The Quest of the Living Water - Castle of Shining Light

Chapter 7 - Revelations

A harsh wind blew across the dead terrain as a lone knight fought a losing battle against the shadows. Dodging another blow, he wondered how much longer he would have to hold on, how long would it take them to find him.

Concluding that the sensors were not detecting him yet, he closed his eyes, concentrated.  The shadows stayed back, unable to predict his next move. With a blinding glow, the double edged sword in his hand shot a beam of Cyan light into the sky, lighting up the barren land before  he slumped to the ground in a heap.

The shadows stayed still as they watched his body disintegrate. Nick smiled as he saw the walls of the castle before him as his eyes closed completely.

Aurora felt like she was being jerked awake. Her first session with Peritia had taken a lot out of her. Obviously, she was not meant to be an archer, she had enough cuts on her index finger to prove that.

When the insistent shaking failed to diminish after a full minute of ignoring it, Aurora cracked one eye open and shot up in bed.

“Wh..”, she started to say but the worried attendant beat her to it.

“Her Highness and her companion have requested your attendance in The courtyard immediately. It is of utmost importance.”

Aurora nodded slowly, coming to more fully. Quickly getting out of bed, she hastily donned whatever garment the attendant held out to her and reached for her trusted catapult. She had gotten it made weeks into her acceptance in the Castle. Her Armour wasn’t completely under her control yet and she didn’t trust herself with any version of a bow and arrow, and that’s all she had been able to conjure.

Rushing out of her bedroom, she noticed hushed whispers throughout the corridors as she made her way to the Courtyard. Making her way through the crowd gathered there, she stood beside the Queen and Amy.

The Queen looked worried and Amy seemed to be comforting her, speaking in a low voice so as to avoid prying ears.

“You’re here”, Aurora turned, coming face to face with her eccentric uncle, “This way”, he beckoned to her.

Arderine and Amy were still talking, oblivious to her presence, so she turned and followed Quesios to the Water Sink.

There, lying in a foetal position, was a man in a cloak, head full of dark curls striking against the brilliant Green of the grass.

“He just appeared out of nowhere”, Quesios said as an answer to Aurora’s questioning look.

“Tell her the rest, Quesios”

Aurora looked at the Queen before turning back to Quesios.

Sighing heavily, he explained, “I was attempting to make a beacon to capture your signature to make a sort of Auorora detector. I didn’t bother to refine the parameters since no-one has ever spent longer in Immersion than you have. It beeped half an hour ago to signal the Courtyard. I knew you were sleeping, so I came to see what had caused the disturbance.”

“And found him?”, Aurora questioned.

Quesios nodded.

“Then why haven’t you taken him to the lab already? Maybe he’s like me”, Aurora reached out for the man just as everyone collectively shouted not to.