CHAPTER 180: PREPARATIONS

"Perish?" Aletha mumbled underneath her breath. "Why would everyone perish?"

"Because," Kali said as her eyes darted over to the group. "It was mentioned in the prophecies of Alaunus. That the power of weakness shall surge through Linuxinia, consuming everything and everyone, removing every magical power."

All paused as The Queen of Linuxinia spread her words, turning to the page of the prophecy.

"Right now, it’s at its beginning stages. Isa has been affected in Clearstar and so was I. I only managed to escape due to the opening in the crevice. Sigh, if any of the power of weakness were to spread and corrupt and reach the roots of The Sealed Beatific," She paused once again, with eyes piercing over to her shocked face. " Everyone will fall gravely ill and eventually die."

Silence erupted after her words.

In the table, a vast kaleidoscope of colors and shades of hair and skin flickered within the expanse, with wood and windows situated at the bottom of the mansion. Aletha’s and Asahi’s hair shined bright in the room, appearing distinct in direct comparison to the rest.

Then, after Kali remarked, the group situated at the end of the table, with some standing completely still, fell into realization of how their powers malfunctioned.

"So that’s the reason why our powers have been flickering on and off..." Pridia said as she wiped blood off her face. "It’s because of that weakness. It’s because of that monster."

"Indeed." Kali said with an unsure smile. "Linuxinia peak, for the rest of the world, has to be shattered."

"Shattered?" Asahi retraced her words. "How will a peak shatter?"

Johsilyn, after covering her mouth with her spoon, intervened as the clouds broke and branched out the vivid azure sky.

"It sounds straight forward enough. First, you two shall climb the peak and..."

Phthonus and Canyon interrupted as soon as she reached her words. "Then we will take care of the trespassers."

"Trespassers?" Asahi and Aletha asked in unison.

"Yes," He said with a nod. "The creatures from both Wraileza and the Ending will come to sabotage your climb. Their end goal is to destroy the world. That is why we must keep ourselves on guard."

Suddenly, Ubel stepped in, saying...

"I’ll help Asahi and Aletha." Grabbing what seemed to be wolf claws, he quickly tossed two pairs to Asahi and Aletha, nudging in the process. "I have my fair share of climbing utilities. This shall help you scale the mountain."

"Thanks," said Asahi as he equipped the gear on his hands. "This will be useful indeed."

Aletha nodded as well and stocked her blade and the claws. "Thanks Ubel."

Afterward, Asahi and Aletha looked at the entire group. Situated along a large table, Kendra, Alai, Chloe, Ubel, Toivo, Joshilyn, Emine, Phthonus, Brunelly, Pridia, and Canyon all took a seat on their respective chairs, discussing their current plans of the conflict brewing in the room.

"So, what is the plan?" Canyon said as he conjured ropes from his thin hand.

"The plan is this," Asahi said as Brunella offered him a map of the nation. Quickly, he placed it down, his gaze travelling over the intricate lines painted onto the silk sheet of paper. What stood out from the page was the illustration of a large peak with a symbol of light and illustrations of a dragon. He then showed everyone the peak and pointed to it, unraveling his current plan. "Aletha and I shall start at the lower cradle of the mountain. Then, Phthonus, Ubel, Joshilyn, and Kali will fend off the supposed threats coming from north of Linuxinia peak."

Kendra stepped forth, having read one of the prophecies of Alaunus from a copy of the book. She looked at the map, then circled a space that looked like the shorelines of Linuxinia.

"Toivo and I will guard Linuxinia city using my water powers. That way, no tsunamis will attack the area and flood Linuxinina."

"Is the threat that severe?" Asahi and Aletha asked them as a wind picked up the table.

"Indeed," Kendra nodded as she slammed the prophecy book down. "It is written in the prophecies that large gushes of water shall envelop the land. So, we must take that into consideration."

"But in order to use your magic," Kali said as she had thoughts of Isa floating in her mind. "We have to find a way to detach the orb of weakness on the roots of The Sealed Beatific. Only then, shall magic run forth."

Kendra stammered at her words. She never thought about the power of weakness enveloping the land.

Suddenly, everything started to shake. The table, walls, and the floor began to tremble as seconds of time ticked away. As the sound of growls echoed across the grassy fields and waterfalls, abruptly, they all sprinted outside and noticed the peak of Linuxinina glowing a cyan luminance.

A flurry of clouds encircled the grassy peak, intimidating them from below. Asahi and Aletha prepared for the earthquake, holding onto the railing outside. The trees shook like the winds of a dandelion, creating a giant rupture beneath the mansion. Luckily enough, no damage had been done, only a glass of water spilled on the map, inking out and blotting the illustrations. Canyon shook his head in remorse as he saw the map he worked so hard to make, get destroyed in an instant.

Keeping the plan stained in their heads, Asahi and Aletha, along with five more individuals decided to go to Linuxinia peak. The clouds started to rumble in wrath as the peak of Linuxinia continued to get shrouded in a blue glow.

"What is that?" They all screamed in unison.

. . .

After the sudden encounter, the earthquake brought in an invitation to Asahi and Aletha to wrap up their plans, grabbing the remnants of the map. A carriage was seen on the lot of Toivo’s mansion with two black horses latched onto its harness.

Hopping on the carriage, Asahi and Aletha both equipped the claws Ubel gave them, and then sat down, their attire shimmering a distant glint. Kali, who was on the other side of the red seat, sat forth saying,

"It’s a daunting challenge, but if you guys can reach the peak and conquer the dragon," Kali said as her cat ears pointed up to the sky. " Isa and I and all the others affected by this weakness, will finally be relieved. Good luck out there, Asahi. And you too, Aletha."

Then, coming from behind, Chloe came forth, hugging Ubel. This little reunion was far beyond Asahi’s understanding, but one thing was made clear. It seemed to them now that they were siblings.

As the seconds of time passed onward, Chloe and Ubel and a few others were left behind, leaving with it a story for another day.

Just as they were about to take their departure, Ubel grabbed Aletha’s hand and said as he knelt down.

"Thank you, Aletha." Ubel said as he slipped his grasp away from Aletha. "For everything that you have done. The training, the fighting, all of it, I owe my thanks to you. And the same goes for your brother. You helped my sister go through the troubles of translation. And with it, from Earth, I say to both of you that we and all the friends you both have made, say thank you, and nothing more."

Following this thanks, Kendra shook her head and stepped forward.

Suddenly, she pressed her lips against Asahi’s cheek, leaving him to blush at the sudden impact. Quickly, he responded to Kendra’s action with a flustered face.

"What was that?"

As memories of their misadventures flood back in her mind, as the memories of the father figure came into being, Kendra shook her head and admitted as Aletha stared at her with shock.

"That’s just my way of saying thank you." She said as she hugged Asahi with two arms. "And another, to say I love you."

Despite being filled with memory loss, Asahi could only bring his mind to the clinging memories.

The time where he first met Kendra.

From the gardens, to the house, to the underground cities, and the mansion; although some memory was lost, he could never forget Kendra’s beautiful smile. This caused him to respond to Kendra back, saying...

"Good luck out there. And," Reaching back, he kissed her back on the cheek and responded with a genuine smile of love. "I love you too."

Kali looked back in envy, but suppressed her emotions down, knowing that Asahi will be alright.

As the horse carriages began to depart from Toivo’s mansion, with everyone else waving back at them, Asahi and Aletha and Kali prepared for what was to come. As per their request, Asahi and Aletha sat in the same carriage with Phthonus and Alai and Kali and another while the rest of the group departed to their planned locations in a separate carriage.’

And just as Phthonus said, a group of purple individuals gathered around the streets of the outskirts of the city.

Not just humanoids, but spider-like creatures, and armies of pesky giant ants.

If they ever wanted to reach the peak, they had to find a way to fend off the Promise AND the Ending.

And just like Sergil, Phthonus, and a few others said,

"Simply climbing a mountain will be the most daunting challenge in your life."