Chapter 10: Destination: Atlantis
Hitomi was laughing so hard that she was doubled over with her arms wrapped around her sides. Everyone else was stunned in to silence over her strange behaviour. Every time Hitomi tried to say something, she'd start up laughing even harder. She reached over and leaned against the pool as she continued to laugh.
Van approached her slowly and knelt beside her.
"Hitomi? Why are you laughing?" He asked.
"Atlantis." Hitomi said between laughs.
"Atlantis? Is that the city we saw in the water?"
Hitomi sat on the edge on the pool. She was laughing so hard that it was becoming difficult for her to breathe. She nodded yes, unable to say anything. She put her head in her hands and laughed into them.
"Isn't this a good thing? We know where to go now, right?"
That back of Hitomi's head shook no.
"No?" Van said. "Hitomi, please, I don't understand." Hitomi lifted her head and Van saw that she was no longer laughing, but crying.
"Van, it's the lost city of Atlantis! No one knows where it is!" She said between sobs. She reached out and grabbed his shoulders. "Atlantis disappeared thousands of years ago. It's hopeless!" Hitomi cried.
Before she could say anymore, Van stood up and brought her into his arms. She clung to him and buried her face into his chest and continued to sob. He held her tight and gently stroked her head. Van let her cry and waited. The Mystics continued to keep their distance and watch.
"It's just a myth." Hitomi whispered over and over between sobs.
"Atlantis is somewhere on Earth?" Van asked in a whisper.
"Somewhere…." Hitomi hiccupped before she started crying more. Van could feel her hopelessness and had to fight hard to keep tears of his own from spilling. He had never seen her like this. It couldn't be hopeless!
Alphenia came up quietly beside Van. "Come, I will take you to a place where she can rest."
"Thank you." Van said as he scoped up Hitomi. She continued to cling to his neck and kept her face buried in his chest. She had stopped crying but was still breathing deeply. Van followed Alphenia back in to the mountain temple and through a set of hallways. Alphenia showed them into a small room with a large bed and a small table set with food, wine, and water. Alphenia stepped aside to let Van enter and before she left, she flicked her hand and the candles in the room were lit. She said nothing more, just bowed her head and left the room.
Van placed Hitomi on the bed and went to the table to fill a small glass of wine. He brought it to her and she took it automatically. She was sniffling as silent tears rolled down her face and she was staring off in to nothing. Van knew she wasn't ready to talk yet. As she sipped her wine, Van took off her boots and tunic and then removed his. He pulled down the covers and helped her in to bed once she was finished with the wine. He crawled in after her and she came to him and wrapped her arms around him and started crying again. Van held her close and kissed her forehead. Eventually, Hitomi quieted down and fell asleep in Van's arms.
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"You're full of surprises, Van Fanel. I don't know if one lifetime with you is enough."
"Maybe we'll have more. I wouldn't worry, we'll always be together." Van said, before he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
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It was that happy dream/memory that Hitomi recalled as she woke up to find Van's arms wrapped around her. She looked up to see him watching her with concern in his eyes. She smiled weakly and stretched her neck up to kiss him softly on his lips.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"You're welcome." He whispered back.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Hitomi looked in to Van's eyes and knew that she was going to do everything she could to make sure this lifetime with Van didn't end anytime soon. She sighed and rolled over on to her back.
"I suppose the first thing we should do when we get to Earth is find Yukari and Amano. We're going to need all the help we can get." Hitomi said.
"So we are travelling to the Phantom Moon again."
"Yeah. Atlantis is apparently there somewhere. I think we should avoid my family though. I don't want to worry them, but we'll go to them if we need to."
"We'll have to travel with three people this time. Do you think the pendant can handle that?"
"If not, we'll find a way. What time is it?" Hitomi asked as she sat up in bed. Van followed her example and looked at the candles. They had melted down to about a third of their original height.
"I'd guess four or five hours after sunset, since that's about the time the ceremony started."
"I'm starving." Hitomi said as she looked around and spotted the food on the table. She got out of bed and Van followed close behind. They ate the bread, cheese and fruits that had been left, a little stale, but still edible. They both washed their faces and hands with the wash bowls provided. They put on their boots and tunics again and Van strapped on his sword.
Van opened the door, intending to wander around until he found a Mystic, but one was waiting beside the door.
"What can I do for you?" The young Mystic asked while bowing.
"Can you take us to Alphenia?" Van asked.
"Yes. Please follow me."
Van took Hitomi's hand and they followed the Mystic through the maze of hallways. Eventually they came to a room that ended up being Alphenia's office. Alphenia opened the door and they walked into a very comfortable room with sheepskin rugs, vibrant tapestries, a worktable, a desk for Alphenia, and comfortable chairs. Fillodam and Kylenia were already present in the room. Alphenia took her place at her desk and motioned for others to sit down. Hitomi eyed the jewel of the Keshians on top of Kylenia's staff before she sat down.
Hitomi cleared her throat and looked nervously around. "I want to apologize to everyone for my behaviour earlier. I reacted badly to the vision and I'd like to explain."
"Of course, Your Majesty." Alphenia said with a gentle smile. "But you do not have to excuse your behaviour. You had been travelling all day and must have been exhausted, and then we started the ceremony before you could rest or eat anything. It wasn't the smartest way to do things, but we were pressured by the urgency of time."
"I completely agree." Hitomi said. "I would have insisted we start right away, especially after seeing the Storm start to activate again." Hitomi paused for a moment as her eyebrows frowned in concentration. "That reminds me. Before we talk, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
Alphenia leaned back in her chair and nodded for Hitomi to continue.
"Why isn't the Storm over Keshia?"
"Originally, it was." Alphenia started as she pulled some of her white hair out of her face. "It appeared just as suddenly as it did over all of Gaea. Fortunately, at the time, all of us were gathered here at the temple and we were able to combine our magic and call on the power of the island to force it back and we have been able to hold it back since. However, we can still see it on the horizon and it is slowly moving closer, gaining strength."
"Is it true what Mystic Fillodam told us, that you know nothing about the dark power that attacked us in the airship and in the cave?"
"That is true. We are not able to sense it at all, which means it must be very powerful and ancient magic to mask itself from us. Thankfully, your pendant is able to defend against it."
"How long have you been watching me and what exactly have you been doing?"
"The stars told us long ago of a young girl who would come to Gaea and end up saving our world, but we would have to aid her before she could. When you first came to Gaea about six years ago, we starting seeing you in our water visions, and we knew it was you whom the stars had told us of. When you returned, we knew the time the prophecy had spoken of was near. Even though you were not aware of it, we knew that your powers were being blocked and that it was our job to help you. We took a small fragment from the Ocean's heart and placed it in the center of a small dolphin statue. Fillodam presented that statue to you during her visit. We did not know exactly what it would do, but our task had been completed and you regained your powers. And now we have reason to believe that the dark power that attacked you was the same that held your powers in check."
Hitomi contemplated Alphenia's answer in silence.
"What did you see in the pool during the ceremony?" Alphenia asked, leaning forward after a moment to let Hitomi think.
Hitomi looked Alphenia calmly in the eyes and told her. "I saw the ancient city of Atlantis before and during its destruction. I am sure that it was Atlantis for I saw the same vision when Duke Freid showed us the power of Atlantis years ago. It was the ancient Atlantians that used their wills to create Gaea and it makes sense that we would have to travel back to the place of Gaea's creation to find an answer. I despaired though when I first realized that it was Atlantis." Hitomi said as she coloured with embarrassment. "Atlantis is known as the lost city. Supposedly it existed thousands of years ago and most believe it is nothing more than a myth, since no one has ever been able to find it. But I'm sure we'll be able to find a way."
"So, the three of you will have to travel to the Phantom Moon." Alphenia said, leaning back again.
"You don't seem very surprised." Van said, raising an eyebrow.
"I should be, but it makes sense why Hitomi was needed to save Gaea. She knows the ways of the Phantom Moon."
"Elder Alphenia," Hitomi said interrupting. "If it's possible, I'd like to leave for Earth as soon as possible. I fear Gaea doesn't have much time left."
"Yes. Speed is crucial. How do you travel to your…Earth? Do you use the magic from your pendant?"
"Yes. The pendant has always been the key to traveling between our worlds. However…Van and I were a little worried since we have never traveled with more than two people before. We don't know if it can be done, but we've never tried."
"Hmmm. We will try to use our magic to aid you. Perhaps the magic from the Ocean's heart can help, since it will be making the journey with you. I think I know what we can do to try. Are you ready to leave right now?" Alphenia asked.
"Yes." Hitomi said. Alphenia rose from her chair and the others followed her lead.
"Do you think there is anything we need to bring with us?" Van asked Hitomi. The others paused while Hitomi took a second to think.
"No. I have the pendant, Kylenia has the Ocean's heart, and I'm assuming you are taking your sword."
"Yes. I didn't take it last time, but I'm not leaving it behind while we have a dangerous enemy out there."
"Okay. We'll worry about concealing it when we get there. Please lead the way." Hitomi said to Alphenia.
Alphenia led them through the temple once again until they reached an exit that led back in to the jungle. It was well in to the night so it was cool and quiet. The stars twinkled high above them and the faint sounds of the ocean could be heard on the wind. Alphenia and Fillodam lit torches to light their way through the jungle until they cleared the trees and saw an empty clearing of rock. A mist surrounded the rocks and gave off a mystical blue glow around the area. Almost straight above them rested the bright Earth and the fading moon, both very large and beautiful. Alphenia led them to a cliff where a single tree grew from the rocks. It was a very large space and the rocks were covered in vines and decay. It took Hitomi a second to figure why the tree looked so odd. Not only did its roots appear to sink deep in to the rock, but it wasn't like the tropical trees of Keshia, but something you could find in Fanelia…or on Earth.
"What is this place?" Hitomi asked. She closed her eyes and could sense a faint trace of old, familiar magic.
"This place is a mystery of Keshia." Fillodam said. "We believe this place was once used to cast power magic, since magic is still faint in the air, but we do not know what. None of our records mention anything. Plus, there are strange statues that cover the area." Fillodam walked over to a pile of vines and tore them away to reveal a broken statue. Hitomi and Van bent to study it, but it was so old and worn they couldn't tell what it used to be. Hitomi looked around and saw that more statues like this one were placed around the edge of the rock face. "We don't use this space." Fillodam continued. "We've always left it alone." Hitomi walked to the center of the rock and looked up. Earth looked so amazing from this spot. It looked distant from the palace in Fanelia, but here it appeared to be really close. Something in her gut told her that this was where they were supposed to travel from.
Hitomi looked around to see Van at the edge starring off in to the distant night sky, a black outline against the starry sky. He was standing very tense and had his hand resting on his sword. Hitomi walked over and saw that his face was pinched with concern.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly.
"I fear I'll never see Fanelia again." Van answered. "I know we are leaving because it is the only way to save Gaea, but I can't help but feel a little like we are running away." Van closed his eyes and shook his head as a small smile crept on to his lips. "If Allen were here he'd say nothing has changed. I wanted to stay and fight when Fanelia was attacked by Zaibach years ago, but Allen stopped me and made me see I would have been throwing my life away. He was right, but I didn't like it, and I still don't." Van's fists clenched as his eyes reopened. "I just wish this problem was a physical enemy that I could strike down with my sword."
"It's simpler that way." Hitomi agreed.
"Yeah, but we have a job to do and a small amount of time to do it, so we better get going."
"Okay. Let's go."
Van and Hitomi turned around and walked over to Kylenia. She was patiently waiting in the center of the rock face, holding her tall staff close beside her. Alphenia and Fillodam were beside her.
"Are you ready to leave?" Alphenia asked.
"Yes we are." Hitomi answered.
"Then may the spirits of the wind and water aid you and may the stars watch over you as you journey." Alphenia said bowing towards them.
"Good luck. We'll be waiting for you to return." Fillodam said bowing towards them. The two of them walked out of the clearing and turned to watch from a distance.
Hitomi took a deep breathe in and then slowly exhaled. "I think this is how we should do it." She started. "We should try to stay in physical contact, just to make sure we all end up in the same place." Van winced from the memory of his last trip with her. "Since I need to hold the pendant to focus while I do this," Hitomi continued, "I suggest that you two each loop an arm around my arms and then use your extra hand to hold on to Kylenia's staff. Does that sound okay?" Van and Kylenia both nodded. Hitomi watched Kylenia slowly. She did not know this young woman well, but she seemed completely calm even though she was about to travel to a place most citizens of Gaea considered cursed and haunted. How could she not be nervous? Hitomi was already shaking with nervousness.
"I'm going to try to take us back to Toyko. I grew up there and I think it is the best place for us to start. I think I'll aim for the graveyard again near the university. It's isolated enough that no one should see us. Van, you were there before so you can help by focusing on that location. Kylenia, I guess I just need your power to help get us there."
"I will try my best." She said with a steady, beautiful voice.
"Let's begin." Hitomi said. She pulled her pendant out from beneath her shirt and wrapped her hands around it. It felt warm. Kylenia and Van stepped forward and wrapped their arms around her arms and held on to Kylenia's staff with their free hand. Hitomi took another deep breathe and calmed herself. She stopped shaking as she felt the power of the pendant grow stronger. Hitomi willed with all her being to be transported back to Earth. The pendant started glowing brightly and its power washed over her. A moment later, the Ocean's heart jewel started to glow with a faint pink light also. Kylenia was a little startled by that but Hitomi felt the power she needed. Hitomi grasped the pendant tighter and wished with all her might. A white column of light encircled them and shot upwards, towards the Earth. Slowly, the three of them were lifted off the ground and started floating upwards. Hitomi looked up into the light and suddenly they were gone.