After seeing the visions that rushed in like a mudslide, with tears on her face, Aletha covered her mouth, clearly remembering what happened to Sergil.
(The dragon, the true love, the feelings. Kali…)
Shocked by sudden memories, she could only speak to herself as her vision centered on the grass. The intensity of the moment pressed in on her, making her unaware of her surroundings until—
"Sergil..." she murmured.
Then, emerging with his golden eyes, Sergil took a step back and stared deep into the golden ball of light. Aletha's ponytail danced with the rhythm of the bristles of grass, her dress gleamed underneath the mellow luminance, and her face, as bright as it was, continued to shine within the space.
Seeing clouds on the horizon, Aletha was driven to wonder.
"Who is he?"
Afterward, the man turned his body back, giving a greeting smile at her. This, followed by Aletha's resounding question, forced him to greet her.
"Yes. I see that you have figured it out by now. My wish is in effect…" The man uttered as he turned to the shallow cyan water ponds, towards Aletha. "I am Sergil, The King of Linuxinia. I noticed you have recollected my memories and acknowledged how I made the wish. Not just that, but you now know how I can foresee the future, and how I loved Linuxinia fully."
After scratching his head, he brushed the formality off his face and asked with an inviting grin.
"So, Original Owner of Gincad, what do you want to know? Why have you come here?"
"Owner of Gincad? No one's called me that. Why invite a stranger where you rest?" Aletha asked.
"So I see you forgot your memory," Sergil said as he turned to the heavens. " It's quite understandable, having been five thousand years since you were first mentioned in those history readings. "
. . .
After a heavy silence, a gentle breeze passed by the pond, prompting the two to sit down and finally begin their conversation.
The woodland was filled with greenery, with a never-ending dawn opening up the expanse.
The golden light hung high above the sea, while the moon shone just beneath the starry sky. After the horrifying events of Sergil's past, Aletha wanted to take a grasp on this situation and ask him everything she needed to know.
"First, what happened to Adeline? Did she die, or is she still alive?" Aletha asked.
"Both," Sergil replied, watching the birds. "Adeline is still out there, just different. Her fate is hard to recall."
Aletha nodded, pretending to understand, even though she didn't know much. She pushed the thought aside and asked another question.
"So tell me, Sergil. What was the full version of your wish?"
"I wished for Happiness," said Sergil as his green hair and golden crown fluttered in the wind, "Not just happiness. But love too, and an ability to foresee everything. All I wanted was for my life to be happy. After losing my love, Adeline… I…"
Before he could finish, he bent down in pain, remembering bad memories.
"What happened with you and Kali?"
"We made a truce," Sergil replied with a downer tone. "We made a promise not to love each other, but to become allies. To scale the mountain and bring forth prosperity to all of Linuxinia. As King and Queen of Linuxinia, we became the best of friends, but nothing more than that."
Sergil stepped forward and went on.
"The prophecy is true. We were ideal partners. Kali healed the wounded in the War of the Wish, and I spread joy to the nation. But this joy doesn't last like real happiness."
"Joy?" Aletha retraced his words. "What is this joy?"
"The Sealed Beatific," Sergil replied. "When that fissure opened up on the crumbling mountain, I jumped into the core and made The Sealed Beatific, an essence of happiness that forces all to be joyful and happy. It's like… a drug. A glorified drug of ecstasy and "love". I suggest you pursue true joy. Because this happiness… it won't last. It is but a forced feeling. One that doesn't feel like true happiness."
It was at that moment that Aletha recollected the events that had followed the train crash.
How she saw these strange particles and everyone being joyful.
This, combined with the chaotic happenings and smiles from her brother, made her wonder if this was true joy or a false joy, like the Sealed Beatific.
Stunned by the knowledge, Aletha decided on one final question.
"Who is Alaunus?" she asked as the wind rose.
"Alaunus. Yes… Alaunus." Sergil struggled to say anything, but after staring into the clouds, memories of her flooded back, causing him to spill out the details. "Alaunus was a dragon. Not some small dragon like… the one on the peak. She was a giant dragon. She had the same power I did, but on a grander scale."
Recollecting the moments with her and Kali, he gently wiped a tear from her face and said.
"Alaunus was once seen as a dragon of chaos and destruction. In truth, she only aimed to help troubled people. They say destruction heals this world. There's more to her than meets the eye. I won't elaborate further on Alaunus, but I must say one thing."
As Sergil began to dissipate into the heavenly abode, he gave Aletha one last smile and said…
"She will awaken soon. When she does, fear will spread. Be careful—simply climbing a mountain may be your greatest challenge. I've seen the future. It starts at Linuxinia Peak, facing the dark dragon. Only then..."
As the space around them shredded, Sergil hugged Aletha and whispered, shedding a tear.
"...shall the world be saved?"
* * * * * * *
Suddenly, Aletha's eyes peeled open, to reveal a fairly sized wooden room filled with windows, desks, wardrobes, ceiling lights, and…
"Greetings, Toivo's household. Aletha, Asahi's sister, correct?" said a feminine voice as Aletha awoke. "We are here to greet you and invite you to Toivo's mansion—for both boys and girls."
"Boys and girls?" Aletha muttered. "Wait, how do you know I'm Asahi's sister?"
"He mentioned you in his training," Kendra said as a white-haired boy stood on the other side of a door.
"Training?" Aletha said as she rubbed her head. "So, he did training too?"
"Of course! We have been watching him train for quite some time now."
Quickly, Asahi stepped in and stood next to Kendra, holding hands as Aletha stared at him with shocked eyes.
"Asahi! W…What happened to you?"
"Training," said Asahi to his sister. "A lot of training and wit."
"And adventures! Asahi and I ventured through underground caverns filled with people and wonders." Kendra chimed in.
"Underground? Caverns? Asahi, where were you?" Aletha paused, eyeing his changed attire and face.
"Kendra, settle down. My brain can't comprehend what you're saying."
Then, a ruby-haired girl stepped inside the room, swiftly running to Aletha and embracing her.
"Aletha! You're okay!" the ruby-haired girl said with relief. "Though I lost my home, I'm glad you're safe."
"We thought you were dead," Phthonus said, stepping through the doorway. "About the book—oh, and greetings, Asahi. It's been a while. You've truly changed."
Kendra leaned on his arm and said. "Yes, he did. He's big and strong now."
"Kendra, not now," Asahi said, struggling to focus. "Sis, I've been through a lot. I barely remember what happened with Kendra—just blue and golden light."
Indeed, it had been a long time since they last saw each other.
Asahi still had no sense of what had happened back in Clearstar and Alai's abode. This, combined with his memory loss, left only Kendra to remember it all. Despite the confusion that shadowed his thoughts, a flicker of recognition sparked in Asahi's eyes as he looked at Aletha. Relief washed over her, and she threw her arms around him, holding on with an unexpected tightness. Her ponytail swayed side to side, mirroring the ebb and flow of emotions she felt. She whispered, "Asahi, I've missed you so much." As Asahi reciprocated her embrace, a sense of warmth and belonging replaced the void of memories. They stood together, connected by the bond of shared experiences and newfound revelations, each cherishing the chance to face their journey no longer alone.
"Asahi, you can't imagine what it feels like to see you again," Aletha exclaimed, the others watching in adoration. "So much has happened since we split up. Seeing your face and new form, I'm glad we both underwent a trial."
. . .
After their happy reunion, Aletha, Asahi, and the others left the house and joined Toivo and Joshilyn at the table outside, next to the porch, where they began discussing the situation.
(For this table talk. They will be speaking in script writing, making it easier to discuss. This is only special for this chapter.)
A spectacle of several colors of hair and varying shades of skin all sat outside.
The sun was nearing its noon state, while all the maids watched as Toivo and the group sat together.
Aletha and Asahi sat next to Alai and Phthonus, while the others, like Joshilyn and Canyon, took their seats around the outer edge.
At this table, they began to make a plan, with Toivo in charge.
First, Alai informed everyone about the looming threat, The Attacker, and how it made a dent in their position.
Alai: "Aletha, Phthonus, Emine, Pridia, and I fought this figure that seemed nearly impossible to beat. It had several arms and a beaming visor. It's unlike anything I have ever seen."
Phthonus: "It's a formidable opponent. With technology coming from the depths of Wraileza. If we ever want Asahi and Aletha to climb the mountain, we have to find someone to…
Joshilyn: "Before we even start on whatever the heck this opponent is, can we express the risks and dangers of climbing the mountain? Aletha, do you have any idea what your brother and you are going to do?"
Aletha: "I say we climb the mountain to the very top. There is a dragon up there that will never cease to encircle the peak."
Afterward, Canyon, Brunella, and the others stepped toward the table, expressing their concern.
Canyon: "We found Asahi near an opening underground. Yes, there was indeed rubble, and Asahi is right, Kendra and he DID go down to the depths."
Kendra: "You're right about that Canyon."
Joshilyn: "Do you have any idea what you saw with Asahi, Kendra?"
Kendra: "I saw several groups of people narrowing on this hallway with skeletons everywhere. It seemed we had defied the very law of this world, causing this chain reaction to form this huge earthquake."
Phthonus: "That's very straightforward, might I add you?"
Alai, pushing her hair back, slammed her fist on the table and interrupted.
Alai: "What we fought wasn't anything like in Linuxinia. I remember Kali calling it The Ultimate Weapon of Wraileza. Is that true?"
Suddenly, another person with blue-lavender hair stepped forward. It was Kali holding onto a copy of what seemed to be…
Alai: "The Prophecy book?! There were still copies?"
Kali nodded silently. Then, as everyone watched her slam the book on the ground, she flipped a page relating to the peak, showing illustrations of its triangular point.
Kali: "Only one was left after the rubble. After Aletha passed out, I saw a page of the prophecy pried open that said the Dragon will be conquered."
Kendra: "Are you sure this prophecy hasn't come into fruition already? Do Asahi and his sister HAVE to climb Linuxinia Peak?"
Kali: "I'm positive. As the Queen of Linuxinia, I will say for certain that a mountain must be climbed. The prophecy dictates that only by reaching the summit can the impending doom be averted. Alaunus, the dragon, guards secrets that could either destroy or save us. If we do not act, Linuxinia may fall into an irreversible chaos. The mountain climb represents hope and the potential to turn the tide against our fate.
Caging her fingers, Kali Leila, the once cheer-filled girl, masked her face into seriousness as she spoke this one last sentence.
"...Or else all of the people of Linuxinia will perish."