“I had heard some beasts of Soria could speak … the ancient of the ancient … but never once did I actually think I would … experience it for myself!” Remi spoke through broken words, curious if her sisters had overheard the growling voice of the beast.
Maile nodded silently and Baelie caught her breath. “I wonder what it’s doing here?” asked Baelie through heavy breaths. “Could the Force Corps have captured it?”
“They must have,” said Remi.
“Can’t imagine why someone would want to make that thing their enemy. Remi, you shouldn’t have insulted him just because he was caged … he could get out. I’m surprised that cage could even contain such a monster.”
Remi gulped, once again remembering Beliosr’s threat. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t, ever, ever get out.” She looked around for Maile. She was surprised when she found her staring curiously into another one of the cages.
“Maile! Don’t get too close!” She couldn’t imagine what horrors lay within this next cage. But Maile didn’t budge, and if Remi knew any better, she would have assumed Maile was speaking to herself under her breath.
“Maile?” she asked quietly, nervous to move forward.
Finally, Remi mustered up the rest of her bravery and stared into the glass. The odd-looking creature within was big, but not nearly the size of the Kushala Flare. However, it was big enough to stand twice her own height. It looked like a huge black and white bird, with large circular yellow eyes the size of her fist and ruffled feathers that spiked sharply from its skin. It stood on its feet, with wings reaching down to its sides and had a protruding belly that made her wonder if animals could be fat. For a second, she imagined her sister Baelie in the form of an animal, and realized that this was it. She started laughing, imagining the bird with silver armor, until with speed that seemed misplaced, the creature was suddenly an inch away from the glass, staring out at her with a cocked head and huge glimmering eyes. Remi jumped back and stared at it. She realized immediately its eyes were the size of her head and not her fist. Its black vertical slits for pupils flickered wildly as if angered by her thoughts—something she knew was not possible but now doubted. A deep purring resonated from the bird’s throat as she backed away slowly.
“Don’t worry, I think he’s laughing at you,” said Maile quietly. The bird’s eye glanced towards her little sister before quickly snapping back into place.
“Are … you speaking to it?” asked Remi. I should be able to hear him too … shouldn’t I?
“No … I don’t think he can communicate like the other monster,” said Maile quietly. Then she spoke again, but not to anyone that Remi could see. “How do you expect me to do that?” Maile asked, and flinched as if something had struck her. Maile’s tone heightened. “No … I can’t. We’ll get in trouble!”
Remi raised her eyebrow. Who was her sister speaking to? Could it be the strange-looking bird before her? How come all of them could hear Beliosr in their thoughts and now only Maile could understand what it was saying? She looked at Baelie who seemed to be feeling exactly the same as her: absolutely confused.
“Alright, alright!” said Maile, kneeling down.
“Maile … whatever it is you’re doing, just stop,” said Baelie cautiously.
“Maile, what exactly is it that you’re doing?” asked Remi.
Maile reached out her little hand and Remi heard the scrape of stone over stone. She sat there for a second, trying to see what was happening, and then heard the strange sound of buttons clicking one by one. And then, just like that, the door of the cage behind the bird started to open. The surging sound of howling wind tore at their ears and the bright glow of the distant sun illuminated the entire corridor. The back of the stone black cage had split in two, sliding open horizontally and granting passage to the open sky.
“Be free, Mr. Waddles!” said Maile.
“MR. WADDLES!?” Remi and Baelie yelled simultaneously over the roaring wind. Both sisters launched towards Maile, who was just standing up. They arrived just in time to see a thin slab of stone with glowing runes retreating into the bottom part of the cage.
A control panel!? Thought Remi. Maile looked up and smiled, and for a split second, Remi thought she saw a flicker of light radiate from the gem of her youngest sister’s necklace. Before she had time to think, Baelie came flashing past her.
“Are you crazy?!” screamed Baelie, shaking Maile back and forth.
“How did you do that?” asked Remi hesitantly.
Maile bobbed back and forth trying to gain her balance and speaking in such broken words that nothing could be understood.
“Stop shaking her Baelie and let her speak!”
“He told me to do it,” Maile said. “He said, ‘This creature has no place here.’”
“He …?” An eerie shiver crept up Remi’s spine and instinctively she looked around the corridor, inspecting it for anyone who could have been hiding. There was nothing.
“Who told you to do it?” she asked in a whisper.
“The one who talks to me sometimes,” said Maile. “Remember, I told you before.” She looked hurt that her sister had forgotten. Remi closed her eyes. She knew Maile would sometimes talk to an imaginary being and had tried to overlook it growing up. It was something that had caused her little sister’s initial fear of everything, since she would wake up in the middle of the night claiming that something was whispering to her from underneath the bed.
“Is that how you knew how to set the creature free?” asked Remi.
“His name is Mr. Waddles,” said Maile quickly.
“But he can’t communicate, you said. You named him? Did the voice you heard tell you how to set him free?”
Maile nodded. Baelie was now pacing back and forth quickly across the hallway, her armor clanking obnoxiously. It was obvious that she thought Maile’s actions would ruin her chances of becoming Vice Captain.
“We are totally going to get in so much trouble,” said Remi, sighing. Maile instantly showed signs of regret. She looked up at her oldest sister, hoping she wasn’t upset with her.
Remi caught herself upon seeing the sadness in her sister’s eyes. “But, I think you did the right thing,” she said. “That was very brave of you, Maile … I’m proud of you.” Maile’s eyes glowed at the encouraging words from her oldest sister.
Sometimes it’s nice being the oldest, thought Remi. But now I’ll have to take responsibility for Maile’s actions. She sighed again. Maybe it’s not so nice. This sucks. I’m really gonna get it.
“Maile!” exclaimed Baelie loudly, her pudgy face flushed and red. “How could you do this? This is so unlike you! If they ask anything, I’m saying that I tried with all my might to stop you and you evaded me, because of your tiny stature… . it’s like a dragon hunting a fly. Yes, exactly. A dragon hunting a fly … even with all my power, I just couldn’t catch you.”
“Sorry Baelie,” said Maile with saddened eyes.
Remi smirked at her armor-clad sister. “Even with all your power you couldn’t stop her? The one who is supposed to become Vice Captain of the Force Corps? They are the strongest women in all of Soria! Baelie, I may be wrong, but I doubt real soldiers make excuses for their actions and I bet even more, they protect their family before chasing something as pathetic as a title.”
“What did you say!?” spit Baelie.
Remi was positive that if Baelie had been closer to her and holding her tree branch spear, she would have attacked her. The expression on her face was of one who had just been robbed of their most valued treasure. She stood there shaking, before turning on her heel and walking down the corridor. Raising her hand over her head she called back, “What would you know of anything, Smellington? You live your life chasing a boy who made you a promise 10 cycles ago and now where is he? He most likely forgot about you and went on to bigger and better things.” With that, Baelie disappea
red behind the twisting turn of the passageway.
The words pierced the veil of Remi’s insecurities and instantly she clenched her teeth so tightly she thought they would shatter. With all her might she held back her tears. Before she could move, she felt Maile’s hand reach up and grasp her hand, trying but with no avail to pull her older sister.
“Let’s go,” said Maile, “She didn’t mean it.” It took a minute before Remi even budged. She could not believe her sister had just resorted to that and for a second, Remi fought to hold back her tears. After a moment, she regained some of her composure and took her sister’s hand, walking in silence down the hall.
Maile tried to change the subject. “Remi, what is the Valyti? I know it is the secret dungeon of the Force Corps … but why, why do I feel so scared when I think about it?”
Remi looked up to the ceiling, imagining as she walked. “I wouldn’t say dungeon. More like a secret lair. The Valyti … it is a place I have only heard rumors about. Rumors of rumors most likely … they say it was designed and built by Miss Alani Pooks when she helped design Aurora’s Light. They say it is a place where anything is possible. It is the ultimate training grounds where one can hone their body and mind to the maximum limitation and surpass even that. Valyti means in the old language, cleanse. It was named the Valyti for its sole purpose is to stain your soul white, freeing it of any negative emotions such as wrath, envy, impatience or anything else that can cloud your mind while in battle with the –“ She shivered slightly. “Well, you know …” Remi shut her eyes and spoke quietly to herself. “All I know is that the soldiers who enter the Force Corps spend most of their time in the Valyti and upon exiting, it’s been said that their minds transcend what is possible and their strength grows so great that just looking into their eyes could cause one of weak will to faint.”
“They sound so strong,” said Maile quietly.
“They are the best of the best. The elite of the elite and there is none, other than the Shield Corps – the strongest men of Soria – who can even come close to matching their skills in the art of war. Along with that, their leader is Lady Scylla, who has become one of the most powerful Sorians to ever live. I’ve heard rumors that she has already transcended beyond a normal Sorian, and merely walks the streets in her normal form, so as not to flaunt her already immense strength. These days, she is spoken of as The God that Walks Among Us.”
They walked quietly until the silver glow of Baelie’s armor came into view half a shade later. Baelie had stopped before a towering door many times bigger than the entrance to the tower, and easily big enough for the Kushala Flare Beliosr to pass through. It had an enormous design carved into the stone that they easily recognized – a lone shield positioned behind a rising spear with a fire-breathing dragon twisting up the shaft – the insignia of the Empress.
The second Maile and Remi came to a stop, a heavy cracking sound shattered the silence. They jumped back as the door split in two, caving inwards and releasing a blinding white light. Wind so chill it might have come from the coldest night of winter hit their cheeks. Upon opening their eyes, they took their first glimpse of the Valyti.
VIII – Neverend Forest
Caim walked idly behind Storm down a narrow path through the trees. The dark and massive trunks seemed to regard the dusty path with a feeling of respect, as their branches never crossed before them. The submerged rocks in the path now lay flat after so many cycles of the boys wandering across them.
“Na, Storm,” said Caim suddenly.
“Hmm?”
“What’s a myth?”
“Really Caim?” Storm sighed. “It’s just an old story, you know … the old man was just messing around with us.”
“No way!” Caim’s eyes narrowed. “You’re just saying that because you want to become the Dragon King before me.”
Storm didn’t stop walking. “Whatever lets you rest easy. Besides, didn’t he say that the Dragon King is more like a presence, a being that watches over us? The one who rides upon the backs of Night and Day?”
“No,” said Caim. “He said …” He scratched his head and his smile curved wide. “I forgot.” Suddenly his eyes grew bright. “He said something about being born during times of chaos.”
“I think he may have been just playing to your imagination, neo.” Storm spent a couple seconds wondering what the old man meant by in times of chaos. I wonder if he’s talking about the dark war …
“So, can I hold it now?” Caim asked.
“No,” said Storm, passing around a bend. The path before seemed exactly the same as the one they had been walking and for a second, he felt as if they hadn’t made any progress at all.
“This is going to be a long journey,” he muttered under his breath.
For the next couple shades they traveled in quiet conversation, passing a seemingly endless number of looming trees that stood all about them. So it happened that they came upon a massive gorge. It descended deep into the earth with vines twisting from its walls, reaching all the way down to a black creek that ran along the bottom. An eerie presence seemed to linger from within the strange mist that hovered about its edges. Caim leaned forward, kicking a rock into the deep ravine. Many long seconds passed before he gave up listening for when it would strike the bottom.
“One day I’ll go down there,” said Caim.
“Yeah, you’ll definitely find Cataclysm’s Axe,” remarked Storm. “Actually, you should go now.” Storm looked across to the other side of the ravine – it was quite a distance.
“I know it’s down there!” exclaimed Caim. He leaned lower and called out in a loud voice. Silence was his only answer.
“It has to be… .” Caim whispered.
Storm sighed, remembering the fairy tale their grandfather had told them in the past about the gorge known as Cataclysm’s Touch. It was called this because the gorge looked as if the God of Earth had struck the land of Falia with a mighty axe. It was said that many ages before, when the world of Soria first came to be, Cataclysm, the God of Earth, gifted upon their world dirt, soil, rock, trees and flowers. With it, he carved a memory of his offering to the Sorians so they should never forget how it was that they could walk on the sky. Caim and Storm talked about the prospect of it being true, and while Caim was more than supportive of the idea, Storm was reluctant to believe such a tale. Still, Caim believed that one day he would have to adventure down into the depths, hoping to find the weapon that caused its creation lying at the bottom. Storm also thought this was ridiculous, for the weapon would have to be enormous to have created such a scar in the land. Storm raised an eyebrow at Caim as he peered deeper and deeper into the blackness.
“Let’s go unless you’re about to jump down there,” said Storm.
“I would if I thought there was food down there,” answered Caim.
Storm lightly pushed Caim in the back as he was looking down. Caim’s arms ran wild as he tried to hold his balance, and he finally caught his feet. He turned around angrily, “Are you crazy!?” Storm just laughed, “I barely tapped you, crybaby.”
Caim’s eyes grew narrow, “Shut up. I never cry.”
“Oh c’mon neo, let it go and let us go with it.”
They soon leapt across the gorge, soaring through the air as if the hundred-foot jump was nothing at all. From the other side, they started running, dashing through the trees at dizzying speeds that caused all the creatures and birds to wonder curiously at their haste. After three shades of Flashing through the trees, they came to a stop and started to walk in the brisk of twilight. Caim, who had been bothering Storm all night about the mysterious gem, continued his onslaught of begging.
“Pleaseeeeee, let me look at it,” pleaded Caim for the hundredth time since they had set off through Neverend for the Capital City of Trestles. Caim’s eyes were restless as they scoured Storm’s body for signs of the emerald stone.
�
�Sorry neo, but you’d definitely lose it,” answered Storm, a flicker of a grin rising on his face. The coming of midnight had brought a cool wind that swept its way through Storm’s hair, and all around them the creatures of the night had awoken. High above in the dark skies, the two crystal moons emitted a blue glow that pierced through the veil of treetops, casting fragments of broken light down over the two brothers and their surroundings.
“You’ll definitely lose it first,” said Caim under his breath.
Caim sighed and lifted his hands behind his head. The only thing he could think about was that stone, the one gift that their grandfather had promised them as they were training to surpass Inner Depths. The five cycles, or 500 rings (which were equal spans of time, although 500 rings seemed worse to Caim) of anticipation were killing him. He wanted to know more than anything what the mysterious emerald stone did and the wonders that were held inside it.
All around Caim and Storm, monstrous tree trunks seemed to grow taller and blacken, rising up in the forest like great marble pillars. Crystal fireflies hummed through the branches and across the path, giving them some bit of light beyond the moons. The fireflies were a sign that they were entering the densest and darkest part of Neverend. For the most part, the two brothers walked quietly, other than the occasional complaint from Caim asking to look at the stone. Tiny creatures stared at them with glowing eyes from the distant darkness. For a normal Sorian, walking so deep into Neverend would have been a terrifying ordeal and one that almost none would have attempted. However, for the two brothers, the forest had become a part of their home and they walked without fear, or doubt, in a direction that most would have deemed life-threatening; for their maps and legends warned them of dangers that existed within Neverend – things that could not be explained by the living.
“What do you think it does?” asked Caim suddenly, hardly able to contain his own curiosity.
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