Previously on ATIS…
Sharzad woke up to hear voices echoing down the chamber of ice. Curiously, she arose, yawning and stretching softly. The narwhal woke, and she stroked him once before standing up and heading towards the icy corridor.
She was barely two steps away when she heard cawing behind her. The narwhal stared at her, his voice betraying alarm.
"What happened?" she asked. "Are you hurt?"
The narwhal shook his head. With a sinking feeling, Sharzad knew that the narwhal was telling her to stay with him, to not investigate what was going on.
"I can't stay here forever," she responded. "I have to go and see what's out there. I promise you, narwhal, that I will return."
-o-o-o-
Darius lay on his bed. He was bereaved, but to the point where he couldn't cry. He just couldn't. If he let anything out, then all the memories would come back, the pain and the anger…
It was his fault that Sharzad had died. He could blame it on Daewon for as long as he liked, but the truth was, he had failed in his duty to protect his sister. And she would never come back home again.
He rolled over, staring at the ceiling. More than anything, he wished he could turn back time. Jump forward and take the blow that was meant for him, and not for his sister. But there was nothing left. Nothing but him and his miserable thoughts.
-o-o-o-
"Yer fathah was sick," her mother said. "Sick in da head. While da boys were in bed, I waitd fer him ta come home, and then I let it out. I told him how it ain't right how he didn' do work, how da boys were strugglin' without their fathah, and how I knew he was cheatin'.
"We had a big fight, one that right rockt da very walls. And da next day, I woke up an' fin' that he was gone. Never heard from him again, and I didn't wanna – didn't have da energy ta go after him."
"You were pregnant with me," Maire said. It wasn't a question, but a statement.
"I right was." Maire's mother nodded. "Yer brothers had questions, but I didn' tell them what he went and done. I just say he left. An' I raist six fine boys and one fine girl, all by mahself. And I ain't needin' a man ta help me."
Before opening the door, Maire's mother turned towards her. "I'm sure glad ya never met 'im, Maire. I'm sure he's long forgottin about us now. I'm glad he didn't taint yer life the way he did fer yer brothers an' everyone else."
-o-o-o-
It was the third painting that caught Sharzad's attention the most. It was a painting of a man and a woman, on a capsizing ship. The wind behind them was virulent, and the expressions on their faces were of pure terror. Sharzad could almost feel their anguish as they stood there, half-praying for salvation that would never come.
"So, who's the subject of the painting?" she asked.
The boy's eyes widened. Which?
"This one, obviously," she answered, pointing to the painting of the man and woman. "There must be a subject. Who are the people who" –
She stopped as she saw the look on his face. It had become deathly pale, and his eyes beseeched her.
"I'm sorry," she said finally. "I won't talk about it if you don't want me to."
-o-o-o-
"Did – did you do what she told you to do?" Angéle's words were barely a whisper.
Aria stared at her. She remembered a sickening sensation in her stomach, a loud crash in her ears, and then silence. She nodded.
"Oh, Aria – you didn't!" Angéle cried out, her face stricken.
"What else did you expect?" Aria asked shakily. "H-how can I not do what she asks? She'll kill me if I don't do what she says! I'llkill me!"
"I would rather be dead than hurt someone I love," Angéle whispered. She lightly stroked Aria's cheek.
Aria pushed Angéle's hand away.
"That's where we're different," she said. " I do what it takes to survive, to keep myself afloat in the world. You – you're the most selfless person I've ever known. You'd die for the people you care about." She stared at Angéle. "But I'm not like that. I'm not and I never will be. And if Isolde's going to get me my righteousness, I'm not going to stop."
CHAPTER 19: THE ELEMENTS REVEALED
Oh no. Aria's heart beat wildly as she looked at Angéle. The younger girl had given a start, and was staring at Aria, her eyes wide.
She's found us out. Terrible options were swirling in Aria's head. She knows we've been messing with her stuff. She's going to punish us!
"We have to get out of here," she said, grabbing Angéle's hand. The book fell to the floor. "We have to get out of this place!"
"But I" –
"Come on!" Aria roughly grabbed Angéle, pulling her out of her chair. She cried out, but Aria ignored her protests as she dragged her up the stairs, heaving and panting.
She knew Angéle couldn't handle the climb, but didn't care. I just need to get her to safety… Her mind whirled, and she grabbed onto the banister.
"There you are." The high, cold voice made Aria jump. Isolde was standing at the top of the stairs, her eyes darkening as she looked at them. "My sweet girls." She flounced down the steps, her glittering blue dress shining as she marched up to them.
"Sweet girls," she said again, her eyes darkening. She stroked Angéle's face with her outstretched hands. "What are you doing so far away from your rooms?"
Angéle squirmed under her touch. "Taking a walk."
"But you are in no condition to walk." Isolde's eyes became more and more dangerous. "What is your business here?"
Get away from her, Aria wanted to shout. Leave her alone. She glared at the sorceress, expelling all the hate she could in her voice.
"I took her out," she snapped. "She's getting weaker and weaker, and I made her walk. She's not sleeping to death on my watch."
Isolde looked amused. "Is that so?" Her fingers had now moved to Angéle's neck, and Aria watched, with horror, the close proximity of Isolde's nails to her throat. Angéle was no longer struggling; she just stared up at Isolde with dull eyes. "But such a long walk for such a weak girl"…
Aria pushed herself forward and glared at Isolde.
"You leave her alone," she cried. She meant to sound threatening; instead, her voice came out as pleading. "Don't touch her. If you're angry with us, take it out on me. I'll take whatever punishment for the both of us."
From behind her, she thought she could hear Angéle plead, "No"…
Isolde laughed. "And why exactly do you think I was here to punish either of you? Have you been up to something naughty?" She was smirking now. "Is there something I should punish you for?"
"What?" Aria stared at her. She doesn't know? Her mind was whirling. She doesn't know what we were doing?
"I said, is there something I should punish you for?"
"No," said Aria instantly. She stared at her. What's up with her? Why is she acting like this? She'd never seen Isolde act like this before.
But Isolde seemed satisfied with that answer. "Good." She leered down at them. "In the meantime, I find your overprotectiveness to be adorable. It suits you. Now come on."
Scarcely believing their luck, Aria continued to pull Angéle up the steps, though the girl was breathing more heavily than she had before.
"Oh, for Glacia's sake." Isolde snapped her fingers. A tile of ice zoomed out of the floor and up to Aria and Angéle's feet. It swept them up, nearly knocking Angéle over, though Aria held her tightly. She gasped as the platform whirled them up the steps and to their rooms.
"There." Isolde had appeared right beside them. The tile zoomed back, and Aria heard a thunk that meant the tile was back in its place. She began to walk Angéle to her room, but stopped as she felt Isolde's cold hand on her wrist.
"Not so fast," Isolde snapped. "I have a mission for you."
Aria felt her heart drop. Is she going to make me do something that'll break Angéle's heart? She stared up at the queen, whose eyes were narrowed.
"We're leaving the realm," Isolde said softly, her voice sounding like a dagger. "To Whisperia."
"But" – What were they going to do? What was in Whisperia? And why was Isolde making them go? Aria stared frantically at Isolde, who narrowed her eyes. "Is there a problem?"
"No," lied Aria, her heart beating frantically.
Isolde laughed. "So then what's the problem?"
"Nothing," Aria said quickly.
"So then let's go." Isolde grabbed Aria by the waist. She felt her body being compressed in a cold, squeezing sensation, and then the darkness faded.
The red and yellow crystal formed an arc together, connecting in a colorful stream of purple. Darius looked up and saw that the door to the water chamber was opening.
"Time for the Test of Water," Maire said, leading him forward.
A reflecting pool glimmered in the room. Which made sense, considering that it was the Test of Water. Darius looked down and saw that it was shining at him, its blue depths glinting magnificently. At the end of the chamber was a blue crystal.
"Looks like I have to go swimming for this to work," he sighed.
He put his bag down before diving into the water. The shock of the cold, hypothermia-inducing water nearly made him pass out. He gasped for a breath of air, shaking uncontrollably as he swam forward.
I… c-c-can't, he thought, gasping. So… so cold…
The coldness could only remind him of one thing: Sharzad's body, trapped in the ice crystal. He screamed as he came up for air, tears flowing down his cheeks.
She's gone, the voice whispered to him. It's your fault.
Darius felt his very emotions disappearing, snaking through him like the water. It was worse than the Test of Air; even with the wind blowing at him and renegade thoughts of subversion, he'd been able to keep control of himself. But this place… it was like his entire being was dissolving, turning into liquid like the water below.
My fault, he thought, closing his eyes. My fault. His head disappeared underwater.
He couldn't swim. Something had caught hold of him, something binding. The water was consuming him, not just with its coldness, but its lack of air. He couldn't breathe any longer.
It took him a second to realize that the lies were suffocating him. With his depressed thoughts of grief, he was losing himself. Losing his touch and his brain – his heart was taking over.
I can't let this happen, he realized. I've got to win. He gritted his teeth. Sharzad or no Sharzad, I have to get out of here and save Aria!
He swam towards the gem, fighting against the icy cold. Shaking his head, he reached forward and grabbed the blue crystal.
And then the room erupted into storm.
The water was swirling around, shaking him. What had once been a calm, stagnant lake was now a volatile, spitting whirlpool. He held it to his chest, kicking furiously.
"Swim!" Maire shouted. "Swim for your life!"
Okay, here goes. Taking the biggest breath he could muster, he swam underwater, forcing himself into the pool as he fought against the undercurrents, stopping them from pulling him astray. I have only one place to go, and that's back there… He kicked hard and continued to swim.
He reached stone. Coming up to the surface, he gasped as he took in the air, breathing heavily. Maire snatched the crystal from him and helped him up, out of the water.
"That was scary," she whispered. "We'd better go quickly."
"Okay," said Darius, squeezing her as they walked out of the chamber. The warm air had never felt more pleasant. He closed his eyes and sighed as Maire, using her elemental powers, lit a fire with her hands, drying his hair and body until he was completely warm.
"There." Maire extinguished the fire and looked at him. "Last test, now?"
Leif awoke with a start. His heart was thumping, and he sat up straight, his breath coming out in short gasps. He stared around the igloo.
Something was happening. He didn't know what it was; all he knew was that it was something bad. Something related to… Sharzad.
His roommates were asleep. Leif grabbed his parka and stole out of the igloo, his heart hammering. He ran to the prisoners' igloo.
There was no one there, not even a guard. Leif stared, a horrible feeling in his heart. Oh no…
"Leif?" a voice behind him called. Cupun, the warrior on guard duty, stuck his head around. "What's going on?
Leif scrambled for his pad. In a short sentence, he wrote: Where is Sharzad?
"Who?" asked Cupun, frowning. "Oh – you mean the prisoner? Chieftain Sedna has taken her to the Crypt of the Elder. Why do you" –
Leif was already running in the direction of Nanurjuk Glacier.
"Leif!"
But the boy didn't respond. He flew through the icy tundra, his mind spinning with adrenaline and fear.
What had happened? Where had she gone? And why was she away?
The five-minute flight seemed to take forever. At last, Leif found the crevasse and entered it, panting. He boarded a floating shard of ice, his mind filled with questions.
Why was he so worried? For all he knew, Sedna and Sharzad could be merely asking the Elder advice on how to lead the Tribe. It could just be that – nothing too dangerous.
Of course, no one went to the Elder simply to ask for advice on how to lead a tribe.
Leif's body was shaking as he entered the crypt. He stared around, unsure of where he had ended up. This didn't look like the right place.
For instance, the entire place was destroyed.
"Who are you?" a voice in front of him said. Leif jumped as an elderly man appeared behind a pile of slushy rubble. "Why are you here?"
Leif stared at him, his mouth opening wordlessly.
"Can you not speak?" the man asked.
Leif nodded. He pulled out his pad, and began to write. Sharzad is gone.
"Why, of course she is gone," the man answered. "She and the chieftain of the Adlivun Tribe came to me. I sent them to the Infinite Ocean in order to find the Spirit of the Arctic, which will cure the Crypt – what's the matter?"
Leif's face had gone deathly pale. He stared down at the ground, closing his eyes. Not there not there not there…
"Son, what's the matter?"
Leif opened his eyes. The sage was staring at him, a concerned look in his face. "Why are you so upset?"
Leif scribbled frantically on his pad. She's in danger.
"How do you know that?"
Leif lowered his head, not wanting to relieve the horrible memory. All he wrote was, Place is dangerous.
"I have another question for you," the man said. "How did you know that your friend was in danger?"
Leif felt almost afraid to tell him; he was afraid that the sage would laugh once he knew the real reason. But looking up at the man, he knew anything he said was safe. He wrote: I just had a feeling. A gut feeling.
The man's eyes widened, and he looked at Leif.
"You are clever," he said. "Many men do not know how to listen to their gut, and that is a mistake they make. To be able to listen to oneself requires great self-confidence and courage. I believe you have the makings of a future shaman."
Leif didn't feel brave or self-confident. He felt like a scared teenage boy, unable to figure out why he was feeling so much emotion in one go. He wasn't used to emotion at all. Hadn't felt it since the accident had happened. Didn't speak to anyone, didn't talk, didn't even smile.
And then Sharzad had come along. He'd only known her for a day, but he'd felt more than just a friendly connection towards her. From the very beginning, he'd been attracted to her. Not only that, but she was kind and just. She'd made an effort to know him, whereas all the other children his age were too busy with their own friends to pay attention to him.
If Sharzad died, Leif would never feel that spark inside of him again. He would never train to become a warrior, never even paint. For the rest of his life, he would just be sitting inside of his shell.
"I need to follow them," he wrote, his eyes pleading. "Please take me to them."
The shaman shook his head. "I cannot leave here. The moment I leave, the forcefield will fall. However, I can open the Sirenix Gate for you to enter. But be careful, my friend. I do not want anything to happen to you."
I don't care what happens to me, Leif thought. I only care about Sharzad. But he nodded.
"All right then." The elder closed his eyes. An air bubble formed around Leif's head, and a blue, spiraling portal began to appear. Leif stared at it, mesmerized by its watery depths.
"You don't have time to waste," the man advised him.
Closing his eyes, Leif leapt into the portal. He gasped as the cold water sucked him in, and then a deafening rush roared through his ears, sending him into a new world.
Darius placed the blue gem into the pedestal. Maire watched as it shined brilliantly, and the purple arc connected to it. Three gems shined, each connected to each other through a triangle.
But one was missing. The crystal of earth was not there, still hidden away in its room. And in order for the elements to be reunited, they had to test themselves once more.
The final door opened, and Maire walked towards it, Darius behind her. "It's my turn," she said, tossing him the backpack as she walked into the room.
There was nothing but earth and stone in the chamber, and a few green vines for good measure. Of all the chambers, Maire figured this would be the easiest one. She shrugged, walking down the hall towards the emerald jewel, ready to find it and get back to the circle…
It hit her as suddenly as stone. The earth rippled, and she fell flat on her face, gasping in surprise. "No!" she yelled, tasting blood in her mouth.
She heard a laugh in her ears. Did you really think it would be this easy, girl? The voice continued to jeer. You're stupid for wanting to change course.
What do you mean? thought Maire, forcing herself to her feet.
You're a fool to be on this mission, the voice laughed. Don't you want stability in your life? You'll forever be chasing after Aria, and you'll never have any security in your life. Your precious boyfriend isn't going to save you, either. You'll be all by yourself!
I don't need anyone to save me, Maire thought defiantly. She was getting sick of all of these tests; all she wanted was to go home.
Of course you want to go home, the jeering voice continued. Come to Mother Earth, and you'll be safe. Nothing will happen to you.
Distracted, Maire turned around. Where? Where is this voice coming from…
And then she heard a loud sound above her. A boulder hurtled from the ceiling, directly above her. She let out a scream and threw herself to the side.
No! Anger coursed through her. I'm not going to fall for your tricks, Earth. I'm not going to let myself get buried in a prison of safety! I'm going to get out of here! She ran towards the gem.
The stones kept falling, but she dodged them, fearlessly running. Eventually, she reached the crystal, which was resting atop a stone pedestal. She grabbed it triumphantly and turned around.
Immediately, the ground began shaking. It took all of her willpower not to fall over, and she gasped, staring around her. It was then that she realized what was happening.
The walls were moving in.
Maire didn't even stop to think. She ran down the corridor, screaming as the walls moved in towards her, threatening to flatten her and trap her forever. A horrible fate, one that she did not want to face…
She tripped over a pile of rocks, the crystal flying out of her hands. The walls came closer and closer in. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing this was the end.
"No!" Darius screamed. He was gasping, a desperate plea in his tone. "You can do it, Maire. Come on!"
That was all the encouragement Maire needed. Scooping up the crystal, she ran forwards, running for her life.
The walls were getting closer and closer. Then, they were an inch on either side away from her. Only a yard more to go…
She forced herself out from the gap, landing on the platform just as the walls completely closed in. A dead silence filled the hall. Not even an echo could be heard in the chamber.
"Maire"… Darius had tears in his eyes. "That was too close." He pulled her tightly to him and kissed her.
She kissed him too, holding the crystal behind his back as they stood there together, having escaped death twice. This bond only made them stronger, and she pulled back, reassured that no matter what, she would always have stability. As long as Darius was there.
"Okay," she said, smiling at him. "Now let's go and fit the last crystal."
"Look ahead," Sedna said.
Sharzad followed her. Though limited with her blurry underwater vision, she could make out the Tower ahead of them, its dazzling features taking her away. It was a tall stone figure constructed in the water, with swirling lights from within. Below was a jagged entrance.
"The entrance is underwater," Sedna explained. "We have to swim up to the top in order to find the Spirit."
"Wait, what's that?" Sharzad pointed down to the sea floor. A large pile of rubbish was lying there, almost blocking the entrance to the
"I don't know," said Sedna, frowning. "What is that?"
The two of them swam down towards the rubbish. As they got closer, Sharzad realized that it was a shipwreck.
"I don't believe it." Sedna's voice shook with outrage. "Ships aren't allowed in the Infinite Ocean. This is the land of merfolk, not land-dwellers."
"Then why hasn't it been towed away?" Sharzad asked.
"I don't know," Sedna answered grimly. "This isn't good, Sharzad. Let's not go down any farther."
Sharzad nodded. They swam into the entrance to the tower. They swam until they reached the surface of the water, and pulled themselves out to look at their surroundings.
The entire tower was filled with dancing lights. Sharzad stared around, mesmerized by its beauty. She could practically hear the echoes of the spirits, faint music strumming through the walls as they sang.
But this was… different. The spirits didn't sound happy, nor were they rejoicing in heaven. They sounded… sad. And terrified.
"Something's not right here," Sedna muttered, her eyes dark.
Sharzad only had time to process that when she heard a yell behind her.
"Hold up ye hands, lassies, and come with us!"
Aria stared around at the place they had just landed in. The difference from Glacia struck her immediately, and she gasped as she stared around in this new world.
First of all, the place was hot. After days in the wintry cold, the temperature was nearly boiling. It felt like summer on steroids.
Secondly, it was so dark here. Glacia was also dark, of course, as there had been no sunlight for sixty years, but this felt different. The darkness was much hazier, almost forced. It was like her whole vision had been tinted black.
"Whisperia, realm of the night." Isolde had joined her, and she jumped. The sorceress continued, her harsh voice penetrating through the night. "Filled with false glamour and trickery at every step. And with lies."
So are you, thought Aria. She had zero sympathy for the sorceress, especially after all she'd done to her. I could just kill her right now… She clenched her fists.
"Why are you angry at me?" The sorceress was glaring at her. Her cold, dark eyes made Aria step back, shocked at their intensity.
"I don't know why you're so angry with me." The sorceress was coldly speaking; something in her voice made Aria's head sink lower. "Especially after I saved you from all that."
"Saved me?" Saved me from what? she wanted to scream. You mean, after you ruined my life?
"Your parents never loved you." The sorceress's voice was cold. "You are a fool if you think otherwise. They hated you, and they always wanted you gone. You are a liar if you think I have nothing but your best interests at hand." She marched forward and slapped Aria on the face.
The slap, stronger than anything she'd felt before, forced her to fall on her back, on the ground. She blinked as the sorceress stood over her, her voice dark.
"I don't know where you think anyone at home ever loved you. Not Darius, not Daewon, not Cixi. Nothing! All you have is me." She was now kneeling over Aria, and her head was level with her face. "Do you hear me? All you have is me."
"All I have is you," Aria repeated. She felt woozy-headed and confused. What was going on? Why was Isolde making her do this?
"Good." The sorceress's face had turned into a cold, cruel smirk. "Now get up and look."
Slowly, Aria pulled herself to her feet. She turned in the direction Isolde pointed her towards, and stared.
In front of her was a mansion. Gothic and dark, it was painted purple and black, the colors of Whisperia. She stared at it, transfixed, as Isolde stood behind her.
"That was his mansion." Isolde spat on the ground. "The man who betrayed all."
"Who?" Aria stared at it.
"Izō. Traitor." Isolde didn't give Aria a second to respond. Instead, she stared down at the mansion.
"Do you remember how it felt when Daewon betrayed you? How it felt when he exposed you to everyone, simply so he could shame you for something you should never have been ashamed of? After all, you only went with Cixi because he was a terrible boyfriend. It wasn't your fault!"
She's lying, she's lying… Aria thought. But she wasn't prepared for Isolde's next words.
"Feel that rage, that white-hot rage! You belong to it; it doesn't belong to you. You know that no one can possibly love you." Isolde's eyes were now on Aria. "So, I tell you, go! Go and destroy this mansion!"
"What?" Aria cried, but Isolde's voice had grown darker.
"I said, destroy the mansion!"
Something warm fell into Aria's hands, and she stared at it. An… axe. She couldn't remember where she'd held it before, but she knew she'd used it somewhere. What… what is this?
"If you do not destroy the mansion," Isolde cried, "you shall forever be a slave to your own feelings. Do not let the resentment control you, Aria. Let it out! Until you get your revenge, you shall never be free! So go! Go and destroy the mansion!"
An inexplicable anger, a familiar feeling, rose up in Aria's chest. I need to destroy this place… She held her axe over her head and brought it down.
The axe rippled the ground, and shockwaves rippled the ground. Aria brought it down again, and this time, the house itself began to shake.
"What's going on?" a voice shouted. "Who's causing this?"
I am… thought Aria. It is I who is doing this, not anyone else. She let out a mad cackle.
"It is I, Aria Cadenza! Hear me as I lay waste to this place, as punishment for all you have done!"
"It's her!" a voice squeaked in terror. "She's come here!"
Aria flung her axe at the house. Purple spells shot out of it, slamming into the house with a terrific boom. She let out a laugh, releasing all the tension she'd been holding for weeks.
This is fun, she thought lazily, continuing to shoot. Destroying things is… fun. She continued to shoot.
"Stop!" someone yelled. "This house is protected under the Historical Monuments of Whisperia Act!"
She turned around. A group of wizards were standing below her, glaring at her. She detected the fear in their eyes, though; it would not be hard to get rid of them.
"What do I care for a historical monument?" she snarled back, and shot another purple ray at them.
They screamed and scattered before the spell could hit them. Laughing, she flung another bolt at the house.
By now, the mansion was nearly in ruins. The structure had crumbled, and the framework was completely dismantled. Any protective spells that had nurtured the building were now obsolete, but Aria wasn't done yet. I want to see this place burn to the ground…
Someone with a brown face and white dress popped into her mind, and she stood there, startled. Who is that? She couldn't recall who this girl was, but could almost imagine her pleading, her crying eyes:
Aria, please don't do it.
Aria halted, looking around wildly. No one was there – everyone had retreated as far away from the scene as possible. Who's that? Who is there?
But there was no one there. The girl in Aria's head continued to talk back to her, her eyes wide.
I love you, the girl pleaded. Just stop. Don't do it.
You don't love me. Aria's subconscious was responding back, and she felt a savage fury overpower her. If you loved me, you'd stay with me. You wouldn't leave me alone!
No! The voice was getting weaker and weaker. Stop!
Aria smashed the axe down. The final ripple sent the whole house crashing down, in mere pieces. What had once been an impressive, Solare-knew-how-many-years-old mansion, was now a complete wreck. She smiled in satisfaction. My work here is done…
"Whisperian army here!" a voice behind her snarled, a voice that she knew belonged as well to the tens of thousands soldiers marching behind her. "Shoot her now!"
But she was already gone, flying down into the structure she'd destroyed, to the portal that she knew would be waiting for her, to take her back to Isolde's castle. I've done my part now…
She blinked as her brain turned to water, and her mind let go of her thoughts. What is happening? What… just happened? Then blackness took over, and she knew no more.
Maire placed the final crystal on its pedestal. The four crystals joined together in a purple arc, glimmering and shining. Darius watched in awe as the circle intensified, uniting the four elements as one…
BOOM.
Darius and Maire were knocked off their feet. A ripple of purple energy shot from the circular fountain, all the way to the end of the chamber. The walls of the dome were shifting to make way for a circular hole at the top.
"What's happening?" Maire asked in a hushed voice.
The empty fountain in the center began to glow. It suddenly exploded with purple energy, filling to the brim with purple magic. Then it completely exploded, sending the purple arc into spirals and spirals up into the air. The purple arc ended in the hole above the chamber, and Darius could see no more.
The purple solidified into white. Shimmering steps began to appear, lighting the way up. Darius and Maire stared openmouthed as the spiral staircase gleamed. There could only be one way to go now…
"I'll go first," Maire said, leading the way.
Darius followed her, wondering what was up there. Surely it couldn't be another test… they'd gone through so much already. Not another one…
Above the dome was a circular room. Its walls were conic. The staircase below them closed, and they stood upon the platform, uncomfortably, in the center of the room. As Darius's eyes adjusted to the dark, he noticed a lump on the ground. As he stared closer, he realized it was not a lump, but a person. The person had long red curls and a brown dress with a white apron, and a familiar face. It was none other than…
"Mom!" Maire ran towards the woman, falling to her knees as she shook her. "Are you okay? Wake up!"
Darius stared at her. There was something horribly wrong about all this, something he could not put his finger on. Something isn't adding up here… He stared at Maire.
"Get away from her," he said, his voice a faint echo.
Maire whirled towards him, her expression furious. "Can't you see what's going on?" she snapped. "My mother is" –
"Your mother is fine." A tan-skinned man wearing a tuxedo and green bowtie emerged from a hidden door in the wall, through the fire painting. His green eyes were cunning, and he stared shrewdly at Maire. "You, on the other hand, are a different story."
"Who are you?" Maire demanded, rising to her feet. "What did you do to her? If you're the one who did this to her, I swear I'll" –
"I didn't do anything," the man interrupted. "You did, Maire. You put her through this."
"What?" Maire demanded.
"She came looking for you," the man said simply. "You said you would be back home within a few hours. When nightfall passed, she grew worried and came to the volcano herself. You caused this, Maire. And it's thanks to you that her life was ruined."
"What do you mean?" Maire's face had gone completely white.
The man laughed, and this time, it was a cold, jeering laugh that sent chills down Darius's spine. "You ruined your family. It is your birth that drove a wedge between her and her husband, which split your entire family apart. Your brothers were completely destroyed by not having a father figure. And it damaged your mother completely; she still hasn't recovered. All because of you."
"Who are you?" Maire whispered.
"Haven't you guessed?" the man laughed. "I'm your father, Maire. It's me you owe for every breath you take. Don't tell me you haven't wondered about me, or who I am? I am the ghost that haunts every corner of your mind." His eyes glinted maniacally. "And no matter how hard you try, you will never absolve yourself of the blame."
Darius felt his own blood boil at how manipulative this man was. He's messing with Maire's mind, and she doesn't even know it. He turned to face him.
"Then why did you ditch her and your family?" he demanded. "You're the one responsible for this, not her. This is ridiculous!" His voice rose.
"I will not have you interfering with my daughter," the man snarled. "Besides, it looks like your phantom has arrived!"
Darius whirled around. Someone else was walking towards him, bursting out of the earth mural. His jaw completely dropped.
Aria stood before him, looking even more beautiful than she did in person. Her pink Charmix gleamed in the dim light, and her hair was curled. But her gaze was bloodless and terrible, and her eyes burned with hunger as she stared at Darius.
"Aria," Darius whispered, backing up slowly. "Hi"...
"It's your fault," Aria spat. Her eyes bore into him, and he could see their blue depths reflecting like ice. "It's your fault this has happened to me!" She hurled a yellow beam at him.
Darius dodged, pulling out his sword. He stared up at Aria.
"Please," he said weakly, "I don't want to hurt you! Aria, stop this! Stop this pointless rage!"
"Come back?" Aria began to laugh. "Not after what you did to me! You failed to protect me from Daewon. You ruined my life!" She shot another solar flare at him.
Darius yelled as his entire body burned. He pushed back against the pain, trying hard not to sob. Above him, he could hear Aria cackling madly.
He could sense Aria gathering more energy in her palm. Darius stared up at her, and then bowed his head.
No, he thought. I can't let her haunt me anymore. I have to let myself go from the lies I've told myself, and embrace the truth. Standing up, he turned to face her.
"You're wrong," he said, the words echoing around the chamber. "It's not my fault."
"What?" Aria's eyes had narrowed, and she glared down at him.
"I said, it's not my fault," Darius repeated. Now he was staring at her in the eye, his body trembling but his voice growing stronger as he spoke. "It's not my fault that you failed to protect yourself. I'm sorry about what happened to you in your childhood, and I wish things were different. But you are the only one responsible for your future. Not me, not Daewon, not Maire. You." As he said it, he knew those words to be true.
"Daewon destroyed me!" Aria snarled. "It's his fault that I'm like this in the first place! And you helped him!"
"I did not," Darius said. He stared up at her. "I'll do everything I can to help you, Aria; I'm not giving up on you. But the onus doesn't rest on me. I can promise you that I will do everything I can to make you realize that. There is a way out, Aria. You and I will find it, together." His voice was a mere whisper now. "And that starts with not blaming everyone around us."
Including Daewon, Darius realized. Daewon had been as much a victim as the rest of them. No matter how wrongly he'd acted in the past, he ultimately hadn't been responsible for Aria's decline. They'd all made their own decisions, and it had cost them all in the end.
"Just so you know, Daewon, I forgive you," he said quietly. He looked up at Aria. "And I forgive you, too."
Aria immediately vanished, disappearing into smoke. Just like that; not even a trace of her was left behind. Darius stared up at where she had been, confused.
She must've been a phantom, he realized. She was never here to begin with. Then he caught the sound of screams behind him.
Maire was in a headlock; the man who claimed to be her father had trapped her. She's being trapped by her own phantom, Darius realized in horror. He began to run towards her, grabbing his sword.
"Maire, I'm coming!"
Leif's body trembled as he swam towards the Tower, his clothes weighing him down. His entire being was fighting for breath, and he felt exhausted. Almost as if he would never make it.
But he had to. He had to continue, for Sharzad's life was at stake. He clenched his spear, holding it tightly as he continued forward.
He hadn't been here in ages. The last time he'd come here, he'd been on a ship bound to the realm of Melody, desiring passage through the Infinite Ocean so as to escape Glacia. His parents' ship, to be exact.
And the ship had crashed.
The shipwreck was there. Leif stared down at it, swimming down to it. He knew he probably shouldn't, that he was wasting time just by doing this. But he couldn't stop. If he left this place without saying something, he would never forgive himself.
Mother, Father, he thought silently, closing his eyes as he laid his hands on the shipwreck. They were buried somewhere under there, though of course he didn't know where. I need your help. I wish you weren't dead, that you could both help me. You're gone to the world. But I'm asking your permission, not just to avenge your death, but to find her. To bring her back and get her out of this place. Because… He drew in a breath. Because I like her.
There it was; he had finally said it. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes.
Leif had never felt love before. He was only thirteen, after all. He'd had a few crushes back in middle school, before the shipwreck which had cost him all of his emotions.
But this was different. This was deeper, and went beyond physical attraction. And so he had to go forward. He had to save Sharzad's life.
He swam up towards the tower's entrance, listening first. Instinct told him to go in immediately and catch up with them, but the rational side of him was much more active; after all, it was the only thing that had governed him for the past six months. He needed a plan. Without a plan, he wasn't going to get anywhere.
And then he heard voices.
"If you don't give us yer riches right now, we're gonna kill ya on the spot."
"We don't have any money!" That was Sedna's furious voice. "And even if we did, we would never bow down to thugs such as you!"
Leif's mind whirled. It was just as he'd feared. The pirates were living in the Tower, and had come after Sedna and Sharzad. He stood quietly, hardly daring to breathe.
"Come here, girl," the voice became mocking. "Bet ya're from a very rich family, ain't ya?"
"No!" shouted Sharzad, though Leif heard the tremor in her voice. "If you won't leave us alone, then so be it! We're not giving up without a fight!"
Leif couldn't take it anymore. He sped into the Tower, holding his spear threateningly in front of him. The dark tower became clearer as he ran in.
He saw Sedna, her pose defiant as usual. He saw Sharzad, whose eyes lit up in astonishment as she stared at him. And then he saw the five pirates, or "thugs" as Sedna called them. They stared at him in surprise, taken by shock that Leif had come to their rescue.
And then they burst into laughter.
"Look at him," the lead pirate howled through his tears. "If it isn't the little runaway." He walked up close to Leif, leaning down; Leif instinctively shrank back. His breath stank of rotten fish as he whispered in his ear, "I only cut your tongue last time; I can cut off your arms an' legs now in one slice."
Leif winced. Ragnar Bloodaxe, the leader of this group, was known for his violence. Leif had no doubt that Bloodaxe would follow through with his threat. But that wasn't his concern now. He thought quickly back to his training as a warrior of the Adlivun Tribe.
All of the children went through training and learned how to hunt and fight. Leif was a terrible warrior, and his mentors had said as much, but now he could hear their voices: Take your enemy by surprise. That's the best advantage you can have.
Without giving it any thought, Leif quietly angled his knee and kicked Ragnar in the gut.
The effect was instantaneous; Ragnar yelled and fell backwards. It became total mayhem from there. The other four pirates immediately stood up, firing their weapons at Leif.
But Sharzad was quicker. She dove in front of Leif, creating a shield that vaporized any dart or attack spell that came close. She looked towards Leif.
"I don't know how long I'll hold them," she admitted. Her face was filled with concern. "Leif, are you okay?"
Leif didn't know how to react. Here she was, right in front of him, and he had no clue what to tell her. He figured this wasn't a good time to take out his notepad.
"You shouldn't have come here," Sharzad told him. "This is too dangerous for you, Leif. You should've stayed home."
Leif's heart plummeted. Here he had come, all this way to find her, and she was telling him he should never have come.
He looked ahead. Sedna was in front of them, her expression fierce as she dueled three pirates at once. She was using the water around her to her advantage, and creating little currents here and there. None of the pirates' swords had yet pierced her, though Leif knew she couldn't fight all of them for long.
"I… can't… hold… this… much… longer"… Sharzad panted.
Leif looked towards her. He saw sweat pouring down her face, and knew she wouldn't be able to hold it. Time for me to play my part. He ran out of Sharzad's protective forcefield.
"What are you doing?" Sharzad screamed. "Leif, no!"
But he had already lunged himself at Bloodaxe. He was a warrior, without any magical abilities, so it would be easier to take him down.
But he had underestimated Bloodaxe's skill. The experienced pirate immediately pinned Leif down, his grin triumphant. Leif struggled under his grasp.
"I guess it's time to do it now," he whispered, pulling out his sickle. He traced it along Leif's legs.
Leif gasped, shaking uncontrollably. There was no way to escape Bloodaxe, who was intent upon making him suffer before he killed him. This was the end.
But then he realized something. His body was pinned down, but his hands were free behind his head. And he had a spear in his hands. But he would have to act quickly…
With the last of his strength, Leif grabbed his spear and crashed the blunt end over Bloodaxe's face.
The force made Bloodaxe crumble, temporarily stunning him. Leif pulled himself out from his grasp and stared down at Bloodaxe. He was now holding his spear the correct way, with the arrow over his face.
I should do it, he thought. I should kill him. He'd killed his parents, after all. Ambushed them in the middle of the Infinite Ocean, on Queen Isolde's orders. No one knew how they'd managed to get into the Infinite Ocean. Of course, since they didn't have Sirenix, they were unable to get back home.
No doubt Isolde had done that intentionally. Sent them to do her dirty work, and then sealed them off so she wouldn't have to reward them. Leif clenched his teeth, rage filling him at the thought of Bloodaxe's deception.
But he wasn't a murderer. He couldn't kill Bloodaxe, no matter how much he deserved it. And so, he backed away slowly.
A thump behind him told him that Sharzad had defeated the other pirate. She flew towards him, looking rather triumphant. "That'll keep him out for some time," Sharzad said. "Good job, Leif."
A sense of pride glimmered through Leif. He couldn't believe Sharzad had just complimented him. Maybe she does want me here after all. He grinned at Sharzad, but the smile quickly left his face as Sharzad gasped. "Oh – no!"
Leif whirled around to see what was going on. A deep gash pierced Sedna's chest. She had fallen back, transformed into her civilian form. The three pirates shouted in glee, and ran towards her, shouting profanities in Glacian.
No! Anger shot through Leif, and he ran at them, dueling fiercely with his spear. Volts of purple lightning flew from Sharzad's hands, and Leif took a moment to admire her. Wow… she's fierce… She looked like a warrior princess every time she dueled, with her auburn hair flowing behind her and her silver vest gleaming so defiantly. She finished off two of the pirates with a final stroke.
"Okay," she said, taking in a breath. "Now what do we do about Sedna?"
Leif looked at Sedna. The woman was lying on the ground, blood all over her chest. We need to get her to safety, he realized.
Sharzad had realized the same thing, as she murmured to him, "Help me carry her." She picked Sedna up by the upper body, and Leif held her legs. Panting and struggling, the two teenagers walked up a set of spiral stairs, to the top of the tower. They eventually reached the top, and stared at what was around them.
The top of the dome was circular. It was white, and had a glass top which displayed the stunning beauty of the sky. The nighttime sky was filled with dancing auroras, and the music had grown even more intense as they'd walked up. Now Leif could practically hear the spirits amongst them.
"Look!" Sharzad pointed to the end of the tower.
Leif followed her gaze. He gasped as he saw what was ahead of them, his eyes going wide.
A sphere of ice sat atop a pedestal. The sphere was swirling with every color imaginable, reflecting the light of the auroras. It was the most stunning, divine item Leif had ever seen. He stared at it, transfixed by its beauty and power.
"Take it," Sharzad whispered.
As if in a dream, Leif walked slowly up to the pedestal. He held the ball of ice in his hands, closing his eyes. The colors beckoned to him, and he gasped.
He had been transported to the sky. The sky around him was dark, but the neon colors danced around him, shining brilliantly. He stared around, his eyes wide.
And then he heard them. Two people, a man and a woman, were flying towards him, smiling. The man had tawny hair and brown eyes, and the woman had long black hair and blue eyes. Both of them were smiling.
Leif stared at them, stunned. That can't be…
"Leif," the woman said, her eyes filled with tears, "You have done so well."
It was his mother. His mother, in the flesh and bone. His father was there as well. There was no trace of the injuries they'd sustained in the battle against the pirates; they all looked happy and well.
Leif still couldn't speak. All he could think was: are you really here?
"No," his mother said, "we are not truly here. We have been permitted to transgress from the Overworld for a short amount of time, just to speak with you. You're dreaming."
"If you have any questions, ask them now," his father added.
All Leif could think was, why did you do it? Why did you take me away from Glacia when it was so dangerous?
"Son, we had to," Leif's father said sadly. "In our day, we saw the genocide committed against the Panuk Tribe. We weren't fool enough to speak out against Isolde's regime, but she had eyes and ears everywhere, and we knew we'd be next. Your mother and I were Sirenix scholars, and so, we decided to smuggle ourselves, along with other political enemies of Glacia, to the Infinite Ocean. And we brought you along, too."
The ship. Leif remembered all of the men and women on board, all much older than him, how they'd drank and smoked like sailors. It had taken the innocence out of him. He swallowed, and thought, But there is no way out of Glacia through the Infinite Ocean.
"Yes," agreed Leif's mother, "but we didn't know that at the time. Listen to me, Leif." Her eyes filled with tears.
"When I opened that portal for you to escape, it was for you and you only – none of the pirates could follow you there. I sent you to the Adlivun Tribe, for I knew this tribe was wise, as the oldest surviving tribe of Nunangat. I know what you've faced there; as the only Glacian in a Nunangatan tribe, you've faced nothing but prejudice and strife. But it will be worth it. Trust me. Leif, we want you to live. And we want you to continue with what you're doing. So go ahead. Continue working to save Nunangat, to save Glacia from the queen." She smiled at him. "And never stop painting."
"Go on, son," Leif's father said softly, patting him on the shoulder. "Always know we are proud of you."
Leif opened his eyes. Sharzad was there, in front of him. He walked towards her, holding the Spirit of the Arctic in his hands.
He knew what to do. Holding it down, he pointed it towards Sedna, concentrating all of his energy on the sphere.
He could feel the power, the warm healing energy of his ancestors as he poured it all down. The gash began to close up, and Sedna's eyelids fluttered.
"What"… she muttered, pulling herself to a sitting position. She stared at Leif. "What are you doing here?"
Leif was taken aback. What could he say to his chieftain, who'd always shown nothing but disdain for him? Sharzad came to his rescue.
"He came for us, Sedna," she said firmly. "Because he knew we were in trouble. He is just as much of a warrior as you or me."
Something glimmered in Sedna's eyes, and she bowed her head. "I see I was wrong." She looked up at Leif. "I thank you for your courage, Leif. Without you, we would have been defeated."
To hear praise from his chieftain, Sedna of all people, was the highest honor indeed. Leif smiled and held the Spirit out to her, which she took.
"What are we going to do about the pirates?" Sharzad asked.
"Here." Sedna clicked her fingers. A boom sounded below them, and Sedna smirked sardonically. "I sent them back to Glacia. I'm sure the Glacian authorities will find and imprison them. They'll likely claim that the queen made them go missing, but she'll deny the whole thing."
Thank Njord, thought Leif. He didn't want to kill the pirates, but he didn't want them here, tainting the Infinite Ocean any longer. If the Glacian authorities were the ones who dealt with them, that would be perfect.
"All right." Sedna opened the Sirenix Gate behind them, and nodded. "It's time for us to go."
Maire's knees trembled as her father stared down at her, dark and demonic. Everything had turned upside-down in one moment. "Dad, I'm sorry," she whispered.
Her father laughed cruelly. "Too late for that now," he snarled, and then he struck.
She did not resist as he grabbed her, twisting her arms and pinning her to the ground. She whimpered as he held her there, grinning mercilessly. "This is where it ends," he whispered, beating her to the ground.
She screamed as he hit her. His fist punched everywhere, but the only pain she felt was in her heart. It stabbed her like the hottest fire, and she cried out, her vision turning to darkness…
"Maire, I'm coming!"
Maire opened her eyes. Her father was glaring over at the warrior, his expression sardonic as Darius turned towards her. He began to laugh.
"You think you can save her, prince?" he smirked. "This isn't a test of combat. Even if you run that sword through me, nothing will happen. I am always here, and will always be here."
Maire's mind was whirling. What do I do… what should I do? She couldn't believe how badly she'd ruined everyone's lives.
Yes, a voice inside of her said. You shouldn't believe it. Because… because it's not true.
She began to fit the pieces together, slowly understanding. Her father was wrong. It wasn't her fault that her mother and brothers had gone ahead and ruined their own lives. It wasn't even necessarily her father's fault. Sure, he'd ditched them, but it was they who chose to let it affect them negatively. Similarly to how Aria had let her parents' absence leave bitterness in her heart.
After all, thought Maire, plenty of people are abandoned by one or both of their parents. It just takes a certain type of person to not let herself deteriorate, to allow herself to get help.
She gazed up at her father's face, the face she didn't even want to be distantly related with. Her voice grew stronger as she pulled herself up, out of his grasp.
"No, you will not always be here," she snarled. "In fact, you were never here. I never saw you once throughout my entire life – all I have are hushed-up memories from my brothers. But you know what? That's fine. I don't want a damn thing to do with you."
"What did you just say?" the man snapped.
"You're not my father!" Maire yelled. "Okay, you are, but I don't want anything to do with you! Nor should I!" Her voice grew stronger. "And you know what? I'm worth more than you. Much more, honestly. So you can kiss your sorry butt goodbye, 'cause you're done for." She held her hands together.
She felt all of the elements of Summa coming together in her hands, wind, fire, water, and earth, in a spinning wheel. She held them together and shot them at her father's face.
But he was quicker. "Not happening," he sneered, grabbing his sword. In a split second, he reflected it, and it flew in the opposite direction.
Maire watched in horror as the wheel of her own creation, meant to kill her phantom, shot straight towards her mother.
"No!" she screamed, diving straight into the wheel. There was silence as she collapsed onto the ground, all senses leaving her. She could vaguely make out Darius's screaming and her father's laughing, but nothing but peace filled her as she sank into the ground, next to her dormant mother. At least I'm dying for the truth instead of living forever with my lies… Blackness overcame her, and she breathed no more.
She opened her eyes to find herself in a red cocoon, pulsing with orange flames. What… where am I? She stared in bewilderment around the cocoon, and then at herself. A warm, moist breeze softly whipped by her shoulders, coating her body in orange sparkles. What… what's happening?
She felt her body morphing, something forming over her legs and then her torso. A set of olive-green shorts appeared, followed by a creamy yellow tunic that exposed her midriff. Streaks of fire burned her hair, and then she felt her red curls shifting, styling upwards and then falling down over her back. A green-and-gold crown of leaves framed her red hair.
What's happening? thought Maire. She had never experienced such a wondrous sensation, not even while transforming. Could I possibly be… She stared down at herself.
Something wet and cool washed over her neck and into her mouth. The water droplets left a lime green band with an emerald pouch at her throat. The earth solidified around her feet, and then she felt olive-green sandals snaking their way up her ankles like vines.
Something joyous filled her heart, and her smile stretched from ear to ear. Then her wings formed. Shaped like that of a dragon's wings, they furled brilliantly behind her, adorned with silver and gold petals. A pan-flute and fiddle sounded in the distance, and she gasped, tears filling her eyes.
With the forming of earth below her feet, the cocoon began to disappear, and she stared around. She was back in the cone-shaped room, only it looked more fantastic than it had before. The murals sparkled, and the cone had parted to open to the sky. She knew, without a doubt, that they were at the top of the volcano.
"Maire?" a voice below her called. Maire looked down to see her mother at her feet, blinking slowly. "My lille girl – Maire!"
"Mom?" Maire asked quietly, kneeling down to embrace her mother. Her mother slapped her hand and glared up at her.
"Ya tol' me ya were gonna only be gone fer a day!" she scolded Maire. "Here I was, worriet sick, waitin' for ya ta come 'ome! But then ya didn', so I tol' Cináed ta look aftah da boys, an' den I rushed ovah 'ere! Wherever 'ere is, anyways." She looked around in confusion. "What is dis place?"
"It's the Chamber of the Spirit," a voice behind her said. Maire turned around to see four fairies flying towards them. Each wore a dress that corresponded with the color of her element; it was not hard to figure out why they were here. She gasped as she saw Darius behind them, completely bruised but very much alive.
"Maire!" he gasped. "You're alive!"
"Yes," the yellow fairy said. "Not only did she stand up for the truth, but she also earned her Enchantix by sacrificing herself to save her mother." She smiled at Maire. "Your father has no grip over you anymore."
"What?" Maire's mother sat up, grabbing Maire protectively. "That good-fer-nothin' chile-abandonah was here?"
"No," the blue fairy said. "Neither of them was truly here. They manifested themselves as you both see them, in accordance with your deepest fears. But you both overcame them, and thus, passed the Test of Spirit."
"We did?" Darius breathed.
"Certainly." The fairy with the yellow dress smiled. "And we, the Keepers of the Elements, are here to purify you with what you have come for."
Maire looked at her mother, who was smiling. She backed away, but not before kissing her daughter on her cheek.
"Now, I don' preten' ta unnerstan' much ah dis defense businiss," she said, "but I know ya gone and done sumpin' brave. So go aead, Maire. I'm proud ah ya."
Maire grinned at her mother, feeling her heart swell up with more words than she could say. "Thank you," she whispered. Then she linked hands with Darius and turned towards the fairies, waiting for the ceremony to start.
The three of them landed in the cathedral. Sharzad gasped as she hit the ground, grazing her knee lightly. She looked over and saw that Leif had also fallen over, on his face.
"Are you all right?" she asked him, bending over. He nodded and stood up.
"There you are," a voice said. Agloolik was standing in front of them, panting. "I have been waiting for you. We must hurry; the cathedral is about to fall."
Sharzad looked up and saw he was right. The whole place was about to fall. Sedna handed the Spirit of the Arctic to Agloolik.
"Let's do this," she said.
"All right," Agloolik nodded. "I need you two to converge your fairy-dust. Leif"… he looked at the boy. "Do what you can."
Sharzad focused on her pendant. A red pouch of fairy-dust emerged from her choker, and she inspected it closely. It was in the shape of a diamond, with yellow, jagged bars around the side. Opening the lid to reveal lavender fairy-dust, she drew it in the shape of a lightning-bolt, and then poured it around the room.
She could see Sedna's pouch, a wolf-shaped purple-and-blue vial with sea-green sparkles. Green and lavender joined together, and Sharzad caught Sedna's eyes. The older girl actually smiled at her – a rare, genuine smile – as they pointed their combined fairy-dust to the disk of ice.
Agloolik held the Spirit of the Arctic above his head, channeling the energy. Rainbow lights swirled into the crypt, more energetic than Sharzad had ever seen before. She stared as the walls began to fuse together, and as the crypt began to reassemble.
She looked down to see Leif pointing towards the tunnel. What does he want? she wondered, following him. She flew down towards him, and looked at what he was pointing at.
She gasped. In the heat of the journey, she'd completely forgotten about the narwhal. Kiviuq was gazing up, his eyes astonished as he stared around the tunnel, sensing the energy. Sharzad flew down to him and placed her hands on his head.
"Hi, Kiviuq," she said. "Listen to me. We're going to free you from this prison and get rid of this enchantment that has held you here for so long. Are you ready?"
She stroked him slowly, feeling his warm power as he nickered. Then she had an idea. "Come here, Leif."
Leif cautiously moved towards the narwhal and placed his hands on him.
"I'm going to channel the energy from the Spirit," said Sharzad. "And I'm going to channel it through you."
Leif tilted his head. Sharzad could make out what he was thinking: why me?
"Because you've got ancestors with the Spirit," Sharzad said with a smile. "And I think they're more relevant to you than me." She closed her eyes, drawing in energy from the Spirit of the Arctic.
She sent a stream of rainbow energy through Leif, who gasped in amazement. Sharzad poured her fairy-dust over Leif and the narwhal, thinking, that should cleanse them. She fed the energy into them, fluttering over.
She conjured a lightning-bolt and struck the icy chain. It melted, the power of the Spirit taking them over. Neon color swirled around the three of them, and Sharzad saw the narwhal nicker over Leif. She watched as the narwhal towards Leif's bowed head, lightly touching his forehead with his horn.
And then it pierced him.
"Leif!" Sharzad flew to him. He'd fallen down, groaning and lying his head on the ground.
And then he looked up. His eyes were no longer stormy; in fact, they were clearer than she'd ever seen them. He looked at her quietly, and then whispered, "I can speak."
Sharzad stared at him. His tongue had fully grown back, and he was smiling. The first smile Sharzad had ever seen on his face.
I cured him, Kiviuq's voice whispered in her head. She turned around to look at the narwhal, who was nickering. Like unicorns, our terrestrial counterparts, narwhals have immense powers over healing. And since you both saved me, I am forever in your debt. Ask me anything, and I'll do it.
"Then come with us," Leif whispered. "Let us go see the crypt."
Sharzad nodded, running forward. She turned towards the entrance of the crypt, and gasped.
The cathedral had been fully re-formed. Ancient stalactites hung from the newly-formed ceiling. The structure was held up with curved arches, gothic and magnificent. The floor looked beautifully-paved, a smooth, shining, reflective floor of ice. Green and purple sparkled everywhere, shining like the northern lights themselves.
"My goddess," Sedna whispered. "It's more beautiful than I've ever seen it before."
"It is," Agloolik said, and Sharzad turned to look at him. His clothes were now completely dry. His white beard had grown back to its full length, and he was wearing a clean tan robe with a sealskin coat on top. His eyes looked more determined as he looked at Sharzad.
"You saved this old man's life," he said. "I was about to give up. But it is thanks to you young ones that this crypt has been restored."
"And we'll fight against our enemies," Sharzad declared. "We will not be destroyed."
"No," agreed Leif, drawing towards her, "we won't."
Sharzad's heart fluttered. Now she could hear his voice, so warm and brilliant. A strong desire rose in her to kiss him, one that she'd never felt so urgently before.
But she didn't. For she knew that it would be a distraction from their mission, a detriment to what they were here for. And Nunangat's liberation had to come first. Swallowing, she turned towards Sedna, who gazed at them with narrowed eyes.
"Nice work." She clapped her hands together. "This is a breakthrough."
"And now, our next mission is to convince the Spring Soldiers to attack in two days from now," Agloolik added.
The fight's not over yet, Sharzad realized. The most difficult part was now approaching – they'd have to convince the Spring Soldiers that this was a cause worth fighting for. And to attack soon. For the quicker they saved Aria, the higher chance they had of freeing her from the spell.
But we'll get there. She saw Sedna, the fierce chieftain of the Adlivun Tribe, Leif, who'd dueled pirates to save them, and Agloolik, who now believed in their cause. We'll convince them at last. Determination rose in her heart.
And then Glacia will fall.
The four fairies situated themselves around Maire and Darius. The yellow fairy stood in front of them, the red fairy to their right, the blue fairy behind them, and the green fairy to their left. Each had a solemn look on her face.
The fairy in front of them, the youngest of the group, created a sphere in her hands. She looked to be about ten years old, though Maire knew she was in reality much older than that. Must be part of the glamour of the ritual. She wore an almost translucent, swirling yellow dress, and her long blond curls whipped behind her. Her skin was as white as the clouds above them, and her sky blue eyes were playful as she turned towards them.
"We take air with our first breath," she said in a light, sweet voice. "It represents spring, maidenhood, and the beginning of life, a new dawn. Face towards me, your east, and you shall find yourself liberated by it. It represents freedom and creativity, but it also carries the vices of fickleness and rebelliousness, which you faced in the Chamber of Air.
"I, Áine dos elementos, hence bestow upon you the Caeli de Cesión, the wind that shall set you free and open your hearts!"
Maire felt the wind whipping past her, and cried out in joy. It was the most liberating sensation she had ever felt. Closing her eyes, she thought to herself, I'm free!
A purple arc now connected Áine and the earth fairy. The wind soon dissipated, and then Áine motioned to turn to their right. Facing the south, Maire saw the red fairy step forward, holding another sphere in her hands. Her hair was red and wavy, though a shade darker than Maire's own hair, and her eyes were bright amber, fiercely staring back at them. She wore a fiery red dress that fell over her tanned knees, and looked to be only slightly older than Maire.
"Fire warms our souls all throughout the year," she said in a warm, bright voice. "It represents summer, coming of age, and passion. It is the element of the brave of heart, and also represents love. But in order to master this element, you had to face your anger in the Chamber of Fire."
No wonder I felt so angry, Maire thought. I'm so glad I got past that. The fairy continued to speak, her eyes warm as she gazed at them.
"I, Brigit dos elementos, hence bestow upon you the Ignis de Iluminación, with which you shall find it in yourselves to love and blaze trails forward!"
The warmest fire burned through Maire's heart, and she gasped in happiness. She felt as if she could do anything, that she was unstoppable. She gazed at her mother, who was looking at her with love in her eyes, and at Darius, the boy who shared this quest with her.
Another purple arc formed between Áine and Brigit. Brigit nodded for them to turn to the right, to the west. Maire turned to face the blue fairy, who was noticeably older than Brigit but did not look aged. Her hair was the longest, a black silk that fell to her knees. She had teal blue eyes and a dress of the same color, one that flowed like a river. Her cool skin rippled as she gazed into Maire's eyes.
"Water is the most soothing element of them all," she said in a flowing, pure voice. "We drink it, bathe in it, and relax against its current. It represents autumn, the peak of fertility, compassion, and flexibility. But it also represents high levels of sensitivity, which is not always a good thing, and a deep sense of grief. In order to conquer this element, you had to face your grief in the Chamber of Water.
"I, Lí Ban dos elementos, hence bestow upon you the Agua sen Adulteración, which shall purify you and fill you with compassion!"
Cool liquid flowed through Maire, and she gasped in delight. She felt absolved of all sins, shining brilliantly above all. Kindness for all flowed through her: empathy for Aria, and affection for her mother. I didn't know it felt so good to care about others. She heard Darius's laugh next to her. A second arc formed, connecting Lí Ban to Brigit and completing three-fourths of the circle.
She didn't need to be told to turn this time. Facing the north, she saw the oldest fairy, the fairy of the earth. Her hair was white and flowing, and she had pale brown skin. Her emerald green eyes shined at them, omnipotent. Her dress was the simplest of all of them, a green, earthy color that appeared soft and malleable.
"Earth is the foundation of our lives," she said in a deep, wise voice. "It is where we return to after our deaths, and where all that has ever existed lies down to rest. It represents winter and old age, but it also represents stability, steadiness, and wisdom. However, it also represents a sense of narrow-mindedness, stubbornness, and resistance to change, which you had to overcome in the Chamber of Earth."
So that's what the Test of Earth was about, thought Maire. I can't believe I thought it was the easiest one! The fairy continued speaking, her voice an aged echo.
"I, Danu dos elementos, hence bestow upon you the Terra do Titor, which shall ground you and fill you with understanding and wisdom!"
Maire felt the earth below her more keenly than ever before, holding her to her feet. For it was her mother, the mother of all beings, the creator of the world. The circle was now completed, and the final purple arc flew from Lí Ban to Danu.
Stability is one thing I've never had in my life, she thought. I'm so glad I have it now. Sighing, she smiled at Danu, who nodded solemnly at her.
"Turn your gaze to the sky," she said, "above you."
Confused, Maire looked above her head. A glowing white sphere was above her head, shining brilliantly. The four fairies spoke together, in perfect unison.
"Spirit binds us together, bringing us the ultimate righteousness. We therefore connect you with the Sancte Spiritus, so that you shall forever hold the truth in your hearts!"
The white sphere plunged into the two of them, and Maire gasped at the weightlessness. She felt nothing but joy filling her, happiness and love. She heard Darius's laugh next to her, filled with emotion.
The white finally disappeared, and Maire turned towards him. All of his wounds had disappeared, and he was fully clothed again. "Hello," he grinned, smiling at her.
Danu walked towards them.
"Here we are," she said, holding out a chest. Maire opened it. Inside were the four jewels they had collected, including a fifth, white one. Maire took the chest, gazing at Danu.
"You shall use this to activate the enchantment for your friend," she said. "When you activate the spell, make sure each jewel faces a certain direction: air to the east, fire to the south, water to the west, and earth to the north. Spirit should be at the center. Use your circle to liberate, empower, purify, and solidify your friend."
"Thank you," Maire breathed. "We'll do our very best with it."
"Yes," said Darius, taking Maire in his arms. "We absolutely will."
And suddenly they were kissing. The box between them, they held each other tight, as if they could never let go. Maire felt tears falling down her cheeks.
"I'm so happy to be with you," she whispered.
"And you will always be with him, as long as you hold to what's right," Danu smiled. "Now, go on. I believe you have a friend to rescue."
"Yes." Maire looked to her mother, who was also smiling. Lightly, she took her arm.
"Let's go home," she said.
End of Part II.