• ~Chapter 3~


    “You would do whatever the task is, before I even mention it?” The Mother sounded surprised to Elauria’s ears. Elauria, un-sure what she did was the right thing to say, bit her bottom lip. However, she kept her determination on her face when the shaman gazed into her eyes. Hazels of brown and blue stare at each other for what it seemed to be eons. A light twinkle in the wise woman’s eyes and she broke trance in satisfaction. “Very well, then. Let me begin to describe your task.

    “You are to travel to the elemental worlds one by one. On each one, you must seek out the governing daughter of that planet and help them seal off the door to the Void. In order to find my daughter, you will have to listen to your heart. If you don’t, you will be lost on that world.”

    “How would I help them seal the Shadow? I’m only a child.”

    “If my fears are true, my daughters would have fallen to the darkness and had become tainted. It would be the only reason as to why their world is invaded by the Shadow. You, an innocent at heart, can bring them back and break that taint. They should have the power to seal the door themselves.” The Mother paused for a moment to rummage through her left sleeve with her right earthen hand. Finally she revealed a great treasure - a necklace of silver, “You would need protection from any harm that would come toward your way.”

    With both of her hands, she un-hooked the chain and hold it out in front of her, revealing a locket shaped as a heart. Elauria pull her blond hair over her shoulder and bows her head to allow the mystic to place the gift around her neck. She heard the grass gently gave way to her footsteps as she close the distance between them. A second later, she saw the elegant bare-feet of wise woman step into her view. When her foot landed upon the dirt, flowers and grass spring up rapidly the around freshly made imprint then suddenly wither away. Elauria blinked in disbelief as the shaman’s robes cover up them up once again. Then she froze when she saw the locket droop into her line of vision and swing away towards her as she feels the chain gently placed around her neck.

    As it settles upon her humanly collar, she felt great warmth emitting from the locket itself. Standing in puzzlement, she picks up the heart shaped locket in her tiny hands. The first thing she notices was that the heat coming from the locket does not hurt her. The second part was the lovely design on the front. In the center was a bevel of rays coming from the center, depicting a shining light, surrounded by a pair of wings that sweep up to the round peaks of the heart. Elauria shifts her head from side to side while she mused over this precious silver. A frown comes across her face when she finds the side of the locket is sealed shut and has no room for a latch to open it.

    Before she could mutter why, the answer came swiftly, “It contains a spirit guardian. This one you are holding is named Creek. Call upon him with his name and he’ll come for you.” Elauria’s blue hazel eyes barely lifted to acknowledge what the Mother said. She only muttered the word ‘Creek’ as she continues to examine the necklace. “Come, it is time to go,” stated the Shaman as she hold out her hand to the little child, “I will send you to one of the worlds to begin your journey.” Elauria finally woke up to her surroundings and accepted the offering hand. Both ladies cross the starlit pasture to the other side of the field. Elauria looked up to the moon and finds how high it is. It was way past her bedtime and she start to feel fatigue. She begins to wonder if this is all a dream; the Shadow, the Shaman, the locket, her father’s disappearance.

    Finally, they stop and Elauria could feel her eyes beginning to droop and her legs ache from fatigue. Even though it was a short distance, it felt like an eternity for the child. The Mother waved her arm majestically and an oval mirror of pure glass appeared. Elauria was not frightened by it because her mind was half numbed. With a few simple incantations, the Mother touched the mirror. It rippled from where the fingers had landed to reveal a strange new world. The child’s eyes grew in fascination when she peers into the glass door. It shows a beautiful land of jade forests, rustic brown mountains, and a crimson sea shining from a blazing dawn. A wind blew through the mystic doorway and pass over the two, awakening Elauria’s senses. Curiosity drew her closer to the world and excitement passes through her as she looks in. Overjoyed she looked over her shoulder to the woman with a smile, only to hear her say, “Remember what I had said: Find my daughter that reins this world, break the taint in her, seal the Shadow away, and always listen to your heart.” Elauria nod in response and turn to step through. She was an inch away when hesitation over came her. Running back a full 180 degrees, Elauria embraces the kindly shaman’s skirt. A muffled thank you was heard from the buried head, before she took off. Without look back, without any regard what might happen to her once she pass through the portal, without a thought that this is a dream or reality, she barrels through the worldly mirror and into adventure.