BDS: Chapter Forty-Four

Brogan watched his sister at the edge of the Chinálei practicing her forms long after the other warriors left the morning training session. "We're about to go. Do you have what you need for the mission?"

"I'll have time," she responded flatly. "I just have some stuff I need to work out."

"Valora, if this is about Gyan—"

Valora suddenly stopped. "Just leave it be, Brogan!"

Brogan's eyes widened. He furrowed his brow as he held up both hands and turned away.

"Wait, Brogan. I'm sorry," she said quickly as Brogan walked off. "I just—I don't know how to deal with all of this yet…"

"You think I do?" he exclaimed in frustration as he turned to her. "You think I don't want to rip Drasúl's throat out myself because of it? As a warrior of light, that isn't a reason to take him out or a desire that needs to be unleashed given we were trained to regulate emotion from the time we were children.

"And there is also a part of me that is angry even at the elder masters for allowing Jalena to go to Galinia without us. It doesn't feel right! None of this does. None of this feels right for us, but Gyan saw something more—"

"He didn't even care!" Valora burst out.

"How can you even think that?" responded Brogan. "All Gyan ever did was put others first."

"I know," she whispered. "But, he didn't even care about—"

"What...you?"

Valora stared up at Brogan as her breath deepened. "Other than you, he was my best friend, Brogan, and he didn't—" her breath caught, "say anything! He didn't even say goodbye." She wiped the tears that seeped from the corners of her eyes. "It's like everything was left undone."

Brogan's expression softened. "I see." He wrapped his arms around her. "It was because of what you were to him that he didn't have to say it. Sometimes no words are needed between mates."

Valora sniffed and exhaled. "Never thought of it like that."

"Aren't you glad you have a genius brother to turn it around for you?" He released her, leaving one arm around her shoulder. "You still got a best friend, sis," he added in a whisper.

She sighed. "He told me he owed me one for sharing my visions of Aderes's ceremony. I responded that he would never owe me anything…and now…"

"Now, you're ready to tell him otherwise?" Brogan said.

She gave him a small smile and nodded. "I might throw in a few other choice words along with the request."

"One day this will all make sense." He pulled her forward by the arm. "Until then, let's just stay busy and go conquer whatever this next mission is that the elders are sending us on."

Jalena stood in silence before the pool of the Tran Ceiabré. She stared at the waterfalls, debating whether she would ever feel the magic of its water in the same way she had experienced in the past. Scenes from the night of the last Aléise a Estel flashed through her mind.

Her throat tightened as she gazed at the spot where she and Gyan had sat near the water's edge.

The pressure in the surrounding breeze shifted. "Sir Kesól," she said without turning around.

"Yes," replied Kesól as he stepped into the clearing.

Jalena turned from the water, secretly thankful for the interruption. The two bowed in greeting.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to share my thoughts with you before you depart for Galinia. It's about Master Aderes's involvement in the creation of the Javen."

Jalena's brow furrowed in curiosity. "Okay."

"As Sir Malik mentioned before, the black dragon spirit is continually seeking a way to escape the binds to a Javen. As a result, it takes some time for a Javen to acclimate to the power of the dragon as you have witnessed with Drasúl. His power will grow beyond what we have already witnessed.

"But, there is another thing I wish to bring your attention to. If ever there is anything that does not wish to be controlled, it is a dragon. Therefore, it is possible that the black dragon spirit may be assisting Aderes to surface inside of Drasúl. We have already glimpsed Aderes's ability to surface once before in Gawl Forest. The black dragon may be lending Aderes his power to do so. Even as Drasúl's power grows, he may experience instability within him because of this. So, remain alert for signs of this and use it to your advantage."

Jalena nodded. "Thank you, Sir Kesól. I will."

Kesól's gaze softened. His eyes fell to Jalena's Lumsigne, which still held its blue glow beneath it. He opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. He nodded. "Have a safe journey, Master Jalena," he said softly. "Your allies are with you."

Jalena swallowed and returned Kesól's bow before he disappeared in a flash of light.

She turned back to the falls. The expressions of pity she encountered from members of the Order only made her more eager to leave Elsaria and find Drasúl.

Thoughts of him caused a surge of anger to surface, not only at Mordán but at Aderes too. His desperation in retrieving Lesiana had led to a string of events that had made everything much worse than could have otherwise been. Granted, she didn't agree that the Council should have put off the mission to retrieve Lesiana for as long as they did. She had even argued with her father privately about the delay, even though she knew Mordán would have caused more havoc than he already had if the Order had tried to free her.

However, keeping his plan from his teammates was Aderes's biggest mistake, especially with the bond being as strong as it was between them. It only reinforced her desire to have Shamira at her side for her upcoming mission, especially now that Gyan could not be.

Gyan. She took a deep breath and knelt at the edge of the pool. Her eyes lit up as she held her palm face up over the water. The white light of Lumanthrú seeping from her hand sketched the outline of a white monarosia. The light faded and the flower sat in the palm of her hand. She gently placed the monarosia within the soft ripple of water that lapped against the edge of the bank.

The words she had spoken to Gyan the first time she met him at the falls surfaced within her. Nán always liked the white ones, but the blue ones are prettier don't you think?

She stifled a sob as she remembered the blue monarosia Gyan had picked for her from the hedges at the Celestine Temple. She grasped her right wrist where Gyan's bracelet still clung and fingered the flowers around it as her tears freely dropped. She had never taken off the bracelet since he had given it to her the day he first proposed.

Her eyes widened as a soft blue glow began to shine from the bracelet's flowers. A silver sphere of light shot out of the bracelet and flew to the top of the falls. A loud bang resounded throughout the clearing as light exploded over the water.

Jalena stood quickly in surprise as all three falls lit up brightly and spewed forth numerous amounts of blue monarosias. It was as if the water had transformed into flowers. The flowers crashed down with the flow of the falls and rode the current across the pool to Jalena until the entire pool was hidden beneath blue flowers.

Jabari appeared in a flash of light behind Jalena. "What was that?" he demanded in alarm.

Jalena pointed to the pool. "A trick of Gyan's—," she said quietly as her heart warmed, "—with the help of Sir Malik." She pointed to her single white monarosia floating among the blue ones. "He's trying to outdo me."

Jabari smiled and reached up to put a hand on Jalena's shoulder. "Still as clever as ever, I see," he said softly.

"And affectionate," added Jalena. She dropped to the edge of the pool and brought a flower up to her nose.

Jabari squeezed Jalena's shoulder and disappeared again.

***

Jabari reappeared beside Kesól, Zareb, and Faelán who were all standing at the edge of the forest.

"The glow beneath their Lumsignes has not faded." Faelán sighed. "Malik and then Gyan's death—it's a lot for any warrior to take in at once. I think you are right, Elder Master Zareb, in suggesting that they go to the Realm before any other mission."

"It's the quickest way for them to gain their stability back," said Zareb. "Their energy is too unbalanced to continue work for the Order at this time."

"When their grief no longer dominates their reasoning they can return," Faelán said.

"With my alterations to the spell the Glisayas used, they will be able to only escape the forest when they regain their balance individually and remember who they are," Kesól explained. "After they find themselves, they will find each other and reform their bond. Then the path to exit the forest will appear."

"It is a risk," stated Faelán. "The warriors could be trapped within the enchantment for a long time."

"If, after a specific time, they do not reemerge, I will alter the effects of the Spell of Illuse to fade. However, I think this team will surpass the challenge, despite what they have been through."

Later that evening, Sade lowered the Tritum-X down in Eltia, east of the Three Songs. As the ramp lowered, Sade called out to Valora from the cockpit.

"Go on," she told the others. "I'll be right behind."

She entered the cockpit as Sade stood quickly. "Master Valora, I'm sorry about Master Gyan—I've been meaning to talk to you, but between Fane and restorations—well he won't let me have a moment off and it's driving me—" His eyes widened as Valora grabbed and kissed him.

"It's okay, Sade," she said as she pulled back. "I'll see you soon."

"Well," Sade responded as his face flushed. "Okay. In that case..." He grinned. "Hey, Valora," he said as she turned to leave, "I am to fly the Vorclán to Galinia with Master Jalena and the others, so I do not know how long it will be before I see you again."

"In that case…Captain." She returned to kiss him again.

She hid her smile as she joined the rest of her team minutes later and casually surveyed the surrounding area to avoid Brogan's penetrating stare.

"Hey, this place is similar to the Mystic Woodlands Gyan and I traveled through with Sir Malik," said Jarek. "The trees here glow and sing."

"The trees everywhere sing, Jarek," Valora responded. "Some are just easier to hear than others."

He rolled his eyes and turned to Kesól. "Are you gonna tell us what this is about, Sir Kesól?"

"This is an extension of that same forest, Master Jarek," Kesól stated as he led the group of confused masters to the edge of the colorful forest. "Amedia is just south of here."

He scanned the forest ahead of them. "I am about to tell you why you are here. Just give me a moment." His eyes lit up with a yellow glow and he teleported in a burst of light.

Shamira and Jalena watched the masters from the ramp of the ship.

"Do you think they will be okay?" asked Shamira.

"Yes. It will not take them more than a month before they figure it out."

"Is that all?" said Shamira. "I say six weeks."

"If I can do it in less than two—"

"You did it in one!"

"I had Malik's help—"

"You were ten years old, Jalena!" She rolled her eyes. "Enough with your modesty. Who do you believe will be the first to figure it out?"

"Brogan and then Lorcan soon after. I would say Valora, but her energy has been the most unstable since Gyan's death. Hoshi's energy has too, and Tarak's condition has impacted Danika's even more."

"I'd say Lorcan unless Jarek just stumbles on the answer like he usually does," said Shamira.

Jalena smiled. "Yes."

Kesól reappeared in front of the warriors. "Follow me."

The warriors cast him skeptical looks but followed him in silence with Shamira and Jalena lagging a small distance behind.

Kesól smiled as he stopped before two tall white trees, their large leaves hanging low to cover much of their trunks. "Your mission begins beyond the white trees." He turned to Tarak. "Except for you, Master Tarak. You will be coming with me."

Tarak nodded without question.

"What?" Danika said in surprise. "Why?"

"I have a training program that I wish to subject Master Tarak to. I think it will help him regain his memories."

Tarak's expression softened as Danika threw her arms around him. The rest of the warriors took turns hugging him, Jalena, and Shamira.

"Calm your concern, Master Danika," Kesól reassured. "You will all be reunited again soon."

"Are you going to tell us any more about our assignment, Sir Kesól?" Jarek asked as the masters moved slowly through the border of the white trees. "This is weird."

The group turned back to the four standing on the other side of the trees.

"Your mission is to find yourself," he replied.

"Huh?" Jarek cocked an eyebrow.

"You heard me correctly," said Kesól. "You are to find yourself."

"What kind of mission is that?" asked Lorcan.

Golden light flashed and spread out wide around the warriors.

Kesól laughed lightly as the four faded from the warriors' view, his voice echoing off the trees. "The most important one there is."

"Sir Kesól?" Valora asked as she stepped forward. "Jalena?"

"Where did they go?" asked Jarek. He stared at the white trees where Kesól and the others previously stood as the rest of the team scanned the area.

Hoshi patted Jarek on the arm. "Uh, Jarek."

"What?"

Hoshi was staring straight ahead, her eyes wide.

Jarek followed her gaze and jerked his head back in shock. "What the—?"

"Hello, light warriors," the large golden dragon standing before them spoke clearly as she stretched up tall and spread her wings out wide. "Welcome to the Realm of Illuse."