“Can we use this transportation device thing to get us into Area?” Tella asked soon afterward. “I mean, we could get there a lot faster. At this rate we’ll have to cross all of Hailia to get to Area. That’s a long way on foot. Plus Mahito will be after us.”

“We could use this, but you need an access code to get in.” Collin said. He had since regained his composure. “However, I am not authorized to enter this base, nor any other in Hailia. I can only open ones is Iyokia and Betamy.”

“You have bases in Betamy?” Tella growled. Collin stuck his nose in the air.

“Of course.”

“Actually, we are pretty close to Iyokia now, aren’t we?” Will asked.

“Yes we are. And there is a base in which I can get into and it’s barely inside the Iokeyan border. We could go that way and save time.”

“Plus Mahito wouldn’t expect us to go north.” The wanderer said.

“How do we know your telling the truth?” Tella asked Collin. He snorted in distaste.

“Believe what you want princess.”

“If he says there is a base then there is.” Demus said. “What reason has he to lie to us? He wants to get into Area just as much as we do. ” Tella twitched in annoyance.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes. Besides, if we continue north a little ways, we shall come to Malibius.”

“Malibius?” Collin asked.

“It is the secret capital of Hailia and the strong hold of our lord, Azrael.”

“Really?” the wanderer asked.

“Demus! Collin is an Arean, if I need to remind you!” Tella shouted.

“He would have found out about it anyway.” Demus said, then turned to Collin, “You won’t tell anyone about Malibius, will you child?” Collin tensed his shoulders and stared at Demus.

“I… I will not. Unless directly ordered to by my master.” He said. Demus smiled and nodded.

“Well, we are safe then, aren’t we?” Tella asked raising her eyebrows.

“Come on, Tella, don’t make things worse.” Will pleaded.

“I find it amazing however, that you have concealed an entire city from us.” Collin mused. “A great achievement. May I ask how it is possible?”

“Decorates, the believed capital of Hailia, which was stormed by Arean troops, was only part of Hailia’s center. Decorates served as our business and trade port, the outlet to the rest of the world. It also served as our decoy capital. However, Malibius has always been the true heart of Hailia, hidden away in the mountains of North Hailia.” Demus smiled. “I shall tell you no more. To do so would only serve to demean Malibius’s true greatness.”

“It’s a bad idea though, bringing an Arean into that holy city.” Tella said. “Even if you… trust him. Who knows what could happen.”

“Well, we need to get to a town pretty soon anyway.” Will said. “We barely have any food left. Starting a trek anywhere now will end pretty quickly if we don’t have food.”

“I’m sorry, but I packed food for myself, and the wanderer.” Tella said. “I did not think anyone would be stupid enough to try and join us.”

“Well now you know better.” Will said cheerfully. “I think going to Malibius sounds great. And I still need to see those famed gardens.” 

 

 

 

Malibius was indeed close and by the third day of travel, Demus told them they would see it very soon. As they trekked through the forest one day, Collin happened to look up. His breath caught and he struggled to breath in as his eyes grew round in surprise. High above him a city floated in the sky. Demus stopped and glanced up smiling and signaling the others to look up. Malibius floated above them holding itself up with grace pride and a silent majesty. The marble towers sparkled in the sunshine and the glass windows only added to the wonder. Will let out a whoop of surprise and joy. Tella laughed out loud finding herself overcome with childlike happiness.

“What a wonderful place!” the wanderer said. “Almost like a floating cathedral.”

“A cathedral? Is that something from your world?” Tella asked.

“What is it? How could anything be like this?” Will asked still finding himself drawn to the beauty of the towers.

“It’s a holy place. A beautiful holy place.” The wanderer said.

“Indeed. Malibius is a holy place, to my people.” Demus said. “It is also known to invoke joy upon those who gaze upon its pristine towers.” Demus said.

“Lets hurry!” Will said. “I’ve got to see this place!”

“How do we get up?” Collin asked.

“I’ll show you.” Demus replied smiling. They set off at a delighted run toward the shadow cat by the magnificent city.

“Do you think they’ll actually let us in?” Tella asked suddenly apprehensive.

“…I… I think they will.” Demus said.

“But Malibius is a holy place. They don’t normally let in outsiders. Right?” Tella pushed.

“Yes well. We’ll see.” Demus said.

“I don’t think they’ll let Collin in especially.” Tella continued.

“I told you, we’ll see.”

“They must let me in, whether on their own accord or on mine. I will enter if you all do.” Collin said.

“You mean you’ll try to threaten them?” Will asked. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

“I told you all. We’ll see how it works out.” Demus said trying to end the conversation. He paused and then laughed, “You are all concerned with such little things.”

“Its not a little thing! It matters a lot!” Collin protested. “I-”

“Alright! I’ve heard enough. Lets stop the futile arguing.” Demus pleaded still laughing.

  

 

Soon they came to a small stone arch in a clearing. Upon seeing it everyone stopped and hung back while Demus alone advanced. Two Hailians stepped out and watched him in solemn amusement.

“Greetings to-” one began.

“I seek entrance into Malibius.” Demus said cutting him off suddenly. The Hailian blinked in surprise and let his eyes flick over to the others.

“And the others as well?” the other Hailian asked. Demus nodded.

“Yes.” He said.

“You must know there is among us an Arean.” Tella said. Collin growled at her but Tella continued. “And an Iokeyian, and myself a Betamians, and…” Tella trailed off looking at the wanderer. The wanderer smiled.

“And one who is not.” She finished. The younger Hailian seemed taken aback but the older one nodded to them.

“You may pass.” He said.

“Thank you.” Demus said and stepped past them.

“A-Are you sure?” Tella asked.

“Yes child. Now please proceed. That is if you wish.” He said motioning toward the stone arch that Demus was now standing under. They all silently moved toward it.

“Nice try princess.” Collin muttered.

“I’ll get ride of you yet, Arean.” Tella growled back.

“We’ll see.”

“Hey!” Will yelled in surprise as suddenly everything glowed and went blindingly white around them and then as soon as it had begun it had ended.

They found themselves blinking on the sudden brightness.

“Ah! We must be a lot closer to the sun!” Will cried out shading his eyes. Demus laughed.

“Well, a little closer I suppose.”

“Look at the towers!” the wanderer said pointing up. Above them towered pure white towers reaching up toward the heavens infinitely.

“Welcome to Malibius.” Said a deep voice. A figure came out of the bright light and stood before them. He was an elderly Hailian, dressed in white robes, with deep piercing eyes. Demus bowed curtly and the others followed suit hoping not to be rude. The man’s eyes lingered on Demus and then swept over them all.

“You all look hungry. There will be a feast tonight so if you can hold out a little while longer, you shall dine as you have never done before.” Will’s eyes widened at the prospect and he let his face break out into a grin. “Ah, but where are my manners?” he continued, “I am Sapienus, the elder of Malibius.”

 “We thank you for your hospitality.” Tella said. “Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Tella of Betamy.”

“So does this place have good food?” Will asked the elder. He laughed.

“I believe it is fine food.” The elder said. “Mayhap you shall try a bit for yourself at the feast tonight.”

“Will,” Demus said. “Why don’t you introduce yourself properly?” Will nodded.

“Alright, my name is Will Kapino, sailor of the Great Sea and a son of Iyokia.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you young Will.” The elder said smiling. “It has been far too long since these walls welcomed an Iyokian. Now then, go on the rest of you don’t be shy, introduce yourselves.”

“My name is Collin. I come from Area…” he paused and after a moment continued, “…and if anyone disputes my presence they can try to kill me or be quiet.”

“What a fierce little fellow you are.” The elder said. “Don’t worry, no one will try and kill you here.” He said kindly.

“You have no manners Collin!” Tella scolded.

“I was… only letting it be known…” Collin said sheepishly turning red and ducking away behind them.

“I am the wanderer. I come from a different world and was summoned here to perform a task.” She said.

“We welcome you to our world Miss. Wanderer. I pray that the task you perform shall bring this world into a better situation.” The elder said and then turned finally to Demus.

“I am Demus.” He said.  “Dweller of Hailia and watchman of the seas.” The elder gazed at him for a moment then smiled.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, watcher of the seas.”  

 “He’s a watcher of seas because he saw us wash up from a broken boat and knew we had no business in this land.” Will said smiling.
                “Again, let us thank you for your hospitality.” Tella said ignoring Will.

“You are quite welcome. It is not every day that we host royalty.” The elder said. Tella blushed slightly surprised that he knew who she was. She was not really the kind that advertised her royalty.

“If you all would excuse me for a moment,” Demus said, “I have business here to take care of.” He said.

“May I be of help to you, young sir?” the elder asked.

“Yes. Please, if you would.” Demus said as they moved off toward a nearby garden.

“Please make yourselves at home in our city.” The elder called back.

“I’ll meet you all later.” Demus said as they left. The group stood staring after him feeling a bit lost in this new city.

“I wonder what he wants to talk to that old man for?” Collin asked.

“Hey!” Tella said cuffing him. “Be a little more respectful!… Besides, it doesn’t do to pry into others business. Especially one’s like Demus’s.”

“I’m hungry.” Will said.

“Wait a bit. The man told us there would be a feast.” The wanderer said.

“Come on.” Tella said walking away, “We’ll have a look around Malibius while there is still daylight. It’s not everyday people like us are admitted into the holy city of Hailia. Besides, we still need to buy food and everything for our journey.”

 

The evening came swiftly upon the floating city. Soon the skies became a beautiful orange and the shadows lengthen. Tella and the wanderer sat on a bench outside of one of the shops looking up at the sky. Will leaned on a nearby fence smiling blissfully as his brown hair turned dark orange in the fading light.

“I love this time of day.” The wanderer said signing. “Its so beautiful.”

“Plus it’s usually the only time of day you get to relax.” Will mused. “D’you think they’ll have that feast ready yet?”

“Stop thinking about food all the time!” Tella chided.

“We are all hungry though, aren’t we?” Collin asked.

“Well, yes. But it wouldn’t be polite to just barge in and ask when it will be ready. They’ll tell us in good time.”

“I wonder when Demus will come back.” The wanderer said.

“Hm. Who knows. I guess he’ll be at the feast.” Tella said.

  The halls were grand. The marble pillars, decked with golden banners, slide past them as they were led deeper into the shaded halls. The wanderer let her eyes linger on the indecipherable murals that adorned the walls. They showed alien histories and people. She wished to know their stories, but they were moving on.

“I can smell it!” Will said in quiet glee to himself. They stopped outside two large wooden doors. Their guide, a young golden haired Hailian girl smiled at them excitedly.

“Wait ‘ere you all! I’ll see if they’ve got everything perfect!” she giggled and darted through the doors closing them solidly behind her. “No peeking!” she called to them from behind the doors.

“Ah! I don’t care if they’ve hung everything yet! I’m starving.” Will said stepping into a beam of dying sunlight that filtered through a window behind him. Tella smiled at him.

“You have no patience Will.” She laughed at his scowl. He shook his hair and turned suddenly to lean looking out the window.

“Its hard to imagine that such beauty still exists.” He said after a pause.

“What are you talking about? You’ve spent all your time looking out at the ocean. War doesn’t reach you very often.” Tella said.

“Hey! You all!” the girl had reappeared and was watching them bright eyed and trembling with excitement. “do you all intend t’stand there all day? If you don’t hurry I shall lock these doors and laugh at you!”

“Then we should get nothing to eat!” Will gasped in horror.

“Then you should hurry yourselves in here. I’ Shall be one of our grandest feast!” she said and threw the doors wide open. They stood staring in awe of the great hall. It was the largest room any of them had ever seen and it was decorated even more lavishly than the pervious rooms. The hall was full of people, all Hailians, who sat happily watching and waiting. The long tables stretched out almost as far as the eye could see, holding on it the most heavenly looking food. However, before any of them could move, blasts of music started, making them jump skittishly. Demus rose from one of the near by tables and strode over to them, taking his place in their group. Silently he motioned for them to follow him down the center of the room, padding softly on the red carpeting. Will’s eyes were watering from food smells, as did the others, though they tried to show more restraint than him. They found themselves seated in the chairs at the end of the table.

“We’re being honored.” Tella whispered to the wanderer. “These chairs are reserved for the highest ranking Hailians.” A single chime sounded and everyone in the great hall rose. The companions rose as well, though a few seconds late.

“We are honored here today.” Came the elder’s deep and gentle voice, which echoed on the hard marble walls, “We welcome our guests from afar, as well as the new season. It will be the fifth day of the new year for us, and the anniversary of the labores solis. Our time of fasting has come to an end and celebration is in the air. Let us welcome our guests with joy and peace!”

“We pray that this joy and peace will forever stay within their hearts!” came the response of everyone in the hall. The sheer volume of it set the place echoing long after the people had quieted.

“Without further delay, let us feast friends, together in the love and honor we give each other, and our ruler.” The elder said.

“Aye!” came the enthusiastic response of the hall. With that they turned their attention to the food in front of them and the hall was enveloped in echoing chatter.

“I can’t believe all this food…” Will said letting his eyes glaze over and his mouth water. “Is it really for us to eat?”

“Get over it and grab some before it’s gone.” Tella muttered to him.

“Its strange, yet so… wonderful…” the wanderer said taking a sip from her glass. 

Collin held his own glass and sipped occasionally from it. He felt alienated in such a place, and a little confused about its inhabitants.

They should hate me… he thought, then deeper inside his mind Collin felt another darker thought pass through him.

I want them to hate me.

But instead the people took him in and fed him, seated him in their place of high honor and smiled when he met their eyes. It made him sick.

Collin let his eyes wander up toward a statue on the far wall. Around its neck it wore a strange amulet. As he looked closer, Collin gasped with reorganization. The amulet bore on it the royal crest of Area, two circles side by side, or more recognizable to those who specialized in mathematics, the sign for infinity. Collin’s soul burned with a mixture of confusion, anger, and strangely enough, a sense of betrayal. He tried to look away from it, so as not to draw attention to it, but found his eyes trailing back toward it. Luckily the wanderer and the others were too busy eating and laughing to notice. Collin shivered realizing that Tella would know the royal crest of Area, if the others didn’t.

How had Hailia obtained something that belonged to Area? As far as Collin knew, Area and Hailia had never been on friendly enough terms to grant each other even polite gifts. Had it been stolen? Were the Hailian’s so arrogant that they displayed their stolen loot in their main hall? Collin felt anger building within him. It felt good. Finally something familiar.

The feast ended several hours later. A quiet Hailian lead them to a hallway with several doors.

“You may sleep here tonight. There are several rooms.” He paused trying to find something else to say, but there was nothing so, he silently bowed and walked away tossing a polite, “Good night.” Over his shoulder.

There were four rooms. Demus, Will and Collin took their own rooms, and Tella and the wanderer took the other one, though not before polite refusals to Will and Demus who wanted them to take their rooms.

“No you idiots!” Tella said growling, “I hate these formalities! Take your own rooms!” she paused. “Um, sorry. Really… Don’t take me seriously this late. Forgive my umm… outburst…”

“You’re strange Tella.” Will laughed. “Especially for a princess.”

“What do you mean strange?” she growled back.

“Hey! Strange is a good thing!”

“I agree.” The wanderer said. “Hey, Tella, how is it that your so different from other princesses?”

“Umm, yeah,” Will said, “Don’t they try and weed out any personality you have when you’re young?”

“Well,” Tella began.

“I’m going to bed.” Collin said interrupting. He turned and went into the nearest room and closed the door behind him.

“What’s with him?” Will asked curiously.

“Oh, nothing. Its just that he already knows the story.” Tella said.

“Hmm. I think I do too.” Demus said.

“Yes. Most people do, that aren’t from another world.” Tella said, “Of course there are those who spend all their time away from the world so they don’t know what happens.”

“Hey-” Will started.

“Please!” the wanderer interrupted. “Will you just tell us?”

“Oh, right fine.” Tella said. “When I was younger, about five years old I was kidnapped and taken as a hostage by Arean forces. By that time the war between Area and Betamy had been going on for about oh, seven years. I stayed in Area up until about two years ago, when I was finally rescued and brought back to Betamy.”

“You were rescued?” Will asked. “Hmm, I would have thought you escaped, or battled your way out of there.”

“Don’t be an idiot!” Tella snapped. “They watched me every second, and besides, I was about to escape when I was rescued anyway. Hmph.”   

“Wasn’t your sister also involved?” Demus asked. Tella nodded.

“Yes. She had been taken prisoner when she was attending a formal party or something. It was really a trap and they took her to Area too. Ha, they didn’t know that two Betamians would be more than they could handle. Terlini, my sister, didn’t stay very long because we were rescued a few weeks after she arrived.”

“I see.” Will said. “That’s’ pretty cool. So you just hung around Area most of your life huh?…” Will paused then looked up and asked, “So, who rescued you?”

“Um… It was a small group of Betamians soldiers.” Tella said.

“Wasn’t that famous Betamians warrior with them?” Demus asked, he paused thinking of the name, “Ah, Fairien Bayard, right?”

“Fariean?” Will gasped. Then, trying to cover himself he stumbled on, “Oh, right the great warrior, I’ve heard of him.”

 “Yeah, well, anyway, we got back to Betamy alright.” Tella said then yawned, “Well, I guess we should go to bed.”