Memories of Gaia: Seeking Shadows in the Storm
Chapter 11 walking among the voices

Aira emerged from the small home about a half hour later, having scrubbed her skin with the lilac soap until it felt raw and was sore to the touch.

She had chosen to wear a light weight yet durable mint green halter top made out of very sturdy river leaves. She wore a matching skirt that fell mid-thigh, revealing chocolate brown shorts underneath. She chose to wear purple clips in her silver hair after braiding it together in a single braid, choosing a decorative lilac flower to tuck into her hair as Rowan had always done.

She usually kept her small feet bare but had decided to wear green ballet like flats, just in case. Aira had stared at her reflection, hoping to appear as confident as she was sure she felt. She did not want the Queen to sense any weakness. Or smell any scent of Human.

An Elven guard, who was wearing a deep royal purple uniform that was borderline black, with the shoulders curled upwards and the Queen’s emblem of a lilac with wings on the breast of the top piece, was waiting for just outside her door.

“Queen Aster requests your presence immediately.” The tall elf spoke his voice light but commanding. Aira felt her heart skip a beat from fear. She had wanted to request an audience with the Queen, not the other way around.

Aira strolled several paces behind the guard, seeing several of her fellow villagers resting under the only living tree in the village, enjoying the shade of the fat, heart-shaped, green leaves as they read or wove beads onto lovely tapestries.

Sun Drop, the Elven Princess, was among them, sunlight bouncing off her lovely golden hair like glitter, her face tan from spending hours in the sun.

Her light purple eyes flickered towards Aira as she giggled, having just told the woman beside a story of some sort. The woman laughed far too much, a forced sound, as she wanted to please the princess.

Aira felt a pang of jealousy as she saw her, knowing that she herself would never be accepted, or loved the way that the Princess was.

Sun Drop was not even the daughter of the Queen, she had simply been chosen as heir for the soul reason her eyes were purple, a sign that she had been chosen by the Gods to rule.

Aira walked to the north side of the village, twisting up another invisible path to the top of the mountain where the Queen’s palace sat, giving a breathtaking view of the Floating oasis.

The Temple of the Ancients was made to look like a massive, murex shell, carved out of the trunk of a petrified redwood tree, that sat in the center of the oasis, surrounded by the piercing blue of the never ending waters.

Several branches stuck out of the top of the shell, each holding a gem of a different color, shining softly in the afternoon sun.

Two statues of ancient Elven warriors that were made out of an aging gray marble, stood next to the door of the temple, each holding a spear that crossed over the top of the door.

The crater where the Wind Lizard usually slept was vacant, never to be filled again.

Aira had no time to enjoy the stunning view as she was ushered into the Queen’s palace, a lovely spiral building that looked like several fat, aging trees, woven together.

Inside, it was warm and cozy with pockets of light shining through the branches that made up the ceiling above. A fountain made out of a lovely purple lilac, sat in the center of the circular room, spilling water into the air that vanished before hitting the moss-covered floor.

Queen Aster stood with her back to Aira, her long, lovely gold and silver hair spilling over the back of a brilliant crushed purple gown hemmed in gold and silver. A sash of a rich, deep plum color with a sparkling silver gem on the center, crossed her slender waist.

On her head, she wore a simple gold crown that came to a long point in the front center with a purple gem sparkled beautifully on it.

“Aira,” Queen Aster’s lovely, melodic voice sang as Aira entered the palace, disturbing the butterflies that fluttered from the lilacs that hung on the walls. She turned her lovely head to face Aira, her brilliant orchard eyes meeting her hers.

“You have been gone for far too long. I sent you to scout Star Kingdom several weeks ago. What do you have to report?” She asked her voice light but firm. Aira did not answer. Instead, she stared at the Queen, thinking hard about what she was going to say.

The Queen was not content with the silence that hung between them. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for Aira to respond. When it was clear that she was not going to, Queen Aster cleared her sighed.

“I heard you were traveling with Humans! Have you lost your way?” Queen Aster’s voice was suddenly harsh, almost taunting. “When Maple brought you to our village, we allowed her to raise you to abide by our ways. You were the first outsider to be taken in. But only because we thought you were one of us. Human’s are not to be trusted!”

“These Human’s are different! They have crystals similar to mine! I do not think they are human. Well, one was Human, the others were…” Aira stopped herself. It would not help her case to inform the Queen she had dared travel with an Amar-gwad, a gargoyle, and a Reap.

The Queen raised a single, thin brow and clasped her hands; she sensed that Aira was holding back. She strolled over to the window at the front of the palace, her eyes resting on the beautiful Temple, the light glittering off the gems making them sparkle brilliantly.

“Sun Drop sends petals with candles out every full moon in honor of Maple. Is the way you are behaving truly what she would have wanted?”

Aira tried not to make a face at the mention of Sun Drop or Maple. She swallowed hard, feeling the swell of sorrow building in her heart.

“I think you have spent far too long outside our village walls. For the time being, you are to remain in the village, to study until you have proven that you have not forgotten who you are.” Queen Aster kept her eyes on the temple, as an idea sparked in Aira’s mind.

“Your majesty, I feel I still have so much to learn. Perhaps a trip to the Temple will help me repent of my ways.” Aira said the words smoothly, knowing it was a long shot as only Elven Royalty was allowed within the walls.

She held her breath as she waited for the Queen to reply, watching as she titled her lovely gold head, obviously entertaining the idea.

“You know, I do not usually agree with you, but I feel a trip to the Temple may prove to be helpful. Take in all the wisdom of those who have walked before you and absorb their words into your soul. I will allow Gar to open the sky bridge. ” Queen Aster said, startling Aira, who held in the shock she felt, offering an awkward smile instead.

“I promise! I will make the most of my trip!” Aira did her best to keep her legs moving at a normal pace, even though they felt limp from the excitement that was coursing through her veins. She was one step closer to stealing the secrets within the temple.

Aira walked the invisible sky bridge to the island that held the Temple, feeling thankful that her legs had regained their strength. She paused a moment at the crater, seeing a few scales of the Wind beast lying mixed with the dirt.

There was still no one sign of what had provoked him, and Aira wondered if she would ever know. He had lived here peacefully for longer than any living memory held, never once bothering the villagers.

Aira continued towards the Temple, taking a long, deep breath outside the ancient walls, knowing she was one of few to ever witness its beauty. There was no actual door, just a beautifully, hand carved opening with Elven words engraved around the opening in an ancient language Sun Drop would be taught one day.

Even though she could not read it, she knew the words that were written read, “Whispers of knowledge lie within for those willing to listen”.

Aira entered the beautiful temple replaceing the inside was cool and refreshing; with a scent similar to a crisp afternoon in the forest. The walls were carved from the beautiful petrified wood of the tree; a lovely coat of gloss covered them making them shimmer in the light.

Wind wove lazily through the temple, entering through various openings in the walls and ceiling, sounding like soft whispers of voices from the world beyond.

Fireflies darted back and forth in the air, gathering on various floating orbs, illuminating the room like ghostly lamps. The walls were covered in the same ancient language, resting among hieroglyphics that were engraved in the petrified redwood walls in gold.

Aira could not help but wonder what Maple would have thought of Aira walking the sacred halls of the Temple of the Ancients. She felt the familiar sting in her heart for her mother.

Maple had passed over into the Great Beyond a year ago, leaving a crack permanently in Aira’s heart. She had never treated Aira any different than the others in the village. She had always been determined to raise Aira to be a great asset to the community.

Aira closed her eyes and smiled softly as the memory of her mother floated to her, like a feather in the wind.

“Are you lost, little one?” Maple asked gently, tilting her lovely head to look at the young girl who was standing alone on the shore, the moonlight shining on her silver head, giving her a slight aura. The girl kept her eyes downcast, refusing to look at the woman.

Maple glanced behind the girl, replaceing a long trail of single footsteps being washed away by the ocean’s water, indicating that the girl had traveled alone.

“Hey,” Maple said softly as she saw the tiny glittering drops of water landing on the tan sand as the girl cried silently. The wind became more powerful, the ocean water roaring in protest as the tiny girl continued to sob without sound.

“It’s alright,” Maple informed her, bending down and placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. The simple gesture caused the child to look up, her silver eyes red from tears that rolled down her lovely face.

Maple felt her smile falter as she saw the crystal; she had not expected to ever see one in her lifetime. There were legends of beings with Crystals that were told in her village, and every one of the tales said that the crystals were a bad omen. That they signaled the end of times.

Maple hesitated as she stared at the tiny girl’s lovely face, debating on what she should do.

The girl stared back at Maple, her eyes large, full of sorrow. Maple felt her heart soar and she reached down, scooping the frail girl up in her arms, holding her close.

“You are coming with me, little one.”

Maple was lovely, her hair a light, creamy tan with one long silver streak on the left side. Her eyes were a rich chestnut brown and her skin was a soft almond color.

Maple had never married and had no children to call her own. She was grateful to the Gods for sending Aira her way, even if she was already an old woman at the time.

Aira had loved her mother’s tender, melodic voice that would sing songs to her or tell her stories of her people. Aira was a quick learner, absorbing everything her mother told her, yearning to know more.

Maple had helped her hone her powers, working with her outside by the Living Tree, allowing the villagers to watch, to understand the girl was gifted not dangerous. A deal she had been given by the Queen that no one else was aware of.

Several elves sneered at her, turning their noses in the air, not amused by her tricks as the lilac petals danced effortlessly in the air.

“Do not worry what others think.” Maple said as she wove purple yarn together, watching as Aira hung her head after a man had called her petal trick, “worthless”.

“You are strong, like the mountains that hold our village. Nothing can bring you down unless you let it.”

Aira had been four at the time and had only lived in the village for nearly a year. She loved Maple instantly and as long as she was smiling, Aira would continue to make the petals fly in the air.

Aira felt tears sting at her eyes as she longed for her mother and felt the ache in her heartthrob. Aira shook her head as she walked slowly, twisting around the pillars that branched off into various rooms, each telling a story about her people, the fireflies following her, gathering once more another floating orb.

Aira viewed scenes of the people worshiping an eagle-headed deity, the next panel were the people beheading it. She wished she could read the words, to know why they had turned their backs on the creature.

Aira spent several minutes examining each scene, before pausing. The hieroglyphics here depicted the people cowering while one pointed to the Red Planet, a dragon emerging from the ground.

Aira looked at the panel before it, there was no red spot. She stared at the ancient words until her eyes ached, trying to make some sense of them as the ancient whispers floated around her.

She could see an Amar-gwad, standing tall and powerful among the people, and Aira did her best not to strike it. Aira used one finger to trace the words, closing her eyes, hoping for some sort of connection.

“The Red Planet,” She whispered as she opened her eyes, trying to recall the letters written outside the temple.

Finally accepting defeat, she moved on, her footsteps reverberating off the walls as she walked. The fireflies began dancing around her, her silver eyes taking it all in as she moved deeper into the temple.

Aira could not help but wonder why the Queen had agreed to let her in the temple, knowing she could not read the ancient text and thus would have difficulty translating the images.

A gentle wind laced itself through Aira’s hair, bringing with it the unmistakable scent of lilac and sage. She closed her eyes as an image of Maple smiling danced in her mind as the breeze caressed her face.

“…Aira…”

Aira’s eyes jerked open as she swore she heard her mother’s voice singing out to her, her heart pounding in her chest. Aira squinted in the darkness as she caught a glimpse of a figure moving in the shadows.

‘Could she be here?’ Aira thought, excitement pulsing through her like an electric current, weaving its way in with the fear that was slowly overtaking her body. ‘This was the Temple of Ancients!’

A trap door opened under her feet and she grabbed the polished lip of the floor as she fell, her fingers digging painfully into the wood. She used her wind crystal to call forth a powerful gale of wind to help propel her body up and out of the opening, saving her from falling.

Aira slid forward on her rear, climbing quickly to her feet, shaking hard. She could not help but wonder why one of the many traps in the temple had been set off. She was not an intruder or a thief!

The whispers grew stronger, each one shouting, overpowering each other, making it difficult for Aira to understand them. She covered her ears as she pressed her body against the wall, turning her eyes to face the direction of the wind; the direction she had heard her mother call her from.

A tall figure outlined in a silvery aura was standing at the far end of the room, watching her. It said nothing as the whispers died down, fading away like a melting snow.

The figure was moving backward, she realized, getting smaller as it melted into the shadows of the temple.

Aira hesitated for a moment, wondering if she were supposed to follow it, hoping it was Maple. She felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding as she lightly stepped forward, a hazy green and gray fog springing up around her as wails of pains reverberated off the petrified walls.

Aira covered her mouth so as not to scream and darted forward, an arrow whizzing past her ear as she carried her body onward.

She found the figure standing in a massive open room, the aura pulsing as it faced the wall, extending a ghostly arm outwards.

Aira followed the arm with her eyes, spying a set of hieroglyphics depicting a scene of six crystals, each a different color and shape, circling the planet. Aira did not understand what the scene meant as the whispers floating around her like voices caught in time.

Aira looked over her shoulder but the figure was gone. She scanned the room, replaceing a crystal clear vase sitting on a pedestal with the fireflies orbiting around it; their glow reflecting brightly like light off facets in a diamond.

Aira cautiously approached it, touching the surface lightly with her fingertips. The vase crumbled to a fine, glittery dust, startling Aira.

The wind picked up, catching the fog, and spiraling around Aira as faces emerged out of the mist, each one wailing a haunting cry. Several orbs of light rose out of the ashes of the vase and shot in separate directions, turning into Great Elven Warriors.

Aira had her bow out, aiming for the head of one of the warriors, the arrow flying smoothly through and sticking the wall behind it.

She cursed, ducked and rolled, releasing another arrow, only to watch it sail through the mist. Aira remained still as the voices laughed harshly, the sound echoing off the smooth walls.

She watched as the warriors moved towards her, their ghostly, fog like figures moving over the temple floor smoothly. Aira saw the dark figure pointing to the fireflies that were beckoning her towards an ancient amber colored diamond shaped box that had a set of silver wind chimes resting on top, jingling in the breeze. Aira could not help but wonder where the box had come from.

Aira used her crystal again, causing gale force winds to spiral around the room, the fog twisting the warriors into grotesquely warped images. The whispering grew as Aira pushed through the tornado, grabbing the box and forcefully opening the lid.

The fog lifted off the floor like a blanket, spiraling towards her as it condensed, filling the box, the whispers fading away as the last bit of fog whipped into the box, Aira sealing it shut tightly. She looked up watching as the figure faded away, leaving behind the scent of lilac and sage.

Aira remained in the now quiet room, examining they aging, diamond box. It was small, with more of the odd language written on the top, the wind chimes attached to the lid via a single thin branch that had a leaf with a spiral cut into it.

She felt a gentle breeze on her back as she peered upwards, replaceing several fireflies dancing above, like stars twinkling in the night.

Aira could see nothing else in the room, save for an opening at the far end where a single firefly had escaped to, its body illuminating the way.

Aira reluctantly followed it, smelling the sweet scent of lilac. As she moved, a shaft of light up broke through the wall and she saw nothing but blue sky.

At the end of the passage was a second archway leading her back to the outside world, and she hoped that the small object she held was the one she was looking for.

She paused, sitting with her back against one of the ancient branches and lifted the lid of the box slightly. A ghostly wail screamed out of it, causing her to jump, nearly dropping the box. Aira slammed it shut and wondered why the scream of her people was trapped inside.

Aira returned to her home, picking up a medium leaf shaped bag that was a lovely lime color and gently folded the purple blanket, placing it inside. She then took a few odds and ends and set them in the bag, along with the box, being careful not to bend the chimes.

Aira sighed, looking at the home she would never return to and opened the small, petal shaped door to replace the same Elf as before standing tall.

Aira said nothing as he led her to the Queen once more, his strides long and proud. She saw the outlook, a branch that dead-ended overlooking the ocean below. It was a sacred place where elves took petals and released them into the wind in honor of those who had passed over into the Great Beyond.

Aira paused, walking to the flower-shaped basin that was filled with soft, purple lilac petals. She carefully reached down and picked some of the silky petals, placing them at her lips where she kissed them lightly before releasing them to the wind.

Aira watched them swirl in the breeze, her heart aching for Maple. It seemed like only yesterday that she had received word of her mother's death. She brushed away a tear as she turned to look at the impatient yet understanding guard.

Her eyes scanned from his long, narrow face to Ajax, who was standing in the distance, flirting with a young female elf. Everything about this village felt different, as though she were viewing her world as a stranger.

Aira heard the guard clear his throat in annoyance, reminding her that they had places to be. ‘No, he has places to be’. Aira corrected herself as she stepped to the edge of the branch and leaped gracefully over.