The Legends of Anigma: Ethiel Archer | ONC 2023

PART XLV

"Hello, my children," Alice welcomed them all again with her warm smile, waving her hands in the screen, her eyes harbouring a sadness as always. "Congratulations on getting the second fragment of Lomeyin. I'm truly sorry for putting you through such grave hardships. Please forgive me." She closed her eyes and sighed, placing her palm on her heart.

She was trying to cope with her guilt maybe, Ethiel thought.

"Too late, we have been through it now. Carry on, lady." Red Wings remarked, getting impatient already.

"The next trial is going to be the hardest. It will be a test of might. However, I don't know where it is or how to get there, and I don't even have the key item for it." Alice continued.

"Huh?! I hope she is not going to ask us to find it ourselves! None of us have that speciality!" Red Wings interrupted.

"Shhh," Tifa gestured him to stay silent.

"The Pyramid of Lomeyin is more special than the Sphere of Hezwond, and to ensure it never got into the hands of the wrong people, the divine put these trials in place. However, wisdom, resolve, and strength, these are things even evil people can have. Therefore, the whereabout of the third trail, the trial of strength, and the key item of that trial, it rests with the Guardian of Earth, the Gargoyle Lord. You shall have to go to him and prove your intention, then he shall decide if you are worthy of the Pyramid of Lomeyin.

He is one who protects the Earth from grave threats, paranormal and physical, working from the shadows, and he is the commander of the Guardian army that fights demons and evil spirits in this realm. His Guardian Palace sits high upon the skies. From there he watches over this world, protecting it while everyone are oblivious of his presence.

In the third trunk, I have placed the location and key item to get to him. There is nothing to be informed other than the advice to be polite, kind, and to think before speaking. There is no risk that poses any sort of harm upon any of you, but if he decides you aren't worthy, you will not be able to finish this quest. Be careful.

I wish you all the best.

In the scenario he approves of your intentions, let me warn you about the last trial. It will be very unlike the ones you've been through till now. Do not even blink in ignorance. One wrong move and it may cost you your lives. Lord Veer, I have a feeling this final trial will be heavily dependant on you since you are the mightiest. The Divine Water of Heavens will prove very useful in this particular trial. I myself don't really know what the exact purpose of that is other than that it gives the one who drinks it an ability that best suits them.

It is said the ability awakens a latent gift inherited at time of birth but it awakens spontaneously. You have always had a gift of turning into a monkey and extending your tail as long as you wanted it, which is similar to the different types of abilities that the royal lineage of Korugna Kingdom has had. I think there is more to your powers Lord Veer, that's why I gave you the Divine Water. That curse on you restricted that, but I think this will break that curse itself and your latent ability will flourish. At least I hope so. Again, I must ask of you — please protect my children.

Once you've gotten the last fragment of the Pyramid, open the next video — the password is the capital of India.

May the divine guide you all. See you in the next video. And my lovely children, I love you."

She kissed her palm and blew it gently to the screen before the blackness replaced her.

"You have a curse on you too?" Red Wings asked Lord Veer.

"It is a long story," Lord Veer answered. "I was a child and my naivity was the reason that it happened. That is one thing we have in common." He smiled at him.

"That would seem to be the case, unfortunately." Red Wings blew his nostrils and turned away, but maybe he was happy that they had something in common.

"We have to travel more in Earth?" Maya asked, her disgust all over her face. Clearly, she hated travelling in Earth.

"Hmm," Ethiel nodded, "Let's see. Tifa," he turned to Tifa. "The concealment spell."

"Right away!" Tifa exclaimed, flourishing her staff that she had started to carry around like a toy.

In the third trunk, they found an England map, a weird copper coin, and a paper note.

A location was marked on the England map, far from where they were. Ethiel slipped the coin into his jeans pocket and picked up the note.

It read that the Earth had a number of locations from where entry to the Guardian Palance was possible, and one of them was in England too — the one that was marked. It was in a very beautiful garden admired by all. The entry through that garden opened only after 12 in the midnight and lasted for about an hour. In the garden there was a beautiful fountain, within which if they tossed the coin given and called upon the Gargoyle Lord, the portal in the fountain will open. The portal wasn't going to be visible. They had to dive into the fountain after that to travel to the Guardian Palace. From there on, it warned them to be cautious and not do something that would intimidate the soldiers of the Guardian Palace that guarded the entrance, the sentinels that allowed visitors to pass through. There was nothing else much other than those major points in the note.

After preparing themselves, they departed the mansion once again to travel to the garden known as Flowers of Moon Garden, located far from London. They left near the evening since that the travel time would be perfect then and reached the garden by nightfall.

It was big, filled with all kinds of flowers and trees cut in beautiful shapes. It was neat and tidy. Even the air was less polluted there and Maya didn't have to cover her nose.

There was a big pond with beautiful fishes and flowers. That is where Ethiel chose to be with Maya over the little bridge, waiting for midnight while Lord Veer — disguised as a human — took Tifa around the garden with Red Wings.

As the time went by and midnight neared, the garden started to empty and soon there was nobody there but them.

At sharp midnight, they gathered around the fountain and tossed in the coin.

"Oh Gargoyle Lord, please allow us to enter your Guardian Palace." Ethiel prayed as advised in the note.

A mild blue wave of energy rippled in the fountain water.

"Now we dive? I hope I don't get wet." Tifa shivered at the thought. "It's already cold."

"I hope that too." Ethiel stepped forward and took in a deep breath. "I will go first." He jumped into the fountain.

Instead of hitting the concrete ground, he went deeper and deeper into the water until he started to see the night skies under him, the moon shining bright atop. A force plunged him deeper till he popped out of water with a splash and landed on a polished stone floor. He wasn't wet.

Behind him, a crystal clear lake reflected the moonlight straight all over him in curving waves. Tifa popped out of the lake and landed beside him.

"That was amazing! I wanna do it again!" She exclaimed and then suddenly gasped, looking behind him.

He turned on his heels and his jaw dropped.

The majesty of the Guardian Palace was just splendid and beautiful in the moonlight.