TM
“Are you alright?” Crichton asked the woman who was fixing her cloak hiding her slender legs. He was still staring at her striking beauty. She was a bit smaller than him about five foot four in estimation. Her cloak was loose and covered most of her body.
“Yes, I’m fine…Thank you…?” She had a soft gentle voice yet full of confidence. The woman was smiling, waiting for Crichton’s answer. He couldn’t help but stare he was hypnotized by her crystal blue eyes. “Excuse me…?”
“Oh sorry…” Crichton’s gaze was broken “…Crichton, Crichton Orchion.”
“Thank you Crichton… I got lost and wandered into this alley by mistake. I was about to turn back when these three bastards cornered me…” the woman kicked the thin drunken man in the crotch as he was coming to consciousness. “Pardon me.” The woman smiled. “They threatened to kill me if I screamed. I was about to lose hope. Thank goodness you came by… My name is Jade, Jade Ennomis.”
“Jade… such a beautiful name for someone as precious as a gem.” Crichton said in his mind. “To tell you the truth I got lost here myself he he. So will you join me in exiting this revolting place?” He said with a grin while offering his left hand like a gentleman.
“With pleasure…” Jade replied as she took his arm and placed her arm around it. Together the two left the alley, oddly Jade pulled her hood back on as they walked.
“No wonder you got lost, your hood’s covering your eyes…” Crichton put his hands into his pockets while he smiled a gentle and caring smile at Jade. “…I bet you can hardly see under that” He looked at Jade’s lips which were the only features of her face visible under her hood. She didn’t look at him but she gently smiled. “So where were you headed?” Crichton said, deliberately changing the subject thinking that it was rude to ask why Jade dressed that way.
“Someplace special…” She looked at Crichton just as they exited the narrow alley. Jade yanked him to the right, he didn’t complain, after all that was where he was headed. “…if your not busy maybe you could come with me… I’ve always wanted someone other than me to see it… its really beautiful.” Crichton seeing his time with the beautiful woman lengthen, instantly agreed. “Great let’s get going then.” She smiled, then without warning she ran still clutching Crichton’s arm, tugging him along.
“Woooah Jade slow down….” But she didn’t listen. Instead she ran faster, barely dodging people as she turned in numerous corners. Left, right….Crichton could not remember where they were going, for minutes they ran through alleys and sidewalks without end until at last Jade stopped by a marble bridge, she was panting over the bridge’s silver railing when Crichton spoke.
“Did we really have to run Jade? Look at you you’re almost out of breath…just to see the bridge?”
“Were not there yet…” Jade said smiling beneath her hood, still catching her breath “…you’ll see.”
She yanked Crichton once more and they continued their trip, this time they walked.
Crichton was once again staring at Jade. He was deep in thought that he didn’t notice that they were leaving Simonne. They were now walking on a dirt path. It was a very narrow one. It was barely visible due to the tall grass surrounding it.
“Why am I feeling this…this emotions… why have you captivated my heart young woman… and why do I feel so comfortable in your presence? It is as if I have known you for a long time…why?” “Jade…” Crichton finally spoke “…has there been any chance that we have met before?”
She looked at him and gave a big smile. “Silly… we just met today, remember? Or is your mind still drifting into deep space?” She giggled and Crichton blushed.
The two walked slowly, occasionally taking hidden glances at each other until finally Jade stopped. Right before them the path ended and a massive forest gateway took its place. It was quite dim but not as dark as the others Crichton has been to, for large scattered patches of sunlight were about. In fact it had a very welcoming atmosphere. Pink petals filled the whole forest ground at about three inches thick and small white furry animals were moving about. The forest was filled with towering trees. Some of which were tall enough that it looked like it reached the heavens.
“A very beautiful sight Jade…” Crichton said.
“Were not even there yet Crichton…” She replied immediately, while freeing her head from the hood that enclosed it. She swayed her head and her lovely pony tailed black hair flowed through the air with outmost delicacy. She gave another gentle smile and yanked Crichton to follow her.
The two went deeper into the woods. The deeper they went the more welcoming the surroundings became. Their walk seemed endless until they reached a small green hill. The sun was shining directly over it as if welcoming anyone who would see it. At its sides were two stone pillars and at its center was a large black slate with strange carvings on it, the queerest of which was a hole shaped like a small pointed cross. Jade knelt on one knee before the slate and pulled out a small, circular, silver pendant from her shirt. To Crichton’s astonishment the pendant resembled the one he wore around his very neck. Jade pressed something at the side of the accessory and the pointed crystal at its center popped out. She picked up the piece and quickly inserted it into the hole. Almost immediately the slate moved revealing a doorway into a cave. Jade picked up the crystal and inserted it into her pendant.
Astonished and curious Crichton touched his pendant.
“Crichton! Are you coming?” Jade was waving at Crichton and she was already inside the cave.
Crichton entered the cave as well. It was large enough to fit two people in. Red sparkling gems embedded on the cave walls illuminated the narrow path and revealed a tunnel which could have stretched for miles for the two to follow. They walked and both of them were silent. After a few minutes they reached the end of the tunnel to find another wall with strange markings on it. Jade pulled out her crystal again and placed it on a hardly visible hole. The door swung open and a bright blinding flash of light poured into the dark cave. The two covered their eyes from the blinding rays of sunlight. Jade groped for the crystal and placed on her pendant again. She felt for Crichton’s hand and immediately led him outside.
“Well what do you think?” She asked him as her vision began to clear.
“Is-is this real... Crichton stuttered. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yup…” Jades face was now filled with a big smile.
“But Arcania doesn’t have one… the Arcanian borders are in the middle of the continent… is this really The Great Sea of Runon?”
“Yes it is Crichton. We are far beyond the border, but this is a completely hidden and safe place.”
“But how did we get pass The Barrier?” Crichton said confused.
“I don’t know actually, it must have been the crystals in the cave that resisted The Barrier, I’ve known this place for five cycles now, and it really feels good to be sharing it with someone.” Jade smiled gently.
Crichton looked out into the beach. The white sands sparkled at the touch of sunlight and the warm ocean breeze hammered on his face… pure excitement filled his heart. “I always dreamed of seeing the ocean, once it was a dream that could never come true. Thank you Jade.” Crichton smiled as he held her hand.
The two walked to the edge of the beach and sat there, thinking, talking, laughing, smiling and admiring the view that was most rare to the both of them. It was dark when Jade finally stood up.
“Well then I think we looked at it long enough… “Jade said, “…how about we enter the water?”
With this Jade removed her loose brown cloak and revealed her graceful and perfect figure beneath the bright moon. She wore a white, sleeveless, silk shirt with a black garment beneath it, a short blue skirt, and soft wooden sandals with gold trimming. She freed her hair of its bindings, as her hair fell it measured long enough to reach her back.
“No peeking! “ Jade let out a cute smile while waving her finger in the air.
Crichton stood up and turned away. After a few minutes he heard Jade enter the water. Inside his mind two things were fighting through his conscience, turn around and look or leave her be, but he chose the latter.
“You can turn around now, you won’t see me anyway coz it’s too dark, teehee.” Jade yelled.
Crichton turned around and sat down once more. He looked to his right and saw Jades’ scattered garments. He looked at the sea and saw her perfect silhouette.
“How’s the water?” He yelled.
“It’s comfortably warm, you should wade in yourself!” Jade replied from a distance.
“After you fair maiden!” He yelled back.
“Its okay you probably won’t see me in the dark! Just promise you won’t peek underwater!”
“I promise!” Crichton took off his clothes and entered the water as well, but he moved to the opposite of where Jade was. “This is better than any river or lake in Arcania!” Crichton yelled.
“You can say that again… what the… aaahhhh!”
“What is it Jade?” Crichton turned to see what had happened to his companion.
“My foot! Something’s got my foot! Crichton help me!” Jade was struggling in the water, trying to free herself from whatever it was that had gotten hold of her.
Crichton swam towards Jade. He grabbed her by her shoulders and started freeing her but to no avail. “I’ll have I swim beneath the water to free you…” Without hesitation Jade agreed. Crichton dived into the water and after a few minutes he rose up holding a Clutch Weed, it was like a 4 inch thick tentacle with fine sharp spines. “You shouldn’t have struggled. It gets tighter when you move in panic, if I didn’t remove it immediately you would have lost a foot. Come on I’ll carry you or your foot will swell if you walk with it.” Jade nodded not minding if she was naked. Crichton cradled her in his arms as Jade wrapped her hand around his neck. “Such soft skin, such vibrant beauty” He said in his mind.
Crichton walked toward the shore and he gently set Jade down on the sand. He left immediately and came back dressed and he brought with him Jade’s cloak, his Sword, the Clutch Weed, some twigs and a rock. He wrapped Jade in her cloak and immediately he started a fire using his sword, the twigs and the rock. He cut the Clutch weed in half and held it over Jade’s gashed foot dripping purple blood all over it. “The weed’s blood will remove the swelling.” Crichton smiled and Jade smiled back. “I’ll be right back Jade” he said as he stood up holding his sword. Which gave Jade the time to admire his new found friend even deeper.
“I know we’ve only just met Crichton but why am I feeling this way, It is as if I have known you for a long time. I admire your courage, the way you care, the way you make me feel happy. Why? That I do not know but maybe… maybe someday I will understand. I know Father won’t… but I would…someday.”
Minutes later Crichton came back with meat, he cooked it over the cackling fire and he cradled Jade towards a nearby rock where they both sat, smiling and admiring each other.
“Thank you…for caring” Jade said in a soft voice as the wind blew through her hair
“You’re welcome…” Crichton replied as he fixed Jades hair, moving it away from her eyes and putting it over her ears. Her eyes glistened as a smile emerged from her face.
After their meal Crichton picked Jade up and moved here near the water. Once again they sat admiring the view.
“I wish I could stay here forever…” Crichton began. There was a short pause in his words but finally he continued. “…with you that is.” He stared up into the sky and looked at the setting of the moon, as the moon vanished into the horizon a bright bluish explosion suddenly appeared up in space. Jade looked up as well.
“It takes eons for a star to be born…” Jade said softly “…yet here we are witnessing its beginning. Witnessing its first ray of light shine in the heavens above… Destiny must have chosen us, just the two of us to see how its fate began.” Jade paused, “and for it to witness how ours began as well” She said in her mind, after which she continued her speech. “All that has happened within this very day could not have been of normal circumstances. Somehow I think destiny was a part of it. Though the meaning of this event I still cannot make clear. Maybe someday I will… someday we will…”
“Someday we will…” Crichton said softly as he stared at the new born bluish star while holding Jades hand.
“Somehow Crichton I feel like I do not want to leave this place as well… I too want to stay here forever with you.”
Crichton couldn’t find any other word to say, what could he say? So he just smiled at Jade and he lied down on the cold sand.
“I think we should give it a name…” Jade said as she looked up into the star. “…after all we saw it first. And it seems to be the only blue star in the heavens.” She turned to look at Crichton who was beside her, lying down and still looking at the star.
“What do you want to call it?” Crichton asked immediately
“Cride… let’s call it Cride” Jade said as she lied down next to Crichton resting her head on his chest.
“Cride it is Jade…” Crichton said. But in his thoughts Crichton said more… “Cride… the star that marked the day I met a precious gem… a gem that changed my life… a gem that somehow healed my wounds… this was the day I fell in love… I fell in love with you.” Crichton looked down at Jade who was fast asleep breathing gently on his chest. He touched her soft black hair and looked above the sky once more admiring the bluish light that emanated from Cride. But something was different. Something was rising in the horizon far to his right. It was a massive shape. Black and mournful, it rose with dominance into the sky until it finally covered the whole of Cride and everything went dark. The Black Moon has risen again, after eighty years it has once again filled the sky with darkness. Crichton felt something different, something was bothering him. Something heavy weighed in his heart. As if the black moon was watching them. Finally he spoke…
“Something’s wrong…”