The three amber orbs and the gifts they bring
Ardyn's eyes snapped open to see the defensive shield before her. She frowned as her senses shot out to determine the threat. She quickly stood and automatically aligned herself with Atina in a battle stance.
Then she realized there was no threat. She relaxed and stood down.
'Lower the shield Atina.'
'Yes My Lady.'
The shield dissolved away - like a mirage in the desert - and the three amber orbs were spinning in the air before them. Once the shield was gone the orbs quickly rushed to Ardyb and disappeared into her chest.
Ardyn felt her soul stir, expand, and learn. She looked to Atina as she felt the evolution of her soul initiate.
"We will stay here for a bit more. Allow me time to absorb these gifts."
Atina nodded to her and began to fade into shadow. "Of course My Lady."
Ardyn shook her head. "Little sister." But Atina was already gone. Ardyn pursed her lips and shook her head again. Then she began to breath deeply. Her soul sea began to ebb and flow, back and forth.
The first orb rose and bloomed into a dark purple rose. Streams of magic flowed from it like pollen in a strong storm and it scattered throughout her soul sea.
The waters of Ardyn's sea become turbulent and rose high above her soul plain. The waters crashed against the land and reshaped her entire soul plane. From the depths of her soul sea a wide purple bloom rose and moved into the upper areas of the plain.
It cast its shadow across the entire plain and Ardyn felt the truth of it. She felt a sense of security spread throughout her being and a distant song whispered through her being.
The waters of her souls sea calmed but did not become completely calm.
The purple bloom opened even more and it connected with the plain to become one with it.
Ardyn's Soul Shield had formed.
Once this was done a second amber orb rose high and her vine staff formed at her side of its own accord – as if called forth by the orb itself. The staff rose and it and the orb met each other half way.
A shock wave of power blasted through her soul plain the moment they came together. Her vine staff shattered into vines of different sizes and shades of green. Flower buds appeared along the vines like sleeping thoughts waiting to be needed.
The vines twirled together and reformed the vine staff. Ardyn lifted her arm up and reached toward the staff – and it materialized in her open palm. She grabbed the staff and quickly brought it down.
Her body moved back as she brought it to her chest, testing it's heft and center of gravity, then she twirled it – the vines spinning out in streams of deadly projectiles, the flower buds quickly opening up and spraying out deadly pollen.
She jerked her arm back and it quickly came back together. She thrust it forward and squeezed her hand around it quickly seven times – seven deadly projectiles, that looked like small flower buds, shot from the tip of the staff.
Ardyn drew the staff back – nodding in appreciation – and brought it to her side. It dissipated and went back to rest.
In the next moment the third amber orb rose before her. It spun just before her chest and she sensed that it was waiting for her permission. She nodded and it entered her chest.
Dark amber lines moved across her chest and formed an intricate rune. The rune pulsed several times then a low, vibrant and melancholy melody moved through her soul plain.
Light blazed before her. When it died down a silver talisman with the same rune, in red, appeared before her. It spun in the air, at eye level. The area around the talisman sparked with power.
The Life Call Talisman had formed.
Ardyn took the talisman from the air, her hand trembled with power, and she put it around her neck. She instantly fell to her knees – the power of the talisman syncing with her body.
She looked up and opened her mouth in a silent scream. Bright with light streamed from her open mouth and eyes. The entire plain went brilliant and shimmers of rainbow light fell from above.
Her soul plain altered again and the once barren plain bloomed with flowers of varying shades and hues of purple and the skies turned a pale purple as the waters went a deep royal purple.
She stood in awe as she felt the power of her soul. As she watched the transformation the talisman whispered in her ear.
"Complete the Life Way and find what you seek. I am the beginning"
The Life Way – the answer she sought.
It was finally time to find what she needed for long life and return to the love that she now knew she needed.