Unveiling

Death of the Sacred Stone

The sacred stone is the most important thing in Achker, and the Achkerians view it as the center of their existence. They believe that this stone holds the secret to their soul's long-awaited completeness. It's a passport to their long-awaited perfect state of spirits, a ticket to the world they yearn for. Achker would not exist if it weren't for it. The sacred stone is the reason why they are all here in this land. Their lives are heavily reliant on the stone, losing it would mean losing their souls. 

The stone in appearance is grayish blue, radiance, and is kept in a box under Cascade's care. No one can touch or see it except him for he is the Keeper.

Yes, the Achkerians elected him as their Keeper. Part of his responsibility is to keep the stone safe and to guide them until they all reach that fullness they long for. And because he's the Keeper, he's the only person in Achker who can touch the stone getting burn. 

In Acher, they have one standard for one to be a Keeper, first, he could touch the sacred stone without getting hurt, and he must be from the prophet clan, the clan whom they regard as the highest and strongest. 

And Cascade has met all those. 

Rushing to the rooftop garden, in the lavish alley in the castle at the Keeper's Mount is Felon. Her face over-decorated face is frowning as she approaches Cascade. 

 " Why you didn't punish that rebel?" Felon mutters disappointedly to her husband. 

Cascade widens his gaze and chuckles, " rebel watching a movie is just a simple teenage thing" he replies to his wife. 

" even though, " Felon pouts crossing her arms on her chest, " they're not just ordinary teenagers, they're Achkerians, you know we should walk in a pure path if not we will not...." she said with raised eyebrows lifting her chin up.  

Cascade raised his hands and cuts her off, " The darkness of the purpose is equal to the weight of the action. You should be aware that you are the Keeper's wife.", he said pointing at her. 

" It's nothing serious", Cascade said 

" Topic dismiss. " he said turning his back on Felon. 

Felon brushes her hair irritably and sighed. 

" Whatever!", she rolled her eyes and walk away. 

Felon is a stylish yet terrifying lady. She's in her late 50s, the same age as Cascade, but in Achker, age is not measured in the same way that humans do, because they believe their current age may not reflect the true age of their souls. Cascade doesn't care how old he is, but Felon does. She is hoping that her fullness state is younger than her physical body. That is her ultimate goal, the reason why she's looking forward to that completeness of the souls like them - beauty, youth, and glory, that's what she wants why she's here in Achker and why she's clinging unto the power her husband have. Yet for now, while those days are still far to come, she must make a remedy for her discontented self. Vanity is her language, like an overacting fashion style, cosmetics, and body modification, this is what keeps her alive at the moment. 

Felon paused and pulls out a small mirror in her pocket, checks her face if it's affected by the stress she has right now. 

Good thing our son is born in a young body. He's well built, handsome, and ruthless. He doesn't have a problem like this of mine. Felon thinks while stressing herself out in the mirror. 

" Wait! I haven't checked on Vex today", she murmurs. 

 In the hillside village near Achker is a small coffee shop where Celestine and her friends usually hang out. 

" Hey, Quasi have you heard of Vex? Celestine asks. 

" Yes, I bet he has a good life in Norway" Quasi answered.

" Really?" Abby's eyes glistened as she chew some pastries. 

" Yes, and I heard he's living there like how humans live," Quasi muttered. 

" How come? he's the son of the Keeper?" Abby commented with raised eyebrows. 

" I don't know" Quasi shrugs his shoulders.

" By the way, guys the Polaris Feast is near, are you guys attending?", Celestine changes the topic.

" I'm not sure" Quasi answered his tone sounds disappointed, "My family has a different schedule that day, you know my mom is an ubralo she doesn't care about the feast. I don't know if I and Dylan can sneak out," he said. 

" Okay, you like us to help you?" Abby grins naughtily. 

Quasi shakes his head, " Oh, no need I know you'll cause more trouble" he said chuckling. 

" Besides if we did something odd again, Felon will freak out this time," Celestine said. 

They know Abby very well that doing naughty things is what would ease her boredom. 

" Wait,", Celestine mutters 

" Abby, you said that your Gran is an oldie in Achker right?", she asks.

Abby furrowed her brows, " yeah..why?"

" Maybe we can go visit her some time"? Celestine said with a wide grin. 

" and hear some old tales?" Quasi interrupted

Abby stares at Celestine's face as if thinking. 

" You're up to something serious...right?", she asks. 

" That sounds fun" Abby giggles excitedly. 

" What if Cascade learns about it?" Quasi commented.

"Well, at least we had some fun, before the Polaris", Abby said sounding reckless. 

"Okay, so when are we gonna see your gran, Abby?" Celestine asks ignoring Quasi's hesitation. 

" The soonest", Abby answered excitedly

Quasi sighed. Okay, the girls win. He thinks. 

Straight black hair, common face, and delicate aura, tall and thin body is a teenage girl, Celestine. Unlike the other girls in Achker she came from ubralo parents ( ordinary humans). Quasi and Abby are her closest friends. Quasi and Celestine belong to the same clan. They are both astral. Quasi's mom is an ubralo while his dad is an Achkerian. Unlike Abby, she's pure Achkerian but she belongs to the weakest clan, the Auribus. But her family is very dedicated when it comes to things concerning Achker. 

The Polaris Feast is essential to who they are. Tonight isn't just a night of power display, but this is also a night to receive a message from the cosmic sky. The Achkerians are gathered together amidst the cold night in this wide grassy field. The scent of herbs penetrates the glass hall, as they wait quietly inside of it. Each of them is waiting for a revelation to unfold. 

Silence filled the atmosphere as each of them waits on their knees. Everyone is serious like it's awkward to make a noise, but not Abby 

" Cel..." she whispers poking her arms. 

" What?!"

" I'd pee..."

" huh? why now?"

" Please..."

Celestine rolled her eyes, and they both stands and exits from the ritual. 

A few moments later

" Have you seen Quasi?" 

" Did they attended the feast?"

" I didn't saw him...not sure"

 Baaanggg! Krrshhhh!

" Cel?!", Abby immediately went out of the cubicle, 

" what's happening?" she sound agitated. 

" huh?"

" I heard a loud bang! something exploded!", she exclaims. 

The restroom is far from the field where they heald the ritual for the Polaris feast. Abby being an Auribus could hear clearly even from a distance. 

" Oh...cmon! let's go back there!", Celestine grabs Abby's hands and they run back to the glass hall in the field. 

" huh?! what's this?"

They gasp as they feel like they're hitting an invisible wall. After several attempts, they just bounced back and can move forward. 

Abby grasps her head. The screams and wailing now become louder but hey...what's this? She wonders. 

" Cel I can hear Cascade laughing..", she mutters. 

" laughing?"

" yeah...like he's gone crazy?"  

Then after a while, they heard another explosion, and they saw the top of the hall burning. 

" We need to get through this, Cel!", Abby yells urgently. 

Okay...I can't just let them die in there. They're like family to me, aside from that Quasi might be there too...Celestine thinks. She closes her eyes and lines of light flash creeping on her face. 

" Whoaahhh!", Abby gasps, " your eyes!", she said looking at Celestine. 

" It looks like a galaxy is reflected in there!", Abby said referring to her iris. 

Celestine raises her hand and motions it as if tearing the unseen barrier, great lights illuminate them, and then after a few moments, the surroundings turn normal and they were able to run forward, proceeding quickly to the glass hall. 

" Celestine you're here!", Cascade mutters stretching his arms wide as if welcoming them with a sarcastic tone. 

What the? Everyone couldn't move in fear. Now the entire hall is silent but their faces are frightened. The fire was put out...the hall is a mess? What had happened? She thinks as she looks around. 

" Why there has been suddenly a barrier out there?", Celestine asks in an irritated tone. 

Cascade burst a laugh. " Isn't my son genius?", he said.  

Genius? Something isn't right. Celestine said to herself. 

Then after a while, in a snap of Cascade's fingers, the Achkerians began moving, yet fright is still on their faces. 

"Achkerians Listen, this year's Polaris Feast is unlike any other feast we've ever held. Today, there's unusual in the stars. A celestial star devoured the sacred stone!" Cascade told the Achkerians. 

Sighings...

Sobs...

"We are well aware that without the sacred stone, we shall become trapped in this era and can't reach the completeness of our souls! Now, I suggest that to keep this goal of ours, we must sacrifice our powers to restore the stone!" Cascade said to them. 

Celestine glanced at the sacred stone that's in a transparent box. It has lost its luster. 

" Quasi...Abhaya?"

She heard him calls her friends. 

Her eyes widen. 

"No!" Celestine shouted. 

Cascade is stunned to hear her objection. It's the first time she heard her said no! 

" We...can't just decide right away!", Celestine said. 

" Everyone has free will, give us a chance to decide whether we'll give what you're asking," she adds. 

Cascade walks towards her like his every gaze is threatening. " Are you doubting me, Celestine?" he asked. 

" Is there a reason to doubt you?" Celestine replies. Her tone seems inviting an argument.  

Cascade again burst a cold, creepy laugh. 

" Why don't you show us your... galaxy eyes?" he said to her. 

" Huh? How come? "

Cascade reaches to her, grasping her hair gently stroking his palms on it, though the gesture seems fine yet Celestine could feel some danger. He smiled at her. 

" Dear...you don't know what you are but I know you...very well", Cascade said. His words though softy uttered feel sound like a warning. 

"You're heading us to a dangerous road" Celestine replied.  

" Don't you trust...your Keeper?"

Celestine looks at him straight into his eyes. The Cascade in front of her is a bit different now, and far from the one who she usually talked with before. 

" Yeah...I don't trust you", she replied in a soft firm tone. 

Cascade responds with a smirk. Then he faces the Achkerians, " Ok, I will give you time to decide, you have 3 months to offer your abilities or your souls will perish, and will never be reborn! " he said to them.