Ojtaro, Sentinekka and Symphony enter, and they pass through the door. A blue light calls them: It's the Spirit they helped before. He is waiting for them over a rock bridge, kneeling on the grass in front of a statue. It looks like a person.
«He...» begins Ojtaro, while pointing at the statue. «He Is the Isle of Dawn's Elder. Light the candle and you will see».
«Won't you come?» Sentinekka asks with a disappointed and melancholy face.
«Let's just say that I don't want to meet that Elder very much... You wouldn't understand, anyways» the fourteen-year-old justifies himself, sitting down on some stone stairs near the statue. «You go ahead, I'll wait here».
The two girls light the candle at the same time and kneel with the Spirit, who smiles at them gently.
Suddenly the temple makes room for total emptiness.
Symphony and Sentinekka are in front of a rectangular stone. There are two candles on it.
And a man with a long white beard, a tunic and a scepter joins them and looks at them calmly. His rock face is cracked, and it unsettles Sentinekka.
The Elder takes with his scepter, which as it reaches its end assumes a rhombus shape, the flames of both candles, and it begins to glow and to give off a strong white light; as if by magic, the man's face recomposes itself, assuming a sweet and benevolent air. When she sees that magic, Sentinekka wonders why Ojtaro didn't want to see that man.
The two stare at him and he does the same. Total silence reigns until he uses his scepter to summon a flock of shiny and free birds that flutter fearlessly to escape from that void.
The Elder makes to leave, but Sentinekka stops him by asking:«Wait! What's your name?».
He stops. «You can't know my name, Child. I'm desolated».
«I understand, don't worry... I just want to ask you something» she replies, shrugging her shoulders.
«Tell me...» the wise old man indulges her.
«Do you happen to know how Spirits came to be... Spirits?» she asks him curiously.
«Of course» is the answer she gets.«They died because of the Darkness».
«And...» Symphony intervenes.«Could this happen to me and my friend too, Elder?». Her tone is fearful, almost broken with fear.
«Yes» he says.«The Spirits were people like you two. If you die because of the Darkness, you'll have the chance to become a Spirit waiting to be released. Or just an invisible one. It depends...».
His words are mysterious. They make Sentinekka slowly get on her feet and bravely look at the Elder.«Depends on what...?».
He giggles and answers:«Stay close to whoever is talking to you about the world. Never lose that presence... You will understand, Child of the Light».
After saying this, he fades away and everything goes white. In an instant, Symphony and Sentinekka find themselves in the temple. Ojtaro looks at them for a while, then looks away.
The statue... It's eyes lit up. The Spirit of the Isle of Dawn, which had remained motionless all the time, leaps to his feet, greets the two girls and, after transforming himself into crystalline light, flies away.
Birds flutter in there; they become agitated when a very powerful stone door behind the statue opens with a strong sound. A grassy and stone platform is revealed beyond it.
«Finished...? We can continue, can't we?» Ojtaro asks, bored.
After seeing the Elder, however, Symphony and her friend don't answer him. He assumes a tormented expression and thoughtfully adds:«What did he tell you? The Elder....».
«I...» Sentinekka tries to tell him, but Symphony interrupts her:«We could die?!».
The two look at each other and don't say a thing.
«Yes...» Ojtaro replies to Symphony. He barely heard Sentinekka's whispering voice. «But I won't let that happen. Nothing will happen to you, don't worry» he reaches them.
Sentinekka is silent, in the meanwhile. The Elder told them to stay near Ojtaro. Does he know him for something in particular, or was he just guessing?
-----
He looks at the little girl and wonders what she is thinking about.
It's strange to see her so quiet.
«Sen'? Are you alright?» he asks her, confused. Something's wrong...
She doesn't say half a word. Then, suddenly, the little girl hugs him warmly and smiles.
Ojtaro is surprised. The Elder spoke well of him...? It can't be, he just doesn't want to believe it. He doesn't know and probably never will.
But he likes that moment, somehow.
YOU ARE READING
Fly Until You See The Light
FantasySentinekka, on her thirteenth birthday, the date known for the start of the typical journey in the seven realms, decides to bring her best friend, a fifteen year old who was never allowed to start her journey, through the exploration of the Isle of...
