Spring of Discovery (Celestia Chronicles Book 1/Seasons Arc: Book 1)

Chapter 14: Down the Line

Jade sat in the small cottage that the Elves had set up for her and considered all that she learned. She knew that her family had their demons and wanted to respect their privacy, but it concerned her too. She decided that for now she would respect their past but it needed to be known down the line.

Her parents entered the room looking somewhat uneasy.

"We just spoke to Xaug," her mother said. "He contacted us with Saje's communication orb."

"What does he want?" asked Jade.

"He wants to trade," her father responded. "Saje for the Crystal of the Dark One."

"We can't!"

"We have to," said Arda. "He has the Book of Destiny. The decision has been made to go along with the trade but we need you there in case things go south."

"As the Chosen One," her father continued, "only you can pose a threat to him. If he tries to double-cross us we need you there as a way to fight back."

Jade crossed the room to retrieve her sword, now stained with Liase's blood. She sheathed it in its scabbard and set it at her hip. Examining herself in the mirror, she saw the face of someone older, wiser, and yet more lost staring back at her. She felt like leaving her house was an eternity ago. How much has she changed? How much is she going to change? Would she have to consider killing again as a last resort down the line?

Down the line  she thought. It seemed like a simple phrase, to deal with something later, but how much it scared her the thought that she could not even address a lot of what made her uneasy until down the line. The feeling that she just wanted to be down the line now, to envision a version of herself who had already dealt with these issues was comforting.

As much as she pined for these things, for a time when all this was behind her, she had to accept the reality of what was in front of her: This is not down the line. She had to act in order to achieve the future she wanted. She had to earn it.

Jade saw a new traveling cloak sitting on the table. She picked it up and examined it. The cloak was light but the material felt heavy. Its fabric shone like the most beautiful of prisms. This wasn't enchanted silk or even Elven cotton. This was a material of a whole new scale.

"My old cloak," her mother said. "I made it a few hundred years ago. It is made of a blend of enchanted silk and Elven cotton fused with my own energy. It's light as a feather but capable of stopping a blade. Like almost everything I make it's one of a kind."

Jade put on the cloak and went with her mother and father outside and into the center of the Elven sanctuary. Cottages built into the roots of the trees were everywhere and the forest as a whole gave off a very mystic energy. The King approached them and bowed to Jade.

"Did you enjoy your rest?" he asked. "I hope the accommodations were to your liking."

"It was fine, Belsy" said Jade. "I appreciate your warm welcome."

The boy from the day before approached. "This is my son Hendok. He personally saw to the respectful burial of your friend."

"Thank you," said Jade.

"Not at all," said Hendok. "I could feel how upset you were about it. I wanted to do all in my power to ease your mind."

Seeing the confused look on her face, Belsy interjected. "He's a psychic and telekinetic. He has the ability to read minds and deep emotions, as well as the power to move objects with his mind."

Jade took a better look at Hendok and noticed something strange.

"His ears," she observed. "They're not pointed."

"I'm adopted," replied Hendok on his own behalf. "My parents died when I was a just a child. Our village was decimated. When the Elves showed up they found me, the sole survivor. As it turns out my village was destroyed by my own power. Belsy raised me as his own and taught me how to control it. It wasn't easy but now I control my power and not the other way around. If you want I could join you on your journey and teach you what I know."

"I don't have any psychic powers," said Jade.

"Not to the extent I do," responded Hendok, "but have you been able to read emotions? To understand how others feel without words or body language."

Jade nodded slowly.

"I can help you understand and use this power," Hendok offered. "Having it at your disposal would be a huge asset."

"Okay," agreed Jade. "I'll take you up on that offer." She realized she needed every possible advantage to make it through this year.

Jade walked with her mother, father, Serenity, Talon, Hendok, and a few Elven soldiers to the edge of the forest. After about an hour, they reached the point where the trees came to an almost immediate end. There waiting just beyond the forest were four men, one of whom was Saje. One was dressed in purple and black armor and had a dignified look about him; this must have been Galof. Another man had a purple cloak and had a somewhat maddening look to him: Syvix. Between them was a man who held a purple scepter with black armor and a purple cape. There was no doubt in her mind; this was Xaug.

"Hello, Arda," said Xaug with a sly smile. "Long time, no see."

Arda approached Xaug and looked at Saje. "You didn't torture him?" she asked. "Here I was thinking you would have taken some anger out on him."

"I have reached a higher plane of understanding," said Xaug. "His decisions were fate, nothing more."

Xaug turned his attention to Jade. "This must be your daughter, Jade, the Chosen One." He smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Jade looked into his eyes and she could tell that this was true, but only in the same way that a cat seeks pleasure in killing a mouse. She was suddenly very conscious of what she was up against. There was something unmistakably foreboding about his demeanor and self-assurance.

"Do you have it?" asked Xaug, pulling out the book.

Arda eyed it. "Mind if I check the legitimacy of it?"

"Of course," agreed Xaug, handing it over. "I know you are above the double cross."

Arda took the book from his hand and her eyes flashed blue for a brief second. "It's real." She pulled a black crystal from the necklace she wore.

"Arda, don't!" exclaimed Saje.

"It needs to be done. He cannot possess this book."

She handed the necklace over to Xaug who smiled as he looked upon it. He turned to Syvix and said, "Release him." Syvix removed the shackles from Saje's wrists and ankles, who stumbled toward Arda.

"We have our agreement," announced Xaug. "I will leave now but I will see you soon enough."

Xaug, Galof, and Syvix teleported, disappearing into thin air. Arda examined the book in her hand and Jade sensed its incredible power. She felt a strange energy radiating off of it. She could only describe it as golden.

"You shouldn't have done that," said Saje.

"I had to," Arda responded. "When testing it I saw a vision of me passing it along later on. If I didn't make this trade to pass it along it would hold dire consequences."

"What do you mean?" Saje questioned. But Jade could tell with one look that even her mother didn't know.