared at the ground, still puffing, but acquiescent enough. Orion came forth and beckoned his soldiers to prepare the arena. Persephone was clad with an armour and Orion offered up his own sword to her.

The gong announced the commencement of the fight. Allen, the former Knight Caeli, summoned all his learned swordsmanship. He held his left hand firmly on the scaffold and his right on the golden hilt. His body was crouched low, intent on an imminent attack. He did not mean to hurt her, but just one small cut, he thought. As he circled around Persephone, she seems perfectly composed. She has closed her eyes, her hands peacefully by her side, seemingly unprepared for battle. When Allen stood behind her, his eyes suddenly widened, and he drew his sword at lightning speed, aiming for her shoulder. A clash of steel resounded in the hall.

"Impossible…" Allen whispered to himself. The spectators gasped.

Van was bewildered. "Allen used that strike on me once, I never could block it. No one could….how did she…How can she move that fast?"

The fight continued, with swords sparking fire in the moist air. At this point, Valorick came in and stood by the wall. In his eyes, each movement and stance Persephone made was poised in such a way as to transform the aggressiveness of the fight into a dance. He secretly wished in his heart that she would win the duel, and remain unharmed.

Suddenly, Allen hissed and fell onto the ground. Everyone rushed to his side. "Brother!" Celena said. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Allen dropped his sword, and pressed his hand on his chest. When he removed his hand, a deluge of blood came out. "I don't know how this happened…It's like when I first fought you, Van."

"Don't talk, that's a pretty bad cut. We'll get the healer for you."

"Wait!" Persephone shouted. Everyone turned around to behold the young girl, sword in hand, with a small speck of blood on her golden tresses. "Allow me."

A path was made for her. She knelt down beside the wounded Allen, and lay him down on the ground. "Your Majesty, please do not worry, I can make it all better." Then, she began a song, sung in a foreign tongue, with the enchantment of a faraway land. Allen was pacified, and gradually began to close his eyes. Persephone, still humming the ditty, folded her hands like small wings over his wound, and suddenly, a light emerged from her palms. It was a white radiance spangled with soft yellow rays, and beneath its influence, the red of the blood retreated. Valorick then knew that that was how she had revived him back in the woods.

When the healing had completed, Persephone fell back in exhaustion. Everyone rushed to Allen's side, and saw that he was not only fully recovered, but resting peacefully. They turned to Persephone, who sat with a tired, and almost frightened expression on her wan face. Their gaze had been one of amazement and horror. The duel has indeed proved her ability to evade harm and reverse harm, yet this evidence has alienated her. Disbelief faded, and she was proven to be a strange creature from a distant world.

After a long silence, Celena said, "Miss Persephone, I am most grateful that you've healed my brother. Perhaps I should take him to his room now." Attendants consequently helped Celena move Allen, and most of the spectators left with them. Van, Orion and Valorick remained with Persephone.

She got up and sheathed the sword. As she handed it back to Orion, she bowed and looked up at him, as if she expected a word of kindness from him. But Orion knew that it was not his turn to express an opinion. Despaired, Persephone turned to leave.

Van stopped her. "Persephone, I know you did not learn that power from your father. He was not a draconian. You may not know this, but only a pure bred Atlantean has the power to revive the dead. With your demonstration today, I cannot help but feel suspicion towards your identity. Has it ever occurred to you that Cyprus might not be your real father?"

Persephone froze. Uncertainty had been an alien emotion to her before. She could not fathom how it was that a stranger could have greater insight into the darkness of her life as she herself did. Her identity was once a crystalline thing, consisting of little more than being a shepherdess of the green valley, whose destiny revolved around the shimmering water and the melodious moonlings. But ever since the darkness fell, her name alone seemed to have withstood the spectres of doubt. Standing there in the Fanelian court, immeasurable miles from her birthplace, she suddenly felt in such dire need of compassion. Van's comment had been taken as scorn, and she had not the means to confront him.

Persephone ran out without looking back, speeding pass Valorick who stood looking at her shadow retreating down the hall. Van sighed and left with Orion. Valorick remained alone in the empty temple. A bewildering pang overwhelmed him, as if it had been him who was cut above the heart. He wandered the room, then came upon the centre of the arena and looked up. There was a vast empty space at the dome, where Escaflowne was supposedly stored before his father had resurrected it. It was said that once the guymelef was reawakened, its energist would beat in unison with the heart of its pilot, and the fate of the two would therefore be intertwined. Persephone had resurrected me, Valorick thought, so could this painful beating of my heart…could it be because of her?

Without another thought, Valorick ran down the hall and began searching for her. She was not in her room, and no one seemed to recall where they had last seen her. His strength was not exhausted and he went so far as to search for her in the vicinity of the castle. The rain poured bountifully from the evening sky, and clouds obscured the sunset. Drenched and exasperated, Valorick finally sat down in the rotunda of the Nipponese garden. Panting, he cupped some raindrops from the leaves onto his hands and drank. Once his rapid breathing abated, he sat calmly listening to the rain beating upon the roof. But besides that watery drumming, he also heard another sound. It was faint, and human.

He got out of the rotunda, and tried to follow the sound. It led him to a nearby bush. He inspected it carefully, and then saw a little hole in the shrubs he had never seen before. The sound was much clearer; it sounded like someone crying. He hesitated then knelt down on the wet soil and crawled into the hole. It developed into a tunnel inside the bushes and finally came to a clearing. He got up and tried in vain to get rid of the mud. He found himself standing in a tiny secluded dell closed in by massive trees, with no exit or entrance save the little tunnel through the shrubs. There, crouching by a hole in the tree, was Persephone.

The sound he heard had been her weeping. She did not seem to have noticed his arrival, so he quietly went over and crouched down beside her.

She was startled. "Prince Valorick!" she quickly wiped away her tears. "How…how did you know this place? What are you doing here?"

Valorick laid a hand on her shoulder. "To tell the truth, I don't know this place, despite having lived here all my life. I heard you crying so I crawled in, at a little expense," he gestured at his muddied clothes, and then noticed that hers, conversely, was clean.

Persephone laughed a little. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that trouble, Your Highness. I'm just being silly."

"Miss Persephone, you know that you needn't address me so informally. We're around the same age, so it doesn't matter if you just call me by my name."

"Oh," she inched a bit away from him. "I…you see, I'm still rather embarrassed that I had treated you in that matter upon my arrival in Gaea. I had called you….a commoner."

Valorick laughed. "So? That's not a big deal. I often go into the city, and I actually prefer it when people treat me as one of them. My father taught us that it is never wise to use one's status to intimidate or hurt others."

"Yes, your father is a wise king. I just wish I had your magnanimity. Sometimes I just feel so above others, maybe it is because of my mysterious powers. After we've understood the idea of hierarchy on other worlds, I've also understood that I'm just a shepherd's daughter, which means I have no reason to be proud. Or maybe, it is like your father says….I am not my father's child. You have no idea how frightening that thought is!" She put her head down on her knees and sobbed.

Valorick was speechless. Other than Hermione, he had never seen a girl's tears, and witnessing it now unsettles him. He looked around the tiny dell and could think of nothing to say.

Persephone then looked up at him. "I do not blame your father. After all, he too has known the pain of losing his homeland. But look, he had rebuilt it, will I ever rebuild mine?" She wiped her tears with her sleeves and looked up at the small clearing that opened up to the sky. "I had a friend, we grew up together, he and I used to play in the meadows all the time, and we looked at the moon every night. His name is Corsaire, the most mischievous boy! I wonder where he is now…. he left with the others, they were hoping to find help for our home, but they never returned. I miss him so much."

Valorick gulped. "Do you…do you love him?"

"Yes, of course, but only as a friend and brother. It is like you and Hermione"

"Oh I see."

Persephone inhaled deeply and stood up, and stretched out her arms. "The air here is always so fresh. I don't even know how I found this place; it was by chance. My homeland was full of little nooks like this, and I liked to hide in them whenever I had to think. Look, the rain has abated a bit."

Valorick stood up and leaned against the tree. Small droplets of rain escaped the great foliage that canopied the dell. In the dimming light, each raindrop that fell on Persephone seems to have glistened her profile that gazed skyward. The watery crystals complemented her diamond eyes that were newly bejewelled by her tears. The colours of the scene and the sparkles were all associated with images of frost, but for the first time, Valorick did not feel cold when he looked upon her. At the moment, she reminded him of the moon. There was no wintriness, but a fire of blue and white.

Persephone turned to him. "Do you still think I'm cold?"

Valorick was embarrassed that she had detected his previous judgement of her. "No, no, of course not….and I'm sorry if I ever thought so. I shouldn't judge anyone."

"Well, you've seen the most vulnerable side of me. In truth, I'm rather embarrassed," she laughed. "Other than my father and Corsaire, no one has ever really known my feelings, not even my happiness."

"Don't be embarrassed. I'm very honored that you confided in me. From now on, feel free to tell me anything, whether it's something happy or sad, I'd be more than happy to share your burden."

Persephone smiled. They stood in silence for some time, till the light had almost disappeared from the sky. The Persephone said, "Why? Why would you do that for me?"

"Because…" Valorick paused and pondered whether he should do as he really desired and just hold her in his arms. Emboldened by the very potentiality of the moment, he held her hand and put it against his heart. "Because very pain that you feel, I feel it too."

In the faint light, their blushing was not visible. Persephone leaned in closer to him. "You know, I think this has been the longest that I have ever looked at you since I met you. I never looked at you longer than a few seconds before. You know why? It's because you look so familiar somehow, and that kind of scares me."

"You look familiar too, actually"

"Really?" she laughed. "Well, Valorick," she enunciated his name. "Perhaps we have met in a different world, except we just can't remember it. And in that world, your green eyes look the same as they do now, even in the darkness."

Valorick stood very still, and only a few seconds later realized that he had not been breathing. He then inhaled deeply and nearly choked on the air. "Oh Great Gaea, I'm so sorry…I don't know what came over me."

Persephone laughed. "That's okay. We should be getting back anyways. It'll be hard crawling through the shrubs now."

"It'll be fine. We just have to be careful." Valorick then took her hand and groped in the darkness until he came to the opening in the shrubs. They then crawled through the tunnel and returned to the Nipponese garden.

Hermione, who had been playing in the garden with her newly born Asgardian snow dragon, came running towards them. "Val! Where have you been? Dinner is almost ready!"

"Oh, we were, we were just…"

Before Valorick could conjure up a suitable reply, Hermione ran past him and up to Persephone's side. "Oh, Miss Persephone! I've heard that they've treated you horridly in there! If it makes you feel better, you can play with my little snow dragon; its name is Eskie, like Escaflowne. Val got it in Asgard." Hermione beckoned forth a tiny creature that flew lopsidedly towards her. Its large sable eyes gleamed bright in the fading light, and its wings shone silvery white, its feathers shimmering with hints of green and rose, and sprinkling trails of sparkles wherever it flew.

Persephone welcomed the magical little creature into her arms. "Oh, it's adorable! I'm certain we have similar creatures in Serenus, though nothing quite so beautiful. Look, it's got all these sparkles on me now!" Persephone caressed the dragon's white feathers. "How beautiful! If only I had such wings!"

At that point, Valorick suddenly remembered that if she had been full draconian, wouldn't she have wings just like he himself does? He realized that there was so much he did not know about her, and therefore he thought it apt to refrain from any overt display of affections.

Hermione suddenly hugged Persephone. "Miss Persephone, are you very lonely? Do you miss your family? I can feel that you do. If I were away on another world, far from my family, I'd miss them too, even Val."

Persephone let the little dragon fly away, and knelt down beside Hermione. "You're very perceptive, Hermione. I do miss my family and friends. My father passed away, so I'm never going to see him again. I still have friends, but they're scattered all over the place, and I don't know if I'll ever see them again."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you will Miss Persephone. My mom has always taught me to believe in the Atlantis Within, and when you do, it will give you powers."

"The Atlantis Within?" Persephone asked.

"It basically means the power of love and belief. My parents have that. I think I'll have it too, one day in life, though I'm not sure how to get it. I think you'd have to find someone who teaches it to you somehow."

"I see, that's very interesting, Hermione. You're quite smart for your age!"

Valorick laughed. "You should see her when she's being a baby!" Hermione pouted at him. "Anyhow, we should be getting ready for dinner." The three of them went inside the palace. The little snow dragon, toppling over as it flies, scattered shimmering dust over the grass and hedges. But very soon, the dark wind picked up the sparkles and seeded them in some distant corner.

…………………………………………………………………

Van searched for Hitomi. Ever since the earlier incident involving the shared vision and the glowing of the pendant, he has not seen her. After finishing his daily duties, he looked through the rooms, until he found Hitomi sitting on the ground in a hidden corner of the library.

"Hitomi!" he immediately crouched down beside her. "What's the matter?"

"Van…I'm just concerned about what happened, with the vision and the pendant. I tried to look for a picture of a triangle surrounding a central flame, anything that resembles what we saw."

"And did you find it?"

She grabbed a book that was lying near her ankles. "Yes, here, read this passage."

Van turned to the marked page of the book entitled, Stars and the Mystic Moon. Right away, he noticed a magnificent picture of a figure shaped by stars, with three concentrated in the middle, and one for each of the four corners. The caption read, "The constellation of Orion." Van paused as he read the name. Another picture showed a nebula of crimson mauve and brilliant lilac, like mottled silk strewn with a million specks of diamond and gold. This picture was called, "The Heart of Orion." Van turned the page, and began to read the long passage:

"Orion, known as 'The Tears of Time' on Gaea, conveys special significance to the ancient people of the Mystic Moon. Astronomically, the constellation of Orion contains the great Orion Nebula, the so-called heart of the constellation, and one of the great stellar nurseries of the universe. It is the birthplace of millions of stars and solar systems."

At this point, Van remembered that 'The Tears of Time' is also known as the birthplace of worlds to come…

"Who is the author of this book?" he asked.

"It is anonymous."

"Perfect! We have no one to ask…So presumably, this is someone who has travelled to the Mystic Moon through the Dimensional Gap, and came back to Gaea." He read on.

"For this reason, the ancient people called the Mayans saw the Orion nebula as the Hearth of Creation. They believed that the stars Alnitak, Saiph and Rigel in the constellation formed the three points of a triangle, and on the day of creation, a fire was ignited in the middle of the three, forming the great nebula that is the origin of all life."

Van paused and turned to Hitomi. "So what we saw in the vision today, that was basically a cluster of stars? We can see this constellation from Gaea right?"

Hitomi sighed and put her head on Van's shoulder. "It doesn't matter that it's just a constellation, what matters is what it symbolizes to these ancient civilizations on Earth. And yes, we can see it from here, it is the only constellation that is the same on Gaea and Earth."

"Yes, I remember you telling me that long ago." Van continued reading:

In the elaborate mythology of the ancient people from India, Orion is identified as the incarnation of Brahman, the matrix of all life. It is also connected with Shiva, the creator of Time, and the embodiment of eternal Cosmic Energy.

Van smiled at that point. "It's funny how the name of the constellation is Orion. This characterization actually reminds me of him."

Hitomi did not smile back. "Read on, Van, and you will see when I am concerned."

"The great civilization of the ancient Egyptians also consecrated Orion, thus they built great triangular structures, known as the pyramids, in alignment with the three central stars that appear in a string. Orion is known to be the resting place of the god Osiris, who was once king of Earth, later ruler of the dead. Therefore, Orion draws the power of birth and rebirth from Osiris. In the language of the Egyptians, Orion is symbolized by a star enclosed in a circle, and it is called 'Sahu,' meaning 'union of three'."

Van dropped the book onto his lap. He closed his eyes in resignation. "I see what you mean. 'Sahu,' that is what the soothsayer in Aleph called Orion. He revered Orion as a god. But maybe he had read about this myth somewhere."

"No, Van, don't try to justify it. We've been through too much to use logic to fight our way out. You and I both know that the past is returning. Change is upon us. The soothsayer, the vision, the pendant, it all amounts to some cosmic shift. Maybe that is why there are all these images of stars and darkness and death." Hitomi noticed that the pendant that begun to glow.

Van sighed deeply, and clutched the gem. "I don't understand, I don't. What have we done to deserve this? Haven't we suffered enough pain? Why won't the fates just leave me alone?" he was becoming angry.

"Stop, Van!" Hitomi squeezed his hand. "I know how you feel. But there's nothing we can do. This cosmic mystery, or whatever it is, will unfold itself gradually. We can just take it one day at a time."

At the moment, Orion stormed into the room. "There you two are! I've been looking for you! It's almost food time. Allen is going home after dinner. Unfortunately, Amadis is not going with him." Orion sat down on a pile of books, eating a piscus.

"Orion," Van called sadly.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you remember what the soothsayer in Aleph said to you?"

Orion hesitated for a second. "Yeah, he thought I was some sort of god. He said my true name is Sahu, I believe. Crazy old man, I pity him really, going around worshipping strangers and saying weird things to scare people."

Van sighed. "Do you know nothing more than that?" He offered the book to Orion.

Orion saw through Van's concerns. He took the book and closed it. "Van, Hitomi, I know you have a burden right now. But there are some answers that cannot be achieved straight away. I beg you, to have patience with everything that is unresolved. Don't be tormented by answers, because maybe you would not be able to live with the answers. Believe me, one day, you will know, and then, you will have no more need of questions."

Orion winked at them then left the room. Van and Hitomi were daunted by his remarks. It was as if a god has indeed descended to instruct them. Van got up off the floor and lent a hand to Hitomi. "He always has this amazing ability to render a difficult situation somehow natural, as if there's a great plan in store for us, and it will be on our side."

Hitomi laughed. "Whoever named him, did it very aptly. Orion, Hearth of Creation, Cosmic Energy and Lord of Rebirth."

"Yes, well, time will tell whether his words speak truth."

Van walked over to the window and stretched his arms. He then noticed Valorick, Hermione and Persephone down in the garden. Van turned to Hitomi, who was organizing some books. "Don't you think that Val is rather fond of Miss Persephone?"

Hitomi smiled. "Well, she is an attractive girl, and he is a young man, I don't see why it isn't possible. It's rather like you and I when we were young."

Van laughed. "I certainly hope it's not like us!"

"Oh of course, what young man could be as shy as you were? Our Val is much more courageous in that regard, at least that's my intuition."

"I don't know…I'm not comfortable with the idea of him being with Miss Persephone."

Hitomi came over and hit him lightly on the arm. "Van Fanel! Are you turning into a tyrannical father? Would you deny your son the same privilege that every young man has, that you yourself had?"

Van smirked at her. "Tyrannical? Hardly. I'm not saying he can't fall in love, I'm just saying that there's something odd about her, wouldn't you agree? Her Atlantean powers, her origins, her homeland's connection to Branimir. And why do you suppose she has never seen Branimir? She hasn't the slightest idea what he's like; he's a figurehead to her. Yet every time I see her, I'm reminded of him. It's all too complicated. I don't want Val to get hurt."

"I know how you feel, I'm worried too. But trust him, Van. Look at him, he's not delirious or irrational, he's just so content, so comfortable. He probably sees her as someone he can connect with. You should be happy for him."

"I suppose," Van sighed. "Maybe it is like Orion said, we should have patience with the questions, and will one day live our way into the answers."

……………………………………………………………….

The next morning, before dawn, Valorick and Endymion set out for a hike into the Blue Mountains. They engaged in this exercise periodically, for the sake of strengthening their bodies and minds. An azure mist enveloped the hills, and from the ground, the peaks seemed a shadowy castle, resting on clouds.

Endymion led the way with a dim lamp. Valorick followed slowly, still munching on his bread for breakfast, and his mind filled with images of Persephone.

"Val!" Endymion stopped in his path and turned around. "Hurry up! Didn't you want to see the sunrise from the peak? We're not going to get there on time if you keep at this pace."

"Okay, I'm coming!" Valorick stuffed his food into the knapsack and caught up to Endymion. "Sorry, I suppose I'm just kind of tired."

Endymion continued walking again, and tearing away some longer branches that obstructed their path. "Yes, it was a long day yesterday, what with the duel between Uncle Allen and Miss Persephone. I regret having missed it, but Hermione insisted on performing her newest recital piece. Well, at least we left the palace early. If we had not, Amadis would have followed. By the way, you never told me what you felt about the duel."

Valorick cleared his throat. "It was intense, I think. Everyone was shocked to see her ability to heal wounds. It was just like you described it, Endy."

"I cannot deny that there is something almost haunting in her demeanour, but she is nevertheless beautiful, and she saved your life, and for that alone, I cannot judge her for having these mysterious powers."

"Truth be told, Endy," Valorick suddenly stopped in his path. "I think I…I think I like Persephone."

Endymion smiled excitedly. "Do you mean to say you've fallen in love?"

"I don't know if that would be the correct term. But for now, it suffices to say that I feel a connection with her, unlike any I've ever felt with others, not even with you or my family. I feel like she knows me, even without talking to me, and vice versa. And I have this need to protect her, to be by her side. I don't know how else to explain it." He continued walking.

"That could very well be defined as love."

"Perhaps…but love is such a ambiguous thing. How much do we know of it, really? I'm certain that our parents understand it, but how would they define it if we asked? They love each other, they love us, but I've always wondered, do my parents love Griffon? Whatever it is that they feel towards him, what would that feeling be called?"

"It is apparent that Griffon is a subject of great ambivalence to everyone. Can parents love a child who tried to destroy the family and hurt his own brother? I truly don't know, Val."

"Well," Valorick jumped onto a flat-surfaced rock that formed a plateau on the steep hill. "Some things are not meant for us to know, I guess. We're simply not old enough. This reminds me, we have to go visit Griffon tomorrow. It's strange how ever since Persephone arrived, I seem to have forgotten him."

Their upward climb became steeper and they thus refrained from talking. The meandering path wove through slanted pines, settled boulders and loose soil that traced the recent occurrence of a mudslide. Endymion took out some ropes, and the two boys tied a connection between themselves. They then used pikes to assist in the climb.

After some time, they arrived on top of the mountain. The cloudy mass has broken off into wispy fragments, so that the earth beneath was visible from the peak. From beyond the mountains of Fanelia, the reborn sun was beginning to rear its resplendent head. Valorick and Endymion set down their gear and found a spot to rest.

Waiting for the sunrise was like waiting for life, as if they were present at the moment of creation, watching patiently as light gives birth to all forms. Very soon, the sunlight stretched over the plains and hills, transforming every dark spot into crystalline gold. The light of the Mystic Moon still shone, though it became subdued and softened into a bluish haze.

Then, Valorick remembered: images of himself and Persephone standing amidst massive ruins flashed before him. He fell forward, clutching at his chest. "Ah!"

Endymion dropped his knapsack and ran to his side. "What's wrong? Val, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing," Valorick stood up with the help of his friend. "I'm fine. It's just that…Endy, I once knew Persephone, I remember her now."

"What do you mean?"

"She's the one I saw in my dreams."

"You're joking! She's the one with the diamond eyes?"

"Yes," Valorick gulped. He recalled the words of the soothsayer: Remember that the fate of the whole world rests on your one decision. "I once loved her. There had been such strong feelings. I now know that it was love. But there was also death."

End of Part VI

Note: the info. on the constellation of Orion are all from my research. I've excluded the Greek myth about Orion, since it's too common, and most people probably know it. The myths that were included were chosen because they bear special significance to the rest of the story.