Into the Heart
1012 Words
Ethan had plunged into an ocean of pure, unadulterated energy the minute he set into the whirling vortex encompassing the Fae Realm. Shadow and light whirled around him, their opposite energies crashing hard together. The sphere he was holding throbbed in time with the disruption; its golden brilliance could hardly hold the approaching gloom.
"Stay sharp!" Seraphina cried over the horrible intensity. Her hands ablaze with golden strength, she stood at his side, trying to cool their surroundings.
Kels trails closely, his silver-blue eye searching the whirl of disturbance. His black power flared briefly to guard them as the gloom swept forth. "Anyway, we would better do it fast," he added fiercely. "This place will not hold herself together for very long."
Ethan grabbed the sphere firmly, his chest constricting as opposing forces slammed upon him. Beautiful and terrible, the weight of the magic all about him seemed. Tight in voice, he questioned, "What's the plan, Seraphina?"
"The orb is the key," shouted desperate Seraphina. "It has to do with heart life. Its power has to be concentrated in the crystal to attain equilibrium.
Ethan examined the central large crystal in the chamber. Dark veins jaggedly blebs marring its surface dangled in middle air. Inside, the soft golden light flashing seemed to be a dying flame.
And how might we get to it without turning to fried cuisine? He asked.
Closely approaching, Seraphina said, "You won't be alone." The sphere answers based on intention. See the light for the items you are trying to save. Keal will help you, as will I.
Kela let out a small snort. I registered, hoping not to be a cheerleader.
Then leave, Seraphina said with fluttering emerald eyes. Still, if you are staying you will be helping.
Kael grinned but said nothing; his dark power whirled protectingly around them.
Long enough Ethan inhaled to try to calm his rushing thoughts. He hoisted the ball, its golden brightness searing more fiercely as it neared the crystal. "Okay," he remarked. Let us address this.
As the orb's light touched the crystal, the chamber erupted in activity. Ethan stumbled; his legs bowed under his weight, but Seraphina's hand on his arm straightened him.
She pushed, her voice slicing above the anarchy: Target!
Ethan grasped his teeth and aimed his thoughts onto the field. He concentrated on the light, on the small warmth the ball had originally felt. Life, he considered as perilously hanging, the Fae Realm, even Kael. The light inside the orb whirled the darkness hanging on the crystal back around.
Travelled and tormented, the shadows fought the light. Keal stayed ahead, his black might whipping like a whip. His voice dropped abruptly, "They're not going quietly."
"They won't," murmured Seraphina, hands even more brilliantly glittering. "This curse was scheduled to be flushed out." Still, we cannot allow it.
Their combined effort was directed on the orb. From the surface of the crystal, stronger golden light found its way into the creves. The light persisted unrelenting even if the darkness protested.
Ethan considered the orb as a mighty tidal wave. His will was strong even if everything was amazing and threatened to overwhelm him.
"You can do this," Seraphina replied, her voice firm even with the tension on her face. The orb chose you for a purpose.
Not sure Ethan felt her exactly, but nodded. Ignoring the blackness creeping at the margins of his consciousness, he concentrated all of his attention on the light.
Starting to variate, the crystal altered. The veins of shadows disappeared to be replaced with a radiant golden brilliance. The terrible weight of the curse partly heated the chamber's air.
"It's working," Seraphina remarked with a hopeful-sounding voice.
But the darkness responded even as the light seemed to be blazing. The tunnel burst violently, and the tendrils of darkness tightly encircled the crystal.
Ethan staggered; the great ball softened. "What'm going on?"
Faster still, Seraphina murmured, "The curse is fighting back." It won't blow off without a last hit.
Kels cursed under their breath; his magic burned more brilliantly. "We need more power; this whole thing will blow."
Ethan's head swirled. Seeing the energy of the sphere wither, he linked it to the erasing crystal. Desperate, then he remembered the Guardian's finding—that the orb responds to intention.
Closing his eyes, he imagined Seraphina—of will, might, the brilliance she carried even among the shadow. He considered the Fae Realm, once breathtakingly lovely but hardly surviving today. And he swore to mend things, stood in this intolerable moment, saw himself.
The spherical exploded spectacularly, golden light streaming forth. Screaming and wriggling, the light peeled off the blackness's tendrils from their grasp on the crystal.
The chamber shook furiously, the energy nearly hysterical. Kael cursed while he tried to keep his shield intact; Seraphina cried, her magic fading.
Valhalla screams, Ethan! -- Valhalla. Either right now or never is the issue.
Ethan concentrated every bit of will on the power of the orb on the crystal. When the light exploded outward, the chamber was basically blind in exactly flawless brilliance.
For a minute, just light existed.
The room stayed still when the last light went out. Great warmth emanating from the crystal replaced the terrible gloom. The air seemed lighter, cleaner, as though the spell had at least been broken.
Ethan staggered, his legs almost under him. She gently and precisely captured him.
"You did it," she murmured gently, looking rather astonished.
Ethan examined the perfect, uninterrupted surface of the crystal. His sphere had narrowed, its light weak but constant. He breathed then let out floods all around.
Keal kept forward, his smile bent down. Not good; Draycott in mortal form.
Ethan merely managed a feeble grin. Thanks; I thought about it some.
Now turning now to the jewel, Seraphina radiated a wary but still hopeful attitude. The equilibrium is back, she said. The area is still hazardous, though. Still to be done is work.
Ethan nodded as the weight of their vacation passed over him. Let us then designate it as completed.
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