Chapter 9: The Ceremony
Dawn was just peering over the horizon by the time Van, Hitomi, and Fillodam were well in to their hike up the mountain to the Mystic's hidden sanctuary. Hitomi and Van had both changed back in to their travelling clothes and boots for the hike. It was cooler in the trees as they gained altitude.
The night before, two things had surprised them: an attack on their lives in a seaside cave and the appearance of Mystic Fillodam to escort them up the mountain. King Loran and Queen Maysera were very shocked by the turn of events, but they let Fillodam take over with no hesitation. King Loran tried to argue that a military escort should accompany them up the mountain, but Fillodam refused and said the powers of the Mystics would look after them. Hitomi had been willing to leave that night, but Van and Fillodam thought it would be wiser to leave in the morning after a hearty evening meal and good night's sleep. It didn't do Hitomi much good though. She had been restless all night with anticipation.
Fillodam led them up an old, worn mountain trail. Hitomi found herself in awe of the huge amount of greenery that surrounded them. There were fern plants that were taller and wider than any she had seen before and the bright green palm trees that covered the island surrounded them and reached high in to the sky. Bird and animal calls surrounded them. Every now and then, there would be a break in the trees and they could see the island and the ocean below them. It was gorgeous! Hitomi could just make out the tiny figures of early morning swimmers on the beach. Fillodam would occasionally pick fruits for them to snack on during their hike.
A few hours after sunrise, Fillodam motioned for a halt when they reached a tiny waterfall. The three of them refilled their water skins and took a break. Van dunked his head under the water to cool himself off.
"Are we making good time?" Hitomi asked Fillodam.
Fillodam was sitting calmly beside the little pool under the waterfall, moving her hand along the top of the water. "Yes, we are." She answered. Hitomi frowned. Something was bothering Fillodam.
"Mystic Fillodam, what's bothering you?" Hitomi asked as she went over to sit beside her.
Fillodam sighed and faced Hitomi with a brave smile. "I am greatly disturbed by your accounts from last night. There is something out there with powerful magic that we can't sense. We have always been able to sense magic, the closer to us, the easier, but we did not sense anything attacking you in the airship or in the cave."
"But you had mentioned you received a warning concerning our safety." Van added, as he joined them by the pool.
"Yes, but that was different. One of my sisters was conducting her water gazing exercises and the water revealed you and Queen Hitomi in danger. I received the message when I had almost reached the palace, so I ran the rest of the way and found help. I tried to hurry, but I was too late."
"Mystic Fillodam, it is not your fault that Van and I were attacked." Hitomi said. "You received a warning and reacted as fast as you could and that's all we could ask for."
"True." Fillodam replied. "I just wish we hadn't have been so relaxed about your visit. We should have come down right away." Fillodam paused for a moment. "I did feel magic on my way down…but I think it was yours." Fillodam said, as she pointed to where the pendant was resting under Hitomi's shirt.
Hitomi pulled out the pendant and held it. It glowed a very, very soft pink.
"Ahhhh." Fillodam said. "Yes, that is the magic I sensed. It is very powerful." She reached over to touch it, but stopped and pulled back instead. "Perhaps we should get going. We might be able to make it there before dark." Fillodam said as she gathered her things and rose.
"Wait a second." Van said. "I have one more question, if you'll oblige me." Fillodam nodded and Van continued. "How did you receive the message from the other Mystics?"
"There are many creatures and spirits on this island that we can work with. A Wind Sprite was called upon to find me and deliver the message. They are extremely fast and reliable. Come, we must continue on."
Van and Hitomi looked at each other and shrugged, before they started after Fillodam.
Hitomi thought things over as they continued the climb up. Fillodam had moved them off the main trail and now they were following a narrow trail through the greenery. It took all their concentration to place their steps correctly and to move branches aside so they could pass. It might have been due to Hitomi's frustration, but it seemed that Fillodam was having a much easier time negotiating the path than they were.
A few hours passed and they stopped for lunch. She didn't admit it, but Hitomi was tired. Hiking almost straight up was taxing. They ate quietly and sat in the shade to stay cool. Hitomi leaned on Van and closed her eyes. The swaying of the tall trees was very relaxing. Hitomi opened her eyes when she heard the sound of a tiny bell. Fillodam was standing apart from them and was ringing a small bell. The wind picked up slowly and before Hitomi knew it, a translucent, yellow figure was hovering in front of Fillodam. Fillodam held out a small treat for it and it took it.
"I wonder if that is a Wind Sprite." Van said quietly.
Van and Hitomi watched as the little yellow ball stayed with Fillodam for a moment before it flew over to them. Van was startled and laid a hand protectively over Hitomi's shoulder, but was startled when he heard it laughing. It was more of a high-pitched giggling. The creature hovered in front of them for a moment. Hitomi thought it looked like half a little boy and half a little bird. It giggled again, flew around their heads a few times, and then flew upwards and out of sight, leaving a trail of yellow sparkles behind it.
"The Wind Sprite liked you two." Fillodam said with a smile as she walked over to them.
"So that was a Wind Sprite." Van said, helping Hitomi up. "And you used that bell to call them?"
"Yes. The bell is enchanted so the Wind Sprites can hear it. They usually appear and giving them a little treat coaxes them in to carrying messages for us."
"You sent a message?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes. Although they probably already know, I thought I'd sent word ahead that we are almost there. We are just as anxious as King Loran and Queen Maysera to find out what is going on, so my sisters will be preparing for the ceremony tonight."
"Ceremony?"
"Come, we are only a few hours away." Fillodam said as she turned to lead the way. But before Fillodam could take a step, a deep rumbling noise disturbed the island. The birds flew away and everything became very quiet.
"What was that?" Hitomi cried.
Fillodam lifted her robes and ran past them. Van and Hitomi followed close behind. A few moments later, they had reached a spot where the vegetation had become thinner and they were able to see the sky and the ocean. Huge, red and black clouds were gathering on the horizon and flashes of lightning could be seen shooting down to the surface.
"The Storm!" Van cried.
Fillodam's eyes widened at Van's exclamation and she turned around again.
"Come. There is less time then we originally thought. We must hurry!"
The three of them turned and ran back in to the thick, Keshian jungle.
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Lola pulled her blanket closer as she tried to read her book. It was very cold in the castle and everyone was doing what he or she could to keep warm. It was unusually cold for late summer in Fanelia and most believed it was due to the presence of the Storm. The dark clouds continued to cover the sky and block the sun.
Lola was sitting at Patrick's bedside in his room in the castle. The doctors had said his condition was stable and that he could be moved to his room. Plus, they needed the room in the infirmary for more serious cases. Lola listened to Patrick's steady breathing. She took comfort in it since it signalled he was still alive, even though he was still not awake. Lola tried to find time each day to come and sit with Patrick. It was what Hitomi would have done.
"Lady Lola! What a pleasure to find you here." Said a male voice.
Lola looked up and smiled. "Master Fron, good day. Are you here to check up on Patrick?"
Lola moved aside so the short, rickety old man with bushy white hair and a thick white moustache could make his observations.
"Good day, yes, good day to you miss, but it could be a better day." Fron muttered, as he looked Patrick over carefully. "If you ask me, it would be a much better day if that blasted cloud picked up and left us alone. It's been nothing but trouble, nothing but trouble. And the people are talking. They are saying it's a bad omen, and things like that make people stupid!"
"Stupid, Master Fron?" Lola asked, confused if he was serious or just rambling.
"Very stupid, my dear. The fear and suspicions that bad omens cause tend to shut the immune system down in normal, healthy people. They suddenly believe that they are ill and can't be cured. It's all in their heads!"
"Truly?"
"Why just this morning, a young woman came to me with a mere headache and was convinced she was on the brink of death. Poppycock! She claimed it was caused by the Storm and I talked some sense in to her. We must not let these rumours get out of hand!" Fron finished as he slammed his fist down to end his speech.
"Oww!"
"Oh, sorry dear boy, didn't mean to hurt you like that."
Lola's jaw fell and her eyes widened.
"Master Patrick, you're awake!" Fron cried out as he leaned in closer. Patrick's eyes were slits, as if the light in the room was too much for them. Lola stepped closer, not believing her eyes. Patrick slowly turned his head to Master Fron.
"I'm awake. What happened?" He said groggily.
"In due time, in due time." Fron said as he reached down to take a flask he had at his hip. He uncorked it and raised it to Patrick's lips. "My dear Lady Lola, please support his head a little so he can drink this." Lola gently raised Patrick and moved his pillows to keep him up.
"Alright my boy, I need you to drink some of this. It will help you and then we will answer all your questions." Fron told a drowsy Patrick. Fron lifted the flask to Patrick's mouth and Lola held her breath as she watched Patrick take a few sips. Patrick's eyes flew open at that point and started coughing.
"Egad!" Patrick yelped. "What is that horrible stuff!"
Fron chuckled to himself as he corked the flask and put it back at his side. "A little concoction of my own. Wakes a man up and gives him strength."
"Master Fron, is there dark wine in your concoction?" Lola said, putting her hands on her hips.
"A little, but it really is very healthy. The other doctors all ask me to make it for their patients."
"Hmmmm..." Was all Lola said before she turned her attention back to Patrick. She had to admit she could see the colour returning to Patrick's face already. She let out a huge sigh of relief. Hitomi would be so happy to see Patrick well again.
A deafening clap of thunder broke over them and shook the walls. Lola threw her hands over her ears and looked out the window to see that lightning was once again falling from the crimson clouds. Thunder continued to rock the walls and the general alarm to seek cover could barely be heard over the noise.
"WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Lola yelled as she motioned for Fron to help her support Patrick. Fron ran around to her side of the bed helped Patrick out of it. He was still very weak, but doing much better than Lola had thought. He was even able to put most of his weight on his good leg.
"QUICKLY!" Fron yelled as they headed towards the door.
Suddenly, a blast that could only have been caused by lightning striking nearby, broke part of the ceiling and it fell down towards them. Before she could react, Lola felt herself being pushed clear and she fell down and away from the other two. She screamed and covered her head as debris fell to the ground. The thunder continued to rumble outside, but it finally ended after a few moments.
Lola was frozen in place with fear. She was covered in dust and cut in a few places where she had landed on rock or it had landed on her. She looked up to find Patrick trying to get up at her feet. Master Fron was not with them. They both looked in to the room with fear and Lola helped Patrick up.
"MASTER FRON!" She yelled into the room with Patrick leaning heavily on her. The dust was clearing from wind blowing in from the gaping hole in the ceiling and soon Lola could see inside. They spotted Master Fron pinned under a large, support beam, motionless.
"No!" Lola cried as she left Patrick to lean against the doorway to rush to Fron. His white hair was filthy and there was no sound coming from him. Tears started to flood Lola's eyes as she gently reached down to him. She almost stopped breathing when she felt a thick, sticky substance on his head. It was his blood. Lola was about to break down when a groan from Fron brought her back to her senses.
"Master Fron! Stay with me! We're going to get you out of here!" She cried.
Fron chuckled weakly. "There is no hope left for me, child." Fron said very calmly and softly. Lola bent down to put her face near his. Tears started to run freely down her face.
"My time as come." Fron said. He coughed and his breathing became much more laboured. "The flask. Can you see it?"
Lola wiped her eyes and looked around. She saw it lying close to Fron. She took it.
"Yes, I have it." She whimpered.
"Take it. It will help you and heal you. Now leave. It is dangerous here." Lola hesitated, but started to rise.
"Be strong." Fron said weakly. His eyes slowly shut and he became motionless again.
Lola bit her lip and moved over to Patrick's side. They shuffled out of the room together and walked down the hallway.
The thunder clapped again and Lola couldn't believe it. It wasn't over yet. Further ahead, Lola could see debris falling and it was coming towards them. She dashed in to the nearest room and used all her strength to hurl herself and Patrick under a wooden table. Lola screamed as the room fell apart around them.
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"General, the work detail is complete. We can move out immediately." A soldier said as he saluted Allen.
"Very well. Have our men form ranks and prepare to escort the work crews back to the city." Allen said. The soldier left him and Allen took one more look in to the forest. He was outside the city, overseeing the completions of the exterior fortifications against the dragons. The dragons had been acting strangely since the Storm started and he was making sure they didn't bring their strange behaviour into the city.
Thunder suddenly filled the air and everyone looked up to see the dark clouds swirling. The wind picked up and dust was being blown in everyone's eyes.
"IT'S STARTING AGAIN!" Allen yelled. "GET DOWN AND HEAD TOWARDS THE CITY, NOW!" Allen and his men raced along the top of the battlement towards the stairs. Allen stood beside them, urging everyone to hurry and making sure they all made it down in time. Just as the last man went down, Allen turned to follow when a bolt of lightning struck the wall close to him. The explosion caused the edge of the wall to fall away and Allen lost his footing and started to fall the wrong way. At the last moment, he reached out and grabbed the remaining edge.
A lieutenant of his ran back up and reached for him, but he didn't make it in time.
"GET BACK TO THE CITY!" Allen yelled just before he lost his grip and fell.
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Van and Hitomi raced along, following Fillodam through the maze of the jungle as carefully as they could. It was getting harder now that the sun was starting to set. They tried to ignore the pain in their legs and sides and concentrated on their goal. Without warning, the three of them entered a clearing and Fillodam came to a halt.
"We have arrived." She said.
Van and Hitomi looked up in amazement to see the front of a temple carved into the mountain. Gentle waterfalls fell on both sides and two large torches were already lit on either side of the doorway. A small, stone bridge sat over the stream the waterfalls created.
"Wow! So this is Sanctuary." Hitomi said.
A young Mystic ran out of the temple and over the bridge towards them. Hitomi recognized her as Hochcia, one of the girls who had served Fillodam when she came to Fanelia as the ambassador. "The ceremony is ready to begin at any time, Mistress." Hochcia said when she reached the three of them. "What do you wish to do?"
"We will head there immediately."
"Yes, Mistress." Hochcia said as she moved aside. Van and Hitomi followed Fillodam through the stone entranceway and were taken back by the interior of the mountain. The walls were carved and polished until they glowed to form wide hallways. Blue orbs suspended in the air above them lighted the way. Fillodam took them through the maze of hallways until they exited outside again. They were looking out on to a cliff, where the sea could be seen far below, crashing into the rocks. It was twilight, but the sky was bright with a million stars and Earth seemed to glow very bright, even though the full moon was a dull light in the night sky. Before them was an outcrop of rocks, surrounded by shoulder height pillars with fire burning on top of them. In the center stood a raised pool of water.
Hitomi gasped and stopped, causing Van to bump into her. "What is it?" He whispered.
"I've been here before!" She said as she reached for Van's hand. She was suddenly very nervous and wasn't sure how she felt.
"Queen Hitomi, do you have with you the statue I presented to you as a birthday gift?" Fillodam asked.
Hitomi looked at her in surprise. "Yes, yes I do. How did you know I would bring it?"
"Remove it from your bags and bring it with you. You can leave everything else for now." Hitomi and Van shrugged off their travelling packs and water flasks and Hitomi dug out the small statue of the blue dolphin.
"Please come forward, Your Majesties, so we can start the ceremony." Fillodam urged. Van looked at Hitomi and she nodded in agreement. Unconsciously, Van placed his free hand on the hilt of his sword and walked forward with Hitomi.
The pool was surrounded by Mystics, their blue hair and robes blowing in the wind. They moved apart to form an opening for them when Fillodam motioned for Van and Hitomi to stand in front of the pool. Fillodam joined the circle of Mystics as a much older woman stepped out of the circle and came to Van and Hitomi. Her face was wrinkled and her hair was almost white. She bowed in front of them.
"I am Alphenia. I am the elder and appointed leader of the Mystics. We have been waiting for you."
"I've been here before, haven't I?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes. We summoned your essence before and we've been watching you."
"I…I remember. You told me to be strong and then I heard that poem that I've heard in my visions lately. Why have you been watching me?"
"We, the Mystics, take care of this island and its people. We are taught to interpret the visions in the water and the future in the stars. We've been waiting for you for a long time. We knew a hero would come to us in the form of a young girl from a distant place, who would be able to save all of Gaea."
"Do you mean, when I came during the Density Wars?"
"Although you were key in stopping the destruction years ago, no, there are events unfolding now that you must stop."
"The Storm. Is that it?" Van said.
"Yes. The storm is an unnatural phenomenon. The Storm is actually the fabric of space and time falling apart around Gaea."
"What?" Hitomi gasped. "You mean-"
"Gaea is falling apart. Gaea is dying." Alphenia finished.
"How? Why?" Hitomi cried.
"We do not know all the answers, save those the stars have given us over time." Alphenia said as the Mystics started chanting.
When the sky blazes crimson
And the dragons flee
Moonlight glows dim
Darkness will soon reign
Three must find the Ivory Tower
Lost in a far world
Three must enter
A link must be forged
Wolf with the sacred light
Dragon of noble birth
Ocean's heart
Destiny calls you forth
"The poem you have heard is a prophecy foretelling the destruction of Gaea and the steps necessary to save it." Alphenia stated. "All the signs have come true: the sky is dark with the Storm, the moonlight has grown weaker-"
"And the dragons have run in fear of it." Hitomi said.
"And darkness will soon reign." Alphenia finished.
Van stood up taller and locked eyes with Alphenia. "Who are the three that the prophecy speaks of to save Gaea." He asked with a steady voice. Hitomi squeezed his hand in anticipation, even though she was pretty sure who two of them would be.
"Queen Hitomi is the Wolf with the sacred light. Her sacred light is the pendant she carries and commands. And is it true that she was represented by a wolf at your Dragon Moon festival? And that the day the Storm began, a wolf saved her in the woods."
"Yes. How did you know that?" Hitomi asked.
"We saw it in the water." Alphenia then turned to face Van. "You, Van, King of Fanelia, are the Dragon of noble birth. The only one to who carries the dragon's blood in his veins."
"Who is the Ocean's heart?" Van asked.
"I am." A voice said from the group of Mystics. A young Mystic stepped out of the circle and approached them. She was carrying a long staff with a sapphire jewel embedded on the top, accented by silver metal in the shape of overlapping circles surrounding it.
"My name is Kylenia." She said as she bowed towards them. Kylenia appeared to be much younger than the other Mystics nearby, even younger than Hitomi, yet something about her made her seem much older and very mature. She had the same long, blue hair and blue eyes, and blue swirl marks on her cheeks, but she was very beautiful. Long, delicate fingers wrapped around her staff to hold it beside her. It rested on the ground and stood above her head.
"Forgive me." Van interrupted. "But how do you know you are the Ocean's heart the prophecy speaks of?"
"On the day of my Choosing, I received this staff from the ocean itself. It contains the legendary jewel of Keshia known as the Ocean's heart." Kylenia answered.
Van and Hitomi looked up to the see the fabled jewel twinkling in the fire light. It was very large and very beautiful.
"Now that the three have gathered whom the stars have spoken of, it is time for us to ask the ocean and the stars to guide them. Hitomi…Van…Kylenia…please come here and stand in front of the water." The three of them obeyed.
"Hitomi, please hand me the statue." Alphenia asked. Hitomi complied and gave her the statue. Alphenia walked to the other side of the small pool and placed it on the edge. The water reflected on to the surface of the statue and it seemed glow with an inner light. Alphenia then walked back to the three of them.
"You three will need to place your hands in the water and gently break the surface as we begin our incantations. Our goal is for you to see in the water what you will need to do to save Gaea. We believe you will be shown the place in which the prophecy speaks of. Watch Kylenia and remove your hand from the water when she does. Concentrate on saving Gaea and those who live here."
Alphenia stepped back in to the circle and it closed around them. Van and Hitomi followed Kylenia's lead and placed their hands in the water and gently moved them back and forth. The Mystics joined hands, closed their eyes and started chanting in a language Hitomi couldn't understand.
The fires on the pillars grew larger and hotter, but the Mystics continued to stand motionless, except for the movement of their lips. The wind picked up and caused their hair and robes to whip around them. Together, they slowly raised their arms above their heads and lifted their faces to the night sky. The Mystics' voices became louder as the wind picked up and suddenly the fires changed to emit blue flames.
Kylenia pulled her hand out of the water and Van and Hitomi quickly followed. They looked up to see the dolphin statue across from them starting to glow. Hitomi's pendant seemed to respond by glowing pink. Hitomi, Van, and Kylenia turned towards the water as images started to appear.
They could see a great and large city in the water. The city appeared to be surrounded by a large body of water. People could be seen wearing white robes. The vision altered and it now showed a tall, white tower. Hitomi's eyes widen in recognition. It was the same tower she had seen in her vision in Freid! That was the tower they needed to find! The vision changed again and it was deja-vu for Hitomi. She was witnessing the ancients combine their wills to create Gaea. They must have used that tower as some sort of focus, Hitomi thought. The vision altered again to a horrifying view of huge waves crashing over the city and destroying buildings and drowning the people. The entire city was covered in water and soon all that could be seen was the ocean. Then, the images were gone. Hitomi's pendant and the dolphin statue stopped glowing, the fires died down and became yellow again, and the Mystics stopped chanting.
Alphenia stepped out of the circle again and slowly walked up to them. She walked to Hitomi's side.
"What did you see?" She said softly.
Hitomi was still gripping the edge of the pool, starring in to the water trying to sort her thoughts. Van and Kylenia looked over and watched. Everything was silent.
"Oh my God!" Hitomi suddenly shouted, spinning around to face the three of them. "We have to go to Atlantis! We have to find the lost city of Atlantis!"
The night air was suddenly filled with the sound of Hitomi's laughter.