The Elders' Secrets

Two

Oh my god. How did this book get rated number 3 in Sky: Children of the Light? :O Like how????? There are two parts! Tysm for this, it's a really big accomplishment for me, and for my friends helping to write this. :>

When I woke up in the morning, I was sure that today was the start of the trials. Being extremely nervous, I hopped out of bed and rushed to my calendar, checking the date.

Luckily, the trials started tomorrow.

I sighed and climbed back into bed, only to find a few moments later that I couldn't sleep no matter what I tried.

I crawled back out of bed and began to get ready for the day. I picked my mask up off of my nightstand and positioned it on my face. I made sure my long, poofy pants were straight before grabbing my flute off of its stand and putting it in its case on my back.

As I made my way out the door, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned to see Lyra standing there, grinning. "Can't sleep?" she asked.

"No. What about you?" I asked her.

"I'm up to... er... umm..." I could see her lyre case on her back. Lyra was deadly afraid of playing in front of people, and nearly nobody knew that she had a lyre. But I did, because I had seen her with it one day.

"Did you get up to practice your lyre?" I asked, and her eyebrows shot off of her head.

"How did you know?" she inquired.

"I know a lot of things. Like that Aqua always keeps something in her pocket. And I know the names of every single member of the Manta Rays... except for one," I told her.

"How do you know their names?"

"I may or may not be in the band," I answered simply, shrugging. "Do you want to practice with me?"

"Sure," she answered, although I could tell by the look on her face that she was less than thrilled about it.

"Don't worry, I won't tease you. I know for a fact what it's like to be teased about something like that, and trust me, I never want to hurt anyone in the way it hurt me."

She smiled at that and offered me her hand. I took it and waited patiently as she pulled me along, probably to a secret hiding place that nobody else knew about.

I spotted a secret cave and pointed at it. "How 'bout there?"

"Err... no, the sound's not too good. I have something better in mind," she answered quickly, almost like she was trying to cover something up. What was in that cave?

She flew to a geyser and landed inside, waiting for it to launch us into the air. As soon as it did, she spread her wings wide and flew straight up, coming to a stop on a floating island with two waterfalls streaming off the sides and a small pond in the middle.

She pulled her lyre off of her back, and I grabbed my flute as well. She began to play.

We both got caught up in the music, the gentle tune making us feel free and full of light. I barely realized that someone was playing the piano with us as well.

When the song was over, we both turned around and noticed Vela sitting there, grinning at us. Shocked, I jumped a couple of inches into the air and fell off of the floating island.

Great job, Aquila. Great job.

When I managed to make it back up, Vela was telling Lyra that we were supposed to meet by the whale tails before leaving for the trials. She also told us to pack.

I stumbled back to my house, quickly putting my flute in its case and my few other things in a small bag. I hoisted the bag over my shoulder, sure that I was ready for what was about to come.