Moon Whisper- Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

As Zeke approached the Council’s headquarters for the second time today, he ran through his plan in his head, in hopes it would turn out.
“Young man, are you going to the council?”
Zeke turned and seen an old man, wearing a light gray cloak and walking with a cane.
“Yes, I am,” Zeke responded.
“Splendid. I tag along with you. I always wanted to see these meetings in person.”
“May I ask you your name?”
“Damien Rith Echuiver.”
Zeke was surprised at the name as the old man said his name. “Rith is that you?”
“Silent, mortal,” Rith whispered. “I am trying to be in disguise here. Don’t blow my cover.”
“Understood.”
The two of them walked into the building and stepped up to the receptionist in the lobby.
“Yes, you are expected in the main meeting hall. It’s down the hall to your left, the third door on your right.”
The two walked down the long halls of the Councilate, planning on how to prove Valandil's treachery.
“I hope you expect to oust our traitor, Zeke.”
“So do I, if Budi doesn’t. But I hope he has knocked some sense into Valandil if we’re wrong.”
“Let’s just hope we are correct about this.”

“Order. The 75th meeting of the Council of Laiqua is in order. The Honorable High Councilor Valandil presiding.”
“Thank you. Today is a sudden calling of the council, I know. But we have a special observer today. From the Village of Nar, High Elder Jeremiah Budi.”
“Thank you, Council Valandil.”
“This meeting is to vote on Action 417: The Noleveo Proposition, which states that the indyos of the Noleveo in Laiqua are to receive their said powers stated below. I believe we have someone to speak on their behalf. Mister Galanodel, you may speak.”
“Thank you. Council, I have been chosen, as well as my companions, as indyos of the Noleveo. I have been told by High Elder Carter from Caran that there is at least one Noleveo indyo here in Laiqua. I hope you approve that their successor will get the gifts preordained by the Gods. If you don’t approve, the Qualinosta will raze your city to the ground, no matter what sort of defense you have.”
“Thank you, Mister Galanodel. Now to vote. All who approve on this matter please raise your hands now.” Several councilors raised their hands.
"All who oppose?” Several more raised their hands. It was hard to tell from Zeke’s seat, but the majority seemed to approve the action.
“From the results, the action is denied.”
“What?!?”
“I beg your pardon, Valandil. But I counted more ‘yes’ votes than ‘no’ votes,” Budi said disappointed.
“I am sorry, Budi, but I counted 65 ‘no’ and 35 ‘yes.’”
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Valandil,” one of the councilors shouted.
“If you want to discuss this again, submit it to the council again.”
“Why don’t you stop your crap you are pulling on this council and approve this matter?”
“The results are already in and cannot be changed.”
“Don’t you care for the city, Valandil?”
“THE DECISION IS FINAL!”
The old man stood up and walked up to the High Councilor’s seat.
“Who let this man in this room?”
“He is with me.”
“Old man, this is a private meeting. You cannot be here.”
“I was about to say the same thing to you, traitor.”
“What did you say?”
“How many years has it been since coming down the mountains, Gideon?”
“I’ve always been in Laiqua.”
“How many, Abraham?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about? And get my name right.”
“How many, Judas?”
Valandil rushed out of his chair and tackled the old man to the floor. Many of the guards there ran to help the old man.
“It’s okay. He’ll be fine,” Zeke said to Cora, James, and Lia, who were rushing to aid the old man.
Suddenly, a bright light came the fight, blinding those in the meeting hall. As the light dimmed, a tall warrior stood tall above the High Councilor.
“You traitor fool. You expect Oira to ignore your suspicious ways?”
“My people have transformed the Eryn regions from years now. I have done my master a favor for a small reward.”
“Zeke, look at what Mardiosta is reduced to if you do not stop them. If he was manipulated by Qualinosta, imagine everyone you know like this.”
Zeke was scared to think of what might happen if he failed. The thoughts of his parents, his friends, his city being destroyed by the Qualinosta demons if he didn’t complete his quest.
“Zeke, you need to help me seal this traitor.”
“No, Echuiver. I will help you,” Budi said as he walked towards the two.
“You know how to seal him to where he belongs?”
“I’ve sealed my fair share of evil beings, Echuiver. Do not doubt me.”
The two men raised their left hand and chanted, “Vaelaeri sor aelor mosor, Ai tystal si! (Release this evil spirit, I command thee!)”
Slowly, Valandil, or what was left of him, disappeared; leaving what was originally his human connection to the world, a skull with a weird marking on top of it. Rith and Budi were exhausted after the ritual.
“That marking, I don’t recognize it,” Budi said, trying to catch his breath.
“It looks like a transmutation circle,” Zeke answered.
“A transmutation on human remains?” Cora asked.
“Nothing like a homunculus, fortunately.”
“But is it possible to do that?” Budi asked, finally regaining strength.
“For many years, doing alchemy on human remains was considered forbidden among many wise men. But as the need for dependence became larger, many alchemists from distant lands used artificial remains to help those in need. This mark was used rarely, due to its dark symbols in its array. It’s highly unlikely that those alchemists are responsible for this.”
“Well, the Qualinosta are responsible, I know for sure. But from what I recall, no one in Kylian’s army had used alchemy during the battle,” Rith said.
“Alchemy didn’t really develop here until the 2nd age. No one knew it existed until traveling alchemist came to Mardiosta and taught some of the locals.”
“That must mean someone in Kylian’s army didn’t get sealed away.”
“The question is who?”
“Never mind that. Who’s going to run the council since Valandil is dead?” one council member asked looking at the wreckage.
“Well, how about my dad?” Zeke said. “He’s been a loyal member of the Council for fifteen years.”
“Well, Thomas is a good choice for the job.”
“I will be pleased to hold the job until elections.”
“That’s a good idea. Until we hold our elections this Hithui, Thomas Galanodel will be interim High Councilor.”
The excitement was overwhelming for the once low-level councilor. Thomas had burst into tears from the joy.
“Now, my first order of business is to have Jeremiah Budi and his guests come forth. Lia, James, and Cora please step forward.”
The meeting hall was silent as Thomas spoke to the three.
“As you may not know, there was once a group of men and women who saved this great land from evil. These great warriors, though powerful, died and live as ghosts across this land. Before their deaths, they bestowed a prophecy that named eleven children, when born, would be named successors of their knowledge, power, and talents.
“After years of searching, we have found three of those children, my sons, Ezekiel and Joseph Galanodel, and from Nar, Raine Juffery. Now we have found three more,”
“I don’t understand,” Lia said confused.
Soon three cloaked figures stood in front of them.
“You may remove your cloaks, please.”
The figures removed their cloaks and Cora, James, and Lia were surprised to see themselves standing before them in ghost-form.
“These three are you predecessors. You three are the indyo of the Noleveo, the warriors of Mardiosta,” Budi said.
“There is a ritual that must be done before you leave. Gentlemen and ladies, you may now start.”
The ghosts touched the heads of their respective indyos and transferred the knowledge, power, and abilities of their mortal lives. Soon after they were done, Lia, James, and Cora passed out from exhaustion.
“It’s okay. They just need to rest,” Zeke told the oncoming guards. Thank you. Which ones are they?”
“The Noleveo of Magic, the Green Noleveo, is Lia. The Noleveo of the Druids, the Yellow Noleveo, is James. And the Noleveo of the Ninjas, the Black Noleveo, is Cora.”
“Thank you. I’ll have Budi fill them in once they come to.”
“It is nice to see that Ariales still is kind to all.”
“Who is Ariales?”
“Your ancestor, Ezekiel. Now we must go. Our time on the plane is over. Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
The three ghosts disappeared into thin air. Zeke was given a new outlook on his quest.

“Uhh, what happened?” Lia asked as she came to.
“You fell asleep once the ghosts touched you,” Zeke explained.
“I remember seeing a woman creating large magic attacks and launching them into a hoard of sahuagins.”
“That is a memory of your past life. The Noleveo you received your power from had done that in her lifetime,” Budi responded.
“So am I one of the Noleveo?”
“Yes. You are the Noleveo of Magic. Your powers and abilities are based on your magic. The more you use, the more powerful it gets.”
“Whoa. I thought that I had mastered all I needed.”
“No.”
“Man, I dreamed of a young woman going through an onslaught of ninjas in a tall tower.”
“That was your past life, Cora. Your ancestor did that in her lifetime.”
“Am I one of those things that you and your dad talked about, Zeke?”
“Yes, you are a Noleveo. More importantly, you are the Noleveo of the Ninjas. Your power is derived from all the skills possible for a ninja to know. Your speed and stealth cannot be matched by normal humans.”
“Wow.”
“James is still asleep.”
“Let’s take him to my house. He’ll be asleep for a while.”
“Thank you, Jeremiah.”
“I’m High Elder Budi to you now. And it is my pleasure. Will you head north?”
“I’m not sure. But if we do, we’ll stop and pay you a visit.”
“Glad to hear it. Well, I must be off.”
And in an instant, he vanished into thin air.
“Well, let’s get James home and let him rest. We got a party to go to!” Thomas said joyfully.
“Oh, Dad.”

“Zeke, why didn’t you tell me that you were a Noleveo as well?” Lia asked.
“I didn’t know how to tell you that you were one too. I was scared of how you would react.”
“But in all fairness, you should have told me.”
“I know. And I should have told Cora and James, but I didn’t know what would happen.”
Time seemed to stop for a moment. Zeke knew what was about to happen.
“Zeke, you are too uncertain in your quest. You doubt yourself as well as the others. Ariales never doubt his friends, no matter what danger came about,”
“But I’m not Ariales. I’m Zeke Galanodel. I cannot be someone that I am not!”
“I see. Zeke, you must trust those who are close. Your quest is dangerous. You cannot handle it alone.”
“But I cannot put my friends in danger.”
“You must in order to save Mardiosta.”
“I know.”
“Your quest will get harder now. You must travel north to Culunia in the Ettelen Regions. Three more will join you in the passing months.”
“Will we be able to see my parent’s baby?”
“Only time will tell.”
In a flash, time was back to normal. Everything was as it was before.
“Do not trouble yourself, son. Let’s celebrate tonight!”
“I think a party is in order,” Lia replied.
The group headed towards Zeke’s house, where there was loud music, people laughing, and everyone enjoying themselves. They partied the remainder of the day, never once telling anyone about the dangers that are about to come.

“Is everything alright?”
“Yes, but doubt is starting to settle in his head.”
“He must be strong. I sense something is coming their way fast.”
“Is it?”
“No, but it is coming.”
“They must do this alone this time, Rith. We cannot interfere until she has fallen.”
“Must she? To lose her from here is not right.”
“She must be resurrected in order for them to fight. Besides, her soul is clean now. What is one loss going to do for us?”
“I understand, Enyalie.”