Chapter 2: The Vision

"We'll be at Bagup's," Orphen said once they entered Totokonta. I haven't had an ice-cream float in such a long time, he reflected.

Cleao nodded and began to walk towards her home. She turned back to see Majic enter his dad's tavern. "Orphen," she called to him before went inside. He faced Cleao, " You won't be long will you?"

"We'll be there in half an hour or so," he replied. Cleao gave him a small smile and walked home with Leki trailing behind her.

She opened the door to her house and walked in. "I'm home," she yelled. There was no response. Shrugging, she walked up the stairs and into her room at the end of the hall. Nothing had changed. Leki jumped onto the bed and curled up, making himself comfortable.

" I'll be right back. I'm just going to get a snack," Cleao told Leki who was slowly drifting off to sleep. She smiled at the sight of her best friend and left the room. As she made her way to the kitchen, voices could be heard… familiar voices… voices she did not want to hear.

" After all that traveling we did, we ended up right back where we started! All that hard work I did to get us out of here, wasted!" the voice exclaimed.

" Stop complaining. Complaining is all you've been doing for the past 2 years and quite frankly, I'm sick of it!" another voice replied.

Cleao turned the corner and wasn't surprised to see the two trolls- Volcan and Dortin. Annoyance quickly building up inside her, she demanded, "What are you trolls doing here?"

Dortin was surprised to see Cleao, but Volcan didn't show surprise. Instead, absolute hatred could be seen on his face. Dortin and Volcan spoke simultaneously.

" Oh Miss Cleao…"

" The big mouthed blonde is back,"

Cleao glared at Volcan, but remained silent awaiting their response.

" Your mother hired us again, Miss Cleao," Dortin answered, " They aren't here right now. They went into town to buy a few supplies," he added politely, which answered Cleao's second question that was on her mind. There was silence as thoughts ran through all their minds. Dortin and Volcan stared at her.

Cleao's eyes narrowed. " Don't just stand there looking at me. Get back to work!"

Dortin pushed Volcan and they resumed their cleaning, Volcan muttering to himself.

Seeing as her mother and sister were out, she decided to eat a small snack consisting of fruit biscuits and tea. She brought the meal up to her room and ate in silence watching as Leki rested. I hope that they get home soon. I never did like being alone, Cleao thought and sighed. She walked over to her closet and began rummaging through her clothes. She retrieved her casual blue dress that was trimmed with white. " I think I'll take a nice long hot bath…"

She walked into her bathroom that adjoined the bedroom and prepared her bath. She slowly slipped herself into the warm water that smelt of lavender as she had put a few drops of scented oil moments before. She found a comfortable position in the tub and relaxed as she closed her eyes. Her mind cleared and she lost herself in the moment or peace, quiet and relaxation. Cleao was really enjoying her warm bath when her serene environment was suddenly disrupted by Leki's barking. Cleao's eyes snapped open and she sat up, " I wonder what's wrong." She lifted herself gingerly out of the bathtub and quickly dried herself and got dressed. While towel drying her hair, she opened the door and was confronted by Mariabella's smiling face.

"Cleao!" her sister exclaimed happily and threw her arms around Cleao's neck. Cleao hugged Mariabella in return. "…Air…." Cleao managed to gasp out. Mariabella laughed and let go.

"Mother's down stairs…oh and so is Majic and your boyfriend," Mariabella grinned and began to drag her sister out of the room and down the stairs.

"He is not my boyfriend!" Cleao quickly exploded only making her sister laugh even more. Cleao flushed a bright pink. As they made there way back to the kitchen, Leki followed closely behind.

They entered the kitchen where Tistiny, Majic and Orphen were waiting. Tistiny embraced her youngest daughter, " Oh Cleao! I missed you so much! It's been so quiet without you!" Tistiny was ecstatic to have her daughter home again and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Missed you too mom, " she smiled, then turned to Majic, " How's Bagup?"

" Father's good."

" We told him you said hi."

" Thanks," Cleao smiled.

" He still makes the best ice-cream floats," Orphen added.

Tistiny clapped her hands together and looked at the group, " Ok. I'm going to make us a proper lunch. I can't imagine what kind of food you would be eating out on the road."

Cleao laughed, " With all the crap that Orphen's been feeding me, it'll be good to eat proper food."

Orphen scowled at Cleao as everyone else smiled cheerfully. Cleao grinned at Orphen to let him know that she was just playing around and he returned the smile. He was just glad to be back in Totokonta.

Cleao turned to her sister, " After lunch we have to go shopping. I'm in a spending kind of mood."

"Yeah and when we were out on the road, it was my money she was spending," Orphen added to the conversation.

" Don't forget mine too," Majic also added with a smile.

"Your money is my money and my money is your money. It's called sharing," Cleao said and stuck her tongue out at them. " Besides, so not the point."

Mariabella laughed and just agreed to go shopping with her sister, saying she needed a new outfit for her birthday.

An hour later, Tistiny had prepared a delicious lunch. They ate salad, chicken, rice and soup.

They enjoyed their meal together as they gave brief updates of things since the trio had left Totokonta a few months ago.

" Well… we went to Alenhatan to visit Stephanie and Tim," Cleao started.

" And they informed us of an excavation site that she had been meaning to check out, but didn't have time to," Orphen continued.

" So we decided to check it out for ourselves," Majic finished.

" Did you find anything?" Mariabella asked.

" Just some boring old texts written on the wall. Couldn't even read any of it," Cleao answered with a wave of her hand.

" It was actually written in ancient runes and we believe that the site belonged to the Heavenly Ones," Majic answered in more useful detail.

" We made copies of the texts and once we get it translated, we'll be able to figure out if it was from the Heavenly Ones. So after your birthday, we'll be heading back to Alenhatan to get Stephanie to translate it for us." Orphen stated.

" But we're in no rush," Cleao spoke up, " Right Orphen?"

" Actually-" he began to reply.

"Right, Orphen?" Cleao interrupted, emphasizing her words.

There was a long pause. " Uh… whatever you say."

" Good to know we understand each other," Cleao grinned. Everyone laughed.

"Why didn't you just leave the first copy with Stephanie before coming here?" Tistiny asked after the laughter had ceased.

"Well we would have if someone hadn't of dragged us to Totokonta in such a hurry," Orphen replied with a pointed look at Cleao.

" I did no such dragging. And anyway, Majic needed the first copy to make a copy for us and for the Tower," Cleao got up, " Let's go, Mariabella." Without letting her sister get a word in, she dragged her away.

" Be back soon!" Mariabella called out. Then they heard the front door open and close.

" Cleao can be such a handful," Tistiny stated after clearing the dishes. They were now in the living room talking.

"That's the understatement of the year," Orphen rolled his eyes.

" She's so much like her father. Always looking for a new adventure and somehow finds a way to get into trouble. But they never give up without a fight."

"That's Cleao alright," Majic agreed.

" They're kindred spirits," Tistiny smiled at the thought of her deceased husband and a silence washed over them until they were interrupted.

Volcan and Dortin came walking into the room. Volcan quickly backed away at the sight of Orphen, "Well, well. If it isn't the self-centered sorcerer and his lackey." Tistiny scowled at Volcan and he shut his mouth.

" Arrogant little troll," Orphen said under his breath. He turned to Tistiny, " Mrs. Everlasting, Majic and I will be leaving now… before I seriously hurt someone," he stated and glared at Volcan with menacing eyes. Tistiny only nodded as she shooed Dortin and Volcan away, giving them another household chore to do. Orphen left the house with Majic just behind him.

" Cast a spell. Let's see how good you are now."

"Right Master," Majic replied and assumed a casting position. He cleared his mind and said, " Oh Breath of Fire, whom I do release!" A purple orb of energy emerged from his outstretched hands. The spell seemed to be working… until the orb made a popping sound and disappeared. Majic hung his head in shame.

Orphen put his hand on Majic's shoulder, " You're getting better. You just need more practice."

"Really Master? Well, I am learning from the best."

Orphen smirked, " You seem to have mastered the art of flattery though." Majic smiled sheepishly. Orphen continued, " Well, just keep practicing for now. You'll get the hang of things again. Tomorrow, we'll start some new stuff." Majic nodded and began casting. As time wore on, Majic became much better with his spell casting. Orphen just watched his apprentice and encouraged him along the way.

"I've spoken to the other Elders and they agree that we should try to investigate the prophecy more," Azalie said to Hartia.

"How much longer must I wait! I hate not doing anything…"

"As soon as Lai informs us of the results of his divinations, then we can go and warn Krylancelo. It's only a matter of time, Hartia. I'm sure Lai will come to us soon," Azalie told Hartia reassuringly. Hartia could only let out a sigh of frustration. Please hurry Lai, he thought anxiously.

Lai cleared his mind, closed his eyes and focused on the prophecy. Still, nothing happened. Even in his calm nature, Lai was beginning to get annoyed. So many times he had tried, and every time he failed to see. " Maybe I missed something," he said to himself, "Although, I highly doubt it." He walked over to his desk at the other end of the room next to his four-poster bed. He picked up the book Hartia had found, opened it and retrieved a piece of paper. As soon as his fingers touched the written prophecy, it was like he was teleported to another place and time. It was like he was there, but he wasn't. He was surrounded by darkness. Suddenly there was a flash of light and a scream penetrated the darkness around him. The scream echoed… it was an eerie sound. Then Lai saw Krylancelo. He was on his knees and his face bore no emotion. Even so, Lai could feel his friend's pain. In an instant, Krylancelo's life was taken from him.

The page slipped through his fingers and his vision stopped. The prophecy had fluttered to the floor. Lai could feel his heart throbbing; he hadn't felt so cold in all his life. An image of Krylancelo on his knees reappeared in Lai's mind and he shuddered. I must tell the others, the thought rushed through his mind and he left his quarters.

Lai barged into Azalie's room without knocking. Two surprised faces stared at him and the crying could be heard.

"You woke him," Azalie commented and went to the cot to hush the crying child.

" I apologize," Lai said with a bow of his emerald green head. Hartia was on his feet the second Lai had come bursting through the door. Lai nodded, " Yes, I've had a vision."

Azalie came back as soon as Childman was asleep once more. She sat in her chair and waited for Lai to tell them all about it. Lai began to pace back and forth.

" Well?" Hartia urged impatiently.

" I had tried so many times, but had failed to see anything," Lai began, " I thought I had missed something."

" What was your vision?" Hartia asked, wanting Lai to get to the point.

" Let me finish. I retrieved the page that had the prophecy written on it and as soon as I touched it, I had a vision. It was…" Lai paused, trying to find the right word to use, "…disturbing. Very disturbing. First, I was surrounded by darkness and then there was a flash of light…" he trailed off.

"And?" Hartia urged again.

Lai continued, " Then there was a scream…it was a woman. And then I saw Krylancelo…" At the mention of Krylancelo, all eyes were on Lai. "He was on his knees…as if he had been defeated. He had no expression on his face whatsoever, but I could feel what he felt… the pain he felt was unbearable. His pain was like a scream piercing dimensional walls… It was on a physical and emotional level. And I felt his life force drain away…" There was a foreboding silence. All three had grave expressions on their faces. "That was all I saw," Lai finished.

" I'm going to warn Krylancelo," Hartia walked to the door.

"No," Azalie said from her seat. Two pairs of eyes stared at her, " I mean… it has to be reported to the Elders first. They will decide what to do."

"But you're an Elder, Azalie!" Hartia exploded.

" I am," she agreed, " but I'm not the only one. The council will be told and the sooner they are told, the sooner we can leave." She turned to Lai and he nodded, understanding the unspoken order. He was to go and report the vision to the Elders. Hartia stormed off to his room. Lai followed Azalie out of the room and they both headed to the council.

" A disturbing vision that is Lai," an Elder said.

" Yes," Lai agreed.

" What shall we do?" an Elder asked the members of the council.

"Krylancelo is to be warned."

"It will also benefit us if Lai kept divining. He might see something else."

" Hartia and I shall go to Krylancelo," Azalie announced.

" What of Childman?"

" He shall remain here," Azalie replied.

" Who is to take care of him?"

" I will," Lai spoke. Azalie smiled her thanks.

"Is there nothing more to be discussed?" Azalie asked those around her.

"Nothing further, Azalie. Lai, you are dismissed."

Azalie and Lai left the council.

"You know what to do, Lai."

And with that, they went their separate ways.

Azalie headed back to her room to say a short farewell to Childman. She then made her way to the transport where she knew Hartia would be waiting.

"About time," Hartia said as they both stepped onto the transport.

" Totokonta," Azalie said with a wave of her hand. With a flash of green light, they were gone.