Chapter II

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Rowen watched the documentary with interest, while Kento became bored quickly and began to play his gameboy. Kale watched the documentary for about a minute before he began to stare intently at the gameboy's screen, apparently Golden Sun was far more interesting than TLC. Kayura watched the show without much enthusiasm, while Dais gave up on the show ever becoming interesting and found a book to read.
About an hour later Ryo switched of the television.
"Mia should be getting here any minute now," he said as he replaced the remote in its holder. Soon the lights were dimmed and the nine armor bearers were hidden in the living room.

* * *
Meanwhile

Calisto Wyvrn was the very figure of an Elf. She had long black hair that fell wildly down to her waist. Her eyes were emerald, and her skin was tanned golden. She was wearing a makeshift outfit made mainly from leather and bone. Cloth was a luxury that only the Humans of Sephera cared to own.
Well, not only them, as the elfin young man sitting underneath a nearby oak tree proved. He was clad in a white, cloth suit. The shirt of his outfit was held together with blue buttons made of the same material as the thick beads that held back his light blue hair that fell to his knees. His eyes were the same icy blue color and his skin was pale. It was not hard to guess that, unlike Calisto, he was a Mage. His name was Wintrin.
Calisto looked up at the sky just in time to see the fiery glint of a phoenix.
"Then it is me," she stated as she raised her bow to the sky. The old phoenix hovered directly over her and waited. When the silver arrow came it allowed it to strike its heart. It didn't even give a final cry as it fell gracefully from the sky and into Calisto's waiting arms.
A single tear fell from its eye becoming a blood red ruby. Calisto quickly filled a small vial with its fiery blood before she placed the dying bird gently on the ground. Once she did the body burst into flames leaving a much younger phoenix in its place. The young on left as suddenly as it had came.
"Sometimes I envy you. I could never even touch such a creature and live afterwards," said Wintrin quietly.
"That is indeed the curse of an Ice Mage," said Calisto as Wintrin slowly stood up and walked over to her.
"What message did she bring?" he asked just as quietly as before (AN: Wintrin always speaks in a near whisper unless otherwise noted).

"I am to return Miriamele to Sephera."
"The Princess? Yes, that is worthy of a phoenix bearer."
"It is indeed."

Mia entered the darkened living room and looked around. She was slightly puzzled that no one was home, Ryo should have been here at least. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself as she switched on the lights.
"SURPISE!!!! Happy Birthday!" yelled a chorus of voices as all nine armor bearers as they left their hiding places.
Mia smiled, "I should have known! How long have you guys been planning this?"
"About a week," answered Ryo.
"So, what first? Food or presents?" asked Sage.
"Please pick food, please!" begged Kento who hadn't had anything to eat since lunch. Everybody laughed at that.
"Okay, Kento, we'll eat first," said Mia, as she set down her things from work.


***
Meanwhile

"Look," said Calisto as she paused at the edge of the cliff. Wintrin looked where she had indicated. At the base of the cliff was a ruined temple, a small altar, made of a white stone the color of ivory, stood in the center of the ruins. Beside it was a circle that was made of the same stone.
"The Temple of Tranquility," stated Wintrin with a hint of awe in his voice, "So that is why the tear was needed."
"Yes," agreed Calisto and then she began to climb down to reach the temple. Wintrin followed quickly behind.
Once they reached the altar, Calisto placed the Phoenix Tear in the center and began to chant in a strange tongue that Wintrin could not decipher. When the chant reached its end a silvery portal opened.


***
Back at Mia's

After supper was over it was time for Mia to open her gifts.
"Hmmm... I wonder what this is?" asked Mia as she picked up a large box wrapped in blue holographic paper. The tag announced that it was from Rowen. She carefully removed the paper to reveal software.
"Thanks, Ro, I needed to upgrade my PC," said Mia as she picked up her next gift. It was the small box that Ryo had bought the day before. Mia gasped when she opened it. Inside was a silver necklace with a small ruby pendent.
"Ryo, it's beautiful!" exclaimed Mia then she hugged the warrior of virtue. Her other gifts were:


Love Story from Cye
A PC game from Kento
A few books on Greek Mythology from Sage, and a pair of silver earrings
From Kale, who had no idea what she would like, she received a few forgotten texts from his old clan.
From Sekhmet she received a bracelet with a scale pattern
From Dais she was given a crystal pendent that would make her immune to illusions as long as she wore it.
Kayura gave her a silver orb that would allow her to communicate telepathically with any of the nine armor bearers on the same frequency of their armor link.
"The last one is in the kitchen," said Ryo as he went to retrieve it. He soon returned holding a small white tiger cub with a pink collar around her neck.
"Oh, she's gorgeous! What's her name?" asked Mia as she took the cub from Ryo's arms.
"She doesn't have one, yet. I was hoping that you would want to give her one."
"I know! Her name will be Aurora," said Mia as she gazed adoringly at the cub's bright brown eyes, a trait she must have gotten from her sire.
Suddenly a silvery portal appeared in the center of the room. Their was not much time for anyone to investigate it however, because within seconds a tall elfin woman stepped out of the portal and into the living room.

"Princess Miriamele Faramiir, It is a pleasure to meet you at long last," said the Elf.
"Who is Miriamele? And who are you?" asked a very confused Mia.
"I am Calisto Wyvrn, and you are Miriamele," stated Calisto, "I apologize for causing you any confusion, but it is true. You see, when you were a baby you were taken to this realm by a man named Koji. Because he died before your eighteenth birthday, I was sent from Sephera to return you to your home." Mia was taken aback by her answer and began remembering a story she once begged to hear again and again.
'The princess grew up ignorant about her history until her eighteenth birthday when all was revealed to her....'
"The story, was it true?" she wondered out loud.
"What story?" asked Ryo concerned.
"Yes, Mia, what story? Does it have anything to do with her?" asked an equally concerned Sage.
"Grandfather used to tell me a bedtime story when I was little, about a young princess who was raised in another world to protect her from the assent of an evil sorcerer. He said that she grew up ignorant of her true history until her eighteenth birthday when all would be revealed to her," answered Mia, "I used to beg every night to hear that story and the poem of the armors."
"Then you know what I ask of you. I am truly sorry that you don't have a choice in the matter, you must return. Your friends may come with you if they wish, but Sephera is a dangerous place. And unless they can defend themselves I would not recommend it," Calisto said as she looked back through the portal where Wintrin waited ready to freeze anything that posed a threat.
"We can defend ourselves," said Kento, "Were the Ronin Warriors!"
"Hardrock!!! Now you've done it, how do we even know we can trust her!" yelled Kale.
"Don't worry we can. Don't ask me why, I just know," said Mia.
"Mia's right, we can trust her," said Cye. Most of the others' doubt dissipated at that because they knew his virtue.
"I want to go too," said Yulie. At his voice the other's turned.
"Yulie, what are you doing up? You went to bed hours ago (AN: Actually I forgot he was in the story ^_^;)," said Mia.
"I came down for some water and I heard you guys talking. Please? The jewel can protect us and so can the guys,"
"We can't exactly leave him here by himself," said Rowen.
"True, can we leave someone behind to watch him?" asked Cye.
"If it's as dangerous as she says, we might need all nine armors," added Ryo.
"Then I believe that we have to bring him," said Sage, "Stay with at least one of us at all times, Yulie, and be sure not to loose the jewel." At this Yulie nodded, he understood that if he did not obey these orders that his life could be in serious danger.

Calisto was a little surprised that this was going rather easy, but she knew it wouldn't last. If Eldentine found them it was almost certain that all would be lost. Wintrin had almost lost his mind the last time.

Wintrin was completely surprised when Calisto returned with ten people and two felines, as well as the Princess. He recognized Miriamele instantly as her aura was of Sephera. Nine of the others carried strange auras, and the child's necklace seemed to carry an aura of its own.

"Calisto, who are the others?" he asked.

"They insisted on joining Miriamele. They claim that they can protect her and the child, and it may be true. But I am uncertain. One of them made mention of armors, but I do not know any more than that," answered Calisto.

"May I ask what you are called?" he asked of the warriors. (AN: Get ready for the lengthy introduction)

"I am Ryo."

"And I am Sage."

"My name is Cye."

"Kento."

"Rowen."

"I'm Yulie."

"I am called Dais."

"Kale."

"Kayura."

"I see, my name is Wintrin. I am honored to meet the Princess' companions," responded Wintrin.

"Please, call me Mia."

"As you wish. Princess, I'm sorry, Miha." (This is not a typo, this is how he actually pronounces her name.)

"Thank you."

"We must hurry now, we need to get to Celine before Eldentine realizes what we have done. Besides you need to be trained, Miriamele, to use the power within all of Sephera's royalty," began Calisto, "We have wasted enough time as it is. While Eldentine is the one I am most concerned about, any of the other three could destroy all that we have worked for before we even have a chance."

"We can help as well," said Ryo, "Each of us bear a mystical armor. I am the bearer of Wildfire and I wield the powers of fire."

"And each of you possess such a power?" asked Calisto.

"Yes, but each armor is different and has a different power."

"I see, then you will indeed be able to help. This increases our chances of saving Sephera considerably."



***


Meanwhile
A young elf stepped out of the black citadel and looked at the sky. He had stark white hair, about the length of Dais', than was tied back by a single crimson bead. His eyes were the same ice blue as Wintrin's and he wore a cloth outfit that was completely black, almost obsidian in color. The outfit was held together with buttons that were the same color as the glossy bead. His features were similar to Wintrin's and he was probably only a few years younger. Around his neck hung a silver chain that bore a single ruby pendant. The ruby seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

"Eldentine, our scouts have still been unable to locate them, however I sensed that the gate has bee reopened," reported a human girl about the same age as Eldentine. She had shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. She wore a plain cotton pullover shirt and tanned leather pants. Around her neck hung an emerald on a golden chain. It too seemed to beat with a life of its own.

"I see. Thank you, Carolyn, we shall find them soon. Knowing Calisto and my brother they will be heading toward Celine by now. It's the only place they can train their 'precious princess'. We may not be able to enter the city itself, but we can catch them before or after they leave the sanctuary. Have Logan arrange to meet them there."

"Of course," said Carolyn as an evil grin spread across her comely features.

"We're almost there," said Calisto as she pointed towards the bottom of the hill they had just reached the top of. About a mile past the bottom of the slope was a city that almost seemed to glow.
"That is Celine, the City of Sorcere. We will be safe there for now. Eldentine is unable to enter there, for now. As time passes and his strength grows there may yet be a time when he will be able to enter this haven," continued Calisto.

"Once inside Magda will train you Miha," added Wintrin. After this was said they continued on their trek.



***


Meanwhile
Logan spied the party as they came closer to the great city. He had short brown hair and gray eyes. He wore a gray shirt with brown pants and over these he wore a black cloak. Around his neck hung a silver chain on which hung a sapphire pendent that seemed to beat with a life of its own. He hid the gem under his shirt and motioned for his warriors to be ready.

***
"Something's not right," announced Sage.

"You feel it too?" asked Wintrin, Sage nodded his affirmation.

"What is it?" asked Calisto.

"Someone is waiting for us. The barrier that protects Celine makes it impossible to tell who, but someone is there."

"This is not good. We must get inside the barrier with out being seen," said Calisto. She was concerned. She knew that while she was a very good fighter, she wouldn't stand a chance against those Mages. Wintrin would stand a much better chance, as long as it wasn't Eldentine. Fire wasn't his only weakness, and Eldentine knew them all.