Ep.50: School Field Trip, Part 3

“Mhmm… I don’t get it,” I comment, slightly confused and giving up quickly.

“I hate to admit it, but I’m stumped on this one too,” Ramsey says while following me.

“That riddle… hmmm… let me think.” Cinder starts to ponder intensely. “‘The Truth is where I lie.’”

“Could this have something to do with that woman’s voice you heard, Fukai?” Maka looks over at me.

“Woman’s voice?” Gwyn asks sharply, intrigue cutting into his scrutinization of the orb as he stops in his tracks. He turns to address me, “Young Fukai…”

As soon as his eyes meet mine I turn away and deflect to Maka, “Whaaa? Why you talking crazy, Maka? I don’t hear voi-”

Anaea, hearing me flounder, turns around and asks while walking backwards, “I’ve been thinking, what if that riddle is referring to the Temple of Ember?”

“What… what makes you think that?” Cinder asks Anaea.

“You know, that last part. I am one of seven. Could it be talking about the Seven Wonders… I mean I don’t know what the names of all the seven wonders are, but I heard rumors of one of them being located here in the Deep Jungle,” Anaea says whimsically.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of those rumors,” I remark with a smile, glad for the change of subject.

“True, but they are not only rumors,” Cinder adds. “Remember how everything began with the Great Wisdom Tree. Hmmm… well, history is a bit fuzzy on what happened after.”

“I wonder if this has something to do with the Dark Void Age…” I say to myself.

“Huh?” Someone says, though I miss who in my reverie.

“But there are some things that are clear,” Anaea continues her conversation with Cinder, “that one of seven deities appeared here sometime after the world as we know it was born.”

“That is somewhat-true, but not entirely,” Cinder adds.

“How so?” Anaea asks.

“Well, history itself is fragile. It’s hard to determine what’s true, but it’s likely it wasn’t a deity. My grandfather once told me a story about the Deep Jungle and the Temple of Ember. Once, a long time ago, a young boy visited the Temple of Ember, enthralled by its wonder. But what awaited him at the front gates was a mysterious woman who shone as bright as the sun. The woman claimed to be an Euo, a Guardian of an Elementor.”

“Wow! Is that really true?” Maka asks, his ears that have been drooping in worry perk up.

“No way that’s true. I’m sorry, Cinder; maybe your grandfather was just telling you a tale,” Ramsey states, not at all impressed.

“That could very well be the case… but I like to believe in my grandfather’s tales,” Cinder smiles while adjusting his glasses.

“Everyone, I think we’re nearing the Temple of Ember,” Gwyn tells us while peering ahead. We soon emerge back into lush, vibrant Deep Jungle. “We better make haste before it’s too late,” Gwyn encourages as he takes the lead and we follow him, hoping we’re soon to be at our destination.