☀︎︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐍☀︎︎ 𝑠𝑘𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑙

13 - 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞ᵖᵗ.ᵒⁿᵉ

-

"So all of the Elders Names are linked?"

"Yeah, their all connected in some way,"

"... I still don't understand,"

"Oh whatever. We're here now,"

-

Agapi and Vouno joint their hands again as they walked towards what seemed like a platform with candles spread around it, a navy blue crystal levitated above it.

Around the edges of it were floating lamps, yet their lights where missing, the children walked around the platform lighting each candle. As the lights returned, part of the blue crystal got brighter and brighter until all of it was a turquoise blue.

The children hopped onto the platform, it began to rise slowly into the air. As it left the floor Agapi looked over it and saw how far the floor already was from them. She stumbled backwards.

Since what happened in the Golden Wasteland, Agapi hadn't felt the same as she ever had before.

I need to tell him soon...

She thought to herself, but Vouno already jumped off into the floating area lighting more candles, he seemed determined to finish this quest.

-

The Vault Of Knowlage was a strangely quiet place, it's only colour pallet consisted of shades of blue and black. The edges of the rooms were filled with rows and rows of ancient books and jars missing their lights. As if no-one had touched it in years.

Everything is going... Blurry.

Vouno came back to the platform, noticing that Agapi hadn't moved from her spot since the ground left the bottom.

"Hey are you feeling better?" he asked.

Why is everything muffled?

"Yeah, I'm just tired, I'm sorry, I need a while," She lied. Vouno nodded in response and headed off to light more candles as the platform rose higher and higher.

My head is throbbing.. Not yet.. Please..

The next area seemed never ending, floating mountains and waterfalls swam around the stars everywhere. Agapi could see Vouno hopping from one levitating rock to the other, lighting jars as he went past. But the boy was only seen as a blur before he knew it.

Agapi slumped to the ground.

I'm just tired. It's true. I'll just sleep a while. Vouno will help me when he gets back..

She closed her eyes determined that she was 'just tired'.

When she woke up to Vouno shaking her shoulders gently, she forced herself to smile.

"Sorry, I'm just really tired,"

Vouno sighed, "You been saying that since the Valley, even after we got some sleep. Come with me on this trip for the candles, it might make you feel better,"

Agapi took a deep breath and took Vouno's hand as he pulled her up.

He pointed over to what looked like a type of manta. But it was long and starry. It had golden tips like the light manta, and a transparent galaxy like body.

"Its an Elder Cosmic manta!" he yelled excitedly.

Agapi smiled in surprise, "the cosmic mantas are everywhere in the Vault of Knowlage they say, but the Elder Cosmic manta hasn't been seen by anyone apart from the Vault elder herself!" She stated, slowly swimming through the stars towards it with the help of Vouno.

Vouno pulled her along, he couldn't help but notice how she was struggling to do this herself, even walk herself.

They made it to the cosmic manta, and carefully placed both of their hands on its cold head. It had many wings that flapped in waves. The tiny stars in its body twinkled as the children touched them.

Vouno noticed a missing lighted jar on its for head. He carefully claimed up it leaving his small foot prints with light, he held his candle towards it, it began to glow, and the elder manta began to honk in delight as the warmth filled its body.

The children looked at eachother and smiled as Vouno slid off the manta and looked into Agapis stale mask.

He hesitated, "Why do we have to wear the masks?"

Agapi was surprised to hear this question, "Why are you asking this if you won't  even let me see your face?"

Vouno flushed red from embarressment under his mask, she was right, but he still wanted to know. He waited before beginning to swim back and loosing his grin.

He didn't really know why though. The only reason he wouldn't let Agapi see his face was because the councillors said that they could not see eachother. But he had desperately wanted to see Agapis face too sometimes.

Agapi grabbed onto his arm and slowly trailed behind him.

"Why can't you take yourself back?" he asked annoyed.

Her grip suddenly got tighter from annoyed ness, "I told you. I'm tired,"

Vouno sighed and let her catch up. "I'm sorry for getting mad," he muttered. She glanced at him and gently smiled through her mask again.

"Its OK, but show me your face soon, OK?"

It was then that she realised why she said that. Everything began to get blurry again, and the sounds were muffled.

-

They were back to the platform. It was rising again.

"This is the last floor, we just have to go up the hill and we will meet the elder!" Vouno excitedly announced.

Agapi stared at the ground. She could only hear her frantic breathing.

Why now..

Why now..

Why now..

Why now..

Why now..

Why..

Now..

The platform stopped. It was silent, they weren't high enough to reach the hills yet, what was supposed to happen?

It was them that rows of Cosmic mantas flew up from beneath, lifting the children onto their backs and swimming upwards into the sky.

Vouno smiled, Agapi didn't even realise she had left the ground.

The cosmic mantas dropped the children onto the soft grass that led up to the elder statues.

Vouno began to walk off but soon realised Agapi wasn't following. He turned round to see her staring at the ground.

"Agapi?"

🌠