Auvreria (8 page)

I spent two days in
Elfeon's lands before the time came for me to continue on my journey. It was sunrise when I said goodbye. Elfeon gave me some food and said, “You must start now before it is too late. My winged horse will take you to the Clamoor Clan. I will meet you in a while; I have to say goodbye to my family.” A chestnut horse landed moments later. It was tall and grand. I mounted the creature and wished Elfeon goodbye. Elfeon shaped a symbol in his hands and bowed.

We slashed through the dense foliage until we flew into the sky. With my
cloak I felt no change in the temperature. The forests were stretched across the earth. The clouds floated gracefully and freely. The wind brushed my face as the sun rose. We flew until sunset before the horse began to lose altitude. We landed on a small hill within view of the grounds of Clamoor. I dismounted the horse, and it flew away.

I felt Aurora's soul and mind.
Is it you? Where are you?
I kept quiet. However strong I felt with my growing powers, I had never cleared my reputation. I did not want to come back. After what I did to Naak, nobody could forgive me. I looked at the compass and headed into the depths of the forests. Behind my back were the Clamoor Clan and the setting sun.

The Dark Forest, the journey to find the first piece of Cielune

May 9
th
, 2014

I walked for hours
, passing trees, boulders, lakes, and rivers. It was hard to see at night; I fell down twice and wounded my leg. Elfeon's food kept me from hunger for a while, but not forever. I had to eat wild berries and risk being poisoned. Sleeping in cold caves, looking out for animals, and starving was not a pleasant experience. In the early morning, I was so tired I could barely see ahead of me. A wild dog chased after me, and I had to run for my life. I escaped by jumping into a rapid river. The dog gave up while I swam with the last of my energy to the opposite shore. As I slowly regained my energy, I walked in the woods, following the direction of the arrow in the medallion.

A
fter a few days, I came to a clearing and a dark, heavily armed castle. Torches lit the palace. The castle stood in a desolated valley where no life existed. The dark sky blended with the mammoth walls. The clash of metal and battle cries were heard. The high, spiked towers pierced the heavens. The entire area vibrated to the sound of the war drums. Darkness and death flowed through the wasted land. The stone was located there. I noticed a black dragon guarding a high, bright tower. Before I could rest, dark shadows enveloped me.

I
was teleported by an unknown force into one of the largest towers in the castle. The round room was filled with scrolls, stones, books, herbs, seeds, pots, and bags. I followed the compass, which directed me to a bookshelf. I passed it, and the arrow still pointed to it. I put my hand on the shelf, and a secret chamber opened. There was the transparent, glowing stone, the size of my palm. I grabbed it and put it in my pocket. Idly, I glanced at some papers on a desk. The papers were battle orders, and they were signed by Maldelsoul.

I ran to the nearest doors. They were locked.
Panicking, I searched for another exit. A door opened, and in came Maldelsoul with a smile. “Here we are again. How was your journey to Eofea? Don’t ask; our rings can transmit emotions, sounds, and pictures when we need to use them. Did the astute Elfeon not tell you?” He paused dramatically and glanced out the glass windows of the tower.

“It was very sweet of you to leave the Clamoor Clan because of
Naak's death,” he continued. “You would not have lasted there very long, either. We should be partners. I am deeply sorry for what I tried to do when we first met. It was a misunderstanding. As partners we could rule the infinite worlds, the universe! Abandon those failing people—they have lost their battle. They will never win, even with you. Our power of Lumifale could unite to find the four pieces of Cielune and the Tree of Life, and with the two remaining elements we could change history! We will rule the universe and create a better world for ourselves.”

“No, I cannot betray my family and my people. You can
only destroy, not create. I will not join forces with the monster who tried to kill me! Oh, if only Naak were alive.”

Maldelsoul took his chance. “Well, I can help you revive
Naak from the dead. I am the most powerful sorcerer in Arthaesia. Please accept this black rose...”

Black magic w
ould transform my magic into evil. I could not turn to the other side. “No, I’ve had enough of these mind games. Just leave me alone. I will not become like you.”

“
Enough—I am not going to plead at your feet! Give me the stone and medallion, or I will destroy you like I destroyed your parents.”

I could not use magic now.
As exhausted as I was, it would easily kill me or make me Maldelsoul's eternal prisoner. Maldelsoul built his magic in a second. He used his right hand for fire and left for ice. He whirled his hands together and shot a spiral of ice and fire. Just as I reached the doorknobs, I was pulled into the air. Maldelsoul formed a transparent sphere around me, which began to fill with water. The outside of the sphere was covered in fire. I was so tired, I couldn’t do anything. “I will burn and drown you! From the ashes I will get the stone and medallion! These ashes will be the Clamoor’s reward for believing the old legends!Their hope and prophecy will be gone—like you!” The fire and water aggravated all my aches and wounds.

I cried in my mind,
Help me, Aurora! Forgive me for what I did!

Through
the glass ceiling crashed a dragon. Shards of glass flew everywhere, but she landed safely. Through the locked doors stormed the Clamoor Clan, Clarimie, Elfeon, Lord Mediel, Fensagenia, and my training group. Aurora opened her mouth and sent white fire toward Maldelsoul. He blocked it with a wall of ice.

“
Greetings,” said Maldelsoul solemnly. “Aurora—has it been sixteen years? You were ever so small and pretty, and now you’re a monster. Look at your sister, fighting for what is right. I should have tortured her more until she gave up. That is her destiny and Arthaesia’s.”

“Don't ever talk about her like that!” screamed Fensagenia. She lunged at him, and rocks and soil flew at her. She stepped backwards. Clarimie and Lord
Mediel tried their best to free me, but nothing could be done.

“What? Are you not afraid? Why would you risk your valuable lives for a betrayer? She is not one of you
; she belongs to me and death itself!”

A grave silence came over the Clamoor Clan. Unexpectedly,
we heard a knock on the door. To the shock of the Clamoor Clan, it was Naak, Lady Eldorun, and Lord Dalius.

Naak
said, “Oh, my lord, we came as fast as we could.” He noticed me in the sphere. Maldelsoul must have teleported Naak in time, which would explain the lack of ashes. The water had almost filled up the whole sphere. I forced my face to touch the burning surface to gasp my last breath. Fortunately, Maldelsoul lost his concentration; the sphere was destroyed. I fell on the floor. I lay there weak and hopeless, skin burned and body shaking.

“My dear friend
Naak,” said Maldelsoul. “Want to join our entertaining meeting?”

Clarimie exploded
. “You, Naak, are a traitor! You set up this trap. I thought I saw the light of strength and good in you, but it was only the shadow of evil. Maldelsoul, you are a fool for doing this!”

“Quite the opposite
, dear one,” he replied. “Besides, my plan succeeded. You and the Clamoor Clan believed this foolish joke. Naak, you deserve to enter the dimensions of the lower Astral world, as you requested.” He opened a black hole. Naak stepped into it, looked back at us blankly, and was gone forever. Lord Dalius and Lady Eldorun were actually part of the loyal group of magicians of Mortver. Maldelsoul continued. “You have done a good job in this mission, Lord Dalius and Lady Eldorun. Since you, Clamoor, were not murdered in the castle by my soldiers, I suppose I should kill you all.”

I could not believe this w
as the end. My sister, everyone, would be dead. Maldelsoul would get my power, and I would be his everlasting captive. Nothing would matter then. I heard a voice, deep and ancient as the universe,
Never let go of this battle. No one can win this war except you. The dark soul wants to kill you because you are stronger. You possess abilities unknown to him. Gain the strength of the ground, forests, mountains, skies, and other worlds. We are all united. Show the true power of kindness. You will come to me on your journey of the seas
. I did feel stronger. I felt the worlds and Arthaesia as a whole. Power and strength healed most of my wounds and lifted me up. Maldelsoul saw this and used the element of air to get my stone of Cielune.

He said, “Give up, Anelia. There is no path for you
, now!”

“There is always a path if you believe in yourself. I will never
stop fighting because of what you did to Arthaesia, my home.” I lifted my hands. I said in my mind and concentrated on my magic:
Wind, lift the stone. Earth, shatter the floor. Power of Auvreria, flow through me, force Maldelsoul to fall to his knees.
The ground shattered. The stone of Cielune came back to my hand. I put it away as fast as I could. I said to Clarimie through Aurora's connection to her mind,
I have a plan. I will teleport you and the Clamoor Clan to another place. I won’t have much energy left, so I will fly from here with Aurora. This is our chance.
Clarimie agreed. I closed my eyes, and the group was teleported.

Maldelsoul pulled himself
away from the crevice. “What is this?” he said. “Anelia, you are full of surprises. Because you want to continue your journey, I will give you a choice. The Clamoor is dead if I attack with all my army. However, if you bring me the four pieces before the battle, I will be merciful. When you have found all the pieces, I will use the rings to find you and learn your decision. Choose carefully, for millions of lives, known and unknown to you, all depend on one word.”

“Is all of this turmoil for power? The pieces of
Cielune haven't been found in ages and centuries, and you expect me to find them in a few weeks? Even if I do get them, you will go into battle with the Clamoor Clan because you want them dead. I have no choice in this.”

“You are a very intelligent girl. I will let you
go free, on one condition, if you will accept my terms.”

“Never will I give you the stones in my life!” I mounted Aurora. She flung her wings to the moonlit skies
, and we flew high above the castle. The black dragon was gone. We sailed along the seas of clouds. We flew with the stars as their flames of light danced around. I was not afraid anymore.

Sorry,
said
Aurora.
I had to keep my mind quiet or else he could have read it. I had time to read his when he tried to go through mine. He has a group of dark magicians that feed him. They and his army will easily defeat the Clamoor Clan.

I feel very tired and sleepy
, even though I got my strength back,
I said.

How did you gain your strength?

A voice told me to concentrate on my power, and the strength of the universe came back to me.

T
he tales of Arthaesia say nothing about this.

Maybe it only revealed itself to me? It said I would meet it again
when I would go on my sea journey. I wonder when that will be.
I saw Clarimie and the group down below in the valley. Aurora prepared for a landing by arching her neck and body. The speed was immense, and the group appeared larger all the time. It was time to make the next plan.

The valley of the deciduous trees

May 12
th
, 2014

As I dismounted Aurora, Clarimie spoke, “I am deeply in debt
to you for our rescue and my false accusations. Our plan has not been successful. Despite Maldelsoul’s power, you have put all your strength into teleporting us alive out of his castle. There is still a chance we could win.”

Elfeon
spoke. “We are close to the Great Castle of Arthaesia. You likely teleported us to the place where you felt the strongest connection.”

“I
f we walk for a few days southward,” said Lord Mediel, “we can reach the Crossroads of the Valleys. We can join forces with the warlords Silvius, the sun lion, and Magdalion, the moon lion. They are at the head of the major force of the Clamoor Clan. They are also Clarimie's cousins. We could devise a plan to find the four stones.”

I wanted to meet th
is part of the Clamoor Clan, but I knew I had left something, unnoticed but very important, in Almag's library. I had to go back with Aurora to find the missing piece. I said, “I love your plan; however, there is something important that I missed. I must go to the Great Castle of Arthaesia. With Aurora it will be a quick trip.” Aurora agreed with me.

“If this will help, go now
,” said Clarimie. I climbed on Aurora again, and we flew. In a few minutes, the castle was in sight. Aurora dove gently to avoid crashing onto the spiky ruins in the dark.The castle was in a terrifying state after Maldelsoul's second visit. The columns,ornaments, walls, and sculptures were lying there, frozen for ages while holding the old, joyful memories.