City of IF

[FatHairyApe]

Chapter Ten

Annabelle’s eyelids had become clouded with a white haze. Her red hair danced like flowing leaves instead of fire with the help of some strange underground wind.

“I am your goddess, Elysia!” Annabelle continued after addressing the entire underground kingdom. “And I come with promising news: there is hope.”

There was a cheer in the city that could be heard from where Raish and I were standing. At the same time, Annabelle flew higher and glowed brighter. As she talked, we could see a faint outline of some beautiful celestial woman—one who I could only infer was Elysia.

“I speak to you through a Realm Keeper who bridges my prison with your world. There is not much time for me to speak, though, for I am not as strong as I am in your realm. The only way to defend your Earth and, in turn, your lives, is by summoning me back.”

We heard a giant heave of “oohs” and “ahs” from the kingdom. Everyone seemed frozen like perfect statues with his or her head cocked up at Annabelle near the ceiling of Underground.

“How would we do it?” I whispered to Vinos. He shrugged my question off and continued to gaze up at Annabelle. I guess he supposed Elysia’s avatar would answer my question the best.

“There is a shrine to me that you all have erected of my petrified body located in the Earthen Tomb beneath the center of the city. It is in this location where I need two brave volunteers to resurrect me.”

Again, the city seemed to move at once. It felt as if thousands were scrambling to go to the otherworldly catacombs to Elysia’s statue. She addressed the situation by holding out a hand. Everyone in the city—including myself—just… stopped. It was just as if I had no intention of moving anywhere. Right after doing so, I noticed that Annabelle crumbled slightly up there near the ceiling, obviously pained by the incredible magic her avatar was exerting.

“Please, my people. Your haste is much too kind. There is much more to tell you.” Elysia paused for a moment before turning directly where I was standing. Even though we were separated by perhaps a mile of distance, she seemed to stare directly at me.

“There is a sacrifice that must be made,” she finished. Also, Elysia finally took her eyes off of me.

“My shrine as you know has been flooded by the deities and rulers who despise me. The Earthen Tomb has been pillaged entirely by invasive water. My saviors must be able to brave such dangerous waters in order to reach my statue fully strong.”

Something seemed fishy to me. I though back of meeting Rok’jaar, Vinos, and Errga. They way they had treated me and Raish had seemed a little odd. Their smiles. Their winking…

“There are two other catches,” Elysia continued. Her voice was growing quieter as her avatar’s power was fading. “One of the volunteers must be killed by a dagger—the very one which Edenio use to destroy me. It is encased in glass in the center of the city. Ironically, this dagger is perpetually on fire. Such fire may not be put out or else I can never be restored.”

There was a deathly silence.

I continued to think... Sure, some of the Earth People of Underground would be able to endure the waters… but none of them could carry a flaming dagger through the water without having it extinguish.

“And finally,” Elysia said, “the two people that go to resurrect me must reenact the scene that resulted in my destruction: one male must slay a female whom he has loved or loves. This time, however, it is for the greater good of Earth and Life.”

And it made sense. My head whipped around and I saw the eyes of Rok’jaar, Vinos, and Errga on me. Even Heirgo was staring at me. What was worse, though, was when I turned and made eye contact with Raish. We both knew. We knew why we were here and how our presence had been so important.

“Fulfill the prophecy, my people.” I heard Elysia say as she dithered and disappeared into nothingness. “You must resurrect me before the Kingdom sleeps, or else it will be too late to stop Ezekiel from retrieving the gem and destroying all we’ve ever known. There is finally hope. I am ready to return.” Annabelle too faded from my eyes as she fell to the ground with a sickening noise.

They had all heard of us. We had been the prophecy. No member of the Kingdom of Below would be able to swim and protect the flaming dagger. Only Weatherwardens would be able to do this. Only me and Raish, for I had loved the old Raish—the Raish that I knew we must sacrifice.

Her eyes locked with mine and her scars of adulthood faded. She shook her head, tears ready to explode down her porcelain cheeks. “I know, Dendrin.” She began to cry. “We have to do this. I’m ready.”

I dipped my head low and felt a comforting hand from Rok’jaar. I sensed that he, Vinos, and Errga were all standing around me holding something. I could not face them. Nor what they were bestowing me. Not yet.

This was going to be more difficult than anything else I have had to do, but it was all becoming clear. All the signs that we were given along the way were obvious now. Raish’s fortune: that she would be killed by a friend’s hand. That hand would be mine. And it would be holding a fiery dagger. I dove into Raish’s arms and cried forsaken waters of my own… waters that would be all too familiar to Raish and me when we went to resurrect Elysia.



Decision Point: What are Rok’jaar, Vinos, and Errga holding, and what do they tell Dendrin and Raish?



Hope you guys enjoyed! Tell me what you think!

[The Meaning Of Fear]

Quote: “One of the volunteers must be killed a dagger—the very one which Edenio use to destroy me.

killed by.

Quote: waters that would be all to familiar to Raish and me when we went to resurrect Elysia.

'too familiar', and 'Raish and I'

Huzzah and hooray! Finally, a new chapter!

And so very exciting. I feel quite sad for them, seeing as how they went through all of that, Raish being forced to deal with her death, and Dendrin failing to find some way to console her, only to have that inevitable fate just shoved into their faces...

Worse yet, to have Raish finally understand Dendrin's feelings with something like this... Here's hoping that god-forsaken temple or whatever is really, really, really, really, REALLY far away...

Fhape, you are one cruel monkey. But I wanna keep reading now!

As for the DP, I'm thinking it's some sort of unique Earth people relic or artifact -not necessarily magical- that to them symbolizes... say, courage? Sacrifice? Or a whole heap of other things.

They'll then utter words of encouragement, consolation and apology before sending them on their merry way to kill each other.

[FatHairyApe]

The Meaning Of Fear wrote: Quote: “One of the volunteers must be killed a dagger—the very one which Edenio use to destroy me.

killed by.

Quote: waters that would be all to familiar to Raish and me when we went to resurrect Elysia.

'too familiar', and 'Raish and I'

Huzzah and hooray! Finally, a new chapter!

And so very exciting. I feel quite sad for them, seeing as how they went through all of that, Raish being forced to deal with her death, and Dendrin failing to find some way to console her, only to have that inevitable fate just shoved into their faces...

Worse yet, to have Raish finally understand Dendrin's feelings with something like this... Here's hoping that god-forsaken temple or whatever is really, really, really, really, REALLY far away...

Fhape, you are one cruel monkey. But I wanna keep reading now!

As for the DP, I'm thinking it's some sort of unique Earth people relic or artifact -not necessarily magical- that to them symbolizes... say, courage? Sacrifice? Or a whole heap of other things.

They'll then utter words of encouragement, consolation and apology before sending them on their merry way to kill each other.

Hey thanks for your edits. The edit "Raish and I" though is incorrect, because it's becoming familiar to me, not familiar to I.

I like your DP idea. Good work! And unfortunately, the catacombs where Elysia's statue rests are not very far off... just in the center of the city. They better hurry, too, 'cause nightfalls approaching!

[Crunchyfrog]

It's all coming together now. What are they holding?

I say it is a map of the catacombs, a necklace of gemstones and a key.

They tell them that all of these items are vital to the success of their mission.

Good to see WeatherWarden moving again! :tu:

[FatHairyApe]

Thanks for commenting guys! I guess my readership has gone down a little, haha.

So our DP choices are:
* An artifact representing some Earthen moral
* Map of the catacombs, a necklace of gemstones and a key

Anyone else ? :)

[FatHairyApe]

Hey guys! Vote!

[Thunderbird]

k, new here but voted anyhow... hope I'm following this properly from the synopsis and this chapter...

[FatHairyApe]

Thunderbird wrote: k, new here but voted anyhow... hope I'm following this properly from the synopsis and this chapter...

Great to have you on board, Thunderbird! Thanks for the vote!
________
MARIJUANA VAPORIZERS

[FatHairyApe]

The poll is closed!. The selection was "holding a map of the catacombs, a necklace of gemstones, and a key." New chapter soon!