Waverly sized her self up. The person before her was a spitting image - short black hair, long limbs, two-tone eyes, pale skin, outlined cheek scar and tattered cotton clothes. Her clone also wore a shimmering blue band across her wrist that was Calaire and a short sword hung from her belt.

The second Waverly was the first to speak. "We know he is just as arrogant as the rest of them, do we not?"

Waverly raised an eyebrow. She had initially thought she would have to fight her own self but Waverly 2 seemed to despise the snotty god, maybe even a little bit more than she did.

"Yes. I think he is trying to scare me from reaching my goal." Waverly answered.

Waverly 2 chuckled. "They all are but we cannot let them decide for us. We faced Oculmus and rescued mother without any help, did we not? We can do this."

Waverly nodded in agreement but the confusion on her face remained. "Of course, we can. Can you tell me why he has summoned you and what you are meant to be?"

Waverly 2 seemed confused as well, for a short while. "I do not know. I believe i am supposed to be a part of you that you need to confront."

"A part of me i need to confront? What part of me is that meant to be? Because there are many of them." Waverly asked.

Waverly 2 shook her head. "I have no idea but i believe he is doing this to push us off track. These gods, deep down we do not trust them. They try to contain us, make us take a boring continuous path all our lives like they do."

"I do not want that." Waverly grumbled.

"Of course. We want freedom. Why do we have to go through some useless trials just to get to Enton? We deserve a free pass. Our mother is Selene. It is our birthright to visit the realm of Light whenever we wish. But no, we have to strive and suffer to get noticed."

Waverly frowned, still quite confused on the funny matter of conversing with herself.

"What is your point?"

Waverly 2 smiled. It looked evil and this made Waverly wonder if her smile really looked that way. "My point is that we do not have to pass any tests. We can make him show us the way easily. Remember how Pa used to force us to take lessons and we would get away every time? We would cause him to give up trying. We knew how to make him give us what we want."

Waverly's face brightened just a tad. She involuntarily reached for her wrist band when Waverly 2 did the same. They both acted so harmoniously that Waverly felt she was only looking at her reflection. Together, they released Calaire and the crescent weapon sprang to life.

"We can decide whatever kind of weapon we want it to be, did you know that?" Waverly 2 mused. Slowly, the crescent melted very briefly into moonstrings then weaved into a spear then a battle axe. It transformed into a long silver sword, a club, a bow, a dagger then a whip.

"Wait." Waverly said. She admired at the whip and wrapped it around her arm. Her other self reflected this action. "I like this."

"Looks just like mother's chariot reins but better." Waverly 2 added.

"Exactly." Waverly agreed.

"We are strong, Waverly." Waverly 2 said. It was a very strange thing for Waverly to hear herself say her own name and she thought how unlikely the moment was to repeat itself in the future. One did not always get the chance to meet one's self this way.

"We are not meant to live by the rules. I guess that is why we admire the archer so much."

Waverly slowly lifted her eyes. "What?"

Waverly 2 smiled knowingly. "I am you and you are me. You think i do not know? Brijjet does whatever he wants however he wants to. We admire that, we want that. He has risen above the laws of the gods, above the laws of life itself. He chooses his path, he even chooses his gender. We can live that way. We do not have to listen to anyone; Pa, the Rule of Realms, those sloppy Kings and their brain-dead council, even mother or Adunar. They always try to constrain us and hold us back by telling us what we can and cannot do. The world fears us for who we are, our power, our identity."

Waverly looked at the whip in her hand. She willed it to become a sword. It was even more beautiful in that form than anything else. Its hilt was curved like a half moon and the blade shone silver with several markings across the length of it. Waverly recognized most of them. They were the same ancient patterns on her mother's skin – Lunoglyphs.

"Like Calaire, we can will what we want to become ours. Even mother will have no say. Remember that she wanted us to sit back while that monster tried to attack Jud? Look at what happened when we did not listen. We saved his life and we met Brijjet."

Waverly nodded absentmindedly. "We did. We. . . we did indeed."

"Yes. Now, we must also decide how to get to Enton. First, by forcing that loud mouth deity to show us the way. It his duty and yet he makes a pompous display out of it. That is why no one else has succeeded since the dawn of the Trials."

"I hear you." Waverly concluded.

"Exactly. Go get him. Do it for Jud." Waverly 2 said then liquidated into a puddle.

Waverly stood staring at the spot where her reflection had dissolved. The blistering cold threatened to tear her skin to slices but she paid no attention to it. She had other things on her mind. Other horrid things that she should not have thought of.

"That was quite fast." Adunar commented from behind her. Waverly blinked softly. She tried to look at him without turning her head. She needed to get him unaware. Within a millisecond, she had swung her blade but he must have been expecting the move because he suddenly blocked the strike with his arm. The blade did not hurt him, instead flames licked around the steel surface.

"I see you have listened to your flaws." He cackled gleefully. "And they claim to be different every time."

He shoved Waverly's sword away and, his eyes gleamed with dangerous, crazed enthusiasm when he said, "Trial number two."

With that, he disappeared.

Waverly heaved out a breath. Suddenly, the earth shook and detached itself from the ground, washing above her body, causing her clothes to ripple violently whilst her exposed skin was battered with pieces of earth, plants and water.

The next second, she found herself standing in a different place. This place was beautiful beyond human reasoning. Waverly could not tell if she was still on earth or she had died and gone to some kind of paradise. Her new location was a forest but it did not feel like a normal forest and did not look like one either.

Up above, the sky was an opalescent white and bright blue. Golden trees grew all about in a scattered formation with golden fruits hanging from them. The ground was covered in grass but the grass had been perfectly mowed so that it felt like a carpet. The forest was wide and in every corner of it, Waverly caught glimpse of many pavilions shining like freshly picked roses. Gardens graced these pavilions and tending to the flowers were certain creatures Waverly could vaguely recall. She was certain she had seen them in her study books before. They had white wings and were the size of butterflies. Their noses were pointy but their faces in general, was somewhat indescribable.

"Sprites." Someone offered from Waverly's side. "They attend to my gardens on the request of Juniper herself."

Waverly moved a few feet away from the stranger and gaped at the woman. Her eyeballs were solid gold and incredibly distracting. Tiny crystals of violet and gold decorated the dress that clung tightly to her body such that they looked to be a part of her skin. Numerous attractive accessories ran across her arms, ears, nose and legs and a silver crown shaped like falling raindrops went around her head. Her straight hair fell across her back. It was so lustrous and white that Waverly mistook it for pure silver.

Waverly's mouth opened and closed like a fish but nothing came out of it. The woman took very sensual strides toward her. The accessories on her jingled like soft bells as she did. The manner in which she strode was so distracting that Waverly felt she was watching her dance instead of walk.

"My name is Opal." The woman, Opal, said softly. Her skin was the color of chocolate but much lighter. The faint light from all the crystals across her skin illuminated her form to look ethereal. Waverly had never really understood what it meant for someone to be breathtakingly beautiful but standing in front of this literal goddess, she felt all the air in her chest being snatched up.

The goddess frowned but it barely looked like a frown. "Are you alright?"

Waverly blinked repeatedly. Her mouth tasted like wet chalk. She searched for words to say but her brain seemed to have shut off. The goddess seemed to be unaware of the fact that her new guest was dumbfounded. She politely took Waverly's hand and led her to one of the pavilions were thousands of Sprites hovered around like bees. She made Waverly sit on soft golden chairs and handed her a goblet to drink from.

"You seem to have lost your way, haven't you dear?" Opal asked. Her voice was kind and it made Waverly feel comfortable.

Waverly shook her head in disagreement and stared into the goblet. It held wine and she had never tasted wine. HalfHyde had warned her of its effects and that it was only meant for adults. Opal did not seem to regard Waverly as a child because she continuously refilled her goblet from a tall transparent bottle that bubbled with sparkling yellow liquid that resembled melted butter. The taste of it was fuzzy in Waverly's mouth like warm cooking water atop a stove.

"Oh, if you have not lost your way then you are most likely on a Trial then." Opal said. She seemed so at ease that Waverly felt sure that she was not the first one to have been shoved dramatically into the paradisiacal dwelling.

"No mortal can find this place unless they are facing a Trial given by Adunar himself and. . ." Opal placed one heavily accessorized hand against her cheek, her expression sympathetic. "Oh dear, you are facing a Trial."

Waverly nodded. She tried to look around the forest but her eyes could only take in so much. It hurt to try and see everything at once.

"Do you know the reason why you have come, dear?" Opal asked, in a less pitiful tone than before.

"No." Waverly answered.

Opal nodded gently. "And do you understand what the Trials are?"

Waverly shook her head. "No. I do not."

Opal nodded again and gestured to the wine bottle. Waverly did a quick scan of her environment. She was still well aware of everything happening around her which meant that the wine had no alarming effect. She nodded and Opal refilled her goblet again. The wine was tasty and it left her feeling thirstier each time she emptied the goblet.

"My dear, the Trials have existed ever since the beginning of mankind. It is the way to test mortals who seek to achieve great feats. These Trials you strive to champion has never been passed completely by any mortal before you. He created them. They are called The Nine. You must show excellence in each one before you will be granted success."

"I do not know for sure if i passed the first one." Waverly said frowning at the memory. Adunar told her that she had accepted her flaws which made her believe she had indeed passed the first Trial. Mortals were meant to accept their flaws, she thought. It was what distinguished them from the gods.

"You will not know if you pass this either. You must finish all Nine Trials before you may know the result. Coming to my realm is one of the Nine, and i am obliged to put you through the test whether i like to or not."

Waverly raised an eyebrow, her goblet halfway to her lips. "You do not like to sometimes?"

Opal hesitated. Her lips drew back slightly. They resembled polished ripened fruits.

"It is difficult to watch people strive against themselves. Sometimes their intentions are true but their desires subdue them. That is what Adunar means in Entonian. He is desire. He will tempt you with all that you want and cannot have, test you with the things that drive you, scare you, hinder you and define you. It is a bit confusing but every Trial you face will reveal a part of your character - what makes you. . ."

Opal hesitated, searching for the right word then said with a smile, ". . . you."

"So what is my test now?" Waverly asked.

It was Opal's turn to raise an eyebrow - a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "You do not wish to rest for a while? You look tired, dear."

Waverly shook her head. "I have only but a few days to travel to Enton. I do not want to waste any more time."

Opal nodded. Her golden eyes flickered. "I see. That is a first. Well, come with me then."

Waverly followed the goddess who led her past more elaborate trees of gold. A silver stream coursed through the forest and many beautiful fishes swam inside it. The air smelled so fresh and rejuvenating that Waverly felt even younger than she was. She wondered why she did not know who Opal was or why she had never read about her before.

"Here." Opal said as she led Waverly up the stairs of an open temple.

At the very top rested a single podium crafted halfway from bronze and stone. It glittered under the sunlight, although Waverly wondered how there was sun and sky underground as she felt convinced that that was where Opal's realm was. Atop the podium was a large piece of cut diamond. Opal went to stand on one side of the podium while Waverly stood on the other side. The breeze from the height made Waverly feel weightless, like she was freefalling.

"What is this?" She asked staring at the stone.

"It is the embodiment of all the riches on earth which i am Lord over. . . or Lady, if you please. It is the centre of unparalleled wealth. Think of it as a magnet. Do you know what happens when you walk past metal with a magnet?"

Waverly blinked at the diamond. It was disturbingly attractive. "Yes, it draws it in."

"Correct. This precious stone will grant you every wealth on earth wherever you go. It is a sacred blessing. It has been in my possession ever since wealth became known to man and those who acquire it will have everything for generations and generations til the end of time - as long as they possess the stone." Opal explained.

Waverly scrunched up her face. "But i do not want to be rich."

Opal smiled and her eyes clocked to the bracelets around Waverly's wrist. "No, you obviously do not. But this is a free gift i put forth willingly. You do not know when you will need riches in your future."

"I do not care for that. I just want to live and be happy. I have been happy without riches and i know i will be happy without it still."

Opal tilted her head. "You did not know yesterday that you will meet the goddess of wealth, did you?"

Waverly avoided Opal's kind gaze. She hated how her eyes kept clocking back to the diamond. It was shiny and she loved shiny.

"No, i did not. But that does not mean i have to accept this because it is free. I have told you, i have no need for riches."

"Yes, you do. Everyone does." Opal countered. Her voice was gentle yet challenging.

"I am not everyone. I apologize, good miss but if this is the test, luring me to accept this, then it is lame because i will not." Waverly spat defiantly.

"It is not lame. Even now i can see that you struggle internally. You have a love for wealth. It is buried deep within you, evident by the hunger that claws your soul and perfectly clear without by the Gifts of Nature that grace your wrist." Opal said.

Waverly lifted her arm where the bracelets dangled. "The Gifts of what?"

"You carry a power beyond comprehension around your hand. Whomever has given you these must have a great love for you. Each stone around your wrist represents a vital aspect of life and if you can utilize them, well then, things will be different."

"What do you mean?" Waverly asked, she did not want to think about Judson but her mind wandered still, back to the times he had found the stones and insisted that she have them. Why had he not kept them for himself?

"I cannot elaborate on that because it is not my place to do more than i have to." Opal said, blinking with a sort of finality. "Now, will you accept my free gift or not?"

Waverly glared at the diamond then at the stones on her wrist. She knew they were more than enough but her love for shiny things was insatiable much like the Triad's love for greens. She looked at Opal who only stared back calmly, waiting for her response.

She knew Opal wanted nothing more than for her to accept the diamond. There was a certain yearning in her golden eyes. It was almost like the goddess wanted to be relieved of the stone. She wanted a new bearer. Having the wealth of the entire universe in her domain was more than enough to affect her in very negative ways. Waverly was even surprised the goddess was still sane. She had heard stories of what overflowing riches did to men with time. It sent them into a different kind of madness. Waverly doubted this applied to a goddess and yet, Opal looked to be somewhat disoriented.

"I am greatly sorry, My Lady, but i refuse your gift." Waverly said at last.

Opal sighed softly. "Very well. But before you go, i implore you to find out the properties of each Gift. Learn its power. I have a feeling you will turn to it when the need is dire. Farewell, dear."

The beautiful forest dissolved and Opal with it and Waverly found herself back in the blistering cold. Just as quickly, the beach also dissolved and she was in an open field. The whole place was covered with weeds so great that Waverly felt pity for whoever the farmer was that owned it.

"Oh, it belongs to no farmer." Adunar piped from the side.

She flinched and cursed under her breath. Those goldy lots needed to stop popping from every corner without a heads up.

"What am i doing here?" She inquired. The field stretched far and wide that one could see nothing else except it.

"These are the Fields of Deusa. It has long been overgrown with weeds. The goddess of the dead finds it difficult to operate in her fields because of these stubborn weeds – funny how you have much in common. You are to clear off this land under two hours."

"What?!" Waverly's eyes bulged.

Adunar produced a large sandglass from behind him. A huge stone rose from the ground and he placed the glass on it, turning it so the sand from above trickled into the empty glass below. Waverly had only seen a sandglass once. It was one of those "rich people items" that commoners could never afford. For a minute, she thought Brijjet was correct about Humans. They were a despicable lot for living the way they did.

Everyone should be able to use a sandglass to tell time regradless of who they were. She almost swore that after the war ended and that if she survived it, she would make sure every person in Lake Borough owned a sandglass. As she thought of this, she silently cursed herself.

Sandglasses were insultingly expensive and she would have to sell an entire stable of horses to afford them for just a quarter of the town. And there was the fact that she had just refused a lifetime of riches from Opal only a few minutes ago. Waverly felt she was being taunted by the universe.

"Only two hours? Can you see the size of this field?" She asked.

"Your time is already wasting away. I would shut up and get to work if i were you." Adunar said with a growl then disappeared.

Waverly rushed to the weeds and began to hack at them but her sword worked dully as if she used a spoon to dig concrete. The blade suddenly went blunt as it was meant for battle and not for weeding. She slumped forward in exhaustion, her shirt already drenched with sweat and her arms aching badly.

She glanced at the sandglass. It trickled slowly but the sand below had pooled up enough to inspire panic. She stood up and glanced at the field. This part of the test was impossible. Waverly yearned to be questioned by Opal again. She would choose anything over cutting weed.

If only she had a farm tool or anything that could clear off weed easily.

Waverly's eyes lit up when she suddenly remembered that she did have a farm tool. A very powerful farm tool for that matter. She reached for Karya on her belt but it was not there.

"Durn!" Waverly spat, kicking at the air. She had given Karya to Brijjet on the Bridge during their fight with the Epeiras. Karya was a Cultivator's weapon and it would be effective in clearing out any kind of weed.

Waverly stomped her foot in anger and glared at the sandglass. She felt very tempted to smash it to pieces but she needed to pass this test more than anything. She could not afford to let her failures exceed her successes. She closed her eyes and thought of Karya. She recalled once in The Abyss when she had summoned the blade from a small distance. She did not know exactly how far away she was from Brijjet or if the blade could travel long distances but she was certain of one thing - the In Between was still linked to this side of the realm. The blade could still come to her.

She concentrated on the blade until she began to feel it against the palm of her hand. When she opened her eyes, she was holding Karya in all its green glimmer.

She wondered what Brijjet would think of the blade violently ripping off his grip and into the portal. She smiled at the thought.

"Alright. Let us clear out these nuisance." Waverly muttered.

The next few minutes played out like theatrics to Waverly. Karya took absolute control of her hand. It cut down the weeds like a pair of scissors chipping away paper. Before the last grain of sand could leave the sandglass, she was already done weeding.

Her shoulders screamed in agony but the pool of joy in her chest was immeasurable. She trudged back up to the stone where Adunar now stood waiting for her. Her own legs felt like lead and her arms were too numb to feel the sword she held.

When she finally came up to him, he did not look impressed. His expression was sour and hateful.

"I see you possess a Cultivator's Weapon. Varda must find you favorable. I cannot count that as cheating so we must proceed."

Exhaustion took over and Waverly slumped face down as the world dissolved around her again.

The Honor of Light|
Book 02