The Quest For a Wish

Over half a day of heavy travel had passed; they walked along a stone path that signified they were close to their destination. Young Aero wavered in exhaustion but never complained, Persephone could see that he was trained never to speak out of turn. They traveled mostly in silence and thought of the members that were lost to them now. Persephone could not help but have her thoughts pass onto Kael and how she regretted hurting him and setting this mess into motion. Aero noticed that every-so-often his mother would look behind her, looking for someone.

“Who are you looking for?” He asked, holding his mother’s hand as they walked.

“There’s someone we had to leave behind, his name was Jack. I’m hoping that he figures out that we left for Akaran while he was in the forest.” She said, not knowing that Jack was mercilessly murdered the night before. “But no worries Love, we’re about to meet some important people.”

“Who?”

Dante raised an eyebrow towards Persephone when he heard her answer before she said it, in the conversation he did not even realize he was reading Persephone’s thoughts. Before she was able to answer her son, they approached the gated stonewalls of Akaran. The city of Akaran was built next to the Akara River, the bricks used to build its barrier had been died a light blue – thusly the city was easily associated with water. <<Your Father>>

In one of the far off towers, they could hear the tolling of a bell, it signaled the arrival of travelers. Two soldiers confronted them asking for the traveler’s toll. The toll was paid without question or complication and the gate doors opened revealing a small thriving market. Persephone’s heart sank when she saw familiar sights that she had not seen in such years. Aero clung to his mother, afraid of the busy street and mass of people.

“First things first,” Persephone said to the group “We find a place to stay. Secondly, we can split up and get any supplies anyone needs. Lastly, we meet there at twilight and discuss what to do next – everyone needs to be there at twilight or else they may get left behind. Agreed?” Persephone stated but did not bother to stay for any answers. Her eagerness to complete her errands became evident when she skipped off with Aero at her side. Dante decided to follow out of curiosity.

Dante watched Aero and Persephone as she paid an armor-smith and tailor to take her measurements for new clothes, Persephone was still in the strangely elegant gown. Persephone guided Aero to a botanist and they each picked out a flower. Then she walked Aero to the center square where they entered the temple together.

“I’m looking for someone named Teiresias; do you know where I can find him?” Persephone asked a monk, who nodded silently and guided her through a series of halls, doors and stairs. The monk had guided them to the highest tower of the stone temple.

Standing across the room, near an open window that had an overview of the city, was a very thin and hunched man. His long white hair almost reached his hips and was tied back with a gray ribbon. He was obviously a man of high stature because of the intricate embroidery that was woven into his pristine robe. The walls were covered in shelves that displayed many artifacts and antiques that gathered dust and tarnished over there long stay there. In the center of the room sat a short table and several pillowed seats, to sit on the floor for meals. On the table were several spherical crystals and a fine porcelain tea set, still steaming from their boil.

“Your late, I thought you ought to know.” The man said through a weary and aged voice “Would you mind pouring us some tea? I’m afraid my old hands can’t handle the simple task anymore.” He inquired. Out of general courtesy, Persephone knelt to teapot and began pouring two cups.

“I’m late? I did not know that I was expected at a certain appointment.” Persephone said, watching the man’s back closely as he looked through the window. It wasn’t until he turned to sit in across the small tea table and saw his pale white eyes that she realized he was blind. He smiled in knowing her reaction to her discovery of his blindness. As his fragile and weary hands reached for his cup, she noticed that he wore bandages over several fingers, to help with their sore aches.

“Your reaction is normal, not everyone simply believes a blind elderly man could be anything but senile. Oddly enough I manage to see a lot for someone that is blind, much more than I tend to let on.” He paused to sip his tea as Perse wondered why she had come here. “Your son, where is he?” Persephone found herself unnerved when the stranger asked such a personal question that was mostly a secret to others.

“He-he is waiting downstairs with a friend of mine, I didn’t know what to expect so I thought it best that I come alone.” She stuttered over her words, this man’s knowledge of her son made her feel intimadated – the only people to know of her child were her friends, and The Order. She wondered which he belonged to.

“I suppose that’s logical. Well I suppose you have plenty of questions for me, and I have plenty to tell you so why don’t you start?” he said, gesturing for more tea.

“I found the letter you left in the gauntlet chamber . . . “

“Well that’s absurd, how can a blind man write a LETTER?” Teiresias said laughing, Persephone was bewildered for a moment then realized he was joking. “Have you gotten comfortable using the gauntlet yet?” he asked.

“I never put it on.” She explained, briefly glancing at her bare hands. Teiresias pondered for a moment.

“Why not?” Teiresias asked as though it were the first thing he’d do in her position.

“I watched it kill fourteen people without pause and rip a man to shreds, merely because he wasn’t suppose to put it on. I can’t take the risk now that I just got my son back.” Persephone stated “I have no need for more power, I’ve had enough forced onto me. I just want to fulfill a promise I made and then find a simple life in the country with my son.”

“What if your destiny states otherwise?”

“My destiny is something I write for myself, nothing decides my fate for me.”

“Curious . . . I know that you may write your own destiny – but what will you do when the fate of your son is death by the hands of an approaching army that only you and your team can stop?” Teiresias stared blankly forward as he foretold such horror.

“I will do whatever it takes to ensure that my son is given to opportunity live without the terrors of such a thing, if that includes risking my life to an artifact as powerful as the gauntlet then so be it.” Persephone spoke uneasily her answer was difficult to formulate in her mind.

“Well I suggest you put it on now get some practice before it happens and I suggest your friends get their hands in theirs’ too because the forces are coming together soon and they need to be ready.”

“What’s happening?” Persephone asked, perplexed at the old man’s absurdity. He sighed with a hint of frustration.

“I hate to go into details but the summary is that Hell itself is going to open up and engulf the planet unless you get all the gauntlets together on their destined bearers at the same time.” He explained matter-of-factly. “Sorry to break it to you but this is happening soon so you need to get to work.”

“You are the craziest senile man I have ever come across.” Persephone stood and headed for the door in a flurry of anger and frustration. "How dare you insult me with such lies."

“Your promise, what was it?” He interrupted her exit momentarily.

“I promised that I would reunite a father with his daughter if he assisted me on my quest.” She quickly spurted and swung the heavy door open.

“Wait, if ever you should need to put it on, take this to help you.” He held out a small book that was barely larger than a pamphlet wrapped in a scarlet ribbon. “It will explain how it’s to be used. Be sure to read this BEFORE putting it on.”

Persephone reluctantly took the book and sighed in frustration as she exited angrily down the hall. Persephone cursed at the crazed fool and begrudgingly stuffed the letter into her pocket. She joined Dante and Aero and the three of them left the temple. The sky’s blue glow of the approaching twilight had them aim to meet everyone back at the Inn to discuss their next actions. Persephone needed to return to the armory the next day to retrieve her new clothes and she still had to meet with two other very important people.

	Author	Topic: The Quest For a Wish (Read 25128 times)
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