El Hazard and it's characters are owned by AIC and Pioneer LDC. The author owns only the writing. Chapter 3: Shrine of Wind Afura watched the sky listening to the wind. She felt confident, secure, sure of herself. She had her books, she had her duty. What more was there? Wait, there was a speck on the horizon. Afura squinted for a closer look. Shayla? Why would she be coming back so soon? Didn't she gloat enough about her marriage and husband yesterday? Well, nothing she can do to stop it. The wind priestess felt her confidence plummet and bitterness rise with a hint of jealously. Still they were both Priestesses, Sisters. Professional courtesy demanded civil behavior. It wasn't anyone's fault, not Shayla's, Hiashi's or hers. Afura knew when it started, at Miz's wedding. Shayla was still trying to coax Makoto from retreiving the Demon God and Hiashi hadn't even entered the picture. The first twinges of loneliness began as the couple said their vows and Shayla was plotting of a way to drag Makoto to the altar. At Shayla's and Hiashi's wedding it got worse. Hiashi was a good friend, someone Afura could trust in a fight and to do the right thing. But she never felt anything romantic towards him. Hiashi read fiction to be entertained, Afura read history for knowledge. He liked to imagine and be creative while Afura kept her feet firmly planted in reality. Afura refined her powers to a high degree of control while trusting herself. Hiashi kept control over himself while trusting his abilities and using them in unique ways. Even if through some twist of fate Shayla was possessed instead of Afura, it wouldn't have changed anything. Afura was convinced it was destiny which brought Hiashi to Shayla. After all the two complimented each other well. Both tended to think with their heart, though Hiashi supplemented that strength with intelligence. No, Afura could never love Hiashi, not the way Shayla does. So why was she jealous of her and so bitter against him? When she first began her training, her objective was knowledge. At her age, boys were still 'icky' and romance was the furthest thing from her mind. Now it was a different story. Her friends were getting married and starting new lives and it was having an effect on her. It wasn't restricted to Miz or Shayla, but some of her Shrine's own attendants were being replaced because the original ones were retiring to get married. It wasn't like she felt she needed a spouse to be complete. But it would have been nice to know someone would be there, the companionship, the support, the love. Official retirement was still years away, plenty of time to decide what she wants. Nanami was a great help throughout this. She finally realized Makoto was out of reach when Ifurita returned. They felt like comrades in arms in the single's army, offering support when needed. She convinced Afura to wait and take her time in choosing what she wanted out of life. Not all people were destined to experience 'love at first sight'. There was a word for it in the El Hazard language, lal-daz-kin. Literally it meant 'discovery of soul mate'. While a frequent appearance in literature, it also happened outside the books' covers. Famous historical figures as well as the commoners experienced lal-daz-kin. It was a force that could not be denied. Still, it didn't help as much as she'd expect when Shayla-Shayla dropped by, happier now than Afura ever remembered her being. Each time she saw her, Afura wondered if she'll ever get that kind of happiness for herself. Shayla was the closest thing Afura had to a sibling. Now that was no longer the case. Her marriage seemed to shatter that illusion. Afura refused to admit she resented Hiashi a little for inadvertently causing that. Her resentment was mostly countered by his friendship and comfort in knowing he would be good to Shayla. What remained was covered in a cast of coldness which only hid her positive feelings. Afura was waiting at the landing pad when Shayla arrived. It was clear even before she landed, this was no social call. As her feet touched the ground Shayla said, "Afura, we've got a problem." "What is it?" Afura asked coldly. Shayla overlooked her tone, "All the Earthers, Hiashi, Makoto, the others, probably even Jinnai all had the same nightmare last night." "This is the one year anniversary of them coming to El-Hazard. Most likely this is a side-effect of Ifurita's dimensional powers." "Then why did Hiashi also have it? He's only been here about nine months." "I'm surprised you don't know the exact days." "Huh?--" "--Nothing. I can see why you'd be concerned." "Makoto wants permission to enter the Stairway to the Sky. We need an unbiased opinion. Makoto's going to talk with Taulus, but it would carry more weight if you gave your okay. Besides, he value's your opinion." "So you want me to let Makoto poke around there like he did the Eye of God because of a bad dream?" "Come on. You know he wouldn't ask if he wasn't absolutely sure it was necessary." She got Afura there. Makoto would never deceive his friends about something like this. Afura remembered reading about a similar incident. After the Eye of God was first used in the Great Holy War the Phantom Tribe was pulled into El- Hazard. The Eye only eliminated the largest of Roshtaria's enemies, there were several others too small and scattered for the Eye to target. The devastating power of the Eye only united these smaller fractions into a larger force. With the help of the Phantom Tribe, they almost won. Those who created the Eye were able to refine the controls. The next time it was used, no more of the Phantom Tribe would be pulled from their world. The Eye would only attack predetermined enemies and lands, decreasing the actual damage while enhancing the fear of the weapon. For now it could be used more freely, to destroy cities, towns, even armies while leaving the surrounding land untouched. For some reason the Shadow Nation was immune to the Eye's attacks. But one year after the Eye was used for the second time, the creators said to have strange, horrible dreams about the consequences of their actions. They interpreted their dreams as their conscience reminding them of the injustice done to the Phantom Tribe. Many blamed the Phantom Tribe for extending the war and were paranoid about their illusionary powers. Angry mobs forced them into the underground and a covert struggle between El-Hazard and the Phantom Nation began. Afura remembered what Galas said to Makoto, about the similarities between each other. Both were pulled into a strange land embroiled in a war by forces they did not understand. Both gained abilities through that journey. Afura feared that if Makoto's city, or even school was brought over that they would share the same fate as the Phantoms. If it was the Eye of God was calling the Earthers, like it might have done with its creators, it was Afura's holy duty to make sure that call was answered. "All right. But I'm the one who's going to be watching him this time. You had your turn." Afura said. "My turn? Since when have taken turns?" Shayla asked confused. But Afura had already left. Shayla tried to follow, but didn't have Afura's speed. She was out of shouting distance before Shayla could demand to know what she was referring to. Interlude: Jinnai's Palace Dozens of Bugrom scurried about in their underground base. Many of them carried huge crystals which they used to reenforce the walls. They were grown from samples taken from the Crystal Caves and had unexpected properties Jinnai found useful. He already knew they interfered with Elemental scrying since they were used to shield the Tomb of Izeria's Heroes from detection for thousands of years. But he learned they also disrupted large-scale Elemental magic. That made them more valuable now than previously. After becoming Priest, Hiashi destroyed Jinnai's last headquarters by generating quakes and rock slides in the right areas. But that trick won't work again, oh no. Next time he showed his face, the Lamp of Rock would be useless and Jinnai's for the taking. Normally Jinnai would be laughing hysterically, but he had other concerns. His minions, Deva's palace had been banished to Earth. They called to him in his sleep. They pleaded for rescue and he promised them that he would. Both were working to find a way to reclaim it. Additionally Jinnai was also planning revenge on those who impeached him from office, the Science-fiction Club, the Computer Club, the Language Club, they all will pay. "The answer is clearly in the Eye of God. That thing stole my children from me." Deva said as the two made plans over the often used map of Roshtaria. "Of course my dear Deva. The trick is using it. My spies tell me Makoto's already there. No doubt he's going to try to save Shinonome. Well it's his fault they're there in the first place. We should let him go in first then WE follow and get our forces back. To top it all off, we close the door back stranding him there." "A brilliant plan as usual, Master Jinnai. But how do we get a rescue force your Earth in the first place?" " That's the beauty of my plan. We don't need a force. All the troops we need are already there. We go in alone and come out with an army already at Floristica's doorstep!" Jinnai said degrading into laughter. End Interlude