Atlantis (A Waterfire Saga Fanfiction)

Chapter 5

Orfeo stared at her with a blank face, awaiting her reaction.

"Who brought magic to the island?" Alma asked calmly.

The mage still stared at her as if he were wondering if she were trustworthy.

"Was it the crystals?" she pressed.

Orfeo smiled and shook his head.

"That myth is not real." he stated.

Every citizen knew that legend; the one regarding the crystals. It was said that a comet passed over Atlantis many years ago. Some of the inhabitants at that time had managed to cut the stone open,  revealing lovely jewels that have never been seen by mankind before. Those shards from the comet were said to possess great qualities; ones that could extend lifetimes and heal the sick and wounded. The legend states that the Atlanteans would wear this crystal around their necks, protecting them from horrid fates.

Alma suddenly remembered that when she was 7 years old, she had actually believed in that legend while playing with some of the other children. One girl, Paloma, had told her that the crystals were all hidden inside Alma's house. And so, being a naive young child,  Alma searched and searched throughout her house for those priceless pieces. Looking back at all of this, Alma realized that it was a stupid decision,  for she had turned her house upside down for nothing. As a result, when her mother came home,  Alma received a harsh punishment that she will never forget.

If the crystals are not real,  then how is there magic here? Alma wondered.

Orfeo walked over to his desk and grabbed a box that was made of pure gold. He opened it and took out the most beautiful piece of jewellery that Alma had ever seen. It was a flawless emerald that was beyond compare.

Alma gasped. She had never seen anything like it before.

The mage then walked over to one of the shelves on the wall and grabbed a scroll. Orfeo sat back down across from her, holding the emerald in one hand and the scroll in the other.

Alma simply stared at him, wondering what he was about to tell her next.

"Can I trust you, Alma?" he asked.

The question took Alma by surprise. After a moment, the young girl responded with a question of her own. "With what,  exactly?" she challenged.

"A secret," he stated.

"What kind of secret?" she asked.

"This secret, if told to the wrong people, could mean the end of Atlantis." he replied seriously.

Why would he want to tell me this? I have absolutely no place in The Hall Of The Six, she wondered.

"But we just met. How in the world could you trust me? I'm the daughter of a locksmith. I have no title, no...."

"Because you're different than everyone else." he cut in.

"This prophecy was given by the gods thousands of years ago when the island's first king was crowned. It was foretold that a king named Ozias would rule Atlantis wisely and well. And he did."