Chapter 19

An awakening of the mind and spirit. A once in a lifetime chance. That was her love to him. It was divinity in its highest form, and truly precious that much he understood. But how much does a friendship measure in comparison to love? He wanted to know…he wanted to remember…to feel whatever it was that he felt when he had been with Mythalia. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a place he failed to recognize.

                "Where am I?" his spirit whispered in a soft yet clear tone of voice.

                "Celestin…do you remember?" a familiar and faint voice called through his mind.

                "No…of what do you speak?" he inquired following a road of darkness not knowing where to step next.

                "Then let me impart unto you all those reminiscences that we shared, but locked away in our hearts…" Mythalia appeared opening her arms, as she leaned forward to fall in his arms only to dissolve into light particles. Light danced about his figure rejuvenating the soul, and penetrating the skin. Suddenly, akin to lightening on a stormy day, his body was shocked strongly with a resurgence of memories lost and forgotten. Pupils dilated in absorption of his starting days studying the gods' techniques to his final moments with Mythalia and the ring. Like a prick to the heart, his mind chose one of the most beloved of all memories for him.

It was a moment of the past, but held so vividly in his mind, now that he could envision it like never before. Never before had he seen someone as beautiful as she. It was a myth or fairy tale beyond the imagination. There he sat one lonesome morning beyond all god and goddess civilization. With one leg dangling over the edge of the sturdy tree branch, and the other propped up, Celestin leaned against the trunk of the tree looking at the beautiful scenery over the hills and vales. From out of a tree, as if singing the requiem for a lost loved one, her frail body emerged draped in vines of the finest white lilies. Her ashen dress swerved around her feet carrying a piece of the forest with her as she moved along, her hands pressed together in prayer. Walking to the edge of the cliff, her face remained shielded behind her long tresses of auburn hair, as her lips moved softly echoing the song of doves. In harmony with her sorrowful melody, doves lifted her hems of her skirt from the ground, as she stepped closer to the cliff's edge, placing her feet on the edge. Suddenly, a landing of footsteps was heard behind her, as she turned around her hair adhering to her semi-tear streaked face.

                "You are in Trakin's class aren't you? What's your name?" Celestin asked as he approached her even closer.

                "Don't move closer!" she shouted, as she spinned her dress around, the doves following suit, "I'm Mythalia and yes, I'm in Trakin's class."

                "For what reason are you going to jump, Mythalia?" the young boy known as Celestin inquired gently.

                "I…you wouldn't understand. You probably live the perfect life…" she said eyeing the forest of trees that stood before her, as she continued to retreat to the edge of the cliff.

                "In what way? No one leads a perfect life, because every life has some flaw in it. Please, let me help you." He said outstretching his hand as an invitation to the young goddess. Carefully, she eyed both his hand and his eyes to see if his offer was truly genuine. "Do you not trust me?"

                "I…" Slowly, she began to break down, as she walked towards him taking his hand and falling to her knees.

                "What's wrong?" Celestin knelt down beside her.                                                                             

 

                "I…my friend, Aurora, and I, we got into an argument…and she truly doesn't forgive me at all." She responded, as she sniffed preparing to cry once again, "You see she's a fairy, and I'm a goddess. It's not fair sometimes…but I feel as if…"

                "Is that really something you want to jump down there over?" Celestin pointed to the edge of the cliff, as she looked across and over at his face. "It's not worth it. It's a choice between not seeing Aurora again, and taking a chance that she will forgive and hopefully, forget."

                "…" Mythalia's tears continued but lessened, as Celestin took out a handkerchief.

                "Here you go. You look really pretty when you smile…I've seen you smile when you're with your mentor, Diana. So smile more if you would please. It really makes my day." He smiled as she took the handkerchief and dried her eyes. He was only but a young man (your typical 12 year-old), but he knew the meaning of true beauty within and outside as well.

Slowly love developed between the two, as Celestin relived the dream of a past long ago. It had been during their final moments as students to becoming graduates. Aurora, Trakin, Celestin, and Mythalia, all held a gathering for the students of their graduating class at Aurora and Mythalia's place of residence. After the main discussions past, Celestin took Mythalia's hand and led her out the door after checking to see if Aurora and Trakin had everything in control despite the fact that everything was very civilized as proper gods and goddesses. The two of them walked through the forest passing by the river where fireflies lit the pathway alongside the stream of water.

                "Where are we going Celestin? The gathering is back that way…" Mythalia pointed in the other direction keeping up with Celestin.

                "I know. Don't worry." he said glancing back at her, as he assisted her up the levels of rocks, as they approached a serene and calm area out of the forest.

                "It's beautiful Celestin." Mythalia said admiring the soothing, rushing waterfalls and beyond nature an atmosphere of black fading into deep blue at the horizon. Stars lit up the sky as fireflies brightened the passages through the forest. Up above, the full moon radiantly shone casting its light down upon the two lovers, who held hands and each other. Suddenly, Celestin's harmonious whistle graced the winds sending forth a message. "What's going on Celestin?" Placing his fingers to her lips, he silenced her as she smiled. Immediately, a dove appeared at Celestin's side with a white lily in its beak, and another appeared with a platinum necklace in its beak as well.

                "For whom I love with all my being." He spoke, a hand gesturing to the first dove to place the lily in Mythalia's hand. "I'll always be close to your heart…" Gently, the next dove placed the second item in his hand, which he unlocked and placed around her neck re-locking it.

                "No, Celestin, you'll always be in my heart…" she looked up into his eyes, as the both leaned in the final kiss of their childhood lives.

Passage of time from day to day changed everything in their lives as Celestin saw. Like a dagger thrown into the heart, everything ended with the brief run through of his final moments with Mythalia before Melusina took over his body. As all dreams do, they end. A deep gasp for air came about, as Celestin shot up from his resting position with his head in his hands. It came back to him…his memories. Leaning back into the sheets, he looked over to his left to find the window still closed, but dawn coming upon them, and there Aurora sat near the window with Trakin sleeping on the wall opposite his feet. Glancing to his right, the ring shone vibrantly, as he sat up, and took the object into his hands watching it intensely as his memories of his only love played over and over continuously in his mind.

                "Mythalia…why have you left me alone in such misery?" Celestin shivered, as he succumbed to the tears that penetrated the barriers of his eyes.

Meanwhile, at the Goddess Headquarters, much turmoil occurred within the building. Peorth still remained checking the system, and ran the final scan through. As the final moments of the examination came to a close, Peorth closed off the scanning system, and walked out of the room looking at the Goddess System itself. It was only a matter of time before everything would start shutting down one by one, and malfunctioning.

                "49% of the system has been corrupted, and chance of recovery is 28%." Chrono called out to Peorth.

                "Chances of Urd and Skuld's regression are very likely then." Peorth said walking over to her high seat, "Any other information pertaining to any portals that have been open within the area?"

                "Peorth, ma'am, Mythalia's program has been corrupted, and is lost currently." One goddess spoke, "We can't trace the time that we lost her either."

                "What?!" Peorth exclaimed, "…No, this can't be happening. Chrono, Ere, Ex…take care of things while I consult the council." Immediately with the utmost urgency, she headed out of the central system, walking through the hallway to those doors, which had become increasingly familiar every since Mythalia returned. Stepping in, she walked over to the platform and stood before her advisor, "Sir, reporting. The system's condition is witnessing some problems. Last I checked, 49% has been corrupted and there is only a 28% chance of recovery. Regression of Urd and Skuld is also a possibility, among other goddesses as well. Mythalia's system has been destroyed and is currently lost making it hard to trace its source let alone the time of corruption."

                "Inform Urd and Skuld of this matter immediately. Vaccination will not be possible. If this is the same virus as used by Celestin, it is futile to even try. All I can say is that you must find Melusina, and destroy her by all means. As for Mythalia, it will be hard to say." Her superior responded, "She might have to die right along side the enemy. You must fight this battle quick though."

                "Yes sir. I will leave the strategy up to Aurora."

                "Do not allow your emotions to cloud your judgment. That is extremely important; pass that information onto the fairy, Aurora. It is feared that you may have to make your own decisions from here on out Peorth. Since the virus has penetrated to the main system, they have slowly begun to dismantle the system particularly the council's own. We wish you all the best."

                "I…I will sir. For the sake of happiness and love." Peorth saluted before stepping outside, and heading back towards the mainframe. Celestin…we'll need your assistance from here on out. For the one that you once loved so dearly is also close to our hearts, it is only you who can make the dramatic difference now and save her from the wretched grasp of evil. As she glanced over at the array of flowers that bordered the hallways, a sorrow pained in her heart, as she turned to walk through the doors.