Chapter 194: Chapter 194

194 Legend Of The Catalyst

****Special Author’s Note****

As Skye opened the sealed case, a strange wave of energy rushed through her. Her heart began to pound in her ears as she stared at the rolled and folded documents. She’d been determined to find out all she could about the Catalyst, and now that all the answers Alcon had to offer her were sitting in front of her..

Every instinct in Skye’s body that was involved with her self-preservation told her to turn away. To slam the box shut and walk away, but she couldn’t. Her mind and heart told her that the answers within the box would lead her to saving Tidas, and stopping the dark man. With a deep, shaky breath; Skye touched the first scroll.

A strange, golden aura began to emanate from the scroll in the princess’ hand. Both Nora and Frode stepped back in fear as the light began to surround Skye’s body, then seemingly absorb into it. Right as the glow faded, a voice from the ceiling shouted; “What the Bloody Hell was That?!”

Looking up in surprise, Skye’s features deflated in relief as Maevis fluttered down from behind one of the oversized light fixtures. While Nora and Frode stood in shock, Skye lectured the beautiful fairy, then they started to discuss the light. The two were lost to their conversation as the other two finally came to their senses. Nora and Frode hadn’t seen Maevis before, and were taken aback by her sudden appearance within the sealed room.

“It-It-It’s a Fairy! A real Fairy! I can’t Believe I’m seeing an actual Fairy!” Nora screamed as she bounced in place.

“Fascinating! A Pixie! An elder, I believe,” Dr. Lyberth stated as he walked in a circle around Skye and Maevis.

Maevis cut her speaking with Skye to eye Frode with suspicion; “Excuse Me?! How would you know I’m an elder? And that I’m a Pixie?”

“Well, my two daughters love Fae stories; particularly ones about Fairy Fae. We know the difference between Pixies, Browinies, Bobbins, Devas, Wisps; we’re quite the fans.. As for you being an elder, I assumed you’re one of the two representatives that the king announced?”

.....

Maevis stared at Frode with a smile; “Not many humans understand the difference. We’re all just fairies to them. It makes me happy to see there are more people like Skye than I thought.”

Nora bowed her head to Maevis; “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you!”

Maevis chortled at the lass; “It’s alright, dearie. Tis hard to tell the differences sometimes. And it’s not like we’ve made the information known. I don’t fault you.”

Skye grinned as she watched Nora deflate. She was a sweet lass, but Skye wasn’t exactly sure why she had followed after her. They’d only met the once, and it had been brief. She knew that the girl was fascinated with her magic.. ‘Is that the only reason, though?’

“So... What was with that light? I’ve never seen that paper glow before, and I’ve examined it quite a bit myself,” Dr. Lyberth commented.

Maevis’ face switched to a worrisome expression; “I think it’s because it’s content pertains to Skye.. It reacted to her..”

Frode stared at the Maevis out of confusion before realization dawned on him. He knew what the scroll was generally about; an apocalyptic prophecy. He opened his mouth in shock, then covered it with his hand. Needing the other one to prop himself up against the table.

“Are you saying that the princess IS the Catalyst? You’re sure you’re not mistaken?! You have to be mistaken..” Dr. Lyberth spoke in a hushed tone with his mouth covered; raw emotion still clear in his voice.

“I’m afraid the reaction is the last bit of proof I needed,” Maevis replied in a somber tone.

“What does it say?!” Nora’s voice was strained and shaky as she spoke.

“I’d like to know as well,” Skye said as she slowly began to unroll the scroll out on another table...

************

When the Blood of the First King is granted Power Over Life, Fate’s string shall untwine and cause creation to crumble.

When The Leader Who Defends and The Son Of The Noble One become One, Fate shall gift The Bond.

When The Bond is Strengthened by Unity, and the Light and Dark Merge, the Nightmare will be Cherished.

When Chaos ensnares the Cherished, and The Nightmare is Unleashed, only The Bond shall Tame it and Save the Kin.

When Chaos claims the Kin, and One is Saved and One is Lost, The Catalyst will Awaken.

When The Lost Kin Arises, and the Chaotic Void opens, a choice will be made: Renew Or Rebirth.

When a Choice Is Made, The Catalyst will be No More.

Birthed with Life

Life leads to Creation

Creation is Earned

Earned through Will

Will is Gifted

Gift will Illuminate

Illuminate the Nightmare

Nightmare of Flames

Flames of Madness

Madness to Darkness

Darkness is Chaos

The Catalyst Must Have The Keys To Unlock The Gates To Existence Or Rebirth.

Lock Of Antiquity

Key Of The Celestial

Key Of The Ethereal

Only The Bond Will Grant Salvation-

************

“What? Where’s the rest?” Skye asked nervously.

Frode raised his arms up in a shrugging motion; “I have no idea. It’s been like that since the first time I saw it. I assumed that’s how they found it.. I can’t believe you can read the legend; the whole legend!”

Aye, I can. I can ready anything,” Skye replied like it was normal.

Dr. Lyberth stared at Skye a moment before he gave a sharp bark of laughter and said, “Well I’ll be damned.. Umm, why did you ask about the missing piece like that? Do you think someone did it on purpose?”

Skye looked back at the scroll on the table; “Aye.. I think someone did this on purpose, I feel it. There’s more to the legend than this, and it’s important. Do ye know if any other kingdoms have a copy of this?”

Dr. Lyberth sighed; “Not that I’m aware of, I’m sorry princess. I can request inquiries with the stationed diplomats if you’d like?”

Skye agreed and thanked Frode, then stared at the scroll again. A million thoughts rushed through her head.. ‘Why would someone damage it? The tear looks recent; the edges are still frayed.. What motive could they possibly have? It’s not like they knew-Oh, shit.. It must be someone I know.. Someone who either knows, or at least suspects me of being the Catalyst. But who?’

Turning to Maevis, Skye asked blatantly; “Was it you, or Nic by chance?”

Maevis narrowed her eyes at Skye; “Do you really think I Would?”

“No, but I’d be a fool not to ask. You and Nicolas haven’t exactly told me everything ye know about this, have ye?”

Maevis fluttered closer to Skye with a shameful expression; “You’re right about that, and I apologize for withholding information from you.. I do know of a kingdom that has a fully-intact copy of the legend: the Fae Kingdom. The Empress showed it to me herself, but you can’t go; humans aren’t allowed in the capital. They’re only allowed in one of the two port towns on the entire continent. Titania projects a kind of barrier that detects humans.. You can’t go there without her permission first.”

“Damn it; that journey would take months! I’d never be able to go and be back in time for the trials.. And there’s also Tidas’ uncle.. Damn it! Why isn’t there instant transportation magic?! All the magic in the world, and no one has figured out how to cut down on travel time?!” Skye screamed out of frustration.

“The ancients had it figured out,” Nora said low, but Skye had heard her.

“What? How?”

Skye was walking speedily towards Nora, making her slightly nervous as she replied; “The ancients, they, umm-they flew!”

Skye stopped in her tracks; “Nora’s right! The ancients flew dragons! I just need to wait a bit!”

Utter confusion covered Nora and Frode’s faces as Maevis explained; “I think they meant ‘before the Great Shift’ ancients, dearie. I think they were called planes?”

Skye perked up; “Oh.. Well, either will work. It just sucks that I have to wait until Tidas has slain his uncle.. Or Zazzy learns to fly; whichever comes first.”

“Who’s Zazzy?” Nora straightened herself as she spoke.

Skye grinned broadly at the lass; “She’s my baby dragon.”

Both Nora and Dr. Lyberth’s jaws dropped. They couldn’t believe what they’d heard, but at the same time, they could. With a scroll that glowed and the beautiful Pixie in the room; dragons existing wasn’t as far fetched of an idea anymore..

Trying to organize her thoughts, Nora asked; “So, what does the legend mean? The whole ‘Renew or Rebirth’ thing? ‘Existence or Renew’? What does all that mean?”

Maevis fluttered over to the lass with a sympathetic look and stated; “It means that something is going to happen that will cause Skye to choose between the world we know, and creating a new one.. By destroying this one.”

Maevis, Nora, and Frode all looked at Skye with worry. She stared at them back with slight indignation, and said; “Don’t look at me like that; it’s not like Ima tryin’ to destroy the world!”

“We know, dearie. It’s just a scary thought that it could happen,” Maevis replied, not meaning to make her feel bad or judged.

Nora and the others donned apologetic expressions as she looked at the box that the scroll had come from; “What’s the rest of the stuff in the box? Hey! Maybe the other part of the scroll is in there?!”

Skye turned around with a growing hope that Nora was right. As she reached in, she pulled out two files with papers in them, and two medium-thick books; all filled with theories on what the legend meant. As she pulled the last book out, the thought crossed her mind that Tidas might’ve been the one to take the other piece of the legend.

He was so determined to protect her, but Skye pushed the suspicion out of her head. Her and Tidas had agreed not to hide things from each other anymore. Even though she was hiding her new trait from him, it wasn’t out of misguided affection. She had to keep it from him, to have a chance to beat him at the Mage Trials.

As Skye began to argue with herself about telling her husband, both her heart and stomach dropped as she looked back in the box. A single folded sheet of paper with her name on it lay at the bottom. It was written with perfectly straight lines and letters as to avoid revealing their handwriting style.

After reaching in and grabbing it, she opened the sheet.. It read:

‘I see you there, Little Lass.. You’re mine..’

Gasping, Skye dropped the letter. It was what the dark man from her dreams had said to her. A heavy, dread-filled chill ran up Skye’s back as she realized what it meant. The dark man was not only in the capital, but it was someone that she knew...