Welcome to Gaia! ::

Some say that this giant pillar of crystal was originally part of the Atlantean Core Pillar. It glows with a faint light, its multifaceted surface reflecting a myriad of colors onto the ground in beautiful rings of brilliance. When the sun shines upon it, it seems to burst into light. And by night's moonlight, the crystal's personal radiance is even stronger.

There are also those who say that this crystal was formed by the tears of an angel. Its base is tainted red and black, but the rest is like ice and glass... frozen, crystal and pure. On a stormy day, dragon shaped lightning streaks through the interior of the crystal, angry and disturbed. Yet the storm always passes and the dragon returns to sleep.

When the students Rivencaira and Kira left the world, this pillar mysteriously rose from nowhere. There's an inscription in an ancient language that few could read. A strange man carved them there and killed himself moments afterward, the translation of the inscription written in a bloodstained piece of parchment in his hand.

[Here lies one fallen from heaven
And a princess shunned from hell.
For two accursed lovers
The mournful bells do knell.
One broken from death’s circle
cursed for eternal years.
One melted from a crystal
To take away her fears.
An angel’s tear has frozen,
A warrior’s blood is shed.
The sky mourns in bright silver,
the ground stained crimson red.
Fortune’s wheel is heartless,
In love and peace and war.
In hatred, yet in guidance,
I stand forevermore.]

When tears fall in the crystal’s light and shadow, a voice… perhaps a ghost or maybe a lingering spirit… rings from the tears to comfort the one who sheds them. People come here to repair broken hearts, to be comforted and to leave a memoire for the souls resting within this crystal gravestone.

Marcus had followed after Sara, distraught as to why she had suddenly gotten so worked up and ran off...and he knew then what sh had mean't by his abilities rubbing off....her speed was like his own, if only a fragment as powerful. He stopped short of the enterance of the Crystal pillar, standing silently in the doorway as Sara cried.....this pillar reminded him of that room Miss Rivera had......if only slightly. Sara however, was a diffrent story. He dared not approach her for fear of getting her more worked up and besides that...he had nothing comforting to say. In all the honest truth he didn't even know what was going on right about now, he knew she was terriably upset and thats about it. Taking a step foreard he coughed violently as he did, filling the room with a sicking hacking noise as he fell to one knee. In all the excitement he had forgotten to take his medication.....but he rose quickly and kept on going, approaching both her and the pilliar. "Sara....what....happened?"

((My apologies....I will not make that mistake again))

Marcus looked as iuf someone had come by and hit him in the face with a large log, and ran off without him even lifting a finger in defense. He only knew of one Rivera, and he had even seen her boyfriend the day she had crafted his sword.....how could she have, no, this couldnt have been real. However the pain in his chest was real, as was the tears that hit the ground, not Saras...but the ones that rolled from his face. Marcus knew nothing of death he had never experianced it and he never wanted to, not untill his death came anyways.....however for someone so kind and, so talented to die....was an outrage against all things good.

Marcus reached for his sword, removing it from his sheath he looked at the shining metal, which seemed to even be sad, it shimmered faintly and dimly, not even the light coming in from the sky lit it up like it normally was. He gripped the hilt tighter and tighter with ever passing second as his head hung lower and lower, and with a single great action...he pulled his arm back and let it fly. With the speed and accuracy of a professional knifethrower it landed right next to Sara, the blade sinking a few inches into the ground. "Damn-It Miss Rivera! Why? Why did you have to die......why did you have to die" he said through his sobs....Marcus never cried, let alone this hard. "Rivera.....why.....what did you ever do to deserve death? Why...did you have to die?" he asked himself as he took another slow step foreward, coughing as he walked. "Rivera, is it better.....is there no pain where you go? Is it.....better than the hell we live?"

Marcus had sense recovered himself enough to stretch out a smile and a nod, watching as she passed. "Sara...I'll wait here...I have my own things I must do and say before...well...you know" he said as he took a few steps foreward and sat besides the pilliar, is hand resting silently over the inscription the covered the tiny spot on the huge pilliar. He placed one hand one the blade that still sat in the ground next to him as he waited for Sara to go, not wanting to begin saying anything that might upset her again. However in his head the thought process begain to work once more, his head imiagining Miss Rivera before she ahd died, the only time he had ever seen her. "Miss Rivera...I never got to thank you properly fdor taking care of my weapon for me....for the kindness you showed me and the effort you put into the work of a blade belonging to a man you had never met before......you are one of, if not the kindest person I have ever met" he thought to himself, his hadn retsing on the smooth crystal surface. Truth be told he still didn't understand much about what had gone on between Sara and Miss. Rivera but....they...must have had a very special bond.

Marcus sat up and picked up his sword from the ground, a faint smile sat upon his lips as he did....he knew that they were better off now. He sheathed his weapon and turned to go, however he had an idea as he went....it was a good idea, or so he thought. turning around and running back to the pilliar he removed his sword and held it by the blade and begain to etch something into the pilliar. He finished and seemed sasified with himself, turning to Sara he smiled. "Sara, you were really close wern't you? you and Miss Rivera that is....it's good to have many friends, especially people like her" he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder, his head hung slightly lower. "They won't be forgotten, not by me anyways.....her voice will always be there when I swing this sword."
he said as he took a few steps out twords the exit of the pilliar area, looking back to her. "Sara...I have to go and train, this has made me realize that I need to be stronger to protect anyone....I understand if you wish to stay here. He said as he left, fading into the surrounding area. However if one were to look back on what he had inscribed into the crystal pilliar, it might make one smile. "Koishi and Kinami, two blades made by the finest craftswoman I have ever known, one was a child...the other will be cherished.....thank you Rivera.....

Marcus"