The day was gloomy as Serenah got ready to visit Grand High Priestess Sacer. The weather seemed to mirror her mood. All day at school, she'd been listless and restless. No matter what Romeo and the crew tried, they couldn't raise her mood. Even Alastar was concerned by her emotional state.
She couldn't explain it herself why she felt dispirited and drained. This wasn't like her at all. Not that she was always upbeat and the life of the party. No, she was like any other teenager. Yet today…today was something altogether different.
Taking one last look at her reflection, she stood and made her way to the car garage. Alastar opened her door and she slid inside. They were quiet on their way to the temple. Serenah stared out the window at the overcast sky. It would rain later. She could feel it. It made her mood plummet.
"Serenah, we're here."
She blinked and sat back. Was she so lost in thought that she didn't even notice their arrival at their destination? She ignored Alastar's concerned look and got out of the car. A different acolyte than last time stood at the entrance. He bowed and stepped aside.
They moved past them and came to a halt. Serenah stared in mute surprise. Gone was the modern décor. Instead, the interior resembled the one from the old world complete with torches instead of electric lights.
"What?" she stammered.
"Nostalgic isn't it?"
Serenah spun and stared down the hall. Sacer glided toward them in her glowing priestess's robes. Serenah and Alastar bowed.
"Come this way."
Sacer led them down the opposite hallway. Serenah wasn't sure how long they walked but she could feel the magic humming in the air. It was stronger than last time. Had Sacer managed to tap into this dimension's magic? She was curious to know how the priestess had managed that. She would ask once they reached their destination.
Sacer stopped in front of a plain wooden door and unlocked it. The room was well lit with a fire burning in the fireplace. Serenah shivered. The blue dancing flames signaled the purification of the room against dark magic.
"Please sit."
Serenah sat and wasted no time in getting to the point. "How did you get your magic stronger? Why are you purifying this room?"
Sacer smiled at her. Serenah didn't take offense. The older woman was looking at her as one would a child who answered correctly.
"The answer to your first is the strengthening of our bonds to this world. As for the second, it has to do with our meeting today."
An ominous chill stole over Serenah. Sacer's words sounded prophetic. That did not bode well for her. She didn't want any missions from Autem. The last hadn't turned out well for her.
"I don't think I want to know," she said, her posture stiff with tension.
"Unfortunately, that is not an option, Your Highness."
Serenah flinched at the use of her title. This was going to be bad. She could feel it in her soul.
"Autem has decreed that we stop the awakening of the dark goddess."
"Dark goddess?" Alastar spoke up for the first time, his tone disbelieving.
"Yes, the dark one. She was banished at the beginning of the creation of mortal creatures in our realm. She practiced evil magic as well as death magic. She didn't care who she hurt or killed. She thrived on all things negative and gave that power to her followers. They grew stronger by feeding on the pain and suffering of living things."
"Why are there no stories of her then? I've read all our history books, yet I've not heard of her."
"Our ancestors decided to erase her from history in fear of others following in her dark ways."
"That's just foolish," retorted Alastar. "If you don't know about past mistakes, you are doomed to repeat them because you don't have a chance to learn from them."
Sacer nodded. "I agree. However, what is done is done. We can't undo it. We can only move forward and take measures to stop the catastrophe from happening."
Serenah sighed. She knew it. She was about to be sacrificed for the greater good. Damn, Autem for doing this to her.
Sacer rose from her seat as a stiff breeze blew in the room, whipping her long hair about. Her eyes glowed with Autem's power.
"Princess Serena, daughter of the Bloodthirsty Tyrant Bayrel, heed my words. You must find the four mythical beasts who are hidden in this world. You must gain their trust and enlist their aid in combating the dark one and her minions."
"How can I find them? I'm not able to move freely, My God," Serenah protested.
This was unfair! He was doing this to her again. Couldn't he see she wasn't worthy or capable of this mission? She wanted to cry in frustration. If, she failed this time too, who knew what punishment Autem might dole out.
Sacer's eyes narrowed and Serenah lowered her head, sweat trickling down her face from the heat of Autem's displeasure.
"You will do as I command, Child. You are the only one who can," Autem ordered.
Serenah flinched when Sacer's hand patted her bowed head. "You can do it, Serenah, I have faith in you."
Serenah jerked her head up in surprise. Sacer's eyes no longer glowed. Autem had left.
"I have a gift for you from Autem."
Sacer went to her desk and opened a rectangular box. She came back with an oval-shaped pendant in her hand. Undoing the clasp, she moved behind Serenah and fastened it.
Serenah gasped when the power in the pendant gave her a mild shock before flowing into her body. She twitched. The jolt of the energy raised her body's temperature breaking her into a sweat.
"Ouch," she complained. As abruptly as it started, it ceased. She stroked the pendant as her magic hummed in response.
"Good, it is compatible with you," stated Sacer with a grin. "That pendant has been in safekeeping for close to nine hundred years. No one has been able to get it to respond. I guess it was waiting for the right person."
"What does it do?" Serenah studied the pendant and saw the engraving of the four mythical beasts on it. "Dragon, gryphon, kraken, and phoenix," she murmured caressing the pendant.
"It will guide you. Also, only you, Alastar, and I can see it. Others will notice it and see a regular necklace with a heart-shaped amethyst charm."
"What about the mythical beasts? Will they see its true form?" asked Alastar who had moved to Serenah's side to get a look at the pendant.
"Yes, they will be drawn to it. They will seek to test you, Your Highness, to see if you are worthy of their aid."
"Great, just what I need. More tests," complained Serenah.
Sacer chuckled. "You will be fine, Your Highness. You are smart and brave when needed. I have full confidence you will pass all tests thrown your way."
Serenah wasn't so sure about that. She kept that thought to herself, though. She checked the time and frowned. "We have to get going."
"Yes, it is getting late. Come." Sacer opened the door and Serenah blinked, surprised to see their car.
She started to ask and changed her mind. It was better not to know. She and Alastar bowed once more to Sacer and got in their car.
They went home, each lost in their thoughts and worries about this unexpected mission.