The Maiden of Light

A/N- Here's Chapter 3! In this Chapter, there will be a hint of the Paradox. It's also a bit of a weird Chapter, but Enjoy and please review!

CHAPTER 3

"Where is this Maiden of Light located anyway?" Mai asked Naru with interest. Naru looked through his bookshelf for a book regarding the Maiden's information.

"According to historical and mythological books, it is said that the Maiden of Light first appeared twenty years ago when the first civilized nation was undivided." Naru explained as he tackled through the pages of a Historical Figures book. "Meaning... she appeared between the Northern Bird kingdom and the Western Sea kingdom." Mai peered through Naru's shoulder as he placed his thumb on the location. "So you mean, she appeared between the two neighboring kingdoms?" Mai asked.

Naru nodded.

"So then, we're going to travel all the way from here to the borders of the kingdoms?" Mai hastily asked as she embarassingly looked at Naru. But then, she expected the worst.

Naru nodded.

Mai was sure she was about to scream. But then, if it's the only way to get closer to the Maiden of Light, she has no choice but to manually do things.

And she didn't have a moment to lose.

Then, Mai asked, "Can't you teleport us to the location, Naru?" Naru shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot. My teleporting abilities reach a certain maximum limit, and whenever I teleport, my abilities tend to run amok." Naru explained as he returned the book on the bookshelf. Mai sighed.

After thirty-minutes of planning their expedition, both of them yawned. Mai's eyelids felt heavy, and Naru lacked focus. Mai then quickly sat down beside the open window, while Naru closed the window. He then sat beside Mai and soon drifted to sleep. Mai soon found herself asleep as well.

Mai hastily woke up. She found herself floating overhead a building much taller than any of the buildings she had ever seen. An icon of a hybrid, raven-colored phoenix represented the building, it's red eyes glittered like a tiny inferno.

"Where am I? What is this place?" Mai asked, terrified and frightened. She could hear screams, cries and other chaotic sounds inside the building itself. It's as if their pleading the torturers to leave them alone. Then, automatically, a splatter of blood can easily be heard in the building. Mai found herself weeping.

What's going on? Why can I feel such gruesome pain inside this building? Mai thought, terrified.

"If you want to know what is happening inside, take my hand and don't let go." a gentle, yet stern voice suddenly spoke. It was her twin.

Mai took hold of the twin's hand and was instantly transported into the building. Something painful, terrible and horrific met her eyes.

Humans were biologically placed inside soul-sucking crystal incubators. Of course, they were naked because the crystal didn't need their precious belongings. What the crystals needed were both the body and the soul. Inside some of the crystals were completely deformed bodies, and some were hybrids.

How disgusting and horrific. Mai thought, helplessly crying. Why are they doing this?

"They are doing this for pleasure and advanced comrades for armies." the twin explained. "Near the time of the Judgement Day, the Paradox is preparing early for their assault, to make sure the quest for world domination is in their hands." Mai was horrified. The Paradox?

"For now Mai, you are to continue your search and quest for Hope. Make sure you are to completely succeed with your companions, and remember, stay cautious and alert. You will never know when the Paradox will appear." the twin then vanished and left Mai isolated.

Then, Mai woke up.

"Mai, are you alright?" Naru surprisingly asked the weeping girl. Mai found herself clinging onto the boy's shoulder sleeve, weeping onto his shoulder. Naru was worried and concerned, so he patted his best friend's back. Mai cried harder.

"Naru! It was horrific! Disgusting! Juvenile! Everything was so cruel and unjust!" Mai cried as she weeped harder, oblivious of Naru's wet sleeve. Naru caressed her back.

"It was just a dream, Mai. It was just a dream." Naru whispered reassuringly. Mai finally calmed down and let go of the newly-wet sleeve. "Sorry. I just had a terrible... nightmare." Mai apologized, wiping her wet tears. Naru shook his head. "Don't worry." And made a small smile. Mai smiled along.

"I think we better go eat breakfast and get changed. I suppose our expedition starts today." Mai reminded and began to eat and changed.

After that, they both left the house and began their journey in the outside world.

The Eastern Wing kingdom was enormous. The two friends roamed around the area, searching for hints and evidence about what path they could take for their quest. But it seemed they were circling around for minutes now.

"This place sure is big, and I think we have the tendency to get lost." Mai said, then she sighed. "I think we're lost right now."

Then, as if it appeared from out of nowhere, Naru glimpsed a pathway in the western part of the kingdom. It seemed to lead inside a forest.

"Mai, do you think that will lead halfway to our designated location?" Naru said as he pointed to the forest pathway. Mai looked, then shrugged. "I guess so." Mai and Naru walked towards the path.

The two teenagers walked through the forest path. Its tress rustled, and light dimly illuminated the area. Owls and crows patroled their every move.

"I don't like this place, Naru." Mai said as she looked at her surroundings. Then, a cracking voice whispered-

Watch out. The more you get nearer, the more it is tempting to take you afar.

Mai made a small shriek and ran towards Naru. She clung onto Naru's shoulder. Both of them suddenly heard rustling sounds, and voices.

"Is anyone there?" Naru sternly asked, and as he was about to turn and walk head, a man in an organization typed clothing with a symbol of a hybrid phoenix engraved on his chest jumped out and attacked.

Naru was offguard, so he stumbled. He grabbed his mage stick and cried the following words-

Silver wings of an angel, carry your sword and banish the predator into the goodness of your light!

The man who tried to attack was blinded, then in an instant Naru cried-

Oh aquatic elf of the rivers and seas, send out Poseidon and wash the sins of the bearier of sins!

In an instant the man was washed away by water that came out of his stick. But this did not work enough and many more came. Naru and Mai were cornered.

Anyone, please help us! Mai thought. Naru lost half of his maximum ability and will need to recharge in the next fifteen minutes. They needed to wait.

Please! Help us! Mai again panickedly thought, and the soldiers were ready to plunge onto them.

Then, they attacked!

A/N- Sorry it took so long! Please watch out for Chapter 4!