AN: An important plot twist was in this chapter, but I'm postpoining it for later on in the story. Fortunately it shouldn't disrupt the future chapters too much.
Chapter 42: Emptiness
|Farawell|19:30 pm|
Saturday night had come, and now it was time to return to the other world. Amara waited in Farawell with Zao, who after Friday night was still a little hung over. Apparently, he and Karl decided to go on a pub crawl, which was a drain on Zao's wallet. Tara and Matthew seemed to be getting into the swing of things with the group - although the mystery of the endless white expanse remained unsolved.
"Yo! You're here already?" Serena said, running up. "That's a relief. At least I'm not the last one here again!"
"How've you been?" Amara asked.
"I'm alright. Back at school next week, though. It's going to suck, but one more year, so I can't complain too much. What about you?" Serena said.
"Pretty good. I was at karaoke last night with Priscilla, Shirley, Stella, and Tara." Amara said. Serena looked at her in surprise, amazed. "I know. I think I handled it pretty well, though. She was pretty normal...all she talked about was Adrian and the violin."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad nothing bad happened!" Serena said. "It's a shame we can't meet the other Matthew, though...he's a real charmer."
"Don't get any ideas! You're still in school! At least he's happy over there, fighting Shadows with his big brother." Amara said. "I've got an idea! Tonight, we should go back to that weird white place! We might be able to figure something out!"
"Oh, are you sure? It's a strange place. Maybe it's like Purgatory." Serena said. "No, I'm serious. With all the other crazy Shadow stuff going on, anything's plausible."
"Hey, didn't we seem some white buildings there? That's what we should check out!" Zao said. "Oh, there they are!"
"Evening, ladies!" Blaine said, with a confident expression. Nathan was with him, and he looked weary. "Oh, and Zao."
"At least you didn't call me a lady this time." Zao said.
"I'm glad you're all here. Blaine won't stop talking about last night's date." Nathan said.
"Oh yeah! Nice hair, dude!" Zao said, giving a thumbs up.
"It was great. Everything I was hoping it would be. You know, it's hard to believe how much my life has changed since we started doing this. It's like it was meant to happen." Blaine said. "I just wish there wasn't a chance we could get killed in battle. That's kinda a downer."
"We're not going to get killed, are we? We'll beat every Shadow senseless! I still haven't forgotten that one in Lucille Valley. I'll get it someday, just you wait! But tonight, I want to go back to that weird white place. We should explore it and find out what the deal is." Amara said.
"Hmm...it truly is quite a bizarre plain of emptiness." Nathan said. "I'm intrigued myself. Yes, count me in."
"I don't care where we go, as long as we get into action! Let's make some noise, guys! Tear up some Shadows and let loose! Yeah!" Blaine roared, pumping the air with his fist.
The group went inside the warehouse, ready to 'let loose'.
|Secret Base|19:40 pm|
Only Tara and Matthew were at the base. This was peculiar. Amara wondered where everyone else was...even Kyle wasn't at the computer.
"Evening, guys!" Matthew said. "Dan's off to The Mole for a drink. Dunno why he likes going to that place so much. Priscilla said it's absolutely awful."
"And the others are checking Nova Albion...no signs of a Divine Spark, or anything. So we're kinda stuck here, waiting for something. Glad you're here!" Tara said, smiling.
"We've got an idea for tonight. Let's check out that weird place beyond the city walls again!" Zao said. "Maybe we can figure out what's going on!"
"You sure? We haven't gone too far for now." Matthew said. "Still, with the seven of us, we'll probably make it further."
"Yeah, I think so too. We still don't get why this city isn't behind the barriers, either." Amara said. "Hopefully we can get some answers tonight."
"I peronally imagine it to be related to the Eternal Road." Nathan said. "Which is further reason to go there."
"Maybe we can find some cool treasures there, too." Serena said. "You never know, it could have priceless relics of some long lost civilisation buried there!"
"Priceless, huh? Hmm." Blaine said, getting an idea. "Then we're definitely going!"
"You're not going to steal them and sell them, are you?" Amara said, with a stern look on her face.
"Uh, no! I'm just going to look at them! And not touch them!" Blaine said, looking sheepish. "Dammit, I could have bought Lucy some fancy earrings..."
|Inanis|19:46 pm|
The strange land was just as vast as Amara recalled. Yet…it felt different tonight. She could feel the Shadows, somehow. It was like they were being concentrated around particular points of the land...
"Hey. Look over there!" Serena pointed, and far away, the team could see something. Inexplicably, there was a large cathedral in the direction Serena pointed.
That's...Farawell Cathedral. Why is it there?
"Why is - " Blaine said. "The hell is goin' on?"
"I'm not quite sure, but look at the cathedral. Not only does it look damaged, but some of the architecture looks old fashioned. It's nothing like it was either ten years ago or today." Nathan said. "It's like it's the cathedral from the past."
"That doesn't make any sense! Why would that even be here?" Tara said.
"Hold on. Follow me! I think I have an idea!" Serena said. And so, the team followed Serena, fighting many Shadows along the way. This place...is it the past?
Eventually, the team discovered a large castle. There were numerous signs of aggression all over it, with broken walls, burnt trees, destroyed statues and many bloody weapons stuck in the ground. The path leading up to the castle seemed to fade away into the eerie purple ground…
"The fuck is a castle doing here?" Blaine said. "Shouldn't this be Tachibana University?"
"Oh, that's where the previous Divine Spark was, right?" Matthew said. "If I remember correctly, they built the campus where a castle used to be."
"What?!" Tara shouted. "So this is that castle?!"
"Yeah. Don't you see? The cathedral looks really old, and this castle hasn't existed for about three hundred years!" Serena said. "For some reason, there are old buildings here where Divine Sparks happen!"
"Then, in Kanaloa..." Blaine said, his face pale.
"All of Kanaloa was destroyed, right?" Matthew said. "So...an entire town is there in this place?"
"Most likely. In fact, Nihane mentioned it to us. Before Kanaloa, there was a town called 'Amurdad' that was torched to the ground." Nathan said. "Those white buildings...it must be Amurdad."
"Oh my god! What the hell is this Eternal Road thing doing?!" Tara shouted. "Are they trying to recreate the city from the 18th century?! Why the hell would they do that?"
"I have no idea. Guys, I think we should go to Amurdad. We might see the truth if we go there." Amara said. She tried her hardest to look confident, but she was terrified. Going to a town, that was supposed to have been destroyed hundreds of years ago? What would be lying in wait there?
"You okay?" Serena asked. "I guess anyone would be scared."
"No shit. This town is where Kanaloa is!" Blaine said.
"This is a lot more serious than I thought." Matthew said. "Guys, we should hurry. I want to see Amurdad."
"Alright. We'd better be prepared." Nathan said. "Let's go."
|The Mole|19:56 pm|
The blue haired woman was back at the piano, playing her songs. Apart from Dan, however, no one had any interest in her music. They were more preoccupied with her...assets.
"Hey, lady, want to come home with me?" one rowdy man said. Dan glared at him, but the woman didn't react.
"Forget that loser. I can show you a real good time." another lout said.
"Fuck you! She's mine, okay? No way is she gonna go after you shitheads!" one man said, already tipsy.
"You guys shut up!" Dan suddenly yelled. The woman stared at him, and stopped playing.
"The hell is up with you?" the first man said.
"Oh, I've seen him before. Anyone tries to get some with that chick, he beats them up! Well not tonight, dickhead!" the third one said.
The woman watched in horror as the three men cornered Dan, and punched him all over. Dan, despite being out-numbered, managed to give them all a good pounding back. His attackers were soon beaten black and blue, but he wasn't in good shape himself.
"Are...you alright?" the woman asked.
"Yeah, it's nothing. I just didn't like the way they were talking, that's all. You deserve better than that." Dan said, trying to catch his breath.
"Three men came at you and they still couldn't take you down? You're pretty strong. Wait, your face is bleeding!" she said, shocked. "I'm sorry! This is my fault..."
"The hell it is! Nothing I can't handle." Dan said, shrugging. Yet, when he touched his face, he felt uneasy at the blood on his fingers.
"Come on, I'll clean that up." Shirley said. Dan couldn't believe his luck, as the woman took him into the back room.
"Thanks." Dan said, as the woman wiped away the blood. "You know, ever since you started playing the piano here, I found a reason to keep coming."
"You really think I'm that good? It's nothing special -"
"Sure you are! With all those Shadows out, there's nothing to look forward to anymore. Your music helps me cope with that. It reminds me of better days, with my kid brother and my best friend." Dan said, smiling. "And remember when I said you were beautiful? I meant it."
"Don't...say things like that. It's a little uncomfortable. Thanks for looking out for me, though. I can't believe you'd go to such trouble for me."
"Hey, I've been through worse. It was worth it, trust me. Especially to make you smile!" Dan said, grinning.
"I said stop, okay? I know you're trying to be nice, but...it's a little embarassing. What did you say your name was again?" The woman said.
"Daniel Kingsley. Just call me Dan, though. I hate being formal." Dan said, adjusting his cap.
"Okay then, Dan it is. I'm Shirley Evens." Shirley no longer had the expressionless face she usually did. Now, she was smiling, and Dan was pretty pleased with himself too. His heart was pounding.
"Listen, I have to go back home. I'll be back, though! You better look after yourself! If any of those guys lay a finger on you, they're dead!" Dan said.
"Alright. You take care yourself." Shirley said.
"Oh, don't you worry about that. Even the Shadows are scared of me around here!" Dan said. Before she could ask what he meant, he quickly left.
|Amurdad|20:12 pm|
As the team started walking to Amurdad, all they could see were a few crumbling buildings made of white stone. Yet as they grew closer, they could see more and more ruined structures - not just buildings, but burnt trees, pavements, lampposts, fences...it was unreal. An entire town appeared in their eyes, and by the time they got to the entrance of the city, something felt off.
"Wait, where are the barriers?" Tara asked. "I can't see them anymore!"
"You're right, they're gone." Nathan said, astonished. "Could such a place really have existed here before Kanaloa?"
Blaine didn't say a word. He looked straight ahead, taking it all in. Matthew gave him a sorrowful stare, perhaps hoping Blaine would say something to cheer him up. Yet, the words never came.
"I think I hear something - whoa!" Serena was cut off by…the sight of the entrance to Amurdad suddenly turning to what must have been it's former glory. The houses nearby were in perfect condition, as were the healthy trees surrounded by a decorative golden fence. The lampposts were also in their full shining splendour, and the path onward was fully intact.
"Don't let anyone get away!"
Huh? Who said that?
Amara couldn't believe what she saw next. Masses of people, swarming towards Amurdad...from the look of their clothes, they were from bygone times. They were shouting, screaming, but Amara didn't understand what they were saying. Yet...they looked crazed, and to her horror, they carried all sorts of weapons. Pitchforks, knives, torches, and even guns.
"The hell?!" Blaine shouted.
What they did next was something Amara would never forget. They smashed the entire area apart, dragging strangely dressed people from their homes…and forcing them to watch as they burned. No one could bear to watch, as innocent people were beaten…stabbed…and shot. Once they were dead, they were thrown into their burning homes, and their assailants cried in triumph. Then, they moved onward, as more and more people swarmed the entrance.
"Stop! Please, just stop!" Serena screamed. "I don't want to see this anymore! Please, stop making us watch this!"
Finally, it was over, and the town was in ruins once again. Serena tried to stop, but she burst into tears.
"Serena, it's over. You can stop crying now. We can get through this, trust me." Nathan said, walking over to her. Then, he gave her a warm, gentle hug. Serena gasped, but continued to sob.
"What was that?!" Matthew shouted. "Did that happen in the past too?"
"Yes, it did! Amurdad got destroyed because of everyone else in the city! And Kanaloa got built on top of it!" Blaine shouted. Matthew stepped back. "Sorry, Matthew. I just...I didn't want to know about this at all."
"Didn't Nihane tell us about this when the Cathedral got destroyed?" Amara asked. "He said Amurdad got destroyed, and something about how the feelings of the people who died didn't go away. And those feelings are what destroyed Kanaloa in this world."
"Karma, huh?" Blaine said, staring at the ruined house in front of him.
"Thanks, Nathan. I'll be okay. I just don't want to see any more of those memories!" Serena said. "Should we keep going?"
"Yeah." Amara said. "I have a feeling we're not alone. I can feel it, that weird sensation. The same one the Ater Vox give off."
"I guess they eat too many beans, huh?" Zao said.
"Zao - never mind, let's just go." Nathan said.
|Amurdad - Bridge|20:21 pm|
The next part of Amurdad that remained somewhat intact was a broken stone bridge, over a shallow river. This river had completely dried up, and the small bridge had collapsed on itself.
"How could those people do this?" Amara asked. "This was such a nice town!"
"Look!" Matthew said. Suddenly, the bridge and the river were in their original state - the river was clean and flowing rapidly, and the bridge was gleaming. A man was standing on the bridge, wearing a strange black and white robe. A pretty woman, with black hair and blue eyes, ran up to him.
The woman spoke with the man for a brief moment, and then...she kissed him, with the same kind of passion Amara had seen in love stories. She hadn't had that sort of kiss with Zao. The woman was crying, and seemed to be pleading with her lover. The man shook his head, and turned towards the team's direction. The woman looked at him for a long time, and then...ran ahead, as far as she could.
"Oh no..." Blaine said. Crowds of angry villagers, brandishing their weapons, were charging towards the bridge. The man took out a strange gun, and looked on ahead. Just as the crowds reached the bridge, it ended. The bridge was back in ruins, and the water was gone.
"Who were those people?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know, but...the man must have died here." Serena said, staring sadly at the wrecked bridge. "Why did the townspeople have to murder everyone they came across? Amurdad wasn't that bad, was it?"
"Keep moving. I feel a weird sensation, too." Matthew said.
|Amurdad - Palace|20:34 pm|
The team had travelled far to get here. They had gone through the ruins of a mansion, where they saw the same woman being chased by crazed people, calling her a 'harlot', 'devil's prostitute', and other horrid slurs. Amara felt so much sorrow for the poor woman - and she realised something no one else did. She was heavily pregnant. That baby's father had been killed, trying to save his lover and his child. And she was trying to escape, but time was running out.
They soon reached the ruins of a palace, a grand building with a few steps leading up to the entrance. The path that reached the entrance included a small bridge over a pond. As with the other places they had travelled in Amurdad, it was in ruins. Pillars knocked over, fences broken down, tiles cracked, and most of the palace walls broken down, and the path by the pond had bloodstains all over.
"No! That woman died here?!" Tara shouted. Amara gasped - and soon, another memory began. The palace was in it's form before the destruction, and it was breathtaking. Yet, the woman fleeing had collapsed on the path, screaming.
She's...in labour. No. This isn't happening. This isn't happening! Stop! Stop this right now!
"There she is! That filthy witch! She's giving birth to the devil's offspring!" a crazed man holding a bayonet cried out. No! She is not a witch! Leave her be! Now!
"No, please, stay back! I..." the woman screamed, in deep pain. To Amara's surprise, the villagers from the other parts of the city came over. It looked like they were trying to help her...
"Thank god." Nathan said. The others looked uneasy, however.
"It's...a boy..." the woman said, holding the newborn baby in her arms.
"It's an unholy demon, that's what it is!" A woman yelled. "Drown it, now!"
"No!" Amara screamed. "Please, don't do it!" Nathan had to hold her back, as the nightmarish scene continued. It happened so fast, yet so slowly. The villagers cheered as the still crying child was plunged into the water, and soon...it stopped making any noise. The mother became hysterical, but she was took weak to do anything. Soon enough, one man stepped forward, and put his rifle at her head. Amara shrieked, but there was no further point in struggling. She was powerless to change what had happened.
The shot echoed far and wide. The woman's corpse fell into the river, with her child. The cheerful cries of the people made Amara feel sick...and angry. A fury unlike anything Amara had ever felt rose up in her, and she couldn't hold it in a moment longer.
"How could you?!" she screamed. "She did nothing wrong! What is wrong with you people?!"
The townspeople marched forward, wrecking everything in their path. They stormed into the palace, and just as they began knocking down the walls, the memory finally ended.
"Our ancestors did this?!" Matthew shouted. "No! How could...they be so cruel?"
"Simple. It's their nature." a voice said.
"Nihane!" Amara shouted.
Nihane Kronos was there, sitting on the steps. Normally, he looked so smug, but now he had a calm expression. Standing behind him were the rest of the Ater Vox. He leered at those in front of him, and Amara could feel the hate radiating from his very prescence.
"Amurdad was an unfortunate place. They were different from the rest of the island. They believed in magic, in strange gods. They wore different clothes, ate different foods, and had bizarre rituals. Humans can't stand people who are different. Yet, it was the Eternal Road pilgrimage that led them to this."
"What does that mean?" Tara asked.
"Amurdad's leader had an vision. He wanted his people to integrate with the island, and bring their teachings to the other five towns. A journey of the soul, to gain knowledge of the land and spread it to everyone one would meet. How naïve, right? Still, to think that his plan would result in this."
"Nihane, what the hell is going on? What's up with this place?!" Blaine shouted.
"This place is called Inanis. Impressive, yes? The Divine Sparks add to this land. First, Amurdad came into being once Kanaloa was laid to waste. Then the cathedral emerged here, after the fateful encounter there. And the latest was the old castle, built where Tachibana University would be many years later. Do you understand now? The power of the Shadows brought these places back from the past!" Nihane said, looking up at the sky. "Your precious city is in the heavens now!"
The city's in the sky?! I can't see it at all. He must have used some magic to make it invisible. Nihane, you monster..
"Whoa. That's unbelievable!" Matthew said. "What are you even trying to do?"
"Nihane Kronos is not the name I was born with. You discovered that yourself, Amara. You somehow saw one of my distant memories. No, Nihane Kronos was a glorious title, fit for the ruler of Amurdad! And the last Nihane Kronos managed to flee, with his wife and young son! He had an older daughter, too. That was the woman who perished where you stand!" Nihane shouted.
"You mean you're Nihane's descendant?" Amara asked.
"Of course that's what I mean, you wretch! If the island had accepted Amurdad, it would still stand here! But your ancestors tore everything to pieces. They got what was coming to them!" Nihane said. "You don't know? The people who resided in the Divine Spark locations? They were the leaders of this 'cleansing'!"
"Indeed. Their actions led to their rightful deaths." Archibald said. "This city has not changed, even after three hundred years. Nor have the feelings of those who died."
"How appropriate that now, the people of the city are that the mercy of the Shadows! The foolish populace tried to forget Amurdad ever existed. That crime cannot go unpunished. Once the Eternal Road is complete, only we shall be allowed to change the world!" Josephine hollered.
"That's insane!" Nathan shouted. "What happened here was awful. But I don't think the city's the same as it was then. We're different now!"
"Are you sure? What about your city today? Kanaloa is now the victimised area, unloved by all. It's a wonder you people haven't burnt that place to the ground by now!" Nihane said, now looking angry.
"Kanaloa isn't a great place. But at least people like Blaine are there." Nathan said, glaring at Nihane.
"You mean that?" Blaine said, stunned.
"So, you're trying to be all perfect and noble now by having some common lout as your friend!" Nihane stood up, with sheer anger flaring up in his eyes. "What good will that do you now? That won't bring back everyone who perished at the hands of your ancestors! It won't make my family live again!"
"Of course it won't. But your Eternal Road is a mockery of your ancestor's plan!" Amara shouted. "He didn't want to destroy the city itself!"
"Shut your face! I don't care what his plan was! The Eternal Road will truly change the nature of the planet...and we'll be at the centre of a new existence! Nothing will exist, except the six of us!" Nihane screamed. Amara felt a shiver down her spine, and a strange sadness.
"E..." Amara said.
"E?" Nihane scoffed. "What's with you, all of a sudden? Trying to memorise the alphabet?"
"E...No! Stop! Stop this!" Amara shouted. The rest of the Ater Vox laughed, but Nihane froze.
"Are you trying to rediscover my former name? That name is dead! There's no way you can ever know it!" Nihane, having lost his inhibitions, leapt from the stairs and ran to Amara...but the minute they looked each other in the eye, something changed. He stopped, and Amara felt herself getting dizzy.
"Nihane, get back here!" Pierre shouted. Nihane didn't respond, and the rest of the Ater Vox watched, concerned.
"Amara, hold on!" Zao cried. Amara shut her eyes, and lost consciousness...
|Unknown|?|
The next thing Amara knew, she was standing in a room filled with computers and other equipment. There were many blinking lights, and many cupboards with identification labels on them.
"Wait, what just happened?" In her mind, she thought she knew what Nihane's former name was. But it was gone, and all she knew was the first letter. 'E'. She had never met Nihane until the cathedral incident, though. And her other self first met him when she awakened to Sekhmet. So what was this?
Just then, she noticed two people in the corner of the room. Archibald, dressed in a simple white lab coat, and Nihane. Yes, this was definitely Nihane. His innocent blue eyes were wide as he listened to Archibald's words.
"They'll be here soon. You need to get along with them. We'll be working very closely for the next couple of years." Archibald said.
"Next couple of years?" Nihane asked. "But Archibald, what about my job as a network technician?"
"Oh, that? Don't worry, this team will meet after working hours, once a week. On those days, however, we'll be here for quite a while. You'll get a chance to show off your skills." Archibald said. "You're very good, but I want you to be more sociable. Don't be afraid, E%^&$. I'll help you."
"You mean it?" Nihane asked.
"Yes. Oh, here comes someone now." Archibald said. Two men walked in - Pierre and Carlos. They looked normal, and cheerful. No malice or any negative feelings were in their eyes, and they were dressed in normal clothes.
"Bonjour, Archie!" Pierre said, swaggering over. "Who's the kid?"
"This is E%£$"& %$"^^$." Archibald said. Even his old surname is gone... "He's new, but talented. You'll keep him on the right track, won't you?"
"Please, it's you I'd be worried about. You're always tinkering away after closing hours, spouting stuff about calculations." Pierre said. "I'm Pierre Leonard. Good to meet you!"
"Um, likewise." Nihane said, shaking Pierre's hand. "What about you?"
"I'm Carlos Nadal, and the best looking guy in Aeternus. Despite what Pierre thinks." Carlos said. "He seems to think the metrosexual style suits him. Trust me, it doesn't."
"You only say that because you could never pull it off." Pierre said. "E$£&^, you don't have any sisters, do you?"
Nihane gulped. "No."
"Oh, good. Less females for Carlos to pounce on!" Pierre said, chuckling. "There's more people to come, right?"
"Yes, two ladies. And I suspect Carlos to make his move on both of them. Perhaps even at the same time." Archibald said.
"Give me some credit. I don't flirt with co-workers!" Carlos said. "As much as I'd like to..."
"Here they come." Archibald said. Nina and Josephine walked in, and smiled as they saw Archibald.
"So here's where Archie hides away." Nina said, ignoring Carlos' wink. "I swear, he's nocturnal!"
"Indeed. It's become almost impossible to surpass him. Then again, he is the master! For now..." Josephine said, with a coy smile.
"Oh, is that a challenge? Then I accept!" Archibald said. "I'd like you ladies to meet E*&^% "£$%^&&". E&%^£, this is Nina Agnethe! And this is Josephine Johnson!"
"Nice to meet you, E£$%¬." Nina said, blushing.
"Likewise." Nihane said. He seemed nervous when shaking her hand. Then he looked at Josephine. "Nice to meet you as well."
"So, tell us about yourself, E$%^". If you were picked by Archie, you must be rather skilled." Josephine said.
"Um...well, I was born in an orphanage. I came to the city when I was 16, and finished school, went to college, and started work here." Nihane said.
"That's it? Nothing else?" Carlos asked. "Well, that's boring. From now on, we're going to make your life much more entertaining."
"Absolutely. Come out with Carlos and me this weekend, and we'll have a blast!" Pierre said. "We'd ask Archie too, but we're going to young people places."
"Fine with me. I prefer places with class anyway." Archibald said. "Right, we'd better get started. I think we're all going to get along just fine."
"Indeed we are. This is a new start for all of us." Nina said, smiling at Nihane. He gulped, but he seemed happy too. Everything went white, and Amara couldn't hear anything else...
|Amurdad - Palace|
"Amara, wake up!" Zao said, shaking Amara's body. Nihane had collapsed too, and there was a strange aura from his body.
"Ugh..." Amara stirred, and saw Zao's relieved face. "Zao?"
"Amara, you're awake! Thank god!" Zao said, hugging Amara tight.
"This keeps happening, doesn't it? Like last time, I'm okay." Amara said. "Crap! He's waking up too!"
Nihane stood up, and stared at his comrades surrounding the others.
"Stop, all of you!" Nihane called.
"Nihane, you're okay!" Nina yelled. "That bitch did something to you, didn't she?"
"Don't you dare call Amara that!" Serena cried.
"Everyone, shut up! From now on, only I can go to Inanis! Got that? It's where I belong, and only I get to decide who comes here!" Nihane screamed.
"Nihane, what's gotten into you?" Archibald asked.
"Were you not listening to a word I said?!" Nihane screeched. "Amurdad should have been mine to rule! It should still survive to this day! Yet the city decided it was to be destroyed, in the name of their precious 'justice'! That's why only I can stay here!"
"We should depart for now, anyway. Staying here won't accomplish anything." Carlos said. "Take heed, everyone. The next Divine Spark shall be upon us soon. Once the last one is complete, the world is ours for the taking. Life itself shall become something else."
All six of the Ater Vox vanished into thin air, but something remained where Nihane stood. An identification badge, with Nihane's picture on it. The name was smudged, but only the letter E could be seen. Amara picked it up, and stared at it.
"Amara, are you alright now?" Nathan asked.
"I am. But for a second, I knew his name. It's on this badge, too. E...the only letter I remember." Amara said. "If Amurdad hadn't been destroyed, none of this would have even happened. The city would be at peace, and there wouldn't be two dimensions at once."
"But Kanaloa wouldn't have existed. And me and Blaine probably wouldn't have either." Matthew said. "Isn't it kind of pointless to say stuff like that? We can't go back and change things."
"I guess you're right." Serena said. "I feel bad for Nihane now, though. All this happened because those stupid people torched Amurdad!"
"Even so, that's just an excuse. We have to keep going, and stop this Eternal Road before all the Divine Sparks are activated." Nathan said. "Perhaps Zao's suggestion will work."
"Trust me, it will!" Zao said. "You guys just have to stay happy, got that?"
"I think I can manage that. I certainly did last night!" Blaine said.
"That sounds like the Blaine I remember. Every weekend he brought a new girl back home. I always asked Dan what they were doing that was so loud...and he wouldn't tell me. Now I get it...wow." Matthew said, smiling.
"Wow indeed. Every weekend?" Nathan asked.
"Damn straight! Of course, I was young and stupid back then, but I've still got it!" Blaine said.
"You just went through the ruins of a town, filled with memories of it's destruction, and you're talking about your love life? Are you the sleaziest man alive or what?!" Tara said, bewildered. Blaine gulped, and scratched his head, awkwardly laughing.
"Tara, he's not all that bad. And besides, Zao told us to stay happy, and...it looks like he is!" Amara said. "Let's get out of here, before the Shadows show up."
|Secret Base|
"So that's the story of Amurdad." Aimee said, melancholic. "Such a sad place..."
"Why does Amara keep seeing Nihane's memories?" Priscilla asked. "If Amara's in danger, then -"
"I'm fine. I feel okay, anyway." Amara said. "I don't think that's the last time I'll see his memories, though."
"Lady Amara, and the villain known as Nihane Kronos...what might their connection be? The spirits will not indulge me...that is troubling." Seraphina said, trying to focus.
"So his name begins with E after all. How did he find out about Amurdad?" Kyle said. "I've never heard of this place, and there's not a single record of it anywhere."
"Those fucking Shadows must have told him!" Dan said. "Those freaks just can't resist destroying everything!"
"So from the moment they found the Shadows in their experiments, everything went wrong." Serena said, staring at the floor. "And we're the ones who have to make it right."
"Exactly! So we have to pull out all the stops!" Zao said. "When the next Divine Spark appears, we'll find a way to make it go away! Trust me, we won't let them turn the world into Inanis!"
"Zao, thank you." Amara said. "Fighting these Shadows is hard, but with you, I feel I can take them all down."
The five of them returned to their world, trying to forget what they saw that day. Yet, this was futile. With the way things were, a return to Inanis was inevitable. Nihane would stop at nothing to destroy the world, and claim vengeance for Amurdad.