Princess Cari Scattered Arc Part Four

The Dry Darkness

“Are we there yet?” asked Ryo.

“No, not quite. After all we do have quit a while to go.” she said. “Although, we are going to have to go across the Darkness Illusion Desert. So that aught to be the most challenging part for now.”

“What? Why would illusions be challenging?” he asked.

“You will see, but note, that we are dealing with enchanted illusions, thus they can be very deadly.” she said.

She looked at him and spotted that he was sweating, but he still looked quite strong, which meant that she would not have to worry about him just yet.

“How come?” he asked.

“They are as much real to the one who is seeing the illusion as that person believes it is there.” she said.

“What?” he asked confused.

“You will understand once you have your first illusion.” she said.

He huffed.

Like that explains things.

“Anyhow!” he said trying to change the subject. “I have something to ask you.”

“And I might have an answer to give.” she said mysteriously.

“How did you know to come to the Queendom Isles to find us?” he asked.

“I followed prophecy, which told me that you would be there.” she said.

“You mean that all that we've been doing had already been predetermined? I don't like the idea of being the slave of destiny.” he snapped.

“Do not underestimate free will and the unexpected after all I hardly expected that Hikari would be there and nor did I expect that you would bring Riku with you.” she said.

“Oh.” he said. “So, even in prophecy we have out freewill.”

“Exactly, which is what the chosen ones of old never learnt, especially the ones that were driven mad by their destinies.” she said. “After all, the prophecies will come to pass, although it is your choice how and when they will.”

“Oh.”

He then spotted the sound of a baby crying. He wondered where it was coming from and if the baby was alright. He followed the cry and as he did he focused to hear it over the Chroniclers voice. He looked around as he saw a baby next to a large body of water. He drew closer and closer to the baby. But as he looked at the baby it flt like he was not getting any closer to it. No matter how long he walked he was not getting any closer to the baby. He then felt a hand pull him back and he did he looked and spotted that it was the Chronicler and to his horror he saw a large snake slither by them and then when he came close to where he was the snake went down and was devoured by the sand.

He looked up and spotted that the baby was gone! He frowned at that and wondered where the baby, but he soon realised that there was no baby. He then went back with the Chronicler he could feel that the heat was making him sweat and he could feel thirsty, but he was too proud to ask for water. He then spotted that there was water ahead of them. He felt a wave of delight rise in his heart He walked towards it but he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“It is n illusion brought on by the heat. There is no water.” she said.

He nodded ad followed her. He started to feel faint at he felt that the heat was burning his skin and he knew that he could do nothing about it. He took a sip of the bottle of water as he felt his mouth become dry, yet even that did nothing to ease that.

That was when he saw a giant cockroach the size of half of his body race up to him and it jumped up and attached itself to him! He looked at it in terror as he looked at the fangs snap together like the claws of a crab or lobster. He then felt his sides cut as the legs started to squeeze tighter and tighter. He tried to used his magic to get it off him but that did not work! He would have got to his scythe but his arms were pressed by his side.

What is this thing! He thought.

“Ryo! Remember what I said!” the Chronicler shouted.

“What! What the demon realm are you on about?” he shouted.

“It's an illusion! It can only hurt you as long as you believe it's real!” she shouted.

He looked at it.

“But, it is real! Why aren't you helping me?” he shouted.

“It's not real and I can't help you because I know that it's not real so I can't even touch it!” she shouted as she thrust her hand forward and then to his shock her hand went strait through it! She hen placed her hand on his. “See?”

His eyes widened and nodded. He closed his eyes.

It's only an illusion! It's not real! It's only an illusion. It's not real. It's not even there!

Then he no longer felt the arms and before he woke he fell down and he was out cold. The heat had gotten to him. Knowing this the Chronicler picked him up and carried him and found a large rock with a long shadow. That was where they took their break.

Ryo woke up when it was night. He then spotted a dragon fly over then and, as he got up the dragon landed.

“Prince Ryo.” he said as he bowed to him.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am Indral, your mothers' youngest adviser.” he said. “I am here to inform you that the later on next year you and your sister are to meet me in an advanced city of your choice, there the two of you are to accompany me to the planet Drake. There you and your other half-siblings are to agree on who the new ruler of the dragons shall be.”

With that he flew off.

“What was that all about?”

“As you have heard. You both have to decide on who your mother's successor is.” she said.

“Will they try to kill Cari?” he asked trying not to sound too worried.

“No, it is quite common place of a child of a dragon ruler to succeed their parent by killing them.” she said.

“Should we go?” he asked.

“I think so.”