Hours had gone by without any events of significance. At least, not on the same scale as the firefly swarm half a night earlier. I could only guess the time, though, knowing the moon was well beyond its nocturnal crescendo, I managed to conclude I had made it to the nightly hours' leftovers.

Grandmother Astrid had not yet returned to my side; and frankly, I wasn't expecting her to. But it mattered not. The path ahead was clear as crystal, even amid the sombre moonlit skies. Precisely as Theos' words had uttered; the darkness had given way for the inevitable road to a destination of unbelievable discretion.

Thankfully, with each passing hour, the bestial howling of the savage animals dimmed down. Rosemary, at first, dared only hesitantly gallop through the woodlands. Although, now that the rising shadow of an unseen threat bled out, she ran like a gale amid the wind.

Averting my gaze to the heavenly skies, clouds had gathered, forming thick woolly shapes, omitting the presence of the dying stars' light. I had come far enough to reach the foot of the hills leading up to the Sacred Mountains. I was more than capable of sensing a sudden, distinctive cold looming over me. It was a far cry from the mild wintry temperatures on the island, but the odd thing remained, evidently, spring had only paved the path for summer to set in mere weeks ago.

Out of the blue- well, factually, the dark, I swore I caught a glimpse of frozen darts and water spouts tearing through the clouds. Though, I quickly dismissed the idea as a play of the mind. My poor, sleep-deprived mind, that was.

I rolled my eyes, leaning closer to Rosy's ears. "...I feel like I'm going mental." My voice had broken down into a whisper under the faint presence of lurking creatures in the woods. The echo of my words carried forth, leading the way.

Before I realised, I had lost track of time yet again. I had long passed Adelaide's cliffside mansion, the only remnants still faintly visible at this distance were the distinctive flagpoles adorning the demesne's outer walls.

I had always admired the insignia of the Ember Islands, the five unrefined ruby fragments, each intertwined with fiery tendrils to form an orb of sorts. The whole crest vaguely resembled a torn crimson shield; the mark of the Red Order's Faithkeepers- a supposed splinter-faction from a warrior culture of ancient times. The legends of old, and even the travelling salesmen, spoke of their esteemed abilities in such high regard.

My thoughts drifted back, flowing directly into the objective at mind: finding this so-called Lunaire Shrine beyond the Sacred Mountains, and, naturally, reuniting with Adelaide, Vhersio and Theos. To be entirely and utterly frank, I was far from sure what I was getting myself into. But after the mess at the pier the other day, the sudden embark into the world of Magick - etcetera - I couldn't resist the urge for answers. The drive was crazily intense, almost abnormal. Then again, the abnormal became normal.

I tucked my leather sleeves further down, the modelled hides wrapping around my arms all the way to my wrists. I had always loved the aesthetic of white-washed leather mingled with a pair of light brown gloves that left my fingers exposed. Especially since it accentuated the little spots of my fair skin. Sighing, I realised, Mother's sense of fashion - while I usually debunked the general idea - had clearly influenced my taste.

Pulling the reigns and giving the command to hasten her pace, Rosy sped up.

The lingering cold only worsened throughout the journey across the foothills. The feeling washed over me, though it was a far sharper sensation near my fresh scars. I let go of the reins with one hand, just to briefly inspect the ugly wound. Precisely as it was before, the poorly healed wounds resembled a horrifically gone-wrong tattoo.

The striding continued while I found myself preoccupied with the markings. Some of the crescent cuts, after a more attentive look, had faded down into a minimalistic colour alteration.

I rubbed my hand's thumb over the central spot in my palm, only for the pain to flare up. The burning manifested. I quickly drew back. The feeling had leapt through contact to my thumb, and clumsily, I let go of the reigns and rubbed my hands together to ease the pain.

We turned a right corner, briskly passing the first of many rivers that tore the landmass asunder. I, amid the progress, nearly fell off. I had wrapped the reigns around my hands again, the uneasy sensation somehow watered down into a form of prickling.

Desiring to dismiss and ignore the feeling, I glanced around. Albeit Storm Season was still months away, the broad rivulets streaming down the glaciers forebode danger up ahead. I, however, had come too far to return home at this point. And even if I had given up on the journey itself, I wouldn't be able to live with the knowledge I turned my back on Adelaide and Vhersio willingly.

I shook my head, we were about to pass the second river only to stop dead in our tracks.

Grandmother Astrid stood silently on the bridge, arms crossed. Her thin lips spread slowly with a sigh, mocking, "Goodness, I almost was worried you fell off that clunky mare of yours and knocked yourself out or something. Almost." She rolled her eyes.

I tilted my head, looked over my shoulder, pointing towards the Wharf and then, in a confused and dumbfounded manner, looked back at the Elder; my mouth hung ever so slightly open, which only added to the silly look.

"Been there, done that, and now I'm here. Even my kid brother is faster than you- and he's eating dirt."

"Just," I paused, "How did you catch up to me, and even arrive here first?"

The Elder laughed like a crazed lunatic, then raised one arm and pushed it through her chest. "Like I said, the great element of Water is only limited by imagination." I had to blink twice before I realised a part of her arm and body had liquified in a similar way to the bars back at the gates. "Any master of the Great Art should be well aware of the environment, too." She added, draining water from the river and turning it into a mountable ride. She simply stood atop the bizarre platform of water as it moved in the direction given via hand movements. "Now, done with the showcase of my expertise. We must make for the Crescent Gate."

Within a mere moment, along with a circular motion of her wrist, Grandmother Astrid had begun enveloping herself, Rosemary and me. The streaming rivulets slowly dried, no, offered their contents to the new purpose the Elder forced upon them. With each flick of Grandmother Astrid's hand, another tidal splash emerged from some puddle, stream, and even unnaturally-local downpours.

A final movement locked the whole orb in place. I grasped for my throat, only to realise, I was still capable of breathing perfectly fine within the sphere of water.

"Needn't worry," said the Elder, raising the whole thing into a levitating state with a grunt. "Oxygen still phases through," she added.

"How?"

"Magick." Her voice cracked in the middle of her word, granting an eery touch. A sudden sense of anxiety washed over me, for the Elder's words closely mimicked the first thing Adelaide said upon my first introduction to this reborn world.

A forward push followed, the sphere rapidly shot forward. Steadily increasing in velocity, we raced down the remnants of the dying streams. With a slight bump, I bounced up, my hairs hitting the top area of the water veils. They were soaked to the core; hence I briskly dismounted Rosy. My left boot touched the watery. . . soil, first. The platform was all slippery, yet solid - it was as though properties of water and ice had mingled into a hybrid alteration.

The treelines, serrated mountains, everything seemed to, all of a sudden, become unclear. My eyes failed to adjust to the blend of the darkness and the increasing speed. The sounds of savage cries and owls' screech- and hooting spiked, as if they were alarmed by our presence. No, not ours, but the Elder's tidal mount.

"We'll be at the Estranged Gate shortly, girl," said Grandmother Astrid, not bothered to make contact whatsoever. Sweat droplets were carefully running down her wrinkled skin. Some clung to her jawline, near her disgusting semi-putrid teeth.

Unbeknownst to even myself, I had subconsciously shifted my arm in place, just far enough to twirl a few of Rosy's manes around my index finger. The markings on my palm were clear as crystal, even in the dark, within the light-obscuring orb.

The Elder's broke her deep concentration, her eyes darted sideways, fixing on said engravements. Yet, she remained in utter silence. Her body was trembling under the spell's apparent pressure and restraint.

"Where," She muttered under her breath, a light grunt following her word, "did you receive it." Grandmother Astrid finished stammeringly, her stutter was leagues apart from the one I had grown to overcome as a child.

Part of me desired to answer truthfully, high hopes to seek the knowledge behind the markings' meaning. However, it could wait. Especially since Theos, Adelaide and Captain Vhersio most likely knew too. I smirked, replying with similar vagueness she did earlier, "Somewhere."

She sighed, ushering not a word. The Elder was ticked off, considerably, truth be told. The hostility was oozing out of the old wench, her face displayed a killer's gaze. The sight sent shivers down my spine, but then again, had she wanted me dead, Helen would long have disposed of my remains by now.

Time seemingly hastened, or so it felt. What little distance we had yet to traverse, we did rapidly. Before I realised, we had passed the Sacred Mountains, even the Great Waltz; the river-torn easternmost, rural area of the island. Or at least, so I used to believe.

We had hit our end station: an open valley between large mountain ridges and cliffs. Minerals and gemstones stuck out the inner sides of the rocky surfaces, for as far as I could see. Pools of water were scattered across the entire place, each surrounded by the oddest of flowers.

Grandmother Astrid lowered her arms. A snap of her fingers immediately resulted in the sudden increase of the sphere's size before it imploded, with its epicentre atop the Elder's thumb. My hair had dried up, almost like the magically-induced water was drained entirely altogether.

Without a sound, she motioned me towards the end of the grove, which mouthed out into a small cavern with a round entrance, stalactites suspended from the ceiling.

The echoes of clattering water droplets bounced off the cavern walls, resonating clearly under the dark veil of the night.

"Go," spoke the Elder, her features overwhelmed by a sense of emotionlessness. She scurried towards the cave, stopping dead in her tracks before the overhanging ceiling. Countless leaves and vines had enveloped the inner, and outer, sides of the cavern. Four stalactites, each wedged ever so slightly to point towards the general centre, met up with a kindred pinnacle. Every pillar housed a deeper, seemingly obscured colouration, though, each left a trace in the central rock.

Grandmother Astrid grasped onto my hand. "You ought to show your respect to the ancient gods if you wish to pass the Estranged Gate."

I blinked in confusion, then tossed a gaze into the further, darker area within the remote cave. There was no such thing as a gate. It was just a puddle of water beneath the upside-down rock formation.

The Elder let out a sigh, frowning in contemplation. "My pronunciation has gotten a tad rusty over the decades, though, this should do the trick." Before the window of opportunity to respond turned around the corner, she continued speaking, "Benequassus," the ground began to quake, the colours within the stones, even the vines around the place, begun to glow. "Daeamosus tsü,"

Cracks formed amid the back of the grotto.

A purplish light emitted through the broken bits and pieces. Mist entered from the front, towering up like a stone wall. I felt trapped within the Estranged Gates.

Grandmother Astrid tightened her grasp firmly around my wrist.

"What's happening?" I inquired, all the lights faded aside from what lied beyond.

She grimaced. "The sacrificial writ of passage must be performed." Her words hampered momentarily, "I shall not mourn," she added with a touch of deep lament and trepidation to her words. The Elder forged a blade of rotating water circles, each spinning at such velocities, they seemingly harboured detrimental intent. She halted her pause, "neither will you."

She suddenly forcefully joined my arm with hers.

I was shocked to realise. The Elder had- she had plunged the blade into her own chest. Piercing between two ribs, penetrating the flesh and possibly her heart. Before I could aid her, Grandmother Astrid collapsed. Blood spurted everywhere. The light in her eyes slowly dimmed as her breaths turned sharper. Each becoming more ghoulish than its predecessor, until her last.

I bent down, reached for her neck, desperately hoping the wench remained clinging to life.

No pulse rose to answer.

The chaos inside my head intensified upon the realisation...

She was gone.

My face went cold and pale as snow. I cupped my bloodied hand over my mouth, watching in pure horror. While I wasn't all too keen on being the Grandmother's travel companion, I never wished for her demise at my hands. A dreadful sensation of guilt flushed my mantra away, bolting itself tightly in place.

My hands continued to tremble in utter shock. It felt as if I had lost the ability to control my body to the finest extend. I laid a hand on the Elder's face, her pitch-black eyes endlessly staring at the vines and rocks.

I closed them, supposedly allowing her to find eternal rest in the realm beyond.

The mist faded out, as did the back wall of the cavern. Bundled rays of light cascaded onto the Elder's corpse. The puddle in the centre had been tainted by blood. I rose from the ground, my clothes - from the waist down - touched by the crimson liquid.

I grimaced, remembering her words, 'I shall not mourn, neither will you', and I failed to oblige.

Not realising, tears had long been prickling my eyes, overflowing even. With a frown, I walked away, not wishing to look backwards - yet also, not wanting to forget Grandmother Astrid's sacrifice. Grandmother Astrid had given her life so I could enter this grove of sorts.

Passed the Estranged Gates, I could only witness bizarre events in total awe and disbelief. Purple leafs glided down the wind, twisting and swirling with their ilk. Yellow, red and blue vines, grass blades, insects even, paved the path forward. Some tree branches shed a vast array of alternate colours of light. The place was blindingly magical.

I kept stepping forward, only to hear voices. Instantaneously, I halted advancing and listened. The faint echo of deep sounds and sobbing reigned in the distance.

I had titled my head, aiming I could pick up more of the barely audible sounds, albeit to no avail. They had tripped over and fallen back into the depths of silence.

Chasing down the directions from which I believed the voices to have originated from, the scenery lost its vibrant blue and purple, in its place came a soft red and deep green.

Another shrill noise directed me further down the grove: to its heart, a large clearing with a handful of small trees dotted around, along with bushy vegetation, and a. . . strange building in the centre.

It was a fountain of sorts, three rings with waterfalls binding them together. There was a lustrous blue orb at the very peak of the thing, shedding blue sparkles everywhere in the near vicinity, as well as flames of such peculiarity that cast their luminescent blue glow over the elemental monolith. The rays of dim light broke and bounced back off the ripples in the trembling water surfaces.

With a more attentive inspection, I noticed, the tiny decorative waterfalls specking the sides of each ring refused to heed gravity's command; for they offered such weighty objection, their path had been distorted into reversion.

Vhersio's roaring voice burst through the air, he, Theos and Adelaide walked out a deteriorating, overrun shed.

I ducked right into the nearest bush I could find right away - going as far as lying down on my stomach midst the dew-coated grass.

"You cannot do this! The terms are outrageously unacceptable." I caught several glimpses, though hazy and fractioned by the tall grass blades and leaves towering afore me, I made out his anger-flushed facial expression. As well as the apparent tantrum he was throwing.

Theos' gaze averted, turning more so towards me than to captain Vhersio I was thankful for long having dismounted Rosemary's back. And naturally, for stealthily managing to camouflage between the luscious bushes that littered this . . . miracle wonderland. Just close enough to overhear most of their chats. Admittedly, Vhersio was far from challenging to spy on, both usually and whenever he loses his calm demeanour.

I titled my head in an attempt to get lower to the ground. Truth be told, I was unsure why I crept up to them like a prowling beast longing for prey.

Snapping me out of my thoughts, was a ladybug. My eyes were fixed on the tiny fella, counting several white spots on its back, around six, mayhap seven in total. I lifted my head, realising I had nearly crushed the poor thing beneath my chin.

I dismissed the momentary distraction; my attention fixated onto Adelaide standing hunched over the ground ring of the gravity-defying fountain of sorts. I was close enough to hear the faintest traces of sobbing noises, even the tremble in her voice. She was muttering words under her breath, barely capable of doing so as she fought back the tears. All be her attempt to remain in control of little to no effect.

The sound of a single tear dripping down into the water surface carried over, though, in a substantially magnified tune. I looked away, not wishing to see Adelaide's tearful eyes drop another splintered droplet.

But the sound did not follow come. It failed to originate from the structured adorned water basins. I came to terms with Adelaide's sadness, the whole ordeal and her inevitably miserably-pale coloured fate, at least, from how things appeared to be. Gazing on, I lied baffled on the ground, my jaw nearly dropping to the floor in a literal fashion.

The follow-up tears drifted above the water, joining one another amid the oddly-reversed waterfalls. After a good second, perhaps five even, I realised I was blatantly staring ahead, no longer focused on the environment, nor Vhersio who nearly crushed the palm of my hand.

During the short time, in which, I had paid close attention to Adelaide's apparent sorrow, Theos and Vhersio had wandered up to me. Hopefully still unaware of my presence. Although, that hope was short-lived and swiftly dispatched when Theos bent through his knees, locking eyes on me.

Busted.