A harsh green shaft suddenly burst from the ceiling and aggressively chased the spheres into the corners of the room. They lurked silently in the shadows as if fearful of the hostile presence. It emitted a series of staccato clicking noises and a high-pitched whine that forced her to cover her ears. Before she could move away, the green shaft engulfed her with a bone chilling cold. Her teeth chattered from the contact, her skin pimpling with gooseflesh. Suddenly, a resonant humming pierced the silence. It rose from the dancing spheres that merged into one and formed a sinuous glowing orb. Pulsing like a spectral heartbeat, it hurdled toward her and surrounded her with a halo of pure, benevolent light.
Feeling safe once more, she removed her hands from her ears. The green beam reared abruptly and emitted a guttural hiss. Slowly it retreated as the orb forced it from the room. The dancing spheres converged joyfully on her. They whirled around her, touched her arms, face and legs, and then gradually reformed into the orb. It writhed sinuously as it transformed into a vaguely human shape.
She watched in awe. Never before had anything like this happened whenever the spheres appeared. Now that she thought about it, the spheres had always been there whenever she was upset or in distress. Their dancing antics and soothing serenade was all she ever experienced. They never appeared when she was calm and everything was fine. Now that she was in distress, it seemed as though her ordeal had disturbed her trusted companions as well.
The form materialized into a human silhouette. She watched transfixed and peered at the luminous shape. They must be angels, she thought. All this time I've been surrounded by heavenly bodies and never realized to what extent they influenced my life.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
A voice filled the room. Deep and vibrant, its warmth enveloped her and filled her with loving trust.
Aislinn--bearer of the light...
"I don't understand. Who are you? Are you angels?"
If humanity could see us, they might conceive us as such. We are the Antiquitas, the ancient keepers of knowledge. Angels inhabit the realm beyond the living. We are not from there but from a place well known to you.
She reached to touch the apparition and grasped nothing but shifting air. A soft tingling sensation crept up her arm. It enveloped her hand and traveled through her body like a series of electrical impulses. "Why haven't you shown yourself before?"
It was not necessary and we did not want to frighten you. Now, the time has come when we must appear and prepare you for the task ahead.
"Prepare me for what task?"
Aislinn, you must leave this place. It is unsafe. The elementals that would stop the fulfillment of your task will do anything to obtain that which you carry.
)
