Ada and the Colossus III

## Ada and the Colossus

Ada and the Colossus, written by Hayden, is a popular fairy tale in Eraveil and an inspiration for Caelestites. The book tells the tale of a Caelestite girl named Ada establishing a mind link with Kaz, the weakest Colossus, and leaving Eraveil to explore the world. Through their adventures, the author explains concepts like Eoria, endless day and endless night, Aurorians, Eclipsites, and others.

## Introduction

The Colossus covered in flowers reaches the end of its life. It has been away from Eraveil for far too long. Like Ada and Kaz, it too had once been fascinated by the world outside, along with its navigator. But is going outside always the right choice? Sometimes when you wander too far, you can't find your way home.

## Volume III: Burial Ruins of Colossus

Traveling without a destination is like being a seed of the dandelion, you go wherever the wind takes you.

The latest stop for Ada and Kaz is a barren ruin, where they met a compatriot from Eraveil: A Colossus full of flowers.

"It looks to be on the last leg and running out of energy." Ada stroked the aging behemoth, who trembled and breathed like a Caelestite.

"How can this be? Why don't you fly back to Eraveil? They can help you for sure!" opined a perplexed Kaz.

"Because I can no longer find my way back to Eraveil. Neither map nor navigation system could stop me from getting lost..." The poor Colossus slowly opened its eyes. "You could say this is my home now."

Ada sat down before the Colossus.

"Can you tell me your story?"

The giant raised its head. "My navigator and I came to this forest, where we met another race, the Aurorians."

"Hey, they're the ones who can control Lumina! They can shoot water out of their hands just by thinking about it!"

"So what? Can they fly? If you have to be impressed, be impressed with how powerful the Colossi are." Kaz mumbled, not caring for the Aurorians one bit.

"My navigator lived with and was accepted by Aurorians, but he felt lonely, nevertheless. Caelestites are different from Aurorians, and this is not his home. Just when he decided to leave, though, Eclipsites attacked the village."

"Eclipsites!" Ada's heart skipped a beat, her mind filled with the terrifying image of an ash-black monster emerging from darkness, snarling and stained with blood all over, rushing toward Ada. Just when a blade was only an inch from slashing her throat, the image dissipated.

"My navigator sacrificed his life to help the local Aurorians. They ultimately won, but the area was thoroughly tainted by Darkflow and rendered inhabitable. The Aurorians he protected returned and left flowers for him, the very same ones you see proliferating on me now."

Ada and Kaz were silent. They wanted to console the Colossus but didn't know what to say.

"Don't be sad, young ones. I never minded these flowers on me, nor have I ever regretted waiting for the last bit of energy to drain from me, for I can sense lives awakening on my body. The magnificent flowers are tokens of the Aurorians' gratitude for my navigator, as well as my tribute to him."

The Colossus closed its eyes at last and cut off the mind link with Ada.

The flowers were the only sign of life in the ruin. Ada recalled her parents and Eraveil. She muttered, "Is it absolutely the right choice to see the outside world? Or is it absolutely wrong?"