Chapter 20: Bloodline Elements
As the sun was beginning to rise the three had made it almost half way across the desert. Soon the slowed their pace and traveled in silence until Naru stopped. The other two stopped and looked at her. "What is it, Naru?" Juliana asked.
Naru half smiled. "I'm afraid this is where we part ways for the moment. I must find my answers alone."
"Are you sure?" asked Vash.
She nodded and patted Juliana's head. "Take care of my little sister, Vash. We'll meet at the palace once our affairs are taken care of."
The two watched as Naru rode off in another direction. Once Naru had disappeared, Juliana looked at Vash. "You could have gone with her..."
He shook his head. "Now I'm stuck with you." He laughed and they began off in their own direction once again, riding in a fast trot. "So, any idea where we're going?"
"No...I'll know when we are getting close though."
"We just ride around aimlessly until then?" Juliana nodded. "Good deal."
They rode until sunset when they found a small wood next to a large lake. Once their horses were settled, Vash and Juliana began setting up camp. Soon the moon was high in the sky and the nocturnal creatures roamed around in search for food and, some, shelter from the cold. Juliana wore a think black cloak, sitting close to the fire sharpening their weapons as Vash made dinner. "Wonder how far Naru got..." he sighed.
Juliana shruged. "Probably as far as we did. I'm just worried about the Pharaoh..."
"Ah he'll be fine. There are seven other priests there."
"I know but...look over there!" They both stood up and looked toward the group of trees where a small little furball creature similar to what the Pharaoh had summoned in his duel against Seto floated from side to side looking at them. "Is that a ka?"
"Yeah...it looks like one at least. Think there's someone nearby who summoned it?" Vash asked looking at Juliana.
"I don't sense anyone. Maybe it...lives here..?"
"Now that's unlikely."
"Kuri kuri!" the small creature said and floated around in circles, then sort of pointed with its small hand.
"I think it wants us to follow it..." Juliana said to Vash. The creature hopped up and down and flew into the woods. "Come on!" She ran after it and Vash quickly followed.
They ran deeper into the little wood, which seemed much larger once they were inside. The woods were thick and dark, requiring them to use the light from their Millennium Items to find their footing. Soon they came up to a large stone hill hidden in bushes and moss.
"Well...what now?" Vash looked around.
"Kuri!" The furball creature floated over to the stone and a large square opening appeared in front of it. "Kurii, kuri!" It turned to look at them, then flew into the passage.
They stared into the darkness for a while, then Juliana slowly began to walk inside. Vash quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Hold on. Are you sure we should be going in there?"
"It knows what I'm looking for."
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean it knows?"
"I...can understand it. I don't know how, but I know it's safe to go in. Come on." She turned back around and started walking.
Vash sighed and shrugged and started following her when he hit something and fell back. "Ow!"
"Hm?" She looked at him. "What is it, Vash?"
"I don't know." He stood up and put his hand in the air. "Some kind of invisible wall. I can't get through."
"I'll go ahead then. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."
"Alright...I'll try to find a spell to get through. Be careful." Juliana nodded and continued walking down a stairway.
She walked down at what seemed to be and endless staircase. Down and down she went until she entered a room that was immediatly fully lit when she entered. She walked forward, looking around and noticed someone in a large cloak sitting on a platform.
"State your name..." said a very old but strong voice.
She walked up to the cloaked figure. "I am the daughter of Pharaoh Zuberi and Queen Safiya. My name is Juliana."
The figure nodded and a large hole opened up underneath Juliana and she fell in. Soon everything went dark and she opened her eyes to an amazing site. She stood of the grand hall of a giant castle. The walls and ceiling were white and the floor was a shimmering white marble. In front of her stood three large dragons incased in crystal. "Where...am I...?" She turned around and saw a large group of ka, or Shadow Creatures bowing in their own way to her.
The old man that she had seen in the room walked up to her, removing his cloak and revealing a figure similar to Mahado's Dark Illusionist but much much older and wiser. "Welcome home, your highness."
"Home...?" She looked around at the majestic walls and statues, then back at the creatures.
The female Dark Illusionist flew over to Juliana and smiled. "Aww! Look, you're all grown up. I remember when you were just this small." She floated down and put her hand close to the ground. "You're starting to look a lot like your mother."
The old mage stepped forward and
grabbed Juliana's arm. "That's quite enough, no time to waste
for the training."
"Training?" She asked as they started walking down a hallway.
"Why yes of course. Do you not wish to know about your heritage? That Senshi figure is the worst way to do it."
"But what kind of training? Emotional? Mental? I've spent years on physical training."
He smiled. "So let us upgrade a level."
"Wait!" Juliana stopped and looked back. "What about Vash? I need to go back and tell him I'm ok."
The female mage flew up to them and smiled. "Don't worry about that. When you got here we cast a spell on him that would make him sleep until you left."
"Oh...alright..."
"Excellent! Follow me," the old mage said.
They continued walking down the white hallway. Once Juliana stopped to look out a window and her eyes widened. The castle they were in seemed to be floating on a large piece of land with a large waterfall that fell to the land below. It was a beautiful forest that expanded out to the horizon until it touched a group of large mountains. Next to the forest the trees died down to a peaceful meadow that was soon met by a larbe sparkling ocean. The sky and the land were so breathtaking and peaceful, anyone would mistake it for paradise.
Soon they walked down a flight of stairs and through a large door. They walked into a room that sort of resembled the training room back in Egypt. Only one thing felt different, but Juliana couldn't quite point out what it was...
"Welcome to our exclusive practice room, Princess. Meet your teacher."
"Hm?" She looked around, but saw no one in the room but the three of them. "Where?"
There was a small laugh as a figure slowly rose from the shadows in front of them. It was a perfectly built man with a dark skintone, almost a purpleish color. A black and red layered sash was drapped on his back and over his shoulders, matching pants and a shash wrapped around his waist. Similar arm gloves went from his wrists and ended at his elbows with a gold spiked band. He smiled behind a black and red helmet and slightly bowed, taking her hand and kissing it. "Your highness..."
"Princess Juliana, this is your best teacher in your new found natural element."
She blinked and looked at the sage. "New? I already know my elements...I can control light and darkness."
"Yes, you are correct. It's time to take them up a level though." He smiled and started backing away. "I will leave you two alone to begin. Good luck." With that, he and the female mage walked through the door and shut it.
"Alright..we should start with a basic lesson in elements." The sorcerer walked to the center of the room as Juliana followed. When he turned to face her, he continued. "Now..light and darkness. What happens when the two meet?"
"They cancel each other out...because they are both equal."
"Right, that's if you put them against each other. Now watch..." He held both his arms out to the sides as a light energy surrounded his right hand, and a dark energy surrounded his left. He brought his left hand over his head and his right hand around to his stomach and brought both hands together. The two energies spun for a moment, then turned purple and glowed brightly. "Now, what did I just do?"
Juliana stared at him, and the single energy in his hand. "It looks like...you combined light and darkness. But how is that possible?"
"Haha. I will show you. Now watch and do what I do..."
We trained for what felt like days until I fully understood the basics of using the element known as chaos. I always had the ability, just never the knownledge until then. I learned out to protect myself using the element, as well using it for the basis to summon new weapons when necessary. I also learned more about my mother and the land she ruled before she came to Egypt. More things began coming together...and I was beginning to feel at home...
Juliana and the Chaos Sorcerer trained in the practice room, energy blasts flying back and forth throughout the room. The Sorcerer landed on the ground and smiled. "You're getting better!"
She landed a few feet from him and absorbed the rest of the energy she held in her hands. "Heh...thank you." She blinked and looked around, sensing someone. Looking over toward a corner she saw a figure leaning against a wall, watching them. He wore a black and purple outfit similar to the Sorcerer's, only his covered his entire body. He was extremely tall with long black hair. "Who is that?"
The Sorcerer looked over at him. "Oh...he's our best chaos magician. You're not ready to face him yet at all."
"Oh really...?" She unsheathed her sword and ran toward the black haired magician and slashing at him.
He quickly looked up as a long black and purple staff appeared in his hand. It glowed and an energy surrounded Juliana and threw her against the back wall. She struggled to get free but the magic was too strong. The magician sighed and lowered his staff. The staff disappeared and he walked out of the room as Juliana was released from the wall. The Chaos Sorcerer quickly ran to her. "Are you alright? I told you that you weren't ready for him."
"Yeah..." She looked over toward the door. "Maybe someday I will earn his respect...he is very powerful..."
A few hours later
Juliana and the rest of the ka creatures stood in the Great Hall, facing each other. "It's a shame you have to leave us so soon, Princess Juliana..." the old sage said to her.
"Must I go...?"
He nodded. "Yes, Egypt is in need of your help. It's noon now so you should make it back to the palace by night fall. Good luck."
"Thank you." She looked around, then sighed sadly. "Will I be able to return?"
"When you're heart is ready, it will lead you back here. Farewell."
Juliana was quickly surrounded by darkness and soon reappeared in the cave in which she had entered just a few days before...