WoS Chapter 6

"Aaargghh!" yelled Cael at the dusty brown Ceree that was barreling towards him. With a flowery flourish that was more fatal than it looked, a ring of metal filled the air. Three daggers blossomed on the Ceree. One on its eye, one exactly on its chest and another square on the middle of its forehead. Just to be sure, Cael threw another dagger that found its mark on the Ceree's neck.

Silvery-gold metal gleamed in the light of Malleithen's now risen sun and quivered as the daggers slowly stopped vibrating. The pristine ivory hilts were now stained with red from the blood that had spurted from the wounds. "T-thank... Y-you" came a gurgled statement from the Ceree as it spat blood on the ground.

Cael looked at the Ceree, shocked at what had just happened and at the same time disgusted. Everything he had just done was against the culture he had been spoon-fed ever since his infancy. The sanctity of life was to be preserved no matter the cost, it was the path of tranquility and killing disturbed that tranquility.

He ran and leaped over the Ceree in one graceful motion, grabbing all four daggers and wincing as more blood sprayed out from the wounds. He bit back a curse as the metal began hissing, he had forgotten that they weren't designed to draw blood rich in magic. Without hesitation, he wiped it on the Ceree's coat that was already matted with crimson. He scowled when he saw blood pooling around the Ceree's head and chest.

He tried to run in the opposite direction, but something drew at him to stay. He sat there, dumbfounded, motionless even as a goo began spreading on the Ceree's body. He decided to recite an age old rite in the elven tongue. "Earthly brother, your life on this world has ended. As the seasons pass, leaves will cover your body as it returns to where it came. May the Lord of Time, Father Salkethe, guide you to peaceful rest in the last embrace of the Great Mother."

As though his prayer was answered, vines shot out from the ground and wrapped around the carcass. The goo shied away from the vines and Cael could have sworn that he heard a small shriek. Finally, the ground opened up as the goo evaporated and swallowed the body.

Stunned, Cael got up and ran in the opposite direction, following the rumbling of shifting stone in the distance. He figured that closer to the black dome, the labyrinth constantly shifted. He gathered his energy and directed it to pumping his legs forward. He rushed headlong into a pale green Ceree.

She didn't look the least bit pleased.

---

Erithe looked nervously at the dome of swirling black clouds. Misty tendrils drifted ominously from the main mass and she could have sworn she saw a laughing face on it. She was startled as all of a sudden, purple lightning streaked from the dome and hit somewhere random in the maze. She had the feeling that something was about to make the Labyrinth more challenging.

She ran with all haste as all of a sudden, the ground beneath her feet cracked and scalding steam hissed from it, soon followed by a gout of molten rock. She ran for her life, but troubled thoughts befuddled her.

She wondered whether she should try diplomacy with the Ceree she encountered or whether she should just kill them on sight and spare them the pain of death by transformation into Agador. Whatever the case, she did not want to commit a mistake when her life depended on it.

Suddenly, she found herself in a perfectly circular marble enclosure. Behind her, a slab of wall slid into place, sealing her in. Gleaming daggers, knives, krises, swords and bows and arrows adorned the circumference of the room.

On the opposite end of the enclosure was a red Ceree; Erithe identified her opponent as Agile Talon. All she had as a warning was the tingling sense of magic being used before a whip of flame came out of nowhere to strike at her. She was stunned for a moment, the alacrity at which the spell was cast was horrifying. Agile Talon were combat specialists, not spellcasters, but evidently, this Agile Talon was unique.

Striking with her own, albeit weaker magic, Erithe felt herself weaken. A cloud of dust exploded from the ground and from it, a thousand bolts of lightning sped for the other Ceree. They hit a barrier of air and exploded. Erithe barely evaded the retaliation and looked at a charred hole behind her.

Apparently, magic was not going to work against her foe. She had proven as much when she sent a bar of liquid flame against the other Ceree. It had failed spectacularly, every individual thread of magic flying apart. There was a ring of burnt ground and wall around the other.

She finally concentrated her last efforts on magic that was sure to kill the other. The adornments on the walls were shaken loose and they sped for her foe. A petty spell, against someone well-versed in magic, but it was nothing but a distraction. As the other Ceree battled against the oncoming weapons, Erithe reached out, snapped the opponent's back and stopped the other Ceree's heart.

The steel that hadn't yet been melted fell to the floor with a clatter.

---

Turning her back on her third kill, Jade grimaced and growled at the dome of black. She noticed the gleaming pillar that came from it, strangely, it called at her. She shook her head to clear it.

After three kills, she shouldn't have been disgruntled, but she had come upon her trusted friend and secretary. Normally, killing for her own gain wouldn't have distracted her, but ending the life of a once-close friend was travesty.

she didn't dwell on it any longer, what was important now was to kill Saffyre, or die trying. She doubted, though, that Saffyre would let her die peacefully.

She ran onward, eventually coming across a disgruntled pale gray. Fear was shining in the gray's eyes and she was walking towards Jade with a frantic step.

For a moment, Jade considered diplomacy. She knew that offering protection and proving her intention in the situation at hand would gain her a doggedly loyal follower. She stiffened when she saw the tell-tale signs of a stiffening Klimnu.

Before the other could attack, her soul had already left her body and it crumpled. Jade smirked. Ambush her, would they, they had better be prepared.

---

Malkuthe purred softly, 'master' was pleased. He was happy that 'master' was already happy, 'master' hadn't been happy for a long time. He was pleased with himself, he was sure he had done everything 'master' wanted and now 'master' was winning against the bad people who wanted to stop 'master's' plans.

He groaned, though, because he was stuck with a menial task as the bad people fought through 'master's' maze. Soft snoring came from underneath him, Raducan was asleep against his thighs. The younger Agador did indeed act like a child at times.

The younger Agador idolized him and followed his every whim, unless 'master' told him otherwise, and she didn't do so often. He didn't want the attention and being a master over the younger agador, Being one was against his very nature.

He had been given the task of teaching the other Agador everything that 'master' had taught him. The younger Agador had soaked in everything like a sponge. Now he was stuck with the task of watching over the younger. He followed 'master's' word, though, and did not mind.

'Master' looked at the two of them fondly and Malkuthe's ears perked up. His tail began to swish back and forth, indicating that he was pleased. He groaned, 'master' hadn't petted him for days.

The younger agador shifted in his sleep, but Malkuthe would not allow Radu to bite his tail again. He contacted the younger Agador mentally, it was a skill of Agador, 'master' had explained.

"Malkcoyel, younger tooth, rouse yourself." Malkuthe shifted and let Radu's head fall to the ground softly.

"Yes Karyun, elder fang, I am awake." Radu rose from his slumber, yawning."Look Karyun!" he said, pointing at a grinning Saffyre.

R-Radu (rageform radu) continued to speed through the labrinth looking for any sign or scent of liara. He moved at an unnatural speed, he either jumped high over a ceree in his path or he knocked it into a wall... Soon he came accross an agador. This time R-Radu stopped radu in this form was the same size as this agador even though it was much larger than a normal ceree. r-Radu roared at it and leaped, and so did it

the two collided in middle air, R-radu's talons and alearons slicing at the agador as it lashed back at him. Finally R-Radu's teeth caught the Agador's throat. The agador began to struggle trying to free it's neck from the grasp of E-Radu's fangs... Then finnally R-Radu snapped it's neck with a creul twist, magic leaving his body and turning the agador to dust.... R-Radu's markings glowed their magic healing his wounds and protecting from the agador's curse

E-Radu roared loudly enough to make the ground at his feet rumble. With that he continued running

'That sounded familiar!' Liara looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the roar. 'Like Radu, but...' She paused. It didn't sound wholly like him, and she was scared that something had happened to him, or that maybe it was the agdor Radu which Saffyre controlled.
'We think it is best you keep moving,' Maetesk stated, as the ground beneath them began to buckle, molten rock and steam erupting randomly. Liara yelped as her fur was singed, darting from one area to another in order to evade it. Behind her, Maetesk yawned.

R-Radu found liara's scent, it's red eyes scanning the area. R-Radu turned a corner, he was close. Not bothering to think about the changes in his form from his normal. Firstly he was agador sized, he looked completely feral. Long saber like fangs jutting out of his mouth, red eyes flashing, spear tipped alerons lashing about. His talons where longer, over all he was almost unrecognizeable at the moment except for his dark purple and gold marked fur. As he neared he sensed a source of incredible power near liara... But it seemed neither good nor evil. He shook his head not sure if he could combat it if it was hostile

the scents got stronger as he entered a area where steam and fire erupted. He saw two figures farther off, and raced towards them. One was definatly Liara but the other... Well it looked like a mix between a living statue and a ceree, immense power seeping freely from it. R-Radu roared speeding towards them, easily doffing the small eruptions around him

Liara's eyes widened as she saw the newcomer hurtle towards them. It didn't look like Saffyre's agdor Radu...
'Radu? NO!' A tear fell from her face. 'You..you've been turned?' She was certain that he was about to attack, and could do nothing but weep, Maetesk stepping in front of Liara to shield her from the magma - and from R-Radu.

R-Radu stopped directly infront of Maetesk...he was fully large enough to stare maetesk in the face. His red eyes glaring into the eyes of Maetesk's soulless eyes... Strangly a form of understanding passing from R-Radu to Maetesk. In a way both where neither good nor evil, only out to do whatever was needed to accomplish their goals. R-Radu knew it would be pointless to try and fight this creature before him.

R-Radu slimply walked around Maetesk, only giving a simple rumble to signal he meant no harm. He walked around to the crying Liara and sniffed her like he was making sure it wad her. He looked at her quietly and his eyes softened from red back to gold. He smiled and nuzzled her. As he did he slowly shrunk and looked less feral. This continued until he was fully back to normal "sorry I didn't mean to scare you" he purred

Saffyre had all-too-well seen the living statue coming, after all, it was someone that shared something similar with her. It had a fraction of an Astrailun's power, but nothing even close to the amount she held. Whatever the case, he was nothing but a nuisance to her at the moment and she would do nothing to destroy it for now.

She had been surprised to see Raducan well and alive, but somehow, she knew how it had happened. She was careless during the turning, but that was of little consequence. As the small group of three got nearer to the heart of the labyrinth, the Rose of Sanctuary pulsed.

There was a resonance and she was sure it was from the strange one called Liara. It couldn't have been the Bloom, but one of the other artifacts was hidden within the other Ceree. She smiled, the Lily of Life was around her person, so cleverly hidden that not even the carrier knew where it was.

She would succeed and Sylfe would be the site of her Ascension. After that, maybe she would return Malkuthe to his original form. It was the least she could do for the servant that had helped her gain her goals.

She couldn't help grinning. That was Saffyre, not the spirit of Sa'Maihan Sar'Haiel. She could control the spirit and she had actually integrated it into her own, but she was still occasionally herself.

'I,' Liara breathed out heavily, nuzzling Radu back. 'I thought...'
'We think it is best for us to carry on,' Maetesk grumbled. 'After all, the ground is not firm, and the maze is yet to be conquered.' Liara shook her head, annoyed as he started to move forwards again.
'I thought Radu was dead and now you're telling me to just, move on? Have you no feelings at all, you -' Liara cut herself short. 'You...I...I'm sorry,' she mumbled.
'No need,' Maetesk replied, glancing back at her and Radu, 'we, like you say, have no feelings. So we do not feel this 'sorrow', nor 'loss', nor 'pain'...nor any for that matter. We cannot feel something for the loss of feelings, because we have none. Your comment is therefore not unkind to us.'
Liara leant against Radu for a few moments before getting up. 'Come on, he's right,' she sighed, following the strange beast. 'We'd best move on.'
They'd been walking for a while when Liara turned to Maetesk, curious. 'Why do you always say 'we' all the time, instead of 'I'?'
Maetesk gave something that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. 'Because we are not singular.'
Giving up on the argument, Liara returned to looking at Radu, concerned. 'Are you ok? What...why were you so different?'

"it's a form of self defense given to me by my markings. To be honest I took that form while I was breaking out of the crystal prison" he paused " it's a strange power to use... When I take that form I'm larger stronger faster but like maetesk I don't really feel much of anything. I just continue moving towards my goal" he sighed and looked down as he walked "I didn't want you to see that, I thought you wouldthink I was a... A.. Monster"

'It's alright,' smiling, Liara bent her neck so she could look at Radu. 'Don't stare at the ground, the sky is far better if you must stare at something. Hope, upwards, and all that.' She gave a grim smile. 'Though since we're barred from the air, it seems hope is out of reach for now.'
'We have company.' Liara's alerons whipped up as four agdor came hurtling round a corner, chasing a frightened ceree.

Radu jumped at the agadors, taking his rage form. R-Radu chomped down on the neck of the closest agador. he growled and swung it into the others. before they could react, he bathed them in black fire. the stream of fire seamed to compact and change until it was a blast of black energy that began to burn the agadors. this was far from defeating them. he glanced at maetesk as if to say 'prove your strength to me by killing these agador... i doubt you could'

Unbeknownst to the three, Erithe was running down from the other way. She herself wasn't able to see the three through the steam that had so abruptly ended. She barreled onward, she just wanted to be able to go home, and she collided with Liara, effectively throwing the lighter Ceree into the air.

---

"Malkuthe, Radu, gather up the other Agador. We can't afford to have more of them killed," said 'master' and Malkuthe had happily complied, dragging along a Radu that was still nodding at 'master'

"Malkcoyel! Behave yourself," Malkuthe upbraided the other Agador in their mental link, drawing a whimper from Radu.

---

"Oh so tantalizingly close!" mumbled Saffyre when the two had left, feeling the ebb and flow of energy that was resonating between the Lily and the Rose. It was ecstasy incarnate, the feeling of that much power flowing from and to her.

She groaned, straining to hold on to sanity. The feeling of the power, but not being able to hold on to it for long was driving her insane. She could not have shown weakness before the two Agador, otherwise, they would be all over her before she could blink.

She dug her talons into the ground and the ground shook. Cracks formed and steam welled from the cracks, but they were trapped in small domes by the magic that blanketed the inside of the dome of black swirling clouds. She didn't have to look to realize that the Library was flying apart, stone by stone, minute by minute.

Seraph kept having nightmares about freezing at the frozen north. The fifth time he woke up, a figure was standing near his door. He was a pale blue ceree just like him. He was very old, and he had a droopy expression on his face. He was clutching a gameboard, the gameboard for the Game of the Fayett. He was wearing a sort of vest, the symbol of an eldee of the Sacred Wings tribe. " Elder, what are you doing awake this time of night. You should be asleep." The elder smiled. " So should you, chieftain. You have a big day tomorrow. How about a game of Game of the Fayett. It'll help calm you." Seraph was touched by the offer. " Sure elder. I would love to."

They started the game by reciting the rhyme.

" Wind to sear, Magic to rescind

Gold to bewitch

Power to blind

All these will break oaths that bind

He comes and alliance bends

Oaths will fall to fires that rend. "


After a few hours though, both players fell asleep. At the crack of dawn, Seraph was first to wake up. " Wake up elder, it is morning." The elder woke up with pain in his back. " good morning chieftain. Guess we can call this game a draw." Seraph laughed a bit and approached the elder. "Thank you elder for calming my mind. I am ready now for the frozen north. You may leave now."

Seraph prepared the things he was going to need for the trip. He prepared so many things, but soon enough he was already leaving. " Goodbye all, and wish me luck in this journey."

One minute Liara's paws were on the ground, the next they were scrabbling at air.
'Waaargh!' She yelled, falling back down with a crash, and immediately got up, teeth bared.
'Jeesh, watch where you're goin -' Liara stopped herself, staring at R-Radu. She was still a little uncertain of him when he was in that form, and watching him decimate the agdor was unnerving.
Meanwhile, Maetesk yawned again. The agdor near him were angered by this and barrelled into him - a mistake. Like the ones earlier, they too disappated into clouds of ash when they touched his armoured hide, as Maetesk's magic unwound the threads of their existence.
'It would appear they are drawing away...' Maetesk tilted his head to one side, watching as the agdor began to leave, as if called by something - or someone. 'Perhaps it has something to do with that power.' He closed his eyes, feeling the waves of raw magic from the library wash over him, and revelled in it.

R-Radu let out a snort of smoke ounce the agadors left. he turned around and walked not to Liara nor maetesk, but to Erithe. he lifted a paw and grabbed erithe's tail and pulled him closer to him, his talons scratching at her fur a bit. he growled with malice, baring large fangs "next time watch where your going, if you even so much as cause Liara to chip a talon... i'll rip you apart" Rage form or not, it was just Radu being protective. he snorted and let erithe go

Erithe yelped when the strange Ceree had grabbed her by the tail. She gasped audibly when she saw a very feral likeness on the large Ceree. It was terrifyingly beautiful, but nevertheless, frightening.

She nodded when the Ceree had spoken, and only realized it was Radu until much later. The walking statue did little to bother her, after all, not much could bother someone after seeing an Agador.

Turning to Liara, she said "I'm terribly sorry, I should have looked, but it's difficult to do so when you're being chased by the walking dead!"

---

Saffyre wallowed in the ebb and flow of power even more than before. It was intoxicating and she was hardly able to refrain from giving in. She was sure it would burn her to ashes if she so much as drew more than she was now holding.

She took off, and opened a hole in the dome. She looked out over the labyrinth which was beginning to look like a board for the Game of the Fayett. It was strange, as though the labyrinth had a mind of its own.

She saw Malkuthe and Radu near the opening to the dome, with a couple of Agador that were looking at both with adoration. When Malkuthe saw Saffyre, he sat down on his haunches and beamed up at her, tail wagging frantically. Everyone soon followed. She would have to take him away from the position of power, make him a personal servant that none of the Agador but Radu would see.

As though a beacon of light, she could now clearly see where the Lily of Life was, still a ways away from the heart. Its call was so alluring, but she would have to wait.

Seraph headed for the frozen north, though he he knew it was going to be terribly cold there, he never imagined it would be colder than he expected. But after a few weeks of travel, he made it to the Gate of Worlds. By that time, he was nearly frozen. " So... This is the gate... of Worlds." He tried to warm himself by breathing puffs of fire, but it didn't work. Instead, he used magic to cover himself in a veil to protect him from the cold. " Much better. Now let me see." He inspected the Gate, noticing three holes embedded in the Gate. So this must be where the three flowers go to open the gate. The Rose of Sanctuary, the Lily of Life and the Gelendrian Bloom. If one wishes to open the gate, he must first find the two flowers which is already hard enough but also to restore the Gelendrian Bloom. I guess fate made it hard to open the Gate of Worlds. If this is the case, then I need comrades right away. But I'm still afraid of the reactions of the other tribes. I must go back to Alriiea immediately."

Seraph flew back to the continent of Alriiea. Since he was already weakening, his magic also started to weaken, it was going to be a very tough journey back home.

'Don't worry about it,' Liara muttered, slightly annoyed at the way Erithe was looking at Radu.
'Should we go then?' she asked him. 'You know, before they decide to come back...or before Saffyre decides to rip the ground up again.'

R-Radu snorted but then made a meep sound. without warning he shrank back into radu. radu stumbled like a drunk and fell on his face "using that form to much tires me out" he sighed and stood. he growled at erithe. "well? lets move" he said as he started to walk "i heard once that the best way to get to the center of a maze is to follow the right wall." he said going that way

"But don't you think that's a problem when the maze is ALWAYS shifting?" interjected Erithe while reluctantly following Radu. Of course it wasn't the best of plans, but it was all they had right then. Still, she couldn't help but point out the obvious.

"Maybe YOU can barrel through the walls," she said pointedly at Maetesk.

---

Saffyre hovered there, still wallowing in the presence of both artifacts of great power, drawing unceasing pleasure from the invisible tidal force that would tear her apart if she ever gave in. The Lily was getting closer and more powerful its beckon grew as it did.

Saffyre resisted all instinct and flew down. The Library was almost stripped of everything in it. Only a few shelves remained and a few columns still stood. Everything was being torn apart, though, ripped piece by piece so masterfully that nothing ever fell apart until the last piece was chipped off.

She sat down and began reading the book she had taken earlier. "The blood of a pure white indeed..." she muttered.

"yes it is, but it's all we have... besides more than likely saffye will grow tired of waiting and just bring us to her eventully" he siad as he continued to follow the right wall, even if it did shift everyonce in awhile radu had the strangest feeling they where still growing closer to center of the maze. he noticed that they no longer encountered agador. occasionally he glimpsed a ceree, but it would scurry away since they didn't want to challenge a group of other ceree

"That might be so.... but I have a bad feeling of what's coming..." mumbled Erithe almost incoherently. Truth be told, she knew that everyone in her small group had fear in their hearts. Everyone except the walking statue that was.

With every passing moment, the screams of those being turned Agador were lessening and grew further apart. The maze was growing quieter and the walls shifted considerably less. The sultry wind that ravaged them occasionally started to wane.

It was becoming almost like a peaceful stroll in the garden, the maze being quiet and all. Rather than feel at ease, everyone tensed. In a noisy maze at least you knew what was happening; in a quiet one, not so much.

Erithe shivered.

---

Cael stepped gingerly over the cracked ground. A few moments ago, they had been spouting steam and molten rock, but now, they were completely silent, it was as though they were waiting for a big finale.

He knew he was still far from the heart, seeing that the dome was a ways away. Death could come easily for the unwary when in battle, but here, an easy death just meant a pathetic future as a mindless slave.

Although the maze was quieter, it definitely was getting more complex. Large circular enclosures were evenly placed and for some reason, once you entered one, you had to wait for a while for the thunderous sound of something like wood tumbling across the land before pathways open up.

He could have sworn he was on a gigantic game board.

---

Saffyre dug her claws into the ground. Chanting feverishly. The Recreation ritual was about to begin.

'You're right,' Liara replied, moving closer towards Radu. It was quiet - too quiet.
'Silence?' Maetesk asked.
'Yes,' she was irritated by his question. Far above their heads, a rumbling signified the approach of a thunderstorm. Hopefully they'd get to the end of the maze before it started to rain, though, after all, there were far worse things to worry about.

Radu found the silence more disturbing by the second... silence ment almost everyone where agadors, and possibly still in the maze... no they would of meet one by now. something had called the agadors away. Radu frowned as he turned a corner. they continued to wander the maze, now totally silent

radu almost felt as though he recognized the pattern of twists and turns, "like a game board" he mused silently. but he felt they where drawing close to the center, then he stopped. he heard foot steps... it was easy to tell these where two legged, not four legged like a ceree. he jumped around the corner, pouncing on whoever was there.... he found himself sitting on top of cael "oh hello there" radu blinked

The last thing Cael expected was bumping into Radu in the most uncomfortably awkward way. Ceree were surprisingly... odorless. "Hi... ummm... this is awkward..." said Cael. He almost wanted to laugh, he had wanted adventure and adventure he had indeed.

---

Jade had followed the little elf from a distance and sure enough he bumped into the others. She decided to show herself by walking with a gait fit for royalty.

"How many...?" asked Jade, suddenly grave and sullen. She wanted to know how many Ceree were lost.

---

The Agador were going ecstatic, many were swaying in time to the flow of the magic. Malkuthe himself was just resisting it, Master was drawing too much. Too much! He had to help her. Without thinking, he rushed headlong into the black wall of clouds.

---

From where her talons dug into the ground, white lines shot out. Pretty soon a web of them filled an area around Saffyre in the shape of a circle. The library was almost completely gone and wisps of white were mixed in with the black. In the middle of the dome, the Rose of Sanctuary floated, spinning slowly.