Sword of the Stars Part 16
Another Milestone
After what seemed forever, Duo hit the ground on his side. With a moan of agony, he pushed himself up and shook the dizziness away. It was dark all around him. He couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
"Where the..." he began.
"Duo?" came Quatre's uncertain voice. "Is that you?"
"Quatre? Where are you? Where's Wufei?"
"We're both here. I can't see anything. Where are we?"
"I don't know," Duo replied. "Where's Yohan?"
As if his name summoned him, a bright, red glow appeared above and Yohan descended slowly into the cavern they were in. He landed softly and chuckled. "Quite a fall, wasn't it?"
Duo scowled. "I think I broke a rib or two."
With Yohan's red light filling the room, Wufei placed his hands on Duo's chest and stomach. "Not broken just a little bruised. I'll mend it." His hands began to glow that light blue color, and Duo felt the pain diminish. Wufei turned to the wizard. "Yohan, where is this?"
The mage threw up his hands. "The location of the Orb of Water, of course. I told you it was nearby." He began to chuckle again. "I just didn't think it was right under us!"
"Oh, we found it," Quatre said, rubbing his behind. "The hard way."
Duo stood up. "Is there anything else we have to deal with? Any more frogs? Vines?"
"I believe we have no further obstacles," Yohan said, tapping his chin. "Except for the guardian of the Orb, that is."
"What is it?" Quatre wanted to know.
Yohan shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. We will have to find out."
Quatre frowned, but nodded. "Then we had better go."
Duo sheathed his katana and stared at the old mage. "Which way do we go?"
Yohan nodded toward the right. "There is only one way to go. That way."
"But how will we get out of here after?" Wufei asked.
The wizard shrugged. "I am sure we'll think of something."
The group began walking down the underground tunnel, with Yohan's mystical red light illuminating the path. They walked for what seemed like hours, but Yohan assured them it had only been several minutes.
Then they came to a wider chamber with a door just like the cavern in Daylonia had. Yohan spread his arms wide. The torches on each side of the room lighted instantly. When they were burning, the door began to groan and shake. Slowly, the door slid open, and the light from the other chamber shone through. Duo smiled. At last; the Orb of Water. He crept into the other chamber with his katana out, determined not to overlook the guardian as he had last time. Quatre, with his staff ready, followed him. Yohan went, too, searching the room with his eyes. Wufei stayed at the doorway.
Duo looked around the chamber as he made his way to the altar where the Orb hovered, waiting for him. The chamber was empty, with the exception of plants and vines clinging to the walls. Duo frowned and lowered his katana.
"I don't see anything...do you?"
Quatre shook his head. "Just a bunch of plants."
"We've had bad experiences with plants today," Yohan reminded them. "Be careful. Duo, take the Orb."
Duo nodded and sheathed his katana. "All right." He reached and touched the Orb. As soon as his fingers gripped it, it began to glow vibrantly. Duo squeezed his eyes shut until the glow faded. When it did, the Orb had shrunken into a palm-sized ball. Duo put it in his pouch with the other Orb. Something on the altar caught his eye. A black medallion with golden lettering strung onto a leather cord. He lifted it and showed it to Yohan.
"What is this?" he asked.
The mage peered at the medallion with interest. "Ah, the second symbol: the gateway to the Temple of the Skies." He touched the mark on Duo's forehead. "That star symbol shows that the Star Sword has chosen you. This medallion proves that you are worthy of it."
Duo stared at the writing. "What does it say?"
"It is written in an ancient arcane language used by the Stardragon Mages of long ago, but I can read it." He took it from Duo and held it close to his face. "'The world consists of three realms. The lowest of which is Water, and the middle of which is Earth. Only the highest realm, the Sky, has denied Man's control. Yet for he whom the Sword chooses, the Sky is no longer the limit. The bearer of this medallion is master of the skies. For you, the path to the Stars will open.'"
Yohan smiled and put the medallion around Duo's neck. "Well done, Duo."
Quatre gave Duo a fond smile before turning to leave. "Very impressive. Now let's try to find a way out of here." As he began walking toward the door, Duo heard something that sounded like a dart fly through the air. Quatre cried out and faltered, clutching the back of his shoulder. Duo looked around frantically for the source of danger, but saw nothing. He glanced back at Quatre. His shoulder was bleeding. He ran to the blond just as Wufei did. The Cleric healed the wound quickly. Duo handed Wufei the pouch with the Orbs.
"Hold this." Wufei took the pouch. Duo bent down and looked on the ground. Something caught his eye. He picked it up and frowned. It looked like...webbing of some sort.
Abruptly, Yohan shouted Wufei's name in warning. The Cleric looked up and screamed as a patch of sticky, white silk struck him and slammed him against the wall. He squirmed.
"Help! I--I can't move!"
Duo and Quatre exchanged glances and stared up at the ceiling. Eight, yellow eyes stared back at them. As Duo stared, the large spider sprayed another strip of web at them. Duo cried out and moved out of the way. The webbing, though, slid across the top of Duo's shoulder, leaving a slice. He winced in pain as he felt the blood beginning to soak through his clothes.
He unsheathed his katana and kept his gaze locked on the spider's. From the corner of his eyes he could see Quatre standing with his staff, and Yohan's fists igniting. The mage hurled fireballs at the spider, and they crashed against the ceiling. The spider released its grip on the ceiling and landed on the floor, shaking it. Before Yohan could react with another spell, the spider sprayed webbing at him. The sticky substance wrapped around the wizard, and he fell to the ground.
Duo ran toward the spider, but as it turned back to him, it used one of its legs to kick him away. Duo hit the wall with a thud, and the spider raced toward him. Before it reached him, Quatre body-slammed it in the side with his shoulder. Duo rushed at it and thrust his katana into one of the spider's eyes. It knocked him down with a leg and began to crush him. He forced his katana upwards and into the spider's gut. It hissed in anger and backed up, preparing to spin its webbing. As the webbing spewed from its spinner, Duo leapt into the air, but not fast enough. The webbing coiled around his feet and he fell to the ground. Before he gathered his bearings, more webbing coiled around the rest of him. His katana fell to the ground. As the spider walked toward him, he kicked his katana to Quatre.
Quatre caught on immediately. Seizing the katana, he ran to Yohan and cut him loose of the webbing. As soon as he was free, Yohan leapt up and sent forth a stream of fire. The spider shrieked and struggled to maintain its footing, but rolled onto its back. The stench of burnt flesh hung in the air as the flames licked the spider.
As the spider burned, Quatre raced over and cut Duo loose. He stood and took his katana back. Then, as the spider began to melt, he trust the katana into its stomach. The spider twitched once, and then it was over.
Duo wiped his blade on the burning spider, then he went to cut Wufei loose. When the Cleric was down from the wall, he pressed his hands against Duo's wound and healed it.
Duo smiled his thanks and turned to Yohan. "Well done."
"You, too." The mage glanced around. "I believe it is time we left this place. Don't you?"
Duo and the others nodded gratefully. Yohan closed his eyes. "There is an exit here," he said, pointing to the back wall. "It has appeared since we now posses the medallion. Come." Yohan walked to the back wall and continued. Duo gasped when the old man disappeared from sight. Wufei and Quatre followed with a shrug, and Duo went after them.
When he walked through the wall, he immediately began climbing stairs. Soon, he arrived at the exit. He left the cave and found himself at the edge of the forest. He could see villages in the distance. Looking behind him, he found the exit to be a tree. The doorway in its bark vanished. Duo pushed his hand against the trunk, but it was solid.
"Are we on the other side of Shakra?" Quatre asked.
"Indeed," Yohan replied.
Duo jumped. "Wait! We left Cloud and Bolt at the marsh! We have to get them!"
Yohan looked confused. "Left them...? What are you...! Oh, I forgot to tell you!" He chuckled. "I am getting too old, I am beginning to become absentminded. Duo, when I gave the horses those magical enhancements, they also became sensitive to you. No matter where you leave them, they can sense you, and will follow close behind. They are around here somewhere. Call them and they will come." [1]
Duo frowned, but did as the mage asked. "Cloud! Bolt! Come here!"
For a few moments there was silence, and then, the two stallions came crashing through the bushes. Quatre grinned. "It worked!"
Duo seized Cloud's reins. "Now where do we go?"
Yohan climbed onto Bolt as he answered. "We must go north through Zendra to reach the Great Forest. The Great Forest hides the Temple of the Skies. From the Temple, Duo, you go to the Celestial Palace."
Duo frowned. "Only me?"
"Yes. 'For you, the path to the Stars will open.' Only you can enter the Palace. But don't think of that yet. First, we will pay a short visit to King Lukin of Zendra."
"Why?"
"Lukin has also openly declared war on Grantis," Quatre said. "Zendra is not as large as Triantia or Garrania, but it has much fiercer soldiers."
"Precisely," Yohan said. "We will go to the palace and tell Lukin what he is to do. Hopefully he has already heard it from Sophia. Every land has some Stardragon Mages in it now. It is time for the world to strike back at Grantis."
Duo and Wufei mounted Cloud and Quatre climbed onto Bolt. "Then we go to Zendra!" Duo said. The allies rode off.
TBC...
[1] You honestly didn't think *I* would have the patience to write out a scene where they go all the way back, get the horses, and then go through the marsh again, did you?
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