Balmythra

  ****

  On Wednesday at dusk, everyone with a golden aura psiflew to the cavern that was Rezyra. It eerily echoed the murmurs of our voices and created a weird ambiance as we waited expectantly. I hoped there would be answers soon. I exchanged a fleeting glance with Jor, who nodded in answer to my unspoken doubts. Yes, we were definitely meant to be there.

  My gaze swept the group, lingering on Matt. Thank goodness he'd been my companion in Balmythra. I'd never have survived without him. I next focused on Ashley, who kept fussing with her newly acquired stone necklace. John sat to her left, now and then sneaking sidelong glances, but never attempting conversation.

  I sighed. Balmythra had certainly proved a challenge for John's logical mind, yet he'd come through on more than one occasion. Would Ashley ever realize he adored her? As if in answer to that, the vivacious teen leaned closer to Lucianis, who sat to her right. But Lucianis never even noticed that she was flirting.

  Kenny, excited to bursting point, carried on a loud conversation with shy Petria, breaking a silence that felt sacred. Mandaus, condescending as always, frowned at him. Rocc and Tirafalen sat talking softly to Ilsada, who sat next to them.

  Ginzy smiled at me when our gazes met and absently patted my hobo bag as if it were Patáh. I remembered that her smile had given me hope before. But why was she there? Could there be a mistake? I shifted my gaze to Jor, who sat beside the child. He shook his head immediately in reply and mentally told me to look closer at Ginzy. That's when I noticed that the golden haze of the summoning—actually hers was more copper in color—still clung to her red hair.

  I sighed, wondering when the mystery would be solved. As if in answer, the entire cavern lit up with a soft glow. All gazes riveted to where a pinpoint of bright white light began to expand. I felt rather than saw Ginzy scoot closer to Jor, who set her in his lap.

  Something now appeared inside the glow—the faint outline of a person. I heard a collective gasp, and no wonder. What a sight. Taurelle, very tall and regal, floated a couple of feet off the ground, as before. Soon he appeared to be as solid as anyone gathered within the cavern. That was when he spoke.

  "Welcome, my friends."

  Silence reigned as he gazed benevolently on us. I tried to guess whether he was Sairon or Ionian. His clothing told me that he came from some distant past, possibly the legendary golden age of Balmythra at its very beginning. Perhaps this was a hologram from long ago—some bit of advice left for a time when Balmythra faced danger. Or maybe the close brush with destruction had triggered his appearance. Whichever, he definitely wasn't real, which made me wonder what on earth he had to say.

  "Your presence fills me and my fellow Ayrasaronalians with hope."

  "Ayrasaronalians?" I didn't expect an answer. I was just trying to remember what I'd read about them in school.

  "Yes."

  The reactions of my friends told me I wasn't the only one who'd thought this was a vision or something. "Are you real?"

  "Very real."

  Whoa! We all exchanged baffled looks. I even sensed the confusion of Jor, Mandaus and Lucianis though none of them spoke. That left me to ask the questions. "But Ayrasaironalians are from our past."

  "Time flows both ways." Looking around, Taurelle continued. "We are your past and your future."

  I switched gears. "Why are we here?"

  "The future of Balmythra depends on what you accomplish now."

  I waited for someone else to speak, but no one did. "How can we do anything about the nuclear plant?"

  "Your tasks actually lie elsewhere."

  Tasks? Clueless, I wished I had the smarts to understand what he was talking about.

  He looked right at me. "You'll soon understand everything."

  Startled by Taurelle's answer, I glanced at Jor, who was clearly disconcerted. Though we were used to Balmythrans intercepting unguarded thoughts, it was hard to believe that someone from the past could, too.

  "Did I miss something?" Kenny asked.

  "Shhh." Matt nodded for me to continue.

  I now asked the question first and foremost on everyone's mind. "Who are you?"

  "Taurelle of Ayrasaironalis."

  "Are you here because Balmythra is in danger?"

  "Yes."

  "But why are we here?" Ashley's gesture included Matt, John and Kenny. "We're tourists, and Ginzy is just a little kid."

  All poP gazes shifted to Ashley. Kenny let her have it. "This is our home now—"

  John didn't like his tone. "Leave her alone."

  "Will all of you just chill?" Matt glared at the three of them.

  Taurelle didn't acknowledge the drama. "Earth is in danger, as well."

  Ginzy hid her face in Jor's shirt, which told me she'd obviously understood the word danger even if she couldn't have a clue what else was going on. I put my mouth to Matt's ear. "Maybe someone should take Ginzy back to Saironalis."

  "No," Taurelle said. "The child must stay."

  "But—"

  Taurelle lifted a hand to silence me. "Listen closely while I explain why you're all here."

  Ginzy scooted closer to Jor and quieted down, though her bottom lip trembled. She hugged the chest that she still carried with her, and I remembered Ashley saying she'd slept with it and my bag the night before.

  "Ayrasaironalians are a very ancient people. We existed on your planet for eons before your own race of men made their first attempts at a primitive civilization."

  "You’re from Atlantis!" Kenny whooped and slapped his knee in his excitement. "I knew it!"