EMRYSA

Chapter Three (IV)

As midnight approached, everyone drifted off to sleep, except for Arc, who was engrossed in reading Emrys. His thoughts wandered as he pondered the conversation he had with Mordecai earlier. "A reason why I was born? But everyone has a reason they're born," he mused, his gaze shifting toward Ciara.

Ciara, on the other hand, was plagued by a recurring nightmare. Startled awake, she searched for the medicine Mordecai had given her, only to find it depleted. She drank some water, sat on a log, and stared at the moon, unaware that Arc was secretly observing her from afar, pretending to be asleep.

Suddenly, something caught Ciara's attention. She spotted a unicorn-like figure in the distance, a figure that seemed strangely familiar. Intrigued, she stood up and began walking towards it, unknowingly drawing farther away from the rest of the group. Unbeknownst to her, Arc silently trailed behind, curious about the mysterious encounter.

"Celestial?" Ciara called out tentatively. "Yes," came the reply from Celestial, the unicorn. "Wow, it's really you," Ciara exclaimed, embracing the unicorn. "Where have you been all these years? Why did you run away?" she asked curiously. "I didn't run away. Now, follow me," the unicorn replied with a sense of urgency.

"To where?" Ciara inquired, still puzzled. "Just follow me," the unicorn insisted, leading her towards a cave. Arc followed closely behind.

As they entered the cave, they were greeted by a mesmerizing sight—a vast collection of crystals. Crystals of all shapes and sizes adorned the cave, radiating powerful magic. These crystals possessed the ability to reveal the past, present, and even the future. They held the power to both curse and undo curses.

Ciara marveled at the cave's enchanting surroundings. "Welcome to the Crystal Cave, granddaughter," Celestial, now transformed into an old man, said warmly. "Granddaughter?" Ciara turned around in astonishment. The unicorn had taken on the form of an elderly wizard. He had a long white beard that reached his navel, neatly tied up. His white hair was pulled back into a man bun and covered with a matching white cap that complemented his robe.

Ciara couldn't believe her eyes. Her former pet had been an old wizard in disguise all along. "By Azaar's beard," she exclaimed. "Yes, I am Azaar, but I am also your grandfather. I watched over you as Celestial," the old man revealed. "Yeah, right. Azaar, the legendary wizard who is hundreds of years old? And supposedly dead?" Ciara questioned, still skeptical.

"These crystals can show you the truth of the past, present, and future. If you doubt me, take a look at this one," Azaar motioned towards a man-sized crystal on her left. Curiosity getting the better of her, she approached the crystal and gazed into it. An image of a lovely, pale young woman formed. "Mom," Ciara mouthed, her eyes welling up with tears. The woman in the image played with a toddler, and both of them laughed and ran around. The woman then pointed towards the door, and Azaar walked in. The little girl greeted him with a hug, and he lifted her up, his face beaming with joy. The image faded away.

"Why have you returned now?" Ciara sniffled. "After leaving all these years?"

"I have returned to bring clarity to your nightmares. I left in search of someone dangerous, and it led me here," Azaar explained. "Take a look at this."

He handed Ciara a mirror-sized crystal. As she peered into it, the images from her nightmares became vivid and clear. It showed the moment when Baltimore stabbed his brother, Nicholas. Ciara took another glance at the crystal, and this time, it showed Baltimore and Nicholas engaged in a fierce duel. Their swords clashed, and Nicholas's face became vividly clear.

She was astonished. "Is that my father?" she asked Azaar, seeking confirmation. "Well, he's not my father," Azaar replied with a hint of humor. Ciara's mind started connecting the dots. The wizard who had saved Nicholas was Azaar, which meant that the wizard's daughter was her mother. However, despite the revelations, she couldn't shake off a sense of unease. "I want more context," she declared, determination evident in her eyes. "So you're telling me that my entire life has been a lie?"

"All truths will be revealed, some sooner, and some later. I must leave now, but know that I will be there when you need me the most," Azaar stated, slowly fading away until only specks of sparkling magic remained.