Auvreria (10 page)

I noticed Clarimie on the ground with an arrow stuck
in her left arm. She held it with her right hand. Several experienced magicians came closer to her. Fensagenia and I immediately ran to her. Fensagenia protected me when the other soldiers attacked. I got tired of swinging my sword, so I used the elements of earth and air. The group used all the elements together. Before I could retreat, Aurora killed them from the back with her fire. She pushed her massive wings to the sky towards the black dragon.

Fensagenia had to remove the arrow while Clarimie screamed
in pain. I put my hand on the red-stained arm. I imagined the first day of school when the butterfly healed me and partially healed the wound. I looked at Clarimie hopelessly. The Clamoor Clan was already tired from traveling, and now we had to fight with a mere chance for survival.From the grasslands came the magician I had met in the morning. He knelt beside Clarimie. “I will take all of them at once.”

“
What if you get killed? I cannot let more people die . I don’t know what to do.”

“
Forget your fears! Trust me. Trust yourself.”

Maybe he was right.
I nodded to him. The magician focused on the group. He used his staff to shape Auvreria’s symbol with pure light. The people and bodies from the group of Mortver disappeared with the light. The magician put his blue hood on, completely obscuring his face.

The whole place fell to a dead silence. Aurora landed a few moments later. Lord
Mediel quickly wrapped Clarimie’s arm with clean strips of clothing. I observed the fallen bodies of the Clamoor Clan. Fensagenia came to me, saddened.

“I
’ve known some of these people since I joined the Clamoor Clan. They helped me raise my first sword. Some offered warm shelter when there was a cold winter. Others were my teachers.”

I looked away from the terrible scene.
I never knew battles were this dreadful. According to Arthaesia’s tradition, the noble warriors were buried where their last battle occurred. We buried our comrades till sunset. The humble magician helped us.

Clarimie came out of a small tent. Her left arm was
in a sling. She calmly walked to the magician.

Clarimie said, “We are in your debt
. You saved our lives. We would like to know the name of the one who saved us.”

“I would not reveal my name yet, for there are secrets that should not be exposed.
”

“Why did you save us?”
I asked. “It wasn't worth your life to join this battle.”

“I fought for personal reasons,”
he said. “Because you trusted me with this fight, I will give you this ancient stone. Trust is far more important than risking death. I must leave. We will see each other when all rises like the ancient eras.” He handed me a rough brown stone and closed my fingers over it, just before the currents of wind washed him away to the sublime skies.

T
he stone resembled the stone of Cielune. I spoke one word in my mind,
Cielune
, and it shone brightly. I opened my hands, and there lay the second stone. It was a smooth oval, transparent, but if you looked closely you could see the reflection of galaxies. I put the second stone in another pocket apart from the first one.

“We have to continue our journey,” said Clarimie. “We are closer than we thought.
To honor the courage of our people, I shall proclaim this day as the Battle of Maglor.”

Through the
battle-scarred land, along the paths travelers and soldiers had followed, we reached the Crossroads of the Valleys. The heavens were painted in soft, pastel colors. The massive mountains remained dark shadows. We walked so long my feet began to ache. During this time I took the opportunity to study the stones. Their power was incredible. One levitated toward the sky; Aurora caught it before it flew out of reach.

U
pon a small hill, at last we saw the grounds of the true, powerful Clamoor Clan.

Crossroads of the Valleys, Silvius and Magdalion

May 14
th
, 2014

The camp stretched several miles. This
was the place where real battle preparation occurred. At the sight of it, I felt a renewed hope that Arthaesia might rise again. We passed majestic tents. Warriors, men and women, wore golden armor and sharp weapons. Battle chariots passed. Victory hymns and battle drums filled the air.

We entered a guarded tent as wide as Maldelsoul's tower
filled with tables, papers, and maps. Fine rugs covered the floor. Two lords greeted us. Lord Silvius had golden robes, blond hair, and green eyes. Lord Magdalion had dark hair and eyes and silver garments. Silvius spoke first. “I greet you from the depths of my heart. We will fight together as one, for none shall break our alliance.”

Magdalion
greeted us next. “A pleasure of a thousand battles won, I am pleased to meet you. Welcome to the heart of the Clamoor Clan.”

Clarimie
made our greetings and said, “We should start talking about our plan; the time is short. This is Lord Mediel, healer and strategist. This is Fensagenia, leader of a group of young warriors. Outside is Aurora, the mighty dragon, and this is Anelia, our hope for victory.”

“How interesting,”
said Silvius. “I will not waste our time with conclusions. Magdalion, show them our plans.”

Magdalion motioned for a map in the center. It was marked with symbols represent
ing elements of battle. The map looked like an antique. “We have several options for winning this war. First, we could move our soldiers to the northern woods, where they could attack Mortver's supplies. Second, we could use our naval force to unite the cities near the coast to increase our power.”

“Wait,” I s
aid. I looked at the arrow in the medallion. It pointed east, toward the Sea of Irialn. Beyond that were unexplored waters. “What if some of us were left here to fight on land, and the others came with me to Port Archalypsis? We would set sail for the Sea of Irialn. Maldelsoul might believe we stopped here.”

“It could be hard to travel with
a dragon,” said Silvius. “I will have my best magicians try to transform Aurora to a human. They will need you, Anelia, for you and Aurora have a spiritual connection.”

“We will plan our departure to
Port Archalypsis.” He smiled at me. “You have a great plan for a beginner. We will need you to transform Aurora before night.”

I left the tent with Aurora
and sat on a log next to the fire. Aurora lay on the grass. Food was served to the accompaniment of music and dance. I pondered how I could transform Aurora back. I studied my medallion. Eight lines led to a center: two vertical, two horizontal, and the rest diagonal. The outer points of the lines were connected with a circle.

The magicians from the Clamoor Clan
in their brown robes arrived and bade me follow with Aurora. We entered a very large tent full of lit candles. Other magicians sat meditating. Aurora stood in the center of the inscribed circle on the floor. The magicians formed a circle around her. I saw symbols on the walls that looked awfully similar to Mortver's mark. This ritual was not right. I tried to tell the magicians they were doing the wrong magic. They chanted, and I felt dizzy. I did not feel the balance I felt when I focused on Lumifale. Aurora lay there with closed eyes, barely breathing. I didn’t know what to do, but I couldn’t let my sister die like this.

The voice came back
.
Save her. You cannot live your lives without each other. Remember the balance of the elements and their connections to one another. Give your energy for Aurora's life. Do not let her go.

I gathered my strength and opened my palms. Blue light shone. The symbol of Auvreria surrounded me in
the form of a golden sphere. My strong will to heal Aurora overcame all the shields of the magicians. They stopped chanting and tried to stop me. I radiated neon light and concentrated my energy on her.
Auvreria, heal those who were forced from their destinies. Please, I give everything for the love of my sister.

Aurora roared as she shone with pure light. Energy flowed back and forth. Her body became smaller
until she transformed into a human. We both fell to the floor. She was dressed in white robes. Her amber eyes glowed, and her skin and hair were as white as her dragon skin. A small mark of Auvreria appeared on her forehead. She looked at me with gratitude and fell unconscious. The magicians carried her to her room.

I ran
back to the central tent. As I entered, I exclaimed, “Aurora has transformed back to her normal self!”

Clarimie said, “Th
is is great news! How long do you think she will be in human form?”

“I think about a week.”

“This will give us time to reach Port Archalypsis. For now, you may go to your tent—you have outdone yourself.” I thought Fensagenia would come too, but she was really into the battle plans and strategies being taught by the lords. I explored the grounds until I found my tent. Once in my sleeping clothes on the soft bed, I fell asleep without hesitation.
Sweet dreams, Anelia,
I said to myself.

The Clamoor Clan, the departure

May 16
th
, 2014

Wh
en I awoke, morning light was streaming through my tent. Dressed in my elven clothing, I went looking for a new sword. I knew I had to have a better one than my rusty sword from the training grounds. Some had more power, others were easier to handle, and they were all new. One that appealed to my senses was elegant and thin, white, and bore nature-based patterns. I swung it around carefully. It slashed through the air perfectly.

Battle drums
sounded, loud and clear. Clarimie, Fensagenia, Magdalion, a group of soldiers, and Aurora were waiting outside the main pavilion. Aurora was dressed in beige traveling clothes. She looked about twenty-six years old. Her long white hair was in a bun, and her body radiated a faint light. I wasn’t able to transform her fully; Maldelsoul's spell was too strong. I couldn't believe how powerful he was. His curse had been in effect for sixteen years. And I was supposed to defeat him somehow. My sister noticed me and ran to hug me. We held each other tightly while our minds communicated.

Thank you. If not
for you, I would have died from the black magic. The magicians are not to blame. Most of the healing magic knowledge was destroyed by Maldelsoul’s command.

Clarimie
broke the silence. “We have gathered here for our departure. Magdalion and his well-trained soldiers will come. Fensagenia and Aurora will be in your group as you enter Port Archalypsis. Your group will get the supplies, Magdalion will get the crew, and my soldiers and I will find a ship. We must depart now—four days of our journey will be spent in the highlands. Everyone, grab the bags.”

While we travelled, Aurora and Fensagenia told me stories of battles, journeys, and
other events that had happened in the ancient era of Arthaesia. Fensagenia told me her story: She was born in a town full of fear of Mortver. She was determined from childhood to defeat the undefeatable. She practiced and practiced and meanwhile took care of her family. Her mother wanted her to be a suiting wife. Fensagenia was punished and treated unfairly for her beliefs. When the town was attacked again, Fensagenia fought among the men.

This act destroyed
her family's reputation. Mortver won, and Fensagenia could not go to the herbalist to heal her wounds because she had become a warrior of no noble birth. Never giving up hope, she left the village to find the secret Clamoor Clan. When she found it and was healed, she pledged to be a loyal warrior.

At last we reached
the ancient port surrounded by gray stone walls. The Sea of Irialn was a deep, dark blue. At the opened gates there was a hidden symbol embedded in the dusty wall. I cleared the dirt with my hand. It said
The Gate of the Seas.
We entered.

Port Archalypsis, the arrival and the tempest

May 20
th
, 2014

The streets, alleys, houses, and shops were all abandoned. The dark port was in ruins like the Great Castle of Arthaesia. The group
halted. Clarimie said, “You all know your assignment. We will depart at sunset. Everybody be careful; these places have people who will do anything to survive. Their first action will be an attack. Stay safe.”

I walked along the
melancholy streets with Fensagenia and Aurora, who became more tired with every step. Maldelsoul's curse was regaining its strength. She had to soothe her pain before anything unexpected happened. “Fensagenia, the curse is working on Aurora again. Please, find Clarimie. I will try to find an herbalist. Hurry!” Fensagenia ran as fast as she could to the docks. I helped Aurora walk by letting her put her arm around my neck. She had a hard time breathing. As we walked I saw a small sign that said
Medicine and Spices
. I blew open the closed door in the building with my magic.

In
a dusty room filled with herbs was a woman wearing ragged clothes. She cried, “No! Don’t hurt me. Mortver have mercy on me! The people have me as their only healer.”

“We are from the Clamoor Clan. I am Anelia
, and this is my sister, Aurora. Aurora needs help recovering from her headache and poor vision.”

She
began searching through her stock. “I will help you, but why are you here? There are no treasures in this town of ashes. We are barely surviving.” Her hair was brown, and she had green eyes and a gentle smile. “My name is Liliamera. This flower will help if it is eaten raw.”

I took the plant and fixed my magic on the element of earth. The herb glowed green. I made Aurora take it. She felt better
immediately. With her eyes closed, she said, “Maldelsoul is here. We have to find the others—they are in great danger.” As we left the shop, the woman whispered something. A tear fell from her eye. She closed the door, and we met Fensagenia.

Fensagenia looked terrified. “Clarimie
has been captured by Mortver. They are here in Port Archalypsis. Her soldiers are gone. She can’t stand alone; we have to go now!” We ran for the docks, footsteps echoing in the desolate, dusty streets.

Shops around us wer
e closed, and people looked out, scared, from the windows of their houses. Strangers eyed us suspiciously. In the distance we saw a glimpse of Irialn with the ship masts swinging back and forth with the wind. As we came closer, we saw three silhouettes of grand ships. One of them was shining with warm golden colors, the other had pale maroon ornaments, and the last one was light gray like the sky. There was no motion on the ships.

We stopped to discuss the plan.

“Aurora has to go on that golden ship. Anelia, you check the maroon ship. I will check the gray one. We’re out of time. A storm is coming, and we need to sail before it gets worse,” Fensagenia said.

We split up. I was glad Aurora felt better
because she would need that strength. I ran to the ship Fensagenia had described, all beige sails and carved wooden ornaments—a nobleman’s ship. I boarded and looked out to sea. The storm was building. I took careful steps towards the main cabin and opened the unlocked door. Inside the candlelit rooms, a person in a hooded black cloak was gazing at the sea through the window. I put my hands on my sword. The person turned around placidly. Of course it was Maldelsoul.

He looked at me with a content
ed smile. “Surprise! Were you trying to run away from me? Our rings reveal everything. I found out about your plans—did you think we were idiots? Are you not tired of the countless stories of the past friends tell you? They don’t prepare you for the future. All those stories have dreadful ends. Your story will be the last of Arthaesia, the Three Divisions, and the universe.” He smiled bigger. “No words? What a shame. I just wanted to greet you before your sea journey.”

What do you say to someone who keeps trying to kill you?
Traveling long distances without enough sleep had left me tired and hopeless. Arthaesia had fallen—why restore it if Maldelsoul was just going to destroy it again? “Every candle burns out sometime. I am so tired of you. Can't you just kill me now and rule the world?” I had been brave. I had fought for justice, but I couldn’t struggle against chaos forever.

“Ah, the bird of hope has lost its angelic wings
! You will fall one day. You are the prize of revenge from all my enemies: Arthaesia and the universe itself that chose its destiny in you. You will suffer for as long as I want. You have to bring me the four pieces in a week. If you do not, I will have my army kill all of the Clamoor Clan. My ring will hurt you until you come to me. You will suffer for the rest of your life. You will see those you loved broken apart and burned alive. You will live in my palace as a reminder of Mortver's victory. For now, leave. I will come for you in the future....” He cast dark shadows around me until all I saw was darkness.

I reappeared on the golden ship where Aurora and the Clamoor Clan were. Magdalion met me. “Fensagenia came back with Clarimie. Clarimie was drugged
after being captured on the gray ship. The only cure that can heal her is stored where she was imprisoned. Fensagenia wants to go there and find it.”

Fensagenia
came out of the cabin.

“Fensagenia!
Magdalion just told me that you saved Clarimie from Mortver!”

“Will you come with me?
” Fensagenia asked. “I need help because this time Mortver's guards will protect the ship better.”

“I will,” I answered. “If there is a chance to
alleviateClarimie’s temporary illness, we have to take it.”

The storm
was growing worse. I wondered if Maldelsoul had cast it. It would make it harder to reach the next piece of the Cielune, but if he did not cast it, who had, and for what purpose?

We decided to go to the gray ship without
the Clamoor Clan’s support. It was a stealth mission. We dressed up in Mortver’s black cloaks and quietly left the golden ship.

It was not hard to sneak
onto the gray ship. As we stepped on deck, Fensagenia motioned for me to attack. I gathered my strength and focused on the element of water. I lifted my hands just a little, and a wave pulled the guards into the sea. While Fensagenia took out the soldiers, I ran to the cabins. She caught up to me quickly, and we looked over desks, cabinets, shelves, anywhere that might have hidden scrolls. At last, she found a chest full of recipes. We carried the whole thing back to our ship, and Magdalion set sail.

Fensagenia went into the cabin to help Clarimie. I stayed
on deck to help the crew. The wind was very strong, and the ship swayed back and forth. High waves started, and the sky became dark. Thunder roared, and lightning flew from the sky. The wind tore the sails. Rain poured. The ship was being pulled into the center of a tempest. I used buckets to bail water. Magdalion ordered the sails struck. Aurora came out of the cabin and said, “This is not a normal storm. The compasses are spinning. The crew barely has control. I think the storm wants us.”

I nodded. A sudden wave engulfed the ship. I held tight to the rail
as the wind lifted me. A typhoon appeared in the distance. I screamed as loud as I could. Aurora wished she could fly again. The water and air surrounded me the way it did when I teleported. I closed my eyes, too scared to see what would happen next.

The
dark disappeared as I appeared back on the first day of school. I was wearing my usual clothes and standing near my locker. The hallways were empty. I felt that I had merged with my past self. I was near the cafeteria and could smell the cooking food. It was morning, and I was late to class. While I picked my book from my locker, the same girl walked up and slammed the locker. My books fell. She proudly walked away.

Ryan came towards me.

He said, “You know you could have said something about this, right? She will keep hurting our friends, and you, until you speak up for everyone.”

Suddenly, without my command, my mouth opened. “I don’t really care what happens. I’m not responsible for her actions. Why should I try to change our school and the world by myself?”

Ryan gave me a sad smile. I saw an image of Aurora next to him. She heard these words and bowed her head sorrowfully. I realized that she had heard them that day while she was in the Northlands. Her image faded as Ryan turned away and went to class.

I was shocked by my own words. “Wait! I am so sorry. I know I’ve only thought about myself all the time, but please forgive me. I can’t walk away from a problem that can hurt others. Even if it seems like you have to save the entire universe, you should never give up.”

He turned around and looked at me happily. He held the rose butterfly that healed me, and it flew to my hands. I closed my eyes. When I opened them I was floating underwater in an ocean. I saw the dancing lights from above penetrate the water and gracefully descend into to the vast depths. I gazed silently at the bright lights. I was running out of breath. I gently closed my eyes again as the air bubbles escaped from my mouth.

Cave of Livaunde

May 24
th
, 2014

I woke up wet on a rocky shore. I looked around. The
surrounding cliffs were impossible to climb. Wind blew but did nothing to dispel the fog. There was no vegetation around—everything was stone. The gulf with two mountains in the distance and the gray beach seemed familiar. It was an isolated place from my dream. Rain would come soon, so I tried to find shelter in the cliffs.

I forced myself to squeeze through the thin paths of rock
until I saw an entrance to a cave. I heard the voice echo through the walls:
Follow the gate of darkness that reveals light and knowledge....
Darkness filled the caverns. Stones as old as time stood quietly in their eternal sleep. I didn't know how time flowed here. I didn't even know if I was alive or somewhere in a dream. I took another step and slid down the rough incline.

My slide ended gracefully
on a flat rock in the middle of a luminescent lake. Clear and shallow, it lit the entire chamber. I dipped a finger in the water. A circular ripple spread throughout the lake as the walls shook. The voice echoed.
See the reflection. Do you accept who you are and what Auvreria has given you? Do you accept your destiny?
I looked at the water. I couldn’t see my face or any part of me.