The Adventures of the Junior Phoenixes, Part 4: The Pendant of Light

Chapter 21: Tea, Cakes, and Secrets

Chapter 21

     Rain Fox stood up and approached the man that stood next to the Veiled Archway. She was still breathing a little heavy, but kept her cool as she neared him. She had grabbed her wand when she stood, wary of the man that wore the Egyptian motifs around his neck.

     “Did you say you were Archelaus the Bronze?” Rain Fox asked him.

     “Yes, I did,” Archelaus spoke, “And it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. You are Arielle Cloudstorm, correct?”

     “Rain Fox,” she corrected him, “My name is Rain Fox.”

     “But that is the name your father’s people have given you, is it not?” Archelaus asked. “Why do you keep this name, even after those you were hiding from have revealed themselves and you are no longer in need of hiding?”

     Rain Fox smirked. “I like it. It suits me. Who are you?” Why are you here?”

     “I am Archelaus-“ he began.

     “No, no,” she said, “I know you’re name- I mean, I know who you are; you’re Digger’s ancestor.”

     “Yes, young Indigo Bronze,” Archelaus said, “The seventh son of a seventh son, the youngest of my descendants. I feel sorry for the lad, to have been born in such a tumultuous time.”

     “Yes, poor Digger,” Rain Fox dismissed, “But why are you here? As a matter of fact, where exactly are we?”

     “Oh, yes,” Archelaus replied, “We are in the Realm Between.”

     “The Realm Between,” Rain Fox repeated, “Of course we are. Fitting, I suppose.”

     “This does not startle you, child?” he asked.

     “Not really,” Rain Fox answered. “Honestly, nothing surprises me anymore.”

     “That’s an unfortunately cynical approach to things,” Archelaus responded.

     “Believe me, sir, after everything I’ve seen, there’s not much left out there than can surprise me. Well, maybe a compliment from the Iron Bull or a nice, quiet, uneventful day. Those would surprise me.”

     Archelaus nodded. “Well, sorry you have such a cynical view of the world.”

     “You would, too, sir, if you had experienced what I have gone through the past few years. Which brings me back to my questions: What exactly is the Realm Between and why you are here, sir?”

     “There are four places a soul may go,” Archelaus answered, “The Realm of the Living, of course, is where souls start out. The Realm Beyond is for those who have earned rest and grace in the Afterlife. The Realm Below is for those who have earned- well, those who have earned torment and pain. Then there is the Realm Between. This realm is where souls go when they are still tethered to the world.”

     “Tethered?” Rain Fox asked.

     “Yes. Let me give you an example: Vampires, or moreover, those afflicted with a vampire’s curse, are unable to keep their souls in their bodies. The curse banishes the soul, so those fortunate enough to know the Anchoring Spell find a living person and anchor themselves to them. Their soul, which is unable to cross over to either Realm, stays here until the appointed time.”

     “Is it the same for those who have used Horcruxes?” she asked.

     “Yes. A Horcrux keeps the soul tethered to the world. While the Horcrux is still intact, the soul remains here.”