Iserlohnn - continued

Obaba

Edward was half expecting black tendrils to shoot forth, grab Tenshi and drag him headlong into the void. But he quickly saw he was not at The Gate and the doorway only opened into a huge open entrance room with highly polished wood floor and icons in every nave in the room. Tenshi had no idea why Edward got so freaked out for a moment. He didn’t see anything to be afraid of. The Shrine had, in his opinion, a very warm and welcoming vibe.

The others followed Tenshi into the great room, with Edward being the last to walk through those great black doors. His heart was racing and he still was shaking even though he knew he wasn’t anywhere near The Gate.

“Nii-san, what is wrong?” Alphonse asked concerned.

“It was a flashback, Al,” Edward explained. “Sorry.”

Alphonse held him close for a moment. “You thought that was The Gate, didn’t you?” he whispered. Edward nodded and Al continued, “You are not the only one. It looked like it to me too.”

“And that didn’t freak you out?”

“No, because I know we aren’t in that place. Besides, I never saw The Gate face to face like you did. I only know what it looks like from books.”

“Seeing it changes a person. And not always for the better,” Edward told him. Changing the subject, he asked, “Wonder what sort of person this Obaba is. She has to be made of some pretty stern stuff if she was Mustang’s Sensei.”

“You think he was as bad as you were when he was in training?” Alphonse asked.

“What’s THAT supposed to mean?”

“Izumi never doubted your intellect but you were a problem child Ed.”

“Gee thanks!” Edward cracked breaking free of his brother’s embrace.

Alphonse chuckled, “It was never dull at the dojo with you around.”

Edward ignored his brother’s jibe and went off to join the others. They didn’t have to wait long. Two priestesses clad in plain white tunics with red trim and flowing red pants led the way for a very short old women with silver hair, violet eyes and a staff that was four times as large as she was. She cast a sharp-eyed look at the four of them as though sizing up their threat potential. Her gaze at long last finally rested on Edward.

“Where is Flame?” she demanded.

“He couldn’t leave his command, so he sent the four of us in his place,” Edward told her.

“Four Alchemists,” she began as she slowly began walking and scrutinizing each of them in turn. “But only one of you recognized the entrance to this holy place. Only one of you is still cold with fear.”

Edward gasped. How did she know THAT?

Her sharp eyes turned on Edward. “What Alchemist sired you, boy?”

“Hohenheim of the Light,” Edward responded.

She paused thoughtfully for a moment. She looked at Alphonse and then back at Edward. “You two are brothers?” Edward nodded and she continued. “So, Flame sends me the Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother.” She turned her eagle eye on Alphonse and stated, “I can see how you got your name, Fullmetal.”

“Um, I’m not-“ Alphonse stammered.

“He isn’t the Fullmetal Alchemist, I am,” Edward interrupted sharply. “I am Edward Elric and he is Alphonse Elric. The others with me are Tenshi Hikaru, the Lightning Alchemist and Doctor Seris Ferguson.”

The old woman half-smiled at Edward. “And I am Obaba, the Solar Alchemist. And you will find and rescue my granddaughter, the Princess Katarin.”

“Princess?” Edward gasped.

“Yes, her parents were our late King and Queen. The man who sits the throne now was chosen by the people to rule until Katarin comes of age. Kimbley stole her while she was meditating in the garden and he now holds her somewhere in this city. We have tried all means at our disposal but have been unable to locate her.”

“Scrying didn’t point her out?” Edward asked.

Obaba smiled at the question. “So, you know something of the Old Arts,” she remarked. “Unfortunately the place she is in has been warded against scrying.”

“Maybe we can’t scry for her, but how about looking for Kimbley?” Edward suggested. “If he is holding her then chances are he’s going to be close by whatever spot he is using as a prison.”

“But don’t you need something of his to look for him?” Tenshi asked.

Edward nodded. “I’m hoping we can find something he at least touched so we can get a fix on his general location.”

Obaba pondered his words for a moment before suggesting; “The only object we know he touched for certain when he kidnapped Katarin was the locket her mother gave her just before she died. It was pulled off her neck during the struggle.”

“May I borrow it?” Edward asked.

“It has a stronger connection to Katarin than to the man you seek,” Obaba warned him. “Your plan may not work.”

“I know but you may be aware of a technique called Splitting the Essence?” Edward queried and when Obaba nodded he continued, “I am going to try that.”

“You truly have been schooled in the Old Ways,” Obaba said sounding a bit impressed. “Who was your Sensei?”

“Her name was Izumi but I didn’t learn about this from her. I researched Scrying on my own.”

“Learning the Old Ways in that fashion is not easy. I don’t doubt your talents, Fullmetal, but I think I had better be your guide on this one. Follow me,” Obaba said and led the four of them back into the Shrine proper. They past the worship areas and were guided into a workroom that was obviously used for the study of Alchemy. The slate floor was the perfect place upon which to draw transmutation circles and all four walls were crammed full of books from ceiling to floor. All four Alchemists were having joygasms at the sight of this well-stocked library.

“I could spend MONTHS in here!” Edward remarked eyeing all those ancient tomes longingly.

“Maybe we’ll be able to stay and research the Philosopher’s Stone after we rescue the Princess,” Alphonse suggested.

“I hope so,” Edward responded. “Because all our research so far has only come up with the one conclusion. And I just KNOW there HAS to be another way!”

Edward’s thoughts returned to the present when Obaba thrust a thick wad of chalk under his nose commanding, “Draw a basic Scrying circle. I’ll add in the refinements when you are done.”

Edward took the chalk from her and did as he was told. The others watched him fascinated. Alphonse had been working on this research with Edward and quietly coached him whenever he sensed Edward was losing his place. Between their combined efforts the Circle got drawn to the satisfaction of Obaba. She took the chalk and filled in the details while the four of them watched and learned. Edward subtly removed his journal out of his pocket and took notes. He would want to be able to duplicate the technique he saw being performed on his own someday.

Obaba placed the necklace in the center of the circle. She motioned to the four of them to join her around the circle. “The more energy we add to this working the better,” she explained. “Follow my lead.”

The four of them nodded and it was her energy that first fueled the Charge on the circle. The other four joined in barely a second behind her. A swirling tornado of light emerged from the tiny locket and soon it coalesced into the image of a man Edward instantly recognized as Kimbley. The area around him was hazy but looked like it was a library or a bookshop. However, Edward didn’t get much of a chance to get a bead on where his adversary was because the image faded out almost as quickly as it appeared.

“Damn!” Edward breathed as he sat back on his haunches. “If only we could’ve gotten a better look!”

“You are lucky we saw this much!” Obaba stated sharply. “If I didn’t have the energy from the four of you to combine with my own we would have seen nothing at all!”

“He looked like he was in a book store or a library,” Tenshi commented. “Can’t be too many of these here in this city.”

“It’s a place to start,” Alphonse offered.

“Edward nodded in agreement. “Fine. We’ll search every bookshop and library in Iserlohnn until we find him.”

The others were in complete agreement on that point.

Obaba asked, “Do you have the communication disk?”

“Yes.”

“Keep it with you. If my granddaughter is moved to a place that isn’t warded, you will be able to use that to find her. It is as much keyed to her essence as it is to Flame’s.”

“I understand,” Edward said rising. “We had better go.”

“My apprentice Tohru will guide you. She speaks your language well and knows her way around the city. Once you have found what you seek she will return to me.”

“Thank you.”

Obaba led them out of the workroom and back to the main entrance area. The girl called Tohru was already there waiting for them. She was tall and slim with fair skin, blue eyes and long straight jet-black hair that looked like spun silk. She wore the same white tunic and full red pants Edward had seen on the other women attending Obaba and assumed (correctly) this to be the uniform of a priestess of their faith. She bowed to Obaba and cast her curious eyes on the four outlanders.

“The Holy Mother wishes me to be your guide,” she said softly. “Where is it you need to go?”

“We have to inspect every library and bookstore in your city,” Edward explained. “I guess we should start at the closest place and begin working our way out.”

She nodded. “A logical course of action, Alchemist. By what name are you known?”

“Edward, code name Fullmetal,” he told her and then introduced the others in turn. She smiled at all of them and led them out of the temple, across the square and out into the city proper.
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more to come!