Whispers in the Ancient Kingdom

Chapter 11: The Guardian of the Waves

It hit us all, a warmth which leeched deep into my skin, as we stepped out of the caverns, so stark a contrast to the darkness just behind. My heart pounded both with exhilaration and fear. We had gained something; it was a weighty burden, one that wasn't exactly what I was sure we were prepared for at all.

"Hey, Lira, are you all right?" Rafael asked me, furrowing his brows.

Yeah, just. trying to process everything," I said, still feeling the electricity of the crystals pulsating beneath my skin. "It's a lot to take in."

He nodded, looking out at the horizon. "We need to go to the coast. The Guardian of the Waves might know more about the cloud and how to get rid of it."

Right, I replied, sitting up straighter. Let's go. The sooner we figure this out, the better.

We descended the mountain road, the world getting back to normal little by little. The air felt lighter now, as if the weight of the task had lessened ever so slightly. But that cloud above our kingdom still cast its dark shadow over all; it was there, always reminding us that this was an urgent quest.

As we moved along the coast, the smashing of the waves filled the air with that briny draught. The bright blue of the ocean yawned ahead, glittering in the sunshine. It was at once beautiful and haunting.

"Look over there," Rafael said, pointing at a rocky outcropping. "That is the place where the Guardian usually manifests.

I squinted along the horizon to see the shape of the figure that emerged from the water. She was ethereal. Her hair flowed behind her like the waves of the sea, and her skin flowed with the sheen of the ocean itself. When she approached, I could feel my heart start to wash over with a kind of calm.

"Welcome, seekers of truth," said the Guardian, her voice melodic and soothing. "I am Selene, Guardian of the Waves. What brings you to my shores?"

"Selene," I breathed, mesmerized by her presence. "We seek knowledge about the cloud that is threatening our kingdom."

A ray of despair flickered over Selene's face. "The cloud is the very essence of hopelessness. It feeds on fear and doubts and grows in strength with each soul that passes it," she explained.

"How do we stop it?" Rafael stepped closer. "Just now, we had just left the Crystal Caverns through which we were siphoning from those crystals.".

"Power alone will not dispel the cloud," Selene replied, piercing my soul with a gaze. "You must also confront your deepest fears. Only then can you transform that power into light strong enough to combat the darkness."

My heart sank at her words. "What if I cannot confront my fears? What if they overwhelm me?"

Selene drew closer, warmth emanating from her presence. "Fear is a part of you but it does not define you. Know it, embrace it, then let go. Only in that way can you transcend it."

Rafael reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "We can do this together, Lira. You're not alone."

"Thanks, Rafael," I whispered, so grateful for his unfaltering support. "But what do we do next?

"You must procure three ancient relics discovered at the bottom of the sea," Selene said to me. "Each relic holds a portion of the light, when gathered together, will separate the cloud from its body. You must retrieve them prior to the tide reversing because when it does they will disappear for good."

I turned to her and then back out at the ocean with my heart racing at the prospect of entering such seemingly endless waters.

Follow the currents," Selene said, pointing toward the waves. "It will lead you to the first artifact."