Chapter 38 Lunaria's Sanctum Sanctorum
The light vanished and Gavin's breath caught in his throat. The sudden shift in location was disorientating to say the least. His stomach heaved, queasy and threatening to unload its contents.
"Don't you dare throw up!" Astrid's stern voice called from behind him.
Gavin swallowed the bile down as Erza placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her calming touch gave him the strength to control his stomach and take a moment to take a calm, deep breath. As he did so, Gavin and Erza took in the landscape around them. What they saw made Erza let out a soft gasp.
There was no obvious delineation between the sky and the ground. Just light. A living light that seemed eternal.
As Gavin took a closer look he could see that there was a vast silver meadow stretching in every direction; filled with translucent blades of grass. They shimmered softly with veins that seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of their own. The grass moved in a way that suggested that it breathed as well as having a heartbeat, as if it was a living entity all on its own.
The entire world exhaled in a slow, silent rhythm matching the meadow. The air itself seemed woven from drifting particles of energy and light; warm, golden, gentle and yet ancient. Gavin's instincts screamed despite the peace the energies gave off. This was not a place mortals were meant to stand.
The wolf stirred inside his chest, ears flat and hackles raised; not in fear, but in recognition. There was a higher power at work here and it was watching them. It felt as if the realm was alive and knew they were there.
Gavin's instincts screamed at him, demanded he shift and met this power at his strongest to protect these women at his side. The human side of him wanted to demand that they be taken back immediately to the campsite, even though he knew that Drake would just ignore it. In frustration he clenched his fist by his side and said nothing.
The thrum of the heartbeat in the grass caused it to sway and shift ever so slightly towards the group. It was not a welcoming movement. It was almost as if the grass was assessing them for the realm. Judging them to determine if they were worthy of being there.
Gavin swallowed, every sense prickling like his skin was being searched, molecule by molecule. He stood stock still and didn't speak. He couldn't, he didn't dare. What could he say in the presence of this intense, divine realm.
It was only after the Sanctum had studied the intruders to its satisfaction that Drake finally stepped forward, his voice breaking the sacred stillness. "Stay close and do not wander." As he spoke, the meadow moved and flowed, the silver grass swaying and guiding them.
"This is the realm of the High Mother, Lady of life, creation and light. The Lady Lunaria. As such, the realm is the embodiment of life itself." Drake's rumbling voice felt at home as he spoke, as if it too, was part of the realm.
Tessa whimpered in fright as she reached out a trembling hand to grab onto someone, anyone for stability. She held onto that person closely for support as she tried to process everything all at once. She didn't even know who she grabbed, she just needed to be grounded.
I… what… where… They weren't kidding. The gods really do exist. This place, the peace and lovelyness of it all, there is nowhere in all of Elyndra like this. Tessa's thoughts spun around as she stepped closer to the person she grabbed.
Erza looked over as she felt someone grab onto her arm with a trembling hand. She was surprised to see it was Tessa, with her face scrunched up, brows wrinkled and eyes wide open. Erza's expression softened slightly as she placed her hand over the other woman's. "It's going to be alright." She offered Tessa a gentle smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
Tessa startled as she realized it was Erza she had grabbed onto and gave her a scared smile back. Even though it was Erza's hand on hers she didn't let go. Instead she moved closer to her for greater comfort.
With every step the group took, the silver meadow pulsed in rhythm of the beat of the realms heart. The golden flecks of light flickered in and out as they walked along. Drake led them a short way along a path opened to them by the grass.
After what felt like an eternity, the group approached a large archway of glowing orbs full of dancing rainbow colors. With every breath the realm made, the colors changed. Just behind the archway, Gavin could see a vibrant rainbow colored forest. Trees with trunks wider than anything else he had ever seen also seemed to pulse and glow with the same heartbeat that the grass in the meadow did.
"We are almost there. Do not speak until spoken too. Mind your manners and remember who you are talking to. Lady Lunaria is the one above all others in life and creation. Do these things and you will be returned to the mortal plane alive." Drake's rumbling voice rang loud in Gavin's ears.
With that warning spoken, Drake led the party through the archway. The orbs of light continued to pulse as each member of the group passed under. Astrid and Kara brought up the rear, making sure the others did not lag.
Aria gasped as she saw the forest of rainbow trees ahead of them. The path continued through the forest as the trees moved aside to clear the way. At the end of the cleared path, the group could see a beautiful pool of water that glowed with a golden light.
On the far side of the pool was a lone woman. She was the embodiment of beauty. Voluptuous, radiant, flawless. She wore a flowing gown that reflected the light from the trees and space itself. It shimmered and flowed with every step, hugging every inch of her perfect body.
Her hair fell in golden waves over her shoulders and down to her waist. Weaved into it were shiny ribbons that glimmered like starlight. As she walked over, she turned to greet the newcomers and Gavin noticed that they were silver and that she had a faint white aura glowing around her. It was very subtle, but there nonetheless.
Her smile was radiant and somehow calmed Gavin's nerves and his wolf, pulling back the angry mana bubbling at the surface. "Welcome. So you are Koray's chosen one?" Her voice was like honey. Smooth, sweet and kind. Like the warmth of a hearth on a cold night.
Drake cleared his throat as he bowed low and reverently. "My lady, I have brought the wolf as you requested." His rumble shook the air around them as he kept his gaze lowered.
"Any trouble?" Her eyes linger on the Valkyrie sisters at the back of the group. "Nothing that presented any difficulties my lady." Drake's response was quick and respectful. Ignoring the fact he had to break up a fight between Gavin and the sisters.
Drake's words brought Gavin's anger to the surface. His eyes started to glow red as he stood behind Drake. Erza let go of Tessa and grabbed his arm and pulled him back before he did anything stupid out of anger. "Not now!" She hissed, her words filling his ears.
I agree with Erza Master Gavin. I do not recommend any hostile or aggressive action while here. Lady Lunaria is someone that you do not want to anger. Veronica's voice rang out in Gavin's head in agreement with Erza. What she said made sense and forewarned him not to take the actions he was getting ready to.
You act like I am an impulsive, angry beast! Gavin's reply held no venom as he backed down. It's terrifying when you both agree. Veronica replied to him with a satisfied huff, then withdrew her presence from his mind.
Gavin let out a deep sigh as he stepped forward. "That would be me." His words held no venom, no anger, just a faint trace of his frustration of the events over the past hour.
Lunaria smiled warmly as she walked over. No, one couldn't call it walking. The goddess seemed to just glide around the pool towards the group that stood there waiting. "Pleaseure to meet you. I am Lunaria and this is my realm." Her words spoken once again flowing like honey and silk. It had such an effect on Gavin, that he felt his anger and frustration seep away as he listened to her.
Even though her words had softened his anger and frustration, it did not remove them. "What do you want from me?" Gavin asked, his words were blunt and laced with apprehension. He raised his head and refused to bow. I am getting really tired of the gods involving themselves in my life!
Drake's eye twitched, but he made no comment as Lunaria drew closer to Gavin. The air shimmered with every movement, as if she carried the very cosmos with her. She stopped in front of Gavin, who had moved slightly to place himself between Lunaria and Erza, never taking his eyes off the goddess.
"You need to hear the truth about where you come from before you continue on your journey. It is not a happy truth." Lunaria's face saddens as she tells the group this.
"Centuries ago, a terrible crime was committed by the humans of your world." Lunaria's words flowed over them. The strongest of your kind were hunted nearly to extinction and due to laws put in place, neither myself nor any of the other gods were permitted to intervene and protect them." Her voice quieted and was laced with, what Gavin could only guess, was regret.
Erza stepped out from behind Gavin. "If you don't mind my asking," Erza began as she swallowed, "why would you care as a god? I mean, isn't your life eternal?"
A bitter sweet smile lifted the corner of the goddess's mouth as she looked at Erza. "I care, child, because as the goddess of life, light and creation, I value all aspects of life and detest senseless slaughter and death. That would be my husband, Thanarion, who enjoys that." Her voice was quiet as she replied.
"That still doesn't answer what you want from us." Gavin pressed as he reached for Erza's trembling hand.
"I know what Koray is trying to do, choosing you as his agent." Lunaria continued, her gaze glancing down to Erza's hand in Gavin's. "But, I fear you aren't anywhere close to the strength we need you to be. I watched the way you fought in Koray's little...training dungeon and you were...interesting."
Gavin stood a bit straighter at the thought that a god watched him fight. "Is that a good thing?" He asked, hoping to hear that it was.
Lunaria's laugh was warm and infectious to all in the group. "Oh son, you are amusing, but no, it is not. You were reckless, even foolish in the ways you fought each new enemy. You had no battle plan and just charged in headstrong sure that you knew best. You even ignored Veronica, who was given to you by Koray to help guide you and give you battle advice." The goddess admonished Gavin harshly.
Erza's grip tightened around Gavin's hand as he stiffened under Lunaria's words. "Hey, I won each fight, didn't I? That's all that matters!" He protested as he felt his temper rise.
"Spoken like a mortal with no life or battle experience!" Lunaria scoffed. "Let me ask you this, little wolf. How many of those battles would you have won if your partner didn't intervene at the last second?" Her rebuke wasn't cruel, but it cut Gavin deeply.
Gavin bit back his snarky retort as he let her words sink in. Veronica had saved him in every single near death fight he had. That realization was humbling. "I…every single fight." Gavin choked on the admission; heat flooding his cheeks.
Lunaria nodded. There was approval now in her gaze as her features softened. "You have gained great strength very quickly, this much is true wolf. But you must grow much more powerful if you are going to have any chance in protecting the surviving clans in hiding." She swept her hands, indicating the group around them.
"I'm not sure how much ancient history of the shifter race you know, so I will explain it quickly. The ancient ancestors of the original predatory shifter clans started growing too powerful. The human world leaders were afraid they would attempt to overthrow them and take control of the world. So, being human, they did what humans do when they fear something, they destroyed them." She paused as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Erza held her breath as she listed, while Tessa held on to Gavin's shoulder. Aria and Lyla intently stepped forward to hear better.
"The humans went through town and countryside destroying and killing as they did. They would round up every alpha predator clan they could find, slaughter them all and erase their family names from the records." Tessa sobbed in horror as she heard Lunaria's words.
Erza's shoulders shook as tears fell down her face as Lunaira softened her voice and continued on. "Naturally they didn't get all of the clans. There are small remnants of those clans that went into hiding in the forests and mountains. They remain hidden by a combination of magic and human technology."
Drake stepped forward at that moment. "These clans can not remain hidden forever, sooner or later they will be discovered. And when that happens, the humans will seek them out to continue the purge." His rumble shook Gavin to his core, causing his eyes to flare red with power and rage.
A flash of memory came to Gavin. A beautiful brunette, a baby blue sling and a campfire. He did not recognize these images and shook his head to clear his mind. "Is that what happened to my parents and family?" Gavin's words trembled in an angry whisper. He looked up and locked his gaze with Lunaria's. His glowing red to her shining silver swirls.
Lunaria nodded, her face passive and emotions in check. "Yes. The enemies of the alpha clans found your clan and slaughtered them just days after you were born."
Gavin snarled as a wave of anger, mana and power, exploded beyond his restraint of control. The wave expanded out from the group and out into the clearing. Hair was ruffled and leaves fluttered down from the boughs of their trees as they swayed when the mana washed over them.
Drake lifted an eyebrow at the display as the young man's shoulders shook with his fury. Erza placed her hand against Gavin's shoulder and Tessa took a step back in surprise. "Easy baby, control it. Don't let your anger rule you." Erza whispered in his ear as she watched him struggle to control his anger. No, not just his anger, but…..his pain. Her heart fluttered as she saw the grief and rage mix together inside him.
"She's right. Don't let your emotions control you. You need to grab them and shove them down tight." Drake commented as he stood in front of Gavin.
"Easy for you to say." Gavin snarled, directing his fury at Drake. He took one step forward, his body trembling, burning, itching with the need to slug the smug bastard in his perfect jaw.
"You are not strong enough to even entertain that suicidal thought in your mind wolf, but if you want a reminder of what true power is like, I can allow Kara a chance to fight you again." Drake whispered as he leaned in closer to Gavin.
Kara took a hesitant and reserved step towards them. "Now is not the time, wolf. Not in front of Lady Lunaria." The fact that even Kara, the embodiment of headstrong and recklessness, hesitated to jump into a fight, made Gavin pause.