Chương 13: Chapter 13 - Eldergleam

[To know the unknown is to take the steps which the others cannot.]

The shady horizon shrouds the four, sending chilling wind to sweep their spoor. Slinking in the darkness behind the cart and horses, they travel. With the tall grass and fallen leaves covered the once glorious path, truly a stranger could never fathom the past grandiosity in these trails of the abandoned.

" Are you sure this is the right way? "

" I can even reach the place even with my eyes closed. "

" Well, okay then. If you say so. "

Luis is feeling a little bit anxious for some reason. Maybe it because that they are currently performing an act against the law? He isn't too sure about that himself. Roots surfaced upon the mossy-paved path, and it keeps getting cramped until finally the cart could no longer fit its surroundings to carry on. Thus, they stopped before a narrow gap of a high cliff before continuing on feet.

" Seriously, are you sure this is the right way? Well, I mean... I've never been to this place before, but surely this doesn't fit the glorious description that the scholars always talk about. "

" Well, I admit this path has gotten pretty eerie over the decades. "

" Ah come on you pussies, getting yourself the jitters already? "

" Tsk, tsk. there's nothing to fear as long as I got a steel on me. "

" Oh? What about that dragon then? "

Luis walks away leaving his answer hanging with a sour face, Edric surely loves to make the fun out of him. Beyond the gap was a great garden encircled by a high wall, except for some part of the short cut where they come from.

In the middle of the circle there resides an even higher plateau. So towering, like an aromatic incense that stood upon its vessel. The center of the garden was surrounded by four beautiful pools, reflecting the moonlight in four different colors; blue, green, red, and yellow, with each pool so pristine to the point that one could clearly see its bottom without any effort, even after being neglected for years.

" This is... there's no word that is worthy enough to describe this.... "

They then walk through all the sublime and epic scenery. Through the bridges and the stepping stones with the blooming lotus and flowers around them. The garden's magnificence was so charming to the point they have almost forgotten their purpose of coming.

Until finally arrived at their destination. Standing before a small old gate that was made of teak woods, they stare at the myriad of stairs on the other side. The end of the stairs is unable to be seen as if it leads to the roof of the sky itself.

" Phew, finally! Glad there wasn't anything troublesome on our way... alright then, let's get this done with-! "

" Wait! Luis, stop! "

Edric's warn was a second too late. As soon as Luis put took his first step beyond the gate, wind surges down rougher than a gale, carrying a growling sound of a beast.

" Luis, Run! "

" H-Huh?! A-Alright! "

Luis ran away from the gate, but then he feels that something is off. He looks behind him, only to found that the other two were just standing there relaxing.

" W-What the hell?! Why am I the only one running?! "

" Ahaha! We're her friends, you know? "

" Keep running, Luis! Back to where the horses are! And you'll be safe! "

While Luis running desperately for his life with Edric laughing at him, suddenly a flash of shadow crossed the sky and gracefully lands before the entrance of the gate. It was a one-horned griffin, with feathers as white as the snow.

Gorgeous yet ferocious. The griffin pursues the one whom it deemed as an intruder.

" I feel bad for him, but that was himself being careless. "

" Well, that can't be helped. Let's just keep going then. "

Edric and Rein climbed the stairs one by one, encircling the plateau, rising forth into the summit of the world. In the middle of the climb, Edric finally hit his limit.

" Guh! This... is... a little bit.... harder.... than I thought...! "

" It's not even halfway yet. Don't tell me you haven't grown any stronger since the last time we're here? "

" God... damn...! Shut... it...! "

Rein smiled at his competitive spirit. In truth, it was already amazing for someone of his age to be able to climb through all those many stairs while carrying a person on the back. Admitting his guts, Rein took the little brother from his back.

" Whoa! What are you- "

" Alright, that was enough. If I was your age, maybe I won't even make half of what you did. "

" Haha, of course you won't! "

Edric laughs it off even though he knows for sure that it was nothing but a bullshit that Rein made to make him feel better. After letting Rein carry his brother, Edric stretches his back and pop his joints.

" Well then, I'm not slowing down now! You better keep up! "

" Sure. "

Upon reaching the highest point of the plateau, one question arises in Edric's mind. A question that has been on his mind for a while, but he always forgot to ask every time he had the chance to.

" Come to think of it, why do that griffin never attack you, Rein? "

" ...I have no idea. Why, do you think? "

" Well... beats me either! "

Prying no further on that matter, Edric keeps climbing. Although in his mind he was still busy speculating on the answer to that question.

After almost ten minutes of climbing, they finally make it to the top. Beyond all those stairs, lies a gate, similar to the one down below. Past the gate, they can see another garden full of white flowers. A garden with a bronze-colored tree surrounded by water on the other edge of the garden, and a fountain in its middle.

This is the first time Rein has gotten this far. Back in the days when he served the queen, nobody was allowed to enter the gate as the place is somehow limited to only the royal family. Because if a non-royal family entered the gate, the griffin would hinder them in a violent manner. Hence, Rein was always waiting on the lower ground.

Yet, even so, Rein also has climbed the stairs several times before. After the queen passed away, Edric often asks Rein to accompany him to the garden. It was at those time, that he climbed the stairs, even though only to end up waiting at the stairs before the second gate, as he didn't want to break any more of the king's rules.

" Is this the infamous Eldergleam? "

" A tree and a fountain that is said to be older than the gods themselves... Yes, it is the Eldergleam. "

They rest for a couple of minutes before Edric plucked ten flowers and threw them in the fountain. After ten seconds have passed, he drinks the water from the fountain before taking off all of his clothes. Rein just sit back and watch, observing the prince's peculiar actions. 'A ritual', Rein thought to himself.

The prince immersed himself in the water surrounding the Eldergleam. Although a little bit shocked from the cold, he continued with the rites, pressing his palms together and saying his prayer.

" By the silver lining of the farthest end of the sky, to a place where there's naught but ire and cry. Into the boundless we plead for the sliver of fate, hailing for the soul of the sheltered slate... "

Eldric bites his own finger and lets the blood seeps through the water. The Eldergleam gleams, its bronze color turns to gold, and the flower petals on the whole garden shine bright like moonlight.

" Heed me and come forth, Isha! "

From the tree trunk, came forth a light that takes shape into a figure of a white long-haired woman with a pair of green eyes, wearing a thin piece of clothing in a shape of a long white dress with high-cut leg slits that show off her pure-white, almost glowing legs.

Rein couldn't believe his eyes. 'There really is someone inside the tree.' he thought to himself. Her mesmerizing beauty rendered him silent and stunned until the spirit of the tree glanced at him. Being aware of his rudeness, Rein quickly prostrating himself. Isha is giggling to herself upon seeing his whim.

" Greetings to you, Isha. "

" Hello, Edric... and... "

" Oh, he's Rein... a friend of mine. "

Isha gracefully walks towards Rein. Her dress flutters over the flowers, resembling a dancing of a thousand dandelions. She stopped before Rein, before stooping low to rub the side of his head, and then gently lift it up.

Rein stared into her eyes, so green like an emerald, and blissful like a gentle spring. Her skin is softer than silk, and whiter than almond milk, while her hair is as fragrant as a viola.

" Rein... You truly are alive... "

Rein didn't understand what she was saying. She speaks as if she had known him, while Rein surely believes that this is the first time they meet each other. Amidst his confusion, suddenly Isha pressed her forehead against Rein.

" Y-Your holiness... "

Without saying anything, Isha moved away and walk back towards the tree. She then stopped at the edge of the water and turned again to Rein.

" Clois. "

Isha chanted a spell. In that very instant, Rein could no longer hear any sound on the other side of the garden, not even the sound of the dripping water of the fountain. Even though he still can see them talking to each other.

Rein can still see them talking to each other, by judging from their moving lips and expression. Even though he was denied from the conversation, he can understand it, since he knew that he was not supposed to be there in the first place.

What Rein doesn't know is that the very sight which he saw right now will determine the destiny of the whole sky kingdom.

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