Part I: Anemos, City of the Skies
The city of Anemos ruled over the winds, located beside Jupiter Lighthouse as it was. The streets were made of amethyst, a purple crystal of exceeding beauty and strength. Anemos was built on a series of rising plateaus, each fifty feet higher from the layer before it, and connected with grand stairs. In total, there are five plateaus, spread across many miles.
The Fivefold walked through the streets, their boots clipping sharply on the hard crystal. A forest of amethyst pillars, each one fairly wide and reaching up into the sky surrounded them. Theses eventually melded far above into what appeared to be a ceiling of crystal, which broke off to reveal blue sky a quarter mile or so away. From the edge of the high ceiling begin a bridge, wrought of amethyst twined with silver, extending and swaying slightly in the wind. In the distance, it met with another high ceiling and joined with it. Maris wheeled around slowly, taking in the entire city. Nothing was built on the ground. Just those ceilings… far above, spaced from each other and connected by the shimmering bridges of crystal and silver. "Shamira…" She asked. "What is all this?"
Shamira sighed contentedly and smiled. "This is my home city, Anemos. Since we are a city of the skies, we dislike to build on the ground. Therefore, these pillars," she waved her hand around them, "support the true city of Anemos, which lies above on yonder ceilings, as they look to us. In reality, they are a series of platforms, if you will, called divum suggestus. The bridges connect these, and the inhabitants of my city live on the divum suggestus. Espy that far-off cone in the distance?" She pointed to a spot a few miles away. An amethyst tower, wrapped in quartz, rose from the ground and ascended into the sky. It was several hundred feet wide and had a vague hourglass shape, tapering a bit before filling out again. "That's the palace, which we be our eventual destination. But for now, let ascend." She walked over to the nearest pillar, followed closely by the rest of the Fivefold. She placed her hands on the structure, feeling the smooth texture of the crystal even through her gloves. "Hover."
The pillar, from the point Shamira touched and slowly spreading outward, began to glow violet. As the ethereal light filled through the pillar, so too did it spread through the ground, awashing their feet in a purple glow. At last, Shamira herself was surrounded in the violet aura, and the Fivefold found themselves ascending from the ground, and laughed with delight. Shamira looked back and smiled.
They were now fifty feet above the ground, and the ceiling of the divum suggestus was rapidly seeming to descend to greet them. Below their feet, from the violet glow had extended a single vein, a glowing path that extended past the rim of the ceiling above them. Shamira looked back, her eyes glowing with the power of Hover. "Lest we smash into the bottom of the divum suggestus, let's go out, Hovering on that path. But be careful! One false step, and Hover fails. And it's a long way down…" For even as she spoke, the Fivefold were now one hundred feet above the ground, the buoyancy of Hover never faltering.
Shamira led the way, tentatively at first, then hastening. From their altitude, the path was a mere sliver on the ground, making it incredibly difficult to stay on course, and it didn't help that the path wound back and forth. Shamira's eagle eyes spot the path easily enough, but the others weren't as fortunate.
"Eeeeaaah!" Maris had stepped off the path, and watched with horror as the purple glow beneath her began to dim.
"Maris!" Cinaed leapt off the path, followed closely behind by Shamira. The two Adepts grabbed the Imilian and hauled her back onto the path, breathless.
"The hover… will… sustain for a few moments after you step off." Shamira said, regaining her breath. She straightened. "So you have a few moments to step back on before we have one pancake Adept on our hands." Maris shuddered at the imagery. "Anyways, it won't be much longer now." So saying, the purple glow beneath them was grew in intensity, driving them further and further upward. After some length of time, the plate of the divum suggestus was just above their heads, and seemed it would pass by without hitting them. And so it did, if by a meagre margin of two feet. The plate was about fifteen feet thick, and the Fivefold marvelled at the feat of this construction as the amethyst and silver glimmered before their eyes. Then they breached the top of the plate, their feet levelling off with the surface above, and they gasped.
The city below was nothing compared to the one above. The top of each divum suggestus gleamed in the sunlight, the yellow cast of Sol reflecting off the crystal spires of countless structures. Sparkling bridges that swayed slightly in the wind connected each divum suggestus, set at various levels. The homes were vaguely conical in shape, wrought of a light amethyst than everything else and topped with a single crystal spire of white colour, almost twice the height of the rest of the structure. Which is pretty sizable, considering each of the houses were twenty feet themselves.
Anemosians walked the city streets, comfortable at such a height. All the women bore violet hair in various hairstyles, some ornate and some cut short like Shamira's. All were fairly slender, whether wearing robes or battle garb. All were pale of face with eyes in varying shades of violet, and sculpted facial features. The men's hair colour was either a pale gold and a deep violet. There seemed to be two predominant body types: the more common, a slender and agile build, contrasted by a muscular build that was a rarity in comparison. All smiled when they saw Shamira. "Princess Shamira! You have returned! You are all right!" This was the essence of their words as they bowed.
Shamira smiled and helped each one to their feet, greeting them each by name. "Hello, Stormgard. Any better with that broadsword of yours? Minivel, you look wonderful! Taivan, cousin, great to see you. How are you studies going? Shurrentil, how's the wife? Fine? Send her my regards. Ninaivah, yes, I miss my father. Ariel, dear girl, you still haven't bested me in rapier yet. I look forward to another match!"
The Fivefold looked amused at Shamira's endless litany of greetings. Finally, after walking for a good five minutes or so, everyone said one last farewell and the citizens dispersed, leaving the Fivefold to walk in silence.
At length, Aleos spoke. "You seem well liked in your city, Shamira."
Shamira laughed dismissively. "They just miss me. Though, I am the best duellist in the city, and so everyone has a certain respect for my martial skills. Second, I'm one of the best users of Psynergy, so they respect my spiritual power. Third, I survived Regnoare, so that no doubt impressed them, but I'll be sure to let them know you did the same."
After walking for a while longer, Shamira began to explain some things about Anemos to them. "The streets of Anemos, below? They act like one great Hover crystal, working in concert with the pillars to keep the city in the air. If the pillars were destroyed, the divum suggestus, in theory, would stay in the air. But nothing has ever happened before, so we don't know.
"The wind that sway the bridges? Yegelos, long ago, built Anemos to make the most of the winds sweeping off the mountains, and so a light breeze is continually caressing our city. Not only was he a fierce fighter, Yegelos was an architectural genius. Who else could have planned such a city?
"The spires on the structures? It was believed to be a blessing if during a thunderstorm, lightning struck your home and it withstood the bolt. So, everyone competes in the spires, since we long ago discovered that lightning strikes the tallest point. Maybe it is impressed with the majesty of it or feels jealously, we don't know."
The Fivefold began to climb one of the bridges, one that slowly but surely crawled upwards. A gust of wind blew, causing the bridge to sway precariously. The Fivefold gripped the railing, waiting for it to stop. Maris found herself looking down several hundred feet, the only thing separating her from a lengthy descent being a chain of silver. "Eep." She retreated slowly. "I don't like heights…"
Shamira laughed, quite comfortable at such heights. "Don't worry, dear Imilian. You'll get used to it." With that, the Fivefold continued to walk the bridge.
Orior liked sideways at Shamira. "So, where's the palace?"
Shamira thought for a moment. "You should be able to see it from the rise at the end of this bridge." Even as she spoke, the Fivefold reached the top, and Anemos Tower broke in front of them.
It was located in the centre of the city, and given a respectful berth by the many divum suggestus. Each of the divum suggestus nearest it to it were arranged in a circle around it and connected by bridges to form a ring of silver and amethyst. At each of the four cardinal points, a grand bridge of the amethyst and silver favoured by Anemosians connected to the Tower in a great arch. The Tower rose from the top plateau, the only structure to do so. Ringed by a deck of pillars, the bridges entered the main castle. The pillars, enwreathing every side, rose to meet a sloped roof that backed sharply into the main tower and melded with it. The Fivefold entered through the southern bridge, admiring the flawless design of the structure. It was cobbled with a variety of semiprecious stones, like jade, pearl, and of course, the crystal amethyst. The pillars rose up around the Fivefold, and the passed into the Tower, travelling through a brightly lit tunnel.
Tapestries hung from the walls around them, depicting various scenes. Ancient kings riding the backs of great dragons, the Anemosian army with swords shining silver, and, of course, the reconciliation of Yegelos and Hoabna, the heroes of Anemos and the town of Shaman to the north.
The tunnel narrowed down and formed an arched gateway that glittered with diamonds, hung with violet curtains. Two gateguards stood on either side, wearing close-fitting armour and bright steel rapiers. One was male, wearing his pale yellow hair in a crest, and the other a slender violet-haired woman, her eyes closed as she leaned against the wall. She heard the footsteps approaching and said in a monotonous voice, "State your name and country, and your business with the royalty of Anemos. Speak swiftly, lest you meet death."
"Aleos of Vale; Maris of Imil; Cinaed of Prox; Orior of Lilyvera; and Shamira of Anemos. I've come to see my parents."
The gateguard nodded silently at each name, while her partner watched her, amused. When she heard Shamira's name, however, she jerked fully awake and wide-eyed, seeing Princess Shamira leaning bare inches in front of her face, smiling tolerantly. "Shamira! I was not aware you had returned."
"You should be more alert, Skye," Shamira said, still smiling. "But I shall let you off, since you didn't know. How fare my mother and brother? And you, sister?"
"Fine, as always. A bit grief-stricken... King Osaio," Skye's face darkened. "I'm sorry. We shall avenge him. As for me, I've been training hard. Perhaps I can give you a run for your money, Shamira," the Adept answered.
Shamira just laughed and clapped her friend on the shoulder. "We'll see… and don't worry, we're taking care of it, sis. Never fear. We'll avenge him. Until then, stay safe, sister." With that Shamira leaned forward and embraced her friend, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "I missed you so much…" She turned to the other Fivefold.
"Skye and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, we even share the same birthday. An our tenth day, we snapped an arrow in half in an oath of sisterhood, vowing to always look out for each other. She's my best friend in all Anemos."
The gateguard blushed. "Now, Shamira. No need to embarrass me."
Shamira chuckled. "Love ya, Skye." Shamira straightened and turned around, looking at the other gateguard. "Take care of her," she said sternly. The guard saluted. "'bye, Skye." Each of the Fivefold inclined their heads to the guards and passed under the curtain, into the inner chambers of Anemos Tower.
The chamber was wide, and, fitting into the shape of the tower itself: conical. After entering the castle, one is greeted by a steep flight of stairs, numbering about twenty-five in total. The Fivefold, being in good shape, climbed these fairly easily. At the top was a dais, surrounded by a pillar on each cardinal point. Violet velvet was suspended between the pillars, drawn back to reveal the occupants.
On the dais were four thrones: one, the largest at six feet, was made of solid amethyst inlaid with diamond. An eagle was carved above the headrest. On its left was a throne five and a half feet and wreathed with fresh lilac. On the left of the great throne was one slightly smaller but no less grand, inlaid with silver. On its left was a throne five and a half feet and wreathed with fresh lilac. Beside it on its left was a smaller throne, four feet in height, was made of amethyst and inlaid with jade
Of these, the smallest and farthest to the right and the one of silver were occupied. In the amethyst inlaid with silver, sat a regal woman. Long violet hair was pinned up with a piece carved like a hawk, falling back in a ponytail and lightly brushing her back. She wore gold earrings in each ear, and her purple eyes regarded the newcomers sadly. Her skin was slightly tanned, and she wore a loose-fitting violet cloth fastened with gold that hung from her shoulders.
In the smallest chair sat a young boy, looking about seven physical years of age. He regarded the Adepts with interest, and sandy blond hair fell to the lower part of his ears and was layered to give it a feathery appearance. He wore a deep violet tunic sewn with gold, with a small purple cape on his back that fastened on one shoulder. He smiled mischievously, his lavender eyes laughing. "Well met, my sister and princess. Shamira!"
Shamira ran up the dais, laughing. She ruffled the youngster's hair. "Faris, you scoundrel. You're the same as ever. And Mother," Shamira said, turning and bowing respectfully. "I have returned."
Shamira's mother bowed in return. "Relieved to see you once again, daughter. Who are your companions?"
Shamira stepped aside and indicated each Adept in turn. "Orior of Lilyvera; Aleos of Vale; Cinaed of Prox; and Maris of Imil. Together, we fought against Regnoare, the one who killed Father."
At this, a pained expression crossed the Queen's face, and she covered her eyes with her hand. "I'm sorry. I miss him terribly… Adepts, I am Queen Celia of Anemos, mother of Shamira."
Shamira winked. "In case you haven't figured that out by now." Celia sighed resignedly, and Faris smiled.
Shamira bowed again. "We, the Fivefold Star, having been sealing the Elemental Lighthouses and hindering Regnoare every step of the way. Now, it has come to Jupiter. Queen Celia," Shamira said formally. "Will you allow me to seal Jupiter in order to weaken the darkness?"
Celia closed her eyes and thought. Then spoke, "Not only for your late father, but for all of Weyard do I consent. However, before you extinguish the beacon, signal to us. Then, we of Anemos shall escape the seal of Jupiter, until such time as we see fit to return."
Faris grinned. "Foresight can help. Wait till you see what we have planned!"
Shamira laughed. "I look forward to it. Now, Faris," Shamira said, serious suddenly. She knelt down and placed her hands on his shoulders, and looked in his eyes. "I need you to be mature in order to protect our kingdom. If I do not return, there will come a day when you will reign as king of Anemos. If it does happen, I need to be a strong and just ruler. Take care of Mother." She sighed, and quickly embraced her younger brother, then quickly pulled back and stood.
The young prince laughed. "Don't worry, sis. I'll take care of it."
Queen Celia quickly spoke up. "Before you go, Adepts. One last thing." She clapped her hands once, and from either side of the curtains appeared several elders, each wearing crowns of violet stone and carrying a staff. "As my roguish son said, we Foresaw your coming, and prepared a little something for you. Lilyveran," she said sharply, "give your blade to the elders, and we'll give it a little touch of Anemos for you to remember us by, as it was meant to be. All of you," she said, as Orior handed Auraleo reluctantly over to an elder, who whisked it away. "Receive the blessing of Queen Celia, and of all Anemos." A small rain of violet sparkles appeared and fused with the non-Anemosians, bestowing its power upon them. "This power should awaken when you behold the beacon's light, and you may find it will come in handy. Now, I simply ask that you wait for Orior's sword to be returned. In the meantime, we have gifts for all of you."
To Shamira, her daughter, she gave her own circlet, a amethyst work of art fashioned in the likeness of a bird spreading its wings. A single violet diamond shone on her forehead. Shamira put it on, and nodded her thanks. The circlet fit under her bangs, and circled her head, under her hair.
To Cinaed, she gave a azure coloured spear that shone with an amethyst tip. Cinaed, proficient in all weapons, presented her with his old Imilian axe in return, a gift that the Queen graciously accepted. The spear he strapped to his back.
To Maris, she gave a single ring, made of silver and set with a eight-faceted amethyst. It caught the light of the sun that filtered from windows above, bathing her hand in a purple glow.
To Aleos, she gave a pair of cufflinks, which, like most Anemosian craftwork, were made of amethyst. He respectfully fastened it on his sleeve. The Queen told him it enhanced the agility of the wearer.
Then, the elders returned with Orior's blade, which seemed to glow an ethereal violet. As they handed it to him, the glow dimmed and faded, except at the handle. He noticed that there were now runes inlaid there, of amethyst. Five in all, in a single column from the guard to the pommel. As the last vestige of purple light faded from the sword, the runes still were a faintly luminescent violet. Orior, a bit confused, nonetheless professed his thanks.
"Those runes place a spell on your blade," the Queen told him. "But will only activate when you require it, at first. Later, you will be able to call on their power at will. Now, go forth, Adepts, and seek the power of Jupiter."
"We will not fail. Goodbye, Mother. Take care, Farisect," Shamira added, watching amusedly as her brother's face burned as he was called by his full name.
Queen Celia sighed. "Farewell, daughter. And good luck."
Bowing, the Fivefold took their leave of the royal pair.
Queen Celia bowed her head and said softly, "You'll need it."
Part II: Jupiter Lighthouse
After taking a breath taking plunge down the upper tier of Anemos to land as softly as a feather, the Fivefold walked quickly out of Anemos, and into the surrounding country. The tall grass of the green fields brushed their legs as they beat a swath through the wild tangle, forcing their wall through the organic mess. Finally, they reached a beaten road, well travelled by the feet of many travellers and the wheels of carts. As they walked ever northward, the violet structure of Jupiter Lighthouse appeared in the distance. From the outside, it was an imposing figure, featuring a single tall tower flanked on the east and west by smaller ones that looked almost like horns. Trudging along, the Fivefold eventually arrived at the entrance to Jupiter Lighthouse, breathing a bit hard from their hasty trail. Taking a moment to refresh themselves, the Fivefold sat down and surveyed the coming Lighthouse they had to scale.
Perched on the edge of a cliff, Jupiter Lighthouse stood proud over the abyss. The walls of the entrance narrowed into the gateway, guarded by twin statues of nymphs. With flowing blond hair and white wings, the statues wore not a shred of clothing, appearing angelic and graceful, being held up by one slender leg.
Marvelling, the Fivefold passed by the silent gateguards and into the Jupiter Lighthouse.
The path was guarded on each side by a deep abyss, a nymph statue rising from each of the pits. A door made of a golden metal blocked the path ahead, so the Fivefold took the only available route: west, to the left. They passed through a open door, and walked down the resulting hall to find themselves outside Jupiter Lighthouse, at the top of the cliff that Jupiter Lighthouse sat on, blocked from the first part by fallen rocks. Accepting that they were now in the same place as before, the Fivefold looked around. Then, brushing aside some grass, Maris discovered a manmade circular depression in the ground, made of a light steel and etched with a spiral design. "Shamira, what's this?"
Shamira walked over and knelt beside the Imilian. "Thank you, Maris. This is just what I was looking for." She looked over her shoulder. "Fivefold! Over here." When they had gotten within a five foot radius. Shamira suddenly smiled mischievously. "Cyclone!" She was surrounded by the Jupiter aura, and a fierce wind whipped up around them, a miniature cyclone. The Fivefold felt themselves being drawn up in it, and it lifted them up and then drew them down, sucked through a pinpoint hole in the base of the depression.
Breathless, the Fivefold found themselves in an underground cave, laced with moss. There was an inverted form of the bowl on the ground before them, and a small point of light shining down from the cave roof above it. The Fivefold wandered down the path, smiling at the design of forcing the would-be climber of Jupiter to dove deep into the earth. Curious to see what other secrets lay within, the Fivefold walked straight through an earthen door, and into a round chamber.
The room hummed with the power of Psynergy, and balls of purple power wafted as if a breeze from a gaping pit in the floor. The balls danced on the air, pulsing with the might of Jupiter. The pit yawned like a gaping hole, and Psynergy crystals, Psynergy made real, lay scattered around the pit. Aleos bowed.
"This is the ancient foundation of the First Lighthouse, upon which we built this second one. When we completed this Lighthouse, a miracle occurred. From the depths of this very pit, arose a shining light. As if borne on winds of truth, it rose through this very chamber and inhabited the aerie, filling the entire Lighthouse with the essence of Jupiter. We suspect that the same happened with the other lighthouses, but this is the only one where we observed it rise. Jupiter filled this Lighthouse with the same force that inhabited the first Lighthouse, said to be built by the Gods themselves."
Shamira was awed. "Praise Jupiter." She walked slowly, reverently, towards the abyss. She watched the ascending puffs of Psynergy, smiled faintly as she watched them dance about her. She blew, and the puffs danced away.
Smiling, Shamira leaned over the pit, feeling the mighty blackness yawning below her.
Alarmed, the Fivefold began walking after her. "Shamira, be careful!"
"Don't worry, Ori – AH!" A fierce wind began, and the chamber was filled with a howling roar. Shamira flailed her arms trying to regain her balance, but the wind shifted and drew her in to the pit, headfirst.
"SHAMIRA!" Orior, without thinking, leapt into the pit after the Wind Adept.
The rest of the Fivefold looked at each other. "This is probably a bad idea, and we're probably going to regret it later, but we'll do it anyway!" Cinaed commented. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" With that, he flipped forwards and dove into the pit.
"Blast!" Maris cursed, and jumped in after him.
The winds only continued to grow stronger, whipping Aleos' silver hair wildly. "Idiots. The lot of them." He sighed, but jumped into the pit anyways. "Shamira, if anything goes wroonnnnggggg…" His voice faded away as he fell into the abyss. Abruptly, the winds ceased, and all was still.
The winds howled around Shamira as she plunged through the darkness, her hair obscuring her vision. Scowling, she brushed it aside.
Ahead, was dead darkness. Then, a lilac light appeared, strangely comforting to the Anemosian. It glimmered with an unearthly power, and as Shamira was heading straight for it, she shielded her eyes against its glare. Suddenly, the wind shifted, and Shamira was thrown against the wall. Grimacing, she fought the wind with the help of her Jupiter Psynergy, and managed to stay away from the side, yet it took every fibre of her concentration to resist being dashed against the stone. Then, the tunnel opened into a wide cavern, and Shamira gasped. The strength of the light was stronger than ever, but the wind softened, and twisted Shamira to gently set her down on a hard stone floor. Shamira craned her neck up, and saw that the tunnel she fell through was several hundred feet overhead.
Realizing there was nothing she could do at the moment to escape, she explored the cave. The hole, along with the ceiling it was set in, was the widest part of the cave. From there, the walls narrowed sharply as it descended, hen slowly levelling off and stopping at the breadth of fifty feet. The floor was of stone worn smooth by constant wind, which there was no lack of. The whole chamber howled with the ever-constant wind. In the middle of the floor was the source of the light, and Shamira approached it curiously, yet cautiously, mindful of what happened at the pit above.
What was nearly a small pond, a liquid pool shimmered in the floor. Almost fifteen feet across, it shone with a soft violet light, ever changing in shade as the whole spectrum of violet played across its surface. Ripples danced across the strange liquid, and lapped on the surface of the cave with a gentle noise, and when the liquid retreated as a miniature wave the ground was left faintly luminescent, as if reflecting light, but this glow soon drained away. If Shamira strained her hearing to the utmost, it seemed she could her a soft choir humming in the background. She knelt to get a closer look at the pool, and it seemed the sound was emanating from the liquid itself, which danced and undulated as if alive.
With several cries and a loud thump, the other Fivefold fell to the ground behind her, and sprang up immediately, awed at what was before them.
Aleos marvelled silently. "What is this place?"
Shamira, still kneeling and watching the pool intently, answered. "I think… it's the heart of Jupiter, the source of the essence that fills this very lighthouse. There is no doubt in my mind that it is of Jupiter, and that is holds a great power." Almost as if in response to her words, the pool flashed. Shamira continued to stare at it, unflinching. "I wonder…" Tentatively, she reached out with her hand and dipped one finger into the pool.
All hell broke loose.
The wind sprung up with gale-force power, ripping the Fivefold from their positions and throwing them against the wall. Clouds gathered above the pool, black clouds filled with menace. Thunder crashed, and a bolt of jagged lightning flashed across the cavern, striking the other side and dislodging a good-sized hunk of rock. The clouds in the middle of the cave began to spin, and soon, a ten-foot tornado was ripping haphazardly through the cave, chewing away at the wall on the other side. The pool frothed and bubbled.
Shamira, her eyes squinting against the wind, forced herself to step forward against the wind, which only blew stronger in response. The tornado wheeled around and charged straight for Shamira, hovering above the pool as if afraid to touch it. Shamira braced herself, and reached out to the tornado. "Halt!"
A violet aura surrounded Shamira and disappeared. Several balls of Psynergy sprung forth and converged on the tornado, binding it and preventing its movement. However, its momentum carried it forward and it barrelled on straight for Shamira. She raised a hand, though the futility of trying to stop a windstorm by physical means occurred to her. Then, just as it reached her, lightning flashed right in front of her, striking the tornado and blinding her.
Shamira blinked, uncertain if everything was okay. The wind and storm died down, leaving only a faint whispering wind to remind them of its strength. And a majestic weapon floated serenely in the air before the stunned Anemosian.
It was a rapier of mystic make. The handle was slightly curved to fit the palm perfectly, and a violet diamond shone in the pommel. A surreal pattern of blowing winds spiralled up the handle, making it much easily to grip. The bell guard was kingly, solid mythril inlaid from the handle and curving down over the fingertips, shielding the wearer yet still allowing for mobility. The blade was of purple diamond, laced with veins of yellow beryl and amethyst. It was intentionally slightly jagged in design, so that every foot or so a barb was carved, pointed back to the wielder. Thus, when the blade was drawn back after stabbing it would catch on the enemy's flesh and tear it, maximizing the damage. Shamira grasped the handle, and felt the blade respond.
She danced the blade in front of her, watching as a violet trail faintly shadowed the path of the blade. She stopped, and then slashed with the weapon on a rock that had been thrown by the tornado. There was a flash, followed by a ringing sound. The rock was cleaved perfectly in half. She looked at the rapier admiringly.
"Skyshard… weapon of my ancestor, Yegelos, the blade that comes to Anemos in times of dire need. You are truly a blade of marvellous make. Accompany me, and let us be blade and master!" So saying, she spun the blade and sheathed it, removing her former blade as she did so. She held up her old blade and looked at it sadly. "Rapier, you have served me well. Go, be with Jupiter!" She reversed her grip on the rapier; holding it like an assassin, point down. She flung it so in the pool of Jupiter, where it stuck fast, point first. Then, slowly, as if being drawn in, the blade sank and vanished. All was silent.
Then, the pool bubbled, and began to glow, and in response Skyshard began to glow as well. Shamira drew the blade and pointed it skyward; a fierce wind whipped up. The Fivefold found themselves being lifted up by its force, and then they were hurtled straight up and through the hole that they entered from.
One by one, they were spat out from the pit and landed heavily on the floor, exhausted. For a moment they lay still, panting to catch their breath. Then Orior spoke, "Well, I didn't see THAT one coming."
Shamira chuckled, and sat up on one elbow. "Neither did I. But now, I have this fine blade to fight for Anemos." She drew Skyshard, and it gleamed in the meagre light that filtered into the cave.
Cinaed laughed. "Looks like I'm the only one without an artefact from the past, a legendary weapon. Ay me. I guess my time will come."
Maris smiled, and scooted beside him. "Don't worry, Cinaed." Aleos rolled his eyes.
"Can we please get going here? We wasted enough time already." Aleos had risen and was tapping his foot.
Shamira smiled. "Hardly a waste, but if you insist." As one, the rest of the Fivefold rose and left the cave, after bowing respectfully to the pit. A faint light glinted from the depths in response, then faded.
A way down the cave and the Fivefold found themselves descending a ladder and into a lower floor. A birdlike insignia was drawn on the wall, and its tail descending to be drawn on the floor. At the end of its tail was a glowing purple sign, pulsating with the power of Jupiter. Shamira motioned them closer, and by casting Hover they were lifted up and safely carried out of the lower level, to the right path. The trail turned into a winding gorge, high steep walls that weaved near each other, forcing the Fivefold into single file. At the end, was another Cyclone dome. Shamira nodded back at them, and they in return. In moments, a whirlwind rose and disappeared into the ceiling.
When they vision was restored again, the walls of Jupiter Lighthouse rose around them, but this time they were on the inside. Aloes nodded. "Good work, Shamira."
Pleased, the Fivefold skipped down the hall, and found themselves flanked on the left and right by great golden doors. A pillar, and a switch were directly in front of them. Orior looked back and grinned. "Complicated puzzle, Aleos."
Aleos frowned. "Stopped us from entering."
Orior shrugged. "I suppose…" With that, he pushed the pillar into place, and the twin doors ground open. The Fivefold passed north, and entered into the grand room of Jupiter Lighthouse.
The entrance flanked by twin nymph statues, the Fivefold looked in awe at the feat of Jupiter before them. A brilliant beam of light was lancing through a hole in the floor, and smaller violet puffs circled it as it rose to heights unseen. Two floors of ledges formed a vague semicircle around it, but open in the centre to allow the beam to pass through.
Bypassing this marvellous sight, Shamira led them through a small door off to the side. The halls, as always, were tiled with a faded lilac plated with pieces of deep cyan. After climbing a staircase, and then pushing several fallen pillars into place, the Fivefold emerged on one of the ledges beside the beam of light from before. They were closer enough to see the airy, almost transparent nature of the puffs as the swirled upward, seemingly an endless supply of them. Beside them was a Cyclone dome; so once more they ascended as a tornado, thus leading them to the highest tier of the ledges surrounding the beam, with a door to their right. After one last glance at the beam lancing to the ceiling, the Fivefold entered the door beside them. Through a winding hall lined with many nymph statues, the Fivefold walked quickly. Chains swung ominously from the ceiling above, but Shamira reassured them that they were merely a means of travel, demonstrating by using Whirlwind. The chain swung back and forth, so one could swung from this side to the other, thus bridging the pit the chain swung over. Understanding, the Fivefold continued down the hall and came to a pair of nymph statues guarding a Cyclone dome. Shamira told them it led to the West tower; they had no need for it.
At the end of the hall, the only remaining door of the chamber arose. Nodding to each other, the Fivefold passed through.
Wind. That's the first thing the Fivefold registered in this next path. The second thing was that they were on the outside of Jupiter Lighthouse, on the wall hundreds of feet above the ground, perched on the edge of a cliff. A relatively narrow path, though more than enough for travel, looped along the wall, leading them to the next door. Chains and lightning rods adorned the edges as they made their way to the next objective of the scaling of the Lighthouse. Another door. Oh joy.
A narrow hall with a staircase at the end led them to a curving hall, and the Fivefold trudged on, growing bored as they scaled their third Lighthouse. The path bridged on deep pits, and then seemed to end at one. A circle of pillars was the only thing bridging the pit from their side to the one they needed to get to. Shamira nodded to them. "It's a Reveal insignia." Standing off to one side to allow the others passage, Shamira cast Reveal, and in the psynergetic field the Fivefold saw that a new pillar in the centre of the others had been Revealed. Nodding, the Fivefold passed over, Shamira behind them to collapse the field. One the other side, the only easily spotted path was a staircase against the northern wall. So, of course, they climbed it.
The next room was packed full of pillars, seemingly haphazardly placed, but upon closer inspection, it proved to be a puzzle. If completed by pushing the proper pillars into place, one was rewarded with a treasure chest. "Nothing in it at the moment, so don't try to get it."
She led them on the correct path, leading to a small platform amidst the pillars, a small groove carved in its side. One by one, the Fivefold jumped down and found themselves surrounded on every side by pillars. They were now on a lower level equal with said pillars. Their path wound along the wall, and the Fivefold saw the to continue: a wooden ladder, conspicuous against the stone tiles of the lighthouse, but it served its purpose. Climbing it, and passing another nymph statue, the Fivefold walked northward, where in the distance they saw another staircase. "Hopefully the last," Shamira said tiredly.
But it wasn't, and yet the sight they now saw was enough to make up for it. Three blocks of stone were suspended in midair by a Hover spell, bridging the gap between their side and the one they were trying to reach. Each block gave a little as they hopped across, but held fast. They followed the new path, into another chamber.
An unearthly violet light filled this chamber, shining from a lower floor that they were on. Standing beside a nymph statue, the Fivefold peered down.
Many veins of stone, designed to carry psynergy, were filled with a Hover spell to empower the lighthouse. In the middle, a pedestal stood, the light shining from a hole carved in the middle of it. Pillars floated behind the pedestal, giving a way to cross over the gap. Sparkles drifted out from the light, and the chamber walls glimmered, reflecting the light. Shamira visibly brightened. "We're almost there! Come on!" The Fivefold ascended a staircase that was a carved into the wall beside the nymph statue, and it seemed to them that a soft breeze caressed their hair.
The next, and hopefully final room was guarded by a quartet of nymph statues, arranged to flank the trespasser on Jupiter's ground. Giving the graceful statues a respectful nod, the Fivefold saw natural light filtering through the next door, and exited out, onto the aerie.
Wind blew in their faces as they climbed the final steps to the beacon, emerging on the eastern side of the lighthouse. The elevator, oddly enough, was sealed on this side, blocked off by small stone pieces, though the platforms still floated to bridge the way. They climbed the stair to the aerie as the wind tousled their hair, squinting against its force. The mountains around the lighthouse seemed to press up to the aerie, shielding it though it was nearly as high. The wind seemed to whisper encouragement, and the Fivefold climbed the last part and beheld the beacon.
Above the beacon's well hovered the Orb of Jupiter, graceful and holding immense power. Shades of lilac and violet streaked across its surface, shadowed by an aura mirroring its movements, a translucent shell around the beacon that duplicated its movements. A fierce wind emanated from it, and it had none of the smaller tributaries that Venus or Mercury possessed.
From this altitude, the forests and rivers of Anemos were in miniature, seeming just bushes and streams from their height. Shamira walked to the edge and looked for Anemos.
There it lay, half-concealed by the mountain chain but easily spotted by the Anemosian's superior vision. She smiled faintly upon seeing it, and then raised her arm, casting Plasma. A bolt of energy thundered down and struck the ground before her; a signal to Anemos. "That should let them know that we have reached the aerie. Now, we wait and see what they do." So the Fivefold sat down and waited.
The wind rose, and the Fivefold shivered. It was an eerie wind, as if warning them not to seal Jupiter, not to condemn it to exist without the light of the beacon. It whispered in their ear softly, moans of torment and groans of pain.
Suddenly, Orior leapt to his feet. "It IS whispering! What in Venus is happening?"
"Hellllllppppppp mmmmeeeeeeeee…" "AARrrrrrggggghhhhhh…" "Whhhyyyyy…" "Nnnnnnoooooo…" "Be on your guard…"
Shamira was alarmed. "I hope Anemos is okay…"
All eyes turned to the far-off city, and the Fivefold gasped. The whole city was crackling with power, and bolts of lightning flashed. One such bolt smashed into a pillar, and with much show of sparks it ground against itself and collapsed, dragging the bridges connecting it with the others down. Then the Fivefold perceived that that's what the bolts were doing: destroying.
A vague silver shape flitted about the city, striking and destroying, conducting the bolts like one conducting a play, directing the lightning to strike this pillar or that. The ones that struck the Tower simply caused it to shimmer as it absorbed the lightning, a result of every Anemosian concentrating their power on their objective.
The silver shape stopped, and Shamira espied that it was humanoid, but its features were obscured from this distance. It appeared to cast Psynergy, and a great silver-violet blade that came out of thin air emerged and severed another pillar, dooming it to fall with a crash.
Then, the unexpected happened. The entire city of Anemos, the whole mass of it, began to glow violet. The amethyst glimmered and shone with this ethereal light, and the very earth shook. Dust rose from the ground in a vast cloud, obscuring most of the city. Then, the entire city itself moved, and the earth groaned.
The whole city of Anemos, several miles wide, lifted from the ground and began to float, glowing like a crystal with sunlight shining through it. A dome of earth was left under the streets as the city continued to ascend: first ten, then fifty, then one hundred feet high, leaving a vast crater beneath it where the city had lain.
The
silver figure and the Fivefold had one thing in common: they both
stared, dumbfounded. Then, the figure recovered, and an icy voice
faintly reached the Fivefold across the country, casting a Psynergy…
"White Lightning…"
The
lightning sprung into existence again, a myriad dancing of white
energy. They coalesced into a single orb, then became bolts again and
bombarded the rising city of Anemos. The streets of amethyst cracked
as the energy played across its surface and the figure fed more power
into the spell. Then, with a loud noise, a pillar snapped and plunged
to the ground, but by some fortune it was tip first. The pillar
embedded itself deep in the earth, digging itself a crater as it
went, so that only the tips of the structures, along with the
lightning rods, showed above ground. The figure drifted over to the
hole and bombarded it with lightning before turning its attention
back to the city, which was now two hundred feet in the air and
rising fast.
Shamira heard a familiar voice in her head. "Now, Shamira! Seal Jupiter!" It was her mother.
Shamira turned to the rest of the Fivefold. "Its okay now, they're out of range. Let's seal it."
Maris nodded, and her and Shamira stepped before the beacon. "Let's do this," Maris said, and took a deep breath. Entwining Shamira's hand in her own, the star magician reached out with her free hand and formed the Star for Jupiter to dwell in. She then guided the palm-sized ball of water towards the beacon, enough so it began being drawn of its own accord.
The wind returned, but this time it was concentrated around the Star. As it neared the orb of water, the wind became visible: a pale lilac in colour, translucent and unearthly, drifting in ribbons. It blew into the water, which slowly began to change colour, deepening from clear to a bright violet. As the wind flowed into the Star, the beacon glowed and shrank in size, draining into the Star. Then, with a loud crash, the beacon shattered into many pieces, and formed into a white cloud. Bolts of violet lightning sprung from within it and struck the star, playing across its surface.
Maris leapt into action, her cloak flaring out behind her. "Subzero!"
The temperature plunged and yet the lightning roared on as it struck the Star, but they could tell that they were sealing Jupiter: the cloud was shrinking. Finally, the spell began to work and the lightning slowed, sinking towards the heart of the Star. The cloud was all but gone now, and the floating Star crackled with electricity. The lightning slowed, and wrapped its shape around the Star, leaving only the design of the bolts on the surface. They faded, and spiralled into the smooth, flawless crystal of the star of Jupiter.
Breathing not quite hard, Shamira turned back to the Fivefold and handed the Jupiter Star to Aleos, who obligingly put it away. The city of Anemos was now nowhere to be seen, having disappeared into the very skies itself. "There. Now… let's see what that figure is. The light of the beacon in addition to the forging of the Star has imbued us all with the power of Jupiter, just like we were unknowingly imbued with Mercury and Venus. Now, the power of Queen Celia's gift is awakened: spring to the skies, Fivefold!" So saying, Shamira ran to the edge of the aerie and leapt off. Casting Volatilis, wings of pure Psynergy leapt until existence from her shoulder blades, and she flew off in the direction of her city, the violet wings carrying her far with each beat.
Overjoyed at this newfound ability yet determined to judge the being who attacked Anemos, the Fivefold sprung into flight after Shamira, wings of yellow and green, blue, red, and silver beating the air as the Fivefold raced into flight, soaring the tides of air effortlessly.
Shamira, at the head, grasped the hilt of Skyshard as it swung from her side. "Anemos, I will not let such a danger go unchecked. Live in peace."
Ahead, the silver figure spun around and faced his approaching enemies, his Volatilian wings keeping him aloft easily. He smiled softly, and awaited the arrival of his foes.
"We shall see."
Part III: The Ascending Calamity
The Fivefold, using the broad wings of Volatilis, soon reached the figure, who was waiting patiently for them, unafraid. The Fivefold stood facing him, five-on-one.
His violet Volatilian wings supported his regal figure, six feet seven inches in height. He wore a sleeveless white tunic that revealed rippled muscles and long leggings of the same colour, buckled with a single white jewel. He bore long white hair flowing flawlessly down to his waist, with bangs half-concealing icy golden eyes that conveyed no emotion except calmness. His skin was unusually pale, and he wore white boots clasped with black steel. His lips, likewise pale, were parted in a soft smile. "Hello, Adepts. You have a power I seek; surrender it, or die." His soft-spoken voice, like his eyes, was eerily calm.
As one, the Fivefold drew their weapons. The figure raised one eyebrow. "You refuse? Then, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you."
Shamira cleaved the air with Skyshard sharply in a negative gesture. "Why did you attack Anemos? Answer me!"
The figure merely laughed. "I do what I please. I need to reason; I am my own reason."
Shamira glared. "And who are you, may I ask?"
The figure spread his wings wide, and resumed a lazy flapping to keep him aloft. "Call me Zelexseon. Or, the Ascending Calamity, to my prey."
Shamira readied her rapier. "Ascending Calamity or not, I'm going to make you pay for attacking my city."
Zelexseon hovered, then pointed to Aleos. "Okay, we'll fight. You win, and you have your vengeance for Anemos. I win, and you hand over the Elemental Stars." When the Fivefold registered surprise, his look turned scornful. "You think I don't know of their existence? Their power is felt across the whole world, you think you can carry such powerful artefacts and not be pursued for them? With them, I would be unstoppable. Hand them over!"
Shamira shook her head, smiling softly. "As if we'd hand them over without a fight." After she spoke, the Fivefold flew up beside her, weapons raised, but she stopped them with a sharp look. "Back off! This is my fight! One on one, Wind Adept versus Wind Adept, a fair fight. Do you agree, Zelexseon?" She asked, shooting him a venomous look.
He remained unperturbed. "Of course. Well then," he said, flapping his wings to shoot into the skies above them, "let us dance."
Shamira laughed softly, then shot to the sky after him, leaving her companions far behind.
The two warriors circled in the air, rising ever higher and higher, weaving a complex aerial dance. Shamira's lilac eyes locked with Zelexseon's golden ones, and lightning seemed to crackled between the two adversaries. Violet wings beat in concert, maintaining a good distance between the two as they circled. Then, the battle began.
Drawing Skyshard, Shamira flew at Zelexseon, who merely hovered and watched, waiting. Shamira slashed nimbly at the other, but he merely beat his wings slightly and moved sideways, causing the blade to miss him by a hair. "Too slow," he taunted.
Twisting the blade, Shamira reversed direction and chopped vertically. As before, with a minor wing beat Zelexseon turned sideways so that the blade passing just in front of him. Shamira, spying an opening, feinted withdrawing her blade and then twisted it back and jabbed at his unprotected chest. Zelexseon moved blindingly fast, catching the blade between his hands and turning it aside, and Shamira with it. Then he struck, lashing out with clenched fist, but Shamira blocked it with her metal vambrace, yet Zelexseon showed no sign of pain as his bare knuckle clashed with the steel. The two airborne opponents broke apart, flying to a safe distance, yet still within range of a long-range attack.
Zelexseon, smiling slightly, glowed violet for a moment before unleashing his attack. Raising his hand, he unleashed White Lightning, or niveus levitas in the ancient tongue.
Bolts of white lightning crackled around his palm, gathering together into one brilliant orb. Then the attack sprung, and countless bolts of lightning launched forth in every direction, making it incredibly hard to dodge. Milliseconds later, every bolt homed in on Shamira.
Alarmed, she countered with Destruct Ray. The yellow bolts lanced forth and met with Zelexseon's, but did not prevail. The white bolts ploughed through, crumpling the resistance before them. Shamira was in growing danger as the bolts advanced almost instantly. Desperate, the Anemosian defended herself with Violet Storm, or tempestas ianthinus. From the air around her in every direction, violet electricity sprang into being and gathered in Shamira's free hand, where it shone brightly. She thrust it outward and lashed with White Lightning, a flare of energy forming where the two attacks met. Shamira grimaced in the wake of the outpouring energy, struggling to keep the White Lightning spell at bay. Likewise, Zelexseon struggled with Shamira's counter spell, though he had a bit more room to manoeuvre. Alternating colours of violet and white played across their faces and the surrounding countryside as the two spells struggled for dominance.
Zelexseon smiled. "Heh, you're better than I thought… but let's see if you can keep it up!" With that, he fed more Psynergy into his spell, causing the bolts to become larger, stronger, and faster. Shamira struggled to keep up, but her spell was overwhelmed and destroyed by Zelexseon's. Luckily, the force of her Violet Storm negated most of his attack, so that only a percentage remained to hit her. It was absorbed into her armour and thus warned, Shamira was unharmed.
Even so, it was enough to send the Anemosian flying. She regained her balance however, and flipped backward to hover right side up. She faced Zelexseon, looking up at him as he floated there, smiling. "Damn, he's stronger than I thought," she muttered. The Fivefold watched anxiously from below, as Shamira again advanced on Zelexseon.
She brought Skyshard to the front, and charged again, feinting to the right and then dashing to the left. Zelexseon, smiling, cast Aero Blade, or vesica aero.
A fierce wind arose, swirling around Zelexseon. It concentrated in his hand, forming a swirling tornado, narrow and seemingly bladelike. The air compressed even more, drawing more air and gathering it until it reached the density of mythril. The air was even visible, coloured silver with Psynergy.
Shamira smiled. Bringing Skyshard over her head, she twisted it downward and spun around several times rapidly. A brilliant light flashed as she twirled one last time. Zelexseon blinked in surprise.
Where there once was a single Shamira, ten identical images of the Anemosian now circled Zelexseon, each one smiling slightly, rapier at the ready. Zelexseon turned slowly; trying to determine which one was the true Shamira. Then he shrugged, and just began to slash at them one at a time. However, his target simply dodged to the right, but he caught it on the next swing. It dissipated in a cloud of smoke.
Then, the duplicates attacked. Nine rapiers lashed out at Zelexseon, who twisted and turned to evade each blow, and counterattacking as needed. Then, he felt a stinging pain on his arm and looked down. Shamira stood floating just out of reach, rapier held loosely in hand, the tip bloodied. Of the others, there was no sign; apparently she had dispelled them to conserve Psynergy. His upper arm was cut, a thin scratch drawn across it horizontally. Something like blood oozed out as he watched. It hurt vaguely, but he did not care. He now had a target.
The two blades clashed, and Psynergetic sparks flew from the grinding of the blades. Zelexseon smiled and released one hand from the grip of his weapon, and moved it off to the side. Then, he renewed White Lightning and struck.
Shamira cried out in pain as the bolts began to singe her, and quickly released one hand to cast Violet Storm. The blast of energy from the clash of attacks knocked them to the right, and they flew through the air side by side. Their weapons, still deadlocked, flashed in brightness and then released. Shamira struck vertically, and Zelexseon horizontally. Then they withdrew and clashed. And again. Sparks flew as their attacks clashed faster and faster, until their slashes and parries were merely blurs and the Fivefold couldn't trace the path of their weapons as the two Wind Adepts headed off. Zelexseon, however, was the faster, and he scored a hit across Shamira's helm, knocking her backwards. She flew back, stunned.
Zelexseon funnelled more power until his blade, and it nearly doubled in length. Bringing it overheard, he cast Quick Strike, and slashed with superhuman speed at Shamira.
It struck her on the chain mail that protected the joint of her shoulder and body, and cleaved through it with ease and her arm also. Blood poured out in a fount as her severed arm spiralled down to the ground. Maris dove to catch it.
Shamira began to lose consciousness, both from shock and loss of blood. She stared weakly up at Zelexseon, who was smiling in his triumph. Hate suddenly blazed in her heart, along with the determination to survive. Or, at least, take him down with her.
She raised Skyshard, still held in her remaining hand, slowly into the air. "Mi… might of… the Skies!" Energy poured into her for one last assault. Skyshard glowed vividly violet, and the wind arose to hurricane force power. Her eyes burned with hatred as her hair was whipped wildly around, and Zelexseon looked shocked.
The wind gathered around Zelexseon, entrapping him in a funnel cloud while simultaneously binding his Psynergy. The wind tousled him back and forth like a rag doll, the razor wind cutting through to his bone and the pain was nigh unbearable. He slashed wildly at the air around him, cleaving a path, but just as he was about to escape the gap closed, and the winds resumed stronger than ever. He turned and tried to flew out the mouth of the storm, but lightning flashed, knocking him back. "What devilry is this?" He shouted.
Shamira fluttered over half-heartedly, infused with power yet still aching. She floated over to the mouth of the cyclone and peered in. Zelexseon was entrapped there, wings beating half-drawn to avoid the walls of wind. He looked remarkably calm, despite his position. Shamira made a weak little half-bow. "I commend you for your calmness, O Ascending Calamity. But now," she said, shuddering as she took a deep breath, "it ends."
She levelled Skyshard at the monster, tip aimed straight for his heart. On the other side of the storm, lightning began to crackle, sealing the gap that seemed to be open. It spider webbed, forming a net of electricity. Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, the lightning began to be drawn towards Skyshard, elongating from its centre until it was nearly a cone. At the same time, Skyshard began to crackle with electricity.
Like lightning striking the ground, bolts of violet electricity leapt from Skyshard and hurtled towards Zelexseon. At the same time, the yellow bolts on the other side struck. Unable to defend himself from the two-pronged attack, Zelexseon writhed under the force of the lightning as its power and temperature crested to well over thirty thousand degrees centigrade. The tunnel of the cyclone was filled with a myriad of energy, and then the walls themselves began to draw in. Wracked, and slowly being pinned by the razor wind walls, Zelexseon made one last attempt for freedom. As if this set off a reaction, all of the material, cyclone walls and multitudes of lightning, all flew back for a moment to a distance of thirty feet for a moment, past Shamira, though the forces did not harm her.
"Well fought, Zelexseon, but Anemos has prevailed," she said tiredly, and twirling her blade she sheathed Skyshard. As it closed in its sheath, the force of Jupiter around Zelexseon so too drew in, rushing in mere moments to strike. As they burned him, they continued to draw within. The net of energy formed by the lightning and wind reached its smallest size, and then exploded in a brilliant orb of violet light.
The Fivefold shielded their eyes from the glare of the attack. Zelexseon's charred and burnt body spun to the earth. Cinaed sighed and dove to retrieve the fallen Adept. He caught him by the arm, and flung him over his shoulder, and found he was surprisingly light.
Up above, Shamira finally succumbed to her wounds and lost consciousness. Her eyes closed and she spiralled to the earth. Alarmed, Orior dove and caught her in his arms. "Rest now…" He whispered, and carried her to the ground, followed by the other Fivefold.
Part IV: Recovery and Reconciliation
Shamira was in a haze of confusion, her mind unfocused. Faces floated in her vision: the Fivefold, her mother, brother, and Skye. "Don't go, Shamira. Your quest isn't over. You must live!"
"But it's so comforting here… and peaceful. I like it. Oh, to sink into this blissful darkness…"
"Shamira!" Her father's face, with his golden eyes and violet hair floated into her vision. "Is this how it is to end? Where is your spirit, your determination? Are you going to succumb to a flesh wound like some commoner? Make me proud, and triumph!"
"Father…"
Orior drifted vaguely before her sight, hair matted. "Shamira…"
"Orior?"
Each of the Fivefold drifted in turn before her. "Shamira, don't leave us… we need you. Without you, what would have happened with Zelexseon?"
"Mmmm… maybe you're right…"
To her surprise and shock, Zelexseon, of all people, came to her sight. "Anemosian, our duel was a pleasure I haven't experienced for a long time. Maybe we'll have a rematch sometime; goodness knows I'll be ready."
Shamira's mind flared with anger. "That bastard recovered? That's it, I'm outta here!" With that, she began to struggle against the beckoning blackness, and soon emerged from her haze.
---
"Auuuunnn…" Shamira groaned, and opened her eyes. She was laying down, and a soft blanket was wrapped around her. She snuggled into it for a moment before sitting upright. She was sitting in a small clearing in the forest, a small campfire burning merrily at her feet while she lay on a soft bed of leaves. A canopy of trees framed a circle of open sky above her, and stars glittered in the black sky. She realized she was wearing only her undershirt on her upper form, and blushed. Then, she remembered her injury, and noticed that her arm was reattached! She wiggled her left hand, smiling.
She looked at her shoulder, rotating it experimentally. It felt fine. Only a thin white scar, traced lightly around it, revealed that it was once twain from her.
Shamira, smiling, looked around, and noticed Maris on the other side of the fire, kneeling before a wooden bucket and dipping something in it. Feeling her gaze, the Water Adept turned around and smiled. "Ah, you're awake, Shamira! If you're wondering where your armour and tunic are, they're over beside that bush," she pointed off to the left. "We washed most of the blood off it, but it still has a jagged hole in the chain mail."
Shamira reached for them and hauled over her clothing. She slipped on the tunic and fastened it at the neck, then put on her armour over it. Marvelling that her arm worked as good as new, she complimented Maris. "Maris, you reattached my arm perfectly! What would I do without you?"
Maris turned around and brought over a damp cloth, cold with the water of the bucket. She laid it on Shamira's forehead, despite the Anemosian's protests. "I can't take all the credit. Orior helped a lot, and he also caught you after you fell unconscious. He was terribly worried." The Imilian smiled knowingly.
Shamira glared at her, her face reddening. "It's not like that... wait, he was worried?"
Maris simply laughed. "I know I shouldn't be teasing my patients, but you two will make a good couple. Yes, he was worried. I probably shouldn't be one to talk, though."
Shamira chuckled. "That's for sure."
Maris knelt beside the Anemosian and peered into her eyes, suddenly serious. "Shamira, are you sure you're okay? You lost a mortal amount of blood; you almost died."
Shamira winced, reminded of the pain in her shoulder. "It can't be helped. So, what did happen to Zelexseon, anyway?"
"Rest is what you need now," Maris answered, avoiding the question. But Shamira caught the smallest glance towards her right.
Shamira followed her gaze. There, shaded by sycamore trees and sleeping peacefully, was Zelexseon, his tunic torn and matted from their duel but otherwise recovered. His eyes were shut as he breathed in and out softly.
Shamira swooned, falling back on her makeshift mattress. "You… helped… him, too?" Then she fainted.
But before she completely dropped into darkness again, she heard Maris' voice. "Of course. It is my duty as a healer to heal the sick and help the injured, and he's an Adept just like the rest of us. His body is healed, but his mind and spirit are troubled. Besides, he may be a useful ally against Regnoare."
---
Zelexseon shifted through a black fog of confusion, without form. "Where am I?"
Suddenly, his body took shape and he found himself flying over a barren landscape, blasted and devoid of life as it was overseen by a great red. Curious, he flew down, using wings feathered like those of a bird, but emerged from his shoulder blades like that of Volatilis. He landed with his usual grace on the baked earth, scorched and fused as it was by the unrelenting heat of the fiery sun.
A dust cloud arose, seemingly born from nothingness as there was no wind. Zelexseon surveyed this landscape uneasily, the dryness of the air making him thirsty. "Where am I?" He thought again.
Then, a light blossomed in front of him, blinding the Adept as he raised his arms to shield himself, and he shut his eyes. There was a soft whirring as he felt his environment change, the hard earth beneath him giving way to soft grass and the fetid air to a plum, tropical haze. He opened his eyes.
He was in a deep rainforest, in the full heat of midsummer. Lush forestry surrounded him, and thick vines twined over a floor matted with varying kinds of leaves and moss. Small creatures scurried unseen, and a trickling sound announced the flow of water nearby. His wings were gone.
Stepping boldly, he pushed aside the resilient boughs, moving onward toward the sound of water, for he felt that was the right thing to do. The trees began to thin as he drew closer to the bubbling water, the tall plants giving way to lower and mossier greenery. Pushing aside a curtain of leaves, he found the stream.
It appeared to be nothing special, but yet it conveyed serenity. It was a deep, clear blue, and bubbled merrily over the smooth stones in its bed. Innumerable vines hung over the water, enjoying the coolness that emanated from the stream. Zelexseon padded over and knelt before the water, and looked in.
It looked clean enough, so he dipped his hands into the water and splashed some water over his face, then cupped his hands and took a drink. It was refreshing, and quenched his thirst while clearing his mind.
Water dripping down his face, the being sat back and reflected. It was a marvellous duel between him and Shamira. Out of courtesy, he held back, but he never expected to be defeated, least of all by that stripling. Her attack had caught him off guard; he had written her off after severing her arm. "I wonder if she's alive still…" He mused, and closed his eyes, beginning to drift off to sleep.
"Zelexseon!"
The voice was sharp, insistent, and it cut through his subconscious like a blade. He shot wide awake and looked around for the source.
"Ascending Calamity!"
Frowning, he arose and walked over to the stream, which was clear and now hardly moving. He could see the greenery reflected in its surface. Then, the water undulated, and a face swam into view: that of Shamira, his rival.
"Zelexseon, wake up!"
He started with surprise. "And who are you to order me around, Anemosian?"
The reflection grinned. "I knew you were alive. I am Shamira, princess of Anemos, and you are an invalid. So, there."
His anger flared. "Invalid? I could defeat you in my sleep, blindfolded, with both hands tied!"
Shamira grinned, amused. "Is that so? You might find I'm more than you think, Zelexseon. So, why don't you awake and find out?"
"I am my own master. I'll awake when it suits me."
The reflection shrugged. "Suit yourself." With that, she faded and the stream resumed its bubbling as if nothing happened.
Zelexseon laughed softly. "I'll be seeing you soon, Shamira."
---
Zelexseon stirred under the tree, and heard a voice. "I think he's awake. Let's see what he has to say for himself."
"I should play the invalid, like that irritating vision called me." He groaned, and stirred again, then slowly opened his eyes. A blond-haired head swam into his vision: the Earth Adept, Orior. Suddenly, he was struck by something.
"We meet again, Orion. Heh, surprised I remember your name? You should be honoured that I remember the first person to defeat me. You and Rosenkruez both fought bravely." Pretending grogginess, he shook his head. "And yet, you are not. You two are different in many ways, and yet so similar…" Zelexseon faintly saw a pair of emerald eyes hovering over him, listening intently. "Yes, not the same…" he said faintly, and closed his eyes.
"Zelexseon!" A sharp voice intruded on his thoughts, and he smiled inwardly. He half-opened an eye, to see Shamira leaning over him, smiling. "Come on, don't fade on me now. I need a rival to keep me in top shape. What do ya say?"
"Yeah, Zelexseon," Orior said, winking. "Join us." He offered the fallen Adept his hand, half-expecting him to just lie there.
Zelexseon's eyes snapped open. "Okay." He grasped Orior's hand and pulled himself up, towering over the Venus Adept. He looked down and smiled. "I'll stay with you for a while. You intrigue me. You sealed three of the four lighthouses, which shows determination, resourcefulness and intelligence. You defeated me in battle and outmanoeuvred Regnoare many times, that shows your martial skill. Possessing the stars, and all of you royals of your own houses, that shows your power. So, yes, I think I'll join you for the time being. Be grateful, I usually kill those who show me pity." With that, he cast Volatilis and sprung into the sky.
Shamira ran beneath him. "Where do you think you're going, Zelexseon?"
He laughed and called down. "Just need some time alone. I'll be back!" And he glided off out of sight.
Shamira sighed, and turned to Orior. "What now?"
Orior laughed. "Don't worry. He's being honest." He looked thoughtful. "But I wonder who this 'Orion' is? He sounds similar to me." He absently ran a hand through his hair.
Shamira took a deep breath. "… No one can compare with you, Orior." She mentally smacked herself for being so blunt.
He looked surprised. "Shamira…"
Her eyes were wide. "Orior… do you like me?" Then she mentally smacked herself, again. "Shamira, what are you doing? If you are going to do this, at least have some tact!"
He shuffled and said nothing, his head bowed, bangs obscuring his eyes. But had she seen them, she would have seen they were bright, paying attention to every word.
Shamira swore softly. "Hell, Orior, I'm a warrior, I'm no good at this. Expressing feelings… so I'll get to the point. Orior, I like you. You really impressed me with that long-ago duel at Vale. Jupiter, it feels so long ago, when it was barely over a week… Anyway, as we, the Fivefold, travelled together, our bonds grew stronger. But I never forgot the strength you displayed in that duel… and many more things, like catching me after I was defeated by Zelexseon. So, Orior," her voice grew suddenly soft, "do you love me?"
Orior averted his eyes for a moment, looking off into the bush. "Shamira, if you don't know by now, you're no Jupiter Adept." Then he turned back, and his eyes were warm. "Of course I do." So the two embraced, as a soft wind stirred the leaves at their feet to rise and swirl around them.
---
Zelexseon glided on the wings of Volatilis, the bitter northern air seeking to bite into his skin, but he did not mind it. He felt a new feeling creeping into his soul, and he wondered at what it was. Then, he realized: Trust.
For the first time in his long long existence, he owed his life to someone, and he was surprised to find that meant something to him. He had killed countless times, so why should these Adepts mean so much? What made them special?
"Maybe it is their strength of soul…" Zelexseon mused. "They have great power, I don't doubt that… so much like those two…" A faint grin graced his lips as he thought of the two Adepts from his past. "You know what? I'll live by Sol this time… enough of evil. I'll try fighting for the greater good." As he thought this, he rolled in midair. "Who knows? Maybe I'll get to like it…"