Fulch had been waiting for Lunae for what seemed like forever. He was increasingly getting annoyed by Narutay, who was murmuring to himself about this and that. It had been several hours, and there was no sign of her. Fulch wanted to try the fruit that they got, but thought it best to wait for Lunae. He had questions but didn’t want to ask, but there was nothing else to do with the time.
“Narutay, did Shardoe ever tell you how he had the power of the water?” Fulch asked. Narutay, being dragged from his ramblings, sat and thought for a moment.
“Now, let's see here, he said that he and the water had a bond that no other creature in history had. I believed him since he was so talented. He always seemed to know what was going on; it quite honestly unnerved me sometimes. He would disappear a lot of the time as well. I don’t know what business he was always attending to, and I never thought to ask,” Narutay said. This made Fulch think that there had to be something more to this man than met the eye, but he’s dangerous, he had to admit. Just then, Lunae came running in.
“We have a serious problem!” Lunae said. Fulch got up and hugged her; he was very happy she was okay. She told him everything that happened, and Fulch was secretly getting scared.
“What is the fulcrum to acquiescence?” Fulch asked. Lunae shook her head.
“We need my daughter,” Narutay said. Fulch and Lunae both looked at him and truthfully forgot he was there.
“What help would your daughter be?” Fulch said.
“Frayusha has studied the histories of all the cultures run by the Signuck; she had been fascinated by the time. Where magic flourished, and things we cannot conceive of were commonplace. The Masters of waters were explicitly working with the Signuck to maintain order. She knows the history, and she can be of great help. The only problem is she’s stuck with Shardoe in the palace,” Narutay said. This made Fulch think.
“How does a Porpura know about the Signuck history?” Fulch said ignorantly. Narutay was insulted but didn’t want to show it.
“The Master said she should learn the histories from your priests, the water said it would help her someday,” Narutay said. Fulch felt embarrassed; he had to admit he sometimes still held onto his family's beliefs that the Porpura were lower class, something the Master was trying to drill out of him. Fulch wanted to get the conversation somewhere else, so he decided to change the subject.
“So we have no idea where Shardoe is, especially since he can travel through water. We’ll get your daughter out as soon as we can, but we have to get to my people. It’s time to have an army behind us,” Fulch said. Lunae agreed and was soon ready to leave, but Fulch then remembered the fruit.
“Hey, Lunae, we need to eat this Frayusha,” Fulch said. Confusion fell over Lunae.
“Why do we need to eat Narutay’s daughter?” Lunae said. This made Fulch and Narutay laugh, and she was not amused.
“It’s what the fruit is called,” Narutay said.
“You named your daughter after a fruit?” Lunae said sarcastically. Narutay gave her a look, but the meaning went right through her.
“Look at it through the sight,” Fulch said. Lunae did, and she saw the water boiling on the inside. She was fascinated and picked it up, obsessively staring at it.
“It takes you on a journey the water wants you to see,” Narutay said. This made Lunae very much intrigued.
“Let’s do it,” she said. Fulch didn’t fully trust Narutay and decided they should do it one at a time. Lunae was scared so Fulch offered to go first. Narutay was holding onto two of the fruit and said a prayer over them. He opened one up and dipped his finger in the juice and wiped it on Fulch’s forehead, and gave that one to Fulch to consume.
“You must eat the whole thing, or it will not work. Refrain from talking, you must immerse yourselves in it, mind, body, and soul,” Narutay said. Fulch started to eat it, and euphoria fell over him. His skin started to tingle the more and more he ate. He then started to drift off. He kept getting a look of aggravation because he seemed to want to sleep, so he quickly finished the fruit.
Next thing he knew, he saw the crown of his people. Then he saw a wave of power coming from it. It then brought him centuries ago when his people were the priests for the Signuck people. How so much magic was around, and how they could manipulate the water to make gateways to different worlds. Always, a Master was there to give them the water’s blessing. He was then taken back to the present and saw several of his people captive in the Rhudon’s encampment.
“The Rhudons have some of my people. I must get them back,” Fulch said. Lunae didn’t seem to hear him though, because she was already eating the fruit. Fulch was upset but decided to hold off until her journey was over.
***
Once Lunae finished hers, she was taken to a memory with her parents. They were telling her that she holds the power of all the people. She will carry on the magic onward if all else fails. Then she saw the Signuck people teaching the Piskal people how to wield their magic. Then she saw young Lannyre harnessing his powers and a Piskal master teaching him the ways of the water. Then she was transported to the temple, but no one was there, and a haunting feeling to return to the hidden chamber.
Once she was back, the night was almost over. Narutay was asleep on a rock. Lunae and Fulch both looked at each other. Fulch was the first to speak.
“The Rhudons have my people,” Fulch said. Lunae felt ashamed since she jumped the gun on eating the fruit, but she knew what she saw was important.
“The temple is free. We need to get there,” Lunae said. This infuriated Fulch.
“Did you not hear me? The Rhudons have my people!” Fulch said. Lunae then looked at him with clear eyes and realized she was being inconsiderate.
“I’m sorry about your people, but we need answers. The temple is the place for that. Since Shardoe is not there, we need to go there before he returns. Then we can go rescue your people,” Lunae said. Fulch was on the warpath, but knew he needed to keep his wits about him.
“What else did you see?” Fulch asked with his jaw clenched. Lunae looked over to Narutay, who was thankfully still asleep.
“I saw my parents, and they were talking to me about the power I have. I’m not sure why, and then I saw Lannyre, and a Piskal master. He was teaching him things way before he would even be considered a master. I’m honestly confused. What did you see?” Lunae said.
“I saw your people and mine working together to make the portals to each planet, and something to do with the crown of my people. I think I can restore magic to them. I’m not sure how to restore magic to you. It must be locked somehow. You are right, we need to get to the temple,” Fulch said.
“I did bring a pitcher with me,” Lunae said. This made Fulch smile. They both went over to Narutay and woke him up. They told him what they went through, and he was excited, for reasons they didn’t know.
“This is perfect, we shall see a new era! One that has been lost to us for centuries. Frayusha would get a kick out of this. Am I to stay here until you return?” Narutay said. Lunae was going to say yes, but it was Fulch who said no, that he needed to keep an eye on him. Lunae thought it best not to argue with him. They got their packs ready and made a puddle to the temple.