Chapter 2

          The calm of the silent night, almost dawn, was broken, shattered by Delphinium's muffled cry. After overcoming her initial shock she frantically scrambled backwards on her bed, pressing against the headboard. Confusion and fear dancing in her blue eyes. "H-How even?" She sputtered, not once taking her gaze off of the stone. In reality it was such a small thing. So...So insignificantly small compared to other things in this world. Yet despite that, it had managed to shake up her significantly uneventful life in the most unexpected way possible.

          Delphinium's distressed thoughts were interrupted by the voice that accompanied the stone, "As I said before, you need me just as much as I need you. This item and you are connected, and that is a fact that you cannot change. No matter how much you wish to." They stated. Their tone was so convicted, as if they were utterly certain that this was true.

          Strangely this was the first time that she had even taken notice of the voices voice. Their accent sounded unlike anything the bewildered and confused girl had ever heard before. It sounded wise, and soothing, but there was also something else. Something only those with vast vocabularies and skilled in descriptions might have a hope of describing. What was this being that determinedly pursued her? This strange stone with a disembodied voice. A voice that reminded her of the mysteries that surrounded every corner of this place she called Elzwear. That she called home.

          She craved answers with her entire being. Delphinium wanted them so badly. These instances were shaking her view of the world to it's foundation. Shattering her logic to pieces with each encounter, and upturning more and more questions, left without answers. There were to many things that she could not explain with the logic that she so desperately clung to."What do you want? Who or what even are you?" She demanded, adopting a sharp and icy cold tone. As if it could defend and protect her for any more of this...Insanity.

          However the fates did not smile upon Delphinium, and it appeared that the stone's mysteries would remain mysteries for the time being. "Answers will come in due time." The voice promised, before once again leaving Delphinium to her thoughts. A dangerous folly.

          She sat silently, staring towards the door. Delphinium found it strange that her anger and confusion was slipping away. She didn't want it to disappear, to feel mutual and accept this whole situation. But it seemed like her heart was acting without the consent of her mind. "Why does anger hurt so much, that my soul doesn't even wish to bear it?" She quietly asked. Half expecting an answer from the mysterious voice. For the first time in a while, she was given no response. And left in peace.

          Meanwhile Emerald crossed a wooden bridge, a wooden fishing rod resting against her shoulder. The hook held carefully in her right hand. A rough tune softly drifted from her, the notes sounding pleasant and soothing to her on the quiet morning. The grass was damp with morning dew, and the air was crisp and fresh.

          Her boots made hard thumps on the wooden structure, which sound she found surprisingly satisfying. It reminded her of the clang of her mallet on mettle, and she could even envision the bright sparks that scattered upon the two's collision.

          That train of thought brought her to an important subject. A particular sword that she wished to forge. Even though the two girls lived in a paradise, there were dangerous animals that inhabited this land. Lions and wolves and other deadly predators. While she trusted in her own abilities, Emerald couldn't always be by Delphinium's side. Her solution to this problem, was to make Delphinium a sword. The problem was that Delphinium was a rather weak girl.

          No matter how many times Emerald had pestered her about exercising or working out, Delphinium always said no. So most swords the small girl couldn't lift. The sound of gentle waves brought Emerald back from her thoughts. She was surprised to find that she was already at the waters edge.

          While she had been thinking she'd most likely walked down the stairs and to the ponds edge. Emerald sighed and brushed back a lock of her dark brown hair. "What metal could I make it out of? It needs to be able to withstand clashing with stronger and heavier blades, as well as with vicious animals so it has to be sturdy. Yet most metals that make good sturdy swords end up being heavy and that won't do. It needs to be light, like a rapier...but with a few good strong hits near one's base and the whole blade could snap. Ughhhh." She groaned, finially stopping for a breath. Sometimes thinking aloud helped her think. With a sigh she cast her line after attaching a small worm to the hook. "When I convinced Delphinium to let me teach her how to use a sword, I didn't think it would be this hard to make her a sword to use!" She complained to no one in particular. Maybe the fish heard her and cared.

          "Perhaps a dagger would be best for her? Although those wouldn't stand a chance against a broadsword or a spear...But...If I can get my hands on some Boeing metal. The structure of the sword that I could possibly make from this is terribly complex. I would have to shape the metal into tiny cylinders which would then need to carefully be pieced together to form a highly durable, yet light blade. Due to it's uniquely woven structure any blows power would be evenly distributed amongst the entire blade. Unlike solid blades. The force it's distributed, so the brunt of the force would damage the area hit, making it more likely to break or snap. Funny thing is this blade would be more than fifty percent air." Emerald ranted, getting completely lost in her world of swords. Even when a fish stole her bait she continued rambling.

          Emerald fell silent as she reeled in her line, having noticed that nothing was biting. She just stared at the baitless hook and sighed. "Good Job Emerald, giving lectures to ghosts." She muttered, before replacing the lost bait and re-casting the line. She was trying to catch them dinner after all. Delphinium's sword could wait until she was done.

          Despite her best attempts, Emerald simply couldn't contain the excitement that was rising up within her. It took mere seconds for her resolve to disappear completely, and in that moment she threw down her rod and took off for the house. Her muscled thighs swiftly carrying her back up the flight of stairs and across the rope bridge. All the while she was screaming, "DELPHINIUM!" At the top of her lungs.

          Delphinium had stared at hers and Emerald's bedroom door for at least fifteen minutes before finally showing some sign of life. Besides breathing and blinking. Shakily she slid off her bed, not even minding the cold wooden floor. It reminded her that this was real. She reached out for the sapphire blue stone, and grasped it once again. Feeling a strange rush of warmth from the object, before the warmth drained from it. And it was once again cool to the touch. Like when she had first discovered it.

          Her friend's excited shouts weren't audible until Emerald was around four steps away from the house. The sudden noise of course startled the already shaken girl, which almost caused her to drop the stone. That thought alone was enough to send a shiver racing down her spine. "Emerald, why are you yelling!?" She shouted back, not feeling like exiting the room at the moment. She also slipped the stone back into one of her robe pockets.

          Emerald burst into the room, startling Delphinium once again. Who was still rather jumpy. "Because I've thought of something amazing! I know what to make your sword out of! There's this metal, Boeing metal, and I can make a really light yet durable blade out of it! We need to go look for some like right now!" She exclaimed, literally bouncing with excitement.

"Emerald calm down, and take a moment to breath! We can't just up and leave. Do you even know where any of this 'Boeing' metal is?" Delphinium asked in an annoyed manner. No matter how much she cared about her friend, sometimes she was just a bit much. Emerald's latest endeavor had been to try and teach her the art of sword fighting. And to Emerald's dismay, Delphinium had been to weak to lift many of Emerald's well crafted blades. The sole reason was that while they were finely crafted, they were rather heavy.

The bold greener eyed girls eyes shone with a fire of passion. Emerald was going to accomplish this, and that made this whole ordeal that Delphinium was going to undergo all that more intimidating. "I have a good idea of were some might be." Emerald confidently replied.

Delphinium crossed her arms and gave Emerald a look. While she sounded certain, the uncertainty of the location bothered her. "I'm not sure..." She said, going over the 'advantages', which consisted of possibly getting in better shape, and making Emerald happy, and the disadvantages. Which were many. For instance the fact that she despised exercise of any degree, unless it involved some fun game. However her resolve melted under Emerald's puppy dog eyes. What she did for that woman...."Fine! Go grab the hammocks while I get some food. Then we'll go." Delphinium groaned.

It took Emerald only around five seconds to react, and then race out of the room like her life depended on it. "Yes! Swords!" She shouted down the hall. Leaving a somewhat amused, and annoyed, Delphinium to contemplate her life decisions up until that point.

          Everything was easily found and packed; two hammocks, a good amount of fruit, flint and steel, and a sword or two. After Delphinium checked over all of their supplies and found them satisfactory, the two set off. Delphinium always making sure to rein in the excited Emerald. Emerald confidently led them across the bridge that led to the forest of fruit trees, her sturdy boots crunching through fallen sticks and leaves. Delphinium wore no shoes as usual, nimbly avoiding the noisy foliage. "In estimation how far is this metal?" Delphinium inquired hesitantly, somewhat afraid of the answer.

          "About a day and a half's travel, only one if we keep up a good pace." Emerald replied, before coming to a sudden halt before a tree. She raised a hand to her chin and rested her finger on it, her thinking face. "Delphi can you climb up that tree and figure out which way is southwest? Our only compass broke recently and I still haven't managed to fix it yet." She asked, gesturing to a sturdy pear tree.

          Her soft sapphire blue eyes analyzed the tree, searching for the easiest, and quickest, way up. Delphinium's light frame allowed her to not worry terribly much about branches being able to hold her weight luckily. "And this is why I don't agree to go on 'adventures' with you Emerald. You make me do so much work." She jokingly complained, swinging her makeshift leather backpack off her shoulder, and letting it gentle fall onto the soft bed of grass and leaves that made up the forest floor.

          The eye roll that followed her dramatic statement didn't surprise Delphinium. She'd expected it from her green eye'd companion, and closest friend, rolled her eyes. An exasperated sigh was drawn from Emerald. "Yes I know. I ask the world of you." Emerald dramatically agreed, her annoyed facade falling mere moments after she put it on.

          A mischievous smirk found it's way into Delphinium's features, a pleasant change from her serious demeanor. With one quick movement Delphi managed to mess up Emerald's hair and launch herself onto the tree. Scurrying up it's trunk before her friend had a time to react, or get revenge. "DELPHINIUM I SWEAR!" Emerald shouted, her fiery green gaze razing the branches of the pear tree. Searching for the malicious culprit who had messed up her hair.

          "Yessss Emerald? What do you swear?" She innocently chirped, leaping into one of the lower handing branches and sitting. Swinging her legs and even throwing in a playful smile. Delphinium loved to tease Emerald at times, because it allowed them to let loose sometimes and just have some fun. Even if it was in the middle of some project or task.

She stomped her foot in mock anger, "Do you know how long it took me to brush out my hair this morning?!" Emerald demanded, striking a sassy pose with her hands on her hips.

Delphinium didn't answer, instead peering up at the sky through the branches and leaves. She formed an L shape with her left hand, and held it before her. After doing some mental calculations she jumped down from the tree, wincing some. Her bare feet tingled from the impact. "It literly took you about five minutes Em, have a pear." She stated in a factual manner, before shoving a pear into her hands. When she snatched it, Emerald had no clue. But hey, a pears a pear. She'd take it.

"You are the most random girl I've ever met." Emerald commented, before taking a bite of the offered fruit. The sweet juice of the pear was a delight to her taste buds, washing away any annoyance she held towards Delphinium.

Despite the content and happy tone that surrounded them currently, Delphinium's next words smothered them, "I'm the only girl you've ever met Em. A-Anyway Southwest is that way." The sunlight that trickled in through the branches and leaves of the swaying fruit trees made Delphinium's pale skin appear to have a ghostly glow as she pointed to the direction.

          At the mention of the direction Emerald began walking once again, "I know your not the only one I've met Delphi...Our parents are still out there. They have to be, after all those blurred faces and voices that we have in our memories weren't  just dreamt up, right? Now come on, let's not be all depressing." She chided, before continuing on. Leaving Delphinium to scramble to grab her leather backpack and hurry after her.

          As the two teenagers continued onward they encountered the mouth of a river, that provided a stunning lake with water. They took a minute to give enjoy the nature, and watch fish majestically launch themselves from their aquatic abode and into the unexplored world above water, before diving back into their familiar watery depths. It was one of the things that he two loved about their home. Natures most beautiful sights surrounded them. And they could witness it's miracles whenever they looked outside. However Emerald wished to cover as much ground as they could before nightfall, so they regretfully pulled themselves away from the sight and got to work. Together they crafted a makeshift raft. Fallen trees and large branches were bound together by strong vines, and two paddles were created from long sturdy sticks. Delphinium even found one that she could use as a walking stick.

          Their journey across the river was uneventful, although a bit nerve-racking seeing as their raft was a bit rickety. By the time they had pulled their creation onto the riverbank and covered in with some leaves Delphinium was growing rather tired. Her resilience crumbled under her lack of physical strength, despite the fact that she had reasonable stamina. The supplies she carried had slowly extracted her dwindling energy. Emerald's keen eyes spotted this, and so she made a mental note to make camp soon.

          Slowly the trees were beginning to change as they continued, and eventually they weren't even surrounded by fruit trees. Instead tall majestic oak trees stood boldly against the sky. Shading them with their wide branches and leaves from the dwindling sunlight. "This is close enough, I can collect the Boeing metal tomorrow." Emerald assessed, before letting her back fall unceremoniously to the ground. Delphinium's followed suit with a soft thump. "Go take a walk Delphi, I'll set up camp." She ordered, deciding to let her friend take a break.

          She flashed Emerald a grateful smile, "Alright, but I'll look for some firewood while I'm at it. Can you get out some of our lemons and dried fish?" Delphinium asked, running a pale hand throughc her light brown locks that were slightly matted with sweat.

          At this a malicious smile briefly crossed Emerald's features, "Sure! I'ma cook the best fried fish you've ev-" Emerald began, but was swiftly cut off by Delphinium.

          "No, I'm cooking tonight." Delphinium bluntly said. A determined glint shimmering in her gentle gaze. The seconds Emerald's puppy eyes came out she spun around defiantly, and was gone before Emerald even had the time to say 'but Delphiiiii'.

          Delphinium breathed in the fresh forest air, and enjoyed the feeling of a cool breeze on her skin. Refreshing her from her travel. "So your interested in fighting with swords...Interesting." The voice commented, emerging from a long period of silence.

          The voice did not receive the instant hatred or annoyance that it expected to receive. Instead the human spoke in her gentle, and warm voice. Void of any roughness or commanding nature. "I'm not really interested in it to be honest. I'm just doing it to make Emerald happy." Delphinium explained, hesitantly reaching into her pocket and drawing out the beautiful rock.

"So you've accepted my existence?" This was a pleasant surprise to the voice, and so she asked with genuine curiosity.

At first all Delphinium responded with was a small nod of her head, but after a few moments the quirky teen spoke. "I guess, I mean it's not like your just going to go away." She said, returning the stone to it's dark confinement. She leaned down and grasped a reasonably sized branch, lifting it into her arms. "Or will you?" She hesitantly asked, her gaze moving towards the stars as if they might hold the answers she sought.

          "I highly doubt that I need to repeat my words from earlier this morning, so in short no. I will not." The voice replied. Delphinium simply continued collecting sticks and branches for firewood, not feeling and anger rise in her. She had received the answer she'd expected after all.

          She let her mind wander as she continued the mundane task, and eventually a question came to mind. "Can you answer this one thing for me?" Delphinium inquired, shifting some of the firewood so that she could carry it easier.

          It hardly took a moment for the voice to think it over, "It depended on the question."

          Delphinium nodded, after all it seemed reasonable. "What are you?" She slowly asked, unsure of how to phrase it.

         She didn't have to wait long for a reply, "I am a conscious, whose entire existence relies on whoever gains control of my Zoraelin." The voice explained.

          What surprised Delphinium the most was how quickly she received her answer. It was like this voice needed no time to summon up a response, or answer to a question. The thought alone astounded her, but she shoved it aside for now. "What is a Zoraelin?" She instead asked, tilting her head slightly. A common pose for her, indicating that she was either curious or confused.

          "This is technically two questions but no matter. The blue rock is a Zoraelin. It is my vessel, what contains my person or conscious. Like everything in this world Zoraelins have purposes.  My duty, my purpose, is to help whoever possesses my Zoraelin, good or evil. To not question them. I have encountered many different people throughout my existence, and one day I decided to use what little power of my own to influence my life. I guided those I deemed worthy and in need of my help to me. Those I didn't wish to help I kept away. You were one that I wished to help. Perhaps even meant to help." As the voice explained, Delphinium could detect hints of bitterness and anger lurking beneath it's tone. It made her wonder what the voice had experienced, but she decided to leave that topic alone due to the fact that it seemed like a touchy subject.

At first she was unsure of how to respond to such an explanation. Eventually she found a simple question however. Just one more to ask before she returned to Emerald. "Well....Do you have a name so that I can address you as something other than spirit or voice?" Delphinium asked.

She patiently waited for the voice to respond. This answer was not given as readily as the others which made her wonder if she'd somehow ventured into yet another touchy subject. "No one has asked me for my name in so long...I am Magik, and my conscious is that if a female." Magik slowly answered. Her tone brightening considerably.

Delphinium felt oddly happy to have improved Magik's mood. "Well then Magik, it's nice to meet you." She cheerily stated, genuinely smiling.

She could feel a faint warmth emit from the Zoralien strangely enough. "Likewise...And Delphinium...This place is not as it seems." Magik ominously warned. "But on another note, you should return to your friend. Otherwise your absence will soon be noticed." She advised.

"Your right! Thanks Magik, I'll talk to you later." Delphinium hastily said, before darting off towards their camp. Silently praying that she hadn't been gone for to long!

When she returned she didn't expect that Emerald would already have a fire going. Which was somewhat annoying to Delphinium. "Seriously?" She halfheartedly asked Emerald, dumping her firewood a bit away from the fire. The smell of burning was evident, and what Emerald held in her hand was even worse. A charcoal fish. Defiantly burnt to heck and back. "N-Nevermind...Uh Emerald, can't you see that that's burnt?" Delphinium hesitantly asked.

Emerald crossed her arms from her seat on a tree trunk, "It's not burnt! It's just extra crispy, just how you like it!" She protested, as if she didn't even notice the scent of burnt food that covered the area like a heavy fog. "Here, try it!" She urged her, shoving the fish into Delphinium's unwilling hands.

"I love it when my food is charred to a crisp..." She sarcastically remarked, grimacing at the pungent stench. Up close the scent of burning was even more prominent.

Her tanned muscled arm punched the air, a smile playing on her lips. "I KNEW IT FOR I AM MASTER CHEF EMERALMDIA AND I KNOW ALL!" Emerald shouted into the night. The sun must have set while Delphinium was collecting firewood.

She took a few deep breaths, eventually sighing. "Thanks Emerald, but let me cook us up a new batch of fish ok-" Delphinium began.

"But my fish!" Emerald protested, cutting Delphinium off in the process.

By this point Delphinium was about one hundred precent done with Emerald. "Your fish is dead." She bluntly stated, stalking over to their supplies, which rested neatly below a tree. She quickly began gathering some fish, and a few lemons, before heading to the fire.

Her statement just confused Emerald, but it did succeed in silencing her. Almost. "Obviously...I mean I caught it, killed it, and then cooked it. So the fish is obviously dead..." Emerald muttered, shaking her head. "Sometimes she says some really idiotic things..." She stated, before deciding to just let it go.

Soon Delphinium had cooked up some fish, simmered in lemon juice. And they were just as quickly devoured. "I'm gonna go for another walk, but I'll be back soon." Delphinium informed Emerald, before taking off into the woods once more. She sighed contently after she got a reasonable distance away from the camp. She began to converse with Magik, telling her more about herself and asking some more things about the mysterious voice that had barged into her life uninvited.

Meanwhile back in the camp Emerald waited, and waited, and waited for Delphinium to return. She jogged around the camp, jumped over her hammock, laid on the hammock, poked at the fire with a stick, and eventually gave up trying to occupy herself. "Where the heck is Delphinium!?" Emerald exclaimed after around an hour had past. Her patience was running thin, so she decided to go look for her herself. And that's exactly what she did.

Emerald entered the woods, her eyes dilligently scanning the surrounding trees. Searching for her friend. 'What is she's hurt?' She wondered. That thought formed a small bit of dread in the pit of her stomach. She broke into a run, racing through the woods. Not caring of branches or anything else stood in her way. "Delphinium! Delphinium where are you!" She desperately called. Her fear causing adrenaline to race through her veins. "Delphi-" She cut herself off, hearing the faintest noise. Delphinium's voice. She seemed to be talking, but not to herself. Like it was to someone else.

She ran, once again sprinting through the woods. Emerald was so scared, so afraid. Her only friend, the only other person in this world. In Elzwear, was probably going crazy. Seeing things that weren't there. Or...Was there actually someone there? As Delphinium's voice got louder she slowed, and hid behind a tree. Peering into a moonlit clearing.

There Delphinium stood, a gentle cool breeze ruffling her robe and letting her light brown locks dance in the cool night air. The ghostly moon-light illuminating her face and giving contrast to her soft sapphire eyes, that suddenly looked so bold in the night. She looked so powerful, and free. But no one else stood in this clearing with her. Her words only falling upon her own ears, and unknowingly Emeralds as well.

It was a while longer until Delphinium seemed to realize how late it had gotten, and she regretfully said her farewell to her invisible companion. And with casual steps she made her way back towards their camp. Emerald was dumbstruck. Delphinium seemed so casual, and so normal. How could she be insane? What was there? Something had to be, right? Emerald took multiple calming breaths.

The solitary girl slipped back into the forest, racing to reach the camp before Delphinium. The pounding of her feet eventually creating a rhythm in her mind. Pound. Pound. Pound. Pound. Pound. From mind was surprisingly blank, vacant of thought. It wasn't until she had almost reached the camp that a single thought emerged in her mind.

'Delphinium what are you hiding from me?'