Ch #12

"Luminara"

"Lumi, wake up, dear. It's time for the ceremony, my child."

A gentle breeze brushed across her cheeks. The light passing through the curtains lit up the room. A delicate, floral fragrance wafted in front of her nose.

Aunt Margaret was in the room, sitting by the side of her bed, gently removing the myriad of books scattered on it. She called to Lumi. Opening her eyes, she sat up, blinking. An earthy smell, the bed slightly cold, damp. Strange... No matter. She replied with the ever-present cheer in her voice.

"I'm awake, Aunt Margaret! It's such a lovely morning, don't you think?"

"Indeed. Let's get you dressed, Lumi. Your papa is calling you. It's going to be a long day for you. Don't want to be late, right? Your papa would be upset."

Without a second thought, she hopped out of bed, humming a little tune. Her mind raced with thoughts, her anticipation bubbling over like a fizzy soda on a hot summer's day. How would the colors of the blooming flowers look? Would the chirping of birds be as delightful as she had read? The world was her oyster, and she was determined to savor every moment of the adventure that awaited her beyond the confines of her cozy, familiar room.

A cacophony of sounds surrounded her. People rushed about everywhere, the squiggles around her bed glowing, but the maids didn't seem to notice them as they brought dress after dress for her aunt to choose for her. They avoided talking to her though, seemingly afraid. Why were they afraid? Oh, she was the princess-to-be. Of course, they were afraid. It was the day of the coronation. Papa would become king, and he would tell the world about her.

Walking down the steps in a white lily dress, she found herself led to the grand balcony by her aunt. Papa was smiling at her.

She ran to him, jumping. He caught her, lifting her into the air. He kissed her cheeks and set her down on the balcony. The entire kingdom lay in front of them, and the people were cheering. She could see the city glowing; large buildings in the distance. A bird flew by and perched itself on the branch of a tall tree. The world was so beautiful.

Darkness. The magnificent sun disappeared from the sky. A shadow ate the sun! She gasped. A streak of light flew through the sky, disappearing. Then a few more, arcing through the sky, glimmering in white light. Lumi saw a circle of light in the place where the sun was. Contrasting with the starry show, it looked like the world was welcoming her.

Then came a sudden rumble. The palace shook. She screamed. Windows exploded, a gust of air blowing many off their feet. Papa held her tight, covering her from the dust and shards.

Lumi saw small suns falling, crashing into the city. Her small body quivered; she'd forgotten to breathe. Fire, the world turned red and yellow.

Something splashed against her cheeks. Wiping with the cuff of her white lily dress, she found it dyed red. Lumi turned, only to see her father's headless body standing there, holding her waist. His severed head was held up by someone by the hair. Clad in black clothes with a black mask and a black obsidian knife in hand.

A sudden grab and slam. Lumi fainted, and the killer threw her over his shoulder, walking through the halls with blood flowing everywhere.

She woke up with a sharp slap to her face. The ropes digging into her pale white skin. Lumi could not think; she didn't feel the sting on her face or the pain from the ropes. She did not notice the moving caravan she was on, or the others gagged and tied up against the wood. A lady came up to her. A waft of flowery smell. Tears streamed along her cheeks. WHY!

"This is all on you, Luminara," the lady whispered into her ear.

Dragged to the edge of the caravan, she saw the city was washed with blood and fire. The sky turning orange. She saw the heavens fall. Her eyes hurt looking at the massive white ball of fire. The city and everything within it ceased to exist as it fell, and she woke up.

"Lumi, wake up, dear. It's time for the ceremony, my child," A gentle breeze brushing across her cheeks.

A myriad of small tendrils all glowed with that glittering emerald glow.

{Light-bringer, the descendant of Gregori }

"What are you doing, wrapping all those tendrils around her?"

"I'm keeping her alive, I suppose? Human food is scarce here, so I'm giving her a portion of my sap."

Kai nodded, so the tree was taking care of the girl, healing her, or rather feeding her.

His binding came undone. Sitting on the root, he dared not step onto the stone below. Folding his legs beneath him, he steadied himself holding onto the trunk. Inscriptions, hundreds of them neatly arranged on the stone floor around the Sentient plant. Densely packed, the tapestry of symbols glowed a dim blue and gold.

He looked around the room. How had he not noticed? Kai wondered, observing the little sleeping girl and the sentient tree surrounded by runic symbols. Now he was inside it too... Just great.

The entire room was filled with symbols, covered up by moss and dirt. Parts exposed to light were packed so densely they almost overlapped. Why were they here?

"So you've noticed, I presume?"

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Kai nodded, He'd gotten into a mess again. Well, he'd just have to ask this "gentle tree" then, starting with the most obvious...

"Who are you? And these symbols... They're here to Imprison you, right?"

The dryad pointed at the ground with its tendril.

"I was the guardian of the great hearth-grove forest. Many of my kin, sentient plants, 'dryads,' maintained this land."

An emerald-gold leaf fell, floating to the pile of leaves surrounding them. A golden glimmer, the leaves surrounding him stirring up, creating a small tempest, the sunlight glittering off of them drawing Kai's eye in, turning into a vivid image.

The forest was a realm of moss-covered trees, towering giants that had witnessed centuries of life and death. Their trunks, adorned with gnarled bark, reached high into the sky. Shafts of golden sunlight filtered through the emerald canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

The air was filled with the gentle murmur of a babbling brook, hidden beneath the ferns and wildflowers. The scent of damp earth and the subtle perfume of blooming wildflowers lingered in the air... Then fizzling out. The Forest died, the dryads lost, their forest heart stolen, and their guardian imprisoned.

It didn't show how it got imprisoned in the first place. Surely a Great tree like this dryad wouldn't be caught so easily? He thought better than to ask, though.

"What do you need me for?"

The yellow-gold leaves danced, the tree twisting its trunk, stretching. Weird, he thought.

"I want you to take this girl out of here."

Looking at the sleeping girl and the tapestry of symbols surrounding them, he thought of the trial. This might be a good opportunity...

But first, he'd ask about something that was bothering him for a while.

"Where did she come from? The gate was sealed until I broke it."

"Ow, my. She appeared about 3 years ago, just magically appeared, falling from the sky. I don't know if that makes sense for you. She was quite badly wounded and cursed too."

Kai tilted his head, looking at the girl. Magically from the sky? That seems familiar... Kai thought of the result of the inspection.

***

Dormant Luminara

Core: Gold

Attributes: {Light-bringer}; {Blood curse}

***

Luminara... That must be her name, Kai thought. The gold core was surprising. But the attributes attracted his attention. They were the most mystical he had ever seen. Granted he had not seen many...

***

{Light-bringer}

Born through an unholy union, where magic and man intertwine. The descendant of Gregorie; mystic realms and earthly phenomena converge, as probability bends to your presence.

{Blood curse}

An eternal nightmare. Bound by an unquenchable rage, the mother of arcane mysteries cast an enduring hex upon the progeny of Gregorie, ensnaring their fate in her maddened labyrinth.

***

Kai gaped at open air, reading the description of the abilities. How the hell was this useful!? He didn't understand shit! But he did notice the curse.

"She'll wake up soon, I've been removing her curse, and it will be done soon too..."

"Fine, I'll take her out once she wakes up... But could you teach me?" Kai said, pointing at the symbols.

"These? I'd love to teach you, but I can't read these either."

Kai looked at the tree incredulously. It was a Great dryad, probably a few centuries old. Or was it? How come it hadn't tried deciphering the thing? And it had captured him while smacking away a charged fireball with ease...

"Then how come you're not restricted by them? Not to brag, but I've seen a great mage before."

A small tendril snaked up behind Kai, smacking his head like an elder sister smacking her sibling for embarrassing them.

"I AM restricted. I can't take my true form, stuck as a tree in one place."

The dryad voiced the last part with some sorrow, its branches drooping. A different form... Kai thought, rubbing his head; how that would work? or what it would look like?

"Now, now, I've tried deciphering them, but try doing that without eyes. I feel the world around me through vibrations, and the last time I heard, the inscriptions don't vibrate. Still, I've been at it, using my root tips to map them. I've noticed recurring runes; they might be part of an ancient language of sorts."

"That sounds like you're giving excuses. Anyway, I ...um have an ability that can help. But I need your help healing me afterward. Maybe we can try doing it together?"

Kai looked at the tree rustling its leaves as if excited. He wasn't sure if it was or not; he didn't speak tree after all. Making sure it was ready, he cast inspection on the tapestry of symbols on the obsidian floor.

Pain. Kai reeled again, gritting his teeth so hard he could break them. A muffled groan. His breath was escaping him. Shock after shock hit his mind, hundreds of needles stabbing into it. Excruciating pain threatened to consume his mind.

Drip. Blood seeped from his eyes and nose. They bulged as if about to pop. An emerald root wrapped itself around his head, like a crown. A glow of glittering emerald light washed over him, easing the pain.

The tapestry of symbols unfolded in front of his eyes like before, melding together and turning into images his mind could decipher.

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The symbols were clearer, he thought. The eternal prison of the Hearth-grove? The forest? Why would they want to imprison a forest? Or is the Hearth-grove something separate?

"My, my. That took a lot out of me. Did you understand it? What does it say?"

"It says something about a Hearth-grove... I need to look at it more; I couldn't figure out what it does or how to break it."

"I see... Well, we're going to need help."

The dryad raised its many roots connecting to the pillars of roots falling from the ceiling.

"What are you doing?"

"Gathering energy, Kai. I am relying on the trees and grasses for energy... This entire underground ruin is barren and dead. Everything I could salvage I already have. I'm going to need help if I want to heal you continuously."

A larger root, emerald-gold in color, wrapped around his head, forming an intricate crown, connected to the dryad. The leaves on its canopy glimmered, a pulse of mana glowed, traveling down the trunk toward the crown. Mana churned around him. Daring not to waste time, he cast Inspection, this time on the entire circle around them.