The Severaine

Chapter Sixteen Kalia-5

Alessia leaned over Daniel, her hand softly intertwined in the delicate tendrils of nature's energy as she touched his wound.

“Are you Hectarian?” Eiji questioned. He had only seen such a talent once before and that was from Zo. Elementalists possessed no such healing arts, it was a magic long forgotten now.

“No, I am ælf, an elf,” she corrected. “Come, we should move him to the giestærn … how often does this occur?”

“Honestly? We're not really sure. Nothing like this has happened that we know of. Normally it's more hallucinations. He only recently told us he was having such problems. It seems he is struggling to distinguish between this world and his dreams.” Acha replaced her gloves. That was the second time in as many days she had needed to use her touch on him. She was only grateful she now had better control she could render him unconscious, without causing any real damage to his lifespan. Eiji carefully lifted his friend and followed Alessia as she led the way.

“I think the Grand Master is right, such things normally only occur if a link is shared between worlds. You said you know a Hectarian, were they of that world, of Darrienia?” Alessia questioned. Although they hadn't said they knew one as such, questioning her talent in a time where none could be born with that power led her to this assumption.

“No, of our world,” Acha answered slowly as they placed him down in their sleeping quarters.

“Maybe they are influencing him somehow.”

“No, that's impossible. She passed away,” Acha responded solemnly. “He was distraught, she was his closest friend. When he allows himself to sleep he wakes from nightmares. A number of nights ago he woke screaming her name, he even reached the door looking for her before he realised,” Acha stated as she remembered back to the time in Eiji's home, she had tried her best not to reveal she was awake. “The first night we were here we—”

“Made camp just outside the forest, we know.” Alessia smiled as Acha nodded.

“Yes, and well, just before dawn, he woke drawing his weapon, filled with panic convinced Zo was in danger, that they were being attacked. He's had dreams, but this one… seemed different.”

“Zo? Is she the one who…”

“Yes,” Acha confirmed.

“The strange thing is,” Eiji continued, “when we came here, we asked how he knew the Grand Master's name, he said she'd told him. We both thought he must'a seen it somewhere but this place, it has a very Darrienia feel t'it,” Eiji observed, having finally realised what the strange feeling he had experienced since their arrival was. This entire area had a similar feel to some of Darrienia's energies. He knew all too well about Daniel's nightmares, and it was possible, he supposed, that his nightmares may have given him the answer.

“As I said before, that is because we are on the most direct boundary between our world and theirs, the one with a physical presence in this world.” As Alessia spoke Eiji recalled her having said something very similar not too long ago.

“Y' mentioned somethin' about the wyrm god as well?” he queried. Alessia nodded as she turned Daniel carefully to lie on his front, having secured the bandage and carefully covered him.

“The wyrm god is the one who guides our kind, his existence ensures wyrms can be sustained even should there be no magic in the world. Our Grand Master will be speaking with him now.” She paused. “As for your friend I have done all I can, the rest is up to him.”

“The rest?” Acha questioned in alarm, hearing Alessia's grave tone.

“Yes, his fate is unclear. His prophecy forks at this moment, one dictates events should he choose to live, the other if he gives up the fight.”

“You knew this would happen! Why didn't you warn us? We could have done something; we could have stopped it. If you'd told us he may not have been here now.” Acha felt Eiji's calming hand upon her shoulder. She took a breath before continuing. “What do you mean if he chooses to live?” Acha's voice was still filled with despair as she looked from Daniel to Alessia desperately.

“The lesson he must learn is of grave importance. Even had this not happened here, it would have happened. I did not know when or how, but at least here, he is in a controlled environment. As for the choice, it is his to make. I have cured his physical ailments, but his mental ones are another matter. The choice is his whether he wakes or…” She lowered her head. As she reached the hut's entrance Eiji spoke.

“Is there anythin' we can do?” he asked quietly.

“No, but your presence beside him would surely not hinder.”

* * *

Marise gave yet another sigh, flicking her red hair back over her shoulder as she did so. She hated waiting. Patience was not something she favoured, especially since the time following her release had been so dull.

Aside from her regaining possession of this body and revelling in the destruction of Zoella, who had infringed upon her consciousness, things had been boring. Even the tasks they were being dispatched to execute lacked challenge. Elly watched her, a slight flicker of amusement hidden in the depth of her eyes as she paced the interior of Poseidon's temple.

“I still do not understand why we have to wait here,” Marise spoke at last. Her voice low, yet still with enough power to cause the frustrated tone to echo slightly off the stone and tile walls.

“I thought you would prefer this scenery to Blackwood fawning over you,” Elly responded without delay. Marise gave another sigh. She could not fault Elly's logic. If she had to endure that man much longer, she had doubts she could restrain herself. She showed a tolerance with him he mistook for affection, and ever since her return he had not wanted her out of his sight, except when it couldn't be helped. He had also become much more physical in his appreciation of her. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, he would defile her with his unwelcome touch, creating moments where he could imply she was his to possess.

Marise fingered the pommel of her sword as she allowed herself to enjoy the only fantasy which included Blackwood, the one in which she killed him. Elly stifled a chuckle, knowing Marise well enough to recognise where her musings took her. The only reason Marise even repressed her urges was because Elly had requested it of her. Seeing Elly watching her Marise focused her attention back onto the tall slender figure before her.

“Besides we cannot get to Kalia,” Elly added, seeing Marise's focus return.

“Kalia?” she questioned, instantly realising the place was not one she was familiar with.

“The island of the dragons, or wyrms if you care to be both correct and respectful.”

“And why would we want to go there?” Marise moved to sit beside Elly as she rested on the low wall which surrounded the all too familiar water feature. It seemed like so long ago when they had last found themselves here. When she had returned from retrieving the Grimoire of Water to find Elly without a pulse, she had feared the worst. She forced herself to relax. She knew some of her impatience stemmed from the events that had transpired here years ago.

“The wyrms are currently the keepers of the Star of Arshad.” Elly slid her hand across to touch Marise's. It was understandable this place held bad memories for her.

“And we cannot get there because…”

“The portals are sealed in such a manner even I cannot gain access. There are but a few with the knowledge of its workings, the Eortháds and the Oneirois. It is a failsafe, to ensure the physical boundary of Darrienia cannot be breached.”

“We know an Ex-Oneiroi, we could always make him talk,” she suggested hopefully.

“Or we could wait and allow them to face the challenges such places present. In the meantime I can consider our next move.” Marise looked to Elly in surprise, realising for the first time Elly was using this time to converse with her watcher. Marise allowed herself to relax slightly. Knowing she was unable to assist with this uniquely personal task Marise allowed her mind to wander. Her thoughts lingering on the wyrms, and what a satisfying appetiser Daniel and his friends would make.

“Heh, wyrms,” she mused, playfully visualising their terror-fuelled retreat. “What makes you so certain they will succeed?”

“They will, just wait. The wyrms do not want that stone any more than they want to be trapped on their island. Besides, why expend our energy when we know their destination. Only by returning here can they release the wyrms and see to it that if the Severaine is sealed that all creatures of myth will continue to exist.”

“Can they reseal it with the key they are collecting?”

“They could, but it is in our best interest to ensure that they do not.” She looked to Marise, who was smiling with an all too obvious meaning. Elly felt almost guilty that her next words would prove to disappoint her. “We still need them, so let them continue with their little quest for now. It will keep them out of our way. When the time comes, I will see to it they hear of events. Do not concern yourself, we will ensure their little quest fails.”

“By stopping them getting there?” Marise questioned, wondering how they could use them in the means Elly had implied if she had already killed them.

“No, by getting there first. They are fools to believe there is only one key, then again, no one knows of the second, but first things first, we need the star.”