The Second Carpenter

XL

XL_I_Turned_Loose

The Vault of Solvelfia was a mount similar to the one in Viki na Neir. A triangular area extruded skywards, except totally made up of rock. There was no land beneath this one above the ocean; so, to reach the same altitude without being located upon a high land, the mount itself had to be many, many times higher. What made it even stranger was that, even though the continent upon which it had been located had been drowned, thus the mount losing a significant amount of its altitude, it still reached above the first layer of clouds.

Having travelled alongside Molto for so many years had given him a spectacular amount of experience in the sea. Not enough to survive on a small boat in the Lost Sea, of course. Thankfully, he had not died. But his head hurt. He had somehow ended up upon a narrow, low edge of rocky sea cliff, his head hanging by the edge, tips of his hairlocks in the water. Why am I crying?

He heard a soothing melody. After having properly come to, he supported himself with both hands and rose his head to the direction of the voice. It sounded like moaning now.

Two mermaids were stuck in a crack in the cliff. Their chests under pressure, they were beginning to suffocate. Suakasai rushed toward them and helped them as fast as he could - not without hurting them a little. As they were free, they swam away and disappeared. Come to think of it, I've never heard a mermaid speak; I've only heard them sing.

He felt an overwhelming shadow. He looked up. For a second, he felt terrified. The scenery of the Vault of Solvelfia, against the background of a black, cloudy sky blistering with lightning bolts, risen from a sea disturbed by violent waves and ghastly cliffs, was nothing but menacing. But then he felt lucky to have landed near his destination. He did not need a boat to reack the Vault, given he was prepared to accept the risk of being thrust mortally against a rocky cliff by a wave. He would still have to return, however, but that was another time's problem. Aid me, light. Yes, the real problem was climbing the vault. This one had not artificial passageway. Although it still looked peculiar in shape, it showed no sign of unnatural intervention. And the top of the mount, being covered by clouds, could not be seen. Unkown kilometers of rock climbing. In this weather. It might be impossible even with his light. Without it, it would definitely be impossible.

XL_II_Climb_Those_Stairs

The peak of the mount was plain, unlike its counterpart in Viki na Neir. The top surface itself was plain, but . . .

"Wow!" Suakasai only just realized that had not been night time. It was only the clouds that had made it seem so. It was radiant up here. and the same clouds, black from below, were now white as Suakasai looked at them from above. But the sky was not blue either. Everything was white. It felt like another world.

One part of the clouds changed shape and rose to construct a stairway. He approached and ascended. The steps were of clouds, but hard as stone. He finally reached piece of cloud that looked like a gate. Looking back, he did not sea the peak of the Vault. The 'gate' was not hard as stone. He passed through it.

An ocean of golden islands floating in the sky. Golden palaces and castles built upon them. Suakasai had forgotten to breathe for about ten seconds before he heard a voice. "Welcome." It had come from behind. Looking back, of course, he no longer saw the gate, and only saw the source of the voice. "Welcome to Fildablo, Sir Suakasai." The voice addressed him again.

Suakasai forgot to breathe for another ten seconds. It was a female elf, but instead of being fair-skinned and golden-haired with turquoise eyes, just like all living elves were supposed to be, she was pale-skinned and white-haired. Her eyes were purple. But just as all elves, she had long eyelashes and ears and sharp features.