Arc 9: From Here and Back Rumiya poured over scrolls from the library. After a day of waiting, he began to study spells in the Healing Arts. It had been three days now, since he returned to Juraihelm, and there was still no news from Tsubaru. He sat back in his chair and sighed. * Bang! * Suddenly, his door opened with a slam. His sister stood in the doorway and her eyes locked in on him. "R-U-M-I-Y-A!" screamed Ramia. She kicked hard. Rumiya barely managed to transform into a shock absorbing body as her kick connected. Ramia stood panting in the middle of the room while he scraped himself off his now cracked wall. "Sis! Wha-what did I do?" "It's all your fault! If you had cured Pretty Sammy, I wouldn't have to go to Misty Mountain!" "But Sis! I can't heal! And why do you have to go to Misty Mountain?" "The High Priest thinks that curing Sammy is important enough to risk finding the Scroll of Lost Lore. A spell of Reversal is in it. The astrologers agree that the alignment of the stars are auspicious for locating Misty Mountain, which protects the Scroll through space and time." "And you have to go?" "Tsunami wanted to, but she's Queen, so I had to offer to do it." "Wow! I didn't know you were that strong!" "Idiot! I was candidate for Queen! Anyway, the council agreed, so pack up!" "Eh? I'm going too?" "If I have to go through this, so will you! Meet me at the Maple courtyard by noon." "Yes, Sis!" Ramia stomped out of his room, and Rumiya relaxed back into his normal body. Then he began to pack. Ramia marched noisily to her tower. She paused in her tracks when she noticed Tsunami by the entrance. Ramia made a curt bow. "Greetings, your Majesty. How may I be of service?" Tsunami pinched her cheek. "Oh, so formal!" Ramia took a step back and rubbed her cheek. "Stop that! Why in kami's name are you here?" "I just wanted to wish you good luck." "With you wishing me so, I just might need a lot of luck. If it wasn't for this kindred spirit of yours, I wouldn't have to do this." "I'm even more grateful that you are doing this for Sasami's sake." "Isn't it Sammy?" "Oh, yes. It is Sammy." "By the Balance, at least get her name right. Now get out of my way, I have to pack." Ramia pushed Tsunami aside and unlocked her door. "Ramia?" "What?" "Thank you, and may the stars guide you." "Huh." Ramia entered and slammed the door. She wasn't sure why she acted so rude. Perhaps it was the absence of that imperial glow which caused her to lose her usual cool demeanor. The glow lent a regal presence to an otherwise plain and carefree Tsunami. The aura around Tsunami felt different, as if a residue of some other spell lingered. Glow or no glow, Tsunami always seemed to infuriate her with her childish, airheaded manner despite all the times she told her to act like a Queen. Ramia sighed in frustration and hurriedly went upstairs to pack. Misao sat by Sasami's bed. It had been a week since Rumiya had left for Juraihelm. She had visited Sasami everyday. When no one was around, she told her stories and played some of her recorded recitals on her portable tape player. Sometimes, she sang to her softly, first with lullabies, then some of the songs she had written. She hoped that in her heart, Sasami would hear and wake. And so she sang. We don't every have to cry or fight Something tells me we can make it right. Enough of wandering far and wide I just can't forget you though I've tried This is destiny so why pretend Close your eyes kiss me once again I'll always be the only one you need So go where your deepest longing leads. Sometimes as she sat there holding her hand, she almost felt Sasami's hand move. But she wasn't sure, so she dismissed it as her imagination. Misao glanced at the clock. Visiting hours would be over soon, and she would have to leave Sasami. Misao sighed and stood up. Her heart skipped a beat when she seemed to feel Sasami's fingers close on hers. She stopped moving for a moment and waited. She let go after few seconds. Misao turned away to pick up her bag when suddenly a flash of light came from the window. Blinded by the light, she put up her arms and crouched. When the light faded, she heard a something heavy hit the floor. "Sis! You're heavy!" "Idiot! Can't you at least 'port on your feet?" "I'm still learning!" Misao's eyes widened in recognition of that voice. "Rumiya!" She called out and stood up. Then she froze in her tracks when she saw Rumiya's companion, a strange woman who smiled at her. Unconsciously, she started backing away toward the door. Her heart pounded in her chest and she felt fear like she never felt before. Before she could blink, this woman caught her chin and held her eyes. The woman's eyes bored into her. She felt like this woman could read her every thought. "Well, if it isn't Misao. You've grown quite nicely." "Sis! Don't scare her! And don't force her to be Misa anymore!" Ramia did not respond. Rumiya waited for a moment and realized to late that Ramia was focusing a spell. "Sis!" "Idiot." Ramia's voice was unusually soft. "It's not Misa we need. It's her." "Please... please let me go." Misao shivered with fear as she haltingly pled. She tried to turn away but her body didn't move. "I'm not done yet." Rumiya gaped. (A Soul Gaze!) He had never seen Ramia use it and was alarmed at the amount of spirit chi gathered about Ramia. As the woman stared into her eyes, the room blurred into grayish space and she floated in it. The woman's eyes were floated in front of her. "Sammy is trapped in a labyrinth of binding magic." The woman's voice echoed through her mind. "She had fought against it and her soul was lost within its folds. I can provide a way to protect you from the binding, and to break some of the barriers. But you will have to help her out." "Why me?" "Your innate magic will absorb some of the defenses of the labyrinth." The eyes softened. "Doesn't your heart cry out for her release?" "Yes..." "Magic is strongest when your heart flows with its energies. If your heart calls out for her, then surely your magic will help her find you." Then the eyes hardened. "But if you fail, you will be lost as well, and your body will not wake. Do you want to do it?" "Yes! Yes! Please help me find Sasami!" The eyes widened at Sasami's name. (So her true name IS Sasami...) Misao heard the woman whisper and wondered who she was. Suddenly, an answer came to her. (Ramia...) The eyes hardened again and Misao felt an invisible force push her back. "Don't try that, missy. If I catch you poking around, I'll leave you in the labyrinth." "Then I'll ask Rumiya to help!" "Fool! He isn't powerful enough and his magic is not aligned to yours! I am your only choice." An answer came again. "You're my kindred spirit?!" "Back off!" Misao felt the force increase. "Yes, I am Ramia, Chief Magistrate of Juraihelm. YOUR kindred spirit. You should really be more respectful." The eyes faded and everything blurred to a brighter light. When her vision cleared, she was standing in Sasami's room. Rumiya stood nearby, and was anxiously watching her. "Misao! Are you alright?" "Yes, I think." Her eyes found Ramia slumped on a chair. Her eyes were closed and she looked very tired. "What's wrong with her?" "She had you in a Soul Gaze. Using it consumes a lot of spirit energy." "Idiot." Ramia whispered. "I've been doing all the work, that's why. I can Soul Gaze anytime." "Sorry, sorry, Sis! Please don't get mad!" "Then don't say stupid things." Ramia's head lolled slightly to the side. "Misao, we need your help again." "What is it?" "Sis and I have been traveling, so we'd like to get some rest." "Oh. You can rest at my apartment. If you don't mind a bit more walking. But your clothes... people might stare." "I don't mind walking. And I'll change our clothes." Rumiya wove his hands over his robes and transformed them into a shirt and pants. "Wow..." breathed Misao. Rumiya smiled and placed his hands in front of Ramia. "Excuse me, Sis. You have to wear Earth clothes." "Zzzhhh!" (Oh, thank kami! She's asleep.) Rumiya wove his hands and Ramia's clothes transformed into a simple dress. Her chair turned into a wheel chair. "That's so cool!" whispered Misao. Rumiya blushed at her praise. He pulled Ramia's wheel chair in front of him. "I'm ready." "Mm." Misao nodded and led the way.
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