The Element Keepers

Chapter 6 Answers

Seth and Eric stood there in silence for a while. The Guardian of the Elements? The legend of the elements was a story that everyone was taught since they were young. Whether they heard it as a bedtime story or as a world legend in school, everyone knew the tale somehow.

The legend said that long ago, there existed four temples that held physical manifestations of the four elements; earth, fire, water, and wind. The element of Earth kept soil fertile and caused plants to grow. The element of Fire brought warmth and life to the world. The element of Water kept icy lands frozen, allowed rain to come, and kept fresh water bodies pure. The element of Wind sent soft breezes and clean air through the world. The elements were said to be watched over by a powerful, ethereal being and protected by four elemental spirits. By remaining undisturbed, the world was able to maintain balance in nature. However, there were no such temples that existed in the world, so it was believed only to be a legend, a story.

Seth and Eric looked at each other in confusion. The stories they heard couldn't possibly be true. The blonde looked at Chiyo. As much as it didn't make sense, just looking at her made something within him stir. She held a dignified and elegant stance, much like royalty, but also an aura of incredible power. He spoke to her calmly. "Do you mean that the legend of the elements is true? But there's nothing that proves it. The temples that are said to house the manifestations of the elements are no where to be found."

A look of sadness crossed Chiyo's face. "They had existed, very long ago. But you are right. They do not stand today. They were destroyed once the elements left their walls."

Eric raised an eyebrow. "What you mean by the elements left the temples?" That wasn't something they had heard from the legend they were told.

Chiyo looked at the two boys solemnly. "It seems that what had befallen the elements hadn't reached the ears of man. I will tell you the story of the near calamity that threatened the harmony of the world."

She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they shone and the three of them were suddenly miles above the earth. The boys jumped back, expecting to fall, but realized their feet were firmly on an invisible surface. "Do not be alarmed, I am merely showing you the events that happened through you mind."

They floated above a large and elegant stone building surrounded by trees, intricate etches of vines and mountains carved into its walls. "The temples of the elements existed in different corners of the world. The Temple of Earth in the north." The image blurred around them and they were above a similarly constructed building standing on the rocky terrain of a mountain but with flames carved into the walls. "The Temple of Fire in the west." The scene moved at a blinding speed and stopped at a building in a desert with carvings of wind, tornadoes, and lightning. "The Temple of Wind in the east." They moved again, stopping at the familiar structure standing in an icy and snowy field with waves and icicles carved into the walls. "And the Temple of Water in the south."

Their surroundings changed again, each of the temples standing in each direction. "As you know, the four temples housed the elements," Chiyo explained and the scene changed again to within each temple. Large orbs of energy pulsated while rotating slowly at the very end of each chamber. "Mankind would pray to the Elements for prosperity each year. It was a time of peace with no lack of food and supplies. However, the peace was eventually disturbed."

The scene shifted once again. They were standing above a city surrounded by tall mountains and a large castle in the center. "There was a kingdom that was ruled by a greedy and selfish king," said Chiyo, her eyes hardening in disgust. "The people of the land lived in poverty not from lack but from the king's monopoly of all the riches. If it wasn't enough that he robbed his people of a comfortable life, he desired the power of the Elements for his own. As foolish as the king was, he knew better than to pursue his desire.

"Then by some twist of fate, the king was somehow granted a dark and evil magic." As Chiyo spoke, the sky above the city grew dark with ominous and unnatural clouds. A shadow seemed to encase the closed off area. "This terrifying power transformed not only the king, but also the innocents under his rule into evil beings that were no longer human. Not a trance of their former humanity remained."

"With this new found power, the king led an attack to claim the Elements." The scene returned to the split overhead view of the four temples, but large shadows encompassed them. "The Spirits of the Elements and I fought to protect them from this new threat, but we were vastly outnumbered and their power was overwhelming."

Chiyo's expression saddened as the darkness invaded the temples. "As a final stand, I released the Elements from the temples to seek four souls, through time and space, worthy of keeping their power." The temples shone brightly; the Earth in yellow, the Fire in red, the Wind in purple, and the Water in blue. Orbs of light darted from the temples and disappeared from sight. "The dark kingdom destroyed the temples in a fit of rage for having been robbed of its opportunity." The lights that shone from the temples were engulfed by the shadows and disappeared.

"With the last of my strength, I managed to seal those corrupted by the evil power within the walls of its own city." The scene returned to the overhead view of the corrupted city as a multicolored dome surrounded and encased it. Hordes of shadows could be seen within the dome trying to break it but to no avail.

Chiyo's expression softened into one of regret. "But the seal has weakened over the thousands of years I've used to recover my power, but even now, my full power hasn't returned. Thus, individuals from that kingdom have been able to get by the barrier, and the results were far more dire than I expected." Seth and Eric both gasped as the scene changed again. They were suddenly standing in the center of Cerna, the buildings burning and the people screaming in panic. In the midst of the chaos stood the demon twins with psychotic grins on their faces.

Seth clenched his fists as their surroundings faded into black. He blinked and they were standing in front of the fountain in the clearing once again. Anger bubbled up inside of the blonde but Eric beat him to it.

"Why the hell would those things attack our village?!" The red haired boy burst out in anger. "Why didn't you help Cerna if you knew what was happening? You could have saved them, dang it!" Seth was wondering the same things but kept his wits about him. He knew there wasn't any point in blaming Chiyo. It was just a feeling of helplessness and sorrow that came from loosing their loved ones.

A solemn and apologetic look crossed the woman's features. "I understand you're upset but with my power as it is, there was nothing I could have done to stop it."

"Then why would you tell us?" Seth spoke calmly as he looked at her evenly. "We would have been fine not knowing what truly happened to our village. We would have speculated and probably reached conclusions, but was telling us really necessary?"

Chiyo smiled gently at Seth. "Have you not figured it out yet? You two are keepers of two of the Elements."