Esteria: The World of Life

Chapter 7.1 | Isle of Flames

-Western Portion of Nymphae, Fantacia-

Exiting the said anthill, Skeet and Ylva returned back to their normal forms, and looked at the Tree of Life ahead of them. Breaking the silence, Ylva suddenly asked Skeet, "You managed to catch up what the Mother Nymph said there earlier, right?" in which Skeet promptly nodded.

"Good," Ylva replied, "I actually do know of a shortcut. Don't tell Mother Nymph that I told you this." Looking left and right, she then went close to Skeet. The closeness between Skeet and Ylva caught him off-guard and speechless.

"Your ear, stupid. I'm whispering it to you." Hearing it, Skeet went back to his senses and lend his ear to her, whatever she's going to whisper to him. "Listen. Did you know that the Tree of Life itself has a shortcut to and fro the three subrealms? Of course no one else knew about it other than the Oracle and her subordinates since it's just only us who can cross those shortcuts." Concluding that fact, Ylva giggled and stepped back from him. "Neat, right?"

"Why do you need to whisper that anyway?" Skeet scratched the back of his head out of confusion. "I mean, yeah, it's neat. But..."

Ylva then groaned, "Oh come now, I just need to be careful. Anyway, shall we go? We'll go straight under the Tree of Life instead of passing by it." After which, she transformed into her tiny fairy form, which made her look like a light green colored ball of sparkly fluff.

"Fine, fine. Off to finding Eliona we go!" Albeit not cheerfully, Skeet exclaimed and started their walk on their way inside the Tree of Life.

...

-Tree of Life, Fantacia-

As they enter the sacred tree that unites the subrealms into one, Skeet noticed how it really looked the same as how he saw it on his dream—A huge stump which looked like a podium for rituals stand in the middle of the said tree, marble floors, and even the intricate details as far as Skeet can remember. On closer inspection, however, he did notice a staircase circling inside another hollow tree, hence thinking that the Tree of Life was a tree inside a tree inside another tree, which made him shake his head out of annoyance. Finding out how this tree was made surely makes his head spin.

Storming about the said area, Ylva went close and dragged him into a certain corner. "Come on here, human."

"Oi, oi!" Her dragging him along made him jerk, that he almost fall off his balance. She then stopped in front of two other elf-like beings that look a little bit darker than Ylva.

"What's this all about?" one of the elves asked, then proceeded to point at Skeet. "Is that your chosen offer? Why are you even bringing him here?"

Ylva then raised a hand and rebutted, "Look, I don't care what you fellow Pyriad think, but this offer here can protect on his own right. Now if you'd let us pass, it'll make our search for the Oracle easier. No way she can just be missing in a time this late! So, let us pass, will you!"

The second elf then joined in on the heated argument, rebutting Ylva's statement, "Look, I also don't care if you're actually one of Eliona's subordinates, of if you're the oracle Eliona herself. Either way, you can't cross. That's an order from the Mother Nymph! Now scram!"

Losing her patience, she suddenly walked off the Tree of Life, leaving Skeet alone with those sturdy elves. "I've have enough of their talk."

"Hey, hold up!" Skeet called, trying to follow Ylva, who still is pissed off from the argument. "What was all that about?" He looked at the Tree of Life, then back at Ylva. "Don't tell me that was the shortcut?"

Pouting, she replied, "Yeah..."

"Bruh."

After seconds of getting pissed off, she shook her head and said, "You know what, let's just go. To the longer, harsher path, that is. We don't have all day, so chop-chop!" And just then she went ahead of Skeet towards the harsh road to the realm of the Pyriad, the Isla de Fuego.

...

-Camino Volcanico, Isla de Fuego, Fantacia-

Otherwise known as the Volcanic Path, or simply as the Camino, the trek on the way to the Isla de Fuego itself is hot, given the endless number of geysers and small craters filled with magma they have passed through. The rain of fire balls that fall in this place occasionally makes it unfavorable for anyone to cross here, especially with a wooden shield that Skeet has now.

Out of the blue, Ylva then bawled, "Ah, crap. Had we only given access to the underground path from the Tree of Life, I wouldn't need to worry myself getting burned here for the millionth time!"

Hearing her complaint, Skeet then asked her, "A millionth time? You've been here too?"

"Duh! It's a job for every subordinate to follow where the Oracle goes around Fantacia!" she replied, "Though..."

"Though what?"

"A relative of mine lives on Isla de Fuego. That's why I come here alone at times."

"Ah." Skeet nods as he ends the conversation. As silence wafts between the two, a falling sound seems to be getting louder the more they walk.

"Human! Look out!" Ylva exclaimed as she pulls Skeet away from where they were, just a second before they got crushed by a huge ball of a firey boulder coming from a nearby volcano. "Didn't you see that ball coming right at us? That thing could just squash us dead, you know!"

Skeet was silent, staring at the huge boulder that could've killed them. Tapping his shoulder, she then asked, "Hey, are you alright?"

"What," he paused for a bit, almost shuddering, "what was all that?"

Sighing, she replied, "Forget it. As long as it doesn't kill you, it's nothing serious. Anyway, just be careful with where you're stepping on. Fireballs fall more often here than in other parts, so be careful." With Skeet nodding, both of them proceeded to their next destination with full caution.

-Isla de Fuego, Fantacia-

Finally arriving at their destination, both of them managed to make a sigh of relief. Sure, that huge ball almost killed them, but at least they're safe now.

Panting, Ylva then spurted, "Finally... It was tough getting here, but hey. At least our wings are still intact!" Putting up a huge smile on her face in front of Skeet, she then remembered something.

"...Ah right, you don't even have wings. Sorry." she apologized, "Oh well, moving on! We'll be talking to my au— I mean the Mother Nymph of this place as well as getting a new shield for you. Got all that?"

"Okay, and?" Skeet raised an eyebrow. "What's with the tone of yours, by the way? "

"None of your business!" She then grabbed Skeet by the hand. "Let's go!"

Not far from where they stopped is where two male Pyriads stand on guard, blocking the way. Almost the same way as how they blocked the entrance to the Tree of Life's shortcut. Getting closer, Ylva then spotted two of these Pyriads standing on their way, making her curse, "For the damn love of Esteria! What's really up with these people huh?" Nonetheless, she continued on dragging Skeet about.

"Under the orders of the Mother Nymph, no Oread or Naiad are allowed on our precious lands!" The first Pyriad guard stated.

"'Oread'? 'Naiad'? Oh, come on! It's just me, Scintillae Ylva Mar'iga of the Pyriads!" Revealing her brown cloak which subordinates of Eliona such as herself normally wear, her medium maroon-colored hair, as well as the red fire-like tattoo is revealed amongst the guards along with her slightly tanned skin, which is of her pride and joy.

"Ah, Ylva! Sorry, we didn't recognize you right away with that cloak. We thought you're one of those followers of Elio— oh wait, weren't you one?" The same guard asked, scratching his head.

"Yeah, but I'm here for my aunt. Just familial matters." she replied.

"Okay then, you may pa—"

"What about this guy here?" The second guard pointed out at Skeet, who is silent about being dragged about like a baggage.

"He too has matters with my aunt. He's not an enemy, and if ever he does something stupid, I'll crack his bones or three." Albeit silent, the words which Ylva said made him sweat.

"Ah, I see then. You two may pass now." The second one confirmed, giving them passage. As Ylva gives her thanks, she then walked far away from the guards, all while dragging Skeet.

Trying to break the silence, Skeet then opened up, "Hey, there's no need for you to drag me like this, okay?"

"Ah right. Sorry." And in an instant, Skeet fell off the ground. "At least that takes care of them. Welcome to my home, by the way."

Scrapping the dirt off his clothes and armor, he then asked out of curiosity, "Home? You live here?"

"Duh! I'm a Pyriad, what do you expect? Though, I work on an apprenticeship under Eliona, that is. Actually, me, Wylie and Xyroo are." she replied with a grin.

"Xyroo?"

"The subordinate with the most uninterested face. You can tell she hates her job, but what can she do?" Hearing her reply, it reminded him of the same subordinate who woke him up just this morning. "Well, let's go talk to my aunt now. Shall we?"

...

-Pyriad Sanctuary, Isla de Fuego-

On the northern part of Isla de Fuego locates a mountainous sanctuary, and compared to the Oread Sanctuary, the entrance is a whole lot bigger, since they don't need to shrink their sizes just to get in. Entering the said sanctuary, it appears that the interiors only seem to be rocky, rather than having a design on its own, which the first sanctuary have. Additionally, small holes release steam, which makes one feel that wearing armor feels like being cooked inside out.

"Hot..." Skeet fanned himself with his hands before wiping the sweat constantly trickling from his face.

"Probably heard of 'sauna'? I heard that from humans, though other Pyriad say that this sanctuary works that way. Didn't know it actually is until I see you inside here. Oh well, they say it's good for reducing fat too." Ylva stated out of nowhere, which made Skeet stare at her with a questionable face.

"Are you trying to say that I'm fat?"

Denying, Ylva replied, "I didn't say soooo~! Oh well, shall we proceed?" And just that, Ylva led the way.

Upon reaching the end of the sanctuary, the room felt a bit colder compared to the previous rooms chock full of steam-emitting underground holes. At least Skeet gets to wipe the sweat off his entire body. Just then, a certain woman's voice echoed throughout the room, which made both Skeet and Ylva look at the direction of the said voice.

"How do you like the sauna adventure, Ylva? I bore them out myself for weeks!" And looking up, a certain woman just lunged right at them from above. Luckily, Skeet and Ylva managed to dodge in time. Seeing this as a threat, Skeet unsheathed his sword and armor.

"Hah, a challenger, I see! I only mean to bore the underground to give my fellow Pyriad some sweat in the wings, and yet I got myself a knight wanting to challenge me. Interesting indeed!" the red-haired woman, clad in shining, spiky pauldrons on her shoulders, exclaimed. Looking into her burning red eyes, Skeet and Ylva knew she was serious.

"Aunt! He's not here for a fight! He only wants to talk to you!" Ylva butted in, trying not to put Skeet into danger.

Replying on a rather unfamiliar language, Ylva stepped back upon hearing it, slowly nodding. "Will do, Chieftain of the Pyriad." And decided to step back to give Skeet and the said woman some space. Before leaving, she tapped on Skeet's back. "Good luck. Also, winged beasts can never look at their backs."

"What?" But before Ylva could ever hear it, she already has left Skeet and the woman alone.

TO BE CONTINUED