The Elemental Aspect (Book 1 of the Caster Project Series)

Chapter 12: The Arrival of the Five

Aliana was standing on the balcony of one of the towers overlooking the Stronghold. The young woman was no longer dressed in her ragged clothes. Instead, she was wearing a simple purple dress with an embroidered white cloak.  She felt at peace as she stood alone in the sky. The breeze was soft, softer than anything she's ever felt. As the young woman relished in the silence, she felt a slight tingle. The feeling had started to make itself known the night before. It was like a motion sensor, detecting the doorway between Earth and Aralion opening. It didn't irritate her the least, but it was just another reminder that she was different. Then the thought soon came to her. She is different. She was never from Earth. Her short time there felt like a lifetime, memories implanted by someone she never met. Or has she? Ever since her arrival to Aralion, there was something else bothering her. She felt cold, even on the warmest of nights. There was a pull to something, something that was important. And she had a desire to kill.

She shook her head as if she were shaking away the thoughts and muttered, "It's probably just post-interdimensional sickness."

Aliana sighed and watched below as the other mages were performing several of their tasks. Her attention was stolen, however, as several of them ran across the stronghold. A commotion has been stirred as more and more dropped what they were doing and followed their friends deeper into the stronghold.

"Looks like they're here," she said aloud. Aliana turned and headed back into her room and walked down the spiral staircase to see the newcomers.

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Six pairs of feet stepped out of the floating puddle as the five teenagers took in their surroundings. The group was standing in a large circular room with grand tapestries. Several pedestals lined the walls. Each had a hilt embedded on the top. Damian took a moment to realize that he was in a different place.

"Wait, we're not standing outside of the forest," he said.

"No, we're not," Vitiate said. He brushed his robes as the portal closed behind them. "We're in the Room of Masters. This place holds artifacts wielded by the greatest Mages and Enchantresses in the Order. This room is the closest to the stables."

"Stables?" Joseph asked.

Before the mage could respond, the group heard a disgusting wrenching sound from behind. They turned to find Max holding onto a pedestal for support with a puddle of vomit uncomfortably close. Everyone gagged as they looked at Max with disapproving glances.

"Seriously, dude?" Damian said.

"What? I can get trans-dimensional sickness," Max said defensively. He wiped the corner of his mouth, and nonchalantly stared back at his friends.

"You just threw up over someone's pedestal," Catherine pointed out. "And in the Room of Masters."

"Well, I mean, there is a mage of cleanliness, right Vitiate?" Max asked.

The mage shook his head and said, "There isn't such thing, Max. We do, however, have a janitor. I'll notify him about this...mess."

Vitiate then walked out of the Room of Masters and gestured for the others to follow. They silently chuckled as their friends looked red with embarrassment. As they walked through the Stronghold, Damian's friends stared wide-eyed at the massive structures and the magic held within its walls. Many of the mages they passed stopped what they were doing and bowed to them. This made them uncomfortable.

"Why are they bowing?" Teresa whispered.

"Because all of you are here," Vitiate said. "Remember, you five now hold the ancient elemental powers. To hold such power is seen as an honor in Aralion."