LYDN ISLAND AND THE POMI STONE PT 2: The Pathway To The Holy Island
All night Bara and Yuki tossed and turned, and despite Bara’s words, they’d awakened very restless and very cranky. Casee notices and wonders what’s with them but says nothing. They all roll up their things and pack it into the bags that they have brought with them. Tog and his parents are fully awake and ready for what’s to come, but before they begin the next part of their journey through Lydn, Yuki and Bara has something to tell Casee and Fazil.
Yuki:
Guys Bara and I need to tell you something. It’s really weird but it may help us out while we look for the stone.
Before they speak Yuki and Bara look from Fazil to Casee who gives them a nod to go ahead and tell their story.
Bara starting out slowly:
Okay…for some reason or another…last night these words pop into Yuki’s head and my head.
Fazil trying to follow their words:
The exact same words; like you two were hearing the same thing?
Yuki:
Exactly! The thing is that it kept us awake and we started talking about what it could mean.
Casee:
Well what were the words exactly?
Yuki:
It said something about Arcanthian children being the key to the future…something…something…something. There was more to it but I forgot the rest.
Bara begins speaking as if he’s in a trance as he repeats the saying word for word.
Bara repeating the saying word for word:
The children of Arcantha are the key to the future. They are our leaders, our teachers, and our explorers to new lands and new possibilities. They will unite us greatly, or become our World’s undoing. That’s what the voice said last night. It was in a deep whisper as each word popped into my mind.
Casee impressed by Bara:
You actually memorized that after only one night? That is pretty impressive Bara. I’m truly amazed!
Yuki making a face:
(under his breath) Show off.
Bara not hearing Yuki's comment:
Well it kept repeating in my head all night. I couldn’t sleep because of it, so remembering it wasn’t that hard for me. I mean, words that are that creepy that are being spoken to you by something you can’t see is worth remembering.
Casee:
Well that is strange. True, but strange. So from those words what did you conclude? What did you two come up with?
Yuki:
We’ve come to the conclusion of what our purpose is; what mission we’re supposed to carry out. Fully.
Bara:
We’re supposed to help right all the wrongs of Arcantha and restore peace to our World. We are the ones who punish the guilty; we’re to punish people that treat children the way we’ve been treated.
Fazil not really following:
That’s what you (pointing to Bara) said before we went to sleep, but I mean, how exactly how did you come to this conclusion?
Yuki:
Well because of the saying. The children are a great deal here. We’re the ones who have to grow and carry out the ways of Arcantha. We are the ones that will either divide or unite our World. Not only that, but the words seems to be leading us to the stone without really saying where it is located. We had to figure that one out on our own.
Fazil lighting up after hearing the mention of the stone:
Well how do you know how to find the stone? Where is it located exactly? Zeha maybe a small village, but I’m pretty sure the stone isn’t that big to begin with so we’ve got some ground to cover.
Yuki:
That’s the thing. The stone is located on Clover Island. It’s not here at all. We’re here to discover the path to Clover. There probably isn’t a rail or a clear cut path that leads to Clover Island since it has been cut off from the rest of Arcantha. And for that matter there probably never was. I believe the story of the rail being destroyed was probably a myth to keep others away from Clover altogether. After all that’s where the Four Clans had to preform their healing rituals to keep peace over our world.
Casee in a shocked voice:
Wow! We were way off it seems. I thought it would be among the ruins here on Lydn. This seemed like it was supposed to be a simple job, but it seems to be getting more and more complicated as we go along.
Fazil nods to Casee’s words and looks down at the ground. He then looks up and frowns up his face as the realization finally crosses his mind.
Fazil:
It really isn’t going to get any easier from here on out. This adventure has turned into something more. (With a deep sigh) Okay so what else did you discover?
Bara:
Well we’ve also discovered that Baarda had help. There had to be someone who was able to move through the Holy Gates and take the stone. That would be the “something” burning that Fazil saw in his eyes. It was Baarda’s helper being burned, but then he disappeared which means that Baarda had taken his soul. Since people don’t “disappear” on Arcantha the helper had to have made a deal with Baarda before he died.
Casee:
Okay hold it this is getting a bit crazy for me! I’m trying to follow you and Yuki, but I can’t seem to grasp everything that you two are saying. I mean it doesn’t fully make sense.
Yuki speaking a bit slower for Casee:
Okay pay attention: We have to restore Clover and restore the World of Arcantha. We also have to stop Baarda from trying to come back and taking over. He still has power to do so. He has the soul of his helper who he can send out at any time, but sense he didn’t know when the Four Clans would be restored, or how they would be restored, he couldn’t send him out. On that island is something for us to find. The stone itself is there somewhere near Sala—that part Bara and I figured out. The part we’d already figured was it was used as her weapon in battle. The only one who would know this is Baarda. He wanted the stone to try and take down the Four Clans and ultimately Sidia and Charma. He was, and still is, looking for a way into the Heavens.
Yuki takes a breath after saying all that while Fazil tries hard to understand everything that is going on.
Fazil scratching his head trying not to sound and look confused:
Man that’s a lot to grasp, but, well it all makes a great deal of sense now. It’s all starting to come together. So how do we find this path to Clover? And when will we know that we have found the pathway?
Casee now seeing a clearer picture of what’s going on:
We look amongst the ruins that lie here. It is the place that the people who survived the plague fled to. That’s why we have been brought to this very spot in this village. After that hopefully the pathway will just appear to us. It’s all we have to go on, and so now all we can do is hope that we find the pathway that leads us to the island.
Fazil now truly confused:
Okay so…WAIT A MINUTE!! What! How in the world did you figure that out from what Yuki just said? I can barely keep up with everything that you guys are saying and I’m just getting more and more confused!
Yuki:
Don’t worry Fazil you will catch on to everything soon enough. Just be patient. Look I’m sounding like you. So how did you figure it out Casee?
Casee:
The part about Baarda triggered something. If he wanted to try and destroy the heavens then he would need Sala’s weapon and his weapon as well. He only had so much power gained from the Four Clans. He would’ve started the plague to kill off those who lived on Clover or run them out. Where would they go? They’d come here and close off Clover so Baarda couldn’t find a way to the other islands. Baarda started the plague and used his helper to get the stone, but he didn’t count on the inhabitants finding out and killing his helper. But by making a deal with Baarda then his helper’s soul is recycled to try again. That means at some point we’re going to encounter that helper of his. But for now we look among the ruins for the path to Clover. It’s what the ancient people of this place would want us to do. They would’ve left something behind for us to look for so that we may find it.
Yuki:
So we exactly huh?
Casee:
Well you know what I mean. It was meant for whoever was to come next and restore Arcantha. Since the ones who dwelled on Clover were killed off or run out then there was no one to keep Arcantha in order and report to the Head God and Goddess. They can’t come from the heavens so they need messengers or rather the Four Officials.
Bara:
I get it the Four Clans are meant to do a lot for this world. There’s a system to how this world and worlds around us are run. There’s the Head God and Goddess, the Four Officials who head the clans, and those who are gifted healers of each clan who carry out the orders of the Head God and Goddess passed to the officials then onto the people of Clover.
Casee:
Pretty much. It’s a large task if you ask me. But well we’ll talk more on that later right now we look among the ruins for that path.
Fazil with a deep sigh:
Okay, guys we’ve got a lot of ground to cover so I say we go into the main village and get something to eat then we get started on finding that path.
Yuki:
I’m okay with that idea. I’m starving!
Bara:
You and me both.
Casee:
What are we going to do about Tog and his parents?
Yuki:
Sapis don’t need to eat. They are nothing but Spirit Guides they need not feed on the sustenance of life because they are life. They are also death if you will. Th-
Bara interrupting Yuki:
Is there any way for you to sound less like a dork and more like a normal human being? “They need not feed on the sustenance of life”?! Who says that?! No one actually talks like that Yuki.
Yuki rolling his eyes and finishing his thought:
That’s why they aren’t really alive they really don’t exist on this plane except to guide others to where they need to be.
Bara:
So Tog will grow in this manner huh?
Yuki making a face at Bara:
Yeah he will. I think he’s our Spirit Guide. They receive a call mainly from people like you Bara, and they come to guide and advise us.
Casee:
I see that Tog’s parents have taught you everything you know about Sapis. That’s so cool. I wish I knew some of the things that you know. I think it would’ve been a nice thing to know about the holy animals.
Yuki:
Yeah and I also know there are other holy animal forms of Sidia and Charma. They each belong to a specific clan.
Casee:
I thought you said you didn’t know about the other forms. So, there are animals that reflect who we are to?! What are they?
Yuki:
I’m not exactly sure because Gaia and Appa keep saying things like “In time you will know”, and “Let it go little one. Don’t rush destiny”. So I’ve stopped asking. And I said I didn’t know anything about them. I know they exist and that’s about it.
Casee:
I really should’ve been listening to you. I guess I could've stood to pay more attention to what you said.
Yuki a bit sarcastic:
Yeah I guess so.
Casee shoots Yuki a warning look and Yuki laughs back at her and sticks his tongue out. Fazil holds a hand against Casee’s chest to keep her from going after Yuki.
Fazil holding Casee back:
Anyway, that all sounds like it’s worth waiting to know. But I’m hungry and I don’t feel like using my brain until I’ve had some food in my stomach.
Casee calming down and removing Fazil's hand:
Well once we hit the main village let’s find the fountain and we can sit there near it and eat. I can finally get a prayer in as well. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve gone to a fountain and said a prayer.
Gaia speaking up:
I’m sorry to inform you but the Fountain here has been removed. There isn’t a fountain located anywhere on the island. It no longer represents a symbol on Lydn. They are terrified of it and wish to remain silent about it.
Casee seems frazzled about this and can’t seem to verbalize her feelings. She didn’t understand how the fifth island didn’t have a fountain. She stands there quietly and Fazil instead says what she wants to say and what all of them are thinking.
Fazil:
Wait, why was the fountain removed and why are they scared of an object that shoots water? I thought every fountain was supposed to be a holy representation of Sidia and Charma.
Gaia:
Since the plague they wish to have every relic removed. In their own way they worship Sidia and Charma, but they have no relics of any kind here to symbolize their beliefs.
Casee:
But Sidia and Charma didn’t create the plague. The people here should know that they had nothing to do with what happened to the people of Clover and Zeha.
Gaia:
No, they did not, but everyone died from it and they feel as though Sidia and Charma were powerless to stop it. They believe that someone took their power so they had the fountain removed because the fountain is in some form a vessel that can be accessed if the wrong person knows just the way to do it.
Casee:
Baarda huh?
Gaia:
Exactly.
Casee:
But Sidia and Charma aren’t powerless.
Gaia:
Well in some ways they are. They can’t help those that wish harm on others. They can only guide them to the right path and hope that they take it. They are only forms or rather spirits that help if you ask. They can’t make someone do what they don’t want to do. There are many forms that they may show themselves to you, but you ultimately chose rather to listen or ignore.
Casee:
Wow I had no idea. I assumed that since they were the Head God and Goddess that they were rather powerful, still where are the flowers of the dead? There are none anywhere around here.
Appa speaking up now:
Their spirits haven’t fully moved on. They linger here around us waiting to be freed from this plane. They mostly dwell here in Zeha which is another reason why it is deserted. No one wants to live in a haunted village let alone come near it. The people of the fifth island keep their distance and let the spirits be.
Yuki becoming spooked:
That’s why Bara and I heard voices in our heads last night. Okay I want to go back home and never leave the tunnel again!
Fazil sternly:
Yuki you can’t hide from everything that you think is dangerous, you have to face this head on and deal with it.
Appa:
Oh young one, it’s only going to get scarier from here on out. There is no going back you’re too close to turn back around. You can do it Yuki. I believe in you.
Yuki:
Thanks Appa, but I’m not so sure I believe in myself. This is a lot to take in; this is scary stuff. I’m only a little boy.
Fazil rubbing his temples in frustration:
Why don’t we eat first and worry about the scary stuff later? We’ll worry about some of this stuff when we have our stomachs full of food and energy to get us going.
Yuki sulking a little:
Fine. Let’s go eat.
They walk off towards Colith while Tog and his parents stay behind. As they walk into the village the people there look frightened and dare not go near them. Fazil is put off by this as he walks up to a vendor with hot food to sell.
Fazil:
We’d like four plates please?
Vendor:
Go back where you came from you’re not wanted around here. We know why you’re here and we wish you all would just go back and leave well enough alone.
Fazil:
What do you mean? We’re just here to get something to eat. We’re not here to create trouble. We’re only kids.
Vendor:
No here we can see the auras of others. The four of you have very strong auras we wish to remain distant from you. I’m sorry but you must go now!
Casee:
But can we please have some food sir? We’re all very hungry right now. We’ll leave as soon as we get something to eat.
Vendor:
Fine take your fill and leave. I will not give this warning twice. You come back this way and we will be forced to take action against the lot of you.
Fazil, Yuki, and Bara shrug their shoulders as Casee looks saddened by the man’s outburst. This was weird considering they’d just landed there and didn’t know a soul in town, yet the people of the village knew who they were and why they were there. Still they don’t want to cause any more trouble so they get their food and leave the village at once. Upon returning to Zeha they report this to Gaia and Appa.
Appa:
Well the four of you have very strong shadow colors that some who are powerful themselves know about. The people here wish to stay away from this. They do not wish to catch the backlash of what’s to come.
Fazil finally cracking:
But what’s to come?! Tell us what we are in for at this point because I’m getting the feeling that something bad is going to happen before something good does.
Gaia with a heavy sigh:
Well then Fazil, you would be correct on that thought. We’re dealing with a lot and I know it’s a heavy thing to take in, but you four have the power to do it!
Yuki:
See now when I want to give up it’s not okay, but now Fazil you see what we’re up against and you’re not so sure yourself. Here you are the leader and the level headed person out of all of us and even you have begun to crack!
Fazil:
That is because a vendor told us out right that they don’t want to deal with us. We aren’t welcomed here because of who we are and what we’re supposed to do. This is no longer fun for me!
Bara:
This was never supposed to be entirely fun Fazil; it was supposed to be a discovery of who we are. We wanted to know more about ourselves and so it led us here. Now we have to face this head on and finish what we started.
Fazil:
Yeah I understand all of that, but now I’m not so sure about going through with this anymore. Casee what do you think?
Fazil continues calling Casee’s name, but Casee isn’t paying attention to Fazil or anyone for that matter. She was lost in her own thoughts and was completely oblivious to the rest of the group. The wheels in her brain were turning and she had figured out exactly what to do. It seems an idea had been given to her by the vendor without the vendor realizing it. After a couple of minutes she finally comes out her trance.
Casee lost in thought coming back:
Huh? Oh, I’m sorry I was thinking about what the vendor said. I think we are the key to the secret path to Clover. I bet if we find markings of our clans we can find that path and get onto that forbidden island. That’s what we’re searching for among the ruins…
**
Searching the whole village of Zeha wasn’t such an easy task. Yuki rubs sweat from his forehead while Bara fans himself wildly trying to get some air onto his skin. Fazil, though moving very slowly, is still looking over the ruins that lay to the west of them with no luck. Casee, however, still searches fervently. Fazil does exactly what Yuki and Bara have done—sit on the grass and fan wildly for air. Fazil calls out to Casee who seems to be in her own world. He tries to get her to calm down a bit on the search.
Fazil calling out to Casee:
It’s been two-and-a-half hours already. It’s extremely hot out here! You’re going to pass out trying to overdo it!!
Casee slightly yelling back at Fazil:
But I will have found what I’m looking for in the process. (After a minute of searching) Hey! Wait a minute there’s something under this stone well next to this small cottage ruin. It says “Atala Turpi” what does that mean?
Appa:
Well Atala is the Holy Fountain of the Sinth Clan and the Turpi is the animal form of that Clan. It also means North since Atala’s fountain lies to the North of the Holy Grounds.
Casee getting excited:
Okay now we’re getting somewhere!! Guys we need to keep looking. Look north of this well and tell me what you see?
Bara looking out towards the north:
I see another well next to yet another cottage ruin.
Casee:
Okay, go to it and tell me what that one says on it. And please for the sake of getting this done before the sun sets again move a bit faster!
Despite Casee’s words of urgency, Bara walks over slowly slumped over from being tired. He and the others really didn’t have the energy to keep moving around the way they did. Still he makes his way to the well. He walks around the well, peers down to look for a symbol of any kind that will give them another clue to the island. He spots something and rubs the dirt away to read it better.
Bara:
This one says “Toma Kanpi” which one is this?
Appa:
That one is Toma the Holy Fountain of the Fortuth Clan and Kanpi is the animal form. It also means West.
Casee excitedly:
Fazil that’s where you’re standing!! You are West of Bara go to the next well and tell me what that one says. I’m keeping track of the way we have to go. Since there isn’t another straight path that I can make out in this area more than likely we have to go through those trees over there.
Yuki looks at Casee like she’s crazy then turns to look at Gaia and Appa. He looks at them horrified while they laugh a little as Yuki turns back to face Casee, who isn’t paying him any attention at the look on his face at the thought of going into a forest. He just couldn’t understand why she and Fazil wanted to keep leading him into more and more trouble and dangerous situation that could easily get them killed.
Yuki quickly sounding scared:
Uh, I don’t do scary woods Case.
Casee without looking at Yuki:
Hush Yuk! You’re going to be fine. Now, Fazil tell me what that one says.
Fazil walks over to the fountain and does the same thing as Bara. He stoops down blowing the dirt away to read it better.
Fazil:
This one says, oh cool, it says Sala Sapi. That stands for the Traith Clan doesn’t it?
Gaia:
That is exactly right. It also means South.
Casee:
Okay so Yuki I think you can handle this one go south and tell me what the next well says. If I’m correct this is based on the Holy fountains; the waters that are pure and clean—clear enough for us to see our way along the path to Clover.
Gaia:
The girl knows how to use her brain! Move it Yuki dear, we’ve got an Island to find.
Yuki moves in slow motion taking his time to get to the last well. He was not a boy who was in tip top shape and all this running around had him wanting to just fall out into a deep sleep. He finally makes his way to the well and takes a rest on his knees before locating the markings. He then bends down and lazily reads out the next words on it.
Yuki in an unhappy and listless tone of voice:
This one says “Balka Gaapi”. What Clan is that from?
Fazil:
You should know Yuki you’ve read up on all the clans. You’re the one with the book knowledge here.
Yuki:
Yeah but I haven’t read up on my fountains Fazil I don’t know who Balka is or the animal that goes with it.
Fazil:
Well I wasn’t told anything about this from my mother. She told me as much as she knew. I didn’t even know about the animals.
Casee is tired of Fazil and Yuki going back and forth and is becoming a bit frustrated now. She ends their argument by telling them what the clan is.
Casee becoming a bit frustrated:
It’s for the Nameth Clan. We don’t have anyone here from that Clan but it doesn’t matter we need to look for the last symbol on the last well so we can get off this stupid island. It’s hot out here!
Appa laughing:
Okay well Balka of course is the fountain and Gaapi is the animal form. It also means East.
Casee looks down at her feet and sees a strange shimmer reflecting in the grass and starts pacing the reflecting steps that appear before her. She finds that they are stones creating a path on the ground. They shimmer clearly as each one appears with each step she takes taking her to the trees that Yuki so desperately did not want to enter, but does because something tells him to follow anyway. As Casee gets closer to the trees suddenly she disappears from sight. This makes Yuki stop in his tracks, as well as Fazil and Bara who’d started following close behind after Yuki. They look around and at each other wondering what has happened.
Yuki shrieking hysterically and turning back around:
Okay so there’s no way I’m going in there! She just completely disappeared!!!! I’m not trying to disappear!!
Bara turning back around and following Yuki:
For once I’m with Yuki! What is going on here?! Things like this don’t happen to people, they don’t just disappear like that, so all of this is weird for me!
Casee suddenly pokes her head out to tell them to follow her she has something to show them. Fazil who has been silent walks past Yuki and Bara and disappears from sight as well.
Gaia:
Guys you must follow the path in order to find out what’s to happen to you from here. It’s okay you won’t disappear.
Yuki:
You better be right, Gaia, I’m scared enough. My legs are literally shaking from the fear. I can’t take much more of this, and I am literally going out of my mind right now. I’m freaking out and I’m about to have a heart attack from all of this!
Gaia calmly with a warm smile:
I know you are dear now go.
She nudges the both of them with her nose into the invisible place that has swallowed both their friends up already. As they pass through there is a cool feeling that makes Yuki and Bara feel calm. It is like a spray of fresh water and air gently thrown in their faces as they step out onto the other side. After stepping through they find themselves in a large and beautiful courtyard with a large statue sitting in front of them. It is huge and very beautiful made of pale crystals and balmar. It has the face of a male figure and female figure sitting on vast stone chairs and flowing stone cloth. The female is looking somewhere towards the south end while the male stares straight ahead with kindness in his eyes.
Bara in a surprised tone:
It’s Sidia and Charma!
Yuki in awe and wonder of what lies before his eyes:
Oh my goddess!
Casee laughing:
See! I told you I had something to show you guys. We’ve made it to Clover Island. We passed through the barrier that was put up... More than likely Sidia and Charma took away the side rail to Clover and put the veil up in its place. And look over there. There’s the gate’s entrance and the sign we saw hanging over it. We’ve made it guys! We finally made it to the sixth island.
Yuki:
Yeah now all we have to do is find the stone and we’ll be all set. Where’s Fazil?
Casee:
I don’t know. Hey where’s Bara?
Yuki looking about him:
I don’t know but they’ve both disappeared they were just right here. Where’d they go?
Yuki waits for Casee to say something, but when there’s no answer he looks around to find that he is no longer standing in front of Sidia and Charma’s stone likeness anymore. He was in front of a small fountain looking at Fazil stand there somewhat out of it.
Yuki walking up to Fazil:
Fazil what’s going on what are you—
Before Yuki can say anymore Fazil shakes his head for him not to step any closer to him, but it is too late! Yuki is spun around the other side of the statue to stare at the backside of the holy relic. He looks around to see Fazil crying black tears and notices that he is doing the same thing.
Yuki a bit disgusted:
Uhn! What is going on?
Fazil half out of it:
I don’t know but I can’t free my hands from these holes in the fountain. Have you noticed them before? We were at Sala’s fountain and I don’t think I remember seeing these large holes anywhere on that statue.
Yuki:
No I haven’t because I don’t really go near them unless it’s the one on Feerial! This is crazy why are you stuck to holes in the Holy fountains?! Maybe there’s a presence here trying to trap us and take us out one by one.
Yuki looks down to find that his hands are also stuck in two holes in the fountain. He then wonders if Casee and Bara are going through the same thing him and Fazil are going through. He looks down at the empty circular pool with dried leaves and black stains from his black tears and finally stops struggling to get free of the fountain.
Yuki:
It seems that we’ve been separated, but since you and I are in the same clan then it makes sense for us to be together.
Fazil still trying to free himself from the fountain:
Yeah that does make sense but right now this doesn’t and I want it to let me go!
Yuki:
Well at least they are nicely decorated.
Fazil:
Yuki shut up! We are stuck in a fountain and we can’t get free of it! This is no time to make jokes.
Yuki:
Sorry just trying to lighten things up.
Fazil:
Now is not the time.
Yuki:
Fine then how are we going to get—
Without warning both he and Fazil feel jolted by a current of some kind running through them with full force. They are thrown backwards hard on the ground and are in such great pain that they can’t move. Fazil falls unconscious and Yuki tries to sit up but finding that he can’t he lays back down and is knocked out. Near the North and South of the Holy grounds Casee and Bara are in the same situation as Fazil and Yuki. They have all been knocked out and are completely unconscious. They lay there unmoving with black tears running down their cheeks freeing the spirits’ pain of Clover Island.
