Chapter Eight: A Journey Awaits
"Iolene are you alright?" Aaron asks worried as he taps her shoulder gently. Passing her a bow and arrow set.
"I am fine." She says reassuringly. Happy that she is out of the palace without being reprimanded. But shadows lurk everywhere, looking behind the weapons shed as they walked away. Seeing a dragon running from behind the small building a short distance away. For a moment she swore it was a snake-like, black draconium dragon. Shaking her head, it is actually a light blue, aquatic dragon. Looking down at the beautifully crafted bow. It has wave patterns engraved into the old wood; it is an old one that Marlowe allowed her to take.
"It's been a while. Your average skills will be so rusty we will need to go back to basics." Aaron jokes as he leads Iolene out to the soldier arena. Stein and Mali watch from a distance leaning on the fence.
The arena is quiet as soldiers are going through a debriefing meeting. Giving the group a few hours to practice alone. Lexi lights up her large fiery battle axe. The flames envelop her as she slices against dummies.
Lei twirls his spear as he dances to practice his spear skills. He then jumps at Lexi as they clash their weapons together. Lei at one point used the butt end of the spear to launch himself up into the air. Lexi doing the same. Iolene looks up in awe, wishing she can do the same.
'It has been..." She says going back to the conversation. Her mind is plagued by the League of Eight. There has been almost nothing else to fit in except for being afraid she is.
"Okay... What's wrong?" Aaron folds his arms. "We won't practice until you tell me."
Iolene shows hesitation as she doesn't look at him. Instead looking at the ground.
"They are searching for me," Iolene speaks.
"They? Whose they? Iolene if any case everyone who is not here will be searching for you." Aaron can tell she is afraid. He has never seen her this bad.
"The League of Eight..." She mumbles. So quiet Aaron tilts his head that he couldn't hear. He asks her again as Iolene repeats it louder. Tears form in her eyes as she tries to hold her emotions together.
Aaron has heard of them, known as the Shadow Emperors' children. The news sinks in as his facial expression changes to seriousness. "You can't go!"
Iolene is not shocked. "I am going! I need this!" Surpassing her fear for the moment. She almost felt better.
"You can't!" Aaron begs, holding onto her hand tightly. "You are safest here. Please!" Aaron keeps quiet making sure no one else hears.
"I can't keep hiding. If fate has a hand, we will cross paths eventually and I will be ready for them! I can't hide anymore!" Iolene shouts, bypassing her fear and getting everyone's attention. They shout to her asking if she is alright. Iolene nods as Lei and Lexi return sparring with each other. Stein and Mali remain on the fence watching the red and blue person fighting. Stein even shouted tips as they fought.
Aaron still holding Iolenes hand, looks at her intensely. Her heart skipped a beat as she could not help but feel enamoured by it. His gold eyes are not as bright as hers, but they glowed enough. His emotions are running high. "Drop the bow." He orders.
Iolene gives a skeptical look. Aaron repeats again as he lets go of her and pushes her other hand holding the bow. She drops it onto the ground making a small thunk.
"Raise your hands." Aaron holding up his fists. Iolene mimics as Aaron releases his fist grip. His hands are flat, with his fingers upright. "Now hit!"
Iolene punches his hand. It barely moves as Iolene grunts in pain. Aaron laughs as he helps Iolene create a proper fist so it wouldn't cause her too much pain. "That was pitiful." He chuckles. Leading her to a training dummy used for hand-to-hand combat.
The rest of the afternoon he helps with her fighting posture along with Punches and kicks. Iolene shouts as she attempts her first kick. Forgetting she is wearing a dress, quickly rushes into the armoury across the way. Putting on basic loose-fitting pants, she is not much of a pants wearer.
Stein walks over as he also helps show her a few pointers. Iolene smiles as she finally felt gratified. No lectures about her being soft and delicate. If the League of Eight is going after her, she should at least have a chance to survive the encounter. Eventually, they start practicing sword stances and basic moves. The two practice nonstop until the sun goes down. Exhausted and sweaty she washes her face and sits in the armoury.
"Look at you go!" Lexi encourages by patting Iolene on the back. "You have gained your fighting form! Getting your hands dirty."
Iolene sighs as she imagined she can fight like a tourney champion. "I wish I can fight like you..." Iolene had no idea of how physically weak she is. The dummy barely moved when she punched or kicked it. Receiving sore knuckles and ankles after such use.
"I was in the army and then trained in the priesthood for five years. It takes years to be a master of hand-to-hand. You have just begun to learn, don't rush. Or you will overexert yourself. Lei meditates and does fighting forms before he breaks his fast each morning. He is no master himself, but he is getting better every day." Lexi smiles and softens her usual harsh expression. Gently patting Iolenes back.
Lexi is worried about what comes next, but she will protect Iolene. As her old master, Kenneth asked of her. Iolene is hiding something from her as it is a sudden change of routine. It was about time really... She knew Iolene will reveal it to her in time.
"I meditate..." Replies Iolene sheepishly.
"I know, but Lei meditates to clear his mind and focus. You meditate to see through the eyes of your ancestors. Complete opposite of clearing your mind." Lexi snickers as she squishes her cheek onto Iolenes. Lexi hasn't done this in a long time. Lexi did it with her younger sister Jamil, before she left for the army. She misses her family terribly. Sending letters to her sisters and mother that she will be traveling again. Not to panic if they don't hear from her in a few months. Lexi wished she had holograms and communicators, as her home never could create such useful technology. The Gold and Black Empires have such tools and used them predominantly. Would make the world easier for both her and Lei to hear from their families.
The armoury is quiet until Iymp roars for her attention. "Keep at it girl! You will get better!" She says encouragingly, racing out to greet her dragon.
Aaron walks inside carrying bandages and salves. Sitting next to Iolene as he unravels the simple white cloth. Iolene gently used her fingers, putting them into the small pot of gel. Then rubs the gel to put on her feet, ankles, and knuckles. All three areas are bright red with cracked skin and bleeding. It stung as she expected, but it helps to heal quickly.
"This hurts so much more than I thought." Iolene remarks. She can compare the pain to her harp practice, where she played so much that the skin underneath her fingers cut and bled. The larger scratches remain as the smaller ones healed.
Aaron is accidentally rough, as he wrapped the bandage making it too tight.
Iolene winces. "Too tight..." She whispers.
"Sorry." As he attempts to be gentler. "You know I won't be good at this."
He rewraps her knuckles multiple times until she says enough. She looks at them. An average job, but she couldn't do it herself. She commends him for the effort as he grabs her hands and kisses the bandages. Iolenes blushes as she reveals a shy smile. Aaron has conflicted feelings. He should not have done that, but he couldn't help it.
Aaron in quick motion leaves the dangerous situation as Iolene slams her fist on her wooden seat.
It is before dawn as Iolene grabs her belongings. A large backpack to hold a few sets of clothes. A large drinking container for water. Her journal and repleo quill, with a few small books for her to read. She unsheathes her new dagger a basic one. A steel blade with a black and brown leather hilt. Not as beautiful as the mermaid tail dagger she received as a gift. It remains lost in Mille Voix, much to her sadness...
Eleya helps her dress, the last she will do in a while. Letting Eleya choose the dress. Starting with a white sleeveless tunic, with the next layer of a corset. An easy one that Iolene can tie herself at the front. Placing another dress later top, long puffy sleeves. Finishing with a black and dark green dress with a tie up front. Nothing too fancy and it will keep her warm during the wintry weather. The outfit is inspired by the people from Green Empire. It is different but practical. The dress is just above the ankle to Iolene can easily maneuver.
Iolene told Eleya to stay and remain in Aquarius City. Assigned to an old lady named Delores Waters. Marlowe knew she was looking for a new maid. Eleya promises to return to Iolenes services when she comes back.
"You ready?" Eleya asks. Finishing brushing Iolenes hair and putting it into a single large braid.
"I am... Wish me luck." Iolene hugs Eleya tightly. Eleya kissed her on the cheek. A tearful goodbye, Eleya could not hide her fears. Wishing Iolene not to go. But Iolene has found her path, she must follow it.
"You better find the meteor and see your family." The small lady says hopefully. Iolene hugs her tightly again giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Take care Eleya, I will be back!"
The sun began to rise as a royal escort is all prepared and ready to go. Ordered to take them to Watersgate and then head back to the capital.
The family appears as they all stand in a row. King Marlowe, Queen Darya, Prince Mortimer, Lady Vivien, Prince Murray, Princess Nerida.
Someone she wanted to see in the longest time. "MARIANAS!" Iolene shouts excitedly. Runs into a hug as Marianas happily embraces it.
"Hello Iolene, I am so sorry I haven't come to see you. I have been busy."
Iolene gets a close look at her priestess garb. As an elder priestess, she oversees the sect, so her outfit stands out. Light blue armour covered with seashells and wave patterns. An outfit she deserves after everything. She is the only priest in the temple Iolene fully respected.
Stein nods as he acknowledges Marianas. They have spoken a few times since arriving, Stein chastising them for how Iolene turned out. But getting the whole story of Akvor and the level of corruption he had... No wonder why Marianas is so occupied. The whole sanctuary is under her review as many priests and nobility supported Akvor's rise to power. Akvor was not the first priest to use his power for his own pleasures and will not be the last. But Stein has hope for Marianas, she is level enough. The Light-Blue priest sect has never been the most influential or powerful. They started off small as the country was once ruled by pirates. Their relevancy only happening over the past thousand years. So their level of history knowledge is not as advanced as Gold's. They do not have many members and their temple is relatively small and underground.
Saying their final farewells. Iolene hugs everyone except for Nerida, only bowing. She warned me... Iolene thinks. Princess Nerida confuses her. Does she love me or not? She did not know what to think. But she would love to hug her mothers cousin and closest friend.
Iolene enters the carriage with Stein, Lei, and Mali. The carriage begins to move forward as Iolene waves from the window. Murray breaks princely decorum as he shouts her luck.
They have finally left the palace grounds as the pearl gates shut behind them. Iolene holds onto Mali's hand tightly. She has not spoken of her fears to anyone, but Mali comforts her regardless. Telling her that can return to the Seashell Palace whenever she likes. Iolene insists that she must find this meteor piece. Mali nods as he accepted Iolenes' stubborn nature.
Aaron is riding Beau, as Fred on Duryss and Lexi on Iymp. Following the carriage closely behind. Ponderrah Lei's blind dragon is tied to the carriage. Lei sitting next to the window closest to him.
"I hate the smell of the ocean... It stinks of rotten fish." Fred blurts out as Duryss laughs and agrees.
"The city is absolutely gorgeous!" Lexi says as they walk past the water canal roads, a nautilus dragon swims happily. "I have never seen roads that are just water canals! I wonder who designed it?" She asks.
"Doesn't beat our canals," Iymp says with a large grin.
"We don't have canals... We just have lava flow if it is lucky to seep into the city walls." Lexi laughs as her heart ached. She missed Vulkania... After Iolenes' mission, she can take her there. The heat, humidity, tropical trees, and marvel at the volcanoes. She has not seen anything like it since leaving Vulkania. She always thought of her home as plain due to the dark volcanic rocks. But it has its beauty, her now wishing she appreciated it more.
In a few hours, Aquarius City eventually disappears from behind the forest. Leaving behind the beautiful canals and islands. Traveling down the main road to Watersgate. The thick forests can be seen on both sides of the path. It is cold as the overcast clouds still reign the skies.
It is a long road ahead as the group ponders what is going to happen next.