Chapter 1
If I rise on the wings of the dawn…
Small, lucid raindrops cascaded down from the cenereous sky. Sherwoode watched the glistening droplets shine in the pale gleam of the candle lights along the street. The small window overlooked one of the busiest streets in Napolo. The street was empty now with only the transparent raindrops dotting the street stones.
"Aren't you supposed to be studying?" Liline turned to Sherwoode from a pile of dusty books. "The exams aren't just going to disappear."
"I will..." Sherwoode sighed. Her eyes focused on the dreary spring sky, which looked just as gloomy as she felt. The School was hosting a score of final Exams for the students before the long summer break. Somehow, she always seemed to put off studying till the last minute. That didn't help her Notes though.
Witha slammed shut the heavy Mathematics Book with vigor. Math happened to be his favorite subject, but there didn't seem to be any point to studying something that came so easily. "Do you think when the sun comes out we can take the Myubas down to the cliffs? I'd like to practice my glide."
"When the sun comes out. It could rain for days...by then it would be vacation already." Sherwoode groaned. With only a week left of school, it seemed awful that the summer would begin with such dreadful weather. "Anyways...isn't Illiad supposed to be coming here with Sorceress Raen? She wanted to meet with us about something."
Liline nodded, flipping through the Serene book. "They should be here any second now. Look out for them Sherwoode..... if you're not going to study."
"I never said I wasn't going to study!" Sherwoode exclaimed, surprised. "I just said I would sometime. We have a week until the Final Exam Day."
"I would with you, Sherwoode, is always never." Liline replied matter-of-factly. "I wouldn't be astonished if you failed every exam."
Witha looked up from his notebook with agreement, "It doesn't seem fair that you don't practice but you get passing Notes. I have study for the High One to even pass Composition."
"You're not remembering math...I barely passed last exam -with studying."
Liline opened her mouth to say something and shut it when she heard footsteps coming up to the doorway. "It must be Raen! Hurry! Put away the books! Clean up!"
Raen would have never let them use her Napolian chambers if everyone hadn't promised to keep them neat. Now, when Sherwoode looked around the messy room, she regretted that promise.
The heavy wooden door swung open just as Witha stuffed the last paper under the
sofa seat. Raen stood majestically in the door, always a figure of composure and poise.
Without saying `Good day' Raen took a fluffy arm chair seat and began to talk immediately, not waiting for her audience to sit down. "I wished to inform you of this the first...the Regiment of Serenity is accepting applicants of age 13 and up now. I want you to apply." Her eyes flickered with amusement for a second. "I'd make sure you'd get in."
"Why?" Witha asked. "Isn't this sort of a sudden?" He had been training as a novice for several years, but never expected such a sudden promotion to Profession Knight . To get in, you had to study as a novice for seven years and then send in a form stating your strengths and weaknesses. Even then, a new Knight would train under masters such as Sir Allard or even Adventurine Sorceress Raen herself.
"The army is down in numbers and my daughter, Queen Compassion, wishes to improve border and internal guard. We discovered the only way to do so is lower the quality and experience we expect."
Illiad looked at his friends and then to Raen. "So who do you wish to apply?"
Raen ran her fingers through her long auburn hair and spoke quickly, "Liline, Illiad, and Witha come with me..I will get you into the Regiment now."
"Huh?" Sherwoode asked. "What about me?" For the first time, Raen looked in her direction.
"You aren't for the Army."
Sherwoode's eyes clouded and she looked, very confused, on to Raen's solemn face. If she wasn't for the Army, then what?
*
Liline waited impatiently as Sherwoode adjusted the long tunic with the Emblem of Serenity embroidered on the front on her. In a few minutes, Liline would be parading with the new army along the streets of Crystal City. A lot had happened in the last week..Witha and Illiad both gained Armor and swords as Knights and Liline achieved a small dagger as an Adventurine . Her trusty bow and arrow set were now swung over her shoulder with pride, and Liline wore the colors of the most illustrious nation in Elric .
Witha and Illiad on the other hand, were sweating in their new heavy Armor ; waiting for the celebration of the Regiment to begin. They weren't considered total knights yet, both had a lot of specialized training to undergo. Only Sherwoode was left alone and bored.
*
Outside of the small encampment, Oracle Akili watched the preparation from the
balcony of the Crystal Castle. Although the name, Crystal Castle was not a castle at all. It was a resting place of the Oracle of Serenity and a worship grund. Crystal Castle in the eyes of Elric was sacred and holy.
It was only Akili who was apphrensive of Serenity's future. Just the night before, she had lifted praises to the High One in reverence and question. That starless eve Oracle Akili received a vision after mediation. In the vision, the voices of the Immortals spoke to her in unison. They told her of a Destiny and a Spell. The one holding the Destiny would be able to unleash the Spell of Harmony and end all evil in Elric. The Immortals gave her images of War and Famine only to be conquered by this Spell. The Spell was locked behind a enchanted barrier of magic which only the most pure and powerful skill could overcome. This the Destiny would not only break, but the Destiny would save many lives and many countries.
Then the voices sang of how this could only happen if the Destiny was found and controlled. Without the control of this power, the Destiny could destroy millions in anger. Her vision had come to an abrupt halt then and Akili came out to find the sun shining with hope.
*
Humid air filled the waiting area of the parade. Sherwoode had left the encampment to the crowds of people in expectancy of the Festival. As Sherwoode gazed upon the simple Serenians of the farms and mines, she realized that she would never be more than one of them. Her dreams of fame and future had been shattered by Raen. Sherwoode knew she might forgive Raen outwardly, but her soul never would.
A young girl farther to the castle squealed, "They're coming." Murmuring rushed through the mass of people and Sherwoode was flung against a building as the people rushed to see the Regiment of new Knights and Adventurines. Now, she thought gloomily, she would never even get to see her friends in the parade. Sherwoode tried to look over the people's heads to no avail. Her day had just been ruined.
Slumping near the wall, Sherwoode sighed as the Army passed by. They were followed by scores of instruments and dancers of which Sherwoode could see none.
The Celebration was over for her.
The happy cheers of the crowd suddenly hushed. A sharp voice rang clear in the now -quiet street.
"Children of Serenity, I stand among you here today to bring news of frightening proportions." The voice, Sherwoode saw as the people stepped back in panic, came from a shimmering silver cloud. "Nital has been attacked by the Shadows and they are moving onto Serenity."
Sherwoode gasped along with the crowd, and heard herself saying, "They were
trapped in the Realms of Chaos ages ago...is the boundary breaking?"
The shimmer seemed to focus on her. The Serenians in their brown skirts and pants turned to Sherwoode, souls unprepared for her question....or the answer. One hundred years before Raen, the Shadows of the Dark One overtook Serenity and forced the people into labor. Mother Earth saw the unhappiness of the Serenians and gave up her children, the Earthers, to free them from the spell of Shadows. One Earther in particular, took the problem into her own hands. Zilpha Forest had united spirit - forces with a Serenian, Amberlet, and commanded the Universal Force to trap the Shadows in the Realms of Chaos. Ever since their heroic deeds, Universal Force had died. The Serenians were worried, as Sherwoode was, that Universal Force was the only power that could trap the Shadows again.
"Yes, my daughter, the boundary collapses with age now. Without the force's renewal, the Shadows crept out of the Realms of Chaos - freeing other evils together. The evils of Death and Destruction roam in the Realms of Mortals. Even this second as I speak, more evils are escaping."
This time the Serenians fell back, trying to run away from the tellings. Only Sherwoode remained, listening carefully to the Shimmer. The army grew restless and many tried to break formation. Some were even on their knees begging for deliverance from the High One.
"The Shadows have a new spell now..the Casting of Darkness . Without the light, our people surrender easily. The Evils run among them...we have lost 1,000 so far. But who are you to stand alone when others flee?" Again, the voice turned to Sherwoode.
Sherwoode spoke with a certainty, "I am Sherwoode. Unlike so many, I have no heritage or history. Only which I hope to gain and now have lost."
The Oracle had watched the proceedings from the high balcony and now thought it right to descend. She would spread comfort with the people. Using the ancient Myubas art, the beautiful old woman glided down to the pathway in Crystal City.
"My people, do not fear anything, " Akili soothed, "I, just this night before, received to me a vision of the Immortals. Within this country lives the one who can end this all. The Immortals told me of the Destiny held by one person and effected by all around them. The possessor of this Destiny will have the power to release the Spell of Harmony to end all evils."
Still the people's fear was not dissuaded. Akili reasoned with them more, "This Destiny may be able to unite spirit-forces with another in the act of Universal Force. The power is so great even the books cannot speak of it." The tension of the city seemed to fade into the sunlight like snowflakes on a warm hand. It was still there, but not as forcefully present. Akili felt she had done her job.
"Return to work. The Celebration will end for today."
*
"I can't believe it!!!" Liline shrieked as she waited for Witha to knock on the door to his dwelling. "My first time of fame and glory and some stupid Shadow ruins it! This audacity!"
Illiad faced Liline, his face filled with compassion , "I know . I had to stand in the dreadful Armor for two hours just to have it canceled...but audacity isn't the word for it."
"And the Shadow isn't stupid." Sherwoode snapped. Even Witha stared, it was unusual for Sherwoode to act so meanly - especially to Liline. "The Casting of Darkness, and the Evils..they could mean end of life as we know it. They could mean the end of life permanently."
The door to Witha's home dwelling opened slowly, revealing the darkness of the inside. "I guess no one's home.." Witha whispered, a note of worry in his voice. "Mother and Father must not have gotten home yet."
"Well, do you think we can stay?" Sherwoode asked. "I'm not going to stay if I'm not welcome. At least for dinner...I told Chernobyl I wasn't going to be back until dark and he probably took the key when he went to the Den."
Liline peered inside the doorway, "Shouldn't Firefly be home? There weren't any classes today."
The foursome stepped through the doorway, Witha went ahead into the hallway searching for a light. In the darkness, a light flickered and held. "Who's that!!!?" a small voice cried out in fear.
When Witha turned on the bark lamp, he saw his little sister Firefly huddling in the corner. She was clutching a small glowing orb and whimpering. Her thick brown hair fell in waves around the tiny, fearful face.
"Firefly!" Witha exclaimed. "Why didn't you shout hello? We didn't know..."
" I didn't know! You might have been Shadows...they came disguised as Andrae once." the little girl sobbed.
Liline looked puzzled,and looked toward Witha who was comforting Firefly. "Andrae? Who's Andrae?"
"Have the Shadows been here?" Sherwoode cried out. The attack must have already started!
Firefly sighed, "I was in the Earther Woods hiding in a tree from them. Andrae is my brother...well, was."
"Is there another Forest I don't know about?" Sherwoode laughed. "If so, I would like to meet him. He would probably be better than the one I already know."
Witha shot her a glare and bent down over Firefly.
"I'm your brother,Witha..." he thought for a second, "What was your name?"
"I was Zilpha..Zilpha Forest." Firefly replied dreamily.
*
Sherwoode let the lamp in the Food-Taking room burn brightly. Witha led Firefly into the room and sat her on a comfortable chair. "What do you think, Sherwoode?
Has Firefly gone crazy?"
"Of course not.." Sherwoode reassured. "I'm sure this is just awaking dream or something. But to be sure, Liline's at the Terminal contacting Sir Berthold and Sorceress Leowa. I think she's going to have Illiad use the Book to get Raen here."
Witha nodded and turned to Firefly, who was twisting her hair around her fingers. Two big blue eyes looked up to his and asked, "Can I eat? I'm very hungry..the Shadows hurt me."
Sherwoode walked to the cabinets and opened one. "Fruit..bark bread..honey cakes..here's something - do you want some Yaniao -Fruit?" She picked one of the sweet fruits, heavy with the delicate juices favored by young children. Personally, Sherwoode preferred a banana to the rich fruit, but they were Firefly's favorite.
"Yes! May I have some Lotus Juice too?"
Retrieving a large pitcher of the frothy liquid, Sherwoode poured some into a wooden cup. She set the cup and fruit on the table before Firefly. While Firefly devoured the snack, Sherwoode questioned, "When are they going to get here?" She was obviously very impatient.
"I don't know..but a watched pot never boils. We best think about something else." Witha informed her.
"What else? The Shadows? Or the Darkness? Maybe the Evils better suit you?!"
Witha took a seat next to Firefly at the table. "Whatever happens, we have to make the best of it. You know my definition for a hero.."
"Any person who faces everyday problems with practicality and courage." Sherwoode interrupted. "That must be the millionth time you've said that."
"It's just my motto."
Sherwoode groaned, "It's not like you follow it! When's the last time you've come begging for help? Like this morning!"
"Just because I asked you to write my name on my knapsack doesn't mean I was begging you. I was..."
A voice broke into the argument, Sir Berthold's. "Hello Witha...and Sherwoode." He never really liked Witha's stubborn friend, even though his son was around her most of the time. Sir Berthold liked girls who appreciated the Arts and not the Forces. There were many in Serenity who questioned his marriage to
Sorceress Leowa, who was trained in many Forces, of the Spirit and otherwise. It was only Leowa who encourage Witha to use his skills in Spirit-Force, while Sir Berthold registered him for the army.
Leowa ran up from behind Berthold to hug her only daughter. "Firefly!! What's the matter?!" Firefly shrugged off her mother's hug and looked down at the table.
Yet, the girl calmed when Raen entered the room with Liline and Illiad on her heels.
Raen reached out a hand to touch Firefly. Before her hand felt the soft fabric of Firefly's dress, the girl screamed; drawing away from Raen. "NO! Shadows! Leave!" Distressed, Leowa tried to calm her little girl. Again, Firefly jumped away. This time she knocked over a pitcher of Lotus Juice - the frothy liquid sprayed all over the floor. Firefly shrieked in a state of madness, running from the ones that knew her best.
"She wasn't afraid of us," Sherwoode wondered. "Why you?" Sir Berthold had now grabbed Firefly's arms tightly. The girl struggled to no avail. Seeing a chance, Raen ran to the medicine cabinet on the east wall. She drew out two glass vials of dark liquid and poured them both into another vial. The mixture foamed violently and spilled over the sides.
"Give it to her!" Raen commanded, handing the vial to Leowa. The sorceress forced the drink down Firefly's throat as Sir Berthold kept the girl from moving. Firefly's eyes glazed over and she collapsed, unconscious, on the floor.
Leowa looked toward Sherwoode, "She was afraid with us because of the Shadows."
"Couldn't the Shadows take anyone?"
Leowa shook her head, "In Zilpha's time, their power was very limited. And as only young people can possess the strength to fight the takeover, they didn't have the gift to retained them."
Sherwoode's questions were not yet answered until Raen spoke up. "I suspect the only reason Zilpha would return is to warn us. And why Firefly? Firefly is a girl of about Zilpha's age at the time of the Shadows, and another important reason - Firefly is of the Forest blood. It would only be reasonable that Zilpha Forest would want to return in a relative's mind."
"What should we do?" Berthold asked Raen. "Who could possibly receive a message from the subconscious?"
"You're right," Leowa answered. "It would require a great skill in pensing. The only pensing I have heard of deals with the conscious mind."
Raen felt the girl's arm for a pulse.When she could register only a faint one, Raen grew worried. The medicine couldn't have that much effect on a child! "I'll call the Oracle and Healer Mercy. They might know what to do."
*
The Oracle bent over Firefly, whispering soft chants and beseeched the Immortals for help. Firefly lay on a warm cot, almost transparent in sickness. Looking from the girl, the Oracle spoke, "I can find nothing. Maybe we shall travel to the Crystal Library to learn more of possession..." The old woman stood up and walked gracefully out of the room.
Raen turned to the apprehensive Berthold and Leowa. "Akili cannot detect anything. It will be best now to wait patiently and let it take its toll."
Berthold nodded to Raen,"We should be heading back to the Encampment now. Sir Allard is delivering a plan on how to fight the Shadows." He motioned for Witha to follow. "Liline and Illiad are in the hall preparing to leave."
"Who will watch Firefly?" Leowa asked apphrensively. "We can't just leave her alone."
Raen agreed, "You're right. Sherwoode can stay, she is not part of the Army. I will go tell her now."
Berthold sniffed, "That's good. We don't need the likes of her in our forces."
Leowa,surprised at her husband's rudeness, sighed, "She is a perfectly fine person, very skilled in pensing - if I do say so myself. You shouldn't always put her down. Maybe someday she'll amount to something."
*
The army encampment was in an uproar. Fear of the Shadows had overwhelmed the novices, and angered the Professionals. They were appalled not even the Oracle had thought of renewing the spell. Many conspired against the kindly old woman. Rumors that she was with the Shadows themselves, completely of the Dark.
Sir Allard knew it was his duty to calm the fearful novices and Professionals. Only, he didn't know how to go about doing it. The Shadows were completely evil, there was no weakness - no return from being taken .
No wonder everyone was worried. All he could do was to inform them of the hope the Oracle had given them. It was up to them to accept it.
"My friends and colleagues," Allard began, "today is a dark day for Serenity. Our national well-being is threatened by a power of evil we cannot yet control. The only peace I may give you is the hope in what our Oracle said. That there is one of us, maybe in this room, that will have the Destiny to trap the Shadows again. In that we must put all our trust.
But if you are not satisfied, I will inform Queen Compassion that it is necessary to evacuate all cities to the safe havens of the cliffs. This is all I can say as of today." Sir Allard turned from the podium, wondering if he had assured the Knights.
*
"Why do I have to stay?" Sherwoode asked out loud. "Just because I'm not in the army doesn't mean I can be ordered around - wait that didn't come out right. Anyway, c'est mortel. (it's boring (en francais) ) ." Firefly lay calmly on the bed, not stirring and barely breathing. She would have been a picture of sweetness, but only if one didn't know what possessed her. Zilpha wasn't bad - it was the idea of possession that was wrong.
Thirst struck Sherwoode suddenly and she got up to get some water from the food -taking room. They hadn't said she couldn't get some water, the room was only down the hall from Firefly's chamber. As Sherwoode turned the knob of the heavy door slowly, a small cry came from behind her. Firefly turned in bed, her fever rising.
Running over to the girl, Sherwoode felt her forehead. Burning as a summer day out on the fields. But it wasn't staying in Firefly's head..the burning spread -drawing her into it.
Sherwoode couldn't hear herself scream as darkness seized her and she was pulled into the dark void of Firefly's mind.
*
Electricity pulsed madly through the neurons of the brain. Sherwoode felt the rising and falling of the opposite forces of Chaos around her. One swam gracefully in a blue ,cool glow - unseen yet, perceived. The other angrily hit the cavity with a blunt force, painful and beautiful. Both forces rushed around her, like swift currents in a river.
Fear overtook Sherwoode when she realized she couldn't see herself. It was as if she was there and in the room. A separation of essence and body. A
separation that terrified Sherwoode. The sensation of floating was hers, and with the feeling of nothingness.
A voice rang in the head. It surged violently around Sherwoode, forcing her back mentally. Not until she was backed against a slimy wall did she see the possessor of the voice. A black shadow hovered across the expanse of the brain. Sparks of power shimmered around it, sparks of Firefly's spirit - force. Sherwoode grew relieved at the sight of the immunities. The girl's spirit force was fighting back.
Only at the peace of mind did terror seize her again. The darkness took in the Spirit - Force. The Spirit -force of an innocent child darkened and added to the darkness.
"It's drawing away her life..." Sherwoode whispered. The desolation of her words made her gasp. Was she supposed to help? What could she do? "Anyone! Help me! Help her!"
Sherwoode stretched out her arms in question, not knowing what to do. Her body shuddered against the darkness, then glowed. Out of her wrists two strands of light glowed violently, flying toward the shadowy recesses of the cavity. The power wrapped around the darkness, clothing it in a green radiant light. Sherwoode's mind was not her own, and yet it was. Her lips moved, speaking a word she had never heard before - a word given to her by divine guidance. "Aniatea ." The light blared, blinding Sherwoode. When the gleam subsided, the darkness was gone. Slowly, the light faded into the now empty cavity.
Something pushed against her, throwing her into the void of emptiness again. She fell aimlessly in space.
*
"Sherwoode!" Liline shook her friend. "What's the matter?"
Raen looked fearfully at the vacant eyed Sherwoode. "The Darkness took her. I'm sure of it."
"We should have never left her..." Leowa stopped in mid sentence. Firefly gleamed brilliantly of Spirit-Force and Essence. The gleam passed from her to Sherwoode, vacant eyes now shining victoriously. Sherwoode shook her head and looked, confused, at all the people standing around her. "What are you doing here?"
"What happened? Where were you?" Raen interrogated Sherwoode. Before Sherwoode could speak, Firefly blinked open her blue eyes.
"Myuatai ..." she sobbed. Raen stared in wonder at the girl. Leowa had no time for questions. She hugged the crying Firefly, she herself weeping in happiness.