Auvreria (7 page)

“This is the land,”
he answered. “The elves have transformed from material existence into spiritual. Some became part of these trees, lakes, forests, and skies. Others became living creatures. There is Othene as a bird... We cannot talk here on the ground. The dark-souled betrayers may hear us. Follow me and don't speak.”

Elfeon walked through the boulder. I followed. I knew I would not hit the rock with the tip of my nose as I stepped in. We entered an underground passage of stone. Unfamiliar gems sparkled on the walls. Their reflection made the cave sparkle like a galaxy. The cave echoed with the wind. The atmosphere of this place was ancient, like the smell of aged books. This was a library: the eternal cave of the past.

We
passed through arches that led to a luminous lagoon. It was not deep; only my feet got wet. Elfeon stepped on the water. He motioned for me to follow and step on the small platform in the middle of the lake. On the platform was another symbol of Auvreria, embedded in an equilateral triangle. I sat down and closed my eyes in the serenity.

Elfeon
began talking. “Here, nobody can reach us. Maldelsoul will not hear these secrets of the ancients. Listen and remember this: when the celestial dragon's body began to weaken, it created its sanctuary in the center of the universe among the three central galaxies. It transformed into an eternal spirit. To make sure its power was not stolen, the dragon created the three medallions that acted as keys to lock the power.

“
Where did these medallions go? Which one did I get?”

“
They were sent to the ends of the universe. One came to Aethra, the second one to Arthaesia, and the third to the Astral world. During the new ages, Maldelsoul took the second one. The third one was given to Estrella, the phoenix of balance. She was to give the medallion to you when you were ready. The first medallion was hidden deep in the highest mountains of Aethra during the Ice Age. The medallion of the Astral world had its eight gems removed and given to the eight clans of Aethra.”

“Can they
affect magic when it’s performed?”

“The medallions represented the
Three Divisions and ends of the universe,” he continued. “Their influence on magic is unknown. However, we all knew that the power of the celestial dragon was stronger than anything else in the universe. It could destroy the existence–material and spiritual–of any soul. It is Maldelsoul's goal to acquire it. If he does, evil will create chaos and ruin the balance between itself and good.

“All these centuries have passed in destruction because of a power greater than the universe? It seems impossible to stop Mortver after what I have seen in Arthaesia.”

“It is your destiny to protect that power, guardian of Auvreria. If evil learns the remaining two elements, it could find the main power. There is a way to the Tree of Life. You must find the four pieces of the stone of the sky. It is called Cielune. When you find them, their unity will bring you to Lanora Lake. You must put the pieces in the lake, and the entrance to the Tree of Life will open. Your way will be determined there.”

He stopped to rest after his long speech.
I found I could remember everything he’d said. If only history class in school had been this easy. The tasks, however, were impossible to accomplish in a lifetime: find the four pieces of Cielune, find the third medallion on Earth, recover the eight gems from the clans, and find the center of the universe. Yet I had to expect the unexpected.

Elfeon
stepped further in the lagoon and was engulfed by neon light. The water flew around me until I appeared on a wooden platform high in the trees with him. The sky was a hazy pink and gold. The massive trees stood on the ancient ground overlooking the smaller forests below. Lakes and rivers abounded. This world had the essence of nature's beauty all in one kingdom.

I asked
Elfeon, “Why are we here? I feel like I have been here before. These sounds, views, and smells, are all familiar.”

“You were born here by
Auvreria's destiny,” answered Elfeon. “You came with the arrival of the festival of lights. Down there was a pavilion where elves had festivals in honor of the happenings of the past and future.”

“How is my birth linked to the festival of lights? What happened here?”

“When your parents came to visit the festival with you as an infant, they were the center of attention. They were humans, and the elves hated the humans for what they had done. The betrayed people of Mortver burned our forests to force us to reveal our location. Only Mother Nature, gone to the skies, greeted them with a heartening smile. She led them with you to the pavilion of the three-leaf flower.

“
The elves were surprised. Some wanted to persecute them, and the others could not believe their eyes. The pure, white phoenix appeared above you and gave you your birthmarks of Auvreria. Two were on your palms, two on the soles of your feet, and one on your forehead. Estrella shined brighter than the stars. Her wings stretched farther than the horizon. Her light shone until she flew away, and you received your gift. The elves knew that the chosen one would have her gifts in their land.”

“What is my gift? How do you know
about this?” We stood looking at the forests. I leaned on the carved wood railing.

“The gifted one,”
he said, “will realize what gift she possesses. I was present at the miracle. Elves live for thousands of years. Living in harmony with nature allows our souls to feed our bodies with everlasting energy.”

He resumed the story.
“The elves gave you gifts because they felt ashamed of how they had judged a true guardian in a human form. The ancient spirit of the sky tree gave your grandfather two wooden flutes. They represented harmony between the two races. The Lady of the Weather gave your parents a green cloak. It would shield you against harsh weather. Umeonu gave you the gift to understand any language. Your ability was revealed when you entered the Tree of Life. ”

“Wait, so I am speaking in
the elves’ language right now? I spoke Arthaesia's tongue all this time, and I didn't even notice it? Okay, continue with the story.”

“However, there was a special gift that a dark
-souled one gave to you. It caused one branch to break into two. You are wearing it right now.”

He showed me the ring that Maldelsoul gave me. “Oh
, my, that ring! How in the world did it appear again on my finger? Take it!”

“This ring is not a threat to you
,” he said calmly. “It is the deep connection between good and evil. The breath of the celestial dragon forged the two rings. One represents the white dragon, and the other represents the black dragon. I swear by Eofea that Maldelsoul knew about your coming.”

“
Has Maldelsoul changed his appearance over the years? How does he maintain his power?”

“He
has never changed, for as long as I can remember him. He is probably about a thousand years old because he ended the old ages and started the new era. His hatred and desire for power and destruction will feed him forever. Back to the story, the fourth one to give a gift was Maldelsoul. He came up to you in his dark robes. His cold hand put the ring on your finger. His black cloak waved in the air. His eyes never left yours. He was gazing at his born enemy. You started crying. The stone bell that was created during the old era rang and broke. Its sound represented the beginning of a new battle to save the universe—” He broke off in hope and wonder.

Eofea, healing and goodbye

May 7
th
, 2014

The wind picked up
, and from it appeared a feminine elf wearing garments that represented the sky. She said in a deep voice, “Anelia, chosen one of the universe, help me clear the forests of the spell of the dark one, I beg you.”

“Lady of the
Weather,” said Elfeon, “I greet you. My name given by the trees of Eofea is Elfeon. We will help you with our might. Tell us your worries.”

“All
has been said. I ask you for your healing power to restore the weather and energy of Eofea. Maldelsoul uses the energy of the ancients to restore his own. Anelia, feel Eofea, and you will succeed. Focus on your inner tranquility and equilibrium. This is the key. Maldelsoul uses the opposite to force our people out of their destinies. Find the inner light, and it will give light to everything that is engulfed by darkness.”

I was afraid I would fail. I didn
’t want Eofea to burn to ashes like the proud kingdom of Arthaesia. I knew I could not give up knowing I had the ability to change the outcome. I felt the power of Lumifale. My hands moved in a slow motion. The medallion vibrated. I closed my eyes to attain a greater concentration. I said in my mind,
Wind come and lift.
The wind came and lifted me to the sky. I felt clouds shifting. The forest rang with cacophony.

Auvreria
, come,
I said. The elements were supposed to come, but they did not. I tried and tried. I remembered how Maldelsoul told me that neither mind nor body controlled my magic. What did? How was it controlled? I had to find my inner light, my soul, and my harmony. Wait a second; everything has a soul; the plants, the skies, the elements. When I tried to lift the blanket of darkness in the Northlands, I tried to feel (not think about) light. I tried to feel the soul of the sun. I found it! My magic was higher than body or mind. It was connected to the soul of the universe.

I tried again. I felt the wind
and imagined its path. Clouds began to build up in the sky. Dark and colossal, a storm was rising. Lightning shone in the distance. The sound of thunder shook the sky. The wind spiraled around me. Rain fell. The power of air and water was very hard to control. It engulfed me with its tremendous force. I felt overpowered, and I lost control. My body blended with the air. My mind lost its logic. My soul was left alone. I had to get back into focus, without fear. On the count of three I had to stop this chaos. One, the leaves of the trees were torn by the crazy wind. Two, the rain took the form of a tornado. Three, the wave of energy spread as wide as the horizon and as high as the skies. The storm was gone in an instant. A light breeze took me back to the platform. I had wasted too much energy on this.

The
Lady of the Weather spoke. “We are free! Hear the voices and calls of the forest. We are free from evil for eternity. I must wake all the spirits of our ancestors. I pass the goodbye to you, my brother and sister by heart.” She faded away with the breeze. The light of the sun made my head spin. I was not used to this kind of serious magic. I lost consciousness in Elfeon's arms.

I woke up on comfortable grass and leaves. The
room in the tree smelled of herbs, was built of soft wood, and had a lively atmosphere. There were neatly folded clothes on the windowsill. I unfolded them and saw beautiful traveling clothes in the elven pattern. I changed my dirty soldier clothes for a light green shirt, an emerald tunic on top, pants, and brown boots. There was a small pool in the room in which I could see my reflection. In the main room, Elfeon greeted me. It had elegant furniture, woolen rugs, runes on the walls, vines on the windows, and nature's colors everywhere.

“You have not yet gained enough power in your magic,”
he said. “You must not use extreme magic at desperate times. Your body may die if the soul overtakes the balance between itself and the body it is held.”

He turned around and went
outside to the balcony, using the vine bridges to cross to the other massive tree. He came back through the same passage.

“
I have the two gifts of our people, the wooden flute and the emerald cloak.”

The cape had golden symbols on it. It was woven for harsh weather
but was still elegant. The wooden flute was ornamented with smooth, harmonious patterns. I blew on it, and it produced a terrible sound. Elfeon said, “According to legend, the touch of the true guardian of the universe has to transform this flute into a silver one. The melody of the guardian's soul shall be heard anywhere in the universe. It will carry her goodness and love for others.”

He paused a moment.

“Do you want herb tea?”

“Sure, but
where is the tea pot?” I asked.

“The water from the rainfall kept high in the tree will flow through a wooden tube. I will use the element of fire to boil it. It will take time, so you can go out
onto the balcony and enjoy the beautiful night. Can I examine your medallion?”

I put
the medallion on the table between us. I slowly stood up and entered the balcony through the wooden doors. The sky-blue waterfalls, the emerald forests, the white mist, the rune rocks, and the luminous sky were all in harmony. I sat down on the bark of the tree and took out my flute. Horrible sounds came. I looked above. The skies were perfect with tremendous beauty. The flute started glowing white as it floated to my eye level. It began playing an enchanting melody by itself. I listened and hummed with it. Other instruments of nature joined in with the chanting of the spirits of elves. At last, the glow of the flute transferred into an image of a white dragon flowing to the skies.

I came back
into the living room. Elfeon had made tea. “Sit down. I have fixed the broken compass on the back of your medallion. It will guide you to the four pieces of the stone of Cielune. Every time you find a piece, it will guide you to another. Be very careful on your path. No one knows who holds these four pieces. Many thousands of years have passed. This medallion is the only one of the three with a compass. You may have rivals who will do anything to get it.”