Michael was escorted through the bustling city. His guards pressed against him in a full circle, and the contingent of armored Cyclopses around them. Leading the group, Bergat and Gergat pushed and tussled through the market square to make way for everyone else to pass by. Unlike all the other Cyclopses, the brothers were a head taller than everyone else, making it easier for them to find their way with ease.
Staring around like a tourist, which technically he was, his eyes flitted from one massive object to another. Their pots and bowls were tubs and swimming pools to him. Their clothes were as enormous as everything else. Rolls of them for sale stretched farther than he thought possible. Where did they get so much resources to make that much cloth? They even passed a forge which left Michael in a giddy mood. They used magic to create their weapons, light magic like Jugugetgat. Directly above the furnace, a massive hole, letting the sunlight in, was used to heat up the place hotter than any fire could. Within seconds of putting the pieces of metal, they would melt, their impurities floating out from between the clean metal.
But, as quickly as they had gotten there, he was pushed too far away to try to get another glimpse, no matter how much he craned his neck. Eventually, they reached the only building close to the large structure of stone and metal they had in the center of their city. The place they were standing in front of was covered with layer after layer of silk curtains and furry carpets with intricate designs. The doorway had strings of pearls the jingled if pushed out of the way.
Gulping in unison, the Cyclopses seemed to have misty eyes. Swaying in their frozen positions just a few steps away from the entrance. Looking at them with confused expressions, Michael and his guards stayed silent not knowing what to do. But that became apparent within the next few moments.
High pitched singing voices that reminded Michael of sirens echoed out of the building. The voices were beautiful, heavenly in creation. Every word followed closely with what was the perfect melody and rhythm. Looking past his guards, Michael noticed figures moving behind the strings of pearls of the doorway. The only reason he could see anything was because of the clear use of shadow and, what he thought to be, wind magic.
As the singing voices became louder, dancing figures that were just a little shorter than the brothers came into view. Pushing the pearls out of the way, they came out wearing long and flowing dresses. What was clearly quite beautiful female Cyclopses continued to filter out and get into a well-practiced positioning. It was clear they were making way for someone who he guessed would be the ‘Priestess’ Gergat spoke of.
She came with a great gust of wind, almost blowing everyone from his entourage except Bialo and Jax. Wearing luxurious silks over a pure white dress with gold designs running across the entire surface, the layers of gold she had on her hands and up her arms, around her neck and down her chest, and even ringlets around her ankles.
Dancing around a large staff that had a blue and black crystal firmly held on the top, one that resembled a massive tree to Michael, in her hands, she came to a stop with an epic final note in front of the Cyclopses and his entourage. Elongating it to a hair raising gift to witness. Having listened to both worlds and their music, from Ruthar’s and Michael’s memories, he could not remember a voice that came close to the power and effect her voice had. This Cyclopess, unlike the others, had long winding hair of black, reaching the small of her back and pupils of pure white and gold.
“What do we have here?” said the Cyclopess, her voice husky and firm, in proportion to her massive size.
“Foolish children of our great mother Ginesa and the children of Helius have come to visit little old me? What could be the possible reason, what honor have I achieved to have such a gathering in front of my empty doors?” said the Cyclopess with mirth lining her voice.
Stumbling in his words, Michael could not find his ability to speak words, of course, Agata was there for the save. A quick and sharp elbow to the liver woke Michael from his daydreaming, Agata had a massive frown on her face as she stared daggers at him and the Cyclops Priestess. Groaning, he clutched his side, tears at the edge of his eyes, she must have used a skill to make sure it hurt.
It took a while, but he regained his senses as he heard a fitter of rumbling giggles from the female Cyclopses. Turning beet red, he cleared his throat and spoke much clearer than before.
“Umm, Gergat and Bergat here,” he said as he pointed at the two swaying giants with droopy smiles on their faces.
“Were leading me to meet with the Priestess, if you know who that is,”
“The Priestess? And what, pray tell, could you want from the priestess,” said the Cyclopess.
“I think, I hear The Great Ones speak to me, or at least that was what they said,” replied Michael with a confused expression on his face. Wasn’t she the priestess?
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“So, that’s why the bickering old farts woke up days ago,” said the not-priestess?
“Excuse me?” said Michael
“Oh, your still here. Well, congratulations, you’ve met her. Now, follow me, we need to prepare for your meeting with them,” she said as she turned around in a flurry of cloth.
“Wait, I’ve met her?”
Looking at him like he was stupid from over her shoulder, an awkward silence took hold of the area. Was it that obvious, thought Michael to himself.
“I’m the priestess,” said the Cyclopess with a shake of her head and a mutter that sounded oddly like ‘males’.
~~~
Following her in, only his guards were allowed to enter. The group of Cyclopses he had been familiar with could not come into the premise due to obvious reasons. Past the strings of large pearls, they were big when he stood up close to them, that jingled when he passed by them was a long and straight hallway leading down to a set of stairs. The stairs were engulfed with unnatural shadows that danced around in purplish flames.
Herded, without any moment to voice his objection into entering a black fire, past them, Michael closed his eyes. That definitely drew quite a few giggles and another glare from Agata. But, like the barrier of light and sound at the edges of the hidden city, he passed without resistance. Michael guessed that was because the Priestess had allowed them to go through, if she hadn’t, well those flames would do a fantastic job of keeping unwanted visitors away.
Opening his eyes, he walked into a massive room filled with pillows and curtains of every color possible. Hanging from drapes set into the walls by metal nails and wedges, they gave a false sense of modesty and privacy. Sitting at the front, the Priestess waved her hand at a few of the female Cyclopses that seemed to giggle every time he did anything but breathe.
“Get our guest’s guards some comforts as we prepare the savior for his meeting with the old farts. We need to be uninterrupted for the entire duration,”
Though the Cyclopses attempted to separate him from the guards, they quickly found it to be impossible. Stepping back into a tight formation around Michael, they clearly prepared for a battle to the bitter end. Jax gripped his massive sword, Bialo had a big spell prepared within the second, and even Agata had one, though hers was much smaller than her fathers. Smiling, Michael felt giddy inside at his soldier's absolute loyalty. Even in front of horrific odds, a city full of Cyclopses that almost worshiped their Priestess as much as The Great Ones, they held in determination to never be separated from him.
“I must apologize, but that’s not going to happen,” said Michael a smirk on his face.
“Foolish and prideful,” said the Priestess with a massive frown, “Just like The Great Ones. No wonder they chose you. So, be it, but they must stay as still as statues, or you will suffer the consequences,”
If anything, though she hid it well, the priestess had grudging respect to how well Michael had cultivated their loyalty. It was a good sign, to say the least. Michael nodded as he made his way out of the formation, Jax hot on his heels, towards the priestess. Jax was ready to get him out no matter the costs, even if it meant his life. The priestess snapped her finger, the sound somehow vibrating in his ears, but within a few seconds an old hag of a Cyclops, back bent and skin drooping in wrinkles, came in from behind a curtain. She wore black robes with not a single design on them, her pupil, unlike the usual brown Michael had seen in everyone else except the priestess, was a pitch black that gave him the shivers just to look at. She also had long white hair.
“Yes, Priestess,” said the old Cyclops, her voice older than anything Michael had heard before.
“Tiala, get me a jar of Dragon Serum and another of Meditative Inducers,” said the priestess, and with a wave of her hand, Tiala rushed out in a hurry.
“That should get you twelve minutes with The Great Ones. Though I warn you, any more and death will be anything but guaranteed, no matter how much posturing your tiny guards make,”
“Twelve only?” asked Michael.
“Yes, they are currently facing a great struggle… but that is their tale to weave. It’s also the reason you were brought here, savior. But, I am dubious at your capabilities to actually help… never mind me, I tend to speak my mind without thinking of the consequences of those words,” said the priestess as Tiala came back into the room, two jars colored red were in her haggard hands, quicker than he thought possible for such on old being.
“Priestess, I brought the Dragon Serum and the Meditative Inducers. Have I done a good job?” said Tiala, her voice begging for the priestess’s approval.
“Of course, Tiala. Now, put them down gently in front of me,” replied the priestess, patting the ground before her.
With as much care as her frail body could handle, Tiala set the two jars down. Then quickly scampered off as quickly as she had appeared, though this time she had a bounce to her step. Taking the lids of both jars off, the priestess gestured for Michael to step closer. Noticing this, Jax’s nerve began twitching visibly, his nervousness quite easily seen or at least for Michael. Stepping forward again, this time without Jax on his heels, he stopped directly before her massive body, the smell of herbs and tobacco wafting of her.
Taking a bowl the size of a tub, though perfectly proportioned for the giants, she scooped up a viscous reg liquid with green streak running across its surface from the first jar; Michael guessed that was the Dragon Serum. Placing it directly in front of him, she put her other hand in the second jar and pulled out tiny flakes of see-through crystals with her massive hands. The single grain no large than that of rice, she was able to take an enormous amount out of the large jars. Though, with how big the jars were, that was probably nothing more than a handful.
The priestess sprinkled the see-through crystals into the bowl of Dragon Serum. Once her hands were absolutely empty, making sure to wipe her hands with a towel, she snapped her finger again. Only this time, a large spoon came in flying from behind a curtain of blue. The spoon was a dark shade of brown and intricate writing were on it. Michael thought the writings had to be runes because they began to light up the second she touched the spoon.
Mixing the contents with as much effort as possible, a scrunched up face to make clear how tough it was, she sighed once it was finished. What remained was a pure green liquid that looked more like jelly than anything else.
“Jump in,” said the priestess a smile forming on her face as she noticed Michael’s confused expression.
“What?”
“I said, ‘Jump in’,” repeated the priestess, “You have to be fully covered in the concoction to get the twelve minutes,”
Trepidation filled Michael as he stared at the goop before him. He was supposed to just dive in the nasty bowl? Sighing in begrudging acceptance, he walked up to the bowl taking off the robe he was wearing; only his pants were under. Just as he dived in, cursing the priestess in his mind for her disgusting creation, only a single giggle sounded out.
That was Agata’s.