Adriannu255: Wow! Been a while but I’m back! I’m so sorry about the long wait. Well, now that summer has come, I’ve got to get ready for my summer job starting on June 8th. My hours are very irregular so I won’t no when I can type. Right after I’m done working (July 27th) band camp starts and that will last for 12 hours everyday, and then school a few days later. I’ll be able to update once football season dies down so you can expect updates to come during early November. Okay, I’m done rambling! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Same as always.

Chapter 6: Diadem, Lyude, and Gibari

At the docks of Nashira…

“Wow! They meant what they said when they called it the Cloud Nation!” I said, looking at the landscape with wide eyes.

After escaping Rodolfo, Xelha tried to convince Kalas to help her keep Geldoblame from fulfilling his ambitions. Kalas, being a selfish jerk off, wouldn’t help. I wanted to help her, but Kalas says we won’t so I can’t…

Kalas decided to go to Diadem. Xelha, since she was headed there, too, said we should stick together for now. Kalas, at least, agreed to that. She would be a great help since the Imperials were still searching for us.

We got off the liner that brought us here and Kalas turned toward a man standing on the dock. “Excuse me. Do you know where I can catch a ride to the Empire?”

“You’ll need to go to the castle town and take a liner from there.” He smiled kindly as he spoke. “Nashira is just a small fishing village.”

Kalas looked a little disappointed, as he replied, “I see. Thanks.”

“I’m going to the city, too.” Xelha smiled. “I need to meet with King Ladekahn. Looks like we’re sticking together a little longer.”

“Ooooo!” I was still focused on the landscape. “Look guys! The clouds are orange!

“Crystal!” Kalas shouted, as people stared at him oddly. “Will you stop that?! It’s annoying!”

“But I’ve never been here before, even when I was alive!” I whined. “It’s so pretty! How often have you seen clouds that are orange?” I took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m back.”

“It’s alright,” Kalas smiled, as we began to walk through the warehouse that connected the dock to the village. “Just try to hold back next time alright?”

As we walked through the warehouse, Xelha made a suggestion. “Hey Kalas, why don’t we stop in the village for a while?”

“You guys should get Magnus for the road,” I said, “just in case we run into trouble on the way to…” I though for a moment, trying to remember the city’s name. “Hmmm… Sheliak?”

“That’s right,” Xelha nodded slightly.

We exited the warehouse and I observed the town. There were many people outside, mostly fishermen. All the fishermen seemed to be angry or disappointed. There was one man, though, who caught our attention…

“Guys, look over there, at the docks!” I said surprised and a little fearful.

Xelha gasped and Kalas’ eyes widened in surprise.

At the docks, there was a young man, no older than Kalas, wearing an Imperial uniform!

“He can’t be looking for us,” Xelha stated after getting over the shock, “the Empire isn’t that quick.”

I thought for a moment before I had an idea. “Maybe you guys should talk to him; you’ll find out if he’s here looking for us.”

“…” Xelha and Kalas both froze.

“What?” I honestly saw nothing wrong with it.

“Crystal, have you lost your mind!” Kalas almost shouted causing a few of the residents to stare. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “We can’t exactly walk up to him and say, ‘Hey there, are you looking for us?’ If he is he’ll probably kill us!”

“I didn’t mean anything like that!” I spoke quickly. “I may be crazy, but not that crazy. I’m your Guardian Spirit! Just talk to him, casually.”

Xelha smiled. “That’s not a bad idea, Crystal. Let’s take her advice Kalas.”

“Alright,” Kalas sighed, “but let’s get it over with quickly.”

We approached him, Kalas was almost shaking he was so nervous, and when we reached the Imperial, he turned around, his gentle, crimson eyes, and scarlet hair seeming to glow in the sunlight. “Hello,” he smiled, “I don’t believe we’ve met. Are you travelers?”

“Y-Yes…” Kalas stammered. “We are…”

“Stay calm, buddy. Just stay calm.” I tried to keep him from freaking out more than he already was.

“I see.” The Imperial nodded slightly. “I’m not a resident, but I hope you enjoy your stay here. It’s a great place to relax. I prefer to spend my time here rather than the Embassy in the city.”

“The Embassy…” Xelha frowned a little. “So you are from the Empire?”

“Yes, I am.” The Imperial frowned when Xelha mentioned his homeland, but it wasn’t out of anger, I could sense the sadness within him… “My name is Lyude, Imperial ambassador to Diadem.” He continued to tell us what his job as ambassador involved, telling us it was ‘much less important than it sounds.’

Seeming satisfied by this, Xelha smiled warmly to the ambassador, “Thank you for your time Lyude.” She held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you.”

Lyude shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, too, Miss…”

“Xelha, just Xelha,” she finished for him.

“I’m…Kalas,” Kalas nodded slightly, and Lyude nodded back.

After that, we left and walked toward a tavern not too far away. As we did, I spoke quietly, “He was nice, for an Imperial, but there’s something else that’s strange. I think there’s more to him than he revealed…” Kalas narrowed his eyes slightly at that. “I didn’t sense any malice,” I spoke quickly, “just sadness and pain.” Why does he have to assume that every Imperial is an enemy? Not all of them are stubborn, arrogant idiots…

We entered the tavern, walked up to the bar and were greeted by the barmaid. “Hello there! Welcome to Nashira!” Her smile was as warm as her greeting. “I’m Anna, owner of this humble establishment.”

As Kalas and Xelha asked her about how they could get to the city, I heard Meemai let out a soft squeak and he hopped out of Xelha’s hood, and bounded over to the tiny stage-like platform where a few other greythorns were hopping up and down, playing. I laughed as Meemai joined them. No matter where you go, the greythorns all seem to know each other. Heheh!

“You could ask Gibari,” Anna’s voice broke through my thoughts. “He might be the only one willing to help.”

“Where can we find him?” Xelha asked.

“He hasn’t dropped in today, but he might come by. You might find him if you come back later.” She leaned forward and smiled playfully, “Or you can stay here and have a drink?”

“We’ll come by later,” Kalas laughed a little. “Thanks.”

As we left and Meemai hopped back into Xelha’s hood, I asked them, “Okay so how are we going to get to Sheliak?”

“Were you not paying attention?” Kalas asked.

“Nope, I was letting my mind wonder again.”

“Crystal, you’re still acting funny,” Kalas seemed a bit annoyed. “You weren’t like this before you lost your memory.”

“Well, not remembering anything that has happened for God knows how long might make you act a little funny, too!” I felt like screaming.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry,” Kalas sighed, “Just try to pay more attention when we’re discussing things like this.”

“We’re going to see if a man named Gibari will take us to the city,” Xelha explained to me. “The only path to the city, the Cloud Passage, is flooded by the Lesser Celestial River. Anna said it’s just a freak accident that occurs ‘once in a blue moon’.”

“Yeah it just so happened to occur when we came,” Kalas complained.

“Oh well, guess we’ll just have to deal with it,” I said, happily, trying to cheer him up.

On our way to the Magnus shop, we met an old fortune teller who told us the story of Malpercio destroying the Ocean and Whale. She also told Xelha not to confide in those she had yet to trust. “Well…that was certainly strange.” That was the first time I spoke since we heard the story.

“Yes it was,” Xelha seemed to be deep in thought.

We walked to the Magnus shop in silence. After stocking on supplies, we returned to the bar. Anna told us that Gibari still wasn’t here, but that he should be by now.

“Hey!” A new voice came from the entrance. “You lookin’ for Gibari?” A fisher man walked toward us, looking at us suspiciously. “What do you need him for?”

“What the-? What’s this guy’s problem?” I asked, shocked by his behavior.

“We need a ride to the city,” Kalas answered. “Who are you?”

“Name’s Reblys. You could say I’m the head fisher man. Sorry but nobody here takes strangers on their boats. It scares the fish away.”

“Oh – my – gosh! You have got to be kidding!” I was too amazed at that stupid logic to laugh at it.

“Come on, Reblys. Leave the travelers alone,” Anna spoke up.

When Kalas had mentioned to Reblys that he wasn’t asking any of them to take us Reblys got angry, “You just don’t get it do ya? Maybe roughing you up will help it sink in!”

“Hold it right there!” Another fisherman appeared in the entrance.

Whoa! I was shocked. That guy is BIG!

While Kalas and Xelha tried not to laugh at my comment, the newcomer spoke to Reblys. “These guy’s lookin’ for me?”

“Gibari!”

“Listen Reblys, you got something to say to me, do it personally,” Gibari smiled. “We can discuss it peacefully.”

“Humph…” Reblys left.

“Sorry about that,” Gibari smiled kindly. “The poor catch has been putting them on edge.”

When Xelha explained our plight to Gibari he proposed a deal to us: “I’m going to the Lesser Celestial River to find out why it’s overflowing. If you guy’s help me find out what’s causing, I’ll take you to the city.”

“Well…” Kalas looked a little doubtful.

“Don’t worry. If it’s something we can’t handle, then we’ll leave it and I’ll still take you to the city.”

“Alright, then,” Xelha smiled. “Thank you, Gibari.”

“Fine,” Kalas sighed. “I’m Kalas. Nice to meet you, Gibari.”

“And I’m Xelha.”

“Nice to meet both of you.”

“What do you think, Crystal?” Kalas looked at me.

“I agree. It’s the best bet we have.”

“Huh?” Gibari looked at Kalas a little confused. “What are you mumbling about?”

“I wasn’t mumbling,” Kalas turned to him. “I was talking to Crystal, my Guardian Spirit.”

“Guardian Spirit, huh?” Gibari looked at him strangely, obviously questioning Kalas’s sanity. “A being from another world bound to your soul? Thought that was just superstition.” He looked up, “Well, nice to meet you, Crystal.”

“Nice to meet you to, Gibari,” I said through clenched teeth. I’ll make sure you don’t doubt my existence for long…

With that we left the bar and went to the docks where Gibari’s boat was waiting. After another short argument between Reblys and Gibari, we left for the Lesser Celestial River.

Adriannu: Well, there’s the long awaited chapter 6! Hope it wasn’t too boring. The next chapter will include the Thunderfish and Iron Beetle fights. If I’m able I’ll try to post it before I start work. If I can’t I’ll post it during my six days off. Please, please leave a review! I’m getting depressed at the lack of them!