Phthalo Blues

by Will Wallner

  PHTHALO BLUES

  Will Wallner

  Copyright © 2018 Will Wallner

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1542886503

  ISBN-13: 978-1542886505

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to anyone who’s ever been bold

  enough to follow their dreams. To anyone who’s ever tried to accomplish something, which others have said couldn’t be done. Nothing inspires me more than people who try to achieve greatness.

  The Return of Kronos

  A myth passed down through generations tells the story of two legendary warriors; Kronos and Toki. As mortal enemies, they waged war through space and time causing death and destruction far across the galaxy. This is the story of their final battle…

  In the night sky, out in the wilderness, a lone wolf drinks from a lake. A full moon illuminated the area with a soft glow. The water rippled gently and glistened with starlight reflection. As the wild dog lifted her head, she sensed something was about to happen. Her eyes were full of Phthalo Blue and she looked out far into the distance. A portal to another dimension began to tear a hole in the sky. Red lights started to flicker in the clouds and lightning poured out of the rift. It burned with Alizarin Crimson. A black crow flew through the sky and ascended towards the gateway. The wolf watched from far away, as the crow flew directly into the eye of the storm. In a flash of red energy the crow vanished. A lightning bolt struck the ground beneath, scorching the earth. From the flames, a dark figure appeared. Witnessing this, the wolf ran from the lake towards the edge of a cliff. She howled through the night, and the sound echoed across the valley beneath.

  1 MYSTIC MOUNTAIN

  Valley Village, Middle Continent

  Day 1 Month 1 Year 2037

  The sun began to rise early, on this warm summer day. Birds were singing and the sky was clear. The landscape was mostly untouched by man. Large mountains pierced the sky and were surrounded by a thick blanket of beautiful tall lush green trees. The air smelled as fresh as could be. Other than the sounds of the birds, you could hear a gentle stream as it cascaded along a soft muddy bank. This place was far away from large populations. There were, however, small villages scattered around the valleys. The local villagers lived a simple life and lived in harmony with the nature around them.

  Amongst the villages, was a small path, which led up to a single wooden cabin. Trees either side of the footpath created a natural tunnel, which led to a small opening. There the cabin stood, surrounded by grass and small flowers. The rear of the cabin was protected by the slope of a mountain with the stream running down the left side. This cabin was built by an artist many years ago. Over the years, the surrounding vegetation had begun to engulf the wooden cabin, and reclaim it back to nature. The artist was a painter who enjoyed a secluded lifestyle. He built the cabin as a retreat where he could paint uninterrupted. The only company he enjoyed was from small creatures, such as squirrels, who he would feed and allow into his private world. The painter lived a long life and died some years ago. The cabin now served as the temporary residence to a young man. Nearby villagers suggested he use the cabin as it had no use since the artist's death.

  The man awoke early on this day and began his morning with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The aromatic beans filled his cabin as he gazed over at several paintings piled up in the corner. These were mostly old paintings left by the artist, but on top of the pile were a few newer paintings. At the very top, was a simple painting which captivated the young man. The left side was filled with soft blue, the right with bright red, and in the middle, the two colors met to create a shade of deep purple. He stepped outside of the cabin and took a deep breath of fresh air then closed his eyes. The air reminded him of another time in his life. A time he couldn’t quite remember clearly. He looked out towards the horizon, deep within his thoughts.

  A bird perched on a branch caught his eye. The bird also seemed to be contemplating, as it twitched its head looking in different directions. As the man turned around to reenter the cabin and pour himself another cup of coffee, he heard gentle footsteps coming up the path.

  "Taz! I was wondering when you'd get here?" The young man said with his back to the small boy.

  "Sorry, I had to help my Uncle with the chickens." Taz replied, slightly out of breath.

  "Don't worry, I'm kidding. It’s a good thing you brought your cloak, it might get cold up there." The young man entered the cabin and sat down at a wooden table. He pulled a chair out for Taz and arranged several objects on the table.

  "Hey, Buck what's this knife for?" Taz asked inquisitively.

  "Taz, my name is not Buck. That's just the nickname your Uncle gave me after the villagers found me. I'd rather you didn’t call me that."

  "So what should I call you? Did you finally remember your real name?"

  "I still don’t remember anything…" The young man sighed.

  "Then how about I call you something else. Something cool, like Dragon?" Taz had a sarcastic grin on his face. "So tell me Dragon, what’s the knife for?"

  "You never know what might happen up that mountain. I'd hate to have to explain to your Uncle that you were eaten by a wild animal or something."

  "I thought my Uncle told you there's nothing dangerous in these mountains?"

  The man picked up the knife and tilted it, so he could look at Taz in the reflection of the shiny metal blade.

  "Taz, it's better to be safe than sorry, did you bring the compass? We'll need it when we reach the top."

  "Yes I did…is that why you invited me to come with you? Just so you could borrow my Uncles compass?" Taz asked.

  "It wasn’t the only reason." Now the man had a small grin.

  "That’s rude! Now that I think about it, maybe I don’t want to come with you after all. It might be too dangerous for a young orphan like me to climb that mountain. Maybe I’ll take this compass back home and let you climb the mountain alone." Taz spoke arrogantly, as he knew he had what the man needed. The young man turned his head from the blade and looked directly at Taz.

  "Taz, you’re a pretty smart kid, but are you saying you’d rather spend the day helping your Uncle with the chickens?" Taz thought about it for a second, then narrowed his eyes.

  "Dragon, you sir, are a tough negotiator. I definitely want to come with you."

  "Good! We've got to reach the summit by sundown, so we should get going pretty soon. Did you pack some food?"

  "Well duh, what do you think is in my rucksack? Don't worry, we've got enough food to last for days." Taz patted his leather rucksack. "I also have this." Taz reached into his pocket and pulled out a circular piece of metal.

  "What is it?" The man examined it closely, studying the strange symbols which were carved into the metallic object.

  "It’s a gift from my Uncle. He told me I needed to give it to you before you left on your journey." Taz glanced over the man's shoulder. "Is that a new painting Dragon?"

  "Actually yes, I've been having some very strange dreams recently. When I wake up, I can't really remember much, except for some moving colors. I thought painting them might help me remember."

  "Does it have a name?" Taz walked over to the painting.

  "What do you mean?" The man replied.

  "Every painting should have a name. Look, the artist used to name his paintings." Taz pointed to a painting of a mountain.

  "Mystic Mountain, I'm pretty sure this is the same mountain we're going to climb today."

  "Yes, I think you’re right. But I can't even think of a name for myself, I don't think I'll be able to name my paintings anytime soon. You can help me name them if you want? But it will have to wait until we get back. We should get going." He stood up and placed a large cloak over his shoulders. Taz sta
red at the knife hanging from the man’s belt.

  "Hey Dragon, can I carry the knife?"

  "I don't think so Taz, but you can carry my water bottle."

  The two headed along the pathway away from the cabin, towards a large mountain in the distance. They wore their cloaks while they traveled. The temperature was quite comfortable, but up the mountain, the air would get considerably cooler. This was the tallest mountain in the area, but still wasn't tall enough to have any snow at the summit. Under his cloak, Taz wore colorful clothes and had a leather rucksack full of supplies. He had spiky hair and wore a pair of goggles like a headband. The young man carried a long wooden stick and walked one step behind Taz. The man had long dark hair and wore simple clothes. He was tall and walked with confidence.

  The path they were walking eventually diverged. One way led to Valley Village, which is where Taz lived. They took the other route, towards the foot of the mountain. As they traveled along the path away from the village, the mountain became the focus of their vision. The further they walked, the better they could see the mountain in all of its magnificence.

  "So your Uncle, what exactly does he do for a living?" The man asked.

  "Well he's a carpenter, and a farmer, and I think he's also a mechanic," Taz replied.

  "Hmm, I haven't seen too many vehicles around the village?"

  "Like I said, I think he's a mechanic."

  "Interesting…So how did you get the name Taz, it's pretty unusual?"

  "I don’t know. I guess it's from my parents. You know, my real parents."

  "Yes, I know, you’re one of the war orphans from Tiberia." The man softened his voice. "When you think about it, we have a lot in common." Taz stopped and listened to what the man had to say. "I have no memories. I don’t know who I am or where I come from. In many ways, I’m a lot like an orphan."

  "Taz and Dragon, the orphans from Valley Village!" Taz put his hands on his hips and stuck out his chest. The man smiled back at Taz.

  "Taz, you don’t need to call me Dragon. I've been thinking about a real name for myself, just in case I never get my memories back."

  "What is it?"

  "If you're lucky I'll tell you later. We've got to keep going."

  They carried on walking along the path until they reached the foot of the mountain. The stream which flowed down the side of the artist's cabin was now a strong river. The water crashed into large rocks and splashed rather loudly. The man looked at the river and thought about his past, which alluded him.

  The path up the mountain was steep, but no actual climbing was needed to reach the summit. You could reach the top within a day if you didn't take too many breaks. This day was perfect for a hike. Light, fluffy clouds scattered across the clear blue skies made the mountain look simply spectacular. Just like in the artist's painting.

  The two travellers looked up at the mountain in awe. It was much bigger than it had looked from a distance. The man felt something twitching in his stomach. As he gazed at the summit, the feeling grew stronger. This was the same feeling that gave him the idea to climb the mountain in the first place. He felt it every time he looked at the mountain from the artist’s cabin. He couldn't describe it in words. It felt like his destiny was at the top of this mountain, waiting for him. It was as if getting to the top was more important than anything else. It was all he thought about. He was convinced this was his destiny.

  They walked up the side of the mountain. Now the young man led the way and Taz followed. A large black bird swooped through the air in their vicinity. It was hunting. It looked down at the grass for any mice or creature, which might have been foolish enough to be out in the open on such a clear day. Unfortunately for the hunter, the sound of footsteps were enough to make sure the area was all clear. Frustrated, the bird swooped down and let out a loud cry to warn the two trespassers out of its territory. The young man froze with his hand on the knife, keeping full eye contact with the bird as it flew away.

  "Good thing you brought it!" Taz yelled in excitement.

  "Calm down Taz, let's keep going."

  "Can we stop to eat something? All this walking is making me hungry,"

  "Let's get over that ridge and then take a short break."

  About an hour later, they deviated from the trail and found a grassy area on the side of the mountain. There were some rocks, which served as chairs, while they sat and ate their lunch. Taz let out a small groan as he took off his rucksack. The young man leaned his wooden stick against one of the rocks and took a seat facing the valley from where they came.

  "Do you still need the stick?" Taz asked.

  "No, I’m just used to the feel of it. I can walk totally fine without it. Look, you can see the village." The man gazed at the landscape.

  "Oh yeah, is that why you wanted to come here? To look at Valley Village?"

  "Not exactly, I can't really explain it. Every morning when I wake up, I look at this mountain. Recently, I've felt the urge to climb it. I guess I want to see what's at the top. Do you believe in destiny, Taz?"

  "I don’t know, I never really thought about it," Taz spoke halfheartedly, as he unbuckled his rucksack.

  "I can't explain it Taz. There's something drawing me to the top of this mountain."

  "Do you want an avocado from my Uncles garden?” Taz offered a small green fruit to the man.

  "…that sounds good, thanks Taz."

  The two ate in silence. A small breeze kept the air feeling fresh and cool. Taz finished much quicker than the man and pulled out an object from his rucksack. He held it in both hands, turning it upside down, shaking it, and holding it to his ear.

  "What's that?" The man asked.

  "It's a puzzle, I got it from Sister Mary." Taz jammed his fingers into it. "There's a special trick to opening the lock. None of the other kids at school could figure it out. The only clue is this red dot on the side. I'm going to find the solution by the time we return to the village. Sister Mary will be so impressed. I bet she'll even give me a kiss."

  "Taz, you're full of surprises. But aren't you a little young for that sort of stuff?"

  "I'm eleven, and Sister Mary is only a few years older."

  "She's nineteen." The young man pointed out.

  "How do you know that!? I hope you're not thinking of trying to steal my girl? In case you didn't realize, there are limited options in such a small village. I'm planning ahead. Sister Mary is the best looking girl in the whole of Valley Village,and I can't have you messing everything up."

  "You don't need to worry about me. But I heard from one of the villagers that you might have some competition from the blacksmith's apprentice. I think his name is Robert."

  "Rob?! That guy is a total loser. Sister Mary would never be with him. No way! When I get back to the village, I'm going to tell Rob to stay away from my girl!"

  "Wow Taz, I think you're really in love. Just be careful. I'm sure you'll get over her, eventually."

  "Like you know anything about girls, you don't even have memories."

  "I suppose you’re right. I have an idea. As an added incentive, if you get that puzzle open, I'll tell you my new name. Now let's pack up and go." They walked back towards the path that led up the mountain.

  “What about your walking stick?” Taz asked.

  “I don’t need it anymore, today is a new beginning.”

  The further they hiked, the less worn the path became. Halfway up the mountain, their pace slowed, as the air got a little thinner and the temperature fell. As the day grew older, the bright sun slowly faded away. Luckily for the two explorers, Taz's Uncle was right, there was nothing too dangerous up the mountain. They progressed uninterrupted for a few more hours. They gradually reached the point where they could see the other side of the valley.