Chapter 144: 2.21 Athena’s Realm (3)
"Brie! That’s amazing. I knew you could do it. How did you finally break free of it? I thought all you felt was nothingness?" Sora exclaimed.
Athena smiled, ’I guess this day is full of surprises and first.’
"It’s like Xander explained on Exteria. The part of your soul that’s active in me keeps my mind partially active, I think? I’m not entirely sure but after finally convincing my brain I could move, I just popped out. What could you possibly have to hide from me, though?" Brie asked, glaring at Sora.
"He was just letting out some of emotions," Athena said empathetically. "Honestly, it’s amazing you broke out of it. Great job."
Sora released his spell and Xander turned to them, giving his mom a thumbs up.
"How does he know?" Sora asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I’ve never seen anything quite like him in all my years of existence," Athena admitted. "But we all know the focus remains on Sora and saving Exteria for now. If and when things ever grow to something more than that, we will handle that accordingly. Go spend some time with your son and get to know Skylar. You’ll be able to tell when the chief falls asleep much easier from my realm. It shouldn’t be long. He prayed before sleeping."
Athena disappeared, which caused Brie and Sora to wonder where she went. Rather than dwell on it, they ran over to Xander and sat next to him.
"Hi Skylar, thank you for being such a great friend to Xander. You’re quite beautiful," Sora said, bowing his head respectfully.
The bird walked over to Sora and nuzzled her head at him, and Sora scratched her head. He could feel the power surging from the Phoenix’s body with each scratch.
Skylar chose to perch on Brie. At first, Brie thought it was just her way of saying hi, but she noticed her shoulders and head were being guided in a direction away from Exteria.
Brie started in the direction Skylar eventually stopped, searching for anything that didn’t look normal.
"Caw. Cawwwww." Skylar screeched as she nuzzled her head into Brie’s shoulder, causing Brie to slightly change her perspective. Brie scratched her head and asked her, "What are you trying to show me? You are so beautiful and intelligent. What am I missing?"
Sora noticed Xander searching the area Brie was looking at.
’Exteria is obvious. Nexus seems irrelevant and it’s too big to miss, so that can’t be it. Solstice is too bright to miss. Maybe the brightness hides something?’ Sora thought while criss crossing his legs and putting his elbow on his leg. He rested his head in his hand and stared around Solstice.
"Everything is so bright around Solstice. I wonder what we’re missing," Sora said quietly, deep in thought.
Xander looked at his mom, then looked at his dad, then looked between Solstice and three other planets he didn’t know the names of.
"Dada, why do those planets form a diamond shape?" Xander asked. "Why is Exteria on the right side and what’s the planet across from it?"
Sora stared and realized he didn’t know. He looked around the planet and saw no living beings. The planet remained alive and intact, just nothing moved on it, other than the water and the wind.
"Whatever planet it is, its lifeforce is gone." Sora said. "But so is Solstice’s, aside from Ignis’ brother and that giant flame. Wait, the planet further south... what is that one?"
"One Zaza destroyed that Nana Fena said daywalkers lived on." Xander said sadly. "I think it was called Vakka."
"Sora, why didn’t we realize there were so many planets surrounding and close to Nexus? It makes sense because it’s the biggest planet, but everything west of Exteria in that diamond shape has been destroyed." Brie said while trying to focus with Skylar consistently turning her shoulders.
"All the planets they took over seem to be on the outskirts of the Universe. None of them are in a major cluster with other planets around. Why go so far away?" Sora asked, beginning to feel confused and overwhelmed.
"Skylar, what is it? I know that’s Solstice. I can’t see anything close to Solstice! It’s too bright." Brie exclaimed.
Skylar flew over to Sora and perched on his shoulders.
"Oh, hey Skylar. Show me what you’re trying to show Brie." Sora said softly and politely, sensing the bird’s frustration.
Sora loosened his body and tried to feel and sense what Skylar was seeing that they were missing.
"Ok, so you want me to look directly around Solstice, I think Brie picked that up too. It’s too bright for us, though. We can’t see close enough around it."
"Sora... Leila prayed to me and I removed a memory block from her. In her consciousness, I saw a portal from the realm of the dragons to Solstice. Where is the realm of the dragons?"
Sora felt Skylar moving his shoulders so he allowed her to turn his body slightly right. He noticed a very small realm he hadn’t noticed before.
"Is that the dragon realm, Skylar?"
"Caaaaaaaaaaaaw!" Skylar screeched while nodding her head yes.
"Skylar’s head is green dada. She’s happy you noticed it." Xander added.
Skylar then turned Sora’s shoulders back towards Solstice. "Skylar, I’m sorry, what am I missing? I can’t exactly go to the dragon realm right now."
"Wait, why couldn’t we? No one’s there." Brie said.
Athena appeared. "Please, do not leave Paradise. That would cause too many ripples in the constructs of time."
"Understood. What is the connection Skylar is trying to make for us though? That’d we’d find what we were looking for if we took the portal from the dragon realm to Solstice..." Brie said, her words trailing off.
Skylar flew to perch on Athena. Athena sat and listened, and the Lockhearts watched quietly understanding they were having a deep conversation.
"Skylar thinks the secret realm they’re operating from is near Solstice. I cannot see through the brightness either. It would make sense they hid somewhere in that area, though." Athena said calmly.
"Great catch Skylar! Sorry we don’t have eyes like yours. It’s just too bright!" Sora said as he stood up and extended his hand toward Brie.
"Agreed! If the realm is there, couldn’t they attack our party at any time?" Brie asked, concerned for her group as she picked Xander up and gave him kisses on the forehead. "You’re such a smart kid buddy."
"Athena, the planets they took lifeforces from grew in difficulty each time, didn’t it?" Sora asked.
"Yes. They’ve added other planets for a reason I don’t need to remind you of but that also gives us more time to prepare." Athena said kindly. "Skylar believes that they’re operating from that space to remain hidden, not to attack your party."
"Ok, so we have an idea where they’re operating from. That may be where Eris is. I haven’t seen her anywhere else." Sora said confidently. "Why though? This is all strange."
"Sorry to interrupt, but Sora, it’s almost time." Athena interjected.
Sora quickly turned around and focused on the Eclipsian universe.
"Oh, yup. Right. Ok, I’ll see you soon. Wish me luck." Sora said as he prepared himself to visit someone in a dream for the first time.
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