Chapter 2 - The Lost Page

" You know what, Abby? We should have visited your grand mom before that chaotic feast",     Quasi talks as he drives the pick-up truck that they're into.
"It's you who do not agree at first, remember?",    Abby replied a bit annoyed.
The two chats noisily, talking about what happened during the Polaris feast, while Celestine sits quietly thinking at the back of the car.   Something isn't right, she thinks. How could Vex made up that barrier? He's not there at that time. How could it happen? How could Cascade acted mercilessly? What's wrong? What happens? Something is wrong, but she could not just name what is it.
" Hey Cel, you're quiet there",    Quasi notices her silence, looks at her at the back through that rear view mirror.
" Nothing, I am just thinking".      She answered looking outside the window of their car.
" Are you guys ready to give up your powers to the sacred stone"?      Celestine asks her friends.
" Well...my mom has nothing against the idea,"    Abby answered.     "She doesn't care about her being an Auribus. You know Cel when you just have little it's kinda difficult to appreciate what you have that you just like to give it away without regrets. I guess the oldies of  Auribus are like my mom. They're just going to give up their abilities easily." Abby sighs as she explains to her friends.
" How about your siblings"?  Quasi side glances at Abby.
" My brother's decision is influenced by mom".      Abby replied, she doesn't giggle now. She sounds serious.
"Oh I see", unlike my brother Dylan",     Quasi replied as his eyes are on the road.
" Why what about Dylan?"     Celestine interrupted the two.
" My 9-year-old brother doesn't want to give his powers to the sacred stone".       Quasi answered. 
" My family and the rest of  Auribus agreed to give it except me",     Abby said sadly.
" Me too, I think it's not a good idea",        Quasi replied.
" Yeah, really not good" helplessness can be sounded in Abby's voice.
" Not that it's a bad idea guys, I think Cascade is lying."      Celestine sounds certain, disgusts can be seen on her face.
" And let's find out what was it."   She said firmly.



Please wait for the lady here. She'll be here in a while.
The assistant told them as she guides them to the library of this old rustic big white house in the countryside. 
" Ah... Ms why would grandmom like us to wait here?     Why not in the living room downstairs"?      Abby asks smiling awkwardly. 
" Because no Auribus can hear us here in this room, my dear"     an elderly woman in her 60s answered Abby from behind them. She's there in the door, as she slowly walks inside the room, you could sense strength and elegance in her gestures. She has this intimidating aura, and you could feel that she's no ordinary. 
" Gran!"    Abby hugs her excitedly.  There she's bubbly again Quasi thinks as he stares how her friend is acting.
" What brought you here kids?",   she asks them as she sits down in that chair at the back of a wooden table.
" Guys meet my Gran, Adaia."    Abby introduces her to them.
" Gran they're my friends, Quasi and Celestine."    she continued.
" Oh, an astral",    Adaia says in surprise.
" But I could smell in your soul that you're not an astral",     Adaia told Celestine as she looks straight at her in the eyes.
" What?"   she could not hear her voice in shock about what she heard, even her friends are surprised too. But the lady continues not minding their reactions.
" Acher is in chaos right"? she asks.
" How did you know Gran"?    Abby asks as they sits down in that couch on the side.
" I know it would come because Cascade's true face can't be hidden ",         Adaia smirks sarcastically. 
" There are so many things you kids didn't know about Achker".       Achkerians are not that pure as you believed as your parents have told you, and the sacred stone that you have seen all your life is not real. It's fake! "
" What?!        wait a second can  I  digest these all first?     Quasi can't hold what he's hearing anymore. But Adaia continues to speak.
"The real sacred stone does not exist in a physical world, nor in this world of humans or another realm,"    Adaia explains firmly. Certainty can be felt in her voice. Her face looks serious and fierce, emotions can be seen on her as she talks.   " Maybe that is the reason why no one in Achker is allowed to see you, even Abby",       Celestine butts in as Adaia is explaining,    " because we're gonna hear these things from you. You're talking recklessly"   she adds.
Adaia laughs, " Oh dear you don't know what's reckless",     laiding his eyes on Celestine.
" Celestine, reckless is when you're so naive to trust every person who comes to show that they care". Adaia's words seem to says something.
" What do you mean? "      Celestine answered.
" There are so many things you kids don't know about Achker. A page in the Achkerian history was ripped off and  forbids every generation to have a glimpse of it because if they have, they're gonna see the difference between light and dark. You Achkerians have been there long in the dark, and you don't know anymore how light exactly looks like." Adaia explains fiercely, with so much mystery in her voice.
"Uhmm.Gran"    Abby clears her throat  "what was the forbidden history of Achker?"   She interrupts  awkwardly.
" And how can we not know the light, when we are walking in the light?"    Celestine butts in again.
Even Quasi now could not utter anything anymore. He's quite shocked by all he heard.
" Discover it yourselves",     Adaia answered. 
" Celestine, the moment when Achkerians embraced Cascade, that's the time you began to embrace the darkness. All of you are waiting for your full state? That's not gonna happen. The apocalypse is fast approaching,  when it comes you're all gonna turn into dust and will never be reborn. That will be the end of the Achkerian souls."     Adaia sounds sure of what she's revealing to the kids.
" Is there a way we can do to stop it?"     Celestine asks.
" Unless you're not an Achkerian or you're a half-breed, you have a chance not to die in the coming destruction of all creatures,"     Adaia answered.
" Woah! good thing I'm a half breed",      Quasi sighs in relief.
Celestine looks at Abby worries can be seen in both of them.
" What happened in the Polaris feast has long been set up by Cascade. The prophets know this truth very well and they have kept it in secret. They know that their family will be the first to die in the Apocalypse because they're pure Achkerians neither half-breed. That is why Cascade schemed to lose the sacred stone's energy so he could get everyone's power because to become more powerful than the Apocalypse, is the only way they can live."      Adaia continues her explanation. The three of them could not say a word now as if they're silently processing all the things they've heard.
How can this happen? Celestine remembers the first time Cascade taught her how to use her power. He had always been patient and gentle. Every time she and Abby does nonsense or violate some rules in Achker, he's there to defend them from Felon's fury. How could something like this happen? Achker has been her home. 
" Celestine... the weight of the motive equals the gravity of the action",      Cascade words echoed in her mind. How could this be?  She doesn't know what to feel now, all those times the Auribus and Astral has been looked down on in Achker, because they're half-breed or born from human parents, and now she's hearing that creatures like them are the one who's gonna survive?
" Celestine, Abby dear... Achker is not a fortress of reborn souls, It is a farm !"   Adaia now hits the point.     " And Cascade is going to harvest you all soon."    she's looking sincered and emphatic.
" Adaia, how come you know such things like these"?       Celestine asks.
" Because I'm in that ripped page of Achker's history"     she answered.
" You're an Achkerian too" Celestine stuttered.
" No dear...we're not", Adaia answered then she turned to Abby.    " Abby...our lineage is not an Achkerian."  Then she stands from her chair and walks slowly to Celestine. 
" I am one of the elders that's why I know those things", she speaks closer to Celestine   "And you dear" ... she sniffs Celestine's hair  " You are not an Achkerian, do not give up what is in you"    Adaia firmly advises Celestine. And Celestine got terrified of what she heard.




She knows already.
Cascade stood there by the window overlooking the mountain view from his tower. Thinking deeply who's elder whom Celestine talked to. Although he did not hear or saw what they did, he could sense that the kids are up to something now, and they're prompted to search more for answers.
Achker... for long he and his family had brought up the people and this land. It is because of their blood and sweat that the race had been successful and powerful enough, but recently, he had just seen a sign in the stars telling that their doom is near. His family doesn't have a choice but to do now what has been long planned.
He remembers that day when the temple hall in the Polaris field was made. He brought his son Vex there.
" Dad what is that for"?     asks Vex, he was a kid at that time.
" It is the greenhouse of our family son"     Cascade answer as he motioned his hands.
" Oh, such a huge house for the plants"      Vex grasps in amazement.
" Son, can you put a lock on our plant's house, so when it's time no one could not just go in and out from it",      he gently requested at his son.
Vex kneel half bending his body and touches the ground. A sparkling bright light that seems like lightning comes out of the ground creeping towards every corner of the hall upward to its glass wall and roof.
"Finish dad",      he said smiling as he wipes off his hands.
Cascade's mind continues to reminisce when he heard his wife coming.
" Hon, I felt the stars... how's our son? When is he going home"?      Felon panicks easily. She maybe the Keeper's wife, but she's the most coward.
" Soon... I am just fixing things up",     He answered.
" How can you be certain they're going to give up their powers"?     Felon sounds doubtful and worried.
" I'm sure as long as they trust me, there is no reason they won't do that"     Cascade assured his wife.
"Tell the officials to get the AV room ready, I'll be sending a message to all Achkerians, its better we should rush them now"     Cascade ordered his wife.







Celestine and her friends are now driving home.

They could not believe what they just discovered. 
" Are you going to stay in the astral's capitol"?      Quasi asks Celestine.
" No, I'll go home", Celestine is referring to their house in the city with her human parents. " I don't want to see Cascade's face",   she adds.
" How about you Abby? am I gonna drop you home"?      Quasi turns to Abby. 
" Yes, I'll just pretend I don't know anything and besides my family doesn't care about Gran,"      she answers.
Rrrrrrnnngg...Dylan is calling. Quasi press the phone button in the driver's seat.
" Hey, bro have you seen this"? Dylan's voice can be heard on the line. I will be sending a video to you now,"     then he ended the call. Quasi swipe the screen of his phone and press the link which his brother sent. And they see Cascade.

"Achkerians the time we have been waiting is now approaching near. The stars recently have shown clear and sure signs of Apocalypse.
If you remember during the Polaris feast, I have given you three months to decide about your sacrifice for the sacred stone, we are not going to wait for three months anymore. Now, is the time! Every ubralo and astralis are given this chance to prove the nobility and pureness of their souls by sacrificing every power they have for the revival of the sacred stone. We all know that without the stone, our souls could not go home into our full state, and we might never be reborn.
That was Cascade speaking in the video. The call for sacrifice is now urgent."

" Haiisssht! How can we even sacrifice for the sacred stone when there's not a sacred stone?!      Abby sounds pissed off.
" We must find the eliminated part of Achker's history sooner, maybe there's help in there",     Celestine said seriously.
" But where is that ripped page? you see, that events in the past have been erased even in the memory of every oldie in Achker, and the piece of its prints is thrown away, they made sure it will be sealed secret forever",     frustration can be felt in Quasi's tone.
" We will find it. I will find it",       Celestine replied to Quasi with conviction.       " For now, make sure your family is not gonna give anything to Cascade, Ok...I'm here already", call me if there are any news guys",      Celestine said before getting down from the car.

I promise I will find you...
see this...? 
There I'm sure I will find you
And she sees a gleaming light covering her...
But then, the surroundings change. Suddenly, she's there in a medieval-themed museum. There's just a little light in her way, she could not see the whole room clearly, but there is this light going to the room in the end. Celestine walks slowly following where the light is going.
There she is....she's now holding the knob, she slowly opens the room, but when she steps in, the floor suddenly lighted up in different colors. It's like something in there awaken. The lights are moving to form letters and words.
Then she heard a whisper....again that familiar voice she's been hearing before since she's there in her mother's womb.
" lies here are the untold history,"     the voice said.

Celestine's eyes quickly opens, catching her breath.  She's sleeping and she's dreaming.
She rushed to her phone on the side of her bed, and dial Abby's number.
" Hey, guys I know where the lost page is".Adaia, you have done your part very well.
Now, she's coming to us.
Said the voice in the line, whom Adaia is talking to.
Let's wait for her, the voice said.
Ok, sir... Adaia replied, and she drops the phone.




"So what does your mom says about this"? Abby asks her.
"Nothing, they're used to see me traveling alone",      Celestine replied to her friend.
"Cel, are you sure that the museum you see in your dream is in Norway? "      Quasi asks her.
"Yes, according to my research",  she replied.
"Uhmm...ok... "  Quasi lean his head on the back of his chair.
They're now on the plane flying to Verdens Ende, a town in Norway.

Sorry kids the museum is close for the holiday, visitors are not allowed this time. 

The guard told them.
"Guys do you want me to use my tricks on here? "  Quasi asks them whispering from the back.
"Shut up,"    Celestine grabs his wrist, trying to stop him from doing any supernatural.  She glances at Quasi.  " Not now, lets go back here later... come let's leave for now"  She said.
So when are we gonna go back?        Abby asks her, now they're far from the guards in the entrance.
"Let's go back here later at midnight"     Celestine told her firends.




"Dad, she's here and she's after the lost page. "    Cascade could hear his son's voice in his mind as if there's an audible voice passing into his ears. He knows that at this time, Vex is communicating with him.
"That is why you've been there in Norway for so long son"... Cascade replied in his mind.
"I understand,"  Vex replied.

  Celestine keeps walking, then she heard something cracks so loud as if it's breaking.    " Watch out"!     Quasi shouted at her. He quickly raises her hand moves his fingers and stops the debris from falling into Celestine. It freezes there in the air like for a minute, but then they heard something is gonna fall again, now it's more rapid. It's a blade, small blades are flying towards them from nowhere.
" Guys comes near to me",     Celestine shouted at her friend.
Abby run towards him. Celestine stares intensely at the blades rushing towards them.    " Shield"!     she told her mind as if commanding to put on a shield on them. A red luminous light hinders the blades it can't penetrate to their place. Celestine clenches her fingers like trampling something. The blades were distorted and then fall on the floor in pieces.
"Let's go!"      they heard Celestine as she's running towards the room.
" Cel, how did you that... it's my first time to...,     Abby asks her friend in wonder.
" I'm an astral right", remember?      Celestine cuts off what her friend is saying.
Astrals can only freeze things from moving, but they cannot command them so...Abby continued.
She's not an astral Abby remember what your Gran Adaia said?     Quassi dismisses what Abby has to say.
" We're here"...    Celestine open the door slowly. This is the same scenario she had in her dream.
" Where is the page here?     Quasi asks they are inside now/
" There must be a code or something?"     Abby said.
Celestine walks forward, inspecting every corner in the room trying to find a clue, she tries to remember the scenario in her dream.
Where is it? how?   she keeps on thinking about what to do next.
"Ok got it!"   she has figured it out now.
"Reveal!,"      Celestine moves her hand and commanded the floor they're stepping in.
Then they saw gold letters coming out from it, forming and grouping into words, like what she saw in her dream.
" Quasi! ...    she called him with urgency.  Can you gather these all and lock it in your palm? Celestine told his friend.
Quasi open his palm, laid it under the letters, urging them to go with him, one by one he grasps them slowly.
" Faster Quas, someone will come, he's already here"!      Abby shouted.
Then a man with a black mask suddenly appeared from behind them. She kicks Celestine, she's thrown away at the side. The man in the mask is strong and fast. It moves like a shadow, it can't be hit that easy. 
" Who are you"?      Celestine looks sharply at the man, getting ready for another attack, good thing Quasi had just finish keeping all the letters just when this man arrives.
" Give me the page"!      the masked man said at them, then he moves swiftly to Quasi and chokes him, next he stretches his another hand and Abby is moved towards him, now, he's also choking Abby.
" What are you gonna do now Celestine?",       he talks as if pissing her off.        " Give me the page or I will kill your friends"?     He continued.
She doesn't know what to do now. The man in the mask sees it in her face that she's now off guard. He laughs teasingly. 
" Are you gonna use what you learned in your astral training? it has no power over me.",  he said.
" Give me the page",     he turns to Quasi.
Celestine clenches her fist. She's not just pissed off with this guy, she feels angry and it's like she can't hold it back. She just stares at the man with a sharp look.
" What the?, Cel look your hands!",     Abby tells her as she's struggling.
Luminous lines are creeping in the skin of her hands slowly going upward, white, gold, blue lines, and her eyes change in color, a mixture of blue and luminous white.
" In case you're not informed yet, I am not astral",   Celestine said to the man in a deep fierce voice. Now some lines of light are also seen on her face, then he stares straight at the man, clenching her teeth in anger.
" Lose your breath",    she said in almost a whisper.
The man in the mask started feeling like he's running out of oxygen in her chest, going upward to his nose, he feels weak that he lost his hold on Abby and Quasi.
" Cel enough let's go",      Celestine comes into her senses when she heard Abby. Her face immediately changes, going back to its before, the lights are gone. They hurriedly run out of the museum. 
While the man in the black mask drops on the floor lying unconscious.



Vex... 
Cascade senses that something happened to his son. He closes his eyes, and he slowly melts like his body is disappearing. 
His soul teleports to where Vex is. As the special in his family, he is the only prophet who can teleport. He can't teleport with his body with him but even though it is that this is some kind of ability where he worked hard to master. No Achkerian can teleport.