Gaia's Champion

Jason, Sheena and Phalmina arrived in an older part of town, which hearkened back to the days when the city was first being built. It had the distinct feel of something that was pulled straight from a different era in time, as there were few modern buildings in this district. The neighborhood had seen better days, but it hadn't lost its charm and was well kept, as the residents evidently poured a lot of love into their homes.

"What's the address on that paper again, babe?" Sheena asked as she coasted along the road slowly.

"221 Decker Street. It should be just on the right," Jason stated, checking his phone for where it should be. He looked the address up, but it never materialized on his map app. He figured it was just a glitch and directed Sheena there anyway. She pulled up to the place where it was supposed to be and found nothing but a vacant lot where it should have been.

"Odd. It's not here. Are you sure this is the place?" Sheena asked, thinking that Jason had goofed.

"Pretty damned sure! This is the only Decker Street in the city, so I don't know where else it could be!" Jason replied.

"Wait a few moments," Phalmina said to the pair as they kept talking.

"It should be here! I don't understand why it isn't," Jason said out loud. "Do you think he gave us bad directions?"

"Uncle Felix has an impeccable sense of direction! No way he would have done that!" Sheena argued.

"Hey! You two! Stop your bickering and just wait!!" Phalmina snapped, catching her lovers' attention.

"We don't bicker!" Sheena said indignantly.

"Yeah, you do! Now shush and just wait!" the Fairy told her once again.

Jason was about to ask what it was that Phalmina had in mind until he sensed something. It was almost as though there was a... presence there, looking straight at them, which they could not see. Moments later, Jason could literally feel it with his magic, as the presence became clearer to his Gaian senses.

"You feel that?" he asked.

"I not only feel it, I see it!" Sheena said excitedly, pointing out the window.

Following her finger, Jason looked and saw what she was pointing at. It was a shop, but a very odd-looking shop, to be sure! It almost looked like an antique store, but it literally looked like something that you would read about in a fantasy novel! There were many sorts of weapons, books and weird-looking artifacts that filled the store window!

The more he looked, the more Jason thought that this place wouldn't be out of place in the world of Faerûn. Or maybe even the wizarding world of the Harry Potter novels? There were even elements that made it appear to be built of parts of the Sanctum Sanctorum! Maybe it was a mishmash of all three? Regardless, Jason, Sheena and Phalmina were utterly fascinated by what they saw there.

"Well? Are you two just going to stare at this place all day?" Phalmina asked. Chuckling, Sheena put the car in park and killed the engine, stepping out with Jason and Phalmina.

"Do you feel that?" Jason asked.

"Feel what?" Phalmina queried.

"That overwhelming sense of... power! I remember feeling something like this before!" Jason stated. "It was when..."

"Carman found us," Sheena said solemnly, walking up with her loves.

"I do sense it! But it is... masked. Like it is trying to stay hidden," Phalmina remarked.

"Well, Felix did say that this place doesn't reveal itself to just anyone. Especially those who have nefarious intent," Jason reminded the women. There was no doorbell, and when Jason tried the door, he found it was locked.

"Weird. You'd think since we can see the place, the door would be open," the Druid said out loud.

"Security measures, maybe?" Sheena suggested.

"Maybe knock? It is proper manners, after all," Phalmina suggested. Shrugging, Jason raised his fist and rapped his knuckles on the door. The trio heard some movement within the shop itself before the door unlocked and was cracked open a little.

"What is the password?" a feminine voice questioned.

"Password? We weren't told of any password," Jason told her, caught off guard by the request.

"Then how did you find your way here?" the woman asked, her soft voice getting a little harsh.

"A man called Felix Bhundar told us of this place and sent us here. He told us you might have what we are looking for," Sheena told the woman. A bout of musical laughter then erupted out of the woman, startling the trio for a moment before she spoke again.

"Dear Felix sent you here? If he did, then he must have given you the password in some form!" the woman pressed, her voice no longer as harsh as it had been.

"Given us a password? There was no way he..." Sheena started before she slapped her own forehead and sighed, knowing that Felix would do something like this.

"Jay, mind handing me the list?" Sheena asked.

"The list? Why do you... ah, now that's clever!!" Jason chuckled as he pulled out the slip of paper and handed it to Sheena. His fiancée took the paper and handed it to the human hand that waited for it. The woman behind the door pulled it inside and looked at it before looking up at the trio that darkened her doorstep. Then, what sounded like a giggle came from behind her, and she opened the door wide.

"Greetings, young ones! My name is Sigi, Keeper of the Chronicles of the Lost!! Welcome to Treasures of the Lost! Please, come inside!" the woman implored them.

The trio did so and crossed the threshold, happy that she was inviting them in. Once they walked inside, it was almost like stepping into another world entirely! The inside of the store looked much like one of those libraries that you saw a fantasy artist create! There were multiple skylights inside that filtered pure sunlight into the building.

Books lay everywhere, strewn about so it looked messy, yet at the same time, looking organized and neat! It was a strange thing to be sure, but one which everyone there found refreshing, even Phalmina! They looked about in wonder at the multitude of books and papers that filled the shelves of the room they had entered.

Plants of various shapes and sizes grew everywhere, looking like they were part of the ambiance! Some plants sat in pots, some were creeping down the walls, but only on the spots where there were no books being stored. Some even grew out of the floor itself, surprising the trio to no end!

"Impressive, isn't it?" Sigi asked as she closed the door behind them and walked up to the group.

The woman called Sigi was older than they were, looking to be well into her forties. Though she appeared to be sprightly, as she moved with all the bounce of someone who was far younger. While she looked like she was well past forty, there was something about the woman that made her seem... ancient. Like she had seen the passing of centuries and would see them pass her still.

She was tall, easily Jason's height, and with waist-long blonde hair that was more ashen than yellow. Her blue eyes stared at them, as though she was weighing and judging them as they stood before her. Sigi's face was, for lack of better words, smooth and without blemish. It was as though her face and every inch of exposed skin was sculpted from flawless marble, showing that she would not age.

Sigi was dressed much like a librarian, with sturdy, modern boots, a black pencil skirt and a simple white blouse. The only difference was that her wrists were adorned with various bracelets and charms, and from her neck hung a large talisman of unknown origin. There were also odd bits and pieces of clothing that hung around her frame, making it seem like she was a woman out of time.

The fact that she was a well-built woman wasn't lost on the group either. Sigi obviously took care of her body, as she was the perfect medium between curvy and muscular. While her clothing and peculiar items she wore masked her for the most part, the trio could tell that if they were to tangle with her, they would be in for a long fight!

"So, you know Felix?" Sheena asked.

"Of course I know him! He's an old friend! One whom I have sat and had many a good conversation with over a nice cup of tea!" Sigi sighed happily as she remembered the last time the man had visited. "Though he hasn't come by in a while. I would assume that his shop and that boy of his keep him busy?"

"That's part of it. The other part is the dark forces that are marauding around out there, making life difficult for those of us who oppose their power," Jason grumbled.

"Indeed. I have felt the power rising out there for some time, but... it was recently halted. Did any of you have a hand in that happening?" Sigi wondered.

"We did decimate an entire chapter of the Sons of Ceasar over a month ago. Could that have something to do with it?" Phalmina asked.

"You took on an entire chapter of the Sons? And survived??" Sigi queried, her eyes widening slightly.

"Yeah, we did. But that's not the only thing we've done since," Sheena stated.

"Hmm! These are events I do not know of! Please tell me about them!" Sigi implored, as excitement lit up her eyes.

The group did as she asked and told her of what had happened with the Sons of Ceasar and of Felicitae. How they saved her and vanquished the Dark Heart that had her in its grip. They were about to continue on, but Sigi then held up a hand, stopping them in their tracks.

"Before you continue on, just know that after the freeing of Felicitae, I am aware of everything that has happened since," the ageless woman told the trio.

"How? How do you know of this?" Jason questioned.

"The birds, the insects and many other creatures of Gaia tell me of all the goings on of the city and beyond. There is very little I am not apprised of," Sigi told them with a secret smile.

"Um... if you knew about the events of what's happened lately, then why didn't you know about our encounter with the Sons? Or when we were dealing with Felicitae when she was corrupted?" Phalmina asked.

"Because the events in which you were involved had protections around the places where you fought. The animals that bring me news couldn't get into those places without becoming trapped. Thus, I had no way of knowing exactly what happened in those places. Thanks to you, I now know," Sigi replied with a smile.

"Ah! Now that these places are free of such barriers, you can see what transpires there?" Phalmina wondered.

"Yes, I can," Sigi beamed.

"So, you know of Carman, then?" Sheena queried.

"I do. I'm honestly surprised it took her followers this long to find and resurrect her!" Sigi said with a sigh, wondering how it was that people ever got anything done.

"Wait, you knew she would come back to life?" Phalmina asked, just as surprised as Jason and Sheena were with this knowledge.

"Oh, I've been aware of her eventual return for a great many centuries now. When it comes to beings of great power like the Dark Witch, not even death can keep them from carrying out their foul deeds," the flaxen-haired woman stated.

"If you knew of her return, then why didn't you try to do anything to try to stop her from coming back?" Sheena wondered, in disbelief that a woman as powerful as this just allowed such things to happen.

"Simple. To avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I were to try to interfere in such predictions, as ambiguous as they may be, it might just allow them to come to pass. As the French poet, Jean de La Fontaine, once said, 'A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.'," Sigi told them gently.

"That makes an awful lot of sense. Meddling to try to stop something that may or may not happen will often guarantee that it will happen," Jason nodded, having read of such ideas before.

"Precisely. But there have also been a great many other prophecies that were spoken of concerning Carman and her return. While I refuse to directly interfere in their outcome, I did take the time to prepare for it," Sigi told them with a knowing look.

"Preparing for it? How?" Sheena wondered.

"By finding and collecting every tome, journal, magical weapon and trinket that could be found and hoarding it here, for when times of great strife are upon us," Sigi stated, waving her arms to the stacks of books and multitude of artifacts that decorated every spare inch of space in the shop.

"Ummm... how is it you are here?" Jason asked. Seeing the elder woman's confusion, Jason clarified.

"What I mean is, how is it you are here, in such a young country? Wouldn't you be bound to a certain location or a place of power?" Jason wondered.

"Ah! In my case, no. This shop, for all intents and purposes, is a traveling place of power. It is the greatest work of the apprentices of Myrddin, who sought to preserve what they could and to keep it from the forces of darkness," Sigi told them as her eyes got a faraway look to them.

"Wait, wait, wait! Are you saying that Merlin... Myrddin's apprentices created this shop? To be a mobile repository of knowledge for when such knowledge was needed??" Jason asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes! It was because of the many prophecies of Myrddin was why they created it. They knew that there would be much upheaval and change in the centuries to come. To help combat these changes and to make for a brighter, more hopeful future, is why this place was made!" Sigi stated with a sweep of her arms.

"Did you know you would need to be here where we needed you to be?" Sheena wondered.

"I didn't, but the shop did. It always travels and goes to different places wherever and whenever we are needed most. For the past several years, we have been here, doing what we can in preparation for these days. Now, since you are all here for certain things to fight against Carman, let me have a look at this list of yours," Sigi said as she held up the slip of paper in front of her and took a look at it.

"Hmm. Interesting," the woman said out loud.

"What's interesting?" Jason questioned.

"These books that you require. Many of them are extremely rare to find in this epoch. You are most fortunate that I happen to possess about one third of all the books on this list," Sigi revealed to the trio.

"You have that many?!?" Phalmina questioned, astounded at their good fortune.

"I do! As I said, the apprentices of Myrddin were a detailed and careful lot. Especially after the betrayal of one of their own, who tried to take Myrddin's power for their own," Sigi huffed in remembrance.

"Morgan le Faye!" Jason growled.

"What? By Gaia, no! No, the traitor was none other than his own son, Glastor, his second born," Sigi stated.

"Hold up a second! Are you saying that the one who betrayed Myrddin and tried to take his power for themselves was none other than his own son?!" Jason said with a gasp.

"Yes. Glastor was always the jealous and spiteful sort, believing that he was always being slighted in some way or other. Myrddin loved his son and saw within him the potential to be as great, possibly even greater, than he was as a sorcerer!" Sigi went on.

"What happened?" Phalmina enquired, as she too was unfamiliar with the truth of the Arthurian legends.

"Greed, and the impatience of youth. Plus... there was... something else about the magic he used. It didn't come from Gaia or any source we knew of. It was something... just as old, yet... wrong," Sigi replied, looking somewhat confused, almost seemed like she was having trouble remembering something. Her focus on the memory was then forgotten at the next question.

"These books you have? Can we see them?" Phalmina asked, excited to get her hands on these tomes.

"I'm sorry, but no," Sigi told the Fairy woman.

"Whyever not?" Phalmina protested.

"Well, not the originals, at least. They are too precious and fragile to be held again. Instead, the shop is now harnessing the magic needed to make you copies of them! That way, the knowledge will still remain preserved for future generations, should they need it," Sigi smiled.

"Oh!! Well, that's even better!" the Fairy said with a grin.

"Um... Sigi? If we were to find other copies of rare books and bring them to you, could you make copies of them as well?" Jason asked.

"I can! Or more like the shop can! Why? Do you have more of these tomes?" Sigi wondered.

"Of those on the list, we are not certain, but there is one I'm sure you will want," Jason told her. "A book by the Artificier, which contains the instructions to craft a Spellforge."

"The... the Guidebook survived?!?" Sigi gasped, grabbing a nearby chair for support.

"It did, and wound up in the hands of the Sons of Caesar. After dealing with the chapter, we raided their archives and took every book that they sought to keep out of the hands of Gaians and other spellcasters," Jason told the woman. Hearing this made Sigi fall on her ass on the floor as she blinked rapidly.

"Sigi? Are you OK?" Sheena asked, moving forward to help the woman to her feet.

"I will be... but learning about all of this is... incredible!! I had always thought that after the fall of several great and prominent libraries, that such knowledge was destroyed!" Sigi breathed as she processed what she had been told.

"I would guess that someone wanted the knowledge for their own ends. Maybe that was how Caesar and his cult got started in the first place? We know they use a corrupted form of Gaian magic, but they had to learn about it from somewhere," Jason reasoned.

"I kept telling the girls that we should have gone off to check those ancient libraries, so knowledge of the world we knew wouldn't be lost or destroyed!" Phalmina huffed in exasperation.

"Was it after the war?" Sheena questioned.

"Yeah. I understand the reasons why they didn't want to go. But to recover knowledge of that importance was worth the risk!" Phalmina argued.

"The other Fairies likely didn't see it that way. Remember, Mina, not everyone will see the world as you do. So, you cannot expect them to act as you do," Jason told her in an assuaging voice.

"Oh, shush you!" Phalmina pouted as she stuck out her tongue at Jason. Sheena and Sigi giggled, knowing that Jason had won that round of logic, but Phalmina refused to accept the loss. Jason just chuckled and waved his hand, sending a small gust of air up the Fairy woman's skirt, causing her to squeal in surprise. She then rounded on Jason, who tried to put an innocent look on his face, but failed miserably.

"You are going to pay for that one, buster!" Phalmina threatened, her tone carrying the full weight of her intent.

"Maybe, maybe not. That depends on how exactly I am going to... pay," Jason told her in a suggestive tone. Phalmina bristled a little, of half a mind to exact her revenge right there. But she didn't as Sheena quickly stepped between the pair.

"OK, you two, save it for later, when I can watch you two have it," Sheena said with a laugh.

"She is right," Jason chuckled as he then turned his focus to Sigi. "So, what do we owe you for making copies of these books?"

"The price I am asking would be... a non-traditional sort of price," Sigi replied.

"What are you asking for?" Phalmina questioned, curious about what the price would be.

"I want to be free of this place," Sigi replied simply.

"What do you mean, 'free of this place'? Are you a prisoner?" Sheena asked.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. While this shop is powerful and can do many great things, there are limits to what can be done. I cannot step out of this shop, for if I do, then we will both die," Sigi stated.

"As long as you stay inside, you will both live on?" Jason queried.

"Yes. The bond between us is what keeps us alive. The shop feeds off the emotions and interactions I have with other beings, and that sustains its magic. It is the magic of the shop that sustains my life, keeping me healthy, youthful, and sprightly. If I were to leave at all, that bond would quickly disintegrate and we would both be lost to the decay of time," Sigi informed them.