Zandy's joyful song filled the cave with echoes as the group journeyed deeper underground. The dark and ominous cavern surrounded them, making a little pick-me-up necessary. Lady Sindri stayed close to Zandy, watching the quirky movements of the raven that captured her attention. Visindi and Asger led the way, venturing further into the darkness. As they reached a stone staircase spiraling downward into the unknown depths, Visindi warned the others to stay close to the wall due to the eroding edges of the steps. Despite the danger, Zandy carelessly walked towards the edge, causing Sindri to gasp nervously, fearing for his safety. However, she refrained from reaching out to him, afraid of being pulled over the edge herself.
"Visindi, your brother is dangerously close to the edge. Do we need to be concerned?" She asked.
Sindri and Asger held tightly onto the cave wall, both looking worriedly at the bird. Zandy raced down the steps, gaining speed with each stride. Visindi could sense their apprehension, particularly after his previous warnings.
"He's not to be worried over. He is capable of flying. I was mainly directing the orders to you two. He's familiar with all the hidden cavernous spots. It was he, who actually led me here, remember." stated Visindi.
"How deep do we have to descend on the stairs?" asked Asger.
Visindi replied, "We only have about a story or two left to go, not too far. It would be quicker if we could fly, but since we can't, we'll have to walk."
Zandy paused and crouched down on his heels.
"Walking through the darkness,
shadows all around.
A hidden path awaits me,
leading underground.
Step by step,
I descend into the unknown.
Whispered tales of mystery,
secrets to be shown.
Going down stone stairs,
into the abyss.
Where the echoes of the past,
forever reminisce.
With every step I take,
my heart begins to race. In this labyrinth of time, I find my hiding place." Sung zandy without warning.
After Zandy finished singing, he leaped off the ledge and descended into the dark hole, flying towards the ground below. Sindri let out a shriek, surprised to see him fly, as her heart raced in her chest. She wanted to be at their destination already, away from the intimidating stairs. While cats have nine lives, she intended to keep all of hers for as long as possible since she had a kingdom to rule. Visindi chuckled, his laughter echoing down to Zandy as he whistled back to let them know he was safe. They continued their descent until finally reaching solid ground.
"Where is your brother?" asked Sindri.
"Follow me and I will show you." replied Visindi.
He led them to a concealed area at the far end of the wall. Entering a spacious dome room, they were greeted by zandy frolicking around the central crystals. Stone benches lined the walls, remnants of gatherings from long ago. In the middle of the room, where zandy played, stood three towering crystals that reached up to the ceiling. Above, a large opening in the roof allowed light to filter in from the fading day, signaling the approaching nightfall. The Lady and Lord stood in awe of the majestic obelisk gems as Visindi joined them, his beak curved into a wide smile.
"Patience is key. As the sun sets, the moon and stars will awaken the crystals. Although they may appear dull and lifeless now, their true power will be revealed if you wait." Visindi explained.
He moved over to have a seat on a cold bench, while Zandy kept running around the stones, flapping his arms and wings, wildly. Lord asger left lady sindri to go and sit with visindi.
Shortly after, she followed suit and settled in, waiting for the moon to appear. A flutter of excitement bloomed in her chest as the sky turned deep shades of purplish black, adorned with twinkling stars. Before long, a bright white moon joined the scene. Zandy paused, gazing up at the shimmering crystals above.
Gradually, the moon's glow crept over the peaks of the three gems, cascading down their sides like liquid. The transparent crystals illuminated in shades of fluorescent green, bright fuchsia, and vibrant orange. The majesties' eyes widened with delight as they witnessed the remarkable light show within the dark chamber. Stars descended in a rush, creating a galaxy that enveloped and swirled around the massive formations. Visindi smiled as he observed his esteemed lord and lady being captivated by the magical display.
"Visindi urged them to go and touch the crystals to understand the power they hold."
Lady Sindri glanced towards Asger, then turned her gaze to the raven. Without warning, she rose to her feet as if possessed by an otherworldly force. Her mind shifted to a primal, animalistic state and she let out a growl that seemed to reach the moon itself. The swirling galaxies around the crystals seemed to pause, as if they were listening and comprehending. The raven turned its attention towards her and began to move in her direction, prompting Lord Asger to stand and unsheathe his sword. The celestial swirl of stars came to a sudden halt, mirroring the tense atmosphere in the room.
The being had become frightened, causing it to emit a small whimper and retreat against the crystals. Slowly, the galaxy began to take shape, forming a figure resembling a woman. Two lengthy arms, delicate hands, and elongated legs with dainty feet emerged. A head appeared atop the tiny shoulders, followed by cascading hair that reached past the back of her knees.
The galaxy kept a watchful eye on Asger, its dark, blue, solid eyes glistening with caution. The whimpers from the galaxy grew sadder as they turned towards him. However, the galaxy's attention shifted as it noticed Zandy standing nearby. With gentle care, the galaxy picked Zandy up in its hands. Despite Zandy's usual size as a raven, he now stood tall and lanky in galaxy's grasp. Although galaxy was much larger than Zandy, it easily cradled him in its sparkling translucent arms. The whimpers of sadness turned into joyful giggles. As the galaxy's hair swirled and floated around them, it created a mesmerizing sight, reminiscent of being underwater. The galaxy's appearance was truly stunning, almost as if the sky itself had descended to spend time with the earth.
"I am absolutely mesmerized by this creature. I can't seem to look away from her. My heart is fluttering with emotion. What is it? What is going on with me? Why does she have such an effect on Zandy?" inquired Sindri, regaining her composure.
She felt frustrated by the back-and-forth battle her mind and emotions were waging. Visindi looked at Lady Sindri with worry.
""Her name is Nova. She means no harm to any of us. I've noticed she appears when the moon illuminates the crystals. She adores zandy and has formed a strong bond with my brother. You should also get to know her. It seemed like she was drawn to you, but Lord Asger frightened her away," Visindi commented.
Sindri gently took Asger's hand and guided him to sheathe his sword. The noblewoman then distanced herself from her companion and strolled towards the one named Nova.
"Hello nova, I am lady sindri. You are most beautiful to look upon. May I ask you how often you come here to visit?" Sindri acquired.
Nova gently set Zandy down on his feet. She then turned her attention to Lady Sindri. Lady Sindri observed that Nova had no distinct facial features, just the outline of a nose and lips. However, her eyes shone like blueish black ovals filled with sparkles. A happy smile formed on her lips and her long lashes fluttered gently as her eyelids opened and closed. Simple sounds resembling those of a young child came from Nova's lips, as she listened intently to Sindri's words. Nova had never interacted with a being like Lady Sindri before, as she usually spent her time with Zandy, who made strange noises or sang to her in cryptic riddles.
"You don't understand me, do you? Well, I assume not yet. I can teach you if you would like that." Said the lady.
Lady Sindri pointed to herself, repeating her name to Nova, then pointing to Nova and saying her own name out loud. She did this repeatedly until Galaxy echoed the same words back. It took Nova a few tries, but eventually she began to understand. At least now she knew her own name and the name of the high lady.
Sindri spoke to the young being with the tenderness she would show her own child, even though she had not been able to have children of her own. This had always troubled her, making her feel empty and sad, doubting her own body or even her Lord's. But when she interacted with Nova, she felt almost whole again. The emptiness and sadness disappeared whenever the galaxy was nearby.
Nova extended her hands towards Sindri, gently taking hold of them. Leading her over to the fuchsia crystal, Nova placed Sindri's hand on the gem. A fizzling tingle flowed into Sindri's hands, making her aware of the power Visindi had mentioned. The overwhelming power started to weaken her body, causing Sindri to feel faint. Nova noticed the sudden change in Sindri's face as she gazed at her.
Nova gently pulled Sindri away from the crystals, holding her face with her large hands and peering deep into her eyes to read her thoughts. Galaxy kept a watchful eye, making sure the magic hadn't harmed her new friend, whose fragile body seemed unable to handle its strength. Nova made a sound resembling tiny fairies humming, a mixture of low tempo and angelic notes. Lord Asger, observing from the side, decided to approach them. Nova let out a tiny shriek of fright as he neared, terrified by his presence.
Worried about his vulnerable queen, he approached Nova cautiously, noticing her fear. He raised his hands in a gesture of reassurance, letting her know he meant no harm. She bravely stepped back, holding Lady Sindri tightly in her arms, creating distance between herself and Lord Asger.
"It's okay, I was just coming to check on my lady. Nothing more, nothing less. Forgive me for drawing my sword on you earlier. I only aimed to protect my bride if necessary," said Asger.
He slowly reached for his blade, causing Nova to push back further and shake with fear. She watched his hands as he slowly lowered his sheathed blade to the cold ground. Then, standing back up slowly, he gently kicked the weapon away with his foot. His palms remained open and upward facing Nova to show he still meant no harm. The gentle creature let out a fairy-like sound and calmed her shaking. Still cautious, she observed Asger as she held weak Sindri in her arms. Sindri's eyes would open and close now and then to see Asger standing before her. She was tired, yet felt rested in Nova's embrace.
With a sense of security, Nova carefully placed Sindri on the chilly ground in front of her. She glanced up at Asger before floating gracefully back up through the hole in the ceiling and disappearing into the starry sky. Waving goodbye to Zandy and Sindri, Nova vanished into the dark night.