Heart of Eternity- Final Chapter

Heart of Eternity

           Inside the tree concealing the heart we followed a flight of stairs leading down into the unknown. With every step we took down the stairs—each step illuminated with a glowing bright light that faded as we took our next step. It was fascinating to see such a structure hidden inside a tree, but Dahlia didn’t seem to be interested in what marvels the tree concealed. Instead, Dahlia’s focus was set on her brother as she continued to race down the flight of stairs.

            As we made our way down the final flight of stairs another path laid ahead. A hallway that seems to extend with no end and a chilling cold that haunted the hallway. Vines entangled the walls frozen in ice, illuminating pulsing light through the ice that lit up the hallway. Dahlia and I made our way towards the end of the hallway, but as we reached closer to the end, the temperature became more frigid. I could see the coldness in Dahlia’s breath as she huffed with every racing step—I could tell that all Dahlia wanted was to confront her brother. When we finally came to the end of the hallway, there was a massive stone door already opened and as we entered the next room, there he was, Janu, but there was another creature that laid at his feet.

           The creature that laid beneath Janu’s feet glowed with radiance like the sun. Branches sprouted out of the creature’s head frosted with ice, the creature’s petals fell one by one. I could see it pleading with Janu, but it was no use. Inside of the chamber above all our head was a gigantic spherical orb—it illuminated with a vibrant green essence that flowed within filling the orb. But I could see Janu’s frost magic slowly making its way around the orb, encasing it, consuming it in his ice

           “Janu!” Dahlia shouted at him, Janu looked over at her before he spoke. “Please sister, do not try to stop me I am doing this for us, for all of us.” Janu said, but there was something in his voice that made him speak with uncertainty.

           “Why? What will you gain from destroying Gaiya?” she asked as tears flooded her eyes, “everyone and everything will be lost, even you will be lost if you continue this madness.” Janu glanced at Dahlia before he proceeded walking towards her. “No foolish sister, I do not plan to destroy Gaiya, I will become Gaiya and create a better world. A world where we won’t be separated, a world where lives of the ones we love won’t be taken.” He held Dahlia’s hands hoping she would agree to his new world, but Dahlia knew his plan was insane. Dahlia released Janu’s hands from hers backing away.

            The radiant creature that laid on the ground spoke with a calm soothing voice that I recognized, it was Gaiya itself. An avatar it manifested itself into “Please stop this Janu, if you continue your vengeance against me the whole world and everyone will be lost.” Gaiya begged barely able to move. “Vengeance?” Dahlia asked Janu, “Is all of this chaos some sort of revenge against Gaiya, but why brother?” she questioned him, but at that moment I could see tears beginning to form within Janu.
           His voice heightened as he shouted towards Dahlia, “Because, Gaiya has taken everything from me, from us! Losing you, never allowed to see you again devastated me, but in time I came to accept our fates. Eventually I found love with someone, who I would marry, but a fatal accident took her life. So I pleaded with Gaiya to bring her back, but Gaiya refused and so my anger and heartbreak led me on this path. I will create a world where no creature should lose the ones we cherish.” Now I understood, Janu was grieving the loss of his loved one, but also his sister. He was separated from the one he loved the most and then he lost the life of his wife.

            Dahlia walked over towards Janu, embracing him with a hug. Her voice comforted him, “Oh Janu, I’m so sorry that you lost your wife and that you felt as if you lost me. But the truth is that you will never lose me, no matter how far we are separated we will always be connected,” Dahlia reached into her scarlet dress pulling out the frozen necklace—the dahlia encased in ice. She held the necklace towards Janu, “Remember when you gave this to me on the day we departed, I have never forgotten it because this gift was created with the love of my dearest brother.” Dahlia grasped Janu’s hands, “Please brother I understand your pain and sorrows, but this is not the way, you must stop this vendetta of yours, I am begging you Janu.” she pleaded with him and at that moment I could see a change in his eyes, a light that shined through his darkness.
           Dahlia hugged Janu once more, her hug filled him with warmth and happiness. I watched as the two embraced one another, it seemed as if Dahlia's hug was mending years of pain and sorrow built up in Janu's heart. His eyes filled with tears as he clung onto his sister.
           Though the siblings were sharing a moment, the orb was becoming consumed in ice. I yelled over to Dahlia reminding her of the situation and she looked over nodding her head. She then whispered into Janu's ears and the two broke apart from their hug.

            Janu looked over at Gaiya and then at the orb that was slowly becoming encased in ice that rose above our heads. “I’m sorry sister, but I do not know how.” Dahlia face filled with fear, “Then we are all doomed” she said. 
           Gaiya’s voice rose “We are not doomed yet children, the love you and your brother share combined with your magic is unimaginable. If the two of you combine your magic, then you will have the power to undo this cataclysm. You must hurry though, I can feel my life force fading fast, but Dahlia you are still connected to me so you must hurry before you fade too.” Gaiya’s voice was filled with panic as the creature huffed before collapsing.

            Dahlia and Janu rushed towards the center bottom of the orb and began to channel their magic into the orb. Their hands locked with one another, their heads touched as an immense burst of energy flowed out of their bodies and into the orb. Slowly the ice encasing the orb began to rewind until there was nothing left of the ice that consumed the orb. 
           Dahlia collapsed into Janu’s arm, he whispered into her ears, “Oh sister I’m so sorry for all the pain I put you through and for that I will never be able to atone for my sins.” He wept as he held Dahlia in his arms. “I forgive you sweet brother, I didn’t know how alone you were, but all that matters is that I’m with you now.” she said as she wiped the tears from his face. 
           The love that I saw between these two creatures is so powerful that no matter what happens, their love for one another will never be broken. Gaiya finally awoke from the ground, its soothing voice returned as she walked towards Dahlia and Janu, “Thank you both, but the lives lost during this tragic event cannot be restored…”

            “Wait,” I said as I made my way towards them all, “There is a way to restore the lives that was lost, but it will require my sacrifice with the help of Dahlia and Janu.” Dahlia stood up and looked into my eyes, “No, I won’t let you sacrifice yourself, I won’t do it.” she cried as tears came racing down her beautiful bloodstone eyes. 
            “It is all right Dahlia,” I said calmly, nudging her with my head. “I am an essence a part of Gaiya, this vessel will no longer exist, but my essence will forever live on within Gaiya and maybe one day I will return.” I looked over at Gaiya, “But I do have one request you must grant.” Gaiya’s face filled with curiosity, “Yes, what is it that you desire?” Gaiya asked. “I request that you allow the witches to be united, no longer separated, able to see one another whenever they please. That is my request.” I told Gaiya not taking no for an answer. 
           Gaiya looked hesitant at first, but she smiled and nodded. “I will grant you your request, this all happened because I denied the witches their freedom to see and be with one another and for that I am truly sorry.” Gaiya stared over at Janu and grabbed his hands. “I am also sorry about your wife Janu, but it is against my ability to resurrect someone from the dead. But your wife is in a better place, she has moved on with the stars, I’m sure one day you will be reunited with her again.” Gaiya comfortably said to Janu. Janu apologized to Gaiya for the destruction he has caused, but Gaiya assured him that everything would be alright. Now it was my time to restore what was lost.

           “Dahlia, Janu, it is time for me to make my sacrifice, but before I go I want to thank you. I want to thank you Dahlia for showing me the beauty of your love and the hope you continued to have for your brother. I hope that your love for one another will continue to be eternal, because it is that love that will light the darkness.” I said to them both as I made my way towards the center of the orb. 
           Dahlia and Janu joined me, I told them that they will need to channel my essence into the orb. But before I go, I remembered the memories of Gai and told Dahlia about him. How me and Gai became a part of one another and how his essence is my essence. Dahlia wrapped her arms once more around me, hugging me for the last time. Her touch once more filled me with the warmth and happiness I felt when we first met, it was enchanting.
           "Goodbye, Ranew," she whispered kissing my head, "come back to me one day." I promised her that I will return and hope to see her again. The time finally came for me to make my sacrifice, knowing that this must've been why I was sent here. Dahlia and Janu placed their hands onto my body and I could feel my essence fading.
           "I'm sorry Ranew," Janu said, "this is all my fault."
           "Don't burden yourself Janu." I told him, "I can sense you are a kind creature, but you must now move foward, together with your siblings. Together, your love for one another will guide you." With that said, I roared out one last time, before I finally faded away.
           The avatar of Gaiya once more thanked the two siblings, advising the two witches, before disappearing. But before the two left the chamber, Janu fell to his knees weeping for his actions against Gaiya. Dahlia stayed, comforting him until his sorrows was no more.

            Eventually, Dahlia and Janu returned to Dahlia’s hometown, the snow that blanketed the ground and the ice that frosted the trees was no more. The flowers returned blooming with the scent of spring and the creatures that were once lost had returned with no memories of the horrific tragedy that fell upon the town. 
            Another surprised waited for Dahlia and Janu as they made their way into the town. The other witches, their brothers and sisters had come to greet them back and punish Janu about his destructive decision, but with the love they all shared for one another, they had come to forgive Janu. Though in order to make amends for his actions, he would have to do everything his brothers and sisters wanted, until they felt pleased. 
            As time went on, Janu would fill the loneliness he suffered with the comfort of his sister Dahlia. The connection that the two of them once had would be reborn. 
           Eventually, a new guardian would be born and the memories it once had would be restored. Remembering the past and the people I encountered, I would venture to reunite with a special person I had once met, Dahlia. Not only would I be reunited with Dahlia and Janu, but I would be able to share the story about the powerful bond and love between two siblings.