It was a silent cry, a sensationless pain, an invisible fork of lightning. And they all felt it.
By the time Pyra reached the cavernous ledge that was the Only Strip, Fria and Accenda were already there, Accenda hunched over a book of some sort and Fria casting searching spells, looking for the others. Pyra materialized with a flash, walking through a personal portal and straight over to the other two.
"Who was it?" she demanded of the others.
"I'm looking right now," replied Fria, sending out another netlike spell.
"Look faster," demanded Pyra. Fria turned to match her gaze. The two were the same height, both human, but that was where their similarities ended. Pyra had curly black hair, flopping behind her in an unruly mess, while Fria's hair was shoulder-length, light brown, and neatly kept, although pleasantly wavy. Fria's eyes were a pale grayish green, but Pyra's were emerald and sparking like flint on steel. Fria was tall and slender; Pyra was tanned, toned, and powerful.
"I'm searching," Fria repeated evenly.
Accenda looked up from her book, her brows softly furrowed. "Why don't you get dressed, Pyra?"
For a moment, Pyra's eyes changed, glowing orange like embers. Fria returned her gaze unflinching. Pyra shook her head, teeth clenched, and marched toward a stone archway. She emerged completely transformed; stretching enormous batlike wings and obfuscated by a dark and terrible aura.237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOaQqjKZpV
"Where are the others?" she demanded.
"They're on their way," Fria answered, turning away from her spell, face downcast. For her searching spells had at last returned with what she was looking for—something she had never wanted to find.
Pyra stopped her pacing. Fria's face was clouded. Clearly her spells had not been in vain. "Who was it?" she demanded.
Fria's voice was barely a cracked whisper as she revealed the secret her spells had revealed to her. "Amoris."
The dark cavern had been barely illuminated by flickering torches, but in an instant, it was flooded with light. Pyra's entire body was blazing with fire; with a roar of fury, she ran to the edge of the Strip, toward the bottomless abyss.
"No!" shouted Accenda, throwing down her book. She leapt up and lunged after Pyra.
Pyra waited just on the edge, still burning brightly. Her eyes bore into Accenda's. "Give me a reason," she spat.
"The Four Realms still need you, Pyra," Accenda said. She remained unflinching, despite the white-hot flames convulsing mere feet in front of her. "Don't cause us even more hurt now."
Before Pyra could reply, three more women appeared in rapid succession: Nimba, Rose, and Aster. Nimba strode for the archway to get dressed, but Rose hurried over to Pyra's crackling form, her face anxious. Aster joined Fria, watching Pyra and Rose anxiously.
"It was Amoris," she murmured. "I could tell right away."
Fria nodded, eyes glistening. They watched in silence as Rose spoke with Pyra, their voices too far away to be heard. Whatever Rose had said must have been comforting, because Pyra ceased burning and hugged her friend, sobbing inwardly but outwardly remaining strong.
"She and Pyra were so close," Fria said. "It must be really hard on her."
"I know," said Aster.
Accenda walked back briskly and bent over to pick up her book. "You and Rose should change. Who else are we missing?"
Rose and Aster passed through the archway, gaining their own sets of wings and auras--Rose's wings teardrop-shaped and silver, and Aster's pointy and blue.
"Luna," said Nimba. "She's the only one not yet here."
As if hearing her name, Luna appeared. "I hope I'm not late," she panted. "Oh no, you're all here, oh please—" She looked around, then her voice caught in her throat: "Oh. It was Amoris."
"Hurry up and change," Accenda said to her. She clutched the book to her chest. Books were her only comfort in times like these; they never changed or died, and the right ones could guide a person through anything-even this. "We need to get this meeting started."
Luna trudged through the archway, laden with sadness, gaining the same half-moon-shaped wings that Accenda had, as well as her pure white aura. The seven women sat down in a circle, as they had done countless times before then.
Accenda spoke. "It is at times like these that we must remember who we are—the Gemkeepers of the Age."
Pyra was staring at the ground, not daring to look at the others.
"We have each been chosen by the previous Gemkeepers to do what is perhaps the most difficult job in the Four Realms. We guard the powerful gems of the Realm of Darkness, that we may prevent chaos from raining down on all Four Realms. That alone is no easy task, but combating those who wish to cause trouble--and keeping our identities secret--has put us through some harrowing experiences." Accenda surveyed the circle, the circle with the gaping break in it right between Nimba and Rose. She must keep speaking no matter what, or else she would lose herself entirely. "That is why it is a job shared by eight of us."
The gap in the circle seemed to interrupt her.
"A job shared by eight of us," Accenda continued resolutely, I will not stop I will not stop, "so that we may support one another. The bond that we form is stronger than friendship. No one else can understand the trials that we have faced and the choices we have had to make daily. We are a sisterhood of sorts, and as with all sisterhoods, there are times when we lose a sister."
"It was an accident," said Aster suddenly. The six others looked at her in surprise, even Pyra. Although Aster commonly broke in on such occasions, it was unnerving in such a solemn situation. She continued, "Amoris fell into the Pool of Pink."
Dissolved in acid. No body, even. Pyra looked down again quickly.
"Amoris fell into the Pool of Pink," Accenda reiterated steadily, "and for that reason we no longer have a Heartkeeper." Her voice echoed off of the slimy cavern walls. No longer. Must keep speaking. "Amoris protected the gems with her life. She always fought for family, love, and friendship. She always reminded us of what was truly important. Amoris held us together."
Pyra could feel her eyes glowing again; she harnessed the feeling, imagining that she was boring holes into the stone ledge on which she was sitting.
"Later tonight we will share memories of Amoris, to honor her as a fellow Gemkeeper, a dear friend, and our sister. But now, as is the custom, we must as always put duty above feelings and select the next Heartkeeper of the Age. Without a Heartkeeper, we are incomplete."
Pyra felt her incompleteness. It consumed her more ravenously than did the flames. She could feel herself heating up inside again; no, no, she must remain calm. Amoris was the one who always lost her head; Pyra was the one who must remain calm. Calm. She clenched her scalding fingers into fists.
"The camrith will select the next Heartkeeper," said Accenda.
"And how exactly will that work?" asked Nimba. Her not-quite-metallic skin glittered in the dim light.
"A candle," Accenda replied. She pulled one out of the loose pocket of her baggy Gemkeeper's uniform. "Pyra?"
Pyra reached out wordlessly and took the candle. Still keeping her gaze fixed firmly down, she passed her hand over the candle, lighting it. Everyone was silent. It was a sacred moment.
Moments like these always made Accenda uncomfortable. She took the candle back and set it in front of her.
"The Four Realms know what they need," she said. "The Book of the Gemkeepers has outlined the procedure for asking them. It is very simple: I will speak the names of locations, starting from the Realms and narrowing it down to more and more specific regions. The candle will flicker, indicating in where Amoris' successor will be found."
Amoris' successor! Pyra was almost relieved; finally, she felt the familiar anger boiling up inside of her. She was good at being angry. How dare someone replace Amoris?
"Unless someone else would like to speak the names," Accenda went on, "I'll do it."
No one spoke.
"All right," said Accenda. "The Realm of Clouds." A pause. "The Realm of Snow. The Realm of Light. The Realm of Darkness."
The candle flickered.
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