Fantasia (Part 7)

It's been quite a while. It might help if you brush up first on the previous parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Heavy rains and strong winds drenched and battered the forest right outside the Citadel of Aqueaon. It was supposed to be a mere couple of hours after noon, but the surroundings were as dark as the final moments of dusk. Occasional lightning flashes revealed figures running around beneath the trees. It was the final competition of the tournament, and the champions of the academies that survived the eliminations were racing against each other in looking for clues to find the Trophy of EveAlone.

Even in good weather, the search for clues was a daunting task. Enchanted artifacts scattered across the forest contained the clues, but before these clues could be revealed, the champions must first surpass the artifact's challenge.

"There's the next artifact!" Romulus pointed to something shiny jutting out of a tree branch. Gorgon, another champion of the Pillars, looked around to see if anybody was following them. So far, they were leading the race. The three, including Daniel, were on a lucky roll considering that they have surpassed the other challenges by mere guesswork. They approached the new artifact and were given a challenge, the second to the last.

"It's a Codix puzzle." Daniel instantly recognized the scribbling. Answering this particular puzzle required advanced skill that wasn't taught yet to the rest of his fellow wards back at the Pillars.

At the Citadel, the rest of the Knights and their masters were monitoring the race through a Heraldic Mirror. Wilbur, their master of Codix, also worked on the challenge. The Knights were amazed at how Daniel solved the puzzle as fast as the master did. They cheered as their champions raced to the last challenge. They were clearly on the way to victory.

While the activities at the Citadel went on, the Pillars had decided as a precaution to forego with theirs, including the Farewell Dance later that night. However, plucky youths that the Knights and their guests were, they decided to explore the City of Ceres instead. The weather was still not that adverse, they would exclaim as if taunting the storm.

All the guests of Fourth Group R had decided to shop for local wares at the bazaar and try the delicacies at the eateries. Of course, where there was Helen and Angela, Mervin and Dominic tagged along. Dominic was amused at how Mervin possessed a servile demeanor around Helen. He, on the other hand, was unable to establish his existence to Angela, as there beside her was Harvey, imperious as always. Later, they all decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the house of Red, a well-off member of Fourth Group R. Red was well off enough to live near the Pillars, in this spacious residence, away from his parents.

Dominic had finally found the chance to get close to Angela when Harvey decided to go home. Yet how shall he proceed? Melodies of popular songs started filling the air. Crag, the musician of Fourth Group R, decided to give in to the group's prodding for some entertainment. They gathered around Crag. Some guys can be lucky to be blessed with talent, Dominic thought. He did notice though that Angela was having a little difficulty in singing along with the rest. Quickly he searched for a particular scroll in his bag, and rolled it down to the lyrics of the ballad being sung. He sat beside Angela and showed her the scroll, "here, this might help." He was rewarded a smile for the gesture. He smiled back at her. He also smiled to congratulate himself for this small victory.

Singing along with Angela was already heavenly for Dominic, but he would have wanted to go beyond that. If only he had more time with her. Ah, but the head acolyte had found favor in heaven, and his desire for more time was duly answered later that afternoon: the weather worsened around Ceres and the group decided to just spend the night together in Red's house.

Meanwhile, the Knights were having a grand time at the Citadel. Food was overflowing and lively music drowned out the storm outside. Actually, they were unable to win the minor contests, but what was important was that they lorded it over the main event. Amidst the celebration, however, Daniel yearned to rush home. He glanced at the trophy the Knights have been proudly displaying. Worthless, he thought. Even though it was not wholly for his own benefit, he had been dutiful to his task. His own quest, however, was at Ceres.

One of the Masters of the Pillars had noticed Daniel's impatience and understood. "I suppose we all have had our fill, let's go home before the weather gets worse," she declared in a kind voice. A Light Ace vessel was waiting for them by the raging river. Though a small type of boat, its sturdy sails proved efficient in harnessing the power of the stormy winds. Thusly, with just an hour of traveling, they found themselves approaching the last town before Ceres.

Daniel would have wanted the vessel to sail faster than that, but fate again intervened. Debris was blocking parts of the river and boats were having a hard time navigating through them. The townsmen had started clearing operations. In the meantime, Daniel was reduced to impatiently walking to and fro in the bridge of the vessel, struggling to cope with the new misfortune that struck him.