A Fantasy Story Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

The Terrifyingly Exciting Unknown

            The sun rise is most beautiful this morning as I look out over the vast ocean from the second floor balcony of the blue temple. Van had stayed the night there under Peter’s care in a different room from Aurora just like Merry wanted. I knew that there wasn’t much that I could do get on her good side, that Merry, but I still felt that I should at least try to show her that I mean them well. Suddenly I felt a pinching sensation in my chest as I heard soft footsteps walking towards me. When I turned around I saw Aurora standing there as if I caught her stealing cookies from the cookie jar.

“Mornin” I said turning back to look over the ocean again.

“Good morning, how are you doing today?”

“I’m actually doing alright right now. Nothing is trying to kill me, I ain’t hungry no more and with a scene like this to look at, it’s really hard to think of anything wrong”

Aurora giggles as she looks out at the same ocean as Van “Yeah, you’re right. I guess I never really thought of it like that before. It’s nice”

            Aurora and I took a moment to watch the sun slowly rise, lighting up more and more of the clear blue water which reflected the clouds almost perfectly. A cool refreshing breeze blew towards us rustling the long grass and nearby trees. I couldn’t help but to feel that I should try and make some sort of conversation with Aurora and figure out more about this world, but where do I even start? Not to mention there’s that whole thing where I’m from another dimension, for all these people know, I’m from Dynasty and just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 “Figures that I’d be the one person drafted into the wrong place wrong time slot, I might as well be head of the fan club after all I’ve been through” Van thought to himself, under his breath.

            Just as I was about to attempt to ask a question Aurora asked me one first! Startling me.

“Where do you come from?” She bluntly asked me.

“Wha-what do you mean?” Van nervously replies.

“I can tell you know. I can tell what some ones stats are by their aura. I can tell how fast, strong, and intelligent they are. You, on the other hand, are a clouded mystery. There is a weak aura shell but deep down there is a far stronger spirit, almost as if there is something blocking your strengths. I’ve been able to use this technique all my life and I’ve seen many people before, but you are the only one where I can’t see who you truly are. So? Where do you come from?”

            I stood there awe struck that there is someone who is this awesome addressing me in person and calling me out on my secrets. Interrogating me like a military force would to an alien life form. She got me; I had no other choice now as I couldn’t think of a lie cleaver enough for her. Van took a deep breath as his head hung down in defeat.

“Earth; I’m from Earth”

“Earth? I’ve never heard of a place called Earth. How many people live in Earth?”

Van chuckled “Well I don’t know for sure but it’s about six billion with one hundred and ninety six countries in the Milky Way galaxy. In short Earth is just another planet.”

            Then Van waited for the Dynasty shaking scream with his fingers stuck in his ears for protection. Due to Aurora’s technique, she saw that his words were true and became confused at first which then was turned into hysteria and finally loud noises. They only lasted for a short while as Aurora tried to process the information that Van told her and then, after she had stopped shouting, she decided to try asking a question.

“So you’re here now, what are you doing? What are you going to do?”

            Her question was really good and I had to take a moment to figure out just exactly what I was doing. I thought about how I got here in the first place, the people I left behind and the people I’ve meet. Kat told me that I could be a hero and Peter told me that I am a chosen person that is supposed to help Dynasty out of its darkness. Now that I sort through my thoughts I’ve come to see that I have no idea what I’m doing here.

“Honestly? I have no idea what I’m doing here. I sort of stumbled into this world by accident and so far I have been trying not to die. I guess I’ve been trying to find a way back home since I got here”

“Oh I’m so sorry about that. Perhaps-“

“Aurora, are you up here!?” Another voice said from the stairs. It was Dominick rushing up to see what she had been screaming about.

“Oh Dominick, yes I’m fine. I was just startled was all”

“Did he do something to you?” Dominick said giving Van a stern look.

“No! I swear I didn’t do anything that would make you stab me with this Halberd!” Van said as Dominick held his weapon to his neck.

“You better not have”

            Thankfully Aurora stepped in and saved me with a cheery smile.

“That’s enough Dominick, be nice. We were just talking, there’s nothing to worry about. Let’s go” She said leading Dominick back down stairs by the arm. I could have sworn that she gave me a wink as they left as to say “don’t you worry, I’ll keep him in line”. Thank goodness.

            I thought a change in scenery would be nice and decided to walk outside on the main road the village had. The locals seemed nice enough as I walked about the grounds looking for answers I didn’t have yet.

“Perhaps someone will be able to give me a clue to what I’ll do next here” I thought to myself as I passed a rug vender.

            Van was hoping to find something new to obtain to his inventory such as clothing or an accessory. There were many things that he could have gotten, from rings to hats and shoes but at the last vender, there was nothing that appealed to him.

“Hey! You find something good, ya?” Ace said walking up to Van.

“Oh hey Ace. No, not really. There’s nothing that I really wanted to get, and no answers”

“Answers?” Ace asked concerned.

“Yeah. Earlier today I was asked “what am I doing here” and I haven’t really been able to think of an answer. I was kinda hoping that I’d find something here to give me a clue to what I should do next but… I can’t find anything to help me out”

            Note: Time and time again, when Van is conflicted as to what he needs to do, he would look around in his room in hopes he’d find a clue to what he should do. It could be a text book that he had left on his bed for a test or even a quarter on his dresser for a school spirit day. Other times he has even used a field of wheat to remind him to cut the grass and another he used a bicycle that made him remember to go to volleyball practice the next day, though it was strange to find a bicycle in a bathtub. Van was now looking for any sort of trinket or house hold item that would convince him to move on.

“If that’s the case then you should join us to Auron Flux. Maybe there you’ll find what to do, ya?” Ace explained enthusiastically.

“Auron Flux? What’s that?”

“What do you mean? It’s the biggest city in Dynasty, how can you even ask that?”

“Oh yeah! Right” Van replied with a nervous chortle.

“Making more promises again Ace?” Merry asked Ace in a spine chilling tone. “Let me make something clear to you, if I find you on the same boat as Aurora and I then I will toss you off the side and hold you down until the sharks come”

            I could only nod yes to Merrys ultimatum as she drug Ace away, back to his house. I stood frozen in place, too afraid to make a move as if the hand of death holding a rattle snake slightly nudged my tail bone.

“How the hell am I supposed to pass up on a challenge this good? But what did she mean boat? What Boat?!”

            Later that same day Van over herd some people talking about the fair well they were going to throw for Aurora and her protectors as they leave on a boat from the docks located on the beach Van originally washed up on. There was a moment of time when all of the locals were gathering in the center of town where Van could have easily sneak away and find the boat everyone was going to take, however he decided to wait and see what everyone was fussing over. He heard them talking about a summoning demonstration before she left for the boat and Van couldn’t help but to stick around to watch just what that meant. In a nearby tree I waited to see what Aurora’s summoning ability would look like. Soon enough she walked out of the Blue Temple and into the circle the people had made in the dirt. Everyone seemed to have held their breath as they watched her preform the ritual, which looked like a precise dance that drew a symbol on the ground that glowed a fiery red. Then, after the dance was finished, the ground crumbled away and from the smoky embers rose a giant lion with huge paws and a wild mane that seemed to have flames in it. Aurora seemed to be dwarfed by comparison in size but when she approached the lion, it seemed to be soothed by her presence and acted like a house cat would.

“Amazing” Van thought to himself in the cover of the tree. “But now is as good as time as any to make my escape to the boat before Merry sees me and destroys my soul”

            During the distraction, Aurora made, Van swung through the trees as if trained by ninjas to the boat that everyone else was scheduled to ride. With the other crew members loading up the supplies, Van casually boarded the boat and decided to scout out an excellent hiding spot where Merry won’t be able to see him. The boat itself was fairly large and resembled a Nao Ship from the fifteenth century. A large wooden ship with multiple levels and a large deck for loading and unloading large crates and other products.

            Noise from the crowd of people that accompanied Aurora and her protectors alerted me that I didn’t have much time to find a hiding spot. I quickly ran around the depths of the ship, in and out of various rooms hoping to find and awesome place, but there wasn’t any place that seemed to be any good for a long period of time.

“I’ll have to stay on the move if I want to keep hidden. If only I had an invisible cloak or something”

            Suddenly, Van heard footsteps walking towards him which caused him to dance in a panic and take refuge in a metal locker.

“I didn’t dance! I just ran around a little bit”

The locker was small to fit his broad shoulders inside, but as the footsteps entered the room, Van managed to enter and close the door quietly. I tried to keep my cool as I hoped for all that was sacred that whoever was inside the room wasn’t Merry and that she didn’t see me. Just then, I remembered about reading about a technique that involved bending light within your aura causing you to become transparent. Suddenly, the door opened up and I saw woman peer into the locker, looking for something that I didn’t know.

“Huh? The mop isn’t in here. Perhaps it’s already on deck” She said as if she couldn’t even see Van crammed inside the supply locker.

            Van exited the locker confused and took a moment to try and comprehend what just happened.

“Was finding strangers in lockers that common that no one cares? Did she personally just not care? Could she just not see me?” I asked myself as I pondered around the room.  Then Van noticed a small mirror on the wall and out of curiosity, he approached it. I focused just like I had done in the locker to make myself invisible, and then I saw what that lady saw. Van turned entirely invisible right before his existence. It was there and then that I realized that not only was I getting stronger from drinking that Magika serum, but my natural ability’s as a human being are starting to become second nature to me every day.

“This is Awesome!”

            My celebration was cut short as I felt Merrys presence coming forth from down the hall. I could recognize the icy chill in the air anywhere and that was my clue to get the hell out of there and hide in a better spot. For some reason I could feel that even though I could give the illusion of invisibility, that she would be the one person that would see right through my disguise.

“Here’s to hopein’ that I can hide long enough from her”

A Fantasy Story Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Everyone Has Their Limits

            I felt the tension in this room weigh heavier and heavier the longer we stared at each other trying to figure out what the other was thinking. Minutes felt like hours as time went on and I started to feel exhausted from everything I’ve been through without rest or food. Suddenly I started to hear echoed whispers in the room, too faint to hear clearly but just loud enough to make out a few word.

“I don’t know… Person… Attack… Save her… Hope she’s OK… This guy… Nothing brash… Weak, I don’t… I can… Aurora” was what I heard someone say, however I didn’t anyone talking.

“What’s going on? What do I do now?” I began to question myself hoping that the answer would come to me soon.

            Just when I was about to try my hand at saying something to these people, we all heard the voice of a very familiar guy coming from behind me. I quickly turned around and saw Ace running towards me holding clothing that he had got for me to wear, like he promised.

“Ace! What are you doing here?” Everyone seemed to say in harmony sparking even more confusion.

“Wait! You guys know Ace?” Van asked Aurora and her protectors.

“Hold on! How do you know Ace?” the guy asked Van.

“Ace! Who is this man?” the lady in black said.

“Woah! Does this mean that you work with Aurora Ace?” Van asked Ace.

“I can explain, just let me explain” Ace said out of breath.

“You better explain quickly or else I’ll be forced to do something about him” The guy said again holding a halberd to Van.

“Wait, hold on! I’m not here to fight anyone. I’m just here to- Woah! Watch out!”

            Aurora was swaying back and forth before falling forward towards the hard floor head first. The male protector turned to see what was going but was moving too slow to do anything to catch her from falling. Aurora didn’t give me a choice and forced me to take action in front of everybody. Everybody was in awe as they watched me flash over and pick her up before her head hit the ground. The two protectors tried to rush over and stop me but where two weak from standing watch over Aurora. The next thing they knew Van and Ace where the only ones left standing in the room while the other three collapsed from exhaustion.

“Well Ace, I think it’s time we get these three out of here now”

“Probably for the best”

“We’ll have to carry them all the way back out of here. You know that right?”

“That won’t be necessary. There’s a levitation stone in here that will take us straight up to the temple” Ace said walking over to the back of the room where he activated a leaver on a statue for the levitation stone, a disk big enough for all of us to ride.

            Ace and Van got everyone on the disk and slowly elevated up. They stood in silence and listened to the low hum of the magika that radiated from the levitation stone as they go closer to the top level. Van carried Aurora with the guy on his back and Ace carried the lady in black because Van was still scared of her “aura”. It is true that I was beginning to see more things that I couldn’t before such as aura and the pitch black aura emanating from that lady was intimidating.

            All of the sudden my vision started to get blurry and my legs begun to shiver underneath me. I never felt like this before in my life but I knew that it wouldn’t be long before I pass out from pushing my body to its limits. Instead of giving up and dropping to my knees I convinced myself to keep going for just a little bit longer so I can get Aurora and her protectors to a safe location. Suddenly I got a surge of terrifying emotions shoot from my spine to my brain which reminded me about the last time I rode a levitation stone.

“Ace! Where will we end up when we get up there? Cause this is a bad scene to look at” I asked with tired heavy breaths.

“Right in the center of the temple on the main floor”

“Right where everyone can see us eh? That’s just my luck”

            The stone floor opened up and allowed our hero Van and his new friend to emerge from the depths of the trials and showed the entire village that their summoner had made it successfully. However it was to their surprise that they saw the summoner and two over her protectors being carried out by a stranger they didn’t quite recognize. Truly was a strange sight to look upon for everyone as I finally reached my max limit all I could do was ask one last question.

“Who here can help them?” Van asked as he slowly lowered to his one knee.

            My vision was starting to darken as I looked upon the crowd of people that started to gather around us, trying to figure out what I was doing. I could barely feel my legs and my arms kept getting shooting pains that made it difficult to hold Aurora. Someone came to aid the man on my shoulders while Ace took the scary lady away somewhere I didn’t know. Finally I saw two people carefully take Aurora from my arms and I knew that my job here was done. In my confused and exhausted state I tried to get back up and walk out the doors of the blue temple so I could go somewhere else. Ever since I got to Dynasty I had always finished off the day by either going to another location for another adventure or getting into a fight where I would then get knocked unconscious, but this time around I completed everything and there wasn’t anything else to do. Right before I could make it outside I felt a hand grab my shoulder which stopped me from leaving.

“Wait! Don’t go now. Please stay” The voice behind me said.

            And finally, at the entrance of the blue temple, I fell for the first time. Why did I have to fall now? What am I supposed to do now? What is going to happen to me now? Van asked himself in his slumber.

            Now then, time passes on and Van’s body is transported to a different location for scientific study. Scientist poke and prod his unconscious body to figure out what makes him tick.

“That’s not funny! I don’t know where I am or who’s doing what to my body, for all I know what you say is what’s happening to me. Throw me a flippin bone here”

            Oh alright, never let me have any fun you know that right? Anyways we now find our passed out hero lying in a bed, completely safe from any sort of scientific experiments. Gradually Van begins to gain consciousness again but is still too tired to do anything but listen to the voices inside the room.

“Come on and give me a break already. I couldn’t just have left him floating out there” I heard Ace say.

“No but you didn’t have to bring him to the temple and have him interfere with Aurora’s praying” Said a lady in a low and unimpressed tone.

“I didn’t have anything to do with that! He did it all on his own will, and I bet Peter had something to do with it too”

“You know Peter was always worried about Aurora, ever since she was little he had been there like a father to her. Why didn’t he just send you down instead of this guy? You’re actually a protector for Aurora”

“I don’t know. I was training with the boys for the Z-G tournament. Maybe he felt that he couldn’t?”

“And why didn’t you come to see yourself? Where you so busy that you couldn’t come down and check yourself? Forgive me if I was happy for a day so I can go outside and eat!”

“I said I was sorry! How many more times must I apologize before I’m forgiven?”

“When you starve in a chamber for three days with nothing but venture rations to hold you over”

“You’re cold Merry, very cold”

“Where did he come from anyways? Strange clothing, incredible strong and was able to enter the trials. Only protectors are allowed to enter and I didn’t see another summoner hanging around here and I doubt that he’s a summoner the way he took down that guardian without even summoning an Aeon. So who is he Ace?”

“I know that his name is Van and that he’s from somewhere called Corn-ache. But look at him Merry. I can tell that this person is worth being friends with”

“You said that with so many times I can’t believe you anymore. You said that with that old guy who robbed your shack, the other kid who tried to sleep with half the village and then went home crying when I put him his place. We’re still hurting from that solider that was lost and needed to get back home”

“How was I supposed to know that she would bring an army to raid our village?”

“That’s just it Ace! You don’t know. And when you learn to be a little more careful with your little friendships with everyone then maybe I’ll consider you’d make a good decision. But until then, I won’t. Now I’m going to see how Aurora and Dominick are doing. You can join me if you decide that seeing you friends is more important than taking care of another disappointment” I heard Merry say before walking out of the shack.

            Ace stood there reflecting on what she said to him and feeling sad about what he has all done. Van feels strength return to his body and is able to sit up in bed.

“Ace, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble, I just wanted to help out the best I could”

“It’s alright. It’s not your fault that she’s mad at me. It’s my fault” Ace said wiping tears away from his eyes.

“But still, I feel bad that she’s upset with you. You’re my friend too and I don’t think that you should take all the blame for this. I was the one who took action, all you did was help me out of the ocean”

“Nah you don’t have to do that, I’m the one who keeps messing up and its time I face the music. I’m the one who keeps messing up”

“No! Not this time! It might seem like you have to take this guilt all on your own, but this time you don’t. I won’t let you handle this all on your own when you’re not the only one to blame. I’m not like those other people you’ve helped before, I will not betray you on purpose, that’s not how I roll” Van said angrily to Ace, standing up from the bed with his body covered on bandages.

“Hold on Van. You shouldn’t move around too much”

“I’ll be fine, don’t you worry. Now I got some apologizing to do and I would like to do it with some help. Will you help me?” Van said holding Ace’s shoulder.

“OK. I’ll help you. And I’ll start with these” Ace went over to a dresser where he had set out some clothing for Van.

            There was a white button up shirt with no sleeves and a logo on the back. Along with the shirt Ace had boots, socks, and baggy brown pants that were far too big. After putting everything, that Ace had to offer, on Van realized that something happened to his body. He had under gone a major physical change and was no longer as heavy as he once been back on earth. Muscle mass and definition started to form on his stomach and arms, which made him feel even more confident than before and fueled up with energy. So once again Van mixed and matched his very own outfit and took the button up shirt, socks and boots from Ace and kept his shorts because they still fit half decent.

“Alright Ace, no turning back. Let’s go see Merry and them so I can properly apologize to them” I said grabbing his arm and storming out the front door.

            Luckily Ace grabbed me before I feel out of his tree house some fifteen feet above the ground.

“Woah! This is a tree house!” Van said looking over the side of the balcony.

“I know it is. That’s why we should take the levitation stone down, yeah?”

             After we properly arrived to the village, Ace showed me that Aurora and the others were staying inside the summoners room located inside the blue temple. We marched through the front door and headed straight to the room where I carefully opened the door and looked upon Merry standing in the middle of the room, Aurora who was resting in bed and Dominick who was sitting next to Aurora’s bed. Merry looked at me angrily however proved to be ineffective against me as I walked straight towards her only to stop and bow as a knight would three or so feet before her.

“I’ve come here to apologize for my actions. I only had the best intentions of the summoners safety in mind and did not mean to cause you to worry. And I’ll do whatever I can to ensure you that I mean you no harm” Van said apologetically with his head bowed to Merry.

            I didn’t move and waited for their response, whether it would be joyous or punishment that awaited me I didn’t move. Finally I heard a sigh from Merry, almost like a sigh of relief masked as disappointment.

“Apology accepted, but from now on leave Aurora and us alone. We don’t need anyone following us trying to do us favors. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand” I said a little disheartened.

“Good, now leave us be so we can let Aurora rest and gain her strength back. As for you Ace, Thank you”

            Ace and I left the room and they closed the door behind us. We walked out into the village and took a seat on the stairs just outside the temple.

“So what will you guys do now?” I asked Ace looking for ideas.

“We’ll wait for Aurora to get her strength back and when she feels up to it then we’ll head out to the next temple so she can pray for the second level. I just hope it’s soon”

“Why’s that?”

“If we leave soon enough then me and my team can all take the same boat for the Z-G tournament in Auron Flux”

“Auron Flux eh?”

“Yeah, it’s one of the biggest cities in Dynasty. Oh hey! That reminds me; what are you going to do?”

“Uh… I don’t know, I don’t know where to go really or how to get back home. Plus it doesn’t help that I got separated from the only people that probably could have helped me out the most”

“Well then why don’t you come with us to Auron Flux? I bet there somebody there that will recognize you, if not then there’s bound to be something you can do to find a way back, yeah?”

“Yeah! That might just work. Alright, I’ll do it” Van said with excitement as his next adventure was being laid out in front of him.

            What will happen I wonder? There’s so much I have to consider now. Do I try to make a better mends with Aurora’s team, or will I set out alone to the next adventure that will take me closer to home. And what about being a chosen? Will I have to stay here in Dynasty for a little bit longer and figure out what I will have to do in order to save it? Here I thought figuring out what I want to do after high school was going to be the most difficult question I’d have to answer.

A Fantasy Story Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

The Three Trials of the Protectors

“It’s cold in here” Van said as he walked further into the depths of the trials.

            Magika resonated from the environment lighting the way for our brave hero through the darkness towards the first room. A fork in the road caused Van to take a brief moment in his travels to ponder which path he wanted to take.

“The Path of the Summoner, or the Path of the Protector? Which path is for chosen ones?” I asked myself as I carefully considered the possible outcomes.

“It might be quicker to take the summoner’s path to reach Aurora, but if it’s rigged for just summoners then I won’t stand a chance. So obviously I must take the protector’s path” Van said reassuring himself that what he thought made sense.

            Van stepped with light feet down the narrow hallway leading to the second room. He half expected there to be traps set all over the place causing him to be in constant danger. Luckily for me, I didn’t come across any traps and made it to the second room safe and sound.

            The second room was just as big as a gymnasium with a huge door on the far side. Upon closer inspection I found darkened lines leading to the door and five glowing orbs sitting on the ground in front of it. I slowly walked towards the orbs and noticed that there was a groove carved into the floor and a dark line drawn straight from it to the door. My mind told me the answer as I read the inscription “Light” on the floor around the groove.

“I need to take the orbs and put them in the correct holes to open the door” Van thought to himself looking at the multicolored orbs.

            Realizing my objective I ran over to the orbs and grabbed the one that shined white as pure light. I set it in the floor hole and watched the magika light the lines to the door.

“Awesome. Alright, let’s do this” Van said running back to the other four orbs and placing them in their corresponding holes.

            Water was above the door that I had entered through; Earth was on the wall with steps leading up to it. Fire was a little bit trickier because it was on the opposite wall to earth and I needed to jump from platform to platform to reach it. However the Fire orb was easy in comparison to the Aero orb which was on the ceiling and the only way over was to use the cargo net that was suspended over the entire roof. To make sure I didn’t drop the orb as I climbed across, I put it in my item belt.

“Thank goodness I’m still wearing this enchanted ware or else this would be very difficult” Van thought to himself as he made his way over to the hole.

            There was a moment of panic as I was about to place the orb into its hole my hand had a moment of weakness and I dropped it. My eyes saw time slow down as I watched it fall down pass my body and onto my foot where I caught it like a soccer ball, or football if you’re from England. After settling my nerves, I kicked the orb up to my hand and finally placed it in its hole.

            Van saw the last light rush to the door, busting it open violently and allowed him to move on to the third and final trial. I contemplated letting go of the net and just dropping to the ground like in the movies but then I thought about just how high up I was and I convinced myself that a thirty foot drop might hurt so I had to find another way down. It only took five minutes to get down the slow way and once I was down I quickly ran through the open door and into the third room of the day.

“You have got to be kidding me” Van said as he looked upon the third and final room that he has to get through in order to save Aurora.

“Save?! I was just checking up on her! There was no giant golem in the agreement. A giant spiked sword wielding giant golem that’s giant! What am I even supposed to do here?”

            Van soon realized that he was confronted by a guardian set up by the summoner and her two other protectors to stop others from entering the chamber of prayers. The stronger the guardian is, the stronger the people inside are. Knowing this Van knew that this fight might be harder than he first thought.

“I didn’t know that! I didn’t know any of that! Stop assuming I know things. But now I know what I’m fighting, I don’t have to worry as much right?”

            On the contrary, in order to break through to the chamber of prayers you must defeat their guardian which in turn will open the door granting you access to them. Now please do remember your manners when inside because Aurora’s protectors will not be as friendly as Ace is so good luck out there. Also you should draw your sword now because the golem is attacking you now and I’d hate for you to die so soon into the story.

            I had to think on my feet as I ran around the third room trying to dodge the golem’s attacks on me. I’d take cover behind the pillars inside the room to buy me some time before moving to the next safe spot and closer to the golem itself. Finally I had enough of playing mouse and charged the guardian head on. Our swords collided epically as sparks flew the ground shook like a tremor and as I sunk into the stone floor, the golem was lifted up and I tossed that heavy bastard across the room as if it was a teddy bear. Quickly it got back up and I rushed it head on before it swung its sword at me again and it worked. The Golem tried to block my blade as I ran through it but it wasn’t strong enough to stop me and was halved. Whipping my blade clean and twirling it back into its sheath, I performed a rather awesome victory pose and for a brief moment I thought I saw a green circle light up around me as if I leveled up somehow, But I couldn’t relish that thought right now for I now had to enter the final room and see whether or not I was going to save Aurora or save myself from Aurora.

            Van quickly approached the door to the chamber of prayers and pushed them open. They slammed the walls on either side scaring the people inside.

“Who are you?! How did you get in here?” one of them asked me.

“My name is Van and I’m here to make sure Aurora is still alive”

            Just then we all hear footsteps coming from within the deep chamber. They grew closer and closer and then we saw a woman emerge from behind the veil that hid the inner chamber from those who aren’t summoners. We all stood on edge, waiting to see if she managed to complete the spirit bond. My hand rested on my sword just in case she was playing possum before causing killing everyone. And then, just when I could barely take the suspense any longer, she spoke.

“I did it! I made the Spirit Bond”

A Fantasy Story Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

The Next Chapter In More Ways Than One

Van watched the priest walk away, back to the blue temple. He was intrigued by the mystery offer that awaited him so much that he almost didn’t hear what Ace was saying to him.

“Hey! What do you say?” Ace yelled

“Huh? What was that?” I asked confused

“I said; what are you going to do with Bowakka’s armor now?”

 “Oh right, I have to give it to its people, so the temple”

“I like that idea. Oh hey that reminds me, you still need some new cloths! I’ll go get them and meet you inside the temple” Ace said before running off through the crowd to his place.

            I still can’t believe that there’s still a crowd of people around me. They seem so happy just to be around me and in turn made me happy, proud and even weird. I’ve never been in a situation where other people wanted to be around me before and now that I have been thrown into that predicament, overwhelming feelings crash over me as I struggle to keep my heroic demeanor. After making my way to the blue temple I soon found myself talking to old man big hat.

“First things first, I made a promise to a friend that I’d deliver this armor here. Secondly, why did you want to see me for?”

“Excellent news! Just excellent, but there is troubling news as well”

“What’s troubling ya?” I asked as I began to strip the armor off.

“Our summoner has been praying in the chamber for three days now and I fear that she has lost control and even. No I mustn’t think about that”

“Hold on old man, what are you talking about? What is this summoner? What chamber?” I had to know.

“Have you not learned about summoner’s? This is quite peculiar to meet someone that hasn’t. Where in Dynasty do you come from exactly?” He asked making me flinch.

            Suddenly I was face with a very important decision, whether to tell people that I’m from another dimension or not. I didn’t know enough about Dynasty to make up a place and my parents didn’t raise me to be a liar which made lying to others very difficult for me.

“Well I… I have... um… I’ve been knocked out many times and I can’t quite remember everything” Van said with a nervous chuckle, hoping that the priest would believe him.

            The priest looked over to Van unimpressed and said:

“I have been a priest here for twenty five years and before that I traveled all over Dynasty as a holy scholar; do you expect me to believe such a transparent lie? Tell me the truth young one, I’m sworn to keep others secrets when I accepted my rank as a priest so you can trust me”

            Well, it looks like I haven’t much of a choice now that old man big hat called me out on my only story.

“…WHAT!?” The priest yelled for the entire temple to hear.

“Why are you screaming? You said you’d keep it a secret”

“Right! Right, I’m sorry it’s just so amazing. To think that I’d be around when a prophecy would come true!”

“What are you talking about now? You’re confusing me with all your Dynasty history” Van said upset.

“Sorry, sorry. There is a prophecy that I learned about right here in Bowakka. It told about a human that came from another dimension during a dark time of territorial war for Dynasty. He ended that time by defeating the one waging war on all the other lands, which allowed the kings to form a peace treaty”

“That’s all good and well, but what does it have to do with me?” I asked with curiosity.

“That’s the thing I was about to get to. After his death yet another tragedy happened, causing financial strife between the different lands and another war broke out when a band of thieves raided a city of all its gold which was then found in the possession of a king of another land. After that another hero rose up and with the accused king, found out who took the gold and planted it in the king’s possession.”

“So basically Dynasty has had some tough times and every time something bad happens someone from another world is sent here to sort things out, right?” Van said summing things together.

“Precisely! Hart was the first hero, then came Colt, Theo, Raphael, Lancelot, Yevon-”

“Hold on Lancelot? The famous knight of the round table, Lancelot?” Van interrupted.

“The very same, but that’s just to name a small portion of the hero’s, men and women alike, that have come over in our time of need. The most recent hero was Bowakka; a highly skilled enchanter who helped the islands when pirates sailed in search of a powerful treasure”

            Van stood in awe in front of the laid out armor on the table. There was so much information going through his head that it made him dizzy.

“So if what you say is true and that people come here in order to save this world then the reason that I’m here is because I’m the one next in line?”

“I believe that’s accurate. I knew you were special as soon as I saw you inside Bowakka’s magic armor that you were chosen as well. Which is also the reason I wanted you to do something for me”

“I just never would have thought that I could be something so… so… Awesome! Can you believe it? I’m having difficulties believing it, how awesome am I right now?”

“Um sir, are you alright?” The priest asked trying to keep Van on track.

“Oh right, sorry. What was it you wanted me to do?”

“I wanted you to go to the praying chamber and make that Aurora is alive and human”

“Yeah I guess I could do that but why didn’t you do that already? And what did you mean by alive and human?”

“What I mean is when a summoner prays inside the chamber there is a chance that the spirit takes over the mind and body of the summoner if they do not form a spirit bond”

“And what do you want me to do if that happened? Cause I’ll tell ya now, if this Aurora tries to kill me I won’t hesitate to kill her first”

“I know            that, but if she isn’t and alive can you bring her back up safely?”

“Sure thing old man, just leave it to me” Van said before heading out the door.

“My name is Peter, not old man”

“And I’m Van; now let’s go! I gotta summoner to check on”

            Peter led Van to the main door that lead to the chamber of prayers, a heavy stone door with interact carvings to make it look more elaborate than a normal door. It was painted blue and had rubies placed in it to represent fire.

            I personally inspected the door checking for door handles, buttons, levers, a toggle switch, a touch screen, perhaps a knob but I found nothing after feeling around for a bit. Shortly after I gave up trying to figure out how to operate the door and I turned to ask Peter.

“So how does it open?” I asked shrugging in confusion.

            Peter was no help and just stood there looking at me with awe. I really was at a loss to what I should do and when I try to ask for help, he just stands there, great.

“You really are the chosen one, this is truly incredible” I hear Peter say to me.

“Oh… it’s opened…huh” Van said in disappointed as he turned and saw the stone door wide open.

“What’s the matter Van? Are you not pleased to know for sure that you have the ancient prophecy power passed down through those with great destinies?”

“Well yeah I’m pretty glad that I’m a chosen, it’s just… I was expecting a grand entrance you know? Door opens slowly and shakes the whole temple, lights shining with a chore singing. But I guess this will do. Alright, I’m off”

            Van says, saluting Peter before running through the stone door and entering into the life threatening dangers of the trials he must go through before reaching the Chamber of Prayers. Very impressive Van, I didn’t know you had it in you.

“Wait What? Are there dangerous trials in here?!” I yelled back at Peter but it was too late. The stone doors closed behind me and locked me inside.

So here’s what’s up for Mr. Van Jones, Dynasty hero. I have agreed to help Peter check on Aurora, who is praying to spirits in order to gain a summoners beast. I am greatly unprepared, no shoes, and heading to lord know what kind of death. My luck is getting a work out with all this action, but now that it has back up from destiny, I only worry about dying a little bit instead of worrying a lot.

A Fantasy Story Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

A Hero’s Legacy

            Van and Mayhew froze in place as the Anubis mummy slowly emerged from the darkness. Its heavy breathing filled the silence of the room with a suspense which weighed heavily upon Van, for Van was the one who it shot its intimidating gaze to. Mayhew tried to warn Van about the dangers of the Anubis, but was too scared to speak a single word.

            Now this Anubis is standing right in front of me and is staring directly into my eyes. It’s as if I was supposed to know who this was and say something. Nothing comes to mind as I struggled to figure out what I can do. Suddenly I could hear a deep mystic voice echoing in the room.

“Who are you? You wear my master’s armor and yet you are not him.” Said the Voice.

            I looked back to Mayhew for something to say but he was frozen in place, leaving me on my own. With hesitation and uncertainty, I tried to answer the question as honestly as I could.

“My name is Van. I was trying to find my way back to the village. Along the way I found this armor and decided to wear it because my clothing was destroyed.”

“Unacceptable! Bowakka was a mighty warrior and no one should be allowed to wear his armor. I’ll dispose of this imposter immediately for the people he fights for. Die” the Anubis said raising his spear high above his head.

            He quickly trusted his spear towards my chest, but unfortunately he only hit the stone floor.

“Impossible. How are you so quick? You move just like him” I heard him say as I retuned the Bowakka blade to its sheath.

“I sorry to say, I don’t know. But one person said to me that I am a hero.”

“I see. Well then, I guess I can allow on hero take another hero’s legacy. I really haven’t much choice anyway. Just promise me one thing. If you make it to the Blue Temple, give them the armor so that hope will be given to his people.”

 “I promise” I said as he took his last breath before falling in two.

            Van and Mayhew took a moment of silence in honor of the fallen guardian of the ancient temple before they inspected the open door.

“Look! There’s the tunnel” Mayhew said pointing the way

“Oh, that’s convenient. What’s next, cake?” Van jokingly asked.

“Hold on, what is that?!”

            Alright now, just give me a second here to gather my thoughts. Van and Mayhew come across a pink cake, sitting on a plate in the middle of the tunnel. Yeah right, no I refuse to believe that this exists. Nobody would have left cake in this place; this is too ridiculous, take this away.

“Can we eat it?”

“No Mayhew, we cannot eat the mystery cake in the abandoned tunnel. It’s too suspicious.”

            Oh alright fine, I’ll take the cake out of the story.

“Thank you” Van said looking up to the celling.

            Mayhew and Van make their way through the dark tunnel. The stench of old cake lingered through the air. Eventually they find the end of the tunnel where it appears that part of the roof caved in.

“Hey look over here” Said Van crouched down beside some fallen rocks.

            A skeleton of a small kid, whose legs are under a heavy boulder, lies on the ground reaching for a section of wall made of brick. It wore a brown poncho that looked fairly similar to what Mayhew’s is wearing.

“Do you know what happened here?” I asked Mayhew

“Yeah unfortunately, his legs were crushed under that rock. Nobody came to save him, no matter how much he yelled or screamed.”

“Do you know who this is?” I asked, with a hunch.

“Not a clue. I wonder if his parents miss him”

            I thought about calling Mayhew out on his obvious lie. However I also thought about the consequences of doing that and decided not to. Instead I looked at where the skeleton was reaching at the wall and I discovered a door.

“Well there’s the door, but how does it open? I could smash it open, but if there’s someone behind on the other side they could get hurt.”

“Or we could use this key here and open the door safely” said Mayhew standing beside a pedestal, similar to the one in the ancient temple.

“Alright, but let me take the armor off before I make a scene. Wait!” I said trying to stop him from opening the door, but it was too late. Mayhew set the idol in place activating the door mechanism, making the entire wall shake and rumble.

            On the other side of the wall, villagers are praying to the statue of Bowakka when all of the sudden they heard a series of gears activate in order to open the door. Everyone’s attention was upon the statue as it was raised up, reviling an unknown person standing on top of a platform.

            Back on Van’s side of the wall, he sees a platform behind the brick wall. Suddenly the platform hovered out from the room and made Van jump on top of it. Before Van could take any logical action, he was carried back into the room and up a shaft where the base of a statue was rising up, sending him into another room.

            After the dust settled I found myself standing on a lit up, hovering platform, wearing holy armor of an ancient hero in a temple full of very faithful locals who just witnessed an indescribable event. I knew that the next action I took would have to be carefully considered before the villagers either started to praise me or chase me after realising I’m an imposter just wearing Bowakka’s armor for kicks. The silence finally broke when an old man in a big hat came rushing through the doors yelling for help.

“Help! Help! A monster is attacking the village! Help! Help!” the old man cried out.

            Supernaturally I sprang into action against my own will. Before I knew it I had ran outside, still wearing mystical armor, and started to look for this monster that big hat old man proclaimed to be attacking the village. Then I saw it; a gigantic red bird with dragon spikes and four bird legs. The bird circled around the village, looking for its next target when it saw me standing in the middle of the road wearing my digs. Without hesitation it lunged towards me at full speed, giving me only a few seconds to draw my sword, realize that the bird was holding ace in its claws, rethink about cutting the bird in half and instead jump out of the way before it could fly into me.

“Just my luck! Why did you have to get caught?!?” I yelled at ace after the bird flew back into the sky.

            I had to think of something to save Ace and do away with the bird so that the village will be safe.

“But what in the world could I do?”

            The narrator clears his throat as he puts down his ham sandwich and finds his place in the story. Van was indeed in a predicament as his newly found friend Ace hangs on for dear life to the talons of the monstrous dragon bird. Just then an idea came to his steam powered head of his.

“I have to get on top of the bird and make it let go of Ace when it’s close to the ground” Van thought.

“Hold on! I have to ride that thing? Are you crazy?! Just look how high it goes, and even if I get on it how do I make it let go of Ace safely, instead of five hundred feet up?”

            Van then saw a catapult that was set up and ready to fire. Without wasting time he jumped in and launched himself through the air.

“I Hate You So Much!” Van said as he collided with the dragon bird, tackling it towards the mountain side.

            I soon realized that even though I had caught the bird, I still had to get Ace free of its clutches and make sure that it didn’t bite my freaking head off as it snapped its beak at all my vital parts. All three of us landed on the rocky cliff side rather pleasantly allowing us to roll to our feet and eye each other up before making our next move. Ace was standing right there beside me sporting some heavy chains around his chest and waist.

“Ace, are you alright?” I asked making sure he was still all there.

“By the gods, you know my name great Bowakka!”

“Really? Ace it’s me, Van” I said removing the mask and helmet.

“Van. Why are you wearing that armor?” Said Ace in a very serious tone, even making the bird flinch.

“Woah Ace, I’m sorry. I didn’t know who this belonged to when I found it. I didn’t think much of it then, but I learned that it belongs to the people of this island and took the responsibility of returning it” I said holding back the bird’s beak from chomping on my head.

            Unexpectedly Ace removed his chains and used them like a whip to one hit knock out the bird I was having so much trouble with. He then approached me in an angry demeanor to give me a bro hug. It was awkward.

“This is great! Woah!” Ace yelled with delight as he danced around the mountain side.

“Let’s get back to the village! They’re going to be so happy! Come on!” Ace continued as he ran to a path leading down the mountain.

            I was about to leave behind him with relief knowing that they are not going to hang me for stealing their hero’s armor, when I noticed that the bird started to burn bright red just like the hellhound before bursting into the million tiny lights and shooting off to unknown-land.

“Hey Ace! Did you see that?”

“No, see what? Is there another one around here?”

            He didn’t see the million lights just above his head exploding and then shooting off like a firework? I guess not.

“Oh no nothing like that, it’s just some light I saw in the sky. Probably nothing” I said trying not to make Ace worry too much. Mainly because I couldn’t tell for sure whether or not it was just me seeing things again or not, but I didn’t want to act out the role as the paranoid guy.

 

            We made our way down safely to the village where everyone was waiting for our return. They were cheering and celebrating for the return of their hero Bowakka, but they quite down after they saw who was really under the mask. For a brief moment, as I stood in front of all these people, I felt like I shouldn’t have even bothered making my way down the mountain and that I should have perished along with the dragon bird. Just as I contemplated turning back, I felt a hand reach out and grab my shoulder; it was big hat old man from the temple earlier. He looked at me with a big smile full of pride stretching his wrinkly face making me feel better and less doubtful.

“People of Bowakka” big hat old man began “Our savior Bowakka has long since passed leaving us his memory and what he taught us in our darkest time. But now, when we needed a savior the most, our prayers are answered! This young man has slain the monster that has plagued our village for months and he has done it wearing the protection of Bowakka! Which means that he has Bowakka’s blessing to go forth as a hero to help others like us all over Dynasty just like he once did” The old man said causing the crowd to once again cheer and rejoice.

“Thanks for that mister. I owe you one” Van said confidentially to the priest.

“Oh that’s quite alright my boy, but since you’re in such a giving mood, meet me in the temple later. There is something very important I would like you to do for me”

“Popsicles! Why did I say I owe him one? Oh well I guess it can’t be that bad, it’s not like it’s going to be the start of another adventure. Because I’ll tell ya, it feels like I’ve been on three to four of them already” Van naively thought to himself.