"I thought this is gone forever?!"
It was a fair warning; if she stuck with the things she knew, then it would be highly probable she knew next.
"Freidmirth! Get ready!"
Soon as she commanded, the ground sent recurring waves, which almost had their balance compromised, lurched among themselves, or grabbed to the closest stand. However, the frames with artifacts rattled and clattered; most of them fell off from their displays.
"What's going on here?!" Liam howled as he staggered and dodged the falling debris and dust from the ceiling.
"The artifacts!" Blake cried out.
"...Is this the 'ill omens' you talked about, Tasha?!"
"No…" she whispered, not too low for them to hear. "It's just the beginning."
Cracks on the walls, ceilings, and floor, spread like innumerable branches and tentacles, forming fragments. Similar to how glass shattered, the place torn and withered away.
All of them witnessed what changed beyond the torn area—a colorful place, glimmering sheens of who knew where it came from—which stupefied in their stead. Before they could react, the walls crumbled, and the squall almost blew them away.
Anasthasia reached out to Freidmirth, and a bright light enveloped him, trying to revert to his colossal, majestic figure. While he grew in size, the ceiling vanquished, and the fissure came close to them.
"Everyone, hop onto Fried! NOW!" she shouted on top of her lungs, competing for the buzzing winds.
Time was the essence, and they hastened their movements. With everyone on board, she touched Freidmirth and let out a bright glow as it coated his body.
"Fried! Ready to take off!"
Freidmirth glared at the surroundings while he beat his wings and flew midair.
"Sister Ana! How about you?!" Lucy shrieked in horror as she found Anasthasia on the verge of a collapsed room. On the other hand, she beamed a rueful smile.
'If we are going back, then I could use my powers!'
Anasthasia took a deep breath and sprinted her way towards the edge; with fissures continued to devour her way, she leaped in good faith. They all suck in a cold breath from her actions.
With that said, her feet glowed, and knees bent, she flew towards them. The tidal winds continued to thrash them away, but they held onto Freidmirth with all their might.
Levi nudged, staggering, his glasses as he pointed. "Ana, look over there!"
The room crumbled in its final rest: every speck of dust vanished into the colorful wonders of the storm that brewed around them.
They were in awe and horrified—A wonderful place filled with terrors within. They glanced back at Anasthasia, who seemed frozen solid.
"Tasha, what's happening?!"
Her lips drew thin as she faced them. "...To the place where I belong..."
Thereafter, thunderclaps boomed nearby, which startled them, and this also smacked some into her senses.
"Fried, let's go!"
"Where to?!" Freidmirth retorted back, feeling the panic and burden at the moment.
"I have no idea. But with these magical storms, we sail to where the wind blows!"
They all furrowed their brows, but Anasthasia propelled forth. Freidmirth huffed out and followed her lead.
"Fried! Dodge at a moment's notice!"
They moved adrift in the blanket of varying colors interwoven with sparkling pools of dust and magical clouds. They briskly floated amidst the glistening and harsh storms nearby. Anasthasia shifted to the side as soon as she noticed the implosion nearby, shrinking, and then blew up with a shockwave.
Her hands danced as she managed to deflect the sheer power before it reached Freidmirth and the others. They all squinted their eyes and ducked their heads from the path; they had no idea where to go but only rely on and trust the one upfront.
She noticed how they started to feel the invisible force weighing upon them, which made her draw close and cast spells for each.
'Surge!'
Their eyes snapped open and, with gritted teeth, endured the disaster awaited them.
"Are we still far from over, Anasthasia?!"
"I don't think so! Let's move ahead!" Anasthasia took the initiative and plunged to the depths of it.
The clouds of specks of dust, either scattered or clumped, were seen and passed by as she maneuvered in chaotic ebb and flow of tides. It took some time she noticed, finally, a white space.
"Fried! Look over there!"
The magical storm continued to brew, which caused the neverending warps and distortions. But Anasthasia noticed something peculiar that bound to happen. Everyone entered only to welcome its brightness.
It was, but a warmth swamped over them—a serene trance felt, at least by the rest of them. Meanwhile, Anasthasia gulped as her gaze wandered back and forth, adoring the bright colors spread across the horizon.
'This very place, I can't believe I'm back here… Even so...'
One thing turned peculiar to her; she bit her lip when no fragments afloat within the atmosphere.
Nothing changed, as much as she would like to believe, especially the variety of colors and silent heralds of the long-dead of the past.
Upon landing on the smooth surface, her feet tapped and created a ripple as though she troubled the calm lake. Soon, Freidmirth went next to her, and all of them got off him.
Their eyes gleamed against the rich hues reflecting off the surface. Anasthasia strutted with splashing sounds mused their ears. Until now, all of them had their brows furrowed but not anymore for Blake as his mouth parted.
He stammered, "Miss… Miss Ana! Is this—what I think... it is?!"
She stopped her tracks, losing the monotonous beat of the splashes. Turning around, she looked at them without an ounce of skepticism.
"Indeed, Blake. We are in the 'Prismatic Sea.'" She walked close near Freidmirth and reverted him to his smaller self.
He stared, dead in the eyes. No winds blew them, but he shivered in subtlety.
"I knew them from the scriptures, but... I'm astronomically blown away by coming here first hand! Although, wasn't this lost forever?!"
"I thought so too, but… Who knows why we are here—The stone!"
The stone, remarkably owned by Wallace, burned so bright. Anasthasia retrieved, looking astounded, as she grabbed the pristine stone.
Finally, the stone flashed before them, razing their vision once more into the plethora of whiteout. In response, their eyes tightly sealed and covered themselves, hoping the light faded before then.
Anasthasia felt the water droplets beat against her like tap ensembles, ears abuzz, and noticed how her clothes turned damp and heavy. She arched her neck and welcomed the volley drenching her from above—dark and gloomy fluffs.
Glancing at the side, she watched them. Their outfit was imprinted along with their limbs and slouched their actions.
She looked around, and the wet verdant meadows surrounded them. The foggy mist lingered for a while as though they danced across different tree barks. Their spines turned upright, vigilant enough, but none of them dared to make a move. Her feet crunched the leaves with her every step.
It didn't take long for her to scrutinize the area and watched the large crevice—large and hollow—pinned on the rocky wall. She clenched her teeth when she noticed the eerily familiar place.
"That cave! It's that—! If I'm not mistaken!" Anasthasia said in an audibly low voice.
Liam leaned to the side and responded accordingly, "What could that mean, Ana?"
"The place where I met Wallace Raguel." None of them spoke a word, all of them held their breath for a moment, but she had no time to waste time as she moved along.
Her prowls had them imitate without any cast of doubt, and as they stuck to the wall, going in, the noise caved in with a couple of droplets trickling.
"I require everyone in their utmost cooperation and vigilance. Stay silent at all costs." With caution, they nodded.
'Serene's Veil!'
Fading into the craggy exteriors, they went in and blended into the depths of the abyss.
Ears and noses were their greatest friend, for a while, and nitpicked every detail therein. Aside from the noise abuzz, everything was damp, dirt, and moss-scented air. From afar, they noticed a faint light of tangerine color.
Crept towards the area, they saw the majestic being—his large wing curbed, with bloodstains on several feathers, his lithe stature slumped nearby corner with his arm gripped his other side of the rib.
Ragged breaths made, fast and heavy, his worn-out satin robe revealed more gashes and slashes on his body.
At the moment, with the painful look he had, they knew who it was. But nothing caught them off guard when a sudden sweet voice, albeit young and cheerful, had rung from the opposite side.
"I have found some medicinal herbs. I hope this shall help."
A teenage girl raced towards him. She didn't trip more than once with her simple leather coat, cinched, long but flared.
"You stubborn human! Get out of my sight!" Wallace bellowed.
She rolled her eyes. "You're the one to talk! You stupid angel."