“Achoo!” Raven Noir sneezed suddenly, the sound echoing slightly in the ancient, dusty corridor.
“Are you alright, Lady Raven?” Leon Dragonheart asked, his face etched with deep concern.
Raven didn’t respond, simply rubbing her nose and continuing to walk forward. Her silence and the determined look on her face conveyed that she was more annoyed by the interruption than anything else…. Most of all she still wore those sunglasses!
Leon gave an awkward smile and fell in step behind her, following the rest of the group, casting occasional glances in her direction.
The Chosen Ones were currently making their way through the underground passages of the academy, guided by the Principal and five other important professors.
“It’s been a thousand years since anyone last came down here, so the dust has accumulated quite a bit…” Alaric explained his voice muffled by the handkerchief he held over his nose. He handed out additional handkerchiefs to the students, encouraging them to cover their noses as well.
As they proceeded, the underground seemed to stretch on endlessly. Despite being underground, the bricks and stones glowed with a mystical light, illuminating the darkness around them in a soft, ethereal glow that made the air itself seem alive with magic.
“I can feel a sense of purity here…” Finnian Sunfire remarked, his tone tinged with surprise and a hint of reverence.
“Yes, I feel it too,” Helena Sunfire agreed, touching the wall and sensing a connection to the ‘Mother Root.’ The warmth and gentle energy radiating from the stones felt like a comforting embrace.
The Principal nodded, acknowledging their observations, “This underground area is a sacred place, close to the Mother Root. That’s why you feel warmth and gentleness here. It’s a testament to the power and purity that permeates this place.”
Curiosity piqued, Helena asked, “What exactly is this place? And why are we here?” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, eager to learn more about this mysterious location.
Alaric simply replied, “You will see soon enough”
Helena sighed, her enthusiasm slightly dampened by the vague response.
Aqualina looked around, her thoughts racing, ‘They are going to begin now… ah,’ she mused. She had already heard some things from her mother, so she had an idea of where they were headed and for what purpose.
Soon, the Principal stopped before a huge stone door, as large as the entrance doors of the academy itself.
The door was adorned with intricate carvings and symbols that seemed to pulsate with energy. She, along with the five professors, stood before it and turned to face the ten students grouped by their respective empires.
The Principal began, “As you already know, you have been chosen by the Arcane herself, correct?” Her voice was steady and authoritative, commanding the attention of everyone present.
The students nodded in unison, a mixture of pride and apprehension evident on their faces.
“Then you are aware that among you, only one will rise to the top and become a Sovereign, correct?” She continued, her gaze piercing and intense.
Another round of nods followed, the weight of her words sinking in.
“And then what?” the Principal asked, her gaze sweeping across the students, challenging them to think beyond the obvious.
They exchanged unsure glances until Jack Sparrow spoke up, his voice steady as if he knew something, “To receive an audience with the Arcane herself.”
The Principal nodded but then said, “Yes, and…. no.”
Jack looked surprised, ‘no? I thought that was the whole point. Is there something more?’ he wondered, his brow furrowing in confusion.
The Principal looked at the others, waiting for another answer, her silence urging them to think deeper.
Helena stepped forward, “To receive an audience with the Arcane and… the Mother.”
Her answer caused several students to frown in confusion.
The Principal smiled approvingly. “So, the Saintess knows the truth?”
“Yes, the Archpriestess has informed me,” Helena replied respectfully, a hint of pride in her voice for having been entrusted with such knowledge.
“Oh? She did? That’s quite amusing…” The Principal mused before clearing her throat,
“The entire universe believes that the Arcane and the Mother Root are one entity, right?”
“Yes” Everyone nodded.
Principal continued, “However, in reality, they are separate beings.”
“What?!” Aria Zephyr exclaimed, echoing the surprise of the others. The revelation was shocking, undermining a fundamental belief held by everyone. ?σ-?я*￠е&-#аτ-?&??-??ρΥг
Everyone had always believed that the Arcane and the Mother Root were different forms of the same entity, an unshakable truth that…. now stood challenged. [Author’s Note: if getting confused For Example in our Earth’s Mythology just think Certain Gods took other forms to play/deceive/help others… So common people in this world believe in only one god who took two forms]
“Though it may be shocking, this is the truth, but common people might not know this because everywhere we believe Arcane was only one God and…. that’s all they need to know” the Principal said sternly,
“Anyhow, The Arcane and Mother always had some rivalry… That no one knows for what purpose but that’s not important to us anyway…
First, The Arcane chooses those who might become pillars of our worlds.
Then, These chosen ones are then put through trials by the Mother….
Those who pass become Sovereigns and receive an audience with both the Mother and the Arcane. And it’s not just an audience…
You are granted a wish.”
“A wish?” Kai inquired, his curiosity piqued and his mind racing with possibilities.
“Yes, any wish you desire,” the Principal replied with a smile that hinted at the incredible power and responsibility such a gift entailed.
The students couldn’t help but look surprised, except for Aqualina, who seemed unsurprised, already aware of this from her own sources.
“Any wish? Even bringing back the dead?” Nyx Shadowfall asked softly, her voice trembling slightly with the enormity of the possibility.
The Principal just smiled, “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”
Even Aqualina’s eyes widened in surprise at this. The Principal’s words suggested…. there was a possibility!!
“What’s the point of all this?” Aqualina asked, her eyes calculating and her mind working through the implications.
The Principal smiled and clapped her hands, “Clever, just like your mother. However, I’m sorry to say this….. but I cannot answer that.”
Aqualina nodded, understanding that the Principal knew more than she was letting on, ‘She knows something…,’ she thought.
Seeing an understanding girl unlike her Mother would bitch again until she got what she wanted, Principal smiled, ‘I suppose she taught her child better’ she thought.
The Principal continued, “All I can say is be prepared for everything. These trials are not as easy as they may seem. And most importantly, do not disclose what happens here to anyone… even those close to you,” she warned sternly, her voice carrying the weight of experience and authority.
Everyone nodded with serious expressions, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“Once you enter the room, many of your questions will be answered. Others will remain unanswered….. until you become a Sovereign,” the Principal said, snapping her fingers.
The huge doors opened, trembling the ground beneath them and sending a shiver through the air.
As the doors opened, a foul stench wafted out, like something had died and rotted there for millennia.
The pure energy that Helena and Finnian had felt abruptly stopped. Instead, dark, impure energy emanated from inside, causing Jack Sparrow and Nyx Shadowfall’s eyes to widen in surprise.
The Principal smiled cryptically, “Good and Evil are always needed for the world to move forward.”
Though most thought her words were philosophical, only the Principal knew their true meaning.
As they entered, the dark room suddenly lit up, as if anticipating their arrival.
The students and professors couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before them, their eyes wide with wonder and awe.
“WOW!”
Even that word couldn’t capture the magnificence of what they saw.
PILLARS!!!
Twelve towering pillars stood in a perfect circular formation, each one made of a material that appeared both metallic and intricately detailed. These pillars were colossal, stretching high into the ceiling of the cave, and each was adorned with ornate designs and patterns that gave the impression of ancient and masterful craftsmanship.
At the base of these majestic pillars lay a wide, circular platform. The ground was bathed in a radiant light that created an ethereal and almost divine atmosphere, casting a warm glow that accentuated the gold and metallic tones of the pillars. This illumination brought out the intricate details and highlighted the magnificence of the structure.
Everything was Awe…. Except that Stench that came from those pillars.