XV

EVERWOOD

The pilgrims finally reached the hidden fortress of Everwood after three exhausting days of travel. The journey had left them with sprained ankles, the searing memory of a near-fatal encounter with a deranged Kael, and the lingering anxiety from two confrontations with Arakian soldiers. Though smaller and hovering closer to the earth, the crystalline base floated much like the Sovereign City. It was nestled so seamlessly into the forest that Reya had to tap a specific tree to reveal a concealed control panel. After she entered an access code, a shimmering, transparent-green spiral stairway descended to meet the forest floor.

The twins were mesmerized. The floating stronghold was a compact, lush replica of the Sovereign City. They craned their necks, taking in every detail as they silently followed Reya up the steps, completely lost in awe. Aden, Haken, and a visibly agitated Kiro trailed behind them. Reya and Kiro had just clashed over allowing the enigmatic Half-Elf into the base, but the consensus was that Kiro should let the matter rest. They were, after all, in a fortress filled with Sentinels; if Haken proved untrustworthy, the situation would be handled. Besides, as a Lumen Mage, he was one of them.

As they arrived at the summit, a young female Sentinel hurried toward Reya, her arms laden with documents and her expression fraught with worry. She murmured something in a low voice; the Aqua Mage gave her a brief nod before dismissing the younger woman. When Reya turned to face the others, her face was brighter than it had been since the night of the ball. "Well, I have good news and even better news. The good news is that you ladies have been registered as Sentinels and will begin your training as soon as possible. The better news is that the Princess is here and is eager to see us all."

Overwhelmed, as was becoming their new normal, Kara and Lyra exchanged a tentative glance. Kiro stormed past them into the base, shoving a bored-looking Haken aside. "Come along, then, everyone!" he called back over his shoulder. "Her Majesty awaits!"

Rolling her eyes, Reya offered the girls a polite smile and gestured for them to follow. She fell into step beside them, preparing to offer the explanations they so desperately wanted. "So, ladies, you're finally going to find out why you're here in Oria."

Reya had spoken with authority, but the newly awakened Lyra cut her off with a burst of excitement. "Oh, yeah! The Princess is going to tell us what's going on! Finally!"

Kara crossed her arms, tossed her ponytail, and gave a firm nod. "It's about time. How much longer did you expect us to continue on without knowing what on earth is happening?"

As they passed what appeared to be a classroom, Reya was about to reprimand them for their outburst. Her words died on her lips when Lyra suddenly gagged and gestured dramatically toward the room, her expression shifting to one of mock horror. She fake-fainted into Kara's arms, who rolled her eyes and pretended she was about to drop her sister. "Are we going to have classes?" Lyra wailed theatrically. "Like school? And tests? Oh, the horror!" The twins erupted into laughter, which was abruptly silenced when the teacher inside the classroom slammed the door shut. Reya pressed on, pretending their antics weren't giving her a splitting headache.

At the entrance to the conference hall, Kiro was anticipating their arrival, bouncing on the balls of his feet like an excited child. He chuckled amiably when Lyra threw herself at him in a bear hug, calling him by some ridiculous pet name. He took a moment to preen in a nearby mirror, adjusting his bandana. "I decided it was best that we all went in together," he announced. "Ready, everyone?"

Haken crossed his arms and let out a great yawn. "Let's just get this over with."

Kiro's fists clenched as he glared at the Elf. Aden glanced anxiously at Reya, who, sensing the brewing conflict, quickly intervened. "The Princess is waiting. Come along now."

She pushed open the heavy doors and ushered them into the chamber. At the head of a vast, green marble table sat Princess Calista, adorned in her usual pale clothing and simple crown. The table was surrounded by high-backed chairs with dark green cushions, lending the room a solemn, serious atmosphere. Numerous skylights and high windows let in the muted, greenish light of the forest, but they did little to relieve the somber mood.

A thick quiet fell as everyone took their seats. Kiro and Reya began the introductions. "Your Highness, Princess Calista, before you are the Amulet's Fated, Kara, and her twin sister, Lyra. They have traveled a long way and faced many perils to finally meet you. They are grateful for you granting them an audience so quickly upon their arrival at Everwood. The ladies are also—"

Sensing Kiro was about to digress, Reya smoothly cut in, launching into a comprehensive explanation of Haken's presence and tactfully maneuvering to include Aden's. "Your Majesty, this Half-Elf, Haken, saved Aden's life in battle against the Arakians. We are unsure of his origins or his allegiances. We felt it best to leave such judgments to your superior wisdom."

With a nod from Calista, Kiro and Reya took their seats closest to her. Kara felt an inexplicable shudder run down her spine as the pale Princess smiled at the twins.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Kara, Lyra," Calista said, her voice soft yet clear. "I am pleased you escaped the City unharmed when Kael unleashed his rage. I am also glad that my Sentinels did an excellent job protecting you on your journey here. In his last report, Kiro mentioned that you were both Fated Mages and that, in fact, we have four here today: Kara, Lyra, Haken, and Reya. This is very interesting indeed."

She fell silent, seemingly lost in concentration. The twins exchanged looks of irritation, and Lyra gave her sister a firm nod. The attention of the room, including the mildly surprised Princess, turned toward Kara as she cleared her throat loudly. Realizing she was babbling, Kara blushed scarlet, her eyes catching Haken's amused expression before dropping to her lap. "Um, excuse me, Your Grace, but why are we here, exactly? In Oria, I mean. Kiro and Reya wouldn't tell us anything, and I don't think Aden even knows. So... yeah." A faint smile touched her lips as she heard Haken snort softly in agreement.

The soft-spoken Princess returned the smile. "That is an excellent question, Kara. You are very shrewd, a trait I would expect from an Aether Mage. I understand your confusion; this must all seem very overwhelming."

The young women glanced at each other impatiently. That would be an understatement, Kara thought. The Princess regarded each of them in turn before she began, her gentle voice enchanting her listeners as it resonated within the aerystal chamber. "Long ago, the Sacred Beasts of Mynora reigned as gods over the many races of the world: the Kirin of Virtue, the Phoenix of Renewal, and, as you have seen, the Dragon of Might. These three spirits are the lifeblood of this world. Over time, they faded from their godlike status and became embodied in mortals. Kael, the traitor, is the physical manifestation of the Dragon."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over them. "It is the role of the Princess of Oria to protect the Sacred Beasts and ensure the well-being of Mynora. It has come to my attention that a grave threat now faces these three ancient spirits. Kiro, tell them of Arak's plans."

At a nod from Calista, Kiro rose and retrieved a small black object from his pocket. He went to the head of the table behind his Princess and tossed it into the air. In response to a whispered word from Kiro, it flashed brilliantly, projecting a holographic image onto the crystal wall. Kara and Lyra stared at the display, amazed once more by the fusion of magic and technology.

It was a magnificent, shimmering map of Mynora. Oria, the largest of the three nations, dominated the map, a vast expanse of plains, forests, and a rocky eastern coast. To the west lay their armed adversary, Arak, a strategic peninsula of low mountains and arid desert. To the north of Oria, separated by a towering mountain range, lay the remote nation of Zandar.

"This is Mynora, our world," Kiro remarked, as the map zoomed in on Oria. The focus then shifted, and the enemy nation seemed to loom over them. "This is Oria, the land of the Princess. For generations, Oria has upheld the laws laid down by the First Princess after the First Prophecy came to pass. We have only ever strived to maintain peace and stability." Kiro hesitated, his expression hardening with an enduring animosity for their longtime foe.

A sudden tremor of uneasiness passed through the room, and Kara instinctively opened her mind, seeking its source. Her emerald eyes found Haken, who met her gaze brazenly, his head in his hands and his elbows resting on the table. Using her Aetheric ability, Kara slipped into his mind. "Haken, why are you so uneasy? What—"

Images of a burning village. The screams of women and children. Two small boys fleeing at a woman's tear-choked command. The sensory assault surged through her, violently expelling her from Haken's mind.

She gasped, jumping in her seat and startling everyone. "Kara? Is everything okay?" Lyra asked, grabbing her sister's arm.

Kara nodded numbly, shooting a bewildered glance at a suddenly irate Haken.

Kiro's agitated voice cut through her confusion. "Kara? Lyra? Are you two paying attention?" The twins looked up to see him standing before a projected image of the Queen of Arak.

The Princess's voice broke the tense silence. "Kiro, please continue."

"Y-yes, Majesty! As I was saying, Queen Kyreth of Arak has been gathering significant military strength. Her army is formidable, employing the resources of her country to their full potential."

Kiro nodded to Reya, who took over the briefing. "Arak is rich in ore deposits, allowing them to mine and refine vast quantities of metal. With that metal, they are building gigantic weapons."

"Weapons?" Lyra whispered, her thoughts racing to the powerful nuclear arms of her own world.

Kiro nodded, retracting the briefing. The image of Queen Kyreth was replaced by a blurry, long-distance view of a massive, humanoid robot. It resembled one of the mobile suits from the television shows the girls adored back home. "This is the only image our intelligence unit has secured of the giant weapons Arak is developing. They are capable of dealing an immense amount of damage with energy-based weaponry. It is also rumored that they are developing a way to channel the magical abilities of their pilots in battle."

Haken's snort drew the room's attention. It was Calista who spoke first. "Do you have something to add, Half-Elf? It seems you know more than you are letting on."

The trademark sneer returned to Haken's lips as he sighed and dropped his hands. He rose and walked to the nearest window, gazing down at the forest below. Everyone waited, watching him.

"I've been spying on the Arakians for quite some time," he stated, his voice unnervingly calm. "I've gathered a bit of information on their Mech Unit, as they call it. And, as our cocky friend here hinted, these mechs can indeed channel the magical abilities of their pilots. Truly, they are fearsome to behold."

His face a mask of fury, Kiro strode to Haken, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around. "Who are you working for? Why have you been spying on Arak? Are you—"

Haken effortlessly jerked free, shoving Kiro back a step and cutting him off with a sharp retort that only further enraged the commander.

Anarchy erupted. Everyone was on their feet, shouting at once for the two men to stop, a chaotic attempt at professionalism. But the Princess remained seated and regarded Kara with a faint, knowing chuckle. Kara, who had been about to intervene, froze as she felt the Princess's power touch her mind.

"Kara, we need your assistance. You must find the other Fated Mages and unite them for our mission."

Kara answered, her initial astonishment at the Princess's immense Aetheric might giving way to focus. "A mission? What mission? What is your goal?"

At last, the Princess rose. With a swirl of her hand, she conjured a swirling ball of Gale energy. "We seek to gather the Sacred Beasts, to protect them from Kyreth."

The shouting intensified. Calista unleashed the small tornado into the fray. It scattered the combatants, sending them stumbling and ending the scuffle instantly. Kara, who had moved closer when she felt the surge of energy, stood with her eyes locked on the Princess's. "What does Kyreth plan to do with the Sacred Beasts?"

Calista withdrew from Kara's mind and spoke aloud for all to hear. "The Queen of Arak plans to slaughter the Sacred Beasts to weaken my power and seize control of Mynora as a dictator. We have to stop her at all costs, Kara. When the time comes, the Amulet will lead you to the other Mages. You will know what to do."

With that, the Princess dismissed them and swept from the room. Humiliated and furious, Kiro scrambled to his feet, scowling at them all. He jerked his head toward Haken, who was now leaning nonchalantly against the far wall, his arms folded and his brow furrowed. "Great! A great job infuriating her! Now I'll have to beg for a private audience to discuss this pea-brained moron."

Kiro's voice jolted Kara back to reality. She blinked several times as a slow, cold anger began to build within her. Sensing her sister's rising temper, Lyra quickly steered Kiro from the room. "Come on, Kiro! Give me a tour of this place! Please?"

Once in the hallway, he shrugged off her hands and spun on her, his eyes blazing with rage. "What do you think you're doing? I have to keep my eyes on that punk, or he'll end up destroying this base too! I have to—" He cut himself off, his expression softening at the hurt look on Lyra's face. She looked devastated by his outburst, tears welling in her green eyes, a faint pout on her lips. Kiro laughed uneasily, a flush rising to his cheeks as he scratched the back of his head. He glanced away, his voice gentle. "I apologize, Lyra, for yelling. I just… well…."

Lyra sighed. "I understand. I'm sorry I—"

Kiro cut her off by abruptly sweeping her up into his arms. She gasped, then laughed as he spun and raced down the corridor. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she wailed, "Where are we going?"

Grinning, he ducked through a doorway and down a set of steps. "My favorite place in the entire base. The gardens."