Milo and Kamell stood on the top and bottom layers of the scaffolding. Milo yelled from the top of the scaffolding
"You ready!"
Kamell answered by racing up to the middle of the layers, Milo almost beat Kamell to the sigil, he watched as Kamell wrapped his fingers around it slowly encasing it in a red crystal.
"Too slow Milo." Kamell teased. He broke into red shards and reassembled at the top of the scaffolding.
"In two minutes, my spores will fill the sigil. Think you can swipe it before then?" He tucked the crystal behind his waist.
"Perfect Kamell! You know how to make things interesting." Milo Jeered back with a devilish smile.
Everyone looked at the display happening on the scaffold.
"Milo and Kamell, that sucks they can't go to the same place, they'be gone through the whole root down together." The moth twin mentioned.
"I wonder who's going to win. They're evenly matched." The butterfly twin retorted.
Milo flew up to the top and attempted to blow Kamell off of the scaffolding with an intense breeze. Kamell protruded crystals from his ankles, anchoring him to his spot. He brandished twin pistols from his hips and began shooting crystals at Milo which he dodged effortlessly. Avoiding the crystals, Milo flew to the layer below Kamell and started a barrage against the scaffolding above, the structure held but knocked Kamell off of his perch. As Kamell fell, Milo quickly followed behind him. Kamell faced upwards and shot a couple of more rounds at Milo. Milo wrapped the crystals in a current and shot them back at Kamell, causing him to defend with his arms, now fully encased in crystal. He landed below with a loud thud. Milo landed gracefully next to the impact.
"Time's almost up Milo." Kamell stated, coming out of the dust cloud.
"I know." Milo was worked up.
Milo caused an updraft from below Kamell's feet. The wind caused Kamell's clothes to flap upward out of control. The sigil flew into the air still encased in crystal, Milo darted to grab it as Kamell got himself together. Milo grabbed the sigil and with one hand broke the crystal around it. He came back to the ground with his spoils.
"The winner is Kamell!" Felix announced. "His spores fully filled the Sigil before Milo grabbed it."
"Awe damn! I thought I had it!" Milo said, not upset about his defeat.
"You were close, about five seconds too slow." Kamell praised.
"Where would you like to go?" Felix asked.
"You know, that underwater village inside of a root sounds interesting." Kamell sounded half intrigued.
"Very well! Kamell will go to Sabsoon, and Milo will be joining Isadora in Fooshima." Felix announced. "Next, we'll have the twins Apozon and Jakuzon!"
The two kimono boys walked up to the scaffolding.
"Awe really? We'll have to be separated?" The moth Twin Apozon asked.
"Don't make a fuss, it won't be forever." The butterfly twin, Jakuzon replied. "I know! Lets play Rudium. The first to five Jabs gets the sigil."
"Ahh Rudium! Our last match ended in a draw, this can be our tie breaker."
Both twins produced antenna shaped sabers from their kimonos and made their way to the middle of the scaffolding and raised their sabers to their faces. They swished them down to their sides and Jakuzon made a move quickly jabbing Apozon in the chest.
"Come on Apo, you didn't even try to block that one." Jakuzon said jokingly.
"I didn't know we were starting!" He quickly jabbed Jakuzon back. "There now we're even."
Now that both of them were ready they backed away from each other to start the next round.
Apozon charged in first this time attempting to jab, Jakuzon swatted his saber and made a move, causing Apozon to jump back out of the way. Apozon, Jakuzon followed up with another jab hitting Apozon directly in the chest.
"Alright. Two to one." Jakuzon announced as they went back to their starting points.
Jakuzon approached causing Apozon to jerk back and return a jab in a lunge. Jakuzon ducked the jab and came up sticking Apozon in the chest again.
"Three to one." He said the score again. "Come on now! Do better."
Apozon started focus as they went back to their starting positions. Apozon charged at Jakuzon dodging his jab and swinging his saber to meet His brothers, they exchanged a few swings leaving Jakuzon out of moves, Apozon struck him in the chest.
"Three to two. Good job Apo!" Jakuzon said proudly.
They again returned to their starting positions. Jakuzon met Apo's saber and the two exchanged slashes some more. Apozon got the advantage changing Jakuzon to the badge of the level they were on, if Jakuzon stepped back any further he would fall, Apozon help him off the edge with a thirst to his chest. Jakuzon teetered off the edge with a smile.
"Three to three, now we're even." Jakuzon's kimono turned into beautiful butterfly wings as he floated above to the top of the scaffolding. Apozon's kimono turned into moth wings as he flew to meet his brother at the top level. Now in the air they started again. Apozon flew towards Jakuzon brandishing his saber. In the air their acrobatics became more apparent as they gracefully collided with each other. Apozon delivered a blow to Jakuzon's chest from above.
"Three to four. That's what I like to see!" Jakuzon yelled.
From their starting points, Jakuzon blinked away in a flash of light. He appeared right behind Apozon with another flash trying to jab him brim behind. Apozon jumped into the air out of the way only for Jakuzon to appear before him again attempting to jab him. Apozon slashed at his blade, as they exchanged slices, Jakuzon repeatedly flashing around Apozon, his flashes began to slow down.
"Jaku, you know I hate using this mist." Apozon shivered as white flakes flurried from his wings. "It makes me so cold."
Jakuzon's light flashes became predictable inside of Apozon's mist. Apozon delivered the final jab just as Jakuzon appeared, ending the match.
"I know you hate using it, but you should get used to your magic, brother." Jakuzon said with a smile. "Three to five, not bad Apo."
Apozon grabbed the sigil filling it with his spores.
"I think I'll go to the island brother." Apozon announced.
"Apozon filled the Sigil first! He will be heading to Fooshima, and Jakuzon will head to Sabsoon." Felix echoed.
"Next we have Naomi and Voikara."
The long legged woman and the lady with wings made their way to the scaffolding.
"Nice to meet you," Naomi, the long armed woman said.
"Pleasure. How do you want to do this?" Voikara responded.
"I'm not really into theatrics. Have you ever played Rock-Paper-Scissors?" Naomi asked.
"Uh, no." Voikara responded.
"Oh it's simple." Naomi showed Voikara the rules. Closing her hand, opening it, and making scissors with her fingers.
"Now pump our hands three times and on the fourth we yell shoot and make a decision with our hands." Naomi said excitedly.
"Sounds easy enough." Voikara agreed.
"Perfect, best two out of three."
They pumped their arms, Voikara chose Rock, Naomi chose scissors.
They pumped their arms again, Voikara chose scissors, Naomi chose Rock.
They pumped their arms again, Voikara chose Rock, Naomi chose Paper.
"I guess you win." Voikara said.
"I suppose I do," Naomi responded. "Seems a bit anticlimactic."
"Well, we did say no theatrics. Where are you going?" Voikara asked.
"I think I'll go to The Island." Naomi grabbed the sigil and filled it with her spores.
"Uh... Naomi is the winner, and she'll be heading to the island of Fooshima." Xangris blandly announced.
"Last but not least, we have Crio and Kenash."
The slender boy with fins and the boy with the flower crown stepped up to the scaffolding.
"Come on now, obviously I'm going to the underwater village." Crio said smugly.
"And I obviously want to go to the island." Kenash responded.
"Then how do you want to this?" Crio asked.
"Well I guess." He started running up the scaffold "first one to it wins."
Crio chased behind him quickly. As they went up to the third level where the sigil was, he grabbed Kenash's shirt pulling him down and raced past him. Kenash tried to get up and realized that Crio had made the area wet causing him to slip. He gained his balance and chased Crio down right before he grabbed the sigil. Kenash released a flower whip and wrapped it around Crio's leg pulling him down on his face. He hopped up and over Crio grabbing the sigil, filling it with his spores.
"The winner is Kenash, who will be going to Fooshima. Crio should feel right at home in the water village of Sabsoon." Xangris made his final announcement.
The four Augens looked at each other proudly as their event came to a close. Proud that the contestants made this their own in their own little ways. Xangris and Axel said their goodbyes.
"Wonderful, every one of you did just wonderful." Xangris began.
"Now it's time for us to say goodbye, we have done our job and will leave you in the care of Xander and Knox." Axel finished before the two of them jumped on the rushing waters of the Titia River, leaving Xander and Know to take the lead.
The groups had already started splitting themselves by who was going where, so when Xander began speaking, he didn't have to waste time on that.
"Those who will be heading to Sabsoon." He flopped is massive body into the river, leaving his back above water. "Come with me, we will begin our trip."
"H-how will we breath under the water?" Awa nervously asked.
"No need to work about that little lady, our waters are perfectly breatheable." He responded.
Awa, Kamell, Jakuzon, Voikara, and Crio all mounted onto Xander's back. He swam rather quickly to the westward island before submerging into the depths of the river.
Knox watched as his brother flowed down the river before turning to the remaining five people.
"The island of Fooshima is where I was born. I know you all are going to love it!" He said in a slow excited voice. He flopped himself into the river, inviting them all to jump on.
"Come on everyone! The Island of Fooshima. We're that much closer to the bottom!" Milo yelled out in excitement.
"The elder has prepared a giant feast for you all before your descent tomorrow." Knox explained as they waded down to the Eastern island.
Although they were anxious to get to the bottom, no one dared to question the will of the Augens again.
"I have a question Knox." Isadora spoke up.
"I can answer any questions for you"
"What happens to the others who make it this far down.?" She asked, thinking about how J'baki hadn't been among the group
"Ah, the manuscript strictly states that only ten will be allowed into the temple. Any others that make it this far will be left behind the wall I'm afraid" this news didn't sit well with her.
"Did you have to leave someone behind?" Apozon asked her.
"Something like that. I hope he's okay."
"Ah Isadora I'm sure he's fine. Let's not worry about that now, we have a big day ahead of us" Milo reassured her.
It didn't take them all too long to reach Fooshima on the speeding back of their Augen guide. An island as beautiful as the azure fields when they first arrived. Instead of many tall lions mane trees delicately placed, there were only five in the shape of a pentagram. They were all teeming with life, with spores radiating out of each one. A small group of Augens met them at the banks of the island cheering at their arrival.
"Welcome to Fooshima, the right hand of our mighty creator!" Knox announced as he swam up to let them off. They each hopped onto the ground and the crowd immediately swarmed them with excitement, their eyes practically looking through them.
"Ah look at them, they are so cute." Naomi said bending her long legs attempting to meet their eyes.
"I can't believe we thought they'd give us so much trouble, they're eager as ever to share their eyes with us." Kenash Beamed.
They all were captivated by the crowd, shaking their hands and letting them climb on them if the augen was small enough. Out of the crowd a tall slender Augen, clearly ages older than any they've encounter walked up to meet them. He spoke in a surprisingly young tone despite his clear age.
"Milo. Kenash. Naomi. Apozon, or, I'm sorry, Apo." He paused to look at Isadora. "Izzy. I'm so glad that you all are finally here. My name is Xerxes, I welcome you with open arms to Fooshima."
"Nice to meet you Xerxes, but only my brother calls me Apo." Apozon said kind of cold.
"And that goes double for me." Isadora retorted.
Xerxes let out a hearty laugh. "You kids, always worried about the wrong things." He gestured for them to follow him into one of the trees. "Let's talk over dinner, you must eat and rest before your journey continues tomorrow."
They walked into the largest tree, no one had realized how hungry they were until they saw the gargantuan amount of food laid out before them. All made from the produce of the land. Mushroom everything. Some of the townsfolk had already filled the hall. At the end of the great middle table was a seat at the head and six empty chairs, three on each side, for the guest. Milo held out the seats for Isadora and Naomi before sitting down himself closest to Xerxes. Apozon, Kenash, and Knox sat on the opposite side ready to dig in.
As they ate and danced, their worries about the coming events, as well as the long journey to Fooshima seemed to melt away. They aware actually enjoying themselves intermingling with the Augens around them. Xerxes clinked his glass quieting the crowd and driving everyone back to their seats.
"I hate to ruin the party, but now comes the time to explain this great event that has been eons in the making." The crowd murmured to a whisper. "Tomorrow is the day long spoke of in our history since the day we were given life by our creator. The day of the Eternal Blue Descent."
The five newcomers looked around, shocked to find no one else was as astonished as them.
"Our ancestors, who sleep in the levels below were the first to interact with the creator, the first of us who he breathed our very life into. He did so with one purpose. To create the paradise known as Eternal Blue. Dark forces are at work, forces that have been disrupting our world before our ancestors took their first monstrous steps. Yet we have no fear for everything is as planned by him. Build up. He said. Build up so that when saviors come to create this paradise, we will lead them safely to him. Tommorow is that faithful day, we will drive the darkness out for good!" The crowd clapped and cheered at Xerxes' speech.
"Alright everyone, I'm done boring your ears off," Xerxes raised his glass. "let's get back to the party, let's celebrate the vanquishing of darkness, and give praise to our five heroes who've come in our hour of need!"
The crowd began to drink to the toast, when a trickling of glass notes waltzed down the table.
The source was a man halfway down the table rhythmically tapping his fork to his glass. It wasn't his floating crown, or his pompadour hair that struck everyone with shock. How could someone who wasn't an Augen sneak into this event?
"Sorry to interrupt the festivities, Xerxes, esteemed guests. My name is Poi, an ambassador for The Empress. Here to collect one of your esteemed guests." Poi made his way towards the head of the table. "I'll keep it short. Isadora!" He stopped right at her seat. "Don't make a fuss now."
Isadora stared at Poi's slightly wicked smile.
"Surprised to see me? I know we've had our differences in the past, but I have some information you'll want to know."
" you know this guy, Isadora?" Caution brimmed from Milo's lips as the festivities came to a screeching halt, everyone one invested.
"Unfortunately, I do."
"Oh come on," he leaned into her face. "Don't be like that, I'm a changed man now."
Isadora violently stood from the chair, looking Poi dead in his eyes. Without skipping a beat she conjured a wooden sword and pointed the tip at his neck.
"Do you think you're in control here? You dare show your face to me and think I'd let you walk away?"
"Isadora. What's going on?" Milo attempted to calm her down. Her sword nor her eyes moved from their positions.
"This person is the reason my friends were killed. Ambassador to The Empress? I don't know how he weaseled his way in here. Him being in this tree alone is a crime punishable by death."
"Isadora, I'm ashamed of what I've done." Poi was visibly shaken with fear. " I swear I'm here to help."
"Save it." Isadora pressed the sword into his neck.
"The Empress has been taken!" His words bounced around the empty hall. "She's been taken and we have to get her back. Otherwise the Vivabor Tree will be lost."
The sense of urgency became more abundant. The crowd murmured in discontent as Apozon, Naomi, and Kenash joined Milo in surrounding Poi and Isadora. Isadora knew he wasn't lying, the feeling of the Empress' demise had been on her mind since she'd left Gardner's hut. Yara. What did she have planned?