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The Feri War
Chapter 9
'Is this a healing or a cult ritual?' Connor whispered as we ascended a torch-lit narrowly carved staircase into the rocks below the Mathyel citadel. I inwardly cringed because right in front of us, were the leaders and not to forget that behind us the resident's women was following closely. Wren punched him lightly.
'Enough, Connor.'
'A bit of both,' Maya whispered back. 'I actually don't see the difference. Healing for us involve divine intervention. Now keep quiet.'
I was sceptical about the whole thing too but unlike Connor, I kept it to myself.
Our destination was a cavern large enough to hold an Olympic size tennis court, but of course, it was uneven on all sides. The ceiling was high. At least as tall as twelve men forming a human ladder. In the middle was a pool of murky waters. Perhaps the most prominent feature of this place, which gave out an awe moment, is the bioluminescent walls and ceiling. That explains the absence of torches there.
I heard Keene telling Connor that each tiny glow was a tiny worm that lives in the crevices of the whole cavern. I suppose he would know since he comes from Koff, a witch town known for its caves.
My companions and I stayed close to the leaders while the other women surrounded the pool. When everyone was in place Mother Gina spoke.
'For generations we the disciples of the Goddess has sworn to serve her in this life and beyond. Do we still honour that oath?'
'We do,' they all said in unison.
'In the name of the Goddess, we swore to protect the weak and provide for the poor. Do we still honour that oath?'
Once again they chanted. 'We do.'
'As disciples, we promise to fulfil The Goddess' wishes. Do we still honour that oath?'
'We do.'
'If so, do we as the disciples of the Goddess, on our lives implore her to help and cure His Majesty of his affliction?'
'We do.'
She turned to. 'Your Majesty, we are but servants of the Goddess. Only she has the power to grant you your wish.' She waved a hand towards the pool. 'She will test you. If she deemed you worthy, she will help you. Drink this.'
She handed me a goblet with a brownish liquid inside. Assuming it was brown, I couldn't tell.
'Something wrong?' Mother Gina asked. I grew embarrassed when I noticed everyone watching me. As if she sensed my apprehension, she added, 'no need to worry. It's just a mild tea with some azurite in it.'
It didn't alarm any of my friends so I drunk it.
'Now step into the water, close your eyes and wait for her call.'
The whole situation creeped me out. I looked at Wren and Keene. They both nodded. I knew they have my back if anything suspicious happens.
Inhaling deeply, I untied my robe and stepped in the cold water naked. Goosebumps broke all over my skin. However, I didn't pause for a second as I went deeper into the pool.
All eyes were on me. Connor had a worried face, but Maya was there to offer her support. She grabbed his hands. That startled him, although, he didn't pull away. Wren encouraging face was the last thing I saw before I plunged into the deep end.
Closing my eyes, I relaxed my body and let myself float on to the surface on my back with sprawled limbs.
Cold. I felt really cold.
I don't know what kind of tea that was, but I was familiar with the onset feeling of getting high. I've been stoned before. With my neighbour-best friend Alex in the human realm, but my point is I think they drugged me.
My eyes were closed yet I was seeing so many colours. A sudden chill sensation ran up my spine to my brain causing me to feel extremely relaxed. Tempted, I opened my eyes. I cringed. Too bright. I raised my left hand to my face and it was odd how it arrived where I want it to a few microseconds late. I felt a giggle bubbling to the surface but I didn't actually giggle. Well, at least I thought I didn't.
People were making noises. I know they were speaking yet I didn't hear or care. I just closed my eyes again and basked in the feeling of euphoria.
When I thought things wouldn't be weirder, I heard a groan in my head. I immediately thought of the stone statue in the courtyard above. And just like that, I was standing in front of the fountain.
The groan again.
It was dark so I couldn't see anything but the fountain. 'Is anyone there? Hello?!'
No one answered, except the water lit up with a bright light. I took a peek. It was one of the white stone at the bottom. Against my better judgment, I fished it out and held it in my hand.
That was when I felt it, the pull of teleportation.
I honestly didn't know if it was the stone or not, but it all became blindingly bright again. And as my eyes became accustomed to it, I found myself standing in a gazebo-like structure in breath-taking views of a garden.
'Hello, you must the current Feres King.'
I turned towards the speaker to find a stunning woman in a sky blue long tunic fastened with a belt underneath her breasts. Her hair was knee-length and had flower woven into it like garlands.
"Who the hell is she?" I thought to myself. And I knew the moment she smiled that she was telepathic.
'I am Mara,' she said simply.
'As in the Goddess Mara?'
'Yes. Exactly that,' said another woman materializing right next to her. The newcomer was equally stunning as the first woman and dressed in the same fashion. Her dress was moss-green though. 'And, I am Rhea.'
Flabbergasted, I stared at them both.
Men! It must be some serious stuff they gave me, otherwise, nothing could explain the hallucinations. I inwardly grinned. I have to get Wren to try some of it.
The women laughed. I like the sound of their laughter. It was unique with an echo-like quality.
'I assure you, Your Majesty, you're not hallucinating. The drug you took made it easier for us to connect with you and the stone allowed us to teleport you here.'
I came to Mathyel to be cured, not to meet with their deities. What do they want?
'Nothing. We want for nothing,' Rhea said.
'No. We want something of you,' Mara said.
And there you go. Nobody does anything for free.
Rhea chuckled. 'You're right. Nobody does anything for free. But what we're asking is nothing like that. We just want a promise from you.'
I eyed her suspiciously. 'What is it that you want me to promise?'
'Tell him Mara,' Rhea said.
Mara turned her back to us and walked towards the end of the structure and looked beyond the garden.
'Rhea and I are of an ancient race of immortals called celestials. We've been around for millennia, some of us since the very beginning.'
'No wonder they call you gods.'
'Yes. That and because of our abilities. Rhea is tied to the earth and I dreams and prophecies.'
'We were once many but now we are the only ones left,' Rhea said.
Wow! Ok. I had many questions but I couldn't decide which one to ask first. It took me a few seconds to choose one. 'What happened to the others?'
'As I said, we are immortals, we can't die, at least not in the way you know death. Your people now are in slumber, so are ours. Except, ours are in eternal slumber. They will not wake until the end of this world, so we could reset it anew.'
I was so bewildered that I didn't know what to say. My brain on drugs was refusing to think properly. Did I just laugh?
'Go back to the promise thing. I want to know.'
'Wait. Let me,' Rhea said approaching me.
With two fingers, she jabbed me in the stomach, chest and forehead in quick succession. It wasn't painful but it cleared my mind straight away. 'Better?' She asked.
Wow. I need to learn that trick. It could be useful.
She sniggered.
Mara came back and stood next to us. 'Here's the thing,' she said. 'Rhea and I will enter our eternal slumber soon and there will be no one to look after our disciples when we're gone. Promise us that you and your kind will come to their aid should they need help in the future.'
They both stared at me intently.
The promise won't be a hard one since I already consider them family. They went out of their way to help me when I needed it and I will do the same for them in a heartbeat.
'I promise that I will.'
They both smiled.
Rhea put her hand against my chest. She closed her eyes as if she was feeling my core. 'I see the problem. The dark energy wants in but your core is fighting it.'
'Why?'
'It's because you are perceiving it as bad, that's why.'
'It is not?'
Mara huffed. 'You have been looking at the whole situation wrong. This war is not as it seems either.
'Let me enlighten you. The Northenders and the Feri were once one race. Upon a disagreement, the Northenders left to settle in the human realm. Feri cannot live without feri energy for a long period. With time the nature of their core change to adapt. Overwhelm by humans that have grown more confident and powerful with their science, the Northenders decided to return home.
'The Feri welcomed them back at first but it was apparent that they have changed. Soon the Northenders began to sicken from the change of environment again. The Feri tried to help but to no avail. In trying to find a solution one Northender attempt to merge a dead Feri's core to his own. It was the perfect solution but he went about it all wrong. When he failed. He concluded that the feri must be alive for the transfer. He abducted and started experimenting on live subjects. He was discovered and a war began between the two factions. The Feri were losing because they couldn't manage stress. In their world, they've never needed to fight and when they were confronted they've always had the superior advantage because of their powers. So, they turned the Northenders' servants against them. By changing the Targs nature, they became the perfect weapons against their masters. Alas, the feri couldn't adapt to a life of war so they started dying from stress. Slumber became the solution and you know the rest.'
'So the Northenders are not bad?'
'Everyone can be good and bad, Your Majesty. And to pin then all as bad will be presumptuous,' Rhea said. 'But regardless, they are a dying race. Only a handful of them is left now.'
'What?!' What is the point of this war then?
'The Northenders have long given up on the war when the Feri banished them to the Northlands. Their last attempt for peace died with Helledon when he tried to convince your father on their behalf.'
'Wait! I'm confused. Helledon is the good guy?'
The goddesses shared a glance. 'Initially yes. But his anger for what your father did to him is now fuelling his rage and vengeance. It's his war now.'
That explains Helledon's words in the vision my father showed me when he thought his circle brother had betrayed him.
'How do I defeat him?'
Mara pinched the bridge of her nose before responding. 'That I cannot tell you. Although, if you want a prophecy I can give you your stone.'
Getting a stone made it worst for my father and his circle, and even more for Wren's father. 'No thank you. I'd rather not.'
'Perfectly understandable.' Mara said. 'Although, I will give you three words; wing, can, and sand. They will come of use in the days ahead.'
'Wing, can and sand,' I repeated. What is it with old people and their riddles.
'Rhea do it,' Mara said. I knew she was referring to my core problem.
Once again, she placed her hand on my chest. 'Azurite is the key. Merge it with the dark energy and now let your core absorb it.'
I closed my eyes and felt my core. Rhea was right. My core has created a shield around itself to keep the dark energy at bay. Exhaustingly, I lower the shield and let the dark energy in. My core changed colour from a bright yellow to a soothing purple.
'There. It is done.'
My renewed core was full of energy. It was as if I was stoned again. And quite frankly, it felt even better than being stone. I can't wait to try my powers.
'Take it easy, your Majesty. Speaking of power. I also entrusted you with one of mine. Use it wisely,' Rhea said with a genuine smile.
Before I could express my gratitude, Mara flicked me on the forehead and I fell unconscious. I woke up in the pool with the promise I've made to them on my tongue.
..............
End of chapter 9