Welcome to Gaia! ::

The forests of Urania. They were vast and deep. You could be mistaken for believing that they covered all the surface.

If you looked out from where you stand, you cannot see past them. Even if you got as high as you could, you would not see anything but the trees. And if you could get as low as you could, you would only see roots.

But, at the center of the world, there was a large area of mostly stone. It was on the outskirts of this area that you now stood, on ground of a fine and dark dirt. It is as if you stand on the last bit of ground before the untamed wilderness.

This area leads to the The Healers Ward.

———

“Welcome to Urania. This sphere here… well, it used to light up this section of the forest! Which section is this? Oh, yes. This is the Healers Ward. Oh! I should explain why it’s called that. The constellation Cancer had that title on my world. But it also represented a clan, the Healers represented by the Crab. There was also three tribes under them, Ophiuchus, the Bearer; Serpens, the Serpent; and Eridanus, the River.

See! They are right here on the sphere…

Oh, perhaps I should explain why I’m explaining all this.”

The senshi touches the sphere’s stars in a certain order. Nothing happens for a moment. And then you see the stars shift and move before forming the words:

Are you ready?

“You see, on my world, before I was allowed to leave and explore beyond Urania, I had to complete a challenge from each clan. Which I did! But, um, this thing doesn’t seem to remember that. It won’t let me turn on the light until I do it all over again! I mean… the two things — lighting the way and the challenge aren’t even connected! It must be broken…”

She looked sad and her wisp appeared and tried to comfort her by doing all it could which was spin around her head. Then she looked to you.

“And I was much stronger than… you see. I’m not at the same stage as I was then. So, if this does what I think it does, I’m going to need some help.”

Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?

The stars keep reforming and asking the same thing over and over, like it’s broken or something and stuck on repeat. The wisp circles the sphere excitedly as if also asking…

Are you ready?


❂

“Your help shouldn’t mess up the challenge. My brother Tsubasa once helped me with one of them. The tests were always meant to make sure the senshi was ready to leave. Like, kind of how you go to school on Earth and they give you tests and then you graduate. I think?”

She was still trying to understand Earth culture so her analogy might be a bit off.

“The Healers were always a pretty chill clan. Their challenges were always pretty tame. No battles like some of the other clans liked to do. So, it should just ask us to complete three tasks.”


❂

“I wasn’t born in Earth. I was born here. Well, here a long time ago when there was life here. I’m sure you can help, Vela!”

Then she placed a hand on the sphere.

You can hear a voice like a bell coming from within the sphere.

Welcome to the test of the Healers!

Your first task is from Ophiuchus…

Give me food, and I will live.
Give me water, and I will die.
What am I?

“Oh. It’s a riddle!”


❂

Correct!

Your second task is from Serpens, the Serpent.

Three bottles filled with liquid appear before you. One is red, one is blue and the other is green. Beneath each bottle is some wood and kindling.

A stone and a piece of flint is next to the bottles.

The sphere does not tell you what to do.

“Oh. Not this test.” Urania sighed. “You have to light fire under each of them. And none can go out until all are three are lit.”


❂

Surely, it wouldn’t matter. The task was to light the fires. There were no rules on how to do it. They provided the stone and flint. But that didn’t mean they had to use them.

“You have fire magic? I’ve never been penalized for using magic. It’s usually encouraged.”


❂

As Vela dances, each potion gleams in her light. One by one, each bit of wood and kindling light. One my one, each builds into a fire. One by one, each becomes a bonfire.

The red potion begins to bubble first. Then the blue. Then the green.

Until all fires are light, all potions brewing and a sweet frangence fills the air.

“Wow! That was amazing!”

The final task is from Eridanus, the River.

There are two statues and two rivers. One river leads to the end of the test, and the other is failure. One statue always lies, the other always tells the truth. They know which they are. They know where the two rivers go. You do not know which statue is which or which river is which. You may ask one yes or no question. What do you ask to determine which river leads to the end of the test?

Two statues appear before you. Both hold a bowl of water that overflows. Both are women. Next to each flows a river from the water that flows from their vessels.


❂

Yes.

The right statue answers. Then she smiles.

But which river will you follow?


❂