Chapter 4: The Vows

It had been a few days since then and everything seemed to be going pretty well. Alister and Vianca talked for hours upon hours on the old and new things of their world's. They truly enjoyed each other's company. Alister and Vianca sat in the library talking as always.

"We're they really?" Alister asked listening to every word she uttered.

"Yes, the towers rose so high it was almost as if they kissed the sky," Vianca said as she giggled a bit.

"Fascinating, I still can't begin to imagine what it was like for people to build that big of a structure with mainly stone," Alister said as he leaned back in his chair for a moment only to sit back up again. "Now, we've built structures known as Skyscrapers. They are buildings composed of metal and with glass windows and some have pointed tips. The look like they are just scraping the edge of the sky.

"Wow, we only had enough metal to make weapons, armor, and a few other things," Vianca said as she just looked down slightly. "I miss those days….I miss my father." She looked away, sadness in her eyes. Alister instantly noticed this and gently touched her hand.

"It'll be alright. We'll find a way to fix this and get the one that did this to you," He said in a comforting and reassuring voice. Vianca looked at him and their eyes met. She managed to bring a small smile to her face.

"Thank you, Alister. I hope we can," She said. She looked at the amulet around Alister's neck. "At least I hope we can catch her before she does this to anyone else." Alister gently touched the amulet and then looked at her.

"One thing still bothers me tho," He said as he brought his hand to his chin. Vianca looked at him curiously.

"Oh, what is that?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

"Out of all the people that she could have done this to, why did she choose you?" Alister asked as he thought it over. Vianca was silent but ended up speaking anyway.

"She told me that I had been the one she has been waiting for," Vianca said with a bit of hesitancy in her voice. Alister looked at her.

"She said that? Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Alister asked. Vianca shifted a bit in her seat.

"Two of my many vows that I remember making was well..one I must answer every question that is asked of me," Vianca answered. "And that the question had to be worded a certain way for specific answers."

"So almost like a genie besides all the wishing," Alister asked.

"In a sense yes," Vianca answered, looking away. "It didn't really make sense when I vowed it but now that I'm out I understand it." Alister put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him.

"I'm sorry I didn't know," He said. "Well then, I vow to never allow this women to use you for any of her dark purposes. She'll have to pry this amulet from my cold, dead hands before she can get to you." Vianca's eyes widened at this sudden vow and looked down again as if she was blushing.

"Alister, you won't have to die for me," Vianca said as she looked at him again. This time looking him straight in the eyes. "There is another vow I made before she trapped me." Alister looked at her curiously.

"And that would be?" He asked as he tilted his head. Vianca looked at him and smiled with a bit of kindness yet there seemed to be a slight sense of worry.

"I made a vow that no harm would come to wearer of the amulet. I don't know quite what I can do yet, but I feel something," She answered. "I can't quite describe it but I feel stronger than when I was first put into the amulet." Before Alister could continue the conversation, the doors of the library opened. They turn to look and see Lara walk in from her latest adventure.

"Ah Lara, any news?" Alister asked as he smiled at his friend. Vianca smiled too and waved at her. Lara waved back and sat down on the couch across from them.

"I don't know yet. Zip is searching for matchings of these hieroglyphics I found and trying to translate them," Lara answered. She looked at Vianca who was sitting there quietly and then looked at Alister. "How's she holding up?" Alister looked at Vianca, who looked at him.

"How are you holding up, Vianca?" Alister asked as he waited for her answer.

"I'm doing fine. I'm a little...I guess you can say I'm home sick," She answered as she looked down. "I miss everyone from my time. It's going to take a long time before I'm used to the new things here within this time." Alister placed a hand on her shoulder attempting to comfort or reassure her in some way. Before he could say anything to make her feel better, the door to the library swung open. They all turn and see Zip run in.

"What's wrong Zip?" Lara asked as she stood up. Zip ran over to Lara and was trying to catch his breath.

"I found...I found something," Zip said, taking deep breaths. "I've...I've match the hieroglyphics with similar ones in some other ruins. There are more places where this sort of thing was done and I think we might find some answers at this one considering it's unoccupied."

"Great, make the usual arrangements Zip," Lara said as she nodded at him. Zip nodded and ran back out of the library. Lara began to walk out as well, but Alister grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Is something wrong, Alister?"

"I want you to take Vianca with you," Alister said as he took off the amulet and held it out to Lara. She looked down at it and then looked back up at him. Vianca got up and walked over to him.
"What are you doing?" Vianca asked.

"You said you would protect anyone who wears the amulet correct?" Alister asked as he looked back at her. She nodded at his question but still looked to be a bit worried. "Then you should go with Lara to protect her and plus if she is near anything you recognize then you can let her know." Vianca looked at Lara then back at him.
"Are you sure about this Alister? I know how protective you are of her," Lara asked as she awaited for her answer. Alister nodded still holding out the amulet to her.

"I trust you with this more than anyone and I'll be seeing her through the video feed. Plus, I'll see her as soon as you're back," He said with a smile on his face. "I am trusting you with her safety and I trust her to keep you safe." Vianca smiled somewhat at him. Lara sighed and gently took the amulet, putting it around her neck.

"I won't let anything happen to her I promise," She said with a gentle smile. Alister nodded at her and turned to Vianca, who was looking down slightly. Alister walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We'll see eachother again before you know it, Vianca," He said with a kind smile. "I will be helping to guide Lara throughout the ruins so it'll be like I'm right there. If we want to find anything about what happened to you, then you need to go with her to so we can see if we can reverse this. You're the only one that has seen the ritual." Vianca nodded and looked up at him.

"I will do my best to do my part then," She said as she smiled somewhat. Alister looked at Lara, who smiled at him. Vianca glowed her soft green and had vanished. The amulet itself began to glow that soft green.

"See you soon, Alister. I promise I'll keep her safe," Lara said as she gently touched the gemstone of the amulet. Alister nodded and watched as Lara left the library, taking the thing he cared about most with her.