Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage- Anais Niu
The Great Hesperian Library, The kingdom of Hesperia, Northern Ardeneon.
May 1
"You okay sunshine?" Elijah wraps his arm around Emily as they are rummaging through the great Hesperian library. If there's one thing Hesperia was known for, it's the great library located right before the opening to the entrance of the ancient ruins.
Delarune had instructed Elijah and Emily to look for all the books they could find on the dark phoenix.
"No" she answers truthfully "Are you?" she returns the question. They both knew the other wasn't okay but asking is much more comforting than ignoring in silence.
After Seraphinius transformed, Delarune was the most taken aback by it, he informed them that sprites don't just transform into ancient mystical creatures, especially not younglins under the age of 12.
"She'll be fine" he tells his girlfriend.
"We don't know that babe" Emily turns around looking into his eyes, hers brimming with tears. "We can only hope"
"And that's what we're doing, so she's going to be fine okay?" he pushes "My dad will figure it out, if anybody can, it's him"
Emily watches him as he climbs the ladder searching for more books, anything that could help, while her fingers skim through the spines of the books on ground level.
While Delarune left them to figure out what was up with Seraphinius, He was looking for a way to wake Skai up, He's been to Serumists, rummaged through libraries, he even went to Lucrari North to meet with professors but nothing... not yet at least.
Right now, the survival of both worlds is in Skai's hands...literally, King Kahlil seems to be most bothered by that fact, he let them into the kingdom, passed the blessing to touch the sky to his granddaughter, now she's lying unconscious and the world is still in grave danger, most of all he is jeopardizing his position in the great council for this by housing the most wanted sprites in all of Ardeneon.
They didn't know where his generosity stems from or why he was being so hospitable to them, but they could only be grateful.
"Seems like this is the last of the books" Elijah breathes out landing back on the floor next to Emily and they walk over to the table they had previously been sitting by, which currently has towers of books built on it, thanks to their intense search for answers.
"If it's not here, then we might never be able to find it" Emily groans leaning over his shoulder as he sits down flipping the book open.
She expected the first sentence to be a statement they had now gotten used to seeing. 'The dark phoenix is a mystical creature that has been existing for millennials...' and so on. It went extinct and the last known location being unknown.
But it threw them off being quite different from everything they had been reading, in fact completely different.
The Dark Phoenix: The Pride and Joy of Ancient Hesperia
In ancient Ardeneon, very few creatures captivated the imagination of sprites in revolution like the Dark Phoenix, also known as 'Luminous flair'. Although this enigmatic being has been shrouded in mystery for millennia, its existence is whispered about in forgotten texts and often carried on through oral traditions. With its ashy gray plumage and black fire, the Dark Phoenix embodies the paradox of creation and destruction, life and death.
The Dark Phoenix's life cycle is a testament to its unique nature. Born from its own ashes, it rises anew, only to succumb to the same fate, often leaving behind a trail of black fire and wisdom to those deserving. This cyclical process symbolizes the eternal dance between life and death, where one cannot exist without the other.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Dark Phoenix is its infinite lives. Like a phoenix, it is reborn from its own ashes, but unlike its fiery counterpart, the Dark Phoenix's rebirth is not limited to a fixed number. It can die and be reborn countless times, each time emerging stronger and wiser. This ability makes it a powerful symbol of resilience and determination.
Moreover, the Dark Phoenix can bestow a life belonging to it upon those it deems worthy, granting them a second chance at existence. This loyalty-bound gift is reserved for those who have earned its trust and devotion. The Dark Phoenix's ability to give life is a testament to its unwavering dedication to those it cares for, inspiring awe and reverence in all who encounter it.
The Dark Phoenix's significance extends beyond its physical form. As stated previously; It represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Its black fire symbolizes the darkness that precedes illumination, while its ashy gray feathers signify the balance between light and darkness. In this sense, the Dark Phoenix was seen as the ultimate symbol of hope and renewal.
In addition to its symbolism, the Dark Phoenix has been associated with various mythological and cultural significance. During the ancient times of the southern kingdoms, it was seen as a harbinger of doom, a sign that the end times are near. On the other hand, the ancient northerners revered it, they saw it as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. Its black fire is said to have healing properties, able to purify the soul and cleanse the mind.
Despite its many wonders, the Dark Phoenix remains an elusive creature, rarely seen by any eyes. Its habitat is said to be in the farthest reaches of the underworld, where the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. The last place the existence of this creature was documented is said to be the ancient ruins.
The Dark Phoenix is a mythical creature of immense power and symbolism. Its infinite lives, life-giving abilities, and cyclical nature make it a fascinating subject of study and contemplation. Whether seen as a harbinger of doom or a symbol of good fortune, the Dark Phoenix remains an enigmatic and captivating creature that continues to inspire wonder and reverence in all who encounter it. Its legacy lives on, a reminder of the magic that lies just beyond the edge of reality.
After the sudden disappearance of the mythical being, the kingdom of Hesperia almost immediately lost its power, this was because...
Emily stops reading and sits down next to Elijah, realization dawning over her. The ancient ruins.
"Do you think we'd find anything in there?" she asks him, expecting him to know where she is referring to.
"Where?" he asks confused.
"The ancient ruins" she whispers knowing fully well that going into the ancient ruins was not a smart idea, sprites who go in don't come out, no sprite in their right minds would do that to their self.
"We should talk to my dad about It first" he tells her, and she immediately knew that the same thing that was going through her mind was going through his.
'That's not a very smart idea.'
It reminded her of Skai and Dexter, they would have been the ones to come up with it, hell they would have probably been pushing for them to go, and Skai would say 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' then Dexter would make a stupid but amusing remark like 'It MIGHT kill us but you only live once you know?' and then the rest of them would try to talk them out of it but the two would somehow succeed in convincing them and they'd find their way into one of the most dangerous and eerie places in Ardeneon without notifying anyone about their whereabouts.
But that's not possible because Dexter is currently having a 'quarter life crisis' and Skai is unresponsive to the real world. They were really just grateful she's still breathing, they both didn't know what they'd do if they were to lose her.
Elijah's scroll touch beeps "Speak of the devil" he murmurs as he opens it.
"Your dad?" Emily asks looking over at the screen, standing correct.
"Hello" he greets as he opens it still somewhat hostile around his father.
"I think I found it" he tells Elijah, and Emily pops her head into the screen.
"Found what?" she inquires, fingers crossed that it is a cure.
"I know what's wrong with Skai" he tells them "I can't believe I didn't realize sooner; it was so obvio-" Elijah cuts him off before he continues rambling.
"Get to the point" Elijah pushes, Emily wanted to tell him to be nicer, but she was as eager as he is and would really appreciate his father getting to the point.
"We need to see her mother right now, you two meet me at Steamchanics, we must make haste" Delarune says hurriedly and ends the call.
Elijah stares at the scroll concerningly. Emily was concerned too, Delarune never loses his calm, it's highly unlikely, so they knew something serious was really going on.
"Something is definitely wrong" Elijah looks over at Emily. And they hurry over to steamchanics.
"Dad?" Elijah calls out as they arrive at Steamchanics, No response.
"Dad?" he calls out again.
"Air home room!" they hear Delarune faintly and Elijah grabs Emily's hand, taking her with him up the stairs.
"Normalize giving context" Elijah looks at his dad exasperated as they make it into the room.
"We need to get to Zephyr now!"
Elijah and Emily both decide against asking questions because they'd never seen the man like this, it was really making them scared.
"Something is definitely wrong" Emily leans on Elijah's shoulder as they take off and he lets out a sigh.
There's nothing he can say or do in response because he knew for a fact that she was right, something was so not right.
"Let's go talk to him" he kisses her forehead in consolation as the plane begins to move at a stable pace. Standing up, he gently takes her palm in his and they walk to the cockpit.
"Dad, can you tell us what is happening now?" Elijah asks as they open the door to the cockpit.
Delarune lets out a heavy sigh putting the aircraft on auto pilot. "We have one week to save your friend" he breathes out.
"What do you mean one week?" Emily's voice shakes as she poses the question.
"The dark Phoenix, when it saves someone, you need to insert a special mixture into their blood to bind it, if you don't bind it, the person dies, no one really knows how long it lasts for without the mixture, but the longest time recorded from ancient times in the stories we were told is twenty-five days." Mr. Starling tells them lowly.
25 days, it's been 15 days they have only 10 days left. Only 10 days to save their best friend.
"So why are we heading to Zephyr? Is the mixture there?" Elijah asks doing his best to keep his voice stable, he didn't want Emily any more scared that she already is.
"No, one of the ingredients for it is in Zephyr...and I think princess Lethia might just have it"
"One of the Ingredients?" Emily scoffs in disbelief a tear escaping her eye.
"Yes, you can't just go to the town market and buy these things" he sighs turning to face us. "Zephyr, Nefeli, Minerva, Tenebris"
"Are those..." Elijah trails off hoping it isn't what he was thinking.
"Yes" he sucks in a sharp breath "They're locations"
"The south ???" Emily asks, "That's so far!"
"And not to mention dangerous, Southern Kingdoms don't like Northerners." Elijah adds.
"They have the resources, the only thing I'm getting from Zephyr is gray Pegasus fur, they don't have that anywhere else in Ardeneon...but, last time I checked, princess Lethia owns a gray Pegasus."
...
"So, she doesn't have much time left?" Dexter's voice cracks after Elijah and Emily break the news to him and River
"That's what Mr. Starling said, not unless we can get the ingredients fast" Emily answers him.
"Then let us go, what are we waiting for?" he looks at them confused.
"My dad won't let us, you know that already" Elijah decides to bring out the obvious elephant in the room, since Dexter wanted to play blind man.
"Who cares?" Dexter asks jumping to his feet. "There are 3 other locations, yes?" Your Dad takes one, River and I take one, you and Emily take one, it's faster that way"
"Bu-" Dexter cuts him off.
"But nothing, Starling" he chokes out "I'm not going to lose her, we can't afford to lose her" he looks around at all of them. "What if something happens to him on the way? What if he gets intercepted? You know he is wanted"
"We're wanted too-" Elijah reminds him ready to tell him that he was for it when Dexter starts talking again.
"We will be creating distractions everywhere we go." He pleads with his eyes "I don't know about you but I'm not going to sit here doing absolutely nothing while the girl I love is dying"
"I'm not going to sit here doing nothing either, we're going to find those ingredients and make it back in three days, and Skai will be feeling better before Emily's birthday comes around." River shakes off his initial shock over what Dexter said and finally makes an input.
"Well, if you would let me speak, you would know that I am all for it too" Elijah breathes out after there was no sign of them speaking.
"Okay, so let's talk to Elijah's dad and tell him what we intend to do." Emily tells them.
"But one problem" River sighs "I don't think it's possible to go to the south in such a short period of time"
"It's not" Emily tells him "Unless we can use portals, because I'd estimate that three days for getting the ingredients not arrival time"
"So, assuming we can create the portals, what are our chances?" Dexter directs the question to Emily.
She thinks for a moment. "There is a 35% chance that Mr. Starling will agree, the possibility that we'd go regardless of what Mr. Starling says is 99.72% and us making it in back at the time frame that River predicted would be about 47%..." she pauses unsure "No 52"
"Then the odds are in our favor" Dexter lets a sad smile sit on his face for a split second.
"Guys, we can take halos you know? Alpinel has halo tubes to everywhere, Zephyr has one to Alpinel, steal people's halo cards and we don't get caught by TGC" Elijah points out and they all look at him as if he was the smartest person in the world.
"Starling I could kiss you right now" River moves over to Elijah holding his face in his hands. "Not if I kiss him first" Dexter pushes River away holding Elijah by his shoulders as if he was a million dollars.
Elijah shakes his head, brushing them both off.
...
"No younglins will be leaving this Palace" Mr. Starling firmly tells them.
Elijah used to think his dad wasn't scared of anything, he'd never seen anything that has made his father falter or fear, not even for a split second, that is until today, today he realized the one thing his dad is actually scared of...the one thing that destroys his cool, for someone that faces it often it surprises Elijah, genuinely.
Death.
Not death itself, but seeing somebody die, knowing someone he knows could die, it scares the heck out of him and that is exactly why Elijah knew that his father wouldn't let them go.
Because he doesn't want anyone to die, he knows running around Ardeneon is risky, he'd been doing it for centuries. They on the other hand just got there a couple weeks ago. But what Mr. Starling doesn't know is that they're stronger than that now, they don't necessarily know what they're doing, but they know that they're going to do it.
And one thing they know for sure is that they are going to save Skai.
"Mr. Starling, we've already thought it through" No they didn't. Dexter continues to persuade him "You can take one location, Elijah and Emily can take another one, then River and I take the last. It all pans out"
"No, no it does not" he sighs "I'm not going to let you guys wander the south, southerners don't like us" he tries to reason.
"We were in the south" Elijah reminds him.
"You were in Thairo" he corrects "Thairo is a city"
"Still the south is it not?" River joins the conversation.
Mr. Starling struggles to formulate a response.
"So how are we going?" Emily asks him.
"I was thinking of creating a portal to Alpinel, Alpinel has halos to every single kingdom in Ardeneon" Mr. Starling responds with a heavy sigh, giving in.
"Doesn't Zephyr have a halo to Alpinel?" River asks.
"Yes, the King won't let me use it, too risky" Mr. Starling responds.
"Then I guess we're going to Alpinel first" Dexter nods assertively.