Capítulo 7: Dangerous and Unforgiving
"Ms Flynn, Ms Flynn, we have arrived at the gate." Little Two spoke in a gentle voice.
Aisling opened her heavy eyes at the words and then looked around her lazily without rising from her comfortable position. She could only see the endless ocean to the horizon just as she had since they set out. She looked at Little Two in question.
"I thought you would appreciate seeing the gate to Panthalassa opening." He scratched his head a little in embarrassment.
"Suck-up!" Little One shouted from the helm of the yacht.
Aisling stretched her slender body like a lazy cat and stood up. "You are right. I would not like to miss this wonder of the world."
Little Two looked in the distance at Little One with a superiority in his eyes that did not match his usual dignified and quiet demeanour and position as the group leader.
"Ms Flynn, here is a glass of water." Little Three appeared promptly.
"Thank you. I was feeling a bit parched." Aisling smiled.
Little One looked at his friends and wondered how they had left the main task to him and taken the opportunity to get into the 'teacher's' graces. He could only mourn in his heart while he navigated the dangerous waters.
After a few minutes, Little One slowed down the vessel and until he came to a stop on the water. He stepped back and stood with his companions in a standard military pose.
Aisling did not pay attention to them. Instead, she looked at the deep ocean with interest. In mere seconds, two rows of people popped up from the calm water ahead of them, holding tridents with blue gems at the centre in their hands.
"State your name, rank and purpose." A woman with azure hair in the water spoke in a strange chilling voice.
Little Two stepped forward and placed his right fist over his heart. "Drew Khrusos, Agate Rank of the Order, transporting an honoured guest, Aisling Flynn."
The two rows of people turned their eyes to Aisling who was observing them without blinking.
"Hi!" she waved her hand and smiled.
The woman lifted her trident and a blue light flowed from the gemstone. The light touched the agate stone embedded in the armband around Little Two's right wrist.
"You may pass." The woman waved her trident with flair and the heads disappeared once again into the water.
Aisling's eyes shone like gemstones. "Who were those?"
"Those are the Guardians of Farallon." Little Two did not say anything else. He took charge of steering the yacht in place of Little One.
"Are they mermaids?" Aisling asked. She had seen countless subspecies since she was a child, but she had never seen mermaids.
"Mer-people would be more accurate." Little Three chimed in.
"But not like the cute ones in movies and novels." Little One said. "These ones are tough, dangerous and unforgiving. Trust me."
Little Three started laughing.
"What's the story?" Aisling could not help asking.
"This idiot went to visit a cute mermaid from class when we were teenagers. Her father is one of the Guardians. When he was dropping his stupid lines, her father came home." Little three laughed until tears came to her eyes.
"We were doing homework. He did not have to leave me in a pool with electric eels for three hours." The memory still made him shiver.
"We are going in." Little Two shouted in warning, primarily to Aisling.
Aisling felt her body passing through the mist and then, there was nothing. It was not just darkness. It was a nothingness that made her feel sick.
Since she had been a child, she had always been connected to nature. She could feel a connection to life and the flow of elemental energy. Her entire life was a kaleidoscope of colours, emotions, sounds, smells and tastes.
But in this barrier, there was nothing.
She could only describe the feeling as being plunged and covered in a tank of heavy, dark oil.
Within a few moments, the nothingness ended, and there was air, light and life once again.
And then, she was bombarded by an incredible level of elemental energy with an intensity she had never felt before.
At first, she thought that the temporary disconnection had made her more sensitive.
However, she realised that the flow of energy towards her and into her was not declining. The increase was exponential and accelerated. Within a few seconds, she felt like an overloaded electrical appliance. She wanted to call out, but her entire body was stiff.
And then, there was darkness.
Little Three reacted quickly and caught Aisling before she hit the ground.
"I didn't peg her for a fainter." Little One commented. "But I guess that the feeling of going through the barrier can be a little overwhelming."
"I don't think it was just the barrier." Little Three said.
"What do you mean? It is not the first time this kind of thing has happened."
"When we passed the barrier, her eyes were open. I was looking in her direction in case something happened. Before she fell over, her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something."
"Are you sure you are not imagining things?" Little One asked doubtfully.
Little Three looked at the reddening complexion of the woman. She touched the face and felt the unnaturally high temperature. How had she developed an instant high-grade fever?
"Drew, you have to hurry. There is something wrong with her. Her body temperature is too high."
Little Two accelerated to the military dock in the distance.
"Gideon, call the hospital and have them meet us at the dock." She paused and bit her lip. "Ask the supervisor to send a Traveller."
"Are you sure it is that-?" Little One began to question the drastic instructions.
"Just do it!" Little Three shouted.
She looked at the red face of the other woman with concern. Her cheeks seemed to be developing burns. She could not imagine the pain that Aisling would have felt if she was awake. Perhaps, she was feeling it but unable to say anything.
Little Three wondered if it was even possible for her to recover if her external temperature was that high. Her internal organs had to be a big mess.
"They are sending in a Traveller to the dock right away." Little One said with surprise as Little Two pulled the boat in.
Little Three picked up Aisling in her arms and got ready to jump off the boat as soon as they were close enough.
"Let me carry her." Little One came to take Aisling, but Little Three was already in the air.
If she had time, she would have looked at Little One with derision. Was he worthy to hold Aisling, especially when she was in such light clothing?
Plus, she had a feeling about the importance of this woman. It was better not to take chances with precious cargo.
As soon as she landed on the dock, a portal opened before her. The Traveller had opened a Gate for her. She did not waste time before going through. When she appeared at the hospital, the most elite military doctors were waiting.
She placed Aisling on the stretcher and watched as they rushed away with her. She looked at her hands and found that they had some burn marks. Her brows creased in a frown. As a fire mage, she had a high tolerance to temperature.
How had she sustained burns from holding Aisling?
Regalos
-- Regalo
recibido Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder