"What is your name, can I ask?" Varma bravely asked the Holy one they were following through a jungle of thick vines and trees.
"My name is Malakiis. What is yours?" The Holy man answered.
"I'm Varma. The inheritor of the Fire Feather after the Crown's forces killed her because I breathed in her last breath." Varma answered.
"I can tell that you are truthful. I am glad that the Fire Feather's power was inherited someone as honest and goodhearted as you." Malakiis said to Varma.
Varma felt honoured and a little embarrassed.
"And what is your name, soldier?" Malakiis asked the freed and humbled former soldier who was following along.
"My name? It is Ogtse. Son of a tanner, turned soldier." The former soldier answered.
"By your nature you are a good heart." Malakiis told him.
Malakiis then looked at Yilka and came closer.
"I can tell that you have anger inside you. But your anger is righteous. Use it righteously, but do not let it take a hold of you." Malakiis told Yilka.
Yilka swallowed. He was unnerved at how accurate Malakiis' reading was.
"Righteous anger. That has a nice ring..." Varma commented.
"I'll fight for what I value and what I wish, with wrath and love in my chest." Yilka replied.
After wondering through the jungle of thick and tall vines and enormous trees, a sight worth travelling across the land came to the sight of the travellers. When they had passed the last vines, they saw an open land area in the shape of a great circle, where stone pyramids made of polished white stone were standing proudly among towers and hill houses made of the same stone. The entire circle was surrounded by fruit trees, nut trees and more vines. At the back of the circle was a temple with steps leading to it, and on the roof of the wide and beautiful temple was a statue of Goddess Leri. But behind the temple was something that was more amazing than anything else they had seen on the island yet. A green womanly figure with no legs that was growing from the ground and towering over everything else within the circle. The green womanly figure was made of thick vine and only the barest of facial features could be seen on her. From her head grew more long vines that grew downwards, almost like hair.
"Is that the Crownmother?" Nofa asked.
"Who else could it be?" Venamo answered with a question.
"She's quite big." Varma pointed out.
"Bigger than any of the other Grand Beasts I've seen." Yilka added.
The travellers saw Malakiis walking towards the temple and greeting everyone who he passed. Everyone else in the area also had bright white robes and glowing long hair of gold or white, and a strange transparent gold coloured stone in their hands.The travellers got curious looks as they passed by the area, and Nofa especially got particularly long looks from the natives. The travellers couldn't let any of that bother them. Everyone in the area seemed worried as they mostly looked into the sky. Once Malakiis and the travellers had reached the temple, the massive doors at its entrance opened on their own and they all entered the temple. Inside the temple was an altar with a big gold-coloured transparent stone sitting on it, but that was not where Malakiis was headed. He instead made his way to a large and round golden door at the back of the temple.
As he passed the big stone, he touched it and looked at the door and whispered:
"Goddess Leri, only with your permission will I lay my hands on what is inside."
The door slid open, and inside were racks full of smaller stones that looked like the big stone on the altar.
"What is this place? What are these stones?" Varma asked out loud.
"These stones bring the holder's will into reality. The big stone at the altar is what we touch when we ask Leri to bring her will into reality." Malakiis said and went inside the vault where he grabbed one of the smaller stones.
"We do not trust you enough to wield these stones. I am sorry." He then said as he left the vault and the door closed behind him.
"I understand." Venamo said.
"Stand back." Malakiis said and took some distance to the others.
He extended his hand forward and held the stone, and out of the stone grew a long bow and a long arrow made of glowing golden light.
"We are ready." Malakiis said and left the temple with the others behind him.
They looked down from the top of the steps and they saw as the rest of the Holy people turned their stones into similar glowing bows of light.
"The pure people are threatening our Crownmother and they are challenging Goddess Leri herself for supremacy! We will stand in the way of that, and make them learn their place in the created world!" Malakiis shouted at the top of the temple's stairs.
"We will choose violence when it is needed to defend the creator of everything that is good in her created world!" He then added.
Malakiis and the rest of the Holy people at the scene knelt down on one knee with the lower tip of their bows touching the ground. They began reciting words in their language in perfect unison with their eyes closed, and the travellers felt like outsiders. After some time, the moment was ended when drums echoed through the skies. Everybody looked into the sky but they couldn't see anything yet. The drums would not go away, and as time passed, the sounds of them only became stronger and closer.
"I see them!" Yilka shouted as he was looking up.
And soon everyone else could see them as well. Long boats in the sky carried by balloons even longer than the boats. From the ground level it could be seen that humans were on the boats, and that they had burning arrows.
"Damned be! They have fire arrows! Varma, go!" Venamo shouted at his young cousin.
"Got it!" Varma said and flew up.
As she flew to the sky, the Holy people shot their arrows of Holy light into the sky at great speed. The arrows of bright light whizzed past Varma and the forces of gravity did not seem to affect the arrows with the way the sped up vertically. Varma made sure to stay clear of those arrows as she flew closer to the boats in the sky. She could see the men in the boats shooting their burning arrows down at the Crownmother, and when the arrows landed, the fire spread on the green leafy surface of the Grand Beast.
"Ah, damn! They're already doing damage!" Varma said to herself while gritting her teeth as she worked her wings harder to gain altitude faster.
"What is that?" A trooper shouted in one of the boats when he saw Varma reaching the level of the boats.
"Shoot at it!" A commander gave the order.
Flaming arrows now flew Varma's way, but she noticed them fast enough to dodge them.
"They're shooting at me now!" She said to herself and began flying in a circle around the fleet of ten flying boats.
Everybody in the whole fleet spotted her, and even more arrows flew her way. One arrow flew right past her neck, and that was when Varma realised that she needs to be less predictable with her moves. In addition to flying in a circle, she flew up and down as well.
"I won't knock them down by just avoiding them." She said to herself and aimed her enchanted bow and enchanted metallic arrow at the nearest boat, and specifically the balloon holding it up.
She released the string, and the metallic arrow hit the balloon holding up the boat, but it didn't puncture the balloon. A white flash went off as the arrow hit the balloon, and the arrow bounced away, and the boat shook.
"What? Don't tell me they've enchanted their balloons. Of course they have!" Varma complained and reeled her arrow back in with the stretchy rope that was tied to the arrow and her.
"Guess I'll have to aim at the blokes then." She said and aimed again while ducking arrows.
She released the string, and now her arrow hit one of the men in the chest, but his chest armour was enchanted and the result was another bright white flash. The shockwave that the collision between the arrow and the armour created sent five men from the boat flying overboard and falling out of the sky.
"That's the way to do it!" Varma exclaimed and reeled her arrow back in while flying around and ducking the arrows coming from the boat and from the ground.
One bright arrow that came from the ground hit the bottom of a boat and pierced the entire boat, as well as the balloon carrying it. The boat went flying down as the air escaped the balloon.
"So that's what their arrows can do." Varma said to herself while focusing on what she was doing.
Once she had her arrow back, she took another shot and knocked some more foes down from one of the boats.
"Stop wasting your arrows on the bird! Kill the Crownmother and give your life for the battle!" A commander ordered.
The Crownmother was once again showered with burning arrows, but Varma was able to knock down the hunters easier now.
"Why isn't thunder raining down on the thing? You told us that the powers of thunder would be on our side!" One man in a boat shouted at someone.
That man was pushed overboard for his complaining.
Varma and the Holy people kept knocking men and boats down from the sky, but there was nothing that they could have done to help the Crownmother who was getting engulfed in flames faster than anyone expected. Varma missing many of his shots didn't help either. When only one boat remained, the men on it were still shooting their burning arrows down at the Crownmother. Varma aimed her arrow at the men in it, but a glowing arrow pierced the boat first and sent it falling down.
But there was no time for celebrating. Varma looked at the Crownmother whose entire head was in flames and much of the upper body as well. Varma didn't know what to do, so she flew back to Malakiis.
Down at the ground fallen airships and bodies were on the roofs and on the soil, but the gnarly sight didn't distract the young girl from the more crucial matter at hand.
"The Crownmother is burning alive!" She shouted at Malakiis.
"I already touched the stone and asked Goddess Leri to send rain this way, but the Father of Waters no longer obeys her. I do not know what to do." Malakiis replied.
"If she dies now, her killer is most likely dead now. Her power would then go to whoever is closest to her when her life fades out." Yilka pointed out.
Everybody looked at each other.
"Is there really no way to put out the fires?" Varma asked with great worry.
"From all the way down here, I do not see how there could be. It is unfortunate." Malakiis said.
"Who on this island is most worthy of her power then?" Venamo asked.
"And will they turn into a similar creature as the Crownmother herself?" Nofa asked.
"We cannot know that, since this Crownmother is the first one of her kind." Malakiis answered.
While everybody was talking and thinking, nobody noticed as Blueberry flew away from Nofa's shoulder and up towards the sky. While everybody kept talking, Blueberry flew close to the Crownmother, and absorbed the life leaving from the Grand Beast.
As the others were still talking, Blueberry flew down from the sky and landed on Nofa's shoulder. Everybody looked at Blueberry in awe and noticed the change in the butterfly. She was now green, and her torso, feet and antennas were now wooden. She was also about five times her original size now as well.
"Blueberry... My girl... You silly little rascal! You went and inherited the Crownmother's power without my permission. What's going to happen now?" Nofa said to her dear pet.
"The ruler of life and fertility is now a butterfly." Venamo stated.
"I... guess that should work out well." Varma added.
"She's a clever girl. I'm sure the created world will be just fine. But can she stay with me anymore?" Nofa wondered.
"It does not matter where the ruler of life and fertility stays or goes. Her power will be the same no matter where she is." Malakiis answered.
"Well this should work out just fine then!" Nofa exclaimed.
"Sorry for failing the old Crownmother that way." Varma said to Malakiis with regret.
"You did more than what was asked of you, and the power is still in the right hands. But I beg you all to not get the new Crownmother in danger. The power over life should never be in the wrong vessel." Malakiis said.
"Everyone here can say that my Blueberry is in good care with me." Nofa assured.
"I can tell that you are honest and truthful. We are thankful to you if you can keep her safe." Malakiis said to Nofa.
"So now what?" Yilka said.
"Now we continue our journey to Haimana and find Lapis Timishwar." Venamo replied.
"Right." Yilka said.
"And for you, brave Varma, I have something that I can show my appreciation with." Malakiis said and looked down at Varma.
"Huh?" Varma only said.
Malakiis handed his stone to Varma.
"You did well with the bow you have. Your skill and character have proved you a worthy wielder of this." Malakiis said to her.
"This is the bow that can penetrate enchanted items! You trust me with a weapon like this?" Varma asked.
"If you can be trusted with the power of the Fire Feather, you can be trusted with this." Malakiis assured.
Varma turned the stone into a shining bow of light and marveled at it.
"Thank you so much!" Varma exclaimed.
"Well, I do believe that we are well equipped for the rest of the journey now." Venamo commented.
"Also, can we fill our bags with the bountiful grapes and fruits and nuts you have here?" Nofa asked.
"To your hearts' content." Malakiis answered.
"One more question." Nofa said sternly and stepped forth.
"Please ask." Malakiis said back
"Since the Grand Beasts have to obey Leri's will, why did the Father of waters allow the famine year to happen? It rained all spring and ruined everyone's fields and even berries couldn't grow in the forests. Why would he do that to us? And why would Leri do that to us?" Nofa asked bitterly.
"Just like any living being, the Grand Beasts too get less competent with old age. That was the first sign that the Father of waters was showing his age, and if he had lived longer, another similar incident was bound to happen again." Malakiis answered.
"So was it actually a good thing that he died?" Varma asked.
"The new ruler of rivers and rains will get old one day too. Just a thing that will happen at times." Venamo said.
"Hmph. Acceptable answer." Nofa said.
"I feel like going filling up some bags. See you at the boat." Varma said and headed back to the boat while tossing her new stone from one hand to another.
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"That was quite the haul you and Blueberry brought home." Nofa said to Varma next to her back at the moving boat while they were both grabbing chunks out of a melon-sized grape and eating them.
"Should last us until we're there. I hope." Varma said between bites while sitting on a pile of fist-sized nuts.
"I wouldn't worry about it lasting. I'm more worried about all of this slowing us down." Nofa said gleefully.
"If it slows down the ship, I won't hesitate to throw some of it overboard. Perhaps Varma should have shown restrain when picking all of this." Venamo commented from the wheel.
"But... it was Blueberry who picked most of it. Not me." Varma defended herself with shyly.
"Well, if it slows us down, all the more reason to eat it faster." Nofa said and smiled at Varma.
Nofa then looked over at Yilka who was sulking by the side of the boat and looking into the sea.
"And if anybody wants to come get some of our bounty, they'll have to come ask very nicely and stay for a lively chat." Nofa said teasingly to Yilka's direction.
Yilka squeezed the boards and grit his teeth without looking back at Nofa. But then he stood up quickly, straightened his back and walked over to Nofa. Yilka looked down at Nofa seriously as she was sitting on a knocked over pear that was larger than her.
"Well, hello." Nofa said while looking up at Yilka and feeling nervous and on some level excited.
Yilka took a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes.
"Why do you play with me the way you do, when you already have someone?" Yilka asked with tired eyes.
"Play with you? What do you mean by that? And I don't have anyone." Nofa replied.
"And why do you lie about it?" Yilka asked.
"Lie about what?" Nofa asked right back.
"You have somebody back home, yet you made me feel like we had something between us. Why?"
"I don't have anybody back home who cares about me! Nobody there even wants to look at me! Where are you getting this idea from? Is this why you haven't talked to me?" Nofa replied and questioned with confused frustration.
"Just quit the lying I already. I know how it really is." Yilka insisted.
"And I have no clue what you're on about!" Nofa replied even more confused than before.
"I saw the letter." Yilka said bitterly.
"Letter? What letter do you even mean?"
"The one I found in your sack."
"You dug through my sack?"
"It was because... Vena needed something to wipe his arse with and..."
"And you decided to take my expensive paper for that?"
"Well he wouldn't shut his flapjack if I didn't and..."
"You are unbelievable! And I still don't know what letter you're on about unless a secret admirer left it there, which I really don't think is the case. What did the letter even say?" Nofa asked.
"Something about someone eagerly waiting to see you again once you return home. I don't remember all of it."
"I don't remember any of that! Why are you making up lies like this?" Nofa exclaimed.
"So I'm the liar now. I see. I see." Yilka said and walked back to his spot where he kept looking into the sea.
Nofa was left sitting there confused and upset, and Varma who was still there next to her was left uncomfortable and even more confused.
"What is up with him? I have to get to the bottom of this. And I'll have to keep my sack somewhere out of reach from now on." Nofa said to Varma next to her.
"He's never had a habit of just making up things that never happened. Do you really have a secret admirer back home?" Varma asked.
"Yilka was my secret admirer who wasn't even that secret. I don't want to believe that he's just making this all up. Why would he be? Hmm." Nofa replied and began pondering.
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The journey on the sea lasted several days, during which the weather varied, the food lasted, Yilka fasted, Venamo stole food when the ladies slept, Nofa spent time memorising spells and teaching Varma some words in her language, Venamo steered the boat and Yilka wasted away watching the changing scenes quietly while being hard to approach. The ship sailed past the northern land of Rarhea were Nofa really would have wished to stop in, but knew that Venamo wouldn't stop the boat. As they sailed west of Rarhea, they began noticing proper settlements and healthier looking landscapes. After several days of seeing mostly barren shoreline and settlements where they had no reason to stop in, the travelers' eyes were grabbed by something in the sky. Above the lands the sky was black with smoke. The smoke in the sky was far blacker than any rain clouds, and didn't seem natural. As the travelers wondered at the odd phenomenon and tried to explain it, the wind moved the boat along the shore, and after some time they noticed something unmistakable.
"Didn't Vakevata tell us that the academy had a barrier of electricity around it?" Yilka asked Venamo.
"That he did. And I believe we have come to the right place." Venamo said back.
"And didn't he also say that metal can't pass that barrier?" Yilka asked.
"He did say that too. I admit, I do not feel comfortable leaving my weapon behind. I expect you to have your cudgel ready at hand if anyone threatens us." Venamo said and gave Yilka a serious look.
"I'll always be ready, but in the case I have to pull out a weapon, it won't be you who I protect first and foremost." Yilka replied.
"Of course. I'd expect such out of you." Venamo finished with and focused on finding a place to dock.
Once the ship was docked and tied to a large boulder at a remote spot where no settlement of any sort seemed to be around, the travelers got on land. They could see in the distance a big city surrounded by flat land in all directions. The city had wooden houses ranging from one floor up to six floor, and the most attention grabbing thing about the city was indeed a large sparkling dome where the academy of Haimana was in. The awe of the electric dome almost distracted the travelers from one other peculiar thing. A railroad passed the city, and the black smokey sky was lit by airships that had burning ropes hanging from them. The burning ropes did not seem to get any shorter as they burned.
"Is it that damned Continent Crosser that has made their sky so black?" Yilka wondered.
"It had a chimney, a furnace and cart full of cavemoss. I reckon that's how it moves, and this is what it puts out." Venamo said.
"And of course the Crown in their endless wisdom gave the city the right machines to bring light to their black sky." Yilka added.
"Remember what they said. They want to be the lords of the created world. They want you to think that even the Sun is needless once they rule everything." Venamo commented.
"So... I don't think any of us speak the language of this land, but they should speak the Vastusarian language, yeah?" Varma asked.
"Haimana is under the rule of Vastusar, so I'd bet that they do. Remember to leave all metallic things in the boat, everyone." Venamo replied.
"Now that I have this stone, I won't need my normal boring arrows." Varma said and bounced her newly acquired stone in her hand.
"What you have there is too precious to be taken into a big city full of strangers. You'll leave it here." Venamo told Varma.
"No way! If somebody finds the ship and steals it, I'd lose this thing too." Varma argued back and held on to her stone.
"You will do as the oldest one here says! We won't get anything done if we start arguing." Venamo said.
Varma turned her stone into a glowing bow and aimed at Venamo with it.
"I don't think you have power over me anymore. Sorry." Varma smugly threatened.
"You're pointing a weapon at me now? We're this close and you're turning against me?" Venamo asked seriously.
"I'm not turning against you. I'm just making a choice for myself." Varma said.
Venamo slapped the bow out of Varma's hand, and on the ground it turned back into a stone that fits in a hand. He then stood in front of Varma and looked down at her seriously.
"You'll leave it here." He ordered.
"A-alright. Sorry." Varma said and picked up the stone.
Yilka then violently pulled Venamo away from Varma and faced him.
"Don't be like that to her. We can't work together if anyone here fears someone else." Yilka told him.
"And now you're putting your hands on me again? You know, fear is a good way to get someone on the same page. Perhaps you don't fear me enough." Venamo warned his brother.
"As if I'd ever fear you." Yilka said right back.
The staredown intensified as both waited to see who would move first.
"Step. Back. Before I have to defend myself." Venamo warned.
"I won't let you threaten someone smaller and weaker than you." Yilka warned back.
"Weaker? As if." Varma commented.
"I threatened her? She aimed a bow at me and I diffused the situation." Venamo argued.
"And why did she feel the need to do that?" Yilka quizzed him.
The tense face-off was interrupted when Nofa slightly choked on her own spit and coughed a little.
"Yilka being a defender of the weak makes me feel sort of... hot, if I can say so." She said nervously.
"What?" Yilka said and looked behind Venamo's shoulder where Nofa was.
Venamo took advantage of the slight distraction and swept Yilka's leg, making the younger man fall down.
"Enough of this. I'm going in. Follow me or stay here." Venamo said and began walking towards the city in the distance.
Yilka exhaled loudly, stood up and then followed Venamo.
"I don't know about you, but I've had enough of this boat." Nofa said to Varma.
"Me too, though it'd also be nice to be away from Vena for a bit. I think we should go with them anyway." Varma seconded.
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