Silver cathedral saga, p.6
Silver Cathedral Saga, page 6
Amaranth is also the world where Spell-casters originated from, and from them they passed on the knowledge to the other two worlds.
But Adalas refused to use their magick; sticking with their own corrupt-less system few know about to this day. Although it has been speculated it is a power that was given as a gift before any were alive.
The most well known people on Amaranth—their Edeolon warriors, are the only power to arise from their system that gives our united Starao nation hope for progress and betterment.
The Edeolon Warriors will always be the strongest of all warriors; being the first six born into every millennium, there was so little of them to go around, which makes them all the more important to protect.
But with these extraordinary beings, a talent emerges when they hit the double digits: Ten. This gives them the greatest ability of all: And with it, it is said to be able to exceed any other living being in the universe.
However, that is still yet to be proven so.
Our own world maybe medieval by its weapons, and even its magick in some aspects, but it is about more than a system that exists on self-gain. Even the Star-Catchers can see that: The five moons that surround this amazing world.” She remember he looked up to two of the moons above in the sky then.
“Astora’s democracy is fair by nature; we rebelled from Amaranth with our rulers, thank the gods. We have had many rulers and people who cared about one another. Not just how much they can fit into their pockets. This world is a combination of the Edeolon religion and the demi god ‘Starao’, which was the most loved god, regardless of her being half of one.
Adalas is a much more secretive planet than Amaranth and Astora. There were even rumours they were not entirely human; but no known person knew if this was true or not.
Their lands have a futuristic feel. With supposed technology none of the other two worlds could figure out.
Their planet was mostly filled with white, tall buildings over the surface. Where three hundred statues that were one hundred foot tall looked exactly the same and were spread around their land. It was told to people that their palace was hidden, like our Silver Cathedral’s. The very thing people remember Adalas for, was their magickal blacksmith abilities.
Indestructible swords, shields that reflect projectiles back to the fired target, and magick bows with no need of a single arrow; these are only a few of what they can craft. Although they craft the weapons to help those in need only; as Adalasians are the peacekeepers of our Starao three worlds. Where the king of kings lives: The king that rules over all three worlds.”
The child then fell into another direction with her daydreaming, much like Christian did. Without the memory of her father attached. Though this was very much connected to what she was told by her father, to a degree.
She was on a field with a mass of people from all three worlds on Astora with her mother. She was near Christian even at this time, and him with his sister and mother also. The entire hordes were quiet, waiting to hear from someone who stood in front of the sight of the crowds still amassing even now. Everyone stood in a thick, large, circle, focussing on this man.
“Once a year there is this competition between Amaranth, Adalas and Astora,” said the man all eyes were waiting for. He’d spoken so concise and proper and loud, though not loud as if it felt forced and caused his voice to crack. “The victorious is given nothing, other than the satisfaction of their pride. The loser is given just as little, except the bitter feelings of jealousy, resentment and shame that comes along with losing.”
Eleanor knew the game was created to keep the worlds sharp at battle for the times they would have no other choice but to do so. So when the time did come, their skills where still as strong and sharp as they were hundreds of years ago, which is when this competition began.
Yet that all changed last year.
The king of kings, who held this competition and had just spoken, began to see the fierce competitive spirit in too many and it began to come through with his words. Unlike all others, the king of kings could see the sense of things other people could not. He knew what would happen if the angered Astorians lost to another game against Amaranth this time.
It seemed the king of kings could see things that may be so, yet it was never clear if he truly could. Maybe the wise could see many more paths of truth than those who have lived so little in comparison, though Eleanor to herself, tilting her head in the now to see some sense in what she thought.
The king of kings continued in her daydream:
“My Starao people, you seem to have forgotten the point in this game. It was to keep your minds on the goal: To survive against the true enemies. Out there. I will not stand by and let your humanity destroy what has taken too long to be built between our three planets. I will not let the Starao worlds go back to war, nor allow this game to fuel it to do so. So, from this day forth, there will be no games, no competition. Only training. Training with our own people, from our own worlds. I have sat in the darkness in the past more than anyone should have to: Letting greed kill too many, and make the few rich—whilst the rest suffer. It has happened too often in the past, and I will not let it repeat itself. I will not let competition eat every single one of us up—not again. Not this time. Not this day!”
Mistless Mountain
“We’re here,” said Ematay interrupting Christian’s thoughts; his daydream.
Eleanor and Ematay looked above them. They stood before the Mistless Mountain: A mountain that no clog had ever formed around, though no one knew exactly why.
It stood so tall they could not see the tip at this angle, and the clogs they travelled through made sure they could not from a distance easily either.
“Now what?” said Eleanor to Christian. She looked back to the thick mist clouding their path they had just taken.
Christian whispered to himself: “’You might mistake it for a star. But then that means you’re not so far. Within this structure there are many. Although the two with jewels will help you plenty…’” He frowned at the base of the mountain. “The real question is if the mountain is the structure the riddle is talking about. Does it house something more secretive inside.” He paused in thought. “I’m not sure.” The boy looked to the bright, close star now, and showed a facial expression that he just discovered something. He got off the horse and traced their steps back a few paces, seeing a light he did not notice before radiate from the star; the light was hardly noticeable because of its size, unless you waited for a minute like Christian; and measured the small, strong white light on the ground with a bit of string he had always kept in his pocket.
It moved. Granted, it wasn’t far; yet it had still moved noticeable enough for eyes that could see minute detail.
“What is it?” said Eleanor getting of the horse. She looked at the hills blocking anybody from seeing them on one side, and the mountain on the other. They were alone, and they most certainly felt it.
“I think we’ve been looking for this in the wrong place,” said Christian. “The light from the star is moving. Which means either the star is tracking something, or is guiding us to where we want to go.”
“Do you think it is the—” Eleanor was interrupted:
“I really do. Only, if it is, then that means the Silver Cathedral is right beneath us.”
The Star-caster thought of something suddenly then vanished from sight, for a few seconds.
He became visible again, scaring the two children briefly, and spoke: “I could see invisible light when I was invisible; from the star you are talking about. I think you might be right with this one. It is directing us inside.”
“With this one? I haven’t been wrong yet,” said Christian, annoyed. He waited a moment before carrying on. “It flies. Yes. There is no doubt about it: The Silver Cathedral is floating in-between the floating land we are standing on now and the sea below. And this star is showing us where it is. I think. I hope. No, no, no. I know.”
“What do you need us for?” asked Eleanor, “if you can carry a two way conversation with yourself.”
“oh, hardy ha ha madam find a lot,” replied Christian.
“I could of told you that,” said Ematay. “If you asked. And the light seems to be moving very slowly towards the Mistless Mountain,” said the Star-caster. “Please stay on track folks.”
“Then I believe that is where we’ll find the jewels to get us there,” said Christian.
The three of them made their way into the mountain.
None were entirely sure what laid inside, so it was a mystery to all. Which made the curious thoughts more harmful than not for the group.
About an hour passed before they decided they could no longer use their stallion inside the narrow pathways, meaning they had to let the poor mammal go alone.
It started to ‘nay’ as it saw the three of them leave its side.
“Go on. Be off with you,” shouted Ematay. The horse stood just looking at him still until he gave it nudge to move on and away; it eventually walked off, reluctantly.
“I hope he’ll be okay,” said Christian.
“I am sure he will be fine. Now, let us see what lies on this narrow path ahead.”
They all moved forward yet again and carried what they needed, but had to sacrifice one bag full of things they thought they wouldn’t need. The horse carried it for them on the saddle and it was too heavy to carry for one person alone.
The blue light from the star somehow shone through the mountain and into the interior’s paths and walkways. Water dripped when it went quiet, without the sound of hooves to comfort them.
The brown rock changed its colours to be deeper and lighter in a subtle way that it wouldn’t be noticeable unless they looked back.
Eleanor and Christian now realised they couldn’t relax on the horse like they had done before, and as they were about to plod on Ematay put his hand out to stop the children on a much bigger path ahead. “This is not good.” He spoke softly looking up.
“What?” asked Eleanor and Christian at almost the same time, not being so quiet.
“Pixies,” said the Star-caster pointing up to the ceiling in a way for them to notice. “We will have to be extra careful.”
Ematay started to move slowly first, but not to move through the wide path. “It is a good thing that they sleep so much.” The Star-caster took of his star band, and gestured for the children to do so too, and they did.
The blue starlight suddenly zipped from their bands as they took them off.
All three of them crept through the path which resembled a wide hall; the Pixies above slept in holes they made inside spikes of rock that hung like sharp weapons ready to drop. You could see the beings were blue, but with a tint of grey. The reason they knew this was because when Pixies slept they glowed in the dark when they were in a deep sleep, dreaming: Lots of greyish, blue faint lights shone from the ceiling, lighting their way down the path as they moved, so there was no real need for their star-metal bands.
They soon enough got out of the way of the Pixie nest. It wasn’t a long room they lived in, just wide.
“Phew,” said Ematay. “That was close.”
“I don’t understand,” said Eleanor. “From what I was told, Pixies don’t cause much trouble. Other than their Silver Dust.”
“For an adult they wouldn’t cause any trouble at all. Other than that particular thing you just mentioned. But they have been known to kidnap children. I don’t think they mean to cause harm, but they love the company of little ones. It has been known that a few children have… changed; but when they played with the Pixies a substantial amount, and in a strange way.”
“How so?” asked Christian.
“… They turned in to one.”
“By the gods,” said Christian.
“I guess there have been hundreds of children kidnapped by them over the years,” said Ematay. “Because they are not few in number.”
The two children were somewhat scared and shocked now.
“Their Silver Dust: It’s one mighty addictive substance. That’s how they get the children to stay with them so long. Their magick dust casts illusions. Ones the individuals desire the most. It affects everyone the same, yet they exclusively use it on children. So there are some addicts around who keep them locked up to use their dust. I suppose living a life of ones desire can be more of a dream than an addiction. Yet it has made people do some horrible things to their own kind; so they could go back into their own fake world. That is why it has been banned.”
“How fascinating,” said Eleanor, being more intrigued than frightened now.
“There is no doubt that it is interesting,” said Christian. “But I think you should take your own advice Ematay, and keep focused.
“You cheeky beggar,” said Ematay. “Although you have a point. We should continue.”
They all turned their heads to see there were more narrow paths that followed the wider one now.
To their surprise, the narrow path didn’t last long; it led them to more of a room that the Pixies were just in.
A one where statues laid in every corner. The carved stones resembled themselves in many ways, and the fourth must have been the horse they let go before. Eleanor knew this because the animal had a dark brown patch of fur on the back, near its tail. It was scratched onto the stone to give the same effect.
“By Emae and Remor,” said Eleanor. “It’s… us. She looked at the statue of herself.” About two seconds later, she noticed both of what was her eyes faded away—and became vibrant red jewels. “Rubies,” she said to herself bending down to take a closer look.
She noticed the blue light from the star now stopped in this room before everybody else on the floor.
The others examined each of the statues before facing their own.
The jewels suddenly presented themselves to who they were carved from whilst they looked upon them. As if they were presenting the right onlooker with a present.
“Christian, two of my eyes has just turned into red gems… of course. The two jewels, they are the eyes.”
“Mine too,” said Ematay.
“Could these statues be ‘the ones with jewels’. The ones which ‘will help you’, or us, ’plenty’? These folks never do anything straight forward, do they.”
Christian took the red jewels from the eyes. Instantly, he could see people move within one of the rubies, although when he tilted it, they were not inside, like they appeared. They were just being shown to him. The same with both gems.
“Pick up both of your jewels.” They done just that. “Well, can you see anything?”
“No,” said Ematay, “I can see the Silver cathedral instead. No people.” His eyes saw the familiar place he lived.
The cathedral was flying on what looked like a rock of some sort. Little did people imagine it would be between the land in the air, and the sea below. It was hidden under the land, floating far enough above the water to not cause ripples and signal its whereabouts whilst it remained unseen. At the same time, it looked as if the rock was one with the structure, and intertwined with it.
The rock was great in scale and depth. Though it looked more like windows, for seeing around an entire three hundred and sixty degrees, like a ’watch tower’, but not so much a tower: It was more like a ‘watch under’. All of this could be seen as the Silver Cathedral was floating in the gem; with a red tint to it because of the jewel. There was no silver to give the place its exact name, at least not from Ematay’s sight of it right now.
“I can,” said Eleanor. As she finished saying her last word, all the jewels glowed a vicious scarlet, and covered the naturally built room over the slow formation of time.
A Silver Start
It happened abruptly. All six of their eyes were adjusting to the brightness that took hold.
It was some time before they saw anything remotely clear in front.
“Ematay,” said the King of Astora. The man of royal blood wore a silver robe with finely sewn swans upon the cuffs of each sleeve. The rope that held the majestic material closed was also silver, but with a different tint than the long material he wore, a softer one.
“Yes,” said Ematay as he bowed.
Eleanor and Christian followed the Star-caster’s actions.
“Children?” said the king.
“They made their way here all the way from the village of Hiva Aura; to warn you of the Shadow threat.”
“Two small children?” said the king, surprised.
The queen soon entered the royal chamber, known also as the throne room.
“Courage is not determined by our size, my lord,” said the queen. She made her way to the leader of Astora; her long silver dress that resembled the same colour of the kings robes trailed along the floor, making her presence even more alluring for the children.
“So it appears,” said the king, smiling. “And although I already knew of such bad tidings, your courage and persistence will not go unrewarded. We can always learn from determined minds.”
Eleanor and Christian instantly looked delighted.
“Now rise,” said the king as he gestured his hand to do so.
The two children then stood up to notice a sturdy, dark wooden stand. It held a a single, old covered book that was bound in leather. It had small metal squares on each corner inscribed with a pattern. There was some kind of silver medallion fixed onto the middle of the cover that could not be seen very well because the text was open. The book was made up of large, yellowish parchment pages that gave it its great volume. Eleanor, straight away, noticed the names of all the gods and goddesses, and what they were in charge of and could control. When she read the name ‘Emae’ in her mind at the top of the page, it made her have a strong feeling of isolation, as if she was the only one alive; the feeling was gone soon enough, but she wasn’t sure what it all meant, and left a strange curiosity inside her. Thoughts of if she would ever… find… this curiosity, flashed through her numerous times before she had to let it go. For now.
