Chapter 3: Revelations

Scylla tried her best to remain calm as she walked briskly through the corridors. She was still rather shaken by the experience in Ilene’s room. She grew more and more certain that it was Redolarian Sleeping Curse, or a related form, that Lady Ilene was battling.

She opened one of the doors to the palace library. Scanning the room, she realized that it was empty. Sighing, she closed the door and leaned against it.

‘Where could she be?’ Scylla wondered in annoyance, drumming her fingers against one of her crossed arms. The Guardian of Mercy was running out of places to look.

‘I’ll try the gardens,’ she decided. ‘If I don’t find her there, then I will ask Dido or somebody else.’

She headed down the corridor and marched to the nearest outside door. Once again, trying to appear normal, she paused and then opened the door. Nodding in greeting to those she passed, Scylla kept a steady pace, taking one well-used path and then another.

As she was about to give up, she rounded a turn and caught a glimpse of a figure under a majestic oak nearby. Uncertain that it was the person she was searching for, Scylla approached soundlessly. Smiling as she identified the individual, she waited respectfully a few feet away.

The Guardian of Hope was seated in a lotus position under the tree. Her eyes were closed in a serene expression, as the wind played with her violet hair. Scylla watched the other Guardian, amazed by how slow she was breathing.

Cassandra quirked one purple eyebrow slightly, before her brow furrowed in deeper concentration. Gradually, her respiration rate increased until it appeared normal. Sighing, the Guardian rolled her shoulders and opened your eyes.

“Good afternoon, Scylla,” she greeted rising to her feet. “Enjoying the gardens?”

“I wish I could say that,” Scylla replied with a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Cassandra asked, closing the distance between them. “Do we need to go to my chambers?”

Scylla glanced around the gardens. No one was in the near viscidity. “No, I don’t think it will be necessary. However, I need to discuss with you a matter of grave importance.”

“Please, do,” Cassandra said, sitting a nearby bench. Scylla sat down beside her.

“I was in the palace earlier when I heard someone shout Lady Elara’s name. I ran in the direction of the voice, which turned out to be Lady Ilene’s room. Dr. Cross had discovered Lady Elara, as Sailor Europa, collapsed on the floor.”

“Is Elara all right?” Cassandra asked, concern evident on her face.

“Yes, but she is extremely weak. Apparently, she is using more and more of her power as Sailor Europa on Ilene. And it’s not working, Cassandra,” Scylla said softly. “Lady Ilene is fading.”

“By the House of Light,” the other woman murmured.

“Yet, something happened when I touched Lady Ilene today. I used my powers on her. This is not some disease, Cassandra. It’s like what happened to Amalthea when she first began to turn. It’s almost like the Redolarian Sleeping Curse.”

Cassandra’s eyes widen as she looked at Scylla. “Scylla, are you certain? It really is the curse?”

“It is so much like it, Cassandra, that I am almost willing to bet on it. I still can remember fighting it under Alvin’s supervision. It is not something one easily forgets.”

“If it is the curse,” Cassandra replied, “then our time is limited. Lady Ilene cannot hold out much longer against it, I presume?”

Scylla shook her head. “It’s a miracle that she has lasted this long, even with Ilene’s fighting spirit and Elara’s help.”

“It seems that we can’t escape the past, does it, Scylla?”

Without waiting for a reply, the Guardian of Hope rose from the bench. She took a few steps toward the palace before stopping and looking back. Scylla was standing, watching Cassandra with a curious expression.

“We will need to inform Princess Leda of this development,” Cassandra stated. “We will have to decide quickly, if we are going to be of any help to Lady Ilene.”

The Guardian turned once more, heading into the palace. Scylla followed quickly behind her. ‘Let us be in time,’ Scylla prayed.

* * * * *

Paul watched his wife’s face as he maneuvered his rook into its position, taking out her knight. “Check,” he said with great satisfaction, leaning back against the leather armchair with a smile.

Leda tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear absently. Her attention was completely devoted to the chess board. Paul’s smile broadened as his wife realized that the move actually had her in checkmate.

She lifted her head to look at him, her gray eyes narrowed into a glare as she noticed his smirking form. In a huff, she laid her king flat in defeat. To her annoyance, Paul laughed.

“Enjoy it while you can,” she said. She began to set up the board for a new game.

Paul just watched her. He knew that they would keep playing until Leda felt she had played well. His chances of another victory were slimming in light of her growing determination.

“Believe me, love, I will,” he replied.

Any further banter was interrupted by a knock on the door. Leda quirked an eyebrow at her husband, who just shrugged. “I guess we may have to wait for your rematch, Leda,” he said.

“We will finish this,” she said crisply. However, she gave him a wink before turning to the door. “Come in.”

Leda was surprised to both Cassandra and Scylla enter the room. The Guardian of Hope closed the door behind them, silently turning the lock. Leda glanced at Paul, who had clearly not the action as well. She silently gestured for the women to be seated.

“Your Majesties,” Cassandra began.

“Cassandra, please,” Leda interrupted. “After all these years, you can drop the formality.”

“If you wish,” Cassandra said. “Scylla and I have something to tell you.”

“Then by all means,” Leda replied, growing uneasy by, in her experience with Cassandra, what was hedging.

Scylla sat up straighter and gave her account of her visit with Lady Ilene. She carefully watched the couple, especially Leda. Her empathetic abilities quickly picked up on their concern for Ilene and Elara as well as their confusion concerning the Redolarian curse.

“So, how do we fight this curse?” Paul asked.

“I guess I should explain a little more about the curse,” Scylla said. “To use the curse requires a great deal of knowledge in both herbs and magic. Because of its dual source of power, it is a very difficult thing to battle. During my training, I only encountered one case of the curse. It took the strength of my teacher and myself to administer the cure.”

“Did it work?” Leda asked softly.

Scylla studied the Princess of Jupiter for a moment. The Guardian knew how much was riding on her reply. ‘Hope is a powerful medicine.’ Scylla blinked as she remembered Alvin’s words.

“Yes,” she said softly, ignoring Cassandra’s glance. “It was difficult, but it worked.”

“Then we have to try,” Leda declared. “What do we have to do?”

Cassandra cleared her throat. “There is a manual once housed in the main library of the palace that contained information on the treatment of such ailments. Am I right, Scylla?”

The other Guardian nodded. Cassandra continued, “It should hold the steps of the treatment, including the quantity of herbs needed.”

“Why this manual?” Paul asked. “Doesn’t Scylla remember the treatment?”

“That was a long time ago,” Scylla answered. “If I erred in the dosage of any herb, I could do further harm to Lady Ilene.”

“So, where is this manual?” Leda inquired. “And where do we find these herbs?”

Cassandra glanced at Scylla and sighed before facing the monarchs again. “The manual has hopefully survived and is at the royal palace. Most of the herbs required grow in certain regions of Cignus.”

“Cignus?!”

“Yes, Your Majesties,” Scylla stated quietly. “If we are to help Lady Ilene, we must return to Cignus.”


Revelations Scylla tried her best to remain calm as she walked briskly through the corridors. She was still rather shaken by the experience in Ilene’s room. She grew more and more certain that it was Redolarian Sleeping Curse, or a related form, that Lady Ilene was battling. She opened one of the doors to the palace library. Scanning the room, she realized that it was empty. Sighing, she closed the door and leaned against it. ‘Where could she be?’ Scylla wondered in annoyance, drumming her fingers against one of her crossed arms. The Guardian of Mercy was running out of places to look. ‘I’ll try the gardens,’ she decided. ‘If I don’t find her there, then I will ask Dido or somebody else.’ She headed down the corridor and marched to the nearest outside door. Once again, trying to appear normal, she paused and then opened the door. Nodding in greeting to those she passed, Scylla kept a steady pace, taking one well-used path and then another. As she was about to give up, she rounded a turn and caught a glimpse of a figure under a majestic oak nearby. Uncertain that it was the person she was searching for, Scylla approached soundlessly. Smiling as she identified the individual, she waited respectfully a few feet away. The Guardian of Hope was seated in a lotus position under the tree. Her eyes were closed in a serene expression, as the wind played with her violet hair. Scylla watched the other Guardian, amazed by how slow she was breathing. Cassandra quirked one purple eyebrow slightly, before her brow furrowed in deeper concentration. Gradually, her respiration rate increased until it appeared normal. Sighing, the Guardian rolled her shoulders and opened your eyes. “Good afternoon, Scylla,” she greeted rising to her feet. “Enjoying the gardens?” “I wish I could say that,” Scylla replied with a sigh. “What’s wrong?” Cassandra asked, closing the distance between them. “Do we need to go to my chambers?” Scylla glanced around the gardens. No one was in the near viscidity. “No, I don’t think it will be necessary. However, I need to discuss with you a matter of grave importance.” “Please, do,” Cassandra said, sitting a nearby bench. Scylla sat down beside her. “I was in the palace earlier when I heard someone shout Lady Elara’s name. I ran in the direction of the voice, which turned out to be Lady Ilene’s room. Dr. Cross had discovered Lady Elara, as Sailor Europa, collapsed on the floor.” “Is Elara all right?” Cassandra asked, concern evident on her face. “Yes, but she is extremely weak. Apparently, she is using more and more of her power as Sailor Europa on Ilene. And it’s not working, Cassandra,” Scylla said softly. “Lady Ilene is fading.” “By the House of Light,” the other woman murmured. “Yet, something happened when I touched Lady Ilene today. I used my powers on her. This is not some disease, Cassandra. It’s like what happened to Amalthea when she first began to turn. It’s almost like the Redolarian Sleeping Curse.” Cassandra’s eyes widen as she looked at Scylla. “Scylla, are you certain? It really is the curse?” “It is so much like it, Cassandra, that I am almost willing to bet on it. I still can remember fighting it under Alvin’s supervision. It is not something one easily forgets.” “If it is the curse,” Cassandra replied, “then our time is limited. Lady Ilene cannot hold out much longer against it, I presume?” Scylla shook her head. “It’s a miracle that she has lasted this long, even with Ilene’s fighting spirit and Elara’s help.” “It seems that we can’t escape the past, does it, Scylla?” Without waiting for a reply, the Guardian of Hope rose from the bench. She took a few steps toward the palace before stopping and looking back. Scylla was standing, watching Cassandra with a curious expression. “We will need to inform Princess Leda of this development,” Cassandra stated. “We will have to decide quickly, if we are going to be of any help to Lady Ilene.” The Guardian turned once more, heading into the palace. Scylla followed quickly behind her. ‘Let us be in time,’ Scylla prayed. * * * * * Paul watched his wife’s face as he maneuvered his rook into its position, taking out her knight. “Check,” he said with great satisfaction, leaning back against the leather armchair with a smile. Leda tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear absently. Her attention was completely devoted to the chess board. Paul’s smile broadened as his wife realized that the move actually had her in checkmate. She lifted her head to look at him, her gray eyes narrowed into a glare as she noticed his smirking form. In a huff, she laid her king flat in defeat. To her annoyance, Paul laughed. “Enjoy it while you can,” she said. She began to set up the board for a new game. Paul just watched her. He knew that they would keep playing until Leda felt she had played well. His chances of another victory were slimming in light of her growing determination. “Believe me, love, I will,” he replied. Any further banter was interrupted by a knock on the door. Leda quirked an eyebrow at her husband, who just shrugged. “I guess we may have to wait for your rematch, Leda,” he said. “We will finish this,” she said crisply. However, she gave him a wink before turning to the door. “Come in.” Leda was surprised to both Cassandra and Scylla enter the room. The Guardian of Hope closed the door behind them, silently turning the lock. Leda glanced at Paul, who had clearly not the action as well. She silently gestured for the women to be seated. “Your Majesties,” Cassandra began. “Cassandra, please,” Leda interrupted. “After all these years, you can drop the formality.” “If you wish,” Cassandra said. “Scylla and I have something to tell you.” “Then by all means,” Leda replied, growing uneasy by, in her experience with Cassandra, what was hedging. Scylla sat up straighter and gave her account of her visit with Lady Ilene. She carefully watched the couple, especially Leda. Her empathetic abilities quickly picked up on their concern for Ilene and Elara as well as their confusion concerning the Redolarian curse. “So, how do we fight this curse?” Paul asked. “I guess I should explain a little more about the curse,” Scylla said. “To use the curse requires a great deal of knowledge in both herbs and magic. Because of its dual source of power, it is a very difficult thing to battle. During my training, I only encountered one case of the curse. It took the strength of my teacher and myself to administer the cure.” “Did it work?” Leda asked softly. Scylla studied the Princess of Jupiter for a moment. The Guardian knew how much was riding on her reply. ‘Hope is a powerful medicine.’ Scylla blinked as she remembered Alvin’s words. “Yes,” she said softly, ignoring Cassandra’s glance. “It was difficult, but it worked.” “Then we have to try,” Leda declared. “What do we have to do?” Cassandra cleared her throat. “There is a manual once housed in the main library of the palace that contained information on the treatment of such ailments. Am I right, Scylla?” The other Guardian nodded. Cassandra continued, “It should hold the steps of the treatment, including the quantity of herbs needed.” “Why this manual?” Paul asked. “Doesn’t Scylla remember the treatment?” “That was a long time ago,” Scylla answered. “If I erred in the dosage of any herb, I could do further harm to Lady Ilene.” “So, where is this manual?” Leda inquired. “And where do we find these herbs?” Cassandra glanced at Scylla and sighed before facing the monarchs again. “The manual has hopefully survived and is at the royal palace. Most of the herbs required grow in certain regions of Cignus.” “Cignus?!” “Yes, Your Majesties,” Scylla stated quietly. “If we are to help Lady Ilene, we must return to Cignus.”


Chapter 4: Preparations Jupiter's Gone