The Sky and the Sea, the Sea and the Sky

6

"What,?!" I screamed fearfully. Ray clenched my hand and flew off the cloud. I tried to keep up with him, but he was flying faster than I had ever seen. "Come on, Kal!", he shrieked. I stirred uncomfortably in the air as he pulled my weight across the sky. I flapped my wings faster and faster until I could barely catch my breath. Luckily, a gust of wind gave me a boost and sent me soaring alongside Ray. I would usually dream of holding his hand and flying sky-high with him. Just to hear his heavy breath so near startled me. Whenever he is near me I feel so warm inside, like a fire is warming my soul, and the floating ashes are bad memories all forgotten amid trust and tender moments between us. I just don't know what he thinks of me. Every passing day I think about our touching moments together- even when we were young friends. We would race each other to my cloud and then collapse on to it to catch our breath. We felt so free together, and nothing could stop us from being together. Until the day that I-

"Kal."

That voice again.

Ray was panting, practically gasping for air. "You need to trust me." We landed on the edge of Mount Adair. The mountain of the Oak trees. You could see Skyden land and Damari sea for miles. The sun glimmered differently now. It seemed tired, almost distant. Its rays seemed to reach out for the water but could only reflect on its surface. I don't have words at the moment. I feel confused.. like my mind wants to ponder on the logic of Ray's thinking, but my heart pumps more emotion in every word that leaves his lips. There was a long train of silence until Ray finally spoke. "I remembered something. Something your mom told us as kids. Do you remember when we went to your parents' cloud.. and your mom would tell us the ancient myths of the Skyden and Damari world?" he asked. 

"Yes.", I replied anxiously. Ray chuckled happily and ran his hands through his dark hair. He looked at me with a nervous smile, then his face returned to a worried look. His eyebrows creased. He looked straight into my eyes. "There's a way, Kalani!" My mind shifted thirty different directions. "A way to save the world.." he whispered. His voice was shaking with hopeful fear. Just as I was about to smile, Ray hugged me tightly. I could've sworn he shed a tear. He ended the hug and swiftly turned away. We both knew what myth he was talking about. I just couldn't remember the ending of it. "Ray.. tell the myth again." His back was still turned towards me. There's always a catch.

"Long ago... Skydens and Damaris were one. One mind. One people. Legend says if the two sides ever disbanded because of contention... split... that the Skyden who finds the 'Malachite Stone', can access their power to save the people of the world and allow them to come together. The Skyden must travel in the depths of the sea; the opposing world, fast enough to reach the passageway to the hidden realm of reflection. "What's that?" I questioned. Ray hesitated for a while, looking up at the sky as if something would suddenly appear and answer my question. He shifted anxiously and slowly turned around till our eyes locked. "The realm.. is full of your doubts and fears. Everything is an illusion, Kai. You must not fall for the evil spirits reflections of your past. It's an enormous risk. If you make it past the illusions, you will find the stone and read what's encrypted to bring the world back to unity."

"I'll do it, "Ray spoke.