Shinsekyo, Horai
Rien felt deeply uneasy. They looked up at the sky, saw that gleaming first quarter moon, glimpsed that slick spread of black gradually slithering across the silvery-white. An involuntary shiver crawled down their spine in response.
"Rien."
The delicate scent of orchid drifted to the Lotus Tensen as Ran sidled up and took their hand in a firm squeeze. The former turned to their sometimes lover and nuzzled them discreetly.
"I'm fine. Nothing would happen."
However, the words sounded hollow and unconvincing to the ears, a mere lip service to placate the worried Orchid Tensen and a futile attempt at self-reassurance. Rien looked up at the sky again and saw that the black had spread.
Earlier during the night, the Grand Master had told them that they would be performing an extremely sacred and crucial ceremony. Then he had led them through the dense forests.
That was over an hour ago, and Rien wondered when they would arrive at their mysterious destination and, of course, what the ceremony entailed. A part of them also wished someone would break this damnable silence. It was so deadly quiet that it was unbearably loud.
An oxymoron, no doubt, but it was true. Everything was amplified in this choking quietness.
As if answering Rien's wish, Zheng-Yu spoke, his gravel voice shockingly loud.
"We are here."
The quarter moon was now halfway smothered with black.
===
They were standing before a massive cave, its huge maw a gaping hole of unrelentingly pitch blackness. Rien started; none of them knew that there was a cave in Shinsekyo. Heck, none of them had even known this part of the island existed. It was as if the Grand Master had simply conjured it out of thin air.
"Grand Master," Ran bowed. "May we know where is this place? We—"
"Be quiet." Zheng-Yu whirled around, black eyes glittering. "Who gives you permission to speak?"
The Orchid Tensen trembled and bowed even lower. "Ran is deeply sorry. Grand Master, please forgive Ran."
Zheng-Yu glared at the terrified Tensen, and Rien's pulse jumped, fearing what the incensed Grand Master might do to Ran.
"You are finally here, Grand Master. I've been awaiting your arrival."
A mysterious figure shrouded in a black hooded cloak emerged from the inky darkness and bowed to Zheng-Yu. At the figure's sudden appearance, the latter gave Ran a last withering glare before focusing on the newcomer.
"Yes, we are here. I have brought the items required."
Items?
Rien did not really like the sound of that.
The hooded figure turned towards the Tensens; its cloaked gaze seemed to have arrowed upon Rien and Ran. But it said nothing and merely lowered its head.
A green ball of flame then appeared within Zheng-Yu's cupped left hand.
"Let's go in now."
===
The entrance was narrow. For the first couple of miles, they walked slowly, hunched over. Then the tunnel widened abruptly, and they were able to stand upright, though the path began to twist and turn, branching into numerous narrow passageways, but they stayed on the main route.
Approximately three miles from the entrance, the tunnel opened to a wide, circular chamber. Here, the ball of green flame suddenly flared brighter, though it still struggled to illuminate the surroundings.
YOU ARE READING
A Love Beyond Time
Fanfiction"Sagiri." Shion turned to the young lady beside him, a soft smile of quiet bliss and wonderment adorning his handsome face. "Have you ever, ever imagined that things would turn out this way when we embarked on that assignment to Shinsekyo those year...
