The now large party made their way through a series of ramps leading down; each landing had a set of monsters guarding it. They breezed through quite easily, Valimos complaining the entire time that all found treasures were to go to him. They reached the end of the ramp corridor, and found themselves staring off the edge of a broken set of stairs, down into a deep pool below them. From the corridor Sharmin could see the entire expanse of the Garden, and it took her breath away. The Garden itself was enclosed in a giant circular room lit by a golden light that seemed to emanate from the water itself. The center had a tall golden tower spiraling up to a circular opening that water spilled through in a kind of waterfall. The walls surrounding the path seemed to be in a bull's-eye shape, golden in color, with no visible direct path to the center from where Sharmin could see. Running water sounded loudly, and reflected off of the walls, giving the entire Garden a very ethereal, very beautiful presence.
"Did I mention I hate heights?" Vlad suddenly said, standing a bit behind Sharmin with a distasteful look on his face. "Oh, hello there Miss Sharmin. We wondered what happened to you after you disappeared from the Ant Nest. Thank you for your help by the way. It was incredibly useful." Sharmin glared at him as he smiled, the annoyance from nearly five months past resurfacing.
"And did I mention I hate water?" Amari added, looking down with a distasteful expression.
"Then why are you here?" Vuylay asked with a sneer. Amari slowly turned to look at her, his eyes lowered into an annoyed expression.
"You know, you're beginning to remind me of your mother, and I don't like that." He stated, glaring.
"Come on, what's the hold up?" Valimos called from behind the crowd and interrupting Vuylay as she opened her mouth. "Get moving already!"
"Look who's talking, mister slow ass himself." Komugi growled. "Just shut up already."
"Is something wrong?" Leon asked, pushing himself forward.
"Nope, just admiring the view." Vlad stated sarcastically, twisting his pinkie finger in his ear.
"You know, if you're scared, one of us can jump with you and swim you to the pathway, you'll just have to keep your eyes shut." Leon offered, trying to move things along.
"You mean entrust my life to someone else? Are you INSANE?" Vlad exclaimed, looking at Leon fully.
"Tally Ho!" Junk Pixie suddenly shouted, running forward and bumping into Vlad and Amari. The two lost their balance and stumbled. Amari sighed and allowed himself to fall, knowing the struggle to stay upright to be futile, while Vlad waved his arms precariously, trying to balance himself. He grabbed Sharmin's arm for leverage, causing her to loose her balance herself and fall into the pool below. She broke surface coughing and glared at Vlad whom seemed to have recovered from his acrophobia and was swimming calmly to the pathway.
"Must you always do things that have a chance of potentially injuring and or killing me?" she asked between coughs. Leon, Junk Pixie and Terebel jumped into the pool behind her, Junk Pixie doggie paddling as fast as she could to the treasure chests sitting along the bottom.
"What can I say, you're expendable." Vlad stated professionally, pulling himself from the water. Amari stood to the side, his arms folded around his staff, glaring and resembling something akin to a wet animal. Soon they had all gathered at the path except for Melissan, who stood on the ramp trying to coax her cat familiar to jump into the water.
"And onward we go." Valimos stated, rushing ahead. Sharmin paused as they passed a doorway blocked by a heavily flowing waterfall and gazed through it towards the tower. She felt a strange tug inside of her as she gazed upon it. Pushing the feeling aside for now, she hurried to catch up with the group.
The party advanced through the Garden slowly, the archways leading to the next circular path blocked by a heavy waterfall that poured down so hard it would break the bones of anyone who tried to pass through it. Every hour the water would cease, and the party could move forward. Guardian monsters grew more numerous as the paths thinned, and soon the entire group was fighting to advance.
"Uh, guys, what's that?" Narlafayn asked, peering through the water to the next path. "It looks like some sort of pale lady wearing black… She's got a bunch of floating guys wearing robes around her." The light elf, which Amari called Aerin, rushed to the doorway and peered through.
"That's Eva's Guardian, Millenu." She breathed in awe, her eyes large. "She guards the Garden from those who wish to harm our goddess, how could you not recognize her?" she asked, looking pointedly at Narlafayn, who cleared her throat nervously.
"I guess I didn't pay attention in school…" she said, giving Aerin a half-grin. Aerin frowned at her and returned to gazing at the Guardian.
"So how are we going to get past her?" Terebel asked, peering over the two light elves heads. He turned away, wincing. "That looks like it could be painful."
"Well, we could go with this strategy…" Vlad began, scratching a square into the polished stone they stood on.
"We don't have time too cook up something as moronic as that." Valimos stated, turning away.
"Ok then, how about we send in a decoy, and the rest of us run to the next doorway before they close?" Vlad suggested, staring pointedly at Sharmin, who stiffened and glared under his gaze.
"I'll do it." Leon offered, and everyone turned to stare at him in surprise. "Vlad and I are the strongest ones here, and I can take a beating longer than he can, so I'll do it."
"The over-achiever strikes again." Vlad mumbled. "I don't think endurance is the deciding factor this time." Leon stared at him expressionlessly, and it seemed to Sharmin as if he were controlling his temper. Sharmin turned to see Melissan approach the archway and stare at it for a moment. The water ceased to flow and she stepped through calmly, her cat following close behind.
"Melissan!" Sharmin cried, rushing through the archway after her. Melissan slowly descended the stairs towards the Guardian, her cat already rushing ahead, drawing the attention of the monsters from the doorway.
"Hurry, there's someone waiting for you." She said mysteriously, her voice low. Strangely enough, Sharmin discovered she could hear her plainly, despite the roar of water. She smiled calmly and then continued down the stairs. Her cat yowled and hissed, scratching at the immortal creatures. Millenu's head rose as she saw Melissan approach, and she flew at her. Millenu's body lacked feet, and she floated above the ground. Sharmin screwed her eyes shut and took off down the steps and past the guardian, whom only seemed to notice Melissan. The group behind her suddenly shouted something, and she could hear them running. Sharmin didn't look behind her to see what was happening, and continued towards the last doorway to the tower area. She could hear shouting, and the horrible, awful screeching that Millenu was emitting, and she winced, forcing herself not to look behind. Something was pulling her stronger now, and she needed to get inside, at all costs, even if it meant loosing those she cared the most about.
The waterfall dropped once more just as Sharmin dove through the archway, landing on a ramp leading down to a shallow pool that covered the entire circular spanse of the inner Garden. Large floating phantoms regarded her silently, arms folded high to obscure the lower part of their faces. Their heads looked like skulls carved from wood, and their robes hung down, tattered at the edges. They seemed to have no legs, and floated several feet above the water. Water Giants, large green men with algae growing off of them stood nearby, and seemed to not notice her. Sharmin gulped and slowly descended the blue ramp to the pool. The water, she found, was warm, like bathwater. Another doorway caught her attention, its fancy golden archway topped by a blue orb lantern, and she made her way towards it, hoping the monsters around her would not take notice of her.
"Sharmin!" she heard Leon yell from behind the waterfall. A heavy waterfall obscured the archway, like the ones around her, and she peered through it. A ramp led down, and she crouched to see if she could see the room beyond it. The water ceased after a moment, and Sharmin moved to descend the ramp. One of the floating phantoms suddenly rushed to block her path, and Sharmin jumped backwards, drawing her sword in fear. The phantom did not attack her, and regarded her with empty eye sockets, its breath coming out slow and heavy. Its arm slowly creaked out, pointing to the wall next to the doorway. As the water blocking the archways leading into the pool ceased, the stone slid open, revealing a corridor. Sharmin glanced at the phantom again and inched past him. He moved to watch her as she slid around him, but did not attempt to attack her.
"Sharmin, what are you doing?" she heard Komugi yell as the group, now through the archway, thundered down the ramp. Several of the phantoms moved towards them and began attacking. Music suddenly filling her ears, Sharmin stared straight ahead, entranced by the sound. She had never before heard such beautiful music, and she wanted to find its source so she could worship it. She moved slowly into the corridor, and the wall slid shut as she entered, darkening the hallway.
She walked on bravely, not afraid of what might be waiting for her at the end of the tunnel. The stone here was a silver-grey, plain compared to the grandeur outside. The music she followed grew louder, and Sharmin found herself in a large square room. Water ran down the walls and flowed past the floor, never touching the polished grey stone. In the center of the room was a two-tiered fountain, and on the edge of it sat the pale skinned girl she'd seen in between the dimensions. Her hair flowed about her like clouds, held out of her face by the strange shell-shaped headpiece she wore. She wore yellow shells over her breasts, a yellow bikini for pants, and a filmy, cream colored skirt that slanted up to her hipbone adorned her waist. Her boots climbed up to her thighs, and were the same yellow color as her clothes. The music Sharmin heard came from the lute she held gingerly in her lap, her eyes wistfully staring into space as her long fingers moved gracefully across the strings. She stopped as Sharmin neared, and stood up quickly, staring at her with a panicked face.
"Who are you?" she asked, taking a few steps backwards. "Have you been sent by her to kill me?" her voice was soft and melodious like music. Sharmin blinked a few times, the spell cast by her music broken.
"N…No, I…" she looked over her shoulder and motioned towards the corridor that she had just entered from. "The phantom showed me this door, and I heard your music and it was so pretty that I just had to see…" her voice trailed off, aware of her babbling. "I've heard you calling for help for a long time now." She began slowly, certain that this girl's voice was the one she heard pleading on Talking Island before. "You pulled me through the Gatekeeper's spell to here; didn't you want me to help you?"
The girl stared at her with large blue eyes for a moment before recognition clicked in and her mouth opened to an 'o' shape. "That was you? You looked so different in the dimensional rift!" she exclaimed, moving towards Sharmin. "You bore a sword of the darkest obsidian and had wings of pure fire. I thought for sure you were blessed by my siblings to protect us from that One!" Sharmin frowned, not understanding what the girl was saying.
"That 'one'?" she asked, her face screwing up in thought. The girl nodded enthusiastically, and took Sharmin's hands. She noticed that the girl's skin was warm, like the water in the room outside.
"Yes, now that I look at you, I'm sure of it. A little more time and you will be the one who will save us!" she exclaimed happily. She smelled sweet, like fresh water and water lilies, and it began to dawn on Sharmin that she was in the presence of something more than human. "Might I inquire your name, one who will be brave?"
"Sh…Sharmin." She faltered, her body shaking in nervousness. "Who…who are you?" she managed to asked, and then winced at how rude and forward the question sounded. The girl blinked at her in surprise, her pretty long lashes fluttering.
"Don't you recognize me? I'm…"
"Eva!" a voice came from behind them. Sharmin turned to find the group barreling down the corridor and into the room, staring at Sharmin and the girl in surprise. The voice had come from Aerin, and she dropped to her knees in deep reverence. "Oh holy goddess, how you have graced us with your presence." She said, her voice shaking in excitement as she bowed low.
"She looks normal." Narlafayn stated in surprise, stepping forward. Eva began squeezing Sharmin's hands tightly, and she turned back to look at the goddess. Eva stared past Sharmin in fear and began to whimper.
"No, it is the one who will kill us all…" she sobbed, tears falling fresh from her eyes. The party looked between themselves, confused and unsure of whom she was staring at.
"It's ok; we're not going to harm you." Leon stated gently, stepping up beside Sharmin. Eva pulled her hands from Sharmins and backed away, wincing in fear.
"Or will we?" Vlad's voice came. Aerin instantly shushed him. Eva drew back farther, her eyes squinted shut, her hands to her cheeks and her shoulders hunched.
"Stay away from me, destroyer of gods!" she wailed. A waterspout erupted from nowhere and encased her within it. Sharmin took a step forward, her hand extended, but Leon held her back and shook his head. When the water receded, Eva still stood before them, but she seemed taller, and more mature. She lowered her hands and stood up to her full height, towering above them all a good foot, and stared down at them with a gaze as cold as the deepest parts of the ocean.
"Eva?" Aerin asked in a tiny voice, standing. The entire group had gone silent, awed by the change.
"The ones you requested are in place, mother." She said, her voice as cold as her eyes, and as hard as the stone they stood upon. She held her arms out and another waterspout surrounded her. Sharmin shielded her face from the sudden gush of water, and Leon placed himself in front of her instinctively, protecting her from it. As the spray subsided, the light dimmed in the room and a portal of light opened. It slowly expanded and elongated until it was as wide and long as the wall in front of them. Images emerged on the other side of it, and Narlafayn stepped forward in awe. Sharmin lowered her hands and stared, her eyes as wide as Leon's, as Narlafayn approached the portal.
On the other side was bustling city; very different from anything Sharmin had seen before. The houses were made entirely out of white stone, the sides and roof rounded like a meat bun. A great cliff towered around the city, and blocked much of the sky from what they could see.
There was a great fountain in the distance, and large groups of creatures that Sharmin had never seen before gathered around it to socialize or sell their wares. There were humans and elves, but the elves were tall, and had brown skin, like the Dark Elves before they were cursed to live under ground. Large, grey furred beasts that seemed similar to Orcs but with long straight tails lumbered past, and Sharmin could see a red-haired girl who resembled a cat more than a human dart past a merchant to steal one of his wares. Tiny, squat people, no taller than Sharmin's knee, performed magic tricks at the other side of the fountain, cheered on by a small group of children from all the races she'd seen.
"Holy Mother Einhasad, what is that?" Sharmin heard Leon breathe. He was holding Sharmin by her elbows, his grip firm, as he stared into the portal with awed fear. The rest of the group seemed just as shocked, none moving to stop Narlafayn from approaching it.
"It's Bastok…" Narlafayn said softly, reaching out a hand to touch the portal. "It's my home, the place I came from…" Sharmin pulled away from Leon and took a few steps forward, amazed at what she was seeing. This world looked peaceful compared to the one she lived in now, and she wanted to see more of it. A light bubbled forth in the air behind the group, and a body shining with bright light emerged from it. Sharmin turned and winced, shielding her eyes from the glow. No one else moved, and it was now that Sharmin realized time had frozen; only she and Narlafayn were unaffected. The figure of light produced a great bow, and gracefully loaded it with an arrow, and drew it taut. Sharmin's eyes widened as she followed its projected path of flight; right into Narlafayn's back. She darted forward and pushed Narlafayn aside just as the figure let the arrow fly, and it hit her directly in the center of her chest. Time began moving once more as the portal began to swallow up, enveloping around Sharmin like a thick jelly. Leon raced toward the portal, one hand extended towards her, and Sharmin reached for it.
"Leon!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing and fading to nothing as the portal closed on her. Their fingers barely touched, and then she was suddenly pulled back by a great suction, the dimensional rift sealing up.