Chapter 36

We arrived back at the Isle of Gathering after a long, silent boat ride from Gandus' and my home island. Ianite called to Sparklez with the telepathic communication we're able to do and she said he'd be here shortly. While we waited, I just looked over my necklace a lot, Gandus paced, and Ianite just sat by my side.

"Wow, three people and not a lot of activity from any. Why do you guys look so solemn and gloomy?" Sparky asked. I looked up and smiled.

"Hey Sparky. Look at what I found." I showed him my necklace and told him all about what I remembered from my childhood. He was surprised.

"So you actually knew Ianite all these years?" I nodded.

"Apparently, but then brain go brr and I forgot everything leading up to the zombie apocalypse. I just remembered this morning about having met Ianite before and we just got back from Gandus' and my home island before Ianite asked you to come here." I felt Mianite's and Dianite's presences arrive as Sparky said his next sentence.

"That's insane. Lately, a lot of things have been starting to connect between you and Ianite specifically, Phoenix."

"That they have," Mianite said, as he and Dianite appeared.

"Hey guys. Hey, did Ianite ever tell you of meeting me and my family back then?" I asked, fully curious now.

"No, and I don't know why she would," Dianite said.

"Dia, be more gentle. And yes, I did tell you both. I told you of Phoenix and how I felt like there was something about her that made me think that she could do great things. At the time, I didn't know how right I was and just how great those things would be. Show them your necklace, Nix." I showed Mianite and Dianite the necklace and the words on the back.

"Hmm, I think coincidence between those words on that necklace and what actually happened. I don't remember you knowing of the prophecy," Dianite remarked.

"Dianite..." Mianite said warningly.

"I don't remember either... I don't think Nix showed me the book... I wonder why?" Ianite asked softly to herself. I got to thinking. What would my past life self have done? After a bit of thinking, another memory from centuries past surfaced.

~Phoenix, 1,000+ years ago~

I'm stood to the side of my past self as she's writing. I glance at the book and read the words written:

'I have seen the future, the far, far future. I am to be reincarnated as even more powerful than I am now. I will have powers over this new blue fire... I shall call it 'soulfire', as it appears that it is only made on soul sand and this new stuff that looks like soul sand, but isn't. I think I shall call it... 'soul soil', because it looks like it could be some type of soil. She will also have powers over soul magic too. That will be a real asset. Her hair will be the color of the soulfire she wields. She will be destined for great things. High Priestess, like myself. Dianite shall be the one to tell her. She will also be a great Potions Master, like her father before her.

'Dianite, tell her that she needs a wand to use her soulfire magic and that she can only use a little bit. I don't want her to be overwhelmed if she were to know that her powers are bigger than she thought they'd be. She will find out eventually how her powers work. Let her figure it out on her own. She is also very psychic. Her psychic powers will rival those of my own. Dianite, say these words to anyone who might need to hear them: She will be the key to whatever happens next. That 'whatever' means helping you defeat the Darkness that will rise in the far future. Now, I must go, I need to tend to some things here in the present time.' I watched as Phoenix stood, closed and signed the book, and brought it to Dianite.

"Dianite, what I have here is a prophecy. Only your eyes are allowed to see this. Make sure to lock it safely away where others cannot see it or access it." Phoenix handed the book to Dianite and he opened it. I could see the surprise slowly dawn on his face as he read what was in it. After closing the book,

"I promise you, I will not let anyone see this prophecy. This stays between you and I. You have my word." Phoenix smiled and inclined her head.

"Thank you Dia, that means a lot to me." After she said those words, the memory faded away and I'm now back in the real world.

~After the memory~

"Nix?" Ianite asked. I seemed to be laying on the ground again, go figure. I slowly sat up with the help of Ianite and Sparky.

"Well, I know why my past self never showed you the book. It was for Dianite's eyes only. Ia, has Dianite ever said these words to you? 'She will be the key to whatever happens next'." Ianite's eyes widened I surprise.

"Yes, he has." I grinned.

"That's because that's what was said in the prophecy. Here's a word for word excerpt: 'Dianite, say these words to anyone who might need to hear them: She will be the key to whatever happens next.'"

"Wow... never let me underestimate past you or even current you. Your powers really are amazing." Dianite said. We all looked at Dianite strangely. It's not like him to say something like that. "What?" he asked, defensively. I snickered.

"Well, given who you are and what you are the god of, why are you surprised we're giving you strange looks after you said something good about someone?" Dianite narrowed his eyes a little, then conceded.

"Touché, Priestess."

"Oh, speaking of, Aianite said that she thinks I can become High Priestess now, given how I'm demonstrating High Priestess abilities now. Like leadership, calmness, patience, etc, etc." Dianite, Mianite, and Ianite looked at each other.

'Well, she has soul magic. Yes, I did say the other day that I didn't know, but I lied. I'm surprised she didn't catch that lie. I was trying my best to keep the whole prophecy to myself, but with Phoenix progressing the way she is, it's getting harder. That whole soul barrier thing that happened... I kind of want her to develop more of her soul magic before promoting her to the highest honor.' Dianite said to his siblings telepathically. To their knowledge, they don't know that I heard him. I kinda... eavesdropped a little.

'Frick... I gotta try and see how I can get my soul magic to improve then, if I wanna become High Priestess before the Olympics.' I got up and paced.

"Nix, what's up?" Sparky asked. I looked at him surprised.

"You just called me 'Nix'. You've never done that." He just shrugged.

"I mean, it is your nickname."

"Yeah, but only Gandus, Ianite, and Aianite have called me that... that I remember. As to what's bugging me, I'm just waiting for the gods' decision."

"Fair." The three turned to me at that point.

"We've decided to have you develop your soul magic more before promoting you to High Priestess," Mianite announced. I sighed, putting up an act, making it like I didn't overhear them.

"Alright... well, guess I gotta try and build up my soul magic. Hmm... soul magic..." I began to pace again. "Soul magic... it's gotta have something to do with souls... but how?" I tried working out aloud.

"Should we try going to the soul sand valley in the Nether?" Gandus suggested. We all looked at her.

"I suppose... and Mianite, Dianite, call to your Champions and Mianite, call to Dec as well. I think this is a thing we all should be a part of." They nodded and a few minutes later, the guys were approaching. I gave them the low down on why they were called here and they nodded.

"My portal spawns us in a soul sand valley. Let's go to my island," Karl offered. We all nodded, that worked out nicely. The gods, of course, floated above us as we got into boats. We made our way to Karl's island and went over to his Nether portal. We geared up before going in, so that we could be safe from the mobs of the Nether as I tried Gandus' suggestion. After gearing up, we headed through. I'd never been to the soul sand valley before, so this was gonna be a new experience. As we appeared in the Nether, we stepped out of the portal and I looked around. Whooooaaaaa. Soul sand valleys look so cool! Well... of course I'd think that. Soulfire and soul magic are my specialties. After admiring the place, I looked around and tried concentrating. So far, nothing. Hmm... I looked closer at the soul sand, it's got this weird design... kinda like... faces? But they're weirdly shaped, but there's nothing else they could be. At least, not that I can think of. I focused on the soul sand and concentrated again.

After a while, I could faintly hear something. I tilted my head a little, as if to hear it better. It took a bit, but the noise started getting louder. The noise... it's not noise, it's the souls crying out. Some screaming, some crying, some angry. The more I focused and stayed, the more I wanted out. Thing is, as much as I wanted out, I felt like I was rooted to the spot. I covered my ears, hoping it would help, yet knowing it really wouldn't. My face scrunched up, letting my friends know, 'hey, help!' It worked, 'cause I felt someone literally pick me up and carry me through the portal. When we got to safety, I looked up at who had brought me out of there. Sparky, of course.

"What happened back there?" Tom asked. Sparky set me down and I sighed.

"It was awful... screaming, crying, anger... every bit of it entered my mind and rooted me to the spot. Like... like they wanted to take me with them, add my own soul to the mix. Have me endure the pain and suffering they're going through. As much as I wanted out, I couldn't move. I'm glad you noticed that I wanted out Sparky. I'm damn sure that if I stayed there any longer, they'd have taken me. I think they knew that I could hear them." Everyone was shocked by my experience.

"No more soul sand valleys for you then," Gandus remarked. I thought about that.

"As much of an awful experience as that was, I don't think that should be the case. Maybe if I can get more control over my soul magic, I can help them." Sparky shook his head.

"I don't think you can. They're trapped in the soul sand in the Nether, and the Nether is kinda equivalent to Hades. Hades is a bad place where bad people go. I highly doubt you could help those souls." I sighed. He has a point. Now what? How else can I practice my soul magic? I started pacing again.

"Why the pacing?" Dec asked.

"I dunno what else I can do to practice my soul magic... soul sand valley seemed to be the one thing that was promising, but look where it landed me. Back in the over world."

"Well, I have a suggestion. Go back to your home village." I looked back and saw Aianite.

"Aianite? What are you doing back so soon?"

"Aianite?" The others asked. I looked at them like, 'what are you talking about?'

"What do you mean? Can you not see her?"

"We don't see her this time Nix," Ianite said. I got a bit of a surprised look.

"It's because of your soul magic that you can see me. When I first arrived here, they could see me because I wanted them to. Right now, I don't want them seeing me. It's you that needs a bit of guidance at the moment, and I'm just the spirit who can help. It's because I'm a spirit that I know how to help you. Go back to your home village, trust me. You'll know what to do next." Aianite disappeared again.

"She left now, but she told me what I could do. We're going to my home village."