Olin with Dusaak at his side guided Lylen, Atzler, and Emanon toward Paryl Lake through the town of Parcielle. A rocky, cliff trail winded up the cliffside. Some smaller wagons were seen making the climb up and some back down. The waterfall spilling down from the valley wall gave a majestic feel as the fog created by the crashing waters kept a serene mist over any who entered.
“What are we doing here, Olin? I thought we were going to go after Gunnolf?” asked Atzler.
The bald human nodded, “Quite, in due time. First, we must contact the Elemental Spirit here to carry a message back to the Sun Temple.”
“What do you mean?” asked Lylen.
“Another task of the Sun Temple is to communicate with the Elementals throughout Ellodysia, The Elementals help keep the six elements that make up our world in balance with one another. Granted, those Pisces we fought and defeated at Kyros Lake were driven into madness.” Olin explained calmly. “The Sun Temple tries to keep the peace with the Elemental forces who keep the aether wellsprings balanced despite what humans, kobolds, elves, dwarves, and other species do throughout the land.”
“That’s incredible,” Atzler admitted.
When they reached the side of the waterfall Olin stepped into the water until he was waist deep in it and clasped his hands together. “O hear me Elemental of this lake. We need your favor, and this medallion around my throat is proof of a bond made in times long forgotten but bound by the oaths given, I beseech an audience here and now!” He raised his medallion from around his neck, so the sunlight shined upon it as light scattered out of it upon the crashing waters. Gradually, the waters parted and revealed a cavern that led into a small nook, thirty paces in diameter and a small pool of water in its center.
Atzler and Lylen were beside themselves as they gaped at the entryway leading inside. Statues were built around the room resembling Pisces and Amphobos people no more than twenty inches in height but made of a strong and durable cerulean stone.
“Who knew this kind of place existed?” Emanon said incredulously. The pool surrounded by small, violet with shimmers of green stones rippled. Olin held up a hand for everyone behind him to stop their movements.
The pool shimmered and rippled as a feminine figure emerged, headfirst. As she rose from the water as if walking up steps, she was adorned in a flowing dress made of water but the shimmering waves and foam on it concealed her body. Her flesh was light blue, and hair was almost a green color as it touched her shoulders and strapped over her shoulder and resting on her hip was a large vase. She was as tall as Emanon and each step she took demonstrated elegance and confidence. Dark eyes fell to Olin and his companions, “I am called Kryza. A wind elemental known as an Aquarius.”
Atzler gaped in awe. “What is a wind elemental doing in a waterfall?”
The woman smiled softly, “Aquarius means water bearer. Despite my elemental affinity, I am infatuated with water and thus, have power involving both,” her attention turned to Olin. “Tell me human, you called out to me for what favor?” Her eyes were mesmerizing, like wintry sapphires.
Olin’s eyes gazed down to the elemental’s feet. “My allies and I request a message to enter the streams to the Sun Temple.”
She strode around him as if considering his request. “You do possess the Medallion of Fonysius. However, what shall I receive for delivering this message through the pulse of the water using my jar?”
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“What would you accept as patronage?” asked the monk.
The mystical woman smiled wide, “You know we Elementals are the very nature of Theza and consider ourselves to be the closest to the Aethersphere among all life, the embodiment of aether itself. The undead are the scourge that stops the cycle of life by refusing to return to once in which they rose. A necromancer fights against this very law of nature by raising undead vassals for their own ambitions. End this foolish necromancer within this region and bring me proof and your passage is secured.”
Atzler chimed in, “Who is this necromancer you speak of?”
Kryza’s icy blue eyes locked with his, “Rizilia, the Wretched.”
Emanon who was the furthest from Kryza and Olin, saw Lylen’s head look toward the floor as a shiver went up her spine.
Kryza continued, “Undead seem to be trickling from the southeast of Parcielle but even I am uncertain the exact location.”
Olin chimed in, “We will look into it. Thank you, Kryza. I have a hunch as to where to look thanks to you.” He gave a deep bow.
“I shall remain here until your return then,” the woman said briskly.
Bowing and saying farewells, the five of them left the small cavern and the waterfall closed and looked as if nothing was ever then as the waters crashed down with full force once Emanon who was last to reach the lake’s edge once more.
“So, we just need to go deal with this necromancer and we get an easy message to the Sun Temple, eh?” Atzler said punching a fist into his open palm.
“It seems that way, indeed,” Olin replied.
Emanon once more saw Lylen look down as worry seemed to have stricken her. “Are you ok?” he asked her quietly.
“Leave me be,” she replied in the same tone so the others couldn’t hear.
“You can talk to me if you need an ear,” Emanon persisted.
“No, it won’t help,” she stepped more quickly to be closer to Atzler and Olin as they began their journey to the south.
“I want to understand,” Emanon muttered, a sense of loneliness washing over him.
Hours passed as they left Parcielle far behind. The sky had clouds with the sun half obscured, a brisk wind swept through and Emanon played his harp to try to keep the mood throughout their entourage light as he was behind the others.
Irritation bubbled within Lylen, Damn Gunnolf for leaving and now we have to confront the accursed woman who did this to me? I’d find Emanon’s performance very pretty and I credit with him trying to entertain us, but Atzler and Olin seem to be lost in their own conversation of how the world works. She saw Dusaak was at her side. The large reptilian creature walked at her side peacefully even though she knew if it wanted to, one bite could easily paralyze her entire body, but its behavior made it seem like a pet than a beast.
“Olin has trained you well, huh?” she carefully gave the creature a pat on the head. It leaned into her hand making her jump slightly.
“Dusaak has been my companion for a number of years now,” Olin chimed in over his shoulder, taking a break from educating Atzler on the Elements and the composition of Theza. “He found me at the bottom of a rockslide, oh, I think nine years ago. Dragged me out and for sure I thought I was going to be his dinner.”
“That’s insane!” Atzler exclaimed. “You are pretty awesome, Olin but c’mon you expect us to believe you survived a rockslide?”
Olin gave a shrug, “I care not if you believe. I, along with my other brothers of the Sun Temple faced off against a cluster of Stone Golems and many of my brothers fell in that battle, I was one of many who were swept away in a rockslide in the Magress Mountains. The point of this tale is that Dusaak found me, dragged me away and I thought I was to be his dinner but instead, a humanoid ape-like creature known as a Barruk challenged him for me and Dusaak killed and ate the furry creature instead. When I recovered enough from my injuries, I was able to practice the ability, Domesticate on him and well, the rest is history. He’s been a loyal companion since,” he ended with a smile.
“Domesticate, isn’t that a technique only those of the wilderness know? They call them Lords I believe,” Emanon chimed in having stopped his harp string plucking.
Olin had a beaming smile on his face, “We don’t only practice meditation and martial arts at the Sun Temple, we practice other ways that are harmonious to us, so I suppose if I wasn’t a monk, I would be a lord instead,” he ended in an awkward laugh.
“This guy is weirder the longer I’m around him,” Atzler added in.
