Shiori knew the moment she walked into the temple what had happened. Perfectly clear crystals jutted out from the walls, ceilings, and the ground. Many of them held captive the guards and temple keepers or just anyone who stood in the way of the attacker. She knelt before one of the crystal closer to the now vacant pedestal. Inside were a set of twins no older than ten, heads bent down in silent prayer. ‘Poor kids. What could they have done to deserve this? Why, Kei, why?’
“Milady, what should we do about the guards? And the Sands Crystals is-“
“I know the crystal is missing! I am more worried about Shanna when she sees that her children are now statues, Terim!” Shiori screamed at the man. Soon the tapping sounds of someone running could be heard echoing through the halls. “Shanna, you have-“
“No!! My kids were…Shi...ori…why did this happen?? Why didn’t you stop him!? You knew that he was coming here. You are to blame just as much as he is! Now my kids are frozen in time! Because of you!” Shanna slapped Shiori across the face. She barely flinched. Terim and onlookers took steps away from the fight that was impending, but Shiori held her calm and stood still the barrage of insults. “So you are going to just stand while Kei get further away!!!!”
“Are you finished? I know that you are upset, but there is no reason to scream and slap people. I may be able help them. And being the current priestess of this temple, my duty is to help those in need first. Now stand in the foyer. You will know when you can enter again.” Shiori commanded as she prepared herself. Terim merely nodded and led everyone outside. She climbed to the top of the dais and raised her hands over her head. “Oh great sands, hear my plea. Undo evil which as frozen your faithful in time. Reverse this wretched curse and cast a never ending spell he who cast it such a foul blasphemy.”
As she recited the spell of Time Reversal, red and blue grains of sand swirled together making a brilliant purple stream. The stream danced around her slightly swaying body and shot off in different directions. Both streaming magic and girl moved in such a perfect harmony that if anyone watching would have thought they were in the same. One by one each frozen guard crystal began to return to its original form, piles of black sand. At the base of the dais, the twins were the last to recover from the spell. Drowsily, they looked around the temple to gain their bearings. Shiori smiled as she surveyed those recovering. Many of the guards came over to the dais and knelt down in grateful respect to her. The swirling sands dissipated as their wielder came down from the platform.
“Mother Shiori, Kei was here and took the crystal!!!” the twins shouted in unison. Once again running footfalls could be heard from the hall. “Mama!!!”
“Oh Milady thank you!!! Thank you so very much!!!” Shanna had cried out in pure joy. She practically picked the kids up from the floor and carried them home running. Terim came and stood by her, pouring a palm full of black sand from one hand to the other.
“So now what, Shiori? Are you going after him?”
“Tell me something Terim? Who is next in line for my position as head priest?”
“That would be Helene. Why?”
“Inform her of her appointment and make to tell her that she will have a much larger temple to protect.” Shiori took some the sand from him. The black sand immediately enter the gently flowing stream of sand that encircled her body but it did do not mix with the other grains. “Do you think you could ever forgive someone who hurt you? “
“Well,” Terim smiled a sad smile and thought for moment. “Yes I can. I have forgiven you already.” This statement drew a gasp from her, but she quickly realized what he meant. “I know what you are going to do. That would definitely stop anyone from steal the crystal again, but why does it have to be you?”
“I was the one who let Kei into this city and allowed him to learn the secrets of our religion without becoming a believer first. It has to be me. This is my doing, and I will fix this.” Shiori was about to walk away when she turned and kissed Terim on the cheek. “Momma was right. I should have chosen you. Forgive me, please.”
“I already have. Now go prepare for your final fight. He will be returning soon for your head.” He began to walk down the stairs and turned back. “A two block radius should be enough for you. I will take of all the arrangements. Helene will be ready for new duties. And you will dearly missed by all.” Terim ran from the temple with his head down, hoping no one saw him crying. Shiori smiled sadly. ‘Mainly by you, Terim. Remember me and our story of love, the search for power, betrayal, and the ultimate revenge.'
**** Later that evening ****
Kei was seriously pissed about having to return to the temple. Having to return because the main part of the crystal was missing just infuriated him more. ‘Shiori is behind this. That woman will die for crossing me!’ As he neared the temple, Kei could see Terim sitting on the steps. “Why the hell are you here?”
“Just making sure you came alone. We don’t need you to have an unfair advantage. What you seek is inside. Goodbye,” Terim walked off in the direction of the barricade, humming. Kei ran into the temple ready to fight, but the halls were empty.
“Come on out, Shiori! I know you are in here!” Kei screamed. Only his echo answered him. ‘She is in here but where…the main hall!’ “There you are, woman!”
Shiori was kneeling before the altar in silent prayer. Streams of sand danced around her and the dais, where a small red crystal sat hovering above the platform. “Silence please. I am praying for the heavens to show you no mercy tonight.”
“You should be praying for the hope that I might not kill you tonight. Now hand over the heart of the crystal!”
“No,” Shiori simply stated, rising to her feet. “You do not have the right to weld its power. Only we who truly believe are al-“Shiori was cut off as Kei pushed past her to get to the dais. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Whatever, woman. I can’t believe that I used to be in love with you.” Kei laughed as he reached for the crystal. “All of you in this village are true fools. Living so low below the throne when this kind of power exists within the village. I have what I came for now.” He came and knelt down by her. “Last chance: be my woman or die here. Which will it be?”
“Neither. I don’t marry fools who think true power is in a handful of dirt,” She rolled away from him and stood up. Kei opened his hand, hoping to see the crystal but found a palm full of black dirt. Around Shiori’s neck was the real crystal glowing brightly. “Ha-ha! I tried to warn you since the day you entered our village. Betrayal is death and now it is time for you to die!! Come forth the shores and deserts! Come to me and aid me in this darkest hour!!!!” The crimson stone’s glow began to darken. Soon the swirling sand converged towards her. “Come to your master Staff of Grains!!!”
“So you are going to actually fight me. Can you bring yourself to kill the man whom you shared the most inmate moments in your life? I highly doubt it.” A spiral of black sand began to spin him, creating a dark contrast against the radiant purple aura that surrounded Shiori. “Can truly spill my blood in this scared place?”
“Those moments mean nothing since you betrayed me. I can AND will kill you quite easily. You broke every rule we set for you to follow. You were accepted by everyone, but you betrayed us all. That is unforgivable.” Shiori lunged towards them but was stopped by a wall of black sands.
“‘I’ betrayed you!!! You betrayed me the day you broke your promise to me. You vowed to give me anything in your power. Yet you gave me nothing! You will be the one to die tonight.” Kei lunged himself towards her but was by a splash of red sand. “Just give me the stone, and I will walk away with this village still standing. Shiori, don’t you want your people to live?”
“Yes, I will sacrifice my life in order to insure that happening. This crystal is what brings life and prosperity to this village. We were safe from all evils until you came along changed things. You were the catalyst that made everyone think about abusing power.” Shiori began pushing Kei back towards the dais. “I hate the day you were saved from the wilderness. We should have let the wolves feast on your rotten guts!”
“Big words for the woman who fell in love with such a rotten man.” Kei tripped over the dais and finally realized that he was being positioned for something. “Whatever you are going to attempt will not work. I still hold the majority of the crystal.”
“What makes you think that is your saving grace? The crystal is commanded by the central stone, whether if it is together or separated. Now behold the power you so greedily sought!” Shiori stretched her hands out as the Staff of Grains rose high into the air.
O, Sands of Time, please hear my prayer
Help me rectify the evil that has clouded our eyes
Allow us to see the Light again,
And once again be faithful children
Sands of all colors began to converge at one point, the red stone around Shiori’s neck. Kei tried to counteract the spell but could not move. The red crystal pieces held him place. ‘How can this be happening? Was she telling the truth about commanding the stone? I will not allow myself to die this way.’
“Let me go, Shiori!! I’ll return the crystal!” Kei yelled out. Shiori only gave him a sad smile.
“It is too late for that now. You committed the greatest sin. Now we must pay for it in full.” She turned her grazed back skyward.
Oh gentle Sands, please forgive all our misdeeds
Let us become your beloved children
We will remember these dark times
And rejoice in bright days ahead
Soon the sand began to fall around them as tiny shards. The ground was quickly covered by the shards and soon started to climb the walls and spread through the halls. Kei watched as Shoiri reached for the staff. The sands around her body began to crystallize also, encasing her in stone. “Why kill yourself? Why do we have to die?”
“So on one else will ever attempt this again. You betrayed me. I betrayed my people by falling in love with you. So we must end this now and in this manner. I have no regrets. Clear your heart from all evil and be spare an eternity in agony. I shall rest peacefully. These are our last moments in this plane of time.”
Now Staff of Grains!
Seal us betrayers of the faith clear crystal,
Forever being a constant reminder of the treacheries;
Always a never-ending lesson of the ultimate punishment.
Strike now, Oh Great Sands!
Seal us forever in stone and memories!!
Kei could only watch as a large red spire plunged into his heart. His screams were drowning out by the sound of rushing sand and wind. Shiori started to cry as the rapidly forming shards ran up her arm. ‘Am I truly forgiven for my crime? Please do not allow anyone else make the same mistake as me. Goodbye Terim, I’ll be watching over you.’ She slowly closed her eyes and waited without fear for the end to come.
**** Several years later ****
“And that is why we have this great statue within the temple.” Terim sat down at the base of the statue. “Ever since that faithful night, Helene and I have passed the story onto the future generation.”
“And because of Helene’s death last summer, you are the last of those who remember the story, Grandfather. Is that why you wanted me to help you come to the temple?” A young girl helped sit down on the steps. She stood beside him staring up at the statue. “What was her true reason for sealing herself with the crystal?”
“To protect it. Shiori always felt that she was the start of all the trouble Kei caused. She wanted to correct her mistake before he could cause pain and damage. Now go home, Shianna, before your mother realizes you are missing.”
“Yes sir,” Shianna was about to run off but turned around. “You truly loved her, didn’t you?”
“I never stopped loving her. Go, I want to be alone.” She nodded and calmly but quickly left the temple. “She will pass on our story, Shiori. After all, she is your namesake and my best student. Shianna, named for Kianna, Goddess of Sands, and Shiori, the love of my life, carry the wisdom and knowledge to the future. I am ready, Shiori. Come and get me.”
The halls of the temple fell dark as Terim closed his eyes for the final time. A young couple’s laughter could be heard throughout the night.
THE END
