Chapter 4

The Master and his Companions left soon after he’d delivered his counsel, and we watched as their Griffis grew smaller and smaller in the sky. The fear that had gripped my heart was gone, but I wanted to go to Auntie and learn what the Master had told her. But Aase smiled and pulled me to the crowd dancing on the square.

I tried to tell myself that Auntie could find me if she needed, but even so, I didn’t dare to relax. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the Crystal floating before me in the temple. They had held this world in balance from the beginning of time, one for each element, and I would one day be tasked with guarding it and keeping the world in harmony.

“Relax, Silje. It’s okay..."

Aase took my hand and swirled around me, forcing me to follow her steps when uneasiness gripped my heart. I froze, pausing mid-step in our dance.

“What happened?” she asked.

I stared at all the cheerful people celebrating around us.

“Let’s... let’s go back," I murmured.

I took her hand and started walking to the temple, forcing her to follow. She sighed.

“You really want to know what he said…”

The temple was quiet as we entered, and even the helpers who were always around were gone. It almost felt like those first weeks, before the fear of the Spectres drove people to Naria. I shivered and wiped a damp strand of hair from my face and then took a deep breath. I touched the Flow, trying to feel where Auntie was.

“She is with the Crystal,” I whispered.

Without waiting, I climbed the narrow steps that led to the second floor. It was even more quiet here, with only the faint sound of the celebration permeating through the thick stone walls. We passed through the Great Hall, leaving footprints on the polished stone floor, and then through the narrow hallway until we reached the door to the sanctuary.

The wind howled in the cramped passage, and I hesitated for a moment before I reached for the handle. It was unlocked. Hesitantly, we stepped inside and walked up the ramp. We soon saw the faint glow of the Crystal, and a strange sense of calmness and clarity filled my heart.

The Crystal of Air, with its multifaceted sides, floated gently above the floor. It gave just enough light to reveal a big, undecorated room with small stone benches circling it. The large windows in the walls let the wind and rain pass through, but I knew that even during the strongest storms, this place felt calm and safe, despite the elements having free access.

Auntie sat on the bench at the far end of the room, her decorative headpiece gone and her old face etched with worries as she gazed into the Crystal. We hesitated, not wanting to interrupt her contemplation, but she turned to us and nodded, and we joined her on the bench.

“What did he say?” Aase asked as we sat down.

Auntie stayed silent for a long time before she spoke.

“The rumours are true. They do not know what has invaded our lands, but the Master claimed that our only chance was to move the four Crystals to Akkadia. They will use their combined power to protect us before it gets worse."

I gasped.

“But the Crystals… Why would they do that? They’ve always protected us…” Aase whispered and Auntie sighed.

“With time they will find a way, he said, but…”

“They know better than we do what to do…” I murmured.

Auntie slowly turned to me.

“Silje… Akkadia is small. There will not be enough space for everyone. I fear what will happen when we do as Council asks. I do not know if the balance of the Crystals will hold so far away from their resting place."

I shivered, and she continued,

“There was wisdom to his counsel, but his words were full of fear.”

She paused and gazed into the Crystal.

“I almost agreed to his demand, but the Crystal reacted to his words and showed me what would happen if I did.”

“I felt something too…” I whispered.

“What did you feel?” Auntie asked.

“A wave of fear, but…there is no reason to be afraid.”

Auntie shook her head.

“The Crystal knows you will take my place one day. It showed you the future the Council wishes for us to have."

“Isn’t there any other way?” Aase asked.

Auntie sighed.

“The future is an ever-changing weave of the Flow that not even I can fully see. It may be that other paths are not yet formed, but I believe they will become clear.”

“What will you do?” I asked.

“I told the Master we would need time to do what he asked for. He wasn’t pleased with my answer, even if he tried not to show it. He must have understood that I chose to wait.”

The next morning, Auntie announced that the Council had promised to do what they could to protect us, and her words only added to the festive atmosphere that filled the city. Only we knew the true meaning behind her words and watched helplessly as more and more people poured into the city.

Some days after, Kine arrived, telling us that the Earth Guardians were preparing to move their Crystal to Akkadia. I started to doubt Auntie’s decision not to follow the Master’s counsel, but I never dared to voice my doubts to her. With everything changing so rapidly, she’d decided to deepen her teachings, and I spent most of my waking time with her, trying to learn as much as I could about my future duties. She seemed to deeply regret burdening us with the knowledge of the Master’s counsel, but I was just happy I could help, even if what I did seemed small and meaningless.

I spent hours every day feeling the Flow of the Crystal while Aase ran errands for her. I never asked what she did, even if I could. Both of us had silently agreed to keep the few precious moments we had together at night and not give way to all the worries that filled our days.

I sat on the bed one night and combed Aase’s damp tail when a sharp whistle rang in the air. Aase looked at me.

"A courier?"

“We should go…” I sighed and got up, wondering why someone would risk flying a Griffi at night.

We’d given away most of our crystal lamps and other goods to those who needed them the most, so the house was dark as we found our way to the door and out in the open. Even through the pouring rain, we could see the white Griffi and the figure climbing down from the basket. Kine?

We ran to him. He looked tired, and he stumbled when his feet touched the ground. It must have taken a lot to force the Griffi to keep flying after the sun had set. He gave us a tired smile and pulled us into a hug.

Even though he was a common visitor in Naria, he never stayed long, taking off as soon as he’d delivered his talking stones. We’d never had time to speak about the rumours, and I didn’t know if he knew what had happened to our families. But the thought filled me with dread. We’d heard enough stories from those who reached the city to fear the worst. Dad would have led our people to Naria a long time ago if he could …

“I need to see the Guardian.”

“Will you stay for the night?” Aase asked.

He sighed and peered into the rain.

“I will…”

We walked in silence to Auntie’s home, none of us daring to share our fears with the others. She was already waiting at the open door.

“What news do you bring us this time?” she asked as we stepped inside.

He glanced at us, but Auntie said,

“They are allowed to hear it, Kine."

He nodded, and we sat down, but rather than reaching into his pouch to retrieve the speaking stones, he said,

“War has broken out between the Water Tribes.”

I gasped.

"But the Council? They must stop it?” Aase asked.

“I don’t know how much truth is in those rumours, but some said that they arrived a second time when the Ice Dragons hesitated following their counsel. That time, they decided to influence the Water Dragons, hoping they would take control of the Crystal and obey their counsel to bring it to Akkadia.”

I stared at him. There had always been animosity between the Water and Ice Dragons, competing hard for the honour of becoming Guardian of the Crystal. But war?

“Fear drives people mad, making them lose what they once held precious,” Auntie said. “But that the Council would interfere to get their way… I feared it may come to it."

“Did you see it?” I asked, but she shook her head.

“No, but I remember the fear in the Master’s eyes when he shared his counsel with me."

“What shall we do…?” Aase whispered, but Auntie just smiled and got up.

“First things first, I will make sure Kine won’t go to sleep hungry…”

I sighed.

“But…”

“Don’t worry, Silje... We will ask the Crystal to guide us.”

Aase glanced at me and said,

“Go, I'll take care of Kine."

Auntie sighed but nodded.

“Very well.”

She got up and took my hand, and we left for the temple.

“You grew up, Silje. Both of you did…” she said as we entered. “I will hold your Dedication ceremony when the Yari flowers are in full bloom.”

"Auntie…" I sighed as we began climbing the stairs.

“What?” she smiled.

“I…"

There was a loud bang, and screams erupted in the temple.

I rushed to the window, but Auntie grabbed my hand and pulled me up the last stairs and through the Great Hall. All around, I could hear frenzied footsteps filling the temple.

“Leap us to the Crystal!” Auntie yelled at me as the first Companion appeared in the hall.

"But Aase... I need to…”

“No, take us to the Crystal!”

Thick mist filled the room, and I coughed.

“Do it!”

“Aase…”

The air seemed to stop, and the Flow surrounded us as Auntie wove her spell, pulling me with her.

"No…"

But my scream never left my mouth, and the next moment, I tumbled down on the ramp leading to the sanctuary, and the door behind us slammed shut.

“Auntie!”

“Silje.”

Her voice brought me back to my senses.

“Do as I tell you! You will meet her again, I promise.”

“Auntie…” I whispered, but she just pulled me up as the door trembled with a loud bang.

“Hurry!”

She pulled me to the crystal room bathed in its soft light.

“What…what is happening?”

“The council has decided to take the Crystal to Akkadia."

“No…”

A wave of Flow washed over me, and I stumbled and looked at her with terror.

“What are you doing?!”

“I am sorry it came to this…”

She gave me a soft smile as another wave of Flow forced me to the floor.

“I am choosing you as the next Guardian and sending you to a safe place."

"No… Aase!"

I screamed and tried to push against the Flow, but stopping it felt like fighting against the wind. I watched helplessly as the Crystal dissolved from its place in the room, and a soft white light enveloped me.

The door burst open, and the Companions stormed into the room. Something pulled at me hard, and I plunged into the Flow only to see Auntie's lifeless body dropping to the cold stone as her last spell pulled me through time and space faster and further than it had ever done before.