DISCOVERY PT 2: The Trip To Crale
After discovering much about Bara the night before, the four of them decide to visit each other’s home to learn more of where they all came from. This was the plan after last night’s unearthing of new knowledge on the Four Clans, their Head God and Goddess, and themselves. Discovering new things was fascinating to them all especially Bara. He wanted to take everything in and continue learning about himself. After packing up some food and getting dressed the four of them set out on a new discovery. This time they were headed to Crale, the First Island home to the very first Holy Fountain Sala, named for Sidia’s warrior Goddess killed in the war with Blithe. Sidia loved Sala so much that she had the fountain erected in her likeness. Casee was very excited about this and really wanted to see this first hand; touch it; feel the essence of Sidia and the spirit of Sala flowing through it. She was so excited that she was the first one on the side rail leading from their tunnel home.
Casee stepping on the side rail:
I can’t wait to go and see the Holy Fountain Sala!! I can’t believe we’re actually going. Lorn used to tell me of it and I’ve always wanted to see it firsthand. It is the one relic that I really admire the most.
Yuki just as enthused as Casee:
This is going to be beyond cool. Awesomeness!
Fazil:
Okay guys now remember if we are stopped by anyone we give them each other’s names and not our own. Just in case they want to try and turn us in to our folks. With switched names our true identities are safe from them.
Yuki:
Well in that case I want to be you Fazil.
Casee:
Cool then I’ll be Bara.
Fazil:
Then I guess I’ll be Casee.
Bara not sounding enthusiastic:
Well, I guess I’m stuck with Yuki.
Yuki taken aback:
Hey you should WANT to be me. I’m cool!! (Dramatically) Don’t deny that I’m cooler than you Bara! Way cooler than you’ll ever be!
Bara walking past Yuki:
Whatever!
Yuki:
You’re only saying that because you know it’s true! You know that deep down inside you would love to be me!
Bara:
Uhm-hm. Whatever you say Yuki.
Yuki glares at Bara’s back then begins trailing after his friends. Coming along for the ride this time is Tog. He looks at Yuki smiles, and shakes his head in agreement. In return, Yuki smiles back at Tog with a small laugh.
Fazil:
We’ve really got to get Tog a playmate... Okay guys lets head em’ up and head on out. I’m ready for a new adventure today.
After riding the tunnel’s express rail they take two more to reach Crale. Upon landing on the First Island they take in the beauty of it and see much greenery here than they did on Traal. There are purple, blue, green, red, and yellow flowers everywhere and the whole place just seems so mystical. Traal was the complete opposite. It wasn’t an ugly site, but it wasn’t as breathtaking as Crale was.
Casee taken aback with eyes popping:
Yuki, you lived here? Why did you leave?
Yuki:
Well once you’ve seen this place you’ve seen it all. I used to just walk around here by myself. One time I fell into some carnivorous plants and was nearly killed. I was surprised that I was even able to get away in the first place. Ever since then I’ve hated it here. I thought that everywhere I turned I’d be eaten. This place is a beautiful death trap; at least that’s what I have come to know it as.
Bara is now taken aback by Yuki:
Excuse me?! That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! You should know that not every plant is like that! And, not everything will kill you!
Yuki:
I’m sorry I’m Yuki, We’ve met before correct? If you haven’t noticed, (yelling in Bara’s face) I DON’T DO SCARY PLACES OR THINGS!
Bara cleaning out his ear to hear better:
So sorry Yuk, calm down!
Fazil:
Still why did you leave here?
Yuki:
Because its home to my parents. My dad’s an architect and my mother runs half of the market in the capital village here. They are really powerful on Crale and everyone seems to know them. Who they don’t know, is me. They never once introduced me to their friends, or anyone for that matter. I really can’t stand them. And since I can’t stand them I can’t stand this place. Besides they’ve never taken me around here they didn’t even care that I was hurt by that monster plant. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy to be here and discover the fountain with you guys, but I hate my home island. Crale is beautiful to you guys, but to me it’s just a place of sadness. Lonely days.
Casee rubbing Yuki’s back:
Oh, we’re sorry Yuk. We’ll do better to be a bit more perceptive of your feelings. Okay, well then let’s head to the main village and see what we can get. I here that here is where they sell Austel and we could use some.
Yuki:
Yeah my hair has been so very limp without it. I used to make my own spike gel with it, but I didn’t even bring it. I left it right in the bathroom on the counter. Hey you think I could run by there and get it?
Fazil:
You think that’s such a good idea? I mean what if someone is there and they see us?
Yuki:
There’s no one there. Trust me. We’ll just slip in and out and I could get those books so we could read more about the clans and ourselves.
Bara perking up at the sound of the word “books”:
I’m in.
Casee:
I don’t know guys. What if we need to make a quick get-a-way? We don’t know our way around here.
Yuki:
Hello? Born here remember! I know this place rather well. Like I said I did wander around here, a lot! I know how to get away. I used to find places to hide when the patrol were out, well, patrolling the place. They never once caught me. Believe me I know how to get away.
Fazil:
Well then, fine. We’ll go before we leave the island. Right now we go into the main village. What’s it called again?
Yuki:
Uh Seerial, Fazil. How did you forget that?
Fazil with a sheepish laugh:
Momentary mind lapse.
Casee sarcastically:
Sure!
Casee says this as the rest of them walk past Fazil. He was the expert out of all of them and knew everything about every island except Clover. That was for another day. They wanted to start from the beginning of it all and see how far Arcantha had come. They find the sign that leads to Seerial and begin walking along dancing and being silly when they see many people running towards them away from the village.
Fazil in puzzlement:
Uhm I wonder what’s going on.
Casee decides to stop someone to ask just that. She stops a small girl of about eight or nine years old who is alone and looking scared.
Casee to the little girl:
Excuse me but what’s going on down there? Why is everyone running away from the village? What’s happening?
Little girl in a trembling tone:
There’s a fire! The whole village is up in flames and they’re trying to save the Fountain of Sala. All of a sudden out of nowhere sparks began coming from the park’s grass right next to the fountain. It was the freakiest thing and then the whole place just caught fire! No one knows yet what has happened. We’re just all running for our lives.
Fazil:
Oh man! Now we can’t have our adventure here today.
Bara:
Well let’s just go see how big the fire is. I’ve never seen one before. Up close that is.
Casee in a “you’re crazy” tone of voice:
Why would you want to see that?!
Yuki:
Now you’re starting to sound like me: logical.
Casee rolls her eyes at Yuki trying to ignore his comment then turns back to face Bara for an answer to her question.
Bara in a weird voice almost trance like:
I don’t know but I feel drawn to it somehow. Let’s go. Hey maybe we could help someone out down there as well.
Yuki shaking his head no:
Fire isn’t my name and danger isn’t my game. I’m staying right here. You couldn’t pay me enough Demmi to move from this spot! I’m staying right here and that is that. You three go right ahead and brave the fire.
Casee with a change of mind shrugging her shoulders:
Hey, he does have a point. Somehow I’m drawn to it as well. Actually, for some odd reason, I’m more drawn to the fountain I want to see if it has been damaged in any way. I mean it can’t burn down since it’s made of balmar, the strongest stone there is on Arcantha, but fire stains are the worst on stone.
Fazil:
That is true. Okay let’s go we’ll be brief.
Yuki huffing in anger:
You guys are going to listen to me one day and stay away from dangerous things that KILL!! (to himself) One day they will learn to listen to me!
Ignoring Yuki, they begin walking towards the village once more and as they get closer they see smoke billing up around the shopping areas. Over to the left is the small clear path that leads to the park’s fountain. It was strange, however, since it seemed that the fire traveled from the park to the shopping area. Fire couldn’t do that. Like drones, they continue walking on towards the path when suddenly a glow shows over all four of them. Yuki notices the glow around him and begins to go crazy.
Yuki freaking out and feeling scared:
Okayyy. Why am I glowing?!
Bara:
I don’t know but for some reason I have to go near the fountain. I feel like it’s calling to me and I have to go.
Casee:
This is the weirdest thing ever. It doesn’t feel like anything, yet I still see and feel it. Mine is the color of my skin.
Fazil:
So are the rest of ours. Okay this is creepy I know nothing about this. I wasn’t told about this at all!
Casee:
Neither was I. what about you Yuk?
Yuki:
Well, all I know is that this happened to the Four Heads of the Four Clans. But this was long ago when their spirits vanished. Many saw their spirit shadow colors disappearing from all the holy places and relics from each island.
Bara:
So why are we glowing?
Yuki in a sardonic tone:
I don’t know, Bara. I’ve never read about Arcanthian people glowing during a fire before. (In a normal voice) We better get out of here before people see us and think we’re freaks. Then we’ll be taken in for sure.
Fazil:
Good idea. Let’s head over to the fountain since no one will be there. We can try to figure out what is going on with it.
Yuki stops short and is baffled by what he hears.
Yuki motioning with his hands:
Wait why are we going to the fountain?!
Fazil:
I don’t know, but I feel as though some of our questions will be answered there. Don’t worry Yuki we won’t get that close to burn.
Yuki:
Fine then, let’s go and get this over with.
Yuki wasn’t feeling the power of the fountain drawing him in because his fear paralyzed his sense of being that Casee, Bara, and Fazil felt. Yuki reluctantly leads the way down the path, but as they continue walking down they notice that everything is moving rather slowly. No one seems to be paying attention to either one of them. They are running in slow motion past them as if they don’t notice the four of them walking and glowing.
Casee:
What’s going on here? Why is everything slowing down? The smoke from the fire isn’t moving at all.
Fazil:
Look at the fire along the path? It’s turning colors and retreating backwards as we walk towards it.
Bara:
It’s leading us to the Fountain. Something is truly feeling weird here. I don’t know what it is but the closer we get the more I wonder what’s going on!
Yuki sounding terrified:
I don’t like what’s going on here. I want to turn back around but I can’t!
They keep walking on as if by force and reach the Fountain of Sala who looks as if she’s smiling at them all. Her arms are open and her eyes seem to have a certain sparkle to them. Casee smiles and puts her hand on the fountain and the other to her heart. Fazil and Bara follow suit, Yuki wants to ignore the feeling driving him towards the fountain, but this time he can’t and he to puts a hand on the fountain; the other to his heart. They are all gathered around the fountain in what seems to be a circle around Sala. As they all touch the fountain the waters begin to rise up splashing them all in the face. Yuki sputters and isn’t too happy about this.
Yuki sputtering trying to get water out of his mouth:
What was that for?!! Hey, what’s going on?! My eyes are seeing things. I see a fortress of some kind. I-i-i it’s dark outside with a bright blue full moon. It’s rather… nice.
Yuki smiles at this as the full moon is clear in his eyes shining brightly with a soft translucent look about it. Casee smiles to as she can also see what Yuki sees in her eyes, but it seems that she can see more than just the beauty of the moon.
Casee:
Yeah I see it too, yet I see people crying and sitting around a statue of two people that I can’t make out.
Bara with sudden realization:
It’s Sidia and Charma. I remember their picture from the books back in the tunnel! There’s some sort of castle in the background and four fountains at each point of the castle. One looks like Sala. She’s smiling at…me. I think.
Fazil:
Whoa I see a whole bunch of spirits floating above some weird thing that’s turning red and burning in one spot… It disappeared! Where’d it go?
Casee:
I don’t know we’re not all seeing the same thing…WAIT there’s a sign at the entrance of that wall—fortress—that Yuki was seeing. It says…
They all see the sign in their eyes now and read it out loud together, their voices sound as one; as if one person is speaking through them in a trance that they all have come under.
Four of them together sounding in one voice:
Pomi Village Holy Castle. Clover Island.
After reading the island’s name the foursome’s eyes begin to go back to normal. The fire has retreated completely back into the statue and now Casee is on her knees still with one hand on her heart, and the other on the fountain praying and crying black tears with her eyes closed. Fazil is brought to his knees with his hands on his temples trying to clear out whatever is causing him pain. Yuki is doing the same as Fazil, but is rolling around on the grass and crying in pain. Bara is unconscious splayed out on the grass coughing up wisps of smoke. His hair has turned white with thin strips of purple in it. It is waving around wildly of its own accord. They are all looking very strange and then suddenly they are standing in front of the fountain as if nothing has happened. Fazil is looking around himself suspiciously noticing the change and frowning up his face. Something definitely wasn’t right about the scenery in front of him.
Fazil with a frown:
That was freaky… Hey look there are people around us playing and laughing like there wasn’t even a fire! Everything is back to normal and I bet the village shopping area looks the same way to. Those people over there are just enjoying the park and aren’t even fazed by anything that has just happened seconds before!
Casee wiping her eyes speaking in the same manner as Fazil:
This is the strangest thing ever! Are we the only ones who were affected like this? I couldn’t stop crying. I felt such great pain all over me.
Yuki hitting a hand against the side of his head:
Yeah and there was screaming in my head loud screams that wouldn’t go away. They kept getting louder and louder and it was so over powering that I cried. I was rolling in the grass because it wouldn’t go away it just hurt more and more! Weakness! Total exhaustion. (Letting out a heavy, tiresome sigh)
Fazil:
I felt what Yuki felt, but I think I had more control since I’m older than you Yuk. It was burning my mind.
Bara:
I was feeling my spirit connect with other spirits. I felt I was choking on their souls they seemed to be pouring from me, and the mark on my chest was burning but I couldn’t move. What is going on with us?
Casee:
I don’t know but I think our answers are at Clover Island.
Fazil:
Yeah, but we’re not ready to go there yet. Let’s go get Yuki’s books from his house and then head back home. We’ll figure everything out soon enough.
They head back up the path towards Yuki’s small village. They walk until Yuki sees the familiar place he once called home. But something wasn’t quite right. Everything seemed in place, but it all seemed… out of place as well. Yuki could feel it in the air as they walked up to the door as it opens on its own inviting them inside.
Yuki feeling scared:
You know guys maybe we should come back another time.
Fazil turning Yuki back around:
Oh no. we’re going inside and we’re going to get those books. Besides, I thought you wanted your spike gel.
Yuki trying to shake free of Fazil:
You know I don’t need it anymore. My hair’s fine the way it is. We can just leave now. We’ll get the books later.
Fazil holding Yuki firmly:
No, we’ll get them now. Into the house you go. You wanted to go and get that gel of yours and you said you’d get the books so it’s off you go.
They walk in and see that the house is empty, which is a relief to Yuki as well as the rest of them. Everything seems in order; nothing is out of place from what Yuki can make of the place. Three of them stand in the living quarters while one walks off to his parents’ office. Yuki begins trying to pick the lock, but that proves to be unnecessary. The office is already opened and the books are sitting neatly on the desk waiting for him to grab them.
Bara calling out to Yuki:
Hurry up back there it stinks in here.
Yuki:
Well hold your nose and WAIT!! I’ll be there in a minute.
Bara:
Or we can just leave you and meet you back in the tunnel… At least I can leave. I don’t care either way!
Yuki poking his head back out:
No one cares what you do, Bara!
Yuki goes back around the corner to the study looking cautiously around and walks over to take the books. They are sitting there innocently enough as Yuki goes over to grab them. As he puts his hands around them something small and white with a wisp of smoke rising from behind it sneaks up and scares him. He grabs the books and sprints back to the living quarters and out the door right past his friends. They take off running after him and find that he is already on a side rail going back across to the Third Island without his beloved spike gel in tow. Though it takes three side rails and a quick sprint, they catch him right before he hits the path to Feerial. Fazil stops him by grabbing Yuki by the shoulder causing him to fall hard. The books go flying everywhere as Fazil holds him to the ground.
Fazil sitting on Yuki’s chest:
What is going on?!
Yuki breathing heavily:
Ghost—ghost in the house!
Casee throws her hands up in the air after she, Fazil, and Bara take a breather. All that running tired them out and Yuki’s words really threw them all off. They were all simply perplexed with what just happened coupled with Yuki’s reasoning of fleeing the house and leaving his friends behind. Casee is thrown off and sees this as a first to many strange things that were about to unfold.
Casee with a large huff of breath:
And the freakiness begins!
**
Back in the underground tunnel Yuki hands the books over to Fazil for him to take the first look. A book titled Four Clans of Clover with a large crimson C sealed at the bottom of the book sat directly on top. There is also a painted picture of the castle that they saw in their visions sitting right above the seal on the front of the book in a dark blue color. It is gaunt looking with dangerously sharp spires reaching against a midnight sky and there is almost a post-apocalyptic look about it. Yuki shudders just looking at it. Fazil is about to open it when it opens up on its own flipping to a specific page.
Bara backing away from the book slightly bewildered:
Yuki what did you bring down here?! Is this thing cursed?! Last time I checked books could not open on their own and start flipping pages without someone doing it! So what did you bring into our home?!
Yuki scatching his head in an unsure tone of voice:
No it’s not cursed… Well, I really don’t know. I’ve never seen it before, but it was the first one on top of the stack of books that I took. I wasn’t even truly paying attention I just grabbed the books and ran after I saw that ghost. I wasn’t trying to stay and figure out what kind of new books my parents had. Who knows when they went out and bought this darn thing! All I know is that we have it.
Casee:
Well it’s landed on a page all about Clover Island. I think this is the history of the island. Maybe it will tell us why it was closed off. It may explain a lot about who we are as well. Hopefully it can give us some answers to what has been happening as of late.
Fazil after silently reading the book:
No, no it doesn’t tell us any of that. It’s talking about Sala and Sidia. It seems that Charma wanted Sidia to be happy so he found her an actual living being and brought her to the heavens. Charma made her a warrior Goddess and sent her into battle with Bados.
Bara:
Okay who’s Bados?
Fazil:
Bados is now the Devil God Baarda. He was rewarded power from the heads of the Four Clans, given a bit of their power to fight off Blithe, several centuries ago. After defeating the sister world to Arcantha Bados became obsessed with power and wanted to take down the Four Clans. He tried and failed, and as a result he was banished to the depths of Apera. It’s the deepest sea on Arcantha. That’s what lies under the side rails—the holy waters. You never want to fall in because then you will be lost forever even in a small river.
Casee:
That’s why people take caution to step on the rails because you can die… (Quickly speaking after seeing Yuki’s facial expressions) but there hasn’t been such a death reported in like two decades; the rails are relatively safe. Go on Fazil finish your story about Bados.
Fazil:
Well after Bados was sentenced to spend eternity at the bottom of Apera he was then called Baarda to represent evil. Bados was a warrior angel, Baarda is a Devil God, but they are one in the same.
Casee:
Well, what does the book say next?
Fazil:
Well, Sala was killed in battle, but not by an enemy, but by Bados. A member of the Holy Army, Canna, went back and reported this to Sidia. She was so distraught over Sala’s passing, but she couldn’t convict Bados since no one else saw it, and the one who saw was said to be crazy and delusional already, therefore he wasn’t truly a reliable source… Well that’s what the book claims anyway.
Yuki:
Whoa, so Sala fought in the war as well? That’s pretty awesome! I wish I was brave like that. She was once just a normal being and now she’s a Holy relic. This is so cool to learn. (More to himself than anyone else) Awesomeness!
Casee:
I feel the same way Yuk. I feel like we’re finally getting closer to learning more of who we are. Okay so exactly what does the book say about Clover?
Fazil:
It says that you can find most of the answers on the Four Clans there. But you need the Pomi Stone of Sala which is hidden somewhere on the Fifth Island, Lydn. It doesn’t say where to look, or which village it’s located.
Bara:
Well I guess we’re going to have to search the whole island then.
Casee:
Problem is you have to fly there. There isn’t a side rail that goes to Lydn it was destroyed.
Bara looks at Casee with a shocked and saddened expression.
Bara somewhat yelling:
This is just madness!! Why was it destroyed? It’s one of the islands of Arcantha why would they get rid of the side rails to an active island?
Fazil throwing his hands up in the air:
Because, it used to lay directly over Apera. Since Apera houses the soul of Baarda the idea to get rid of the side rail was decided; the side rail was then destroyed.
Yuki feeling down:
Then what are we going to do? Bara and I can’t fly we don’t have wings right now. My birthday isn’t for another month. I believe. I haven’t seen a calendar since I left home.
Casee:
In any case if you did have your wings now they’d be growing without your control. I know I had the hardest time training mine to stay put. Also it’s kind of painful to feel them come through the skin for the first time. I cried so hard I had a headache and sore shoulder blades! You guys are going to have a time with those wings growing in. it’s going to really bring Yuki to tears.
Yuki tired of hearing Casee ramble on about the wings:
So not the point Case! You’re rambling now!
Casee:
Sorry Yuk.
Bara:
Well this is a bust! I wanted to go to Lydn and see the Island. Each one looks so different like they are a world of their own.
Yuki:
Yeah, I know after exploring three of them so far, including this one, I’ve come to understand so much. We have to get to Lydn.
Fazil:
Well how about this we close these books for now, because it’s getting late, and we find a way to get there tomorrow. We’ll probably need some supplies we might be there for a while.
Yuki yawning:
Fine by me. Can we please get a clock and a calendar I’d like to know what day it is as well as the time.
Bara:
I’m going to be thinking about how you and I can get to that island without wings or a side rail.
Fazil:
Okay guys, lights out it’s time to get some rest. We’ll discuss it in the morning. Right now we need to rest up and come up with a solution when all of our heads are a bit more leveled and we’ve had a good night’s sleep.
They all calm down and go to their places in the tunnel and go to sleep. Tomorrow was yet another adventure waiting and they were quite eager to get to Lydn the Fifth Island and see what new sights there were to take in; right now they dream, they dream of Lydn, they dream of Clover, and they dream of Sala and the Pomi Castle.
