THE MAGIC WITHIN

 

Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Setting: All over Djinova
Main Characters: read it and you’ll see

 

Part 5

 

The trio stood by the remnants of an arch, the entrance to the Moon Oracle. Now damaged beyond repair. A devastated look on her face, Catriona began to pick her way through the remains of the Moon Oracle, kicking pieces of debris aside. Vyrock left his position on her shoulder, jumping through the forlorn debris, only to settle on a larger piece of rock, with a superior look on his face. Seviara was clearly shocked. She stood by the archway, gazing around the courtyard, a look of complete devastation on her face. Vyrock looked smugly around the place, gaze settling on Catriona, who was gazing at the shattered Oracle littering the ground. Vyrock smirked.

 

“Told yer there was smoke, din’t I kiddo.” Seviara didn’t even have a comeback for his disregard at the destruction that was around him.

 

“I…I don’t understand. What kind of monster would do something like this.” she stuttered quietly. Vyrock couldn’t resist teasing her more.

 

“Miss high an’ mighty’s lost fer words. I’d get a picture kiddo. Ya ain’t never gonna see this again.” he snorted. If Catriona had been paying attention to them, she would have realized that he was saying this merely to hide his shock at the destruction. But she was oblivious to all that was around her. Her gaze was held by a perfectly round piece of debris, lying in the mess. It was colored light blue, yet faint signs of red ran through I, like veins, or creepers, trying to grasp a foothold on the smooth surface. She knelt beside, not even hearing an argument that had erupted between Vyrock and Seviara.

 

“Listen, faerie. If you had not stopped us with that stupid invisible wall, we would have reached the Oracle long before this happened.” Seviara snapped angrily at Vyrock. He retorted immediately

 

“Yeah right chick. An’ if you din’t stand there, actin’ all superior, p’raps you’d get hold’a some common sense.” They argued backwards and forwards, clearly reviving after their initial shock. Seviara added an evil jibe, aimed at Catriona, at their pinnacle of their argument.

 

“Look, human, this is your fault. I told you the faerie would be nothing but trouble.” Catriona paid no attention. She was still staring at the rock. Only now she was swaying, ever so slightly. Vyrock stood up, sensing something wrong. He quickly jumped off of his rock, and ran across to her. Seviara followed, arriving next to Catriona just as Vyrock jumped onto her shoulder, tapping her with his hand.

 

“Hey, kiddo, you all right?” Seviara gave a snort of disdain.

 

“Typical of a human, always trying to get atten…” Vyrock interrupted Seviara, a note of worry in his voice.

 

“Shut yer mouth chick, summits wrong with the kid.” On cue, Catriona swayed more violently, and, gasping, her eyes snapped open. Blue lights revolve around her, blurring her vision, and Vyrock and Seviara faded out of her sight. The lights suddenly stopped, leaving her feeling queasy. It was as though she had traveled miles, yet not moved an inch. All that was left in her line of sight was the same blue that had covered the debris piece she was looking at. Every so often, red veins flew rapidly across the blue that surrounded her. She felt scared. How had she got here? And where exactly was here? She voiced the second question out loud.

 

“Where…Where am I?” A voice replied, almost immediately. It sounded old, and echoed in the vast blue that surrounded her.

 

“Welcome, Catriona, child of the spirits.” Catriona felt nervous, and answered, unable to stop her voice from shaking.

 

“Who are you? And what do you mean, child of the spirits?” the voice replied, in the same calm and echoing voice as before.

 

“I am the one you came here to seek. The Moon Oracle. And you have the ability known to few humans, the ability of the spirits, combined. The ability of magic. You will learn more about yourself in the journey you must take. I can not reveal more to you of this matter.” Catriona opened her mouth, about to asked questions, but the Moon Oracle silenced her quickly, continuing its speech. “Hush child. I have little time left. With my oracle destroyed, I have no means of existing on Djinova any longer. Listen to what I say, child, for the fate of the world rests on your shoulders. It is not just the Earth spirit that has vanished from her kingdom. The others have been stolen away as well. I know not why, the one who has stolen the spirits is far more powerful than any being I have ever encountered. You must track down this being, and restore the spirits to their kingdoms. Spirits make a world. Without the great spirits, a world can not exist. Your power is the only thing that can save this world.” Catriona took advantage as the Oracle fell silent, to ask a question, urgently.

 

“What power? I don’t understand! I have no special powers!” Catriona became aware all of a sudden that the blue that had surrounded her was now heavily streaked with red veins. She gazed around, hearing the Moon Oracles voice again. But now its echo had faded its reply weaker.

 

“I… I can not… say more. You will learn, child. My energy grows thin. You must go. Evil stalks the lands, without the spirits protective force, you are not safe. The fate of Djinova rests on your shoulders. Go with courage, and save our world” The blue that had surrounded Catriona was suddenly completely taken over by the red. But the color was now fading. Catriona could see Seviara and Vyrock again. Vyrock was looking anxiously at her, with Seviara standing nearby, her expression completely unreadable. Catriona groaned slightly, and, holding her head, she staggered to her feet. She looked towards the piece of debris, which was now completely red. Even as she watched it crumbled and fell to pieces. She turned to the other two, her voice serious.

 

“I spoke with the Moon Oracle. We must leave this place.” she turned and headed through the archway. Vyrock and Seviara exchanged glances, before following her through the gate.

 

END OF PART 3