It's chapter six but post 5 so you didn't miss anything.. Enjoy reading!
It was a breathtaking view of a city among clouds. The city was even more spectacular than Olympus. It had large buildings, and huge arc like structures surrounded by a vast field before you reached the edge of the floating city. A big crowd gathered as they were about to land. They all seemed happy and amazed to see the trio. They touched down and the people looked stunned.
“Welcome! Welcome!” yelled a portly man in a toga as he sprinted as fast he could towards the three. He caught his breath for a moment and bowed. “Tel Kala. It’s a pleasure to see you again.” He turned to Milhad, “ah, my favorite pupil, Milhad!” He hugged Milhad and they looked very pleased at seeing one another again.
Kala cleared her throat and the two separated from each other, still grinning broadly. “Ven I’d like you to meet Joshua of Earth.” Kala said formally.
“So, this is the savior! I thought him to be more… um…well, more!” said Ven. Joshua just let out a sigh of irritation.
“So did I.” muttered Kala under her breath.
Rhea and the other divata inched out of Kala’s bag. Kala hadn’t noticed but a child pointed and yelled.
“Daddy, look, it’s a real live divata queen! It came to grant my wish!” yelled the little, pony-tailed girl as it ran towards Rhea.
“By the way, you will be having a temporary guest. Meet Queen Rhea of the Divataren Kingdom.” Kala said. The little girl was now right in front of them and Rhea landed on the child’s palm. Rhea bowed and smiled.
“It’s an honor your majesty.” bowed the Ven before Rhea.
“She’s so pretty.” the girl said.
“Come, let’s give our guests a tour.” Ven said as he was started to lead the way.
“No thank you Ven. We would actually want to start right away.” Kala said and with that, Ven led the divatas and the crowd into the city. Joshua smiled a little, The sooner we start, the sooner we finish and the sooner I can get back home He thought to himself.
“Well Milhad, how will we find the weapon?” asked Joshua, trying to distract everyone’s attention.
Milhad took out the stone tablet from his bag.
He read the inscription:
“It is found in the lowest place in the highest place.”
“That… just… doesn’t make sense.” said Milhad.
“Are you sure you read the inscriptions correctly?” Kala said as she took the tablet from Milhad.
“I think I know where that is.” said Joshua saddling the equina again. “Come on Kala let’s go.” Joshua said.
Kala merely crossed her arms and when Joshua turned his back she rolled her eyes and then followed. They flew towards under the floating city and saw jet propulsion engines alternately spitting a stream of pressurized air. A small opening was found at the base of the city. The loud engines that kept Aether Terranum afloat were loud and the trio needed to yell in order to be heard.
“We must dodge the jets!” Kala said, shouting. Way to go captain obvious, Joshua thought.
They weaved through the jets and reached the opening at the base of the city. It was a craggy and small cave. They touched down and immediately dismounted.
“What does the weapon look like?” asked Joshua who was looking around the sides of the craggy cave.
“Like that.” Kala said pointing at a small, circular white stone embedded on a stone pedestal at the end of the cave.
“But that is just a stone. That can’t possibly be the weapon. It’s puny!” Joshua exclaimed as they approached the pedestal.
“Pick it up Joshua.” said Milhad.
“Why don’t you?” he asked with curiosity.
“Just pick it up.” Kala said in irate tone.
“I won’t if you don’t want to! So you pick it up!” Joshua exclaimed.
“We cannot.” Milhad said while looking at Kala with an expression that seemed to say “give the guy a break!”
“We have no royal blood. We will be struck by lightning if we try.” said Milhad explaining.
“Fine. I will.” Joshua said to Kala, their faces so close he could feel her tense breath on his skin.
“Idiot.” Kala mumbled as her eyes turned into slits as he showed her irritation toward Joshua. He smiled mockingly at her irritation.
Joshua cautiously picked it up and it floated on his palm. The stone changed, as if touching it triggered something. It suddenly looked cloudy inside. Like there was a cloud trapped inside. Joshua was hypnotized by this peculiar object. Kala snapped her fingers.
“Oh, sorry.” he said with a chuckle. He shook his head to clear it a bit.
Milhad gestured him to put it in a slot on a crafted piece of metal. It was on the pedestal with the stone. It looked like a bunch of flattened intertwined snakes or a flattened silver crown. The stone immediately fused with it.
Kala took out a rough piece of cloth and wrapped it around the metal. Then she put it in her satchel.
“What did you mean by you don’t have any royal blood? But Kala is of royal blood. Right?” asked Joshua. Milhad opened his mouth to speak but then Kala’s eyes turned into slits and her brows met with disapproval.
They rode off once more and headed back to the top of Aether Terranium. They started weaving through the jets once more. Suddenly, the equina that Kala was riding got hit by one of the streams. It dropped along with Kala. Milhad and Joshua could do nothing but circle the clouds and hope for the best.
They were about to give up searching the clouds when a damp Kala and her equina rose up from the clouds. She was alright and by the look on her face she was having fun.
They continued upward and landed once more in the field of Aether Terranium. When they were on land, a breeze blew and Kala’s cape fluttered, she gripped it tightly and Joshua saw her. He thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the world as her curly, brown hair waved in the wind. The soft afternoon light touched her skin making her seem to glow. Upon seeing the dumbfounded Joshua, she smiled sweetly. A strange feeling erupted from her chest. Her fingertips tingly and her breathing became shallow. Then her smile disappeared as she pressed her lips together into a thin line. The weird sensation had left all parts of her body except her stomach as the three led their equinas into the city.
Later on in the evening, they were called from their resting quarters Ven had provided them. All three of them were led into the biggest room in the building. A grand feast was being held to honor the heroes. Joshua and Milhad were surprised and in awe. Kala seemed not to care. After the feast, Ven called on the attention of all.
“I propose a toast to the heroes of Pelianor.” he announced.
After the toast, Ven spoke once more, “And to further show them our gratitude, we, the people of Aether Terranum, would like to offer you these gifts.”
As Joshua was laughing at Milhad whose drink had gone out through his nose, he caught Kala’s attention. She couldn’t help but smile though she tried to keep a straight face.
Three servants came forth, each carrying a large and ornate box. They opened it and inside were three pairs of leather gloves. Joshua precariously picked up the pair given to him.
“You don’t happen to have a smaller pair of these do you?” asked Milhad shyly.
“Just put them on.” Ven said with a smile and a chuckle.
As Joshua put the large pair of gloves on, they started to shrink and immediately conformed to the shape of each hand. Joshua stretched his fingers and the gloves felt as if they weren’t really there. They were as light as a feather and they acted like a second skin.
Kala put on hers and they shrunk to fit the contours of her hand. She closed her eyes and her brows met as she concentrated. The fingers of the gloves receded. She opened her eyes and flexed her fingers.
“That’s more like it!” she said while smiling and admiring her new gloves.
“These are the Agi gloves. They give you extra dexterity and they don’t weigh a thing.” Ven said as the three admired their new gifts, “I’m sure that they will help you on your quest.” he continued.
For the rest of the night, Kala and Joshua didn’t speak. The only contact made between them was through quick stolen glances. They still both didn't know what to do with themselves; which emotion should they pick, their irritation or their attraction.
Later on in the night, they all retired to their quarters while the feast continued because tomorrow, they would look for the next piece of the weapon.
