CHAPTER NINE: THE QUEST FOR CLUES V: THE ALPHA AND OMEGA GATES AND THE SEVEN STONES OF VIRTUE

Reis and Ryu stood before the teleportation crystal in Kolmnid Farms. They had finally exited the Underground Caverns.

"Time to report back to Zan" Ryu said and accessed the teleportation crystal.

He selected the location 'Hall Of Dream Knights' and the two were instantly teleported. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves back in the Hall with the Great Seats and decorations of weapons and armoury. They found Zan at his Seat.

"You're back I see. Did you learn anything new?" Zan asked.

"From the Cavern Of The Jo-lan Masters, we learnt of Seven Canons, Seven Masters, Seven Stones, Four Elements, Three Great Clans, History interpreted from two perspectives and a mythical Eighth Jo-lan Master" Reis said.

"From the Temple Of The Light Ryu, we learnt of Seven Dragons, Seven Elements, Seven Great Clans, Seven Humans, the Code Of Heart And Hate signifying two mysterious Dragons and an Eighth and Final Saint…the Rainbow Dragon…Ryuujinn" Ryu said.

"Hmm…Seven Elements…Seven Stones…History interpreted from two perspectives…could it be?" Zan seemed to think deeply for a while.

"Is anything the matter Zan?" Reis asked.

"Have you two ever heard of the Seven Elemental Stones Of Sealing?" Zan asked.

"Seven Elemental Stones Of Sealing?" Reis asked.

"Yes, each Stone represents a single Element. The First Stone is the Stone Of Fire, the Second is the Stone Of Wind, the Third represents Earth, the Fourth represents Time, the Fifth represents Water, the Sixth represents Lightning and the Seventh represents Light" Zan said.

"Do these Stones possess any special function?" Ryu asked.

"When united with the Eternal Mirror Gate, they each seal a single Soul Of Evil. The Stones also represent Seven Virtues. The Stone Of Fire represents Fortitude and seals Cowardice, the Stone Of Wind represents Freedom and seals Enslavement, the Stone Of Earth represents Hope and seals Despair, the Stone Of Time represents Forgiveness and seals Chaos, the Stone Of Water represents Purity or Kindness and seals Decay, the Stone Of Lightning represents Goodness and seals Sloth and the Stone Of Light represents Truth and seals Lies. These Stones were once wielded in battle by a being known as 'The Beautiful Dream' and his Seven Souls Of Virtue" Zan explained.

"Whoa! That's really amazing!" Reis exclaimed.

"And you say these Stones only seal the souls of evil when united to the Eternal Mirror Gate? What is the Eternal Mirror Gate?" Ryu asked.

"The Eternal Mirror Gate is a special Gate that allows Human Dream Knights to access the world of Dreams. We originally thought of them as a single Gate however, my father, the Nightmare King revealed to us that the Eternal Mirror Gate is actually composed of Two Gates. The Gate Of Alpha and the Gate Of Omega" Zan explained.

"Alpha and Omega?!" Reis exclaimed in shock.

"You seem to know quite a bit concerning this subject yourself Reis Dragonhaärt" Zan said.

"Yes, Alpha and Omega are two Dragon Sovereigns from my homeworld. They are the elements spoken about in the song I told you about earlier, the elements of Origins and Endings" Reis said.

"What do these Gates in your world signify Zan?" Ryu asked.

"In short, two ideals. An ideal of Ultimate Good and an ideal of ultimate evil" Zan said.

"It's just like the Code Of Heart And Hate" Ryu noted.

"Yes, if I recall correctly, 'Heart' signifies Ryuujinn and 'Hate' signifies 'Tristran'" Reis recalled.

"At the same time, the Gate Of Alpha signifies beginnings and no real end to anything but a cycle of ages and Eternity. The Gate Of Omega on the other hand signifies an inevitable end to all things" Zan said.

"It's beginning to make a strange sort of sense. Seven Stones signifying Seven Virtues and having the power to seal the Seven Souls Of Evil when united to the Alpha and Omega Gates" Reis noted.

"For now, I suggest you speak with Aurora, then return to me when you've learnt more. I really have a lot of thinking to do regarding what I've just learnt from you both and I may just have more to tell you" Zan said.

Reis and Ryu nodded and departed.