We passed tall grasses, green trees and corpses of dead solders on our way to the ancient village.
On foot we were less likely to be detected by backup troops, so we left the jeep behind.
I stopped in mid walk, tilted my head towards Vanessa, and said.
"Let me see my backpack."
She swung it off her shoulder then handed it over.
Quickly I unzipped it, pulled out my jacket, placed my right hand in the jacket pocket, next reached out a small map of the area.
While looking the map over, I heard Vanessa ask.
"Madlax this is a random question, but why are you wearing a dress?" - "I guess it expresses me."
She nodded, clearly unconvinced.
"There is a reason I wear the dress when I fight ... I look sexy in it", I thought as I folded the map.
I picked the pack up, threw it over my shoulder then began walking northwest.
The village is four miles away from the mountain we are hiking, it's below the mountain.
Vanessa didn't know anything yet, she had too many questions and Quanzitta would answer them.
A short fence stood before the village grounds. There wasn't anyone out, since it was late night.
I remembered which cabin Nakhl brought me to last time I came here. Softly I took Vanessa's hand into mine whilst walking in the direction of the largest cabin placed at the base of a mountain.
A thought kept persisting me, "I wonder if Nakhl and Quanzitta know I'm from the future ... It'll be interesting to ask."
I gazed at Vanessa, she appeared tired, thirsty, and ready to crash against dirt below her feet. Instinctively I pulled the arm holding her hand to me.
She gasped as she bumped against me, I wrapped both arms around her, slid them into comfortable position, next swooshed her off ground, into my hold.
I continued walking with her resting in my arms.
Honestly I didn't know if Quanzitta would help me, or tell me to leave, but I knew she owned Thirstari and I needed that book as much as the other two.
As I neared the door, I reached my right fist out to knock.
At first there wasn't a response, so instead of just knocking I yelled.
"Is there anyone here? I came for the book you own and perhaps guidance on how to use the three books when they're gathered!"
The sound of footsteps nearing the door, next it swinging open then a sharp silver knife pointing between my eyes rattled me.
Vanessa was facing me; she saw the determined expression on my face as I spoke to the knife holder.
"I'm here to learn how to stop the civil war with all three books gathered, I believe I have the gift ... in another time line Quanzitta said I have the gift."
In a second the knife was pulled back, the knife barer moved aside from the doorway, bowed then politely said.
"You may pass. Madlax we were expecting you. Please go to the room in the far back."
I smiled at the silver haired knife holder, shrugged then continued walking trough the doorway, passed a curtain and into a sanctuary-like chamber.
I saw a woman with long white hair sitting in a meditative position next to a pillar with candles surrounding her.
It felt strange.
The last time I saw her she was in a timeless realm, a ghost no less, but now she sat there like a normal person.
I whispered to Vanessa.
"We are here my lady, so I'll set you down."
Carefully I helped the beautiful woman to her feet.
Instantly she walked to the stone I once touched to go back in time, her fingers caressed the stone's slick surface.
The next thing catching Vanessa's attention was Thirstari atop the pillar.
Knowing the book could cause a person without the gift to commit suicide, I ran up behind her, swinging my arm over hers and pulling her back.
She looked at me with confusion in her eyes then stated.
"This book ... Margaret has one just like it; except there's a page missing and she asked me to hire a bibliodetective so she could find a complete copy of the book. Well her book has a red cover and this one has a green one, but that's the only deference."
Her words were informational.
I pulled Vanessa further from the dangerous book, placed a hand on each of her shoulders then spoke.
"The detective Margaret hired was Eric Gillian."
Astonishment filled her expression, she asked.
"Madlax how did you know that?" - "He went here to look for the book; he hired me as his bodyguard.
Eric told me something tragic about his family then jumped off a cliff... the book's essence caused him to do it. Anyways that doesn't matter, what matters is we need Margaret's book and I have the missing page."
Vanessa stood contemplating on everything I said.
I heard Quanzitta's voice from behind.
"Madlax you don't need to explain everything to Vanessa Rene. Let her touch the book, don't worry, trust me."
With remorse I removed my restricting hands from Vanessa.
She stretched her arms to the book, picked it up then flipped it open.
At first nothing changed, she kept looking trough it, observing the strange Elies characters. I heard her exclaim.
"I don't think this book can cause people to commit suicide, it's a regular book."
Her voice stammered at the end of her sentence.
The sound of a something smashing against the ground, pages flipping and loud gasps for air filled my ears.
Vanessa stood with her head tilted up, arms attempting to grasp something and as I gazed in her eyes -they were deep crimson.
Jolts of fear flowed throughout my body.
I yelled to Vanessa.
"Are you okay? Snap out of it!"
Nothing changed, except I heard the words "Elda Taluta" repeating in chants growing louder in my head.
I felt my breathing speed up.
The air, I needed more just to stay up.
With all my willpower I struggled to catch a breath as colors blurred before my eyes.
Everything at first became blood red, but as if freezing, it transformed into an icy blue.
The book's essence was having it's effect on me, I watched as the blue became a solid color, like the black you see when you're blind.
As the chanting drowned my thoughts I mumbled.
"Vanessa don't... I, why is this happening?"
I experienced chills brushing against my skin and nostalgic familiarity with the atmosphere around me.
Opening my eyelids, I began to see the realm Quanzitta's spirit once greeted me in.
It looked dark with pale dots in the distance, however their glowing colors were blue, red, and green.
I didn't know what happened, if its a dream, the book's effect, delusion or reality.
Whilst picking myself up off gravity-less space, I shouted.
"Where am I? Vanessa ... where is she?"
Before I could utter another hopeless cry, I heard an angelic voice from behind.
"Madlax I'm here, but where is this?"
I twirled around, saw Vanessa standing with a finger pressed to her lips, took her hands, brought them to my face, next let go and watched as Vanessa brushed her fingertips against my cheeks.
Right now I hadn't an answer to Vanessa's question.
Everything regarding what the three books could do, what the stone did and what this realm is escaped me -I didn't know. Without a real answer I said.
"Vanessa this is the realm of universes and there isn't time here ... that's all I know about it."
She nodded, but still unconvinced, she asked.
"Is this even possible Madlax? We were in a chamber, I touched a book and now I'm in a realm with you."
With a half smile I softly said.
"Yes it's real. The book did this. That's how I know I'll be able to stop the war when the three books are gathered ... wait Vanessa you have the gift, the people who are capable of going into this realm have the gift."
The revelation hit me, just as it did both I and Vanessa heard a voice echoing throughout the emptiness.
"That is right Madlax, Vanessa Rene also has the gift. I granted it to her because of you."
I knew the voice; it was Quanzitta's spirit, not the one who I saw meditating inside the chamber, but the one who took me back in time.
Her human figure formed in front Vanessa and behind me, I heard the sound of her walking closer to us, and the staggered expression on Vanessa's beautiful features confirmed it.
The spirit wore a paled robe covering most of her body, a smirk spread across her face when she spoke.
"Vanessa Rene you are supposed to be dead.
You don't exist because you were killed by the same woman who you saved Madlax from what you would call last night. Well now Madlax changed your destiny, she saved you."
Vanessa let go of me, stepped five steps back, gazed straight into my eyes then in a shaking voice asked.
"I don't understand! Am I dead, did I die?"
Quanzitta approached her whilst I stood motionlessly watching.
With a sway of her left hand, the white haired spirit shushed Vanessa.
There were emotions I couldn't describe appearing then vanishing on Vanessa's face, it was as if she witnessed her entire life flashing before her eyes.
Suddenly Quanzitta turned around to face me.
She stated.
"I'm being kind to you Madlax, by returning Vanessa's memories."
I began moving towards Vanessa, whilst walking I asked.
"What memories?"
The spirit chuckled for a few seconds then responded.
"The memories you two made together in your previous time line, she'll remember everything up to the moment when she dies, and the memories you made with her this time will stay as well."
One word flew passed my lips.
"Why?" - "Because its the only way she'll truly have the gift. This is my present to you. Now Vanessa Rene won't disappear from you when the civil war ends. Both of you will enter the realm of the three gathered books and stop the war together."
Quanzitta snapped her fingers in Vanessa's face, causing her to fall down to her hands and knees with her head down.
Vanessa looked up at me, the gaze in her eyes was different, powerful longing stronger then I've seen before.
She kept starring at me with desire.
A minute went by before she spoke my name.
"Madlax! Thank god you're alive."
Her words were sincere.
Quanzitta read the thoughts in my mind, she commented.
"The memories she regained are contradictory to one another, she basically has certain moments playing out in the two ways they went."
Without hesitating I dashed over to Vanessa, sank to my knees, gazed into those deep sea green gems and didn't say a word. Everything is different with Vanessa remembering how she saved my life all those times.
Now she knows the truth about the war, how it started, everything Friday told her before she shot Limelda to save me and sacrificed herself.
I still remember the smile on her face, she shot someone yet she smiled, because it was a kill to save my life.
Her voice was soft and barely audible as she expressed her feelings.
"For you I'll be strong Madlax. I have memories of us as friends, and as lovers. You were in love with me back then, if I knew better I'd do somethings differently."
She began to cry.
Reflective tears rolled halfway down her cheeks then stopped for the lack of gravity.
Vanessa managed to murmur.
"I broke our promise Madlax, I died. I'm sorry for leaving you behind."
I reached my hand to her, she looked at me, probably thinking whether she should accept, so I softly said.
"Vanessa I'm sorry too ... for failing to protect you. But now I have you back in my life, and we have a second chance to change our lives and we can end the war together. So take my hand."
Slowly her lips spread into a full smile, with the back of her other hand she wiped the tears off, and then grabbed a firm hold of my arm, pulling herself upwards.
We were both full of resolve.
Vanessa and I had our second chance, and we would take it.
Quanzitta was smiling at us as we approached. She slapped her hands together, causing a clap.
Knowing my thoughts, the spirit spoke.
"So then you two agree to gather the rest of the 3 holy books. Madlax we both know who processes Firstari and Secondari, so the question is which are you looking for first?"
The answer to me was obvious.
Enfant and Friday Monday ... the greatest threats to my plans had to be dealt with first, after Friday is taken care of, obtaining Secondari from my other self shouldn't be difficult.
With certainty I responded.
"I'll kill Enfant's leader Friday, take Firstari and bring it back to you lady Quanzitta."
She seemed pleased by what I said.
With a slight nod of her head, the spirit informed.
"You do realize it won't be easy. There will be hundreds of Enfant members guarding Friday. Also you don't know the exact location of his headquarters, so I'll have Nakhl guide you there Madlax. Unless there's something else you'd like to know -you're both free to return to reality."
I didn't have anything to ask, Quanzitta however looked straight at Vanessa with an all knowing expression.
Before taking us back, the spirit said, "It depends on you", then pale dots disappeared, I noticed colors shifting and the sound of pages flipping.