Tifa & Avi

[Tifa Lockhart]

Slightly more used to the cold than her companion, coming from the cold northern mountains, Faliva was simply bursting with her joy and was slightly less composed, an obvious spring in her step.
"Those asses at the university with HAVE to acknowledge our thesis about parallel universes and time dimensions now!" She said, a grin on her face, "They didn't think it was truth but this altar proves it!"
The dig site was still a hive of activity as more and more parts of an ancient temple complex were being unearthed, but their destination was the ninth of ten deep tunnels that had been excavated into the side of the mountain. Tunnel Nine had been on little interest, unearthing some pottery fragments and a solid gold statue of an ancient warrior of some kind, but now it had yielded the greatest treasure of all.

[Avi]

Carefully stepping around the bits of excavated material that had yet to be cataloged she laughed at Falivas comment about their university supiriors,
"I dare say they shall have a complete fit when they find our names in one of those stupid papers that they read.......'Faliva and Avitiana, finders of the otherworld door'" laughing freely she held her fist out to Faliva,
"Soon we shall be recognised my friend"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Faliva punched the offered fist with enthusiasm, bubbling with only what could be described as schoolgirl like elation.
Now the roof above them was earth supported by heavy wooden beams. Piere lead them deep into the excavation, diggers sat eating on the edges of the walkway, grimy and sweaty, but most looked very pleased with themselves, no doubt for finally finding that which their employers so rabidly sought.
Piere finally pushed aside a cloth that was draped from an overhead beam and stepped into the room beyond.
In the center was a large roughly excavated pit and, at the very bottom in the middle, was a large carved slab of rock inset with jewels of amazing colours... Amethysts, Rubies and Sapphires.
"Oh... my goddess!" Faliva cried out in excitement, seizing her partners had and dragging her down into the pit along with her.
"Look Avi!" She said, tears in her eyes with joy.

[Avi]

After stopping to thank the workers for their hard efforts Avitiana rushed to catch up with Faliva and Piere, when she got there Faliva dragged her into the small room, at the sight of the alter she was driven practically to her knees at the sight,
"I can hardly believe my eyes!..........The detail, the design......it's exquisite" walking forward slowly she was tempted to touch the alter but dared not to,
"Praise the Gods it was made for that we found it"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tears of pure joy were rolling down Faliva's cheeks as she circled the great stone slab, emerald eyes glittering as she knelt by the stone, eyes flashing over the words inscribed there.
"Oh my it's... it's the same language we found on that tablet Avi it's exquisite! Divine Light of Mother Mara shines upon this sacred place..." She began to read, overwhelmed.
"You were right Avitiana! Mara's temple was built here before the fall! Maybe we'll find out what happened to the people of the Acropolis!" She seemed so excited about it all.

[Avi]

Kneeling down and touching the precious sapphires she looked to the inscribbed words Faliva was reciting,
"I have heard so many stories of how they fell to their demise that some light in this darkness would help" Shuffling around the alter she looked for some clues, recognising the name 'Mara' she motioned over Faliva,
"Liva, what does this say, I can make out some of the words but you know Im useless at it."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Faliva stood and shifted around to inspect that passage that Avitiana was looking at. She motioned to Piere, who moved his torch closer to give her some more light to read by. Green eyes skimmed the carving several times.
"There are some glyphs worn away here..." She said, pointing to two rough looking symbols.
"But it roughly says: Born were the daughters of Mother Mara, to guide us forth into a world of harmony beyond the stars. We await their..." Faliva paused, clicking her tongue in frustration, "I think this says "Distant Lands" She said, pointing to the second of the two worn glyphs. "But i cannot make this one out."
Her finger traced the faded outline of the first worn out glyph.

[Avi]

Racking her brain something suddenly clicked,
It was said that two representatives of the Goddess Mara where taken away to......" Pointing to the glyphs responsible she continued, "......a distant land....ooooooooooooh what was the passage I read" Running her hand through her hair she clicked her fingers "Got it! The priests of the temple awaited the representatives to return from distant lands, it was said that they were taken to another world to learn knowledge of past time."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Faliva raised an eyebrow and turned back to the inscription.
"Then this glyph could well be 'return'... meaning they carved this as a signpost to the 'daughters of Mara' that they awaited their return." She stood, hands following the itricate swirls that covered the altar.
On the top of the altar, in circles around the great gems, were more words.
"These are names..." Faliva said, fingers tracing them, "The Grenaldi Brethren... a knighthood of some kind i guess..." She frowned lightly and pointed to two of the names, "Sholrion and Dorian..." She mused. "What do i feel like i've heard those names somewhere before?" She looked to her friend for confirmation, having read a lot of her associates works on this subject she assumed it had been in one of those texts.

[Avi]

Following closely to what her companion had been saying she smiled at her,
"Sholrion and Dorian were two well known knights from the Grenaldi Brethren, they were supposed to be 2 of the bravest knights that the order had, they reputedly saved the kingdom of Tarvenil numerous times" Frowning deeply she searched the alter for more glyphs, "Though it doesn't seem strange that this alter would mention them.......they were originally thought to have been born here."

[Tifa Lockhart]

"Hmm? You mean, in our world?" She asked, turning back to the altar to inspect all the solitary glyphs surrounding the two Knights names.
"Well, they're hailed here." She said, gesturing to the prominent placing of their names. "And the Tarven history dates far beyond our own, how could they have been born here? Are you suggesting a time rift?" She dragged off however when she noticed an hour glass engraved near the head of the altar.
"Hmm? That looks a little out of place..." She hesitantly stretched her hand towards it.

[Avi]

Rolling her eyes to Faliva,
"By from being here I ment in this area in their ti...ii..me" Taking a close look at the hour glass she to reached her hand out towards it, running her fingers over she got a static shock from it, "What on earth is this doing here?.....From what I know this symbol was only begun to be used centries after these two knights died."

[Tifa Lockhart]

As Faliva's fingers touched the hourglass symbol is began to glow, its light projecting outwards, pure and white.
The archaeologist heard cries of alarm behind her, but she found she could not move as the white light reached out and enveloped her and Avitiana, erasing all traces of the cave.
"What's going on?" She whispered, her voice catching in her throat.

[Avi]

As the white light exuded from the alter and spread out throught the room she tried to back away but couldnt, she could hear the muffled sounds of other behind her but all she could hear was Faliva, reaching out for her hand in the light she could hardly breath let alone speak,
"If I knew I would tell you"

[Tifa Lockhart]

Faliva felt Avitiana's hand grab hers and she held it tightly, terrified by what was happening yet, strangely blissful at the same time.
She couldn't breathe in this limbo of white light and soon found herself slipping into unconsciousness.