Chapter Three

Chapter 3: All Things Have Their Beginnings
                  And Their Ends




Cevlon - High Officer Lounge:  


   “Kade you can’t really be dong this!”
He sighed and threw his head back in an exaggerated motion to Sonera behind him.
   “I have to! It’s an order! It’s written right here in black and white. Read it for yourself.”
He pulled out the scroll with the orders to take the Outsider’s life, and handed them to the woman beside him. She snapped it open in a single flourish, with pain and annoyance written all over her dark skinned face.
Her bright blue eyes flashed over the lines so quickly they became a blur to Kade. Once she had finished she still didn’t look satisfied as she handed the orders back.
   “But it’s just not right! They wont even let the girl have a fair trial! She’s no more human then you or I!”
   “She’s a Magi! A Magic Bearer! That makes her a threat to Haven. And as an Elite Warrior you took an oath to protect Cevlon at all costs! And today, that cost is letting me kill an enemy to Haven with out a trial. You will stand behind me in silence, or so help me Sonera! I will make you silent.”
Sonera didn’t believe in what Kade was doing. But he had played his cards well.
She knew she could not go right out and defy the Warrior Oath. And by reminding her of that, Kade had already won the battle. But then he rubbed it in by making her stand by him as he murdered a surly innocent child that couldn’t be any older then her younger brother!
That was what made her furious. Her icy blue gaze didn’t back down as she met Kade’s violet, almost murderous eyes. She knew in her heart that Kade was a good man. A fine man in fact. One her mother would be proud to have as a son-in-law, but there were times, when he flat out scared Sonera. And right now was one of those times.
However, Sonera was not known for backing down. She never backed down easily. Which is what allowed her rise higher in ranks quicker then others. But she had finally met her match in Kade. He too, was not easily persuaded to do something that was against his training, and his mindset. And for so long he had been trained to accept orders, whatever they may be. So this situation, to him, was no different.
The main difference between Sonera, and Kade, was that Sonera stood by her beliefs in the Antiquity Promises in all that she did. She did not allow herself to veer away from them, and though Kade was also a strong follower of Eleyos, he let his duty for his country, come before the duty of his deity. And that was one thing Eleyos stated very clearly, was never a good thing.

Kade knew she wasn’t happy with his decision, but she submitted to him eventually after a deadly game of ice cold glares. But he knew she wasn’t going to be very cooperative with him also.

She spun out on her heel and picked up her sword on her way out of the lounge room shared only by the high ranking officers.
   “Sonera, wait.” He grabbed her by the elbow to keep her from walking away.
She turned to him and he was startled by the amount of emotion shown in her eyes. Emotions that ran deep, and ones that were aimed towards him.
   “That’s all I’ve done Kade.” She started. “waited for you. Every time I think you’re going to change, something makes your heart turn to stone on me again. And it takes me forever to chip away at it. So I’m done waiting. Okay? Call me when you’re ready to listen.”
She yanked her elbow out of his grasp and walked out of the lounge, the dawn sun glinting off her curved sword as she placed it back in its rightful place across her back.

Outside, she took a deep breath of the crisp clean air and as usual, it cleared her mind up instantly.
   “Eleyos, please guide me with my decision making. I know I usually make very rash decisions, but this one...This one I am very sure about. So I take that as a sign from you O Father. But please help me through the trials that are sure to come.”
As she prayed, she walked swiftly through the Warrior compound that offered a home to all of the Warriors and trainees that dedicated their every fiber to a distant dream of one day becoming a great hero worthy enough to be retold of in the Stories past down from one generation to the next.

The courtyard was ringing with the sound of marching footsteps, sparring practices, and constant chatter.
However, most of it stopped as she walked briskly by in a manner that told everyone she was not in a good mood, and she was probably up to no good.
But today, her decision would affect her, and only her. And no measure of begging would get her to change her mind.

For years the job of an Elite Warrior had weighed down her mind and soul. She knew one day she would crack. But she didn’t expect it to be so early, and when she was so high up the chain.
But she knew now, that with Kade’s decision to murder this poor girl, Eleyos was telling her it was time to take a different road. One where hardly anyone had ever trod before.
Sonera was up for the challenge, and due for a change.

She marched up to the control center, where all of the leaders on the Warrior Council debated things that involved the Warriors, and how to go about keeping the peace that had rained for eons. She doubted, that when the time came where they had to bare arms against a foe of some admirable esteem, they might forget how to command an army all together.

The other Warriors and trainees immediately stepped aside when she passed by and even the guards in front of the doors, didn’t hesitate to back off when she walked up the steps with determined strides.
Sonera hesitated a moment before pushing open the heavy oak wood doors wide and stepping into the dimly lit room.

Inside, gathered among a round stone table filled with maps, markers, quills and inkwells, charts, and scraps of parchment scrolls, stood five men. Five of the greatest men that Haven has ever seen, and each essential to making sure that the Elite Warriors functioned to their highest potential.
The floating orbs of captured sunlight bobbed around the room, every once in a while bumping into each other. They gave off a warm glow that gave the room a cozy feeling. Until Sonera walked in that is.

The wind picked up when the doors were shoved open by strong shoulders. And immediately, all the intense and deep conversations, ceased.
Five heads looked up at her.
And she was met with five pairs of eyes that were wise beyond any she had seen before.
Five weather beaten faces that looked immensely older then they actually were looked at her with both curiosity, but also annoyance.
She took a deep breath and reminded herself why she was here.

Taking a step into the room she cleared her throat as she corrected her posture into a stiff, immobile slab of stone.
   “Cheif Commander Pentaris, sir. Permission to make a request, sir.” She stated in a formal way. She hated talking like this, but it had been drilled into her for so long now, it would be hard not to.
The Cheif Commander stood erect and looked at her with his stern gaze.
   “What is the nature of this request?” His voice was a deep rumble that vibrated through her very bones.
She took a deep breath and hesitated for a moment before answering. Just a moment.
   “A request to secede. Sir.”
Gasps went around the room, but Sonera stood strong and didn’t remove her gaze from Commander Pentaris.
He looked slightly startled, but not too surprised.
   “Do you know what you would be doing? You would not be able to live here anymore, your status would be taken away from you, and you would no longer be able to have the benefits of being a Warrior.”
Sonera nodded. The benefits weren’t that great to begin with, so she wouldn’t be missing much.
   “I’ve made my decision sir. I know what I’m doing, sir.”
One of the men looked up to the Commander with shock.
   “You can’t really let her go. She’s to valuable. She keeps him in line!”
   “Mentis! you will keep your mouth shut or I’ll shut it for you.” Pentaris snapped angrily.
The man shut his mouth immediately and backed down.
   “Sonera...are you sure you know what you’re doing? Leave, and you can’t come back.”
Sonera nodded slowly.
Pentaris sighed and nodded.
   “Very well Sonera. I accept your secede. I relieve you of your duties as an Elite Warrior. Please hand over you medallion, and cape.”
Sonera tugged at a medallion from under her chest plate. The medallion had a simple number on it. Five. Her rank. She took one last look at it before taking it off completely. Then she unclasped her one shoulder blue cape that marked her to others as a high ranking officer.
She hesitated before walking up to the table and setting both down.
   “Sonera, you are no longer an Elite Warrior. You have an hour to remove your belongings from the barracks and to leave the property.”
Sonera made a swift, deep bow before leaving the room in the same, determined way.
Mentis glowered at Pentaris.
   “You just made a big mistake Pentaris. A big mistake.”
   “No. She was bound to break sooner or later. And we can’t have a weak link. But you’ll do well to keep your big gopper shut. Do I make myself clear Mentis?”
Mentis gave a curt nod, with a murderous glare.

Sonera wouldn’t let this poor girl suffer for her leaders’ idiocy. She couldn’t. But what on earth could she do?! She was just a nobody now. She had no rank, no status. She was just Sonera. Sonera the Lost.
A thought struck her so strongly she gasped. She immediately looked up into the rain and turned down the street. Bounding towards the one person that could help her.


.:+:.

Cevlon - High Officer’s Lounge:

   “Lieutenant Kade!”
Kade’s head rose from his callus covered hands, towards the voice that called his name.
A young trainee was standing at the doorway. Sweating, breathing hard, but anxious.
   “Yes?” He asked. “Come in.”
The girl bowed and moved over the threshold.
   “Thank you sir. I just wanted to give my apologies.”
Kade’s brow furled, and he straightened his back. His way of showing interest. Or in this case, confusion.
   “For what?”
Now it was the girl’s turn to be confused.
   “For the lack of support sir.”
   “How do you mean?”
The young girl shifted in confusion. Hesitating before answering again, deciding whether or not to say anything.
   “Well...Sonera quit. Just over an hour ago.”
Kade’s deep purple eyes grew wide and the young girl was scared he’d get mad at her, so she gave a quick bow and left hastily.
   It took Kade a minute to decipher what the trainee had just told him.
But when it hit him, it hit him hard.
Sonera had quit.
Was it because he snapped at her? No she was tough, she could take a beating. But...maybe it was something more...or maybe some things that had been piling up over the years and had just toppled over. Or maybe -
   “Lieutenant Kade?”
His gaze focused in on the Chief Commander that stood before him.
It took him a minute to figure out who it was, and when he did, he jumped up and stood at attention.
   “Sir.”
The Commander sighed and slapped Kade’s strong, well worn shoulders.
  “It’s time son.”
Kade nodded numbly and picked up his broad sword and swung it into it’s sheath at his side.
   “Alright.”

.:+:.


The service was silent, but Kade could almost feel the anticipation and excitement of the people for the death of this young girl.
He was disgusted by that. He could see why Sonera had flown off the handle. It was very disturbing, and nothing a follower of Eleyos would do. Yet, they were doing it anyways. Just like the drinking the night before, for his and Sonera’s party...
Thinking of the party, made him think of Sonera, and then he was reminded of the time he had snapped at her a few hours before. Which in turn made him feel guilty.

The slow death march drums almost made him fall asleep, but he kept his eyes on the girl walking before him. She held herself with dignity despite what she was. Her shoulders were held back, her head held high, she looked to be at ease with everything. Though sad as well. - Which was to be expected - but Kade was surprised by how calm she was, despite her up coming death that was just moments away.
   Her light ginger hair bounced around her shoulders as she took sure steps. The chains that bound her hands jingled as she walked, and he felt a feeling stir in the pit of his stomach. But he ignored it and refused to think of the girl as a human being and just thought of her as an order only.
It was his way of removing all emotion from his missions. And nothing was different here.
Or so he told himself.

The service went with out a hitch. Elite Warriors patrolled the roof tops, and the ground. Just incase anyone got any ideas. Thought that was about as highly unlikely as someone from Falion ending up in Haven.
But then again...that had happened so...one never knows now.
  The young girl had been able to choose her way of death, which - apparently - was the least the people of Haven could do. They wanted nothing to do with someone from the World Below. Rumors went around that one look from her would make you un-pure before Eleyos. So most people spat at the ground she walked on, some were even angry - or scared - enough to curse her. But Kade was shocked by how well she handled it all.

The girl chose Death by Light.
Which Kade thought was appropriate. For a lady, and for this girl in particular.
   They both stood on a temporary dais. Kade in front of the small girl, and a priest behind him with the bowl that held her death.
Two guards stood behind her, to keep her from running away - highly unlikely - but they were mainly there to catch her when the life left her body.
The priest handed Kade the bowl and nodded for him to speak the words.
They had rehearsed this, so he knew what to do.
   “Being from the Earth Below, Magic Bearer, and a criminal of threatening the peace that Eleyos has blessed us with on Cevlon. Do you repent from your crimes?” His tone was stiff and formal. But the girl cut through his heart of stone, by giving him a tender look that made him feel like he didn’t know anything at all. She shook her head, and gasps and protest rang out from the crowds.
Kade expected this. So he nodded once and continued with his formal speech.
   “Any last words?”
She nodded, and moved her bangs out of her deep green eyes that he could get lost in if he wasn’t careful.
   “Yes I do. If I may?”
Kade nodded, in a gesture for her to go ahead.
   “You accuse me of being a criminal for stepping foot in this city. And yet, if any of you stepped foot in my home town, you would be treated the same.
Has any of you stopped to think that maybe this is wrong?” She paused to let her words sink in for a moment. She turned her head to the priest. Much to his detest.
   “You study the Antiquity Promise books correct?”
The priest nodded stiffly.
   “And anywhere in those Promises does Eleyos say that He only loves the people from Cevlon, or only the ones from Falion?”
The priest shifted nervously, and hated to reply, but did.
   “No.”
  “Then why do we hate each other so? That is all I have to say. For there is nothing more to say.”
What she had to say in that one moment, moved everyone listening in an instant, for the rest of their lives.
Kade swallowed hard before handing her the bowl.
She met his eyes and gave one last smile, before she drank the liquid.

   “They say....That when you die, you see a tunnel of light. And it’s when you reach that tunnel, that your life flashes before your eyes...Though I can’t say much flashed before mine. For I hadn’t lived very long, so therefore hadn’t had much of a life.
But what washed over me most, was what I could have done. And what I didn’t do. I had never made it past apprenticeship. Or gotten my gem that would have sat atop my staff when I past the final tests. I also had never fallen in love.
I think...maybe...I had felt something close to it...but never really fallen in love. Not with a human boy that is.
I fell in love with Eleyos of course.
And I suppose...he’ll always be the first true love anyone shall ever have...”

Chapter Two

Chapter 2: Worlds Collide

Cevlon - Haven:


   “Did you here?”
   “I heard that one look at her will kill you.”
   “She’ll gouge out your eyeballs and cook them in a stew for dinner!”
   “She’s a savage!”
   “She doesn’t deserve to live to see the Earth Above!”
   “No! Not in front of the children!”

   The bounty hunter shook his head and laughed. Stories like this had circulated through the whole city over night. Ever sense she had first arrived.
No one was sure what to do with her really.
But he knew exactly what they were going to do.

   “Lieutenant Kade!”
The boy with the brown hair and blue eyes ducked behind a wall to keep from being seen by the Elite Warriors.
   “Orders from the Council.” A younger solider handed over a scroll. The dark haired lieutenant opened it and read it quickly. He grunted.
   “Alright. She’ll die by my hand at first light.”
The younger one nodded and they both left.
The hunter let out his breath and leaned his head against the wall.
   “For the love of Eleyos!” He groaned. Pushing away from the wall he dashed down the alleys and tried to avoid the torch light.
Glancing up at the night sky he noticed the stars that fell every night.
   He couldn’t let them kill her.
   Not yet anyway.
   He had to know what it was like. To live down there. What the people were like. How they lived. What they ate. Everything. He wanted to know everything.
   And he wouldn’t, if they killed her before he had a chance to talk to her!

.:+:.

   Elowen groaned as she came too.
Glancing around she found that she was in a jail cell.
   “Great!” She said. Throwing herself back onto the hard bed. “From the pan and into the fire.... Or something like that. I don’t think this is how I’m suppose to save the world.”
She quickly stopped talking once she saw light spill down the hall as a door opened.
Sitting up she made sure Stargazer was still tucked under the high collar of her long tunic.
A nurse came in with a bowl of water and a rag.
   “Ah.” She said quietly as the guard opened the cell door. “You’re awake I see.”
She sat down on a wood stool next to the bed and dipped the rag in the water.
   “Good. Now just hold still and I’ll tend to that head wound.”
Elowen held perfectly still. She assumed she had been caught by the Infidels. Though everything was a little foggy. All she could remember was the feeling of the wind whipping across her cheeks.
   “Where am I?” She ventured to ask. The guard outside the cell scoffed.
   “Where do you think?”
She returned his icy glare. She saw hatred, anger, and even fear in his eyes.
   “No where good.” She answered. She had quick wits and she knew how to play someone. It was one of her tricks she had picked up.
   “But it seems that I’ve forgotten a few things due to the head injury. So why don’t you enlighten me....Please?”
The guard seemed to indulge her. Though not with out a smirk on his face.
   “You’re in Haven of course. Stupid girl.”
   “Enough!” The nurse’s sharp voice shut him up. “For the love of Eleyos leave the poor thing alone.”
   “But that’s exactly what it is!” The guard argued. “A thing! It’s lucky if it’ll last the night.”
The nurse rose quickly and calmly and gathered her things. The guard opened the cell door for her and quickly shut it. Then left as if Elowen was some kind of disease.
Elowen couldn’t take it. Not anymore.
   She broke down and cried. Right then and there. Not that she thought anyone was watching.
She wished Lorem was with her, but she knew it was wise to keep him under her long tunic in Stargazer.
   “So...what’s this about saving the world?”
The hunter came out of the shadows on the other side of the hallway and gazed at the small girl locked behind bars.
She had on a purple dress that fell just below her knees. And she had on mid-calf tall boots with black leggings. She wore a belt loosely around her hips along with a sash, and he noticed several pouches that could hold lots of things. The purple dress had gold trim on the bottom, the neckline, and the edge of the sleeves that stopped a little ways before her wrists.
Her light ginger hair was a bit messy and her face was flushed, but all in all he thought she wasn’t bad to look at.

   She rubbed her eyes and peered up at him.
   “Huh?” She asked. Still a little startled by the fact that he had appeared out of no where with out the help of magic.
   “You were just saying something about saving the world. What from?”
She hesitated.
   “Why don’t we start from the beginning?” She suggested. She had no clue who this guy was! She wasn’t going to tell him!
The boy shrugged. She took note of the armor he wore on his upper body, yet he only wore leather trousers and boots from the waist down. She also noticed the weapons he carried.
A two handed sword hung at his side, and a quiver full of arrows and the unstrung bow was strapped to his back by a thick leather belt.
She was almost defenseless with out her staff. Which was no where to be seen.
   Almost.

   “What’s your name?” She asked. The boy cocked his head.
   “You first.”
   “Elowen. Or Ellie if you want.” She said quietly as she rubbed her arms against the chilly wind coming through the open window.
   “Dreyden.” He answered after a moment.
She looked up and met his bright blue eyed gaze.
   “Nice to meet you Drey.” She said with a smile.
   “Like wise....Ellie.”
She chuckled and gazed out the window. There was the same stars in the sky.
   “Am I really in Haven?” She asked.
Dreyden grunted with a nod.
   “Yup. I’d say welcome to Cevlon, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
She laughed. At least she’d have a little joy before her execution in the morning.
Drey rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment before groaning.
   “Ok so I have to ask.” He started with a look in his eye that reminded Ellie of a boy with great anticipation.
She turned to him and gave him her full attention.
   “Ok. Ask away.”
And he did.
   “Are you a Magic Barer?”
She chuckled at the name.
   “We’re called Magi. And yes....well...sort of. I’m really just an apprentice.”
   “Oh...well the stories say you can kill someone just by looking at them!”
Elowen burst out laughing.
Drey was so shocked by her reaction and he was a little confused.
   “What?” He asked. But she was laughing too hard to hear him.
   “What?!” He repeated.
She finally calmed down enough to breath.
   “I’m-I’m sorry, but that’s-the most...ridicules thing I have ever heard!”
Seeing his slightly confused face she went on ahead and explained.
   “Do you know how much energy that would take?! And not to mention dangerous! I mean yes. Technically I could do that. But only if I wanted to die. Casting a spell with out even uttering the words is extremely dangerous!” She laughed again. “So who ever made up that story really stretched the truth!”
She shook her head and couldn’t get rid of the smile on her face.
   “Oh...” Was all Drey could say. Not that she could blame him. He had never encountered a Magi in his life!
   “So what’s it like?” She asked, crossing her legs underneath herself. “Living here. In the sky.” She clarified.
Drey chuckled.
   “I don’t...I’ve never had to explain it before.” He started as he starred down at his boots. “It’s...It’s freedom...for the most part anyways. For all of us, our home is in the sky, on the back of a yerto. Soaring through the sky like there’s no limit.”
   “What’s a yerto?”
Dreyden’s jaw dropped.
   “What? Don’t-don’t tell me you’ve never seen a yerto before?” He couldn’t believe that the Earth Below was that different!
   “You’ve never even flown before.” He realized.
The strange girl shook her head.
   “Never. My feet have never left the earth before.”
Drey just gapped at her. She took in a deep breath and pulled the thin blanket over her shoulders. Still gazing out the window.
   “I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to fly.” She said quietly
   “Wonderful I guess....freedom....complete and utter bliss I suppose but-”
She looked back at the odd boy.
   “I think....I would probably be scared to be completely honest.”
Drey locked her in his gaze and she felt something string deep with in her. But she had no idea what it was.
   “Only one way to find out.” He said with a crooked smile.
Stepping forward he produced a ring of keys.
Ellie gasped and rose to her feet.
   “Where did you get those?” She asked as she met him at the door.
He looked at her and she could feel the warmth rolling off him and hitting her, like a warm summer breeze.
   “I swiped them from the guard. He’s so thick he won’t notice for at least another half hour. And when he does he’ll find them right here....Don’t look so worried.”
He reached through the bars and lifted her chin in a friendly manner.
   “Consider it as one last taste of freedom.”
She smiled and nodded.
   “Alright.”
With that he unlocked the door and swung it open.
Offering a gloved hand to her, he jumped through the open window, hauling Ellie with him.

Ellie didn't know whether to scream, or to cry. She was freefalling in space and the land was coming up at her faster then she thought.
The boy let go of her hand and fell faster. He also landed first, and when he did he quickly spun around and Ellie found herself in his arms. She let out a small gasp as the adrenaline rush caught up with her.
   "It gets better." He said with a smile as he set her down on her feet once more.
She really didn't want to know what else he had planned.
He laughed at her sheet white face that showed the fear that she was feeling.
   "Come on." He took her hand again and pulled her into the shadows as an Elite Warrior passed by with a torch in hand.
   "Is this even legal?" Ellie whispered. Getting scared that they might be caught.
He grinned at her.
   "Of course it isn't legal. You think breaking a highly dangerous person out of jail is legal? How does that work on Drenaer?"
   "It doesn't."
   "Exactly."
He jumped up from behind the bush and led the way down the silent streets, till the sound of a large feast could be heard dead ahead.
   "Then why are we-"
   "Shh!" He put his finger to his lips and walked over to the side of a house as light spilled down the streets from the festival going on for the new lieutenant and his second in command.
Singing and dancing could be heard. He figured there would also be a lot of drunk people. That was one thing he never got. Eleyos strictly said no drinking, because the humans had a tendency to defy his name when they do. And yet they did it anyways.

   "What are we doing?"
He was suddenly reminded that the strange girl was right next to him.
   "Ever wanted to touch the stars?" He asked in a hushed whisper as he offered a hand to help her up a stack of boxes near the back of the house.
   "Yes...always." She answered as she fixed the white sheet around her shoulders, which she held in place by her free hand.
   "Good. Then you're in for a treat."
She let out a sigh as Dreyden helped her up to the roof.
   "Fantastic. I get my dream come true the night before I die." She muttered in a slightly regretful tone.
Drey couldn't contradict that and give the poor girl a hope of living past the morrow's sunrise. That would be cruel and unkind.
And despite his looks, he was neither cruel or unkind. Especially to a lady.

Elowen saw the party down below, but didn't want to ask about it. Scared that despite how nice Drey was, the ones from Above were still as savage as in the stories. And perhaps they were celebrating the looming death of her.
That made her shudder and she clutched the blanket around her shoulders more closely.
   Drey seemed to know the roof tops like the back of his hand. Something always connected the roof tops. Whether it be a stack of boxes, or drain pipes. He always found a convenient way to cross from one roof to another. More or less anyway.
Several times she had to jump across a gap between roofs, but she has always been very physically active, so it wasn't too big of a problem.

They finally came to the edge of Cevlon.
   "Whoa..." She whispered as she leaned cautiously over the edge. "I never realized how far up it was. I had never seen Cevlon before till now. And it sure is a long way down."
Drey nodded with a smile playing on his lips.
   "Yeah. Gives you a new perspective on the world huh?"
She nodded silently. Then she turned her gaze heavenward and was a little disappointed.
   "Aw...it's cloudy. Too cloudy to see the stars." She let out a sigh.
   "Brace yourself." Dreyden warned.
She glanced at him in alarm.
   "For wha-?" Her sentence was cut off when she was suddenly not on land anymore, and the wind was rushing through her ears. It took her a full heartbeat to realize that she was falling, again. And when she did, she was about to scream. Only she found that she couldn't. Not that her heart was in her throat. No, she literally couldn't, because a hand was covering her mouth. And it wasn't her own.
   "Shh." Though Drey so far had been pretty trust worthy, she wasn't sure about this. But then again, here he was falling with her. But what did that mean?
He still had that smile on his face as the two of them fell to what Elowen was sure would be their deaths.
But out of the purple clouds, a streak of red came out of no where. And suddenly, she wasn’t falling anymore. Neither of them were.
They were sitting on what she assumed was a yerto. It was mainly a big huge bird.
He had the most soft feathers she had ever touched, and obviously, it was really big. She gasped in wonder of Eleyos as she glanced at the big bird.
He cocked his head back and captured her in his gaze with what seemed to be a friendly squawk.
Drey kept a hand on the small girl's waist so she wouldn't fall off. He focused on slowing down his heartbeat as he always did when he dove off the edge of Cevlon.
Ellie gasped in awe as his yerto moved higher into the bank of clouds.
   "Does he have a name?"
It took Drey a minute to figure out that she was talking to him.
   "Oh! Yes. Swift."
   "Swift?"
He could see the slight playfulness just below the surface of her deep foliage green eyes.
  "Yes. Is there a problem with that particular name?"
She shook her head.
   "No! I was actually just going to remark on how...original it was."
He gave her a playful glare.
   "Well you try to do better." He challenged.
   "I would if I knew I was going to live beyond the next dawn. But seeing as I wont, and I don't own one of these magnificent birds, that seems kind of pointless."
   "I don't own Swift. He's free to come and go as he pleases." Dreyden corrected.
Elowen's eyebrows pinched together, this told him that she was confused by his correction.
   "Well see, a yerto is a free creature, just like most of Eleyos's creations. But when a...human from Cevlon is of age, he chooses a yerto."
   "And...how does he do that?"
   "He jumps off the edge of Cevlon."
Her jaw dropped in shock.
   "But what if no yerto wants to choose him?"
He hesitated before answering that. "So far? We have yet to have that happen."
   "But...there's always a chance?"
Drey chuckled.
   "Why are you so nervous about this? It's what everyone does. Well...just about everyone."
 Ellie let out a puff of air and turned towards Swift's head.
   "Well...I guess it's not so different then what a Magi has to do but...still! Throwing yourself off a cliff with only the hope that a wild bird is going to catch you...? I don't think I'd be brave enough to do that."
Drey laughed a little as Swift angled his body up and his grip on her waist became tighter so he wouldn't fall off.
   "What does a Magic Bearer have to go through?" He asked out of pure curiosity.
Ellie glanced at him over her shoulder.
   "Do you really want to know?"
By the sudden seriousness of her face and tone, he hesitated in answering. She was still a complete mystery to him, along with the whole idea that she was a Magic Bearer. And she wasn't evil. So far, he had seen nothing that held true to the stories.
   "Yes..." He said slowly.
Swift leveled out and she shifted so she could see him properly.
   "Well, usually when a child is marked to become a Magi, they will suddenly burst out in flames."
She said it so naturally that it seemed like an every day occurrence. But Drey freaked out.
   "Ex-excuse me?! You...you burst into flames? Like...Like...?"
She nodded slowly as if encouraging him to spit out the words.
He just couldn't seem to wrap his mind around that. He couldn't imagine walking out of his house and suddenly a kid right next to him bursts up in flames and everyone's like 'yeah that looks like fun! Can't wait till it happens to me!'.
No. He just couldn't imagine a world like that.

Ellie laughed at his facial expression as he tried to process what she was saying.
   "It's not a harmful flame. And it doesn't look like normal orange fire. It's like this...this..." She let out a sigh as she tired to find the right words to explain such an amazing occurrence. "Well it's different for every person. And most people have a different color that shows up when they perform magic. Like me for example. My flames were a mix of purple and blue. So, now that color is in all of the magic I perform."
Drey was still having trouble processing the idea of spontaneous combustion happening to his left and right.
Ellie laughed and decided they had best steer away from the topic.
   "Where is Swift going?" She asked. Thinking that was a safe question.
Dreyden snapped out of it and looked up at the deep purple sky that loomed over them like a blanket.
   "You'll see."
   "Well that's just it isn't it." She pointed out, following his gaze. "I cant see a thing. The clouds are too thick."
   "Just right here."
   "But-"
He placed a finger on her lips and her eyes grew wide as she turned to stone.
   "Just wait for it."
Swift's strong wings beat fast until they broke through the cloud bank. And when they did Ellie gasped.

Before her, was the most magnificent display of Eleyos she had ever laid eyes on.
Galaxies swirled about her head in mixes of colors she had never imagined. Stars raced towards her at the speed of light, leaving a trail behind them that she could reach up and touch.
Dust danced around her fingers as the color blew out of her hand.
Dreyden smiled at her joy for the moment. Despite her looming death, she could still find things to be happy about. That takes a special kind of person.
   “This is amazing.” She whispered. She couldn’t take it all in. She kept looking all around her with a huge smile on her face. Drey nodded in agreement.
   “Yeah it is isn’t it? Most people don’t come up this high.”
Ellie turned to him with curiosity painted on her face as plain as the stars fell all around them.
   “Why’s that?”
   “Uh...something about a myth that says you could explode...or something like that.”
Her eyes grew huge and he couldn’t help but laugh.
   “That’s the myth anyways. So far it hasn’t happened to me. So I wouldn’t worry about it.”
   “And how often have you been up here?”
   “Ah...too many to count. So I should know not to take any myths seriously...and yet I still do.”
Ellie let out a giggle.
   “I think that’s just human nature. We prefer not to think of things that we can’t explain. Therefore, we don’t. We make it out to be myths and legends.”
Of course Drey had already known this, but still, it was odd to hear it come from such a young girl who obviously didn’t have many years of life to her name.
Elowen continued to be amazed by how creative Eleyos could be.
He tried to keep his mind on the amazing phenomenon that was happening all around him, but he found that his gaze kept going back to the small girl in front of him.
She could feel his eyes on her immediately even if she wasn’t paying attention because of the beauty before her. She turned her head around and pushed her bangs out of her bright green eyes.
   “Thank you.” Her sweet voice sounded incredibly kind and understanding. Like she wasn’t mad at him for breaking her out, only to take her back in the end.
   “You’re welcome.”
Ellie smiled and glanced back up at the multicolor sky.
   “I’m glad to see something beautiful and amazing here in our world, before I get to see Eleyos’s view of the world.”
Dreyden couldn’t help but smile and nod.
   “Well I‘m glad you think so...”

They sat in silence for a while. Every once in a while Ellie would touch a trail of light and color and a giggle would escape her lips. Drey was happy for her, but also felt guilt. Guilt when he thought of having to give her back over to the Elite Warrior that would kill her in the morning.
He let out a sigh and kneed Swift to take them back to Cevlon.
   “Sorry Ellie, but...” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
   “We have to go back...don’t we?” She finished for him.
He nodded as his sight was stolen from him by the cloud bank.
As they made it out of the purple clouds, the jagged edge of Cevlon appeared.
The closer they got, the heavier Ellie’s heart became. She tired to cheer up by thinking that her death wasn’t the end of her. It really, was just the beginning.
Her mind went back to the Antiquity Promises made by Eleyos.
In the books where the Antiquity Promises were written by scribes guided by Eleyos himself, they quoted the precious promises the Creator of Both Worlds made, so that people in the future could read it as well as those from the past.
   In one particular Promise, He says that all that believe in Him will receive the gift of endless years of life to their name.
So Elowen knew that everything had their time, but, the belief in Eleyos never expired, and never grew old. All that Eleyos had promised them would hold true and would never end.
Therefore she knew she wouldn’t actually die. Her end, would truly be her beginning.

Ellie took comfort in that, and came to terms with her momentary end.
However, when Dreyden saw her with a content smile on her face, he felt angry towards her cool attitude with her death, and he was also mad at Eleyos for making her story end when she was still so young.

They jumped onto the solid surface of the Earth Above, and Swift gave what seemed like a sorrow filled good-bye as Ellie hugged his neck. Then he flew off, leaving a gust of wind in his wake that played with Ellie’s hair and skirt.
They walked back via rooftop in silence. Dreyden wasn’t sure what to say to her, and Ellie was deep in thought, and prayer. Asking for guidance in what she was about to do.
They came back to the jail window sooner then she thought. And it didn’t take long before she was back in the non-welcomed jail cell.

Dreyden hovered just outside the door, not sure what to do, or how to go about doing it.
Ellie gathered up the courage she needed and let out a sigh.
   “Drey, before you go,...I have a request.”
He cocked his head to one side and crossed his arms over his chest.
   “Go ahead.”
Okay, she had gotten this far, now how to explain everything.
   “Before, you wondered what I meant by ‘saving the world’...”
This caught his attention. He had wondered, but the last few hours had distracted him from that thought.
She sighed and pulled out Stargazer from under her collar.
   “Do you know what this is?” She asked.
He took a step inside the cell and looked at the stone. A distant memory began to stir, but it was still too foggy for him to see clearly.
   “I think so...Is it one of the Lost Gems?” He asked.
Elowen nodded eagerly. One less thing for her to explain.
  “Yes it is exactly. There are three others like it, hidden all over the world. And that is what led me here.”
His brow creased in bafflement.
  “A stone?”
  “Yes. Now bare in mind that I don’t know everything, but I know something for sure. Both Haven, and Falion, are in grave danger.”
Dreyden shook his head as he tried to understand what she was saying.
   “The Elite Warriors would have reported something if that were true.”
   “But it is true!” Time was growing short, the first rays of dawn were beginning to appear. “Please you must listen to me! If I die with out someone finishing my task for me, then both worlds will fall. And it will be all my fault.”
Tears fell down her cheeks, but she kept the sobs back.
The tears were what clued Drey in that this was something big. He might not believe it, but she did with every fiber in her. So the least he could do was hear her out.
   “Alright, I’ll listen.”
She let out a sigh of relief and began to explain what her Master had explained to her before she left her monastery to it’s doom. Which she still felt guilty about. Leaving her only family she ever knew to a sure death at the hands of the Infidels. But she forced that out of her mind, for now, and continued on with her tale to Dreyden as fast as she could.
At one point, she summoned Lorem to show him, and the silver-blue cub eyed him curiously for a moment before snuggling up in Elowen’s arms.

Dreyden still found most of her tale unbelievable. Mad driven men that hated everyone, a monastery that took in a girl, a stone that could become a white tiger cub. All of it was unbelievable, yet...for some reason only Eleyos knew, he believed every word she spoke.

He glanced out the window and saw how light it was becoming, and a sense of dread washed over him.
   “Okay. Elowen, I’ll take up this quest for you. I’m sorry I can’t do more, but I’m already disliked by most in Haven, so I cant force my luck by breaking you out...A second time.”
Elowen’s feelings overwhelmed her as she threw her arms around his neck in a hug.
   “Thank you.” She whispered.
He wasn’t quiet sure how to react, so he just patted her back awkwardly till she let go.
   “Alright, you’ll need to take Stargazer, and my map.”
She slipped the teardrop Gem off from around her neck. Lorem sensed her depression by the connection they shared that was special only to them, and he whimpered as she held out the Gem for Dreyden. He understood how valuable and how precious this Gem was. He also understood the burden of taking it, people would be after him, and would try to steel it. But he knew that he would never let that happen. Not for as long as he was still breathing.
He reached out to accept it, but Lorem growled at him with the fierceness of a wild beast. Drey only noticed it too late.
When his skin came in contact with the cool Gem, there was a sizzle, and a smell that reminded Ellie of Ambros trying to boil wild goose - but it burned instead - filled their noses.
Drey muffled a yell of pain by shoving his free hand into his mouth and ripping away his other, which was left forever with a scar in the shape of a tear drop.
Ellie gasped but quickly flicked Lorem’s nose and pulled him up just under his two front paws, forcing him to look into her eyes.
   “No. You have to go with Drey, understand? I won’t be around to take care of you anymore. You’ll have to listen to him from now on. Alright? Please don’t be a pain for him.”
Lorem didn’t like this arrangement, but he sensed Elowen’s urgency and need for this to work, so he obliged by a reluctant meow.
Elowen wasn’t willing to take any chances that the stone would hurt Drey again so she ripped up the sheet that had fallen off her shoulders. Tying the strip tightly around the Gem, she handed it back to Drey.
   “It should work now. For you I mean.” She said when Drey hesitated before taking it. She was right, however, and it didn’t hurt him again. He quickly placed it in a pocket on his belt and Lorem nuzzled her hand.
The dawn’s light was becoming more and more clearer and she knew she was about to meet her momentary end. But she had so much she wanted to do! So much she had wanted to see! And for her to never see it, was almost as devastating as not being able to save her monk family.
Sending up a prayer to Eleyos for courage, she pushed those thoughts aside and moved on to a much more pressing matter.
She pulled out her map that her Master had given her only a few days before, and folded it out before Dreyden.
   “Alright Drey, I need you to listen carefully...”

Chapter One

   “They say....That when you die, you see a tunnel of light. And it’s when you reach that tunnel, that your life flashes before your eyes...Though I can’t say much flashed before mine. For I hadn’t lived very long, so therefore hadn’t had much of a life.
But what washed over me most, was what I could have done. And what I didn’t do. I had never made it past apprenticeship. Or gotten my gem that would have sat atop my staff when I past the final tests. I also had never fallen in love....”  ~ Elowen

The Swords of the Light

Chapter 1:    From the Loner,
           To the Elite Warrior,
      To the ones Below


   The two worlds haven't met for eons. And that's the way most liked it.
The ones on the Earth Below - Falion - stayed below, the ones on the Earth Above -Cevlon - stayed above. There was no interaction, no connection. Nothing.
   They were convinced that this is what Eleyos would have wanted.
   But little did they know just how blind they were.

.:+:.


Cevlon - Haven:

The boy clad in silver and black armor that glinted in the sun, sat on the roofs of the low houses that made their home on the Earth Above. His keen bright blue eyes took in the crowd below him as he waited for his prey.
The wind blew his tussled brown hair and he was thankful to Eleyos that he cut it short unlike most of the boys his age.
   His grip flexed around his long bow he held in his left hand and rested it on his crouched knee.
He watched the market place carefully. An image of the wanted burned behind his eyelids. He sat silently as he tried to find the one that would get him a nice fat pouch of ywens.

   He knew that most people disapproved of what had happened with his life. Not that he listened to them anyways. Others considered him messed up and a nobody, but he didn't really care all that much. It was his life, despite who his father was, and what had happened to his brother. It was still his own life. But that didn't necessarily mean he was a bad person.
   Just misunderstood.

    He made the mistake of taking a glance behind him. Abandoning his post on the roof. He strung his bow over his head and slid down to the ground below.
Landing with a low thud in his knee high leather boots, he casually shuffled over to the shear drop of Cevlon.
Crouching, he gazed down at the Earth Below. It was definitely different from the Earth Above. The Earth Above was actually just one big city called Haven.

   History has it, that when Eleyos created the world, both of the Earths were one. But then Eleyos's most beautiful creation, Viglour, double crossed him, and threatened to destroy the world and everything in it.
Eleyos quickly gathered the people he could into a safe haven. And rose the city into the air beyond Viglour's reach. But apparently, some humans were left behind. And the legends have it, they've now become savages, and seek revenge on the ones that live in Haven, because they made it and the ones below didn't.
They also say that they have horrible group of people clothed in white robes called the Magi who can cast a spell on you just by looking at you.
No one in Haven ever wanted to meet one from the Earth Below.
However, it was the Elite Warrior's job to keep the Haven safe from all things. So they also patrolled the walls of Haven, and kept an eye out for trouble below.

   The boy rose to his feet and glanced back at the market. Waving his hand dismissively at it. He decided to ignore the bounty.
   "What's another day?" He muttered to himself.
Taking a few steps backwards, he ran forward and threw himself over the edge of the Earth Above.

.:+:.

Cevlon:

   "Sonera!"
The girl turned her head, the wind sent her silver hair out behind her, resembling a streak of lightening, or so he thought.
   "Yes Kade?" She asked, urging her yerto to fly faster.
Kade looked down at Sonera's bright yerto.
   Yertos were blessings given to the Earth Above from Eleyos himself. They were giant birds with the most soft feathers. They had small beaks, and long spindly legs, though they were strong. Their wing span was about 14 feet across, and they all came in vibrant colors.
Sonera's yerto was a bright orange color, where as Kade’s was midnight purple.

   Kade gestured over to the Earth Above. She glanced over just in time to see someone dive off the ground and fall through the sky. He came close to the Earth Below before his yerto finally swooped in and caught the falling boy on it’s back.
   “What an idiot.” Sonera stated in her usual emotionless tone.
Kade scoffed.
   “Doesn’t he know that doing that is the easiest way for him to die? Or worse, he might actually land on the Earth Below?” She was really asking herself more then she was asking Kade.
   “You’re doing it again.” He stated. Looking out at the sun dipping below the horizon.
   “Huh?”
He laughed.
   “You’re talking to yourself again.”
   “Oh. And that’s a bad thing huh.”
Again, Kade chuckled.
   “I wouldn’t call it bad, I would just say it’s a little unusual. That’s all.”
Sonera nodded, and the two were quiet for a moment as they made their rounds.
Kade rolled his shoulders to move the armor around, and also to loosen up his tense muscles.
He glanced down and saw the red colors of his armor, and his cape that was only given to a lieutenant.
   “Come on.” Sonera said, giving him one of her rare smiles. “Our shift just ended.”
Kade grinned.
   “Oh yeah. There’s that feast in the plaza for us. Well this should be fun.” He remarked as the two steered their yertos homebound.

.:+:.

Falion - Western Eleyos Monastery:

White robes could be seen all along the high stone walls that surrounded Eleyos’s temple.

   The youngest of all the monks who was only of the age 15, dashed across the cobblestone courtyard, and up the stairs to one monk in particular.
   “Are they coming, master?” she asked, pealing away the deep hood of her robe, revealing her light ginger hair that fell to her shoulders.
   Her master looked down at his apprentice with a solemn face. He nodded once, and they both turned to look outside the walls.

   There, an army of mad driven men and women marched towards the temple. Because they were crossing the Vast Plain, all of their numbers were exposed, which was both good and bad.
   The monks shifted uncomfortably, the girl’s master shouted orders to defend the Inner Sanctum of the temple.
   “There must be hundreds of thousands.” The girl gapped as the massive army made their way towards the small temple.

   “Elowen.” She turned to her master. “Come, we must prepare you for your journey.”
The two walked briskly into the temple.
   Other monks were rushing about with the only weapon they had in hand, ready to defend their temple to the last breath.
All of this, the army outside, the set jaws of the monks as they gathered their stored energy, this all scared Elowen to the bone.

   Obediently following her master, they walked right into the heart of the temple.
Elowen had never been this deep before, and wasn’t quite sure where they were going.
   Walking down several long flights of stairs, she noticed the walls turn to rock, she figured that they were now were under the soil of the ground.
She was curious on where they were going, but she knew better then to break the silence.

   Coming to the end of the stairs she saw an iron door that looked as strong as the rock walls.
Two monks stood guard, and only stepped aside when Elowen’s master nodded to them.
Her master pushed open the door and the two walked pass the monk guards, and into a small round room.

   Elowen couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
   “This is the Inner Sanctum.” She whispered in awe.
   “Yes child.” Her master replied softly. “Now you must listen to me very carefully.” He said sternly.
Elowen got over her momentary excitement, and sobered up.
   “What I am going to ask you to do is of vital importance. Do you understand?”
Elowen nodded.
   “Do you remember the stories? About the four Supreme Gems?”
Again, Elowen nodded.
   “You must get all four Gems if there is to be any hope for both this Earth and the one Above.”
She hesitated.
   “Master, they have all been lost. No one knows where they are anymore. They were lost when Eleyos separated the world.”
   “Ah,” Her master said with a look in his eye that Elowen knew all too well.
   “That is exactly what you were suppose to think.”
Elowen’s jaw dropped as her master turned back to the room.
Peaking around him, Elowen saw a pedestal. Looking at the top she saw one of the Lost Gems.
Elowen’s keen eyes immediately found the trace of magic that told her there was a ward around the pedestal. The pedestal looked slightly disoriented if she looked at it at an angle. Like a mirage on the desert floor from the heart rising.

   Her master stepped over to the pedestal and held out his hand.
   “The ward is very strong. I’ll need your help.”
Elowen stepped up next to the elder man and raised her own hands.
“Vik’oura loctinya.” They chanted. As they did, Elowen watched the protection ward melt away in a rain of light.
They stopped the spell and took deep breaths as the spell took a slight toll on their energy source.

   “Which one is this?” Elowen asked. Mesmerized by the soft silver-blue gem.
   “This one is Stargazer.” Her master explained. “It is said, that this stone actually holds dust from a fallen star that escaped the night’s sky.” He reached over and picked up the small gem.
He turned to Elowen, who held out her hand. Carefully, he placed it in her open palm.
The Gem was about as big as a walnut, and was in the shape of a tear drop.
Elowen noticed a thin chain attached to the top of the tear tip.
She glanced up at her master, who nodded.
She slipped the chain over her head, the Gem was warm, and what was odd, was that it seemed to have a pulse.
Elowen let out a little gasp as it’s subtle glow grew brighter and brighter.
She threw a scared glance at her master, who looked pleased however.
Silver-blue starlight flowed out of the Gem and suddenly formed into a figure.
Elowen gapped at the creature that now floated before her.
It’s fur was fluffy and soft looking. It was colored like the Gem.
   Silver-blue.
It was small and resembled a white tiger, only cuter and more cuddly.

   “What-what is it?” she asked in a whisper.
   “Well why don’t you ask?” He master suggested.
Elowen nodded and cleared her throat slightly.
   “Do-do you have a name?” She asked hesitantly.
The little tiger looked at her for a moment.
A flash of fear ran through Elowen, before the tiger cub spoke.
   “Lorem!” It cried with glee. Elowen’s eyebrows rose.
   “What are you?” she asked. Lorem just cocked his head and looked at her funny.
   “Aw.” Elowen said with a growing smile. “You’re just so cute!”
Lorem giggled and floated into Elowen’s arms.
   “Elowen,” She looked up at her master. “Here is a map of the Earth Below.” He showed her a page that had been yellowed with age.
Some of the lines on the map were faded and smudged. The edges were ripped and torn a bit.
   “This will show you where the other Gems are when you ask it to. Keep Stargazer close, and don’t let anyone know you have it unless it is absolutely necessary and you trust them with your life!”
Her master handed her the map. Momentarily letting go of Lorem, she parted her white robes and hid the paper in a pouch she had hanging off her belt.
Closing her robes again, she cuddled Lorem, and had the feeling that the two of them would become good friends.
   “Alright. Now you must go.”
Her master took her hand and they ran up the stairs, but instead of going back out into the courtyard, they went to a stone wall at the back of the temple.

   “Ambros!”
Elowen looked over as another monk came running up with a pack and Elowen’s Magi staff.
She slung the pack over her shoulders and moved Lorem to one arm, as she took a hold of her familiar white wood staff. The top had a slot for what the Magi called a ’booster-gem’. Giving their spells more power, with less energy.
Elowen didn’t have one yet because she hadn’t passed the final test.
And she had a feeling she wasn’t going to.
Running her hand over the vine-like decorations at the top of the staff, she cringed as she heard a battle wage outside the temple.
Her master repeated the same spell to remove wards and a sudden doorway appeared in the seemingly solid stone wall.
Magic wasn’t a new thing for Elowen, so she wasn’t surprised.
   “You must go.” Her master glanced over at the barred doors.
Monks were trying to keep the Infidels from breaking in.
Elowen could hear them grunting on the other side.
   They were getting closer.
   “Now! You must go! Now!! Don’t let them see you. If you make it to the Southern For-Most Forest you can avoid them. Find the other Gems and keep your head low.”
Elowen nodded. Stepping through the door she made it just in time to see the Infidels burst through the main door and murder six monks in the process.
She gasped in fear and her master shouted at her to go before he closed the wall again.
Lorem meowed at her and she quickly backed up from the dying cries inside the temple.
Dashing across the plain she ran as fast as she could. Muttering a prayer to Eleyos to keep her safe.

The Synopsis

Cevlon, the Earth Above.
Falion, the Earth Below.
Two worlds, separated by space, and by differences.
Never before had the two crossed paths, until Eleyos deemed it so.

None can claim to understand what Eleyos has planned, but all they can do is trust in Him to guide them to His side.
But when He does the unthinkable, things change. People, change. And not all for the better.

All it takes to send the world into a vortex of confusion, is four outcasts that don't know any better.
The Magi is the reason it all started.
The Bounty Hunter just followed her.
The Lieutenant does his duty, despite the consequences.
His second in command has had the last straw, and refuses to follow him any longer.

Can these four get over their differences and take up a quest that could save humanity as they know it?
Will they find the four Lost Gems that will lead them to an even greater power?
Or will they become the world's doom, rather then it's salvation?